NYR 12-26-11 - we've undecked the halls

I hate to seem like the Grinch, but I took down every last stitch of Christmas in our house today. The embassy was closed so I didn't have to go to work, which meant it was the only free day until we leave for vacation on Saturday. Everything was down and put away by noon.

And then because we'd used our fireplace for the first time ever, I finally got the inspiration for how our living room furniture should be configured. I've really detested the layout for all these months, and then it hit me! So while Jimmy and Mac were at the park playing baseball, I moved the furniture around. And I LOVE the result. We should have built a fire 16 months ago.

After Jimmy and Mac came back from the park, Jimmy used his new hamburger-making kit from Sur la Table to create a masterpiece of a hamburger which he grilled and we ate on the balcony because it was a picture-perfect day in Bogota.

And lest you think that we've totally lost all Christmas spirit, we went out with friends to view Christmas lights in the city. It was all quite festive and beautiful and we had a great evening. We saw some interesting food for sale,

























... Asian-inspired Smurfs as well as very surprised-looking Smurfs,


























...a very festive llama (who had boots on his back legs. Seriously.),













...and, of course, beautiful lights.







For a great day, I am truly thankful.

NYR - one week before Christmas!

What I'm thankful for this week:

12-19-11 - only 8 more work days until we leave for Hawaii.

12-20-11 - a family dinner out at Sr. Choo (remember our new favorite Chinese restaurant?). Tonight we took Mac (always a gamble with ethnic food that doesn't involve pasta) and he loved it. We got off to a great start because the first item on the appetizer menu was called "Bang Bang Chicken Wraps". Mac's "lovey" from the time he was about 1 until he was about 3 was a plastic hammer from a toolkit my sister and brother-in-law brought him as a gift when he was a baby in Mozambique. He called this hammer "Bang-Bang" and took it everywhere with us. And by "everywhere", I mean "everywhere" (literally). I remember Mac having a meltdown in an airport when a TSA agent made him give up Bang-Bang to go through the x-ray scanner - major drama. I remember leaving Bang-Bang behind in the gift shop in the zoo in Melbourne, Australia and hurriedly buying a replacement to get us through the night before our friend Jenny could go back to retrieve the hammer the next day. We have a great affinity for "Bang-Bang anything" at our house and Bang Bang Chicken Wraps at Sr. Choo did not disappoint.

12-21-11 - my book club's ornament exchange where I enjoyed the most amazing butternut-apple soup topped with fried scallions and a curried yogurt sauce. Yes, it was as delicious as it sounds. And I got an awesome globe ornament too!

12-22-11 - Two years ago, I bought a Lands End Dory jacket that I raved about. You may remember my ravings? I have worn that jacket (and washed it) so many times that I'm really surprised it's still together. I bought a supplemental (as opposed to replacement) Dory jacket a few weeks ago because it was on sale for $26 (including shipping). How can you go wrong with a $26 jacket from Lands End??? I like it a lot, but I have to tell you it's not the same jacket. They have changed the design a lot and I don't like the design or detail nearly as much. But for $26? It's a keeper.

12-23-11 - Today we got early release from the embassy for the holiday weekend. It sounds like a good behavior parole program and maybe that's sort of what it is. Regardless, I was so happy to be out of that building at 2:30. The other thing I'm thankful for is that Mac had a sleepover at our house with 2 friends and they behaved perfectly. No squabbling, no bickering, just happy play and giggling.

12-24-11 - Tonight we hosted a Christmas Eve get-together for friends here in Bogota. It was a really nice, relaxing evening of drinks and nibbles with dear sweet friends who I am so grateful to have in our lives.

NYR 12-6-11 - catching up with old friends

We've had the great pleasure of catching up with lots of old friends here in Bogota. Surprisingly, there are more people we know coming to do business here in Bogota than anywhere else we've been.

Tonight Jimmy and I scored an invitation to a very cool Christmas Party at Andres Carne de Res here in the city. A dear friend from Guadalajara days who now works for a shipping company with a huge presence in Colombia got us on the list. We felt a bit awkward because everybody at the party was either an employee or customer, but we can pretend with the best of them. And they were expecting 180 people so what's 2 more?

We had our photo taken by the official photographer of the event, which I include here (but to protect the innocent employees and customers, I've cut that other guy in the photo out).

For a nice date night out at Andres and a chance to see an old friend, I am truly thankful.

NYR - Thanksgiving Week

11-21-11: Today was my first day back at work after my 4-week training and my first day as a warranted contract officer, meaning I can obligate the US government to contracts. Y.I.K.E.S. I hope I don't end up in jail. If I do, it will be for something so unintentional that I'll cry everyday I sit in jail. For having a job for which there's a remote chance of going to jail, I (guess I) am thankful.

11-22-11: Today one of our oldest childhood friends Heidi and her husband Kevin arrived to spend Thanksgiving in Bogota. I love old friends because you don't have to put on airs or pretend that something is what it isn't. I am most truly thankful that Heidi and Kevin chose to spend Thanksgiving with us.

11-23-11: Today one of Jimmy's colleagues and friends from Afghanistan and his wife arrived to spend Thanksgiving in Bogota. Mike and Marcy had taken a very cool trip to Antarctica - they camped on Antarctica one night (as in on the ice, in a tent, on Antarctica) - and then stopped in Buenos Aires for a few days before joining us in Bogota for a couple nights. For the gift of new friendships, I am truly thankful.

11-24-11: My Facebook Thanksgiving post:

Today I am grateful that we get to celebrate Thanksgiving with our houseguests, including Jimmy's mom, one of our longest-term (so as to not use the term "oldest") friends Heidi Acker and her husband Kevin, and Jimmy's friend and his wife from Afghanistan days as well as friends in Bogota who hail from the US, Italy, Scotland, England and Australia. My life is rich in blessings and I count them today and everyday. Happy Thanksgiving to the rest of our friends and family, no matter where you eat your turkey today.
- November 24 at 11:51am near Bogotá

11-25-11: Today I went back to work and Jimmy was tasked (I use that in the nicest possible way) with taking our guests around. For many, many years, I have been the tour guide in our family when people came to visit. Turnabout is fair play and for that, I am truly thankful!

11-26-11: Today we introduced our guests to the fabulous Andres Carne de Res out in Chia. I will post some photos later so you can live vicariously. I promise if you come to see us, we'll take you there, too! For the wonderful, wacky Andres, I am truly thankful.

11-27-11: Today I got my house back in order. After being away for 4 weeks and letting things go for the week I've been back, things aren't where or how I want them to be. I love, crave, need, desire order and this exercise made me feel better. For that, I am truly thankful.

NYR 10-27-11 - dinner with a Bogota friend

The more we move around the globe, the more I appreciate visiting with friends from different parts of our lives. It takes effort to keep up these friendships but they are so worth it.

Tonight I had dinner with a friend who left Bogota this past summer, and I am truly thankful for the effort she made to come out to meet me.

NYR 10-15-11 - baked potatoes

If you live in the US, you probably take for granted a good baked potato because you can get one just about anywhere. I'm talking big Russet potatoes that are baked to a perfect soft texture before you add all that deliciousness in the form of butter, sour cream, bacon, cheese, etc.

If you live in Colombia, you probably do not take for granted a good baked potato, namely because you can't get one here.

They have lots of potatoes here that are suitable for other purposes, but you just can't get your hands on a big Russet potato substitute. Normally when we have Colombian baked potatoes, we have to use potatoes the size of a tennis ball and the texture is never right.

My friend got her hands on some Russet potatoes and I was the lucky recipient of a great baked potato at her house tonight. Y.U.M.

For pleasure in the little things in life and friends who are willing to share them, I am truly thankful!

NYR 10-8-11 - a weekend away

Yesterday Jimmy and Mac left for a boys-only trip to the US. Jimmy's been waiting for Mac to get to an age where they could go off on such a trip and finally, all the pieces fell into place and they went for 10 days. (Don't worry - we didn't pull Mac out of school; he's on the Colombia-wide mid-October break.)

Five other families/couples were going to Anapoima for the long Columbus Day weekend and they took pity on me and let me come.

For time in the sun, swimming in the pool and hanging out with friends, I am truly thankful.

NYR 10-7-11 - Girls' Night In

Today I hosted a Girls' Night In for a really great group of ladies here in Bogota. Everybody brought food, which was all delicious, and the conversation was also pretty delicious.

For girl power, I am truly thankful.

NYR 10-4-11 - Italian cooking class

Today I took an Italian cooking class taught by a friend who is from Rome. We cooked (or really she cooked) and we ate the fruits of her labor.

Oh. my.

I give you the meal from start to finish:

Bruschetta (or what was left of it) for a little teaser during the class


Pasta alla Carbonara


Pollo alla Romana


Fragole con Mousse di Ricotta for dessert!

For a fabulous day of good friends and fabulous food, I am truly thankful.

NYR 9-29-11 - book club

I love book club because not only do you read books that might never cross your radar, you just learn a whole lot at the meeting.

You gain insight into your fellow members' lives, gather different perspectives on the book and author, sometimes learn some good dirt, and you most assuredly always laugh.

For all that, I am truly thankful.

NYR 9-26-11 - I can die a Colombian death now...

... because I have been in the society pages.

I was forwarded this photo (I'm on bottom right) from a public diplomacy friend at the embassy who saw me with her eagle eye!!

I'm sure I'd be in the pages much more frequently if I were ever invited to these events. Thankfully, my sweet friend (the girl on the other side of the photo)'s husband got me on the invite to the Queen's Birthday Party.

For my Colombian social debut, I'm so truly thankful (to be read with sarcasm).

NYR 9-23-11 - Italian heaven

Tonight we went over to our friends' apartment for dinner. She is from Rome and I knew the meal would be spectacular and it did not disappoint.

When we first arrived, she served this beautiful bruschetta with tomatoes that looked like they were straight off the vine in Johns Island. So beautiful and red and gorgeous.

Our first course was a divine risotto, after which I was stuffed because heaven forbid, I leave any on my plate. The next course was roasted pork loin, the most fabulous crunchy-on-the-outside/tender-on-the-inside roasted potatoes, and peas. Dessert was zabaglione with strawberries.

A meal totally to swoon over. In fact, if I were on death row, I might have Angela cook my last meal.

For a delicious meal shared with wonderful and entertaining people, I am truly thankful.

NYR 9-13-11 - meeting new people

One of the things I love about the Foreign Service lifestyle is that there are always new people to meet. There are people coming and going all the time.

The other thing I love about the Foreign Service lifestyle is that the longer you stay in, the fewer the degrees of separation necessary to figure out who you know in common.

Today I had lunch with two new women, one of whom has been at another post with dear friends we've served with at two other posts.

As the song says, it is a small world after all and for that, I'm truly thankful.

NYR 9-8-11 - lunch

For an impromptu lunch and a good gabfest with a girlfriend, I am truly thankful.

NYR 8-31-11 - the funk cloud has lifted

I will get into detail later why I have been living under a funk cloud since Friday, but I really fell down the rabbit hole of pity partydom. I had lots of encouragement to get out, but I just needed to wallow a bit more.

This morning I went to a kickbox class at a friend's house with an instructor who might be the devil. The class started at 6:30am, which suited me because I'd rather get that hateful little thing called exercise out of the way earlier rather than later. Heavens to sweet Betsy, did he make everything hurt.

After class I hobbled the 6 or 8 blocks back home and did what I never, ever do.

I took a short nap.

I didn't even shower first.

I plopped on the couch with my Kindle and the next thing I knew, an hour had passed and Ruth was coming in and I had to jump up on my aching legs to act like I'd been curing cancer instead of lounging the day away.

And when I woke up, I felt better.

Not physically because everything hurt like the devil himself had beaten me.

But emotionally, I felt strong and healthy and confident. I knew that everything was okay. It was like the black cloud that was hovering over me just got sucked away during that hour of rest. Really nothing short of a miracle.

I got up, showered, and went to meet a friend for coffee. Unbeknownst to me, this friend also had had a bad week and she had also taken a very atypical nap this morning and had started to feel better herself. We had such a great visit and I left feeling even better and stronger.

For the healing benefits of naps and good friends, I am ever so truly thankful.

NYR 8-28-11 - lunch

Today we hosted a lunch for some new folks in the embassy. The weather cooperated perfectly for the eating part, so we could enjoy our terrace for a couple hours which doesn't happen all that often here in the BOG. Once the wind and intermittent rain drove us in, we had a houseful of children and adults but everybody seemed to have such a nice time. There's a nice new crop of friendly folks here and for that, I am truly thankful.

NYR 8-27-11 - new babies and pink blankets

Today I visited with our friends who had a new baby girl while we were home on vacation. The sweet little thing is perfect and tiny and beautiful. For an hour of holding a baby and visiting with friends, I am truly thankful.

NYR 8-21-11 - old friends!

This afternoon Mac went over to a friend's house for a playdate. They ended up going to the park and since Jimmy was out and about, he went by the park to see what they were doing. He called me and said I had to come to the park because everybody was there. And everybody was there. It was a beautiful day in Bogota and the park was packed with locals and embassy folks.

For a great time catching up with "old" friends, I am truly thankful.

NYR 8-20-11 - new friends

While Mac and I were gone, Jimmy hung out a lot with some other husbands/dads whose families either left for the summer like us or hadn't gotten to Bogota yet. Now that everybody's back, one of the new families hosted a cookout for all of us to meet everybody. One of the boys is in Mac's grade at CGB and they had a ball playing together, and I loved meeting new people!

For new friends, I am truly thankful.

NYR 7-23-11

On our drive from Northern Virginia to Maggie Valley, North Carolina, we stopped off at Barrel Oak Winery in Delaplane, Virginia to see the fruits of labor of two of Jimmy’s Georgetown classmates. A few years ago, chasing a dream of the wife to become a winemaker, they bought a piece of property an hour outside of DC. They dug in the dirt, drove post holes in, and planted grapes. They also built a fabulous building for tastings, storage, etc. The place is amazing and beautiful and I urge you to visit.

For folks who go out on a limb to chase their dreams and actually make their dreams come true by good old-fashioned hard work, I am truly thankful.


P.S. After we left the winery, we drove on I-81 for what seemed like days to get to North Carolina. We’d just gotten on 81 in what is a very residential, suburban area and a black bear came ambling across the interstate. We’re talking a major interstate highway. Jimmy saw it coming out of the median and swerved on the shoulder of the road to avoid contact. Can you imagine how we would have sounded to Hertz had we called and told them we’d hit a black bear in northern Virginia with their rental car?