Valentine's Day in Portugal, Weather
It's a grab-bag episode of Valentine's Day in Portugal, the power of the sunshine here, and Jason's language adventures.
Welcome to As the Dinoson's Turn, where we chronicle the adventures of the Dinoson family, a seemingly ordinary family from Ila who decided, hey, you only live once. So let's move to Portugal. And now your hosts, Jason and Tracy Dynason.
SPEAKER_01Well, welcome to another episode of As the Dinoson's Turn. As usual, we don't really have a script or a topic to talk about, but I have a feeling we'll fill five or ten minutes of time. It's funny how people do watch and listen to this podcast and they seem to care when we don't have an episode up because people say you haven't put anything up for a while. So it's like.
SPEAKER_02Gotta make sure we meet our weekly deadline.
SPEAKER_01That's right. Every Wednesday I try to publish something by uh 5 a.m. Central Time.
SPEAKER_02Him and his rules. I tell you, this is a man that has so many systems for things and deadlines and self-imposed strategies of stuff. I mean, it's it's a lot.
SPEAKER_01So well, research shows that if you post something first, a podcast, first thing in the morning, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, it tends to get better listenership. And so I post my accounting podcast on Tuesdays because that's more towards the start of the week and people can listen to it and it's a part of their work week. Our podcast, it's Wednesday. I ended up going with Wednesdays because it's something that people might listen to on Thursday or Friday then as a lead-in to their weekend. I thought Thursday would be a little too late to post it because you might miss it when it drops on Thursday and then it's Friday, and then suddenly it's the weekend. So Wednesday is the day that I chose.
SPEAKER_02Well, see, now you know this is the insights and the types of conversations. I say something and then all of a sudden I regret learning about that. It's your job to know those types of things. I am not the communications or marketing person, but we've got some great communications things and media coming through. We're working on some great projects.
SPEAKER_01So a lot of stuff going on.
SPEAKER_02We can hardly wait to show you how everything is growing and what we're doing. And to take you on some more adventures. That's gonna be one of the best things, I think, is to get people to know like what life is like.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, some of what we're working on is not just like US-based tax and accounting stuff, it's Portugal stuff. Um, and there'll be more to come on that, but it's gonna be Portugal culture and and life and I don't know, just introducing you to interesting people and places and um some of the people who are in our network that we are grateful for.
SPEAKER_02So that will be a lot of fun. In the meantime, we're getting ready for Valentine's Day here, which is not even close to as big of a holiday. There are no um school parties happening. That doesn't happen. You don't give people Valentine's. Um, however, we are going to have a Valentine's party at the British Institute because I'm teaching English classes and I think that's a lot of fun. So our party will consist of apples and potato chips, um, which is very different, I think, than any Valentine's party in the United States, but they're very excited. Um they have also requested gummies. So we're going to make Valentine's Day cards for parents, and we're giving each other compliments about what makes you a good person, but focusing more on friendship and hoping that they will keep track of that. But Tyler was asking me about Valentine's Day, and there's really only one place in town where that we've been able to find anything that was worth it, which is Flying Tiger of Copenhagen. Um, they have all of the seasonal stuff, but he's kind of disappointed that he's not going to be getting any Valentine's Day things, I've been told. So I it sounds like we better start planning some things for Valentine's Day.
SPEAKER_01Well, you and I have never really done much at all for Valentine's Day ever, have we?
SPEAKER_02Not since we were engaged. That was the last time I got a Valentine's Day present, people intended.
SPEAKER_01I think that's a bit of an exaggeration, but uh No, that's the last time you bought me a present.
SPEAKER_02That wasn't just you went to the grocery store and got something. So I'm not exaggerating. Maybe this year it'll be different. And the silence. We have not been good. You're right. We have not been good about celebrating our relationship or showing each other how we appreciate each other, and so that I think that's one of the things we're working on changing. So, well, I'm demanding we work on changing. How's that? Because, you know, our kids are growing up, they're going to be gone, and we need to make sure that we have a strong relationship for all of that, too. Which means that he's going to have to start buying presents and going on dates with me. We always say that that's going to be one of those things that we're going to prioritize, but now I'm planning dates because I'm tired of waiting. So I hope you're ready. It's going to make him spend money, but because it's our money.
SPEAKER_01Dollar dinoson.
SPEAKER_02Mmm, yes. Ironically, that was part of the reason why we quit doing things, is we didn't have the money. And now, and then it's like we don't have the time.
SPEAKER_01For a while, we legitimately didn't have the money to ready things. That is definitely true. You know, in my defense.
SPEAKER_02Just saying, I like to throw him under the bus, but we it's one of the things that I don't think anybody is good at when you've been in a long-term relationship. Like, we've got to work on it.
SPEAKER_01It's hard when you have kids, little kids. Oh my god. We don't now, or they're teenagers, but when when you have toddlers and you know, infants and toddlers, it's hard. And then time goes fast.
SPEAKER_02Even young elementary is still hard. I mean, as I do not miss that at all. Like at all. Um, and so I think that making those like the kids growing up definitely helps. Um, and I think that that's important, but I do love that even though I'm giving him a hard time, it's because our children are giving him a whole lot of crap um in a lot of ways. And so it's all in jest and joking, but we're gonna we have to start doing more things because they've asked, what's dad gonna do for you on Valentine's Day, Mom? What are you gonna do for dad on Valentine's Day, Mom? I'm like, well, we better start amping up our game because they're noticing, I guess. And you know, I think it's important. You know how many times, like, I don't want my kids to be in a relationship where like they never celebrate love or think about it. I want them to be thinking about that. So we're gonna have to start modeling things. I hope you're ready for it, sir. But this weekend, I don't even know what's gonna happen. I will try and get a reservation. I can't decide if that's gonna happen because I found a place that's like a really good restaurant, like a Michelin Star restaurant in Gamaraj that's really popular, and I can hardly wait to go there. But when can we get our reservation? So that's a date that I'm working on. And Tyler is gonna take a pottery class for this weekend. So he's gonna learn how to throw something on the wheel. We'll see how that goes. I think he's excited about it. But that also means we have three hours to kill and give me Rash on Saturday. So maybe we'll go and have some fun and spend our time there.
SPEAKER_01Well, otherwise otherwise. And I know as we're recording this, the the Iowans are dealing with snow. Six to ten inches of snow.
SPEAKER_02Good luck. No, sorry, it should be.
SPEAKER_01It's still chilly here, but you can tell that spring is near. Like the air has changed, the sun, and when the sun is out, it's back to what it is here in Portugal, where it's like you're gonna fry your skin off because the sun is out. Um which I've said this before. If you look at a map, if you're in Des Moines or Harlan or Indianola, wherever in Iowa, and you look straight to the east, and we look straight to the west, we'd be looking at each other because the line of latitude is exactly the same where we're at, basically. We're the same line of latitude as central Iowa. So, you know, sunrise and sunset and how high the sun gets in the sky, all of that's the same as in Iowa. But it's very different when the sun is out here, even this time of year compared to in Iowa, it's much more powerful. Like the rays of the sun feel more powerful.
SPEAKER_02I think that they are, but I mean, even in all the time that I lived in Spain, we always said, hey, you know, they're like, oh, sunshine, no big deal. And my students who've traveled with me say this too: that they're like, oh no, I don't need sunscreen, I'm fine. And then before you know it, they've got a sunburn that they can't deal with, and we're all trying to help like hydrate them and say, Well, yeah, because the sun is different, and I'm not exactly certain as to why. I'm sure there's some scientist and uh meteorologist and all those things out there listening that will be able to tell us more, but I am all for the increased sunshine. This is the time of year that I'm really excited about. Tulips and everything are starting to come out, the trees are starting to come alive, the camellias are beautiful, azaleas are starting to flower. Like this is the time that I'm very excited. It also gives me a lot more energy. Um because if it's gonna rain, it's gonna rain a little bit, and then the sun will come out, and then it might rain again. But as long as the sun comes out, I'm good. You know, that's really nice. And we'll be able to spend time outside again, which will be great.
SPEAKER_01My sinuses don't like it though. I've discovered that, so they've put me on some kind of nasal spray that I have to take. Normally you would take it like once a day. I have to do two times a day, two puffs two times a day, so like four sprays of it every day.
SPEAKER_02Right. Well, and to be honest, we all ended up with influenza B.
SPEAKER_01Not me.
SPEAKER_02Oh, not you, God forbid. I had a sinus infection. Okay. Well, the rest of us had influenza B, and then Jackson and I both had secondary lung infections, and we're all still kind of recovering from that. But yes, um, leave it to you to be special.
SPEAKER_01As I told I told the doctor, what was it? Heche omem. Strong man. That's it. And you and him just you just kind of rolled your eyes at me.
SPEAKER_02Yes, because that is also not how you say strong man in Portuguese, and we just kind of laughed at him. We're like, okay.
SPEAKER_01Well, that happens a lot. As I've said. I say I say things thinking I'm gonna be smart.
SPEAKER_02I know.
SPEAKER_01And everybody just rolls their eyes and they laugh at me like the young girl, a young woman at the uh the receptionist counter at physical therapy just kind of laughs at me.
SPEAKER_02Well, he takes it all in good strides, good sense of humor. And so I think that documenting some of these interactions is gonna be fun too. I can hardly wait to make him go out and interact more with the world and get it on tape.
SPEAKER_01Feche omet strong man.
SPEAKER_02No, that's not how you say strong.
SPEAKER_01Feche.
SPEAKER_02No.
SPEAKER_01Feche fort.
SPEAKER_02Oh wow. Fort. Un omen fort. Injuntamos me goraru português, carinho.
SPEAKER_01So anyway, we've uh we've got our weekly podcast up.
SPEAKER_02I didn't even know we have things to say. Listen to that. Hey, I think that spring is sprung. We're gonna go out with new intentions, we're going to try and celebrate a little bit more and make sure we're not working all the time. So, for those of you in the snow, sorry, um, come visit because this is definitely a better place to be in a lot of ways. And we're gonna give you some insights too. Somebody was talking about $5 or $7 eggs for a dozen. That's insane. So, we're gonna take you through to see kind of the things that we see here in Portugal to give you an update. So, look forward to that next week. All right, next week we'll see you then.
SPEAKER_00You've been listening to As the Dinosons Turn, a podcast presented by Dinoson Media Ventures. Don't forget to like and subscribe and catch us again next time for another episode.