Descriptive titles or clever musings?

Richard has "issue" with the title of the last post "Random thoughts." He gave his "approval" of my post, but thinks the title should be clever and more representative of the post as a whole. Look, I'm not trying to win any awards here with this blog. The main goal is to keep family and friends in the loop regarding what we're up to down here. I think the phrase "random thoughts" exemplifies exactly what all these ideas swimming around in my head, in between multiple interruptions chasing a little toddler, actually are. Random. 

So I'm putting the question out to you. If you have a better title for me, send me a note in the comments section of this blog. Let me know what YOU think.

Random thoughts

I realized that it's technically "fall" or "autumn". Fall...meaning indian summer nights, colorful leaves, crisp, clean air, time to pull out the sweaters, and all that encompasses fall. I don't feel it. 

What? This isn't just my summer vacation? You mean I live here? in Guyana? in South America? Oops.

We've been here for 4 months. Seemed like a normal summer. But I just keep thinking that all I wear are tank tops and shorts or capris, and how those tank tops are gonna get kind of worn out by next "summer". 

And Aidan...is he going to freeze when we go home? Guyanese put on a jacket sometimes if it's breezy, even if it's 75 degrees. They told me to put shoes on Aidan or his feet would get cold. No, I replied, not when it's 75 degrees. He'll be just fine. But I can't help thinking that being in this warm climate for 2 years will somehow change my perspective about what exactly feels "hot" and "cold".

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Aidan is hosting baby group this Friday. Okay, I'm doing all the work and he'll have all the fun. We go to a different Mom's house each week and I volunteered for this Friday. I'm creating some yummy treats. The 4th event at our house already! 

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Aidan was crawling today and I thought it looked strange. That's when I realized, or remembered, how incredibly fast things change when you have a little one. After only a week of consistent walking everywhere, crawling just didn't look right. If you can walk, why crawl? I love that he's walking. It makes things easier...he wants to walk instead of me picking him up. Of course, it also makes things more difficult, as he gets into even more trouble! 

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Did I tell you about the water frog on the wall that Aidan spotted first? And then the little lizard in the kitchen? I don't mind. I have yet to see a roach inside (don't worry, I'm knocking). So I'm good.

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When did 8 hours of sleep become what used to feel like 10? I was asleep by 9pm last night, and heard a cry a bit after 5am. I felt refreshed, anew....like I used to feel when I got 10 hours of sleep. Granted, that was usually only on weekends, but now I get 8 hours so rarely, that 8 hours of solid sleep felt so good. 

I could get 8 hours; Aidan sleeps through the night...but I'm a "night person". It's in my DNA. I have trouble confronting the fact that I actually SHOULD go to sleep around 9pm every night. Should, because I know that a little boy will wake me up anywhere between 5 and 6am the next morning. But that's "my" time. I can get things done or just have a few uninterrupted hours of freedom. Richard's good about going to bed, but I find it difficult. Especially since we just got cable...a few channels, including some movie channels. That's the culprit...I find movies that I can't remember being released, yet when I start watching, I'm hooked and can't tear myself away to go to bed at that magic hour. 

Besides cable, there's also reading. Getting into a really good book that you want to keep reading and can't possibly put down, even though you know the words will be there in print the next day, just waiting for you. I used to love when I would get so into a book that it would keep me up until 2am reading...knowing full well that I could sleep in. Maybe I'll get that again, oh, 10 years from now? Hmmm....

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And last, we're starting to plan some trips both in Guyana and to come home. I'm getting excited. Something to look forward to, seeing more of this country than Georgetown, seeing friends and family, going to fabulous restaurants, skiing!!!! Yeah!

BBQ Photos

Photos from our housewarming/birthday party for Richard last weekend taken by our good friend Barry:

BBQ Photos

Milestones

Walking! Yes, 15 steps and more!

Dancing...he holds on to something...coffee table, chair, daddy, mommy...and bends his knees with an up and down shake, sometimes with a head shake like a "No" (that's a Bulgarian "Yes"), depending on the guitar in the song. He also really responds to the piano in songs, and has even "danced" to a cell phone ring. What a cutie!

Lounging...see two of the photos....okay, only for a few seconds, but he kind of gets the idea.

Learning....he often understands my directions, such as "put it in the box"...except for "No" of course. He knows his body parts, including the nose (which he sometimes confuses with toes), belly-button, ears, hair, head, mouth, tongue, eyes (this one gets confused with ears), fingers....and the list goes on. He waves bye bye to his toys every night. He knows when it's time to read a book before bed. He takes people to the door when they are leaving. You say "Where's Mama" and he touches me, then "Where's Aidan" and he touches his head. Something new everyday.

Growing...I look at photos from when we arrived, just three months ago...bigger, stronger, better balance, on the move....

We're just waiting for those words. We've got "Bye", but as all Mamas do, I'm just waiting for "Ma ma". 

Calzone Saturdays

Richard couldn't wait for me to post this one.

"Calzone Saturday" happens every few months. A huge batch of dough is made (usually 3-4 batches). 2-3 different fillings are concocted, and then dough is shaped and stuffed to make 18-24 calzones which mostly go into the freezer for nights when cooking just isn't going to happen. At least 12 are the spinach and cheese variety. The spinach here is not quite the same - a little more bitter and earthy, and tougher. I wouldn't eat it in a salad, but it's good enough when it's cooked down. And it's name: Ka La Loo

One of the local food distributors actually sends a list to the Embassy with cheese products that arrived that day, and we are able to buy a bunch before they go to the local stores. We bought 4 containers of ricotta and about 5 Kraft shredded mozzarella cheeses. Not your best, but good enough for calzones (or better than none!). At home we would put sirene (Bulgarian feta) in the mix, but none of that here! So the cheese shipment meant it was time for our first Calzone Saturday in Guyana.

Richard's getting more efficient each time, but it usually takes 5-6 hours for the whole process (including allowing time for the dough to rise).

Some people think we're crazy. But if you actually divide the amount of time by the number that are made, it works out that each one only takes about 15-20 minutes - not bad for home cookin'.

Yummy yummy, good good, they are! And Aidan can now eat them also, which he does very enthusiastically!

However, Aidan's not getting the ones that Richard slips anchovies into - no way, no how - none for me either!

The Chef ... threatening, er ... encouraging his savory pastries to be tasty!

Before going into the oven ... see the one with the anchovie on top? Yuck..we had to come up with a way to mark them so I wouldn't be surprised! (Give it a rest, Diana, anchovies are simply divine!)

..and out of the oven..yummy, glorious, calzones ... just sprouting with cheesey goodness!!!