The Perlman Update

A Weekend To Remember

2015-05-20T10:17:00.000-06:00

This past January, when my parents were visiting us in San Salvador, my brother Randy received the great news that he had been selected into our High School's "Hall of Fame".

Last weekend, I surprised my brother and made a quick trip up to San Francisco for the induction ceremony.

So fun to also see my high school gymnastics coach (and sitter when my folks went out of town.) Who is also Clint Eastwood's ex-wife!

Why yes ... my dad was also inducted into HIS Hall of Fame for wrestling.

Because Who DOESN'T Let Their 5 YO go Ziplining ... 400 Feet Above A Coffee Finca?

2015-05-07T11:10:00.002-06:00

Last weekend my dad came to town for a quick visit. We had been talking about taking the kids ziplining for awhile, but we waited to do it with him as we knew he'd enjoy it.

None of us had ever been before (not just here in El Salvador, but ever), so we had no idea what to expect. The guides gave us a quick explanation about the 14 line tour, how to hop on, hop off, where to put our hands and how to stop. All in Spanish.

And then we were off!

The girls went first. And then Grady. Who, despite being JUST 5 years old and weighing ONLY 40 pounds, was allowed to go. Like all things Salvadorean, it was, "do it at your own risk despite your age or size."

We started off slow. A mere 60 foot long cable, no higher than 16 feet off the ground.

Before we knew it, we were soaring 410 feet ABOVE the coffee finca ... on a cable 900 feet long.

Then my son got stuck. And had to be rescued. Which I think scared me far more than it did him.

Thankfully his apprehension went away rather quickly as he hopped back onto another cable, and down he went.

I'm glad I looked at the map after we went rather than before ... otherwise I don't know how comfortable I would have been anticipating the ridiculously high cables.

As you can see, the kids truly enjoyed themselves.

I think I'd go again too ... just next time I'll bring another pair of underwear with me.

Take Your Child To Work Day ...

2015-04-24T07:40:00.000-06:00

... because who doesn't suit up in Marine Security Guard React Gear and make "War Faces?"

Splash. Pedal. Dash.

2015-04-19T14:37:00.001-06:00

Forty kids participated in our first Embassy triathlon today. An event that brought families and friends together for a day of physical exertion, mental toughness and camaraderie. It. Was. Awesome! Not only did everything run like a well oiled machine, but never have I seen a competition where every single person was supporting every single child. We cheered. We teared. We took pictures galore.

The Perl kids did quite well today too. Grady didn't complain nearly as much as we had anticipated, and actually came in third for his age group. Sheridan came in fifth for her age group and was the second girl to cross the finish line. And Riley, no stranger to the triathlon circuit, put it all out there and came in third in her age group and was the first girl.

A great Sunday morning without the iPads ... iPhones ... XBoxes.

Just pure sweat and perseverance.

Making The Padres Proud ...

2015-04-14T12:22:00.002-06:00

Another stellar quarter for the Perlman girlies. Both girls made the school Honor Roll, with Riley also making the Principal's Honor Roll for the third quarter in a row.

If that wasn't enough for today's awards assembly, Riley received her certificate and medal for winning the best project for the 6th grade Science Fair.

And if that STILL wasn't good enough, Riley found out during the assembly that her group was awarded 1st place for best project during the World Culture Fair.

El Seder

2015-04-12T12:24:00.001-06:00

Matt hadn't even been at our new post of El Salvador more than a week before he was approached by our DCM (Deputy Chief of Mission) about planning the Passover Seder. Nine. Months. Away.

The Jewish Community here is small and secular, with until recently, nobody like our friends from our previous post in Chennai, India who could help plan Jewish Holiday events.

Over the course of the past several months, the topic of Passover would come up in passing, and I would always acknowledge that if when the time came it was still something the community would want to attend, I would host it. However, up until four weeks ago, I didn't realize that hosting it really meant, doing all of it myself.

So, with no time to spare, and a week long vacation out of the country, the Embassy Community Passover Seder of 2015 was on.

With the first and second night Passover falling during Semana Santa (the Holy Week preceding Easter) and all the kids off for Spring Break, we knew most of the families who would attend the Seder were going to be out of town. Thus, we decided to hold our Seder on the final evening of Passover, this past Friday evening.

Despite the mad dash of ordering the Matzah and all of the things needed to host the Seder with less than four weeks to plan, the evening turned out even better than I could have anticipated.

With the right combination of Jewish humor and religious piety, our DCM led a beautiful Seder, with over 90 people attending, including the Ambassador.

Of course, no Seder is complete without Matzah Ball Soup and Manishevitz ... though with the shipping restrictions, I wasn't able to have Gefilte Fish sent in ... much to many's dismay. As this was more of a cultural affair (Seder 101), we did have our fair share of Chametz and non-Kosher fare. Which made our potluck dinner all the more tasty.

We were blessed to have so many friends attend the festivities. With several helping to set up, and even more staying to clean, dare I admit that I'm already anticipating what a blowout event Passover 2016 will be?

L'Shana HaBa'ah B'El Salvador.

A "Wonder"-Ful Adventure

2015-04-08T07:15:00.000-06:00

The taxi to Ollantaytambo picked us up from our hotel in Urubamba around 12:30 pm and dropped us off in plenty of time to catch our train to Machu Picchu. It was a quick 1.5 hour ride to Aguas Caliente, where we were met with our first REAL bout of rain. But weather be damned, we weren’t going to miss this opportunity of a lifetime, so once we checked into our overpriced and underwhelming hotel, we were off to purchase our tickets for the next day.

Aguas Caliente is a small town at the bottom of the valley next to Machu Picchu, and the principal access point to the site. Despite its magnificent setting, it’s not the most pleasant town, and after walking around for 20 minutes, we saw pretty much everything it had to offer.

The bus stopped in front our hotel at 10:10 am the next morning to transport us up to Machu Picchu. The twenty minute ride zig-zagged up the middle of the cloud forest on a dirt road with no guard rails. It. Was. Scary. When we exited the bus we were immediately bombarded with tour guides, who spoke a myriad of languages, at the ready to take us around. We hired the first one who spoke English.

Nothing quite prepares you for the jaw dropping views when you first walk through the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. The serenity of the site situated at an altitude of 8000 feet is humbling as the only sounds you hear are those of the tourists around you and the rushing waters of the rivers below.

While the history of the Incas and Machu Picchu is long, the short version of how it was discovered is that while searching for another Inca refuge in 1911, Hiram Bingham, an American historican and lecturer at Yale University, was led up to Machu Picchu by a local 11 year-old Quechuas boy. Since the Inca capital was never found or plundered by the Spanish, over the centuries the surrounding jungle grew over much of the site, and few knew of its existence.

We spent 2 hours with the guide and another hour touring on our own, even climbing to the highest point at this site. However, both time and agility prevented us from trekking up the two additional trails to Huchuy Picchu or to Huayna Picchu (aptly pronounced whine-a-picchu or wine-a-picchu for those who know me well).

Every good thing must come to an end, and after almost 4 hours, it was time to descend the mountain (with our eyes closed, of course). We grabbed a quick lunch in Aguas Caliente before boarding our train back to Cusco, where we then enjoyed the bi-modal service of a 1.5 hour train ride followed up with a 1 hr 45 minute BUS ride.

Our flight from Cusco left early the next day, and after a taxi ride to the airport, 3 planes, a 4-hour layover in Panama and an hour ride back to our house once we arrived at midnight in El Salvador, We. Were. Done.

Peru was an amazing adventure, but frankly, there's no place like home.

Piscos, Pals and Pictures in PERU!

2015-04-07T12:53:00.000-06:00

Part of the excitement of moving back overseas is the opportunity to visit friends who you've served with at previous posts and experience the culture with the "locals."

We just returned from an amazing week in Peru, where we did just that. We hung out with our friends in Lima. We flew to Cusco and saw the ancient Incan Ruins. And we took the kids to their FOURTH Wonder of the World ... Machu Picchu. (Read here about our previous trips to Petra, The Pyramids, and the Taj Mahal).

Our arrival into Lima was wicked late that Saturday evening, March 28th, but our dearest friends from Chennai had a taxi waiting for us at the airport, and food and drinks at their house ... despite it being midnight when we got there. All 9 of us stayed up until almost 3 am catching up on the latest, but surprisingly awoke early the next day to begin playing tourists!

It was an action packed day filled with a delicious brunch on the coast, an hour bus-tour, shopping at the local artisan street fair, and even seeing a high school girlfriend who lives in Lima for dinner.

Okay - so we may have had a *wee* bit of trouble finding the taxi driver who was waiting for us with a laminated sign at the airport ...

But our 36 hours came to a very quick end, and we said our goodbyes as we jetted off to Cusco.

Cusco is one of the most important archaeological sites in South America, one of the most visited tourist attractions in all of Latin America and is the most visited tourist attraction in Peru, receiving almost a million visitors a year. The Imperial City was laid out in the pattern of a puma -- one of the 3 levels of Inca spiritual life: the condor - above the earth; puma - on the earth; the snake - below the earth, and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1983 by UNESCO.

L: Our Hotel in Cusco. R: Matt & Riley eating alpaca from a street vendor.

After a late night stroll, grabbing a bite at 10pm in the hotel ... where Grady finally realized he was zonked and passed out on the couch while we ate.

The Plaza in Cusco

We packed a lot of sight seeing into our two days in Cusco, and after a quick trip to Starbucks, we were on the road with our guide. Our first stop was to Tambomachay, known as the Baths of the Inca. The structure has 3 levels, as was common among Inca buildings, and had been built with perfectly fitting-together unequal-shaped bricks without the usage of mortar. It consists of a series of aqueducts, canals, and waterfalls that run through the terraced rocks.

I spy with my little eye ...

Next, we went to the Inca fortress of Saqsayhuamán, (which when pronounced, sounds almost exactly like Sexy Woman). Sitting at an altitude of about 12,000 ft., it is difficult to grasp the enormity of the complex, as well as the overall structure and shape.

This monumental complex was planned and built by Andean Man and was one of the most important religious complexes of its time. The Incas called it the House of the Sun and the Spaniards called it a fortress because of its location high above Cusco, its zig-zag shape, and immense terrace walls. Climbing to a higher level gave us a better view of the complex but also yielded a very good view of the sprawling city of Cusco.

Our last stop of the day was to Koricancha or Temple of the Sun. It was dedicated primarily to Inti, the Sun God and was the foremost temple in the Inca Empire.

The inter-sanctum of Koricancha once displayed the great wealth and strength of the Inca empire in the form of hundreds of solid gold panels covering the walls, as well as golden statues, altars and an enormous golden disc which represented the sun itself. All the gold and many of the priceless artifacts were plundered by the Spanish when the Inca were conquered and Cusco fell under their rule. At least two major earthquakes did significant damage to the church, but the 1950 earthquake collapse of the Spanish architecture revealed the still-standing Inca walls and several previously hidden chambers.

Grady is standing next to one of the limestone blocks, showing the intricate Lego-like system used to build the stone structures.

While testing out a selfie-stick, the lady holding the little lamb jumped into our picture at the last minute. Best. Photobomb. Ever.

The next morning we checked out of our hotel and began our drive through the scenic landscape to the Urubamba Valley, the "Sacred Valley of the Incas”. In route, we stopped at Awana Kancha, where we saw animals native to the Andes. It’s a camelid farm dedicated to the animals and intricate textiles produced from their wool.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Perlman family vacation without a little regurgitation … though this time it wasn’t from the kids. It was from the llama who decided to spit the largest mouthful of goo all over Sheridan’s face, mouth, and jacket. It. Was. ~~Awesome~~. ~~Disgusting~~. Awesome.

We continued the drive to the town of Pisac and visited the colorful Pisac Market, where the local Indians meet to sell their merchandise as they have done it for centuries.

Overlooking the Sacred Valley

Grady HAD to have this fedora.

After stopping for a late lunch, we finished our tour in the town of Ollantaytambo, a massive citadel located 50 kilometers from Machu Picchu, from where we climbed up to its imposing Inca fortress at the top of the mountain. Nowadays this is an important tourist attraction on account of its Inca buildings and as one of the most common starting points for the three-day, four-night hike known as the Inca Trail.

After a long day of driving, touring and hiking, we bid adieu to our guide, and checked in to our luxury hotel in the Sacred Valley. Where we stayed until we took the train the next day to .........

......... Stay Tuned!

Putting One Foot In Front Of The Other

2015-03-25T11:19:00.000-06:00

I have a large calendar that sits directly next to the computer on my desk. Every day has something scribbled on it to remind me which kid has what activity; Yesterday a food drive. Today a World Diversity Culture Fair. Tomorrow no school. Friday an Easter Egg Hunt.

Some days don't need any reminders, for they carry their own invisible red circles around them, never letting me forget. Almost two months, and it is still unbelievably surreal.

We stay busy here. For sanity's sake. For my well being. Sitting around a house does not do any of us any good. So we fill our calendar with activities, sometimes with school schtuff which is entirely out of our control. We sponsored a new family who recently arrived here in El Salvador. We took the kids to a Broadway Show. I put together a wickedly successful Progressive Dinner for 35 families at Post. The kids have attended 5 birthday parties. Riley's had a Science Fair Project and a Science Club Event and a never-ending eye infection. There's been baby showers and teen bowling night and an Embassy Easter Party. We've had several of friends over for dinner and been invited to many dinners as well. Riley celebrated her 12th birthday. Matt celebrated his 40'ish birthday. My in-laws came to visit for 6 days.

I have been applying for jobs here at post. So far I received one offer for a full time position. I'm still waiting to hear about my first choice position. It's been a long, frustrating process, that has caused many sleepless nights and a lot of head shaking. With almost 15 years in the Foreign Service, the bureaucracy and bullsh*t never ceases to amaze me.

Sheridan lost her 20th and final baby tooth last month. She came barreling down the stairs to show us and squealed with excitement that she couldn’t wait to put it under her pillow and see what the tooth fairy would bring on her final visit. Ever so tired, I looked at her sweet, bloody mouth, raised my eyebrows and slowly shook my head. So she shrugged her shoulders and said, “Okay - how about I just put it on your desk and go grab a $20 out of your wallet instead?”

I'm thankful that life still finds a way to move on. Even if it is one slow day at a time.

Riley's Science Fair Project. Which won the 6th grade Best Overall Project at the school.

The girls learning how to surf. Riley is on the short board on the left. Sheridan is on the long board on the right.

Matt's birthday was celebrated at a coffee finca, where the kids rode horses, toured the coffee plantation and learned the entire step-by-step process of how coffee is grown, picked, dried, bagged, sorted and sent off.

We also rode ATVs. As you can see, Sheridan's driving scared the daylights out of me ... and I *may* have needed to change my underwear when we got off.

The Embassy Easter Party. Where the kids spent a lot of time chasing chickens. And ducks. And bunnies. And cocks ... of which Grady was quite enthralled and which deserves a crude joke all on its own.

Life Is Beautiful

2015-02-11T11:13:00.001-06:00

“Follow the signs to Terminal B,” my dad said as I almost missed the turn at the airport. I was driving, and I wasn’t sure where I was going as it had probably been 15 years since I flew into the San Jose airport. Though the landscape surrounding the area looked the same.

Everything looked the same actually. Only now … everything is totally different.

The lump in my throat grew and I had trouble removing myself from my dad’s car. For I shed more tears on the ride to the airport, hugging my brother and my dad goodbye and on the flights home than I had in the previous 2.5 weeks combined. Leaving them ultimately ripped off the bandaids we’ve been using to provide comfort and clarity to each other, exposing our gaping wounds and raw emotions.

Accepting our ‘new normal’ meant that the reality of life is now upon us. And my mom is truly gone.

I’ve walked around in a virtual haze since my late night arrival into San Francisco a few weekends ago. What I hoped would be a quick visit to see my mom in the hospital and offer support to my father and siblings during what was already an unfathomable and sudden series of events, turned into a surreal nightmare. I can’t help but feel like I’m having one of those out of body experiences where I’m watching from above as my life slowly unfolds below me. Minute by minute. Hour by hour. Day by day.

It was just twelve short days from her lung cancer diagnosis to her death. Twelve days. Barely enough time to comprehend her prognosis. Certainly not enough time to understand enough about chemotherapy and radiation, pain relievers and sedatives, dialysis and kidney failure, pH balances and stents, tumor lysis and bipap machines, DNI and DNR. But we became well versed in hospitalese. And we sat by her side 14, 15, 16 hours a day. Nobody ever leaving her alone, for we were her advocates. We demanded to know every poke, every test, every single thing they put into her failing body.

My brother and I were with her during the final few moments as her heart beat slowed and faded to a long thin line. Was she scared? Did she know how hard we tried to provide her comfort? Did she feel how much we love her? Nobody tells you that death very seldom resembles a Made for Lifetime TV movie with a beautiful Hollywood ending. It’s messy. It’s scary. And often times leaves more questions than answers along with little closure. Her passing was no exception.

These past eighteen days from the date of my arrival to San Francisco, have been a blur. From choosing a final resting place to planning a funeral and catering a luncheon to organizing drawers and cabinets and bathrooms to focusing on our family. There are no words to describe how the unwavering support from our family and friends helped get us through these past several days. Well ... that and humor. And inappropriate jokes. And pictures. And the wrestling tournament my dad has been running for the past 20+ years (where my brother Scott announced and my brother Randy officiated). These things to focus on, aside from the obvious, have given us the opportunity to begin the healing process together, in four very different ways. We. Are. Blessed.

Last night I flew back home. To my amazingly selfless husband who has given me the most precious gift of time. To my kids. To my friends who have become my extended family. However, I am at a loss with where to begin. How do I deal with my lack of closure? My anger and frustration? Where do I turn for answers?

Though leaving my brothers and my dad, the calming familiarity of the house where I grew up, and the safety net where one could melt down were far more difficult than I could have imagined, deep down I know that Life is Beautiful and it must go on.

"Dear Mom. While our relationship has always run its own course, oftentimes with our paths never crossing, I never stopped loving you. It may be awhile before our yin and our yang come together again, but one thing is for sure … our twain are sure to meet."

Until then, May Her Memory Be Of A Blessing.

The very last picture ever taken of my mother (17 days before ...)

Our "new" normal

Happy Anniversary and Thanks For The Mammaries

2015-01-22T21:32:00.000-06:00

Today we celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary.

Grady is truly perplexed as he attempts to calculate how his 25 year old mother could be married for 15 years. I love kindergarten math.

Very recently "my girls", the ones closest to my heart, hit the jackpot as they moved back up from a basement efficiency to the penthouse. After 40 25-something years and three children later, gravity had taken its toll on my once perky bosom.

Enter modern medicine ... and now, I can wear my nipples as earrings.

Feliz Año Nuevo desde El Salvador

2014-12-31T15:54:00.002-06:00

As the New Year quickly approaches, it seems only appropriate for me to close out 2014 with one final update ... filled solely with a picture dump of what's been happening since the last time I've blogged. Forgive the brevity of words ... for it's been a long month, and while I'm usually quite verbose, this transition from 2014 to 2015 has left me with too many thoughts to put on paper.

Until I find my voice again, enjoy our month of December.

November 29th ~ Girls shopping trip to San Sebastian, Ilobosco and Suchitoto where we purchased gorgeous textiles ... and quite possible the overly exposed lady as well. Because who doesn't want an extra pair of nipples hanging out in their dining room?

December 5th ~ I learned to make sushi. It tasted just as amazing as it looks!

December 7th ~ Matt's dear college friend Craig is in town. We spent the weekend playing tour guide and even hit a place we'd never seen. Here we are at the Mayan Ruins in Tazumal.

December 9th ~ Holiday Party at the Ambassador's house.

December 12th ~ RSO Holiday Party ... I made all the desserts.

December 13th ~ Holiday Party at the Embassy. Grady stood in line to take a picture with Santa. Alone. TWICE. This on the heels of a MAJOR meltdown he had earlier that week when he came home from school hysterical saying, “I’m the only kid in my class who doesn’t celebrate Christmas… and I don’t understand. We don’t even LOOK Jewish!"

December 16th ~ Latke Party at our house ... for 70!

December 18th ~ Tried my hand at sushi ... and guess who loved it?

December 19th - 22nd ~ Road Trip to Antigua, Guatemala. An epic 4 day vacation that requires its own blog post ...

December 24th - 29th ~ My brother in law Adam, my brother Randy, and his friend Jeff visit us in El Salvador. Another whirlwind windshield tour ... as we hit the beach twice, take the kids surfing, hike the tallest volcano in San Salvador, eat at a few fun restaurants, visit the Mayan Ruins, make home made pasta and a few other delicious meals ... and of course, drink lots of red wine.

Felices Fiestas ... with love from the Perlman Family.

May your 2015 be filled with Happiness, Your Families with Good Health,

and Your Home Stocked With a Never Ending Supply of Batteries

so Your Kids Can't Complain that their "Listening Ears" Didn't Work ...

Thanksgiving "Break"

2014-11-30T08:30:00.000-06:00

It all started about a month ago, when a girlfriend and I decided we wanted to spend Thanksgiving Day together. After a long discussion, neither of us wanted to host it at our homes, rather we thought it would be much more fun if we held it in the Embassy pool area where the kids could swim until we were ready to eat, and we could leisurely hang out with a few families with whom we enjoyed spending time.

Of course, with two "Type A" personality girlies who love to entertain, it didn't take long for our casual poolside dinner, to turn into a full fledged affair, complete with moving our shindig into the Marine House, and inviting everyone from the Embassy to attend.

Honestly, we didn't think it would become nearly as big as it did. But on Thanksgiving Day, we hosted over 80 people to an amazing dinner.

Noticeably absent from the affair, was my dear husband. Who instead of enjoying the feast, was stuck in the local emergency room, waiting for the orthopedic surgeon. To re-set his mangled hand. (As a side note, you never want to hear from your husband that he's waiting for "the setter" unless he's speaking about diamonds.)

You see, following our early morning boot camp, Matt and his fellow 'weekend warriors' set out to play a traditional Thanksgiving Day game of flag-football. After 3 1/2 uneventful quarters, Matt's premonition of someone getting hurt proved true, as HE ended up fracturing and dislocating 3 of the 5 fingers on his left hand ... thus ending the game. Despite his insanely swollen hand and fingers turned in directions you can't even fathom, Matt remarked the most painful part of this entire ordeal was having to call me and let me know he wouldn't be making it to dinner.

In all seriousness, it's heartwarming to see that in a post this size, this many people chose to celebrate their special Thanksgiving Day together, as a de facto family. I am thankful for many things this year; Living together as a family overseas again, our immediate and extended families staying happy and healthy, and enjoying our new post and new friends.

Most importantly though, I am thankful that Matt broke his left hand. Because "In Sickness and in Health" does not include wiping butts.

There is NOTHING sweeter than seeing the Marine Detachment play with and truly adore your son. This group of young men are the epitome of class, and we are thankful to have them in our lives.

What Does $15 Get You In El Salvador?

2014-11-16T12:42:00.000-06:00

An entry into the Run El Salvador 5k Night Run ... along with a swag bag, t-shirt, time chip ... AND a slice of pizza and a beer after the race.

The start time was 9 pm, which was teetering a tad too close to my bedtime. Even on a Saturday night. Thankfully I was encouraged to rally by a gaggle of Embassy friends.

Of course, it shouldn't have surprised me that when they said "Night Run", they course organizers TRULY meant, "you'll be running on the pothole-filled streets and highways in San Salvador in the absolute pitch black with zero street lights and few course markers, which you won't even be able to see because, did we mention ... no street lights?"

I didn't have a PR. I didn't break an ankle. We got the once in a Salvadorean lifetime opportunity to play a wicked game of "chicken" as we had to run across a BUSY road to get to our car ... AND we somehow managed to survive.

I'm calling last night's run a win.

Marine Corps Ball ... aka Prom For Adults

2014-11-09T11:29:00.000-06:00

Last night we attended the 239th birthday of the Marine Corps. It was a beautiful event held outside at ILEA, the International Law Enforcement Academy here in San Salvador.

It's been 7 years since Matt and I got this gussied up, and wow was it worth it! This Marine Detachment is a special group of young men, who have enhanced our family's time here at post. It was an honor to take part in their party, and share it not only with them, but with the dear friends we have made here in El Salvador.

Of course, no fancy evening is complete without your maid seeing you in your bra and underwear as she helps tie, yank, pull, and bustle you into your dress ... as you pantomime and attempt to explain in your rudimentary Spanish, "mas apretado entonces mi pechugas no caer" ... which sadly translates into, "tighter so my chicken breasts no to fall."

She got the point.

"Cougar" Bootcamp ladies ... and our Bodies by Rene

Our table mates ...

Such a fantastic RSO office ...

But wait ... lemme take a selfie!

Thanks for the memories Marines! Until next year ...

Perlman's Lady Liberty

2014-11-04T12:47:00.000-06:00

A patriotic AKC name for a puppy brought home a mere two weeks after 9/11. Liberty (Libby for short) had more frequent flyer miles than many adults and traveled with us all over the United States and abroad.

Sadly, my inlaws, with whom she'd been enjoying "retirement" living the past few years, had to make the most difficult decision to put her down yesterday, as her pain was too much and her quality of life had completely diminished. Angels that they were to take her in for a second time (after the first time they got a puppy named Gracie), they loved her as much as we did, and are obviously devastated.

RIP sweet Libby girl. You were the most loyal companion. Hope they have lots of PVC pipe, drywall, cable cords, oven knobs, balls, pillows and rugs with fringe for you to nibble on wherever you may be ...

Family photo with Riley ...

Family photo with Sheridan ...

Family photo with Grady ...

Moving. Lots and lots of moving ...

Lampshade Head. Always getting into something in every country she's lived in ...

We love birthdays ... and parties with our doggie cousins!

We love pillows ...

We love Libby ...

Candy. Costumes. Chaos.

2014-11-03T15:33:00.000-06:00

Embassy El Salvador takes Halloween VERY seriously. Which works out well, as we do too.

For instance ... the small area we decorated around Matt's office.

Which was NOTHING compared to the unbelievable decorations we saw in all of the offices when we took the kids Trick or Treating last Thursday. From surreal haunted houses with amazing special effects to an office performance of Phantom of the Opera ... we were gobsmacked with the creativity. This Embassy brings their "A" game when it comes to the Holidays!

Friday evening greeted us with a well planned Embassy-only trick or treating escapade within our gated community. Followed by two parties on Saturday; a birthday party for the girls and a costume party at the Marine House for the adults.

As always, Matt and I got into the Halloween Spirit and channeled our inner Hunger Games. Here we are sporting our best Effie Trinket and Caesar Flickerman.

Most of our friends here made it to the party ... with a sampling of some of the costumes ...

The rest of the Hunger Games Cast ... Katniss & Peeta too!

Members of the "Cougar Bootcamp" ... with our instructor Rene.

Let us not forget the gratuitous kids costume photo from their party on Saturday night. Who doesn't love a 'tween birthday party where costumes are "recommended"? The girls had a great time dressing up for the third day in a row.

Why yes, we did have a rocking game of dueling Effie's going on. Like mother - like daughter!

Until next Halloween ... where we thankfully have more than enough candy to tide us over ... Go figure!

It's An Honor ...

2014-10-29T11:38:00.000-06:00

First quarter report cards came out and despite all the changes this year ... both girls made the Honor Roll (which consists of getting above 80% in all classes).

Of course, Riley took it one step further and was one of only four students in the entire 6th grade to make the Principal's Honor Roll (which consists of getting above 90% in all classes).

These girlies? They make us proud!

One Day He WILL Learn ...

2014-10-22T10:40:00.000-06:00

... when looking for a playmate.

Stay. Away. From. The. Older. Sister.

Pictures meant to embarrass the guilty, and WILL be kept for a Bar Mitzvah and/or wedding slideshow.

Shaken ... Not Stirred.

2014-10-13T23:49:00.002-06:00

There was a whole lot of shaking going on tonight in Central America. Just before 10 pm, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of El Salvador, providing a free roller coaster ride for a whopping 20+ seconds. Too bad the kids slept through it! Luckily, we are safe and sound ... though maybe a wee bit anxious.

Now, I am no stranger to these large rumblers. Despite growing up in Northern California and experiencing both the 1989 San Francisco Loma Prieta earthquake and losing my apartment to the 1993 Northridge earthquake, there's one thing I can say with absolute certainty.

They never get easier.

If we're lucky, the only things shaken for the next 2.5 years will be our martinis.

A Day Of Good For"tuna"

2014-10-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

Today we participated in ILEA's (International Law Enforcement Academy) 2nd Annual Fun Run & Obstacle Course. The girls and Matt ran the 3k with the Marine Detachment, while I ran with ~~the slow zebra~~ Grady and a few Embassy ladies.

The course was comprised of a traditional road race coupled with ten military-type obstacles, to include: monkey bars, balance beams, scaling 6 foot walls and a rope swing over a 10 foot mud pit (Grady's favorite, of course).

The day started off with group calisthenics, an agility challenge sponsored by the Embassy's Green Team and a lot of whining. Thankfully, by 8:30 am we were off!

Riley joined the Marine's in the front, while Sheridan impressed everyone with her skills on the monkey bars. Of the 400 or so racers, both girls placed first in their age divisions, with Riley actually the first female to cross the finish line.

As is Grady's style, he complained during the entire 3k. However, he managed to complete the race, sprinting to the finish line through a gauntlet of cheering supporters as he was one of the youngest competitors.

Each finisher was awarded a "medal", made of ecologically friendly recycled cardboard (much to Grady's chagrin as he was hoping for a medal made of metal). And in addition to their trophies, the girls also received a small package containing a water bottle and three cans of tuna. Because nothing quite celebrates the thrill of victory like diving into a tin of fish.

"Sorry, Charlie."

You Know He's A 3rd Child

2014-10-03T08:46:00.000-06:00

With Yom Kippur upon us, I really need to atone for being such a fair-weather blogger.

And forgetting to share this picture. Do you spot what's missing?

Oh, and I should definitely atone for being such an awful Tooth Fairy.

After two nights in a row of FORGETTING to visit, Sheridan yelled down the stairs on her way to bed, "Remember that the Tooth Fairy needs to come ... and she leaves $2"

Mom of a 3rd child FAIL.

Here's to ... A New Year. A healthy 5775. An easy fast.

... and to a better ~~mom~~ blogger!

Thanks For The Honesty ...

2014-09-18T07:37:00.000-06:00

... no, seriously. Thank you! After the last four years in both the California and Virginia State public school systems, it's refreshing to be back overseas, where honesty is the best (and only) policy.

Take Grady's latest progress report. I seriously love how the teacher has identified a major weakness and isn't afraid to document it.

I actually underlined and *starred* the area and wrote an appreciative note to the teacher, thanking her for acknowledging this little nugget. With just 16 kids in the class (and a FULL day of kindergarten), she really knows my kid!

By the way ... did I mention that grades are updated online every two weeks and progress reports sent home every four?

Lost In Translation

2014-09-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

Forgive me hair gawds, for I have sinned. It's been over 12 weeks since my last hair appointment, and despite not knowing the appropriate Spanglish grammar, I was in dire need of an edgy new 'do.

However, while there may be "safety in numbers", somebody always has to serve as the sacrificial lamb. Today ... that was me.

I dragged two of my girlfriends here to a local salon I had heard about from a mother at the kids' school. "All the cool moms go there," she told me. So, of course, I had to schedule an appointment.

My girlfriends were a tad nervous as they both needed highlights / low lights. They had never had their hair done in an overseas salon. Me? I was old hat at this ... having my 'do done in Oman, Israel and even India. I swore that whatever happened, it would be okay. It's just hair. How hard would it be to hide the gray, color my hair the same shade of brown and add a few highlights to spice it up a bit?

Or should I rephrase the question and ask, "How many TIMES would it take to hide the gray, color my hair the same shade of brown and add a few highlights to spice it up a bit?

Dos veces exactamente. (the translation ... exactly two times).

I'll admit it. I'm vain. I love going to the salon that offers me the cappuccino, iced tea, or glass of wine. I love relaxing in my chair, exchanging the latest "chambre" with my girlfriends while the lady with the gloves works her magic on my grays. I love knowing that at the end of my 3 hours in the chair, I'm going to look in the mirror, and like Herbal Essences commercial, shake my head and walk out of the salon looking the age my son thinks I really am. 26, of course.

Instead, I left with the top of my head looking like a price bar code. Where are those Target self- scanners when you really need them? It would have read, "you obviously got this dye-job on clearance."

Over the next few hours I took a bevy of photos for my girlfriends in Virginia and waited for the girls to come home from school to give me their opinions, all while pondering my next move. Do I take the easy going route and follow my own advice that, "it's just hair." Or do I make the ridiculously uncomfortable phone call IN SPANISH and make ANOTHER appointment to come back in and fix my tiger striped hair?

What do YOU think I did? Does a tiger sh*t in the jungle ... or anywhere else it darn well pleases?

By 5:30 pm I returned to the colorists chair for Round Two. And by 6:30 pm I was on my way home with nary a stripe in sight.

Crisis averted tonight.

Though tomorrow is my first haircut. Wish me luck.

In theory ... Safety in Numbers!

I spent a LONG time in this chair ... only to see this at the end.

How I felt after returning to get my hairs 're-did' ...

LEFT: Yes, after the colorist dried my hair, she wanted to STYLE it. Again!

RIGHT: The end result.

Casa de Perlman ... Take 10

2014-09-08T15:04:00.001-06:00

There is something oddly comforting about moving back overseas and being welcomed into your new home by the same ugly as sin Drexel furniture you had in your previous homes in Oman, Israel and India.

Who am I kidding? No it's not. Especially when you're ambushed with the overwhelming amount of wall to wall furniture in every single room of your home in Crayola's new color shade, diarrhea brown.

Thankfully we received a bevy of pictures of our new home five months prior to our packout from Virginia, which left us with ample time to think about our designs and stock up on enough color to brighten up even the ugliest of rooms.

We are appreciative that we hit the jackpot this tour and have a beautiful home to decorate, a far cry from our first home in India. The landlord originally built the house for himself, so the appointments are quite extraordinary. From the intricate chandeliers and crown molding to the American style kitchen and spa-like master bathroom. We. Can't. Complain.

So come on in and take another tour of Casa de Perlman. We're slowly taking reservations!

Foyer

Living Room

Dining Room

Left : My office. Right: The Laundry Room / Pantry / Storage

Back Patio

One side of the backyard

Panoramic view of the kitchen

Other views of the kitchen

Left: Sheridan's room. Right: Grady's room.

Riley's bedroom

Master Bathroom

Master Bedroom

Another view of MBR, including the 8' chandelier hanging down from the ceiling

The kids' TV / hangout area at the top of the stairs