screamin eagles

Yellow is the first color of fall.

2011-10-05T12:44:00.001-07:00

Noticing

2011-10-04T15:46:00.000-07:00

2011-06-06T09:41:00.000-07:00

Evolution

2011-03-22T19:45:00.000-07:00

I suppose we are all continuously evolving. This is one way Todd evolves.

This is moments after we got engaged.

This is five years later. I wonder how much we have evolved.

We went to some hotsprings for our 5 year anniversary. There was a group of barely post-tween girls there. They were on a cheer squad and cheered a lot. I was happy to get in the showers away from them. Suddenly I was surrounded by two of them in the shower stalls on both sides of me. They were doing fake Brittish accents to fool us.

Fairly Dim One: "I am so happy we are on this trip to America!"
A Little Bit Smarter One: "Yeah!"
Fairly Dim One: "Yes, because we are not from America, we are from Brittish!"
A Little Bit Smarter One: "We are not from Brittish! We SPEAK Brittish!"
Fairly Dim One: "Yes, and I am so happy we are from Brittish. Americans are so stupid!"

Ah, yes. A comforting conclusion.

I wonder what they will evolve to....

Merry "Crisp"-mas.

2010-12-17T23:14:00.000-08:00

We love you one and all.

Part II: How's your aspen?

2010-11-17T08:02:00.001-08:00

Pine, thank you.

What the What? Part I

2010-11-10T08:14:00.000-08:00

= (naturally)

but =

What the What?

Todd Turned Thirty

2010-09-06T10:29:00.000-07:00

If you can't see it, try this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xusjHnaaFlI

a egg

2010-07-07T15:29:00.001-07:00

Not mine.

Nope, no. Not mine.

That mother clucker, did she say it was mine?

"Beats" me.

Fly with the angels now, Pierre.

2010-05-11T16:35:00.000-07:00

When I was little, I had a bird. She hung from a cage in the middle of my room. One night I thought I would leave my window open. It was winter. I was a really weird little girl and I remember thinking.."I will be remembered as The Girl Who Sleeps in the Winter With Her Window Open." I think I had just watched 'Dancing With Wolves' and was thinking of Wind in his Hair. In the morning I found my bird with her feathers puffed up in the corner of her cage. My sister Mandi put her on the heater to bring her back to life. It didn't work. Now I am remembered as the idiot sister who left the window open in the winter and killed our pet bird--of about 2 weeks.

This Christmas Aubri gave me a bird as a surprise for Christmas! Misti named him Pierre. He was a good little guy. He got sick about 10 days ago. We had been diligently nursing him to health. Keeping him under warm lights, feeding him with a dropper. I finally decided to take him to the vet. They gave him a shot of fluids. He looked real bad. They rushed him back to get him on "oxygen," then sadly walked out and said "he's gone."

So I invited over his best friends. We lit candles and wrapped him up and put him in a box.

Then we paraded out to the garden and dug a little grave while his favorite song was playing.

Brian said, "fly with the angels now, Pierre." And we put some flowers on his grave.

We will miss him. He was sweet.

Moab Pedicab

2010-03-22T20:43:00.001-07:00

Free Ride. Tips Only.

Mason Jennings Loves California

2010-03-19T17:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hab0WCLMe-U

some new things have occured

2010-01-24T19:06:00.000-08:00

First, this one is new! Mandi had her first baby girl. Brynley Eve.

Todd has started making homemade artisan bread, otherwise known as partisan bread. It is awesome. And very pretty.

This is the Harry Reid loaf. Seemingly light and palatable, yet laden with flax.

This is Tuk. (this is for you ty!) Our good friend Gilbert gave him to us for Christmas! We got a little bird from my sister too! But we haven't brought him down yet. One pet at a time.

And we are home! It is good to be back after our long trip.

hello big sur.

2010-01-13T14:48:00.000-08:00

"hello trailer todd." "hello trash-li."

2009-11-23T15:25:00.001-08:00

Sad to say it, but we will miss the closet. or at least the people outside of it. we've grown quite fond of all of them.

we are moving into a trailer. yes, that is fake brick with wood paneling underneath. and a cushioned counter and cushioned base boards. and soon chickens in the back yard. and there will soon be carpet on the porch. and there is a SPARE bedroom! we can't wait to have you come visit! i will make you breakfast if you make the best trailer trash joke.

okay fine, i'll post.

2009-11-05T11:22:00.000-08:00

just kidding. i know that no one really cares if i post or not. it's mostly for my own musings. but i have been thinking lately of the weird places i have lived since i moved out of my parents house. not the locations necessarily, but the actual living quarters. i lived in an unfinished cabin with annie for a while. it was about 6 weeks before we had water, a toilet, electricity. and it was on a gold dredge as part of the tour. another time i lived in a garage with sara. we fit some bunk beds in there. but i have been particularly been thinking about the places i have lived with todd in the last few years since we have been married. we've lived in both fun and annoying places. for instance: we've had 2 midget showers. but i will let the video illustrate.

i love that song. it reminds me of when me and todd first started dating. and i was wearing that double breasted corduroy jacket. and he was wearing that insulated levi jacket of his grandpa's.

At last he passed. And now this.

2009-09-25T13:01:00.000-07:00

Driven to Extraction*

2009-09-18T13:43:00.000-07:00

Well the buzz is, we did it. We got honey from V's Bees. (My mom's bee hive).
We both got stung. But honey, it was worth it.
Now we know more about bees. My dad stayed up with us all night extracting the honey.
This is me moments before I got chased by an angry bee. I naturally started running laps around the yard trying to out run it. Mikey was standing by laughing, until he breathed in the bee and it stung his tongue. He ran towards me screaming. I fell over laughing but got up to pull the stinger out.
Todd is turning out to bee quite the keeper.

Devil Doll widget by 6L & Daxii

my lip gloss is poppin'

2009-09-03T23:09:00.001-07:00

Whatcha know about me?? What, what cha know about me??

Wheel Funny

2009-06-30T16:52:00.000-07:00

Somebody has stolen my bike. Or maybe they borrowed it. Because if they knew how much this bike means to me, I am sure they will be returning it shortly.

I have heard of people getting their bikes stolen.

I found this bike in a garage in Logan. The owner of the house said I could have it. A couple weeks later we found a clone of it at a used bike store that was todd's size. Yes, by some magic todd and i had twinner schwinns. We pimped our rides. And now someone has stolen my bike. I am speechless, "spoke"-less.

Going around town with out that bike is like going around with my shirt off. Or leg off. It is awkward and sad. I went everywhere on that little guy, commuting, shopping, errand running, recreating. It makes me want to do this:

I would have rather they stole my car. I hope the proceeds are feeding a family of seven living in a dingy cellar. I can see no other reason why someone would take it. Maybe if we all work together and shop at a lot of pawn shops, we can find it. Like Elizabeth Smart. (I am not comparing the losses.)

If you buy a missionary a burrito...

2009-06-13T17:46:00.000-07:00

The other day we were at Carlo's Kitchen in Rose park when two missionaries came in. I was feeling bad for them because, well pretty much just because they are missionaries and have to wear the same clothes everyday, have to be with weird companions sometimes, always have to get up early... so I gave them a five dollar bill to buy a cookie. Assuming that is how they would spend it because that's what I would do. It was consequently the last of my cash.

The next day was crazy and I stopped at the "supermercado" to get something to eat. I was having a really bad day, and thought this would be the ticket. I had to walk thru one of those rotating metal things that they have at Lagoon for line management to get in the store. After a long and painful process of me trying in spanish to order tacos, then switching to a burrito I miraculously got my food and was so happy. I reached to pay, but remembered my check card had expired. Then I looked for some cash, but the missionaries had it. So I wrote out a check. The girl looked at me weird for a while. Then she got her manager. There was quite a few bystanders watching us carefully. They examined the check and me for a while and then said 'sorry' and reached over and took my burrito out of my hands. I turned to leave shamefully and then I remembered the missionaries...I was sure she would say, "oh just take the burrito!"... because she would be inspired. Then in real life she said, "Miss!" and I joyfully turned around to go back and get my burrito. But instead she just handed me my invalid check.

And then I got stuck in the rotating metal thing. I could feel the pitiful looks and sighs people were giving me. Then I sat in my car and had a short cry... and who should I see ride by on their bikes a small moment later? The missionaries.

So I guess that's how it turns out sometimes, but in a way we still came full circle.

2009-05-07T21:54:00.001-07:00

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

It takes a second to figure out why I posted this, but keep watching...

2009-05-04T21:54:00.000-07:00

Hello Humans

I believe I have become a bad blogger. This weekend is our fund raiser for utah federation for youth. There is a high chance it will be really ghetto.. but you are all invited.
$25 for dinner
$35 to be in the pool tournament. And you still get dinner.

It is on Saturday night. Don't worry, you don't have to come or anything. I just couldn't feel like a good employee if I didn't get the word out. But it is for a good cause... also if anyone has somthing they want to donate for the auction, just let me know!

mikey and trevis

2009-03-31T22:23:00.000-07:00

We went to the tree hugger's ball. It was great. There was a raffle. I had twelve quarters and bought 3 tickets. There was a particular prize i wanted so much. For some reason, the last two raffles I have been to, someone has given me their tickets when they had to leave early. I was standing on the stairs when a couple came by
and handed me a stack of tickets and wished me good luck. I could feel the good karma radiating from the tickets, and I knew they would produce me my particular prize. Just before the raffle, the thought came to me that I should share the tickets with the people with me. It seemed the right thing to do. To pass along the generosity and good energy. But the very power that seized Smeagle's heart came over me. My hands began to sweat and clutched the tickets with a choking greed. But I wouldn't be had. I wouldn't be the weak link that broke this chain of the goodness of mankind. So I split up the tickets among us, and kept my good faith that if it was meant to be, I would still go home with my prize. The raffle proceeded. I sat anxiously coming to terms with the idea of watching my prize walk away with another person who I had given the golden ticket to. I stared down at the fateful numbers as one by one they read them off. They read my numbers! I ran down, tripping to see what I won. Then sheepishly walked back trying to go unnoticed when the announcer told me i was mistaken. Then again. They read my numbers. I got up to claim my reward, but sat back. I I was too embarrassed to be wrong again. But then I saw it. The particular prize. He held it up. Read the numbers again. I leapt from my seat. Ran down the stairs. Then I walked away, rocking my particular prize with amazement in my arms. So I would like to take this time to thank the two ladies that gave me their raffle tickets without hesitation. I hope the universe circles the good karma back around to you and that I always find the courage to pass it along!

As for the pictures, my brothers have both found new talents! Trev as a photographer, and Mike a model! I am so darn proud! These were my favorites.

i have a few things to say

2009-03-08T23:48:00.000-07:00

but it's pretty late. and mostly i just keep getting so sick of the pictures on our blog that i want to update. there is only so much "watch dog" you can take.

i think everyone should know just a couple things, then i will blog what i really have to say later.
first of all we met a girl who saved a butterfly by giving it mouth to mouth. just visualize that. use it as your meditation mantra. "in, out. in out." and picture it flying away with all your troubles...

i took the kids from school skiing. it was a dream. i can't wait to get pictures.

the tree hugger ball is coming up for todd's work. it is on the 27th if anyone wants to go. if you come, i'll talk todd into keeping the chops.

Watch Dog

2009-02-24T09:58:00.000-08:00

Todd told me his co-worker is starting a watch dog for the police to keep an eye on their inappropriate use of violence. Which is funny, isn't that what the police are supposed to do? Would you call this a paradox, ironic, or a simple oxymoron? Remember the guy who got beat up by the police for not 'watching' his 'dogs'? It was all because he left his dogs in the car. We all better watch it these days.

(a watching dog)
(a "watch" dog)
There is a "watch dog" at the library. Or maybe a library police? If you have chocolate milk on the side of your desk, he will stand up from his desk which is right next to yours and yell at you. He will worn you that it will only take a small momentary dash to knock it on the floor and cause "everyone in the library ALOT of TROUBLE!" Believe me, he's "been there before!" And he will continue to warn you as he sits down. And for a while after that. But don't worry, it won't be that awkward. Because he carefully talks as loud as he can so other people will look.

We like to "watch" the "dogs" at the dog park. Some people are normal, most are not. The dogs are usually normal. I see uncomfortable, forced chats among dog owners. Todd saw an old couple put their dog into a stroller after it played.

Now let us not forget to:

("Watch") (DAWG!)

Could we ask for a better "watch dog"? Thank you bounty hunter!

i am so sick of those tree pictures

2009-01-30T14:52:00.000-08:00

well heck. we haven't blogged in so darn long. it's hard when you see people and you wonder what on earth they could possibly care about you blogging when they see you all the time. or see you enough. but i will just give you a few quick updates:

-todd started a new job. it is an americore position at a non profit called tree utah. it is cool. he is helping to plant trees, coordinate volunteers, and work at the U in an environmental class.

-Christmas was fun.

-We went to Hawaii. It was great. i don't have pictures yet, but when i do, i'll post some. So here is one from when we went last time. Todd mostly surfed. I tried but I got cold and wasn't very good. Todd wore his Obama shirt the whole time in order to provoke my uncles, cousins, brother, dad, and grandpa. it was a great success. and i skydived. so did some of my family like aubri, jared, and trev. it was neat.

-Everyone is having a birthday! Happy birthday Aubs, Ty, Jared, Alina, Star, Faith and baby EV!!

-I went with sar to a meditation this week, and i loved it! everyone should come. my favorite part was when we had sharing time and someone would say their name..like "i am will." and everyone would say..."will" "will"

-Today I was in an assembly at East High modeling African clothes with the African kids I work with. If you are wondering if that is normal, it is not.

yeah, i found those pictures. but i got them off of facebook, so they are tiny. o well.

disclaimer

2008-12-27T10:49:00.000-08:00

if your name has been deleted off the side of our list, don't be offended. todd deletes them at random to make a point. it's nothing personal.

2008-12-09T22:55:00.000-08:00

I thought I might amuse myself and compare last year's Christmas tree to this years. I suppose that you and I might have both imagined something a little more.... well something a little more this year considering that we are in the states. But lo, that was not in the cards for us, so here he is! A gentle little Cyprus. How fitting. But the happy thing about this one is that it is real, but we won't have to throw it away.

I have also been comparing last year to this one. Last year was, ironically, so much about things. I think that I felt so trapped and constricted in our 6 by 6 pink and red bedroom in our last host families house that I became fixated on things. When we finally moved out, I found a value in simple things that I had never felt before. I felt like I was buying our freedom and independence one fork, one pillow, one bag of flour at a time. Every time I went to town, I came back with new freedoms. A new broom, paint, pig tail buckets... their significance was astounding. (i am almost embarrassed that i used that word on the blog... but nothing else seemed to fit.) We then created the closest thing to a conventional life that we have ever had before, or since. We had a house, a yard, and even a dog and a cat. We had schedules..we went to bed early, got up early, cleaned and cooked almost every night. By the time we left Belize to come home for Christmas, we were practically the closest we have been to regular, functioning humans.

And now we are here. and this year Christmas is so much not about things for us. Things have lost their value to us. The way I see Christmas advertised is almost funny to me. Christmas shopping seems almost irrelevant and the kind of presents we want to give seem so different. We almost seem to be living even a little more simple now then we were last year, in our small apartment. So I think this fun little tree is a perfect symbol of Christmas to me, and i think todd too, this year. It is still 'alive' and still 'sweet' so to speak, but just a little different.

stumped

2008-11-07T10:14:00.000-08:00

I love trees. I guess you could say I am in ‘tree hugger’ so to speak. Not just in the “stop the bush national forest give away” way, but literally. I hug trees. When I was little I would get distracted from yard work because I was hugging the trees in the yard. I was worried if I skipped one, I would hurt its feelings. As I have previously posted on another blog, when I left Alaska I hugged the trees good bye and I could see my sad face reflecting in their sap.

For a little history, when I was growing up I named all the trees in our yard. I stood sadly by the stumps of Wilma and George the cherry trees when they were cut down and even longer by Tom’s, their son, when he followed. I remember talking to the twin tree-bushes who had some stupid rhyming names like Whinnie and Minnie or something. (Try to remember I was like 10.) And it was almost more than I could bear when my parents cut down Elmo, the over grown weed tree. I was the best advocate the line of Paradise Trees in our yard could have ever asked for, and even now if any of them have to be cut down, my dad puts his arm around me and lets me down gently saying, “now, there is a logical reason why this one has to go.” Still to this day when I go home I greet the maple trees in our front yard with a kiss. They are dear old friends to me. Some people have been frightened by my talking to plants and trees, others embrace it. But, none the less, my name means “of the ash tree meadow” after all. And I have always thought the boy from the “Giving Tree” was a spoiled brat.

So if you are wondering why I am telling you this, there really isn’t a reason. Except for that I found this wonderful narrative about a tree in the book, “Endgame” by Derrick Jensen. I love tree tales, i love the one in Aldo Leopold’s book. This one is similar, not near as good and a little less known, but I thought I’d share it.

“… I thought of a 500 year old oak I saw in New York City, on a slope overlooking the Hudson River. I thought of all that tree had experienced. As an acorn it fell in an ancient forest….It germinated in this diverse community, witnessed runs of fish up the Hudson so great they threatened to carry away the nets of those who would catch them, witnessed human communities living in these forests, the humans not depleting the forests, but rather enhancing them by their very presence, by what they gave back to their home. I witnessed the arrival of civilization, the building of a village, a town, a city, a metropolis….Along the way the tree said good-bye to the wood bison, the passenger pigeon, the Eskimo curlew, the great American chestnuts, the wolverines who paced the shores of the Hudson. It said good-bye (at least for now) to humans living traditional ways. It said good-bye to the neighboring trees, to the forest where its life began. It witnessed the laying down of billions of tons of concrete, the erection of rigid steel structures and brick buildings topped with razor wire.
Unfortunately, it did not live long enough to witness all of this come back down. The tree, I learned last year, is no more. It was cut down by a landowner worried that its branches would fall on his roof. Environmentalists—doing what we seem to do best—gathered to say prayers over its stump.”

Nothing “stumps” me more than why someone would cut down any tree for a slab of concrete. And I can’t wait to hear the ‘sappy’ puns in your comments.

2008-10-25T16:41:00.000-07:00

This last week I had a wonderful discovery. I was awoken by Todd listening to NPR in the kitchen. The topic was hot trends in times of economic woe. They were discussing everything from what people eat to their taste in music when haad tymes come around. But the part that drew me from my bed was the discussion on the changing trend in what was “hip” for women during these times. The woman was saying that when the economy plummets, girls start wearing their hair shorter and men are drawn more to women with small eyes and less curvy bodies. The idea is that they want someone who looks more grown up, serious, and “masculine” so to speak that will make them feel secure when money gets tight. They even went as far as to say that the playboy bunny becomes a bit more... “straight-ish”. So my friends, guess who just got hot?

You guessed it. I always knew my squinty eyes and 12 year old boy body would get me far someday! It was a long and painful wait, but todd you at last have the trophy wife you always wanted! So as far as I’m concerned, down with the economy!

2008-10-12T13:44:00.001-07:00

1. We have rejoined Peace Corps. Don't be alarmed. Not literally. but i have started a new job working with refugee kids mostly from Africa and the Middle East. i am running an after school program with them. it's fun because it is exactly what i was doing in belize. and todd is doing the same thing too...sitting at home looking for things to do. they are cute, they wear trational clothes but try to spice them up. for example they wear fancy mini skirts over the top of their long african skirts. everyday when i go to the highschools i think, "oh, it must be homecoming week and so everyone is dressed in costumes." but then i realize that is how they dress. everyday. the non-refugee kids i mean. i have also started working on call at the YWCA teen home and women's shelter. everyone says the women's shelter is haunted. it is a huge old building with wheelchairs and hidden stairways all over. last night i had to find someones little boy. he looks like chucky. i had to walk all over the building looking for him. i found him in a dark stair well with a large plastic play purse. i said, "hey your mom is looking for you." he said, "what is your name?"

2. the week of creed. jen and creed moved out of their house, then she went to germany with her kids. so creed has been staying with us. it's really been quite the pleasure. they have turned our house into a bike garage. it's great to have dirty roommates again. first night he peed out our front window because he didn't dare wake us up to go in the bathroom. the second night he took todd to play halo. and the third night he came home with wendys. so he's really upholding himself while his family is away. then we went on a bike trip loop in moab. we ended up getting rained out and found refuge under a pirate ship. luckily brian and alina found us.

3. bike fun. after trial and error and a parking ticket today, i can really say it pays to ride when you live in a city. and it always creats such wonderful moments of humility and happiness. this last week i got ridden upon while i was talking out loud to myself, i almost got jumped by two goth kids in chains and black when i said timely to todd, referring to a car, "i like the black!", i whistled at a kid thru is window so he didn't run me over, and i had a whole line of cars staring at me and waiting for me when at a stop light i went to pedal quickly thru, but my shoe came off and i was holding up on my toe as i skidding along.

2008-10-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

Just cash in your blanks for little toy tanks
Learn how to use them, then abuse them and choose them
Over conversations relationships are overrated
"I hated everyone" said the sun

And so I will cook all your books
You're too good looking and mistooken
You could watch it instead
From the comfort of your burning beds
...Or you can sleep through the static

Who needs sleep when we've got love?
Who needs keys when we've got clubs?
Who needs please when we've got guns?
Who needs peace when we've gone above
But beyond where we should have gone?
We went beyond where we should have gone

Stuck between channels my thoughts all quit
I thought about them too much, allowed them to touch
The feelings that rained down on the plains all dried and cracked
Waiting for things that never came

Shock and awful thing to make somebody think
That they have to choose pushing for peace supporting the troops
And either you're weak or you'll use brut force-feed the truth
The truth is we say not as we do

We say anytime, anywhere, just show your teeth and strike the fear
Of god wears camouflage, cries at night and drives a dodge
Pick up the beat and stop hogging the feast
That's no way to treat an enemy

Well mighty mighty appetite
We just eat 'em up and keep on driving
Freedom can be freezing take a picture from the pretty side
Mind your manners wave your banners
What a wonderful world that this angle can see

But who needs to see what we've done?
Who needs please when we've got guns?
Who needs keys when we've got clubs?
Who needs peace when we've gone above
But beyond where we should have gone?
Beyond where we should have gone
We went beyond where we should have gone
Beyond where we should have gone
--Jack Johnson

A Happy Medium

2008-09-28T13:07:00.000-07:00

Last Monday, September 22nd at 3:44pm was our fall equinox. This year I wanted to start the tradition of celebrating the fall and spring equinoxes and the summer and winter solstices. I wasn't able to have a party, so in celebration i want to share with you a few things i have learned about this amazing time of year.

During an equinox the sun is found right above the equator, spending it's time almost equally above and below the horizon all around the earth, giving us an almost equal time of day and night. A balance of light and dark.

The fall equinox has been recognized and celebrated all around the world and in many religions for thousands of years. Anciently the Mayans had triangles carved out of pyramids and on the equinox's light would shine through them casting their shapes in patterns on the staircase reminding them it is time to harvest. Christian religions celebrate with feasts, pagans perform rituals hoping to replenish the earth's natural cycles. In Japan this is the time of year to reflect on the meaning of life. For Buddhists it is a time of balance. In astrology it falls during the time when the earth moves into the sign of Libra which is symbolized by balancing scales. It is a time to celebrate the balance of the masculine and the feminine and to rebalance all the facets of our lives.

Fall has always been my favorite time of year. It has always been of time of new beginnings and reuniting with old friends. I have read that it is a time to reflect on the past year, to see the harvest of the seeds we have planted. It is a time to be grateful for the bounties of earth and for the beauty of nature. I found that at this time of year the energy of the earth lowers itself closer to the ground. It is time to ground ourselves like the leaves that are falling and find balance in our lives.

So in whatever way you choose to celebrate and reflect this autumn, i hope you have as much fun as these people are having in their celebration.

"Autumn is the eternal corrective. It is ripeness and color and a time of maturity;but it is also breadth, and depth, and distance. What man can stand with autumn on a hilltop and fail to see the span of his world and the meaning of the rolling hills that reach to the far horizon?"
- Hal Borland

26. a year of firsts. a marathon and a massage.

2008-09-23T14:45:00.000-07:00

Well, it happened. and we didn't die. which is what i thought might happen. it was my first and todd's third.
this is around mile 22. notice i am staggering in the background. we had some helpful encouragement at this point. thanks guys! todd's family and jez and sara kept us going. unfortunately my family couldn't make it. my mom was making crafts with my sister in tooele for super saturday. i was hoping they would have a hand painted "good job" at the finish line, but maybe next year.
jez titled this picture "pumping up the jam." that was all i could muster.
now this is fun. this picture and the one below it is a little contrast between todd's last marathon and this one. creepishly you can hardly tell todd is the same person. he has just changed so darn much.

and the theatrical finish. not todd's best marathon time, but i think the greatest accomplishment is that he somehow stayed with me the entire race. overall it was a great time. i was expecting it to be a little more dramatic, like more runner's trotting and what not. we had a few classic annoying people yelling out motivational one liners like "who owns this marathon?? the people in bed? no we do!" it reminded me of when i worked at wendy's and our manager would yell out while flipping hamburgers.. "Quality is my speed limit!" so. actually we were surprisingly happy the whole time. i kept thinking that at some point i would just wish it was over. that came around about mile 24, but for the most part there was no where else i could think of that i would rather be. i just wanted to experience every step of it. so for all of you who are considering one, if i can do it, so can you. and to all of you who were my inspiration, thanks! it was awesome!

Why Tri?

2008-09-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

Just todd looking out his office window. Another hard day of work. ( i bet that is a fun work joke that circulates around these kinds of jobs and just never gets old...)

a strange thing occurred on saturday. my little sister aubri was signed up to do a triathlon but found out she had a cross country meet the same day. so she called and asked if i would take her place. the night before i decided what the heck and decided to do it. i didn't want anyone to know who i was at the meet in case i was really bad. i drove sara's car, wore todd's helmet, and raced under the alias of aubri mcswain. if any of you ever decide to tri one, practice swimming.

infintiy miles per hour

2008-08-20T15:03:00.000-07:00

well, it has been a long while. maybe for the better. but i was thinking yesterday as i rode my bike what a different planet it was from a bikes view versus a cars. i really started riding a bike a lot my last year in college when i totaled my car (the spirit) on the way home from logan. that day stands out so vivid in my head... mare driving by in shock while i stood by the concrete wall on the high way, reaching out to touch the spirit one last time before it got towed but just missing it as they pulled it away, taking all the costumes out of the back at the dump yard(the elf ears, the mexican dress). and suddenly my college experience and my relationship with logan changed. todd lent me team fuji, a bike creed had given him. i rode that bike everywhere. i learned things about logan i had never noticed before. every hill and road had more meaning. the road in front of old main hill, the steep one down to the island, the distance between 2nd and 3rd dam, it all meant more. i planned around riding my bike, choosing stores and banks that were closer. i learned to carry snow cones and italian sodas while talking on the phone. it was great. one thing i learned was how much more personal the world is from a bikes view. i remember riding team fuj to school one cold day and seeing a cigarette still burning orange and smoking on the road. it was so personal and nostalgic. and now that we have pulled out the bikes again, salt lake city is becoming personal too. when i go down a street i notice the houses, the trees, the smell of the flowers and lavender bushes. i can spy on people in their houses and smell what they are having for dinner. i've found little nooks i would have just passed by in the car. but the best and most personal part is the people we pass. i can hear weird conversations in cars. i have awkward moments waiting at lights with other bikers. i hear them yell out when they think they might get hit by a car. i get flipped off. and when i do i can see the anger coming right out of their eyes. and the high light is that we saw a personal trainer and an awkward girl running with weights. i would have never gotten to see their faces that good from a car. so it is all quite fun.

on a different note, i would like to do a thing called "no more pun". i love puns as much as the next human, but there are a few out there that need to stop. these are puns that have lost the fun. the first one is: "wok and roll". fun when it first came out, but now... no more pun. too many asian cuisines have drained the goodness out of this once punny pun.

and i almost stepped on a rattlesnake.

oh, and as for the title, infinity miles per hour. maybe wild bri could model his t shirt on the ravens nest or something. just an idea.

arrested development

2008-07-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

yup. that pretty much sums up our progression. but here is a photographic gallery to summerize our point.

and finally. the final out come. all professional ready for work. can't be *misbe'shavin'!
Another fun thing is that i got to go to the unitas last week with todd! a strange man took this picture for us and emailed it to us after we gave him our email via a little hand held recorder.
basically i helped todd "erase the trace" all week. we hiked a lot of trails, cleared fire rings, and talked to boy scouts about Leave No Trace. This is the contraversal t shirt alina designed and gave to me that i wore as my ... dang it i can't remember the word. not costume, but as the thing i wore to work in. anyway, if you can think of the word let me know. i think it starts with a 'p'. but the main thing is, look close and see if you can figure out why it is contraversal. we will take a vote.

growing up can be hard....

2008-07-18T01:27:00.000-07:00

harder for others...
http://pixyland.org/peterpan/petersFashionPage.html
only a nielson could find this. thank you.

2008-07-02T13:21:00.000-07:00

it's hard to know what is blog worthy these days, but i think we will all agree that todd's beard has made the cuts. ever since i went short, he has gone long beyond what i have ever dreamed. it is to the point of double takes from men in stores. the picture hardly gives it justice, considering we haven't bought a camera yet and we are still using photo booth for all of our pictures.

other than the beard, we are just existing. todd started his job and has been gone a lot which is a mix up from our peace corps routine of pretty much being together 24 hours a day. he left again this morning and is doing his first wilderness expedition in the grandydaddy basin. up until now he has just been training in duchesne and roosevelt mostly. so on his days off we tried to think of some exciting thing to do, but considering gas prices, we just spent most of our time going on runs and riding our bikes. last night we went on a little ride with creed that ended up being a 20 mile adventure. it was a little longer than we expected, but it was fun. i am back on the fuji right now, which some of you might be happy about because the twin schwin is in the shop. but it feels good to be reunited, and gilbert i haven't forgotten about the pump i owe you on campus that you won at the raffle.

other than that we have been spending a lot of time with family and friends which is fun, and we love you all!

*miss silk grass

2008-06-13T16:20:00.000-07:00

i have to admit that i have been a little homesick for silk grass lately. but luckily this morning i was blessed with a little taste of my old home. i was awaken early this morning from a pleasant dream where i was being reunited with a long lost friend. outside my window i could hear this. (oh, now i am talking about what really happened, not my dream.) "GET OUT OF MY YARD!" "Brodie STOP. STOP IT! GET OVER HERE!" "What do you have?? A BALL!? my kids don't get balls! MY KIDS AREN'T ALLOWED TO HAVE THOSE!!" first of all. what the crap? and after i wrote it, i realized it sounds a little weird. but to be honest, i have to say that it gave me such a sense of peace to hear screaming outside my window in the early hours. so to that mom with weird restrictions, thank you. and to all the loud kids and crying babies in silk grass in a weird, but not creepy way, i miss you.

but i'm not crying. my eyes are just a little bit sweaty today.

*miss silk grass is supposed to be a pun. get it ? like the pageant, and i miss it. and i am sorry that i am explaining my joke.

thinking of you

2008-06-03T10:20:00.000-07:00

we would just like to say we are thinking of all our friends in belize, belizeans, pc, canadiens, and we are praying for the safety and health of everyone, please stay safe, keep in touch, and if you have any info on Silk Grass, pass it on please, as you can imagine we have no direct contact with silk grass right now. for those who dont know, southern belize, just got hit with a massive rainstorm/tropical storm that flooded all of the stann creek district, wiped out bridges, flooded homes, and whole communities. i dont know all the details, i just know it is pretty bad and they could use all the good feelings, vibes, prayers and thoughts heading their way.

pictures
http://www.nemo.org.bz/nemonews/news_releases/article_335.php

2008-05-30T00:51:00.000-07:00

are people really still driving hummers?

unequipped for human existence.?

2008-05-18T14:29:00.000-07:00

sometimes things feel right. then we think that means they will be easy. our last week has been somewhat like a root canal. and almost literally when i was getting 3 cavities filled in belize city. saying goodbye to belize, silk grass, and our friends was one of the hardest things we have ever done. we want you all to know that we love you with all of our hearts. our last night in silk grass was quite fitting. we cried with our neighbors, prayed in a circle holding hands with our branch members, hugged our chess kids goodbye, and sold/bartered every item in our house in less than 15 minutes to loud, dominating, kriol women. next thing we knew, our bed was being taken apart, our stove was getting loaded in a truck, and soon we were all alone in a blue empty house with our sad dog. so we cried for a while, cleaned the house, and slept together in one hammock and woke up about 4:30 the next morning and got ready to go. we had to leave ed. it was one of the saddest things ever. but for those of you who don't hate dogs, he has a new good home. some of our friends came and said goodbye to us at the airport and after a lot and a lot of tears we got on the plane. that's when we came to a strange realization. i guess some people just aren't born to be comfortable with regular. and somehow two people in this world like that found each other and sat on a plane laughing and crying about how it is to be unequipped for human existence. and it feels a little weird to feel so lost at home. but we are so happy to see our family and friends here-- we love you all so much too. so here's to peace corps. thanks to everyone who made it such an amazing, unforgettable, and hard to leave experience. and thanks to everyone here for welcoming us all back with so much love. oh heck, we just love you all.

mother load

2008-05-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

and yet another photo booth picture. our timing on not having a camera is always convenient. if todd looks less then pleased it is because i just forced him to take this picture, but it is for a good cause, it is to say... HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! to our amazing moms! we love you so much! even though we have been so far away, they have found ways to help us out and to show us their love. Thank you both for everything you do. Thank you for the letters, packages, henious phone calls, books, reading supplies, and mom the kids looked SO cute in their Silk Grass chess tshirts! we know we are not the easy kids to deal with... but thanks for putting up with us. WE LOVE YOU!

que en el mundo

2008-04-29T13:46:00.000-07:00

todd is cool

2008-04-26T13:24:00.000-07:00

after hours and hours of working and heniousness, todd got his website up! it isn't perfected yet, but it is very exciting! good job todd!
www.mayflowerbelize.org

(by the way, as i am posting this he is working on it and is really mad. never make a web page if you dont have too.)

o canada

2008-04-23T22:56:00.000-07:00

I finally got some pictures of mountain pine ridge to upload...
Last weekend our beloved Canadians (the Burgesses) took us to Five Sister Resort in Mountain Pine Ridge National Park. And what better way to thank them than to blog it. Five Sisters was amazing. The first time we saw it was in Jen and Creed's pictures when we found out we were coming to Belize, but we never thought we would have the chance to stay there! The beds were so comfortable we couldn't fall asleep. It was wonderful. and other than a few disputes on how to properly pronounce words like meal and process, we got along with the Canadians exceptionally well. Just kidding, we love them! We can't thank you guys enough for all that you have done for us since we have been here! WE LOVE YOU! Thanks again, it meant a great dill.

WELCOME HOME TREV!!!

2008-04-19T17:20:00.000-07:00

Today my brother is coming home from his mission. i am so excited, which is weird because i won't even be there to welcome him. which is kind of ironic because we were on our honeymoon in mexico when he left, and now here in belize. but i am SOO proud of him and i know he did an awesome job! WE LOVE YOU TREV! and can't wait to see you!!!
ash and todd

the snow ball

2008-04-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

every night todd and i used to go running down a dirt road just outside of silk grass, but lately he has been playing soccer every night with the boys in the village. i am too scared to run down the dirt road by myself, so i have started running laps around the futball field. last week i had an amazing classic skating snow ball experience while running laps. it started with cliver and boris saying that they liked to run, and started running with me. as we rounded the corner after the first lap, a line of 4 boys were waiting to join us. i started to feel awkward as i ran around the field with several small boys. as i neared to todd i was thinking of stopping to talk so that i could get out of it, but all the men on the sidelines of the soccer game (including todd) started yelling "faster faster!" so we kept going. as we ran around the third time, small children began running out of their houses yelling "miss ashli!" and soon i had about 15 kids running along side me. as we passed our house, they all yelled to ed. then dog gang started coming out. now i had about 15 kids and a dog gang running laps with me. when i passed todd he just gave me a weird look, and so we all just kept going. then a few bikers joined. now things were really getting weird. there were some close collisions and a couple close dog disputes, but over all the dogs and kids were so happy, that i just kept going. finally i was done running, and all the kids and dogs flooded in behind me into my yard. i didn't know how to rid them, so i just had everyone do a few stretches and sent them all home to drink lots of water. the only thing that could have made it better is if "kissed by a rose" was playing in the background.

rook on, chess gang

2008-04-09T10:48:00.000-07:00

Chess in Belize is getting 'royally' out of hand. we are trying to keep each other in 'check', but we are both so far 'pawn.' this last week we have been living and breathing chess. it has 'captured' our every moments. we started a chess club in january, and we had our first official tournament this week and went to a training for it last week. we couldn't even sleep. all 'knight' we dreamt of chess, and every time i woke up, visions of chess strategies would pop into my head. i had about 4 different games going through out the night. the tournament was a hit. our kids are between the ages of 9 and 11 and have names including: ivan, ivor, boris, cliver, henry, and cesar. every night about 14 kids come to our house and shout at our gate asking if they can practice chess. announcing the winners was heartbreaking and figuring them out was a nightmare. there is a reason why the nerds took over chess in the states. we can only take four kids to nationals in belmopan on may 3rd. they are all so cute, and we wish we could have taken them all. but congratulations to the winners: Henry, Jason, and the brothers Ivan and Ivor!

being humans

2008-03-30T16:05:00.000-07:00

After our exciting Guatemala trip and running around with Annie and then going to the park and having an office party this weekend, now we are back to regular existence. Which means that now we just are. Just being as usual. Which consists of regular things, that can look neat if taken the right way. so thanks to Cat who took these neat pictures of our regular being existence.
Guatemala was awesome. We were there for Easter and we stayed in Antigua for all the neat celebrations. It was so fun. They covered the roads in amazing colorful carpets made of sawdust, sand, vegetables and the like. Then the 'processions', which were parades of people in cloaks carrying large floats with depictions of Christ and his life would come and trample the carpets. The streets were filled with incense and by standers. Unfortunately our camera broke, and we haven't yet developed our disposable camera. And even then, we were too embarrassed by it to really get good pictures, but check out mica and john's blog (listed on the side) they got some good ones.

Then we went and got Annies. It was an Easter miracle that we even found her, due to our emaculate 15 leg plan including planes, boats, and cars. but we had so much fun and went around to some sweet places. When her pictures arrive, we will post about it. Thanks for coming annies!! we love you.
Then we had our sweet office party preceded by a trip to todd's park with some peace corps friends.
and so now we are here sitting in our regular humaness which feels kind of weird but will probably be good.

hoppy Easter, bunny little things

2008-03-24T13:33:00.000-07:00

Easter puns are always in plenty. which is both eggcelent and eggciting. always bunny and never out of quack. peep peep peeping around every corner. annie made it more fun by adding that todd was 'going to hell in an Easter basket.' yes, i said annie. annie is here with us and we are in Guatemala. Our Easter week has been neat. and we will tell you about it more when we are back and have pictures. until then,
Hoppy Easter

La Ruta WHY-a?

2008-03-16T13:26:00.000-07:00

So after all the talk about the infamous 170 mile canoe race from the beautiful border of Guatemala to the trashy coastline of Belize City, we finally have pictures to post.
(Marcel, Johnny, and Todd)
After months and months of vigorous training, meaning no training whatsoever, the brave 'Croation Haulers' (sponsored by coincidently the Croation Hall--thanks Johnny) embarked on their 4 day journey logically in a lake canoe. Hoping that size alone would make up for the speed of the other weightless racing canoes. They couldn't have been more prepared, except if they had paddled intertubes or carried 100 lbs of food instead of 50.Luckily they had a supaat kroo (kriol for support crew. we've been here for 9 months. and that is what we have to show for it.) The support crew-me, nicole, cat, ashley, alli, shirly, jackie, and matt, were supposed to go ahead, drop off supplies, and set up camp etc. As of the morning of the race, however, the support crew did not have a way to get to the campsites or the drop off points. But thanks to Alli's swooning, just as the 94 boats took off on the first morning of the race, we (the crew) climbed in to fancy, air conditioned SUV's of the British Military. After that moment, they pretty much took over, doing everything from feeding us dinner, giving up their chairs and patrolling our camp as we slept, while we ate their candy bars and cheered while they threw stuff into our teams canoe. It couldn't have worked out more beautifully!

The race started on a lovely foggy morning in Cayo ...

The mornings were always the best part of the day. Everyone would be freaking out running into each other waiting for the gun to shoot and at least 3 boats would flip with in the first 30 seconds. As the day went on, the space between boats would get longer and longer. The first boats getting in anywhere from 2-7 hours before the last boats.

Every night after paddling all day, we fed them lots of food and talked about why the crap they decided to do this. The nights were a lot of fun though. This is one of our more beautiful camps as you can see by the pile up of natural beauty in the background
And it ended in the scenic Belize City. A warm welcome.

And they actually did it. We still are not sure why, but someone had to represent for peace corps. After four days and about 28 hours of paddling total.

Happy 2nd anniversary

2008-03-11T13:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was our 2nd anniversary, and with all the commotion of hitching rides with the british military, standing in the rain, sleeping in the rain, floating on sticking water and catching buses, i never officially gave my wife anything. I love you honey, the past two years have been amazing, and i look forward to the rest,
and since we hear this song every waking second of our life here, way avoid it,
todd

RIVER RIDGE ROWAN RYDER

2008-02-26T08:38:00.000-08:00

just yesterday i posted the Blue Creek blog below, but i finally got this to load, so i couldn't help myself...

we love you guys!! THANK YOU!

2008-02-24T11:55:00.001-08:00

Last week we showed up unannounced to John and Micah's house, our peace corps friends in Punta Gorda. They kindly took us in, and then on Saturday they took us to the beautiful village of Blue Creek where Jeff and Shella live. It was awesome! After throwing objects at Shella's house to wake her up, she took us around. there were two highlights of the day.....

the second one, (sorry we are going backwards) was Blue Creek. The actually creek, that is. it was awesome there were swimming holes all the way up and then...

see that black hole in the back ground? that is a cave. that we went in. with headlamps. we swam up the cave about a half a mile where there was an 'indoor' so to speak, waterfall. we went without jeff, but he very Smeigally (lord of the rings, for those of you who can't follow my jokes, which is probably everyone but me) joined us by creeping behind and appearing on a rock at the waterfall.

and the first highlight, or should i say, hoglight of the day was when jeff told us that the pigs that are being raised by his school, are energizing the very plant that slaughters them and turns them into bacon by their own feices (dang it, i can't spell that). the ironic and cruel circle of life.

anyway, it was a good weekend. thanks guys.

and we could all use a little change

2008-02-14T12:19:00.000-08:00

well, i started finding myself so bored of our blog that i didn't even want to check our blog. so i can only imagine how everyone else was feeling. so anyway. i found myself bouncing down a dirt road long after dark in the middle of a jungle somewhere in central america and i started to feel weird. i hadn't heard from todd the whole day, i didn't know if he would be there to meet me when i got off. punta gorda seems like it is at the end of the world. "where the sidewalk ends" so to speak. and there is a long stretch of not much before you get there. the dust from the bus was making everything look foggy and creepy, by everything i mean lots of leafs and jungle and snakes. my face was almost pressed against the window trying to make something out when i heard a ghostly voice from behind me "friend, you going to punta gorda?" i wasn't sure about it so i leaned back toward my seat. again, "friend, you going to punta gorda?" "yes. are you?" "yes, i'm going to visit my grandmother." this was not the voice of a child, by the way. "oh" i said. "yes, and my cousin lives there, you probably know him" "i live in silk grass." "oh" he said. and then since we didn't have the cousin connection he said no more. i was a little worried he might move up by me, but luckily at the next stop another little guy sat by me. the lights came on briefly whenever we stopped, and whenever they did i would desperately read my book so i had something to think about when it got really dark again. suddenly i noticed the guy next to me leaning forward and toward me. his little eyes reading right along with me. and when the light turned off, he let out an audible gasp of sorrow. and we still had not spoken. this kept happening when ever the lights came on, and finally right before we got to punta gorda, he offered me a flash light, so i gave him a cookie.

and it's valentines day! happy one to everyone, and i love you todd!

To momma Janine and momma lavonda

2008-02-11T10:57:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FAITH!

2008-02-05T09:45:00.000-08:00

we have had a lot of birthdays lately... Aubri, Jared, and Star on the 29th, Ty on the 24th, Alina on the 31st, and a new baby EVERET! on the first, and both of our mom's coming up soon! we tried to get emails and what not out to everyone, but there is one little human we couldn't get a hold of so... happy late faithy! love you!

Lagoon vs. Silk Grass

2008-02-01T10:52:00.000-08:00

There are so many alarming similarities between Lagoon and Silk Grass:

1) Loud Annoying Music. All the time. The same heinous songs over and over. All day. All thru the night.
2) Constant shouting and fireworks.
3) Red Neck.
4) Sun burnt tourists. However, unlike at Lagoon, they don’t stick around.
5) Cat calls.
6) Premature parents.
7) Fights and arrests.
8) The F word. Shouted out at any moment. For any reason. Good or bad.
9) Living here is like staying in a tent at the campground. You can hear music, machinery, animals, and screaming constantly…right in your house. Never a peaceful moment of silence.
10) Mistreated animals. (Like the poor goats under the roller coaster.)
11) Unsupervised kids running around aimlessly.
12) Tube tops and halter-tops in abundance.
13) Corn on the Cob
14) People standing in line trying catch rides.
15) The Screamer
16) Men in net tanks
17) Pools of Toxic water
18) Creepy Men
19) People butting in line
20) AND FRIGHTMARES! every night! (forgive me for that one)

For some reason this video also reminded me of lagoon. something you would see there or something. it keeps going up and down because i didn't want him to see that i was recording him. so.

we live in belize?

2008-01-25T10:45:00.000-08:00

The other day as me and Todd rode home on our bikes from Hopkins on the Southern Highway,*racing against the sun, as that movie so justly titled it, we had a strange realization…. we had been hanging out all day with people that we knew. People we know here in Belize. We were thinking how strange it is that we actually have a legitimate life here and we KNOW people. We started out stopping at the bar off the highway as you drive thru silk grass to talk to Todd’s coworkers. At the bar we ran into a retired doctor that we know, Rich, that lives in Hopkins and he took our packs for us in his truck so we didn’t have to ride with them. As soon as we pulled into Hopkins we ran into our Peace Corps friend Christine who was sitting down to lunch. Then we rode passed Rich’s place and got our bags. Then we went to our Mormon Canadian friends resort house to do our laundry. We sat and talked to them for a while and then went and found our peace corps friends in town and had dinner. We ordered pizza from Hopkins Beach Club and when we picked it up it was Denroy who was working and who now knows us personally and asked us how we were doing. All the while as we rode our bikes and hung out in town we were waving at people whose shops we have stopped in or who have given us rides when we were hitch hiking. On our way out on the dirt road out of Hopkins, the driver of the Hopkins Bay van honked and waved. It was our friend Ernesto who we met hitch hiking and now several times since and who we now hang out with on occasion with the Canadians. Then the driver of the bus honked because he is from silk grass and we are usually on his 5 o clock bus leaving Dangriga. I guess what it comes down to is that all along we were expecting to live here, but we weren’t really expecting to have LIVES here. Suddenly it’s like we really live here. Weird.
*Racing against the Sun or whatever it is called, is a feature family film. anyone remember it?

2008-01-19T13:27:00.000-08:00

okay, so here is another random video. our camera is currently broken. but this is todd's host family is maskall that we love.

there are a few weird things going on. a boy walked past our house the other day and said "i see that your dog has increased in size. he is beautiful now." the elections are coming up soon too. last night they had a rally in silk grass. it is kind of like 8th grade elections. "where are my girls at!!" that was really said, and all the ladies screamed. the whole thing was blasting into our house last night and occasionally we turned down the ipod to listen. it was henious. todd even got out the binoculars when our drunk neighbor started talking.

i officially started the reading program and i want to thank the boys RIVER RIDGE ROWAN and RYDER (and alina, miranda, and mama janine) for the school supplies! the kids are already using a lot of them, and they have helped so much! the word is getting out and kids are even coming over to our house for crayons! so THANK YOU JOBS FOR JESUS BOYS!! you have helped the kids so much! i will post some pictures soon!

todd shaved his head.

2008-01-14T10:03:00.000-08:00

i'm testing out how to upload videos... but this was our Christmas tree hunt that we modeled after the wild murdocks

no we're not crying

2008-01-05T12:03:00.000-08:00

we aren't crying.
oh it's raining today.
on our face.

it's raining.

but we're not crying. we are just cutting up an onion for lasagna. for only 2. not 50 family members.

and if we are crying, its just because we are thinking about being in belize city and not in utah.

but we're not crying. we are going to be okay, it's just that our eyes are a little bit sweaty today.

inflamation of the tear glands.

we're not crying.

(please see youtube: flight of the conchords rain)

oh. Christmas tree. ?.

2007-12-18T11:22:00.000-08:00

okay, so we took the dog and the machete, and this is what we found.

no, it's not a branch. that's actually the whole tree.

and the final product.

MERRY CHRISTMAS BELIZE.

i hope the video works. if it does i will add it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2007-12-06T08:51:00.000-08:00

Not to "ruin" anyone's Christmas...but we are struggling to find the resourses to send Christmas cards... so

SEASONS GREETINGS!!

Merry Christmas Everyone! Hope your season is warm and bright...may the spirit of this Christmas season warm the hearts of you and your loved ones and bring peace and joy into your homes. (that was for you, reno)

Love,
The Murdocks

soon it will be Christmas day...

2007-11-25T13:37:00.000-08:00

well, we went to Belize city for thanksgiving. for some reason, and to my utter surprise, i was filled with joy to be there. i never thought i would get such a high from belize city. i was bouncing down the dirty streets smiling at people and almost cried with joy in brodies (the big grocery store) because they were playing Christmas music and had otis spunkmyer muffins and cookies. i was wishing that everyone could be there with me seeing the things i was seeing, which is why i didn't post a picture this time... i want to paint you one...so to speak: a pile of wheelchairs and broken mattresses in front of a retirement home, a man in a wife beater pacing and talking to him self, a man with a cast on his arm that was oozing with blood, a brown polluted river that looks like the toxic mote around the swings and the tital wave at lagoon, a man who stopped us to tell us the history of the myans for money and said the phrase "bull shhh.....ut your mouth little boy!", long wierd toenails, dreds, tourists getting thier hair braided (which if you come here, that's not okay..), a lot of t-shirts that say things like "my boyfriends cuter than yours", "no you didn't", "Sexy Diva", and for some reason, totally out of the norm was a miniture department store with a blow up snow storm ball on the front lawn. so welcome to belize city.

a quick tour

2007-11-17T14:59:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6ObWbjBoiY
well, so not much different from the pictures. but maybe that will give a better idea of the set up. one great thing about living in belize is that people bring things to sale to you right to your door..tortillas, icecream, water, or you can just send kids on errands. it's cool. something less cool is that someone didn't pay past dues on the electricity so we haven't had any for a while. but it's been kind of nice in someways. and the water goes out every night. and we have fleas. and mice on the counters. and big flying beatles that are creepy. and the cat we got for the rat got caught in the rat trap and was stuck to the floor in sticky rat trap crap. other than that the house is great.

o sar.

2007-11-12T11:46:00.000-08:00

well, right now i am laughing really hard, because i meant to put on the next picture, but i accidently uploaded this one. however, i think i will leave it just for a short while, for the lucky and diligent viewers.

there, that's better...kind of.

we are so happy you came sar. and so sad you have left. we can feel your absence in the house you helped turn into a home, especially with the creepy rabbit picture...but on a happy note your dad was right...we are SOOOOO excited to have our space back. j/k oh. you know i'm just having a little fun with you! LOVE YOU!
ash and todd
PS. i hardly ever do more then one blog at once, but if you keep scrolling you will find our house pictures....

Parade of Homes Belize 2007 Winner

2007-11-12T11:00:00.000-08:00

Here it is, straight out of scenic silk grass. Going for $200 bz, $100 us per month, OBO.

The spacious living room. Sleeps up to 4: 2 hammocks and a futon.

Here is the modern laundry room. Not built without a price. We had to search all over Dangriga for those buckets, and then wash out all the pig tail grease. But as the saying goes 'it will all come out in the wash'.

The furnished bedroom with a romantic bug net mostly for looks, except for to keep out the bugs and rats.

thumbs up

2007-11-03T14:41:00.000-07:00

SAR's HERE!! in case you didn't recognize her in that scary mask! we went down to punta gorda and picked her up! there was a big peace corps gathering there last weekend. YEAH!! (eric, you made the blog!)

so hitch hiking has become our main source of income savings. yesterday alone we saved $32 dollars between the 3 of us, and this was our best ride.

so this is it. i know what you are thinking. "but it cleans up real nice" we will post more pictures of the inside... we love it. it's so white trash/carribean. we burn our trash out back. who would have thought.

we went to the zoo! it was a hit. all the animals are native to belize and none of them have been taken out of the wild. these two pictured were the wildest animals in the whole place. blog ha ha!!

so we got a couple new additions besides sar. we heard that cats keep out rats...so here he is. rueben.

and here is ed. no todd is not a dog person. so ed wandered to our house last week looking starved and sickly. we didn't intend to get a dog, but he just sort of came to us. we gave him a bath and dewormed him and just as we were taking a liking to him and wanting to keep him forever, a small boy knocked on our door and took him right out of my lap while i swung on the hammock. so now we are in the process of buying ed back. oh ed.

last but not least...brian! thanks so much for coming down to visit! it was a pleasure!
and check sar's blog....www.saragilmore.blogspot.com
ps sorry some of the pictures are sideways. i can't flip them on this computer, and i didn't realize it til after the post. o well.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

2007-10-31T10:56:00.000-07:00

real quick... and maybe boring but..

2007-10-19T13:56:00.000-07:00

there has been a few questions about what exactly we are doing... besides weird things... so i thought i would give everyone a quick little update...

Todd spends most of his days up at the park. Lately they have been smoking out the bats that live in the roof. they are working on getting the park ready for tourist season--which means mainly clearing trails and cutting the lawn. we are also working on a petition for the park so that loggers can't use the main road. i go up there with him about 2 times a week. he is also trying to get groups together to sell things at the park and marketing.

i have been working at schools mostly. i have 4 different schools i work with and right now i have 6 classes that i am teaching. i'm doing a program called jr. achievement and i'm working on starting some new clubs and i want to start teaching reading and english.

in between our projects we try to work on other things that are going on. last week we helped paint the school in silk grass, and we also got to go with some other volunteers to do a health project. we went to a school and helped check all the kids. we gave them deworming pills...which we should have given to todd... and measured them, weighed them, checked thier eyes...stuff like that. it was really cool.

so we met some friends down on the beach. they are always doing something interesting. todd always gets in on it, and drags me in somehow too. we thought mikey would like to make a sweet flip video with these guys!

and here is todd catching crabs with them!
so there it is. we love you and miss you!
ashli and todd

WE HAVE AN ANOUNCEMENT!!!

2007-10-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

We dont know if this is the best way to tell you, but one of us has been eating for two!!!! We have only known for a couple of weeks!

NO Ashli is not pregnant, last week I (todd) found a strange little sore on my inner thigh, and early sunday morning I birthed a beautiful, not so healthy 1/2 inch baby worm, it was dead. yeah freaking nasty, i had been itching it for about a week and i had a thought that it might be the botfly, that puts an egg in you, but i thought thats only something you hear about on the internet, but it wouldn't go away, so i tried the local rememdy of suffocating the worm, everyone says that you need to cover the hole, and that is how they breath, So i still didn't think i had the botfly, but i put lotion on it to cover the hole anyway, and nothing happend, so i put some more on, put a strip of duct tape over the wound and went to bed. the next morning a woke up, stripped the tape off and nothing, so i tried to pop it again, annnd wallllah, the worm, sorry no pictures, true story
todd ash

why i joined the peace corps

2007-10-13T14:51:00.000-07:00

things are going to get weird now, aren't they?

2007-09-30T14:40:00.000-07:00

one morning i woke up and put my shoes on and there was a toad in my shoe. i wondered... 'what could this mean? what sort of omen is this, or is it?' then after that things got wierder.

the moon got strange...

and then, while we were on a hike last week todd was clearing the trail with a machete and cut a vine snake right in half thinking it was a vine. it was hanging right above his head, and the bloody tail swung down into his face to his alarm. the sad snake slowly looked at his wound and fell off the branch. it was very sad. enlarge the picture for a better view.

and some other wierd stuff happened... but i wondered if all the 'roots' were branching out from the toad in my shoe.

Mr. Poots, the Titman

2007-09-19T12:38:00.000-07:00

i have named this blog after a cement plant box outside of the dangriga garifuna museum. on the huge cement plant boxes outside of the building they are thanking donars, and apparently this is one of them. if ANYONE has ANY information on who Mr. Poots the Titman is, please, please comment immediately. i'll post a picture if i get one.

this is in hopkins. the little village to the south of ours. pay close attention to the writing on the wall...

the prize goes to the person who can think of the best watermelon pun. the only one i could come up with was...i can't decide which melon is more full of crap...help me.

OUR ROOMMATES!!!!!!!!!! here they are! little dillan, brian, and jazzy jr. RASHIDA! first week of school!

well, i had a very "beachy" birthday! thanks to everyone for the wishes! i missed you all dearly!

At last! We as "great americans" finally have the warm blessing of the presidency. This is at swearing in. They only sent their sincerest best and their regrets that they couldn't be there in person.

Well, i thought i would take a brief moment to fill everyone in on a few facts and fun of our new home. first off things are beginning to roll. todd is working hard as ever at the park, and i have started working at the schools. all the kids wear uniforms and they are so cute! there isn't really any separation of church and school which is fun and amusing. one of my schools is named the "Holy Ghost Primary School" and is right on the beach. in the morning they draw pictures of the beautiful things God has created for them. i'm working in 4 schools. one in our village and 3 in dangriga town. dangriga is the kind of town that you don't want to walk around eating an icecream cone, because you are afraid of what might get in it. but we like it.

SHOPPING: most of the clothes that you can buy in dangriga look like the 'bedazzler' gone wrong. not that the bedazzler was ever okay, but you know what i mean. i needed a new pair of jeans and couldn't find any in town, so the whole neighborhood colaborated b/c i "just couldn't go to the pageant dressed like that." i picked the most conservative of the 3 pairs they collected for me and still ended up looking like Shakira.."oh baby when you talk like that..."

EATING OUT: pretty much anything that you can get at anyone's house in all of belize is what most restaurants sell. Rice and beans. so if people want to go out, it's not because they are sick of what they eat, but simply sick of making it. we have found an awesome pizza place in hopkins that we limit to once a week.

well, i have more, but i'm already embarrassed by how long this is. but just one last thing... the joke's on who??? after reading the comments from the last blog, i am beginning to wonder who's laughing. could we take a tally of those who thought i actually was in a beauty contest??

haad tymz.

2007-09-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

well, this is me and mr. peck. i was trying my hand at the machete. mr. peck was teaching me the trick of the trade... always cut out. we have become his young, moldable apprentices.

well, i did it!! due to a number of requests on the blog i entered a beauty contest! miss belizean dream! this is swim wear!! actually this is at our beach party after swearing in as volunteers. everyone thought it would be real funny to see me in high heels. sorry everyone, but i couldn't bring myself to wear a swimsuit.

well, we decided to make the bike trek to cockscom jaguar preserve. it ended up being quite the ordeal. we rode our bikes about a total of almost 30 miles, 12 of which were on a rocky, hilly dirt road with snakes and stuff on it on our beach cruisers. we ended up having to throw our bikes into the back of someones truck at about 10:30 that night. but it was fun. Todd wouldn't stop on his bike for anything, except for the sound of a bird. so this is nerd picture of the year. he saw a hawk.

and here is the beautiful jaguar preserve. all to ourselves. we will have a rude awakening when tourist season begins.

our first boa encounter. it's weird to live in a place where you can say... 'i think i will sit here until i see a snake,' or 'i think i will look over this ledge until i see a crocadile' and then it really happens

another pictureless blog..

2007-09-06T14:25:00.000-07:00

sorry everyone. once again i can't put pictures on at the moment, but i will work on it...but as alina so eloquently put "real bloggers don't need pictures..only many many many words to paint pictures.."or something like that.

well things have been wild and crazy around here. in the past 2 weeks we have consolidated twice with all of peace corps for hurricanes. but all is well. it has been flooding like crazy. roads and shops have been flowing like rivers, but the great thing is, is that a little flooding doesn't stop anyone around here. they will just keep on shopping in 2 feet of water and continue to sit and watch people go by on table tops while the water runs beneath them. the flood has also brought out some great road kill. there are frogs, crabs, and turtles lying about all dried out like worms all over the place.

so between hitch hiking and going to todd's park we have also found some GREAT entertainment. apparently, beauty pageants are a BIG hit here. they are all over the place almost every weekend. however, unlike at home, they don't bother to disguise the fact that it's a "beauty" pageant with words like 'scholarship'. they are just blatant about it. the one we went to was called, "miss bamboo." there were a whopping 4 contestents. it was everything we hoped it wouldn't be. and in the middle of this uplifting family event there was a beer drinking contest. classy. it was great.

we are slowly getting into our jobs, which is about as fast as it can go here. at the park they pretty much just boss todd around and he spends most of his time there clearing trails with is machete. everytime he suggests something, mr. ramon just says, "that's right, that's right." and goes on whistling and ignores him and does what he wants. i'm trying to bring a "woman's touch" to the visitor center. just kidding. actually i just sweep it out and reorganize it and stuff. so are the lives we lead.. oh and we got beach cruisers! so we are trying to feel more normal by riding bikes around and making cookies whenever possible. we miss you all! hope you are doing great! keep posting and don't let life "blog" you down! just kidding.

2007-08-27T12:30:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone... just real quick i wanted to send you our address and our most reachable current phone number:

Silk Grass Village
Stann Creek District
Belize, Central America

011-501-669-2929 or you can try our unreliable cell phone: 011-501-669-8059. Hope you are all doing well! We miss you all! oh, and i'm being kicked off my email, so from now on you can send emails to todds:
toadmckay@yahoo.com.

AND WE OFFICIALLY SWORE IN AS VOLUNTEERS!! at the U.S. embassy. We'll post pictures soon. LOVE YOU ALL!
Ashli ..and Todd

Butte called...

2007-08-22T17:59:00.000-07:00

So it's been a while. We have officially gone to our new site. Perhaps the title will give you an idea of what it's like. You never know what your past expierences will be leading up to..But just like Butte, it is right in the middle of a lot of sweet places. We have been in Belmopan for the past few days. We had to do a hurricane lock down of sorts, but all is well. If you youtube peace corps, you will see what it was like being stuck in a hotel with 64 volunteers. And so with that, here are some picture updates...

Well, here it is. Todd's "office" for the next 2 years. Well that was really bad humor, but you know what I'm saying.

This one is a little out of order... but we were part of a youth rally in Orange Walk. It was quite the event. Todd blended right in.

This is the road on the way to the Mayflower National Park just a coulple of miles outside our village.

And here is proof...Todd and the infamous Mr. Peck himself. Just quite literally cutting out todd's work for the next while with his machete.

This is a waterfall inside the park...

We got to go on this awesome boatride up a river to some Mayan Ruins. There is a huge lagoon when you get there. On the way up the river todd saw a fellow volunteer pop up out of the water holding a rack of fish he had just speared. Small world i guess.

The weekend before we went to our site we stayed in San Ingasio. It was awesome and we visited a meninite town while we were there. You have to cross a river on a ferry to get there.. so todd took the initive and asked if he could take over the manpowered crank and get it across. unfortunately, his arm wasn't as beefy as the workers and he is still recovering. There are only 2 guys that work there and they both do 12 hour shifts everyday... so you can imagine.

We went up to Pine Ridge while we were there and went to a cave and swam in the waterfalls. it was sweet.

Last but not least... My friend Ang was in town!(like it's normal..) and to illustrate what a small country belize is... first i met up with her in Belmopan--on purpose in the middle of country. Then we randomly ran into her a week later in Orange walk which is in the north part of the country. Then the very next day she yelled to us out the window of a bus in Cayo on her way to Guatamala located clear over on the west part of the country. So it goes. It was great.

Silk Grass Here we come

2007-08-04T13:52:00.000-07:00

Today we just got our site assignment, we are headed to a village called Silk Grass, it is just outside of Dangriga, the district town of Stann Creek, it is just off the southern highway, right in the middle of the country. I will be working with Mayflower Bociwina National Park, and ash will be working with Junior Achievements, which is a youth program working on computer, business and pretty everything a youth program would do. Im not exactly sure what i will be doing, probably just working with the park in every aspect from marketing, signs, bring people in, working with the nonprofit that supports the the park and everything i can imagine, we are really excited, to see the site and meet the people there. It is right on the edge of the maya mtns and it should be pretty nice area, we are also rather close to the jaguar preserve, it is a town of about 1000 people with about 60% mestizo, 20% and garifuna and mayan. So it should be interesting, also ash wants everyones home address, so if you could post your addresses on the comment section, we love you all, we will post pictures when we can
todd ash

You've got a birthday... shout hurray...

2007-07-31T10:58:00.000-07:00

So since i couldn't go get todd a regular old birthday present, i had to resort to this. which i'm sure he will be happily humilated by, since he loves making a big deal out of his birthday...so HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODD! i thuoght this picture fitting since he spends about 97% of his time in a hammock except when in class, he pretty much finds any place possible to put it up. under the boating dock, in my room.. and because you can see my face in the reflection of his glasses....okay.

i couldn't resist....

just the youth group.

so i got my hair done in corn rolls, corn rows? i don't know. todd's host sister michelle did it. it was a little bit not okay, but it was awesome when i took it out.

just a typical night at todd's house. they love uno. the house is pretty much run by girls. you are looking at daughters, granddaughters, and great granddaughters of miss nora.

And these are my host parents, oscar and katrine (newly weds). yesterday oscar rode up behind me on his bike and told me he had a surprise for me. i was expecting a mango, but yelped when i turned around and found a 6 foot crocadile hanging off his shoulder with it's mouth and legs tied. then they had some fun with it in the yard with a rope leash. it's normal.

Todd's host family... Tamara, Tafara, Miss Nora, and John. Just three of the seventeen kids could make it for the picture unfortunately. and i might add, only changing one letter in a name for the next kid is a normality here. i.e. brea, brena, brenan. latifa, talifa, matifa, and so on.

we went swimming with todd's host family. the water was creepily warm...

and just one more little side note... the menonites. i'm totally facinated. they came here from germany and by some fluke of nature they all of the same genes as tall and skinny. with beards. and suspenders. and when i came home from class one day there was a mirror up on the dresser which the menonites had made, b/c they make all wood things here. and when i asked about it my host parents said "oh yeah, the menonites dropped it off in there big truck that they drive thru here every week full of stuff people have ordered like dressers and doors. and then they take orders for the next week." and i said "ok. that's a completely regular answer." and so it is, in belize.

well we miss you and love you! and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODD!

a lotta pikchas.

2007-07-23T17:28:00.000-07:00

hey everyone... here's just a whole bunch of random pictures. thanks for all the sweet comments. we love you all and miss you.

yep. that's todd on keye calker...

don't they though... i found this in a thrift shop in belize city.

a few neighborhood kids

just hacky sackin at the ruins...

okay, so it's taking way to long to upload... so i'll put the rest on later....

wadda gowan?

2007-07-14T14:49:00.000-07:00

well, the first week of training is officially over. somehow we managed to be together every night via hitch hiking and life threatening bus rides. we live about 9 miles apart. the road between our towns is one lane, but not one way. which makes for excitement. it winds through jungle, swamp, and a few small villages and is pretty much one big pot hole, aka 'the old northern highway'...but the use of the word 'highway' is a bit of an overstatement. just picture yourself on the white roller coaster at lagoon, only sometimes on two wheels, and sometimes swerving off the tracks to let another roller coaster go by, and being EATEN ALIVE by mosquitos, and listening to reggae, that pretty much sums up the bus ride. i pray the whole way. it puts a whole new meaning to commuting to work. i prefer the back of a truck, if that says anything. sleeping is another adventure. lucky strike and maskall are notorious for two things: crocadiles and misquitos. not to mention the jaguars and snakes we have been warned about. so at night we have to sleep under bug nets with fans to keep off the bugs. here is a typical night. it starts with the neighbors blaring hits from the nineties on LOVE FM. you know, two hearts that beat as one, eternal flame, kenny rogers. that goes till about midnight. then the dogs bark. for no reason. for hours. right outside our window. then it rains so hard on the tin roof it becomes unromantic, and then it thunders for awhile. by now its about 4 am. people are already awake because of the rain so they turn on country music. tim mcgraw "every time you touch me..." i'm not just talking soft soothing music. it takes OVER THE HOUSE! it's like a college dorm room. so so much for "quiet village" our families are hilarious. they are kriol. todd's mom has 17 kids and they all just run in and out shouting kriol stuff. i can barely walk in our out of my house with out being killed by a dog. i have to threaten them with glass bottles and rocks. everyone laughs at me and small kids walk me to my door. so is life in belize. congratulations if you read this whole thing. WE MISS YOU!
ashli and todd

2007-07-07T15:08:00.000-07:00

We da mi dun with stage one....and now we are off to our next training sites. i'm going to lucky strike and todd is going to maskall. we are both learning kriol. should be da kool man. ok, i know. anyway, we got a PHONE NUMBER: #011-501-669-8059! hope to hear from you! well we had a day off so we went to san ignacio to some ruins. we might not have access to a computer for a while... so we love you all! and keep in touch!
si yoo lata.
love ashli and todd

our address

2007-07-05T06:41:00.000-07:00

Todd Murdock
Peace Corps
P.O Box 492
Belmopan, Belize
Central America

this works for letters and normal size packages, talk to you all later
todd ash

2007-07-04T06:51:00.000-07:00

our sweet group

that's todd "hanging out" at our house.

this is our sweet little house...

Oops, i cut my hair. just with a bucket of water and teacher scissors. (and i know, this is kind of a creepy picture of me..)

Just a party at the U.S. Ambassorders house... WELCOME TO PEACE CORPS!

LET FREEDOM RING

2007-07-04T06:43:00.001-07:00

Happy 4th!
Just thought i'd put some pictures from the homefront up in the name of patriotism!

2007-06-29T17:03:00.001-07:00

Jami and Devin
GOOD LUCK AND CONGRATULATIONS!
we love you,
ashli and todd

more pictures

2007-06-28T16:07:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of lasts weeks little outing to the Blue Hole National Park, it is about 4 miles south of Armenia. The pictures are Ash standing in front of the blue hole swimming area, pictures of our hike in the jungle, walking along the road with our roomate Bertie, and a picture of ash with our host family and their 2 pet woodpeckers, love you all
todd ash

belize city

2007-06-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

hey everybody, we have to take advantage of the open computer, there is only one here for the 38 of us, things all still rollin along, today we all split up in groups and went on a scavenger hunt of sorts, the purpose being to get all the new volunteers familiar with the bus system, and other citys and places we may need to go, i spent the morning in belize city with a couple of other people, and ash has yet to return from san ignacio, it seems pretty normal for peace corps, but when i think about it, it is pretty funny that ash is traveling somewhere where she has never been with to girls who have also never been, in the middle of some randon central american country, we shall see what happens, everything is still the same here, training and more training, when we get any news we will be sure to let everyone know, talk to you all later
todd ash

first week in belize

2007-06-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

we finally made it, we had a cancelled flight and an extra day in miami, but we are now in belmopan the capital city of about 5000 people, i heard somewhere that it is one of the smallest capitals in the americas. we are living in a small town/village about 15 miles south of town, we live with host families all 38 of us, the families are amazing, they are very acomadating, after these 2 weeks we leave for the north somewhere near orange walk to train for 6 weeks then we have another we until we swear in august 22. belize in great, hot, humid, hot, and humid pretty much sums in up, the village we are in is at the foot of the maya mtns, it is beautiful, mangos, avocados, coconuts, lots of fresh fruit... and the kids just climb right up and get it. and they have TWO PET WOODPECKERS! and we have rats.... hey brandon GOOD LUCK TOMORROW going to Cambodia! that is awesome... keep us "posted".. love you all! ashli and todd (oh and that's a picture of todd taking a bucket bath!)

peace corps out

2007-06-19T20:16:00.000-07:00

well today we finished staging and tommorow we take off for belize, we land at 10 am in belize and go to the training facility in Belmopan the capital city, things will be crazy the first week or so, so dont expect any calls and possible emails, we will get in touch as soon as we can, we have 2.5 weeks of training and living with a host family then we will be heading for specific training and language, when we find out more we will tell everyone, until then we love you all, thanks for everything, and we will see you all in the future,
todd and ash

2007-06-03T22:18:00.000-07:00

"Belize" it or not.....

Two weeks until we leave to peace corps!!!

We will miss all of you! Thanks for spending time with us before we go. We love you all!

2007-05-25T00:04:00.000-07:00

"Arch" ya glad you checked our blog?

2007-05-24T20:41:00.000-07:00

weekend in moab

2007-05-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJArj-UY8Tc

Well, here it is. My first complete slide show.

Yes, we have a blog

2007-04-20T08:33:00.000-07:00

we have created this blog to push our agenda upon everyone else who reads it, and that should be no one, but really we will try and use this for communicating while we are away, we hope that it works out, then we dont have to email everyone, we now have less than two months and it is go time, can you belize it?
todd and ash