Kansas - Happy Easter!

Pepe was thrilled to be heading out onto the road again. He had been stuck in a windowless basement since our return so this was his chance for some fresh air and freedom!

Kansas is a very windy state, therefore they have taken advantage and wind turbines are a common site. This is a great way to create clean energy for all!

It wouldn't be Kansas without the farms! I snapped this pic while riding in the car, so it's not as clear as I would like. This farmhouse was along a small road on the way to a town called Hamilton.

This pic was snapped along the mainstreet in Hamilton. I love the vintage Coke sign!

This time of year the farmers are burning the fields to renew the soil. As we drove we could see some burnt brush up against the road and along the horizon we could see the smoke from other fires.

We played some pool and drank some beers in a bar in a small out-of-the-way town (in fact i can't remember it's name!). I took a picture of the sign in the bar - notice that he can charge you by the 24 pk and the prices are pretty cheap!

This is an outside shot of the bar. The building stamp on the far left corner says 1912 (that's old for the US, especially for the West) - very cool!

By the end of our trip Pepe was glad to have been out, but he was exhausted! Time for a nap!!!

Happy Easter!

Today we are off to the great state of Kansas! Pepe is along for the ride... keep a look out for pictures and more information about the trip :)

Also, happy day of our Risen Lord and Savior!

St. Patricks Day

On my last post in February I had pictures of ThickBlackGlasses brewing some tasty beer. After weeks of letting it sit and "cook" we were finally able to bottle it and taste it. For a red ale I think it's very yummy - and I don't like reds.

Anyway, on St Patty's Day was the test! He competed with 3 other brewers at a friend's house for the best beer and he won!!!! I am partial but I think his was the best :)

Here's a picture of him with the winning beer, the money and the "trophy" Lephrechan...

Getting Used to the Weather

We've been home for over a month now and we're still getting used to the weather. I have to admit that I kind of miss not having to brush off my car or worry about slippery roads. I would say for 75% of the time since we've been home the weather has been nice, but there are those days! Today is especially snowy, several inches have fallen throughout the day and I've been lucky enough to not have to go out in it.

Spring is fast approaching and already I am looking forward to the warmer weather!

Easter will be here soon and we're heading "next door" to Kansas. I love road trips and I'll be sure to post pics as soon as possible :)

Home

Well, we've been home for two and a half weeks and it's starting to feel like home again!
We spent the first two weeks going back and forth with the shipping company (stationed in Abu Dhabi) about the surprise charges. They sent us the cost of everything and we were thrown for a loop. There were several charges that we did not expect so we had to work against the time difference to get everything settled. For two weeks our boxes sat in a warehouse somewhere but finally we came to an agreement and we received our boxes on Friday! It has been great to unpack and get settled in :)

The weeks have already been packed with activities. I started my new job the Monday after we returned. It made for a tiring week, trying to get re-adjusted to the time difference and creating a new schedule. So far I am really enjoying the new job though and with all the budget cuts within the schools I am glad to have nailed down a job before the new school year.

Some family and friends got together to watch the NFL Super Bowl the weekend after our return. We have never watched the game in a public place before, but this year we decided to meet at a bar. It turned out to be a lot of fun especially with severals groups of people routing for different teams!

Below is a picture of my neice. We put a beer cozy over her milk cup - good times!


The day before the Super Bowl we celebrated ThickBlackGlasses's Birthday at Dave and Busters. Several friends and family members showed up to play some pool and shuffle board...

We have had lots of time to spend with my two neices, Artia and Vayle, and we hope to spend some more time with ThickBlackGlasses's neices and nephews in the coming weeks.

One of the most fun things we have been able to do upon our return is to make our own beer. ThickBlackGlasses and his friend went to a speciality store and bought a beer kit to make us some homemade hooch! We have about 7 days until it is finished and we will be sure to send out an update and it's taste!

Although we have left Abu Dhabi we plan to have many more adventures. Keep an eye out for Pepe as he sneaks away with us!

"Home" Lyrics by Chris Daughtry

As our departure date is drawing nearer I thought that most of these lyrics fit how I was feeling about leaving. I don't regret a thing, but things are getting a bit old. I will miss some things about the UAE, but I am so happy to be returning home so very soon!

(These lyrics have been edited, I chose what I felt was true...)

"Home"

I'm staring out into the night,
Trying to hide the pain.
I'm going to the place where love
And feeling good don't ever cost a thing.
And the pain you feel's a different kind of pain.

Well I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong...
But these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
Well I'm going home.

Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all,
And then some you don't want.
Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all, yeah.

A Night Out

Last Thursday we spent the night in Abu Dhabi. We hooked up with a friend at Trader Vic's.

The first weird thing of the night was seeing a bar fight. Not so unusual? Well, that's the first bar fight I have seen in the UAE. I wondered what happens to people that are turned into the police starting a bar fight in the UAE, but we didn't get that chance. The bar staff was quick to react once the fighters knocked over glasses on a nearby table. They managed to push the fighters and their friends out the front door. The group was outside and as bar patrons looked on the fight moved back into the doorway. Eventually the whole thing was broke up and we moved on. How curious?!?

Later on in the night we were driving home. A line of cars were going through a green light when the light began to flash (an indication that the light will quickly turn yellow). The taxi in front of me thought it was a good time to stop, but half-way along the crosswalk (and Abu Dhabi gives tickets to cars over the line). I was far enough back from the taxi, so I knew he had enough room to move back. He put on his reverse lights and kept reversing, even while I was honking my horn (as a warning that he was too close) and then backed right into me! He sat in his car and did not even realize for a good 5 seconds that he had hit me, but then pulled forward a bit. I got out of the car to check for damage and he just quietly sat inside his car and watched me. Of course he was not going too fast so there was no damage, but there was no reaction from him, I couldn't believe it! I got back into the car and the driver finally leaned out of his car a little with his hands raised! What an idiot! He may be new to the country and maybe that was his second day driving, so hopefully he figures out how far back he can go next time! Grrrrrr....