So I haven’t been writing here lately. A lot has been going on. “A lot” consists mostly of getting the new apartment ready to be moved into. Also, David Lancashire has moved from Beijing down to Shanghai to work for ChinesePod, and he is currently staying with me in Lenny’s old room. I have extended my lease until January 25th. That should give us plenty of time to get the new apartment ready to be lived in, and also give David enough time to find an apartment.

The other big thing is today I bought my new computer. I haven’t bought a new computer since Hangzhou. I bought it with Wilson in 2002, I believe. I have done a few upgrades here and there and added some peripherals, but it’s the same computer. (John B’s computer, also bought in Hangzhou, was slightly younger and just died recently.) I decided that it’s time to upgrade, and upgrade I did. The new computer has:

• an Intel DuoCore 2.8 MHz processor
• 1 GB of RAM (I didn’t go crazy on this one, but it can easily be expanded to 4 GB)
• two 160 GB hard drives (OK, I went a little crazy on this one)
• a DVD-ROM and a DVD R/W
• a TV card, for watching and/or recording TV on the computer
• a 19” LG flatscreen monitor

The broadband connection (2 MB plan) goes live next weekend, and when it does, I’ll be moving over right away to start using this awesome new computer.

SS and I have been spending money like crazy lately, and it feels kind dirty and sinful, I must say, but our spending is about to grind to a halt. We’ll be pretty comfy, though.

I’ll post pics of the new place (finished!) soon, but it’s so close to finished that I want to get it there before taking the pics.