We\u2019re headed back to IKEA today.\u00a0 We bought a few extra curtains by mistake (two panels in each bag instead of one).\u00a0 It was the fastest trip ever for us.\u00a0 I took care of the return while Judy picked out the replacement drapes.\u00a0 We were home in less than an hour.<\/p>\n
Back at the apartment, we finish hanging all the drapes, and a few other sundry items that needed placement.\u00a0 The changes look great.\u00a0 Bit by bit the apartment is becoming upgraded.<\/span><\/p>\n Two items are really big in the news in Beijing these days.\u00a0 I read in the paper that fireworks are going on sale Saturday, Jan. 25.\u00a0 From what we\u2019re told by the \u201cold-timers\u201d at BISS, it\u2019s a crazy time.\u00a0 They tell us we can expect to hear fireworks (big commercial type fireworks, not firecrackers) going off 24\/7.\u00a0 It\u2019s supposed to last for two weeks.\u00a0 Since we\u2019re leaving town the day the fireworks go on sale, we may miss a lot of the activity.\u00a0 There have already been a few nights when we heard big fireworks in the neighborhood.<\/span><\/p>\n The second subject getting a lot of talk is the discussion of the \u201chuman migration\u201d that takes place during the Spring Festival (New Year).\u00a0 It\u2019s a tradition for everyone to go back home during this holiday.\u00a0 The news outlets are saying that over 3 billion train tickets have been sold for this holiday.\u00a0 That\u2019s a lot of people.\u00a0 Apparently, many people can\u2019t get tickets, and there are reports of false ID\u2019s being used to purchase tickets and then scalped.\u00a0 The online ticketing process is not functioning as smoothly as needed under the pressure \u00a0\u00a0Standing-room only tickets are also being sold.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We\u2019re headed back to IKEA today.\u00a0 We bought a few extra curtains by mistake (two panels in each bag instead of one).\u00a0 It was the fastest trip ever for us.\u00a0 I took care of the return while Judy picked out … Continue reading