Night swimming and U.S. Markets

I just read a 4 page article via the New York Times that did a fairly easy to understand explanation about what's been happening in the U.S. markets that led to the big +700 drop. Have a read: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/02/business/02crisis.html?pagewanted=1&exprod=myyahoo

We attempted yesterday to go visit car dealerships in town, but they were all closed. I wanted to go test drive new stuff, but then buy used. We ended up at a great garden shop, and I bought an aloe vera plant, two new very large ceramic blue glazed pots, and a large metal tower/obelisk kind of thing for my rapidly expanding pothos ivy. The house plants we have here are growing at an astounding pace. We've planted them in what doubles here for potting soil (which doesn't exist). It's a composty mix of stuff. We add some old fashioned plant food sticks and coffee grounds. And voila, gigantic house plants. Also, the husband has created these self watering things out of old plastic water bottles.

It was great fun eating out yesterday for lunch. The kids each had a Subway and the husband and I shared a MASSIVE plate of tempura chicken with rice. It was just so wonderful to be able to eat during daylight!

After lunch and the garden center, we went to a fave little grocery store in the city. There were the usual notices up posted by fellow ex-pats trying to sell stuff. A notice for a newer Jeep Wrangler with large push bar, a rack of lights and 4 1/2 inch lift caught my eye. The guy wanting to sell it drove to the little store the moment I called him. I loved that Wrangler. As we get our cash together, I think we'll end up with another Jeep. The 4door ones are just way out of financial reach. And a Wrangler is easy to resell here. So...the car hunt continues.

And....some hopeful upcoming trips for us: Drum roll please......

Assuming money stays ok for us, we really are hoping to visit the Maldives in the Spring. I'd love to do the whole 'take a float plane to the hotel on a private island thing', but I think I scared my dad a bit too much with that idea! That's ok; we probably will have to stay on the main island just because of cost. But, I'm determined to stay in a room on a pier where I can just jump in the water and still avoid the bugs etc...Hope, hope, hope! http://www.caranddriving.com/features2/300/Travel%20-%20Maldives%20-%20Land%20Without%20Roads.jpg

http://www.silkroadandbeyond.co.uk/images/360_maldives_b_004.jpg

And, it's looking like next fall we will spend about a week in Switzerland on Lake Geneva. The husband, more than likely, will need to make the trip for work. So, the kids and I will fly with him and share the hotel. He can do all the business he wants/needs, and the kids and I will pack boots and back packs and say, "See ya later Dad!" It's a French speaking region, but I'll try to brush up on my very dusty rusty Deutsch just in case it could help. This is just the link for a google seach of images: http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:*&resnum=0&q=lausanne&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

The video post today is Munchkin #2 diving down in the pool swimming to Dad. We love swimming at night. It's still warm out, but not cooking!

I just have remind myself daily that I am not in control! Why I've been blessed with this life is beyond me. But, I'm trying to use it as best I can! As my volunteering gets busy, I'll keep folks posted. Email me if you'd like the details.

And, check the left side of the blog page for new pics.

Peace.