Happy New Year!

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Happy and Healthy 2007!

Pictures from China

Here are the pictures I promised from our trip to Shekou last week.


Here are my girls in front of the Ming Hua.


Here are my girls in front of the Ming Hua anchor.


Here are my girls in the first class cabin of the ferry, showing off their Wal-Mart purchases.

Audrey on YouTube

Audrey sang a solo at church this morning. You can watch it on YouTube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBS_g5mFKEg

It is a 79 mb file, so I didn't post it on my blog.

The Clock is Ticking for Hussein

My personal predictions:

1. Saddam will be executed before the end of the year.


2. Baathists will pitch a fit.


3. Iraq will slide deeper into civil war.


4. There will be another huge attack on America in 2007.

Big Day

We had a really big day today. We got on the ferry this morning and we all went to Shekou. I wanted the kids and Sally to see Shekou and meet my language teachers. We ate lunch at Papa John's, and then went off to Wal-Mart.

We were able to get the girls some affordable clothes that fit, and found a few other fun things. One thing we saw that you just wouldn't see at Wal-Mart in the USA, is vacuumed packed chicken's feet for sale at the check out counter. Now, that's "all China".

We took the ferry back to Kowloon. Unfortunately, Audrey wasn't feeling too great at lunch and Emily isn't feeling too good right now. I'll post some pictures from Shekou tomorrow.

Our internet still working

A very big earthquake (or two) hit southern Taiwan and has broken some underwater telecommunication cables, including internet and phone services here in Hong Kong. My colleagues here have been without services today. Fortunately, we weren't affected.

I just heard that one of the stock brokerages has reverted to trading stocks on paper instead of electronically. Also, CNN Asia is out and they are broadcasting "World News Asia" from Atlanta! What am I going to do without Kristi Lu?



You can read about the story here.

Goodbye, Mr. President

Present Ford died today. I am really sad. Of course, I never met him, but I always admired him.






I remember the day he took office. I remember him pardoning Nixon. I remember all the jokes about him that Chevy Chase did on Saturday Night Live. I know that he wasn't elected to office, but I hear that he didn't seek it, either.

Tonight, on CNN, Bush said that "Gerald Ford blessed the United States with his life and his service to the country". What nice words. What a nice sentiment. And not a bad thing to have said about you after you're gone.

Pres. Ford: we're gonna miss you.

Merry CHRISTmas!

From our home to yours, we wish you a very merry, un-politically correct, CHRISTmas!

After all, it is the celebration of Jesus' birthday, not just getting the presents. May you truly understand the grace that comes from knowing the Birthday Boy!

Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

Casino Royale - Wow!

Sally and I went to a morning matinee of Casino Royale today. Wow!

It was violent. It was cool. It was action-packed. Daniel Craig was convincing. Eva Green was enchanting.

It is definately not Pierce Brosnan, in that, this Bond is super-tough. It isn't Sean Connery, inasmuch as this Bond isn't super-suave. It shows how cold-hearted Bond is. It shows how tender he can be. He doesn't have a lot of high-tech toys and he misses often when he jumps. And he get hurt. Hurt REAL bad. Q isn't in this one. I like Q.

Actually, the violence was a little too real and a little over the top for me. It, quite frankly, bordered on the "shocking" level for me. Certainly not a movie to take the kiddos to.

I overheard some kids talking about it later in the day, repeating what they had heard other adults saying about the movie. One said her French teacher said "it was lame". LAME? It wasn't lame.

I liked the movie, despite the violence. I look forward to seeing what Daniel Craig can do and how they develop 007 in his fashion. I hope they tone down the violence and bring back Q.

Old Friends

Thanks to the magic of the internet, I have been able to get back in touch with a friend that I have known for literally my whole life. We were in nursery class together in church, and lived next door to each other through high school. We used to watch James Bond and the Pink Panther together. I remember a funny story his dad told me that when he was in the army (I think) he put a cold Coca Cola in his canteen, thinking that when they got to where they were going, we would have a nice cold Coke. Of course, however, it simply spewed when he opened it.





This picture of me, Steve, and my sister Pam, was taken in July 1974.

Steve also had the coolest go-cart. I think we led to Mr. Sadowski's heart attack! I know that the little girl down the street probably gets aches in her shoulder after we pushed her off of it (shame on us!) He also had the neatest tree house. We killed a many robber, Indian, and bad-guy from that tree house, let me tell you!

In any case, after many, many years of being out of touch, we have re-established contact. What a very nice Christmas gift!

Trami Fizzled Out

Well, Tropical Storm Trami just petered out. It just flat went "poof".

In its wake is really, really nice weather. It is cool and clear with humidity levels down around 50%. High temps in the upper 60's. It is supposed to warm up in the next several days.

I ended up getting the girls and Sally electric blankets (from Wal-Mart!) for Christmas. Since it was pretty cool last week, I let them open them early. They were all very happy for them. I was happy that I could get a dual control so that I don't have to barbeque during the night.

Wal-Mart in China LOOKS a lot like Wal-Mart in the US. It doesn't have the same brands, but they do have lots of stuff made in China, just like in America! ;-)

Tropical Storm Trami

Well, Tropical Storm Trami looks as if it is headed straight for Hong Kong. Can you belive it? If it follows the course of most ofthe rest of the storms, it will turn and miss us. I guess that is better than a "Typhoon for Christmas!"

At least we have some great weather right now. It is clear and cool. It was 68 degrees in our living room this morning!

Cold Weather Warning

I had to laugh when I found this warning on the Hong Kong Oberservatory Website tonight:


COLD WEATHER WARNING COLD WEATHER WARNING
THE COLD WEATHER WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE HONG KONG
OBSERVATORY AT 4:20 P.M.
THE HONG KONG OBSERVATORY IS FORECASTING COLD WEATHER IN
HONG KONG TOMORROW.
AS HONG KONG IS BEING AFFECTED BY A COLD WINTER MONSOON,
PEOPLE ARE ADVISED TO PUT ON WARM CLOTHES AND TO AVOID
ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER. YOU MUST
ALSO ENSURE ADEQUATE INDOOR VENTILATION.
IF YOU MUST GO OUT, PLEASE AVOID PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO
WINTRY WINDS.
IF YOU KNOW OF ELDERLY PERSONS OR PERSONS WITH CHRONIC
MEDICAL CONDITIONS STAYING ALONE, PLEASE CALL OR VISIT THEM
OCCASIONALLY TO CHECK IF THEY NEED ANY ASSISTANCE.
MAKE SURE HEATERS ARE SAFE BEFORE USE, AND PLACE THEM AWAY
FROM ANY COMBUSTIBLES. DO NOT LIGHT FIRES INDOORS AS A
MEANS TO KEEP WARM.
WHATEVER THE TEMPERATURE, PLEASE ENSURE THAT THERE IS
PLENTY OF FRESH AIR IN YOUR ROOM WHEN YOU ARE USING AN
OLD-TYPE GAS WATER HEATER.
DISPATCHED BY HONG KONG OBSERVATORY AT 16:20 HKT ON 16.12.2006

By the way, it is supposed to get down to 12 C (53.6F) tonight. Whoop-ti-do.

Quick Reminder

You can look at my videos posted on You Tube at www.youtube.com/boynevision

You can look at other photos uploaded on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/rboyne

Christmas Cookies!

Mmmm, good!

HK Disney on Parade

Early Christmas Present

Today, we took the kids to Disneyland as part of a Christmas present from their grandparents Woolman. It was cold. It rained. But I believe we had the best time of any time we have been there, yet. It was really, really fun. Here are several pictures to document the trip:

Disney Merry Go Round

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

Cotton candy, anyone?

End of the Day

Cooler weather

Well, it appears that Utor won't be making a direct, or even glancing blow to Hong Kong after all. That is good news.

It has also cooled off. That is also good news.

The bad news is that it looks like it might be raining through the weekend. We are supposed to take the girls to Disneyland on Friday. It might be a cold, rainy Christmas present!

This evening, when I went outside, I actually saw my breath. (and I didn't even have garlic for dinner!) I was forced to wear a light jacket, with the rain and all. I must say, it was really, really nice!

Typhoon Utor

Well, just when you thought it was safe to go to Disneyland, here comes Typhoon Utor!

With the right hand hook that they have forcasted, it just might be in Hong Kong for the weekend. Egads!

Band Concert

The 5th Grade International Christian School Band held their annual Christmas concert last night in North Point, HK. Here is the link so you can watch Audrey in action. They have only been playing their instruments for four months, but they are as good as most 9th grade bands!

Ferry to Shekou

I take a ferry to Shekou every week for language lessons. This is one of the ferries that I take.



Inside the ferry.

The trip takes about 50 minutes, but I leave the flat at 6:45 am and arrive at 8:45 am. I take a taxi to the ferry terminal, buy the ticket, go through customs, board the ferry at 7:30, disembark at 8:40 and am usually sitting at Starbucks by 9:00 am.

14 Years and counting...

Sally and I said "I do" 14 years ago today. It was a cold and snowy day. We never thought 14 years later we would be living in Hong Kong with 2 beautiful daughters.

I love you, Sally!

Just Sad, so sad

Last year, and for the previous all the years of my life, I have had a yard to decorate. Well, OK, I lived in HK before and I lived in apartments in Los Angeles. But other than those 5 years or so, I have always lived where I could decorate the yard and the roof and maybe get a little carried away. But now, we live in a high-rise in Hong Kong and, well, you just can't decorate the roof when you live in a high-rise.

Last year, when we lived in Chiang Mai, kids in my neighborhood even called our house the "Christmas House". That was really cool. You can look at a picture of those lights here.

This year, well, it is just sad. I have a few strands of twinkle lights in the windows. Whoop-ti-do!

With the moon

From the street

Full building shot

Close up (you can see the tree)

From inside

Oklahoma 21 - Nebraska 7

Fiesta Bowl - Here we come!

Boomer Sooner!

A Hard Act To Follow

Today, I was the guest reader for my kids' school read-a-thon day. They invited professionals from the community to come and read a story to a couple of classes and to tell them how reading plays into my job.

They had airplane pilots, firemen, policemen, rescue workers, doctors, a chef, a professional musician, an artist, a pro soccer player, etc. Everyone looked pretty cool all lined up in their uniforms. Everyone except me. I (thankfully) don't wear a uniform. Anyway, I read a book to a class, then went down to the next class. (each class got two different readers) As I was waiting for the other guy to finish so that I could go in, the guy in the next class finished. He was the chef. His is the executive chef at the JW Marriott in HK. (just the kind of folks I like to meet!) He gave out chef hats and home-made cookies to everyone in the class. I am sure glad I didn't have to follow him, or the kids would have been disappointed!