Saturday, July 26, 2008

Train Station House

So... if you want to insert some excitement into a rather normal life, host international students during the summer. Then you will get all sorts of interesting timelines for an 18 hour segment of time such as:

  • going to work early so you can go to the airport on Thursday for an early arrival of Student C, pick her up, get her settled and make sure that she's doing ok
  • have a farewell dinner of waffles and Maple Syrup (something Canadian at least...) for the Student B who is leaving on Friday morning.
  • sleep on the living room floor in a sleeping bag as there is overlap of one night
  • help Student A who is leaving for Banff for a three day weekend... help map out the one-way streets for them with their first international driving adventure
  • drive up to the airport again (hello to all you parking people I haven't seen for fourteen hours) and drop off Student B
  • as you are walking Student B to the group dropoff wonder why you're doing this

BUT... then as you hug the student goodbye, she can't stop thanking you for it... and I realize that my heart has turned over a bit. Yes... that's why I host international students and because they give me some mad money to go visit my sister for Christmas.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Respectin' the Professionals

When the lovely naturopathic doctor tells you to take your herbal supplements with food first thing in the morning, she means it. If you try to outsmart her and take them on an empty stomach, you will pay the price. You will not only get acid reflux but it will move with a speed and force that freaks you out in rush hour traffic. You will be turning around and rushing home to get out of your brand new Jones NY suit and disinfect your car. You will then wear another suit to work and never, ever, ever take herbal supplements in a way that goes away from the directions. Trust me on this one!

Friday, July 11, 2008

Wild West

You know you're in a city where it is located in the Wild West when traffic gets stopped for a long time and you think that it must be a funeral procession. Nope, traffic is being held up for about 50 cowgirls riding their horses to the next event in the crazy partying 10 days of celebration. Police escort and everything!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

A little Adventure

So... summer means water fun, right? Sure does, especially when you have friends who have a boat. Third times the charm with water skiing, right? Not so much. I almost got up yesterday after trying about 15-20 times. Did I mention that....

  • I am very sore today?
  • I almost got up on the water?
  • The four year old gave me advice on how to keep my skiis together?
  • I can barely move today?
  • The eight year old told me that I was almost there?
  • Next time I'm totally getting up on it?

I think that I might be determined to not let that water to overcome me. In the meantime, I can barely move but at least I'll have a good story for the watercooler on Monday.