There is much to be happy about during this month of May. First off, the big move is becoming more and more of a reality. D and I were told that our plane tickets have been purchased and we are flying out at the end of July. Next, my passport finally arrived!! That has been the biggest stress for me so far. Without the passport, there was no visa. Now, D and I have sent all our paperwork to Guayaquil and we just await the legal stamp of approval. Of course, we also have to plan a trip to the Ecuadorian Consulor, but that won't be until July. And finally, it is full-fledged biking season. We broke out the cruisers, we've been mountain biking, and we enjoyed the fun of Boise Bike Week. Life is good.
I have to admit, it has been quite awhile since I have actually been awake to ring in the new year and say goodbye to the old. Dave and I have always been a bit more concerned about the eight hours of sleep necessary to enjoy life rather than seeing the ball drop. But this year...is different. It is 12:58 and the neighbor's hired band just started, there are rapid fire explosives (aka fireworks) going off in three minute intervals, and the car alarms throughout our block seem to be answering the loving call of said fireworks. There will be no eight hours to start off the year for the Richert's this time. Nothing about our experiences in Ecuador could be classified as typical, and New Year's Eve is proving to be no exception. The evening started out quite and low key, dinner at home with a movie. There were the occasional firework, but that isn't anything atypical. I was even contemplating continuing the tradition of snuggling into bed by 10:30. Before I called