each one out loud

Tim's Baking Project

2010-04-05T20:56:00.003-04:00

Tim baked this beautiful loaf of banana bread all by himself.

He was very proud.

So was I.

frankenstein leg

2010-03-23T20:19:00.004-04:00

sorry if you don't really want to see this, but i don't think it's too gross...anymore. the surgery was done through an incision on my outer thigh, instead of using the old one on my inner thigh. according to my dr, it was easier to go from this angle and if ever i need surgery again, they'd use this new one then, too.

the picture was taken after the nurse had cleaned the incision a little bit. less than a week to go before the staples are out!

finally!

2010-03-18T14:49:00.003-04:00

For those of you who have hounded me to get this blog going again, here's a little something for you...
Two weeks post knee-revision surgery! This is me at home, using the machine that bends my leg for me. I'm working up to 90 degrees of rotation; so far I've reached 73. My leg's pretty stiff at that point, but I just have to try and work through it. I have to use the machine for 6-8 hours per day, so my bed and I are becoming very close friends. Still praying for healing in the leg, for no infection and that my bone 'accepts' the new knee component. On March 30, I'll have the 48 staples removed from the incision.

Do you want to see a picture of the incision on here? Not sure if it would be appropriate...or if you would stomach it. But you can let me know!

Home in Brooklyn!

2008-08-12T16:30:00.004-04:00

I'm back safely and taking a little time to think about my time in Tanzania in order to report back to everyone! Stay tuned...and until then, here are a couple pictures!

Kaleja and Tito enjoying cake and soda at our house; they often came over for treats!

A female lion. They are so much like cats I've known in that they don't seem to care about you, unless you bother them. These ones have much bigger teeth, too!

Students had to gather for uniform inspection sometimes at the end of the school day. They call this time 'Parade.'

During a 'study' time one night, I found these class 5 kids trying to draw trousers (pants) on the chalkboard. They weren't doing so well, so I helped. My trousers turned into a cartoon version of another student who was in the room. Everyone else then began drawing each other on the board. It was fun.

A group of kids fighting for the limelight. Turn a camera on them and it's magical how many appear in just a few seconds.

It's time to leave already?!?!?

2008-08-01T11:58:00.002-04:00

Though I have to admit that until this week, time didn’t seem to pass too quickly here, it still seems strange that I have already finished my teaching and will be leaving Bulima on Monday. We are taking a short flight from Mwanza back to Nairobi on Monday. The flight was confirmed today, but we were told it might be ‘delayed’ since it has been bad weather for the last few days. So, I am hoping the delay doesn’t turn into a cancellation because we need to get to Nairobi by Tuesday night for our flight out.

Latest news: I am sick. There is a pretty bad cold type bug that’s going around here with the kids and as a parting gift, they have passed it on to me. I am oh, so grateful. I have been taking airborne, but I think it’s too late to really prevent it from hitting me. I am officially sneezing about every two minutes and can only breathe through my mouth. I am praying it will go away before I have to last for 20 hours on a plane.

On a brighter note, I am getting many notes and cards from the girls who I have been teaching. They seem to love making them. They all tell me I am their best friend and that they love me. It’s very special. I am taking many pictures of my friends (the students) here and hope to keep in touch with them. I have given many of them envelopes with a stamp so they can write me a letter and mail it to me in America. I told them that if they wrote me, I would write back and send copies of pictures I have taken of them while I was here. This will get some letters to me, I bet! I look forward to hearing from them…and I really do hope to see them all again someday.

It has been difficult being here for me, especially to be so far from friends and family. I knew traveling here with only two other people (who are much older than me) would probably bring about some loneliness and it definitely did, particularly the first week I was here. And, it still doesn’t feel quite like ‘home’ here as the culture is so different. All that to say, I am very sad to leave. I am starting to miss the students already. It is only really hitting me today that I will not be teaching them anymore.

This morning as I was meeting with the teachers and staff for a short bible study and prayer time, I was asked to speak for a few minutes. I could only get out a quick thank you before I started to tear up. I was telling them all about how I consider it a privilege to have been here among them and teaching these beautiful children…and I could say no more.

So, to all of you who have donated and who have prayed for me, these students and this school…I want to say THANK YOU, or ASANTE SANA! This is not my final post, but it has been on my mind lately that so many people are a part of this trip even if I am the only one here in Africa.

And...when I get back to the states, I will be sure to put some pictures up for all to see to make up for the unfortunate lack of visual effects!

SWEET VICTORY!!!

2008-07-28T09:39:00.006-04:00

i can't believe that i just got a picture up! amazing!

these are some girls from class 6. sarah (back row, third from left) is one of the girls who asked me to talk about my country. she invited me over to her house last week and i'm due back this week (as she reminds me) because she didn't have a soda for me last time. having a visitor in Africa is a grace; you have to offer them something. she wanted to walk with me and buy me a soda on the way home, but i suggested just paying another visit for my soda. and, like africans, i do love soda.

but, unlike africans, i cannot play netball barefoot. netball is similar to basketball, but you don't dribble the ball. you can only take a step or two before you have to pass the ball to a teammate. you pass back and forth across the court and then shoot to score. i don't think i've made a basket yet, but it's fun playing. the first time i played, i wasn't wearing proper shoes. all the girls were shedding theirs so i did the same. BIG MISTAKE. it was about 3:00 p.m. and the ground was toasty. i didn't really 'feel' it until after playing for a while when i suddenly realized i couldn't walk. i wobbled home. i still have a mark on one of my feet; it looks like a deep bruise and while i do have a picture of it, i will spare you from looking at my feet...for now.

what else...last sunday was my safari into the serengeti. we saw lots of animals and even saw 5 female lions up close and personal. the male lions were in hiding, but we managed to see many elephants, giraffe, zebra and gazelle. the wildebeests had, for the most part, already migrated north, so we only saw a few. my favorite parts were watching the giraffes eat. they look so funny when they chew. they made me laugh.

so, this is my last week of teaching. it has been going well. it is very interesting comparing the teaching styles of Tanzania with the teaching styles of the US, particularly in NYC. the students are so scared to talk in class, answering or asking questions. i know they're smart enough to answer my questions...if only they would try! sarah (the girl i mentioned above) has a brother named Andrew. he asked me the other day, "Do students in class laugh at each other in America?" it made me sad because i know that students are hassled by their classmates for 'incorrect' answers. what they don't know is that every mistake in math class is useful, not shameful. i hope my short three weeks of teaching can communicate this to some extent.

later this week i'll be giving tests to see how students have learned what i've been teaching. i'm eager to see how they do. also, class 6 is having a surprise party for me tomorrow, though they told me about it last week. SURPRISE!!

failing

2008-07-18T06:19:00.003-04:00

i really, really tried. i sat here for 20 minutes almost. i am so sad that uploading pictures doesn't seem to be working. i will try again another day and hope for the best! thanks for reading the blog even without pictures...

the stories that go with the pictures...

2008-07-18T05:53:00.003-04:00

NOTE: I was going to try for lots of pictures, but the internet is incredibly slow. These are captions that correspond to pictures that I will try to upload next...wish me luck!

This is the second 500-piece jigsaw puzzle that I finished within the first few days of being here, after I finished the first book I brought to read and before my luggage had arrived with my other books. There isn’t much entertainment around these parts, especially after the sun goes down.

Last Sunday, we visited the market in a nearby village to buy some produce and some kitengis (they’re the colorfully dyed pieces of cloth used as wraps or to make clothes).

Here is a view of part of the school, The Lion of Judah Academy (‘Simba wa Yuda’ in Swahili). [In case I haven’t said this yet, the school is in a village called Bulima, near a larger village called Magu and about a 1.5 hour drive from Mwanza.] From this view you are looking at two of the primary school buildings. They house Kindergarten through Class 5.

On Monday, I started teaching. I met with Class/Grade 3 and 5. I’m a little shy to take lots of pictures just yet, but here is one of Class 5. This class has some characters in it and I think they are losing their pens and pencils on purpose so I will give them one of my pens or mechanical pencils! They’re also obsessed with being marked correct when they do problems during class. If I mark one student’s notebook with a check, they immediately surround me with their notebooks saying, "Madame, will you mark?" I love it!

Also on Monday, I enjoyed a wonderful reunion with my luggage. The other case with supplies for the school arrived, too.

On Tuesday, we visited a girl’s orphanage that is about an hour away. This orphanage is in its beginning stages and was designed by a guy who actually lives in Brooklyn and attends NYU. It’s so funny to travel all the way to Tanzania and meet somebody who is your neighbor.

On Wednesday, it was my birthday! That afternoon, we invited the teachers and some people I know from the theological college to come over for cake and soda. Apparently, this will get any African into your home. So, we had quite a large group over and went through two large cakes and more than a crate of sodas. Here’s me cutting one of the cakes…After eating cake, we taught everyone how to play Pictionary with Bible stories. People were a little shy at first, but they got really into it by the end and we all laughed a lot. It was great.

To finish my birthday off, I helped make a Mexican feast…African style. The tortillas were actually chippati, which is sort of like a pita. I made the guacamole (which was pure happiness to eat). It was delicious!

As I mentioned before, I am teaching three different grades in math, but not every grade has math each day. With my spare time, I’ve been laminating books from the school library to help them last longer. The supplies and materials at this school are pretty limited, so it’s helpful to make things last. Yesterday I laminated for about 6 hours and when I closed my eyes at night, I had only visions of sticky paper and books.

My favorite time here is when I am with the students and getting to know them. I have a shadow named Lydia from Class 3. I have a friend named Sara from Class 6. She was over yesterday and wanted to talk to me about my country, my hobbies and my family. Another friend named Christian chatted with me for a while yesterday, too. She wishes to be a doctor and loves Science!

Tomorrow, I am looking forward to the graduation of three of the students I tutored four years ago. I hear the ceremony is long and in Swahili, but at least there will be singing! I love it when Africans are singing.

All that being said…I miss my friends! I don’t check email too often, but after about 4-5 days I start feeling pretty homesick and need to check email. It definitely helps me to write these updates so I feel that people are more in touch with me in spite of the distance. I hope they are enjoyable to read!

Polepole...'slowly, slowly'

2008-07-12T10:52:00.002-04:00

Polepole - pronounced "po-lay-po-lay"

It has been a few days since arriving here in Bulima, Tanzania. After a long two days of flying (including a not-so-friendly-to-the-stomach flight from Kenya in a tiny plane), it was a comfort to get to the Lion of Judah Academy where I’d be spending the next few weeks.

It is great to finally be able to report my safe arrival. I found out that the power company sometimes switches off the power to the village when people are using ‘too much.’ This makes using a computer even more complicated, but I am finally sitting in front of this beautiful piece of technology to ease my withdrawal of all things internet. [I won't mention the power outage that just temporary haulted my post or the fact that the internet goes so...polepole.]

Yesterday (Friday), I was able to take a look at the math curriculum that the school uses. It’s all in Swahili, which is extremely helpful but since they teach students in English from a very young age, they also have some textbooks that are in English that the students primarily use. I was able to talk with the teacher who has been responsible for teaching two of the three classes I will teach while I’m here to get an idea of what I should cover. I’ll be teaching math to Classes 3, 5 and 6 (roughly the same in American ‘grades’).

All that to say, I’m still a bit nervous about starting teaching here in such a new environment. I can already tell that it won’t be hard to maintain their attention, being a white person. They are intrigued. They call me ‘Madame’ and want to know where I come from. They stare at me until I smile and then they say ‘Good Morning’ or whatever time it is. As all children, they are extremely charming, even when they snap their fingers at me and say "Teacher!" to get my attention.

So…in regards to the title of this post. Polepole. This is how my luggage seems to be making it to Africa. SLOWLY, SLOWLY. It was exciting, almost thrilling to see the first four (out of six) bags come off the luggage rack when we reached Nairobi, Kenya as I chided myself a being even a little bit skeptical that they wouldn’t all make it. I learned quickly, however, that a little skepticism wasn’t uncalled for.

I arrived in Nairobi Tuesday, July 8 at 11:00 p.m. The baggage people said the next flight from Brussels (where my bag was) to Nairobi (where I won’t be until August) would be Friday, July 11. We told the baggage people we weren’t staying in Nairobi; they said they will try to get the bags to Mwanza, which is still a good drive from where we are now. We got a message from them on Thursday saying that the bags would ‘arrive’ on July 11. We think this means they’re in Nairobi now though we don’t really know because the baggage people, who work 8:00-5:00 every day, don’t really appreciate phone calls as they never seem to answer them.

Of the two missing bags, only one of them is mine. The other is a box of supplies for the school. The situation is somewhat comical to me, only having two pairs of socks, two shirts and a pair of jeans along with me in my carry-on. I’ve already made a list of everything I remember being in my bag and if I have to, I think I can claim it all with my travel insurance policy. But it would be more comforting to receive my bag and have all my own stuff.

I was really homesick the first night I was here and extremely tired. I slept for over 12 hours that night/morning and feel like I’m slowly having more energy and feeling accustomed to meal times and waking up here, etc. I have to get used to the many roosters crowing, the ‘guard’ dogs barking and wailing at each other and the little footsteps past my window at early morning hours.

On Geography

2008-06-28T16:07:00.004-04:00

Inspite of my love for maps, I'm only really good at geography if I've experienced a place, and even then my ability to describe locations can be sketchy. I'm heading out to Tanzania in just over a week and in describing this country's location to people who ask, I can only remember a few things: it's in the eastern part, south of Kenya and the equator. To help out a little bit, I consulted this map. (It's one of the purple ones on the right, south of the 'horn' shape.)

For my travels, I'll be flying from Newark, NJ to Brussels, then to Nairobi, Kenya. I'll stay overnight there and leave in the morning for a short flight (in a little plane) to Mwanza, Tanzania, which is on the coast of Lake Victoria. From there, I think it's less than a 2 hour drive to the village where I'll be teaching. Here's another map that helps locate these places.

When I arrive in Bulima, I'll be working with The Lion of Judah Academy (http://www.lionofjudah.info/) to teach math and possibly some science. The school has many needs and I could find myself doing any number of things there to occupy my time, but I hope to be of help in the instruction of the children, working with various grades.

Stay tuned to this blog for updates from Tanzania!

what do you do when a heat wave comes?

2008-06-07T16:32:00.005-04:00

you stay indoors and catch up on blogging.

i finally uploaded pictures from my camera...the urgency of seeing pictures of my neices when they visited last weekend was what drove me to do it. i miss them tons!

Here is the Jeffers family in full, riding the NYC transit: Katie (with Baby 3 in belly), Samantha, Andrew and Hannah (making friends from her stroller).

Hannah. She was hilarious riding the subway. She waved at everyone, made friends everywhere and made lots of funny faces like this one.

This is Samantha, now four and a half years old. When I said goodbye, we were both really sad. She said, "I'll always remember you" or something to that effect.

I guess saying goodbye is sort of like dying??

She's not afraid of posing. I think this picture is so GORGEOUS.

I really do wonder if there are any kids cuter than my neices! I probably won't think so until I have my own. There's something about them being related to you that makes them more precious than anyone else's kids...

heading back to l'abri

2008-02-09T23:00:00.000-05:00

one more week until my 'mid-winter recess' and i cannot wait! i have planned my bus trip up to southborough, massachusetts and look forward to being in a quiet place, removed from the normal daily routines. i'm going to bring a couple books i've been meaning to read on my own since my last trip to l'abri and look forward to listening to lectures when i arrive there. i hope i meet some cool people to befriend like the last times i've been. i'm looking forward to being there for many reasons...and hopefully i'll have a minute to blog about it when i'm back. i know i should be heading south to some place warm and tropical, but north i go!

this is where i'm going...

2008-02-02T20:34:00.000-05:00

latest news with me: i'm going back to tanzania to teach for about a month this summer. my school year will end, i will have about a week of preparations and relaxing, then it's off to africa i go. i'm really excited. i may get to see some of the students i tutored four years ago in order for them to get into theological college. they're graduating this summer and i think i'll be there for the ceremony, which makes me really happy.

good 'ol Alice

2007-12-07T17:27:00.000-05:00

I don't remember ever reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland as a kid. Before starting to read it this week, I didn't remember much about the story from seeing the movie, either. I was bored one day in my classroom, so I grabbed it off the shelf. It looked short enough to hold my interest for about the amount of time I thought I had to offer a book.

Anybody read this book lately?

My favorite character, I think, is the Queen of Hearts who is obsessed with decapitating people. I don't know why she's my favorite, but I find her the most endearing. Or perhaps it's that I love how everyone has become used to her yelling "Off with their heads!" that it's comical, instead of scary.

to celebrate my completion of grad school...

2007-12-04T20:46:00.000-05:00

i left my last grad class ever early...to sing (and try to play guitar in below freezing temperatures) at a tree lighting ceremony at a local women's shelter. it was fun. 'feliz navidad' now has a new place in my heart.

this is me and christy after the production.

the James family enjoying hot cider!

out with the old and in with the new

2007-12-01T13:11:00.000-05:00

my bed's warranty pamphlet said:
"The quality of your life is determined by the quality of your sleep."
based on my sleep last night, my quality of life will be drastically improving in the very near future.
so, watch out guys.

my old bed.

my beautiful new bed.

(it makes me smile just looking at it!)

"my" park

2007-11-30T18:22:00.000-05:00

I spent a little time walking around Prospect Park last weekend.
It was so gorgeous and the Gingko trees were amazingly golden...I had to go.
And, of course, I have some pictures to show for it.

Camping in Taconic State Park (a while ago)

2007-11-23T23:19:00.000-05:00

When I was in Yellowstone over the summer, I met an employee at the Old Faithful Lodge. When I mentioned I was from New York, he said, "Oh, you have one of the most beautiful states in the Union!" Needless to say, this man was much older than me. I haven't ever heard someone call the U.S. the "union." Nonetheless, I think he was right.

I chaperoned a three-day trip upstate to Taconic State Park with my 6th graders in mid-October. The weather was a little damp and chilly, but not too unbearable. The scenery made up for it by far. I had about 30 minutes to myself over the three days, but those 30 minutes were filled with wide-eyed enjoyment of the colorful scenery and the peaceful woods.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-23T22:58:00.001-05:00

I shared the holiday with friends in Ditmas Park yesterday. We had a feast including turkey, two types of stuffing, green bean casserole, biscuits, sweet potato souffle, baked vegetables, acorn squash and more that I am probably not remembering. I topped all that off with (my) homemade pumpkin pie and a cup of tea along with a game of 'Scene It?'. It was really nice. I wish I had taken more pictures, but here are just a few...

Some of the people just hanging out after dinner.

Kathy and me (and the back of Asher's head).

This is Asher, Kathy's youngest.

Australia or BUST!

2007-11-23T11:11:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading this book and the descriptions of Australia have completely intrigued me. I have been talking of saving money for a trip this coming summer. I have a couple friends I could visit, but I have this desire to spend months on end discovering all that this country has to offer. I heartily recommend this book, not just for travelers, but for people who love random facts like I have discovered I do (at least about this far-off country). It's a fast read and also thoroughly enjoyable. (Enjoy it Kathy!)

some pictures from visiting family in florida

2007-11-21T22:41:00.000-05:00

this is Hannah. almost 1 year old. she has such gorgeous eyes and dimples.

4 year old princess samantha. she loves dressing up these days.

me and my silly sisters. fun times.

(picture courtesy of brother-in-law andrew)

a first for everything

2007-11-20T23:41:00.000-05:00

This is my friend Dawn. She's great. She is leaving Brooklyn in December for the 'greener' pastures of Columbus, Ohio.

She's moving to be near her family and her new neice/nephew, for which I envy her, but she's the first good friend I've had here who is moving away. I wonder if this is a trend that I will have to get used to if I continue living here.

I will be very, very sad to say goodbye to Dawn but will find comfort knowing that the same God who brought her friendship to me will go with her to Ohio and sustain her there and also be with me as I miss her here.

pictures to come

2007-11-17T23:46:00.001-05:00

I was in Florida last weekend to visit my (now) 4 year old neice, Samantha. We celebrated her birthday a couple times and it was so much fun seeing her, along with her 11 month old little sister Hannah.

What broke my heart, though, was leaving Samantha. She screamed, she cried, she bit her stuffed animal...she was really upset. I was a wreck for a while afterward, even after talking to her on the phone about 30 minutes after leaving her and hearing her definitely not crying anymore.

She's growing up. She's bonding more with me, with people. She's realizing that saying 'goodbye' means that it will be a while before she sees me again. She's experiencing actual sadness instead of just being fussy. It hurts me to know that she'll have to grow up to understand pain. I wish I could shield her from it.

unreasonable expectations

2007-09-18T21:53:00.000-04:00

I am stressed by my school and I'm only blogging for the therapeutic advantage of it.

Today, I am asked if I have my emergency lesson plans stocked up in case of any future 'unplanned' absences. I say, "No." I am asked, "Do you know what they are going to be?" which basically means, "You should have them done by now...why haven't you spent all waking hours making sure these stupid lesson plans are done?"

Probably because I spend all my waking hours doing my freaking job. Based on my schedule (and the schedules of all other teachers at our school), it seems like we must appear like super-heroes who can accomplish all preparation that a teacher needs to accomplish in one 40 minute period, which you sometimes have and sometimes don't. I have no 'prep' periods two days of my week. When I do have a prep (like today), I'm assigned to cover a group of students during my prep instead. At least I got two lesson plans done while I did that, but still.

I read once somewhere that as a teacher, I shouldn't talk too much to my non-teacher friends about school and everything. The book said they would be bored and probably wouldn't care too much. I sometimes think they're wrong because I think my friends are nice. But, then again, I've never really asked them. They probably are all bored.

I know that being a teacher isn't a job you can always 'leave at work.' I know it comes home with me. I am FINE with it coming home with me, but I am not fine with home being the only place where I ever have any time to do work. Shouldn't schools allow teachers time within the school day to be more successful instead of putting useless things into their schedules?

If you read this, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you respond...well, then that means that book I once read is entirely wrong.

i miss this

2007-09-09T18:51:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I think that I was made to live somewhere like Tahiti.

a multiple choice quiz

2007-09-08T15:09:00.001-04:00

I'm taking a poll. When you think about online dating, you think:

a) It is a last resort and I will only bring myself to do it when I've exhausted all other 'resources'.
b) It is the only way to meet people these days.
c) I think it's great.
d) I don't think about online dating.
e) It is scary.
f) None of the above. (Please explain.)

more love for my neices

2007-09-07T22:03:00.000-04:00

This is gorgeous Hannah. I love her arm wrinkles. She's 8 months now.

This is me and Samantha. She's doing her "shy and mysterious" pose.

I know, I need to figure out how to rotate these pictures before posting them, but you (whoever you are) are lucky I am even blogging at this very moment.

In Yellowstone!

2007-08-12T20:58:00.000-04:00

This was my favorite part of being in Yellowstone: stopping to play in the creek alongside the road, collecting pebbles and feeling the smooth rocks under my feet. Reminded me of many summers spent playing in creeks with my family on vacation.

Welcome to Seattle!

2007-08-08T17:25:00.000-04:00

I really love this city. If I didn't already live in the #1 coolest place to live, I might live here (#2 probably) but I'd probably miss the sunshine too much. We made it last night, with time to grab dinner at a local cafe and get settled into Jackie's new place. Being that we were so excited to be in Seattle and ready to conquer the world, we went to bed early by 10:30 p.m.

Today, however, we have enjoyed sleeping in, eating breakfast at some pancake house, visiting a friend's cafe which was really cool and walking the scenic-but-over-an-hour-long route from Jackie's house to her new school near the water. It is a beautiful city. I love the water, the hills, the color of the clouds and the excitement of the sun shining for some short period of time!

day two: the flat tire

2007-08-04T22:59:00.001-04:00

yes, a flat tire. thankfully, we were off the highway seeking some lunch when thud-thud-thud. a shiny screw in my friend's lovely tire. having some experience with tire changing (two flats in the first 6 months of owning my car in orlando), i was quick on the job of emptying the trunk, finding the donut, jack and tools. what i couldn't find, however, was the 'reinforced area' underneath the car where you should place the jack. it was, of course, right in front of my nose but it just didn't look 'reinforced' to me. so, by the time i was working on the jack, a man named lee saw us (me) suffering and came to help. donut on, we went to a tire store down the street, got it plugged and were on our way with only a 2.5 hour delay. good times. good memories.

we made our way through columbia, missouri to kansas city, missouri to council bluffs, iowa (a short detour into omaha, nebraska) and finally to sioux falls, south dakota. what does south dakota look like, you might wonder (but who ever would)? well, there is corn everywhere, along with barns, some trees and a short green plant that we think are potatoes but another source says it might be soybeans. i am skeptical about the beans.

so, what is coming tomorrow?! a long, annoying and uneventful trek across south dakota going due west. to make it more exciting, however, we will make a quick stop at mt. rushmore. then we will keep on truckin' until we get close to yellowstone. but, we will also be stopping at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. yes, it IS a palace made out of corn. i know, you're incredibly jealous. you should be. it's even listed in the book we saw at Barnes & Noble called "1,000 things you must do before you die."

here's a preliminary viewing of the corn palace (which apparently becomes food for the birds from the time it is re-created each year!)

day one

2007-08-03T22:47:00.000-04:00

birmingham, alabama...nashville, tennessee...paducah, kentucky...illinois...st. louis, missiouri...and a little further.

highlights of the day:
-rolling hills of kentucky
-looking for "exciting" water towers (pictures to come)
-getting to st. louis and walking around a little bit
-CRAZY MAN WITH A PYTHON ON HIS CAR! (in st. louis, picture definitely to come!)
-getting to a hotel...and sleeping in something other than a car

the night before

2007-08-03T00:02:00.001-04:00

highlights of the preliminary day of travel:
-safe plane travel to Birmingham
-reuniting with my friend Jackie
-hearing southern accents in their fullness
-buying iTunes for my own playlist in the car (a treat from Jackie)
-watching "Don't Forget the Lyrics" for the first time
-going to a Super WalMart (brings back old memories)
-listening to my new playlist
-seeing stars!
-going to sleep...

define "adult"

2007-08-02T00:07:00.001-04:00

I just realized that I'm 27; I'm in my 'later twenties.' So it makes me wonder: What does being an adult really mean? I feel like 27 crept up on me and that I'm too young to be this age but I couldn't explain why. I read somewhere recently that because of college and other things, adolescence has crept its way into the lives 20-somethings, meaning the uncertainty and turmoil of being a teenager doesn't only apply to those actually in their teens. So, should I feel like an adult? I have a full-time job, which is probably turning into a career without me really knowing it. I have my own little apartment to rent. I cook for myself. I have to clean everything myself. I am 'responsible' for all that stuff, so I guess I am an adult. I just wonder what little 10-year old me might say to 27-year old me. Probably something like, "Really? You like vegetables?"

a new do

2007-07-27T12:47:00.000-04:00

I went for my first haircut in NYC this week. A friend recommended a guy in the neighborhood who I am now heartily recommending at Vespa Salon on 7th Avenue (for any Brooklyn peeps). His name is Schlome and as my friend says, "he's worth the price of admission." (I hope he doesn't read this...) He was a riot. I felt like I got a haircut and a show at the same time! This picture doesn't reveal it very well, but Schlome gave me quite the layered-do. In the front, he went shorter because (in a heavy accent that I couldn't pick out) "it is sexy and mysterious and what is most important, is to be sexy."
p.s. sorry but I didn't have time to rotate the picture before uploading it. plus, your neck could probably use the stretch from sitting at the computer.

from the mouth of a 4-year old

2007-07-26T23:42:00.000-04:00

This note was written to me by a 4-year old girl who I babysit occasionally. It says, according to her translation, "You are not a stupid idiot...and I love you." Thanks, little girl.

don't go brown if you can help it

2007-07-18T23:34:00.000-04:00

Last Wednesday

- Ordered new bathing suits* from J. Crew online

- mood: excited!

Thursday - Sunday

- awaiting next week's delivery

- mood: more excited!

Monday

- out for morning coffee with friend Christy

- check online: missed delivery at 9:32 a.m.

- no UPS notice

- called UPS, they said probably the same time tomorrow

- mood: little annoyed, little less excited

Tuesday

- stayed home all morning even until 2:30 p.m.

- no buzz, no phone call, no notice

- check online: failed delivery attempt at 1:05 p.m.

- mood: significantly more annoyed and significantly less excited about new bathing suits

Wednesday

- stayed home all morning again

- no buzz, no phone call, no notice

- check online: (3rd and final) failed delivery attempt at 9:45 a.m.

- mood: UPS SUCKS!!!

Thursday

-will go pick up package myself

- will speak with manager to see if UPS driver hasn't gone insane

- will try on new bathing suits and hope they remove all memory of this frustrating experience

- mood: skeptical about package actually being there for pick-up

* New bathing suits, thank goodness, are not brown.

creative writing at its best

2007-07-15T17:33:00.000-04:00

When playing scrabble, have you ever tried to create a story using every word that was played during the game? I did this recently with some friends and here is our amazingly fascinating story (scrabble words italicized)...before you start, a hind (according to friend Christy and my memory) is a small deer.

There was a gap between the wrought iron fence and the trash can that juts out like a giant zit. From that grooved pit the moan of a sane hind attracted a loner to the area. His friend, a doubter of animal friendship but a vet nonetheless, was with him carrying limes and a pie crust. El said to doubter, "Let us wend toward the dune and not stay, lest we fail in the fume of the axle." From the doubter's lip was uttered these words: "We have no coins for this voyage, thus we are tied to this town." Fighting the urge to lob his unsure friend, El decided to fake a smile and remain there. Luckily, there was a tray nearby with all sorts of utensils on it, including a tong...so they made their pie.

Publishers, please create a single file line and have your highest bid in hand.

a strong recommendation

2007-07-08T23:33:00.000-04:00

I was fascinated to watch the story of Edith Piaf's life in the new film, 'La Vie en Rose.' After seeing the film and almost weeping over the devastatingly sorrowful life Piaf seemed to have lived, I researched a little bit more into her story to compare with the film; the film was fairly accurate. Piaf's life seemed destined for heartache from the start and nothing seemed able to change its path. I strongly recommend seeing the film for its beauty, its mostly accurate portrayal of such a well-known (though people may not recognize it), talented performer and for the music. The movie ends (almost ironically) with a song that translates "No, no regrets, No, I regret nothing...to hell with the past." In light of all you see in the film, this song cannot leave you sensing that it was possible for her to truly regret nothing.

girl put your records on...

2007-07-06T18:50:00.000-04:00

There is just something (a certain "je ne sais quoi") about the crackle of a record that makes me adore it. Yesterday, I uncovered a few record sets that I inherited from my grandparents. From one of them, I played Edith Piaf's "La Vie en Rose" to spark interest in the new movie that is showing (at select theaters near you) which reveals the tragic life of Piaf. Apparently, her life story is similar to that of Judy Garland's, both finally succumbing to addiction and despair. I'm going to see the movie tonight at BAM. It's en francais with subtitles (I hope).

On another note, I scheduled my first one-on-one spanish lesson for next Wednesday. I am really excited to apprener espanol. I probably said that wrong and I'm sure someone will correct me (please?) but I'm only trying to relay my anticipation to you. I love languages and this one will certainly be practical - in my classroom and around the city! I fear that I'll lose my French or Sign Language, or that they'll just become a jumbled-up mess in my brain, so we'll see how it all goes I guess. I'll keep you posted (if you can comprende)!!!

I thought I'd go up Poughkeepsie...

2007-06-28T11:26:00.000-04:00

I love saying "Poughkeepsie" ('puh-kip-see' or maybe 'po-kip-see'). Last weekend, I accompanied my friends to a wedding upstate. It was a beautiful place to visit. While wandering, I managed to find some winding country roads with tree canopies and little hobbit homes. It reminded me of driving around on family vacation in Georgia and the Carolinas. The weather was perfect, the company VERY enjoyable and escaping from the city for a few days was so refreshing. I am thinking of visiting again. Camping anyone?

une visite de mon amie

2007-06-12T21:00:00.000-04:00

I love visitors because I am forced to get into 'tourist' mode, instead of relaxed (or tired) Brooklyn mode. My friend Sarah, an old roommate from college, visited last weekend. We took a tour of the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side. We walked the Brooklyn Bridge and got ice cream at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. We ate pizza at Lombardi's in SoHo. We saw A Moon for the Misbegotten, the play that just closed and starred Kevin Spacey. It was really good. We also saw the musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, which was incredibly hilarious! What else...we hung out in Prospect Park. We ate out a lot (and exhausted my 'eating out' budget for the month!) and spent our hard-earned money at every Starbucks we saw (they have air conditioning and bathrooms). It was a wonderful visit. Who's next???

Stranger than Fiction

2007-06-08T22:01:00.001-04:00

I watched this movie last night, instead of going to grad school. I feel I made the right decision.

I can't describe why but I really enjoyed this movie. It was a cleverly unique plot and ridiculously funny at parts. I think this is my favorite of Will Ferrell's movies, but that's not saying much since I don't really like any others.

The movie has a very talented cast and I personally enjoy Maggie Gylenhall's performance. My favorite part is when Will's characters brings Maggie's character a box of flours (instead of flowers), since she's a baker. It was really cute.

missing something

2007-06-08T21:37:00.000-04:00

This happens to me enough that I can remember it when I take a nap. I'll wake up and feel somewhat melancholy, like I'm missing something but I don't know what. It's like I've lost something or am missing a person that I have no recollection of knowing or missing. It's a weird feeling but it's hard to shake. I described this to a friend and asked, "You know? Doesn't that happen to you?" She said no. I am all alone in my nap-time melancholy. Strangely enough, writing this silly little blog that my two (maybe three) blog friends will read has helped.

yo habla espanol

2007-05-02T11:41:00.000-04:00

i wish i spoke spanish.

why do i do the things i do

2007-04-25T23:00:00.000-04:00

it's 11:04 p.m. i fly out at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning for seattle, which means i should leave by around 5:30 to get on the train to the airport where i will get on a plane for a 6 hour flight. i am still awake, though i am already exhausted. i am wasting time blogging and 'cleaning out my inbox' when i should be packed and sleeping.

but my middle-sized suitcase broke the last time i used it and i only remembered tonight. all i have are two little bags. so, packing will require much forethought. and i will have to remember to check the bag carrying my toiletries because of the stupid flight regulations on liquids.

so, with all of that looming over me, i am making a choice each minute as i sit on my rear end and decide not to pack but to play on the internet and listen to my classic rock radio station.

i am sleepy. i am going to turn up the radio and get my packing groove on...

On Being Sunburned.

2007-04-23T18:39:00.000-04:00

Do people think that a person who is sunburned is completely oblivious to reality? Yes, I should have worn a little more sunblock. No, I didn't really think about the fact that I was probably getting a little too much sun. No, my skin is not blistering nor do I really look like a lobster. But, yes, I do realize that I am not my 'normal' color.

And yet, I find it highly annoying when people point these things out to me as if I didn't already know them. I mean, does the fact that I have a little sunburn make me a complete moron who, because of overexposure to the sun, cannot really grasp the current state of her skin?

If I had time, I'd show you a picture of my mild sunburn. But, alas, I must go prepare for tomorrow's day of teaching where students will most certainly ask me again, "Ms. Prahl, what happened to your skin?" (have they never seen a sunburn? or, do they not realize that I'm a human?)

Lovely Samantha...

2007-04-21T16:14:00.000-04:00

This picture was sent to me by my sister, with the sole purpose of Blog publishing. This is my neice (yes, her again) in her front yard in Florida. I just adore her.

my younger neice...

2007-04-07T17:29:00.000-04:00

little hannah with rosy cheeks...at 3 months.

my wonderful neice

2007-04-07T17:21:00.000-04:00

I still believe that my neice Samantha is the most adorable, beautiful, smart and sassy little girl that I have ever known (her little sister Hannah is currently still drooling and learning how to roll over...)

narcissism

2007-04-07T17:19:00.000-04:00

how much of blogging is just plain narcissism? i am having trouble finding reason to blog, as if i need to advertise some part of me to the world, but only a part that i actually want them to see.

been a long time...

2007-04-07T17:00:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I've blogged and this is mainly a test to see if Kathy still checks my blog to look for new additions. This is a picture of me along the riverside in Boston checking out the icy ground...trying not to fall on my, well, just trying not to fall.

grammys

2007-02-11T21:55:00.000-05:00

i'm watching the grammy awards and wondering why rascal flats is doing 'hotel california'. there are some songs that should be left alone by the country singers. well, maybe there are a lot of songs. leave the eagles alone please, and everyone else for that matter. write your own stuff. maybe that's only my opinion.

another (boring) New Year's Eve

2006-12-31T22:56:00.000-05:00

Last year, I spent my New Year's Eve in a hotel room with two friends watching VH-1's "I love the 80's" for a few hours. I was driving up in my little Budget truck on my way to my new life in the Big Apple. I guess that isn't so boring. And it's been one year, which is hard to believe.

I spent the day with my family, having breakfast with parents and taking my 3 year old neice on a date to the park, the mall and the bookstore. Here's a picture from the date. I am excited to get back to the city, but I will miss this adorable sassy girl, along with many others!

Christmas in Florida

2006-12-25T14:04:00.000-05:00

So, the day started out with rain, a tornado warning and some more rain. Yay Florida. But, I don't mind it when I'm not walking around on the street in it. And, I hardly think of it when I'm playing with my crazy little 3 year old neice...

doesn't she look like Hulk Hogan here? I just love it.

Merry Christmas!

Amelie

2006-12-07T20:29:00.000-05:00

So, I've just recently got around to watching this beautifully creative and interesting movie. I loved it. Thanks to my only friend who ever reads my blog, Kathy! I've watched it twice already...in all my 'free' time that I should have spent working. It's such a great movie.

another uploaded picture

2006-11-26T15:54:00.000-05:00

Ok, in the interest of artistic-ness, I am uploading this picture. It is probably my favorite from the ones I took while abroad last Fall. The backdrop is Westminster Abbey in London.

2006-11-26T15:48:00.000-05:00

a weird picture, i know. i'm just trying out this awesomely simple 'upload photo' option on blogger. the things you can do these days! makes me want to take a gazillion pictures so i can blog them.

i guess i better tell people to read my blog first so i am actually blogging for a reason, other than to read my own words myself.

juicy

2006-11-24T15:22:00.000-05:00

my dad would be so proud. while playing Scrabble, i got 66 points on "juicy" while my unfortunate opponent cringed. triple letter on the 8 point "j" and my "y" landed on the Double Word. victory, victory.

why blog?

2006-11-01T20:47:00.000-05:00

This is Jane 2 again. I'm not sure how committed Jane 1 is to this blogging ordeal.

But nonetheless, I feel the need to write something.

I'm wondering, though, why I feel like I have to sound smart as I write this stupid blog. Nobody has even read my blog yet. Hardly anybody knows about it and I'm not sure who would read it if they knew.

Which makes me wonder, in general, why do people blog? And, when did 'blog' become a verb? When did it become a noun for that matter?

autumnal

2006-10-08T21:57:00.000-04:00

my favorite word of the week: autumnal.

though the original plan was for both 'brilliant janes' to be involved in the blogging process, i think i may start writing for my own reflection. this is officially my first personal blog entry ever. i will call myself Jane 2.

i spent a weekend with people from my church and listened to four teachings on the book of Ruth. the first lesson especially sticks in my mind and troubles my heart. or, should i say, God is stirring my heart because of the words i heard. naomi, a woman stricken with grief and loss after the death of her husband and two sons, is left with two daughters in law. in those times, i think that meant she was left with hardly anything and nobody to carry on her inheritance.

she says some poignant statements about her life, some brutally honest statements. yet, one thing pointed out was that she never said she was bitter; but simply, her life was bitter. most people see her as a woman who has succumb to her own sadness and is calling others to pity her. the perspective i received of her this weekend, however, was quite different.

she was honest. she was bringing her complaints before God not because she wanted to deny Him, but because she knew that His promises were supposed to mean something. God is supposed to be good; He is supposed to take care of us; He is supposed to never leave us. naomi's complaints and statements were grounded in her faith of God's character. she knew what He was supposed to be doing, what He is supposed to be like so she was simply expressing her confusion and sorrow over the way things were and how the two realities did not match up.

my coffee shop is closing. good night.

random lyrics

2006-07-30T20:40:00.000-04:00

i don't love you anymore.

i'll be the breeze after the storm has gone.

you almost had your hooks in me.

never make a pretty woman your wife.

you're a butterfly.

she was the kind of girl who said things that weren't that funny.

damn it.