This is like my old landlord...

This is too funny...

Kind of reminds me of one of my landlords.

On my own...

The wife just left. Nope, it isn't for good (more's the pity...for her); she just left me and the kids to go spend time in the woods with her friends. I'm sure she'll have some good stories for you when she gets back. In the meantime, I have to figure out the dinner menu for the next several days...

Tonight - McDonalds
Tomorrow - Pizza
Saturday - Wendy's
Sunday - starve until wife gets home

Maybe, just maybe, I'll add in some alcohol for good measure. See why the kids love it when I cook?

India...

Many of you are aware I recently had a business trip to India. It was a very interesting (and intimidating) experience. From the time I got off the plane in Mumbai. After roughly 18 hours of travel, I had a nearly 8 hour layover in Mumbai. This meant a hotel. Being properly informed, I attempted to have a car at the airport to pick me up, as the locals are notorious about over charging unsuspecting tourists. Unfortunately, I got my bags, and there was no car for me or from the hotel. This made for a dicey situation. As I searched for the car, I asked a local police officer, who shooed me out of the airport. At this point, I confronted a mass of people, that even understanding India is heavily populated, I was totally unprepared for. As I continued my search for the car which was not around, I came to the realization that I would need to get a cab any way possible and hope for the best. Well, that probably wasn't the best idea either in retrospect. In the end, I spent over $100 on a cab ride of about 10 minutes. For comparison, I acquired a car and driver for a full day and only paid about $140.

The traffic was simply outrageous. From what I could tell, the only real road rule was if the vehicle is bigger than you, you should slow down. There are few lights, no road signs and no road markings. Everyone drives anywhere they want and they share the road with people (even kids), hand carts, chickens, dogs, goats, donkeys, oxen (also used for transportation), cows, horses (also used for transportation), camels (again, transportation), elephants (you guessed it), monkeys, basically, anything and everything. Not only that, but they do all of these things while driving 60 mph with the slightest clearance. I actually saw a family of 4 all riding the same motorcycle. The two year old on the handle bars, Dad driving, Mom sitting side saddle on the back with both hands on the baby. Crazy I tell you.

Sightseeing was interesting however. It was a terrible time to visit the area I was in, but you can see why people would like it there. There is a lot of trash, but that is mostly due to the amount of people I think. I did get a chance to see a cave which was carved in 0 BC and updated between 6 and 7 BC. Just amazing how this beautiful work was done so long ago and is still in such great shape.

I also went to some typical local areas (a hill station, a dam and several other small, out of the way spots).

I spent some time in a local museum which had some very interesting artifacts, and took a drive through the original downtown area which was all completely wooden buildings. Aside from these things, it was amazing how the areas were built up (many spots being simply shacks with tarps for ceilings or walls) and to just have a general idea of how things came to be.

In the end, it was a good experience, and I was sitting in the airport thinking about returning when I was bit by a mosquito. Assuming I don't get Malaria or some other such noxious disease, I might consider going back someday...

Pictures are located here. Enjoy!!!

On the jump to spring...

I know some of these musings are LONG overdue, but it HAS been busy on this front. Things are finally starting to calm down, so maybe we can get some newsworthy updates out now...

In one day, while sitting on the deck (before we got our nifty new patio furniture this year - five years after we wanted to...), we saw - a rabbit, a snake (non-poisonous and living next to our house) being followed by an inquisitive bird, a hawk (and it's nest). It was this day, we quickly deemed, meant spring had sprung.

Sometimes, it is very nice to see critters out being critters like that.

Teachers let the fools out!!

Schools out, schools out, teachers let the fools out!!! Friday was the last day of school here in Georgia, thus begins summer vacation. I, for one, am ready for it. No more dragging children out of bed at 6am. Or bribing them with toaster strudels. Or turning on the lights and running for cover! Yeah!! I love summer! It has been fabulous down here weather wise, that is unless you want to water something. Strangely enough, the smoke from 250 miles away from forest fires has reached us several times now causing all folks with asthma to have to limit outside time. But, I am so ready for summer. What I will miss the LEAST is making 3 lunches everyday. I have no creativity left in me. I had gotten to the point of sending cereal in their lunches. What I will miss MOST is Mondays and Fridays to myself for running and what not. But it's not so bad, now we get to go hang out at the pool, Six Flags, White Water, or nothing at all. I am most looking forward to our family trip to the outter banks of North Carolina to a rented beach house with my sis-in-law and family. Yes, summer is a good thing!!!