1: Anyone who looks at this entry should post this meme and their current wallpaper at their LiveJournal.
2: Explain in five sentences why you're using that wallpaper.
3: Don't change your wallpaper before doing this. The point is to see what you had on (shorts and a t-shirt).



This is an image of a Buddhist nun I took in Cambodia a few years ago. It is, I suppose, my favorite photograph. I love her serene smile.

If you look in the top right corner of my desktop, you will see a pdf of a pistachio gelato recipe. I can't make it because I can't find an essential ingredient. Send me a tube of Bronte Pistachio paste, and I'll send you a print of the nun photograph! :)

We knew we had to legalize our marriage in order to be able to do the paperwork that allows Malida to stay here beyond the three months allowed by her fiancee visa. We just hadn't really planned anything out beyond her getting here.

Most of the time she's been here, we've been sightseeing and getting used to each other. It's been fun, but more like being on vacation that being in a long-term relationship.

Anyway, after having an argument about something else and not talking to each other for a day, we began to talk about what we wanted to do. She was (understandably) a little nervous about being here and not really having a plan, and pretty much being dependent on me for everything.

So we sat down and made a plan. The first thing was to get married. We wanted it simple, so we decided to go to the courthouse and just do it. I made an appointment at the courthouse, and we went out and shopped for rings.

We went down there first thing wednesday morning. It was pretty easy. We stood before the county recorder and said some simple vows, exchanged rings, and that was it. After we were done, we went to the park and took some pictures, and then went to the International House of Pancakes for breakfast.

We came home and made some sticky rice and pork, then got in the car and headed for Yosemite. We spent the first night outside the park in a town called Mariposa.

We went to dinner at a nice place with good food, and mentioned to the server that we had just gotten married. When she brought us the bill, there was a card on it from the owners, informing us that they had covered our bill. It was pretty cool.

Yosemite was perfect. We only spent two days there, but it felt like a week. Malida thinks it's the most beautiful place in the world.

Now it's on to whatever our real lives will be.

atop sentinel dome

we got married this morning (US-style) and then had a big plate of blueberry pancakes!

1. The million pigs in the house ("it's like living in a zoo of pigs!")
2. Mexican mangoes ("they smell funny")
3. Paying $6 for grapes in the grocery store (too much--very ugly!)
4. Thai food in the thai restaurant ("not yummy and too expensive!")
5. Infomercials (look interesting at first, then they say 'CALL NOW!'")
6. Using the clothes dryer ("there are many sun outside!')

"that's all now--maybe ask me again when I am upset."

1. Waffles
2. The first season of Lost
3. "My garden with vegetables"
4. Wing Wah asian market
5. Galt farmer's market
6. The espresso maker
7. The california coast
8. Big roses
9. Walking to the park
10. Sitting in the sun in the morning time with husband

all is well. :)

We're in Taiwan, waiting for our flight home.

I was a little anxious this morning--the protests in Bangkok heated up overnight, and they had shut down the train station and a bunch of roads, but not the one to the airport. We left the hotel early and got there without any problems, but there were a bunch of police and troops lining the road near the airport, anticipating trouble.

I didn't really relax until we were in the air.

Just as the plane took off, I heard Malida whisper, "bye-bye Bangkok--I see you again."

rod--the husband of malida's grandma, and village elder.