We a Cow! We a Pig!

I'm tired of all my long and wordy posts and ready for something lighthearted so here you go:

(I thought this picture was too funny to withold from you, even though I am back in the states and I am the author, this blog is about our family and so we still got to represent Dave, the lone man on the other side of the planet!)

This sign is on the butcher shop around the corner from where we live (or I guess I should say where Dave lives):


Now don't you feel like a barbeque?

There is nothing like a little good Korean advertising to get you chuckling and boost your spirits!

Twins

Well, with a title like that you just had to click and find out...sorry to burst your bubble, no I'm not pregnant with twins (well, hopefully I didn't just jinx myself)...Lucy and I were just wandering the streets looking for our twins...this was the closest we could find...
Bet you can't guess which baby belongs to which mother?

How would you respond?

Lucy gets it all. I am pretty much used to walking around while hearing "beautiful, cute, look at the baby, she looks like a doll" all in Korean, of course. Then some brave souls come up to me so kindly and translate for me, "She says your daughter looks like a doll," of course I reply "thank you," but think "Yes, I know the words for she looks like a doll, and you have no idea how many people have said that today," but they don't know, they think they are the first to fall in love with her, so I remain polite. Then there are those who just come take her out of her stroller without asking me and depending on my mood, I either give a smile that might be considered a grimace, or say "we have to go" and take my daughter. And there are those who ask to take pictures of her, and those who don't bother asking. Sometimes I get the urge to start taking pictures of them so they can see how it feels, but I resist and remind myself "well you can't blame them, Lucy is awfully cute." One of my favorite responses is that of the school girls, with their matching uniforms and matching haircuts. In unison they give a big "ahhhhhh, oh aigi, nomu cue (baby very cute)!" You would think the star of the in boy band had just walked by the way they yell, giggle, and sigh! But the reason I am writing this post is actually because I had a very unusual response the other day. Definitely a new one. We were walking in the park and a motorcycyle drove up (motorcycles here seem to be able to ride wherever they want, with cars or with pedestrians makes little difference). He looked at Lucy and immediately stopped his motorcycle, pointed at Lucy and just started laughing. I don't really know what I should have felt watching someone point at my child and laugh. Then he said "baby" and started to laugh harder, like the whole novelty of it was just too much to handle. I asked Lucy to say "hello" because it was a little awkward just standing there without saying anything to the laughing man. When she waved he laughed even harder, a deep belly laugh as if he was Santa Clause and someone had just told the best elf joke he had ever heard. Finally realizing he wasn't going to leave, I said "Lucy wave Bye Bye" and we started to walk away. Being in the good mood I was in I just laughed as I walked away. The more I thought about what had just happened, the more I laughed. What a scene? And who does that? Just gawk at a child pointing and laughing. Who does that? But, I knew it wasn't with mean intentions, we was just dumbstruck by the uniqueness of my child. So I guess his laugh was contagious, and now I have quite a memory of a funny little scene with a blond baby on the streets of Korea.

October I welcome you...

(sigh) October...this wondrous time of year, when orange scatters the horizon and pumpkin is the popular flavor. I realize not everyone celebrates the first day of October. Maybe it's because of my Birthday in October, which subsequently influenced my love of the Halloween Holiday, or because of my love for cats, even black ones, or the joy of crunchy leaves, (oh wait, I grew up in San Diego, where there is no such thing as seasons and falling leaves, now I am just getting carried away!). Today, my joy increases for the first day of October, let me tell you... I have been craving one of my favorite Korean meals that I was actually introduced to in the states (I tried to go back for more, but the management was changed and this item taken off the menu, hence my tastebud's dying quest to find it somewhere), and strangely hadn't had since coming to Korea and have been looking for just the excuse (it is a little high in price for our currently budget happy mentality). Happily, I found an occasion, October 1st. Oh glorious October 1st, please let me indulge in some Pumpkin Porridge (pronounced Hobak Jook in Korean). Ground up rice, pumpkin, sweet red bean, and "rice balls," (picture pumpkin, cream of wheat style) Hobak Jook, you make my October 1st complete! And who could resist after just one look...

Okay, I realize it doesn't look very appetizing, but I knew it would help you visualize my favorite Korean Meal of all times! I absolutely love pumpkin...pumpkin cookies, pumpkin pie, pumpkin pudding, pumpkin porridge...you name it! In fact, just for being the loving friend that you are and taking the time to read my post, I will indulge you with my favorite and easiest pumpkin dish: Pumpkin Pudding. 2 cups of pumpkin, 1 instant pudding package, 12 oz can of evaporated milk, pumpkin pie spice and voila this delight can be yours! Whisk pudding package and evap. milk, stir in pumpkin and spice (sometimes I just use Cinnamon and Nutmeg or Allspice if I don't have pumpkin pie spice), put this blessed treat in the refrigerator and prepare for a pumpkin lovers paradise! You may not know it now, but once you prepare this dish, you will realize your life has just been deeply enriched!

While we are on the topic, a perfect pumpkin picture worth posting twice...

And then it was over, another perfect day passed by and soon this month will be over... you know a day has reached perfection when... you forget that weather exists... the air is so perfect you can't even feel it...you are taking pictures of the back of your child's head at a playground...you couldn't help it... the glow of the sunshine is hitting her little curls just so...you are wandering slowly because you finally remembered to enjoy the moment...hold her little hand...let her run wherever she wants to go...

Such a perfect day your heart is aching...if only Winter didn't come after Fall... a lingering sad thought that all days couldn't be this wonderful...and will you remember how perfect Lucy is today? or will you forget...please don't forget...oh please October 1st live on in my memory...

In all her cuteness...

The Bishop's Wife brought this adorable dress to church for Lucy...unfortunately (or fortunately for Lucy perhaps) it was a little tight, so I gave it back, but took some pictures so I could always remember what a doll she looked like.
She had about 10 people gathered around, doting on her, taking pictures, the usual...and doesn't her face just say it all ("must I endure this fame? It's called blond. Get over it already!")?

A Sunday Lesson

I love living in this country. I am not going to lie. It has it's hard points like all things in life. For example, trying to go grocery shopping (between the absence of many familiar products, my inability to read the product names, nutrition information and ingredients, and the strangers who obsess over my child whenever I stop moving, it gets a little dicey at times). I quite often prefer spending the extra money, leaving my cupboards bare, and eating out twice a day. And then there is life without a clothes dryer...But on the other hand, there is so much to love! So much to discover...so much to learn...so much to experience...and isn't that most of what this existence is for, experiences? Sometimes, all I am experiencing is reflection. Yes, I have much more time to reflect, primarily because I don't speak Korean (yes, I try, but let's be honest learning 2 phrases a day hasn't exactly made me fluent yet). I must have been such a jabbermouth before that I didn't get to experience this wonderful sensation as often, but now I have fallen in love with it and see what the introverts have always held so dear. I find myself daydreaming my own new philosophies as I stroll about the world on the other side. However, this particular Sunday I left my realm of reflection that so often occurs when I visit Korean's homes. Usually, I chase after Lucy while Dave speaks with the men and the women work in the kitchen and I am left with a darling daughter and my thoughts to entertain me. This Sunday was different. This Sunday I was invited. Such a wonderful invitation. This Sunday I was a Korean (well from my perspective, not theirs of course). I entrusted Lucy to Dave, while I worked alongside the women in the kitchen. So joyous to work in the kitchen? Yes. As much as I have always loved this country, this was the first time I belonged in this country. Yes. My blond hair, blue eyes, and American smile belonged here. They taught me how to make KimBap (Kim-seaweed, Bap-Rice). Rice and vegetables, Kimchi and crab, wrapped in seaweed. And they taught me. A child's meal fit for a paper sack, yet it warmed my heart and made me belong. They could have taught me to make a meal fit for a king, but they chose the Korean Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich, and that is what made me belong. To work alongside them, in their element, making what they make best, changed a part of my heart into a Korean. And they ate them. The children, the husbands, the wives, they ate them. No, they ate mine. Even the ugly skinny KimBaps that the American made, they ate...and it filled my soul. It was only a few minutes, but for those few, I was a Korean and now I belong. Well, as much as an American girl can, I guess? I know that was a little dramatic, but these are the cultural experiences I have been craving my whole life. Learning to cook new food alongside Korean mothers...well, it fulfilled a part of me, that part that drove me to leave my home and come here in the first place, to seek culture and adventure and now someday, back in America, I will be able to share it with you...all because I was invited. I am sure they will never realize how much this kind gesture meant to me, as I am sure you would feel strange being thanked for showing someone the joys of making a PBJ, but I was just thrilled to be a part of it all, rather than just the American Bystander who can't do anything to help. It's all in the experience...

The Return of the Elders

Saturday, I got to dive a little deeper into Dave's mission days, as one of his favorite companions, KC Kern was visiting Korea. We met up in one of their old areas, Anseong (about 1 1/2 hours by bus from our home in Ansan), for a wonderful trip down memory lane (for Dave that is, I was just soaking up every detail from his mission that came back to him, and loved hearing new stories from his mission that I still hadn't heard after 3 years of marriage).

We met up with one of the former Elder's favorite investigators, Joyce, who treated us to a fancy Korean lunch. It was absolutely perfect, and I even tried octopus (don't worry it wasn't the live kind that they cut up in front of you, while you try to grab the legs with your chopsticks before they wriggle off your plate. Dave says you have to chew that kind really well or else they will suction to your throat. Sometimes I think my taste buds are turning Korean, and then I remember I still have along way to go!). I actually liked it, but just looking at the suction cups on the legs didn't make me want to eat a whole lot!

I thought you would get a kick out of how many dishes are on the table. In Korea you get a dish, and they also bring many many side dishes. Surprisingly, this picture was taken after they had already cleared the first course! Can you believe it?
Joyce took us on a scenic drive of Anseong...

...after we saw this sign we were worried we might crash into the lake. You will be happy to know we survived without any casualties!
Next we stopped at this Tea House. After the large lunch I couldn't imagine having anything else, so David and I shared a glass of hot Citron Juice (Orange, lemony hot drink, with cut up peels, very delicious and tasted packed with vitamin C) I was in love with how picturesque it was, from the large purple couches we sat on that reminded me of Belle in "Beauty and the Beast" to the gentle music and gorgeous view. Lovely is really the only word to describe this experience (Lucy enjoyed it as well, as she napped in Dave's arms, maybe that is why I had such a good time!).
Outside the Tea House I caught a cute picture of Lucy's ringlet...haha...I guess only a mother would notice that sort of thing about this picture. I am so glad the humidity here in Korea has brought out the curls on my little girl.
We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering the area. This area seemed a little more ancient, than the area we live in. Many houses reflected ancient architecture, there was more hidden alleyways, and altogether it was just brimming with character. I couldn't resist snapping a shot of these cute Grandmas just chillin' in the alleyway.
Here is Dave with KC outside their old house. They lived on the second floor, which means those lower two windows were theirs.
We ate a snack and watched Lucy play with Dave in the land of the smurfs. (I was so wishing I had some blue body paint and a white diaper so I could get a picture of my little baby in Smurfland...okay...just kidding, even for a funny picture I don't know if I would paint my daughter blue! But you have got to admit, this playground certainly does have the smurf feeling...)
I think this was the first time Lucy went on a slide with her Dad. Yay for mushroom slides!
I don't know if I was just being more observant because of the meandering feeling of the day, or what, but I sure saw a whole lot of spiders. I looked up in this alleyway and saw at least 40 of these gigantic spiders (yeah you think they look bad in this picture, up close they are neon!) I can only count 5 in this picture, but you have to imagine tons of these guys above our heads. The funny thing is I think my arachnophobia is getting a little better, because rather than running, I had to get a picture, then suddenly I imagined them all dropping from their webs and landing on us and my heart started racing and I immediately had to get out of there, but for a moment there, I did really well.
Here's one at the bus stop we found praying on a Cicada. This vicious sight totally helped me cope with my spider fears (yeah right!).
We found a traditional stone bridge...
And I took a million pictures as usual...I just couldn't get enough of the perfect reflection in the water!
They were preparing for a festival, setting up ancient stuff, so I think this guy was just tightening bolts and what not, but this picture still seemed to take me back a hundred years to the way things were in Ancient Asia...waterwheel, stone steps across the river, some reeds and a wide brimmed hat...I love it! A truly enjoyable day, picturesque to be precise, I hope it will forever remain like a picture in my mind!

Seoul Zoo

So after a month of talk, we finally made it to the zoo! Dave and I both happened to wake up really early on Friday (6:30 a.m., sometimes since Dave doesn't work until the afternoon we just snooze until 9:00 a.m.) and so spur of the moment I suggested we go to the Zoo (usually between sleeping until 9:00 a.m., Dave working at 3:00 p.m., and the Zoo being an hour away we just wouldn't have time, but with an early start I knew we could make it) and an hour later we were on our way! We knew we wouldn't be able to see everything in 4 hours so we just enjoyed what we could and vowed to come back in the spring when Lucy would enjoy it even more.

Unfortunately, the pictures just don't do the fun day justice. They are okay, but really the video did a much better job capturing the experience because the best part of the day was watching Lucy make animal noises and point with fascination saying "wow" or "ohhhhhh" or "oo oo oo" with the monkeys. I have been experiencing serious difficulties trying to upload videos, so you will have to wait until you visit us to see the great footage (which may be never for most of you). I am able to upload videos from my picture camera, but from the video camera it seems like too big a file or something. Oh well, I suppose watching our child point with wonder and excitement was probably a lot more fun for me and Dave than it would be for any of you anyway(well, maybe not the grandparents...sorry guys! Just come to Korea and see Lucy already!) I guess the pictures are still worth looking at:

The Korean Version of "The Wizard of Oz"...


Pretty little moments in the Flowers...



Don't you just want to snuggle up with one of these cuddly looking bears...

Lucy's first tunnel slide. Looks cute, huh? but at the top the rest of the Elephant was just bones. I found that funny.
The Elephants...
The Zebras...What a cute Dad, all wearing animal ears and everything...
We got these ears (zebra and giraffe) from cereal boxes so naturally I was obsessing over taking pictures at the Zoo with them.

Botanical Gardens...

Giraffes...
Rhinos...
And, of course, my two favorite animals (Daviraffe and Lucypotomus), who I can never take enough pictures of...

Don't Rain on My Parade

So, our life isn't just beaches and gorgeous sunsets...yes we are still living a normal mortal existence with ups and downs, as follows:

We had been looking forward to going to the Seoul Zoo all week (well actually all month we have been trying to take Lucy for her Birthday). Finally Saturday came, and I was ready for a fun day! We filmed Lucy making animal noises and talked about going to the Zoo with her. I packed all of her animal books to read along the way. After all our preparations, we stepped outside to a little drizzle. Oh Man! We were blessed with beautiful days the entire week, and then, of course, on Dave' day off it was raining! After all the preparations and planning, I was in an "a little rain never hurt anybody" mood, so we travelled on the Subway to the Zoo anyway. We couldn't find it in us to leave the subway station. It was down pouring and we couldn't imagine very much joy on Lucy's face as she watched the monkeys from under a poncho, so with an optimistic spirit we decided to change our plans for the day. We had been wanting to check out the Costco in Seoul, so why not today? Costco is indoors...we should be fine, right?

Well, I'm sure you can tell just from the sheer fact that I took a picture of the Costco building that it took us a lot of hard work to get to this coveted place!

We had been given some pretty simple instructions, just get off the Subway at a specific station and get on the bus that says Emart. After wandering aimlessly in the rain for some time looking for this magical bus, I started begging Dave to take a taxi. Luckily (or not Luckily) we asked some people how to get to Costco and they told us we had to go to a different Subway station. So... back to the Subway. I just realized that this isn't sounding as miserable as it was, so what can I say to get a little more sympathy? Maybe the time we were spending would help paint the picture. We left our apartment around 11:00 a.m. and it was now 3:00 p.m., so the entire four hours was spent either on a subway, transferring subway lines, or wandering in the rain looking for non-existent buses (plus I think with a toddler that doubles the hours!)

The other good news at this point is that Lucy stepped in a puddle (where was her mother?) and I figured once her feet were wet I might as well let her experience puddle hopping. Another one of my brilliant Mom ideas, I know! So one of my personality flaws is the "do first, then think" characteristic. I always want Lucy to experience life to the fullest, and sometimes it gets me into trouble. Usually the worst damage caused by my mentality is stained clothing and big messes for me to clean, but this time her feet were soaked, which meant she had to go barefoot the rest of the day, which meant she couldn't do any walking, which meant sad sad Lucy. Hopefully all these crazy "live life to the fullest" experiences she has been blessed with, by her well meaning mother, add something good to her personality...or else I am just making my life a lot harder than it has to be.

So we get off at the newly recommended subway station and are still struggling to find the correct bus, and I was exhausted, so we broke down and spent the extra dollar and took a cab to Costco. After looking at a map we realize the Costco was directly in between the two Subway stations we got out at, so we might as well have just taken a taxi from the first stop, but that would have been too easy, right?

Now the misery has gone on long enough to start taking on a very comical aspect. We wanted to look around before we bought a membership, but they said "no" so we were at a loss. Should we pay $35 for a membership when we don't even know if we will like the products, or prices, or ever want to travel to this place again? Just when we started contemplating sneaking in and taking a look, I saw the guarantee on the wall "If you are not completely satisfied with your membership at anytime, you may request a full refund." So the decision was obvious...buy a membership, go look around, if we don't like it we will ask for a refund!

The products were divine! They had Cheerios, instant oatmeal, Costco muffins, and more! Too many delicious sights for an American Immigrant to handle! How could we resist? Well, the prices were pretty high. I can't remember the details on most products, but I do remember specifically for a small bag of dried blueberries it was over $20. So we decided to think it over with some good old Costco Pizza. I haven't had pizza since we have been here, and although we bought Korean Bulkogi Pizza (Bulkogi is Korean for Fire Meat), it still tasted American and I was in heaven! Even Lucy got to try a little. She is still pretty sensitive to dairy, so I didn't let her have any cheese, but she sure liked the part she got! Her favorite part was the olives, which surprised me (I have never been a fan). And then another small mistake (like number 10 for the day) Dave went to get cups for water, which cost 50 cents each, and then there wasn't any water, only soda. We were so annoyed because neither of us are big soda drinkers, and it so did not quench our thirst! At the end of our meal, after drinking a lot of soda, we see the water machine, with free little water cups. But on a day like this, what is another extra dollar?

And the verdict is...get a refund on our membership. Between high prices and how long and hard it would be to haul products with us on the Subway, we decided this would be our one and only trip to Costco in Korea. So, a little embarrassed, we returned our membership and won the shortest Costco membership record!

Time for a fun trip back home...I begged Dave not to even try looking for the right bus, and just take a Taxi (which I just realized I started pronouncing like Koreans "Tackshi"). I just wanted to get home, regardless of the cost.

Here we are outside Costco waiting for a Taxi in the rain, barefoot daughter and all! Lucy really loves holding the umbrella, or anything metal. She is always trying to hold the pole on the Subway (and I am always trying to distract her hoping she won't grasp the many invisible germs on the pole). Let me share another little Wendy Personality Clip with you: to get this shot I squatted down and just forgot about the flowing skirt I was wearing, so the bottom half of my skirt was pretty soaked for the rest of the day! Dave says I will do anything for a good picture. So far in life, I have found that to be true, but sincerely hope that I would never risk my life for one, if ever presented with the opportunity.

Well, we found a Taxi, but of course, it was the kind that charge a lot. Dave said he knew for some reason we shouldn't take black Taxis, but then he couldn't remember why until we got inside. So we got charged double for the ride back to the station, but at this point we had already wasted a little money on travel (in fact admission to the Zoo is only $3 for adults, so I am pretty sure between all the Taxi's and Subway rides, it cost more for us not to go to the Zoo, than to go to the Zoo) and so a few extra bucks didn't really matter at this point. We were just laughing at this point (although, I could still see David cringe every time the meter went up).

Finally the end of our long day was in sight, as we entered the Subway station to head home. I could tell it was going to be a long ride, because all the trains going by were packed like sardines. Luckily our train wasn't quite as packed as sardines, but there was still no chance of getting a seat. So I just sat on the ground of the train (in my soaked skirt) and nursed my very tired little one to sleep. Although conditions weren't ideal, I was just glad that she slept the whole way home. That made the trip a lot easier and it is so very precious to hold your sleeping baby every once in a while. I know my baby days with Lucy are numbered. Every day she is acting older and older, so I really soaked the experience in.

All in all, kind of a miserable day, huh? But there were moments I really enjoyed and we laughed pretty hard, so it was better than staying home. I mean how boring would that be to just stay home all day on a rainy day? Oh well, someday we will make it to the zoo...hopefully before it is snowing!

Day 4: Daebudo Island

So you may be wondering why I skipped day 3 of our 4 day weekend..well it was Sunday and although I did get a picture outside the church building, it wasn't really enough to write a post about (even though we were invited to a wonderful Chusuk dinner, I forgot to take pictures). So, on with Day 4: Daebudo Island.

I don't think I really have too much explaining to do, other than that it wasn't too far away so we will definitely be back. The sun, sand and water is all you need to cheer this California girl up! It really felt rather tropical being out here and the sunset was dazzling (as you can see by the number of photos of it in the slide show!)

The bus ride on the way back was a little crazy. The bus was completely packed and we didn't even know where the bus stop was. Luckily Sean just flagged the bus down and the nice driver let us on. The bus was jam packed, so I sat on the floor for the first part of the journey, amidst many other Korean Grandmas. Lucy and I were getting entirely too much attention, including an old lady who kept asking me if I was an actress on T.V. Lucy started getting antsy and wanting to nurse, so I thought, here goes...this could be my greatest public nursing session of all times (sitting on the floor of a bus with all eyes on me from every angle), when like a miracle from heaven the bus driver got up at a red light and kicked a junior high kid out of his seat for me. Just as I was about to sit down, a Grandma bolted for the seat. I quickly backed off seeing the way she would have risked her life for that seat, but the driver made her move for me. A little tension between me and the Grandma at first, but by the end of the busride we were good friends. Lucy stole her heart (being the little ham that she is). Watch Lucy playing with our new Grandma friend on our crowded bus ride:

I hate when I am cornered and can't run from people who want to kiss my child. Usually I can pull her away, but we were finally making friends and I didn't know what to do. Oh well, Lucy has survived this far, I guess one more kiss from a stranger won't hurt!
We finished the night with another amazing sunset and then a delicious Korean Barbeque. A wonderful finish to a great day!

Day 2: Korean Folk Village

For the second day of our adventurous weekend (Saturday) we went to the Korean Folk Village, with no less excitement than our first day! It started with a bang! On the subway ride to the Folk Village, Lucy succeeded in outdoing herself again with attention, but this time we didn't mind so much. This sweet old man pictured to your left gave Lucy 1,000 Won (okay so that sounds like a whole lot of money... I guess I should mention that is only about $1 U.S.) just for being a beautiful baby. The lady next to him saw it and then gave her another one! Nothing like a little money to put a smile on our honey! Wow! We thought about sending her down the isle with it in her hand to see if she could get any more! So yay, we made $2 to make up for all the germs she has been placated with since we arrived. This sort of eased the blow of leaving our precious, and oh so American PB&J sandwiches at home and having to buy lunch (which consequentially made us late for the bus, so we sprinted a few blocks, Lucy and all!)

We made it to the Folk Village and I was in cultural Korean heaven! We wandered through authentic huts and watched many old Koreans perform ancient tasks (basket weaving, pottery, straw shoe making, etc.) We encountered an authentic Kiln that was currently in use and I personally loved the thatched roofs, especially the ones growing vegetables. Pictured below is a pumpkin growing on top of one of the roofs. Pumpkins are one of my favorite things, so I thought this was a seriously artistic moment!

After a little wandering we went to watch the performances. First we saw the Farmer's dance. I was especially impressed with the streamers coming from their hats which they moved around in circles and different patterns with their heads, completely synchronized. I got some great video, so I will see if I can finally figure out video posting on the new computer. It is one of those things you just have to watch to understand. Then we watched Seesaw Acrobatics. 2 girls would bounce each other into the air using a seesaw and perform all sorts of tricks. There was also a great performance on a tightrope, without a pit, by an old man who had to be in his 70's at least! He definitely motivated me to stay in shape. I totally want to be that cool when I am his age! The last performance we caught was the equestrian show. We were dazzled with amazing tricks and riding skills. The performance was made all the more real as we watched one of the riders eat it and leave the rink injured. The picture below is just to entice you! There are more great shots of tricks on the horses, as well as the other performances on the slide show.
We spent the rest of our time wandering through a peaceful Buddhist Temple and some other ancient sights. We saw a gorgeous field of butterflies, giant Sunflowers (we're talking about 10 ft!), a cute little bridge and another breathtaking sunset. I don't think we would have ever left if it wasn't for the attack of the mosquitoes that left me looking like I have some form of the measles! Dave didn't get bitten nearly as many times as me, but he is allergic, so the few he got swelled up like golf balls. Between looking at the two of us, I think people are keeping their distance these days. To end on a high note, this wonderful day was totally worth all the hideous and not to mention itchy bug bites!