They Pimped My House!

Finally some photos to show you some of the hard work of our Glasgow buddies.  This is Caleb's new work space.  His desk is now in his room with the AC unit instead of at the dining table.  It folds down when not in use (as seen in a photo below).  The kids' chairs hang behind the door when we're not using them.

These cool boxes hang on the wall and give some needed storage.
The theme of this office/storage room is "Out of the Floor".  Now the dryer is out of the floor.  Books are out of the floor.
The printer, modem, phone, papers, power strip, bottled water, games and calendar are all out of the floor, too.
This is an upstairs area between the three bedrooms.  Its a home school area now with a dry erase board and desks for Bethany and Hudson.  One is up and the other down for illustration purposes.
Caleb and Hudson's clothes: Out Of The Floor!  Hallelujah!!!  These little things spin around in each corner.  This is the open and closed view.
A bookshelf full of stuff that was in the floor.  You see Hudson's "closet" beside it.
Another bookshelf in our room.  Guess where all that stuff had been.  Right.  The floor.  I know what you're thinking.  That is a LOT of shoes for a man.  Men are supposed to have one pair of tennis shoes and one pair of dress shoes.  Truthfully, I only wear two pairs but am too cheap to throw away the ones I don't wear.  Some of them belong to the kids, too, I think.
Finally, Bethany's wardrobe.  Houses here don't have closets at all.  You have to add them later and then get all your stuff out of the floor.  The nice thing is that you can take them when you move.
Since, Abby has the before and after photos that is the best we can do.  We have quite the set-up now!!

Big Stars

Recently Bethany and Dad met the cast of High School Musical 3. 

We are a big deal.  They are much taller than you'd think.

Well Look at That!

Today Angie called from the kitchen, "Come here. Hurry. But be quiet." So we run into the kitchen, look out the window and see ... perched on our neighbor's back gate ... A MONKEY. Well, I'll be. Never have we gone out to see a monkey just outside our back door. He ran around our place, then up to another neighbor's place before disappearing down the street.

He was wearing a collar of sorts so he wasn't some wild monkey. Well, I guess ALL monkeys are wild. But this one was someone's pet we think. WAS someone's pet. Now he is free to go about his evolving. Or stealing bananas. Whatever monkeys do in their free time.

Too Good for a Title?

Everyone is awake now

We threw our schedule out the window and have been traveling some the last couple of days and not able to update, sorry! So here is a look at some of what has been happening.
Clowning around in the car:
Looking good at the mall
A short BR31 break for good measure.

Chillin with the neighbors

Jet Lag!!

The second day is the worst because you don't expect it.  Then from out of nowhere ... BAM!  And you're asleep.  Abby, of course, doesn't fall asleep.  She just sits down which is such a reduction in energy from normal it is like being asleep for most people.

Packages, Boxes, and Bags

It was like Christmas Day around here on Wednesday.  What an unbelievable blessing!

Miracle Whip, Kool Aid, Velveeta, clothes, games, pancake mix and so much more!  We were totally blown away.

Thanks, Thanks, Thanks is all we can say.  Thank You All!

Breakfast with the Company

For breakfast we had some chocolate chip pancakes and rolled out the rambutan.  You can see Abby's reaction to trying to get into it...

Safe & Sound

Everyone made it in great shape and even came through smiling.  Since its 3:40am, we're heading to bed without showing you any pix of them here.  You'll just have to take our word for it ;-)

Fillet mine because I am lazy

We like seafood. Just in a Cap'n D's sort of way. You know, breaded in cornmeal and deep fried. Southern style is my preference. So here we are living close to LOTS of seafood and we rarely eat it because...well,  because we are just so lazy, I guess.  

I mean, seriously, crab legs?  Too much work. I never even ate the fried catfish at the Barren River Lodge because they fried the whole darn thing.  Who wants to die choking on a fish bone?  Not me!  If I go out it won't be because of a bone (at least I hope not).

So why were we at the wet market Sunday?  Just looking around and exposing the kids to all the smells.  Plus I told Angie it was the most flies I ever saw in one place.  Who could resist checking that out?  Then this slick dude sells us a couple of big, red snappers.  My only bargaining chip?  "Will you fillet them?  Fillet them and I'll buy them."  He did, so we did.

Here is a long look at the offerings.  Squid, shrimp, sting ray, eel, and more kinds fish than you can imagine.  All laid out on ice and ready to be taken home.  Every once in a while you see some really interesting stuff.  Not exactly the kind of hygiene you find at Pike's Market in Seattle but who ever got sick from bad seafood, am I right?

The big mistake of the day was listening to the fish monger.  He asked me if I wanted the heads and other leftover parts.  Now not wanting to seem like an idiot of course I wanted the heads.  The heads have their own place on most menus.  Even on some signs: WE HAVE FISH HEAD CURRY.  Yummy, just like mom used to make.

So I bring home the fish heads and stuff and boil them thinking all the time of using the stock for something and getting that meat off for some fried rice.  Instead we got a stinky kitchen and a thousand slivery little bones.  But the worst was when I turned it off and got to working on something else.  I came back to find all those flies had followed me home!!!  Nice.

So I got to throw it all away after stinking up the kitchen and maybe ruining one of our two pots (it still smells like fish heads after a few washings).  The frugal side says, "Get the bones, they make good soup."  The lazy side says, "Fish bones are the worst ever, don't bother."  So who wins?  The wife who says, "Its your stinky mess.  Clean it up yourself."

The end of the story?  We fried up those fillets Monday night and they were really good.

Sadly

August is "Ghost Month" and so local folks have been gearing themselves up to either pay homage to dead relatives or buy off ghosts, depending on who you to listen to.  We have been confused about the entire thing and most folks don't have much desire to explain it.  For one reason, even saying the word 'ghost' is like an invitation for them to follow you home.  So that is an obvious downer.

The newspaper has stories most days about people having special performances for the "ghosts" where they bring in scantily-clad singers and they throw big feasts.  Always they leave empty seats for the hungry and entertainment-starved ghosts.  

Another important thing is burning stuff.  Here are some folks preparing to burn "money" for the ghosts.  Most businesses that participate in this month, burn some stuff.  Most days lately when we have been in stores, people are sitting around rolling up the money for the big fire.

People also leave food offerings and burn paper items which could be important in the afterlife (i.e. laptop computers. shave kits, and credit cards all made of paper).

Its really hard to get a Western mind around this kind of thing but its something almost everyone in these communities participates in.  The singers and caterers all book up months in advance and even people you would think wouldn't give this sort of thing a second thought go in for it just to cover their bases.  "Can't hurt to do it on the chance they are watching, right?"

Behold the Curry Puff

This tasty little guy is a curry puff.  I am not sure what exactly goes into making a curry puff but it has to do with some pastry, curry, potatoes, and with this one--some egg.  This is a nice big one and so it cost around 40 cents.  Now said puff is hanging out next to a McDonald's cup but can't actually be bought at McDs ... at least not here.

Some (OK many) afternoons we beat the heat with some ice cream.  This was how we knew Angie was becoming a curry puff hound.  She actually passed up the ice cream in favor of a curry puff.  AHEM .... A puff or two.  
Have you ever seen a kid happier to be having an Oreo McFlurry.  He should have his ice cream confiscated for that!  Hudson has been coming into his own with the cold stuff.  His whole life Dad has been able to not get ice cream because all Hudson really wanted was the cone.  So he would buy one and after a minute or two ask someone to eat the ice cream and leave just the cone.  Lately, though, he has eaten it all leaving poor ole Dad with no puff and no ice cream either.

Off to School

Here are the kids on the first day of school.  We broke with our tradition of taking a photo at the front door with new backpacks since no one has new backpacks.  Since they have nothing to carry anywhere.  That works out nice.

Caleb is using the computer to watch his DVD lessons.  

Angie has to be a bit more hands-on with Bethany's material.  After two days, everyone seems to be doing OK.  Its certainly a different set-up but think as we go along things will start to make more sense!  
The best part may be the flexibility.  Today we had a field trip--actually we just took the cats to the vet before Caleb was done and he had to finish up later :-).

Thanks!

We've gotten a couple of packages lately.  This one was full of cards and stuff for Hudson's birthday.  

Sorry to be so slow in letting you know of its safe arrival and enthusiastic acceptance.  Last night we had some company over and they had to hear The Hamster Dance and Who Let the Dogs Out music cards.  Maybe more entertaining because of how much they hate dogs!!

Hudson gives his HUGE thanks!!  But no hugs, sorry...

Check...Check...is this thing on???

The only thing worse than no website is an outdated one.  Blogs are even worse.  When some goober gets you in the habit of checking all the time then never updates; its frustrating.  So from the goober in question I say, "Sorry 'bout that."

Home School officially started today and so the run up has been kind of busy.  Angie was up past midnight last night preparing and that prompted a promise not to be up so late tonight.  But here it is after 11pm and we are still awake!  We have some Back to School pictures and will get them on tomorrow, we hope.

The movie Wall-E opened here today so we went to see it.  As usual we spent more on snacks than tickets.  The staff always seems blown away that we buy so much junk.  The consensus for us was that the magician opening short was funnier than the movie but it was still something to see.

One of our kittens is sick and may require a vet visit tomorrow.  The runt is not getting any bigger while its sibling is really growing and starting to jump on stuff (which is the kind of thing that makes you want to get rid of a cat).  We'll see how it all turns out.  All the kids have gotten very attached, especially Hudson.  We hope not to be teaching lessons about loss too soon.  I think this is the little one and Caleb in his new glasses.

The most interesting thing this week ... Angie has turned into a curry puff hound (photos of the puffs will follow, too)!  I got her to try one on Monday morning when we went out to breakfast and now she is hooked.  We went to Pizza Hut one night this week and the majority of people at our table said they would rather be having Indian bread with mutton curry and some curry puffs.  How is that for surprising?

This is Bethany just thinking of eating a curry puff. Yuck-O!

Tropsicles (or Do I Laugh or Cry)

Can you make this out?  This is what you get when you buy popsicles in the tropics (hence the phrase I coined: Tropsicles).  

First, the popsicles are made frozen and delicious.  This one is even lime with vanilla ice cream inside.  **(Yes, I know astute blog readers that technically this would not be a "popsicle" but more in the "creamsicle" vein ... hang with me)**.  

Then the delicousness melts somewhere along the line.  And it gets re-frozen.  So you are met with this thing when you open the package.  Truthfully, I knew something was up when I couldn't tell which end had the stick so I would know which end to tear open and blow into.  Yeah, I do that.  That is how I roll.

Just so you know, this is the kind of thing that will give you a meltdown on some culture shock days.  You imagine it all in your mind, preparing yourself.  Then when you open 'er up: you find this mess.  Then you must decide.  Do I laugh or cry?  Do I eat it or fish out the stick and stab someone with it? Therein is the question that must be answered.  Eating or stabbing? Can I make it here or not?  Then you eat it and lick the wrapper in victory.

The Week in Review

One funny thing you can count on is if you start talking about things going well and being encouraged, then you start to get hit.  Actually this week hasn't been that bad but...

We did go to pick up home school stuff and needed to cross the border to do so.  The first time you do it you have to register your car but somehow we made it through without registering, which is illegal.  Oops.

So we found some policemen and explained our situation. Then they dutifully stated and restated what I did wrong until I finally said, "Yes.  I made a mistake and in retrospect would do it differently.  Now, what should I do?  How do I register?"  To which they replied, "We don't know.  We've never done it."  Isn't that darling?

So we reentered immigration like we were going to leave (we had been there 30 minutes) and explained our situation to a few people who all assured us the "next person" will understand and know what to do.  But they didn't.  

They did let us reenter and told us, "Once you get to (the place you're going) you can register." To which I thought, "I assumed we already were to (the place we were going)."  Wrong.  Then we left there confident in our mapping skills and even without our stolen GPS sure that we could find our way.  WRONG!  

We drove around for about 2 hours while the steam was building up under 'ole Dad's collar until I was about to blow (OK, I blew a little bit).  Then Angie overruled and said it was time to take a break.  In we go to 7-11 with our map to ask where we are.  "Where do you want to go?" asks the clerk.  "I don't even know where I am," was my reply.  "Where are we?"

"Hmm, you should ask a driver." Isn't that darling.  This helpful dude doesn't even drive.  He calls over another guy who really does help, leading us to the interstate and giving us exact directions to where we are going.  

We find the place and come to the parking garage and it says: INSERT YOUR CARD.  Now this would be the card you get when you register your car at immigration.  Doh!  I push the intercom button and hear (intercom static) "May I help you?"  "Yeah I need to come in, I have a meeting."  Of course, this particular meeting is with a stack of boxes but he doesn't need to know this.  "OK, stick in your card."

"Um, sorry, I don't have a card."  "OK, just come in and by a card and bring it to security and we'll enter your time manually."  So we park and unload and send the family to the boxes while I buy the card.  Which is sold at the 7-11 inside.  Except they don't have any.  I track down the security guard and he sends me to outside to a man who sends me to another 7-11 a block away or says to look "at any bank."

Three blocks, two stores, and zero banks later a clerk explains there is a chip problem with the cards and they are not allowed to sell them anymore.  Problem.  So I go back (sweaty, mad, frustrated) to the guard and explain the situation.  Then he says, "Actually I have an extra I can sell you."  "Of course you do," I think.  

Having just moved from a place of huge corruption I assume I am about to pay 10 times the value for a card I must have since I can't exit without it.  But he doesn't!  He charges me face value and we are good to go.  After I go back to 7-11 and put additional cash onto the card (sort of like a gift card).

I find the family and together we go to lunch.  We eat and come back and try to find someone to help us find the car registration place.  "There is no way you'll ever find it," they respond helpfully.  But when we called the person said to just pay on your way out.  The brochure says its a $2,000 a day fine.  Feel the tension building?

Now its time to go and I stick my card into the machine to leave and the balance is insufficient.  WHAT?  Its $10?  So I park again and go back down to find the guard who explains to me its not $1.50 an hour but $1.50 for HALF an hour.  I go back to 7-11 and put MORE money on the card and then we can leave.  We try to drive around some and all I can think about is the $2,000 fine.  Am I OK or headed to deportation?

So we decide to head home and face the music.  There we find a person who is willing to let me slide.  Instead I beg to pay the $10 fine plus normal fees so I can have a clear conscience if a ticket arrives in the mail and we head to TGIFriday's to celebrate the fact that we are not in jail or out $2,000.  On the day we experienced nothing, except 'ole Dad being stressed out.  We did get our home school stuff, though.  

The end result?  I have decided there is no place like home and I'll just stay right where I am.  All this driving in new cities for a day is a little more than I can bear (until we get our new GPS in house)!

Caleb has a blog now too

You can now go to this web site and read about my day.(it might be kind of boring though) 

                                                        www.monkeyboycaleb.blogspot.com

Cabinets

We finally had our cabinets installed today. Here are some cool before pictures.

Notice how we are keeping junk in cardboard boxes below the counter.  Classy.  So then the guys rolled in, one dude took off his shirt and they got to work.

Then in just a few hours BAM, Angie was putting stuff on the shelves.

Here is a look at the finished product:

This cabinet on the other side of the fridge will hold an oven (once we buy one).  The microwave finally has a plug that it doesn't have to share.  So that means we have a CLOCK downstairs.  Which is good since we never know what time it is.

Maybe my favorite part, a dish drainer OVER THE SINK. That just seems very thoughtful, doesn't it.