Help Slam help kids

This is a great initiative being run by slam’s Managing Editor Susan Price – a big blog fan. I urge everyone to click on over and make a donation. You can’t go wrong funding playgrounds. I’ve made my donation and urge you to give yours.…

Jacob wins photo contest

The winning photo, though I did a better cropon the entry.The proud winner; the photo;the subject.They have a photo contest every year at the kids' school. Last year, Jacob and I both entered two shots n the Travel category. He was a finalist…

Another going away party

A bunch of guys from PA: Tom Kirkwood (Shawney),visiting friend Dave (Moon Twp/Pittsburgh), Greg Madden(Moon Twp/Pittsburgh).Kate Kirkwood, Becky, Tracy Madden, who isCleveland bound.Caroline Madden (center) with two Kirkwoodsand Jacob. She…

Botanical Garden

We went to the Beijing Botanical Gardens last weekend. it was very pleasant, a beautiful large park filled with Chinese families picnicking and enjoying their Sunday afternoon. We only saw a small corner of it, really.Near the large rose garden,…

Go Ben

More news on my nephews' athletic exploits. Ben Kessler ran a 5k in 33 minutes last night. Laura says he sprinted most of the time. He was the youngest kid in the race, not surprising since he's 6.5. He stands an excellent chance of being the…

Will the Circle Be Unbroken

A clip from last week's gig at the Stone Boat. we were a quartet, minus our percussionist. New bassist worked in and he was really good. I like our sound on this song. obviously, the light was a little too low for good video, however.

Discovering a new cousin

As I wrote before, a lot of people have been passing through town and we have been trying to see as many of them as possible. Tomorrow, Tom Weber of the WSJ arrives for two days. We’ll have a dinner with him and maybe I can get out to the…

Falling Behind

Hey, I know I need to do some posting here. Things are speeding up man. The school year is rapidly drawing to a close. We have two more weeks to go. Really hard to believe that we are nearing the end of year two in China. Fast. fast.Meanwhile,…

Anna and Eli Int’l Day

Eli proclaimed this the best day ever. They had a blast, with all the kids dressed up in some sort of clothes from their homeland. Notice Eli and Anna rocking the NBA jerseys. I couldn't attend, as it was the morning of the baseball press conference…

Give the bassist some

That's our girl Arlene. She was just buying a bass when we moved to China. Keep on rockin' in the free world.