Thank you scooter man!

We've been to the scooter repair shop three times in the last week.

1) I needed a replacement side mirror, and Rachel's accelerator wasn't working properly.

2) Rachel needed a new battery.

3) I had a flat tire.

The most amazing one was the flat tire - 45 minutes of labor to find and patch the leak in the tube, and the bill came to a whopping 3 RMB, which works out to around 40 cents US. Not bad. Now that we are all patched up and the weather is nice, I've got big plans - scootering to Metro, to go bowling, to go to the IF on Sunday... our world is expanding again!

The fun of being out there waiting during the repairs came in watching their little boy - probably no more than 3 years old, he wielded a hammer with confidence. Granted he simply used to beat the already-cracked sidewalk, but with a little direction he'll be just like his Dad. When he wasn't "working" he was busy chasing around his girlfriend - the neighbor from next door who was clearly a regular playmate.

One of the nights we were there, we also heard what could only be described as a marching band from the housing complex across the street. There was definitely drums, cymbals, and brass, and it HAD to be live music. We asked, and the shopkeepers replied that the music was supplied for dancing. They didn't seem to think it was all that strange.

I find marching band music to be strange no matter where I'm at. Well, other than a football game.

-alan