Living The Good Life

Meet our new little friend... He likes bikes too.

Dave and I have been housebound the last week.  Let me tell you, an unexpected week off of work is not always as enjoyable as you would think.   Living in a developing nation, you have to be willing to accept some unpleasant things that are going to come your way.  You will be robbed at some point, just go with the flow.  Your plans will never go as expected (What?  You don't have my hotel reservation?  Or the $50 deposit I have already made?).  And, you will contract some awful virus or bacteria.  Guaranteed.  The latter is what struck the Richert's this past week. Yep, right there is just your basic case of conjunctivitis (a.k.a. pink eye).  I know, gross.  We are pretty sure that it found its way to us via Ecuador's stellar bus system.  I began noticing the problem on the way home from our relaxing eco -resort getaway.  Thinking that something had flown into my eye due to the open windows of the bus, I worried it like nothing else trying to get it out.  This is what cau

I know that my adventures are not in the same vein as this .  But, come on, can the Amazon really compete with: Hanging out with a superhero who just happens to be an Ecuador futbol fan as well. Making the ever delicious treat of the "Gaby Sandwich" Being in awe of "Super-Mom" (A.K.A. Cousin Kira...and yes, those are all her adorable children) Finally getting rid of my own personal heating system.  Spotting something uniquely Idaho.  (A live bait vending machine?  Are you serious?) There was the re-stocking of reading material. (Man, I love Barnes and Noble) And let's not forget about the shopping. There was also having coffee and dinner with friends, the frazzled transition from speaking Spanish to English whenever ordering food, and the beauty of finally getting to flush my toilet paper (though I did have to tell myself to flush it and not throw it away Every. Single. Time.  Too much information?)   It was a wonderful, restful, break full of family, fun, laugh

I have been a lapsed blogger as of late.  Not because there has not been fun and exciting things happening, but because I am trying to spend only a 1/2 hour on the computer a day.  Man, I didn't realize how much of my life this whole technology thing takes up!  I have been spending only 1/2 hour on the computer a day (well, not really on the weekends because you have to break the rules sometimes) since the beginning of March.  I'm on my fifth book of the month people, and it is only the 15th.  Awesome. This recent decision of mine was spurned on by a conversation I had with my mom.  We were talking about faithfulness in marriage, friendships, and life in general.  She said, and I'm paraphrasing here, that acts of unfaithfulness are anything that takes you away from the relationships you have committed to.  Spending too much time on anything that takes you away from nurturing and working on the relationships you are in is potentially harmful.  Wise woman, that mom of mine. I