Free time...

...I have it. Here is a random art project I have been working on for Dia de Los Muertos. Props and all credit due for inspiration to the artists of the refrigerator magnet that I purchased in the SAIA 

and the Powell Peralta Bones Brigade.

Year One: She Sells Sanctuary

Year one. Check!

We have officially been in country for one year now and feel like we have learned a few things here.

First, there are good days and there are bad days. There are good weeks and there are bad ones. It's just like everywhere else. For us, the weather makes a huge difference. The hot weather has passed and it's low 80s and raining everyday. This change affects everything about life here, just like any season in the US. The change marks a new time. I for one have always enjoyed this aspect of life.

Sweetened condensed milk can be added to anything, even spaghetti

True luxury should be defined as a comfort that stands defiantly back to back in juxtaposition to it's polar opposite. This is why toilet seats really are more luxurious than a finely crafted jute hammocks.

Children can, and do play in the street still

If I were watching the TV show Hoarders, and they we showcasing a house in which there was a returned PCV who had squirreled away shelves and shelves of tissue, toilet, and paper towel products, I would watch and think 
 Makes sense to me

You can build anything with bamboo

There is nothing better than fresh pressed coffee during the rainy season

Books Alan has read in the Philippines so far:

1 - The Old Man and the Sea –Ernest Hemingway

2 - In Our Image: America’s Empire in the Philippines – Stanley Karnow

3 - Ishmael – Daniel Quinn

4 - A Game of Thrones – George R.R. Martin

5 - A Clash of Kings – George R.R. Martin

6 - A Storm of Swords - George R.R. Martin

7 - A Feast for Crows – George R.R. Martin

8 - Humor - Steven Wright

9 - A Dance with Dragons – George R.R. Martin

10 - The Hedge Knight – George R.R. Martin

11 - The Importance of Being Ernest – Oscar Wilde 

12 - The Lost Symbol – Dan Brown

13 – Pillars of the Earth – Ken Follet

14 – Dharma Bums – Jack Kerouac

15 – Rainbow Six – Tom Clancy

16 – American Psycho – Brett Easton Ellis

17 – A Fare Well to Arms – Ernest Hemingway

18 - I Drink for A Reason - David Cross

I was on a hot streak when we first moved to our new site then we started watching West Wing on my laptop, all 7 seasons of 22 episodes each, or almost 6 straight days of patriotic homesick fuel. 

On this note I would like to say that we miss our country, our families, and our friends. 

Nothing makes the heart grow fonder. We love you. And God bless America!

At the end of the day, it's more fun in the Philippines

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4^th of July to Americans and Filipinos alike.

First and foremost I want to thank everyone for reading this blog and all the kind words we have received. It’s been a fun first year here in the Philippines and the content for this blog has been a constant stream of nagKodak opportunities.