Taste & Travel

Different?

2012-02-13T08:48:00.006-06:00

Just a quick test...see if you can spot the difference!

Picture of me this morning.

Picture of me later this morning.

I John 1:9

2012-02-12T13:47:00.005-06:00

Week 7 - I John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

This is pretty self-explanatory. Confess your sins and God will forgive your sins! We all sin and we must all confess!

February 5 - A Day In My Life

2012-02-08T17:31:00.001-06:00

Time to wake up...I was running a little bit late!

A quick check-in with the world and what's happening.

The breakfast of champions - chocolate and peach tea!

I was stuck behind the only other driver out on Sunday morning - and they were so slow!

Pastor Bob at church.

Picking Bill up from walking Ubi.

Making cupcakes for the big party later today!

We had ramen noodles for lunch.

Getting the table ready for the party.

Bill was busy editing pictures while I made delicious food.

Still working on the cupcakes.

All dressed up to watch the SUPER BOWL.

My tasty cupcakes - they were supposed to resemble little footballs, but the frosting melted all over the place. Oh well, we still enjoyed eating them!

The table full of delicious Super Bowl party food!

Watching the big game!

Game over...Giants won!

Taking leftovers home to enjoy later.

After a lot of cooking...the kitchen is all clean!

The end of another day...I was very tired!

Romans 15:13

2012-02-05T15:50:00.004-06:00

Week 6 - Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I feel like I really need some joy and peace this week! I guess that means I should focus on trusting God...so he can fill me with hope, joy and peace! God is powerful and he can give us joy and peace and hope at times when it might seem impossible to us. Besides, focusing on trusting God is always better than focusing on the annoyances and problems in our life!

Grocery Shopping

2012-02-04T12:12:00.003-06:00

Here is my second video of the year. It's not very exciting, but it's kind of fun! We went grocery shopping last night to pick up a few things for our Super Bowl party this weekend. Here's a small taste of what it's like to shop at our local grocery store.

*Sorry for the poor quality - my camera doesn't work as well at night and I have to get better about holding it steady while I walk. Oh well...

Grocery Shopping from Kara Hurt on Vimeo.

Psalms 100:4

2012-01-29T15:08:00.008-06:00

Week 5 - Psalms 100:4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

I have a lot to be thankful for. Sometimes I focus too much on the things that I don't like and I forget all the blessings I have. This week I am extra thankful for all that God provides.

Absolutely Ultimate Potato Soup

2012-01-28T13:43:00.000-06:00

Here is my first recipe for the year. I like to make soup in January - even though it isn't cold here, it just seems appropriate. This soup was very delicious and I will be making it again...Bill loved it!

At the end of each recipe, I will give an overall score - judging taste, number of dishes dirtied, and time/effort spent making it. This recipe took me about 1.5 hours to complete (including all the peeling and chopping).

The required ingredients.

Peel and cube the potatoes.

Chop the celery and onion and garlic (I use pre-chopped garlic from a jar).

Fry the bacon in a large pot (we love bacon!).

Fry celery, onions, and garlic in reserved bacon grease.

Add potatoes and bacon, cover with chicken stock, and simmer.

Melt butter, whisk in flour, whisk in cream and herbs.

Add cream mixture to potato mixture. Blend half the soup (I used an immersion blender, but you could pour half the soup in a regular blender too).

Ladle delicious soup into bowls.

Garnish with crispy bacon, shredded cheese, and pepper. Enjoy!

Absolutely Ultimate Potato Soup (from allrecipes.com)

1 pound bacon, chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 cups chicken stock, or enough to cover potatoes (I didn't have chicken stock, so I used chicken bouillon cubes with about 4.5 cups of water.)
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup flour
1 cup heavy cream (I used 3/4 cup heavy cream and 1/4 cup milk)
1 teaspoon dried tarragon (I didn't have tarragon but I used thyme - I like it better)
3 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro (I didn't have fresh cilantro so I used dried)
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
-In a dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until done. Remove bacon from pan, and set aside. Drain off all but 1/4 cup of the bacon grease.
-In the bacon grease remaining in the pan, saute the celery and onion until onion begins to turn clear. Add the garlic, and continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the cubed potatoes, and toss to coat. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes. Return the bacon to the pan (I saved some for garnishing later), and add enough chicken stock to just cover the potatoes. Cover, and simmer until potatoes are tender (about 12 minutes for me).
-In a separate pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in the heavy cream, tarragon and cilantro. Bring the cream mixture to a boil, and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Stir the cream mixture into the potato mixture. Puree about 1/2 the soup and return to the pan (I used an immersion blender and just pulsed it a few times to blend some of the soup but still leave some delicious potato chunks). Adjust seasonings to taste. (I garnished it with some crispy bacon and shredded cheese - and extra pepper!)

AND, what they don't show you on the glamorous cooking shows are all the dirty dishes. So, I thought I'd show you just how many dishes I used to make this recipe.

The dirty dishes for this potato soup.

Absolutely Ultimate Potato Soup
Taste: 5 out of 5
Dirty Dishes: 2 out of 5
Time/Effort: 2 out of 5
TOTAL: 9 out of 15

James 1:12

2012-01-22T14:06:00.007-06:00

Week 4 - James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Everyone encounters trials at some point in their lives - some are big and life-changing, others are small and personal. But, they are all important...and they can all teach us something. We just have to be willing to listen and learn. And, although we often can't control our trials, we can control our attitude. My goal this week is to have the right attitude when I face the trials in my path!

January 20 - A Day In My Life

2012-01-21T20:03:00.037-06:00

It may not be very early - but anytime you wake up to an alarm clock it's annoying! This is what I saw when I finally opened my eyes.

Bacon supervises as we get ready for work.

I enjoy a nutritious breakfast of Cocoa Puffs!!

Driving to work on a beautiful "summer" day.

Bill is careful to protect the animals on our short commute...we don't run them over or honk at them - or anything else this sign could mean.

I have this in my cubicle at work...it has become my motto. (In case you can't tell, it's a donut.)

After work, we stopped to see what the embassy was selling in their auction. A lot of furniture and computer equipment, but most of it is old or damaged. We'll probably come back tomorrow to see how much people bid.

Going to lunch. The green Volkswagen tried to cut us off...but Bill did NOT allow it. Defensive driving is very important!

Lunch at Tamburelli's. We're been here over 2 years but this was our first time.

I had chicken lasagna (although I ordered meat lasagna). It was good.

Bill had a tasty little pizza.

After lunch, we made a quick stop for groceries. This is the tiniest can of sweetened condensed milk I've ever seen. The can is so tiny and Bill is so silly!

Our groceries.

Making Key Lime Cheesecakes for a baby shower tonight. Zesting delicious limes.

While I slave away in the kitchen, Bill sleeps...

and Bacon sleeps...

and Ubi sleeps!

After all the hard work baking, I look at pictures of "our" house while Bill gets a quote for homeowner's insurance!

Time check - an obligatory part of doing "A Day In My Life" is repeated time checks!

All dressed up for the baby shower tonight...ok, not really dressed "up"! I think it's also obligatory to take a picture of myself in the mirror on these days.

I'm not sure if I'm cool enough for these shoes...we'll see how I do tonight!

Abby driving us to the baby shower - but always taking the time to pose for a picture!

Writing sweet messages and prayers for the new babies, mother and family.

Clare (it's her baby shower) leading the way through a delicious buffet of salads and soups.

The fruits of my labor - those are the Key Lime Cheesecakes I made earlier. They aren't very cute, but they tasted good!

Abby is the master of self-portrait picture taking. Unfortunately, my camera chose to focus on the table behind us.

Time check. Still at the baby shower...it was a good, long, evening!

The "tree" with all the messages and prayers for Clare and her family.

Everyone is already sleeping when I get home.

My last picture of the day is technically not even the same day. But, it's the end of my photo journal for this month.

Psalms 119:11

2012-01-15T13:56:00.004-06:00

Week 3 - Psalms 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

This pretty much sums up Bible memorization. We need to have verses in our heart and mind so when we are tempted, we can fight back! This is a good one to remember as I start learning new verses and I'm trying to keep them all memorized.

San Blas Trip

2012-01-14T22:48:00.000-06:00

On Saturday, we took a day trip to the San Blas Islands - located on the Caribbean side of Panama. So, we left the Pacific side in the morning and drove across the country to enjoy a day on the sandy beach...and then we drove back. It was a long day, but it was a lot of fun. I'm so glad Jen was able to go with us...I really enjoyed hanging out on the beach. The water was beautiful and we really enjoyed ourselves (and no one was hit on the head with any coconuts!). Thanks to Bob & Shelly for leading the way. Here is the montage from our trip (my video for this month). Enjoy!

San Blas Trip from Kara Hurt on Vimeo.

Colossians 3:17

2012-01-08T10:48:00.001-06:00

Week 2 -Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

This is another good verse to start my year with. It's a good reminder to keep my focus on pleasing God. Even when I'm not very happy with my situation or circumstances, I need to live my life in a way that glorifies Him and count my blessings.

5 New Year's Resolutions

2012-01-07T19:41:00.009-06:00

I don't normally make New Year's Resolutions because they usually end in failure. Sometimes I think of things that I should work on in the coming year...but I rarely verbalize them because that would make them "real". This year, since I'm making lists as part of my blog, I thought it would be fun to list my resolutions. Maybe if I publish them, I will work harder at keeping them (probably not!). One thing I can guarantee is that I won't be making any food or exercise related goals...I don't get motivated that way so I always fail. I have to stick to goals that I have a chance of keeping. So, without further ado:

New Year's Resolutions 2012
1. Update My Blog Regularly - isn't this a good one to start with? I've already told you what I want to do with my blog this year and it's officially my first resolution.
2. Read The Entire Bible - I've tried this one before (twice actually) but I have yet to finish the Bible within one year. In fact, I'm already behind this year. But, I really want to do this so I'm announcing it out loud. I'm using a Bible my sister gave me that is specifically organized to read in one year. I'll let you know how it goes.
3. Stick To Our Budget - this one is important this year. We have a nice budget, with a fancy spreadsheet, but we haven't had to follow it that closely because we've been in a good place financially. Now that we're buying a house, and our employment will be changing, it is more important than ever to follow the amounts we have budgeted. I need to consciously adjust my lifestyle to fit within our budget.
4. Be More Positive - or Complain Less. I'm not always the most positive person, especially when things aren't going the way I think they should. This year, I want to try to focus on the good things, be more appreciative, and count my blessings instead of dwelling on what I don't like. I'm hoping that memorizing Bible verses will help me with this one.
5. Be A Better Wife - I guess I could try to be a better person in general, but I'll start with just being a better wife! This one is very vague, but that's good. I need to generally be better at being a wife. This is a lot like #4 - less complaining will make me a better wife. Additionally, I should try not to be so lazy...that will make me a better wife too. I've got room for improvement!

OK - it wasn't very exciting, but there you have my first list of the year. What other lists would you like to see?

Jeremiah 29:11

2012-01-06T19:27:00.005-06:00

Week 1 - Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

This is my favorite verse, so I already have it memorized. I thought it was a good verse to start the year with...because God has plans for us. Even if all our plans change or fail, we can trust that God has better plans. His plans include prosperity and hope. We just have to wait and see what He has planned for 2012.

New Blog Themes

2012-01-05T20:52:00.004-06:00

OK - since I did a pretty good job at keeping up with my blog last year while I had a theme, I decided to try again. (I'm afraid if I go back to blogging only when I have something interesting to say, I may never blog again!) I guess I need ideas and direction...something to keep me on track and give me a topic. I didn't think I could keep up with a daily project this year (I'd already be several days behind) so I thought I'd try a weekly or monthly goal. But, then I couldn't decide what I wanted to commit to each week...and once a month didn't seem like enough (although probably more manageable). That's why I decided to do a combination of weekly and monthly themes. I have 4 different topics that I will blog about each month. That will mix things up, keep me blogging fairly regularly, and give me a goal. At the end of the year, I should have 12 blog posts for each of my topics. Do you want to know what they are??

--A Monthly Video. I will make some sort of video each month. Something that I'll attempt to edit and add effects or music or something. It will let me work on more video clips and hopefully give you something interesting to watch. They probably won't be long videos, but it will be different.
--A Monthly Recipe. I will post a recipe each month with pictures of the process and finished product. I love to cook, so this should be an easy one. I'll try to pick exciting recipes. If you have any suggestions, let me know.
--A Monthly List. I love lists. I like making them and I like reading them. I will share a list with you each month and blog about it. Maybe a Top 5 list or a wish list or something else. Again, if you have suggestions, leave a comment!
--A Monthly Photo Diary (A Day In My Life). Several years ago, my friend Rachael introduced me to "A Day in my Life"- a photo journal where people post pictures from one day in their life. I've done it once before, on our Road Trip, and it was fun. So, once a month, I will take pictures all day and share them with you...a diary of my day through photos. It will help with any withdrawals from Project 365 and all the photos I took for that!

There they are! I know these may not be the most exciting topics, but I feel like they are broad enough to not get boring and vague enough to let me decide what I feel like each month. Hopefully, you approve.

Another thing I decided to start doing this year (and I want to use my blog to help me keep up with it) is to memorize one Bible verse each week. I will write a verse on a note card (yay for office supplies!) and carry it around with me all week. Hopefully, I'll be able to memorize 52 verses in one year (although I may use some verses I already know). I want to use these verses to remind me of God's promises on days when I feel sad, angry, happy, lonely, bored, lazy, etc. Each week, I will post the verse and tell you why I picked it...maybe you can memorize them with me!

So, welcome to 2012 and my new blog themes. I hope you like them and are anxious to get started with me. As always, thanks for reading and let me know if you have suggestions!

The End

2012-01-04T21:07:00.020-06:00

Well, I did it. I finished my Project 365! And, I only missed two days (so I guess I should say Project 363). It was quite the adventure. Some days I took really boring pictures (sorry) and other days I took fun pictures that told a story. But, I'm happy to have all of them and I intend to make a photo book to remember 2011 and this memorable project. I thought it would be fun to share a few statistics with you as a recap. I know it seems like I was constantly boring you with pictures of our pets, but it wasn't really that many, I promise! Here are the numbers:

*FOOD: 72 - My most popular category, by far. I added up all the pictures I took of food (although I only counted actual food - not boxes, wrappers, containers, etc. - and it was a lot. Obviously, I really like food...and I'm ok with that!
*PETS: 48 - That's only 13% of the total, not so bad...and besides, they are so cute!
*BILL: 52 - I guess it's appropriate that Bill was in a bunch of my pictures. I'm just thankful he was willing to be a part of this fun idea with me.
*AIRPORTS: 9 - Over the course of 1 year, I took 9 different pictures in airports!! That number makes me happy - it means I traveled (or someone traveled to see me). I hope to be in even more airports this year!
*MALL: 16 - Apparently, we go to the mall often. At least half of these pictures are from movie theaters located in the malls.
*CLOCKS: 4 - When it was late at night and I had nothing to take a picture of, I sometimes resorted to taking a picture of the clock. I guess I didn't do this as often as I thought...just 4!
*DUCKS: 9 - As in, OREGON Ducks!! These pictures were all pertaining to watching Oregon games or just general love of Oregon Ducks! Yay, Vamos Patos!
*BRACES: 3 - Braces were a big part of my year (an annoying part), but I didn't like to focus my pictures on my teeth...so just a few that actually highlighted my braces.
*GAMES: 4 - I'm sad that this number isn't higher. I know we played games more than 4 times, but I didn't always get a photo of it. Oh well, I'll try to improve this one for the coming year!
*ABBY: 19! - This is one of my favorite statistics. Abby was always willing to be in a picture for this project...and she's always smiling! It is fun to see the pictures and remember the great times we've had together. Thank you for being a super fun part of my year, Abby!

Looking back, I really enjoyed my Project 365. I am not continuing with it this year because I need a break - but I'll think of something else to keep my blog interesting. Thanks for dropping by from time to time.

Here's a reminder of how I started the year and ended the year (both in airports!!).

The Beginning
January 1

Bidding farewell to my sister and her family in the airport.
I miss them!

The End
December 31
A quick visit with my parents as they pass through the airport. Toasting to a wonderful 2012!

Also a quick look at the wonderful (*sarcasm*) pictures of me from each month. I look pretty much the same, except for the braces and my hair length. I just need to smile more, but part of that is because I usually took these shots at the end of the day, often when I was tired or grumpy (and January's was after having my teeth pulled, so I wasn't smiling and my cheeks were puffy). This is the most pictures of me you'll ever seen all at once!

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

That's it - that's all the pictures for 2011. Thanks again for coming along on this adventure. I'll let you know when I start the next one.

Week 52

2012-01-02T16:27:00.000-06:00

December 26
We had our delicious ham for Christmas dinner. We also had scalloped hash brown potatoes and peas. As leftovers we mix the potatoes and the ham...it is simply delicious. One of the best things ever! I will probably make more potatoes next week and add the ham to it before baking it! So yummy! (Even though it doesn't look that good, it is...trust me!)

December 27
One of my Christmas gifts was this water pick. I love it. I'm still perfecting my skills - and I still make quite a mess - but it's fun. It makes my teeth feel clean! Thanks, mom!

December 28
I couldn't end the year, and my Project 365, without one more picture of the dog. You can tell he's sick of pictures. This is the last one, I promise!

December 29
Bill and I are trying to buy a house...again! Here we are signing our life away. I'll let you know if we get it!

December 30
After getting out of a late night movie, the mall was empty! The animal statues at each entrance look more ominous when it's dark. We were exiting the "Dino" entrance, so obviously there was a dinosaur! I like the animals in our mall!

December 31
How fitting that I should end the year, and my Project 365, with a picture in the airport. (If you'll recall, I started this whole thing with a picture in the airport on January 1.) This time, my parents were flying through Panama and had a layover. We were able to get in to their gate and surprise them. Unfortunately their incoming flight was late so we only had 15 minutes with them...but we managed to enjoy a few New Year's Eve finger foods and toast to a "Happy New Year" with sparkling Sprite. It was so much fun and a wonderful way to end 2011!

Week 51

2011-12-30T08:11:00.001-06:00

December 18
I hosted a Christmas Cookie party. It was a wonderful afternoon and we had tons of cookies. Everyone brought their favorite treat and we were all able to sample each others delicious cookies. After the party, everyone took a plate home to continue enjoying the cookies. It was a lot of fun!

December 19
Bill wrapped a bunch of presents for me. He got too many gifts for me this year, but I enjoyed all of them! He carefully wrote on each gift...it was super cute!

December 20
Just wanted to show you that even my braces are Christmasy! I got red and green ligatures to show my Christmas spirit!

December 21
My turn to wrap presents. I love presents and wrapping...and opening! These are all for Bill.

December 22
HAM!! We're having HAM for Christmas dinner. We love ham! I splurged and bought an expensive imported ham because we love ham that much. We look forward to our ham Christmas dinner all year long!

December 23
We had a lovely afternoon going to lunch, going to a movie, running errands, etc. One exciting event was driving on the new overpass by our house. They have been doing construction on the overpass and roundabout for a year now and we've been eagerly awaiting it's end. Although the construction isn't completely done...the overpass is open and it alleviates some of the traffic headache near our house. We were able to drive on it to the mall and it was splendid!

December 24
Christmas Eve is not complete without a Candlelight Service. We enjoyed a lovely Candlelight Service at church before our traditional Chinese food dinner. I love Christmas and the candlelight service is one of my favorite parts! Happy Christmas Eve!!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T20:58:00.021-06:00

Merry Christmas to everyone! I love this time of year - it's my favorite. I'm so thankful that we can celebrate Jesus coming to earth as a baby and remember why He came. Christmas always makes me think of family and traditions! So many wonderful Christmases have been spent with my family and life-long friends...and I'm grateful for those memories. Last year was particularly special as my entire family was together and we had a great time. Even though I'm not with my family this year (I miss them), I was able to talk to all of them and share my Christmas with them.

Another reason I like Christmas so much is because I enjoy celebrating traditions! There are so many wonderful traditions this time of year and each one makes me happy for a different reason. Some are old traditions and some are new - but they all add up to a wonderful Christmas season. Here are a few of my favorite traditions and moments from Christmas 2011!

Candlelight Christmas Eve Service - starting the celebration with carols and the Christmas story.

Chinese food on Christmas Eve - this year we picked a restaurant that was practically empty (but it was tasty!)

Opening presents on Christmas morning - I don't care if there is 1 present or 100 under the tree...opening something on Christmas morning is special and important for me. This year we had more presents than we deserve but it was a fun time!

Presents from Santa - with his handwriting. I don't remember when I learned that Santa wasn't real (I don't think it was very traumatic for me) but I still like to get presents from him. And, Santa has distinctive handwriting...I know my dad would be proud that Santa still uses it!

Bill with a few of his gifts from this morning. An 8-bit tie and an Oregon Ducks Calendar!

Me with my penguin gifts...I love penguins!

Bill preparing to take over the world...thanks to his new handy guide!

I love my new bathrobe! I probably won't use it much here in the jungle, but I can't wait to use it next winter!

Bill is very excited about our new printer!

Bacon was very excited to play with all the wrapping paper!

Cinnamon Rolls for breakfast - homemade cinnamon rolls are delicious and we always eat too many..but it wouldn't be Christmas without them!

Relaxing after opening presents - and playing with all our new "toys"!

Christmas dinner - whether it's big or small, Christmas dinner is always special. And, Bill and I look forward to HAM all year long!

It was so special to spend Christmas dinner with good friends. I was afraid we would be alone today, but we were able to spend a wonderful evening with great company!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that you were able to enjoy your family and traditions. Our day was happy and special and I'm already looking forward to next year! Merry Christmas!!

Week 50

2011-12-18T17:35:00.003-06:00

December 11
Today we went to the wonderful Christmas Cantata put on by our church. It was a lot of fun to go with a huge group of friends. The cantata was amazing and I sort of wished I had participated in it this year (but I guess there's always next year, somewhere else). It was a great evening and we ended it with dinner at the food court - I'm so thankful for wonderful friends!

December 12
I never showed you a picture of our finished Christmas tree. It would be prettier if you could see the lights better, but this is it. I think our tree is absolutely lovely!!

December 13
Our guest room has become the staging area for presents. We have a lot of gifts in boxes and a lot of wrapping paper...now we just have to put the two together!

December 14
One of my coworkers is leaving this month so we had a going away party for him. He will be missed.

December 15
At our embassy Christmas party this year, there were "guests" in the backyard. They are coatimundis, or "gato solos" as they are called here. I've never been so close to so many of them. They were kind of cute...until someone fed one and then they turned nasty!

December 16
Another going away dinner for the same coworker. A new experience at a boutique restaurant...interesting!

December 17
I started my Christmas baking!! Spritz are one of my favorite cookies - and a Christmas must-have! I made them in preparation for my Christmas Cookie party tomorrow. Now it really feels like Christmas!

Week 49

2011-12-14T16:30:00.004-06:00

December 4
We wanted to put Christmas lights on our house, but the ones from last year were all burnt out and very old. So, we went to the store and bought new ones. We decided to buy the cheap ones to last just 1 year and next year we'd buy good LED ones in the US. Unfortunately, we got what we paid for...they were cheap! We tested them and they worked, so we put them all up and then they didn't work. We tried and tried, but finally gave up because they were so cheap! I guess we'll wait until next year to have lights on our house!

December 5
As part of my Christmas spirit, I tried a new recipe and made Christmas Truffles. In theory, they were good. They tasted great (pure chocolate) but they weren't very easy to make. It was very messy and I'm not sure they were worth the effort. But, don't they look pretty?

December 6
We had our Bible Study Christmas party. It was so much fun. I loved the games - thanks, Abby! And we had delicious food and a gift exchange. It was a wonderful evening with great friends!

December 7
I think our stockings are so cute. We don't have a chimney, so we hang them by the stairs...but it works. The only problem is that the cat likes to weave in and out of them so there is black hair stuck to the tops (mostly on mine!).

December 8
We had a day off work for a local holiday so we started our Christmas movie watching with my favorite...The Muppet Christmas Carol. Abby joined us to watch it since she'd never seen it (can you believe it?). I love that movie - it is a Christmas tradition and definitely a classic!

December 9
Here I am...for the last time! I think I look pretty much the same as my picture from January. Maybe after the year is done, I'll put them all together and you can decide for yourself. I guess I have gained weight - otherwise pretty much the same.

December 10
Hooray!!! Bill graduated!!! He's been taking online classes for the last 2.5 years and he's finally done. He took finals yesterday and his graduation ceremony was today (although he didn't fly to Missouri to attend). Instead, I had a fun party for him! I am so proud of him!

Week 48

2011-12-06T13:22:00.001-06:00

November 27
In the airport, on my way back to Panama. I'm sad to leave Oregon...I love Oregon! I like this picture because of the duck, but also because of the small sign that says "No Sales Tax in Oregon". Yet another reason to love Oregon!

November 28
The first Christmas present this year...and it's for Bill. What a cute present...now we just have to set up our tree so we have somewhere to put it.

November 29
Bill is so tired. Just a couple more weeks of school...you can do it! We really should stop staying up so late!

November 30
Ubi was being really cute and trying to scratch his face with his paws. He is a cute dog. Thanks to the antibiotic, his skin disease is improving and he looks much better!

December 1
December means Christmas socks. Yay for Christmas socks. I wear them every day for the whole month!

December 2
This is another picture I've been intending to take all year. At the mall, in addition to animal statues at each entrance (to help you remember where you came in) they have a big King Kong statue. We go to the food court all the time and I thought it would be fun to take my picture with him, but never have. So, finally, in the last month, I took my picture. Do I look like I'm about to be eaten?

December 3
We finally put up our Christmas tree!! The whole day was spent setting up the tree and decorating! So much fun! This really is the most wonderful time of the year!

Week 47

2011-11-30T18:13:00.000-06:00

November 20
After talking to my mom and Bill, I decided to fly back to Oregon to see my grandpa. We just made the decision and bought a ticket online...for tomorrow! I can't believe I'm buying a ticket one day and flying the next! This changes all our plans for Thanksgiving and vacation, but it's important.

November 21
Here I am in Houston. Just waiting for my next flight to take off. That's my plane out there waiting for me!

November 22
Back in America! Shopping at Costco to prepare for Thanksgiving. They had PALLETS OF PIES!! It was unbelievable. People were buying so many pies...one guy had about 10 in his cart. There were so many pies! This picture isn't even all of them - the pumpkin pies were behind me in the refrigerated section. They were disappearing about as fast as the employees could restock them. And, they are actually really good pies - considering they only cost $5.99.

November 23
Enjoying my dad's pancakes for breakfast with my family. It was good to be with everyone and the pancakes were delicious too!

November 24
Thanksgiving dinner. This picture doesn't even begin to capture all the food we had. It was a delicious feast with my extended family. We have so much to be thankful for! I wish Bill and the rest of my family could have been with us.

November 25
My mom and I decided to get up early for Black Friday shopping...my first time. We missed my sister - who is the real expert. It would have been more fun if she was with us. We didn't need much, but we were out there and got the good deals (on socks) and free donuts. In the evening, we went out again and I snagged the last TV on sale at Target. I pretended it was early morning and I was fighting off the crowds as I rushed thru the store with the big box in my cart. Good times! (The TV was an early merry Christmas gift for my dad!)

November 26
One of the best things about a big Thanksgiving is the leftovers. We enjoyed turkey sandwiches and all the extras!

Week 46

2011-11-23T20:53:00.000-06:00

November 13
Abby came over and we had a BBQ. I made Quinoa and Black Beans...it was really yummy and went well with our polish sausages and chorizo. It was a great meal!

November 14
Bill returned from a 3-day dive trip. He had a lot of fun. And, like a responsible adult, he washed and rinsed his dive gear before putting it away. Good job!

November 15
I got my new camera today...I'm hoping it helps me take better pictures. Although, if the problem with my pictures is the way I take them, then a new camera might not help. Either way, it was fun to play around with it and practice different focal points.

November 16
Still playing with my camera. So far, I think the pictures are better. Ubi looks so cute!!

November 17
I asked Bill to pick up the dog's towel, but when he got downstairs, the cat had claimed it. She decided it was a cozy place to rest.

November 18
We treated ourselves to lunch at our favorite Italian restaurant. It was so good...I'm hungry just thinking about it! It's one of the few places I will miss when we leave here.

November 19
We ordered a pizza and it came cut like this...with lots of itty bitty pieces. Maybe the person cutting the pizza was new. It was actually more convenient for me to eat it this way so I appreciated it.

New Camera

2011-11-20T15:17:00.001-06:00

I got my new camera this week and spent some time playing around with it. I can't decide yet if it will be that much better than my old camera, but it's fun to play with. I've been taking a lot of random, silly pictures. I took a few shots that look cool with the foreground in focus and the background blurry. I think they're fun. Maybe you'll notice a difference in my pictures for the rest of the year...and maybe you won't!

My leg...and blurry foot

Bacon was curious about the new toy!

Ubi wanted attention.

Another cool shot with different points in focus!

Ubi still needs attention.

Week 45

2011-11-18T14:20:00.008-06:00

November 6
After church, I went out for Dim Sum with Abby, Cathy, Amber, and Mami. I'm not a very adventurous eater so this was good for me. I ate things that I did not recognize...and they were good. We had a lot of fun!

November 7
I decided to buy a new camera because the pictures on mine aren't that great. I've been spending a lot of time researching this decision. It's hard to know what to get without spending too much money!!

November 8
The first pumpkin pie I've made this year isn't even for me. Someone requested it at work for their birthday dessert. It looked and smelled SO delicious. I'll just have to make another one to enjoy at home!

November 9
My mom is here!! She has come for a visit and is already unpacked and settled in. We're so happy she's here!

November 10
Surprise - another picture of me! I looked back at the pictures of myself the other day and I look pretty much the same. Other than the length of my hair, I don't think I've changed much. Just 1 more month to go.

November 11
Of course I had to take a picture of the clock today. Other than being Veteran's Day - today is 11/11/11...so I took a picture at 11:11. I couldn't pass it up!

November 12
Big football game today. My mom and I watched the Stanford vs. Oregon game and cheered our Ducks to victory! It was a good game, but why do they have to start so late??

Week 44

2011-11-07T12:55:00.003-06:00

October 30
It was late...my camera was downstairs and I didn't feel like getting it. I also had no ideas for what my picture of the day should be. So, Bill went downstairs and took a picture of a picture of himself. It was silly...but it was better than anything I would have come up with. So, here is my picture of the day - but it's really Bill's picture.

October 31
It was a very rough day! I stayed home alone watching Monday Night Football (Bill had to go to the airport). It was good for me to have some alone time.

November 1
I love Fall because I love everything pumpkin. Tonight I took pumpkin bars to Bible Study. They were yummy! I'm looking forward to more pumpkin treats in the coming month.

November 2
I love looking at November on the calendar...it makes me happy. That's because we have 6 (SIX) holidays in November! So many days off makes me very, very happy. We get November 3, 4, 10, 11, 24, and 28 off. And, I'm taking more time off at the end of the month so that's even better. It's a good month!

November 3
Happy Birthday, Abby!!! We had a huge *surprise* party for Abby and everything was PURPLE. It was so much fun planning it and everything came together beautifully. So many people helped to make the party a big success. Abby was surprised and everyone really enjoyed themselves. It was fun!! Welcome to the 30's, Abby!

November 4
Abby and I went to a movie. At the mall, each entrance has an animal name (it's a huge mall) and there is an animal statue by each door. We decided to get a quick photo as we exited the Hippo door.

November 5
Bill and I went to the Marine Ball, to celebrate the birthday of the Marine Corps. It is an annual formal event that the Marines host. It was fun. (Inspired by the purple party earlier in the week, I bought a purple dress!)

Week 43

2011-10-31T11:44:00.011-05:00

October 23
Maggie came over for dinner. It was fun to chat with her one last time before she leaves me for good! We ordered pizza and it was really tasty.

October 24
We didn't watch the Amazing Race on Sunday night, so Abby came over to watch it tonight. It was fun to get caught up since we missed last week. Such a fun show and I love that Abby comes over to watch it with us!

October 25
I love penguins...they are my new favorite animal. Bill got me a penguin pillow pet for my birthday - isn't it cute? I don't have a name for her yet.

October 26
Today, at work, the kids trick-or-treated in the building. In honor of that, I wore my Halloween socks. We had a bunch of kids and gave away a bunch of candy. I think they had fun.

October 27
Another one of my birthday presents...I love Reese's. And this really smells like chocolate and peanut butter (with just a hint of coffee too, which smells delicious). I love it!

October 28
We're planning a surprise party for Abby next week and everything will be PURPLE. Here are some of the silly gifts we got for her. So much purple...she will love it!

October 29
This is another late night picture - when I'm about to go to bed and I realize I haven't taken one yet. Bill and the animals are coming up the stairs for bed - isn't it thrilling?!?!

Week 42

2011-10-30T11:38:00.000-05:00

October 16
On our way back to Panama, we had a 12-hour layover in Newark. Instead of sleep all day in the airport, we went in to New York City to see some sights. We were really tired from our overnight flight, but we were able to take a tour bus around and see the highlights. It was fun!

October 17
We bought a lot of goodies in the US. My favorite candy, Peanut Butter M&Ms, were available in snack sizes because of Halloween so I bought a bunch. The bag in this picture is from the pie we bought at Shari's. It was a delicious pie!

October 18
Happy Birthday to me! I celebrated my birthday before we left Oregon and again when my co-workers threw me a surprise party so I didn't really do anything on the evening of my birthday (other than eat from my favorite restaurant here). Instead, I went to Bible Study and helped prepare for the women's retreat. It was a good birthday.

October 19
Bill is sick. Too much vacationing and changing temperatures! He started his last two classes this week but he's been very sick.

October 20
Coming back from vacation is so much work. My desk is a mess and it bothers me that I don't have time to clean it up. The upcoming weeks look just as busy so I'm afraid my desk won't get cleaned off for a while! Uggh!

October 21
We had our Women's Retreat this weekend. It was fun to share a room with Abby, Amber and Jen. We had a really good time!

October 22
The hotel where we had our retreat was really nice...including a beautiful pool! What a fun time with great friends!

Week 41

2011-10-27T21:23:00.013-05:00

October 9
While we were in the US, we spent a lot of time shopping. (There are many things you miss from America when you live in a foreign country.) We also had shopping lists from several of our friends for things to bring back. We were out all day and went to many fun stores - but I forgot to take pictures. The only time I took pictures was in Walmart - of the Christmas blow-up lawn decorations (for a friend in Panama). At least this picture represents the vast randomness of our shopping list...it was so fun!

October 10
Much of my focus during a vacation to the US is on food...and enjoying the restaurants I can't go to when I'm gone. So, we ate out everyday - sometimes twice a day. Here is our second visit to Shari's (a diner-type chain). I love Shari's!! And, what a beautiful Oregon fall day it was!!

October 11
Another day, another restaurant! Dinner at Red Lobster, if only for the CHEDDAR BAY BISCUITS!! I ate so many biscuits and they were delicious. The other food was good too - but those biscuits are amazing!!

October 12
Tonight we went downtown to the Old Spaghetti Factory on the river. It was dark so we couldn't really see the river, but it's such a fun restaurant. We had one of the back rooms almost to ourselves. And, delicious food!

October 13
This is my future kitchen...I hope. Except, we're going to completely remodel it. So, this is the "before" shot and someday I hope to show you the "after" shot. We spent three hours at the house and I forgot to take a picture of the outside. Oh well! This is inside the house we hope to buy!

October 14
Yes, another restaurant. This time we stayed home and made the food come to us!! Bellagio's Pizza is what we served at our wedding and it is still one of our favorites. The chicken pesto pizza is so good. Again, I was so excited to eat that I didn't take a picture until the end...these are the leftovers!

October 15
Watching the Oregon game...in the airport. We bought tickets to go to this game (it was supposed to be in the afternoon of the day we were scheduled to leave Oregon) but then the kick-off time changed and we couldn't go (because it conflicted with our flight). Sadly, we were only able to watch part of it in the airport...and we were wishing we could have been in the stands!

Week 40

2011-10-12T10:56:00.000-05:00

October 2
The road construction near our house includes a new traffic circle. Apparently people don't know how to use it because they've recently put up instructions on how to enter the circle - incoming traffic has to yield. Hopefully this will help the traffic, but we aren't holding our breath.

October 3
Bacon doesn't like it when Ubi goes outside. She whines at the front door while he's gone. And when he starts to come back, she hides next to the door to jump out and scare him.

October 4
I went to the airport with Bill again today while he did his mail run. It's fun to sit on the tarmac and see everything that goes on. You really feel like you're part of the action!

October 5
I was able to take a special tour of the locks on the Panama Canal. We even crossed over the locks and visited the control booth. It was really cool! We watched as large container ships passed by - we were so close to the action! The picture below shows we were between the two lanes of locks on the canal - not many people get to do that!

October 6
Here is another monthly picture of me. I'm taking it early this month because we leave for vacation tomorrow!! I can't wait!

October 7
We traveled all day! It was an exhausting trip, but we finally made it. In Houston, we changed terminals and got to ride on the little train - that was fun. In our new terminal, there was a Chili's restaurant and I was beyond excited to get a chance to eat at Chili's. However, when we got there it was closed...at 7:00 PM!! I was very, very sad. No Chili's for me on this trip!

October 8
Our first day in America. It was a beautiful day! We must have brought the sunshine with us. It was so nice that we put the top down on Bill's car and drove around. What a lovely day!!

Week 39

2011-10-05T16:06:00.002-05:00

September 25
Laundry day! Since we didn't have water last weekend, I didn't get much done...so I had a LOT to do this weekend. Got it all washed, folded, and put away in one day...yay me!

September 26
A quick trip to the grocery store for cat food. Sometimes it's hard to resist the candy they tempt you with at the check-out. We didn't buy anything, but it all looks so pretty!

September 27
Big day for Bill! He wasn't exactly thrilled about having his picture taken...but I did ask and he did say yes. He doesn't remember any of that, but I do.

September 28
Ubi is so good at "sad, puppy dog eyes". He can make you feel guilty by just looking at you. He is such a cute dog!!

September 29
I had to go to a reception for work and I wore a skirt. People from my office were shocked and claimed I've never worn a skirt (which is not true, they just don't remember). So, here's proof that I did (for the next time they forget)!

September 30
Another block party! Our neighbor had another wonderful BBQ. There was so much delicious food and I ate way too much of it. It was a good day of eating and meeting the new neighbors.

October 1
We went to a local pizzeria for lunch. It was reminiscent of our time in Italy...but the pizza wasn't as good. I think it's the cheese - I just don't like the local cheese. It was a nice lunch...especially the Pepsi in bottles!

Week 38

2011-09-30T17:19:00.012-05:00

September 18
We ran out of water on Saturday and it still wasn't back on Sunday. That made for a miserable morning. We went without water for over 24 hours. When you're supposed to have water and it goes out...it can be very frustrating. Thankfully, the spigot in our carport worked (who knows why). So at least we could slowly fill up buckets to flush the toilets.

September 19
I made spaghetti and meatballs...it was so yummy. Of course, we ate too much but we really enjoyed it!

September 20
September is a VERY popular month for birthdays...and since I make a dessert for each person's birthday from my office, I've been super busy. I made raspberry muffins for the first birthday of the week.

September 21
I'm not sure what this sign means. Why wouldn't you just go straight...why bother going down around the loop? Who knows?!? Just another in my collection of funny/weird/interesting/confusing signs from Panama.

September 22
Another birthday. This time, chocolate chip cookies. I made extras so we could enjoy them at home too.

September 23
My car battery died! I guess it had lived a good life. We were happy that La Casa De Las Baterias made it so easy to buy a new one. Not exactly cheap, but easy!

September 24
DONUTS! So much fun and so delicious. Abby and Amber came over to spend a day making donuts. Abby was an expert and every step of the process and we ended up with 5 dozen delicious treats. Too many to eat...although I gave it a valiant effort and felt sick all night!

Week 37

2011-09-23T16:47:00.008-05:00

September 11
Abby came over so Bill could look at her computer. Fun times! (The cat's eyes looks kind of crazy behind Abby!)

September 12
We bought a new shower head. Bill was kind enough to install it. Now we have to decide if we like it.

September 13
Sometimes, I think the animals are telling secrets about us. They're so sneaky.

September 14
I made chicken parmesan for dinner. Except, I used mozzarella. It was yummy - I didn't even get a picture before we devoured half of it. Thanks to Maggie for the recipe.

September 15
Another appointment with the orthodontist...that means more drugs for me. Braces are painful! Who ever said this was a good idea??

September 16
As we were driving home, we could see the storm coming...chasing us! Sometimes I really love the weather here - I love seeing the storms come and the weather change instantly!

September 17
As I started making dinner, I discovered we had NO WATER!! I was so discouraged, that we went to the Taco Bell drive-thru instead.

Dog & Cat

2011-09-19T21:17:00.005-05:00

Here is the cat (Bacon) trying to be affectionate with the dog (Ubi). Ubi tolerates her, but he doesn't like her! Bacon will regularly act affectionate with him or various inanimate objects, but if anyone tries to be affectionate with her (i.e. pet her) - she bites! Silly cat!

Week 36

2011-09-15T21:20:00.010-05:00

September 4
We were at the grocery store and on our way out of the parking lot we noticed a long row of cars parked against the "no parking" signs (the "E" with the line thru it means no parking). We thought it was ironic that so many cars would park where they weren't supposed to, so we stopped to take a picture. As we photographed the offenders, the little parking lot cop (on his bike) whistled at us and asked what we were doing. We pointed to the cars parked illegally and he just shrugged his shoulders and again asked us what we were doing. It didn't occur to him that the cars were doing anything wrong!!! We laughed and drove on. Parking in this country is comical!

September 5
Happy Labor Day! I love any excuse to have a day off of work. To celebrate, we grilled chicken, which was delicious, and had broccoli and fresh made lemonade. It was a good day!

September 6
I'm helping with the women's retreat by doing data entry. To keep all the papers organized, Abby gave me a nifty file. Nifty, except it's PINK. She just had to give me a pink one and now I have to carry it around! I don't like pink!

September 7
Our smoke detector had a rough day! I guess I need to clean my oven because when I turned it on...the detector went off. I didn't burn anything, it was barely cooked, but the detector went off several times. We're rethinking our decision to replace the batteries in the detectors! Hmmm...maybe no batteries are better than beeping detectors?!?

September 8
I had to drop off my ice-cream maker with Abby so she could use it for her cooking class. That gave me an excuse to visit with Abby and Jen. And, I shared my Peruvian candy with them. I'm so thankful for great friends!

September 9
We went back to Crepes & Waffles again. We enjoyed it so much last week that we wanted to try it again. They really have a great selection so we might have to go back several times before we find our favorites. This time, Bill ordered a bread bowl that came filled with chicken curry. It was a lot of food and he said it was really good. He ate it all! We might go back next weekend too!!

September 10
Here I am again! We are happy to have college football back on TV. We were able to watch Oregon play again and this time they won! Go Ducks! Or as Bill likes to say: "Vamos Patos"!

Week 35

2011-09-04T21:24:00.012-05:00

August 28
Another grocery shopping trip to PriceSmart (like Costco). Sunday's are busy, and the lines are l-o-n-g. But thankfully they move pretty quickly (most of the time).

August 29
My alarm clock finally died. It had been working off-and-on for the last few weeks. It occasionally needed a "break" and would show weird partial numbers instead of the correct time for a few hours, then it would come back. But, this time, it didn't come back. It's been alternating weird partials non-stop. I'm using a temporary alarm clock from the guest bedroom until I find another one I like. And, just so you appreciate the craziness of my alarm clock, I've added a video clip below...it really is crazy!

August 30
Bible Study again! I really enjoy getting a chance to chat with some of my favorite people. Thanks Jen and Abby!

August 31
A package! My mom sent us goodies from Peru. We love getting packages, and when they have candy in them - it's even better! We are already enjoying the delicious treats...thanks, Mom!

September 1
Game night with Jen, Mami, and Abby! I forgot my camera so Abby used her iPad...it was really funny trying to fit us all in. And playing games was super fun!

September 2
We went out to Crepes & Waffles for lunch. I had to try their Peruvian Chicken Crepe. It said it was made "in the style of Aji de Gallina". Sure enough, it was Aji de Gallina in a crepe. It tasted OK and was fun to try. It was very interesting with the different texture from the crepe. We'll have to go back to try their vast selection of crepes and other treats.

September 3
Finally -college football season again! We were really excited to watch the first Oregon Ducks game this year. Unfortunately, our cheering did not help them win. But, we're still hoping for a good season for the Ducks and our other favorite teams!

Week 34

2011-08-31T16:37:00.000-05:00

August 21

Ubi got another bath...he needs a lot of baths because of the bacteria problem. This time it was raining so he had to stand in the rain while the shampoo worked. He doesn't like bath time or standing in the rain.

August 22
Bacon loves boxes. She loves bags too, but today she played with the boxes all afternoon. And when she was done playing, she "guarded" them. Such a silly cat!

August 23
These are all the tools I use when I try to keep my braces clean. It's a lot of work and some days I don't bother. I'm not really sure this whole braces thing is going to be worth all the trouble!

August 24
Here is my candy bowl at work. It is very popular and people come from other offices just to get chocolate. I'm so popular!

August 25
My contacts were really bothered me so I got out my glasses. It had been a long time since I've worn my glasses and I think the prescription is old. I guess that's another thing I need to work on.

August 26
We went to another movie: Cowboys & Aliens. I had been eagerly awaiting its release here in Panama because I love Harrison Ford. We were the only ones in the theater until after the movie started...then 5 more people showed up (and this was opening day). I guess it's not going to be a big hit here. We liked it...but we like Sci-Fy and weird movies so we're easy to please.

August 27
We have a new comforter. I think Bill was allergic to the last one so we've been using the comforter from the guestroom until I could find one I liked and was willing to pay for. I finally found it...and it's reversible. Although, with a black cat, I don't think we'll use the white side much.

Week 33

2011-08-29T16:29:00.011-05:00

August 14
On our way back from grocery shopping - there are a LOT of wires and cables here. And there seems to be very little organization. This picture is a common sight and almost every major corner looks like this.

August 15
Last year Bill's cat knocked the head off the shepherd from my nativity scene (see the dark line across his throat? - that's super glue). So, we took some pictures (mugshots?) hoping my parents could find a replacement while they were in Peru. They didn't find an exact match, so I guess I'll just wait until the cat inevitably "kills" more of the characters and then I'll buy a whole new set.

August 16

Our new Bible Study started. I had really been looking forward to it starting again. There are a lot of new people so this year will be interesting.

August 17
Ubi and I went to pick Bill up from the Embassy because he worked late. Ubi got so excited every time someone would walk by. He was so happy to see Bill when he finally came out.

August 18
Right around the corner from our house is a nice quicky-mart. It is really convenient when we need milk. It's called "Embassy Market" but it has nothing to do with the embassy...other than being about 1 mile from the embassy. Thanks for getting the milk, Bill!

August 19
We've been eating lots of salads. They are pretty tasty. We like to add roasted chicken and shredded cheese. Bill will sometimes add crumbled feta and black olives to make a Greek salad. We're trying to be healthy...but sometimes the quantity that we eat isn't good!

August 20
Do you ever get the feeling that someone is looking over your shoulder? Bacon likes to make sure Bill is doing his homework properly.

Week 32

2011-08-22T16:01:00.001-05:00

August 7
We've been desperate to see a movie but there hasn't been anything good playing. We finally went to a movie anyway...we saw Captain America. It was OK.

August 8
Driving home from grocery shopping - the sky was really pretty. The pictures doesn't quite capture it completely, but you get the idea.

August 9
My friend Maggie is leaving in a couple months - boo! I know she's happy and looking forward to it, so I made her a countdown paper chain. Each day she tears off one link (I wrote cute things on each link). It was fun to make - but I'll miss her. Do you think it's too early to make my own countdown paper chain?

August 10
Another picture of me. I really don't look good in this picture! I guess I better start exercising more and eating better!

August 11
We had pulled pork for dinner. It's so easy to make in the crock pot. I love coming home to a house that smells like delicious dinner! I forgot to take a picture of it while we were eating it...and I forgot to take one of it in the crock pot. So, here is all that's left after dinner.

August 12
We like Grand Deli Gourmet. They just opened a new location (closer to our house) so we went there for lunch. We like to call this one the Grand Grand.

August 13
Time for some home-made ice cream! I tried Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter ice cream this time. It wasn't very "dark chocolate" to me. But, chocolate peanut butter is just as delicious. It was very rich and yummy! I love my ice cream machine!

Week 31

2011-08-19T15:39:00.010-05:00

July 31
I finished off the M&Ms from February. They were a delicious treat for dessert...especially because I didn't feel like making anything. We keep them in the fridge because they melt so fast here!

August 1
I started the 30 Day Shred exercise DVD. I'm supposed to do it for 30 days...we'll see how long I last. I am really out of shape and I don't particularly like exercising!

August 2
In our attempt to be more healthy, Bill made a salad wrap. It was actually really good. I guess that means we should eat more salads.

August 3
Our tub is cracked so we're not using it (we have to use the guest bathroom). But, Bacon thinks its a great place to play. She really loves the tub/shower, as long as there's no water!

August 4
I had dinner with Abby - fun! We went to Grand Deli Gourmet and I took my camera intending to take a fun picture. But, we all know I forget to take pictures often and I did it again. At least I have a picture of my receipt to prove I ate my pasta salad there!

August 5
They came to replace our tub. It was a very messy job ripping out the old tub and tile and putting in a new one. Our room was SO dusty. They couldn't finish the job in one day, so they had to come back.

August 6
We slept in the guest room since ours was still dusty and smelly from the tub replacement project. (The glue/caulk they used for the tiles has a very strong smell.) Poor Ubi didn't have much room, but he slept curled up in the corner.

Week 30

2011-08-11T18:26:00.013-05:00

July 24
We went to the mall, which is pretty normal for us on the weekend (the mall has good food and entertainment when you don't feel like spending much money). One thing that always bothers us in Panama is the parking. Most stores have little or no planned parking and drivers don't seem to care where they park. It is a huge problem and can be very annoying. Here is just one example...the lines are painted, but people just keep parking on the end of a row until there is practically no room to get around. One time, there was literally no room to get around and we had to backup and go another way!

July 25
I made tuna noodle casserole for dinner - it's one of my favorites. It was tasty and we ate WAY too much of it. We kept eating it the next two days too - delicious!

July 26
Homemade chocolate chip ice cream with brownies! So amazingly good!!

July 27
Our animals can be very needy. They just follow us around and stare at us sometimes. But, they're cute and we love them!

July 28
Peru's independence day - we celebrated by going out to a Peruvian restaurant. We enjoyed Aji de Gallina and Lomo Saltado and, of course, Inca Kola!

July 29
After a quick shopping trip, we stopped at the deli for lunch. Pasta salads, pesto sandwiches, and ceviche were a perfect lunch. We like Grand Deli Gourmet.

July 30
To celebrate Peru's independence (again), I made Peruvian food and invited a couple friends over. I forgot to take pictures of the food or of my friends! We had a good evening of tasty food and fun Peru memories/stories. I talked a lot and I'm grateful that Abby and Maggie pretended to be interested! At least I have a picture of my Peru coffee table books.

Week 29

2011-07-25T16:58:00.002-05:00

July 17
Maggie and I went grocery shopping again at Riba Smith. It really is one of our favorite things to do. We have so much fun together. And the nice bagger boys take our groceries to the car. We had a fun trip, except for a creepy old guy that was following us and watching us (he was really creepy).

July 18
Bill fell asleep on the couch and the cat was laying on his chest sleeping too. Then Bill started to snore softly and she was staring at him for a long time - very annoyed. It was really funny and cute...and then she finally went back to sleep. Shhhhhhh...they look so peaceful!

July 19
Another night where I forgot to take a picture. I was really tired and could think of nothing new to take a picture of. As I lay in bed trying to think of something, I just took a picture of the fan. This is the last thing I see before I close my eyes to sleep! Not very exciting, but it's different.

July 20
This is our mailbox. When we get a yellow slip like this, it means we have a package...yay! We love getting mail!!

July 21
We had a lovely time at a co-workers house playing a friendly game of poker - and eating tasty food. As you can see, Bill was concentrating intensely...but unfortunately he didn't win.

July 22
Friday afternoon was a perfect time to grill. We had a nutritious meal of hot dogs and baked beans. So easy, yet so delicious!

July 23
Another going away party! This one was for my boss for the last two years. He leaves next week and he will truly be missed. He has been a great boss!

Week 28

2011-07-20T12:06:00.001-05:00

July 10
Another picture of me. It was very late and I was tired. I look pretty much the same as I always do.

July 11
This is the picture for July on my Penguins calendar. It makes me smile every time I look at it...crazy rock star penguin.

July 12
It was a very rainy day! Thankfully, when I was ready to go home, it had stopped. Everything was wet and it was very humid. There were still some wispy clouds in the trees (you can barely see them).

July 13
The cat has decided this is her new favorite spot. Right under the TV, on the corner of the pillow. She is a silly cat!

July 14
The moon was so big and bright and the clouds were moving so fast. I tried to capture it with a picture, but it didn't really work. Pictures make the moon look small, but that's not what it looked like when we were standing outside. You'll just have to use your imagination as you look at this picture...or get your face really close to your computer screen to feel how big the moon was.

July 15
We finally took Ubi to the vet. His skin infection is not getting better and we tried to buy some antibiotics for him, but we needed a prescription. So, the vet gave us the prescription and gave him a medicated bath (which I'm sure he hated because he hates baths). He also hates standing on the big metal scale...so it took a lot of coaxing and treats to get him to comply.

July 16
Another wonderful Saturday morning with pancakes. And one special chocolate-chip pancake for me! I love waking up and eating pancakes on a lazy Saturday...there's nothing better!

Week 27

2011-07-15T13:36:00.000-05:00

July 3
Our 4th of July party was a success. The food was delicious and we had a great time. The desserts were the best part!

July 4
We had leftovers on the 4th from our party on the 3rd. I ate a huge hamburger and I was so full! We enjoyed a very relaxing independence day.

July 5
Because I made so much lemonade for our party, we had leftovers. I decided to freeze some of it to have later. It looks so good! Can't wait to enjoy it again!

July 6
Bill was working late, so I went home and got the dog and we both walked back to the embassy. Bill drove us home. It was a good walk and we didn't get rained on!

July 7
I had another orthodontist appointment. That meant I had soup and sherbet for dinner. The cold sherbet makes my teeth feel better...or at least it makes them numb so I don't feel anything!

July 8
This one's for you, mom. You wanted me to take a picture out my front door, so here it is...at night.
As you've probably noticed, sometimes I don't have very good (or interesting) ideas for my picture of the day. If you have any suggestions, or anything you want to see...let me know. For now, enjoy the view out our front door.

July 9
Still finishing leftovers, Bill decided to have a "piece" of pie. He took a quarter of the pie at once because I hadn't finished cutting it into normal sized pieces. He ate the last piece for breakfast the next morning!

Week 26

2011-07-06T20:21:00.012-05:00

I'm half way thru the year with Project 365. I've officially taken a picture every day (except two) for 6 months (or 26 weeks). Impressive!

June 26
We decided to overeat at McDonalds. It had been a while since our last visit to McD's so we went a little crazy. We got a Caja Grande, which is entirely too much food but we ate it all anyway. It was tasty...now we're fat!

June 27
Bill was playing with his remote controlled helicopter and the cat didn't like it. She was curious about it, but it kept moving around and chasing her. It was not her favorite toy.

June 28
Ubi got a new tick collar and we sprinkled tick powder on his bed...again. These ticks are being persistent and we really don't like them. We're doing our best to get rid of the disgusting little guys!

June 29
I'm planning a patriotic party for the 4th of July. I ordered all kinds of patriotic paraphernalia in preparation. Everything is red, white, and blue - it looks like Uncle Sam exploded all over our table!

June 30
Laundry day. I use the drying rack in the kitchen because nothing dries outside with all the humidity here!

July 1
We went to Pizza Hut - it was a bad experience. We waited over an hour for our food. When I finally questioned the waitress about it, she had clearly forgotten about us. She never put in our order. So, we waited another 10 minutes and then finally ate some mediocre pizza. At least the manager lady gave us two 15% off coupons.

July 2
We went to the 4th of July party at the embassy. It was good, with lots of traditional picnic/bbq food. But, the best part was the fireworks. They were really impressive, considering it wasn't a big event. We listened to patriotic music and watched them explode - definitely made us feel American!

4th of July

2011-07-04T17:07:00.012-05:00

Happy 4th of July!! It's so nice to have another holiday and a fun reason to celebrate. We had an ultra-patriotic BBQ yesterday with a few friends. I decided to go overboard with the food and the decorations - everything was stereotypically all-American and the decorations were all red, white and blue! We had enough food to feed 50, but there were just 9 of us. I guess we'll be eating leftovers all week.

Our 4th of July celebration was quite a feast! We had fresh squeezed lemonade, iced tea, American beer and soda, chicken wings, potato chips & dip, deviled eggs, fruit skewers, buffalo chicken dip, hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, watermelon, baked beans, potato salad, and grilled corn on the cob. For dessert there was apple pie, cherry pie, jello cups, brownies, and homemade vanilla ice cream. It was really good food and everyone had a good time!

fresh lemonade (with lemonade ice cubes to keep it cold!)

fruit skewers - strawberries, bananas, and blueberries (red,white, and blue)

Bill - the grill master

YUMMY!

all the fixin's

baked beans

brownies (each one claimed for the USA)

what's more American than apple pie (still warm)?

and cherry pie too

dessert!

Week 25

2011-06-28T17:07:00.002-05:00

June 19
We went shopping at Pricesmart and we took a couple guys who are new to Panama. It was a good outing - we all bought some good stuff. Then we ate lunch at the food court...tasty fried chicken and pizza!

June 20
Bill gave me a punch bowl for our anniversary. The 3rd anniversary is crystal. I love it and can't wait to use it.

June 21
I recently started playing my computer game. It's not new, I've just been waiting to play it for several years...I'm not sure why I was waiting. It's a fun game, but I've discovered I'm not a very patient person so sometimes I cheat!

June 22
Bill doing his homework with the dog. They were cuddling on the floor and it was really cute!

June 23
I'm sick again! I've been sick more here in the last 1.5 years than in any of the other places I've lived. Thankfully, NyQuil makes me feel better.

June 24
We had delicious kebabs for dinner. Chicken, onions, and peppers grilled to perfection. It really was a wonderful meal.

June 25
This is the "spare change" can that I've filled up for church. The youth group collects the cans to raise money for their missions trip. Time to turn my can in.

Week 24

2011-06-25T15:13:00.013-05:00

June 12

We were invited to a birthday party to celebrate several June birthdays, but it was on Susan's actual birthday. She shared the candle-blowing-out responsibility with Kayla. I made Susan a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting, one of my favorites!!

June 13
Half the time, Ubi doesn't even sleep on his bed...he sleeps next to it or on the carpet. Silly dog!

June 14
Happy Anniversary to us! I can't believe it's been three years! Looking forward to many more. We celebrated by going to dinner at our favorite restaurant - of course!!

June 15
We were supposed to drink this on our anniversary and forgot. It's still good the next day - I love sparkling cider!

June 16
I made stuffed red peppers in the crock pot. They weren't the best, but they were ok. I might have to adjust the recipe a bit if I decide to make them again.

June 17
Another going away party - this one for Katie. We will really miss you, Katie and our fun Tuesday lunch club! (I don't know why my eyes are so huge in this picture!!)

June 18
It happened again! I'm so sad. I carried my camera around all day. And we did fun stuff: we went to the mall, we ate at the food court, Bill got a haircut, we went to another mall, and we went to a movie with new friends. It was a great day and I just forgot to take a picture. Sorry...I guess it has to be Project 363 now - sad!!

Week 23

2011-06-21T12:41:00.002-05:00

June 5
Happy Birthday, Bill! You've already heard about his birthday, but here he is with his wings, again!

June 6
Fresh steamed broccoli...you can even see the steam. It is just another part of our healthy eating.

June 7
What's more healthy than a salad?? We had Cobb salad and it was actually a lot better than I thought it would be. A little roasted chicken, some boiled egg, some cheese, tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce = healthy dinner!

June 8
Bill is charging the battery in his old Jeep. We want to sell it, but there continue to be obstacles. Hopefully, we can get rid of it soon!

June 9
Another picture of me...I actually took it a day early this month - just to be different! I still look the same.

June 10
Summertime is when people start leaving and a lot of "going away" parties are planned. This is the first of many to come!

June 11
Another going away party - this one was '80s themed. It was a fun (and interesting) night. Bill and I don't really get into the costume parties, but I wore my 49er jersey (because they won 4 Super Bowls in the '80s). My friends dressed is more "traditional" '80s costumes.

Week 22

2011-06-16T20:15:00.002-05:00

May 29

Still in Bocas, we went on a day trip to see dolphins. It was tons of fun...we circled around them and they circled around us. When you see them up close, they are so much bigger than expected. I like dolphins! (My pictures of the dolphins weren't so good because my camera is slow. Check out Bill's photo's, they are much better!!)

May 30
This was the dock outside our room...our own personal dock. We went swimming and snorkeling right outside our room. It was a lot of fun and SO beautiful!

May 31
Another coffee maker. I don't even drink coffee, but we have 4 coffee makers. This one came with travel mugs and makes two separate cups at a time. Fancy!

June 1
Out to dinner at our favorite restaurant. Not exactly healthy, but we were invited by someone else and I just couldn't say no! Pesto pasta is delicious!

June 2
This is a healthier meal. Sauteed fish and green beans. We added a little rice because it was leftover. We really are trying to eat healthier.

June 3
Looking for houses online. I'm ready to buy a house! We found a really great one, but then someone else bought it. I guess it wasn't meant to be ours...too bad.

June 4

We attended a graduation party...congratulations, Megan!! We'll miss you!

Week 21

2011-06-09T19:29:00.002-05:00

May 22
We have been trying to eat healthier the last few weeks. The main thing we've changed is adding a lot more fruits and vegetables to our diet. Here is our fridge full of all the fresh fruit that we take for our lunches and eat with dinner. I feel better already!

May 23
Nothing exciting happening...just Bill reading his iPad, like he ALWAYS is!

May 24
This is what I read...a kindle. I like it, but lately I haven't had enough time to read so I'm not getting much use out of it.

May 25
Lots of packages!! That means we have gift-giving holidays coming up. (The only time of year with more gifts is Christmas.) Bill's birthday and our anniversary are just around the corner.

May 26
The cat does NOT like the printer. Whenever we print, she comes running to see what all the noise is about. She watches the printer suspiciously as long as it makes noise...and she lets us know she is not pleased!

May 27
Packing for vacation! My favorite thing to do is go on vacation (or eat...so eating on vacation is double good). We're taking the long weekend to go to Bocas del Toro. I love packing.

May 28
This was our hotel for two nights. A secluded aqua lodge in Bocas del Toro. It was so peaceful and wonderful. We had a great time being in the middle of nowhere and near the water.

Happy Birthday Bill

2011-06-07T20:51:00.003-05:00

It was Bill's Birthday last weekend. Since he was still on break from school, I gave him his present early so he could enjoy it. I got him a computer game and I knew he wouldn't be able to play it once school started (this week) so he played it ALL weekend. He seemed to enjoy it. On Sunday, I made chicken wings for him, because that's what he requested. We used the "happy birthday" plate for the wings and they looked good. Bill ate them all, so I guess they were tasty. Then we had Banana Trifle. Bill didn't want a birthday cake, he wanted a birthday trifle. I must admit, it looked pretty good and it tasted good too. After trifle, he opened his other presents (from family, not me). All in all, I think he had a good birthday.

Week 20

2011-06-03T16:58:00.008-05:00

May 15
The long-awaited BRUNCH! It was the biggest brunch I've ever made and it was a success. The food was delicious and there was plenty for everyone. I think people really enjoyed themselves!

May 16
Bill sharing a chocolate-chip cookie with the cat...I don't think she really appreciated it.

May 17
We had a mildly healthy dinner (certainly better than some meals we've had). Grilled chicken and grilled zucchini. It was tasty!

May 18
Nothing exciting happening...just Bill, reading his iPad, like he always is.

May 19
Leftover from the brunch... one of my all-time favorite things in the world: jumbo chocolate chocolate-chip muffins...doesn't get much better. (And these are ones I made!)

May 20
The cat likes to curl up and often sleeps with her head upside down. Looks uncomfortable to me, but she seems to enjoy it.

May 21
Another bath for Ubi...he still has a skin infection so we're trying to keep him cleaner. He does not like baths...especially on the slippery tile!

Week 19

2011-05-31T21:17:00.010-05:00

May 8
We went to the mall to watch a movie and do grocery shopping. Before all that, we ate at the food court. There is a good restaurant here that has wonderful grilled meats, it's a sit-down restaurant, but they have locations in several food courts. You order and they give you a number...then you sit down anywhere in the food court and they bring your food when it's ready...very ingenious.

May 9
Since Bill is on a small break from school, he has time to play computer games. He enjoys his computer games.

May 10
More grocery shopping in preparation for the upcoming brunch. This time we went to PriceSmart, which is like Costco. After shopping, we enjoyed dinner of fried chicken and pizza!

May 11
Here's my picture for the month of May...just one day late.

May 12
Another orthodontist appointment so all I could eat for dinner was mashed potatoes. But I love mashed potatoes so I don't mind...as long as I have a plastic spoon. For some reason, I hate eating with a metal spoon after going to the dentist or orthodontist!

May 13
Ubi has a new toy - "Mr. Elephant". You can't tell by this picture, but he really loves his new friend.

May 14
Spent the day getting ready for the big brunch! I like to set out all my serving plates and extra stuff the night before. It helps me visualize what the table will look like and it saves time when I'm rushed.

Week 18

2011-05-21T13:57:00.008-05:00

May 1
Bill's family left. We spent a lot of time at the airport because they got bumped off their original flight. But, they got travel vouchers and free lunch and they were put on the flight later in the day, so we were able to spend a little more time visiting!

May 2
After all the excitement of last week, with the visitors and all our fun...we spent the day relaxing. This is what we all did, all day!

May 3
My Bible Study had their closing dinner (we take a break over the summer while school is out). It was a fun night with good food and good company. I look forward to Bible Study again next year.

May 4
You've heard about it before...this is our favorite restaurant. I love Tre Scalini! We made a quick visit to get take-out this time. The food is so good!

May 5
I think my car has bugs. Several times, we've found small, ugly cockroach-looking bugs in the car at night. It's happened too many times to be a coincidence. So, we got some sticky traps to try and catch them...but it didn't work. I think we'll have to get something else.

May 6
This is a new "toy" we got for the cat. I guess it isn't really a toy for her but a toy for me. It's supposed to help train her to stay off the table and counters. So far, I think it works pretty well. It has a motion sensor and when it detects the cat, it makes a loud beep and spays something on her (almost like a puff of air, but I don't think it's just air). Anyway, she stays away from it so I'd say it works!

May 7
I'm getting ready for a big brunch next weekend. The first step is planning. I got out all my recipes and ideas and made lots of lists. I love to make lists and I love brunch!

Week 17

2011-05-19T10:35:00.009-05:00

April 24
Happy Easter! It was fun to have Bill's family visiting for Easter. And, two of my friends came over for dinner too. We had a wonderful meal with lamb, roasted vegetables, carrot casserole, cabbage salad, jello, mushroom rice pilaf, rolls, and coconut cream pie. April 25
This is a "must see" for visitors to Panama. These are the locks on the Panama Canal. It's fascinating to watch the ships move up and down as they go thru the locks and cross the continental divide on the Panama Canal. Besides, this is why Panama is famous, so you have to see it! April 26
We spent a couple days at a resort on the beach while our family was visiting. We had a great time! We really enjoyed all the food and the buffets.April 27
Of course, we spent time building sand castles. (Sorry this picture is bad...I was feeling sick and didn't want to get up and walk over to take the picture so I was lazy and that resulted in a bad picture. But, you get the idea.)April 28
There were peacocks at the resort and they roamed around the grounds. They spent a lot of time on our patio...startling me when I opened the curtains!April 29
Who doesn't love swings? We went to the park for some fun in the sun and it was fun.April 30
Visiting the Marine Park was also fun...we got to touch the star fish. It was a beautiful day!

Week 16

2011-05-07T09:40:00.009-05:00

April 17
I went grocery shopping with Maggie again (one of our favorite activities). I had lots to buy to prepare for our guests - Bill's mom, sister, and nephew are coming to visit! During the shopping experience, we saw this...who's ever heard of "Grape Nut Ice Cream"? I wonder what it tastes like? We didn't buy any to find out, maybe next time.
April 18
This is a nightly ritual. Because we don't have a back yard, we let the dog pee in the front "yard". Except, it's really just a strip of grass. I guess it's enough grass for one dog - so we let him out every night before bed.
April 19
Leftover rice is delicious as rice cereal! A little milk, sugar, and cinnamon and you've got a wonderful late-night snack. Yum!
April 20
After all the grocery shopping this week, our fridge is full! We usually don't have a full fridge unless we have visitors coming or a big holiday/event. So, since we have guests arriving soon (and Easter is coming up), our fridge is stuffed!
April 21
I was super sick today! I felt yucky all day (and yesterday). When I remembered that I hadn't taken a picture, I didn't even get out of bed. Instead, Bill took one of me.
April 22
Our guests are here!! How fun to have Bill's family for a visit. We all sat around in the kitchen catching up. Even the animals were enjoying it.
April 23
The first trip with our vistors was a jungle experience day-trip. It's such a fun trip...you ride on a boat, visit the canal, feed the monkeys, eat wonderful food, kayak, swim, and relax. I think everyone had a great time. Here is Bill in the kayak with our friend Erica.

Week 15

2011-04-16T19:34:00.011-05:00

April 10
Here's a picture of me...again. I look happier in this one - probably because I just ate chocolate. And, I'm wearing my Reese's shirt.
April 11
Here's the email I received from the Secretary of State. After last week, when we had to decide who's jobs were "important" enough to keep working during a potential government shut down, I guess the Secretary wanted to remind us that we're ALL important. Even though she was willing to send us home with no money last week, this week she loves us all equally!
April 12
Here is my latest notepad...I have a lot of them (a slight addiction). This one makes me chuckle every time I say it out loud. "What to Doooooo" - like an owl! *chuckle*
April 13
Ubi was tired today. He was laying his head on our bed. So cute.
April 14
Banana bread! One of my favorites. I made two loaves, and it's good I did since we practically finished one by ourselves. We'll save the other loaf for next week, when our visitors arrive.
April 15
Here is my attempt to clean my desk. I'm actually making progress, although it doesn't really look like it. I want everything to be all cleaned up for our guests.
April 16
I worked on Easter Baskets. I bought all kinds of fun supplies (and candy) and put the beautiful baskets together. Bacon was "supervising" but she was not being very helpful!

Week 14

2011-04-16T19:10:00.014-05:00

April 3

We went to the mall to eat at the food court and do a little shopping. There are so many choices at the food court that it's really a good place to eat - everyone gets what they want. The mall we go to is HUGE, and now they're building more. They do not need more mall, they need more parking - but instead they build more building IN the parking lot...great! Arrocha is one of my favorite stores here. April 4

We bought a Scat Mat. It's intended to keep animals off counters and tables. We're trying it out to see if Bacon will stay off. It gives her a little shock if she touches it. Hopefully it's working! April 5

Today was Bacon's 1st birthday. At least, today is the day we picked to be her birthday. Since she was a rescue cat, they didn't know her exact birthday, but our veterinarian friend guessed her approximate age and we picked a date to use as her birthday. She is a small cat, but we're saying she's 1. Bill gave her some treats to celebrate her special day. April 6

These are two of my very favoritest candy bars. Maggie came back from America and brought them for me since we can't get them here. April 7

I got a new tote bag because Bill supports OPB. Last time they sent him a bookmark, but he sent more money so this time we got a tote bag...yay!

April 8
I can't remember if I already took a picture of this. Oh well, it's pretty cool (and I'm sure I'll repeat some pictures before the year is over). This is the wall hanging Bill gave me on our last anniversary. I LOVE it!! April 9
Bill made pancakes again. He even made a few chocolate-chip pancakes. I love eating pancakes on Saturday morning, thanks Bill!

Four Things Friday #4

2011-04-15T21:29:00.006-05:00

1. In the last three years, I've been to 9 different countries (USA, Italy, Panama, Peru, Canada, France, Egypt, Costa Rica, and the Bahamas).

2. Sometimes I use Wikipedia to learn new things - there is a nice feature that will show you a random page each time. Today, when I clicked on Random Article, I learned that there is an entry for Wisconsin Highway 253. I wonder who would take the time to make an entry for that?

3. We're having lamb for Easter dinner. Not because it's a normal choice (which it seems to be) but because I have a weird thing about repeating meat for holiday meals. Thanksgiving is turkey, Christmas is ham, so Easter has to be lamb or duck...and I'm not sure I'm ready to cook a duck!

4. This might be my last entry for "Four Things Friday". I know it's only the fourth one, but I might change it to another day and another number. I feel that it's interfering with my Project 365 updates which I intended to do each weekend. If I have to write this on Friday and update my pictures on the weekend, I don't always get them both done. Perhaps I'll start "One Thing Wednesday" or "Three Things Thursday". I guess if I'm going to quit - it's fitting that I end with "Four Things Friday #4".

Four Things Friday #3

2011-04-08T12:42:00.006-05:00

1. If you've watched the news at all lately, you'll know our government could possibly shut down this weekend. Since I work for the government, it may affect me. My boss has to decide if I'm "essential" to work during a shutdown or not. Right now I'm on the cusp of essentialness...I'm .5 essential. It could go either way!

2. I really wish that pasta didn't make you fat because I LOVE pasta but I don't love being fat. Our favorite restaurant here is called Tre Scalini and it has a lot of pasta choices. Basically 75% of the menu is various sauces and pasta dishes. The awesome thing is that you can choose which pasta (noodle) you want with most of the sauces. I LOVE pasta.

3. I had another orthodontist appointment yesterday. It wasn't as painful as I expected (maybe because I took a bunch of drugs) - so that was nice. The ligatures on my braces are now purple...I thought it was a nice color for Easter and spring.

4. A nugget of wisdom my father sent me this week (perhaps because I write these 4 random things each week or maybe because I'm just random in general): Pearls melt in vinegar. I've never tried it so I have no personal experience, but if you do let me know.

Week 13

2011-04-03T17:32:00.015-05:00

As I type this, more brownies are in the oven...I am really obsessed!

March 27
Bill bought me a giant balloon. I love balloons and I especially love this one. It was a surprise for no reason! I really love balloons and Bill! March 28
Our cable provider recently lost access to the network channels (ABC, NBC, CBS) so we can't watch regular US TV anymore. Very sad! We're working on ways to fix it and get access to our favorite shows. Most of the time, we end up watching things online. Tonight I watched part of the President's speech online. March 29
It's Bill's job to clean the litter box. He wanted a cat, so he has to clean up after her. In my opinion, it is a very disgusting job! You can see Bacon watching from the bottom right corner of the picture. She's supervising. March 30
Today I was able to go with Bill as he made his airport run for work. It was fun to be out of the office and be with him and watch him at work. It's always fun to be near the airplanes and watch everything that goes on to get a flight in and out. Good day! March 31
Today most of our neighborhood was without electricity all day. Our street was fortunate enough to have power - until about 8:30...when the lights went out. I intended to take a picture of our lantern lighting up the room as we read...but then the lights came back on. Oh well, we're thankful to have a nice lantern when we need it. April 1
Our neighbor and co-worker planned a block party for everyone from the embassy who lives in our neighborhood. It was a fun afternoon with delicious food and lots of people (lots of kids, too). I was happy for an occasion to make (and eat) more brownies! April 2
Bill had to take a big test today. While he worked, his proctor and I had a chance to chat and plan vacations - which of course you know is one of my favorite things to do. Good thing I arranged for his proctor to be MY friend (thanks, Maggie).

Four Things Friday #2

2011-04-01T23:49:00.005-05:00

1. We went to a BBQ today. Really, it was more of a block party with all the people that live in our neighborhood that work at the embassy. There are a lot of people in our neighborhood...and a lot of kids. Too many kids! But, the food was delicious...and I took brownies (which were very good since I've been craving brownies for weeks).

2. I love to plan vacations - and I love to take vacations. I think I should be a professional vacationer. Is there such a thing? I am currently planning a week of vacation in April and a long weekend for Memorial Day. I'm also excited about an upcoming cruise in November and we're starting to plan our big vacation for next February! I really vacations!

3. I don't like to grate cheese. It's just one of those things I hate doing. So, I buy the pre-grated cheese...which I know is more expensive. I know I should buy a block of cheese and grate it myself, but I really hate grating cheese! For me, it's worth the extra money to have the luxury of pre-grated cheese.

4. Easter is approaching. I'm going to make Easter Baskets this year because Bill's family will be visiting us then. I'm happy that I live in a place where they have some choices for Easter candy and supplies for my Easter Baskets. The one thing I haven't found is white eggs for dyeing. I guess we'll have dyed brown eggs for Easter!

Week 12

2011-03-27T03:09:00.012-05:00

March 20
We went to Taco Bell because we like it. They always ask for your name before they take your order. Bill and I get tired of spelling out our names for them in Spanish (because they are so difficult), so we use "easier" names. Bill uses "Aaron" because we thought it was easier for Spanish speakers - and it's his middle name. Apparently, it's not that easy either! They have NEVER spelled it right at Taco Bell...don't they watch Food Network and see Aaron Sanchez obsess about his name? I guess not. We have since decided Bill should use "Jose" or "Pablo" because it would be impossible for them to get those names wrong...right?

March 21
I made dinner and it was super scrumptious. We had fried rice with diced ham and stir-fried teriyaki vegetables. It was almost a healthy meal...and really, really tasty!March 22
We got a surprise day off of work because a former vice-president of Panama died and it was declared a national day of mourning. I spent the day sleeping in and playing games with my friends. It was so much fun! And - I actually one the game for once...that makes it even more fun! Yay! March 23
I got a cookbook for Christmas from my brother and sister-in-law: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2. It has all kinds of famous restaurant recipes and I finally used it to make Cheddar Bay Biscuits, like the ones from Red Lobster. I was happy because the recipe wasn't too difficult and the biscuits were really good. I think I made them too big, so next time I'll use a smaller scoop, but they were very tasty. I LOVE this cookbook and look forward to using it a LOT! March 24
BEFORE: I'm planning to get my hair cut so I took a picture to show how long it was. Not the longest it's been, but long enough to be annoying. I was ready for something different.March 25
AFTER: here is my short haircut. This is the shortest my hair has been in over 10 years. I'm still getting used to it. It's kind of funny, but I think I like it. At least I don't hate it!March 26
Dry season is officially over...I think. It started pouring today...raining so hard you couldn't see across the street. It's hard to take a picture that captures just how hard it was raining, but I tried. After about an hour, the rain suddenly stopped.

Four Things Friday #1

2011-03-25T16:28:00.005-05:00

I'm going to try a new "segment" on my blog (that make it sound like it's a talk show). I had an idea, I'm sure it's not that original, but I'm not copying it from anyone specific...just something I thought would be fun. If it turns out to be too much work, I'll just quit! It's called Four Things Friday and it's fairly self explanatory. Each Friday, I will tell you 4 things. I'll try to keep them short and interesting...but I can't promise either. The idea is that I mention 4 random things I've been thinking about, it's not supposed to be too much work for me. I just thought it would help me contribute more to my blog and give you (my few loyal readers) something more to enjoy. You could ask why I don't do "Five Things Friday" and I would say, because 4 is my favorite number, not 5. Here's my first edition:

1. I got my hair cut today. Shorter than it's been in at least 10 years. I'm still getting used to it, but I think I like it. You'll see pictures in my next Project 365 update.

2. I can't take naps. I mean, I don't like to take naps. Actually, that's not right either...I don't like waking up from a nap. Yup, I can sleep just fine, but when I get up, I'm always confused and groggy and usually very angry. So, it's better for everyone if I don't take naps! However, Bill is taking a nap right now.

3. Our house guest, Frank the dog, is leaving us today. I've enjoyed her time here but I'm not sure she has. Our house is small and we don't have a yard, so she hasn't had much exercise. Having two dogs in one house has made me reconsider my desire for another dog. Maybe if we had a yard...that would work!

4. I'm craving brownies! I made a huge pan of brownies last weekend and ate almost all of them. I was hesitant to share them with anyone because my cravings were that strong. Now that I'm home, on Friday afternoon, with the whole weekend before me, the cravings are getting stronger. Should I make more brownies and enjoy them, regardless of the massive amounts of weight I'll gain?

Week 11

2011-03-22T09:12:00.010-05:00

I get a rare chance today to update my blog during the week. You see, today was declared a National Day of Mourning here in Panama because of the death of an ex-vice president. So, we get the day off. I'm trying to be productive with my time.

March 13
I made cookies. They were so easy and so good. Maggie let me borrow a cookbook with all kinds of creative ways to use cake mixes (besides just cakes). So, I used a chocolate cake mix to make these tasty chocolate peanut butter cookies. They were a hit!

March 14
We have a house guest for the next two weeks. Welcome to our home, Frank.
March 15
I forgot to take a picture of myself on the 10th, like I was supposed to...too distracted by the cat's bad behavior. So, I remembered today. Here I am...not looking too good (it's all those cookies I've been eating). Beware the Ides of March!

March 16
Bill is back in school again, after his week off, so he's hitting the books. He's trying to be more disciplined this term and get his homework done promptly...we'll see how long that lasts.

March 17
Just relaxing after a long day. All the animals...and Bill.

March 18
We had an event at work today. It was a day of teams and games and laughter and team-building (I think) and costumes. Our team was ducks.

March 19
One of my favorite candies. I'm sure it's in my top five, although I don't know what the other four are. I should think about that and make an actual list. In the meantime, I'll enjoy my pieces!

Week 10

2011-03-19T03:11:00.005-05:00

Another old week, I'm catching up. Enjoy!

March 6
We tried to go out for Mexican food, but the restaurant was closed due to Carnival. Fortunately for me, our favorite restaurant was nearby so we went there instead. Abby, Erica, and Bill all ordered the exact same thing...but I was different. It was all delicious! March 7
It was bound to happen sooner or later...I forgot to take a picture. I was just hoping it would happen later, rather than sooner. But, I have excuses. I didn't have my own camera (it was still missing) and I had to ask Bill to take the picture for me but he wasn't always with me when I wanted to take one. I had several interesting things to take a picture of, and I thought about it several times, but I never got the shot. I'm sad. Hopefully this won't happen too many times...I already have to change the name to Project 364 and I don't want to change it again. March 8
Bill made pancakes. It's becoming a Saturday morning tradition, but this was Tuesday. Why? Because we had the day off...so it felt like Saturday. They were fluffy and delicious and I ate way too many...yummy! March 9
Here's a random shot - my new bulletin board in the bedroom. The bedroom was the only place left with enough wall space for my big bulletin board. I love it! March 10
Bacon is a very naughty cat! She got her treat bag off the counter, chewed a hole in it, took it upstairs, spilled treats all around, took the bag back downstairs and left it in the middle of the hall. You might think the dog did this, but Ubi is far too afraid of being punished to do something this bad. Nope, it was that evil cat!! (Oh, and because of her mischief, I forgot to take the regular picture of myself because it is the 10th...I didn't remember until later.) March 11
We went to the mall's food court for lunch. Johnny Rocket's was calling my name. Chili cheese fries and a Chocolate-Peanut Butter milkshake. Probably around 50,000 calories but OH SO DELICIOUS!!! March 12
Another relaxing outing because Bill was still on vacation from school. This time we went to the movies and relaxed in the recliners at the VIP theater. You can see our feet in the picture as we are relaxing!

Week 9

2011-03-18T16:48:00.017-05:00

OK, sorry it took so long. I got my camera back last week and I've been taking pictures but I haven't had time to upload them. So, over the weekend, I'll upload three weeks worth. Then I will be caught up. Hopefully you will find the photos enjoyable.

February 27
I like to make birthday cakes for my coworker's birthdays. I always ask them what they want, but they usually try to request something easy. They are allowed to choose any dessert, but most of them just choose chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. And, while that is delicious, it's a little boring. Oh well, here is the birthday cake for Edgar. February 28
Too lazy to make a real dinner, I'm settling for delicious and nutritious macaroni & cheese. It really does taste pretty good sometimes. We often mix in some chili for a classic chili-mac, but tonight was pure mac & cheese. March 1
Tonight Bacon made me so mad! She got out the front door, which isn't that unusual, but instead of coming back in when she was supposed to, she ran down the street. I had to chase her in the dark and try to get her to go home. She thought it was a game and kept hiding under cars and running the wrong direction. I finally chased her inside but I was very angry. So, I put her on a leash to teach her that if she wants to go out, she has to be on a leash. That, in turn, made her very angry. You can't tell in the picture, but she is MOST unhappy! March 2
Our beach vacation from last week is truly over...we had to return the borrowed boogie boards. So sad that we can't still be at the beach. March 3
I went to bed early tonight...then suddenly woke up and realized I hadn't taken a picture for the day. So, I got out of bed and took a picture. It was late and I had absolutely no creativity. March 4
We had a cookbook swap party. It was so much fun! Everyone brought a cookbook that they don't use very much and we took turns picking one out of the pile, like a white elephant game. It was fun and most people got a "new" cookbook they were excited about.

March 5
Ubi has a bacterial skin disease. It makes his skin scab and peel. That makes his hair fall out. Poor dog - almost looks bald on his side.

Coming Soon

2011-03-06T21:24:00.002-06:00

My Week 9 pictures are coming soon. I took the pictures, but they are still on my camera. And since I left my camera at someone's house...I don't have it with me. And, I probably won't get it back until Wednesday...so I don't have any pictures to post. Oh, and the pictures I'm taking now - these days when I don't have my camera - will be a combo of using Bill's camera or his phone, so they will either be good quality or bad quality. You'll see. Stay posted and I'll get my pictures uploaded as soon as I can. Have a wonderful week!