It's been so great to have some down time this week! I've been able to do exactly what I want to do and we've been able to spend some real relaxing time together.
Saturday we had all day to ourselves but we really didn't do anything. Just cleaned up a bit and waited for Chuki to come home. We had boarded him at Lord Guau, an American owned boarding facility outside of Quito. They picked him up and dropped him off, so we never actually saw the place = BIG MISTAKE! He came back crazy. Needless to say, we're still working on calming him down 5 days later. But we needed to begin the process of figuring out where to put him when we're home at Christmas time. So that's one place crossed off the list.
Saturday night was our friend Rachel's going away party. It was tropical themed. Ryan and I wore towels, which I thought was kind of lame, but there weren't many people in costumes so it ended up being fine.
Sunday we did NOTHING! We watched 5 movies and made sandwiches for all 3 meals. It was fabulous!
Monday we went on our long run, which killed both of us because we hadn't done any running while Corey was here. YIKES! Ryan hurt his knee, he's still in pain, but we were able to finish 12K... only another 9K to go! DOUBLE YIKES!
Also on Monday, I talked to my dearest friend Toby for almost an hour! IT.WAS.AMAZING! It happened to be that she was home alone and I had a ton of time... this never happens! It was so great to talk to her and to catch up. She's always been one of my most valued sounding boards and I've greatly missed the Matson's while I've been away.
We cleaned the house, got Chuki back into his routine, and both started new books on Monday too! All in all, a FANTASTIC day. Plus, to top it off we went to the grocery store together in the evening and made a delicious dinner together. <--- Two of our absolutely favorite things to do together, especially when we're not in a hurry and when we're only cooking for each other.
Then yesterday, I started the day with a swim in the pool and let me tell you the water was SO hot! Hotter than bath water; it was amazing! We both had a ton of classes (which come pay day, will be great!). This month it looks like we're both going to be teaching a lot. Which will bode will for October, when Doug and Roz are here. As far as September, well we didn't teach much in August so it will be slim living until October's pay day. We're talking real slim! Like, if anyone wants to mail us non-perishables we'd love it! =) (Only 1/2 kidding).
Last night we went over to our British friends' house, Sarah and Corine. They have visitors here from University that just completed a 5 week tour of South America and most of them are now spending some time here in Quito, crashing at Sarah and Corine's house. They made a lovely pie-esque dinner. Just a side note - why don't we eat more savory pie in America like they do in Britain? And their friends that are visiting made a Rum Cake. The pie was fantastic, the run cake not-so-much. You needed a coke with it, it was that rummy. I made some chocolate chip cookies from smittenkitchen. Although, I didn't have any baking soda and so I used yeast instead = interesting. But I was really excited because I got to use the peanut butter chips and the butterscotch chips that my mom and dad had brought down for me! Surprisingly, I have no chocolate chips!
Today has started off to be an equally lovely day except for the fact that I found out one of my favorite students is no longer going to be taking classes. =( That did mean that even though I was up at 6, I don't have to leave the house until 9! Which has given me plenty of time to cook breakfast for the puppers, make myself and drink a whole french press of coffee, read my new book The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and thoroughly prepare for my training today! This afternoon, we'll run and then we both have classes this evening. What I'm most looking forward to is talking to Hannah tonight! And then coming home and making dinner again with Ryan.
All in all, just the first 1/2 of this week has been FABULOUS!
Talk to you all soon!
MULUB,
Taylor
