Well the deck is finished!!  What a beautiful addition to the backyard.  It replaces dirt and leaves and is beautiful.  We need to wait for the wood to dry out sufficiently so that we can stain and seal it, but right now I'm so very pleased with this gift from the man.  I don't think he would have done it except to please me.  Maybe, but probably not.  Okay, I asked him and he said he would have built it even if I wasn't here, but I consider it a gift anyway.

The man relaxing after finishing a long project.  Now to start the tree house!

In other news, I didn't actually die from giving my talk so I'm still here.  It was such a blessing to prepare, but so debilitating to deliver.  I'm really glad it's over.  Why is it so scary?  

I made the chili for the class to day so it can steep.  I hope it's a good example of chili.  We have 3 Mexicans in the class so they should be able to say if it's a good example or not.  But they would probably enjoy more spiciness.  Well, it is what it is and the TVP is fine in it.