1/13 40

40 in a month. Crazy.  I'm convinced it's not really middle age ... I have at least 15 years.  I could live to 110;).  Honestly, "middle age"? Really?

1/12 Tet II

Six foot high Tet packages full of biscuits and wine - in shops, on the sidewalks and of course on motorbikes.  Fabulous.

1/11 Tet

Yellow flowers everywhere. Watermelons.  Lucky Money. Rice wrapped in banana leaf packages. New Year excitement is building;).

1/10 What Can I Say?

In Vietnamese ... not much:(
Hello
Thank you
Finished
Beautiful
How are you?
Fine
1-999999
See you tomorrow
Pineapple
Papaya
Mango
Take Away
... but interesting to see where my priorities lie;)

oh and Chuc Mung Nam Moi - Happy New Year!

1/9 Afternoon BBQ

Steamed muddy fish in a gourd.  Heineken. Spicy prawns. Gigantic Squid with mint.  Twenty different fish sauces. More Heineken.  Massive lanterns begin hung for Tet.  Pages and pages of Vietnamese translations.  All on a sleepy Sunday afternoon, hid in a beautiful BBQ restaurant in District 3.  I love Saigon.

1/8 Organized Chaos

Nothing like the organized chaos of Saigon.  The traffic, the laws, the language, the grocery stores ... a mystery.  Fabulous.  Just a year to figure it out!

1/7 Just a Dream

Colorado feels like a dream - a gingerbread filled snowy dream with fireworks and people who understood what I was saying.  A dream with presents everyday and hot water in every faucet.  A dream with friends on platforms and food in the fridge. A dream with fireplaces and snowmobiles.  A dream with men in drag and pregnant ghosts.  A fabulous but all too short dream. 

1/6 Jitters

Feel like a newbie on my bike.  Actually found my self looking to the right and left.  Looking in my side mirrors.  Stopping at stop lights.  ... it only took me about 20 minutes to get back into the swing of things.  Silly side mirrors. 

1/5 A Day of Rest

First Day of rest since September.  TV sucks in Saigon;). 

1/4 Lost Time

Traveling back in time. Fighting with taxi drivers. Regardless Saigon feels welcoming.  The humidity is instant and wonderful.  The traffic is congested but flows.  The noise is ceaseless but comforting. It all feels like home. 

1/3 Blue Traveler

Long lines, long flights, rushed connections, no sleep, no wireless - a very blue traveler indeed.

1/2 Organic Shopping

A day with my aunt shopping in Boulder.  Nostalgic pics, antique spoons, fabulous earrings and a delicious visit to an organic pharmacy.  Dinner at a fantastic French bistro with my last glass of truly amazing wine and delicate mussels. Thanks Deb;).  Can't wait to see you in six weeks!

1/1 12 Days of Christmas

On the 12th day of Christmas and the first day of 2011, we all packed up and said goodbye.  Goodbye to my favorite Leachman Skinner Blue Christmas Holiday to date.  Just can't say how grateful I am to have such a wonderful family. Bittersweet but softened by the fact that I will see my mom and aunt in just under six weeks in Vietnam for my big 40;).

12/31 11 Days of Chrismas

On our 11th day of Christmas together, we celebrated by finishing the gingerbread village - everyone was involved in the construction and design;) including some amazing gum drop trees by my Aunt Debra, playing Allen's "Put for you Life" of which Myler won again with a book no less, and, of course, the finale of finales-fireworks.  We had watched fireworks almost every nite, worked on the gingerbread house every nite and played games every nite.  But tonight was the night ... and it was cold.  So as the ball dropped in Manhattan, we stood outside bundled and cheering for a the best firework show of all. Thanks Dad;)!

12/30 Lazy Day

Fabulous lazy day at the house.  Dad built a zip line in the gingerbread village. "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" Vietnam thanks to Chance's brilliant tech skills.  Only one day left;(.

12/29 Roller Coasters and a Lone Snow Man

Went to the caves and braved a roller coaster on a mountain in the snow - I was only able to watch the latter due to the fact that it was totally CRAZY!;)  My made our one and only snow man of the trip due to lack of snow at the house.  Games, gingerbread construction and a lovely nite by the fireplace one again.  One thing I realize that I love about the states is that I can get hot water anywhere anytime;). Had an incredible steam shower.  However, I do miss my weekly spa visit.  Spoiled here or spoiled there? Hmmm...

12/28 Ice and more Diners

This time last year I was freezing in Jharkhand, but it was nothing compared to the chairlift today.  My and I finished 20 minutes early. Painful as it was to stop, it was just too cold.  Stone and Allen were, of course, the last on the lift.  Mom, Deb and I went to a diner for dinner and drinks.  Had perhaps one of the best nights I've ever had with those two.  I'm sure it didn't have anything to do with the gorgeous bartender;).

12/27 Aspen Cafe

Dropped the Skinners off at Aspen's family friendly Buttermilk Resort - heated ski boats and all. My goodness. Dad, mom, My and I had a little lunch at a lovely crowded cafe in the heart of town.  Only one celeb spotting - John Stamos's wife in Full House.  Meet a wonderful couple who filled us in on all the hot spots in Carbondale. The four "adults" went for drinks that night as we "kids" played connect, or should I say them "kids" played connect.  I failed miserably, but absolutely love the concept.  Want to buy one for Saigon;).

12/26 Saigon Sadness

Up at 7am, looking out at Mount Sopris as the sun rises in front of a fire.  Beautiful.  But some reason, I missed Saigon. Crazy. 

12/25 Speed

Unconventional Christmas.  Brunch at a diner.  And four totally amazing hours with the entire family racing up mountains and speeding through powdery valleys on snowmobiles.  It took me leaving Colorado after 16 years of living there to do this - thank god I didn't do it before.  I would have never left;).

12/24 Movie Madness

Another great day of skiing.   Topped off by a fabulous game night.  I wasn't sure if we were all up to the task, but as soon as Stone and I started, it was clear everyone was game.  Simple enough - act out a scene from one of the top ten Christmas movies.  Team Holly - White Christmas.  Team Mistletoe - A Christmas Carol.  Before I could shout go they were gone.  Mistletoe ended up in the laundry room planning for over 20 minutes.  Holly immediately started applying make-up - think "Sisters".  What I thought would take about 15 minutes took well over an hour.  Pictures up soon as nothing else could demonstrate the incredibly superb acting skills and creative genius of Christmas Eve 2011.

12/23 Ski Ski Ski

Stone and I got to the mountain early and skied all day.  Felt amazing. Started the gingerbread village.  A ten house plan with two mountains, a valley and lake ... so far;).

12/23 Jeopardy by Chance

Skiing.  Intense anxiety over the old school chairlifts was gone the moment I got on them - like I never left.  Stone and Myler took care of me, though, when I was panicking - they were very patient.  My and I had a great lesson together.  Home to drinks, dinner and a fabulous game of Jeopardy designed by Chance and expertly co-hosted by My. I won two hours of technical support;)

12/21 She'll Be Comin Around the Mountain

Hectic morning organizing gifts and bags. Amazing to see the aunt, uncle and cousins.  Off to Carbondale in the late afternoon.  Tunnels closed.  Had to go around and up the mountain.  Six hours, instead of three, later we arrived to fireworks, my little brother Stone dancing in the driveway and surprisingly no snow.  Reunion was fabulous.  Thank god I was able to keep the tears at bay.  Still no reverse culture shock.

12/20 Boulder

Surprised my Nana at the airport.  Spent a wonderful day in Boulder with family.  The highlight, besides seeing my grandmother, was an incredible grilled cheese sandwich in the most beautiful Victorian I have ever seen.  Spent the evening with two close friends in their gallery/home drinking wine and pomegranate margaritas, talking about food, family and community - all of which they are both masters.  Love you Tracy and Kelan.  Awesome day. 

12/19 Echo

Lunch with my Echo ladies.  Amazing.  Malia on Skype from Maui after an hour of technical difficulties.  Incredible to be with everyone, but still feels like I never left.  It will be almost five years since we all talked about where we would be when we are 60.  Now I know, we will all be still be friends, still be Echo.  No matter where we are. No matter what we have become.

12/18 Like I never left

Expectations shattered.  Arrival in Colorado feels like I never left.  Dinner with good friends after 35 hours of travel was incredible.  Wine just tastes better.  Organic food, hot water everywhere. Lovely but just feels normal.  Not better, not worse and definitely not home.  Nor is Saigon.  But I don't think that is the point in my life ... a physical home. Hopefully, my "home" is travel. My "home" is visits with family.  I feel at home in different countries and I feel at home with my family no matter where we are. 

12/17 Transit Luxury

South Korea rocks.  I had a layover for 12 hours and promptly checked into a "transit hotel" where I had the best shower I've had since I've been gone.  Awesome.  The next 12 hours were spent watching 4, yes 4 movies, and then sleeping for about two hours.  Arriving in LA, I felt great especially when I realized I really really really wouldn't be charged $200 for 160 lbs of luggage.

12/16 And I'm off

The 30 hour journey begins.  No bag charges a good sign.  Free wine an even better one;).

12/15 Ao Dia

Wore my Ao Dia for Hoa Binh today.  The principle came in and gave me a hardy handshake,  Merry Christmas and a sweet but awkward "you look so lovely".  The cardinal rule in wearing an Ao Dia is that you must wear you hair down - so I did feel quite "lovely" except for when my motorbike ate the bottom of it;(.  I guess the second cardinal rule is always tuck.

12/14 30/4 again

Christmas coffee with my favorite class of executives at 30/4 restaurant.  Have to take my mom and aunt there.  Lovely view of Independence Palace and the gardens.

12/13 Inflation

Inflation is up to 10% so says the government.  But it's really around 11.5%.  So my lovely Aussie based bank won't sell me any dollars.  Ludicrous and infuriating.

12/12 Excitied

Can't focus. Excited.  Nervous.  Expecting serious reverse culture shock.  Only four days;)

12/11 Hand Stitched Painting

Started the day with 15 of my 20-40 year old corporate students eagerly grabbing out of another class.  They looked like 7 years olds as they presented the most beautiful hand stitched picture of a yellow Vietnamese countryside.  They were adamant that I take it home to show my mom.  Spent the evening with a dear friend sharing secrets and drinking too much wine.

12/10 Dinner at La Maison

Dinner at my 10 year old students house aka weekend apartment on the 26th floor of a highrise just outside of the city.  Didn't know what to expect.  Was greeted with a handmade candy Christmas wreath and many desperate pleadings to play wii.  Ate  yummy cold mussels and a chicken drumstick with chopsticks and a spoon.  Was entertained with magic tricks by an 8 year old and invited to go swimming.  The view was spectacular but the conversation even better.  Left even more convinced and very guilty that he is indeed my favorite student;).

12/9 Ao Dia

My favorite public school gave me the gift of an Ao Dia, a traditional Vietnamese dress,  for Christmas.  Met with one of the teachers to choose fabric.  We then drove down the road to the tailor.  Truly a hole in the wall with no address.  He took about five strange measurements (ie the length of my fingers and wrist to my elbow).  He did not measure my hips or legs.  Two days later I cautiously tried on the pink and black silk to find that it fit perfectly ... and quite beautifully;). 

12/8 Bookstore

Spent my afternoon in a bookstore buying far too many Christmas presents.  Western magazines, calendars, books.  I was in heaven.  The only thing missing was Dwell ... ah Dwell. Only two weeks left;)

12/7 Vietnam Wins!

Motorbikes, red flags, golden drums, pots and pans ... wheelies and reverse wheelies.  For hours.  Vietnam beat Singapore.  I was stuck in Dune for over two hours because the streets were so crazy.  It was perhaps one of the best nights I've had in HCMC.  I inched my bike out into the madness and it took me about a half hour to go a half mile home.  Fabulous.  National Pride on big red and yellow starred flags beaten out on golden drums.  

12/6 Directions

Directions are primarily verbal.  Maps only seem to confuse and inspire more questions.  Okay if you have time ... infuriating on a deadline.

12/5 Vietnamese Sayings

Today I learned one of my first Vietnamese saying "Learn to forget".  Interesting.

12/4 Dryers

I just realized I haven't seen or used a clothes dryer in over a year;).  The great thing is that I haven't missed it.