Swing Night (Bailando el swing)

What a star...he gets up early to go dancing with me. And I must say that I'm proud to have his ring on my finger while onlookers admire from the sidelines. My favorite dance partner. My best friend.

(Adan se leventa temprano para ir a bailar conmigo. Tengo que decir que me da orgullo llevar su anillo en mi dedo mientras todos se asombran cuando miran por afuera. Es mi mejor amigo.)

Awkwardly Hilarious

Gosh, it's hard to get homework done in the library!

This guy came up to me while I was typing at the computer and asked me if I knew anything about math. Weird.
I fibbed and told him I am terrible at math (thinking "leave me alone, I need to get this done! That's why people are in the library!!).

He persisted, then talked about how he always came to the library to see if people knew anything about his chemistry or math homework. I knew where this conversation was headed. Great.

I asked him his name in a "good-to-meet-you, bye" sort of way, and he delved into where I was from and what I'm studying (I was trying to find a not-so-awkward way to cut in and tell him I was busy...all my ideas popped up in Spanish.) So he's talking about how all the girls he's met from Arizona have pretty, fair skin...blah, blah, blah (still trying to figure out if I should just embarrass him in front of all the listening people in the library and tell him I'm married).

At this point, I'm trying to keep my voice to a low whisper because people are turning around and glaring because of the conversation. He continues in full voice and I'm starting to feel cornered. Then he finally says what he really wanted, and asks me if I would be available to go on a date sometime. (Oh, think quick! What do I say? So I said the most logical thing I could think of...and it wasn't a lie) "Oh, I really can't. I don't have the time. You see, I'm taking 18 credits right now" (and he makes simpathetic comments and faces which I totally ignore) "and from morning to night I'm constantly working on things." (Whew! Let's hope he takes it!)

Only skipping half a beat, he started to edge his way into persuading me into setting some time aside. I could tell he was going to ask me again, and before he could get in another word, I expressed to him my pardon and sympathy, showed him the assignment "I just have to get done by next class" (it wasn't due until 3:15) and that was finally enough. I wished him good luck on his assignment and as I dismissed him, he walked away a little hesitantly, like I was kidding and I was going to call him back. I turned around and continued my assignment as if I'd never been interrupted, chuckling inside.

Rule one to library dating: Everyone's hands are on the keyboard. LOOK FOR THE RING!

New Family Member (Nuevo miembro de la familia)

Kikuchi is adapting well to the cold country life. He missed Oliver (Cynthia's bird) for a while, but he's bonded with both Adam and I and loves to get into mischief. His favorite thing to attack is our glasses. He's figured out how to get all three doors open on his cage, so we hat to lock them shut. For a baby bird, he's quite intuitive!

(Kikuchi esta adaptandose a su nueva vida en el campo. Le hacia falta Oliverio (el pajaro de mi hermanita), pero ya se hizo amigo de Adan y yo. Le encanta atacar a nuestros lentes y escapar de su haula. Por ser bebe, es muy inteligente!

Happy New Year! (Feliz Ano Nuevo!)

Christmas Break

Christmas Break was spent many hours in the car, battling dust from the remodeling, fun with our friends Devin and Emily Nef (in the picture they are working on their annual pinata for New Years), and tiling the shower. Whew!

Para la navidad, fuimos de viaje por muchas horas en el carro, luchamos con el polvo de renovar el bano, nos divirtimos con nuestros amigos, Devin y Emily, y pusimos baldosa en la ducha. Que cansansio!