Lessons learned

1. Turbulent flights on small aircraft, followed by a spicy Indian meal, followed by a ride in the backseat of a taxi through the busy, bumpy, windy roads of Pune, India, do not do good things for my tummy.

2. Indian food is spicier coming up than going down. And going down is spicy. 

Sick

She had croup and was up much of the night before, so I stayed home with her. She was hopping around for awhile, but ultimately crashed. I refused to move... it may be the last time she sleeps on me. My baby girl.

Crazy volleyball girls

Volleyball season has started once again, and so far so good. We've played in two tournaments and won them both! The team is very talented and so much fun. They play a tournament in Wisconsin Dells February 14-15, and I'm so disappointed I can't be there. I'll be in China/India, so that commute would be a little tough. 

But to kick off the season, I had the team over before Christmas. They decorated gingerbread houses, and even let Nolan join in.  

But mostly? They hung out in the basement. They split up into two teams of 5 and put on horror shows. They were really quite disturbing, and there was a lot of screaming coming from down in the depths. Followed of course by high-pitched young teenage girl giggling. It was so funny to listen to... and so easy! No one needed me at all. Such a far cry from what play dates used to look like!

And one of the best things of this group? So little drama! They really like each other and get along. You just can't make that happen, so it's certainly a blessing. It makes the season so much better!

At first glance

I'm here! I'm in China! China. How crazy is that? First things first, the flight was great. It was not busy at all, so I had four seats to myself. Nothing like stretching out and sleeping for 15 hours! Ok, I didn't quite sleep for that long, but seriously I have a gift. You give me 15 hours where I don't have to (nor can I) do anything productive, and I will spend it easily. I ate, watched two movies (Book of Life and The Good Lie--both very good) and slept for 8 hours. Woke up in China.

The airport. I wouldn't know it was in China, except for all the Chinese writing.

Yup, must be China.

 Oh, Dave look! GE!

 There's tons of construction here. Everything has been built up within the last 20 years alone. It looks like any big city. Construction, buildings, smog. I know it sounds strange but seriously, if it weren't for the Chinese people and the the writing, I wouldn't know I was in China.

 View from my hotel room (staying at the Four Points).

 When we got to the hotel and walked outside, it was like an entirely different world than what I saw driving there. Beautiful shops, outdoor restaurants. And the weather is really perfect... about 55-60 degrees.

 And it's coming upon the year of the sheep! February 19 is Chinese New Years, so everything is all decked out.

 In a bread place, it's hard to see, but these are called Lucky Horns and Happy Goat Lucky. It looked European to me.

We wandered into a grocery store, which I always think is fascinating. Eggs of all shapes and sizes!

 It was like a WalMart--had everything there. The smell of fish was a little overwhelming.

 Duck, maybe?

 No idea.

 Who wants pigs feet?

 Abby look! It's chicken fingers!

 Mmmm. For you, Dave.

 Because it's Chinese New Years, they have a lot of boxed gifts, alcohol included. Much like Christmas.

 Seriously, in the mall area, they had a kids play area called modern toilet. The seats were toilets. I see a Kohler sponsorship opportunity!

 Modern Toilet Dessert House anyone?

 Urinals on the wall. Toilets to sit on. Um, ok.

 Kumquat tree in my hotel.

 At the office... the picture to the women's bathroom. Thank goodness for the ponytails!

 And the view from... the bathroom. I thought it was funny the bathroom had windows. :)

Ok, off to do work. Happy Thursday! I mean Wednesday! I mean, whatever day it is wherever you are!

Waiting

I tried to post this from the plane but it wouldn't work, so posting now...

Just sitting on the plane, waiting for my next adventure. Butterflies in my stomach, if I thought too hard about them I would cry in panic. Up all night with my sick baby girl. If I thought too hard about her I would cry from missing her. 

Deep breath, watch a movie, eat some lunch, fall asleep, wake up in Shanghai and share my experiences. A whole new world. 

Wish me luck, say a prayer!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Best.Christmas.Present.EVER

Two words... plant shutdown. Everyone should have it. Between Christmas and New Year's, all of Kohler in Wisconsin shuts down. Literally. For two weeks I was off and I got few to no emails. Seriously. That never happens. Even on vacation everyone else is still there, sending emails and doing work. And that piles up in my inbox. When the company shuts down, that just doesn't happen. A benefit I don't ever want to give up!

Other amazing Christmas spirit experiences... These two adorable Littles getting ready for the Kohler Christmas Show Extravaganza.

This amazing elf... more to come...

The amount of time Ava and Max spent in these boxes, playing Box Trolls (from the movie).

The annual Christmas shopping tradition, which, thanks to the intranet, has largely turned into the long lunch and drinking tradition. Dave took it to a new level with Da Bomb burger. A burger with bacon other stuff, and the buns are grilled cheese sandwiches with bacon. Oh yeah, and an onion ring. And he ate it all. Woah!

A new band concert. I don't think band concerts will ever be my favorite, but I was impressed with what these 5th graders could do. And don't they look good all cleaned up?

Best buds... Nolan, Ryan and Jack.

Making pierogis! We still have some in our freezer.

These beautiful trees at work. I was mad when I came home from India in October and they were putting them up, but ultimately I loved them. They are all over, and truly make the campus beautiful.

Remember that elf I mentioned above? When we went to the Kohler Christmas Extravaganza, there was a long line for Santa so we couldn't see him and still make it in time for the show. So the elf above (also known as Karen, a woman I work with), told Max and Ava she knew Santa and could tell him their wishes. So, they got to tell her. And then, amazing Karen, wrote and printed out the scrolls below, letting them all know that she saw Santa and told him their wishes. The kids were thrilled, and it totally made my Christmas.

Oh, and the day before I was out for two weeks, I went to the Kohler Co. holiday caroling. They are all volunteers and practice twice and then put on the most amazing concert. And then Mr. Kohler, who looks and sounds a lot like Santa himself, reads some Christmas stories. It was a great way to start my Christmas break. (Seriously... Christmas break. Once you're out of college, who gets that??)

This girl. She LOVED being in her Christmas program. Elementary school Christmas programs also will never be my favorite, but she was fun to watch.

And so was he. :)

Oh! I also went to a performance of the Mayville Singers with my good friend Jenny Fink. Her son Nathan is a singer, and I had to get this picture with him. When I met him, he wanted to marry me. And he was 4. Now he's taller than me. And I'm pretty sure he doesn't still want to marry me.

 Finally (because there's only so many things you can fit in pre-Christmas), we went to Cirque du Soleil. Dave and I actually saw this one before, but loved it. And we thought the kids would love it, and mostly they did. Funny that they all matched... I didn't plan it at all!

 

Max!

Max!

  Max. :)