New jobs . . .

For Jeri: I'm still teaching at the university but now I am also teaching privately. It helps greatly with our finances and also provides me something to do -- it's summer break and all I've been doing every day is sit at my desk and try to waste time on the internet.

For Boy: He's not working in that office anymore (which is great news). There was no leader and one of the older soldiers made himself leader and only wanted gophers to do his work while he played games on the one computer all day. But, he is starting a new office job -- at the big base office. There's hope of him having someone to talk with there as well as being able to leave on errands and 'accidently' bump into his wife!

For Boy's commander: He's getting new training in Bangkok and it is unknown if he will return to the same position once he's done. Boy's new commander also leads another third of the guys and is known for being really scary. Everyone is afraid to even talk with the guy -- including Boy's next-in-command leader. This guy is not allowing Boy to go home on weekends so he is now in the second group to leave for 7 days a month. (As soon as a new month comes, the first group is allowed to leave. Once they return, the second group has the possibility to go. Things always come up so it's great that he's not in the fourth group because -- like Apri l -- they weren't allowed to go home at all!)

Some pictures

A month or so ago, we took a day trip to Khong Jiang (on the border of Thailand and Laos).

Macchi is getting so big! Oh, just to clear up any confusion -- his name is pronounced mak-ee-ah-toe -- it's one of my favorite coffee drinks (a caramel macchiato).
This upsidedown seal is another favorite sleeping position.
He's in this pouncing phase -- usually his rear is in the air before he jumps. This time, I don't think he was patient enough to wait!
He loves posing for cameras and has become the hit at the office because he's just so darn cute!!

A new member of the family

We got a puppy last weekend! This is my first chance to get on internet since then because I took the week off to stay home and take care of the little one.

His name was just decided upon seconds ago. It's Macchiato -- Macchi for short. Here we've been talking for a week about a name. I've spent time looking. Even my mom spent time looking. And, Boy just called him "Macchiato" inadvertantly and then we decided that we actually liked it! So, it's official. Allow me to introduce you to Macchiato . . .

Thank you Jesus!

Boy has a new job! He was chosen to replace the soldier who is finishing his 2 years next month in an office position! Every guy in his group wanted this job -- there's air conditioning and the labor is a lot easier :) -- but Boy was chosen because of his brilliance! He still will have to do a little hard labor -- every Friday he has to get 2 flour-sack-sized bags of this little green plant out of the pond and he'll have to do some other things, too -- but most of his work will be in an air conditioned office with full access to the internet! Go God!