So, I pulled out my camera the night before last to make sure it was charged. I haven’t touched it since I got here which is rather strange. Anyway, the batteries were dead. I charged it over night and then headed out the next day to the mud plants. On the way there I turned it on to make sure everything was in working order and I found a bunch of pictures and video from the trip Justin & I took to the Houston Aquarium. We went the day before I left to come back to Nigeria and I never downloaded them.
I made the video below using the brand-spankin’ new version of Picasa from Google. I’m a big Picasa fan. You should all go download it now. It’s free. It works great. It’s the software that should have come with your camera in the first place.
Anyway, check out the video below. It’s a combination of the pictures and video. However, the pictures and captions are too small so go to the the Houston Aquarium Gallery to see the full-size version of the pics. Oh, and stay tuned for the entire video because there are a couple of them that are pretty cool.
Today, Gabby reminded me that it is the simple things that often bring the most joy. It is wonderful how babies and children remind us how life should be. All my children often do. Gabby was having the time of her newborn life in her new swing, courtesy of Weezer. She smiled nonstop at the tiny little safari animals she saw above. She also decided to take her pacifier and bottle for awhile. We are definitely making progress! Date night and the gym here we come, hopefully. Unlike Gabby, I am going to break in my new mop later today. I doubt that will bring me the same joy like Gabby’s swing did. However, Gabe promised to talk to me while I was mopping, so it should not be too bad. The fun does not stop there! No siree. I will also be cleaning baseboards today. How fun. Don’t you just envy my life of leisure? Hope you enjoy the pictures!
I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I had one that was typical of being in Wichita Falls, uneventful! I did however have some really good photo ops. Here are two that I would like to share with you all. Of course, there will be many more to come.
Something to make you giggle: On the way back to Houston (boys will be boys!)
So, one year ago today I started my gig as #2 in Port Harcourt. I’ve officially been here one year. Or half a year since that’s all I work. Either way, I made it a year. The job is easier now that I have some sense of what I’m doing. That doesn’t make it or the people any less frustrating though. Oh, and the boss is away again for the next two weeks so #2 moves to the #1 spot. Now all I need is #1 pay and I’m happy. Anyway, as I always say… Nothing has changed. It’s the same Port Harcourt as it was one year ago. Definitely no better, but not worse either.
One thing I don’t remember from this time last year is all of this rain. It’s the rainy season and there have only been two dry days since I’ve been here. Most of the time it is fine during the day, but around 5:30pm or 6:00pm the rain starts. Right around the time I get home. Right around the time I’m supposed to run. I guess I should dust off that old jump rope that’s been sitting in my dresser drawer for the last year and give it a spin.
In other news, a hurricane is about to obliterate the Louisiana Gulf Coast again, MBM and crew are back in Wichita Falls, Weezer is back on Oklahoma City, & Kari and crew are moved into their new giant abode. Maybe not moved in, but they’re sleeping there.
That’s about all the time I have. Now it’s off to work. I’ll leave you with a slideshow of some of the pictures I’ve taken here over the last year or so.
And don’t forget about little Gabby next door. She’s having self-esteem issues with the lack of participation over at her corner of the internets. One comment each on the last two posts? Y’all are slippin’.
**EDIT** It looks like my slideshow is acting up. Hopefully it will start working later in the day.
****EDIT**** I’ve given up on the slideshow. I can’t even get the link to the gallery to work. Maybe next time.
Weezer left us this morning <sigh>. We were all sad to see her go, even Gabby who managed to sleep through her goodbye. Rocky misses sleeping under her car. I miss drinking coffee with her and our t.v. and table talks. Weezer and I kept really busy with running errands, keeping up with the kids, catering to Ms. Gabby, and just catching up. We did find some time to go watch one movie, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and have a nice La Madeleine Lunch, with Ms, Gabby in tow. Yes, it was nice to have Weezer around. She was able to get in a lot of Grandma time and bond with the wee baby. I even reintroduced Weezer to Houston traffic yesterday when I got turned around on highway 290. Yes, we both agree, that will be a moment to remember! We can hardly wait for Weezer to come again!
Unfortunately, no matter how hard we tried, we could not get Gabby to successfully take a pacifier or bottle. The battle wages on. We did however try out a new baby car seat carrier that suited Ms. Gabby to a “T” and will make Auntie Kari happy that I gave into using it (plus, it was free!).
I will leave you with pictures taken during Weezer’s trip and a candid video I took of them without them knowing. I also have included pictures taken today while Gabby and I fled the unsettling quiet of home to have lunch with my dear friend, Auntie Stella. We used the opportunity to use our Red Robin Free Birthday Burger Coupons! We had a $20 meal for only $6!!! Plus, we had great service and a wonderful time. Gabby also met some ex workers of mine, one with a special connection to me and Gabe. Gabby, of course, slept through it all. Once we got home back to the quiet, she became very fussy! That is my Gabby. Party girl. She also got to talk to her daddy on Skype. She had a lot of smiles and flatulent moments for him. Okay, well, I have to go meet the boys at the bus stop. Later.
So, the house is very quiet. Weezer left me to go hang with Wanda. The kids are in school (yay!). The baby is sleeping (double yay!). I am waiting for the exterminator to arrive to rid our house of those ugly ginormous wood roaches! It rained forever here in H town and we were over run by those suckers. We even saw them trying to move their furniture in. Not gonna have it.
I am taking this very foreign and still moment to catch you all up. First Weezer made it into town on Saturday afternoon. She was immediately drawn into her grandmotherly duties and also surprised with a famous Carolina’s Potluck Gathering. My COF’s (circle of friends) arrived to welcome her, all with good eats and treats in tow. We think we amused her. We also celebrated the August birthdays and had a mini tribute to fellow Leo, Rick Springfield, whose birthday did not go unnoticed by his faithful female fans.
Weezer and I have also been making the rounds in Houston. Don’t worry, Kari. We have not hit any of the cool stores, yet, but it is nice to have another grown up to shop with and spend all of Gabe’s money with. Weezer has also been helping me keep the boys entertained and the baby rocked and cuddled. She is quite the diva. She has many arms and little helpers who want to be at her beck and call, so she is very spoiled.
Since Weezer’s arrival, I have mysteriously become the proud owner of a beautiful new coffee maker (like Kari’s) and Gabby now owns a pacifier she will take (well sometimes). She slept with it for almost 3.5 hours! I felt like I slept an entire night.
I am including a slide show of an assortment of picture taken recently. Many are of the kids and some of the big shin dig the subdivision held for the Olympian Gymnast, Jonathan Horton, outside his home when he arrived from China. Savannah also made her first Cupcake Cake solo, without mom. I also would like to thank my amigos for coming over to welcome my M-I-L. Keith, Frank, Linda, Jorge, Nadine, Shannon you are awesome!
BTW, don’t forget to scroll down and read the other recent posts by my hubby!
Well, MBM is gallivanting around town with Weezer. She’s slacking on our “Little” site so I felt the need to provide you with some much needed entertainment.
Nigeria, is as always, the same as when I left last time. Nothing much changes. We did see some real-live captured militants a week or so ago. That was interesting. The militants are the bad boys of Nigeria. The ones that have big-bad weapons and like to kidnap expats for fun. However, these militants were not very scary. They had recently attacked the Nigerian Navy not far from our offices. Of course the Navy opened up a can of whup-ass on the bad boys and captured 20 or so of them. They apparently stripped them down to their skivvies, blindfolded them, and threw them in the back of some Navy pick-ups. The pick-ups then drove by us in traffic. Word on the street is those fellers will never be seen again. Pretty freaky huh?
Oh, and a truck cut us off in traffic on the way to work the other day. Our guards didn’t take kindly to the act because they thought it could have been the bad boys trying to get us. They jumped out of the chase car, pulled the driver out of his big rig and proceeded to beat him senseless. It was not pretty. Guess here they beat first and ask questions later. We always think they (the guards) have their heads up their wahoos. Guess they really do pay attention.
As for the running, it hasn’t been happening this trip. It’s the rainy season and has rained EVERY SINGLE DAY that I’ve been here so far. Not necessarily during the day, but it usually starts around 5:30 or 6:00pm, right around the time I get home and want to go run. It bites. I haven’t started my quest for 100 consecutive push ups yet either. Guess I’m just lazy this trip.
So, that’s all the stories I have so far. What do you think about our new website banner with all of our little pictures? Cool huh? I also added the trip countdown timer on the right-hand side, updated Carolina’s Latest Gallery (bottom right in the sidebar), and updated my latest reading list (also bottom right in the sidebar). If you’re bored give it a gander for something interesting to read. Oh yea, don’t forget about Gabby’s Virtual Baby Book. You all have been pretty quiet over there lately.
It has been a long few days! So much going on here. Most of our energy has been spent on baby sitting and traveling to Wichita Falls to pick up James from his summer vacation. We are now a full house, minus Dad. This was Gabby’s first road trip. She did really well. We only added an extra 30 minutes to our trip’s normal time. She must love being on the open road, even if that road leads to Wichita Falls. True to her nature, Gabby loved being around new people and was very calm and slept very well. It was not until we got home that she erupted like Mount Vesuvius! I can hardly wait for her teen years, she says sarcastically.
The kids are trying to make the most of their last week of freedom and I am trying to keep up with the house, take the kids shopping and to their intended destinations, and answer Gabby’s non stop summoning. All this madness and it will not stop raining, which makes us feel a little cabin feverish.
Here is a slide show of all of us during the trip. We made it in for my grandma’s 77th birthday celebration with some of our family. Her birthday is the same day as mine. However, she is respectfully older so it was all about her! We also had time to visit with my friends,Linda and Angie, who finally got to see the baby!
Notice in the family pictures all the dark headed people. Gabby never had a chance Also notice how many times Gabby changed hands. She was quite the hit!
So, I finally caved in. With the help of my big sis, Omega, we gave Gabby a much needed DO. I will share the “after” pics later. My camera is out of battery, so I will have to wait a while before I can take a picture. Here is one for now.
Also notice how many times Gabby changed hands. She was quite the hit!
