Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Handshake

Mitch's project is coming to an end here in Brasilia.  Many of you already know where his next assignment is going to be, what with all the carrying-on and whatnot around here. Anyway, he finally got his official cable (it's called a handshake in the Foreign Service), and I can't exactly say I'm "happy" to report that he is headed to....


Kabul, Afghanistan
 
Without us.  For one year.  The kids and I will remain in Brasilia.  Are we excited?  Nope. Of course, not. But if you know us at all, you know we weighed every option very carefully before we came to this decision.  I'm not going to go into the reasons, because they are only important to us, but I will ask this.  Please don't judge us (behind our backs is totally fine, just don't get all judgy to my face, yo). Please don't get all weepy-eyed at me, because I'm a cry-baby already and I don't need any added incentive to let the waterworks flow. Please don't say things to me like, "I would/could never let my husband leave me and my children for a year/go to a warzone!"  These are just a few examples of things I've already heard.

I don't want to finish this post on a downer, though, so here's a list of things we are looking forward to in the coming year:
  • Mitch will get to come home three times during the tour for three weeks each visit. 
  • Jack will get to graduate with his class and (hopefully) complete his IB Diploma.
  • Breakfast for dinner!
  • I won't have to read my Kindle under the covers. I will also claim the middle of the bed.
  • I hear you can get some pretty cool rugs in the Middle East
  • The girls are looking forward to getting Burka Barbies. Okay, no, they aren't. But I totally want one.
  • People will think we have big balls. Or are batshit crazy.  Either way.
  • I might finally learn how to check the air pressure in the car tires. Or, and this plan is just formulating now, I might stand at the embassy gas thingie with a sad, "my husband is in Afghanistan and I'm all alone" face and get someone else to do it for me out of pity. 
  • I will use what I'm sure is to be my new favorite excuse for getting out of things: "I'm sorry, I can't possibly come to your cat's birthday party.  You see, my husband is serving in Afghanistan." 
  • I get to keep my job. Unless I get fired for letting the eff word slip in my column.  But then, I'll be all, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to use the eff word. My husband is serving in Afghanistan."  You see how it works?
  • Mitch never had a sandbox as a kid.
Badum-bump.  Thank you, and I'll be here all year!

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Iguacu Falls

We just got back from spending a week at Iguacu Falls in Brazil, Argentina, and a tiny little bit of Paraguay. We had an amazing time, I got eaten alive, and we will never forget it. I'm way too lazy to write about it again, but I did write about it here if you want to hear about my Honey Baked Ham feet.  Here are a few of the 650 photos we snapped:
 
 
Banana splits poolside were an afternoon ritual. For the kids, that is. I enjoyed my calories in liquid form.

Jack and Henry working on putting me in an early grave.


Coatis-Ick.

I'm wearing a bun because like an idiot, I flat-ironed my hair that morning. Everything was covered in a fine mist from the falls the moment we stepped into the park. I looked like I had a 3 foot afro.





Jungle Tour


Getting ready to go under the falls in a boat.  Way fun!
The marker where Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay meet.

Caiman

Just a few of the many birds we saw.

Requitsite photo ops from the bird park




Jack trying to decide if he should get this stylish coat at a street fair.

Olivia. 90 degrees and extreme humidity, but alas, apparently she was feeling foxy.

Largest dam in the world!