Happy Birthday Mom

 I think the hardest part of living overseas is being away from family and friends- and since today is my mom's birthday- I'll talk specificaly about being away from her. Email, facebook, skype are all great and do keep us in contact but just aren't the same as being in the same room. Now I've been lucky to have family in the same county my whole life and I realised this when our kids were born. Having Mom there to take Wilder out for crepes, or french lessons, or both kids to gingerbread house shows has been great for the kids- and huge for Lisa and I as we ran around trying to work and silly things like that. But more than helping us out it was the times we could all just be together that I miss the most- so thanks mom- and happy birthday. We wish we could be there to have some cake with you! Here are some shots to look over before then.

So there are some shots of your little world travellers- Luca loves languages and Wilder is learning french- thanks to you- have a great birthday. think of you all the time

Questions that maybe I don't want to ask... or know the answer to

Some questions you know right away you shouldn't ask- or answer, like "what is in McDonald chicken Nuggets?" Or "Sir do you know why I pulled you over?" or even the "do these pants make my butt look big?"Even with that in mind I still had to go and ask one day- "why does that sweet orange mercedes truck come to our compound 1-2 times a week? Is it delivering something?" Well- I asked so here is the answer:

if nate richter lived here with me we would lift this ornament and wear it like flavor flav

not a car you want to be in an accident with.

ohhh- sewage water- they aren't delivering anything at all. But it gets you thinking, especially since Lisa and I like to head out in the desert to ride and run. This country is flat, gets about 1cm of rain a year, and well... sometimes smells like cat pee.
Now maybe that last one is my imagination but as both Lisa and I have been out cruising and see the orange trucks driving out into the wide empty expanse. Part of me is very nervous that I will someday come across a giant poo lagoon (especially troubling as I sometimes ride at night)- the other part of me thinks that they have to have a system to take care of it all...right?

Luca- don't ride thru the puddles- it's not rain!

Culturally they just do not drink recycled water over here- they do reclaim some of the water to use for agriculture but none of it goes into the drinking supply! All of the drinking water comes from huge desalination plants that take lots of energy to run (good thing they have a source on that one). The problem with desalination is that it pumps saltier/warmer water back in the gulf- there has to be a point of no return there somewhere(sorry marine wildlife). But there are sewage treatment centers- at least thats what google says- I just still get a bit sceptical seeing those trucks driving out of town- maybe they are going out to the "recycling center" but don't even get me started about recycling.

and as always we just do what we can- save water as best as possible, hand wash dishes, not wash the car that often,  shower with lisa, you know- same as at home.

Who knows- maybe this is an actual bedouin bidet?

It still kills me that this is a picture of our trash can AND recycle container.