happy Pumpkin Day!!!

Seriously, this is goin' global...so get out there and enjoy all things pumpkin!

(in case you're new here, click here for a full PD explanation)

Costa Rican wi-fi & my Yahoo! email don't get along...

Naturally, because I use my Yahoo! email account more than any other, Costa Rica ain't a fan. I can open my mailbox (sometimes), but can't get any of the content of the individual emails. Of course.

Quick rundown of the last weekend, with details to follow:
- spent 3 nights in Playa Tamarindo, a gorgeous beach region
- spent 1 night in Monte Verde, the cloud forest

Lame post? Yup. Sorry, I've got a hammock, a book and a beer waiting for me...and Rob needs the computer to do school stuff, so more scoop mas tarde!

country number 18...!

Costa Rica = RAD. So far, its a perfect combination of Kauai and Guatemala. Every afternoon, there's a thunderstorm and big ol' warm raindrops. LOVE.

We just busted out the brand new teeny tiny point-and-shoot camera, so no pics...yet. Tomorrow we're heading to Tamarindo, a really cool beach area, for three nights (fingers, eyes and toes crossed that we can visit a nearby turtle sanctuary while we're out there....) and then one night in Monteverde, the cloud forest to see some monkeys and sloths and well, clouds. I've already met a ton of Rob's classmates and am trying hard to remember all the names (good tip: 1 in 3 guys is named Carlos, so I can just run with that).

Pics soon, I hope! Rob (finally) posted some from his recent escapades...check 'em out!

just another indication that teaching ain't for me...

So bummed that this one got by me...from one of my fave sites, Texts From Last Night:

(541): my math teacher staples burger king applications to failed tests

Totally wrong? Sure is. Completely hysterical? Yup.

our little pad

After 84 sleeps, two rent checks, and the majority of ya'll having visited it already, I proudly introduce the inside of the Ring!

from the front door toward the 'bedroom'

from the 'bedroom' toward the living room our massive bathroom

the tiniest kitchen ever

from the bathroom toward the front door/living room

Kali Lou doesn't love it here (and who could blame her, when by comparison, there is nothing for her to do or see in/from the Ring), but we take her out on her ghetto-rigged leash. You know, as a treat for the neighbors. We're definitely the minority in Sunnyvale, and I'm quite certain that we're probably referred to as 'those crazy whities'. Whatever.

Pumpkin Day - a sneak peek!

A few weeks back, Summer had a surprise for me, which always makes me simultaneously intrigued and nervous. When it comes to Sum's surprises, things range from a ridiculously difficult workout to a hilarious card.

I must digress momentarily, and explain my annual Pumpkin Day: October is, by far, the best month of the year for many reasons: Oktoberfest and its accompanying delicious beers, football starts up, hockey's getting into full swing, the weather is still warm but not unbearably hot, work is generally in a lull, I can layer all sorts of cute clothes without suffocating, its not quite the hectic holiday season, and best of all, I can start buying pumpkins.

You see, I adore pumpkins. A few years back, we ended up with no fewer than 22 of them. Ooops. And with the way that holidays pop up in stores earlier and earlier each year, I was under threat of certain doom of ending up a Pumpkin Lady, alone in my home surrounded by pumpkins. So, I made a rule for myself that I was not allowed to purchase the adorable little fruits (yeah, they have seeds..hmphf) before October 1st. That gives me 30 full days of carvable goodness, followed by a few months of uncarved cuties. Additionally, I have a soft spot for any pumpkin food product: seeds, breads, scones, etc. I share this adoration with a few friends, who have joined me in celebration of Pumpkin Day. There will be greeting cards, feasts, gifts, pumpkin carols, the whole nine. This thing's going global, folks...so hop on now! October 1st = Pumpkin Day. Get ready...

Back to the surprise story: This particular surprise came after a realllllly hard workout. I arrived at Summer's little casa to find a PUMPKIN CUPCAKE from Sprinkles annnnnnd PUMPKIN BEER! Win and win. And since I didn't buy any of the pumpkin products, and there were certainly no actual pumpkins in sight, it doesn't count as cheating on Pumpkin Day...its just a preview of pumpkin goodness to come!

After gorging ourselves on pumpkin-y goodness while watching "The 'Bu" on YouTube, we dipped into the second, pumpkinless part of surprise night: coconut M&Ms. Heaven, I say.

caffeine fiend

My damn coffee grinder died this morning. I was just at Target yesterday. Really?!?! In efforts to save my pennies (and therefore deflate Target's stock a bit), I've been trying super hard not to go to Target four times a week. I'm seeing this as a set-back in the making.

Naturally, I was running late for work and didn't have time to stop at a Peet's (not Starbucks, folks. Peets. Starbucks is icky). The coffee here at the office comes from a frozen can, and is pretty much transparent before adding anything. Add to this the fact that we maintain no actual half-and-half and that the only sugar in this building is white and refined, and you've got a decaffeinated, unpleased girl.

Deeply contemplating leaving work right now to go find a Peet's...this is ridiculous.

PS: Rob's in Costa Rica. The coffee capital of el mundo, verdad?! Can't find a decent cuppa joe. Clearly the coffee gods are against us this morning. Bring it, I say...bring it.

PPS: A gentle reminder brought to my attention that I'll be in Bean country in just 36 hours folks...Caramel Iced Blendeds - here I come!