If you saw this post before I added this comment, I’ve edited the list of funny town names below. Readers commented that there were entire states missing from my list. I did an online search and found an exhaustive (exhausting?) list of funny US towns. The list below now reflects that search, plus additions suggested by readers. If your state is missing or if you know of other funny place names, feel free to click on the comments link at the end of this post.

Many have inquired how we are doing after last Wednesday - we’re just fine. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, see the last blog post.) If we’ve got to be stranded somewhere, how could we go wrong being here?! We’re enjoying extra time with Megan, Jim, and our grandson Drew, and if they’re tired of us, they’re too gracious to hint that they are. They say our car repairs should be done by the end of the week. It’s a little unsettling to think they’re going to hand us the car with thousands of dollars worth of repairs done underneath and we’re going to begin a 700 mile trip home! Please pray that the repairs will indeed by completed satisfactorily this week. We have jobs back home, and our time off this week is without pay since we’ve used up our paid personal time.

We were finally able to pull some pictures off Megan’s camera, and so I’m putting several below. I told you how intently little Drew watched the fireworks Wednesday evening. Here’s how he looked for a solid half hour….

Megan was able to take a picture of Becka while they waited in the ambulance for all the formalities to get settled outside. You can see in the picture in Drew’s car seat the little yellow fireman’s hat and bear the firemen gave him.

We really enjoyed our evening with the members of the 1982 class of Inter-City Baptist High School who were able to be present at their reunion. It was great to see them again and to get reacquainted after 25 years! It was a great evening of laughing, reminiscing, and praising the Lord for His goodness in our lives. Several tried to get me to believe that I look just the same! I used one of my favorite Dr. Guenter Salter lines on them - “So do you mean to tell me I looked this old back then?!” They would then moderate their comments by saying, “only a little lighter on top.” (I hope that was a reference to hair color!) Several recoiled when I said something about their being “middle aged” now. It made me think of a blog post from last summer called “middle age” for those who’d like to read it. Below is a picture of most of those who were in attendance….

We have seen and heard some pretty interesting names of people and places during our time in the Detroit area. This area is truly diverse in its ethnic background. I remembered a list I had of funny place names that I thought I’d share with you today.

Funny Place Names

After you read the list below you might wonder with me HOW they ever came up with some of these amusing, crazy-sounding names for these towns and villages!

United States by state

Alabama:
Dollar, AL
Pig Eye, AL
Rash, AL
Sardine, AL
Section, AL
Shorter, AL
Smut Eye, AL
Zip City, AL

Alaska:
Candle, AK
Dead Horse, AK
Mary’s Igloo, AK

Arizona:
Grasshopper Junction, AZ
Monkey’s Eyebrow,AZ
Organ Pipe, AZ
Santa Claus, AZ
Why, AZ

Arkansas:
Alf, AR
Ben Hur, AR
Grape, AR
Hog Wallow, AR
Ozone, AR (Hey, I thought Clinton and not Gore was from Arkansas!)
Possum Grape, AR
Toad Suck, AR
Tomato, AR
Turkey Scratch, AR
Y-City, AR

California:
Burnt Ranch, CA
Confidence, CA
Cool, CA
Likely, CA
Prunedale, CA
Raisin, CA
Skidoo, CA
Thermal, CA
Weed, CA

Colorado:
Bountiful, CO
Empire, CO
Hygiene, CO
No Name, CO
Nowhere, CO
Paradox, CO
Tincup CO

Connecticut:
Giants Neck, CT

Delaware:
Bear, DE
Blades, DE
Hourglass, DE

Florida:
Briny Breezes, FL
Bunker Donation, FL
Celebration, FL
Christmas, FL
Couch, FL
Day, FL
Elfers, FL
Frostproof, FL
Panacea,FL
Picnic, FL
Possum Bluff, FL
Sopchoppy, FL
Spuds, FL
Tobacco Patch Landing, FL
Two Egg, FL
Wacahoota, FL
Yeehaw Junction, FL

Georgia:
Alley, GA
Arabic, GA
Benevolence, GA
Doctortown, GA
Enigma, GA
Experiment, GA
Flintstone, GA
Hephzibah, GA
Homerville, GA
Ideal, GA
Magnet, GA
Mayday, GA
New Georgia, GA
Snap Finger, GA

Hawaii:
Papa, HI

Idaho:
Beaver Head, ID
Butte City, ID

Illinois:
Energy, IL
Goofy Ridge, IL
Grand Detour, IL
Kickapoo, IL
Normal, IL
Oblong, IL (Hence that old classic headline “Normal Boy Marries Oblong Girl.”

Indiana:
Alert, IN
Bacon, IN
Beanblossom, IN
Beehunter, IN
Birds Eye, IN
Buddha, IN
Carefree, IN
Fickle, IN
Santa Claus, IN
Solitude, IN
Steam Corner, IN
Toad Hop, IN

Iowa:
Beebeetown, IA
Tingley, IA
What Cheer, IA

Kansas:
Agenda, KS
Buttermilk, KS
Gas, KS
Liberal, KS
Moonlight, KS
Neutral, KS
Protection, KS
Skiddy, KS
Smileyberg, KS

Kentucky:
Acorn, KY
Asphalt, KY
Awe, KY
Beauty, KY
Cut Shin, KY
Decoy, KY
Dukedom, KY
Dwarf, KY
Grannie, KY
Hazard, KY
Hippo, KY
Jetson, KY
Krypton, KY
Lovely, KY
Moon, KY
Mummie, KY
Mud Lick, KY
Oddville, KY
Ono, KY
Ordinary, KY
Parrot, KY
PeeWee Valley, KY
Pyramid, KY
Quicksand, KY
Ready, KY
Redhouse, KY
Relief, KY
Select, KY
Shoulderblade, KY
Slusher, KY
Turkey, KY
Viper, KY
Vortex, KY
Wax, KY

Louisiana:
Aimwell, LA
Cutoff, LA
Goober Hill, LA
Kickapoo, LA
Plain Dealing, LA
Slaughter, LA
Trout, LA
Vixen, LA
Waterproof, LA

Maine: (see a sign with some place names)
Mount Desert Island, ME
Strong, ME

Maryland:
Boring, MD
California, MD
Hale, Maryland
Point of Rocks, MD
Scaggsville, MD

Massachussetts:
Belchertown, MA
Cummaquid, MA
Mashpee, MA
Sandwich, MA

Michigan:
Christmas, MI
Climax, MI
Hell, MI
Lake, MI
Nirvanna, MI
Paradise, MI
Saline, MI

Minnesota:
Blue Earth, MN
Bowstring
Credit River, MN
Embarrass (one of the coldest spots in Minnesota)
Frost
Gully
Montevideo (pronounced with the “video” just like a video tape)
Motley
Savage
Sleepy Eye (Little House on the Prairie location)
Twig

Mississippi:
Arm, MS
Bobo, MS
Chickenbone, MS
Chunky, MS
Doglap, MS
Grin, MS
Hot Coffee, MS
Money, MS
Petal, MS
Screwdriver, MS
Swampbottom, MS
Sweatman, MS

Missouri:
Bland, MO
Clever, MO
Competition, MO
Dissen, MO
Elmo, MO
Enough, MO
Fairdealing, MO
Gipsy, MO
Grubville, MO
Gumbo, MO
Moody, MO
Novelty, MO
Peculiar, MO
Pumpkin Center, MO
Service, MO
Shook, MO
Skidmore, MO
Success, MO
Tightwad, MO

Montana:
Hungry Horse, MT
Moose Town, MT
Opportunity, MT
Pappa’s Place, MT
Power, MT
Stump Town, MT

Nebraska:
Magnet, NE

Nevada:
Carp, NV
Pahrump, Nevada
Searchlight, NV

New Jersey:
Ho-ho-kus, NJ
Hopatcong, NJ
Piscataway, NJ

New Mexico:
Flying H, NM
Organ, NM
Truth Or Consequences, NM
Sunspot, NM
Toadlena, NM
Weed, NM

New York:
Bath, NY
Chili, NY
Fishkill, NY
Flushing, NY
Horseheads, NY
Mooers, NY
Triangle, NY

North Carolina:
Bandana, NC
Cooleemee, NC
Frying Pan Landing, NC
Kill Devil Hills, NC
Tomahawk, NC
Tuxedo, NC
Welcome, NC
Whynot, NC

North Dakota:
Beach, ND
Can Do, ND
Mott, ND
Hoople, ND
Horace, ND
Max, ND
Ray, ND
Napolean, ND
Zap, ND

Ohio:
Burgoon, OH
Businessburg, OH
Clyde, OH
Coolville, OH
Defiance, OH
Jelloway, OH
Knockemstiff, OH
Pepper Pike, OH
Poland, OH
Put-in-Bay, OH
Rising Sun, OH

Oklahoma:
Bowlegs, OK
Kremlin, OK
Loco, OK
Happyland, OK
Okay, OK
Slapout, OK
Straight, OK

Oregon:
Aloha, OR
Boring, OR
Drain, OR
Half.com, OR
Idiotville, OR
Riddle, OR

Pennsylvania:
Bird-in-Hand, PA
Buck, PA
Burnt Cabins, PA
Economy, PA
Export, PA
Flourtown, PA
Honey, PA
Jugtown, PA
King of Prussia, PA
Laboratory, PA
Lawn, PA
Library, PA
Lover, PA
Manda Gap, PA
Paint, PA
Peach, PA
Plum, PA
Railroad, PA
Scalp Level, PA
Slippery Rock, PA
Snow Shoe, PA
Spry, PA
Squirrel Hill, PA
Stalker, PA
Stiltz, PA
Burning Well, PA

South Carolina:
Ninety-Six, SC
North, SC
Prosperity, SC

South Dakota:
Bonesteel, SD
Box Elder, SD
Crooks, SD
Eaglebutte, SD
Gopher, SD
Mud Butte, SD
Pukwana, SD
Roscoe, SD
Tea, SD

Tennessee:
Bugscuffle, TN
Bugtussle, TN
Defeated, TN
Difficult, TN
Disco, TN
Flippin, TN
Only, TN
Skullbone, TN
Smartt, TN
Soddy-Daisy, TN
Static, TN

Texas:
Ben Franklin, TX
Best, TX
Bigfoot, TX
Blanket, TX
Boston, TX
Bushland, TX
Camelot, TX
Canadian, TX
Cee Vee, TX
China Grove, TX
China Grove, TX (yes, two of ‘em)
Chocolate Bayou, TX
Cost, TX
Cut and Shoot, TX
Dripping Springs, TX
Earth, TX
Egypt, TX
Fink, TX
Flat, TX
Friendship, TX
Grow, TX
Gun Barrel City, TX
Happy, TX
Honey Island, TX
Hoop and Holler, TX
Lawn, TX
Lazbuddie, TX
Moss Hill, TX
Muleshoe, TX
Nacogdoches, TX
Needmore, TX
Needville, TX
New Boston, TX
Noodle, TX
Notrees, TX
Oatmeal, TX
Old Boston, TX (yep, Boston, New Boston, and Old Boston, TX!)
Old Glory, TX
Pep, TX
Petty, TX
Progress, TX
Quail, TX
RingGold, TX
Rosebud, TX
Royalty, TX
Schertz, TX
Study Butte, TX
Telegraph, TX
Tigertown, TX
Tiki Island, TX
Turkey, TX
Tuxedo, TX
Valentine, TX
Veribest, TX (not to be confused with Best, TX)
Zunkerville, TX

Utah:
Bullfrog, UT
Hurricane, UT
Orderville, UT

Vermont:
Bread Loaf, VT
Mosquitoville, VT
Notown, VT

Virginia:
Bane, VA
Clam, VA
Disputanta, VA
Fourway, VA (2 of them)
Frogtown, VA
Goochland, VA
Moonlight, VA (2 of them also)
Pocket, VA
Short Pump, VA
Simplicity, VA

Washington:
Aloha, WA
George, WA
Index, WA
La Push, WA
Medical Lake, WA
Onion Creek, WA
Pysht, WA
Ritzville, WA
Ruff Starbuck, WA
Tiger, WA
Walla Walla, WA
Zillah, WA

West Virginia:
Acme, WV
Alloy, WV
Big Ugly, WV
Big Ugly Creek, WV
Canvas, WV
Friendly, WV
Frost, WV
HooHoo, WV
Kermit, WV
Left Hand, WV
Looneyville, WV
Mammoth, WV
Man, WV
Muddlety, WV
Nitro, WV
Odd, WV
Pinch, WV
Quick, WV
Replete, WV
Shanghai, WV
Sod, WV
Tornado, WV

Wisconsin:
Beetown, WI
Chili, WI
Coon Valley, WI
Cornucopia, WI
Cream, WI
Egg Harbor, WI
Embarrass, WI
Footville, WI
Hustler, WI
Oshkosh, WI
Rising Sun, WI
Spread Eagle, WI
Tell, WI
Ubet, WI
Victory, WI
Village of Superior, WI

Wyoming:
Bairoil, WY
Jackson Hole, WY

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Anglesy, Wales is an interesting place name, or perhaps better yet is a town in New Zealand that boasts the longest place name in the world - Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu (85 characters long!)

Here’s a picture I found online of a sign with the town’s name…

quotation…

“If there’s nothing about our lives that shows the imprint of God, then He doesn’t get the glory.” - Dr. Drew Conley

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

The optimist is often as wrong as the pessimist, but he is much happier.

Today’s instant vacation highlights some interesting aspects of life here in the southern part of the USA. I’ve now lived here almost half of my life. I heard something on the radio the other day that made me do a Google search. I found lists similar to what I’m sending today for almost every state in the South, with just a few local variations. It should help non-Southerners understand life here better and give Southerners a chance to chuckle at some of the local charm.

Interesting facts about the South and Southernosity…

Florida, except for the areas closest to Alabama and Georgia (pronounced Jawja), is *not* considered a Southern state. There are far more Yankees than Southerners living in Florida.

There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 of them live in the South.

There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in the South, plus a couple that nobody has seen before.

Unknown critters love to dig holes under your tomato plants.

Raccoons will test your crop of melons and let you know when they’re ripe.

Possums will sleep in the road with their feet in the air.

“Onced” and “twiced” are words.

It is not a shopping cart - it is a buggy.

Fire ants consider your skin a picnic.

People actually grow and eat okra.

“Fixinto” is one word, and it’s a verb. Example: I’m fixinto go to the store.

“Backwards and forwards” means “I know everything about you”.

“Jeet” is actually a phrase meaning “Did you eat?”

You sometimes have to switch from heat to air conditioning, all in the same day.

All festivals across your state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect, or animal.

You only know 4 spices - salt, pepper, Tabasco, and ketchup.

The local papers cover national and international news on one page, but require 6 pages for local gossip and sports.

You think the first day of deer season is a national holiday.

You find 100°F (38°C) “a little warm”.

You know that the South really *does* have four distinct seasons - almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas.

Going to Wal-Mart is a favorite pastime, known as “Goin’ Walmartin’” or “Off to Wally World”.

You describe the first cool snap (below 70° or 21°C) as good pinto bean weather.

If there is the prediction of the slightest chance of even the most minuscule accumulation of snow, your presence is required at the local grocery store. It does not matter that you don’t need anything from the store - it is just something you’re supposed to do. Apparently, since the items Southerns rush out to buy are bread, milk, and eggs, the comfort food of choice in a “snow crisis” *must* be French toast.

You know that fried catfish is the other white meat.

You don’t have to wear a watch because it doesn’t matter what time it is. You work until you’re done or it’s too dark to see.

Stores don’t have bags; they have sacks.

You see a car running in the parking lot at the store with no one in it, no matter what time of the year.

You install security lights on your house and garage, and leave both unlocked.

You think everyone from a bigger city has an accent.

You know what “cow tipping” is .

You don’t PUSH buttons, you MASH them.

And you don’t TAKE someone to the doctor’s office or any other place - you CARRY them there.

You know what a “DAWG” is.

When you live in the country, you don’t have to buy a dawg. City people drop them off at your gate in the middle of the night.

A carbonated soft drink isn’t a soda, tonic, or pop. It’s a Coke, regardless of brand or flavor. Example: “What kinda Coke you want?” “Aw, I’ll have a Dr Pepper, thanks.”

You know the difference between a hissy fit and a conniption fit, and that you don’t “HAVE” one, you “PITCH” one.

You know how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up “a mess.”

You know the general direction of not only “yonder” but also “cattywumpus.”

You know exactly how long “directly” is - as in “Going to town, be back directly.”

You grow up knowing the difference between “right near” and “a right far piece.” You also know that “just down the road” can be 1 mile or 20.

Even Southern babies know that “Gimme some sugar” is not a request for the white, granular sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table.

You know instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who’s got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad. If the neighbor’s trouble is a real crisis, you also know to add a large banana puddin’.

You both know and understand the difference between a redneck, a good ol’ boy, and po’ white trash.

You would never assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn or change lanes. Most Southerners do not use turn signals, and they ignore those who do. In fact, if you see a signal blinking on a car with a southern license plate, you may rest assured that the blinker was on when the car was purchased.

You make friends while standing in lines. You don’t do “queues,” you do “lines”; and when you’re “in line,” you talk to everybody - even total strangers!

Put 100 Southerners in a room, and half of them will discover they’re related, even if only by marriage.

You never refer to one person as “y’all.”

You know grits come from corn and how to eat them.

You know:
- that tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful.
- that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food.
- and that fried green tomatoes are *not* a breakfast food.

When you hear someone say, “Well, I caught myself lookin’,” you know you are in the presence of a true Southerner!

You say “sweet tea” and “sweet milk.” Sweet tea indicates with sugar, and *lots* of it - Southerners do not like their tea unsweetened. Sweet tea is appropriate for all meals, and you start drinking it when you’re two. “Sweet milk” means you don’t want buttermilk.

You know you don’t scream at little old ladies who drive 30 mph on the freeway. You just say, “Bless her heart,” and go your own way.

You don’t need no stinkin’ driver’s ed … when yo mama says you can drive, you can drive!

To those of you who’re still a little embarrassed by your Southernness - Take two biscuits, a dose of sausage gravy and a tall glass of sweet tea, and call me in the morning. Bless your heart!

And to those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Southern stuff - Bless your hearts. I hear they’re fixinto have classes on Southernosity as a second language!

And for anyone who is not from the South but has lived here for a long time - Y’all need a sign to hang on y’all’s front porch that reads, “I ain’t from the South, but I got here as fast as I could.”

Bless your hearts! All y’all have a blessed day!

quotation…

“Am I living so that it’s obvious that God is the most important person in the universe, and not I?” - Dr. Drew Conley

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob Loach in Greenville SC

Two reasons that it is so hard to solve a redneck murder -
1st - The DNA is all the same.
2nd - No dental records.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in China, but it is certainly nice to be back at home in the good ol’ USA too, believe me! Every country has its cultural peculiarities. My students this summer decided that Chinese people and American people are more alike than we’re different, yet we truly are very different. Today’s iv points out some cultural pecularities of Americans and life in the USA.

Only in America

You can get a pizza to your house faster than an ambulance.

There are handicap parking places in front of a skating rink.

People order double cheese burgers, a large fry, and a diet coke.

Hot dogs are sold in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight. Go figure!

We use answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so we won’t miss a call from someone we didn’t want to talk to in the first place.

A citizen of America will cross the ocean to fight for democracy, but won’t cross the street to vote in a national election.

We yell for the government to balance the budget, then take the last dime we have to make the down payment on a car that will take 5 years to pay off.

We demand speed laws that will stop fast driving, then won’t buy a car if it can’t go over 100 miles an hour.

We get upset that we’re spending over a billion dollars for education, but spend billions of dollars a year for cigarettes.

We whip any enemy in battle, then give them the shirt off our backs.

We know the line-up of every baseball team in the American and National Leagues but mumble through half the words in the “Star Spangled Banner”.

In the office we talk about baseball, shopping or fishing, but when we’re out at the game, the mall or on the lake, we talk about business.

We applaud our free press even when they convict innocent people in print.

We’re supposed to be the most civilized nation on earth, but we still deliver payrolls in armored cars.

We have more experts on marriage than any other country in the world ….and still have more divorces.

We tie up our dog while letting our sixteen year old run wild.

We will work hard on a farm so we can move into town where we can make more money so that we can move back out into the country.

We’re the country that has more food to eat than any other country in the world, and with more diets to keep us from eating it.

We leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and leave useless things and junk in boxes locked in the garage.

We’ll spend half a day looking for vitamin pills to make us live longer, then drive 80 miles an hour on slick pavement to make up for lost time.

***
updates…

It feels kind of odd - after getting “re-oriented” four weeks ago, we’re now suddenly “disoriented” again! This morning I’m *truly* disoriented as my internal clock is still trying to be hungry and sleepy at all the wrong times. I’m glad I got the bulk of this ready back in our apartment in Haikou! My thinking is rather unclear this morning. Hope the rest of this personal update makes sense.

As seems to be typical of international air travel, we experienced delays and missed connections. Our pilot of our flight out of Beijing told the passengers he was actually going to leave about 10 minutes early to beat an approaching storm but was delayed by the tower because of those same weather conditions. The resulting half-hour delay plus the airline’s extremely slow handling of the baggage everyone had to reclaim in order to clear customs caused us to miss our connection to GSP. Since United did not have another flight to GSP until this morning, they tried and were able to get us on an American Airlines flight that would still get us home last night. Phew! It was already a very long day and we did not want to have to find and pay for a hotel in Chicago in our state of brain-deadness! We know that many interceded for us yesterday as we traveled. We have much to do to get settled back in here, but I will try to get a blog entry up in the next few days so that people can see what we enjoyed in the Beijing area. Our couple of days there was a nice mix of relaxation and new adventures.

quotation…

“In America you can go on the air and kid the politicians, and the politicians can go on the air and kid the people.” - Groucho Marx

=^..^= =^..^= =^..^=
Rob Loach in Greenville SC

Americans are getting stronger. Twenty years ago, it took two people to carry ten dollars’ worth of groceries. Today, a five-year-old can do it.

Flying is such an interesting and unpredictable experience! We heard all sorts of inanities over loud speakers, and much of it sounded as if the person making the announcements was none other than Charlie Brown’s teacher! Wa-wa-wa…. Anyway, here are a few things you would *not* want to hear on a plane.

Things you don’t want to hear on an airplane

1. On an ocean crossing flight: “This is your Captain speaking, I just wanted to take this time to remind you that your seat cushions can be used as floatation devices.”

2. “Hey folks, we’re going to play a little game of geography trivia. If you can recognize where we are, tell your flight attendant and receive an extra pack of peanuts.”

3. “Our sudden loss of altitude allows a unique close up perspective of the local terrain. I assure you that it’s all part of our airlines new commitment to make your flight a sight seeing expedition.”

4. “Goose! Bogey at 2 o’clock … He’s hot on our tail! … Eject! Eject!”

5. As the plane turns around right after takeoff: “… uhhhhh … We have to go back. … We… We… uhhhhhh …forgot something….”

6. “Ummmmmm … Sorry, everybody ….” (silence)

7. “To the passengers on the right-hand side of the plane, I’m sure you’ve noticed the loss of an engine, however the reduction in weight and drag will mean we’ll be flying much more efficiently now.”

8. “Fasten your seatbelts!” (Spoken in the same tone that a friend with suicidal driving tendencies uses when you get in a car.)

9. “This is your captain speaking. These planes are a lot different from the ships I’m used to … so please give me some leeway if this flight doesn’t go to well.”

10. “It would be a good idea right now if everyone would close the shades and watch the inflight movie.”

11. “We’ve now reached our cruising altitude of 20,000 feet and … oh, stink!”

12. “Aww, I can’t figure out how to turn this thing off and don’t worry - that gauge is always on ‘E’.”

13. “Stewardess, would you please bring four parachutes to the front cabin.”

***
personal update…

Last evening we arrived safe and sound here on the island where we’ll be teaching for the next three weeks. Our classes begin Monday morning. The departure of our flight from Chicago to Beijing was delayed by 7 hours, as we awaited the arrival of another plane since the one we were supposed to go on had mechanical problems. We spent a “pleasant day” reading, dozing, and strolling around O’Hare airport. Once we were on board, our departure was delayed by yet another hour because a passenger was ill. Since he had to be taken off the plane, they also had to find and remove his checked-in luggage from the luggage compartment. So, instead of arriving in Beijing at 2:30 p.m., we arrived at 10:30 p.m. Long couple of days…. But by arriving so late in the day,we basically breezed through customs and finally arrived at our hotel at about midnight. My thanks to those of you who prayed about the ear problems I’d been having. PTL, no problems at all on any of the three flights. After a nice breakfast Friday morning, we took a 10-minute walk to Tiananmen Square. Our flight left for Hainan right on time. The plane was crowded and hot, but punctual. Friends met us at the airport with smiles and waves, and we were taken to the apartment where we’ll be for several days until another becomes available. It did not take us long to remember how tropical it is here! Phew! Today’s heat index is supposed to be 110 degrees F with *lots* of humidity.

=^..^= =^..^= =^..^=
Rob

What does Geronimo say when he jumps out of an airplane?