IKEA

Ileana was going to IKEA so I decided to ride along. I didn't need anything but I had a pretty lazy week so I just wanted to get out of the apartment. We left at 9:15. We arrived at 10 right when the doors opened.

We looked around and Ileana found a few things she wanted. I grabbed some napkins then decided to get some Christmas ones and a napkin holder. Oh and a place mat type thing to put in the middle of my table for December. 4 items was my big shopping spree. Ileana finally had to get a cart because she just could not hold anymore. She grabbed a few Christmas presents in the toy section for her nieces and nephews.

We looked at bookshelves for at least a half hour trying to decide which one she wanted and which brackets she needed. After all that time she finally decided to get the one shelves that come with brackets in one package. That was a tough decision let me tell you.

We went in the section where they have clocks and things. All of a sudden my eyes see this clock. It was black, tall with a big clock and shelves. I said "oh my gosh that clock is neat". Ileana agreed and said another one of our friends, Nadia, has it. I couldn't stop looking at it and loving it. I thought where it could go in the apartment but I couldn't figure out what I would do with it back in the States. I was leaning towards not getting it. Plus, it was 999rmb ($160 about). We continued shopping.

On the lower floor is where the big boxed items are so we decided to go look at 17-19...the clock, just one last time. We ended up putting 2 onto the big cart. Ileana and I both impulsed bought it.

We continued to look at the Christmas stuff. Ileana was buying all kinds of cute things. She was trying to decided on these big light up stars. We looked over and her driver was drinking something leaning on a table just staring at us. We are pretty sure he thought we were crazy. She finally decided to buy the stars and we could figure out at home how/where she could use them. Finally in the check out lane. Ileana had a ton and I still had my 4 little items plus the clock. Checked out and I went with Leo to load the van. Ileana hit the bathroom and the food section. She bought what she needed and was back in the van.

We headed home. We arrived about 1:15. I had told Megan to put some cards she had for me on the refrigerator that was still in the hall since I wasn't home and she was at my neighbors. She said "what if they come get it?" I told her it had been 3 weeks that they were suppose to get it I'm sure they will be fine. We carried all the stuff in and I went up to my apartment. I grabbed the cards off the fridge and went inside. I decided to put my clock together. Got the tools I needed and opened the boxes. My ayi was looking at me trying to figure out what I was doing.

Ileana came up to supervise and by 2:15 the clock was together and in its spot. We just need to anchor it to the wall. I like it but it isn't as deep as it seemed in the store. Still cool though. I finished getting everything ready for Beijing and headed out at 2:50 to go get Cameron. I walked out of my apartment and guess what? The refrigerator was gone. I could not believe it. I immediately sent Megan a text. What a weird fluke that was.

My new clock.

Grabbed Cameron and headed to Beijing. We were making great time until the spot right after the Beijing toll. There is a spot where some people have to stop to get a permit to get into Beijing. For some odd reason the interstate is blocked off, which it always has been, and all cars have to maneuver through this little spot. Today the traffic was backed up for a long time. When we finally drove through this spot we noticed a ton more police officers and they were stopping some cars. I'm not sure what is going on but security has definitely got more visible. We were able to just drive through but we saw 4 officers looking at a baseball bat they took out of a car. Strange.

We were back on the interstate and headed to the airport. Todd flew in from Harbin. We picked him up and went to the hotel. We checked in and were upgraded to a suite...Sweet! Hit the lounge so Cameron could grab a snack since he was starving. Todd ran into a guy he works with so we talked to him for a few minutes and then went to the Kro for dinner. It was packed. We were told there were 6 tables to be filled before we would get one. No problem. We went to the bar and ordered an appetizer. As it turned out we just decided to order our food and take it back to the hotel.

Walked back to the hotel with our food and had dinner. Showered, watched a little tv, and off to bed.