Interesting Article

I know I talked about fistulas for V-Day and all and some people were probably like "GAAAAHHHH make it STOP"
BUT
Here's an interesting article from the NY Times about fistula repair in Tanzania. Interesting because it must be performed in the barely sufficient, rural hospitals of the interior as opposed to a hospital ship, certainly adding an element of difficult.

The article is great, as is the narrated slide show. If you're wondering what a rural East African hospital looks like, or wondering why one of the first things I would do after winning the lottery is travel over there to build and staff a hospital, this will pretty much explain it all.

Premios Dardo!

Recovering Actor gave me the Premios Dardo award! I feel specialllll!

It comes with rules though...hopefully I can come up with eight people to tag (eek!) but for now, rules......here they are:

Step 1: respond and rework -- answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own. (mine are in blue)

Step 2: tag - eight other un-tagged people

1) What are you wearing right now?
"comfy pants" from NY&Co, white button-down under red short-sleeved sweater, fugly shoes, my glasses


2) What is your biggest fear?
I have many that are pretty much equal. At this moment it's probably the fear of unimaginable and complete devastation of the status quo. Like big sh*t that I can't even prepare for. Though that's a pretty irrational fear I guess, when you can't even put a finger on it. Oh well.


3) What is the one thing you're really nerdy about? And don't say you aren't nerdy, because let's face it... everyone is a little nerdy about at least one thing.
Birds. Sigh. It is uber-nerdy but I frickin' love birds. If I could make my living being an ornithologist I would. Sometimes I have super-dweeby fantasies about finding some bird everyone thought was extinct, like the ivory-billed woodpecker or the carolina parakeet (yeah cause they're totally in my backyard lol). I have a life list that I am working on entering into excel as a sort of database format that matches up with the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology's "Birds of the World" list. Every time we plan a vacation, I buy a bird book that corresponds with our destination. Whenever I see a new bird, I put the date and location next to the description in the bird book. This is actually helpful as a rarely keep a journal when I travel. Recently I was looking through my birds of Kenya book and realized that the bird sightings correspond with our movements throughout the country and it really jogged my memory, which was awesome. So see? Nerdy but not entirely without purpose!!


4) Who is the last person you hugged?
My mom and sister in a group hug.


5) What websites to you visit when you go online?
Ha ha ha have you seen my blogroll? When I get online in the morning I read abc news and nytimes.com, I check in on ravelry and flickr, log onto facebook. At lunch I check on my "people" blogs, then throughout the day I'll visit some of my craft blogs.

6.) If you had a secret power, what would it be?
Having the power to fly - see ya later MBTA!


7) If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Some place new: Australia Some place I've been before: Kenya (obviously)


8) If you woke up tomorrow and were a boy, what is the first thing you would do and why?
PEE STANDING UP because it is really the only reason I'd want to be a boy, lol.


9) Has a celebrity's hair cut ever influenced your own hairstyle?
Nah. I think certain celebrities have sexy hair, but I know I couldn't replicate it.

10) What is your most embarassing moment?
I tend not to get embarrassed because my life is fairly ridiculous and I have to go with it. I do always get embarrassed when I overshare inappropriately. Most of the time I doubt other people pick up on it, but sometimes I'll think "why did I even say that?" As far as pants ripping in public or falling down - oh I'd take that any day in comparison to my word vomit!


11) What was the last movie you watched?
Secret Life of Bees

12) If you had a whole day to yourself with no work, commitments, or interruptions what would you do?
SCRAPBOOK because I'm in 2005 still.


13) If you were to win the Powerball, what would you do with the money (besides invest it)?
We-e-ell. If the jackpot was massive I'd do the following in this order: pay off my loans, my sister's loans, Jamaal's loans, pay off friend's loans, pay off parent's mortgage, buy a new Subaru Forester, buy this house in JP, buy the empty lot next to my grandparent's lakeside cottage, pay for a pimped-out wedding (but would keep in classy), fly out to Kenya to begin work on my hospital and the Women's Knitting Co-op I have all planned out in my head. As Jamaal says "If Allison ever won the lottery, she'd be broke."


14) If you could convince everyone you knew to read one book... what book would it be, and why?
"Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder. It tells the story of Paul Farmer, who began a one-man crusade to save the world. It is idealistic and inspirational. It emphasizes helping fellow human beings, empathy, social equity and basically doing good, as well as the importance for access to healthcare for everyone on the planet and the need for a cleaner and safer environment. It's fantastic.

15) If you could make one scientific discovery/invention/novel idea what would it be?
I think I might actually try and invent a fart-powered car. It's totally gross but I think it could work. Heh heh heh. Then I would cure cancer, starting with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, obviously.

Okay. tag time! I'm tagging (though I think about 80% of them won't do it!):

1.Amy
2.Jamonster
3.Rach
4.Alex
5.Dev-o

Five for now, maybe I can come up with more soon!!

Why I Could Never Be A Runway Model

(in addition to all of the quite obvious reasons)

Superficial Crap Time!

So I got that mani/pedi Thursday and it was GLORIOUS. I hadn't had one since October due to budgetary demands (aka my loans coming out of deferment) so it really felt luxurious.

I go to a cheap place in Brigham Circle. If you go to Yelp and read the reviews it mostly receives crap reviews because the place is called "Nail Spa by Time." People are like 'ugh, I can't believe they call this a "spa" blah blah blah." Ok, 1. it's Brigham Circle, next to a Seven-11 did you REALLY expect a luxurious spa? 2. They have a 9.99 manicure special on Wednesday - spa? HELL NO 3. you can walk by the large picture window and look in and see it's not a spa. 4. the owners are Vietnamese and totally lovely, but clearly english is not their first language. The name of the spa in Vietnamese probably makes total sense, but translated out into English it turns into "Nail Spa by Time" Their pamphlet expresses that it's a place to get your nails done in a timely fashion. Stop being so literal! Maybe Vietnam is a land of quirky names - this is definitely the case in Kenya, for example, where you might find a meat shop named the "Jesus Loves Me Butchery." Will Jesus love you more if you get your meat there? NO. Is Nail Spa by Time a SPA? NOOOOO.

Anywho. I love the place. It's pretty clean, it's got massage-y chairs, and the people don't outwardly mock you if you haven't shaved for a few days or your feet look busted up - they may later...but not in front of you....(this happened to me at two chi chi nail spas on the South Shore, one where the woman said "OH MY GOD YOU HAVE A PLANTAR WART!" like I was going to bring a scourge of plague or herpes to the priviledged women of Cohasset. vomit. and another was like 'so I'm trying to figure out if that's dirt in the crevice of your nail or......' I was like "yeah, it's f*cking dirt, I've been in AFRICA for 4 months basically living in a hut, sorry I didn't pumice before coming here")

So at Nails Spa by Time there's this fantastic woman named Lyn who does eyebrows. She's got the touch. Tina, the owner does a great job too, but there is totally a Lyn bias. I went in last week to get eyebrows done and noticed Lyn was nowhere to be found. A stream of teen girls kept coming in, asking for her, and then promptly leaving when they found out Tina was the eyebrow waxer of the day. I do not have such bias. My brows were busted UP and needed to be tamed. The end. So I had those done, they looked fabulous, and I jetted out to catch my train. On Thursday, while at the nail dryer, I noticed a sign on the wall, in very Nail Spa by Time-esque dialogue:

"Lyn on vacation for week. Maybe if you are Lyn's regular client, one of her friends can help you out. Don't worry. Lyn will be back to fulfill your love and trust for her real soon."

This sign totally beat out the "Our new hand lotion good for skin, softens and smoothens" and "Our credit machine broke. You pay cash only."

I kind of want to know how much "other" waxing Lyn does if she's going to be fulfilling our love and trust for her....I heard they do Brazilians on the cheap...I'm not sure if I want to go there though LOL.

Happy V-Day Y'all

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

I am sitting here with Jamaal playing Fishwrangler on Facebook - how is that for a romantic day? hahahah. Later I'm making him dinner...and dessert, so that should be fun....and fattening, as I plan on making some chicken fettucine with salad, bread, and red velvet cupcakes :) All new recipes for me (well except salad, that's straighfoward).

Lately I've been posting a lot of junk about helping others blah blah blah blah.
However, I just want to post one more thing and then I'll shut up with the do-gooder crap....for a couple more posts at least.

Today is V-Day, and "V-Day" took on a whole new meaning when I went to Smith - it was a day where most of us trekked to the Vagina Monologues that was performed to raise awareness of violence against women throughout the world. Oh and also embracing words like "cunt" lol. Now Eve Ensler has focused her campaign specifically on the Congo, where civil war and upheaval has created situations that are incredibly dangerous for women, where rape and abuse is running rampant, and the violence with which these crimes are committed have sometimes fatal results, and if not fatal, are always emotionally damaging and sometimes permanently debilitating. This particular campaign caught my interest not only because it is focusing on the women of Africa - which I believe to be Africa's greatest resource - but also because a close friend from high school and college's mother in law in an OB-GYN who has traveled on a hospital ship to repair fistulas caused by rape and abuse as well as traumatic childbirth. Her emails are so touching - it's hard to ignore what is happening all the way across the ocean. Anyways, her email is posted below (and if you have a sensitive stomach, details about recto-vaginal fistulas might be a lil' too much, just to warn you).

But before that, here's the link to V-Day in case you want to read more about what's happening in the Congo. Some of the videos are just priceless as Eve Ensler dives right in with some of the Vagina Monologues material - the African ladies do a lot of giggling.

Ok, I'm off the soap box for now, and I'm off to relax with Jammy Jam, a great vagina appreciater. LOL. Ok TMI. (He just saw that and said "OH MY GOODNESS you are SO dirty.." ha ha ha)

Here's the email from "Rainy"

M/V Africa Mercy
March 21, 2008

Hi, again,

I am just finishing up my 3 weeks of obstetrical fistula surgery training on the Africa Mercy and heading home. It has been an exhausting, humbling, but totally worthwhile experience. The surgery has been harder than I anticipated, but Steve Arrowsmith has been a great teacher, and I have learned so much.

More about the Africa Mercy: Fistula surgery is only a small part of what goes on every day on the ship. One full-time and other short-term maxillo-facial surgeons do cleft lip and palate surgery and removal of head and neck tumors, some of them incredibly huge. I am amazed at what they can do – take a rib to construct a new jaw, create a new nose when disease has destroyed part of a face, remove enormous goiters. Reconstructive plastic surgery, including burn treatment, is done several times a year. As we are finishing up the fistula surgery, an orthopedic team is already getting ready to start next week. And all throughout the year, about 30 patients a day have their cataracts and other eye problems fixed.

Teams of other volunteers go out into the villages to help provide clean water and sanitation. Others do construction. Health education teams are involved in HIV prevention and work in communities to end female genital mutilation. Abuse against women, including rape, is a topic that is getting a lot of attention as Liberia struggles to recover from civil war. Other outreach teams help people start small businesses, like raising rabbits. Dental teams go to local clinics, often treating life-threatening tooth infections. Crewmembers sign up for weekend trips to play with kids at a local orphanage, visit disabled people, or teach bible classes at local churches.

Many of the volunteers on the ship serve in important support roles that keep the ship running but they do not have direct patient contact. There is a nice program onboard called "Adopt a Patient." When patients are admitted for surgery, their names are placed on IV poles in the café area. Crewmembers are encouraged to take a name and to visit that patient regularly. They come down to the wards and play with the children, polish the women's fingernails, or just sit and visit. Sometimes they take groups of patients outside on the upper decks. Patients and crew love the interaction, and it helps the non-clinical volunteers to remember that they are vital members of the mission too.


Monrovia: Interesting fact – Liberia was founded in the 1820s by freed slaves who were sent back to Africa from the United States. The US president at the time was James Monroe, so that explains the name Monrovia and why the official language is English.

Although my free time has been very limited, I have been able to go ashore a couple of times. One Saturday, nine of us walked together to a local market. Believe me, it was a very sad picture; everything is falling apart. There are open garbage pits between buildings and trash strewn all over the roads. Once in a while a patch of straggly grass grows in the dirt. We stopped at a tiny tee shirt store, and we found ourselves surrounded by little boys, who thought it was great fun to pose for our photos. They got a kick out of seeing the digital pictures right away. Then we walked on to the market. The booths were piled high with stuff – bins of shoes, stacks of brightly colored fabric, household items, tools, you name it. There were wheelbarrows filled with loose grains and sugar, with a scooper on top so you could buy just what you need. Vendors sat under umbrellas for relief from the sun. Old cars and trucks whizzed by, and men were pulling loaded carts by hand. We certainly stood out with our white skin, and many people waved at us or yelled out greetings or thank yous.

On Sunday, I went to church with Captain Jon, his wife, and some other crew members – a deckhand from Scotland, an Xray tech from the Philippines, and a nurse who will soon be working at Boston Children's Hospital. It was a nice, simple church, with a brightly painted altar. The choir sang traditional songs like Amazing Grace but with their own flair – drums, clapping, and moving to the beat. The parishioners were wearing fancy colorful native dress. After mass, Captain Jon drove us around downtown Monrovia. There are bullet holes in the light poles and bridges, and the roads are worse than in New England after a bad winter – you could lose a car in the potholes. The outer walls of a lot of buildings are missing, ripped apart by mortars during the civil war. Slums line the waterfront. It is a busy, dirty city. There is one nicer section of town, with the embassies and a few hotels and restaurants, but even that area isn't pretty. Where does one begin when the whole country has been destroyed?


Meet some patients: When I was corresponding with a ship administrator before I arrived, she wrote, "You and Dr. Steve have many special patients waiting for you! These women are going to break your heart – their stories are overwhelming!" She was right. Here are a couple of their stories.

Mamie (pronounced "Mommie") is a 36 yo women who lives in a small village about 4 hours away by bus. Seven years ago, she was in labor for her 2nd child. She had pain for 2 weeks, with 4 days of hard labor. She was taken to a hospital and the doctors pushed her dead baby out. Then Mamie started to leak urine and feces. The day it happened, her husband left her and went to live with another woman in her village. She wouldn't go out of her house and she didn't want anyone to visit. She lives with her brother and sisters in a small house made of palm fronds. She says that they are very poor, and there are a few months each year when there is no food to eat. That explains why she is so painfully thin.
Three years ago, she went to a hospital, where they were able to fix the hole between the rectum and the vagina, but she continued to leak urine. Last year, she came to the Africa Mercy, and this time the hole between the vagina and the bladder was successfully closed. But she was still wet. On screening day we found that, although her fistula had been fixed, her urethra had been damaged during the long labor, so she can't control her urine flow. We did a sling operation, where a piece of strong tissue is taken out of the leg and threaded under the urethra to give it support. Sadly, she isn't dry yet, and Steve is already planning a new strategy for the next time that he comes to the ship.

Garmai is a 44 year old woman with more energy and faith in God than most of us will ever have. She was 18 when she was pregnant for the first time, and her labor lasted five days. She finally went to a government hospital where she delivered a dead baby. Then she started to leak. She didn't know what was happening to her. She didn't want anybody to know what happened to her, so she shut herself in the house. She considered killing herself to end her misery. Her husband stayed with her and supported her. She says that God blessed her with 5 more children, a miracle after what had happened to her, so she finally decided to get out of her house and start living again. She went to bible school, and now she is the pastor of a church called "Love Sanctuary of Praise."
Garmai's 5 children and 4 grandchildren live with her. Her two brothers were killed during the civil war, so she took in their children, plus a few other kids that needed homes. She doesn't get paid, but she preaches the bible and people give her what they can - sometimes food, sometimes clothes or money. Her husband has a job, and somehow they manage to feed the 20+ people who live in her house - another miracle, she says.
Garmai has been wet for 26 years. She had 3 previous fistula surgeries, all on the Mercy Ships, but the repairs keep breaking down – the tissue is so damaged that it doesn't heal well. This time, after the fistulas were closed, a graft of nearby tissue was placed on top of the stitches to bring in a new supply of blood for healing. So far, she is dry.
And get this – Garmai has a 7 month old grandson whose name is "Dr. Steve" ! (they pronounce it "Dotta Stiv.") He came to visit her one day, and I have pictures of Dr. Steve holding Dr. Steve.

Esther is 26 years old, but she looks 17. In 1999, she went into labor "in the bush" but the war was going on and there was shooting outside. She was told that her bones were too small and she had to go to the hospital, but there was no way to get there. Two weeks went by before she was carried a long distance by hammock to a government hospital, where a C/Section was done. But it was too late. The baby was dead and urine started to run down her legs. She came to us 9 years later. Her fistula was relatively simple, and she went home dry.

Dress Ceremonies: Mercy Ships, and other fistula centers, have a tradition that when a group of fistula patients is ready to go home, they are given new outfits and everyone celebrates with them. We have had 2 dress ceremonies while I have been here. Each woman receives a lovely native dress and matching head scarf. Nurses, other crewmembers, and the rest of the patients crowd together in the ward while each patient tells her story, punctuated by shouts of "Praise the Lord" and happy cries. After each story, there is joyous dancing, singing, and clapping, accompanied by the beat of a drum. Later, the women go out onto the gangway for photos. It is a very moving ceremony. It is great to make a fuss over them and tell them how beautiful they are, because they have usually been treated as the lowest-of-the-low since they developed the fistula.


Some happy follow-up from last year: Those of you who got my emails last year might remember that, when I was working in a clinic in Yepocapa, Guatemala, I did some teaching with 3 medical students. One of them, Raúl, is now an intern in Bolivia. He just wrote to tell me that he was on call one night when a woman came in ready to deliver with a breech (buttocks first) presentation. The gynecologist was tied up doing a C/Section, so Raúl had to deliver the baby. He remembered all the steps I had taught him in the class, when we practiced deliveries with the baby doll I bought in the market. He wanted me to know that I had saved a baby's life in Bolivia, even when I wasn't there!


Mark your calendars! An excellent 90 minute documentary film about the fistula problem in Africa, called "Walk to Beautiful," will be shown on the PBS show Nova on May 13th. The film was done by the BBC at the Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia, and it has already won several awards. My mentor, Steve Arrowsmith, is featured at the end of the show. I have seen it twice, and I guarantee that it will make you cry. (Please note that Rainy was incorrect in saying that "Walk to Beautiful" was done by the BBC. Several commenters have pointed out her ERROR and someone from Engel Entertainment commented so I guess I'd better correct this before it gets ugly or anyone thinks I'm trying to give BBC all the cred. The film is NOT a BBC film, Engel Entertainment is wholly responsible for every aspect of it. There it is. I'm not sure if this really matters to anyone specifically beyond the people who've pointed it out as a mistake, but I'm happy to make the correction as I cut and pasted this email directly from the one forwarded to me by my friend's mom in law and have not had the opportunity to see the movie as of yet and correct it myself. BBC = NO Engel Entertainment=YES.)


Final thoughts: When I decided to get involved with fistula surgery, I thought that my 27 years as an obstetrician-gynecologist would give me the skills that I needed to learn these new procedures. But in fact, this surgery requires skills and techniques from urology and general surgery as well as OBGYN. I was overwhelmed at first. After 3 weeks of total immersion - 36 surgeries, preop and postop care, dealing with complications (including thyphoid and malaria!) – I am feeling much more comfortable. However, I also know how much I don't know. I would need a lot more training before I could work independently. So I may be see a lot more of Africa!

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on the Africa Mercy. It has been so interesting to work with other volunteers from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, England, Holland, Germany, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Ghana, and the Congo. They really live their faith and love what they are doing. And it has been such a privilege to know these incredible African women who trusted us with their lives and told us their stories.


Love to all,
Rainy

Off

I'm heading to NYC for the weekend. HURRAH! Of course I chose to drive down to Jam's abode, and of course I was about 45 minutes from home this morning when I realized I forgot my iPod. Eeeech.
Never fear - had a plan for that. I went and bought a five-pack of CD's at CVS and ripped 100 of my favorite tunes. I have about 6 hours worth of music now, I think it'll hold me over. I haven't played a CD in my car in probably 18 months or so, so hopefully the player still works!

Otherwise I have nothing to impart except OPI's "Rose to the Ovation" is the best color everrrr. And it's discontinued. But I procured some. heheheh.

I want a Schrodinger cube.

AAAAND "The Ridiculous Race" is just about the most hilarious book I've read in a while

And with that I LEAVE!

Some More Bushfire Stuffff

Hey peeps!
Here's some more bushfire stuff. These are just a few links that make it a bit more fun to donate to various Bushfire appeals (though what is really more fun than helping people and animals?! c'mon now!!) I am kind of loving Serendipity right now because if you email her your receipt from the Australian Red Cross you get put in a raffle of some sort AND she has a counter - she also mentioned that with the time difference a lot of the donations happen while she's sleeping and she gets to wake up to a nice surprise. Now I know there's nothing better than plopping down in front of your office computer at 7 or 8 in the morning and seeing your inbox full of happy....so gfi.

There's also fun stuff to buy. These necklaces look amazing, though sadly I will be on the road when they're put on etsy....maybe I will hint to my sister that these would be a fantastic bday gift for me???

Just wanted to put an update out there. Clearly the bushfires are still very much on my mind - they remind me a bit of the tsunami in 2004 - simply unfathomable in their destruction and loss of life and homes. Just devastating.

-aside - Chase just called me to make sure that all my charges were legit, lol. I hope the Red Cross got the money.....hmmm. I will have to follow up on this one....

So anyways, do whatever you can to help. I'm sure there will be more opportunities to make a difference in the coming weeks.
That's it from me for today :)

Oooooh except this stuff. I wandered into Anthropologie for the first time in about 15 years yesterday (seriously - I know that there are certain places where my self-control or lack thereof cannot be trusted. This is one of them. You'll see why). I was supposed to be buying a hostess gift for a couple that's having Jam and I over for dinner this weekend. I knew that they probably would not want us bringing food, though I will probably bring over some Valentine cookies Amy and I will be making tonight, and probably will skip on the wine, though maybe Jam will bring some - anyway, I just wanted a little something. I had time to kill before my meeting to I wandered into Anthropologie and saw the dishtowels. Oh ho ho ho. Throwing care and economy to the wind I snatched three for my dowry (that's what I'm calling it, the larger rubbermaid in storage filled with our future kitchen). I only allowed myself three because I could've stood there and picked out 5....or like 13. I chose bird ones (of course) though I can only find pictures of two. The seriously cute owl one wasn't online:

Calm Because I have a PLAN!

Sam, the Koala Featured in the YouTube Video Below
(Rach - I vote for an Animal Cops: Australia!!)

woohooo I am much calmer today than I was on Monday, thank goodness.
Maybe it's because things are in order? Maybe my promotion and (slightly embarrassingly) large raise (that is smacking the crap economy in the face) has given me a boost? I dunno. I think it's the fact that I have a plan.

First of all. Bushfires.
Here's a link to the Australian Red Cross. Just put your Visa in there and let 'er rip.
The exchange rate is about 1.5AUS Dollars to 1 USD just FYI. And naturally money is money when it comes to credit cards, of course. I forgot totally charging stuff in Costa Rica AND at the airport in Nairobi when I needed 14, 700 Kenya Shillings to get my bags to London, good ol' Mastercard neatly made the conversion and I got charged $186 USD. Of course it took about 6 months for the charges to get on my statement, but still it worked out.

Anyways I am giving to the ARC in good faith. I have not donated anything (money, blood, ANYTHING) to the American Red Cross since Katrina, since I found out that the "here's a debit card preloaded with cash for your survival" cards were spent on tattoos and tv's and the other money was completely mishandled. While I did have guilt about this, I realized after that that I should've just given the money to several bloggers who had lost their homes to Katrina who didn't want money necessarily but had lost basic supplies like pots and pans and towels and sheets. My $100 would've been so much more effective there! ANYWAYS I digress. Since I don't know what is needed/anyone directly affected by the fires, I'm going to donate to the Australian Red Cross.....the end.

Secondly, for all the pets, livestock and wildlife caught up in the mess, there's the RSPCA Australia faction. I'm sure many people have seen this YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XSPx7S4jr4
I hadn't even thought of the animals in the wake of the death and destruction but suddenly it hit me - these poor things were just hanging out in their tree or den or whatever, and then all of a sudden out of nowhere a big f*cking fire just swoops in and burns everything. Then after it's over, if they survived, they don't understand how to get help. So on pay day tomorrow, I'll be sending some cash to the RSPCA as well. I know there is more than one organization helping wildlife there, but the RSPCA seemed best equipped to handle international donation on their site, as another very appealing rescue group had a donation page that was limited to Australia.

For crafty folks, there is another option for helping out the creatures by making a joey pouch. I'm not sure how practical this will be for people overseas, but I'm going to keep up with this blog as I imagine in the months of recovery that are to follow more supplies will be needed for the influx of creatures that are coming in now.

So there's that. Of course I like to be hands -on with the helpage but sometimes money is the best you can do at the moment, so I'm going to go with it.

As for Kenya, I haven't heard anything from my friends, but that is not out of the ordinary whatsoever. I *feel* that they're ok, and that's just going to have to be enough. I admitted to Jamaal how much I miss it though. It was good to tell him, you know, so he knows that I'll be back there at some point. Perhaps more than once. Of course it irritates me significantly that I'm so in love with the place. Why didn't I study abroad in Costa Rica or British Columbia? Or even Europe? Helloooo so much more accesible. Annoying. And why did I have to love it so much? I mean, I've met people I studied abroad with who told me that looking back on the experience they pretty much hated it with the fire of a thousand suns. Me? Cripes, it's only my family and my man keeping me from picking up my roots and replanting them in the middle of east bumblef*ck Kenya. UGGGGGGGGGGGGH. And of course I've been around since then to places I've like, but have never felt the same pull. Costa Rica? Gorgeous, fantastic, affordable, kind people, tasty food, sans political uprisings, sans rampant disease of varying severity, sans animals that could kill you in one fell swoop (ok they have jaguars...but still), sans the need for guards with AK-47's when you drive on the highway or camp...and how did I feel about it? I liked it. I'd go back. But......
Yeah.
It's not Kenya.
Ridiculous.
I should get a job that sends me there once a year. That'd do it. After a couple years in a row I could probably even stand a year off. Hmmm.

Anyways.
In wedding-related and other ridiculously superficial news, I am sending the shoes back. The fact that they looked so busted on my feet is kind of sad and tragic because I love them in the box, love how the soft, supple Italian leather feels....but when I put them on? Oh it's a whole lotta ugly. MEH.
The shoe quest will continue. I have 20 months (watch 19 months from now I'll be like "so I still have a month to find XYZ." LOL. For now I am going to Sephora to buy perfume and something to exfoliate my lips cause they are nast. Oh and soap for my grandma. She is very bitter that Philosophy discontinued their Amazing Grace bar soap and was all "*sigh* I'll just use Dove" but I am going to look for remnants at Sephora and/or a replacement soap. I mean, not that Dove isn't good, but it has been fun taking part in this small indulgence because I'm the only one who works near a Sephora and feel special when I get sent on a special soap-gathering mission (what am I 7 year old, basking in the grandma love for getting soap? LOL). Oh and then I am going to buy some clothes. I had been putting it off cause the cash flow was low and combined with the unconsolidated student loans? KILLER. But now with consolidated loans, more cash, and the linings of at least 3 pairs of pants ripped out so that they're now see-through, I'm caving and taking myself to Ann Taylor Loft for some moderately-priced women's wear. Maybe a blouse. Maybe some dark jeans (I've started to kill my special "these are nice enough to wear to work" jeans). Hmmm. Some flats would be nice too. Oh. Better not get carried away. Gotta remember I'll be putting those donations through tomorrow!! And getting a manicure.
Oh I am such a bad person, LOL.

Worry Worry the WORRIER

I had ANOTHER dream about Kenya last night. Honestly, it's the weirdest thing. I don't know where this is coming from. I was walking down the street alone in Kimana and had to pee, and a lady offered me the use of her law office's private bathroom for 10ksh (which is like, I dunno, like a dime or some sh8t. I could do the math. Ok I will. Hang on. Ok it's 12 cents). I paid the dime and peed and that was pretty much it. So odd.

Of course when I woke up I was filled with this weird anxiety. I worry about my Kenyan friends all the times because they don't have a lot - and I guess what I mean by this is that they don't have the resources to protect themselves/flee/escape in any sort of trouble, and I often worry about them getting caught up in some sort of turmoil. This worry was totally spurned by the tanker explosion in Molo and then the Nakumatt fire in Nairobi. I read too much news. Oh, and I worry too much.

So basically once I got to work, this is how my morning went:
-Read about tanker fire in Molo.
-Wonder if friend Charlie was near Molo.
-Recall that Charlie works in Kimana and lives on an island in Lake Victoria. WTF would he be near MOLO?!
-Read about Nakumatt fire.
-Try to remember which Nakumatt we shopped at. Figure it's probably not the same one.
-Worry about Mboya - would he be out foodshopping on a random afternoon?
-Recall that Mboya works 12-14 hours days, so no, he would not be out foodshopping.
-Worry about all the other Kenyans I know who *may have* been foodshopping (insane -see?)
-Give in and email Mboya even though I know he won't get the email for weeks, then check it and send an email back to the effect of "why are you so crazy, I'm fine"
-Google Australian bushfires to see what they radio meant by "South East Australia"
-Study CNET map intently
-Make sure RSE 5 Scarf Pal does not live near fires (I lost your email address! Ballina looks far, Christine, but I am thinking of you anyways!!)
-Go to Facebook to make sure my transplanted PartyLite representative (affectionately known as KFlood) does not live near the fires
-Go to all Aussie blogs in my favorites. Wonder if lack of posts = evacuation
-Wonder what I can do (because I am not only insane, but also a pathological fixer)
-Get frustrated by Australian Red Cross site's ability to only collect dollars in AUS, then wonders if it really matters because credit cards don't give a sh*t because MONEY IS MONEY
-Decide to take a few moments to calm the eff down
-Do some work
-Lament my packed week which involves a range of activities from donating platelets to checking Sephora to see if they have any left over dusty boxes of my grandma's favorite soap which has been recalled.
-Check blogs obsessively (oh oh, not the Australian ones, the other ones I have bookmarked)
-Do some more work. Wonder if I am really worth of promotion to Project Manager.
-Wonder if I can even do Project Manager job.
-Sit paralyzed by fear of being incompetent.
-Worry about worrying so much. Isn't it bad to worry?
-Try and find a red velvet cake recipe....possibilities for the perfect one seem unlikely
-Download Pride and Prejudice soundtrack from iTunes
-Contemplate weekend activities (have Jamaal get me a prescription for Valium? Maybe just sex will do? I DUNNO)
-Wonder if I am gaining weight even though I feel like I am always hungry and a hungry person can't be gaining weight cause they're not eating enough food, right?
-Feel guilt about eating the entire box of Thin Mints in a day.
-STOP feeling guilt about food. F*CK IT! I AM ONLY GOING TO LIVE ONCE (that I will remember in this particular lifetime at least).
-Get worrisome email from friend "my weekend was hellish, will email after meeting" ah! *edited to add that she is ok, just her car and bank account got majorly f*cked over the weekend*
-Check a favorite wedding blog. See wedding dress featured (won't tell you which in case Jam is reading!! which he isn't. but still)
-Channel energy and write embarrassingly long comment on why it was great to buy my dress where I bought it, which is actually true because I was a brand whore and wanted an Oscar de la Renta dress and was willing to cut something else out for it, but actually found something totally affordable and amazingly gorgeous and just HAD TO SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD.
-Sit and wonder if my synapses are misfiring.
-Laugh at self. Because it's the best medicine....for insanity. LOL.

Seriously. I am tired just posting that list.
Hmmm, though I do feel wondrously calm right now....hmmmmmm.

In other news, I went to fetch my wedding dress this weekend and it is just glorious. It's even prettier than I remember, probably because it's not the floor sample with some of the beads ripped off, lol.

Here is a sneak peek (ok Jam, if you are reading this, off with you!)

Veil

Shoes
The VENUE!!(we will have to decorate it oursleves, but I love this simple yet gorgeous scheme here)

Ideas for the 'maids

So there. We've made some forward progress. And on the 22nd I'm going to a class for DIY Invites at the Paper-Source. I've accepted the fact that I'm such a picky control-freak that a lot of the wedding will be DIY. Hopefully this won't result in a breakdown. One thing that won't be DIY and that I get to pick is the photographer - obviously I am going with a family friend...who just updated his website and his photos look stunning, which makes me happy!!
Hmmm this whole post was very calming indeed.
I'm feeling much better now. Phew.
Until tomorrow, when I will most likely be high-strung and worried all over again.

Phone Call

I just got a phone call from Tufts - someone found my T-pass!!
Yeah, don't get too excited.
Interesting they wait til the first February weekday to report it when I lost it 19 - yeah NINETEEN days ago.
I told that to the Tufts lady - she was like "uh-huh....and why am I just getting an email about this now I wonder" We both knew someone had taken it and used the pass - now they don't want it.
"Give me their email address!!" I demanded "I want my stuff back, even if it's expired!"
The Tufts lady must've heard the rage - she said "Why don't you let me take care of this? You don't want to just meet up with some person in some random place, it's not worth it."
She's so right.
But I still kind of want to.
So I can punch them in the face.
Ok not really....so I can look them in the eye and say "Oh thanks for finding this and turning it in....did you enjoy your 19 days of unlimited bus, subway, and up to zone 4 commuter rail service at my expense?"
UGH. Somedays I just have no faith in humanity. Ugh.

Another Dream

I dreamed of Kenya again last night...
It's so strange to dream about it two nights in a row. When I first got back from the long stay I used to think about it before I went to bed and hoped that I'd dream about it. It was the next best thing to being there, being able to see all my friends in my sleep. Weird, but comforting.

Last night I dreamed that I was on the subway to Kimana. The sheer thought of Kenya having a subway system is terrifying. I can only imagine the things that would go wrong, but last night in my dream, it made perfect sense. It was dark and slow-moving and I was supposed to be traveling with a woman named Mama Njeri, but we got separated. Luckily I knew my stop and got off in Kimana, but realized I had no one to walk with to get back "home." Plus it was getting dark.

Lukily Maraka was there in his white truck giving a new intern a ride. I remember stepping up on the running boards just as he started the truck (the wheel was on the American side, as opposed to the Kenyan side, a small detail I am just now remembering. The brain is so odd). I stuck my face in the window and said "Hey Maraka, give me a ride?" He looked surprised and said "You are supposed to be with Mama Njeri, where did she go?" I told him she left me, and with that, he let me in his truck .

There were a couple weird things after that. We drove through those small street-side towns but they all had electricity. If I were in Kimana, I would've been only 5k from the camp where I studied abroad, but then we crossed through the bush, like we were going to one of the group ranches. We never got there, though we drove through the night and into the next day, but none of us minded the drive, and we traveled companionably through the wilderness.

I'm not sure what fueled this dream. I think maybe it was the fact that I'm nerdily compiling a bird life list and had to start with Kenyan birds (because I've seen more Kenyan birds than North American birds) and I spent a lot of time with my Birds of Kenya book last night. My bird book was the one thing I was meticulous about in Africa, and while I failed many times at keeping any sort of regular journal, I did write the date and location of each bird sighting. I had names of places I had nearly forgotten traveling to: Kuku Group Ranch, Marula Game Ranch, Elsamere. It brought back so many fond memories. I really should get my old pics scanned in and make a blurb book about it. Just another '09 to do I guess :)

Dreaming

Last night I dreamed I was in Kenya.

It was amazing and wonderful. I was there with my whole family and I was showing them all the different types of birds. They were everywhere. I said to my mother "Do you see and understand now why I love this place so much?"

I sat with Maraka and Mboya and took their hands and said "I do worry about you so much when I am away and I don't hear from you. I worry about you because I am in the US and you are here and it is not easy for me to check on you." Mboya said "Oh, pole sanaaaaa" in his way of drawing out words, "what can we do for you to make this better?" "There is nothing you can do," I told them. "Just be safe in everything."

When I opened my eyes this morning, I was smiling. I closed them again, savoring the dream. Even now the thought of it makes me very happy and surprisingly, not sad.

2009 Stuff

So I've been compiling a little list of stuff I want to get done in 2009. They're not resolutions because I am a resolution BREAKER - like it's my job. Of course I'd like to achieve a toned body, but then again, it's 9:15am and I'm working my way through a bag of sour patch kids, so let's be reasonable. This is a list of goals and "to dos" that are actually attainable (though I have lost a whopping two pounds since New Year's so maybe that toned thing is possible....or maybe that's just because I barfed on Friday at Jamaal's house from eating a quarter of grade F chicken from BBQ's on a completely empty stomach...)

Anywho. Here goes:

Finish and distribute overdue wedding gifts.
Embarrassingly enough, I have two wedding gifts I still owe people. Both are well within the year limit (apparently you have a year to give a gift according to etiquette gurus...personally, I am kind of mortified I still have these). I have a beautiful knit blanket that's about 2 or 3 skeins of yarn away from being finished, as well as a lovely cross stitch sampler that just needs to be framed. We (as in Jam and I) already gave both couples money, so it's not like they didn't get anything, plus as I recall, we gave really generously (they're totally worth it (-: ) but still, who doesn't finish wedding gifts on time! UGH!

Finish birthday and other gifts and distribute.
I owe four people quilts. Three know I do, one has no idea I was supposed to make him a quilt. My friend Elizabeth's quilt was supposed to be for her 25th birthday. She'll be 27 on March 18th. The other quilt is about 9 months late. My sister's quilt had no deadline, but she did buy the fabric and she probably would like it done.

Finish swap items. Send. Take swap hiatus.
I love swaps. I do. I've met some great people and received amazing and wonderful gifts via swaps. Swaps, however, are the reason that overdue gifts are languishing in my room. I will finish my current swaps (3- ISE 7, New Year, New Dishcloths, and RSE 3) with gusto, but then cut myself off (until the Ornament Swap, of course!) til I am done with gifts.

Get rid of crap.
I need to clean out my closet and my bureau. I have so much JUNK. Plus I need a place to safely hang my wedding dress. As of this moment, I literally have nowhere to put it. I know where it could go, if the area weren't obstructed by a shoe thing holding purses and a set of drawers holding a bajillion pairs of underwear and socks.

Plan wedding stuff in calm orderly fashion and do not bore people with details they don't care about.
That's pretty self explanatory LOL.

Obtain a new job with better pay.
"But the economy is failing! Unemployment is rampant! There are wage and hiring freezes!!" I'm sorry, what? Whether by promotion or entirely new job, by December 31, 2009, I'd like to get paid what I should. It has been acknowledged by the doctors at my job that all of the women in my office are underpaid. I'd like to rectify that somehow - bringing up the issue with the department head unfortunately got us nowhere...

Chillax more.
There was much franticness in 2008. MUCH. Much crying. Much stress. Gotta be calmer about life.

Go to church more.
Cause it's good (for me). The end.

Be more involved in my involvements.
ha ha I like that title. I belong to a bunch of groups. I slack sometimes. I've got to stop and step up to the plate. I have to be social and put myself out there. That's all there is to it.

Finish the rest of the stuff on my To Do list
I have a google docs to do list. I've had it since 2007. It should get done already!

Ok that's pretty much it. Ten things are more than enough. The end.

Not Much

I don't have much to write about the Inauguration.

I didn't go. I don't have a touching photo of the people around me watching it, all teary-eyed, or a picture of me and Jamaal celebrating the moment, lol. I didn't go somewhere special where everyone had on Obama shirts and was eating chili (apparently one of his favorite foods that was served around the city yesterday in his honeor). I watched it at my office, in a small windowless conference room with a bunch of women in their 40's and 50's who didn't like Bush but didn't like Obama because they were Hillary fans. Oh well.

I still managed to find his speech inspiring and his family endearing. Malia taking pictures of her dad while he's giving his inauguration speech in front of nearly two million people - I loved it. I liked the attitude of the speech too. It was basically like "we have MAD SH*T TO DO PEOPLE" and Obama made it clear that some of this work will have to be done by us, the common folk: "That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet."

I also like the pointed criticism of our current state of government. Many thought this was a direct hit to George Dubya, but personally, I think it should be interpreted as a hit to the crappy leadership that has plagued Washington for years, and both Democrats, Republicans, Independents and those that don't care fall into this category: "On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics." Word.

I liked this too: "As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.......We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you." Grrrrrr. It's stuff like that that makes me really damn proud to be an American. Gobama!

BUT!

While I like this strong stance, I found that Obama made a very important point when he said this as well: "Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint" and "know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more." This has been an issue that has plagued me for a long time when it comes to America and her policies. I felt like our world image and reputation was on a serious decline, not just because of Iraq, but for many other reasons as well, including the simple ignorance of human suffering in places the were, for whatever reason, deemed "not important enough" by our leaders. I hope Obama is as ready to lead as he says he is, but I am actually optimistic about our future as a world leader. It makes me hope that we can help places like the Congo and Zimbabwe, help people in slums, people who are cold and hungry and destitute because their governments or the non-existence of government in their homeland is making sure that they stay that way.

Of course the economy, healthcare and homeland security are important to me, of course, but the environment and social justice/equality at home and abroad have always been forefront in my list of ideals and it is those ideals that led be to Obama. I was most inspired by hearing this yesterday: "To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it." To me, that phrase was the real "Yes We Can" moment of the speech. It wasn't all sunshine and lollipops. Actually, it really wasn't any sunshine and lollipops, more a gritty and determined list of crap we've got to accomplish together, but that bit about branching out, helping others, stopping the plunder of resources from poor and suffering nations, halting our indifference - it really served as re-inspiration for saving the world. I really think we can do it. I really do.

Finally, the most important point in the entire speech:

"For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies."

Stop waiting for the government to do stuff for you - get out there and do it for yourself. Take some responsibility for your life.

Blah. That's enough from me. I think the real thrill already happened for me during the election. That was the tear-inducing moment, when Charlie Gibson called the election back in November. I was moved to see Michelle Obama look so proud as she held the Lincoln Bible under her husband's hand, and to see the little Obamas take in the whole scene, and I very much enjoyed the Inauguration speech, but the emotional reaction to it all was long over. I was all "Ok people, let's get to work, there is no time for partying!!!" Heh. Oh, and Aretha Franklin? You are too damn old, LOL. I know half the press was calling her "An American Treasure" but I seriously wanted to cover my ears. By the second verse I didn't know what the HELL she was singing. Oh, but Beyonce actually did a fantastic job at whatever ball she was singing at (I can't keep them straight to save my life). That was wonderful. And I sometimes doubt Beyonce's talent (I love her madly, but you know), but last night she was fantastic. (Oh and I hate to single out Aretha cause she's old and doing well considering some more harsh criticisms: I didn't like the poet or the benediction either, lol. I missed the beginning minister, so despite his apparent "anti-gay" status, I can't comment on him, hahahah. Here's who I liked: Obama. The quartet with Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Anthony McGill and Gabriela Montero. Perhaps it is my congregationalist tendencies or my simple New England upbringing, but I find "Simple Gifts" a most beautiful and moving pieces of music. I also liked Beyonce, and the little kid's dancing behind Will.I.Am, but I'm not so sure I liked all of Will.I.Am's performance, and I am a HUGE fan of his "Yes We Can" video. Ummm. Oh and I turned off the TV when Mary J. came on screeching. I love her, but I had a mad headache. Ooooh yeah, and Alicia Keys looke HAWT.)

Anywho. Other than that I have no real news. I bought a wedding dress this weekend which was awesome. It's sort of anticlimatic though because you go to the store, try it on, the people you're with are like 'OH MY GOD IT'S SO PRETTY' but other than that, no one else is too into it. I mean, I don't expect people to like, drop what they're doing and go apesh*t cause I bought a dress, but besides the engagement, this is the first "big thing" to get accomplished. I guess I sort of lumped it into the same category as the engagement, and I shouldn't have, because now I'm like, weirdly sad. Ugh. This weekend we're supposed to go look at one of the reception places I had in mind. I'm not so sure my other half is into it, so this brings up a lot of guilt and regret blah blah blah, but the appointment has been made so we'll just have to see how it goes. Maybe it will be a hit and everyone will leave happy. My dress would look perfect there, LOL.

*edited to add: I have read a lot of criticisms about the First Lady's shoe choice yesterday. Everyone is all "yellow and green? ew"
I say "HELLS F*CKING YES! GREEN SHOES ARE AWESOME!"
I think Stacey and Clinton (WNTW) would be proud!!

Amused

I linked to this blog today through another blog which I had linked to through another blog, etc.
Anywho, I love reading Kenyan blogs because it gives me this teeny little bit of a feeling of still being connected to what is happening over there, NOT the big news stories, but the seemingly dumb and insignificant sh8t that completely dominated our lives when we were over there. My fellow students and I used to laugh - it's really not all AIDS and famine....it's whether or not you could get a Tusker baridi at that bar or whether sign-language man would corner you at the bar in Kimana or whether the lady with the sweets would be a the market in Oloitokitok so you could buy some damn HobNobs.

That's probably why I find this reflection on Kenyan public restrooms rather hilarious. I can't remember any that were particularly "awash" though I do recall I'd go just about anywhere if I was intoxicated enough, which in social situations away from school, I often was. Though I will admit in national parks or other seemingly unpopulated areas where it was deemed appropriate/acceptable/wildlife free enough to piss outside, I often took that option, much to the delight one day of some children around Kiserian-way who stumbled upon a mzungu lady with her skirt hiked up in the bushes. I had to let them observe as they did not speak enough english or me speak enough swahili to get them to go away (without being rude - "shoo" and "go away" are things you say to dogs, not people!) and reassured myself that their mindful watching probably had a scientific basis to it all.

I remember taking pictures of some of the bathrooms I visited and showing my friends back here in America. I remember a couple of people looking at this and saying "but it's a hole in the ground"

To which I replied "I didn't take pictures of the ones that were holes in the ground."
Heh.

Actually a pit choo, or a long drop or whatever, is seriously not that bad. Some of them even have guides on where to put your feet. As for a place to put your purse, I did like Aunt Elinore taught me "When you're worried about your purse, put it around your neck." Of course she meant in situations where you were nervous about being robbed, but I feel like the advice is pretty universal to all purse situations. A lot of the bathrooms are dark too. Sometimes I took these moments for a bit of quiet introspection, a minute away from the chaos of whatever was happening outside. I mean, if it didn't smell too bad that is.

I think the trick to navigating the public restrooms of Kenya is just to be prepared. Have some tissues, be ready to use your balance, have a bag you can put around your neck, have some purell, and be ready to pee outside if necessary. That's all. If you keep those things in mind, you'll probably have a fine old time and save yourself the trouble of looking for the bathroom Jane Seymour used to conduct lady business (read following post).

Here's the post from Rafiki Kenya:

"Awash in human effluvia"

The Bathroom Diaries lets you search through lists of more than 12,000 bathrooms all around the world. Each entry gives the restroom stars for cleanliness, safety, accessibility, aesthetics, facilities etc.

I was quite amused to find the following entry on the Nairobi page of the site:

Modern Green Day and Night Bar, Latema Road

Rating: Horrible

Hours: 24 hours

Gender: long drop

Fee: Free

Comments: May have had running water at one time. Virtually awash in human effluvia. Whilst labeled gender specific, in actual fact men, women and ?? all come and go as they please. Also used for sex by the resident prostitutes. Quite simply, the most disgusting toilets I've ever had the misfortune to encounter.

Although this may look funny at first, it does not really portray a good image about Kenya, does it? Fortunately, there is also a restroom in Kenya which is rated as excellent, namely the one at the Norfolk Hotel:

Norfolk Hotel, near the University

Rating: Excellent

Hours: 24 hours

Gender: Western

Fee: Free

Details: clean, safe, celebrity sightings: Jane Seymour (Dr. Quinn) was seen using this restroom.

Comments: The Norfolk is one of the main stopping points for tour groups heading out to the game preserves. The restrooms are just beyond the main desk. Just walk in like you are staying and you'll be fine.

If you happen to find another excellent washroom in Kenya, feel free to add it. It could help rebuild our image abroad while giving fellow Kenyans some good tips.

Ha!

Remember yesterday's ominous feelings?!
THIS HAPPENED. Right across the highway from my mother's office.
Weirdly coincidental.

Anyways, I have nothing to write really. Oh, except I was thinking today that the bonus discs you get with DVD's are really kind of pointless. It's cool to watch the bonus materials of Season 2 of Grey's Anatomy like, once. But it's not like you're going to be sitting at your house at 10pm Saturday night looking for a good time and think "Oh! Oh there's one I haven't watched in a while, the bonus disc of The Royal Tenenbaums, yes brilliant!!" It's kind of a waste of space. Besides, couldn't they fit them on the flipside of the disc or something?
I dunno. That's my thought process at 6am.

Also, it is 12F here or -11.11 for all you Celsius fans. I think that is just a bit obscene. Though it's just this type of weather I'm talking about when I tell people "I love living in New England because it gets so cold in the winter that by the time it's spring and summer you have forgotten the awesomeness of warmth, then summer gets so hot you forget the awesomeness of a blanket of snow."
Note I never said "I like the cold"
BRR! Luckily I am in my semi-warm office with handwarmers and a scarf on, so I'm good. And off to clean my disgusting desk off with clorox wipes. Woohoo another fun day at the office!

If I Only Read 10 Books in 2008

We-ell I'm getting over the ominous stuff. Weird Monday-ness.
Anyways, here's the book round up for 2008. If I had only read 10 books it would've been these 10. Some of them were award-winning and eloquent, but some were teen romance-y books that were just fantastic because I got so involved in the alternate universe that I almost missed my train stop. No lie.
Here goes:
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
I loved this story of family, loss, and the struggle to be something different. The prose is vivid - I could *see* Central Square, their first apartment, even India.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
This end-of-the-world story is one of the most disturbing books I've ever read in my ENTIRE LIFE. Seriously messed up. I'm glad I read it nevertheless. The story is fascinating - how did McCarthy come up with this sh*t? I liked the sparse dialogue between father and son and found it very believable. I don't know if I could ever see the movie though. Ugh.
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
This was an inspirational non-fiction piece that focused on educating children, women in particular, in the far reaches of Pakistan. The goal of Mortenson is to end fundamentalism and cultural misunderstanding to foster peace and learning and tolerance throughout Pakistan and the world. I thought his attitude and outlook were refreshing and inspirational.
The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
This book chronicled the Dustbowl. My grandparents are too young to really remember this, which makes a book like this invaluable to generations who weren't living in this era. It's also a pretty serious look back at how crappily we treated the environment and how it had its revenge. Sooo not funny. No, Sarah Palin, that Global Warming is for real!
An Anthropologist on Mars by Oliver Sacks
This is the weirdest book - a compilation of all of the strange "brain cases" Sacks dealt with throughout his career, like the brilliant doctor with Tourette's or the blind guy whose sight was restored and hated every second of it....or the guy who joined a cult and then had an untreated brain tumor and had terrible terrible weird amnesia. It was frickin' fascinating.
Love in the Driest Season by Neely Tucker
Books about Zimbabwe are pretty much automatically going to be sad. This was very sad, but had such a message of hope worked into it. It was also a fascinating account of the struggle of international adoption in Africa - the mixed-race couple thing being factored in there added a whole new aspect to it too.
Whatever You Do, Don't Run by Peter Allison
This book was hilarious. True tales from a Botswana safari guide. If you read this, you will want to go to Botswana. Actually, you'll probably want to quit your job, move to Botswana and become a safari guide. I did!
Brother, I'm Dying by Edwidge Danticat
I've read fiction by Edwidge before, but none of her nonfiction and certainly nothing so personal. This is the story of her uncle as well as her childhood in Haiti. The book also discusses her uncle's experiences visiting the US from Haiti as well as his treatment as a foreigner seeking political asylum. It's positively heartbreaking yet completely free of self pity.
Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan
Ha, another disturbing book. This is a collection of short stories that deal with human trafficking throughout Africa. It made me beyond sad, but I think it's very important to be aware of these types of issues - especially in Africa, a continent to which so many of us turn a blind eye.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyers
CANDY FOR MY BRAIN. I'm not gonna make any excuses. This is good teen deliciousness. I ate it up, then I ate up the next three in the series, and then I saw the movie twice. These will be the type of books I'll pick up again and again when I want to delve back into the drama of an entirely inappropriate romance. Yummm.

Well that's that. Forgive my crapass book synopses. It's the end of a long day :) I am off to go home, work out, and then have a FAT cocktail. Made it through another Monday!

Ominous

I have had Feelings lately that a Very Bad Thing is about to happen. I can't put a finger on it, except to say that it's not going to happen to me...
It's weird.

On Friday I woke up and had that feeling - so much that I almost called in sick. I didn't want to be in the city at all, I wanted to stay home in the 'burbs and watch the birds at my birdfeeder all day and be away from the world.

On my way to work MedFlight had to land and transport someone who had been hit by a stolen car in Holbrook. The car stealer died. The Abington ambulance passed me to get to Belcher St in Holbrook because the Holbrook ambulance was tied up at the car stealing/medflight scene. Ominous.

Then in the afternoon, leaving work after a 3 hour meeting to have a cocktail with a friend, police EVERYWHERE. It seemed like every Boston officer was in the LMA, blocking streets, directing traffic. My bus got through to Huntington, and then this.
O-MIN-OUS.

I think it might just be me. But maybe not. I'm not too worried, cause like I said, this ominous ideation has nothing to do with me directly except in the sense that I am feeling it. I hope I am wrong. Maybe I'm just annoyed by the girl I'm sharing a project with who won't let things go and who is nervous about everything all the time. Or maybe I just feel squidgy after reading a new favorite blog and reading how a man in Tanzania went out into his field and disappeared. No one could find him. My Kenyan friend Maraka said to me once "In Africa, people just disappear." Weird.

This is a weird post.
I am going to give platelets and to get myself a little bit of optimism...
11:17 edited to add
I failed my hemoglobin test - perhaps this is the extent of ominous events for today and I am being dramatic...

'08 In Pictures

You know, looking back on 2008 in pictures really puts a more positive spin on things. I am an optimist by nature, but this year had me down...a lot. I won't lie. There was my cousin Catherine's illness and death which descended out of nowhere and came as a shock. There was my father's work drama, which culminated in his sudden retirement. There was the sudden realization that one of my grad school classes wouldn't count, and having to take on an insane course load, never really knowing if I'd make it. My grandma fell flat on her face, then had a series of health issues that scared the crap out of us. People we knew died. I was tired, sleepless, anxious, hating my job....but.....

...then there was everything else. While the above things were big and overpowering and always managed to overshadow something, there were the other things that were joyous and happy, life events to be celebrated, and even small seemingly insignificant moments of beauty and tiny self-satisfying accomplishments. There were births and marriages and engagements and graduations and knitted shawls, pancakes, and birds. The big and the little, all put together to make a pretty damn good year. I'm so glad I stopped to reflect, because really? It was pretty fantastic.

What I did in 2008 (in no particular order):

voted for change

was skurry


rooted for the predator (who lost this one)

found a one-eyed squirrel

learned what it's like to cook in fine ceramic bakeware

rooted for my team (and heckled the enemy)

was overwhelmed by history (George Washington stood here!)

felt the love

fell down

found happiness out in nature

found beauty in the small simple things

experienced complete and utter peace all alone

fell in love with birds again and again and again

celebrated change

was reminded why I love this place

got a new perspective

celebrated more marriage

chugged

drove a boat

cooked some happy

acted stupid

kicked ass and took names

was inspired

wanted to quit (but didn't! I didn't!)

had a bruise - a big one

did I mention loving birds?

watched the snow

knit

went to an opera recital and felt proud of my friend

rang in the new year in typical sisterly fashion

held someone brand new

explored new places

made something mini to share

witnessed a wedding

found someone who agreed on my views of graduate degree education

celebrated second chances

hung out with my Smith gallies

made something for myself

got glasses

cross stitched advice I need to learn to take

felt loved

felt like a patriot

got engaged

danced

baked fancy

fed the birds