WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Goodbye to Larke and final BUSL regular season standings

Larke, who's shown in all her glory here, has left Beijing. She held a goodbye dinner on Saturday, and unlike most people who leave this wondrous city of ours -- that is, in a drunken stupor after careless consumption of liquid poison -- Larke kept her dignity by hosting a dinner in Wudaokou [correction: Kevin and Therese's apartment at DZM]. Incredibly, she cooked a sumptuous Indian meal. Kevin Reitz has all the details over at his blog.


Alicia, Larke and Helen

Best we can tell, Larke (like the bird) is leaving us for the States to change the world. She came in late January on a government grant to research air pollution, and we're sure she's leaving with expert firsthand knowledge. A laid-back SoCal native with an international bent who's quick to laugh and, despite protestations against drinking, fun at parties, it didn't take long for Larke make friends, especially with locals. One Scarlett Yan, for example, actually commented on one of my Facebook pictures to say she missed her.

Indeed, Larke, we will all miss you. Be sure to visit sometime.

And now your Week 6 summer league video, Catcher in the Sky vs. Hello Sexy:

Youku version here.

Alph the Sacred River blew another 4-0 lead, this time to Alchemy. With its 13-11 win, Alchemy secured the No. 1 seed for Sunday's finals and will play Catcher in the Sky in its semis.

I won't ruin the ending of the Hello Sexy-Catcher in the Sky game. Just know it went to Universe Point.




Final standings:

Alchemy: 4-1, +13
Hello Sexy: 4-1, +4
Catcher in the Sky: 1-4, -7
Alph the Sacred River: 1-4, -10

RETROSPECTIVE: Just another Tuesday post-pickup

At our go-to restaurant on May 26, 2009.

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Post-Dragon Boat Festival sadness: goodbye to Laurene

Looking good on the China Nationals party bus

The French girl in this picture left over the weekend for Rio de Janeiro, where she has a six-month job contract and, we can only imagine, all the luxuries in the world, so the Indian-American (also in the picture) threw her a going-away BCD. We would tell you what happened, but our maturer sensibilities prevent us.

Their names are Laurene and Larke.

Also of note, Jim flew off his bike on Second Ring Road while trying to avoid a motor bike Friday night, and when we say flew, we mean it. Luckily he used his S.W.A.T. training to duck and roll and minimize his injuries to just a skinned elbow and knee and bruise on the bum.

Not sure exactly why this is of note, but that man is pretty much always noteworthy.

POSTSCRIPT: Dragon Boat Festival in Qingdao:

RETROSPECTIVE: Spring league 2009!

From two days ago:

Jim with the Evil trophy after his team's epic win.

POSTSCRIPT: After this picture was taken at the hat tourney, we went to King's Bar and drank, among other beverages, this. Mouth-watering, no?

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Spring league hat tourney

From Duff's spring league hat tourney album

Team 2, consisting of Tao, Kevin, Aaron, Andy, Charlotte, Char, Therese, Gavin three other middle schoolers, et al., won 8-7 and 8-4.

Thanks to Duff for holding spring league this year. Afterwards we went to King's Bar and watched rugby and drank Hoegaarden and Bodington's.