1421 The Year China Discovered America

Just finished a fascinating book by Gavin Menzies which documents the world wide exploration and colonizing of the entire world by China between 1421 and 1423. Packed full of facts and theories, this is a well documented examination and explanation of many mysterious and previously unexplainable findings all over the world. For example, he credits the round tower in Newport, RI, to the Chinese who built an identical sturcture in China years before. He also has a logical explanation for the Bimini Road and for the writings of Verrazzano, in which he describes finding golden skin people living in RI when he landed long ago. Did you know that a huge Chinese junk, was found buried under a sandbank in the Sacramento River off the NE corner of SF Bay and that the wood that it was made of is only grown in China? (p. 203-204) The last quarter of the book is filled with appendices, footnotes, and bibliographies. One bit of advice, skip the chapters that hold no interest to you. I skimmed chapters 6 and 7. The author says he's set up a website at www.1421.tv. Check it out.

Winter

Today I had the perfect sub job all lined up, 4 hours at an elementary school one block from my house. Winter interferred with those plans. School was cancelled due to an early morning snowstorm. I did spend time shoveling, so when the rain arrived in the afternoon, the driveway cleared up perfectly. Now the rain has stopped and wind is drying everything up. Of course the ever pessimistic weatherman tells us that any remaining water will freeze tomorrow morning. Even with snow falling, John caught the bus to work and managed to get a ride from a co-worker to BK for his shift there. I'm pleased that he got himself where he needed to be on his own. Tomorrow should be clear.

New Family Blog

Check out my nephew and his girl friend's blog as they travel through Japan. His blog is to the left in my blog list, kitsuneudon.blogspot.com

Theo's First B-Day

Not a great photo of Theo, but it will give you an idea of how big his 'fish balloon' was.
Theo was almost hypnotiozed by the flame that he had just blown out. (with a little help from his Mom)
Theo with his grandparents and great-grandma.

Tai Chi

Not sure if it's spelled correctly, but I went to my first 30 minute class at the Y today and enjoyed it. Of course there was calm, meditating music on and it was very peaceful. Maybe I liked that aspect?? Actually I also enjoyed the exercises and figured that what's good for millions of Chinese can only help me. Went swimming today, too.

Vacation

I finally unpacked my big suitcase and balanced the checkbook. Lucky for me, Teddie balanced it on Dec. 3 and not many checks were written. Still, when one leaves their checkbook with someone else, it always takes time to detangle it and make minor corrections. Lots of icy snow yesterday. Church was cancelled (just like WI). Scraped Teddie's car and area around her car today. Even in 32 degree temps, the sun feels great!! I got a call at 6:30 am to sub today and told SK that I would not be available till next Monday. So this week is a Vacation!! I've had a sinus infection (earache) for 8 weeks and am going to the doctors in 2 hours. Hopefully I can wean myself from sudafed and feel better.

Settling

Have been home a day and a half and I finally took a shower and unpacked my carry-on back-pack. Have done the preliminary sorting of a pile of mail and taken my first trip to the dump.. so I guess I'm settling in. Today I will tackle the suitcase, buy a new dish pan, (to replace the disgusting one) and throw another load of laundry in. Snow expected tonight. (That sounds familiar.) Wish you were here, Ted.

Gnocchi Secret

When the cookbook says to BAKE the potatoes, don't boil them. Gnocchi made with BAKED spuds are 100 times better than those made with boiled ones. I made a batch of spinach ones today, Jesse. They're safe in your freezer, along with two other containers of plain ones.

Scrabble Whiz

A couple of nights ago Kevin and I played Scrabble. He played incredibly, posting game winning scores of 461, 401, and 393. In one game he played TWO bingos, in another he had one. Maybe he should drop out of school and join the scrabble playing circuit.

Evelyn's Farewell Gift

Piper in the ocean

To Grandma Lalee

Don't Stir Your Ice Cream

Only an elite few will truly appreciate this video.

Jumping on Her Bed

Cookieworld

Straight out of the updated, revised and modernized version of The Joy of Cooking, reduced fat gingerbread leaves.

Papa & Evelyn

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"Evelyn and papa were playing in the basement. Evelyn fell down might papa."
(Please note immaculate basement, not like mine!!)

Winter Friend

Rabbit tracks crisscross the snow in the back yard. We threw down sunflower seed right outside the sliding glass door. This little fellow was the most uninhibited. The rabbit and bird both departed before we could get their picture.

Update

Church was cancelled this morning due to freezing rain. Just enough fell to make it treacherous. Bigger news... I am returning home this Thursday instead of the 14th. Thursday was the only day that the weatherman predicted no snow.