Saturday, May 17, 2008
Saturday! Saaaaturday! Saturday! Saturday!
Thursday was our last day of school! Yippee! I am on a 12-month contract though. But now I have a week at work with no teachers or kids to get some stuff done! I can get a ton of stuff done when there is no one at school! It's amazing! Then summer school starts the day after Memorial day. I can't believe it is summer already! I can finally sigh a sigh of relief after 2 weeks of chaos finishing up the last of school! whew!
I got some updated pics of my new little neice today! Look at that red hair! woohoo! just like her aunt sara!! :)We are going to eat tonight with some people from our FCC group. There will be some China cuties there and I am so excited!!!!! It's a beautiful day here! I'm gonna go enjoy it!
| posted by Journey to Mia at 5/17/2008 10:57:00 AM
My Aunt Becky
This is a picture of my (L to R) Uncle Quentin, Aunt Becky, Uncle Steve, and my Mom at my sister's wedding in August. My mom's brothers and sister. They had one brother that died when I was in college due to an accident at work. His name was Brett.My Aunt Becky just found out that she has cancer. My mom called this morning to tell me it is in her cervix, kidneys, lungs, and maybe one other place. I can't really remember. Please keep her and her children and grandchildren in your thoughts. I am not sure of her exact age but she would be close to 50.
My Aunt Becky meant the world to me growing up and although I am very far away now and only see her about once a year I still love her to pieces. She is starting chemo on Monday I think. I don't know what her chances are of beating this but I think she is going to have a heck of a fight ahead of her. Please keep us in your thoughts.
| posted by Journey to Mia at 5/17/2008 09:15:00 AM
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Earthquake Info from Half the Sky
Dear Friends,As word comes of the hundreds, maybe thousands of children lost in theearthquake, I am finding these emails almost too painful to write. When Ithink of so many parents who have lost their only child - so many children newly orphaned - so many families destroyed - there are no words….
Still, I will continue to write daily with any new information that has been given to us and confirmed. Again, please do not contact us to inquire about individual institutions. We will give you all of the information we have. If you do not hear from us about a particular place, it likely is not affected. At any rate, we don’t have any information beyond what I am passing along to you.
As of now, Thursday afternoon in China, there are 14,866 people confirmed dead, 14,463 in Sichuan Province. There are 22,438 people reported missing – 21,020 of them in Deyang alone. There have been 3,300 aftershocks and they continue.
Here is the confirmed information we have regarding children in welfare institutions:
Chengdu: The city continues to experience aftershocks and the institutiondirector is afraid the water supply will be cut off again, so has requested disposable diapers. They are having trouble finding sufficient supplies of milk and formula. All children in foster care have been located and are fine. The institution has structural cracks but was built to current earthquake standards and is fundamentally solid. All the children remain on the first floor of the children’s building, mostly in the cafeteria, and, weather-permitting, outside while awake. We’ve posted a few photos on our website.
Chongqing and Yibin orphanages are fine – no building damage, no shortageof supplies.
The orphanages below report problems. However, please note that not a single child has been injured; all are fine:
- Zigong CWI needs bedding, powdered milk, crackers and disposable diapers- Neijiang CWI has suffered some structural damage; one or two children’sdormitories, office building and laundry room have cracked walls.
-Nanchong 2nd SWI has cracks in walls, substantial damage to the ceilingof a staff building, needs tents
- Mianyang Zitong CWI has severely damaged walls. Children have been moved to a military base. Urgent need for diapers, bedding, powdered milk and purified water
-Hanzhong CWI (Shaanxi)- Quite a few water pipes burst, the water tower had cracks. Children have been evacuated and there is need for more tents, bedding and purified water. We’ve posted a few photos on our website.
-Dujiangyan SWI has evacuated all children. They have no tap water or electricity in their temporary shelter. They urgently need food, purified water, diapers and powdered milk.
We are still unable to reach these institutions: Deyang CWI (78 children), Abazhou CWI (52 children), Guangyuan SWI, Mianzhu SWI
One of our HTS Beijing staff, Ma Lang, is a native of Mianyang, Sichuan,close to the epicenter. HTS’ Director of Child Development, Ma Lang is both a pediatrician and a child development specialist. She is on her way home right now to make use of her skills both medically and to help children traumatized by this disaster. We are so proud of Lang and wish her safe travels. She has promised to share her journey with all of us. So soon you’ll be hearing from us both!
Usually just before June 1, China’s Children’s Day, Half the Sky announces a special appeal to help us fund new orphanage programs in the fall. While we are committed to starting those new programs and know we will need help to make it happen, we just don’t feel we can ask for help improving lives while children in Sichuan are losing theirs. There must be a Children’s Day Challenge this year but not at this time.
Please do what you can to help children in trouble now, and remember to help the kids of HTS a little later this year.
Our hearts and prayers today are especially with the parents who have lost their children in the collapse of schools - Muyu, Xinjian, Juyuan, Liangping, and the rest.
Please give what you can to help the children who survive go on with their lives.
If you would like to donate to Half the Sky’s Children’s Earthquake Fund, it would be great if you would do so at Global Giving. The Ford Motor Company announced today that they will match every gift!
If you prefer to donate directly to Half the Sky, of course that’s fine. Here are the various ways: You can donate by calling Half the Sky (+1 510 525 3377) or on our website
If you would like a Canadian tax receipt, please donate at http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=s86248
If you would like a Hong Kong tax receipt, please call us at +852 25205266 or online at https://www.paydollar.com/b2c2/eng/charity/payInfo.jsp?charityId=4947
We have been so moved by your support already. Thank you!
with love,
Jenny
Jenny Bowen
Executive Director
Half the Sky Foundation
http://www.halfthesky.org/
Labels: 2008 earthquake
| posted by Journey to Mia at 5/15/2008 09:10:00 AM
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Bunches of Monkeys
I work with a bunch of monkeys. I guess I have always known that but sometimes you get so carried away with your day-to-day activities and the stress of your workload that you fail to stand back, take a look and smile.
I have a reserved parking spot at work. (yes - I am that special!). Mostly because I have to leave for meetings some times and every time I would come back there would be no place to park. And because my contracted time to get to work is 15 minutes after everyone else! So all the spots are always gone (ok - enough justification and on with the story). Some times people think they are more special than me (or they are pissed off because my spot is empty and there is no place to park, not sure which) and they decide to park in my space! Sometimes (like 2 days ago) the people on either side of me leave me barely enough room for my little compact car to squeeze into my space! I wasn't going to park there the other day because there was almost no room but I thought, "This is my freaking space! If that person can't get into their car because mine is too close to theirs, so be it!" and I squeezed my car in. Later in the day I was complaining about people parking like idiots to a co-worker and she told me who it was. A teacher I joke with a lot at work! So I teased her later about how much room she left me. Really I think it was the person to the other side who decided to make my space into two spaces!!!
Anyway, today I am driving to work and I get ready to pull into the drive and I notice there is an orange sign on my "reserved parking" sign. "What the heck is that?" I say to myself. Then I notice there are also big orange cones around my spot! WHAT?!?! As I pull into my spot I read the sign "Reserved Parking for Mrs. Lane. Leave LOTS of space!!!"
Silly Monkeys!
One of the two pranksters told me they were going to put "wide load" on the sign. that wouldn't have been so funny! ;-)
| posted by Journey to Mia at 5/14/2008 07:59:00 AM
Monday, May 12, 2008
7.8 Earthquake hits SW China
BEIJING — A powerful earthquake struck a mountainous region of western China on Monday, killing at least 107 people and trapping more than 900 students beneath a collapsed high school as tremors shook buildings for hundreds of miles and were felt as far away as Vietnam and Thailand, according to interviews and reports in China’s state media.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck in Sichuan Province on Monday afternoon and raised immediate concerns that the death toll could rapidly rise. State media reports said “rows of houses” had collapsed near the quake’s epicenter. By early evening, state media had reported 107 deaths and 34 injuries in three provinces and Chongqing Municipality.
Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, who arrived in the earthquake region on Monday night, described the situation as a "very severe earthquake disaster." President Hu Jintao ordered an “all out” effort to aid people in the earthquake region while soldiers were dispatched for disaster relief efforts. Minutes after the western temblor, a second, smaller quake struck hundreds of miles away, near Beijing. Thousands of office workers were evacuated.
“I suddenly felt very dizzy, as if I were heavily drunk,” said Zeng Hui, who works on the 22nd floor of an office tower in Beijing. “I thought I was seriously ill, then I looked around and saw my colleagues felt the same way. We were stunned.”
The initial quake struck at 2:28 p.m., or 2:28 a.m., Eastern time, near Wenchuan County, according to China’s State Seismological Bureau. People across much of China and as far away as Thailand and Vietnam reported feeling the tremors.
Wenchuan is home to the Wolong Nature Reserve, the country’s most famous panda reserve, and is located about 55 miles from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, which has a population of roughly 12 million people.
Early reports and telephone interviews suggested that Chengdu had been spared any significant problems, but officials were struggling to assess the full scope of the damage in Wenchuan and elsewhere because of the disruption in communications caused by the earthquake. More than 2,300 cell phone towers were knocked down by the quake, according to China Mobile, the country’s top carrier.
Xinhua, the official news agency, said the 107 fatalities were spread across Sichuan, neighboring Chongqing Municipality as well as in Gansu and Yunnan provinces. Damage is believed to be especially severe in Dujiangyan, a county of 600,000 people located near the epicenter. One local official described rows of collapsed houses, Xinhua reported.
Early Monday evening, Xinhua also flashed an emergency report from Dujiangyan describing that nearly 900 students were feared trapped after a high school collapsed. Most of the telephones in the city were not functioning, and the Xinhua report could not be independently verified.
Earlier in the day, the first reports of fatalities came in the east in Chongqing Municipality, where two primary schools were damaged. Four pupils died and more than 100 others were injured, state media reported. Another person was reportedly killed beneath a collapsed water tower in Sichuan Province.
China is prone to seismic activity and has suffered horrific earthquakes in the recent past. In 1976, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the city of Tangshan, located roughly 70 miles from Beijing. More than 240,000 people were killed and nearly every building was leveled. Communist Party officials initially covered up the extent of the death toll. Many of China’s biggest cities, including Beijing, are located in high-risk earthquake zones.
Monday’s smaller 3.9 magnitude earthquake in Beijing struck at 2:35 p.m. in Tongzhou, a district in the eastern half of the city. Many people in the city felt nothing at all, while others, especially those in high-rises, were alarmed by a swaying sensation. Thousands of workers were evacuated as a precaution.
“Suddenly, everything around me started moving and swinging,” said Xie Zhuofei, a salesman with a 17th floor office in Beijing. “I could hardly stand. Then I realized it was an earthquake. We went out immediately.”
Efforts to reach people near the epicenter of the bigger quake in western China were hindered by the damaged telephone system. But receptionists at different hotels in Chengdu said the earthquake appeared not to have caused any major problems in the city. Xinhua showed photographs of minor flooding caused by damage to an underground water pipe, but, as yet, the city seemed largely undamaged.
Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, who arrived in the earthquake region on Monday night, described the situation as a "very severe earthquake disaster." President Hu Jintao ordered an “all out” effort to aid people in the earthquake region while soldiers were dispatched for disaster relief efforts. Minutes after the western temblor, a second, smaller quake struck hundreds of miles away, near Beijing. Thousands of office workers were evacuated.
“I suddenly felt very dizzy, as if I were heavily drunk,” said Zeng Hui, who works on the 22nd floor of an office tower in Beijing. “I thought I was seriously ill, then I looked around and saw my colleagues felt the same way. We were stunned.”
The initial quake struck at 2:28 p.m., or 2:28 a.m., Eastern time, near Wenchuan County, according to China’s State Seismological Bureau. People across much of China and as far away as Thailand and Vietnam reported feeling the tremors.
Wenchuan is home to the Wolong Nature Reserve, the country’s most famous panda reserve, and is located about 55 miles from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, which has a population of roughly 12 million people.
Early reports and telephone interviews suggested that Chengdu had been spared any significant problems, but officials were struggling to assess the full scope of the damage in Wenchuan and elsewhere because of the disruption in communications caused by the earthquake. More than 2,300 cell phone towers were knocked down by the quake, according to China Mobile, the country’s top carrier.
Xinhua, the official news agency, said the 107 fatalities were spread across Sichuan, neighboring Chongqing Municipality as well as in Gansu and Yunnan provinces. Damage is believed to be especially severe in Dujiangyan, a county of 600,000 people located near the epicenter. One local official described rows of collapsed houses, Xinhua reported.
Early Monday evening, Xinhua also flashed an emergency report from Dujiangyan describing that nearly 900 students were feared trapped after a high school collapsed. Most of the telephones in the city were not functioning, and the Xinhua report could not be independently verified.
Earlier in the day, the first reports of fatalities came in the east in Chongqing Municipality, where two primary schools were damaged. Four pupils died and more than 100 others were injured, state media reported. Another person was reportedly killed beneath a collapsed water tower in Sichuan Province.
China is prone to seismic activity and has suffered horrific earthquakes in the recent past. In 1976, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the city of Tangshan, located roughly 70 miles from Beijing. More than 240,000 people were killed and nearly every building was leveled. Communist Party officials initially covered up the extent of the death toll. Many of China’s biggest cities, including Beijing, are located in high-risk earthquake zones.
Monday’s smaller 3.9 magnitude earthquake in Beijing struck at 2:35 p.m. in Tongzhou, a district in the eastern half of the city. Many people in the city felt nothing at all, while others, especially those in high-rises, were alarmed by a swaying sensation. Thousands of workers were evacuated as a precaution.
“Suddenly, everything around me started moving and swinging,” said Xie Zhuofei, a salesman with a 17th floor office in Beijing. “I could hardly stand. Then I realized it was an earthquake. We went out immediately.”
Efforts to reach people near the epicenter of the bigger quake in western China were hindered by the damaged telephone system. But receptionists at different hotels in Chengdu said the earthquake appeared not to have caused any major problems in the city. Xinhua showed photographs of minor flooding caused by damage to an underground water pipe, but, as yet, the city seemed largely undamaged.
Labels: 2008 earthquake
| posted by Journey to Mia at 5/12/2008 08:31:00 AM
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
CCAA Update
Check 'em out!!! Babies!!!Where is Lilly?
Sunflowers and Ladybugs
roysamuel
Our Journey to Georgia
Baby Izabella
Strawberry Blond??? Yes, Strawberry Blond - From China!!!
Baby Sis
Ladybug Happenings
Our Expanding Family
On our way to Olivia
(LID 1/10/06) Journey to Sophia
(LID 1/10/06) Wait for Lily Kate
(LID 1/10/06) Asian Elephant Pregnancy
(LID 1/11/06) Collins Waiting for Ren
(LID 1/12/06) Journey to Georgia/David
(LID 1/12/06) Finding Miaya
(LID 1/12/06) Journey to Faith Meili
Special Needs Referrals:
Our Joyful Journey
Making Room for Mallory
Journey to our son in China
williamsfamily1990
Baseballs and Ballerinas
Our Journey to Sophie
Journey to China AND Vietnam
| posted by Journey to Mia at 5/07/2008 02:57:00 PM
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Eight Belles
I used to love to watch horse races. I'm not a big horse racing fan. But when the Kentucky Derby comes I love to watch it. Mostly because of the heartfelt stories they share in the hours leading up to the race. They practically make you fall in love with the owners, trainers, jockeys and horses.Last year I watched tearfully as Barbaro broke his leg and couldn't wait to hear how his "therapy" was coming along. I cried when I heard that they had to put him down. The documentary on Barbaro before the race last weekend made me cry again. I don't even know this horse, the owners, no one! But what a tragedy!
Then last weekend, it was Eight Belles. Two broken front legs. This just tears me up. Euthanized on the track.
I can't watch any more. It is too heartbreaking.
| posted by Journey to Mia at 5/06/2008 03:59:00 PM
Thursday, May 01, 2008
15 years???
This year is my 15 year high School Reunion! Holy Crap! Where did those 15 years go?I am freaking out about this. Why? not because I have gained 60 lbs since graduation (mostly due to infertility and depression!!!)... not because I can't stand the people I graduated with... It is because at our 10 year reunion it hit me in the face. These people I graduated high school with already have 3-4 kids. It is really depressing. I have been so stressed out about this-- I can't even begin to tell you. I really don't think I am going to go. I know I will end up crying the whole drive there and the whole drive home. I tried to explain this to my cousin/bff/classmate when I went to see her last weekend. Her reply - "There will be activities when people won't bring their kids! Just come to those!" And I know that! But the thought still irks me. Just seeing these people who are my age who have so easily popped out their kids hurts me. It was difficult for me to go and visit her last weekend with her two beautiful kids. I love them to death but it hurts me. And it is nothing they have done or anything they can help. but I can't get past the feelings of having empty arms after 15 years!
Me (on the left), my friend Michelle and My bff Emily (who I went to see last weekend!)
My class at Graduation. I am on the far left 2nd row from the bottom. And, ironically, my husband's brother is standing right next to me on the same row. Click on this pic to see bigger.
Our 10 year reunion. I am in the middle row turquoise shirt.
| posted by Journey to Mia at 5/01/2008 08:15:00 AM
