The Tradition Continues

No, this post isn't about my Fall Facial Hair, though that post is soon in coming. It's about a Christmas ornament.

Every year since we got married, Stacy and I have bought a Christmas tree ornament to represent that year, and it's become one of our favorite family traditions. This week, Stacy finally found the Asia O'Hare's 2013 Christmas Ornament:

Is Stacy pregnant, you might ask? No, definitely not. Are these little versions of traditional Himalayan boots adorable? Absolutely.

Just to reiterate: Tradition. Adorable boots. No baby.

October Has Been a Good Month...

For pictures of me with my (super hot) wife.

On the set of a TV show we were asked to be extras in.

Picnic. Cows.

Canadian Thanksgiving. Or Columbus Day, as it is more properly known.

She's hot and she's mine. Sorry I'm not sorry.

Magical Meat Fest

Despite being well into the semester, our school thought it might be nice to stage an "Opening Ceremony" (6 weeks after school started). One of our classmates gave a speech in 3 languages (very impressive - but not the best part of the event)

and then...

We went to a buffet that had all-you-can-eat steak tips and lamb chops. Oh my.

Pictured above is my second plate of steak. I made 4 more trips for steak, until they ran out, and then switched to lamb chops. I think I finished with 6 lamb chops under my belt.

In case you didn't know the O'Hare motto, it's "Eat through the pain."

Represent

A week ago, I was asked to represent the school, along with a handful of students, at a banquet being held by the city government. Perfect chance to strut the new bow tie my mom bought for me this summer.

Southern Swag. Thanks Mom!

So Much More Than Shoes

So, yesterday I announced that we didn't have anything exciting going on in our lives. Boy was I wrong.

My dad mailed us a package with some things we had ordered for ourselves and had delivered to my folks' house, including a pair of shoes I'd ordered for this winter.

When I opened up the package, lo and behold, my shoes were there - filled with quite the surprise:

Now, if you don't know, I love Atomic Fireballs. So much so that I think I have cracked both of my back bottom molars on Fireballs in the past year. No worry, science is making great advances these days, I'm sure they'll come up with a solution.

Now I'm stocked for at least another 6 months of dental destroying delight.

News Flash: Week of October 13

Literally nothing exciting is happening in our lives this week. Nothing.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving in Canada. Happy Thanksgiving, Canada.

Y'all know what I'm talking about.

September in Review

Here's a video compiled from last month's events...or anytime I remembered to bring a camera. Footage includes a trip to a village, Bathing Festival (where all the locals go to the river to bathe or wash their clothes), ultimate frisbee, frisbee golf, soccer, and other random clips. 

A lot of jumpy video this time. Just close your eyes, and the spinning should stop.

Oops, I Did It Again

Shameless Britney Spears reference - classic. But I digress...

Before we went home for the summer, I made myself a bow tie (maybe you recall). I then gave that bow tie to my brother Isaac as a wedding gift, leaving me "American-flag-bow-tie-less."

Don't sweat Isaac's swag.

Since I had a little of the material left, I decided to make myself an identical bow tie. That way Isaac and I can wear them at the same time. So cute. Twinning.

Here's how it went down:

Gather materials - fabric and bow tie to act as a pattern.

Lay out the material...

... lay out the template bow tie...

... and mark it.

Now we've got a template to work with. Time to cut it out.

Now just pin it and sew it.

Doing work... *by hand*

Sewing complete, time to flip it inside out

Done-ski!

Don't sweat my swag either...

Have You Ever Seen A Shattered Dream?

I don't mean a dejected person, moping around because their hopes have been dashed. What I mean is, have you ever seen a shattered dream captured on film? Well, today is your lucky day.

Three weeks ago or so, the mother of one of the teachers on campus here (another American) sent a package and included some goodies for Stacy and I. My request? Cinnamon Life cereal.

Unfortunately, in transit, most of the items in the package exploded or were shaken open, including a can of "spider spray" insecticide for the friend whose mother mailed the box. So, for the better part of a month while the box was in transit, the insecticide made its way into my box of Life cereal, and ultimately into the bag itself, soaking the cereal.

I knew as soon as I tasted it that it was tainted, but lets be honest - I see 1 to 2 boxes of cereal a year, so throwing it out just didn't seem like an option. As I wrestled with whether to throw out the Life cereal over my second bowl of cereal (yep), Stacy made the decision for me - she threw it all out, into the trashcan. 

Thus, my shattered dream. Caught on film.