A Week in the Life: Saturday

view from our balcony

I don't know what it is about Saturdays here, but they seem to average on the sunny and beautiful here.  Even though it is not really a day off, still a lot to do on Saturday, somehow it's still nicer to have a pleasant day to do everything on.

This Saturday was much like any other.  We get up just a little later.  But then we get online for our weekly chat with Erin.  Sometimes we get to see Justice on video with her, or sometimes he's already in bed and we just chat and catch up with each other.  It is definitely something to look forward to. 

our local market

Next it was off to the market.  Even though most folks here go to the market just about every day I have not yet been able to shed the habit of a weekly shopping trip.  Although this week the guy I buy my cooked red beans and the market was out by the time I arrived so I may have to go back a bit later in the week so I can make the taco bean salad I was planning for dinner this week.  It's nice going to the market when we don't feel quite so rushed.  We get to chat and connect with people there.  I had to buy something from a little shop and we were talking with the lady that runs it.  She asked if we were from England.  Mark told her no, we were Americans.  Then (jokingly) he asked her what country she was from.  She found that hilarious.  Those kind of simple exchanges, especially when we laugh together really breaks the ice and helps us to grow in relationship. 

After we got back Mark had to head off to class.  His contract is running out with this school, but they REALLY like him so they have asked him to sign a new one.  He is really considering what he should do, because it does help our income but it also eats into his time for "other" stuff.  But he's also seeing it as a bridge to connect with people.  Please remember us as he considers this.

While he was gone I caught up on some computer work and then started studying a Counseling book related to the Member Care work I do here.  There is a Counseling conference coming up in October and I am looking forward to it and want to be prepared.

About every other week, Mark and I try to go out and do something.  As it happened this Saturday there was a special deal on a "Dinner and a Movie" at a place called Nordica.  It is a art gallery/performance venue/cafe.  So  after Mark got back from class we went over there.  It was raining lightly but we made it over without getting too wet.  We had a nice dinner.  Since there was a bit of time before the movie we walked around outside.  It is coming up on that holiday where people burn paper offerings to relatives who have died.  A paper car, house, play money, cell phone, anything they would like.  So all along the sidewalks were either small fires as things were being burned or piles of leftover ashes.

Then it was time for the movie so we went back.  It was set up in a back room with couches and floor pillows and projected on bedsheet.  It was called "Across the Universe"  Kind of a rock opera based on Beatles songs.  Very interesting.

Because we were riding double the battery on the bike was starting to run down.  We took our time heading back trying to conserve the battery.  Usually we make it all the way home, even if just barely, but this time we had to walk a few blocks.  We also discovered that the back tire had gone flat.  Oh well, lol.  It is parked in the garage and will get repaired sometime on Monday.

Because the movie ran late and we had to push the bike we didn't get home till after 11pm.  Late night tonight, early morning tomorrow!

Cheers!