Mike's Job

Sometimes I get jealous of Mike's job when he sends me pictures he took on one of his long drives through rural Idaho. He also gets to listen to books on tape. It sounds so relaxing.

But he also gets yelled at by disgruntled policy holders. That part is less relaxing.

Crying Shame

Just look at Mike watching his niece. It is a shame I won't let him have any children.

106 and Counting

Photo Credit: Idaho Statesman

I have recently had the opportunity to spend some time with this man and his daughter. Despite him being 106 and far from fluent in English, we have had some incredible conversations. This weekend we struggled through the language barrier to compare Iranian and US estate law which led to a discussion of polygamy in Iran and polyandry in Tibet and boyfriends and girlfriends shacking up instead of getting married in the Netherlands. Incidentally, he thinks that the Netherlands is on to something.

It has been a unique experience to cross so many cultural and generational lines to get to know each other. Plus it is refreshing to hear his bits of wisdom, even those that are too modern and liberal for me.

On Weekends

I used to/sometimes/often think it is very important for me to have huge adventures on the weekends. But it seems my wanderlust has been uncharacteristically calm lately. I am still having adventures, they are just taking place closer to home. This weekend...

Friday
coloring eggs with ties and
stupid human tricks with the nieces and nephews
Mike's fudge sauce

Saturday
5 mile trail run up a killer hill
with awesome scenery and wildlife (deer, antelope & fox) and
studying (BOOO) and
dinner & games with friends
including discovering that Max can read my mind when necessary for Cranium and
Mike's fudge sauce

Sunday
SUNBEAMS #($)%(&*!
Nap, dinner, walk (this weather makes me sing)
Mike's fudge sauce

Adventures in Visiting Teaching

My new visiting teaching companion lives across the street. I have never met her. I am a bad visiting teacher. But luckily my husband is a very good visiting teacher. So tonight he made blueberry muffins to take over there.  I was reluctant at first but it was hard to tell Mike that I wanted to eat all the muffins myself and sit on the couch and not visit or teach people. So I went with him and it totally exceeded my expectations. It turns out they have an exotic reptiles business and have a ton of uncommon reptiles including at least 3 pythons and one of them is 17 feet long and about 200 lbs. and is the biggest snake in Idaho. Yeah, that is right tonight I almost petted the biggest snake Idaho except I got too scared at the last minute and hid behind Mike. Still it was pretty cool.

What happens in Vegas...

A couple of weeks ago we met my parents and Shyla in Las Vegas in honor of my birthday. I cannot believe how much we packed into one day.

• Crepes in Paris
• Aquarium
• Roller Coaster at NY
• Designer Shopping at Caesar's Forum
• Dinner at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant in The Venetian
• Cirque de Soleil's Beatle's tribute LOVE

Mostly though it was awesome to spend quality time with the folks and Shy and Mike. It bodes well for the next decade.

Spoiled Rotten

Mike spoiled me completely rotten last weekend for Valentines Day and my Birthday.

V-Day

1) Waffles

2) Nike Plus

3) Romantic Dinner

4) Earrings

5) Treats like chocolate covered Oreos

B-Day

1) Breakfast in bed

2) Framed wedding photos

3) Flowers

4) Out to dinner

5) Surprise party (so so so surprised)

6) Sweet hand drawn card

And its not over yet. I still have Las Vegas to go to in further celebration of the next decade.

DISCLAIMER: Just so all my friends don't get too dissatisfied with their husbands, the flowers in the photo are actually flowers we brought home from Nik's wedding. They were a lovely addition to our Valentines Day.