Tres Chic Jungle Attire

Courtney, Grace, Pip and Tabs.
Just got back from date night--we went to Joey's for supper to discuss our latest plans. Mist is at a youth group get together and Tabs baby sat while we were out. We received several worried phone calls from the Tabs about a possible fire on the mountain across from our house.  It rained all day and was raining when she called so we assured her that the fire would not spread to our home. But I had her call Auntie down the street to assess the fire situation and told her we would be home shortly and to call back if she was still concerned. As Peter and I drove home we both speculated that the "smoke" was actually mist from the lake. As we climbed our mountain the "smoke" was indeed mist, which hung low, smothering the mountains.
We could see that if Tabs thought all of that mist was smoke, she should have been very worried--to the point of evacuation! Our little worry wort.
Pip is a worry wort  in training. Today while shopping at Winners she announced that she wanted to be a baby again. When I be a baby again? My answer was most disappointing to her. You were already a baby, now you're a little girl, next you'll be a big girl and then an adult. She wasn't interested in growing up. No. She wanted to be a baby again so that she would never grow old and die. I don't want to die mom. If I stay a baby I won't die. I explained to her that sometimes even babies die: if they get really sick or haven't enough food or water and they starve. I gonna get really sick mom? I explained that no, she was healthy. As long as you drink water and eat each day you'll be fine and healthy. You'll live to be a very old lady. The questions kept coming. How old will I be when I an old lady? How many sleeps until I old lady?
No more boring shopping with mom--I have to keep her royally entertained or else it's gloom and doom.
Reading David Sedaris essays--so funny.
Entire research is hanging by a fine balance. Such is academia--frightening.
My mom purchased safari net-hats for Peter and I--a relief that now I know we''ll be looking tres chic trudging through the jungle in the dark. Now I just need to come up with some sort of high-top leather boots to avoid snake bites. Mist refuses to let me borrow her metallic-silver Doc Martins. So many blasted dangers in the jungle it is amazing anyone dares safari at all!
Looks like we'll do one night in Hong Kong on the way home--5* hotel too :)

Tiger Ears

Pip in her "tiger ears" hair style created by her sis Mistaya.

Just picked up the Tabs from school. She called saying she had upset gastro track. Home again for the day. I am starting my thesis prep today--see how nicely I can stall!? 

Mist is going out with friends tonight--a last youth night of the season so Peter and I have postponed date night until tomorrow.

Grace and Courtney arriving for the long weekend on Saturday. I hope the warm weather comes back--it is cooler today.

Purchased for rose bushes for my back slope. I didn't realize how much I adore roses until I walked out into the yard behind the greenhouses and spotted acres of rose plants waiting for a new home. I felt giddy in love. They are so beautiful in every way and as luck would have it, they are the only plant that I have any luck growing--roses and lavender that is. 

Malaysia trip looking good: 2 nights Kuala Lumpur, jungle railway to Taman Negara Park (boat or jeep to Rainforest Resort) for 2 nights of jungle safari, jungle railway to coast and boat to Perhetian Islands for 6 nights, boat and railway to Penang for four nights at 5* hotel for conference. Home through Hong Kong. Must get way too many travel vaccs: typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, Hep A & B. Not to mention all of the jungle fevers that I can't get shots for--it is a little unnerving! And I must wear long pants in boots for the safari--leeches and snakes.

Pip at preschool so I really must tackle the last MA frontier: my thesis...