They came, we saw, we spelunkered...

My parents finally made the trip down this last week. They arrived last Saturday at 11:00 pm and we took them to the airport at 5:30 this morning. It was a full, fun week!

Last Sunday
We took their first day here pretty easy. We got up late and watched some TV before deciding to go to Los Bohios for lunch with some friends. Brent had his friend Colton here from Colorado so they went with us. We had the fantastic crab dip we ate with Joy and Hoshi and then had some real Puerto Rican cuisine. My dad even got adventurous and tried Seafood Mofongo. Yum!


Monday
On Monday we were going to go to Ponce and to try to meet "Chi Chi" Rodriguez but things in Ponce were closed and it was raining so instead we drove to San Juan. We went to Casa Bacardi & Casa Don Q -of course!- and then walked around Fort San Cristobal. After the fort we walked down to the docks and around Old San Juan in search of Christmas gifts. We even got my mom to take a few sips at Bacardi...until she started to get too hot and have some hives! Ya gotta love a woman allergic to alcohol for trying!! Here are some pics of our trip Monday.







Tuesday
On Tuesday we made our first attempt to meet the famous golfer "Chi Chi" Rodriguez at his golf resort El Legado. We drove out there and were told he had just left. We stood around looking at his pictures and golf shop for a while and then left. We continued on to Ponce for a trolley ride and more shopping. Unfortunately all of the museums we were to see during our trolley ride were closed so we made only 1 stop. We drove by the oldest tree in Ponce. Then we stopped at a market where we got everyone to try Mavi. Mavi is a juice that is fermented tree bark. We got the man selling it to show us the tree bark. It's actually very good...it's at least interesting. Then we shopped around the plaza before going to La Guancha (the dock/marina in Ponce) expecting to eat lunch. For some reason all of the restaurants were closed! Not much luck in Ponce on Tuesday.





Wednesday
Attempt #2 was made to meet "Chi Chi" and again we were told he had just left. I decided that he is an elusive little creature who in fact might not exist... After being disappointed again we decided to just spend the day at the beach. We needed to be home at a decent hour to start getting things ready for Thanksgiving. We went to a new beach and it was alright but nothing too spectacular. We then decided to just go to our old faithful Lighthouse Beach. We got there and our jaws dropped. There is barely a beach there anymore!! You can't get to the rocks we usually walk to, our "spot" in the shade is completely gone and there is so much erosion from the hurricanes and tropical storms. We couldn't believe it! We decided to go ahead and stay there but we didn't know for how long because the sky was awfully dark.




Thursday
Thursday, as you all know, was Thanksgiving so we didn't go anywhere. We had 11 people over for lunch and mom and I cooked up some good food! We got up around 8:00 -not too early!- and started the turkey. Things went very well and we had PLENTY of food...plenty of leftovers! Check it out...a DOUBLE DECKER CHOCOLATE PIE!!!!




Friday
Our third and final attempt to meet "Chi Chi" happened on Friday. FINALLY...he does exist!! He was so nice & funny. He sat and talked with us for a long time. He signed some autographs for us. Very down to earth!


After that we drove to Utuado to spelunker (were you wondering when that was coming?) in some caves. We were told by Mendez and his son Alex that it would be a view to die for. Better be good because this is way out of my mom's element. She doesn't like dark enclosed places. On top of that we had to hike a little and climb down some steep areas to get there. AND there were bats all around which my mom hates. We were doing really well walking through the cave with our flashlights and then we saw it..."the window". OH MY GOD!!! It was the most amazing view! I know from pictures that it doesn't look real but I assure you it was. We will definitely be going back there before we move. It was kind of fun to get inside the caves and explore. After that we drove to a lake and took a look around before arriving back home to let mom and dad pack up.









Saturday
Saturday wasn't too eventful...we took mom and dad to the airport at 6:00 in the morning and then we came home. I tutored for 3 hours in the afternoon and we caught up with Katie who got home late Friday night. She actually got up at 5:00 in the morning just to meet my parents!! Isn't she cute?!?! Now we start the long wait to come home. I thought seeing my parents at Thanksgiving would make not going home at Christmas easier on us...we'll see! Courtney has an interview on Tuesday for a job back in Kansas for next year so keep your fingers crossed for him! Hopefully he'll get that job then I'll get one and everything will fall into place for us to come home. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with your families!

Happy Thanksgiving from Puerto Rico!

Hello everyone! We just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving! Mom and Dad are here and we're having a great time. We had tons of food today and are getting ready to watch my Cowboys. We had all of the American teachers plus 3 extra people and it's been a great Thanksgiving. Here's a Thanksgiving sign I made in the sand yesterday with Courtney's coconut. More posts to come about Mom and Dad's trip later. We love you all!

What a great day at Wal-Mart!

That's right people, the Marshes had an exciting and fun filled day of shopping at Super Wal-Mart today! Who doesn't love Wal-Mart??? (Don't answer that) Allow me to backtrack...Yesterday Brent got his birthday present in the mail from his parents and it was a Wii. It is so much fun! The boys went to get some accessories and games for the Wii and Kate and I stayed behind to play. We played tennis (the most fun!), we bowled, and we boxed. The boxing game is quite a workout! My arms are feeling it today...as they should be because I KOd 2 different guys. This morning we got up and did laundry (no surprise) and then drove to Santa Isabel to do shopping for Thanksgiving. I know it sounds early but I knew if I didn't go I wouldn't get the good stuff. They're not to great about restocking shelves down here in PR. You can wait for the same thing for weeks (or even months) before they get more and I didn't want to take a chance. We ate at Taco Bell before shopping...we really took our fast food Mexican eating for granted in Kansas. Then we got to Wally World and found out that Carlito (a professional wrestler for the WWE) was there to sign autographs. How exciting! In case you didn't know, Courtney USED to be a huge wrestling fan. Not so much now but it was still neat to see the man. He's rather funny looking and his picture was of him with an apple (Scott, I don't think it was a Honey Crisp!). Not quite sure about his love for apples but I've heard he eats them and spits them on people. Interesting. Anyway, then we were walking along and this little boy was being quite the pain in the butt to his mama. So she went behind and spanked his little hiney! We couldn't believe it! First time we'd ever seen it here. These kids unfortunately don't get much discipline at home so it was surprising to see this happen in public. Wow! What a day! Tomorrow will be a fun filled day of, well, nothing but watching football. Then work all week and wait patiently for 11:00 Saturday night which is when my parents will arrive. We can't wait for them to get here and now we're ready for Thanksgiving which will be pretty big this year. Have a great week!

Hoshi Was Here

(I want you to read that title with the thought that it was written on a bathroom wall or something like that...kay?) Well, Kody was here for a fast trip over the weekend. We left from work Thursday to pick him up and he was gone again Sunday afternoon. For such a quick trip it was quite relaxing! On Friday Courtney spent the day with him and they went to Old San Juan (OSJ) and had a good time. They did the usual Bacardi distillery, Don Q museum/bar, walk around, etc. Friday night we headed to Guavate for some amazing lechon. It was so good this time! I can't wait to take my parents up there in 2 weeks to try it out! The only thing that could have made that experience more Puerto Rican would have been if there were Dominoes being played! Anyway ~ Saturday we slept in and then drove to a beach we had never been to before. It was just past our "lighthouse beach" in Maunabo in a town called Yaubucoa. It was actually very nice. There were some people there surfing and we tried out boogyboarding a little. It was pretty rocky up by the shore so I came home with some scrapes and bruises but oh well! Tis the life of a boogyboarding woman! On the way home we stopped at the same restaurant we had the awesome crab dip with Joy and the boys and had it again. It is so good...if you like crab. We also ordered paella for 3 which took an hour and 20 minutes to get but again was fantastic!! I'd never had it before and it was so filling. All of the seafood was fresh. The waitress told us our lobster had just been out swimming the morning before! I had my first try of oysters...interesting. The lobster, shrimp, red snapper, rice, all amazing!! There was this nice man who came out and served us one at a time and I of course had to take pictures. It was so nice to sit by the ocean, listen to the waves crashing, and enjoy a great meal. We decided that before we move home (June is just around the corner people!) we want all of the teachers to go there for a meal together. We'll see if that happens! Saturday night we had Sara over and just sat around talking, drinking, whatever, as we've been known to do from time to time at Casa Benny. Then yesterday it was home to KS for Hoshi. We had a great visit and are so glad he made it down. He was one of those guests that said he'd come and we thought, "Sure, see ya when ya get here!" and he actually did it! Mom and Dad are the next visitors in 2 weeks!! I'm so excited to finally get to show them our "home" for the last year and a half. In case I've not let you know, we are not coming home for Christmas this year. We are broke!! Seeing my parents for Thanksgiving will make not coming home in December much easier. Then we'll be moved home in June sometime! Things are looking up for a return to Leavenworth which would be the best! Don't worry, there will be a huge home warming/welcome home bash when we get there and you'll all be invited...

"TinkerKel" turns 29

That's right folks, yesterday was my 29th birthday! It didn't start out so great and there was much drama...is that a sign of what's to come in my thirties?! On Friday night Courtney and I went to get some things for my party on Saturday. While we were out Brent called and said the power was out. This was at about 6:00 Friday evening. It had been raining all day due to what is now called Tropical Depression 16 and should become Tropical Storm Noel today. (Tropical Storm Noel is official and will should drop an additional 3-5 inches on us today...Lord let it stop!) It rained nonstop Friday, Friday night, Saturday, Saturday night, and today...you get the picture...it's WET here! Anyway ~ We grabbed dinner and came home expecting to have power. Called the power company many times and each time were today, "Oh sure you'll have power tonight." That's electrical company code for, "Screw you, you're not that important!" After attempting to sleep Friday night in the heat and with all the loud noises that come with living on this island we awoke yesterday morning to, you guessed it, no power! Okay, no problem, it will be on soon. Called the power company again and got the same answer to which I said, "Oh, that means we won't get power today, right?!" We decided to call Tom, another American teacher, to see if he had power which he did. We took all of our things to be charged up over there: cell phones, computers, PSPs, etc. Came home to see about the power, surely it would be on...nope! Back to Tom's to take showers because our Karaoke DJ would be in town around 6:30 to set up and Courtney needed to go be his assistant. Went back to the house to get ready after showering to yet again, no power. Enough of this, we load up all of our costume things and some drinks and head back to Tom's with the Dills to get ready...might as well make the best out of this! Katie and I had fun playing with mustaches that she bought in hopes that Brent would shave his and wear one to be her "gangsta" man to her flapper. Joel (DJ) arrived and he and Courtney head to the bar only to find it locked up and noone there. In the meantime we get a call saying people around town have heard the party is cancelled due to the weather. WHAT?!?! Why would they cancel a party and not tell the people throwing it?!?! I was taking my wig off to go hurt Jorge when Courtney called back and said Jorge was just running late and everything was good. Okay so I had to get ready again. We decided we all needed to eat before partying so Brent went to grab food while Katie and I grabbed a few things from home where we discovered we finally had power!! It was only off for 26 hours this time. So we got food and headed to the bar where there were already party goers, most dressed in costumes. We had an absolute blast! Today will just be recovering and watching football. I should probably clean house too because Hoshi will be here on Thursday for a visit. Enjoy the pics and have a spooktacular Halloween!

Mustaches and wigs are FUN!







Courtney before and after! I can't believe he let Katie put on makeup and he let me paint his nails!!





Friends at the party











The Casa Benny 5 Crew







Sidenote: Honestly people, I did not realize how much skin I was showing until I saw the pictures. I apologize for any feelings of nausea while looking at the pictures!!

Guamaní Private School

Well my husband, parents, and sister must really love me. This year for my birthday I wanted a new digital camera because ours is pretty old. (It's old in technology age!) Last weekend before our 5K my hubby presented me with a new BEAUTIFUL high tech digital camera. I have been taking pictures of everything with it! Plus - this weekend Katie and I went shopping and got some new outfits and looked so cute this morning so we decided it was time to get a staff picture at GPS. We finally got all the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade teachers together and then Kate got Courtney's crew of 4th, 5th, and 6th grade teachers together for a pic. The first picture of the primary elementary group we're all mixed together but for the 2nd picture you can see we're all showing what grade level we're at. Yes, Courtney and Brent are the only men in the Elementary level. Our P.E. and Computer teachers are men too but they weren't around for pictures. Nothing else too exciting to report. We had a pretty lazy weekend but this weekend won't be. My 29th Birthday is Saturday so we're having a Birthday/Halloween party at JR Pub (Jorge's Bar). It should be tons of fun if you want to come celebrate with us!! I will definitely have pictures of that...we went all out this Halloween! Oh - I almost forgot - how 'bout them COWBOYS?!?!

5K Results Update

We checked out our results today and we are so excited!! There were 3,397 people who finished the 5K and out of those I got 816th place and Katie got 818th place!! Not too shabby for beginning runners. I also checked out men vs. women and there were 2,088 women who participated. Of that number I got 198th place and Katie got 199th place! I can't believe it!! Top 200 out of 2,000! If you want to check it out for yourself go to www.allsportcentral.com, on the right hand side you'll see "recent results", click on "Race for the Cure 5K San Juan, PR". Click on 1000 where it says "Top". We are on page 17. You can click on our individual names to see all of the places. Yahoo!

Our 5K! (Click on the bottom right corner to advance the pictures!)

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Hey...Are those people naked?

What an interesting Columbus Day Weekend! We took it easy on Saturday because I've been sick for the last week (real nice when I'm supposed to run on Sunday!) and Courtney had to help Papi (Mendez) with his car. Saturday was pretty uneventful - we went groccery shopping and watched a movie. On Sunday we got up ready to go to Albuergue Olimpico which is the Olympic training center with a wave pool and everything. That would have been great...if it were open to the public! Then we were going to go to El Tuque which is another water park - fun...if it were open still. After 2 strike outs we decided to just watch football and stay home. But Monday was a different story. We were bound and determined to go to another little island. We drove to a town where they usually have boats to take you around. There were no boats since it was Monday but we found a phone number to call for one. The man wanted way too much money and we wouldn't have gotten off of the boat. I was pretty excited about it because we could have snorkeled around a sunken ship and we would have gone to Monkey Island...yes people, an island completely inhabited with monkeys! We decided not to do that and instead drove to Fajardo to catch a boat to Palominito. If you'll recall from a post last March it's the island we went to with Sharon and Wilbur. It's the same on from the cover of the travel book. We found a cheap boat ride out there and hopped on! As we were making our way out there I said to my husband, "I dare you to run around naked on the island!" I knew we would be the only people out there...besides the Dills and Papi. As we pull up to the island Courtney says, "Hey...are those people naked?" Just then I look and see a woman handing her bikini top to her boyfriend as she gets in the water. Then it happened! I looked at the boat next to us and saw a man's "stuff" a little too close the the flaming hot BBQ grill!! We saw 5, count 'em, 5 naked people - 3 women and 2 men! What were we to do? We set up our chairs and the sun shelter away from them as to not be caught looking...how could we not look?!?! Papi took pictures of the nakedness!! Katie and I tried to not look and just talked and swam and what not...the men on the other hand were looking and looking and looking!! Who knew we would go to our first nude beach! When we got back on our boat they told us that happens alot when noone else is out there. Wow! And of course as the saying goes, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em which is exactly what we did! Who wants to come visit now?

Just kidding! Picture time: 1) Miller and Winston on Saturday...how bored was I? 2) A teensy tinsy lizard we found. 3) The Marshes and the Dills before heading to Palominito. 4) Papi and Courtney on the boat. 5) The Marshes on the boat. 6) The two 5K bound K's! 7) Papi being cool on the boat. 8) Courtney with Palomino in the background....you can go there if you're rich enough to stay at El Conquistador. 9) Where we set up camp with the lovely (not naked) island in the background. 10) Just keep swimming...and drinking... 11) Fixing Katie's sand boobs...yep folks, we buried her! 12) Buried alive!!