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...

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...

Confession:  I love those getting to know you questionnaire, tag games, roving emails.  I just can't help myself.  I love reading what other people say, and I love filling them out myself.  First off, I love discovering that new piece of quirky information that just wouldn't come up in typical conversation.  "Oh, you once ate a live goldfish while dancing the mamba?"  Interesting.   Second, I love having to figure out my own answers.  There are moments in our lives that are natural to share, and therefore always at the front of our minds.   And there are those moments that don't fit in any socially natural box, they just are too obscure or bizarre to have an open forum.  These tend to turn into the moments we cherish in someway, that we only share in those magical moments of unexpected confessions.  They often define us, or show an aspect of our character that hasn't really gotten a chance to shine.  After confessing these, and hearing them confessed, you usu...