philpeeps.com

It has been a while since I posted anything, so here is a quick update on what we have been up to lately…

Zambia
In September, I went to Zambia for work for a week. The flights were a killer! DFW=>Toronto=>Frankfurt=>Johannesburg=>Ndola and then a short drive to Kitwe. It was about 24 hours of total flying time and about 36 hours total including the layovers. Everyday, on the 30 minute drive to the plant, I saw probably the worst poverty I have ever seen. People living in mud and grass huts with no running water or electricity. It really makes you grateful for the conveniences we have. The food at the guest houses we stayed at was pretty good and the Congolese beer was tasty as well. For those of you who may end up in Zambia sometime and think you might buy some emeralds for cheap….resist the urge. There is a reason all the stoplights in Kitwe have missing green lenses. They make great fake emeralds.

Mom’s 50th Birthday
At the end of September, my mom celebrated her 50th birthday up here in Denton. Mom, Duane, Brandon, and Sarah came up to celebrate. We had some good cake (despite the small amount of black icing that made everyone’s mouth black). We spent the evening at Medieval Times for a night of eating with our hands and watching jousting and swordfighting. Everyone had a great time.

Mexico City
In October, I got to spend a day and a half in Mexico City for work. It was fast and furious, so I didn’t get to see alot. The cab drivers were crazy, but I managed to stay relaxed in the cab. I stayed at probably the nicest Best Western I will ever stay at. Two of the guys at the factory I was visiting took me to dinner the night I was there. I told them I wanted some good authentic mexican food, so they took me to a place called Papa Bill’s. I was a bit skeptical because of the name, but the food was pretty tasty. I can’t believe the pollution flying in an out of Mexico City. You can barely see the city through the smog.

Lil’ C
Caleb “Lil’ C” Studebaker was born on October 20, 2006. We were traveling through Austin for our 2nd anniversary weekend the night he was born, so we got to be at the hospital with Sara and Caleb’s families when Lil’ C was born. 9 lbs, 2.6 oz and 20.5″ long. We got to see them again on Sunday on our way back through town. After much prodding, they convinced me I wouldn’t break him if I held him. However, his poor little head almost fell off when I handed him off to Caleb’s sister…no more holding other’s kids for me. I don’t think kids fall into the “you break it, you buy it” category.

Congratulations to Sara and Caleb!

Our 2nd Anniversary
We spent our 2nd anniversary at a B&B in Fredericksburg. We drove the Goat down to get maximum enjoyment of the twisties in the hill country. We walked Main St, ate and drank the German fare, visited a couple wineries, dropped in on Luckenbach (only to have to pay $10 each to even get in due to the damn motorcycle gathering that rented the whole damn town), drove the winding roads at slightly higher than posted speeds, and relaxed at the B&B. All in all, a great time, in a great little town.

The Soon to Be Graduate
Tasha has looked at her school schedule a bit closer and convinced her advisors to count a couple transfer classes that previously weren’t being counted and VIOLA! She will now graduate 1 semester sooner…August 07! She is getting pretty excited that the end to her long journey is finally in sight. Only 2 more semesters after this one and she will be edjumakated and gradumated! Congrats to my honey!

Well, if you got this far, thanks for reading our latest adventures. If you missed the links, there are links to our pictures from a couple of these quests up above. Or just click on them below…

• Zambia
• Mom’s 50th B-day
• Lil’ C
• 2nd Anniversary