The Rain and the Ants...

One of the kids favorite pasttimes is Play Doh! What is it about squishy stuff that makes a mess?

Last week, we had a typhoon (hurricane) move through the eastern Philippines. While it missed us, it did bring a lot of cooler weather and rain. We enjoyed playing in said rain. Little did I know the cultural mud puddle I was stepping into. I brought wee little Ellie inside, all dripping wet and only a little muddy, and my helper whisked her away in a hurry.

Why, I ask, are you stripping her down and putting her in to the tub, soaping her down and suds-ing her up?

Of course, she replied, you have to give them a bath after they play in the rain!

Why, I asked (Do I sound like I have the scourge of 3 year olds? 'Why' syndrome?).

They'll get sick if you don't! she says.

You learn someth'n every day, now don't ya?

Our motorbike is our form of transportation here. Here, Ben and Ty are headed to the hangar with Ben's sister on the back.

This morning at 6 am, while getting ready to go to the hangar and prepare for a today's flight, Ben discovered ants in his bike. The little beasts had formed an encampment somewhere inside for their new nest. Thankfully, we successfully dissuaded the ants from making it permanent. It's amazing what your Tagalog (the national language here) and a little Baygon can do...

10 Steps to Internet Installation

1. Go to the office. Ask about getting internet. They agree to come and check
2. Go home. In an ironic twist of fate, you lose cell phone connection and they are unable to call to verify address and come
3. Go back to office another day. Sign up for account so they can check for coverage
4. Go home. They come, crawl on your roof, up your tree, and tell you that you can either refund or build a 70 foot antenna (A WHAT!?)
5. Call to cancel order and ask for refund
6. Husband figures out how to build 80 foot antenna. Shimmies up tree like monkey and fastens it to tree at 20 foot, 40 foot, and 60 foot levels. Thank God for agile husband and safety harnesses
7. Go back to office. Sales lady remembers you by first name and asks where your very energetic baby is. Ask if it’s possible to renew. Find out it is not. Sign up for new account under husband’s name
8. Go home. Wait. They don’t come. Inform them you have 80 foot antenna. Spend entire day off waiting for them, finally leaving for an errand at dusk. While you are on the motorbike, they call to inform you they are at your gate ready to install. Rush home.
9. They install box at top of antenna. Play ornery tricks on them as they try to check for internet connection by unplugging their different cords (oops).
10. Enter information onto computer and watch that high speed go! Zoom, sputter, sputter, zoom…

Another Day Flying

We got to take a trip with Ben into one of the airstrips he's flying into. The kids really enjoyed it! It's a rare opportunity for the whole pilot family to go into the tribe, since I will be doing flight following. The ear muff things were way cool and the drone of the airplane made for some really nice naps!

Time to Fly

This is the runway that Ben is landing on today. It is one of the final airstrips he is learning about as we take over the flight program here on Palawan. I've been sitting beside the radio listening to the static and timely updates from him as he is flying.