Life As of Late

We are filling up the days somehow! Here's what's been happening lately... Bruce happened to meet an Australian couple through work. They are ultra-marathoners and Bruce arranged for me to meet them on Saturday for a long run.  Chad sent me an e-mail with particulars on where to meet and the following instructions:  "We will be the white people."  I was a little nervous about the run, but I hung in there for 12 miles.  They go slow because you have to stop and drink every mile or two because of the heat.  I drank 64 ounces of water, plus a gatorade, and was home for almost an hour before I had to pee.  I just sweat it all out, I guess. 

Bruce plays basketball with some men from the office and in the industry.  Look how tall he is compared to the guy next to him. 

We aren't going hungry!  I've actually been cooking a little more, but we enjoyed lunch at Italianni's on Saturday.  Kiki was thrilled with her giant meatball.

Italianni's had a fancy toilet.  If you ever come to visit me, pack your own toilet paper- most public restrooms don't have it, even at church.  So this was an EXTRA fancy toilet.

Look at all the things you can have done to your bum after your business is done.  You can even choose if the water goes back to front or front to back.  Bruce and I agreed that back to front sounds like a good way to get a face full of fecal matter.

These are some sculptures in the neighborhood:

"Specific Gravity"

"Tinstaej #85" or "Wee Beastie"
It was originally blue which was supposed to suggest a pollution free sky.
Ironically, the pollution has turned it an odd gray color.

"Concerto"
These are big chimes.

"Hearsay"
The pipes are connected below ground so you can talk through them.

"Bearable Lightness"
It's under repair.  But, it's about being weightless. 

Kate bought a fan.  She brings it everywhere.  She's like Scarlett O'Hara.
I expect swooning at all times.

It was Halloween today.  We pretty much skipped it entirely, except for wearing the Halloween goodies that Grandma Ellie sent with the girls.

Bruce and I spoke at church yesterday.  It's no guarantee that we won't be speaking again before we go, but it was nice to get it out of the way.  We go to church with a General Authority, so I was nervous the whole time that he was going to stand up and correct me, but he didn't.  Bruce also was called to teach Sunday School, and I've been called to play piano in Sacrament meeting and Primary.  I was a little disappointed.  I couldn't even hide it.  I know that I have definitely been cushioned by being a Mormon in Utah County, where many are willing and available to serve.  I was hoping to have some adult company and be able to meet some of the sisters and have a break from my kids, but it isn't to be.  I'm not mad and going inactive; it just feels a little like a "Round peg, meet round hole" situation.  But, I'll come around.  I know that life in a branch is different and sometimes you just have got to do what you've got to do.  I'll probably even like it by the time we leave.