Pictures are on their way, I promise. The weekend was excellent. Thank goodness for spring weather, and thank goodness for good friends.
Carrburrito's - AWESOME.
Ed & Amy - great to see them (and get to see tham again in about 3 weeks!)
Beerfest - fantastic as always
After beerfest cookout - yummy food and rockin karaoke
Sunday - sleep :-)
4.30.2007
4.28.2007
4.27.2007
A few random things
Addictive Shopping
www.woot.com
The schtick is thus: the site normally only sells one item per day - "one day, one deal" is their motto. It is normally a refurbished electronics item of some sort, but you never know what will pop up. Some great deals can be had off this site. I bought a collection of memory cards for my camera on the site once for about 25% of what they would have cost in the store. Now, of course, I have memory cards but no camera. Ah, the irony of the universe.
But, if you check Woot today, you are in luck. It's a WOOT - OFF! The Woot Off is non stop Woot action for about 24-48 hours. One product stays on-line until it is sold out. When it sells out, the next product goes on the market. What most Wooters wait for is the ever elusive "BOC", or Bag O' Crap. I believe the BOC sells for $1, then you pay $3.95 for shipping. Mike managed to grab a few BOCs a few months ago. We got a delightful assortment of items. A few small electronics items, a fan on a string in the shape of a Budweiser bottle, and some RCA stuffed animals. You may question paying $15 for something you have no idea about, but really, you are paying $15 to receive a big box in the mail, full of gifts from a long lost friend with a great sense of humor. There are Woot stories about people receiving very high end items in their BOC - so, you never know what will show up on your doorstep. Warning though: the BOC sells out FAST. You pretty much have to catch it as it is posted on the site. That is why I am clicking between this window and another, constantly hitting refresh - I don't want to miss my first chance at a BOC!!!
Stephen Hawking
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/04/26/hawking.flight.ap/index.html
This story made me teary. This must have been an amazing experience for Dr Hawking. My family has a close connection with a family who lost a loved one with Lou Gehrig's, and to hear someone with the disease having experiences like this and sharing his message of exploration and looking towards the future is absolutely wonderful.
BEERFEST
Can I just say, yet again, how excited I am about Beerfest tomorrow? Ed and Amy will be getting her eabout 5 or 6 o'clock this evening. We are then off to Carburritos for dinner(also awesome), then a going away party for a friend leaving for an extended trip to Germany. (We'll miss ya, Luc!) We will hopefully be up and animated early enough to hit the farmer's market to get fresh stuff for our after beerfest cook-out, and i would like us to leave for Raleigh no later than 11am. Get in line, then BEER!!!!
LDOC
Wednesday's Last Day of Classes concerts on the Duke quad were absolutely fantastic. Common was beyond fantastic, and Jason Mraz actually rocked out, too. One of the funnier parts was my advisor, Dr. Kathy Rudy, getting a shout out from Jason Mraz during the concert, as he tagged along with her class on a trip to the Duke Lemur Center. I e-mailed Kathy about it the next day, and she said "Who is Jason Mraz?". ha! Gotta love it. Common's show was just unbelivable. The performance was high energy and nonstop. He addressed all the Duke issues (i.e. lacrosse) with tact and diplomacy, and I think everyone had a blast. Plus, it was great to be outside and having a few drinks with all of our buddies (Meredith, Stefan, Jeremy, Lauren, Cookie, Luc, Victoria, Dan, Mike and myself).
GIRL POWER
It has been too long since I have had quality girl time. That's gonna change next week though. I have a ladies lunch planned for Wednesday afternoon, and a Ladies Night Out planned on Saturday - including salsa dancing. WOO HOO! I am so looking forward to both of these events. One thing I have learned in the past couple of years is how very important it is for women to have women friends. It sounds obvious, but in reality, it is difficult. I am lucky enough to have many strong, beautiful, funny and outrageous women in my life. We all have our own issues and neuroses, but who better to help you deal with your own crap than other neurotic women??? It is the best support in life any woman can have.
www.woot.com
The schtick is thus: the site normally only sells one item per day - "one day, one deal" is their motto. It is normally a refurbished electronics item of some sort, but you never know what will pop up. Some great deals can be had off this site. I bought a collection of memory cards for my camera on the site once for about 25% of what they would have cost in the store. Now, of course, I have memory cards but no camera. Ah, the irony of the universe.
But, if you check Woot today, you are in luck. It's a WOOT - OFF! The Woot Off is non stop Woot action for about 24-48 hours. One product stays on-line until it is sold out. When it sells out, the next product goes on the market. What most Wooters wait for is the ever elusive "BOC", or Bag O' Crap. I believe the BOC sells for $1, then you pay $3.95 for shipping. Mike managed to grab a few BOCs a few months ago. We got a delightful assortment of items. A few small electronics items, a fan on a string in the shape of a Budweiser bottle, and some RCA stuffed animals. You may question paying $15 for something you have no idea about, but really, you are paying $15 to receive a big box in the mail, full of gifts from a long lost friend with a great sense of humor. There are Woot stories about people receiving very high end items in their BOC - so, you never know what will show up on your doorstep. Warning though: the BOC sells out FAST. You pretty much have to catch it as it is posted on the site. That is why I am clicking between this window and another, constantly hitting refresh - I don't want to miss my first chance at a BOC!!!
Stephen Hawking
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/04/26/hawking.flight.ap/index.html
This story made me teary. This must have been an amazing experience for Dr Hawking. My family has a close connection with a family who lost a loved one with Lou Gehrig's, and to hear someone with the disease having experiences like this and sharing his message of exploration and looking towards the future is absolutely wonderful.
BEERFEST
Can I just say, yet again, how excited I am about Beerfest tomorrow? Ed and Amy will be getting her eabout 5 or 6 o'clock this evening. We are then off to Carburritos for dinner(also awesome), then a going away party for a friend leaving for an extended trip to Germany. (We'll miss ya, Luc!) We will hopefully be up and animated early enough to hit the farmer's market to get fresh stuff for our after beerfest cook-out, and i would like us to leave for Raleigh no later than 11am. Get in line, then BEER!!!!
LDOC
Wednesday's Last Day of Classes concerts on the Duke quad were absolutely fantastic. Common was beyond fantastic, and Jason Mraz actually rocked out, too. One of the funnier parts was my advisor, Dr. Kathy Rudy, getting a shout out from Jason Mraz during the concert, as he tagged along with her class on a trip to the Duke Lemur Center. I e-mailed Kathy about it the next day, and she said "Who is Jason Mraz?". ha! Gotta love it. Common's show was just unbelivable. The performance was high energy and nonstop. He addressed all the Duke issues (i.e. lacrosse) with tact and diplomacy, and I think everyone had a blast. Plus, it was great to be outside and having a few drinks with all of our buddies (Meredith, Stefan, Jeremy, Lauren, Cookie, Luc, Victoria, Dan, Mike and myself).
GIRL POWER
It has been too long since I have had quality girl time. That's gonna change next week though. I have a ladies lunch planned for Wednesday afternoon, and a Ladies Night Out planned on Saturday - including salsa dancing. WOO HOO! I am so looking forward to both of these events. One thing I have learned in the past couple of years is how very important it is for women to have women friends. It sounds obvious, but in reality, it is difficult. I am lucky enough to have many strong, beautiful, funny and outrageous women in my life. We all have our own issues and neuroses, but who better to help you deal with your own crap than other neurotic women??? It is the best support in life any woman can have.
4.26.2007
4.24.2007
Exciting Week
Okay, it is only Tuesday, but tonight starts all the fun activities going on in the next 6 days!! We have on the agenda:
1) Cookie is the trivia master tonight at the Joyce. It will be cool to have Cookie giving the questions, but then again, we lose a team member. But, I am sure the rest of us can try to bring home a victory. It has been TOO LONG (over a month I think) since we have won. So everyone, bring your A game!
2) LDOC at Duke: Tomorrow is the "Last Day of Classes" at Duke. Doesn't mean a lot to me for that fact (since my last class was last Monday), but the Dukies throw a major party on the West Campus Quad. Common and Jason Mraz will be playing around 7pm. I cannot wait to see Common! for FREE!
3) Friday means the arrival of buddies Ed and Amy from Atlanta. They are friends of Mike's from high school near Tampa. It has been a while since we have seen them, so I am really looking forward to their arrival Friday evening.
4) Saturday is BEERFEST! WOO HOO! Besides visiting us, Ed and Amy are headed in to go to Beerfest in Raleigh with us. We are headed to to the afternoon session - which should give us plenty of time to get sobered up afterwards and drive home before it is dark. Beerfest days are excellent, and I can't wait for this one. Besides Ed and Amy, there are more of us going: Lauren and Jeremy, Carlton and Inken, Daniella, Cookie and Mike and I. Taylor and Chaz may make the trip out, and if we can convince anyone else to try and scalp a ticket, we may have more. But it should be a great time. I would say I'd take pics, but I have no camera :( Oh well, I guess I'll just have to drink beer!
5) Sunday will be sleep in and decompress time. We have a PoliSci event to make an appearance at at some point, but other than that, nothing else. Monday is back to work!
I just can't wait for all this fun stuff!!!!!
1) Cookie is the trivia master tonight at the Joyce. It will be cool to have Cookie giving the questions, but then again, we lose a team member. But, I am sure the rest of us can try to bring home a victory. It has been TOO LONG (over a month I think) since we have won. So everyone, bring your A game!
2) LDOC at Duke: Tomorrow is the "Last Day of Classes" at Duke. Doesn't mean a lot to me for that fact (since my last class was last Monday), but the Dukies throw a major party on the West Campus Quad. Common and Jason Mraz will be playing around 7pm. I cannot wait to see Common! for FREE!
3) Friday means the arrival of buddies Ed and Amy from Atlanta. They are friends of Mike's from high school near Tampa. It has been a while since we have seen them, so I am really looking forward to their arrival Friday evening.
4) Saturday is BEERFEST! WOO HOO! Besides visiting us, Ed and Amy are headed in to go to Beerfest in Raleigh with us. We are headed to to the afternoon session - which should give us plenty of time to get sobered up afterwards and drive home before it is dark. Beerfest days are excellent, and I can't wait for this one. Besides Ed and Amy, there are more of us going: Lauren and Jeremy, Carlton and Inken, Daniella, Cookie and Mike and I. Taylor and Chaz may make the trip out, and if we can convince anyone else to try and scalp a ticket, we may have more. But it should be a great time. I would say I'd take pics, but I have no camera :( Oh well, I guess I'll just have to drink beer!
5) Sunday will be sleep in and decompress time. We have a PoliSci event to make an appearance at at some point, but other than that, nothing else. Monday is back to work!
I just can't wait for all this fun stuff!!!!!
4.23.2007
Sad Times at Needville High
The historic part of my high school, Needville High School, burned down in the wee hours of the morning today. http://www.click2houston.com/news/12892312/detail.html
It is terribly sad - so many good times in those halls. The beautiful hardwood floors, the old rusty lockers, the flirty glances with cute boys down the hall, leaving english class to rush to lunch. That cool old building is now gone.
Here's to you, NHS....
It is terribly sad - so many good times in those halls. The beautiful hardwood floors, the old rusty lockers, the flirty glances with cute boys down the hall, leaving english class to rush to lunch. That cool old building is now gone.
Here's to you, NHS....
4.20.2007
4.19.2007
Not much to report
I haven't really had too much to report, therefore, I have not been blogging. But, today I have some good news. As I type this, my best chickie buddy, Lauren Braun, is in her MALS Final Interview, and within the next hour, she will be officially done with our masters program!! I am so thrilled for her. I am so close I can taste it - so I can't wait to hear how she feels after she has finished all her degree requirements. Tonight calls for girlie drinks at the Fed! woo hoo!
Other than that, I wrapped up my class for the semester on Monday - which feels great. I actually started reading a fun book the other day (The Omnivore's Dilemma) and it feels great to not procrastinate on anything. I forgot how it felt to "just" have work to deal with. That's nothin'! My next (and LAST) class starts the week of May 14, so I am happy to have a little break.
As for job stuff, nothing to report on that matter...yet. Stay tuned.
This weekend will be busy - a birthday on Friday, celebration of PhD defenses on Saturday, Sunday is recovery and house cleaning day.
Next week is Beer Fest! I can't wait! And that means Ed and Amy will be coming to visit next week, too! WOO HOO!!!!!!!!
Other than that, I wrapped up my class for the semester on Monday - which feels great. I actually started reading a fun book the other day (The Omnivore's Dilemma) and it feels great to not procrastinate on anything. I forgot how it felt to "just" have work to deal with. That's nothin'! My next (and LAST) class starts the week of May 14, so I am happy to have a little break.
As for job stuff, nothing to report on that matter...yet. Stay tuned.
This weekend will be busy - a birthday on Friday, celebration of PhD defenses on Saturday, Sunday is recovery and house cleaning day.
Next week is Beer Fest! I can't wait! And that means Ed and Amy will be coming to visit next week, too! WOO HOO!!!!!!!!
4.16.2007
On to better things
I keep getting more and more upset about the fact that someone would take my stuff. It's not the loss of property or the money I will lose due to the property being taken. What upsets me is that someone takes MY things and gets away from it. They didn't ponder buying a camera for a whole year before they actually went out, tested nearly every camera in the store and settled on that one. They didn't get to go all excited to Verizon when for one of the first times, they got the "new" toy, the "new" phone that was so cool. They weren't giddy like a little kid when they finally got something they worked for and paid cash for. They took it from me. And they had to do nothing. Ugh. I'll get over it. It just really upsets me.
BUT - before that happened, the party Jeff and King hosted Saturday night was amazing. It was a great mix of people (except the asshat that ran off with my stuff) and the location was very cool and very trendy. The live music from the Brian Horton Jazz Trio was especially fantastic.
And the night before that, Cookie, Melissa and I had a blast at the Nashquerade party at the Nasher Art Museum. At that time, I still had my camera, so I took pictures. Here they are - I think they are cute :-)
Cookie and I with our matching masks at Nashquerade
Melissa and I
Cookie checking out some art
My fun new photo (thank you photoshop!)
BUT - before that happened, the party Jeff and King hosted Saturday night was amazing. It was a great mix of people (except the asshat that ran off with my stuff) and the location was very cool and very trendy. The live music from the Brian Horton Jazz Trio was especially fantastic.
And the night before that, Cookie, Melissa and I had a blast at the Nashquerade party at the Nasher Art Museum. At that time, I still had my camera, so I took pictures. Here they are - I think they are cute :-)
Cookie and I with our matching masks at Nashquerade
Melissa and I
Cookie checking out some art
My fun new photo (thank you photoshop!)
4.15.2007
damn it
I am too naive. We were at a party last night (it was a great party, actually), and I left my purse unattended for too long. When I went back to it, my purse was gone, my jacket was on the floor. Someone found my purse in the bathroom, but it was empty (except for my Burt's Bees lip balm). Someone ran off with my camera, my cool Chocolate phone, my driver's license and my debit card. We alerted the waitress, and someone actually tried to use my credit card at the bar, but she kept it and gave it back to me. I canceled everything else last night so no one made out with anything. They did get the $20 in my purse, my $300 phone and my $125 camera though. Damn it. I'm too trusting.
So, sorry, folks. No more photos for a while. I can't afford to go out and buy a new camera at the moment. DAMN IT. They took my camera.
So, sorry, folks. No more photos for a while. I can't afford to go out and buy a new camera at the moment. DAMN IT. They took my camera.
4.12.2007
Comments on April 11 Post
Hi, all - I just responded to an anonymous comment on my April 11 blog posting, and I just want to give the disclaimer that it is one of the first real "animal rights" stances I have publicly taken. I have slowly moved to the point of being a bit more firm in my views and not being so embarassed about it. I haven't figured it all out, and once I think I have figured it out - I will actually be back at not understanding anything at all!!!
My response is from an animal rights perspective. It is not that I am saying that people should not give money to help sick babies. I just said that I don't give money to the March of Dimes. The world has a lot of different charities and causes, and I just choose to not support this charity due to its animal testing practices. But that doesn't mean I don't care about sick children. I can give to Ronald McDonald House, etc and try to help in other ways.
As you can tell, although I may be more comfortable in saying what I feel, I still have issues with angering or upsetting other people. We all have our opinions, and there are places for all of them. Thanks for whoever posted the comment - I appreciate the chance for this dialogue!
My response is from an animal rights perspective. It is not that I am saying that people should not give money to help sick babies. I just said that I don't give money to the March of Dimes. The world has a lot of different charities and causes, and I just choose to not support this charity due to its animal testing practices. But that doesn't mean I don't care about sick children. I can give to Ronald McDonald House, etc and try to help in other ways.
As you can tell, although I may be more comfortable in saying what I feel, I still have issues with angering or upsetting other people. We all have our opinions, and there are places for all of them. Thanks for whoever posted the comment - I appreciate the chance for this dialogue!
4.11.2007
A bit to report on....
The weather here is gross. Chilly and rainy. Just makes you want to not leave the house. And Mike is off to Chicago tomorrow morning - or at least he is scheduled to. I just read on CNN that a ton of flights have been cancelled in and out of O'Hare due to poor visibility and snow, and Midway is operating with some bad delays. I hope my sweetie won't have too stressful of a journey tomorrow - or on his way back home Saturday. Oddly enough, I believe it is supposed to warm up here tomorrow!
There is some other stuff I would like to mention (work related), but I don't want to jinx anything, so I am not going to say anything just yet about that. Maybe by the end of the week.......
Tomorrow I am scheduled to meet with a wonderful friend, who also happens to be an excellent attorney, about the situation with my landlady. Hopefully we can whip up a good letter to send to her and get that whole situation wrapped up sooner rather than later.
That's it for now. Man it is hard for me to not talk about the job stuff.......
There is some other stuff I would like to mention (work related), but I don't want to jinx anything, so I am not going to say anything just yet about that. Maybe by the end of the week.......
Tomorrow I am scheduled to meet with a wonderful friend, who also happens to be an excellent attorney, about the situation with my landlady. Hopefully we can whip up a good letter to send to her and get that whole situation wrapped up sooner rather than later.
That's it for now. Man it is hard for me to not talk about the job stuff.......
4.08.2007
I had a special visitor today
The Easter Bunny visited me today :-). For the first time in several years, I got an Easter basket. My darling Mike hid one in the house for me to discover on Easter Sunday. Stocked with Reese's peanut butter cups, Starburst jellybeans, Dove chocolate eggs and an adorable stuffed duck (plush, not real), I received a wonderful surprise.
Mike, you truly are one of a kind.
EXTRA NOTE: Last night, I watched the Lifetime Movie "The Party Never Stops," the story of a beautiful waif like young lady that goes off to college, begins drinking, partying and carousing with men after being a studious over-achiever in high school. I get sucked into teen movies, so I got sucked into this one. While Lifetime has a point they are trying to get across, they lose most kids in the fact that 1) the parties look like a lot of fun, 2) our heroine never puts on an ounce of weight or even once looks like crap and 3) most kiddos in college don't have money to throw around like these girls are - where are they getting all this cash from?? SPOLILER ALERT: The girl's roomie dies at the end of alcohol poisioning, giving the moral that "it could happen to you." But really, most girls will probably take away that the main character did all the same stuff, got a cute boyfriend, still looks amazing and now has a bad influence out of her life. Lifetime, thank you for trying, but this one misses the mark a bit. (it also scares the crap out of me to one day have a daughter who goes off to college - this movie scares the crap out of parents and makes kids laugh)
Mike, you truly are one of a kind.
EXTRA NOTE: Last night, I watched the Lifetime Movie "The Party Never Stops," the story of a beautiful waif like young lady that goes off to college, begins drinking, partying and carousing with men after being a studious over-achiever in high school. I get sucked into teen movies, so I got sucked into this one. While Lifetime has a point they are trying to get across, they lose most kids in the fact that 1) the parties look like a lot of fun, 2) our heroine never puts on an ounce of weight or even once looks like crap and 3) most kiddos in college don't have money to throw around like these girls are - where are they getting all this cash from?? SPOLILER ALERT: The girl's roomie dies at the end of alcohol poisioning, giving the moral that "it could happen to you." But really, most girls will probably take away that the main character did all the same stuff, got a cute boyfriend, still looks amazing and now has a bad influence out of her life. Lifetime, thank you for trying, but this one misses the mark a bit. (it also scares the crap out of me to one day have a daughter who goes off to college - this movie scares the crap out of parents and makes kids laugh)
4.07.2007
A dose of my own medicine
After telling all my 25 year old friends that their year was going to be tough, I got a big ol' heaping dose of my own medicine. I am absolutely blessed in the wonderful relationship I have, so I am very lucky in that regard (I love you, Mike!), but it seems like I am questioning everything else at the moment.
This last trip to South Africa was tough. It seems like anything that could have gone wrong in our retreats did. A lot of it was beyond my control, but I had this underlying feeling that I was off my game - and if I would have been the MVP like normal, I would have been able to prevent all the mishaps. I came home not feeling confident at all about my job performance. Ambassador Joseph sent me an e-mail thanking me for a job well done, but I feel there may be others who I work with who do not feel the same at all.
I have now been in my job for over 5 and a half years. Both my bosses know I am about ready to move on, but the question is to where. I have applied for several jobs over the past year. I was offered one, but the pay was far too low. I was interviewed for a couple of others, but I was not asked back for second or third interviews. I have a prospect in front of me now - which I am very excited about - but I am also cautious. I want to make sure it is the right move to make if it is offered to me. I will keep you posted on that as I hear more.
I once read a quote that went something like this: "I wake up each morning with a desire to change the world and a desire to enjoy it. It makes it difficult to plan the day." That is a lot what I feel at the moment. I enjoy so many aspects of my life, I truly do. I have wonderful friends, great family and a fantastic relationship. I just need this other part of me to feel fulfilled. I honestly and truly want to make a difference in the world. I just am not sure where to focus my energies. And hate me for saying it, I wouldn't mind making a little money along the way so I can enjoy some of the pricier things in life. I even feel guilty for admitting that.
Someone please tell me that turning 30 will make most of this go away.........
This last trip to South Africa was tough. It seems like anything that could have gone wrong in our retreats did. A lot of it was beyond my control, but I had this underlying feeling that I was off my game - and if I would have been the MVP like normal, I would have been able to prevent all the mishaps. I came home not feeling confident at all about my job performance. Ambassador Joseph sent me an e-mail thanking me for a job well done, but I feel there may be others who I work with who do not feel the same at all.
I have now been in my job for over 5 and a half years. Both my bosses know I am about ready to move on, but the question is to where. I have applied for several jobs over the past year. I was offered one, but the pay was far too low. I was interviewed for a couple of others, but I was not asked back for second or third interviews. I have a prospect in front of me now - which I am very excited about - but I am also cautious. I want to make sure it is the right move to make if it is offered to me. I will keep you posted on that as I hear more.
I once read a quote that went something like this: "I wake up each morning with a desire to change the world and a desire to enjoy it. It makes it difficult to plan the day." That is a lot what I feel at the moment. I enjoy so many aspects of my life, I truly do. I have wonderful friends, great family and a fantastic relationship. I just need this other part of me to feel fulfilled. I honestly and truly want to make a difference in the world. I just am not sure where to focus my energies. And hate me for saying it, I wouldn't mind making a little money along the way so I can enjoy some of the pricier things in life. I even feel guilty for admitting that.
Someone please tell me that turning 30 will make most of this go away.........
4.06.2007
HOME
hi, everyone! i'm home, albeit a bit bittersweet. mike is in florida, so the house seems terribly lonely without him. i am able to get some quality time with the cats, sob uncontrollably at the latest episodes of scrubs, and not shower all day without feeling funny about it, but it doesn't make it easier not having him here. i will finally get to see my sweetie next monday night, after class. three more days...i can make it.
the trip home went fine. to pay off the debt that my flights were actually on time, the airline did not put me in the system for a vegetarian meal, nor did my in flight entertainment (the personal tv at my seat) work. luckily i slept most of the trip home and was full from earlier snacking, but it was great to get home at the time i was supposed to. unfortunately, i also brought back from africa some nasty cold bug - and compounded with the immense amount of pollen floating around here at the moment - i can barely breathe. the silver lining of mike not being here is that i can recover in the most ungraceful ways possible.
before i sign off for the night, here is a fun photo from my last night in cape town (and a rare one - me holding a baby!):
Here is auntie michelle with elewani's beautiful six month old baby girl. once i have the correct spelling of her name, i will post it here....
the trip home went fine. to pay off the debt that my flights were actually on time, the airline did not put me in the system for a vegetarian meal, nor did my in flight entertainment (the personal tv at my seat) work. luckily i slept most of the trip home and was full from earlier snacking, but it was great to get home at the time i was supposed to. unfortunately, i also brought back from africa some nasty cold bug - and compounded with the immense amount of pollen floating around here at the moment - i can barely breathe. the silver lining of mike not being here is that i can recover in the most ungraceful ways possible.
before i sign off for the night, here is a fun photo from my last night in cape town (and a rare one - me holding a baby!):
Here is auntie michelle with elewani's beautiful six month old baby girl. once i have the correct spelling of her name, i will post it here....
4.02.2007
Almost time to head home
The trip is almost over. We wrap up our second Retreat tomorrow night, and I get on a plane Wednesday evening to leave Cape Town. That puts me back in Durham by Thursday morning if I make all my flights.
The weekend was good. I had a minor stress breakdown on Friday evening, for several things went wrong for our closing dinner - and it just got to be too much. I had a good cry in the bathroom, and all is well. The one downside is that it knocked me down enough to where I was unable to muster the energy to meet the fellows out at the Green Dolphin that night. I took a shower and thought - I will just lay my head down for a minute. Bad idea - I woke up the next morning.
Saturday, I had a restful morning, wandered the waterfront until about lunch time, took a nap, then joined some fellows out at the Radisson hotel for drinks. After that, Melody and I headed out to the Jazz Fest with a few other fellows. It was good, although in a way disappointing. i wanted to see Hip Hop Pantsula, but President Mbeki happened to be in the venue right next to where Pantsula was performing, so security closed off the stairs. Turns out, Ambassador Joseph and his wife were with the President! I expressed my displeasure at the turn of events to him the next day. ha! Beyond that hiccup, I got to spend time with long time friend Elelwani - she's a momma now and looks absolutely stunning as always. It was our third jazz fest together. I also got to see Itumilange, which was great. Melody and I left the festival about midnight and headed to Manenberg's for a night cap. i ran into several old friends there as well, so it was a good night overall.
Itu, me and Elelwani
Sunday was back to work for our reunion. It has actually been great so far - although a bit emotional due to some heavy topics we have been discussing. it has also provided great insight to the class I am taking in trauma. In fact, I will be writing about some of my experiences for my class.
My cold seems to have returned as well, so I stayed in last night and tonight. Schoolwork is the name of the game. So, I may not be on here again until I am home, so I will post more adventures once i am settled back in Durham. Sorry I didn't post more often or have more exciting stories, but I hope you enjoyed my ramblings anyway.
Here's to Cape Town.....
The weekend was good. I had a minor stress breakdown on Friday evening, for several things went wrong for our closing dinner - and it just got to be too much. I had a good cry in the bathroom, and all is well. The one downside is that it knocked me down enough to where I was unable to muster the energy to meet the fellows out at the Green Dolphin that night. I took a shower and thought - I will just lay my head down for a minute. Bad idea - I woke up the next morning.
Saturday, I had a restful morning, wandered the waterfront until about lunch time, took a nap, then joined some fellows out at the Radisson hotel for drinks. After that, Melody and I headed out to the Jazz Fest with a few other fellows. It was good, although in a way disappointing. i wanted to see Hip Hop Pantsula, but President Mbeki happened to be in the venue right next to where Pantsula was performing, so security closed off the stairs. Turns out, Ambassador Joseph and his wife were with the President! I expressed my displeasure at the turn of events to him the next day. ha! Beyond that hiccup, I got to spend time with long time friend Elelwani - she's a momma now and looks absolutely stunning as always. It was our third jazz fest together. I also got to see Itumilange, which was great. Melody and I left the festival about midnight and headed to Manenberg's for a night cap. i ran into several old friends there as well, so it was a good night overall.
Itu, me and Elelwani
Sunday was back to work for our reunion. It has actually been great so far - although a bit emotional due to some heavy topics we have been discussing. it has also provided great insight to the class I am taking in trauma. In fact, I will be writing about some of my experiences for my class.
My cold seems to have returned as well, so I stayed in last night and tonight. Schoolwork is the name of the game. So, I may not be on here again until I am home, so I will post more adventures once i am settled back in Durham. Sorry I didn't post more often or have more exciting stories, but I hope you enjoyed my ramblings anyway.
Here's to Cape Town.....
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