Apologies for the slacking, to describe the last few weeks as chaos would be the understatement of the year.

Regardless, the Purple Puppy Pickup van has just taken the gremlin away to camp (yes, they have a purple doggy school bus that pulls up to the curb to pick up/deliver your dog – and it’s the norm for Japanese boarding) and we are all set for a weekend whirlwind tour.

Our flight to Beijing takes off in about six hours.

We’ll be in Beijing for less than 24 hours before the company gala on the Great Wall starts. This will involve dancing the Matsukan Samba with six co-workers in front of the Global CEO, Asia Pacific CEO, Japan CEO and all sorts of other people.  And I will be dressed in a yellow striped kimono with a plastic wig dancing the matsuken samba.

I will not be providing pictures of this, the highlight of my career.  I will however, provide you with a mental image.

I will be wearing this:

Plastic Wig and Gold Tinsel Pom poms included.

And dancing this:

Now, you’ll note that last week we did a skit (what’s with all the skits???) which required me simply to clap to the rhythm of “We will, we will rock you” and I COULD NOT DO IT. I can barely walk and talk at the same time without tripping over myself. I skinned my palms this weekend falling up the stairs.  Thus, a big ol’ slice of humble pie and public humiliation is coming my way this Thursday night.

Thus, there will be no pictures of the dancing.

The wall? Yes.

Beijing? Yes.

The dancing? Hell will be frozen and the devil will be ice skating in a pink ballarina outfit before that happens.

That said, if I survive the dancing, I will be immediately rewarded as we’re slated to spend a long weekend in Hong Kong. We’ve had the trip on the books for months now and were unable to cancel it so we’re heading from Beijing to Hong Kong.

Check back Tuesday for pictures!