While my wife is off on the ninth grade camping trip, I’m left home alone without much to do (aside from my usual work).  So I figured this would be a good opportunity to catch up on my Blogging (seeing as how I’m stuck waiting for dreamweaver to upload, since apparently switching sites while uploading is just too much for it…).

I’m going to start with just some generic info to catch up on what’s been happening lately.  Since we don’t have television and aren’t big seekers of news, we’re a bit out of touch.  Not being able to read an entire newspaper article, or catch up on bits of conversation, only makes the blackness deeper.  So apart from what we’re told, we’re not really up-to-date on current events, from a news standpoint.

In our lives, however, we seem to be keeping track of things pretty well.  Jess is currently off on a camping trip where they’re doing a cave crawl (got a text message saying she made it through and loved it!), some rock climbing, and other camp-related activities.

It’s easy to forget you’re in a foreign country when you rarely leave the house…  Though we’ve gotten our hands on the remainder of the Pimsleur language classes, so I’ve been doing a lesson as part of my morning bike ride, or at some other point during the day.  We’ve found that the combination of Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone is a good mix.  Pimsleur gives you utility phrases, and Rosetta Stone expands your vocabulary.  The two together have allowed us to figure out new phrases and recognize new words that we pick up while out and about.

Yesterday I barely left the couch, let alone the apartment.  But I got in some extra hours, and so hopefully I can cut my week short (again).  Tonight is volleyball, which should be fun.  Not sure if we’re doing anything afterwards, though.  I hope so, but if not I’ll be okay with it.  I think I’m going to take the bus in, though.  I’m not sure I’m up for another hour of biking today.

Lastly, it has been requested that we take some outdoor shots of our apartment…  I didn’t get any of our "yard" or the courtyard where the kids play because, well, I forgot.  Plus our yard is completely overgrown with weeds at least 2 feet tall (have not yet found a tool for cutting them).  Well, without further ado, here is a little piece of the morning commute.

The door to our apartment.  My back is to the main entrance (and there’s my bike!)

Our lobby, complete with "Skinny" mirrors.  Jess loves them. (our apartment is behind me and to the left.  Front door to the right)

Our entrance, from the inside.  Mailboxes are in the breezeway.

The intercom, and where we get our mail.  (Still not sure how to send it, apart from having the school do it)

Our entranceway, from the outside looking in (none of those windows go to our apartment – we’re on the back side)

Looking left as you come out…

And to the right.  Nothing says brand-spanking-new like cranes, trees with crutches and construction noises…

Our development from the road as I head south on the bike trail to the school.

The aforementioned bike trail…  notice the sky color…  feels just like home!!

The "Red" beer tents…  also called Meta.  This one also has a grill with good food.  This is about 2km from our house.

Huge-ass crucifix that was put up since we moved in.  Huge.  There seem to be crosses or shrines every 2 or 3 km or so.