Countdown to Cincinnati: Initiated!

Well, the rain has stopped. It hasn't rained for about a week I think, and we have been so hot here. We got all those new screens installed and now it's hot hot hot. Too hot to keep the windows open :( While I was out walking with Delilah this morning, it looked like it was about to rain, but no such luck. All the clouds burned off, and we are back to the heat wave.

So being here, I have noticed that pretty much everyone here uses those fluorescent energy saver light bulbs. I am so not a fan. I like more homey low key lighting. So finally, at a new store here that I love- Home Sentry (a little like Bed, Bath & Beyond, with lots of American stuff), I found some natural light bulbs! I was so excited, and started switching out the lights in the apartment. I love the way it feels. It seems homey, and not so harsh and bright. Then I realized that all of a sudden all kinds of bugs were making their way in. As it turns out.. bugs are much more attracted to the natural light vs. fluorescent. UGH. This is a picture of the area around one of the lights after turning it off. Bug central.



So much for filling this place with natural light.

Another thing that way different than I am used to is the bill paying process here. Until this weekend, I was blissfully in the dark of how it's done. In the US, when you have a bill to pay, you just set up a payment online, or set up auto-pay from your bank account. In rare instances, you send a check. Here, none of those is an option. You have to take cash to the bank used by the company, and submit the payment. For instance, we had to go pay our HOA/administration fees. So Carlos had to withdraw money at his bank, we got the paper bill, took it to the bank where our HOA has an account, paid it, and then got the receipt. It took an entire morning. Since you can't bank online, or even use checks, the lines at the bank are ridiculous (just as you would assume).

So we are within a month from the Flying Pig. My family is doing the relay, and we have two teams set up! It will be so fun, but I have just one problem... I am completely out of shape. I have barely done anything since we have been here, and this morning I went out for a run. Who are we kidding? A run walk. I have a lot of work ahead of me if I plan to run 6 miles. But I did 13.1 last year and it was fine.. So hopefully this year is the same :)

The countdown is beginning!!!!!!!! We go home in 19 days! I love it here, and everything here is great.. But I am homesick. We have been here over 3 months, and I am used to being around my family daily, so it has been a long time away. The time has flown, but just in the last week or two I have just really started getting antsy to get home. I miss going places with my family and seeing them all the time. I also am really missing outdoor activities with the kids. There space here to play outside a little, but it is different. We don't have a great zoo with all kinds of animals, we don't have parks to go to, and most importantly, I don't have friends and family here. I love doing stuff with Carlos' mom during that day, and doing that is one reason that I wanted to come here in the first place.. But nothing compares to the feeling of being home. I have never felt unsafe here, but I always have my guard up. I also always feel like I am attracting attention. I don't really feel like I blend in here totally. Especially if I am speaking. It will be so nice to be in a comfortable place, where I can really relax, put my feet up, and enjoy the suburban life :)