Sleep tight: Don’t let the bedbugs bite!

Last weekend, Jon and I headed to Bua River Lodge for a much-needed break from Lilongwe.We’d been planning it for several weeks, but were almost prevented from traveling due to the usual: gas shortage. Somehow, we got the last drips of petrol half way to our destination, and we were able to recover from the stress of multiple dry pumps along the way.

We arrived in Nkotatkota Forest Reserve to find that our hiking trip had instantly been promoted to Romantic Getaway: we were the only guests for the night! We had the thatched roof chalets, the outdoor showers, the 3-story tree house, the chefs, the staff, the hikes all to ourselves! This news on top of the delicious coffee served in a charming coffee pot was almost too much to bear. Jon and I both giddily took photos to commemorate our luck. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.

We spent the rest of the weekend reading, hiking around the reserve with our reformed-poacher-turned-guide, enjoying drinks by the raging river, and gorging on the delicious food – all in quasi isolation from the world. Safe haven. Relaxation.

It was such a nice weekend that the emergence of the bedbug bites the day after our return barely made a dent in our post-trip glow. Or, the bites left less of a glow and more of inflamed mess, but what can you expect? It was a jungle there (or at least in our bed)!

You look good....for 37

Today I turn 37. I cannot believe it. How did this happen????? I don't feel old. To Jon, I must not look too old. Last Friday, the only day that I work and Jon stays home, Jon baked me a delicious cake -- complete with chocolate icing, "3" & "7" candles, and a message written in chopped Swedish Fish candy: "You look good for 37"! Of course, I was just 36 at the time.

I was completely surprised when he brought out the cake! There had been no mess in the house, no chocolate smell, no idea that I would get cake early. We had some Peace Corps volunteers over for the night who also relished the delicious and decadent treat. Yum! The frosting took on a complete life of its own, acting as both topping and mortar, keeping the cake layers in place. I LOVE chocolate cake, but I only like frosting. Lucky for me, I got to pick out all the cake and leave some frosting on the plate. Jon, martyr that he is, ate the extra frosting to prevent waste...Happy 37th birthday to me!