Sanders Stories

The Story

2011-11-08T10:33:00.000-08:00

One of the differences between Roy and myself is that while I like to mull things over and tend to flip flop over big decisions Roy will make up his mind and the decision might as well be set in stone. That being said, the first time Roy proposed to me was four months after we started dating. We were standing in my kitchen making a dinner together, Roy pours a glass a wine and as he's handing it to me looks me straight in the eye and asks ... 'marry me Kimmy'...I take the wine and look at him and say...'you're crazy, we've hardly been dating!' To which he responds 'I love you, you love me...marry me'. And the only response I could think of was 'No way! You're really crazy baby!'
We continued to date and our relationship deepened. We understood each other on a fundamental level. Our strengths and weaknesses complimented each other. I don't remember the exact moment I knew I wanted to marry him, but I've never doubted it since.
So, we talked about when we wanted to get married and we could never settle on a date. One thing we both knew was that neither of us wanted a big wedding. Something small and intimate. So, the week of the 15th we committed. We were going to get married that week. We wanted to get married on a Saturday and have an extended staycation. So that Friday we had what we jokingly called our rehersal dinner. The next day though we found out the courthouse wasn't open until Monday, so our wedding was post-poned for another two days. We called Roys family and shared the good news. Roys family is in the buckle of the bible belt in Texas and they all live on ranches, so talking with them always leaves me in tears from laughing so hard....especially Roy's Uncle Bill.
On Monday we got dressed up and went to the courthouse, filled out our paperwork...and got ready for a civil ceromony at the Osceola Courthouse. It was such an emotional experience for us both. We both cried and barely made it through our vows. Afterwards we went home and...well awhile later we went out to this nice steakhouse. We took two days afterwards off work and barely left the house, two love birds who couldn't get enough of each other.
While it was very impromptu and simple, we would not have had it any other way.
* Pictures to come

Tough Love

2011-08-27T01:19:00.000-07:00

Seriously Mufasa is such a goof. But as I left off on my last post...this is how I felt. After a difficult year...things were looking up.

Wrong

And to be fair, it was entirely my fault. And while I wll not go into details, it changed my life. Again, need I say more....it's been quite the learning year.

Status Update

2011-08-23T10:16:00.000-07:00

Wow, has it really almost been a year since my last post? What an interesting time in my life though! I feel like there are certain periods in my life where change is constant, and that I'm as pliable as the clay beneath a masters hands. I now understand the cost of uprooting two lives built together and how far the ripple extends. I've learned to respect and appreciate careers, but more importantly I appreciate the job I have today. Don't let any of that distract from the fact that no matter how many challenges I have had to overcome these past years, I count myself very very lucky.
So aren't you just dying to know what I've been up to?? Inquiring minds want to know, I'm sure...lol. So let me give you the spark-notes version of this last year.

In October...

I bugged it up at the Halloweeny celebrations!!

Studied my buns off and worked on many school projects!

Met this man. : )

Had this beautiful beast stolen by *ahem* he who shall not be named, lol. Then had to by a Jetta...blah. I believe my Jetta is cursed, lol.

In November......nothing too exciting happened. Just more of the same.

But in DECEMBER!!!!

I graduated from nursing school as an LPN!!

My dad flew all the way across the north American continent, stayed less than twelve hours....just to be there for my graduation! I love this guy. : )

In January I took my nursing boards...and passed!! I also celebrated my 26th birthday. One year older and wiser too! Things were looking up, finally. I started feeling stronger and more in control of my life...and that's where I'm going to leave off today, because work is calling.

Life.Now.

2010-09-28T17:06:00.000-07:00

I find it interesting how we can exist in our self created world for months without change, until we make one single decision, and the entire deck of cards crumbles beneath you. Most of the time I can predict the impact a particular change will have on my life..but others I underestimate. Letting go of Mike, was just the tip of a very large iceberg in my life. (keep in mind, I hesitate even as I write this blog the futility of it, the purpose it serves in publishing it to god knows who...whatevs.) But I thought I would, for a small moment document the impact, or the change in events it has caused in mine.

In any committed relationship, you take on certain responsibilities. One person always pays the bills, the other makes sure the laundry is done, one washes the car, the other person makes sure the movies get returned on time...and so life together is established. And after seven years, we established a routine. But being newly...it kind of feels like it's you against the world. You realize, in a new light independence with all it's glitz and glamour, freedom and fun-filled nights come with a price. It's you that has to do it all.

But life has a funny sense of timing. Somehow, things never happen in a crescendo....rather like a tsunami on an unsuspecting pansy..lol. So...this is how my personal tsunami has played out...in the last month.

Tests two times a week

Clinical rotations twice weekly

Andrews sixth birthday, with no pictures

Diagnosable anxiety

Ending of a relationship

Saying goodbye to close friends

Mufasa moving in with Mike

A canceled tuition payment

Rescuing parents

And support from places I never expected

Loving family

Wrestling with my own personal demons

Establishing new financial independence

Dividing seven years worth of gathered and treasured goods

Dividing one life in two

Waking up at 3 a.m. to study

Going to bed at 11 p.m.

Sleeping in

Making new friends

Loving the ones I've already made....

And if you're still reading, I'm impressed, haha. So, I don't want this to sound like a sob story...because I treasure life, and I realize that through every storm comes growth and positive change. I have been blessed with incredibly supportive family and friends. But, this is a blog about my life...and this is how it has played out, so far.

Breaking Up

2010-08-29T19:45:00.000-07:00

Mike and I broke up last week. I don't want to go into a lot of detail about the why's and what went wrong. We were best friends, lovers, and confidants for seven years. I still love him and want what is best for him, however I felt that spending the rest of our lives together wasn't the right decision. I hate breaking up. Not that I've had to do it much in my life...but it really sucks. It sucks to have to make a decision that you know will hurt your best friend. It sucks to have to call people up one by one and tell them about your decision. It sucks to have to rehash the reasons time and time again. But I have been so incredibly blessed and surprised by the support I have been given from family, both Mike's and my own, and friends.

I have been thinking a lot about the break-up this past week. Obviously. Here is what I've been thinking about.

1. When do take down the pictures of you together around the house?

2. How long does it take to really 'feel' single?

3. How many times will I have to say 'my boyfriend...I mean...my ex-boyfriend'?

4. How do you decide who gets what?

5. Why can't people just be friends afterwards, because one of the hardest part of breaking up is losing my best friend.

6. Why do people always break their promises after breaking up?

7. Is there such things as shared custody of a dog?

8. I understand why people do it, and I realize it's a kind gesture...but I really hate when people say 'Is there anything I can do for you?'. If there was I would ask. I promise.

9. I also hate the 'Are you okay?' question. Chances are unless your a close friend or family member, I'm not going to tell you the truth anyways.

10. It feels weird to be single and living alone.

11. I'm really glad that school takes up so much of my time.

12. I really hate sleeping alone, but apparently I need to just deal with that because the situation is not likely to change anytime in the near future.

13. Speaking of the future. I'm really excited for mine!

14. I feel like I have a new lease on life.

15. I don't regret a single moment I spent with Mike.

3,808 miles

2010-04-20T19:38:00.000-07:00

So, I'm returning from the blog graveyard. I'm sure my 1.2 readers are pining away wondering what exciting adventures I've been up to. However, unless you count inserting a Foley catheter into a 300 pound sweating penis exciting (it was nasty and required two assistants to 'support' the belly), my adventures have been fairly tame. There have however been some changes.

Change number one: He's 6'0, has a bangin body, is my best friend, and just (as in, you know...three weeks ago 'just') moved to Alaska. Let me answer the questions before you ask. Yes, I miss him like crazy. Yes, it was a very difficult decision. Yes, summer is a long time and October feels like a million years from now.

Mike: Enjoying the Alaskan life

Change number two: It's actually one change that's ricocheted into 1,000 tiny changes. Change number one means that I now live alone, and it.is.sooo.weird. This means that there's no one to rescue me from a mountain of dishes I don't think I can conquer, I can buy as many cucumbers as I want while I'm grocery shopping, my showers are a lot more boring, Mufasa is the main man in my bed, and I'm constantly worrying about the creep in the bushes.

Me: Living alone

Change number three: I found a flea. The second one since we moved to Florida. My OCD ass was on the phone with the vet within ten minutes questioning her about why his flea medication was failing me! So, I solved the problem. I shaved him, all the hair, gone. No hair, no fleas, happy home. If it this isn't enough to give him a complex, I don't know what will.

Mufasa, two months after the infamous shaving. He's bitter.

Change number four: The Honda, our black beast that made the drive from the chilled Alaskan tundra was violently murdered by three road signs speeding by us at 75 mph. And it was only HALF my fault!! I promise. Let's just say we picked a fight with a couple road signs and the civic came out looking worse than a one-night stand. So, we have a new car. It's another civic. I know, I'm nothing if consistent.

LOVE it!

Rodeo Day

2010-03-01T20:10:00.000-08:00

So we have this pond (some call it a drainage ditch, whatev. It holds water, and it's round. That's a pond.) And this bird is a permanent fixture in it. Mufasa's got the attention span of a goldfish, three seconds and you've lost him. We can't even get him to catch a tennis ball (isn't that a dogs favorite pastime) but the one thing he does love to do is chase after these sand hill cranes. So sometimes, just to be sadistic I'll send him out to chase after this crane. The funniest part is when Mufasa realizes he has to go *into* the water to chase him, 'never mind', 'I'll let this one go'.

Is he hot or what? I'd do him. Oh wait, bahahaha! p.s. In case you're out of the loop, we live in Kissimmee, not kiss me, KissImmee

This is what Mufasa will do if we leave his bag out. Talk about desperate. I read online about doggie depression, and Mufasa seems like a prime time candidate. Is that the face of 'bring me back to China' or what?

This is part of my family, in Florida. An extention of Patsy (Mike's step-mom) sons and co. Real cowboys, running a ranch and everything. I asked them to let me help with a calving, and they looked back at me like I was two pepperonis short of a pizza. But here's Brett (in red) and his son with one of the steers they entered into the fair.

Nette (a complete sweetheart, also Patsy's daughter) and her son with his respective steer.

I thought this was HIGH-larious, did you know they wash and blow dry all the steers before showing? I told Mike after we saw this that now there was no giving me flack for taking a long time to get ready...haha.

And here, you have one of the winning steers. He was kind of weirded out I wanted to take his picture, but my my my that's one fine steer right here.

Awww. We're lovers. AND friends. And I look like a crack whore in this picture, what can I say, four hours of sleep a night will get to you.

Bidders, on your mark....GO!

p.s. You know your a redneck when....your offered rodeo day off instead of Presidents day. True story.

Clinicals

2010-02-26T13:34:00.001-08:00

First day at clinicals was everything and nothing like I thought it might be. I never thought I would be assigned the crazy clinical director, I mean the director who being older than many of the residents themselves had a stroke *while* working, finished her shift and then drove herself to the hospital. Some might call it dedication, I call it crazy. The rest of my day went something like this:

Jane Doe (old, thin, and moves about pushing her wheelchair by her feet is doing her scooting thing when she stops abruptly at two men, turns to them and says): John, your OLD!!

John Doe (old, thin, and on a nasal cannula, slouched in a stationary wheelchair): I'm not old!

Jane Doe: Your NINETY!!

John Doe: Your FOUR months younger than I am!

Jane: So? Your NINETY! (now referring to a friend who had come up behind them, call her Betty)

Jane: Don't even ask how old Betty is, she doesn't know.

Betty: I don't want to know!

Jane: One time I spent an entire day trying to figure out how old Betty was, and at the end of the day....she didn't even want to know!

Betty: I don't WANNA know how old I am!

Okay, switch scenes. Now I'm giving a patient a bed bath. Now, I know as you age your skin grows more thin and sensitive....but this lady was crazy. Every time the washcloth touched her skin, she would scream 'Ow! OW! Yur hurtin mu skiiin!!!' (The nurse I was with just pushed on through. I guess being ballsy is part of the job.) I used that washcloth like a feather, it was a loong ten minutes but we made it through the shower and were blow drying the patients hair.....when she lets one go. A stool, a big, watery, messy, smelly stool. *deep sigh* Here we go! I was later told the patient had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Hey! I wasn't that far off after all!

All kidding aside, I really do love nursing. Some of the patients are so sweet. Like the gentleman I worked with who at 6:30 in the morning was sitting up in his bed, bright eyed and bushy tailed (with a towel over his head) and grinning at me with a big gummy smile.

Our Home

2010-02-19T15:58:00.000-08:00

It happened. Somewhere in the last year, we became domesticated. We put our passports in a box and instead of buying a plane ticket, we bought a couch. After sleeping on more hostel beds than I can remember, it's nice to come home to things we love.
This is the living room, still unfinished. We haven't decided on what kind of wall art we want to put up. Also, the lamp will be moved to the bedroom (when our bed arrives in a few weeks) and in it's place a bronze lamp.

We love love love this piece! The picture doesn't do it justice. And yes, we use our computer for a t.v. right now. Buying a flat screen was low on the priority list.

We bought these to put in the dining area to connect the yellow couch with the rest of the living space. Kinda cute though.

Sorry about the flash on the picture, but this is one of my favorite things. We collect the currency from all of the countries that we go to. I never really knew what I wanted to do with it, until we were looking for ideas of things to put up on the walls. From Bangladesh to Malaysia, it's a great reminder of all of the fun Mike and I have had together.

4:15

2010-02-08T02:20:00.000-08:00

That would be A.M. It's way too early in the morning to be seen like this. Happy Monday, everyone!

Quarter Century

2010-02-02T18:08:00.000-08:00

I'm how old??

Yea, I know it looks like I'm doing something else....but I'm really just lotioning up my legs for this hot birthday getup.
That's right, 25 years ago I was naked, wet, and screaming. Oddly enough, I can point out several moments in my life where that same response seems just as appropriate. So, in honor of the big day I've come up with 25 life lessons that I've either learned or had reinforced this year.

1. It really is possible to study 24 hours a day, every day.

2. Never pretend to be anything your not.

3. The decision to have children should always be on your own terms.

4. Don't follow the crowd.

5. Silverfish are disgusting

6. Don't ever, under any circumstances try home remedies on #5. They won't work.

7. Even the worst situations in life look better with Mike by my side.

8. Maine. Enough said.

9. I really could live off a diet of cucumbers, mango's, and peppermint patties.

10. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.

11. Don't drink the Lao Lao in Phuket.

12. Never pretend to be pregnant with your dog so you can sneak him on a Chinese train. He'll just end up peeing on your sheets.

13. Everyone likes to find love-notes in their lunch.

14. Always admit when your wrong.

15. It's really really funny to play pranks on Mike while he's in the shower. Even if he doesn't thinks so. I love you baby!

16. Life is short, do what you want.

17. Nursing is going to make me more OCD than I already am.

18. Take risks.

19. You may not be able to control your circumstances, but you can control your attitude, and that makes all the difference.

20. Never say never, because it probably will.

21. Richard Dawkins and Ayn Rand books will never get old.

22. Don't set impossible budgets. ahem.potterybarn.ahem.

23. Traveling is my drug of choice.

24. I could retire at a lakeside cabin in the middle of the woods somewhere north of the equator.

25. Honesty and kindness should prevail above all else.

p.s. Mike made my birthday so special. I told him I didn't want any presents (we exchange years not days...guess who's year it is? ) But I came home to the sweetest love letter. : )

The next day I got to spend all day hanging out with this italian stallion!

This one's just for posterity, because let's get real. I only curl my hair one out of every 6 million days. Say 'sexy love'!

Dear Santa

2009-12-18T15:59:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, I was here: In the middle of Siberia...hahaha not really, just southwest Utah, working with a bunch of hippies and living out of a backpack. It was a wilderness rehabilitation center for 'at risk' youth.

It's funny how I grew up planning the life I thought I would lead, only to discover my greatest adventures were the ones I didn't plan for. I made some wonderful friends during my time at Redcliff. My time there could be described as puppy love and granola.

This is how I would look going INTO a shift, that's not a smile, that's premature frostbite that's frozen my facial muscles as a result of the ZERO degree weather I was about to live in for approximately eight days, six hours, fifteen minutes, and three point five nanoseconds.

See exhibit A: Oh why, yes, in fact I am homeless! This is what 18 days in the wilderness wearing the same clothes (no sicko, not underclothes) looks like. If your wondering what I'm doing, I'm supervising.

After hiking miles at a time in extreme weather conditions the most peaceful time of day is sleeping beneath a blanket of stars on a therma-rest I could have worshiped as my god I loved it so much.

Doctors orders-make sure all limbs are still attached and no serious disease has been allowed to set in. LOL. Also referred to as hygiene.

This is a prime example of who I worked with, times eight. Just for good measure make sure to throw in a good dose of obnoxious behavior, adolescent hormones, and eight different ideas for how life that week should go. Most ideas not including living in a desert out of a backpack. Although you have to give the little sucker credit, he did smile for the photo.

This is my partner in crime, the one who taught me to love....well, the wilderness for one. LOL.

Now let me bring you back even further to my first ever experience backpacking. I.was.so.naive. and had absolutely no clue what I was in for. P.S. is Mike hot or what?!

What's funny about this picture is that I really thought that this was going to be the hard part. I had no clue.

This is me turning back to Michael saying: 'are you sure this is the right way??'

Kim: MIKE we made it!!! We need to commemorate this moment with a picture.

Michael: It's really not a big deal, it wasn't that big of a mountain.

Ummm, may I ask a question? Why did we just climb a mountain in the snow with no snowshoes and I'M THE ONLY ONE SWEATING!

Hahaha-karma's a bitch.

The 2,364th time we lost the trail. It was at this point, while clinging to dirt with a backpack that weighed more than I did-I really began to question Mike's directional skills.

This is the 493,670th time we lost the trail. Mike decided it would be a great idea to make our own.

This looks like a beautiful spot to sit.and rest.and work out the kinks and misplaced vertebrae. Like many times to come I had to hand it to the guy, he knows how to show a girl a good time, by the time we finally found the real trail I was hooked.

So, with Christmas around the corner, I'd like to make one last request to Santa. I don't want diamonds, cars, or fancy clothes. What I'd really like is some mountains. But I'll settle for anywhere I can run, walk, and hike with a fifty pound pack attached at the hips. If your really going for broke, you could also throw in a killer dutch oven dinner.

Mr. Ducati, meet Michael

2009-11-15T08:07:00.000-08:00

After 2,372 days of anxious anticipation my worst nightmare, I mean Mike's dream has come true. Meet the 'Monster'.

Shakira is Amazing

2009-11-09T06:12:00.001-08:00

Shakira's latest release for 'Did It Again' is brilliant! The choreography between the two dancers in this video is unparalleled by any other videos released by artists in the last decade. All this is a matter of opinion though, so for your viewing pleasure (all two people who read this blog) Shakira.

Was I right or what?! I mean common, they drop from the ceiling! How cool is that!

Itch or Addiction?

2009-11-05T19:50:00.001-08:00

If you look closely at the picture below, you'll see what might resemble shoes. Those would be my bright pink traveling Crocks. The kind of shoes you can wear at any time and feel protected. I feel the same way about those Crocks as my mom did when she once pulled out a pair of black shiny stretch pants and called them her travelling pants-because they never needed ironing....and black goes with everything. I'm sure everyone is as equally appalled by my pink shoes as I was by her black pants confession. That doesn't make me any less in love with them, mostly because of the memories I associated with them.

Tonight Mike suggested we take the dogs for a walk and as I stepped outside I pushed my feet into soft, worn, pink rubber. It's funny how I've taken a million pictures but it only takes a single object to remind me what I love most in this life.

I miss this: Mike telling me it would be a grand idea if we pack three hundred pounds on a hundred c.c. scooter through the Lao Jungle. You know you're in for it when every village you stop at takes one look at your bike then tells you to turn around while you still can. I miss stopping at random huts to share fruit with the locals and having a conversation using only universally understood body language.I miss discovering the million differences that separate one life from the next, but cultivating that one commonality.I miss discovering a village in the middle of nowhere, and you'd swear they'd never seen your shade of white. And dang-it, I just miss that excitement that bubbles out when you are soo excited and curious about the next place on your trip if only you could nail down a destination. p.s. That's Mufasa's infamous 'black bag', and yes, he's in there. S0 I guess, in this unique turn of events that my world, instead of disappearing behind a number of JPEG's has simply become a little more concentrated than I'm used to. Which only makes it more of an adventure as I try to adventure and explore in the United States of don't leave central Florida.

Nesting

2009-11-02T18:03:00.000-08:00

When I move to a new location I always give myself one day to not stress about all the responsible things yours supposed be taking care off. I am like, seventeen days past that. In those seventeen days though I have totally domesticated my life....and I am so excited. I've picked out window treatments, bath towels, and throw pillows, accent vases, hangers (yes, special ones), and kitchen accessories. One of the perks of dating a metrosexual is that Mike doesn't mind the decorating process, which doubles the fun when he gets as excited about a Calphalon Unison Nonstick Frittata pan as I do. So just to give you a taste:

Two of our throw pillows for the sofa and a matching lamp shade.

How can you resist cinnamon stick napkin rings!

Okay, so the quality of this photo stinks. I won't go into why....okay, so I tried for like fifteen million hours to load the official picture of the product, all to no avail. I can be so computer illiterate sometimes it's painful. So you get this, a photo of a photo. So here she is, our beautiful 'buchanan' in 'harvest yellow'. Due to arrive.....in December. No, not the beginning. The end of December. Don't ask what we'll do without a couch till then. I'm sure we'll think of something.

We are so excited to move in and have a place that we can call home for awhile. I just hope we can stay excited about being immobile. Traveling seems to be an itch we can't scratch. So for the next few years, while we finish school (please, let this be the last time) we're shacking it lake-side, Kissimmee style.

Four Thousand Miles

2009-10-20T12:16:00.000-07:00

Have you ever asked a person, that you know sucks at driving if they thought they were good? Ninety percent of the time, they'll say 'yes'. Everybody, but me that is. I'm the person who on the first day of buying a new car came home 'yes honey, I had a great day', 'no, nothing too exciting', 'how did the car drive?....'OH, fine','why so quiet?', 'oh.....no reason....' *long pause* 'okay I did a three-sixty while entering the freeway on-ramp and almost got creamed by thirteen different cars!'silence on the other end. 'In my defense it was raining and nothing happened to the car.'

So you can imagine how daunting a 3,000 mile road trip might seem....alone, with an emotionally dependent dog. So, we washed the car (I know what your thinking, because Mike said the same thing, but I won't start a road trip with a dirty car), lubed it up, and got her loaded. The first thing that became clear when I started the road trip....was that I should have picked up new windshield wipers, the second was that Mufasa refused to sit in the passenger seat. It wouldn't matter how many times I put him in the passenger seat, because he would nose and poke his way back over into my lap.

So here we are at mile 658, at a beautifully glacier-fed lake in the Yukon.

I know this just looks like more of the same, but isn't this what's in your point of view for approximately 98.76% of the road trip?

Mike and I drove together when we moved up to Alaska, and of course he drove during all the snow-storms, but this time around, I was all on my own. So balls to the wall, I white knuckled my first snow-storm zipping around curves at a speedy 41 miles an hour. Oh yea.

I took this picture on day two just before leaving B.C. and this area was super cool because its where I saw black bears, moose, caribou, mountain goats, fox, and deer!

And then I entered apathetic Alberta....and this is pretty much how things looked till I got to St. Louis.

I have to confess. I have a secret obsession with books on tape, which seems innocent enough, except....Mike HATES them. Which poses a problem when you spend 85% of your time with the same person, right? Except on this trip, and trust me, I took full advantage by renting no less than six books on tape....and yes, I finished them all before arriving in St. Louis. Confession number two, sometimes I would drive four hours longer than I really felt like solely to continue to listen to the book. I know, TMI.

Bookworm took a break to visit Mt. Rushmore, and can I just say I was disappointed by it's size.

OMG, I was soo excited to see this man. Four 3/4 days is a long time when you spend all your time together. Obsessed much. This was taken at the St. Louis Zoo, which was free-fifty-free, along with all their other museums and exhibits.

Who doesn't love newborn butterflies, less than fifteen minutes old!

Mike was obsessed with this map, looking at it every 20 minutes to make sure we were making every possible wrong turn, I mean 'scenic' route possible. Never mind the GPS, 'it's taking us in circles'.

Stop and stretch breaks. The Civic has held up fairly well, and cross your fingers...no tickets, break downs, or accidents!We call him our little desert dust boy. Mufasa didn't know what to do with himself when things weren't freezing outside. He's contemplating the Everglades.

Not to leave you hanging, but we arrived safely in St. Cloud, Florida. After pulling into the driveway we stopped the car, turned our heads and gave each other the biggest 'what next' look we've had in three years.

No, I wasn't born in Alaska.

2009-05-24T22:24:00.000-07:00

Mike and I both work as bartenders on a train in Alaska that operates from Seward to Talkeetna and back. While doing this, we discover that the average person either has a surprisingly low IQ or packs their brain in with their luggage...because these are only a few of the common concerns a tourist will voice.

Scenario A

After walking off the ship, onto a train facing the ocean, they turn to me and ask "Which way will this train be going?"

Scenario B

Guest: Which way will this train be going?

Me: South.

Guest: Well I'll need to switch spots with someone because I can not ride backwards.

Me: The train will be completely full today, but after everyone is loaded, I'll see what I can work out.

Guest: Well, I just can't ride backwards or I'll get sick.

Me: Have you ever ridden backwards before?

Guest: -long pause-

Me: You can actually see the scenery for longer while riding the train backwards.

Guest: -whoooshhh-this is way over my head-I just can't ride backwards.

Me: -pause-breathe-smile- I'll work something out.

Also among the more amusing things I overhear:

"I came up to Alaska to see the penguins."

"Look honey.....GLACIERS!!!"

"When are we going to see a moose?"

And the best part of my job......picking out all the people who bought shoes exclusively for the cruise. You can spot them a hundred yards away, and it's hilarious. Seventy five year old couples who bought hiking shoes, regular walking shoes just won't do....this is Alaska. We're going to need major footwear for all these lodges we're staying at.....LOL. And I would be amiss if I didn't mention the matchy matchy. Matching blue coats with matching totes, it happens more than you'd think.

While this post may seem like it's dripping with sarcasm, I smile and share a soft chuckle with myself while typing this. Knowing that in four hours, I'll be up and on the train at 2:30a.m. doing it all over again.

Northern Exposure

2009-05-14T22:42:00.000-07:00

We descended into the brisk (a kind word for f*%#@! cold) weather of Alaska. The fact that Ms. Redoubt has blown her fury and ash all over Alaska meant that in addition to the ice and snow, even beautiful year-round greenery took to a hideous shade of grey. Michael was determined that he not lose his tan, so he set up his lawn chair on the ice blanketing the lake. I heard him mumble something about the reflection of the light and getting burned on cloudy days. I was going to laugh, but damn the boy makes cold look so cool!

I'm not joking....it was really cold when we got here. We drove through the mountains and stared at all of the piles of snow that were bigger than we were.

Because of the crazy hours we work during the summer, we have to send Mufasa to doggy-day-care via our good friend Tammy (really, your a life-saver!). Well, the tides turned and as fate would have it, the day after we arrived both her and her husband were leaving town and needed someone to care after the animals. The animals including a Rottweiler (who weighs more than Mike), a Yorkie/Chihuahua mix, two independent cats....and Mufasa.

One day we got really adventurous and loaded them into our car to hike at a nearby bog park. We arrived happily confused because we had been looking DOG park, only this was a much more scenic option.

I enjoy running, especially when it includes tuning the world out and jamming to RiRi or other especially classy artists. One particular run I decided to put Sasha (the dog that outweighs me by at least 50 pounds) on a leash to you know, motivate me. She pulled the leash every few feet, trying to stop and obsess at some invisible pheromone....but having prepared myself for this was ready and tugged her bag in line. After a few blocks we had both established zen and I was rockin out center stage space cadet style when WHAMMM, DRAG (Kim-I'd like you to meet the pavement. Asphalt-meet Kim), rocks, barking...and panic ensue. This is when it would have been helpful to be aware of the two Rottweilers approaching from the opposite direction. And yes, It was that embarrassing...welcome to my life :)

But on a brighter note-we saw our first moose of the season! The fact that it really was this close is only one of the reasons I love Alaska. Yakay, and the reason it's blurry is because I had like two milliseconds to capture this moment with mother nature. Was it that he looked like he's giving me the 'don't make me chase you' stare or the fact that I looked like a half naked tourist and I couldn't tune out the laughter from the passing motorists?? Maybe both.Sasquatch, Davy Crockett, Old Yeller....they ain't got nothing on us. Mike, Mufasa, and myself had a hell of a time climbing and conquering Flattop, an Anchorage peak that lies at about 3500 feet. Keep in mind you start at sea-level. I'm totally justifying. Just so we're on the same page, in preparation for the upcoming work season...I'm rebelling against my beauty products for the weekend. So don't be a hater. Mike, being an unconventional guy....felt the need to descend the mountain in a very, unconventional way. He tried his darndest to get me to slide down the mountain with him, but I was too terrified of triggering an avalanche. I was a wiener, I know. Aside from the fact that this picture is horribly overexposed, I love how quintessential Alaska this picture is.I am typing this blog post approximately 127 miles from boo#2. All of this writing's making me miss you. Muah, and all my love to Mufasa.

When life brings you down

2009-05-09T16:48:00.000-07:00

Laugh your heart out, just a few of my favorites.

My Little Soap Box: Call it blogger suicide .

2009-05-06T23:08:00.000-07:00

Mike and I have been dating for roughly six years and one of the most commonly asked questions of us is: When are you two going to get married- you know tie the knot, make a family, take the plunge??? Which leaves me in the rather awkward position of saying....never. Actually I turn the question around and ask them why I would want to commit myself to an institution that fails more often than it succeeds. But I realize that in most cases I talking to a wall, because the idea of marriage is so readily accepted in society that to oppose such an act is blasphemy, or at least borderline insanity.

I've long shied away from addressing the topic, so clearly linked to my views on religion to spare my family any hurt this belief causes. However, my good friend Kirsten Uhler (kirstenuhler.com) recently wrote a paper on traditional marriage. It required hours of research and from conception I was anxious to read her thoughts on the matter. There were several points made in her paper that reflected my own views toward marriage, and I thought to myself....what a good ice-breaker!! And while this post is in no way meant to be a comprehensive argument against marriage, I am merely attempting to establish a few...points of reason.

Most people argue that by repeating verbatim a set a words in front of a person of questionable integrity that your relationship is magically transformed to something that transcends differences and into self created euphoria. The reality could not be further from the truth. In all likelihood, your relationship will continue on the same path it trod prior to 'the happiest day of your life'. While I realize the words symbolize a commitment to each other, that commitment is entirely attainable outside of a legal or religious realm. What's interesting to me is that same commitment that was supposed to draw the couple closer is often the same commitment that serves as their demise. Marriage lulls you into a sense of complacency and comfort. Standards are relaxed and soon the very traits that attracted you towards your companion are the very things which are soon lost in the tide of time.

One of my original discomforts with marriage was the fact that I had to pick just ONE person to share my ENTIRE life with, often at age when self discovery has just begun. The very idea that two people can maintain a relationship that fulfills all of their physical and emotional needs is slim, as shown by the statistics. I believe that it is possible, even convenient to be able to find such a person, but the reality of the situation is that those people at some point will grow in different directions. It is then, as adults we should acknowledge that fact, and move on in a more positive direction instead of pressing forward in what can only be a oppressive relationship in some sense or another.

Kirsten Uhler, in her paper on traditional marriage (kirstenuhler.com) nailed down another key argument. "I believe structure, stabilization, security, and consistency can be achieved without a legal marriage contract. A stable "family unit" can exist in a non-traditional sense." God aside, those are exactly the sentiments and judgements an unmarried couple is subject to regardless of reality.

The vows you repeat come with no 'club' manual divulging the secrets to maintaining a happy relationships, you simply stand alongside the billions of other couples trying to see past differences and share your life with someone who, for the moment at least...makes you smile, laugh, kiss, and cry.

Six years out, Mike and I continue to stay in shape, try new things, listen and address each others problems, aggravate, romance, and support one another. We continually ask about each others happiness and satisfaction in the relationship and have established a happy open relationship with each other based honesty, trust, and love. We both know that if the other person is not happy, we would rather say good-bye to see them happy than have them stick around and be miserable. I wouldn't have it any other way.

p.s. I mean really...drawing up a legal document that evolves around a passion based emotion?? Really??

Noo Yawk

2009-04-30T22:44:00.000-07:00

The greatest thing about visiting the east coast is that there is so much history within a road trips grasp. Mike and I just could not pass up an opportunity to a) visit my spermination destination b) reunite with long lost kin c) and sight see in the city of dreams. So we emailed my sister Emily, rented a car, and packed our bags. All of your typical road trip scenarios ensued: fast food pit stops, music jam sessions, and throw up. Lesson learned: don't let Mufasa chew the entire bone in five minutes it won't come out the right end.

With the help of Brent's GPS (much thanks!) we made it to New York in.....later that night, it took a long time okay. Eric and Emily let us shack up at their place for the night. She's so effortlessly artsy fartsy it kills me.

They had some big news to share.......HER EGGO IS PREGGO!!!

People always told me New York could feel like home in five minutes or less. The NYPD's finest made a believer out of me.

It's no secret that Mike and I are spontaneous. Inevitably though, there have been situations which we were unsure of, and when this happens we simply look at each other and say......'balls to the wall baby'. Crass, I know but it reflects our life's view of no regrets and no reservations. So, in our honor......balls on the bull.

The Statue of Liberty has always been to me, the epicenter of New York. The symbol of hope and freedom to millions, whether their dreams saw reality or not. Naturally it was among the first things we saw. So, if you look reeaally hard, that small dot on the left of us is Lady Liberty herself. And really, given we only had one day in New York, and since we didn't want to wait in line for hours on end to get tickets, this is what we got.

Eric and Emily were phenomenal. I mean really, every living relative that visits them in New York wants to see the same things...and they humor them. We wanted to visit some things they hadn't seen as well. The Brooklyn Bridge, one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States and upon completion , the longest suspension bridge in the world.

You ever have one of those days when it feels like every five minutes your posing for another picture...side by side...one in front, one in back....arms around each....okay, give me something new. My budding genius is.so.creative.

The calories were falling off of us and by block 20 we all agreed that lunch was a great idea. Emily found an amazing gyro joint. Ordering food from a stall had me reminiscing on Asia...but not for long because these things were DELISH!

What would a trip to New York be without strolling through CHINATOWN! We showed them the markets with their herbal medicine and gutted fish, I busted out all five words of Chinese and had the Asians shaking their heads at the crazy tourist who tried to say 'fish' in Chinese. So in true Chinese fashion....Cheese!!

And no matter what anyone tells you, Teuscher Chocolatier is NOT family owned and operated because despite all our best efforts they refused to give us Eric and Emily a discount. Each and every bite of my $3 mini bar was savored.

Below you'll find an excellent specimen of raw skill. Never mind what's popping in on the lower right hand corner. The Empire State building in all it's romance and glory. No, those aren't pinatas at a Mexican birthday bash....we're in little ITALY. You know, and I'm so glad we went here because we never made it there the first time around. Can you believe there was only ONE Gelato shop...isn't that some sort of rite of passage over there?
Isn't this quintessential New York. Now, I realize that these aren't post card perfect...but they are seen through imperfect eyes, so cut me some slack. (take that Hallmark!) And can I just mention that 'the ball', you know, the one that's ginormous on T.V. every year was so miserably undersized I felt deflated when I realized what I seeing. So here we are, two crazy nut's on a day pass from the psych ward. Do we look excited?Do you ever soap off twice in the shower after returning from what you might deem a particularly 'dirty' day, because you just don't trust that the soap got off the first time whatever that guy on the subway sitting next to you had, so you do it again...just to be sure. I do.

Mainnerds

2009-04-11T13:09:00.000-07:00

Mike and I have made our way north towards the frigid arctic. Not really, but coming from Florida...it certainly feels like it. I didn't quite know what to make of Maine before I left, but it didn't take me long to fall in love with New England.

Brent and Kirsten are great hosts and jumped right in showing us around. Adopting the 'what's mine is yours' attitude....LOL(*cough*ahem*)...okay, I guess you have to be here to get that one. One of our first stops were to the lighthouses. The coast hovered in a heavy mist, shrouding the lighthouse in a grey light. We were all frigid and I managed to catch this cool picture of Brent and Mike making a mad dash for the car.

It's handy having a photographer around to give tips...and capture moments like this...you know, freezing your pants off.

We've also made sure as bartenders, we know our trade. So of course it was only natural to make a stop at the local brewery: Shipyard. They have several good beers, their Summer ale and Pumpkin Head are to be rivaled.

Mike and I have always said that if we could have kids as well behaved and balanced as these....we would start trying tonight. Unfortunately, life has yet to give us that guarantee, so we'll settle with Mufasa, who I am pretty sure will require a whole lot less counseling as an adult. Below, Kirsten and I took them to Home Depot and they made BIRD FEEDERS!!

Our flight up to Maine included a reeaallyy long lay-over in Baltimore, Maryland (And I'm not racist...but can I just say that I've never before been around so many blacks at one time in America). So we were asking our fellow seat-sharers what there was to do in Maine that would fuel the adrenaline, capture a memory, or at least steal our heart. They all said three things: chowdah (apparently you up for a whooping if you include the 'er'), Lighthouses, and L.L. Bean. So, for your viewing pleasure.
L.L. Bean is a weird sub-culture of the east coast. I could never have guessed it was this big before my visit. I was a wiener and had to hold onto Mike's hands. Kirsten and Brent were all balls to the wall, and she proudly surrendered herself to the Brent's brute strength.

Sometimes, the ice thaws on the grass, the sun peaks it's rosy cheeks out from behind the clouds, and the outdoors becomes irresistible. So we pack up and head to beach, where we play man-sports...like football, catch, and Frisbee.

On those days, there always seems to be a name that tugs at the guilt strings in our hearts. Kirsten is going to school full-time and working several days a week. That means that while we are at the beach having fun, she's at the hospital working. So we visit her for lunch every time she works. Cause were pretty much her possy.

Not to make this post too much like recap vomit, but I have to include this. Because it was soo much fun! We took the ferry out to Peaks Island. Mike manned the boat. With a Captain as delicious as him, I'd sail the world round.

Then we raided some locals shed, dug out two tandem bicycles, and cycled around the island. Kirsten weighs like two pounds and it was really funny to watch her pouncing up and down on the pedals trying to help them get up the hills. We had a delicious lunch....and desert...

Blood and Water

2009-04-09T20:16:00.000-07:00

Hookay. I had one task to accomplish today: post on my blog. I realize that like a corpse slowly decaying and returning to earth, my blog is slowly deteriorating and returning to the cyberworld I created it from (clearly a morbid analogy, but hey, it paints the picture right?). And I refuse to let that happen.

To make the transition less awkward, I'll start with the present (this would have worked a whole lot better if I posted this when it was written....like...a month ago) and just flash back on the highlights of the trip that my ambition has left unwritten.

Mike and I have returned to responsibility...or America, either or. Mike's Dad is about to turn 60 and as if celebrating aging (hip hip hooray for the saggin and the baggin) wasn't enough to return to the states, a family reunion is. Mike's siblings hadn't been together in over f.i.f.t.e.e.n. y.e.a.r.s. So, we cancelled our tickets, bought new ones and headed west.

I've had met all of Mike's family except Christina, Mike's older sister. So after six years and countless stories, I was able to put a personality to the name. What's wonderful about Mike's family is that no matter how longs it's been since you last saw each other, the conversation continues as if it were only yesterday. They make me feel so much at home, and I love them for that. From left to right, starting in the back is Scott, Brent, Mike, and Ken. Christina and Richard are in the front. Love em!

Brent, Mike's older brother is the family photographer (both professionally and personally) so with his permission, I've hijacked his talent. To see more of his work visit: 'flicker.com/brentdanley' or therhetoric.net

We arrived in small town central Florida...St. Cloud. We kept our return a complete surprise and when Richard (Mike's dad) arrived at the airport, instead of his eldest flying in, his youngest trod out. Luckily, no AED was needed. Hokay, and I know I look like shiznat in this picture but if you'll cut a sister some slack, I had like two outfits and a brush to my name (not much has changed). Thank god my first stop home was to the salon, hence the newer darker do. LOVE it. Mike on the other hand could be naked and he'd look good. damn him.

We were totally stoked to stay here after shacking up at low budget hostels for several months.

Most of the time we just hung out at the house, talking and eating amazing american food.

We did venture out and go to Kennedy Space Center. But when we arrived and saw that tickets had been moved from free to forty....we decided it would just as cool to take some pictures of the rockets on the outside. I mean common...has anyone at the Space Center heard the news about the recession? I love being broke, lol.

Did I mention that I'm dating a dare devil. He keeps me entertained, especially when he plays with the toys. These are the new ones that he declares are not nearly as fast as the XP he had in his glory days. Mike and Scott (oldest brother) still managed to make some waves though.

Scott got married (big breath) again. But this time she's super cool, and they call her Kelly. She's a sweet-heart.

So all I heard were these jokes about how Christina is not a cook. I mean, NOTTTTT a cook. I laughed and didn't really believe them, until I got up at the butt crack of dawn to make these cinnamon rolls with her. She's got this darling southern accent. Seriously, accents are so cool and I wish I could have one. But really, she can't cook. Pictured below are her husband, Trent and her two boys.

I know your all holding your breath, but you can relax because Mufasa survived the trip and is happily enjoying his time....outside the house. That's right, no pets allowed inside and so he's chillin it poolside. He's even managed to snag some girl time with the local bitch Buffy. She plays hard to get.

Brent and Kirsten are lovers. Lovers make time for lovin no matter where you are.

Yours Truly

2009-03-22T17:11:00.001-07:00

I realize that many of the people that read this blog either don't know me or REALLY don't know me. So, I think this will be a good ice-breaker. I totally nabbed this from Facebook under the label 100 truths, but when I actually counted there were only 54, so here it is.

FIFTY FOUR TRUTHS-all about yours truly.

001. Real Name: Kimberly

002. Nicknames: sparkyballet and flash

003. Status: Happily lovers- I'll never ever ever get married, it distorts relationships

004. Zodiac sign: Aquarius (sing the song, go ahead)

005. Male or female: If the people reading need an answer to this it's going to take a lot more than fifty four questions to break the ice.

006. Elementary: La Costa Heights...go OWLS!!

007. Middle School: Oak Crest, home of the most awkward years of my life.

008. High School: La Costa Canyon....nuff said

009. Skin color: Varying shades of white

010. Hair color: Brown

011. Long or short: medium

012. Loud or quiet: Depends on how comfortable I am with you, the more comfortable the more loud.

013. Sweats or jeans: Jeans, fo sho

014. Phone or camera: CAMERA, a picture is worth a thousand words

015. Health freak: not so much

016.Do you have a crush on someone: always....Mike

017. Eat or Drink: Depends on whats to drink. I can't resist white wine or vodka.

018. Piercings: One in my ears, but I don't wear many earrings.

019. Water or Fire: Water, because shellooo I'm an Aquarius.

020. Love of your life or 4 billion dollars: Money can't buy love.

Firsts

021. First fear: Learning to swim, all the candy in the world couldn't move me from the steps.

022. First best friend: Kaitlin Welch, I had the best childhood ever

023. First award: Student Standout....the best part was the free frozen yogurt you won : 0

024. First crush: Gabe Herrak....blond hair, blue eyes...he was a knock out.

025. First pet: Probably a hamster

026. First big vacation: Utah.yes.back then, that was big.

027. First big birthday: 6, it was one of those surprise deals...and boys were invited.

Currently

028. Eating: Nada, I don't eat while I'm on the computer, it contaminates the keyboard

029. Drinking: that's worse than eating.

o30. I am about to: hang out with the family.

031. I am listening to: Mike talk about how dry the shishkabobs are. It's not my fault, I forgot they were in the oven.

032. Plans for tonight: Probably just chill with my homie and watch a movie.

033. Waiting for: Airline refunds, IRS return, and transcripts.

Your Future:

034. Want kids: Sometimes

035. Want to get married: Never never never. Marriage is unnecessary, outdated, and expensive.

036. What careers do you have in mind: This changes every year. How bout I just surprise you.

Which is Better:

037. Lips or Eyes: Eyes

038. Shorter or taller: I'm 5'2, it would totally gross me out if he was shorter.

039. Romantic or spontaneous: Spontaneous, spontaneous, spontaneous. Planners are boring.

040. Trouble maker or hesitant: Hmmm...hesitant, and trouble in moderation

Have You Ever

041. Been arrested: No... let's keep it that way.

042. Heartbroken: Yes, it sucked.

043. Cried when someone died: No, partly because I'm heartless, but also because I have to be incredibly close with someone to cry about them.

Do You Believe In:

044. Yourself: Yes.

045. Miracles: Coincidence, yes. Miracles, no.

046. Love at first sight: No, strong attraction and compatibility, yes.

047. Heaven: I'd like to, but it's not likely.

049: Sex on the first date: Are you asking if it's happened or if it's okay?? Hokay. Moving on.

Answer Truthfully:

051. Is there one person you want to be with right now more than others: Mike and Mufasa, and they're right here now.

052. Are you seriously happy with where you are in life: Very much y.e.s.

053. Do you believe in God: I consider myself an agnostic.

054. Do you have regrets: Two.

Okay. Now that I have indirectly cleared the air on several topics. I hope those who do read my blog can proceed with a clearer prospective on who I really am.

Vientiane

2009-02-25T01:51:00.000-08:00

Mike and I are shoestring travelers. What makes that wonderful is that your stories are so much more fun to tell. There is a side of the culture you can only experience when you live as the locals do. With the exception of white water rafting, it's exactly how we roll. Although I have been an avid bus fan for a long time, the chance to water our way down to Vientiane sounded especially fun knowing Mufasa would be squished between Mike and I. The expression on our guides face when we pulled Mufasa out of our bag and announced that he would be joining our little soiree was priceless.
So here we are before our grand adventure.

Surprisingly...we didn't tip the boat once and Mufasa stayed relatively dry. Notice how he's clamboring for land. Although there were a few close calls we I swear I could hear him screaming.
Being the 'fly by the seat of our pants' people that we are we never pre-arrange accommodation. Ever. Things usually work out and we have never to date paid more than $15 per room in Asia. Vientiane was a close call though. We walked around to probably 10 different hotels before we found one that wasn't full and with a price tag that wasn't outrageous. Just in time to see the sun set below the Mekong.

Most people we know have bones to pick with Vientiane. There are no major attractions besides being an international hub for the country. It is overflowing with tourists fresh from their in-flight services. Mike and I on the other hand, have a soft spot for the capital because they make THE BEST shakes known to man. Breakfast and dinner would often find us here, sipping on pureed mango and fresh fruit. Walks in the city revealed several beautiful Wat's. I love the detail. I should probably note that I had to twist Mike's arm to even enter these Wat's as Mike is chronically watted out. He's such a good sport : )
I love monks. I love their orange robes and giving alms. I love that I can't touch them (but Mike can). There just so quintessential Asia. We found these coming from a Wat after finding their inner Buddha. Contrary to what I previously thought, most are not monks their entire lives. They will often serve for several years, then take a break and come back. I had always thought if you took the vow they had you for life. Apparently they believe in an early release for good behavior.

Just a side note. The best part of our trip in Lao will be posted in two or three days. Although we are currently in Thailand, sipping on rice wine and watching the tide come and go, I never had time (or a decent internet connection) in Lao to write about them. Then once Phuket arrived all the salt water erased my ambition. So, hence the lack there of.

Good Eatin

2009-02-14T04:47:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite parts of traveling are the things you don't expect, anticipate, or plan for. However, since we have already been to Luang Probang, I confess....I expected, anticipated, and planned in as much eating time as my figure would possibly allow, because the food is phenomenal!

Take this chicken, marinated in a home-made top secret recipe that is locked in the highest tree and guarded by a bunch of gibbons then grilled fresh every morning between two pieces of bamboo. Chicken has never been so moist and full flavored.

When I first came to Lao two years ago I realized that the people share a deep love affair for all things fishy. Fermented fishy to be exact and it is about as appealing as it sounds. When you walk through the markets you can see huge vats of it sitting in open air amidst flies and tape worms. So when I heard that one of the main ingredients of papaya salad was fish sauce...I begged off. Until an angel descended to a stall in Luang Probang and made me fish sauce free papaya salad. And with the chicken we had every day, that is what I lived off of. You can't consider yourself a true Asian-circuit traveler until you have paid your dues at several sites. While many of the cities that these tourist traps lie in have lost their soul, there is still fun to be had. Tubing down the river in Vang Vieng is one of these such places. The gigantic tree swings, bars blasting music, children swimming in the river selling the ubiquitous Beer Lao...it promises to capture your interest and youth for at least eight hours*.

*please note that this picture was taken prior to the food fest that was Luang Probang....cut me some slack...

Mike hates this picture because he thinks that it makes him look out of shape. (What traveler is EVER in shape...I on the other hand thinks he looks charming) But I had to post it because it showed one of the latest additions to the tree swing....the tube ride slide, and it is seriously scarier than it looks. I refused. My dare-devil compadre on the other hand went off of it like four times. One of the more memorable (although TERRIFYING) things we did was take a speed boat down from Phongsali. Now when I say speed boat, picture a surf-board with a car engine strapped to the back of it flying through rock strewn rivers at what felt like 65 miles an hour. I wasn't so much worried about capsizing as I was about watching $5,000 worth of electronics sink to the

rivers bottom. The Lao kept looking over at Mike and I grinning as we white knuckled the sides of the speed boat. The ride was just as they had promised though, breath-taking. Miles of pristine jungle and hill-tribes that had probably gone their whole lives seeing only a handful of foreigners. You can eat, read, run, or have a drink. Everyone has something they do to de-stress. Mike 'Trisses'. He has this game on his Itouch called Tetris, but to hard core gamers like himself it's simply 'Tris'. He has sucked me into this twisted addiction and while my scores are infinitely lower than his, it's fun to compete. Ode to Moo...the most patient dog in the world. We love Mufasa so much and couldn't imagine a better dog ( although if he could catch a Frisbee, that would be pretty cool too). He sits still (and holds his pee) all day long on a hot crowded bus, he still cuddles with us after throwing him in the water earlier in the day, tolerates hundreds (no, this is not an exaggeration) of Asians petting, barking, whistling, and cooing at him. LOVE you Moo.

Get Your Lao On!

2009-02-09T04:28:00.000-08:00

This post is far belated it's almost embarrassing. My only excuse is that we were so busy adventuring that using the computer was confined to 30 minute Facebook/email/traveling cram sessions.

We entered Lao by land from the south of China and the north of Lao. It was such an experience going from the highly supervised borders of China to the dirt road, make sure you pay before you keep walking border that envelops Lao. (It's LAO not LAOS, the damn french added the S on because they couldn't say it right) Not surprisingly Mufasa had no problem entering the country on their 'don't ask, don't tell policy'. It's said that the further south you go in Lao, the lower your blood pressure drops and I can assure you, that's all very true.

In a country that less than a decade ago was discovered as both stunning and affordable, finding spots that have not yet been invaded by tourists is becoming increasingly difficult. Which is why we wanted to head as far north as possible. The roads are atrocious and the buses that wind up the steep mountains must have been sold at huge discount prices during the 60's. Not much repair work has been done to them since either. Soo, to break us in, our first bus ride was around 20 hours long....on this....

The amount of luggage per one Lao person is enough to give any flight attendant a heart attack. This picture doesn't include the overcrowded seats, the chickens, goats, and pigs that follow the endless precession of locals. Aside from the dust, vomit, and stares......I kind of like the bus rides. I think it's because I've already paid my dues on their buses during my last visit to Lao.

So here is Mufasa and I....chillen during a pee-break.

Riding this tricked out buses is made worth it when you get to see this...the ENTIRE way there....don't be a hater.

Another reason I risk nausea and well being is to observe hill-tribe life as we roll by.....on 22's...lol. Sooo...the shot below isn't that great but it's one of the few I was able to catch. Tiny Asian women scaling mountains whilst carrying ungainly loads on their backs. And I thought pulling weeds were bad.
Most Lao build their homes above the ground. Since they do live in the rain forest, rain is to be expected. It's a shame that many Lao are ditching the thatched roofs and showing off their new found wealth in the form of a rusty tin roof.
It also serves as a lower level floor for all their barn-yard guests. Have you ever chased a baby pig around a rural hill-tribe village and then hold it squealing in your hands in order to take a picture, then find out your memory card is full. Only now you have the entire village looking on thinking that some crazy white woman is about to steal their pig. Most of the sight seeing is done during your trip to Phongsali as opposed to in Phongsali. So, after saving Mufasa's life no less than ten times from rapid packs of dogs. We spent our days walking through the town. Until we met a spawn of Satan, in the form of a dirt bike. It should have been taken as a sign that it was dirt cheap. It should have been waving red flags that it took a day of repair to even get it started. But being the eager beaver, risk takers we are....we rented it. Now we have a grown man, me, our dog, and backpack going up and down mountains on a 10cc motorbike. Something was bound to happen. The flat happened halfway down the mountain. We had two choices, push the bike back UP to town, or send Mike by himself DOWN the mountain to fix it. We chose down. That left me trying to hitch a ride with a local to meet up with him at the next town. So after being ripped off on a tire repair we headed out of the Popsicle stand and up the steep hills. It made it about 1/3 of the way up before the motor died.....black smoke and all. So now we are mountains away from town with a dead motorbike. We decide to try pushing our way up the mountain.....in 100 degree heat...in the jungle....with a 10cc bike from the 60's. What felt like miles was really on a few hundred feet. So, plan B was to sit and wait for the next bus. After nearly killing ourselves to squeezing the bike through the twin doors of the bus, we made it back to town on our broke down bike. We have never been happier for a cold shower and a change of clothes.

Here we are....broke down on the side of the road with our 10cc.

The everything post.

2009-01-07T00:48:00.000-08:00

I should probably forewarn all six of my readers that there are A LOT of pictures in this post. Mostly because I feel like pictures give an added perspective to the occasion. Mike and I have been on the run since before Christmas and I have neglected to post our adventures.

A few days before Christmas the school threw an X-mas bash for the foreign teachers. We celebrated Christmas much the same as everyone in America.

Santa and his reindeer were Chinizled and arrived on bike. (The sled was in for a cleaning...)

Then the belly dancers arrived to make sure we all had a very MERRY Christmas...Many others took the stage to perform various traditional dances as well. Along with some very impromptu performances by the teachers. I now know that I do not know all the versus to Silent Night by heart.....thank-you Sam...

Every province in China brews their own beer, of which they are all very proud. They come in HUGE green bottles. A favorite local question, bragging rights included, is 'how many bottles can you drink?' During one of our last bike rides through some hutongs, we discovered this hoard of emptied brew. Someone has been saving them up for a VERY special occasion.
On Christmas day, we dropped our dog off to our Russian neighbors that were sweet enough to watch him for a few days while we headed off to Beijing. We arrived high-class on the D Train ( The fastest train in China to date). Note the lady behind Mike posing for a photo-op...
Our first stop was the Forbidden City. It was HUGE! We spent hours there and still didn't see every building. We enjoyed listening to the stories from the various emperors and empresses that lived there via our audio tour. Mike and I were too cheap to buy two audio sets, so whenever the guide started speaking we would crouch ear to ear and listen at the same time...What's not more romantic than hugging each other to listen to stories??

I like these because they show how detailed every aspect of the palace was.

Mike...waiting for his concubines...

We ran into these hot ladies in the palace. I have absolutely no clue where they are from but I dig the hot pink hats.
This is the lovers tree. They grafted a Cyprus and Pine tree together, and it was a photo shoot hot-spot.
Mike has been through the tourist traps in Beijing twice before. Knowing this, I decided to go on my own to the Great Wall. Mike begged off saying he would explore Beijing....you know, the train station...Subway...all the REAL Beijing hot spots...

It was beautiful day! Every day before it had been frigid, but when we arrived at the great wall it was sunny and cloudless. Perfect! I honestly didn't anticipate being all that impressed with the great wall, since Mike had eloquently described it as 'just a renovated wall'.
The section of wall I visited was built atop a huge mountain range, with steep cliffs on either side. Imagining hundreds of years ago hauling stones up the mountain to build this wall as awe inspiring. It is said that for every one meter of wall, two Chinese died. Visiting the wall was one of my favorite experiences in China so far. Part of what made it so amazing was the fact that there were ten of us in my tour group and we were virtually the only ones on the wall. It was incredible that in either direction the wall continued as far as the eye could see.

Our tour also stopped at a spot called "The Sacred Way", which was a beautiful section of the Ming Tombs. It's told that the infamous dragon has five sons, this turtle dragon being one of them. It's also rumored that by touching the top of the dragon/turtles head, you'll have good luck. So here I am, gettin my luck on.

The last day we went to the 798 Art Factory....which, if your not in the know, is THE place to go for contemporary art these days. This was taken before I read the huge 'NO PICTURES' sign posted at the entrance...oops! But seriously, I couldn't duplicate that if I wanted to.

It's kind of a thing with Mike and I that whenever we see sculptures, we try (emphasis on the try) to duplicate their pose....we find it humorous. So here I am, one of the three stooges.

I saved this one for last because it's by far Mike's favorite picture from Beijing...the carefree naked pink girl on a bike. Mike's hitching a ride. Mike jokingly challenged me to imitate this pose.....bahhh!!

Okay, and I know this is completely random, but it totally shows how cheesy the Chinese can be. Doesn't he have that star crossed love look in his eyes?

After surviving the seven hour train ride home. We experienced what we've come to refer to as...the Asian good-bye. One that keeps on going, and going, and going. Below is one the many good-bye dinners we had. (BTW...who knew adult sleepovers were big in China?? I know, I was just as creeped out.)

Below are some of our FAVORITE people. They ran a family operated restaurant and we ate there...at LEAST once a day. Most delicious food in China, I promise. I miss my tungzulitzi : ( The man in the back is the bombdizzle chef.

Next.....Mike and I prepared for the BIG move. January is by far THE busiest travel month in China. Because Spring Festival is a huge family holiday, workers from around the country are booking tickets back home and boarding the train with unprecedented amounts of luggage. This is Mike....waiting to board. This picture doesn't do the waiting area justice...there hundreds of people there. We have this massive camera and Mike gets soo embarrased every time I take it out. So he was humiliated that I made him pose for a picture while dozens of curious Chinese stared on. As if a dog wasn't enough to draw attention. He thanked me later.
We were lucky enough to get tickets on a sleeper....the only problem was that we had to hide Mufasa the entire time, for fear of getting evicted from the train. Mufasa is a really easy, laid back dog and it really wouldn't have been a problem....if he hadn't been afraid to use the toilet with a hole nearly as big as he was. Let's just say he only peed the bed twice. The first stretch was twenty hours. The next four days, this is what Mufasa looked like. And he only went through one x-ray machine!!

We made it Xian, where we went to visit the Terracotta Warriors. These are seriously an archaeological wonder. It took 700,000 workers four decades to finish all 6,000 warriors. The detail is incredible, even the soles of their feet are crafted to look like soles of shoes. On top of that, not a single warrior is identical. It was incredible to see. One thing I found interesting was that following the completion of the tomb, all 700,000 workers were buried alive so as to keep the secret of where the Emperor was buried.

We took a twelve hour break to explore Xian and the Terracotta Warriors before boarding our next train to Kunming, a fabulously warm and delicious city. That train ride was 37 hours.....with a dog....in a sleeper the size of a coffin. Did I mention we had just gotten off a 20 hour train ride...okay then...moving on. Below, for your viewing pleasure, a perfect example of what I mean when I say rush hour. What you don't see are the hoards of people of either side of the street, clambering for space alongside shops and street vendors.

One more detail that has made our trip that much more interesting is that in our zest to minimize, we decided to forgo dog food and just find food along the way. Taking off a lot of weight. But Mufasa is a REALLY picky eater....a meat eater to be exact. So here is our spoiled little dog, being hand fed freshly grilled mutton prepared by a Muslim extraordinaire.

Dasvidanya

2008-12-22T03:40:00.000-08:00

Love this picture for many reasons, one being it was taken on my second favorite street. Two...it's classic. The hustle and bustle at all hours, the varied signs delivering an assortment of goods.

I've talked about "stalls" before, but I can never accurately portray them. A lot of people run their business' out of the back of their 'modified trucks'. I don't know what this guy does, but he certainly hasn't been bitten by ambition. Notice the knee pads and expired military coat, these are all Chinese staples.

Mike is marvelous. Do you want to know why? Because he cleaned the dirty dishes, knowing exactly how much I hate to do it. And this is how we work. He does the dishes, I do the floor. And yes, he does them in his manties so the water doesn't get his clothes dirty.

I have a whole new appreciation for teachers. Coming up with creative lessons that both educate and entertain can be exhausting...and stressful. Because I think its fun to stress out about the little things. So when I knew that last week was going to be the final week of the semester, I was doing a little cheer dance inside my head. Just a little one. Another part of me was really going to miss getting to know the students. Hearing about their lives and seeing their excitement and they learned and tried new things.

This is one of my English classes. I tried to post my other English class but my computer was being a poo. I also have three other classes but they are 100 % MALE. Yea, as in120 guys taught by a foreign white women. Talk about being thrown to the wolves. Not a single male student dropped the class.

For the last day of class I brought candy to pass out to the students as sort of a going away present. At the end of class I posed for pictures with every single student, and then in groups, and then with the girls, and then with the boys, and then a roommate shot...you get the point. A LOT of pictures. But what really touched me were the gifts I received and the thank-you notes I was given. So a big THANK-YOU to all my Chinese students who made living in Jinan, feel like home.

This is just one of the letters, but you get the idea. Tell me this doesn't make you want to stick around!

I am both a touchy-feely person and a klutz. Combine the two and you can get dirty pretty quickly. The first things to get dirty on my outfit are generally the sleeves, you know, dragging my arms across the chalk board as I erase the lesson. So what better gift than SLEEVE PROTECTORS to give me!@# These were farewell gifts from my students. I am also holding a traditional Chinese knot. What I'm supposed to do with it, I don't know. It's supposed to bring me good luck and God knows I could use a bit of that! The sleeve protectors are actually really common and all of the students wear them, just so you know this isn't some sort of fashion statement.

All ready, already?

2008-12-17T04:55:00.000-08:00

Mike and I are leaving...soon. We discovered that our second, more relevant visa expires much sooner than we anticipated. This just means that our base will be much more mobile and include a lot more adventures. How exciting. Our (and by our, I really mean MY) first adventure was packing. In all fairness, I am somewhat obsessive compulsive. Everything has a spot and if it's not in it's spot, welll, we won't go there. As I am packing I am again realizing how insane I was to bring this many clothes. No, I did not need those three pair of running pants, and yes, I did get by without needing thirty pairs of panties. And yes, Mike, you told me so.

But, I have mended my ways and am back on course. After consolidating and agreeing to ship all unnecessary items back to America we are back to one bag and one backpack! When I was deciding which two pairs of pants would win an all expense paid vacay to Southeast Asia I came across these...

These are my wonder-woman pants. The pants that I put on when I'm feeling fat, ugly, tired, or adventurous and they transform me into that woman who can do just about anything. They are THE most comfortable pants in the entire world. They have been worn in 15 different countries and through some of the most incredible adventures of my life. And the seamstress lady ruined them. BAAHHH! I asked her to hem the bottom of my pants because they had become frayed. (Kind of an understatement, they look like I had just escaped an attack from a lioness) But they came back like this....guess I'm going to need some new wonder woman pants when I come back.

Mark is one of Mike's good friends here in China. They met when Mike was here in 2005 and have kept a remarkable friendship. We went to dinner one last time to say good-bye before we leave for Mongolia. We took him to this FABulous riverside restaurant that specialized in South Korean food.

Mike even tried squid for the first time! It was a great time and we are going to miss all of our wonderful friends in Jinan.

So, for all two people that read this blog, Mike and I will be heading first to Beijing then to Mongolia for two weeks. Internet connections might be close to nill, so don't hold your breath for the next post.

Ever-day

2008-12-13T00:18:00.000-08:00

Qustion: What do you do when you can't afford a car but don't want to walk..... shelloo, ride your bike of course! Bikes are cheap, convenient, and most of the time faster than the bus or a private car (traffic is horrendous, don't even think about going anywhere during rush hour!) I think if "Pimp My Ride" started working on bikes more people would want to ride.

This is Mike's death trap: it has over 25 pounds of steel, no brakes, and is operated by a man with a need for speed.

Almost everyday we ride through what are referred to as 'villages'. They consist of tightly quartered homes and business with very narrow streets.

It's hard to acurately describe villages and these pictures don't do it justice, but I hope they help. The villages are very traditional and actually being phased out by the government and replaced by high-rise apartment buildings. While this may seem terrible, I can't imagine that the cramped quarters are very comfortable to live in and most are very old and in terrible condition.

The communities within these villages are very tightly knit. They all support one-another both emotionally and financially. They could probably subsist on their own for quite some time. I caught this picture of three generations and thought it was so typical. People sitting out in front of their home enjoying the weather, life moves at a different pace here.

Real men play chess. Chinese Chess is soo incredibly popular here. They have little 'gaming corners' all over the city where men gather and compete, or just watch. This is an average sized crowd that has gathered on a Sunday afternoon to watch two people duel it out. Notice the stools they are using, they are huge here. They are cheap, easy to make, and portable.

Construction is everywhere and you can never guess what's going to be gone next. The other day Mike went out to get water and the same place we've gone since September. He came back saying that the entire street had been torn down and was no longer there. It's crazy, where do these people go?

I consider myself a candy connoisseur, and it's under this title that I make it my duty to try all things that look good...at least once. I found these a few weeks ago and have been DYING to come back. They have a crepe-like exterior and a creamy filling that comes in three different flavors: red bean, white cream, and a vegetable-type filling. The lady thought I was a total freak for wanting to take a picture with her but whatev. What can I say, I dig Asians.

Surprise!

2008-12-12T23:52:00.000-08:00

Over the course of our four month stay in Jinan we have made some wonderful friends. Two of these are students we met on campus: Emily and Angela. They are so fun to be with mostly because of how excited they get about everything. 'Oh we are going to the restaurant' (screaming and laughter!#@#) 'All-RIGHT!!' LOL, it's makes even the simplest things entertaining.

Just a side-note, things run like clockwork in China, everything has a schedule. Breakfast is 7-9, lunch from 12-2, and dinner is 6-8 and after a few months of being here it's begun to catch on. Shortly after arriving home from my Friday evening class I asked Mike where he wanted to go to dinner. He said that we should just ride our bikes and find a new place. It was freezing and windy out so I hesitated...only for a minute. Mike picked a restaurant that had big windows and was very busy, and knowing they wouldn't have English translations at a place like this I mentioned as we walked in "I guess we can just pick at random off the menu."

When we got in the waiter escorted us to a booth where Emily and Angela had a huge birthday cake and home-made card waiting. 'Happy Birthday!' I know, my birthday is still a month and a half away but because we will be leaving soon, they wanted to celebrate it with me before I left. Both of them come from rural villages with a limited income and the cost of the dinner and a cake was a big expense and I was touched by their thoughtfulness. Mike has never orchestrated anything like this before either so I appreciated his efforts to make sure I had a good birthday.

As per Chinese tradition, a bowl of noodles was served to the birthday guest. The noodles (because of their length) symbolise a long and happy life to be lived.

The cakes are so cool here! The frosting is more like a whipping cream but compliments the airy consistency of the cake. The crown comes with the cake and MUST be worn! They even had a candle in the shape of a flower and operated like a firework, as the petals unfold on the flower/candle it sings 'Happy Birthday'. It was a great night with lots of delicious food and great company. Best birthday ever!

Pizza Hut

2008-12-12T23:28:00.000-08:00

Have you ever walked into a Pizza Hut and felt like they recruited for employment at the local detention center.....yea, Pizza Hut in China is NOTHING like that. In fact, they turned it into a sit down restaurant where even the electoral sockets are decoupaged, high-class huh? Mike and I can be financial Scrooges when it comes to splurging, so every time we would walk by the store, with the costume clad waiters beckoning us to enter we would look at each other and say.....'maybe next weekend'. Well, last weekend was that weekend. It was soo delicious!

We ordered this Japanese Terriyaki Chicken pizza...delish!

Mango ice-cream smoothie...mmmm...

Someone left home without spraying on their Cling-Free.....Mike thought it was HILARIOUS.

The leftovers bag was strategically placed in the center of the table.

Remember when?

2008-12-01T09:15:00.000-08:00

It's not so much that I'm getting old, but my memory has never been that great.Mike and I are coming up on three years (well, it's really closer to six, but I'm just counting the consecutive). We have been through SO much! We don't have a lot of pictures to document our travels, and without writing this down I'm afraid I'll forget the wonderful, crazy, weird experiences we've been through. Just remember, we can't be classy all the time!

We've shoveled fertilizer in Malaysia, picked leaches off each other in rice paddies, had the best coffee of our life in Singapore, broke a hostel bed in Luang Probang, threw up while leaning my head out the window....for an entire bus ride in Lao, ridden camels through the sand dunes in India, had total strangers take pictures of us and play with our hair, had butt sweat in every country of south-east Asia, been followed by the local mob in Cambodia, smuggled my dog onto a train in China, ridden double dutch on a motorcycle in Thailand in the pouring rain, experienced paradise in Phuket and Karabi, the hidden mountain utopias of the Cameron Highlands, hiked with only one shoe around Rainier, had my arms eaten so badly by mosquito's the locals thought I had leprosy, had our camera stolen twice#@!, had my boob grabbed by a disgusting Indian man trying to throw colored chalk on me, climbed more mountains than I can remember together, hiked with only one shoe around Rainier, slept in the creepiest hostel in Bangladesh, laughed about having a lot of 'dong', seen a naked man covered in ash and a funny hat in Varansi, been smuggled onto the bed of a truck by a priest in Poipet, only to be surrounded by 18 locals a whole lotta durian, just about got lung cancer from a hostel in Cheque republic, almost dropped our camera on an elephants head trying to take a picture of a rhino in Nepal, watched our car blow a cylinder while trying to sell it, viewed the awe inspiring architecture of Austria, sworn one day to live in Germany if only for the food and the incredibly chill people, hitch-hiked from St.George to Kansas and back, sat on my luggage in more trains in India than I care to remember, almost got kicked off the beach in Singapore, know where to find 'Plain of Jars' on a map, been laughed at by tiny Asian women, taken more pictures than the paparazzi, spoken openly about travelers diarrhea, missed the last bus out of town, been chased after by wild dogs, then bought a naked one, suffered through ant bites in Florida (never lay on the grass!), been lulled to sleep in hammock on the beach, hidden our luggage in the hills like the homeless for a week, had a crazy old man grab my leg in a dark alley way of a foreign country, lived out our car for a significant amount of time, witnessed the beauty of the Taj-Mahal, slept on a train, had crazy Indians scream in our ears, went on a booze cruise in Vietnam, taken a boat through the exquisite foliage covered islands of Halong bay, swallowed a silk worm in Jinan, tubed down a river in Vang Vieng after flying off a gigantic tree swing, sat next to a pig on a bus, almost suffered claustrophobia in the caves of Lao, had an old man kick my trash running, eaten McDonald's in every country except India (don't judge), had a wild bear try and break into our apartment, been spoon fed yogurt in Vientiane, had an almost happy ending to a massage, had our car stolen, bought a new one, only to have it broken into and crashed by a drunk driver, know what it means to be 'watted out', used a tropical plant as a Christmas tree, wished upon a star while sleeping on the dirt in a desert, gone longer than a three weeks with out a real shower, wiped out a ninety year old lady on my bike, been held by baby elephants in Chiang Mai, witnessed first-hand the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge and the wonders of Angkor Wat, am still trying to figure out the secret ingredient to the smoothies in Vietnam, think that the only reason to wake up early on a Saturday morning is to make banana-nut waffles, was beat by an eight year old in tic-tac-toe in Siem Reap, been lost more times than we can recal......(DEEP BREATH!) and I'm really just getting started.
I think blogs have a tendency to portray fairytail lives. You have to remember the good, the bad, and the ugly if only to have a good laugh about it one day. We are each others best friends, motivators, and partners in crime......love you!

Suedo Children

2008-11-28T07:56:00.001-08:00

Mufasa peed in his crate a few days ago and I would have been a little more sympathetic towards the situation considering he hasn't done anything like that since being in China.....but I just gave him a bath 2 DAYS AGO!! And let me clue you in on something......Mufasa HATES bathing. Aside from looking like the most overgrown drowning rat when wet, he shakes so violently you want to check his vitals half-way through to make sure he's not going to die on you before your finished.

You'll notice the picture above was not taken in shower, where Moof was supposed to be at that moment, but in the bedroom where he managed to squeeze between my legs as I was struggling to put the shampoo back up on the shelf in exchange for the conditioner. He's totally got the guilty look.

The finishing product is FABulous! This is Moo, doing the most masculine pose he's capable of. He is a wonderful dog though, and we love him!

He won't even sing in the car...but...

2008-11-28T06:49:00.000-08:00

You ever have that nightmare where you are singing Chinese in front of a thousand screaming Asian fans dancing to one of their hit tunes.......yea me neither.....but Mike does.....

Against all reason Mike agreed to take part in one of our schools 'talent shows'. They asked him to sing.....in Chinese while coordinating moves with the belly-dancer he was going to share the stage with. It was one of those things where you don't realize what you got yourself into until its too late. Like when cliff jumping seemed like such a great idea when you were the one looking up....until you were the one looking down....

Mike and his tutor put hourssss into this while she taught him Pinyin and pronunciation. It was really neat to see him dressed in traditional clothing performing a popular Chinese song. Judging from whistles, screaming, and overall hysteria that erupted from the stage upon Mike approaching the stage......I wasn't alone in thinking he did FANTASTIC!!!!

I know, I thought the same thing when he did this...'what are you doing with your hands?Apparently it's all the rage when posing as an Asian, it's just what you do.
p.s. This is performance

Mike, singing amidst a growing fan base.

THIS, is totally my favorite shot, the dance that he totally rocked!

Mike displaying early signs of post traumatic stress.

I thought I'd include some pictures of other groups that performed that night as well. I thought they reflected some of the more traditional aspects of the Chinese culture.

This is one of my freshman classes performing a rendition of their favorite Communist era song.....nah, just kidding, their costumes would make you think that thought wouldn't they?

The umbrellas were perfectly synchronized.

Mike and I totally have a group of old people who meet everyday in our apartment building to practice this!

Apparently the Americans got it all wrong. Snow White's husband was decided on amidst cigarettes and a heated card game. This performance was sooo freaken hilarious!

It's a beautiful day in the NEIGHborhood!

2008-11-22T19:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a great day. The sky was clear, the sun was shining, and you would have never guessed that the month of November was coming to a close. It was the perfect day to get out and ride your bike, which was exactly what we ended up doing. Along the way we stopped and checked out one of the natural springs that Jinan has turned into a nature park. Kind of a rip-off for $40 yuan but it WAS beautiful, and the people were rockin...

Adorable Asians... These were some children we saw dressed in traditional clothing. Bright colors and many many layers. They often wear jackets that tie in the back, much like hospital gowns. If you take a good look at the picture below, you'll notice a white bulge hanging out of drawers. This child has a diaper on, but most of the children where nothing, and everything is bared. They have this hole in the middle of their pants and they simply squat whenever nature calls. There will be the a small child in full winter garb, with his little buns hanging out...so cute!

It was beautiful at the park and we appreciated the last of the fall colors before winter shows up in full force.

Mike, taking it all in...I take FOREVER to take pictures so in this one, Mike is really just being patient with me...what a swell guy!

And of course, the trees.....and me. Everyone has got to travel with at least one piece of flair. Mine, is my Burberry sunglasses, with the obnoxiously large, I just might be a movie-star, but you'll never know look to them.

Mike among the foliage.....A vision in blue and green...Look how long his curls are getting! They build dozens of these houses right along the edges of the spring-fed lakes. Asians are really funny because they will spend a ton of money to build something really extravagant, and then do absolutely no maintenance on the building, just letting the elements take their toll.

Much of the walk-way was inlaid with these stones arranged into various shapes and designs. It's amazing to think of the manual labor that must have been needed to complete that.
I love this picture for several reasons. First, because it is TOTALLY your typical old lady. The traditional clothing, complete with flat soled fabric shoes, and not be forgotten, the walker....Asian style! Most old people have these and they use them to carry their chair (notice hers sticking out of the walker) and other goods they might have purchased throughout the day.
So, as we were getting ready to leave we found this precious girl and we had to take a picture. Presh....reaching out to touch the flower.....yellow rain boots and an eighties skirt...you rock it girl!
I wanted to post this picture, not because it shows the slums of the city, which like any city, Jinan has it's fair share of as well. But because it shows the ever changing skyline of China, the old village style houses abolished for the newer edgier sky-rises. At any given time dozens of sites around the city are being torn down for redevelopment.
Mufasa seems to still be teething and so on the way home we stopped by our local butcher for some bones....Isn't this so neat?! It's how they roll...fifty deep in sheep...

Definitely not USDA approved....Isn't it amazing more people don't die of food poisoning here?
I left out the gross part of the picture where they have the skins of the butchered animals lying on a pile for them to sell. You have to give credit for utilizing the ENTIRE animal though.

Can you guess what this is used for?

This happens to be one of my favorite locals......the fruit lady! Every day we say 'hi' and stop to buy some fruit. She hooks us up on the goods, which is great because we can always trust that she is giving us a fair price. Right now she is weighing our tomatoes.

Just one more reason to love China, because all of this, cost us less than a $1.50! Hooo-raw!

Mike caught this shot as we were pulling around the corner to our house. My sweet ride! Check out the basket with the goods! Every time I ride the bike I feel hear the music from "Wicked Witch of the West" going "danun danun danuuunun danun danun danuuun danuuuuuuunnnn"

I totally kicked Betty Crockers trash today!

2008-11-20T05:51:00.000-08:00

Living in China for the holidays means you have to get creative. Especially if you miss certain creature comforts from home. Who can call it Thanksgiving without eating at least one piece of pumpkin pie? I mean, really, even if its not your favorite you tolerate it for traditions sake right?

We searched Jinan over and could find no trace of Thanksgivingy good-ness. So we decided we needed to work from scratch. And so this......

Became this.....

Mike was such a stud and made not one but two separate trips to the store (which is a half hour bike ride away) to find the right size pan for the pie! What a charmer! Mufasa helped out by joining team "SCRAP: search and rescue".

My little toaster, totally the grown up version of an "Easy Bake Oven"....lol.

What started out as a relatively simple project, ended up lasting more than eight hours. Boiling the pumpkin, mashing it down, figuring out how to substitute for the ingredients we didn't have.

The result was decadent! I don't know if I can ever go backed to canned again. It totally made my Thanksgiving. The best part was that it all took place with a single burner and a toaster oven! That's classic.

Another day in the life....

2008-11-20T05:12:00.000-08:00

Sorry if these posts seem mundane, but my purpose behind the blog was to document my travels, and it's the simple things you remember that mean the most.

This is such a typical picture, minutes before he needs to be out the door, Mike is planning *cough*borrowing* a lesson for his class.

After school, one of our favorite things to do is ride our bikes. Mufasa needed a jacket, so we went to the fabric section of the market where I discovered these beauties. In China, traditional wedding dresses are red, however some do choose to wear white.
And China, as seen through my lens. Welcome to the candy shop, he'll show you what he's got...Definitely one of my favorite stops. A few weeks ago I came home with my all-time favorite bag of candy, milk-chews (don't be a hater before you try one!) I popped one in my mouth and then handed one to Mike. I said 'Mike, do you like this candy as much as I do?' He responded by saying, 'Kim, I don't think anyone likes candy as much as you do.' Ha! True, true, true.
In China, vendors will set up their wares right on the edge of the street and just wait for the customers. While bird cages are fairly simple to arrange, it gets a little more complex when you haul in the kitchen-ware.

Hahaha....this guy has cornered the market on cardboard, among other things. I think my favorite part about this picture on the massive gloves glued to his handle bars. Brothers going to have some competition if he steps into my hood. There are dozens a guys just like this, they ride down the street yelling for your odds and ends at the top of their lungs.
And on the way home we had to stop to buy some water. Talk about coordination, mans got skill!

Not to be forgotten...Moof, getting some love upon our return.

Ch,ch,ch,check it out!

2008-11-18T02:52:00.000-08:00

So I live in a relatively small city, called Jinan. Far away from the major tourist attractions, foreigners obtain rock-star status simply by riding their bikes through the streets. For many, you are the first foreigner they have ever seen. I really love living here and I'd thought I share a few reasons why.

Discovering beautiful things never found on maps.

ASIANS, because they're that much fun!

The completely RANDOM things you find, never imagining their existence. Like this feather-plucker for example.

And of course, the street vendors! LOVE it, definitely one of my favorite things about traveling. Some of the best food I have ever had cost less than a dollar.

This is my life, welcome to it : )

Beijing is....chic, historical, and SO not dog friendly!

2008-11-15T18:41:00.000-08:00

When we first arrived in China, after weeks of running around preparing the necessary documents for Mufasa to make to trek with us, we were denied in-home quarantine. Thirty days at a luxury Chinese dog-sitter........I totally bawled at the airport. No, not the graceful tear sliding down your cheek cry, the heaving sobs, people look away cause your such a freak sobs, I mean common....it's a dog. That's what the Chinese don't understand, to us he's part of our family. So here were, at the below pictured facility, thirty days later to pick him up.

It was a total fiasco! At the airport, we didn't have a passports because the Chinese officials needed them to apply our resident permits. No one spoke English and no one knew where we were supposed to go. After walking the entire length of the Beijing airport no less than 6 times we found a nice woman who spoke a little English and helped us through the rest of the airport process. All we had was a piece of paper with a map in Chinese providing directions from the airport to Moof. You can never trust taxis, they drive in circles to charge you more and you never even know if they understand your final destination to begin with. But...we got there....overcharged or not. And we picked up "Moo our poo" as he is affectionately referred to in our house.

They led us to Mufasa and as they said good-bye informed us that we could not travel by bus, subway, or train with the dog so we would need to take a taxi....

Umm.......excuse me?!?! We live Jinan, yea....five hours away, I'm NOT taking a taxi!@#
So ensued the fiasco, dodging security as we snuck Mufasa back to our hotel, keeping in mind the two bus transfers and three subway transfers we took to avoid taking a taxi. We.are.so.cheap....I know. This took much longer than expected, plus Moof was a mess and needed grooming, which in and of itself was a nightmare. But I'm really focusing on all bad things and not filling you in on how cool Beijing really is, despite being over-run with tourists. We did get a chance to see two of the major tourist attractions that Beijing has to offer. Tienanmen square and the Olympic venues. Here are a few pictures of us.

We arrived to Beijing in style on the fastest train in China!

The birds nest is as cool in real life as it was on the news.

Soldiers falling out of line to check out our babe of a dog at Tienanmen Square.

Mike totally got the short end of stick. We had already purchased our return tickets on the D-train (the luxury fast train) only to find out that Mufasa was not allowed. So we agreed that there was no need for both of us to lose our seats and we split up. It was hell as he took a taxi to no-where, traveled to all four of Beijings train terminals trying to find the 'pet-friendly' terminal, hitching a ride in rush-hour traffic, and having to stand on the third class train with a crying dog. Love you VERY much!