Living The Good Life

I know...it has been months (months!! How did that happen?!). I can tell you how it happened... * swine flu paranoia in Ecuador * whirlwind tours of the USA from D.C. to California * a swimming sensation that is six years old, and the Transformer's expert * a beautiful 11 month old that fell in love with her uncle * bbq's galore * weekends away with the greatest of friends * new bikes (Oh, Isis...I miss you already) * let's be honest....Target, Costco, and the Patagonia outlet contributed to the silence * 14 hour road trips * napkin making * concerts that had to be attended (I really do love you Josh Ritter. Really) * books to purchase and read * and, of course, all that repacking * which only leads to all that unpacking It's been a busy two and half months kids.

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...

I'm not sure about all teachers, but February is my least favorite month of the school year. I don't care that it has the least amount of days of any other month, it is the longest month of the year. Here is why... The excitement of the first of the year is gone. The kids are no longer on their best behavior and willing to try the new can crazy ideas that come out of their teacher's heads. During the second quarter of school, we all have our eye on Christmas vacation. We might get a little impatient and the crazy level might rise a bit, but we all are still working and willing. But third quarter (aka February) we've got nothing. The kids are grouchy, there is nothing to look forward to, and, most shocking of all, they are no longer impressed with my special brand of humor. The nerve. Not to mention the weather... Idaho weather during this time is gray, dreary, and cold. There usually is slushy snow, black ice, or biting wind. Ecuador weather is hot, gray, and ...

There are many perks to being a middle school Language Arts teacher.  Namely, the opportunity to continue to read young adult literature without shame or guilt.   Yes, I read the Twilight series.   Yes, I claimed it was because I had to "keep up" with the current YA lit craze. Yes, I'm a little in love with Edward. Let's face it, YA literature is a lot of fun to read.  They are quick reads designed to first get kids interested in reading and then to introduce them to different ideas in the world.  Interest first, ideas next.  They aren't typically the books you pick up to show how sophisticated your reading life is (not a lot of YA books comparable to War and Peace out there), or ones that you only read to give yourself a brain-break (oh, how I love you Janet Evanovich during the dreaded third quarter of the school year).  A lot of Young Adult literature is somewhere in the middle of those two reading extremes.  You have to love a book that gives you a heavy do...

I don't think anyone will be surprised to know that I am having D-O-U-B-T-S about signing up for another year of teaching and living in Ecuador.   Part of the problem is me, I'm a chronic second guesser who always questions decisions I make.  The other part of the problem is it's just that time of year, the crazy "school has got to let up soon or I will go bald pulling out all of my hair" time of year.  Kids are starting to go wild because they can smell the three week vacation that is just around the corner, high school finals start tomorrow (exactly what is a middle school teacher doing writing a senior literature final?  I have no idea what I'm doing here!), report cards are due soon, and I stupidly have assigned major projects/papers/presentations (the curse of the triple p) to be due this week. Not to mention the weather... Oh yes, the rainy season is almost upon us and we all know how well that went for me last year.  By the end of February, the faint so...

A couple weeks ago, slipped in the far reaches of my mailbox, I found a note that took me back to the good ol' days of elementary school.   You know what I'm talking about. Remember how you would just be sitting at your desk, one leg pumping back and forth, pencil eraser nudging your bottom lip, as you tried to puzzle out those mind-boggling multiplication tables?  And then, out of the corner of your eye, you would see Andy passing a note to Melissa, who would then pass it on to Mark, who would then palm it off to you right before Mrs. Nelson turned around from the blackboard.  Your name would be written all in cursive and curly-q's on the clumsily folded paper.  Carefully, stealthily, you unfold the paper to find: Well, InterAmerican sent me a 'check yes or no' note, and it raised the same sensation of anxiety that those old love notes of yesterday used to inspire.  Instead of the traditional, "do you like me?" question, it was the "will you continue...

Our very talented friend over at The Bat Ranch , has once again started his 31 Doodles to celebrate the spooky month of October.  We here at the Richert Ranch are big fans and wanted to let you in on this web-based art show.  Check them out, I can guarantee you won't want to miss a doodle! And our artist of the week (or two) is Ingrid Michaelson .  She's great, yes?  I found her while stress-shopping on iTunes.  Is there anything better than stress-shopping at iTunes?  Instant gratification for only $1.  Beautiful

Currently making my heart melt... My niece, Gabriella Faith Miller. She's beautiful, yes? Congratulations Jodi, Casey, and Blake! We love you all.

I know, I know...it's been like crickets chirping at the Richert Ranch lately.  I kept meaning to post, but life just kept getting in the way.  School has kept both Dave and I so busy.  We just wrapped up week three (even though it feels like week twenty) and we are both exhausted.  Dave is not only teaching p.e. to nursery through 7th grade, but coaching boys volleyball.  He has the team's first tournament tomorrow and is frantically trying to learn all of the volleyball rules of play as we speak.  They are a bit different in Ecuador, for instance you are allowed to kick the ball here.  It seems to be just one more way the South American culture has seeped into organized life.  Don't feel like diving for the ball?  No problem, just kick it over the net instead!  Brilliant. I, on the other hand, have been kept busy by the demands and antics of middle school children.  They keep me running, as well as highly entertained.  Here's just a couple of my laugh-out-loud moments...

It's official, summer is over. Tomorrow morning I will be standing at the front gates of the school, once again greeting bewildered and terrified middle school students. I've been working on my classroom all week long, preparing for the onslaught of pandemonium and laughter that 12 and 13 year olds tend to bring with them wherever they go. Right now, my room is beautiful. Organized, clean, orderly. Bulletin Boards have been decorated, desks have been arranged, copies for the week have been made, papers have been filed. I always start out the year this way, so many plans and so much hope. But it is never too long before my room, along with my mind, surrenders to the chaos. Because I am teaching the same group of students I had last year, I know that a pool will begin on the first day to how long they will be able to see the top of my desk. Last year, the longest period was three hours. *Sigh* It's hard to say goodbye to summer days, but say goodbye I must. Goodbye hours of ...

What do you get when you turn a bunch of these: Into this? Well, with just some handy-dandy knitting needles, and some patience, you get a pretty stylin' and earth-friendly messenger bag.  Man, I love summer vacation.

Introducing my new, and possibly very favorite, EcuaPrize... **Warning--Tiny Nudity!! This might not be suitable for young children :) ** Yeah, she's pretty awesome.   Dave and I found her at an antique store in Cuenca this past week.  We were looking for a lighter for our gas stove since the matches they sell in Ecuador are plastic sticks that bend whenever you run them across the lighter strip.  Dave picked out a standard black Zippo lighter, boring. When I saw this beauty, which I have named Bombera, I had to have her.  I can't help but think that this is an item my grandfather would have loved, makes me love her even more. 

This is what I have noticed after a year of living overseas... Living is living, no matter where you rest your head, 90% of the time.  There are still bills to be paid (please water company, I've paid you--stop sending me your love letters), a house to still be cleaned (preferably before the in-laws get here), and normal, universal, activities that find themselves into the weekly routine (coffee stop? check, reading time? check, grocery shopping? check).   But then there comes that other 10% of life in a foreign country, the times when something happens that makes you think, "Yep, definitely not in my previous parameter of experience."  Dave and I went for a pretty typical mountain bike ride this morning.  We like to bike up a trail (read service road) next to the Cerro Blanco Wilderness Reserve .  The trail, named the 5.07 Cerro, is very popular with local riders and happens to be just down the street from our neighborhood.  Needless to say, it has become a ride we do on...

David, Eight years ago, we started out on this crazy, amazing journey, can you believe it?   Back then, when we were standing in front of all our family and friends, nervous, terrified, and hopeful, I had no idea what was in store for us.  I had expectations, of course, I just didn't know that life with you would blow those expectations clear out of the water.  I didn't know that life with you would help to teach me to take risks, to trust, to laugh, to face fears.  I didn't know that life with you would give me courage to do what seems impossible--and to enjoy it so much. Eight years ago, I didn't know that I could laugh so hard, feel so loved, or be so unconditionally accepted and supported.   I'm a lucky, lucky girl. Happy Anniversary

Wow! It has already been a busy, jam-packed summer and I have many pictures to share and many adventures to tell about. But... We are taking a little forced hiatus at the Richert Ranch right now. Dave and I recently moved into a new pad and until our internet is connected, which could be awhile if things go typical Ecua, I won´t be able to share the fun times we´ve been having. Until then, hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!

Whew... I survived my first year of teaching overseas, which reminded me a lot of my very first year teaching.  Both of the years were filled with stress, confusion, many sleepless nights, and many new discoveries.    Actually, I think that this year of overseas teaching was more difficult than the first time I stepped into a classroom, fresh out of college and completely clueless.  That very first year there was a good reason for my confusion and countless mistakes, I didn't know teaching would be any different.  I didn't know that the many things that seemed impossible at the time, I would develop strategies to work through, that they would become easier.  Ignorance was in fact bliss.   I went into overseas teaching thinking I had some experience under my belt that would transfer over.  But nothing could really prepare me for the drastic changes teaching at a school that  only has 200 students for grades nursery to 12th grade.  Instead of preparing for one class, and having t...

I'm a bit homesick right now (what else is new?) and have been a bit mopey lately.  I'm not admitting anything, but I might have spent a considerable amount of time this weekend (read hours and hours) watching Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer while laying listlessly on the couch.  Eating cupcakes.  I know, pathetic. This morning, I woke up a little irritated that I had wasted so much time moping around instead of taking advantage of the beautiful outdoors.  I don't regret the cupcakes though, those suckers were delicious.   I need to get out of this funk, and I have the perfect solution.  To combat these homesick blues, I have decided to focus on the positive and give a little shout-out to those things that make my day a little brighter.   1.   Spork --Dave's blog about our adventures in Ecuador.  Now, I know that I live with the man and get to experience his humor on a daily basis, but his blog supplies the necessary Richert silliness in the middle of my...