I came across these notes I took during my trip to Hong Kong. I think I intended to write more, but I only got as far as Chicago. It’s still a pretty interesting read, though, regardless of my original intentions.

8 am at BWI
I am sitting at the gate listening to a guy talk to his girlfriend in (I assume) HK. I’m aggravated even being near him. The conversation is of no importance and he is clearly on the phone just to be on the phone. He is forcing his girlfriend to review video games with him, and they are both reviewing the same websites at the same time and talking about how “this game has a more complex class system than most games I’ve played lately.” He’s one of those arrogant know it all gamers, giving his two cents about where to download the game, who has discounts, and if she needs help downloading it because “he’s not there to walk her through it.” I guess she got a call on the other line, because he said “Who would be calling you at this hour?” (pause) “Well, tell her you are talking to me.” So he’s jealous, too… or controlling. You know the type. I’m embarrassed to be a gamer. If I ever get this irritating, slap me in the face.

8:41 Boarding Plane
Can’t help but watch all of the Asian people. Not trying to be creepy, but I’m fascinated since I’ll be in the minority in about 20 hours. I imagine they’ll be on my flight to HK. Is that a prejudiced assumption? I don’t mean to be.

10 am Chicago
I’m walking concourse c. I figure it’s good exercise before 16 hours on a plane. Sat next to a lovely older couple on the Baltimore/Chicago flight from Annapolis who are headed to Alaska. I asked Helen (and Vaughn) if they were going to say “hi” to Palin while they were there, and she said “no,” and then did something close to rolling her eyes. I liked her immediately. Helen and Vaughn have traveled the world, and they were so polite. Apparently the thing to buy in HK is pearls. Hers cost her $2k but she says it was her best purchase, and I will treasure them forever. We’ll see. She gave me a hug when we said goodbye.

11:05 am Boarding Plane for Hong Kong
You know you rarely see older flight attendants. Why is that? Good pension? Hmm.

When I’m walking in front of a stopped car at an intersection, I always attempt to make eye contact with the driver to make sure they are paying attention as I walk in front of their car. In Baltimore, however, this can easily be misinterpreted. Any hint of a smile as your eyes lock, any nod of your head in recognition of that connection… And you could suddenly appear to be a prostitute looking for a John.

It happened to me, oh yes it did. In Canton on the outskirts of Highlandtown I crossed. Looking cute but still in flip flops, not too dressed up but with a little bling, he nodded then smiled. I smiled back, thanks to a polite Midwestern upbringing, then immediately thought his smile was ever so slightly creepy. I instantly looked forward and felt him watch me as I walked by. I positioned myself on the other side of a sign as I walked away, attempting to block his view if he was watching.

The rattling I had noticed from his car suddenly seemed slightly louder, and I wondered if he’d inched up his car so that he could see me walk away. Alert, I kept walking and listening, and a minute or two later he turned and drove slowly down the street in my direction. I didn’t look, didn’t do anything but look forward and keep walking as his car rattled past and away.

I miss you. I love Baltimore, but I miss your mountains, your peaks, your sea, and your Buddha. I miss your lovely people – great friends. I miss so much. Oh, Hong Kong, please remember me as Ii remember you. I hope to see you again someday. There’s really nothing quite like you.

Love,
Charissa

Oh my. I just tried making Vietnamese BUN for the first time, and it was delicious. I didn’t follow a recipe exactly, and I made far too much of the sauce for my taste, so here’s the closest guess to what I’d try next time.

It’s not Nha Trang, but it’s yummy!

Ingredients
1/3 cup boiling water
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 teaspoons chile paste
1/2 garlic clove, minced
1/2 3-4 cups cooked vermicelli
1/2 package (5 oz) slaw mix (cabbage, carrots, etc)
1-2 cups fresh bean sprouts
1/2 cup chopped fresh mint
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
4 Hoisin-Marinated Pork Chops, thinly sliced, marinated overnight, and grilled

Preparation
Combine boiling water and sugar, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add juice, fish sauce, chile paste, and garlic. Set in refrigerator to cool.

Prepare noodles according to package directions (soak in hot water); drain. Combine noodles, slaw mix, and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl. Add juice mixture. Toss in pork.

Or should I say “Honk Kong” which is what I keep typing on Facebook.  I am one week away from leaving for the biggest, baddest trip of my whole life.  Ten days, no phone, no pets, no work, and one 34th birthday. GULP.

I am anxious and excited, and I can’t believe that I’m doing it.  I will forever be changed… and now it’s just 7 days away (and counting)…

While transitioning this blog from Blogger to WordPress, I’ve read a lot of my old posts, and there are a few topics I am going to make off limits from here on out.

First, no more talk about being stressed, tired, stress and tired, or feeling “off.”  Ugh. Enough of that. If I would have tagged every time I wrote about one of those topics, it would be half of my blog. It’s embarrassing.

No more lists, okay… I can’t do this 100%, but no more house cleaning lists! Book lists and movie lists are still okay.  C’mon… it’s the best I can do. No one needs to know when I do my laundry. Or scrub the floors. Or take out the trash.

I bore myself.  Don’t get me wrong, there are a few interesting posts in there, but the 30,000 foot view is a blur with uninteresting stuff.  I may not be a great blogger, but I commit to an increase in quality from here on out.  This post marks the end of that crap.

I haven’t blogged since early March? Yikes. I need to get on this.

Since March:
- Antonio is on two more medications/remedies
- My sleep test came back ok for apnea, but I have decreased stage 3/4 sleep
- My thyroid levels came back borderline, might be hypothyroid
- I’ve been working out for 3+ weeks, and I’m starting to notice changes
- Been eating a lot of salad

There you go. You’re up to speed. I’ll think of something more interesting soon. Promise.