I wish I had a photo to show you what husby's Thanksgiving plate looked like (but my camera is broke). Like I imagined, he was not a fan of most of the food on the table. I cooked turkey, green bean casserole, stuffing, fresh cranberry sauce, rolls, mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, apple pie, and pumpkin pie. As we sat at the dinner table and filled our plates with yummy food - I look over at his and all I see is turkey and roasted potatoes.
I actually thought this might be all he'd try - which is why I had roasted AND mashed potatoes. He hates mashed potatoes and usually won't eat them, but I know he likes roasted potatoes so I made sure to pop a batch in the oven.
Then, as my sister and I are pouring gravy all over our food, I offer him some. Only to see that he has already squirted ketchup all over his turkey and potatoes. Yup - his Thanksgiving dinner amounted to turkey and roasted potatoes topped with ketchup.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
It was his first time eating turkey though and he seemed to like it. Of course I mentioned that turkey makes you tired if you eat enough of it - and he used that excuse to fall asleep on the couch while I was washing the dishes. And he used that same excuse the next two nights after leftovers too.
And one thing that always amazes me is husby's ability to lick a bone clean. He ate the turkey legs and somehow manages to literally leave ONLY bone...and he breaks little bones off to get the meat in between them. It's an art really. One day I'll have to take a picture because it is truly amazing how little he leaves on his plate.
I then got the lecture about how much food we waste here in America. He is actually very appalled by how much food we throw out and I hate to tell him, but we don't throw that much food out. Way less than the average person because I tend to freeze a lot to eat it at a later date. He thought we cooked way too much food for Thanksgiving and said that I had to eat it all or I was just as wasteful as everyone else. So, what did I have for dinner tonight? The pasta skillet my sister cooked, on top of potatoes (because we still have tons of potatoes left). Yup - it's all about combination.
Hubs is also slowing learning about the Americanized version of Christmas. His had two thoughts:
1. People in the U.S. really like to celebrate Christmas (in Honduras it's just not that big of a holiday).
2. Christmas is VERY expensive.
Both very true statements.
I love my hubs and seeing things through his eyes.
Ok, gotta get back to beating him in Sorry!!!
29 November 2010
26 November 2010
Five Question Friday!
After a great Thanksgiving, I'm fully enjoying a day off work, relaxing - no shopping included. Husby is at work, otherwise we may have made a fun trip out to shop. I'm not really feeling like braving the sales all alone without reinforcement. It's probably a good thing that he's working because he would most likely HATE the crowds and lines. He's a bit impatient when it comes to shopping!
Since I'm at home with nothing pertinent to do, I'm participating in Five Question Friday. I will try to do my best to update this blog a bit more with things other than generic blog questionnaires - I just don't always having something amazing to share. Or don't have the time is more like it!
So here goes nothing...if you'd like to participate too, hop over to My Little Life and link up!
1. What is your favorite part of a Thanksgiving Day meal?
I actually love everything about Thanksgiving. My favorite part of the food part of the meal is my Grandma's corn dish and turkey mixed with cranberries. I also love stuffing, sweet potatoes, and mashed potatoes. So, pretty much I love every food item on the table except for green bean casserole (but I ate some this year). Apart from the food I usually love sitting down with the family, eating together, and talking about Thanksgiving past and other fun memories. I haven't actually had a Thanksgiving like that in a while though - last year I was in Ecuador, the year before I was in Texas with my sister, the year before I went to my sister's in-law's house, and before that I was in Honduras. This year we sat down as a family but my sister and her family were in a bit of a rush to try to go to the in-laws for dinner so we literally spent 30 minutes at the table. It's quite ironic because I spent 6 hours cooking in the morning and then a full two hours cleaning up all the dishes - but only 30 minutes actually at the table (and that includes the time it took me to carve the turkey). Yeah - not really ideal, but it was fun anyway. I do miss Thanksgiving with my parents though.
2. Are you a host or a guest for Thanksgiving this year?
I was definitely a host. I started getting the turkey ready at 8am and cooked until about 2pm. We ate and then my sister, her husband, and their two kids went off to her in-law's house and I cleaned up the dinner (which took a good two hours getting the meat off the turkey, packing all the food up, and washing dishes) and then husby and I cuddled on the couch and watched movies.
3. When you think of one Thanksgiving tradition, what comes to mind?
I usually think of watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, but now that I'm cooking I can't actually do it. That's really the only thing I think of, even though it's pretty much the most common thing to do. We don't have any unique traditions like writing notes or sharing what we're thankful for or anything like that. When I was little and we lived overseas we always tried to invite host country nationals over to eat and share in Thanksgiving fun - in Italy we invited the Italian family that lived below us and in England we invited the people from whom we rented our house. However, we now live in the U.S. and we're our own host country nationals. Although it was my husband's first Thanksgiving, which was kinda fun.
4. You have two pieces of pie in front of you and you HAVE to eat one...do you pick pumpkin or pecan?
That's not too hard because we rarely have pecan. I would definitely pick pumpkin. Of course, if it were my house and I could do whatever I wanted I would have pumpkin, apple, and pecan all on the same plate. This year I had pumpkin and apple together, on the same plate - we didn't make pecan so I couldn't add that. I love pie!!!
5. Are you a Black Friday shopper?
I answered this for Fill in the Blank Friday on my other blog but I can recap here. No, as I am sitting here on Friday at home, by myself, writing my blog - I am definitely not a Black Friday shopper. I went a few times with my sister and it wasn't bad or anything. I just don't have any money to spend until our next paycheck so there's no point. I tried to do some online shopping but the websites kept crashing. Makes it difficult, no?
Since I'm at home with nothing pertinent to do, I'm participating in Five Question Friday. I will try to do my best to update this blog a bit more with things other than generic blog questionnaires - I just don't always having something amazing to share. Or don't have the time is more like it!
So here goes nothing...if you'd like to participate too, hop over to My Little Life and link up!
1. What is your favorite part of a Thanksgiving Day meal?
I actually love everything about Thanksgiving. My favorite part of the food part of the meal is my Grandma's corn dish and turkey mixed with cranberries. I also love stuffing, sweet potatoes, and mashed potatoes. So, pretty much I love every food item on the table except for green bean casserole (but I ate some this year). Apart from the food I usually love sitting down with the family, eating together, and talking about Thanksgiving past and other fun memories. I haven't actually had a Thanksgiving like that in a while though - last year I was in Ecuador, the year before I was in Texas with my sister, the year before I went to my sister's in-law's house, and before that I was in Honduras. This year we sat down as a family but my sister and her family were in a bit of a rush to try to go to the in-laws for dinner so we literally spent 30 minutes at the table. It's quite ironic because I spent 6 hours cooking in the morning and then a full two hours cleaning up all the dishes - but only 30 minutes actually at the table (and that includes the time it took me to carve the turkey). Yeah - not really ideal, but it was fun anyway. I do miss Thanksgiving with my parents though.
 |
| My sister and me celebrating Thanksgiving in Ecuador! |
2. Are you a host or a guest for Thanksgiving this year?
I was definitely a host. I started getting the turkey ready at 8am and cooked until about 2pm. We ate and then my sister, her husband, and their two kids went off to her in-law's house and I cleaned up the dinner (which took a good two hours getting the meat off the turkey, packing all the food up, and washing dishes) and then husby and I cuddled on the couch and watched movies.
3. When you think of one Thanksgiving tradition, what comes to mind?
I usually think of watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, but now that I'm cooking I can't actually do it. That's really the only thing I think of, even though it's pretty much the most common thing to do. We don't have any unique traditions like writing notes or sharing what we're thankful for or anything like that. When I was little and we lived overseas we always tried to invite host country nationals over to eat and share in Thanksgiving fun - in Italy we invited the Italian family that lived below us and in England we invited the people from whom we rented our house. However, we now live in the U.S. and we're our own host country nationals. Although it was my husband's first Thanksgiving, which was kinda fun.
4. You have two pieces of pie in front of you and you HAVE to eat one...do you pick pumpkin or pecan?
That's not too hard because we rarely have pecan. I would definitely pick pumpkin. Of course, if it were my house and I could do whatever I wanted I would have pumpkin, apple, and pecan all on the same plate. This year I had pumpkin and apple together, on the same plate - we didn't make pecan so I couldn't add that. I love pie!!!
5. Are you a Black Friday shopper?
I answered this for Fill in the Blank Friday on my other blog but I can recap here. No, as I am sitting here on Friday at home, by myself, writing my blog - I am definitely not a Black Friday shopper. I went a few times with my sister and it wasn't bad or anything. I just don't have any money to spend until our next paycheck so there's no point. I tried to do some online shopping but the websites kept crashing. Makes it difficult, no?
Have a lovely day!!!
22 November 2010
Going Home
 |
| View of Honduras from the plane |
 |
| View of Tegucigalpa from plane |
 |
| Hanging out with the family |
 |
| My best friend Albita, who moved to Spain |
 |
| The nurses and health center staff |
Even with all that, I am excited to go and see everyone. Hubster's family is planning on showing me how to cook some of his favorite foods. I am excited to learn more Honduran recipes - aside from the basics I know how to make. His aunt is an amazing cook - she can make really good baleadas and empanadas. Not that after one lesson I'll be a pro or anything - but it'll be fun times.
 |
| His aunt selling baleadas in Teguc |
I'm a bit worried about how hubster will handle going back and whether it will make him happy or depressed. He still misses Honduras all the time and doesn't consider the U.S. his home yet. Of course I know it's only been one year, but I think it will make going back harder. I don't know what scenario will be worse, a) he goes back and it feels like before he left and he fits right back in with his friends, or b) he feels left out and like all his friends continued their life without him and he doesn't fit in anymore. Neither scenario is good but either is possible. It's hard, and nearly impossible, to "go home" and so I'm hoping he's not too disappointed. It's hard for him here because no matter how many friends we make, none of them speak Spanish well enough for him to really talk to them. I can complain about husband things and marriage with any number of people but he has no one to talk to here. He can't complain about me or the horrible wife things I do nor can he talk with anyone about marriage or how hard life is. I don't think anyone in Honduras can relate to that (he doesn't actually know any men that are married and actually with their wife - they all get married and then move to the U.S. to support their family) and so I sometimes feel bad that he's so alone.
So hopefully it will go well and I won't have to drug him and stuff him in my suitcase to get him back to the U.S!
12 November 2010
Five Question Friday!
Yeah - it's Friday and time for some questions. I'm a bit tired and stressed with work and my sister having a baby (as we speak) so I thought this would relax me a bit - we'll see how it goes!
Do you want to participate? Grab the questions at My Little Life and link up - it's loads of fun!
1. What is the most physically painful think that has ever happened to you? Hmm, I just had a biopsy a few weeks ago and that was pretty bad. And I've had 15 teeth pulled which wasn't pleasant. I'm thinking child birth will be the worst but I haven't even come close to experiencing that yet so those two will have to do.
2. How much sleep do you get at night? Well, I try to go to bed by 10:30pm and I wake up at 4:52am, so that's about 6.5 hours. I could use 7 hours I think - that would be perfect.
3. How long did you believe in Santa Clause? How did you find out that he does not exist? I remember still believing (in my heart, but maybe not my mind) that Santa existed up until I was about nine. Then I think I just aged out of it. It was nothing traumatic. I still *believe* in his magic though.
4. What was the last movie you saw in the theater? I think it was New Moon. It was great! I can't wait to see Harry Potter too!
5. What do you wear to bed? My underwear. Yup, I sleep almost naked even in my freezing room. My hubster radiates an immense amount of body heat though so I'm almost always sweating - when I'm alone in bed I'm cold though so I like lots of blankets, but I never like clothes.
Do you want to participate? Grab the questions at My Little Life and link up - it's loads of fun!
1. What is the most physically painful think that has ever happened to you? Hmm, I just had a biopsy a few weeks ago and that was pretty bad. And I've had 15 teeth pulled which wasn't pleasant. I'm thinking child birth will be the worst but I haven't even come close to experiencing that yet so those two will have to do.
2. How much sleep do you get at night? Well, I try to go to bed by 10:30pm and I wake up at 4:52am, so that's about 6.5 hours. I could use 7 hours I think - that would be perfect.
3. How long did you believe in Santa Clause? How did you find out that he does not exist? I remember still believing (in my heart, but maybe not my mind) that Santa existed up until I was about nine. Then I think I just aged out of it. It was nothing traumatic. I still *believe* in his magic though.
4. What was the last movie you saw in the theater? I think it was New Moon. It was great! I can't wait to see Harry Potter too!
5. What do you wear to bed? My underwear. Yup, I sleep almost naked even in my freezing room. My hubster radiates an immense amount of body heat though so I'm almost always sweating - when I'm alone in bed I'm cold though so I like lots of blankets, but I never like clothes.
Have a great weekend!!!
04 November 2010
How can it be sunny and cold at the same time?
One thing I really enjoy about my hubby is how he makes me look at things I take for granted and re-think them. He's been really confused lately about the weather. Last year he made his US debut in January, right about the time of crazy snow storms. This is his first fall season - seeing the weather go from really hot, to cool, to chilly, to down right cold.
However, he thinks it's so strange that it can be really cold but the sun can still be out. Now, I know all about the rotation of the earth and being far from the sun, etc., but I've also lived this reality for years. I know that it can be cold and sunny at the same time.
He, however, thinks it's really strange. The first time this happened he exclamed, "It's cold but the sun is out!!" like it was the strangest thing he'd ever experienced. I said, with no exclamation in my voice, "yeah, so?" not realizing how weird it was for him.
I guess because in Honduras the only time it cooled off was when it rained. The minute the rain stopped and the sun came out, it was super hot and humid. Makes sense really, sun = warmth, clouds = cold. Although I've explained it to him and he understands now, every time I hear him talking to someone at home that's the first thing he mentions: It's cold here but the sun is out!!
I really think it's just the funniest thing ever! I guess last year when the sun came out it did get a tad bit warmer, the snow melted, etc. Now we're going in reverse because instead of getting warmer every day we're getting colder and it just baffles his mind that the sun comes out but it's colder than it was last week when the sun was out.
Funny how life and experiences shape the way you think.
 |
| The view overlooking the hot lowlands from the top of a chilly, rainy cloud forest in Honduras. |
One thing I really enjoy about my hubby is how he makes me look at things I take for granted and re-think them. He's been really confused lately about the weather. Last year he made his US debut in January, right about the time of crazy snow storms. This is his first fall season - seeing the weather go from really hot, to cool, to chilly, to down right cold.
However, he thinks it's so strange that it can be really cold but the sun can still be out. Now, I know all about the rotation of the earth and being far from the sun, etc., but I've also lived this reality for years. I know that it can be cold and sunny at the same time.
He, however, thinks it's really strange. The first time this happened he exclamed, "It's cold but the sun is out!!" like it was the strangest thing he'd ever experienced. I said, with no exclamation in my voice, "yeah, so?" not realizing how weird it was for him.
I guess because in Honduras the only time it cooled off was when it rained. The minute the rain stopped and the sun came out, it was super hot and humid. Makes sense really, sun = warmth, clouds = cold. Although I've explained it to him and he understands now, every time I hear him talking to someone at home that's the first thing he mentions: It's cold here but the sun is out!!
I really think it's just the funniest thing ever! I guess last year when the sun came out it did get a tad bit warmer, the snow melted, etc. Now we're going in reverse because instead of getting warmer every day we're getting colder and it just baffles his mind that the sun comes out but it's colder than it was last week when the sun was out.
Funny how life and experiences shape the way you think.
01 November 2010
Meet my Hubster
This is my hubster in all his glory:
Usually he watches TV downstair by himself while I watch TV upstairs and write this blog. Tonight he wanted me to watch TV with him - so I snapped this shot of him - watching TV while eating chips. He's a happy camper, and I was happy to sit with him.
It's the little things that keep us happy!
Usually he watches TV downstair by himself while I watch TV upstairs and write this blog. Tonight he wanted me to watch TV with him - so I snapped this shot of him - watching TV while eating chips. He's a happy camper, and I was happy to sit with him.
It's the little things that keep us happy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)