Cricket anyone??

For those of you who check the blog site regularly for new photos may be wondering about the pictures from India.  Our new Managing Director for India is big on team building and there is no better way to do that than through sports so he organized a monthly Cricket Match for the entire factory.  The second test match happened to fall on the same weekend that I was there so I got to participate in a 10 over match.  We divided up into three teams and I got to draw for which team got the first round bye and as luck would have it I drew our team.  As a result we were automatically in the final round and had a chance to scope out the other teams.  The field we played on was an open clearing near the factory and actually had a road that ran through the middle of it that was used by farmers, bikers, motorcycles and the occasional water buffalo.  We even had two cows and a water buffalo as mascots throughout the match as their owner was grazing them on the field and he decided to hang around and watch the match.

The game of cricket is similar (sort of) to baseball in that there is a bowler (pitcher) a batsman (batter), runs, hits, outs and fielders.  That pretty much sums up the similarities.  From there it deviates quite a bit.  An over is 6 balls bowled.  The bowler's objective is to hit the stumps (wickets) that the batsman is trying to protect.  If the stumps are hit it is called a wicket and the batsman is out. If the batter hits the ball (in any direction) he may choose to run from one set of stumps to the other which scores a run for each "lap" between the stumps.  The fielders then field the ball and throw it to the catcher who tries to hit the stumps before the batsman reaches the safety of the batter's box. If the ball is hit and goes outside the circular boundary on the ground it is an automatic 4 runs, if the ball goes outside the same boundary but in the air it is a "homerun" and counts for 6 runs.  If a fielder catches a batted ball in the air - the batter is out.  Each side bats for 10 overs (60 balls bowled - not counting "wide bowls" and "no bowls") consecutively or until they get 10 outs. 
We played the winning team of the first game and won 68 to 63 in 9 and 2/3rds overs.  Our final batsman won "man of the match" by hitting two "fours" and a homerun to seal the win.  All in all it was a very fun afternoon in the mid seventies with plenty of sun.  I came back to Shanghai with quite a case of sunburn but it was well worth it to experience India's national past time.

What a difference some paint makes!

Well it has been a while since I have been able to sit down and put together a few words so I hope none of you are giving up on the Smith blog!  Funny how my least productive week on the blog corresponds to one of the busiest weeks I've had so far! 

The painters have left and the color remains and it looks great!  Each of the boys rooms are two-toned with a main color on 3 walls and one accent wall.  The living room is a light blue with a brownish-tan accent color in the kitchen and main entry.  I arrived home from India on Sunday afternoon to a beautiful house in the midst of Christmas decorating!  With the paint, pictures on the walls and Christmas decorations it really feels like home.  All we need now is a little bit of snow although from the sounds of it Minnesota and Europe are hogging all the snow this year. (Regan just showed me the video of the Metrodome roof collapse!) We are having quite a bit of rain these days but we really need the moisture.

Ali, Mason's girlfriend, arrived on Sunday evening but I was well into slumberland due to my red eye flight from Bangalore so I have yet to see her as of this blog (Monday night China time)  She accompanied Mason to school today and we will all be having a nice homemade Chinese dinner that Cynthia and Mrs. Jin prepared - dumplings, spring rolls, rice and salad.  Yum can't wait.

Tis the season...

No matter where you are in the world it seems that this time of year is truly the busiest.  Cynthia went shopping today for Christmas decorations and came home with lots of greenery and even a Chinese Christmas tree (aka Norfolk Pine).  It is about 6-1/2 feet tall and we planted it in a large ceramic vase.  We even had the traditional "Is it straight?" argument just like setting up a real tree back in the states.  Tomorrow night we are going to a champagne tasting and dinner being sponsored by Elle magazine.  A former 3M colleague's wife is an executive with Elle and extended the offer to us - we are looking forward to the evening.  This past weekend marked the final football weekend culminating in the awards banquet on Saturday night where each of the boys received a nice trophy along with a framed team and individual photo.  Sunday was the final final game of the season against a newly formed Chinese team.  They had only been playing for a few weeks so our coaches switched all our boys to new positions to try and even the playing field.  Although the Chinese team put up a gallant effort they were no match for red blooded football loving 8, 9 and 10 year olds.  Landon got to play fullback and scored a 2 point conversion from the five yard line!  The weather was beautiful - blue skies, sunny and in the low 70's which is actually well above the norm for this time of year but we'll take it.  The Cub Scout pack meeting was also on Saturday and Landon earned his Whittling Chip award, table tennis belt loop, football achievement pin and football belt loop.  They also handed out the coveted Pinewood Derby cars for the big race in February - now we just have to come up with a winning design.  I am off to India on Wednesday and Ali arrives on Saturday.  We are busy getting the house ready for her arrival - including having all the rooms painted.  Should make for an eventful week - actually glad I will be on a business trip!