I don’t often write about internet finds but this time I’ve won the lottery. I am so head over heels for this site that if I could marry the internet and have lots of internet babies, this website would be the internet child I secretly favored over all the others. Based on the Music Genome Project, Pandora selects songs with the same musical qualities (among some 400 attributes) as your coveted few.
Check out my stations. My diehards are ‘Weezer,’ ‘Julieta Venegas‘ and ‘The Smiths.’The songs that make me stop, drop and listen every time are: Xavia by The Submarines, Pointing Fingers by Little Brazil, Island in the Sun by Weezer.
(if you’re on Pandora too, add me so we can share stations)
The day I have been waiting for is finally over! I lived through my oral exams yesterday (and passed)!!! In order to graduate with a masters in economics, our department requires that each student pass an oral exam. The entire hour-long process feels like one of those big awkward silences that follow the “your daughter is sooo adorable” comment to the mother of a 1yr old boy (he was wearing a bracelet).
As I stood up at the chalkboard for an entire hour while I explained probability distributions and the law of large numbers, here are some of the neurotic thoughts that flooded my head:
“I hope these pants don’t make my butt look like this chalkboard - but more than that, I hope no one is paying attention to either one.”
“His eyes have been closed for a long time. Is he sleeping? Yeah, I think he’s sleeping. Actually, he just confirmed it by asking, ‘What are we trying to figure out now?’ after I’ve been working this problem for about 3 minutes already.”
“That t-distribution I drew on the board looks like… dang it, maybe I should erase it. I can’t - then they’ll know that I know it looks like a…”
“Maybe if I write small enough, they won’t be able to read any of this…”
And when I couldn’t answer a question, I just threw on Zoolander’s Blue Steel to hide my deer-in-headlights expression.
I am so in love. In November, I’m not voting for the candidate with the best economic plan, but the one who’ll promise to SAVE THE MANATEES. After traveling a looong 6 hours on the way from Miami to TX, we stopped in Crystal River, FL so we could wake up the next morning at 5:30am and swim with the Manatees.
In the lake at 7am with a warm rain falling on my back, swimming between Darwin and a live manatee was an experience that rates right up there with being born.
The captain/guide/camerawoman filmed the entire dive. Some highlights: @ :45 me getting sidelined by a small boy, @ 1:20 the small boy’s father stepping on a manatee, @ 2:10 a baby manatee nursing, @ 2:20 the swim to freshwater springs, @ 3:40 one long-necked turtle. {song is Oviedo by Blind Pilot}
No, no she’s not. But when you’re holding that girl, you wouldn’t mind if people mistook her for your own. In fact, just holding Isabella helped divert unwanted advances at S. Beach: “Es tu hija?” unwanted advance asked. “Yes, she’s my daughter.” What a man-repellent.
At Whole Foods, Darwin got mistaken for Isabella’s dad - Isabella’s baby-pattern-baldness is strikingly similar to the way Darwin cuts his hair. Note, I said, the way he cuts his hair. If you can’t tell, in the first picture Isabella is checking out Darwin’s nice fade as she throws back a cold one.
Instead of a pair of floaties, Darwin’s floating body served as as Isabella’s personal luxury liner. At first she was a bit confused, thinking shouldn’t this yacht be equipped with autopilot. Then she got the hang of steering the thing by slapping the back of Darwin’s head. Simply adorable.
(overheard in the men’s bathroom at the movie theater after watching The Dark Knight)
While standing in front of a urinal, movie-goer says to his friend, one urinal down: “Dude, for the first time, I saw a movie that was better - than - life.”
(Picture is of a mural near our place). Darwin and I finally made it out of frog country and are now residing in Miami. So as to not disappoint my sister, Sophia, I’m finding my way out of the blogging black hole. Bienvenido a Miami.
I love fortune cookies. They can be more brutally honest than your best friend, they are so tasty, and for extremely indecisive people like me, they make life decisions that easy: crack, eat, behold-the-future.
I got this one last night. Said Happiness is coming on Sunday! Happiness, you’ve been missing from my life for way too long.
My last trip to Dominica was one of contradictions. Beginning with the winding ride from the airport, it felt as if I had never left. At the same time, it felt like I had never lived there before.
When we got to the apartment, it felt as if I had reached home, with Darwin, only to begin the count until my flight away.
[above: palms from our rooftop, palm grove on way to campus; below: walking by the anatomy lab]
[above: Darwin's BDAY and 4 semesters worth of medical school - condensed; below: 'our' beach]
[above: our first meal (Dec. 2006) and my last on the island (Mar. 2008): Coke & Perky's Pizza; below: First Day, Last Night]
Sorry, it’s been way too long… I want to share thoughts about my (presumably) last time to Dominica but my boss called school is demanding overtime from me lately. Want to quickly share one pic from that week (barely any photoshopping this time, really). Can you see the crescent moon (click to enlarge)? Wait up for me, I’ll be back soon.
On the way to Dominica, I scheduled my layover in Philadelphia. Although I was in Philly for less than 24 hours, my incredible sister hauled us to a delicious Indian Restaurant and the Frida Kahlo exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. She’s a long time favorite artist of ours. Once, I coerced the Ashbakers and Darwin (after only a month of dating) into recreating a 8 ft by 3 1/2 ft Diego Rivera mural for a class project. Remember that one, Ashbakers? (proof coming soon).
This was Friday night: the three of us in heels (Mom, my sister and I), one baby in a stroller, and one cold shower. Between us, one umbrella shielded us (Isabella) for the 8-minute run and 80 steps to the museum doors only to confront the sign “Underground Parking This Way.” And how did the cutest niece in the world fare? Laughing and giggling all the way… I love that girl.
Today I voted in the Texas Primaries (about the stamp, I’m not democrat - nor does that mean I am republican - but had to choose which party’s primary I’d vote in). So, what issues will sway your vote the most in this election? Anyone go to their caucus? I wish I had gone. Alas, Macro calls…
After spending a weekend in San Juan, I’ve discovered what this masters degree in economics is actually good for - analyzing the demand for my salsa group performances and calculating how my outfit should coordinate with the other musicians in my grupo. Salsa Cantante will be my next career move. Watch this talented Puerto Rican salsa group perform at Nuyorican Cafe as we danced the night away. .I cannot heart Puerto Rico enough. Reason #582: In Puerto Rico, it’s the passionate movie-going audience that becomes the highlight of the movie - clapping, cheering, hilarious comments to the actors by the old ladies in front of us, behind us, and next to us - far better than the movie itself. Reason #791: Entertainment at the airport. Even the airport exceeded my expectations, yet again (see this picture).
Truth. I’m like a… fisherman with no luck, a lawyer who can’t win an argument, a gardener without a green thumb. The truth is I’m an economist who can’t add or subtract. Surprised?It’s true, I can’t add numbers like 8+5 or 7+8 or 9+4 without using what I was taught in the 2nd grade called, Touchpoints. I’m reminded almost every day of my life, but in particular, today when I added 8+5 (with touchpoints, of course). I thought =13 looked wrong, “perhaps I missed a touchpoint,” I thought. So, I did my touchpoints again.
I roll my eyes when I recall learning this method. I wonder why no one noticed that the only sound during a timed math quiz was our frantically tapping pencils or that during addition flashcard races, every student bobbed their head (think: running chicken) as we envisioned tapping the points with our foreheads. Just picture it.
On the other hand, how would they have known this revolutionary method would propagate such a compulsive adding disorder at age 25? I’ve tried to quit. Really. Even when I memorize 4+7=11, I just cannot add it without touching the points, if only with my eyes. It’s been hard to hide this secret. I lightly tap my pencil during exams. I blink instead of tap if asked to add on the spot. I’ve even diverted conversations if the numbers are too fertile with points, 9+8 anyone? That’s at least a 5-second task.
“No.”
A bunch of us went to see the play Fiddler on the Roof this weekend at my alma mater high school. What a performance! One of the actors was a girl I babysat when I was like 13 (I have never felt ‘old’ til tonight… oh yeah and also when I found Darwin’s gray hair in my comb). Hearing the main character’s name, Tzeitel (pronounced Zytle), reminded me of all the ‘Juno‘ introductions in my life…
Darwin and I have been living without a television for over a year… no, it’s okay - we choose to. See, not having a TV frees up so much more time to waste on the internet. “It’s a win-win-win” (Can you name that episode from The Office?).
While in Philly, we all took a trip to New York City to check things out. Darwin and I hated to admit it, but we actually kinda liked the city - at least it exceeded our expectations of unintelligible smells, gangs of rats carrying off little children, and being plowed by people who could win gold medals for fast-walking(3rd video). Here are some pics - just click on a square and a larger picture should pop up. If it’s not working, follow this link to take a peep.
Tapas, Flamenco Dancing, and Darwin - Sophia and Jason got all these to fit in one little envelope labeled, Merry Christmas. When in Philly, do visit Amada.
Did you notice what happened at the end in the video? Their feet were moving so fast that they actually traveled to Spain, shared a cafe with Enrique Iglesias and then returned before the song was over.
Cheers! Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying this holiday season!
In Utah, we found home at the Ashbakers. I loved swimming in December (they built an indoor pool), snow (for the first 5 minutes) and of course, spending time with loving family.
We’re now at our second home in Philadelphia with my family and the Cutest Baby in the World (based on a public opinion survey).
College Station, TX is calling us wondering when we’ll be home - anxious about when we’ll turn down the thermostat Lytle left on at a balmy 75F before leaving for Utah.
“Do you think religion should play a role in the presidential race?” asked David Brody as he passed me the mic that I could hardly see because the camera man had me take off my binoculars - there was ‘a glare.’
“No, it shouldn’t be a factor. It’s simply a distractor…” And then I went on to ramble about how Brittney Spears seems to have really let herself go, but I guess that’s what’s bound to happen to child stars. No, that’s not what I said, but I don’t care to remember since when I do remember, all I can think of is what I SHOULD have said.
I was singled out by CBN (watch for me after the 700 club airs their Christmas extravaganza - “Turtlenecks and Semi-Precious Stones for the Holidays”) when my study group and I emerged from our books to check out the action (we were the only ones not in pant suits and ties). Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney gave his ‘Kennedy speech’, Faith in America, at the Bush Sr. Conference Center (attendance was by invitation only).
While I appreciate the open conversations about my faith that Romney’s candidacy has incited, this post is in no way an indicator of my political allegiance. I am undecided - still a lot of politicking to go.
Anyway, I was able to get some close-ups of Bush Sr. (and a smile), his cute wifie, Barbara, and the Mitt posse. But just to clarify, this in no way compares to the awesomeness of three other recent encounters:
At about 2pm today, an earthquake of 7.4 magnitude struck about 26 miles south of Dominica but luckily no one was injured, only structural damage was sustained on our little island. Now that’s luck Darwin, a hurricane and an earthquake within 3 months! Watch this video (click here) of the earthquake from a med student at their apartment off Banana Trail (yes, the road is really called that).
I bet even if that smile wasn’t permanently sewn onto his torso - he wouldn’t be frowning. No, no he wouldn’t. I’ve been known to charm a couple over-sized walking objects in my younger years. I still got it…
Want to know how to really freak out your rock climbing partner? When they’re ready to rappel down, instead of letting them down slowly and gently, bring them down at an uncomfortably fast pace! I don’t suggest it… but if you’re stuck with a beginner like me - I just might give you good scare.
Oh and on top of that good scare, I’ll abruptly stop your descent right before you reach the ground - especially if you’re a guy (remember - you’re in a harness).
Luckily, this guy was really nice about it and even said he’d done it before too (right…). But I’m sure if we meet at the ropes again - he’ll be walking the other way. I would advise it!
…when that callus which developed on the middle finger of your right hand because you write too much and hold your pencil too tight has gotten so “finger-bunion-y“and tumor-like that while (doing what else but…) writing, the skin broke open and now you must find creative but awkward ways to hold your pencil until it heals. Whew… it’s time to stop writing.
As I traveled from the San Juan airport to the hotel, the taxi driver informed me that our hotel (Hotel Normandie) was haunted. A woman had attempted to dive from the 5th story into the swimming pool (located at the center of the hotel at the time) and missed.
Its name comes from another tragic past. Built as an ocean liner, the SS Normandie sank while being converted into a troopship during WWII.
You may recognize the famous poster inspired by Le Normandie. The design of the hotel also aspires to mimic the grandeur of the ship. To see the likeness, take a look at our pics, click here.
Despite this macabre introduction, the hotel was anything but. I definitely recommend hopping aboard if you get the chance.
For a bigger slideshow, click here.
Darwin and I just spent a perfect weekend in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The people are just as impressive as the landscape - so eager to impart their culture with strangers. At times it’s tricky to know whether to start with English or Spanish but it usually ends up a mixture of both anyway.
My poor disillusioned Darwin - focused so intently on understanding every word from the Borriquas’ (Puerto Ricans) mouth, he failed to notice what we were really speaking. I broke his heart when I informed him most of the conversations were really in Spanglish.
Not only was love in the air in Puerto Rico, but ghosts were abounding also. We managed to capture a ghost on film while exploring the tunnels in the fort. Click here to see it.
Puerto Rico has two new fans. Who wouldn’t love a place that provides entertainment while in the check-in lines at the airport?
The power went out at my building today. They say it was because all the power the Bush (Sr.) Library 10th Anniversary Ceremony was using up. The facilities director should have really planned better - anytime the Bushs’ are in town all sorts of powers are taken away - I seem to be missing some civil liberties lately.
On a “celebrity” sighting note, I happened to be walking from the Bush Building to my building when Jenna Bush pulled up with a string of darkly tinted black cars, men in black suits - and yes, dark sunglasses. By the way, she does carry her own suitcase.
A few observations on what separates me from them.
Level of education - most of them, although not required, have a masters degree.
Level of dedication - this could include overnighting at the office. I thought the yoga mat a fellow classmate carried into the office was for naps but suspicions were confirmed when I saw another office with a cot laid out at around 10pm. Yep, the Economics Dept. Hotel is quite, how do you say it… economical.
…but Lytle could not. So I got this shirt from my sister-in-law for my birthday (she knows I’m a Macgyver fan). The first day I wear it, I lock myself out of my office with only a water bottle in hand (I knew what it felt like to be homeless for 5 hours).
As soon as I had shut that door, I knew it was still locked. I tugged at the door handle and then looked down at my shirt… I love how life demands you have a sense of humor when you least want to laugh.
Riding my bike to school, the morning fog can accumulate on my glasses (and gets my pocket protector soaked, might I add) which makes it hard to see as well. But to experience the serenity that blankets the landscape is worth the $29.95 I spent on a pair of clip-on wipers for my glasses. (If only someone made clip-on wipers…).
When I leave at dusk, I usually catch the tail of some spectacular sunsets. Then I swerve to stay clear of the rushing horses, wade through the rolling rapids of the Bush Sr. Presidential Library water fountain and crank those pedals down Barbara Bush Drive all the way home.
Coming home after having finished my first round of exams, I found this little guy outside my apartment. I had never noticed him before. He captured my thoughts at that moment perfectly.
After pouring through the morris code that is my econometrics class, in the end, I was actually able to make sense of the questions on the exam. I was actually able to write something on that white sheet of paper. My biggest fear, while preparing for this exam, was that I wouldn’t be able to write a single symbol, word, equation - anything on that paper… that I’d just stare at that white blank sheet of paper.
Through brute force and plenty of prayers, I feel like I’ve reached a milestone. I feel as though I’ve finally broken ground and can finally see some light.
Anyone care to join me on the Oz Bus? click here. Be prepared and pack those ruby slippers. You’ll need them to find your way home after this trip, Toto.
If you did, we’d have to be quiet because I share it with three other people. If you need to find me anytime during the next three months, I’ll be in here.
Every first day of school (until this semester because no profs called role) I waited until the teacher neared the end of the list and then cleared my throat and listened for that pause. “Little… Little Warren?” “It’s Lytle,” I would reply, hopefully in the confident sounding voice I had practiced in my head moments earlier.
I’ve always been intrigued by the origin and meaning of names, presumably because I have yet to find a definite answer where mine has come from. Any ideas?
I don’t have any babies, but I know people with babies or soon to be babies. A site featured on a recent NPR Tom Ashbrook report highlights the trends in baby names. If you’re stumped for a name, or want to see how many were born in 2006 with your name (Lytle was a no-show) then check out this site (click here).
Sophia, apparently you have a sense for the what’s fashionable in the culture of names. Isabella was on the social security top 10 baby names of 2006. And so was your name, Sophia. Maybe we should concede on a nickname for Isabella so that on her first day of kindergarten she doesn’t answer when the teacher calls on the ‘other’ Isabella. I vote for Izzy.
When I solicited help from the best mechanic in the world (my cousin Steve) on what to look for when buying a used car, he asked me, “Do you know how to kick the tires?” Do I know how to kick the tires, I thought. Of course, extend leg, bend knee and try not to stub your toe. “Yeah,” I replied. “No, do you know how to kick the tires?” he repeated. I waited for a minute as that giant gray cloud of naivety finally passed overhead and I then realized what he meant, “Kick the tires?” I asked.
So here are Steve’s secrets of the trade. I hope someone may find them useful. Employ these tactics to look like you know what you’re doing, or ideally, to find out if the car is really lemon (a junker) or only a semi-lemon.
1. Kick the tires. Checking for suspension problems. 2. Tires. run your palm along the top edge, is it smooth or uneven? If it’s bumpy, pass it up cause it may have suspension problems. 3. Smell the oil. Take the dipstick and rub that oil between your fingers (you want to look like a pro, yeah?) and inhale that oil into your lungs. Does it smell burnt? If so, move on. 4. Transmission fluid. Does it smell burnt? Hopefully not. Is it a clear red color like some syrupy Big Red (the soft drink). 5. New paint job? What are they trying to hide? An accidental past? 6. Tap the fender. Do you hear metal? A low thud, a hollow sound means it was probably wrecked. To verify, check number 8. 7. Wheelwells. Look underneath for “Bondo” a type of car glue - if it’s there, the car’s been wrecked. 8. Under da Hood. At a glance, look for smooth places and shiny things. If there’s new paint, if it’s clean, someone is most likely trying to hide something. Who dusts their engine anyway? 9. Turn key. Does the check engine light come on and then turn off? It should or someone has tampered with it and there’s a major problem they’re hiding. 10. Use your gut. It’s the most reliable polygraph. Does the seller look you in the eye? Do they seem anxious or only mention problems when you discover them.
So if you’re willing to pretend like you know what you’re doing, you may haphazardly discover a lemon and possibly avoid a painful purchase. Then, hopefully in the end, you won’t be stuck making lemonade out of lemons.
(I love my red car! Steve got a great deal for me! Bet you can’t guess how much it went for…)
I apologize for the lack of posts - it’s been a hectic couple of weeks and a fearful first week of classes. I didn’t think that the classes would be this difficult - I’m realizing that I learned economics in undergrad just enough to do okay on the tests and just enough to not know what it all really means.
This semester I’m taking 3 classes which is full time for a graduate student: Econ 607 Microeconomics, Ecmt 660 Mathematics for Economists, and Ecmt 675 Econometrics I. So far, econometrics is the most challenging; a page of notes resembles one of those 3-D pictures (try this one) - you know, the ones that if you stare at long enough, you’ll see a 3-D dolphin pop out. I tried it with my notes - answers to the homework did not appear.
Luckily, it seems that my professors teach the material fairly well. My favorite quote by a prof so far is, “I’m going to grab you by your shirt collar, pick you up and drop you into a sea of calculus.” Now if only I had remembered to put on my floaties.
You know that song, I’m a Red-Neck Woman - it’s a country song. I cringe when I hear that title. I’m not one (although my farm days could put me in this category) - but I would now like to make the claim that I am a low maintenance woman. Why? (See picture below).
See those shoes? They’re my size 7 shoes. See how big that bag is in comparison to those shoes? I’m moving. Moving from Dominica to College Station, Texas to pursue a M.S. in Economics at Texas A&M and these two carry-ons are all I am taking with me.
Why so little? Three reasons:
1) I wanted to make sure my luggage wouldn’t be lost by Liat Airlines (that happened 2 weeks ago - it was lost for 1 week),
2) The day after the hurricane left, due to limited flights, Liat Airlines handed out seats on a first-come-first-serve basis. Even if you had a confirmed and purchased ticket in hand, they would give your seat away to a guy 5 feet in front of you. If this was happening again, we were ready to be the first ones sprinting from the airport property front gates (when they opened at 6am) to the airport terminal (about 1/2 mile away) and no rolling bag would hinder my record time.
3) Do you do this? I have favorite clothes that I rotate about every four days. So in reality, no matter how long I’m staying, my favorite four is all I need to pack.
Well, I’m now a self-proclaimed low maintenance woman - not to be confused with a self-proclaimed red-neck woman. Although, the red-neck transformation will come soon as the mutation into a Texas Aggie begins (only externally - I’ll always heart UT Longhorns).
4:00am, Sunday, outside Melville Hall Airport, Dominica
8:30am, Sunday, inside Melville Hall Airport, Dominica
A fight almost ensues - see everyone looking in the same direction. Imagine the largest, tallest Dominican you’ve ever seen. Massive.
8:30am-11:40am, Sunday, Hot and Stinky, one room with over 100 people and no AC or breeze through the windows.
12:20pm, Sunday, Land in Antigua
1:09am, Tuesday, Miami International Airport, writing this post while Darwin sleeps on my shoulder.
That is what the Dominicans say when you ask about their day, and that is what Darwin and I are saying after Hurricane Dean has passed over us. We are doing just fine. Those we know are okay also. Unfortunately, the hurricane claimed 2 lives in Roseau. In Portsmouth and Roseau the damage did not go unnoticed but it was not as bad as it could have been.
On Thursday night, the power shut off at ten and the dark was as black as I’ve ever experienced it - No moon, no stars, not a street lamp, not an apartment with a generator. We waited for the storm to come. It felt like we were waiting for a guest to arrive. Darwin read Harry Potter and I read The End of Poverty. Dean came at around 2am, just as Darwin found me with my legs propped on the table, my head resting on the back of the chair, and me fast asleep.
We slept all through the night - through most of the hurricane. When we woke up, the winds were still really strong and our apartment floor entryway was covered with about an inch of water that seeped through the door. I got a bit of footage of the storm, but it was difficult when winds were really strong without getting my camera wet. The dog you see at the end of the video was taken after the storm on Friday - the animals were going crazy! (j/k - that dog belongs to a professor and always runs for miles behind his car).
That was Thursday and Friday. Thankfully, the power returned a couple hours ago although water from the faucet is still brown - still no cell phone coverage. Never get Digicell. Luckily, the Dominica airport resumed operations this afternoon, so tomorrow we leave on our scheduled flight to Antigua.
Unfortunately for most, either their fright of the impending Hurricane or the thought of not being able to go home for the break forced many to charter 8, 16, and 30 passenger flights on Thursday. A friend who was at the airport described the calamity as complete chaos. Some pilots/planes weren’t showing up, bidding wars were taking place for unclaimed charter seats, money, credit cards flying around, frantic people everywhere. A friend charged $14,000 to his credit card to charter a flight and started signing people up.
It is rumored that one student who chartered a plane (charged it to his credit card), had his seat taken by a some random student and was left behind. In the end, no matter how many people were fighting to get on a plane, at closing time, the airport started boarding up, the workers started leaving, and a bus loads of of students came back.
It’s been a long couple of days; I haven’t showered since Thursday but I’m so thankful we’re okay and able to (cross your fingers) leave as scheduled. Tanks be to God.
We just got back from a pre-hurricane, post-semester swim and I thought I’d update. This is what Dean looks like now.
Fortunately Dean has only upgraded to a category 2 hurricane. We feel relatively safe, as we are on the north-west side of the island. Our building is made of cinder block and concrete, we aren’t on ground level, and our bedroom doesn’t have any windows.
Plus I know how to swim. And for those who don’t, James Store Grocery still has life jackets for sale. How do I know this? The anxious Ross student ahead of me in line at James earlier today was purchasing one. We’ll see, maybe he’ll be the one laughing in the end… but I doubt it.
Dean was elevated from Tropical Storm to Hurricane last night. It should be here late tonight or early Friday morning (2am-ish). According to weather.com, Dean is the first Hurricane to come from the Atlantic this year. Watch it here and click on the “Dean Satellite” in the scroll bar. Click on “show map in motion” to get an animated version.We’ll be fine, no worries - and although I’m sure the Dominicans know what to do in a Hurricane as they go through these every couple years, I just can’t stop thinking about some of their houses made from four sheets of 1-inch plywood (it’s true - I saw them constructing one before). I pray that their homes will weather the winds that are now up to 80mph.
If you want to keep track of our tiny island getting hit , click here. Darwin and I have enough food and water but we just decided we didn’t want to be eating Ramen noodles and canned goods so we’re headed to the store to get all the ingredients for a delicious cake - a Hurricake. And something to eat besides Cliff Bars and canned corn.
I have these two Haitian friends that I run into about once a week (they’re usually together). Every time I see them, they both say in English with a big smile, “you are fat,” or “you look fat.” Then in Spanish they go on to say, “You look fatter than before.”
The first time I received such a compliment, I gave them such a confused glare - were they being rude? Now, I return the smile followed by a gracias.
In my first world of abundance, being ultra-thin is a sign of “beauty.” Could it be that in the poorest country in the Americas beauty is the opposite? In a place where 80% of the population is below the poverty line and where food is scarce, having meat on your bones shows you are able to achieve what is scarce - as much food as you’d like to eat. For people in the poorest countries, could strutting a plump figure be like driving around a flashy BMW in the states?
That’s a picture of the Haitian city swells taken from a plane. Haitian proverb: “Bondye konn bay, men li pa konn separe… God gives but doesn’t share. ‘God gives us humans everything we need to flourish, but he’s not the one who’s supposed to divvy up the loot.’ ” from Mountains Beyond Mountains.
My favorite story about a local peddler. This guy will usually come out at night and try to coax foreigners into making a donation towards a work of art he was creating - usually a hibiscus carving on a conch shell.
This particular time he wanted to sell us some hand-painted postcards. Interested, we stopped - I needed to mail some postcards out anyway. He told us to wait as he left to retrieve the postcards.
About three minutes later he appeared, with with a glass cup in one hand and a piece of paper in the other. He then sets the glass on top of the paper and starts to trace around the glass cup which was to be the magnificent circular sun in his ocean sunset da vinci. I think we caught him off guard by actually wanting to buy a postcard - it was probably the first time that pitch had actually worked.
Darwin and I are needing to go to the corner store tonight to grab some soymilk and toilet paper. The soymilk is for some delicious cereal I brought back in my suitcase. The fear factor comes into play when we plan on eating this cereal with frozen ants in it - something unthinkable back in the states.
You see, I brought some cereal to Dominica, left it on the counter-top overnight and somehow the ants burrowed through the plastic and had a party (a small one - there really weren’t that many ants). The ant factor became apparent when I felt that familiar tickling on my arm while popping shredded wheat into my mouth sans milk. Without a second thought - I shoved the bag into the freezer to freeze those boogers to death (I’m sure that’s what happens to them). I couldn’t bear the thought of losing that entire bag.
So when we buy some soymilk on the way home tonight, we’ll welcome a delicious bowl of shredded wheat with a few frozen ants. No fear! (remember when that saying was plastered on the bumper of every truck - I’m glad it’s not anymore and I’m glad I still use outdated phrases).
After the Texas wedding I headed to Philadelphia to see my beautiful niece (click here) and family (click here and here). Isabella is becoming quite the music connoisseur. Apparently this is what 1-month olds are listening to these days. I’m so not with it anymore.
Compadre Compreme Un Coco by Jose-Luis Orozco
Compadre cómpreme un coco,
compadre no compro coco,
porque como poco coco como, poco coco compro.
Godfather, buy me a coconut,
Godfather, I don’t buy coconuts,
because since little coconut I eat, little coconut I buy.
For those of us who don’t have a blackberry, blueberry or a hot new iphone and need to get on the internet for directions at 11pm here’s a little Lytle trick.
Find the nearest coffee shop - even if it’s closed. Try to park as close as you can to it, and hope the barista inside closing up doesn’t think you’re waiting for her and becomes alarmed. Then take that laptop, prop it up on the hood of your rental car and hope your computer can grab enough floating megapixels (whatever they are - you know what I’m talking about) to enable you to connect to google maps and subsequently safely arrive to your next destination. Thanks The Coffee Station, College Station, TX - you helped me navigate the dark 1am streets of Houston with confidence.
I loved my wedding - wouldn’t change a thing. But after attending the wedding of my best friend to a Polynesian, my wedding was the band that opens for a U2 concert. Their Polynesian wedding was the U2 concert.
The evening started with lots of food, live music, Polynesian dancers, a hula by the bride, a money dance (imagine dancing under a money tree during a hurricane), and ended with a big dance for those who weren’t afraid to display their rhythm (or lack of). It was quite the production and although I loved attending one… the thought of having to plan one of those things makes me want to go back in time and elope for her.
I’m not the Nancy Grace type - I don’t dish out my opinions to everyone. I usually hold onto them until I’m asked. Here are two bits I think everyone should know.
After spending a sleepless night at the JFK airport, I ended up talking with an airport employee from Nigeria. He solicited my advice on a recent dating situation: guy gets a girl’s phone number at a party and then guy calls girl the very next day to ask her out for dinner. The phone call didn’t go over very well. I was frank with him. You have to use the three day rule -wait at least three days before you call. Am I right? I know, I don’t like to play games either, but you have to - at least initially. It’s in our DNA or something.
Second bit of advice I gave our friend: Lunch dates. You can’t go wrong. First date? Take her to lunch. By making a lunch date, you’ll increase your chances of getting a “yes” reply from the prospect - we all gotta eat. And they have a definite end in sight; both can test the waters without any real time commitment. I have to credit the genius of this tactic to Darwin: even after picking me up 15 min late and smelling like mildew (having just come off the mountain skiing) - such a Don Juan - the Lunch Date magic worked on me.
Over the next 14 days, I’ll be eating peanuts or pretzels on 8 different planes, sleeping on the ground in one airport, and getting my year’s fill of airport people-watching. The roles I’ll be playing: a bridesmaid in one wedding, a maid-of-honor in one wedding, a no-show to a third wedding (because it’s on the same night as the second wedding), and an auntie who’s trying to figure out how to start spoiling a one-month old.
Have you ever had that day where you realize that you’re not always going to be 21 years old? I think today is that day. Brushing my hair this morning - a long curly white strand of hair found it’s way into my comb. But it might have been Darwin’s, I don’t know. I’m just saying… it’s a possibility.
On my last post I joked about speargun fishing for dinner. On the way to school this morning, I passed a Dominican who was headed to the ocean for his dinner. As he passed by and we exchanged morning pleasantries, with his speargun over his left shoulder and some fins over his right, we both turned to glance behind us - him to see what my view was from the back (according to Darwin) and me to confirm the speargun. We both grinned - that kind of smile that says, “you caught me.”
Not ten feet from the chance meeting - not five feet from Hong Kong Chinese restaurant - a rat as big as my shoe almost ran over my foot as he emerged from the bush en route to his day job - cleanup crew at Hong Kong. Suspicions were confirmed and I’m relieved I boycotted that place months ago.
I love the Roseau Public Library. Where else can you find books about snorkeling called Skin Diving published in 1952? The photo above demonstrates one of the most critical skills of skin diving to master - the Jack-Knife. The diagram makes it look so easy, but it’s actually difficult to not gouge any extremities with the 6 foot death-spear during descent. But, according to Skin Diving, you’ll need the spear because “some fish that the skindiver may meet” (click here) do not look friendly (see center, #6). I may possibly use the tactics found on page 62, Speargun Shooting (click here), to catch tonight’s dinner. Other classic titles on the shelves include: the anti-semitic Jewish as a Second Language and How to Acquire Ball Skills, A Scientific Approach - complete with projectile graphs, equations, and photos of kickball games.
The theme for Savanne Paille Primary School is “Industriousness - It Pays.” Today I attended their graduation and took pictures with my kids. I have 5 kids. I travel to a school, hidden away atop the mountain overlooking Douglas Bay, and spend time helping my group learn to read.
I love it despite my apparent shortcoming of being the best push-over. I’m not much of a natural discipliner and although they do learn, we do so in a more chaotic environment than the other groups. The weekly gifts don’t seem to send the right message either. I started out by rewarding only the most obedient student - after I handed him the pencil, the others whined, and I caved. I tried. So now everyone is rewarded. I call it my system of positive and negative reinforcement. Obviously, I play an intricate role in teaching them the meaning of the word ‘industriousness’ and how it pays off. Well at least I can teach them how to sound it out.
The clips I put together of the graduation start with a teachers singing, “Lord I Lift Your Name on High.” For that clip, I pasted together a series of photos since I filmed the performance on it’s side in order to get a better lengthwise view of Miss Carla. I forgot you can’t rotate video. The movie ends with the graduate dance. When I expressed how proud I was that they had written their own song, Darwin informed me the song was by the has-been British pop group, “Vitamin C” - sometimes I like the pinkish hue in my world better.
What a doll! Isabella Sophia Mulliner was born on July 2, 2007 and weighed 7 1/2 lbs. She is so adorable and seems pretty mellow. I can’t wait to spend more time with her. I wonder if she’ll end up being as mischievous as her mother… I I hope so!
Have you ever turned on the Spanish channel and found yourself watching some crrazy (not a typo - just roll the r’s) man in a gold face mask and spandex to match twirling in a furry of sweaty acrobatics with a duo of crazed midgets named Los Enanos del Terror who (despite a lower center of gravity) can bring the “smack down”?
Next question, Have you ever been to Wal-Mart? Well today I found myself in the middle of a Lucha Libre with my Mom as a possible contender - and in the sewing department nonetheless. Welcome to New Jersey. So this is such a fantastic story worth repeating. Mom and I were in the sewing department looking a some patterns when a heated argument between a Wal-Mart female manager and female employee ensued. As their voices rose, I went from ‘trying not to look’ to ‘can’t help from looking.’ Then there it was - the one word that set the manager off and smack! The manager gave the employee a loud blow to the cheek. The bell rang, the match had begun.
Not more than six feet away, the girls started pulling hair, slapping, grabbing - they were at it. Before I had time to process what was happening, I see my mom jump in the mess of arms, nails and hair and try to pry them apart - all the while telling them in Spanish to para (stop) while I was telling my mom to get out of there for fear she would be the next to receive a Plancha. After almost an entire round, a large male Wal-Mart employee arrives and aids my mom in restraining the younger, more vibrant employee while the manager took a stage left.
What a match. Today I saw that mother-hen side of Mom come out and possibly avert a perilous situation. When asked what made her jump into the ring, she said it was a story on Univision (Spanish TV Station) similar to this situation where the victim lost one of his eyes because no one would intervene. What Spanish TV teaches us, right Mom. What a crrazy and monumental day - Luchadora (Mexican wrestler) status achieved for Paula.
Me and zoos go together like ice cream and root beer; one of my favorite places to be. And yeah… it’s so cruel to keep them in such small cages… I felt that way too. But what zoos bring is an awareness of the incredible and varied life on this planet and an increased desire to preserve them. The Philly Zoo, like most zoos, contribute monetarily and bring awareness to save endangered, threatened species. So moral of the story is don’t feel bad for gawking at the caged creatures (it’s still hard not to feel bad). Who knows, maybe living in a zoo is like the celebrity life for the animal kingdom.
As many of you know, I have been studying for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) which will be used to determine my near future. Graduate programs use it to see if they want me or not. I took it on June 7th, 10 days ago, but I thought I would give an update on how it went. It was HARD!
Aside from numerous opinions I had received saying that it was sooo easy, it wasn’t for me. I found the math to be very theoretical and tricky; it wasn’t as simple as the examples I had studied. The logic goes, the more you get right, the harder the problems become. By the end of the quantitative section (math), I ran out of time and guessed on the last three problems. When you consider that there are only 28 questions total, three problems can be a lot.
But despite my shortcomings, and through the help of many prayers (thank you!), I met my goal on the quantitative section - thrilled! From the onset, I was dreading my scores as I sensed this real round wasn’t going nearly as well as my trial runs. Needless to say when I saw the score on the screen, I was shocked. What a relief to have this chapter closed. Thanks to all who had me in their prayers that day. That is the only thing that got me through.
The one thing I’ve dreampt about doing since I left for Dominica was going out for Coldstone ice cream. Yesterday Sophia took us to the Pleasantville of New Jersey - Haddonfield, NJ. After a nice stroll, we got our coldstone.
Moments after that picture was taken, a plump woman opens the door of her chocolate shop (which apparently sold ice cream also) and yells at us to move off her bench with that ice cream because the bench was reserved for her customers. It was a public bench. My introduction to the east coast. Good thing my expectations were set a little low.
The songs that make me stop, drop and listen every time are: Xavia by The Submarines, Pointing Fingers by Little Brazil, Island in the Sun by Weezer.
