Just Another Saturday...

Woke up, walked with my new brother Desi to the bullfights, in which all of the most proud bull owners in the surrounding sub-counties bring their testosterone-filled animals to butt heads with their peers. They seemingly just pick fights at random in a big field, though there was apparently some organization that I wasn't aware of. Lots of people running and screaming as the bulls took some wild charges in the general direction of the crowds. Good start to the day....

Then a two-hour hike in which I got caught in the rain. Desi told me there was a nice view up a particular "road" so I headed up with the dogs. It was nice and I could see a rain cloud rolling in, but it took me a while to be satisfied. Once I finally found the view I was looking for, I sat under a tree for a little while and it started to rain pretty bad, though I could see it wasn't going to last long. I did the local thing and tore a big-ass banana leaf off of a tree for an umbrella and sat under the tree. The dogs cozied up behind me and we waited it out before heading back. Then we left. With these hills, it didn't take long to slip and fall on my ass. About thirty seconds to be exact. Later on the way home, I passed a truck that was idling in the "road" doing "road" work. Then I realized Jerry was missing. He was scared out of his mind of that truck and was having NO PART of it. I literally had to walk back 100 yards, pick him up, and carry him to the truck. Then I put him down in front of it. He wasn't having it, but I forced him to walk by himself.

Lunch, playing with some of the families' kids, hanging out with mom (Elizabeth, or "mayi") and dad (David, "mzee")another walk, some beers, etc...

The Absent Minded Professor

David Zaale (my new Dad) came walking back to the house one afternoon recently back from the village trading center. He was going into Mbale, the closest city (1 1/2 hours away) and I happened to have a guy with a car going back there who could offer him a free, comfortable, fast ride. The only caveat was that he was going to be leaving soon.

"Are you ready now?" I asked

"What do I need? Of course I'm ready!"
.....pause as he looks down at his feet and lifts up the bottom of his pants to expose his bare ankles in his sneakers...
"Though somebody has taken my socks!"

Just one of endless humorous moments at the Zaale home.

Okay, one more -
He wants to add a ceiling to my room and the room next door to make them "executive" (so we don't have to listen to each other's singing and crying all night). That was his idea, by the way -- I still enjoy the entertainment.

So in order to make it "executive", he has his "boys" coming to put in some timbers.... and he plans on using the timbers to finish off his new executive suites with..... cardboard ceilings! Nothin's too good! Luckily, his grown daughter was there to back me up that cardboard is NOT "executive". Turns out the cost would be about the same to put in a normal ceiling so he thanked us for our timely feedback and will be installing a non-cardboard ceiling in his "executive" suites.

one more... We planned on going to church one weekend. We talked about it on several occasions. When Church-thirty rolled around, I said, "are we going to church?" He looked at me, hesitated, and said, "no?". I said "really?" He said "i don't know - no?". I taught him the term rain check. He liked it. Chances are, we followed up with some food, tea, and some beers.

Aidah!

She's friggin ridiculous....

Malaria

Bad part: no energy, no appetite, and uncomfortable sweats and chills

Good part: day off of work (other than my monthly report that was overdue) and hang out with Idah, who is now saying "Mikey" non-stop. Also some much needed quality time with the dogs. Also nice to lie down all day.