From Here to Uncertainty: Our Blog

Video Blog: Living Heart Interview

2011-01-20T20:15:14Z

While we were still on the road we envisioned returning home and keeping this blog alive -- writing about whatever the next chapter is in our lives, but it's been really difficult to WANT to sit down and post blogs. Don't get me wrong, life is good, it just doesn't feel particularly blog-worthy.

This video we shot while we were in Peru, however, is something we're very proud of and hope will help Sonia Newhouse and her Living Heart NGO in some small way.

We spent some time with Sonia and her, then, project coordinator, Chrissie Ellison, learning about the Living Heart organization and the help they're providing struggling communities in the high Andes of Peru.

Of all the sights we saw this past year, all the places we visited and people we met, the time we spent with Sonia stands out. She's caring, strong, savvy. She makes things happen. She's exceptional.

Let's just pretend we're friends, having a cup of coffee.

2010-10-16T15:57:37Z

Here's the thing: Bob and I have an unspoken rule: don't bitch on the website unless you can be funny. Actually - it's pretty much the way we roll in life as well. It has taken me this long, my friends, to find the humor.

Not that we've had a horrible time back in LA at all. Not at all! We are so very happy to be back among our tribe. But bad people have done bad things, and we've been the suckers born that particular minute, and it has cost money and time and a lot of anger on my part... Want to hear about it?

The Garden Of...

2010-09-15T21:38:39Z

The real reason we went to Chicuito was something Bob and I didn't tell the kids until we were on our way. It was to see the unusual garden there - the phallic garden. The little town is famous for its' concentration of phallic statues, which have been turning up all over the area for several years. A guy goes to build himself a house - another statue gets dug up.

Apparently at some point in Chicuito's past there was a pretty big infertility problem, and the answer was obvious: carve statues to the gods of fertility in the shape of giant penises. Of course!

Even the church got involved. If you look up on the top you can see a phallic shape, where usually a cross might go. At first I was startled by this, but hey - a missinary's gotta do what a missionary's gotta do, right?!

Somebody recently got a bright idea, and now all the statues are in a little walled garden, where you pay admission to walk among them, and then go visit the tourist stalls, where the ladies are selling beer openers in the shape of the Chicuito Phalus. Ella loved it. No - not really.

Video Blog: A Wedding Day in Chucuito, Peru

2010-09-01T14:26:35Z

Chucuito is a little town on Lake Titicaca, just South of Puno. It's a 15 minute tuc-tuc ride, and a world away. We went to hole up for a few days, hoping to shake the tourist machine that is Puno out of our bones.

Our first morning there I wasn't feeling so well, and when we took a walk to the center of town to buy me a coke, we ran into a wedding party. Literally. The entire town had just come streaming out of the church, and were dancing around the

Photo Gallery Update... Finally

2010-08-23T13:00:28Z

We're not up to date yet, but we have posted more photos of the UK and added France. More of the year to come -- soon. Really. No, I'm serious.

If you're unmotivated and don't want to go all the way up there to the 'Photos' button, you can just click this link to go to the UK and Scotland photos. Or, here to go see France.

Photo Blog: Amazon - Part 2

2010-08-22T15:37:05Z

Home again, Home again, Jiggedy Jig

2010-08-19T14:43:02Z

During this year we've been following the blogs of other families that were traveling, like we were. A handful of our favorites ended their travels, and headed home during the year. Before we left Cusco, as the days counted down, we went back and re-read those blogs on 're-entry'. Every family was different, and also had a lot in common, and the stories of coming home and readjusting pulled at us. They talked about pulling back into the driveway, and walking into the living room, with everything the same as the day they left. About the symmetry of leaving in the early morning darkness, and a year later coming home to the late night darkness.

Our homecoming has been very

Video Blog: South American Explorers -- Cusco Clubhouse

2010-08-13T16:02:14Z

Before we decided to head to Peru, friends told us about a place in Cusco called South American Explorers. They are a non-profit travel organization based in several cities in - you guessed it - South America. We all fell in love with the concept of SAE, as well as the people who work and volunteer there.

Here's how they describe themselves:

The vision of South American Explorers is to improve the social, economic and environmental conditions within South America by fostering the diffusion of information and positive cross-cultural interaction.

The mission of South American Explorers is to support and promote a deeper understanding of South American history and culture through programs, lectures, accurate information, and in-country clubhouses.

Mary, Mark, Doris, & Miguel have created a home-away-from-home in Cusco, and our kids

Going Home

2010-08-09T12:24:02Z

Bob here. It's been a while since I've written much on the blog. I somehow lost my voice after I returned from working in Los Angeles in April -- not sure why. I've left most of the heavy-blog-lifting to Brenna lately. I would shoot and edit video and post photos, but the writing... nothing seemed to come.

Today is our last full day of travel and tomorrow we return to Los Angeles. I felt like if I didn't put my thoughts down here, right now, I'd regret it later.

I've been so fortunate this year. The time I've had

Photo Blog: Amazon, Part 1

2010-08-07T13:17:46Z

WOW! That's the best word I think. We spent a week on a little pontoon boat, tooling down the Madre De Dios (Mother Of God) river.