China Itinerary

Leave August 30 - 8:27 a.m. arrive San F 10:05 a.m.
Leave August 30 - 2:50 p.m. arrive Beijing 5:35 p.m. August 31 (time difference)
staying at Jiangxi Hotel
September 1 Tours
September 2 Tours; Peking Duck Dinner
September 3 Tours; Travel to Ji’nan by train 1:30 to 6 p.m. Stay at Litian Hotel
September 4 Tours; Travel to Tai’an by motor coach. Tours. Stay at Taishan International Hotel
September 5 Tours
September 6 Travel to Qufu by motor coach, tours. Travel to Shanghai by overnight train departing at 8:17 p.m. (Sounds like an old Humphrey Bogart movie)
September 7 Arrive Shanghai at 4:50 a.m. (WOW) Tours and acrobatic show. Harbour Hotel
September 8 Travel to Suzhou by motor coach, tours. Return to Shanghai, Harbour Hotel
September 9 Tour and FREE afternoon (I smell shopping). Dinner not included - maybe McD’s?
September 10 Depart Shanghai at 12:05 p.m. on Air China with brief stop in Beijing (1:50 to 4 p.m.) (looks like a shop-stop to me) Arrive San F same day at 12:40 p.m.
Leave at 6:25 p.m. arrive at DFW 11:43 p.m. (Who wants to stay up really late? If no takers, I’ll have the shuttle take me home. I think it is about $25 but I will check with Paul)
September 11 Collapse!
Time difference is like this:10 a.m. FW is 11 p.m. next day in China (Can we ever get this straight?)
6 p.m. FW is 8 a.m. in China next day
10 p.m. FW is 12 noon next day in China
I will do what I can with e-mail and maybe can get a call from here. It costs $1 a minute to phone to the US from China. I will let y’all know more as I learn.
Take care of yourselves. I love you ALL!

BABY?

Melinda--we know all about Anna and Tommy, but what about the baby? What's the plan for this weekend? And how are you feeling? Do you have everything you need, or is just old hat now that you've already had two?! (A word of warning though--parents only have 2 hands. And going from 2 to 3 is an increase of 50%!)

Shades of the Seventies

I am setting up an account at a place that sells tie-dyed T-shirt blanks. If anyone wants to do something really radical for their HOA, reunion, etc., just let me know. They are only $4.85 in regular sizes and are Hanes 100% cotton. They also have kids sizes starting at 6-8 and some even come in sizes up to 5X (not a pretty sight).

...And you thought our family picture was bad!

This picture was taken about 1924 and includes Pappaw Marion Maserang (highlighted in the front) and many that I do not know. However, I do know that the man with suspenders behind Pappaw is Leo Maserang (Marion’s grandfather) and next to him with her hair up and a scowl on her face is Effie Nora Maserang. The young boy in her lap must be Leo Maserang Jr. who was 2 1/2 years younger that Pappaw (born in December, 1922). The little girl in a bonnet next to Pappaw is his sister, Martha. In the very back row, on the right, are Mary Lou and Johnnie Maserang, Pappaw’s parents. You will notice that Gary, Mike and James all favor Johnnie. I also think Tommy Najera looks a little like Pappaw did as a boy with that impish face! I am sorry that we did not find this picture before Pappaw died. He could have identified many of these people. I will call our cousin, Anna Lee, and see if I can send her a copy and have her ID as many as possible. She is well into her 90s, so I am not sure how that will work, but I will try.

More on Bob

Bob is moving to rehab this evening. He is speaking more intelligible words and was able to sit up unassisted at bedside for a few minutes today. He has good reflexes in both arms and legs, but still has a long way to go before he's able to walk again. Dottie is taking things one day at a time and we've scheduled a family meeting for Labor Day to consider long-term possibilities. We appreciate everyone's prayers and concern on his behalf.

President Faust will be missed

President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died at his home early this morning surrounded by his family.


President Faust, 87, had served in the First Presidency since 1995 and as a General Authority of the Church for 35 years. A Church statement today said that President Faust had died of “causes incident to age.”


President Faust was appointed second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 12 March 1995. The First Presidency is the highest presiding body in the government of the Church

Pray for Evelyn Meakin

I got a call tonight from Sara Meakin Purser who reports that her mother, Evelyn, is in ICU at Arlington Memorial with a need for open heart surgery. Of course, she is not up to that so some other lifesaving procedures are underway. She is on a ventilator and has a serious problem with fluid around her heart. Please keep Art and Evelyn and family in your prayers. They have been really good friends and Art was a wonderful friend to Grandpa Bill.

Additional Update on Granddad von Bose

Bob is making progress and they have for sure determined that he had an aneurysm. He is limited in movement and speech and cannot swallow. They will move him to Huguley Rehab which is where Pappaw was when we had that party last year. Dotty told them she wanted him where he could get the best rehab, not just the closest place, so that is where he is going! They have really good therapists there who seem to care a lot about the patients. They will not move him until a feeding tube is installed, so watch for an update from someone. I talked to Susan vB tonight since Ginny is camping.

Update on Granddad von Bose

As you know, we left early on Sunday because Jared's dad was taken to the hospital, having suffered a stroke during their Ward break the fast. As of Monday evening we are still waiting on test results from an MRI. We know that it was a left-brain stroke that has affected facial movement on the right side and the ability to formulate words (called Broca's or expressive aphasia). He appears to understand what people say to him and was starting to regain his ability to say a few simple words as of Sunday evening. He told Dottie "I love you" and she said it was the most beautiful words she had ever heard. Reflexive movement in both legs and arms is intact, but when Jared saw him today he was only using his left arm to gesture, so we don't know yet if he can move his right side. A speech therapist will assess him tomorrow morning to determine how much his language has been affected. His vital signs: blood pressure, pulse and oxygen are all good and there are no clots in his heart. We appreciate everyone's prayers on his behalf and will keep you posted on his progress.

Hail, Hail, the Gang’s All Here or Rejoicing in Your Posterity

It was wonderful to have everyone together for Luke’s blessing and also to celebrate Anna’s birthday. If the cake messed up Biggest Loser this week, everyone will just have to try harder next week. I am posting the family picture which is probably the best of the lot. Special thanks to Linda for shooting the pics.

What is happenin’?

In Connie’s backyard, there is a split trunk tree with large leaves where the trunk is completely covered with a white web-type substance. A lot of ladybugs and their larvae are on the white trunks. We have researched in the Texas Bug Book, online and in some other publications and nothing is mentioned about this web stuff which is pretty thick. I keep telling Connie a monster spider is up in the woods behind the house and just like on SciFi Channel, it will come out one night. She does not believe me. Anyone got a better thought? What is this thick white web?

The Cycle of Plant Life

Sometimes plants grow in my compost heap. Due to all the rain, this has been a very good year for that. I now have potatoes. miniature pumpkins and canteloupes growing. You can see one of the large canteloupes in the upper right of picture. Mother Nature does some interesting things.

MATTEL RECALL

Mattel has issued a huge recall on toys made in China, mostly Dora and some infant stuff. I know some of you have these because I have bought them before for the kids. I do not believe any Action Group toys are in the group but I will doublecheck. Go to mattel.com and click on RECALL to see pictures of all the recalls.

Congrats to Suzy

Congratulations to Suzy who received a promotion to Data Services Director this week. Hopefully, a raise will be forthcoming. She is a dedicated employee who works really hard and really deserves the recognition. Way to go, Suzy!