I'm Back

I am just back from China. Could not post there as they block many western internet sites - NPR, Facebook, this blogspot, etc. Going to other countries always make me appreciate what we have in the US. I believe the air quality is significantly worse than my last trip here, which was right before the Olynpics when they had shut down factories and limited car usage to improve the air quality. The smog is almost at ground level most of the day. The tops of most buildings are hidden in the haze. About 50% of the people where masks. Though, not sure if that is due to air quality or fear of the swine flu.

So glad to get back home to see colors. Beijing is just shades of gray - gray roads, gray buildings, gray air.

While I was away, Baby Bear once again spiked a fever. No flu...just general yuck. Since she did not feel like doing much, Daddy Bear went to the library and rented a few videos - one being Clifford's Big Adventures. This was our first full length video. The plot of the movie is that Clifford, the Big Red Dog, runs away to join the circus. When Emily Elizabeth discovers that Clifford is gond, we notice Baby Bear's bottom lip start quivering. Then the sobs came. How do you explain that this is just a movie and that Clifford would come back. So sad!!!

My theory on why this hit her so hard is that her Grandma and Grandpa were in from Kansas visiting for the last few days. They went home yesterday and I know she is missing them. Maybe Clifford going away struck this sore spot. Guess we are not ready for G movies yet....was is more gentler than G?