My Bag is Packed

Namwianga 2011

2011-05-21T09:37:00.003-05:00

Here we are again! Different students, same excitement!

We had some travel drama, like me not having a seat on the first plane leaving Memphis (the desk clerk checked me OUT instead of checking me in after I had already checked my luggage!). So, they kicked off a standby passenger after 20 minutes of trying to figure out what to do! They flight from DC to Addis Ababa was not awful at all! I had enough room because Jill was sitting next to me and she is tiny! But there was plenty of leg room. I kept thinking that Gene could have made that trip with all the leg room we had.

I must now tell my readers that I truely hate PCs. I want my Mac! I am just learning the iPad but this PC is so frustrating! I can not get my clipboard contents to paste into this blog....so I am going to say that I miss the students from past trips but this group is shaping up to be terrific!! Photos soon.

What a Difference a Year Makes

2010-06-11T08:37:00.003-05:00

One year ago this very week, we were praying that Lydia would survive. Here she is! Isn't she precious in her Minnie Mouse outfit!

Wednesday

2010-06-11T08:23:00.002-05:00

We lost one of our sweet babies during the night. She was just not strong enough to make it so she is now with Jesus. It was hard on us. We had our talk about the fact that it might happen but until it does you never quite know how the group will react. I am in many ways glad that Ian was not in town of the burial. He and Dan had gone to Lusaka to pick up Keri. Ian has a very, very tender heart and he prays EVERY day for the sick babies by name. So, we watched as a tiny particle board coffin was laid in the African soil. Sweet hymns in Tonga accompanied the service. I was also struck with the fact that everyone remains while the dirt (mixed with branches) is shoveled back on. All the males that were present each took a turn shoveling the dirt. That was a very impressive sight.

Since someone had officially declared that Wednesday should be a day of extremes our opposite end of the spectrum was Ian's 13th birthday party that evening! Ellie suggested that we all go out to Jordan's Rock to roast hotdogs, each guacamole and chips, roast marshmallows and have Leonard's chocolate birth day cake. It was so much fun. We decided that since we were

going to be in a very "Lion Kingish" location to celebrate Ian turning 13 that we needed to have some type of spectacle! Sarah has "Circle of Life" on her iPod, Jaime has portable speakers and we are always ready for a spectacle. As the sun was setting, we cued Dan to lift Ian up towards the sunset, the song began and the students all acted like they were the animals bowing toward Ian. It was priceless!! Ian was taken totally off guard and was laughing his head off!

Searcy Living

2010-06-09T06:39:00.001-05:00

There is an article about last year's program in the current Searcy Living.

http://www.searcyliving.net/articles/mostpopular/zambia.html

Ashton did a beautiful job of writing the article.

I will have to blog about today later on....so much is happening....in one day!!

Driving After Dark

2010-06-07T12:05:00.001-05:00

The first year that Sara, Dan and I came to Zambia (2008) to scout the place out. We were advised by many who had been here before not to rent a car. We didn’t listen and we rented a car. We were also advised by many who had been here before not to drive after dark. We did listen and we did NOT drive after dark. There are many reasons not to drive at night here. 1) Lots of people walk at night and you can’t see them very clearly, 2) there are very few street lights, 3) there are many who are drunk and unstable as they walk in the darkness and they can stumble into your path, and 4) there might be animals in the dark!!!

Last year (2009), I had to drive in the dark once or twice out here on Namwianga property and I had to drive a short distance in Livingstone in the dark. I survived but it was a hair raising experience.

This year I have already been driving around in the dark like I have good sense. First, I drove the whole group out to Victoria Falls and back to the hotel in the dark. Then, tonight we had a situation. Webster, our night watchman was ill. I am not sure exactly what the illness was but he had already visited the clinic and received a couple of kinds of medicine then was back on our porch shaking and obviously in pain. I told him that he should go back home if he was ill and he said, “No, Madame. I can not ride my bicycle.” I could not let him sit there in pain so I asked him where he lived. He said in Kalomo and I said we are taking you home. So I rounded up Dan and Ian, we put Webster and his bicycle in the back of Khaki Jackie and we headed to Kaloma. At 7:45 at night. In the dark. In Zambia. We had to stop once for him to be ill but we plodded all the way to Kalomo. Then we had to get to his house, In the back roads behind the hospital. As he was telling me to turn left and turn right on dirt lanes with NO street lights I was wondering how we would be able to find out way out. As if reading my mind, Webster said, “Madame, when we get to my house my brother will ride back with you to the hospital to show you the way back and then he can ride the bicycle home.” And that is exactly what happened but first Webster had to take off his boots so that his brother could have a pair of shoes to ride on the bicycle in the dark. They share a pair of boots.

So, I drove for about an hour in the dark tonight and discovered that I am wealthy beyond measure because I don’t need to share my shoes with anyone.

The Blind Man Stood by the Side of the Road

2010-06-06T15:41:00.000-05:00

Those have spend any time in Zambia know that if a vehicle drives by and has any space in it at all, then you generally pick up the individuals who might be walking and drive them into town or maybe out to the clinic, or whatever direction you are going so that they might be a little closer to their destination. Eliie Hamby says that the Zambian motto is there is always room for one more.

The other day Dan, Ian and I had to make a run into town to check on the immigration office since we all have to have our Visas renewed on the 17^th of June. We drive Khaki Jackie, our 12 passenger Land Cruiser. We stopped at the clinic to pick up several who were waiting for a ride into town and suddenly we had 15 people crowded into the back of Khaki Jackie and three of us in the front. Always room for one more.

So, this afternoon we drove all twelve of us into Kalomo to boost the local economy by purchasing every piece of chitenge material available. On the way home, we had to pass several groups of people wanting rides back out to Namwianga because we were full. I was driving and suddenly, we saw a young man from Dan’s class standing by the side of the road with his white cane. Yes, he is visually impaired. At the same time we came upon a speed bump so I slowed down. He thought we were slowing down to give him a ride and he began to trot toward the sound of the slowing car. Immediately from the back of Khaki Jackie I heard, “We can make room. We can get him in. We can’t let him stand there.” So, one got out to guide him into the back side seats and make sure the door closed and Ian crawled into the front seat with Dan and me. Off we went back to Namwianga.

This is why I love these students. This is why I love my job. They constantly do things that make my heart overflow with joy and my eyes overflow with tears. They understand the true meaning of servant heart.

What a Week!

2010-06-05T04:53:00.003-05:00

We have been busy every day! Working with the babies. Consulations here and there. People stopping us on the side of the road and saying my child had hearing problems, can you help? WE NEED AN AUDIOLOGIST!

On Wednesday, we became concerned about one of the medically fragile babies who had pneumonia. Her breathing became very, very shallow and then she started this high pitched shreak with each breath but it was not a cry. After much consultation with the Aunties, and several anxious minutes, Kathi Merritt, the director, arrived and we rushed her off to the medical clinic. It seems that the baby was having an asthma attack along with the pneumonia. More shots and medicine for the tiny babe. The ne

xt day she seemed some better. I hope that it improves before Monday!

I am going to attempt to upload photos. I think that I have discovered how to make them small enough files to not clog our internet here.

These cuties below are all two sets of fraternal twins. Each was named for a former HIZ faculty/spouse team. We have Nita and Ross in front and Shawn and Donna in the back.

[HIZ-Path has a tradition of assigning new names to our students (their travel names) so sometimes we also assign new names to folks we meet here...just as Dr. WifeMan) The personalities of these babies are nothing like those they were named for but we can not simply refer to them as Nita or Shawn. They are known among our students as Nita Cochran, Ross Cochran, Shawn Daggett and Donna Daggett. It cracks me up to hear the students say: "Nita Cochran, you can not take her bottle away from her!" Or "Shawn Daggett let me see you smile." Or, "Ross Cochran, you get out of that!" Those three are constantly in to something they should not be in to. Donna is a little more laid back. I have heard the students say, "Donna Daggett, you are just fine in that chair and stop fussing to get out!"

My heart smiles everytime I heard one of the babies referred to by their HIZ-Path names. We love our babies.

A Lesson

2010-05-30T14:22:00.001-05:00

I just witnessed four baptisms here in Namwianga. The entire congregation of about 350 or more walked over to the bath houses outside the Hamby and Mann houses. There is a large tub there that they quickly filled for the baptisms. They were sweet and leading up to the event there was a group of students who were singing. Then after all four baptisms were complete one of the church leaders led the most perfect prayer I have ever heard after a baptism. He thanked God for touching their hearts and then in the best most forceful voice ever he asked God to protect these new Christians from the evil one. He asked for a protection to be all around them to help them resist and lead the life they knew they should lead. Why don’t we always pray that after a baptism? Isn’t that exactly what we think in our hearts but we don’t say it out loud to our Lord.

Lesson learned.

The Moon at Victoria Falls

2010-05-27T13:07:00.004-05:00

It is for real. There is a moonbow. It is not as full spectrum of color like one that is generated by sunlight. Every SLP knows that the "Rainbow Passage" says, "When the sunlight strikes raindrops in the air, they act as a prism and form a rainbow." Well, when enough full moon light strikes raindrops in the air, they also act as a prism.

My camera did not work well but we have a couple of good photographers with us and here is a link to one of the student's blog that has a good photo. http://www.rachinzambia.blogspot.com/

scroll down until you can see it.

The best part was that there were only about 5 other tourists there so we could stand and stare as long as we cared to!

God's handiwork is spectacular!

Reception = Full Meal

2010-05-24T14:30:00.003-05:00

Who knew? When we were invited this morning to a welcome reception that would be a come and go thing, I assumed it was just a meet and greet, but no. In Zambia, the meet and greet is meet and eat and sing! They had the world's largest plastic tub of rice, grilled short ribs and chicken and Zambian relish and cake, lots and lots of cake. We all ate supper before we went because we thought it would just be visiting. So we are all reaching for the Pepcid and Tums because we had a 4th meal today!

The reception also included some speeches by the superintendent of the mission and an impromptu one by me, songs by their college boys singing group and one song by us and prayers. It was a very sweet and very special time. I have to say that yes, we did miss BMac and her song organizational skills along with the soprano voice, but Jaime and Ian can sing the melody with the best of them and the rest of us can belt out that alto line!

Today was also the first full day of the students working. It went beautifully. Caroline and Marja are jewels and are jumping in to provide legit supervision/teaching for the students.

I must end today with a comment about the roads here. Last year a company from China came in while we were here and plowed up, watered down, grated and graveled all roads. This year they are as bad a ever! No plowed roads but bumps and gulleys and hills and valleys are back! One section of the road is just like driving on a tin roof!

Still working on reducing those photos and surely I can figure it out soon!

Talk About Legit Situations!

2010-05-23T15:20:00.001-05:00

Why yes, it has been a year since I last wrote on this blog. Much has happened since then! I can’t possibly fill you in on all of it but as usual, my life is one wild ride!

[Let me say right now that the internet here only allows us to post photos that are low resolution and until I can figure out just what that means this will be a blog of words only. Sorry, I know it is boring.]

One of the craziest runs of this roller coaster is that Mike and Beth James have committed themselves to living in Greece for five years at the HUG program. They will be simply amazing and I am so happy that they can have this wonderful opportunity. Their decision leaves not only a large gap in our Easter festivities, but an empty office in the College of Communication. I decided to throw my name into the pile of those to be considered for the Dean’s position that Mike is leaving. Well, I was selected to be the new Dean. That run actually begins sometime in July since Mike and Beth don’t leave for Greece until the middle of July.

I had to pack my office before we left the states since the Pharmacy program has hired new faculty and they want their real estate back. So I packed boxes and packed bags for this summer jam packed with situations (as Lacey would call them!).

Our trip to Namwianga has been one filled with situations and laughter.

Situation 1. Delta wanted to charge us for our extra bag. That would be between $600-1000 for all 12 of us traveling to Zambia and my personal travel agent, Bill Spear, had assured me that we were ticketed all the way to Lusaka and that we were allowed two checked bags each! Situation remedied when they saw things through Bill’s eyes!

Situation 2. Three passengers were assigned to seat 22 A on the flight from Atlanta to DC. One was one of our party. We reserved our seats in February, thank you very much, and yes, indeed, we won. Situation remedied.

Situation 3. Evidently Delta was mad at us for each checking 2 bags and they were NOT able to charge us for them so they decided to shred one of mine. Yes, I did say shred. I could also say melt, mangle, claw, and allow the dragon they keep in the baggage handling area to breathe fire on that poor bag. The zipper had melted to some of the clothing inside. The wheels were chopped in half. The lower hard plastic portion was both shredded and melted and the top looked like the dragon had sharpened his claws on it. Even the lost/damaged luggage ladies said they had NEVER seen one as destroyed as that. They gave me a cheap replacement so that I could salvage the insides and continue on my journey and offered to send a check for the damages. We will see if they give me enough money to replace the cool Eddie Bauer bag they destroyed. Situation resolved.

Situation 4 The hotel that assured my personal travel agent, Bill Spear, that there would be shuttle to take the 12 of us with our 24 checked bags and numerous carry-ons and backpacks, lied to my personal travel agent, Bill Spear. They said to call them when we arrived. When we called they informed us that the shuttle stopped at 11 pm and our plane was scheduled to arrive at 11:30pm but did not arrive until after 12 am. So….do not stay at the Comfort Inn Dulles. They lie. We found 4 taxis and crammed in all our bags and arrived at the hotel about 1 am. Five hours of sleep and we were back at the airport!

Situation resolved.

Situation 5. 21 hours on a plane. At least it was not totally full and we could spread out a little. I think I slept a few hours. Landed in Addis Ababa a little late. Rushed to next flight but made it. Situation handled.

Situation 6. 12 persons arrived in Lusaka but only 17/24 bags arrived. They promised to send them to Livingstone. Situation delayed.

Situation 7. Bags are scheduled to arrive in Livingstone but we are 2 ½ hours away. Meagan H. is leaving Namwianga after being the mama to hundreds of babies for years and she is flying out of Livingstone. She takes our paperwork and the young man who drove her was able to return with the 7 lost bags. Situation resolved.

Let me say that these 11 people traveling with me are TROOPERS!!! Not a single complaint. Lots of laughter, lots of sharing of clothes and deodorant, lots of waiting, lots of prayers.

We are here safely and have many, many entertaining stories. I will hopefully post more and figure out how to post the photos.

We Knew it Would be Hard

2009-06-17T05:07:00.002-05:00

We thought we were prepared and we knew it would be hard if one of the precious babies died while we were here. Yesterday, Judah died peacefully in his sleep. He was the youngest baby at The Haven and we knew he was not gaining weight but no one knew he was that close. There was no distress and he just did not wake up yesterday morning.

Judah is now in the arms of Jesus and he is happy and healthy.

Meagan (lives here full-time and works with the babies) said that he had received more love and attention in the last three weeks than he had in his entire live. I am confident he felt the love all of our students and faculty lavished on him.

We still shed many tears.

There She Is!

2009-06-11T11:06:00.002-05:00

I am now teaching my class at 8 am so I have more time to go over to the Haven and help with the babies. Today, one little 2 1/2 year old named, Bright, had gotten his feelings hurt and needed some extra attention. I held him and tickled him and sang with him. Before I left he gave me a big kiss on the cheek and hugged on me.

This afternoon, I was walking from the baby house over to the toddler house and Sara was holding Bright. When he saw me walking, he yelled, "There she is!" Sara lifted him over the wall to run up the sidewalk and he threw himself into my arms. That made my day!

It was also a wonderful day for Cintia, the five month old who has been so ill. I put her on a blanket on her stomach and she worked so hard to try to lift her head up. She wore herself out she tried so hard. I hope by next week she can lift that precious little head up on her own. Reagan, she needs you!

Why is it Raining????

2009-06-10T03:33:00.002-05:00

This is the dry season. We are supposed to have sunshine everyday. Yesterday and today we have had RAIN! Water falling from the skies during the dry season. Today is cold and damp. Ick!
The Zambians hate it. Some came into class with blankets wrapped around them today.
We had our first test last week and yes, Tammie, it had to be multiple choice. As it ends up , I have 94 students! There is a graduate assistant, Brittany, here and she graded them all for me! The lowest passing score here is 40 percent. I am happy to say that the lowest grade on the test was 61 % and there were three 100%. I hope they can retain something.

On the baby front, yesterday I was holding a little 3 month old who has been very, very ill. She has not engaged with anyone but was so lethargic and one of the nurses here thought she might not live. She must be feeling tons better because yesterday she watched me and smiled and looked around for almost 30 minutes. She even tried to laugh.
That is the reason to come.

The Class Room

2009-06-06T09:44:00.003-05:00

Well, as I talked about in the last entry, I am teaching an introductory class in speech-language pathology here at George Benson Christian College. All of the students are first year students and they were required to enroll in the class. I was a little nervous since they had very little idea of what the profession is about.

I told them the story of how the entire HIZ-Path program developed last year and then told them that they were the first speech pathology students ever in Zambia. They cheered and applauded! I was so surprised. Then I told them that if they were in the US, we would have to make a t-shirt for the event. They all thought that was a great idea! I wish there were a way to make that happen but there are not too many t-shirt printing companies around here.

Here is the classroom.

They were concerned about being able to understand my speech and requested that I use PowerPoint, so I put my sketchy notes into PowerPoint. They copy down every single word from the slides. They also all listen so very intently! They also call me “Madam” when they address me AND if they are late to class, they stop at the door and wait quietly until I nod at them and tell them they can enter! So, very different from HU students coming in late and banging the door of the classroom.

Yesterday, after class three students waited for me and said, “Madam, we would like to invite you to our game. The English and History majors have challenged the Mathematics majors to a football game and we would like for you to attend.”
They are so nice and so polite. The game was fun and the student players seemed to be showing off some for our students.

I administered the first test yesterday, Friday, so we will see what happens!

Here are the students diligently copying from the PowerPoints.

The student blog is up and running at www.hiz-path.blogspot.com They are doing a fabulous job and actually tell what is happening each day. I spend so much of my day driving them around and preparing for my class that I don't get much time to play with the babies.

HIZ-Path

2009-05-27T10:34:00.002-05:00

I just taught my first class in Zambia. I had 80 students ( 18 were sick or did not show up for the term). It took me 25 minutes to call the roll and I just called their first names!! I am hoping that tomorrow will only take 10.

Arrangements: I have the back corner bedroom in the Mann House (where the Pippins were last year), Marta Fetterman (Brittany’s mom) has the other bedroom on that side of the house. The two bedrooms closest to the Hamby house each have two bunk beds in them and the eight students are sleeping there. Becky and Sara have the Mann “back house”. Two bedrooms with two twins in each, a small bathroom but no shower or tub. Leonard is cooking everyday except Sunday (we cook) and it is fabulous. We eat on the veranda of the Hamby house. By the end of the week it will have a family of four and a single man living in it. Another group is also coming by the end of the week.

I am driving the HIZ 12 passenger Land Cruiser. It is tan colored with a Namwianga Mission Symbol on the side. We have named it Khaki Jacki and it just seems to fit. Right now I am the only one who can drive a stick shift. On these

We have been treated royally and welcomed with open arms. Kathi Merritt has opened all her records for the babies for our research and given us carte blanc to do anything how ever we want with the babies. We are trying to develop a way to feed the babies so that they do not lie on their backs all the time…there are NUMEROUS ear infections and research tells us that feeding them on their backs is a bad thing. Right now they have my travel pillow shaped like a horseshoe and filled with those little pellets as a tester and it seems to be working well.

Let me say this trip is NOT “sightseeing for Jesus!” We are working so hard. We leave the houses at 8:30 am, come home for lunch at 1 pm., they are walking back to the Haven and Kelly’s house (about 23-30 minute walk) at 2:30 pm and stay there until 5 pm. Then they get a warm shower and get to relax for a few minutes. If the internet is up we try and quickly send messages. We also have a “staffing” time every night to make sure all are on the same page regarding hours and documenting what we are doing. We are so ASHA correct it is scary!

The children at the Haven and Kelly’s House are starved for someone to interact with them. The older ones will sit still for a solid hour and let our students sing songs, show pictures and books and just interact. How many 2 year olds in the US will sit for an hour?

It is amazing to be here with graduate students instead of undergrads. They are so much more mature! We have had a little drama here and there but they work it out. Each person on this trip has a specific role that God sent them here to carry out and each is doing an excellent job.

We are already making out long lists of things we need to make sure and have on that container shipping out in November. We now know how to negotiate situations and how to set up for the hearing screening at the basic school.

Today I paid an obligatory call on the city of Kalomo head of education and he wants me to call on the District Commissioner. There are lots of etiquette meetings that I have to make.

Hopefully, the student blog will be up and running tonight. Internet is so iffy here!

Another ASHA Convention

2008-11-23T21:18:00.003-06:00

Julie Andrews was fabulous. She accepted an award from John and Annie Glenn (yes, they were there too!) then she talked for about 15 minutes. She was so eloquent and elegant.

Wicked! was wonderful. I want to fly up into the air like she does at the end of Act 1. I really, really liked it.

Chicago was cold and busy and fun. Our students are fun and fabulous. It was all good!

Wicked!

2008-11-13T16:43:00.002-06:00

One week from tonight I will be at a performance of Wicked in Chicago. I am very excited about the show. I enjoy the convention that is the real reason for the Chicago trip but the highlight of the trip should be Wicked. Oh, did I mention that on Friday night I will be seeing Julie Andrews!!! She is the special guest speaker at the awards ceremony. It will be a great convention!

Teary But Not Blubbering

2008-11-08T21:14:00.002-06:00

These are out of order and I don't know how I managed to do that! However, it was everything that she and Nate planned it to be and then some!

I did tear up a time or two but I did not blubber which is a good thing because I did not have a tissue or handkerchief. The kilts looked so great in the photos and the bagpiper was amazing! I loved each song he chose and did not sound too loud for me but a child or two cried at the noise. The flowers were perfect...and the ones in Reagan's hair were so lovely.

The reception was just want we wanted and my family (sister, Debbie and niece, Stephanie) along with my friends (Vivian, Tammie, Jeanine, Keri, Dan and Jessica) were so wonderful to keep the food flowing. The only reception trauma was that the chocolate fountain would not fount! It melted the chocolate but it would not flow (got a refund on Monday!).

God's in His heaven and all's well in my world.

They Will Be Tears of JOY

2008-10-30T22:15:00.002-05:00

My baby is getting married in less than 48 hours. With the help of our family and friends, I think it will happen smoothly. I also think it will be great fun.

There is a 99.9 % chance that I will get teary eyed during the ceremony. I will not be shedding tears due to sadness but because my heart is so happy that joy will just be spilling out of my eyes.

Trying to Catch Up

2008-09-04T20:27:00.006-05:00

I know it has been ages since I put anything up here. We have started the grad program and it seems to be up and running well. We are all very excited about the Zambia prospects.

I am putting a couple of my favorite photos here. This is the Royal Livingstone Hotel on the banks of the Zambezi River. We had high tea there on the 4th of July.

We ate this....

And this....

with individual plates that looked like this....

While we sat on this veranda....

It was fabulous! When we left the hotel we went to another hotel to look in their shopping area and found this in the parking lot!!!

This is a video that I took during Sunday morning worship out in the bush. These precious children were singing their hearts out!

Maybe I can put up more in the coming days.

Catching Up

2008-07-16T05:11:00.003-05:00

I promise that I will tell all about the Zambia trip as soon as my new laptop arrives. Since mine died 6 weeks ago, I have been using a loaner computer and I don't want to store my photos on it. Here is just a taste of some of what we saw.

Meanwhile, does anyone remember this person?

Yesterday, he lost about 20 pounds and 10 years by removing a ton of hair.

Yes, we are donating it to Locks of Love.

Time to Go

2008-06-21T09:17:00.004-05:00

The amazing thing is that the more I have to get done, the more I can actually accomplish. This week has been crazy busy. I have only had time to stop and say hello to my friends like Mikey and Brenda once all week. Martha has been so much help. She is the female version of Radar O'Reilly on MASH. She seems to know that I need before I figure out what I need. It seems that three or four times a day I say, "I need to fill out the form for...." and she says, "I already did it!" Or, when a student comes into the office to talk about courses/classes/majors, she will show up at my door with a file full of all the forms I need.

It has also been a week of visiting with possible clinical sites for the students. Each and every nursing home, medical facility or retirement home that we have visited has said, "We love Harding students, bring them on!" This is remarkable since many, many grad programs in Speech Path are struggling for clinical sites. Sara and I leave a place and look at each other and at the same time say, "This is a God thing!" He has taken care of us and guided us through so much in regards to beginning this grad program.

Now, Sara, Dan and I really going to need His hand to guide us through the 16 days in Zambia. We have some plans and a couple of places lined up to stay but we are kinda flying by the seats of our pants. The good news is that the Minister of Education replied personally to the email and gave us his private phone number. We are supposed to call when we find out when we will be in Lusaka so we can meet with him.

The only thing left to do is try and pack. I promise that I will post photos as much as I can while I am gone. We will have one laptop and unreliable internet access so I will do what I can.

It is Official!!

2008-05-24T21:38:00.004-05:00

Nate has proposed to Reagan and she said yes!

He asked her in front of us (I knew it was coming...he talked to us last night and told us his plan). Here are two pictures that I took.

And Reagan took these of the ring. It is beautiful.

Another One Scheduled

2008-05-22T10:57:00.002-05:00

Zambia. Well, I knew that I needed to go to prepare things for our students next summer, but I wasn't sure if our new budget could handle it. I got work on Monday and found out that enough money was budgeted and then I started thinking. Sara needs to go because she is the clinic director and she needs to see all the clinical possibilities. The Zambian culture in the region we will visiting is very male oriented, so Dan would be a great asset on the trip. I made an executive decision and decided we could pull some out of our reserve funds and now all three of us are going on June 23.

The decision was made Tuesday morning. We bought tickets 30 minutes later. Now, two days later, we have begun the series of shots that we have to have in order to go, we have ordered out guidebooks, and have our hotel room for the overnight stay in Johannesburg. There are still thousands of things to take care of before we go but I think we can get them all done in time. Crazy times!

Home for the Day

2008-05-15T15:21:00.003-05:00

Since I am not officially on the timeclock for intersession, I am staying at home today. I am taking the advice of Tammie's physician and doing nothing for the day.

I did turn on Oprah and they are showing the best of American's Funniest Videos. They are so much funnier than any TV show or movie. The ones they are showing are not the ones where it looks like someone is getting hurt, but the funny things kids and animals do. I am laughing out loud here in the room by myself. Why are they so funny?

And lastly, there is a sign on the MacLab in the Reynolds Building that posts the hours for the next two weeks. The sign reads "Intercession Hours." I think that might be a priest inside.

If I Could Turn Back Time

2008-05-11T22:03:00.002-05:00

Jeff Montgomery reminded me think morning at church that I have been away from this blog for a long time. I have been occupied. And if I could have a "do-over" I would never, ever, ever try to teach, direct a department and start up a graduate program at the same time.

I am totally convinced that my classes suffered greatly this past semester. I felt disorganized and distracted everytime I walked into a classroom. I am having a very hard time not being overtly bitter that so many other faculty members did NOT have to teach while they are preparing for a graduate program. So, if I could turn back time, I would not have tried to teach two classes during the past semester.

Now, as for this weather...I am starting to feel like Vivian did when we were in college. I am not going to leave my bed for those tornado sirens. There have been too many of them lately.
But more importantly, I NEED to have some good weather so that I can ride with the top down.

And lastly, I hope that all my family and friends had a wonderful Mother's Day. Mine was very, very nice.

Crazy Weather

2008-04-04T18:11:00.002-05:00

Before I comment on the weather and the seafood, let me say that all of us who have been suffering back in the steerage class of the giant airplanes....those people at the front of the planes are living like kings. I LOVE being in first class and I do not know how I am going to go back the cheap seats.

Here I am on the Oregon coast. Today we traveled by van from Portland to Seaside. On the way we had rain, bright sunny sky, sleet, mist, and snow. All we needed was hail to complete the great precipitation tour!

The seashore was COLD but the rest of the time the temperature has been fine. The time change is about to do me in.

Great seafood! I has salmon twice yesterday and really, really good clam chowder today. I think we are going to an Italian place tonight. Tomorrow morning we are going to have brunch at the Lumberjack Camp 18. I can't wait for pancakes. Be home sometime Sunday evening so that I can wash the undies and repack for Tampa on Wednesday.

DC and the Cherry Blossoms

2008-03-28T15:47:00.002-05:00

The cherry blossoms are out and in full bloom. The peak was today and I left my camera at home!

On a lighter note, I am going to see my first performance at the Kennedy Center tonight! I have never been inside and I am excited to see the building!

Technology

2008-03-25T17:12:00.001-05:00

Reagan and Nate both have iphones now. They are way more than cool (both the phones and the individuals). I am currently planning how I can get an iphone. I want to be cool.

Wishful Thinking

2008-03-20T16:34:00.002-05:00

I wish I could get my house clean enough so that I could hire someone to clean it every week.

Sigh.

For now, I will keep scrubbing at that bathroom.

Good side. It is Easter weekend and friends are coming!

How Ironic

2008-03-16T15:46:00.001-05:00

I love to watch the tv show "What Not to Wear" but I do not like to shop and try on clothes. Is it age, size or personality?

Rain in DC and Snow in AR

2008-03-07T19:48:00.002-06:00

So, here I am in Rockville, MD, which is just down the street from DC. It is 49 degrees outside and raining. Gene and weather.com tell me that it is 30 degrees and snowy in Searcy. What is up with that?

Why am I NOT in San Antonio?

2008-02-21T17:47:00.002-06:00

So, I drove to the Little Rock airport this morning in plenty of time for my 11:30 am flight to Dallas and then a 1:50 pm flight to San Antonio. At boarding time they announced that our plane had not yet left St. Louis due to the ice storm. Then at 1:30 pm they announced that the flight was canceled. "Please wait for us to call your name to re-schedule your flight." At 3:30 pm, TWO HOURS later they had still not called my name and had started to announce that all the flights today to Dallas and Houston were FULL and they had only reached number 40 to reschedule (I was number 103). Finally, I walked up to the desk to see if there was any way I could get to SA by midnight. "No, I am sorry, we can get you there by 9 am in the morning." "No, thanks, my convention presentation is at 8 am. I just want my money back."

I am in Searcy.

Elaboration on the Dress Code Issue

2008-02-06T11:34:00.000-06:00

As Tammie noted in the comments on the last entry, I do have a saying about the dress code for our student clinicians. It is: "no cleavage, gapage or crackage." Below is a photo of some random Italian girl who in NOT following the dress code.

Both Becky McL. and I have shared this saying with other clinic directors across the nation and I almost laughed out loud at a recent ASHA meeting when some speaker said that was now their dress code rule in their clinic. She didn't know where the saying came from but said that she really liked how it was phrased. My saying is now a rule at many speech clinics in universities across the nation!! It is almost as profound as "think about your panties before midnight."

Catching Up

2008-02-02T17:18:00.000-06:00

I did hire a secretary. She has a BA in office administration so I am expecting her to whip our office into shape! She starts on Feb. 11 but she has asked (and received permission from the HR department) to come in late in the afternoon for the upcoming week and start getting the files into shape. She actually still has a day job but gets off at 4 pm. I am so impressed that she wants to come and start work before she has to come. Lyn has been doing a great job but she only has a limited amount of time during the day and we do need 8 hours of help each day. Lyn's best skill is that when I send her to Sonic Happy Hour that she doesn't need to ask what I want!

Martha, the new full-time secretary (not to be confused with Lyn's aunt M) asked me other day what the dress code was for the job. I had to laugh out loud! I can barely get myself dressed each morning and do not know what the secretary should wear! I did tell her that I think the HR office has suggestions but I just want her to not wear hot pants or sweats!

Now, on a serious note...I have two friends who are dealing with Alzheimer's disease. One with a spouse who has developed it waaaaaayyyy too young and the other dealing with a parent. I have them both in my prayers. Cancer and Alzheimer's both need to eliminated from our vocabulary and our lives.

I Will Return

2008-01-28T11:11:00.000-06:00

I am still here. I still love all my friends. I promise I will write again...probably soon. I think I have hired a secretary. If she can start in two weeks (giving her old job their appropriate notice) then I think I can return to the land of the living. I miss you all!!!!

End of the Year

2007-12-26T12:45:00.000-06:00

Where did the last 15 days go? They just flew by. The last thing I remember was grading final exams and now I am dealing with Christmas leftovers.

It was a good Christmas. Everyone was healthy and happy.

One of my greatest blessing for the year is that the cosmopolitan small town girl is happy with her life. I can handle the rest of the stuff if the people I love are happy.

I am ready for the two days of fun in Memphis!

Finals Week!!!!

2007-12-10T21:47:00.000-06:00

I am so happy! I am getting the piles of papers in my office handed back to the students. Two potential faculty members are coming for interviews. The add for a secretary for the new department should be coming out this week. I have a decorated Christmas tree and a few other decorations around the house. I make it to Christmas afterall!

Boston to Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T21:25:00.000-06:00

What a busy couple of weeks! First Boston for the annual American Speech-Language-Hearing Association meeting. I spent six days and five nights there last week. It turned cold at the end of the week but not too bad. Most of my days were in meetings but I did manage to go to Durgin Park to eat twice. Once for the baked seafood platter and once for the clam chowder and Boston Baked Beans. Both were good.

We had six students attend at their own expense. They were perfect! They attended meetings, met grad schools, and toured the exhibits to collect free stuff. They were all nicely dressed and did NOT go out partying all night like so many of the students do. I think I have the best students in the world!

On Monday, I sat all day long. I just sat. I watched a little daytime TV because I had earned it.

Tuesday and part of Wednesday had business to take care of at the office. Today I cooked. I know that is hard for some of you to wrap your brains around but it is true. A full meal. Mom Baker's Camp Chicken, Sweet Potatoes, Salad and three desserts! Mary Lou and Sally brought a terrific shoe-peg corn and cranberry dish and I used store bought rolls, but it all tasted great! But it took me 6 hours to do it!!! How does Rachel Ray do it in 30 minutes. I just don't understand that!

Happy Thanksgiving to all! I hope that you all are as thankful for your life as I am for mine!

My History Lesson

2007-11-09T09:33:00.000-06:00

Jenn tagged me. I think this is what I am supposed to do.

50 years ago—I was in the first grade. I could read but my teacher didn’t think I was ready for chapter books. I borrowed them from my seatmate, Mary Love (first and middle name in true Southern style). I walked to and from school almost every day because we only lived three blocks from school and only the kids who lived ten miles out in the country rode the bus. I never rode a bus to school in my life. This is actually a picture of me at age 5 years, but I didn't change much over the next year. I have no idea why I am holding a garden hoe...I am sure that mother wanted to take a picture and I said something like "only if I can hold my hoe."

40 years ago—I was a high school junior. Kinda geeky but I had some very good friends. My high school did not have the “mean girls” that are in movies. Maybe it was because I had grown up with them but the popular girls were very sweet. I was mostly afraid of guys my age. Hadn’t yet figured out how to flirt.

30 years ago---Gene was coaching football. We had great friends, Jane and Greg who liked to jump in the car and take off for a day trip. We traveled all over central Texas. I was teaching a self-contained class of hearing impaired children in the school I had attended and I was pregnant. I could not keep anything on my stomach, I could not eat, I threw up three or four times a day. My friends and family were very understanding. The ultra-sound tech said that I was having a boy. I had dream that I had a red-headed boy. In the delivery room, I had a girl. She was the prettiest baby ever and looked like a girl from the beginning. I played dress up with her for the first year of her life!

20 years ago—I was teaching here at Harding. We were living across the street from the Benson Auditorium. Mother and Daddy took a job in California and since Reagan was having a hard year we left school early to spend a month with them. Gene had just signed on with the Searcy PD. I had no idea how my job would change over the next 20 years.

10 years ago—in the middle of my doctorate. It was a hard but profitable process. I do not regret doing it. I also went overseas to England for the first time. It was so much fun and so great to do it for the first time with Reagan and with Tammie and Vivian. I was hooked. I am totally addicted to overseas travel. I so lucky that I have a job that helps me deal with that addiction.

5 years ago—Reagan and I were at HUG. What a great experience. Kim and Terry treated us like queens. Ted and Marci were perfect faculty to work with and out students were fabulous. I think that Reagan is right in saying that we were in Egypt right now five years ago. I floated down the Nile sitting on a chaise lounge on the top deck of a cruise boat, under a canopy, sipping a Diet Coke while Josh and Jonathan fanned me. Daddy died while we were there but we know that he is now in a much better place.

I have to add that 1 year ago I was in Florence at HUF. It was incredible! Tammie and Vivian came to spend Thanksgiving with me.

Then Gene and Reagan came for the month of December and he finally got to see how fun international travel can be.

Jenn Did This to Me

2007-11-07T09:18:00.000-06:00

I was tagged by Jennifer!!!

MY ROCK STAR NAME (first pet and current car):
Daisy Sebring…kinda tame

MY WANNABE NAME (favorite ice cream flavor and favorite cookie):
World Class Chocolate Sfolia...I know that sfolia is actallly a pastry but it can also be my favorite cookie

MY "FLY GIRL" NAME (first initial of first name and first three letters of last name):
B-Wea...but the kids at HUF called me B-Weave and I like that better

MY DETECTIVE NAME (favorite color and favorite animal):
Yellow Hummingbird...that is crazy!

MY SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name and the city where you were born):
Ann Corsicana …that is icky sounding

MY STAR WARS NAME (first 3 letters of your last name and first 2 letters of your first name):
WeaRe...this is indeed a strange creature name but it is also Reagan’s name so maybe I should be WeaBe

MY SUPERHERO NAME ("The" and second favorite color and favorite drink):
The Blue Diet Coke….yuck that sounds like that new diet coke that has vitamins in it and I refuse to taste it because I think that Diet Coke should not be nutritious

MY -cough,cough- ENTERTAINER -cough,cough- NAME (name of your favorite perfume/cologne and favorite candy):
Chanel Reese this one I kinda like!

MY WITNESS PROTECTION NAME (mother's and father's middle names):
Jean Wayne…I think this must be Batman’s (aka. Bruce Wayne) favorite quirky aunt

Tagging: Rushton, Wil, Dan, Katie M., and I think that is all who actually read this!

Homecoming Week 2007

2007-10-29T11:25:00.000-05:00

This week is preparation for the Homecoming activities. The musical this weekend is the Wizard of Oz and that also ends up being the theme for Homecoming. I am paying tribute to the theme by purchasing and wearing these all week.

They are slightly small but are great fun to wear. Beckie will be clicking her heels all week long!

Little Rock Race for the Cure

2007-10-21T12:29:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a big day in Little Rock. Over 45,300 people walked or ran the streets to help find a cure for breast cancer. Mother and I went for the third time since she had treatment for breast cancer. She loves attending and participating in all the survivor events.

It is always an emotional occasion. I find it impossible to watch the survivor parade and not have tears in my eyes. All those pink shirts, pink pompoms and this year pink boas are very moving.

I finally decided that the survivors are like a club or sorority that one never wants to be a part of but if you have to join it then you love the club. My prayer for each of you is that you never have to join this club.

Middle of the Week

2007-10-16T23:30:00.000-05:00

Tonight I attended a "tea party" that is actually a little bit like a tupperware thing but with waaaaaay better snacks. My friend, Carla (biological sister to my "might as well be a daughter cause she and Reagan act like sisters," Rena) is starting her own company and sells everything you need to put together a really great "tea." Carla has lived in England on several different occasions and is really quite smart about the chemical properties of tea. She has an "importer" who custom blends her teas and so she gets to name them. She also sells all kinds of scone mixes, jams, clotted cream, and even flavored sugars. The teas are great and I bought one for Reagan called Pomegranate Black and one for me named Bliss. Carla will either come and do a party for you or you can just order from her. The catalog will be out either tomorrow or by the end of the week. I was very impressed and even told her that she can have a party at my house. I did have to say that we have to wait until I actually put the door and window moldings back up in the dining room!

If you know Dan and Keri and are not reading his blog about their semester in London, you should start doing that right now www.an-arch.blogspot.com

And lastly, I am currently in an insomnia phase and I am very tired of it (no pun intented). I need sleep.

Seven Things Tag

2007-10-07T19:04:00.000-05:00

Hmmm...didn't I do this last year?

1. I love computer games. Mostly, card games or puzzle games. I have this silly game Jewel Quest that I can't stop playing.

2. I LOVE my car. It is starting to have some structural issues and I am going to be desolate if it all falls apart!

3. Traveling is the most fun thing I can think of to do. I am totally addicted and I love it when family and friends get to go with me. I am grieving that I am not going to London in November but looking forward to the spring and the trip to Asia (even though I rarely sleep on airplanes!)

4. I know that Diet Coke contains many ingredients that are very bad for human health, but I need to drink one (or more) everyday.

5. I have the sweetest group of undergrad students in the world! And the faculty is unblievably fun to be with.

6. I do NOT like to deal with repair persons. They make me nervous. I feel like an idiot around them.

7. Sometimes I think that "they" (whoever they are) will find out that I am not what they think I am. I am not nearly as smart and capable as they think I am, but I am way funner and funnier than they think I am. I can make myself laugh at the silly things I think!

I am not sure that seven people are reading this that Reag did not already tag. So, if you are reading this and she did not already tag you, then consider yourself tagged.

Hot Springs

2007-10-03T07:37:00.000-05:00

I am leaving for Hot Springs today and will be there until Friday. This is the Arkansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association annual meeting. For the first time I am going to sit on a panel with the four graduate programs in our state and talk to students about coming to Harding. HU is playing with the big boys now.

No Speech Therapy in the Entire Country

2007-09-28T20:55:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I was asked to go and help host a lunch for some of the Zambian group because part of the group had plane delays and one of the real hosts could not get back from LR in time. I got to meet and eat lunch with the Ministers of Education, Health, Agriculture, and Justice. I mentioned to them that we wanted to bring speech pathology students to Zambia and work with at the Namwianga Mission in Kalomo, Zambia. They all smiled nicely and indicated that would be a good thing. A few minutes later the other HU people there were talking about the nursing and PA students coming when suddenly the Minister of Health said, "What we really need is speech therapy." Then he went on to talk about how they have so many marginalized citizens that cannot communicate. We talked some more about how what is really needed is training for Zambians to become speech therapists.

At the reception after the President of Zambia's speech, I asked the Minister of Health if I could write him a letter with ideas of how we could help teach Zambians to be speech therapists. He was very encouraging.

Then today Jack asked if I wanted to talk to the ministers more about my ideas at lunch at the governor's mansion. I talked with the Minister of Education about the real possibilities of us bringing faculty to teach short courses in communication disorders. He is totally in favor of the idea.

All of this is because the Republic of Zambia does not have a single speech pathologist. Not a single one.

That must change.

My Next Child Must Be Named...

2007-09-20T19:19:00.001-05:00

Marty Wayne. These are the names of the two administrators who have totally helped me fix the problem I reported yesterday. They are my heroes, and neither one scolded me for messing up. My universe is much, much calmer.

Less Than a Year

2007-09-19T16:35:00.000-05:00

Less than a year might as well be five years away right now. Reagan told me to get over myself because we are scheduled to go to Japan in less than a year. But here is today's trauma. I just found out that I really messed up a student's graduation and I am in the depths of depression. I just ate an entire Hershey bar in under three minutes! I feel like we can fix part of this huge mistake I made but I can hardly bear to be the one who has to tell her this news. This is not the first mistake I have ever made in my life but in 25 years of academic advising I have never caused someone to delay graduation. I need more chocolate.

I Am Still Here

2007-09-18T16:59:00.000-05:00

My brain is scrambled. I am actually very contented and happy with my little corner of the world but my brain hurts from all the meetings I need to attend, the people who I need to consult, the students who need advising, the presentations I have to make.

Dan, Keri and Ian left today (and Lolly). They will be in Ireland tomorrow. I am almost ill with longing to be there traveling. I had my fun last year. I need to grow up and deal with the issues here. They aren't hard issues. It is just more fun to be traveling.
[HUGE SIGH]

One Year Ago

2007-09-05T15:32:00.001-05:00

One year ago today I drove up this driveway to spend four fabulous months living in this villa. I have been so blessed in my life. When I was 17, I dreamed of visiting Europe and was terribly disappointed when I was unable to go on a summer campaign with a friend at church. I could not imagine that many, many years later I would get to travel all over Europe and live in places for three and four months at a time.

Also, one year ago today, Robbie and Tracy were trying to make me fill out a visa form so that I could legally stay in Italy for four months. I had only had a couple of hours of sleep and that form (all printed in Italian) made no sense to me. My brain was so foggy from lack of sleep that I had to re-do the entire form the next day!

But for now, I will gaze at the photo of our group of students and staff from last fall that is hanging on the wall of my office and remember that it was a magical time. [By the way, my group photo is mounted on some beautiful craft paper that Keri Tullos gave me. It has Florintine Gigli all over it.]

Every Day Brings a New Surprise

2007-09-02T15:34:00.000-05:00

Here is our new departmental logo. We had it put on nice looking shirts for each of the faculty and our current adjuncts. I was wearing it last Thursday and Lydia Fleener asked me why I had a man on my shirt. That made me laugh.

This is pretty much all my life is about right now. Trying to keep up with the classes I am teaching and trying to get all the ducks in a row for this new department and master's degree.

Who knew that each department has to have its Spring and Summer course schedule in to the registrar in August?!?

One Week Finished

2007-08-24T22:32:00.001-05:00

Hard to believe that one week of class is finished. It actually went very smoothly. This online registration is improving every year and our only problem is when a course is full but we can still let others enroll. In that case, sweet Brenda has to go online and do some kine of magic, voodoo, computer stuff to let the student enroll.

The bad part about starting school has been that I stressed myself out for no real reason. I then have engaged in my classic stress behavior and began to eat bread. Not just any bread. Lovely Tuscan round loaf bread and fresh-baked sour dough bread that a friend brought over and last of all this heavenly concoction from Boulevard Bread in LR that is called Chocolate Cherry Bread. Yum!

Now that the stress is a little lower maybe I can stop eating bread!!!

One more thing, I got the official notice that our graduate program was granted candidacy status from the accrediting agency. They only had three concerns which is really, really good for me. One of the three concerns is that there is NO CLERICAL SUPPORT! That was music to my ears!

I Can't Say Any More Than What She Has Said

2007-08-14T20:26:00.000-05:00

Use the link to the right and read what Reagan wrote today.

Tell Me

2007-08-08T21:44:00.000-05:00

School starts in a week and a half. Where did the summer go? Why don't you tell me the fun things that you did this summer?

More Big News!

2007-08-01T08:52:00.000-05:00

I finally received notification today that the master's program has been granted candidacy status to lead to accreditation by ASHA. That means that we can admit students for the fall 08 semester. Oh my! It is real.

I Can't Believe She Hasn't Posted This!!

2007-07-31T08:47:00.000-05:00

Reag has passed her national board exam. Whew!

A Travel Saga

2007-07-30T19:12:00.000-05:00

I was supposed to fly home from DC on Sunday afternoon at 5:50 pm. Beginning at 2 pm they began stopping traffic because of lightening. The lightening stopped and a few flights started flying by 4 pm, but not my flight. First the gate attendant told us that we would be very delayed and that if we were connecting to another flight in Cincinnati that we should go up to the main ticketing counter to try and re-book. I was one of the first up the escalator and found a HUGE line already there from the other 1,000 (ok, maybe a little exaggerated) flights that were canceled or delayed. I stood in that stupid line for 2 1/2 hours!! There were five airline workers to help and in my line only about twenty or less people had been helped because on man was at the counter for 1 hour and a man, his wife and child were at the counter for TWO HOURS. AND they would talk and argue with one and then move down to another and talk and argue, them move back to the first on to argue with her. At one point the lady in line started shaking her finger at the airline representative and then tried to get over the counter to go after her. Security was called and arrived within 30 seconds to calm the tempers. So, I finally get up to the front of the line and I get the same representative that the family had been arguing with for two hours and then I began to understand why they were upset!

Mimi looked at me and then my ticket and had the nerve to say scarcasticaly, "Why are you here?" In my sweetest voice I said, "the gate attendant said that everyone who has a connecting flight in Cincinnati should come to re-book. Mimi said, "Why are you here, the flight to Cincinnati has not left." I told her that I would miss my connection and needed to be re-book to Little Rock. She reluctantly, I mean very reluctantly put me on Standby for a Monday morning flight from Cincinnati.

So, I did miss my connection in Cincinnati. When we arrived at 10:45 pm I walked to the main ticket counter and found two very, very kind Delta employees waiting for me (and others from my flight) with re-booked boarding passes, hotel voucher (not for a free room, but reduced rate), and two meal vouchers. They couldn't have been nicer or more helpful.

I did leave Cincinnati on time the next morning, even though the security checkers were saying that 800 people were stranded overnight in Cincinnati. I think that 650 were standing in the ticket line waiting for re-booking and boarding passes but I already had mine from the two kind ladies the night before.

The big story with that departure from Cincinnati is that I flew from there to Atlanta and not Little Rock. I had a two hour layover there and than an additional two hour delay but I finally made it to LR.

Whew, it can take a long, long time to get from DC to LR.

I Have Been Simpsonized

2007-07-28T22:52:00.000-05:00

Reagan has this site on her blog. It is fun!! If you upload a photo of yourself and then tell it some stuff about you, it turns you into a Simpson character.

I am in DC at four days worth of sitting in a meeting room and I am bored!

Hmmm.....

2007-07-09T20:05:00.001-05:00

Answer to Tammie's question. My sister was on a mission trip to Zambia. She is home now and had a wonderful experience.

All my friends and my daughter are on diets and/or exercise programs. I did purchase a pedometer and discovered that today I did not even walk half as many steps as I am supposed to take in order to lose weight. On top of that, my diet has broken down. I need someone to prepare my meals!

Happenings

2007-07-03T16:52:00.000-05:00

The accountant at HU named Tammy is BRILLIANT! She knows all there is to know about money and budgets and how much money a new department might need. She is my nominee for Employee of the Year!

Jessica M. turns 50 this weekend and we are celebrating tonight.

There is a Fourth of July tailgate party tomorrow night. Fireworks at 9:15 pm.

Brenda Seawel is a saint.

Katie Meeks Whitt had a little boy on my 32nd wedding anniversary.

The TV in the bedroom got fried by lightening last weekend.

The Brick Oven Pizza in Searcy is very good.

My sister is in Zambia.

Life is so interesting.

Time Flies

2007-06-22T00:08:00.000-05:00

I can't believe that it has been a month since I posted. Fun was had at the beach. Reag moved back to Oxford and I think has her first professional job as an O.T. The first paycheck should be in her possession next week. She has worked hard and really, really earned a real paycheck. I think a party is in order!

Tagged!

2007-05-21T10:14:00.000-05:00

Reagan tagged me to write seven random or quirky facts about myself.

Hmmm....I have so many quirks that it is hard to start!

1. I do not enjoy early morning conversation. Most of my family and friends know this and know that I cannot speak coherently until about 9 or 9:30 am.

2. I am the best procrastinator in the universe.

3. I do not like band-aids or taped bandages. Adhesive on the skin makes my skin crawl.

4. I am just coming to grips with sandals. I tripped on a sidewalk when I was five because my sandal got caught in the little crack on the sidewalk. I had to go to the ER and get three stitches and miss going to see Cinderella with the kids. I did get to go later but they went without me! So, I did not wear sandals for many years and I still do not like dirty toes!

5. And related to toes and sandals, I had my first pedicure three weeks ago and I am going to have another one before I go to the beach.

6. I love bakeries! I love to go inside and look at all the different types of goodies they carry and I love the "Bakery Day" that Tammie and I established for our adventures. [On Bakery Day you can stop and eat at any bakery you see and want to visit.] I adore the flaky, layered pastries like a croissants or a sfolia but I also love bread.

7. I HATE to sweat. I hate sweat on my forehead that makes my bangs wet and then makes them have that stupid wave.

I now tag anyone reading this that Reag did not tag. You can put yours on the comments here.

Things are Muich Calmer

2007-05-19T15:52:00.000-05:00

There is a little more calm in my life this weekend. The intersession class that I ended up teaching is kinda fun. There are only two students and they both seem interested in the subject matter.

Reagan and I are beginning to paint the dining room. It looks good but I think we are going to have to do another coat. I do like red.

Finals Week Trauma

2007-05-09T15:53:00.000-05:00

My computer crashed last Saturday. All my grades, three student papers that were emailed to me. All my photos from the past seven years. Our IT people could not retreive it. Then Willie said that he had some new software and he would like to try it out. It worked! I have all the stuff except the emails. They may be here but I can't find them right now. Willie is Superman in Crocs.

Where is the Light?

2007-05-03T14:09:00.000-05:00

I am almost at the end of this long, long black tunnel also known as spring semester. I can not yet see the light. I think it is there and maybe I will see it next week.

Getting You Up to Date

2007-04-21T20:33:00.000-05:00

Where has the time gone?! I can't believe that we only have two more weeks of classes and then finals. It has been a good but busy semester. I haven't had more than ten minutes to rest on weekdays since January.

I am still reducing the Diet Coke intake. I have not had one since Thursday. I think I will have one tomorrow morning in Bible Class with the others in the Diet Coke Ministry but maybe it will taste bad and I won't want to guzzle the entire thing!

Gene is really seeing the benefits from Reagan's cooking. He has taken up either three or four notches on his belt. My clothes fit much better but I have not seen the drastic results that he has.

Last week I was in Palm Springs, CA. Lots of meetings and a little dash of fun. We went to the top of Mount San Jacinto on that really cool revolving sky gondola. Then we drove through the dessert to the Ontario, CA airport. Let's see if the photos can actually be posted.

Headed up the mountain

The view

Dan is fighting a Dinosaur on the desert!

Three Days and Still Living

2007-04-04T11:33:00.001-05:00

I have had only one Diet Coke per day since Monday. I am still alive and have even been somewhat productive at work. I miss the big Sonic cup on my desk. I miss the great burn of the Diet Coke.

The food R has been cooking is great. She even has two new clients. Debbie and Cliff are coming three nights a week and R is cooking for them also. I hope this lasts because last night we had pork chops with port and blackberry sauce, roasted veggies, salad, homemade baguette, water, ice cream with homemade dark chocolate sauce, coffee and water. It was great!

You also need to read R's blog for the description of our visit to the nature doctor. It was a little like being in the Twilight Zone but I think it will work.
http://reagansblog.blogspot.com

Lunch was Very Good

2007-04-02T15:16:00.000-05:00

So, breakfast was oatbran hot cereal with bananas sliced in it and I had hot tea. Very ok.
Lunch on the other hand was great! Green leaf lettuce salad with oil and vinegar, roasted veggies (recipe on Reagan's blog), Italian sausage, homemade baguette with Irish butter and sparkling water. Very tasty!
I did have to give in to one Diet Coke today. I was lightheaded after class and needed it to make it through the next hour. R says that one a day for this week and then next week I have to have only one for the week.
I do miss my diet coke but the rest of the day has very good.

I am Gonna Be Cranky on Monday Afternoon

2007-03-29T13:39:00.000-05:00

It you read my daughter's blog you now know that she is taking away my Diet Coke on Monday morning. I did agree that I should try it but I am not happy about it. This may be the time that I actually begin to drink a coffee product stronger than a cappuccino!

I tried to post a cute photo of a diet coke but this new blog thing doesn't like me!

Here for a Day or Two

2007-03-19T15:00:00.000-05:00

The trip to Florence was great. I know that everyone who has ever been to HUF is now going to hate me, but I got to spend the night at the Porciano Castle! It was with friends of Robbie and Mona's who graciously invited me to come also. Sleeping on that 5th floor is great. Just sitting in front of that fireplace in the living room is wonderful!

I was able to accomplish all my shopping tasks for Reag while I was in Florence. I even managed to bring home a sfolia for Keri to see and taste so she can try to copy them. I am so hooked on them. Also, Reag found the most wonderful Italian cookbook named Italia in Cucina. It has great pictures and tons of recipes, so I carted it home (and it is heavy).

I am leaving again on Thursday for DC. I will be there until Sunday afternoon. Sherrill, how far away are you?

Mona is the BEST

2007-03-12T08:15:00.000-05:00

So, yesterday seven of the conference attendees went on a tour of Athens. It ended with us in the Plaka and eating gyros but before that we climbed around on the Acropolis. The biggest news is that there are now steps to go up to Mars Hill. They are fabulous...no more slick rocks to climb unless you really want to go up that way. We also climbed up to the Parthenon and were almost blown away by the incredible winds. Robbie and Mona have been on that same tour at least fifteen times and climbed those hills the same number of times and they still went with us yesterday. Mona is the greatest! She went just to be my friend! Ok, Robbie is good, too but Mona is the greatest!

Greece

2007-03-09T11:40:00.000-06:00

Well, here I am in Greece. Since that last post, I have been back to DC for a second time (and I go for the third time on March 21) and now I am in Greece. I have been planning the Christian College Study Abroad Directors Meeting so that Jeff didn't have to do it. That means that I have to attend it also. The meeting officially begins tomorrow with a tour of Corinth. Tonight we are just shuttling attendees back and forth from the airport.

It is true that Reagan is not here with me. She is doing that whole school thing and is almost finished, but still lacks a couple of weeks in Oxford, MS before she obtains her total freedom.

The weather is nice. Today was in the low to mid 60's but the wind was very strong and a little cool. I just hope that it doesn't rain until Tuesday!

Jenn, I saw the song on your blog and I loved it! I am so proud that she is such a little Texan!

Well, almost time to head to the airport to pick up the guys from ACU. I will tell more later.

It's Crazy!

2007-02-23T05:52:00.000-06:00

I have finally taken a moment to update this and like all my other friends, it has forced me to change to the new blogger machine. It is 6:45 am (I am in DC to present our accreditation application to the accrediting agency) and I am jet lagged and have had way too little sleep this week, so I typed in the incorrect email address! I hope that it doesn't shut down.

Anyway, this step in the application process is finished. Dan was more help than he will ever know. He came up Wednesday night and helped me collate the 202 pages and put in the divider pages and make the Table of Contents. So, I am handing it over to the powers that be in an couple of hours. Then I head home so that I can get ready to come back to DC next weekend!

I promise to be better about updating. I have one post ready about my mother-in-law's funeral but I haven't put the finishing touches on it.

I also need to tell you all about the interesting plane ride to Cincinnati. Just to get you started thinking....new author who was on his way to talk with Universal and Dreamworks studios and a security breach!

Back in the USA

2007-01-02T08:57:00.000-06:00

I will write more later about the last couple of days in Florence and Siena and the trip home with the three children who are the spawn of Satan. For now, we are here and tryhing to re-adjust to all things American.
Tammie, I did get you another panforte and we were so exhausted that I forgot to give it to you!!! Thank you and Tim so much for meeting us with the car...it meant so much to us.

Why Did I Bring all This STUFF

2006-12-28T03:09:00.000-06:00

Christmas Day was a sweet great day. The five of us staying at the villa had stockings that we bought from TAF in downtown Florence. We had decided that each of the five of us would buy five of the same thing all under 5 Euro and put in the stockings. That way each stocking had five things to take home. It was lots of fun to shop for the stuff and somehow a couple of extra things ended up in the stockings. I know that Mona playes Santa with the Toberlones that were there and I think that Stephanie managed to sneak some cute little Pinochicco ornaments in each one also!

After the stockings we got to work getting ready for Christmas lunch. Robbie, Mona and the boys came in about noon and at about two Gary and Jennifer, their boys, Howard and Doris Bybee, one of their sons, a couple of Avanti workers and some visitors to Avanti all came up with TONS of food. We had turkey and ham with more veggies and desserts than I could ever dream up! We got most of that cleaned up and some others from the church in Florence came out for dessert and coffee. The company lasted until nine Christmas night. It was fun and we all enjoyed playing host to the people who visited. Scott Bain called his house in West Memphis and Tracy and Eric were having Christmas dinner there (well, actually at the Shack Shack!) and we got to talk to Tracy for a minute...she is wearing the ring!!!

Tuesday was museum day. Reagan and I took Murr and Corrie to the Uffizi and the Academia. A good time was had by all. It was amazing to see that the San Lorenzo market was totally empty!!! No stalls, nothing! We will go back in tomorrow to see if they returned!

Each day (except Christmas) we have been going in to Bar Aquila to get this most wonderful pastery sfoglia crema and a cappucino. I am hooked on this pastery. If I can find a recipe for it Keri and I may have open up a shop. It will make you want to jump up and slack your momma!

Now, I have three days left to try and fit all the stuff that I brought with me and all the great stuff that I bought over here into my suitcases. What was I thinking in September? I will never again forget Rick Steves words of wisdom: "There are two kinds of travelers... those who pack light and those who wish they did."

Sightseeing, Shopping and Early Christmas Dinner

2006-12-22T04:45:00.000-06:00

Tim, Steph and Ellie have now left the continent and headed back home. We had a great three and half days. We saw Pisa, did the great circle of downtown Florence for shopping and sightseeing. Then we drove to San Giamignato and saw the sights there. The last day was back into Florence for last minute shopping before they had to go back to Pisa to catch a flight to London to head back to Texas.

We had planned to go out one night to a nice restaurant and let that be everyone's Christmas present to each other. I did not call ahead to Bibe's to make reservations and when we got there it was closed!! But that did not squelch our Christmas spirit and we headed out to Machievelli's Tavern. We had a fabulous meal of steak for some, grilled mixed meats for others, and fried chicked and hare for Reagan and her friend Corrie. It was a perfect meal and great way to celebrate Christmas. In the very best of Tuscan traditions, the entire meal took two hours and we were sitting in room all to ourselves. We could not have planned it any better. One of the best parts was the life sized stuffed Babo Natle (Italian Santa) sitting over by the window with his arm wrapped around a jug of Chianti! Priceless!

I have to mention that Ellie, who is only seven, is as great a traveler as Aiden, Caily & Ian are. She was happy to wander around the San Lorenzo market with us while we were shopping and was easily entertained at the restaurants and in the car. I think that GameBoys are great inventions for traveling children!

I do have to mention that Gene has hit the leather jackpot! He has found a beautiful jacket, new belt, wallet, and gloves! He also bought me two new pairs of gloves and beautiful red leather purse! I can't wait for you all to see Gene's gloves...I will not tell the color yet but they will surprise you and look great when he is riding his motorcycle!

Today, Reagan and Corrie have left for an overnight trip to Venice on the train. Gene and Murr and I are taking it easy and getting ready to make a trip to that really great Coop/shopping mall, and we are all waiting for Mona to arrive back from the states. The fog had been terrible in England and delayed lots of flights in that part of the continent. Mona is in Amsterdam and missed her connecting flight because of the weather but she has another scheduled for tonight.

I did have a couple of moments of sadness because I missed Just Desserts, but then I knew that most of my friends would tell me to snap out of it because I was in Italy! I do miss my friends and I am ready to sit and visit with all of you and I will be home in nine days...it is ending so quickly and yet so slowly!

Getting Ready for Christmas

2006-12-16T14:32:00.000-06:00

Murr did arrive safely yesterday afternoon. She was exhausted but fine. Like me, she does not sleep well on planes. So, we let her have a hour and half nap yesterday and then she had to stay awake until at least 9:30 pm to try and get her body clock re-set. Pizza at Gallo's last night. She slept until I woke her up at 9 am this morning.

Today we has cappucino and pastry for breakfast and then took her to the Coop to grocery shop. R had to work on her thesis revisions this afternoon so we just did laundry and let Murr take another nap this afternoon. R and Robbie went to the Fiorentina soccer game tonight (tied with Milan) and the rest of us got pizza from the pizzeria down by the Bus 16 stop. Not as good as Gallo's but not anything to spit out either. Gene says that he would be happy if we just ate pizza at a different place everynight while he is here!

R and I getting ready to drive to the airport to pick up her friend Corrie. Tomrrow we hope to go to the German Christmas market in Piazza Santa Croce. Tomorrow night there is a concert of
"The Messiah" by the Fiesole School of Music. It is up by Piazzale Michelanglo so we can show Murr and Corrie that beutiful view.

We decorated the villa today for Christmas. Robbie can't find all the decorations but what we did find and the Christmas tree that he bought really look beautiful. The towns are decorating and all the stores have their decorations up. It is beautiful everywhere you look!

It's Harder When the Family is Here

2006-12-11T15:47:00.000-06:00

Blogging is much harder with the family to pay attention to here in this beautiful place. Yes, they arrived! The trip was hard and the upgrade to the Business Class seat was not as comfortable as we would have wished for Gene. He was much more comfortable on the trip from Amsterdam to Rome where there were no Business class seats so he sat toward the back with Reagan. Then there was the whole sick stomach thing. Reagan had been exposed to a stomach bug and Gene may have also gotten it. They did not get out of the airport in Amsterdam because Reagan threw up eight times. They found some of those wonderful recliner seats in the Amsterdam airport and each slept for two hours.

We had hoped to catch one of those sightseeing buses in Rome so Gene could see some of the city but they were just too exhausted to try. We took our 12:30 pm train to Florence and arrived at the villa by 2:30 pm. It was a pretty sunny day so he got to see the villa at its best. After unpacking and getting accustomed to the villa, Gary (Avanti Director) and his two young adult sons showed up to attempt to ride the scooters here at the villa. They had never dealt with scooters or motorcycles so Gene was happy to give them a lesson in started and controlling the bikes. Can you imagine my shock when I heard him say to Gary, "The next time Beckie gets to come for a semester, I think I will come and rent a motorcycle to just roam around these hills and back roads." Later that night we had our first visit to Gallo's and he LOVED the pizza. Then there was that wonderful chocolate mousse for dessert. Gene thinks there needs to be a trip here that just compares all the different types of pizza!

Saturday Reagan and I rode the bus into town to see the Scottish Christmas fair in the Santa Maria Novella piazza. It was the smalles Christmas fair I have ever seen!! Two booths. We did walk around the city and found a store she had wanted to check out called Tuscan Treehouse. It has great things with Tuscan imagines on them. We also purchased our Christmas stockings for the five of us who will be in the villa for Santa's arrival. TAF had some really cute ones for only 5 Euro each. When we got back to Scandicci we picked up Gene and headed to that huge Coop store. We bought some great foods to add to the ones that Julie and her crowd did not finish eating and had supper in the villa.

Sunday we drove out into the hills to look for a couple of places that were having Olive Oil Festivals/Tastings. We found one immediately and bought some of their wares. When they present you with olive oil to taste they pour about a fourth of an inch in the bottom of a plastic cup and you DRINK it. I only tasted one kind because I tend to prefer my olive oil on bread of vegetables. We did not find the second place but that was fine because we drove through some really beautiful country. That night we did take out pizzas from Gallo's.

Robbie arrived back from speaking to a church meeting in Sicily late last night and was at the villa when we got back from cappucino and pastry at Mario's this morning. Tammie and Vivian: Mt. Etna was smoking and spitting ash!!! Robbie wanted to drive us to San Miniato, Pizzale Michelanglo, and Fiesole. We ate at a cute little place in Fiesole. We walked through the Etruscan museum and look out over the ruins. Gene handled the steps ok but I thought that going all the way down to the ruins was pushing his luck too far. It was a great day. The weather was crisp and cool and sunny! Gene loved the Etruscan stuff and the views from all the lookout spots. Robbie needed to come home and paint some so we just hung out and I fixed left overs for supper. Good, good day.

We are awaiting Murr's arrival on Friday, Corrie on Saturday and Tim, Steph and Ellie on Monday. Lots more fun is on the way!!!

The Great Shopping Extravaganza

2006-12-05T08:51:00.000-06:00

Julie and Mark Ellis and a another couple from Munich were here from Friday to this afternoon. We had such a wonderful time. Mark and Julie are so much fun to be with and they are adventursome so we did some good stuff.

They arrived on Friday and I had made reservations at the Sostanza restaurant in Florence because Julie wanted to try their butter fried chicken. So, as usual, I crammed us all into the blue car and went down to the bus 16 stop. We stood and talked for a couple of minutes then I noticed that dreaded sign on the post that said there was a bus strike!! Well, we were just about to take a taxi, in fact, I had called Silvia at the HUF office to see if she would call us a taxi. She suggested that we drive into the train station and park underneath it. I have driven to the Coop and to Pisa but I have never driven into the station or even across the Arno, but Silvia said that she thought I could do it and Mark was willing to read the signs to make sure I stayed on the correct streets. And we did a great job! We did such a good job that I drove back to park at the station on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday (today). Monday the three women went to San Giaminagno. Today I even drove to the airport from the train station and back to the station and back to the villa!! I think that I might be Wonder Woman! I think I may can conquer new frontiers. I might can even put the baseboards up in the dining room, kitchen, and living room!

While they were here both couples did the majority of their Christmas shopping. We went to the San Lorenzo market three times, and the Piggy Market twice. There were six purses, eight belts, two brief cases, one wallet, twelve handerchiefs, two shawls, four ceramic plates, four ceramic wall decorations, two packages of wild boar sausage, fours packages of Italian candy, two expresso makers, one milk diffuser, and numerous odds and ends. Julie had to use an extra suitcase in order to get it all back home!

So now lets discuss the restaurants we visited. Friday night was Sostanza and their wonderful butter friend chicken and that great meriangue dessert they make. Saturday lunch was a sandwich eaten while we were walking because we wanted to get from the Uffizi to Scandicci in time to drive into the countryside and get some photos (but the sun went behind a cloud just as we left Scandicci) and we went to Gallo's for supper... no need to comment, it was Gallo's and perfect. Sunday we had our own service at the villa and then took Mark to catch a taxi to the airport. We found a cute little restruant just off of Nazionale and had pasta (mine was ravoli with cream pesto and walnuts....uuummm, good) and after seeing The David, part of San Marcos and Santa Annuziata we went to the Coop to buy antipasta and goodies to eat at the villa. Monday after we got back from San Giaminagno, we captured Robbie and went to eat steak at Bibe's. Oh my goodness!!! It may be the best flavored steak I have ever in my life tasted. I am definately taking Tim, Steph and Ellie there for our big Christmas present to ourselves. Today's lunch was panino in a cute cafe just down from the Ponte Vecchio.

They are now on their way home and I am getting ready for my family to arrive on Thursday!!

Rome and Points South

2006-11-30T12:59:00.000-06:00

The semester is officially over. It was bittersweet to say good-bye to the kids. I know they are having a wonderful time traveling around together but it was a good semester.

After they had all left, I headed south to meet Tammie and Vivian in Rome. We spend two busy days there seeing all the things Vivian had missed on her one whirlwind day trip there in the summer of 2000. We managed to make it through will all our wits and wallets. On one city bus the man standing right behind us had his wallet stolen out of his camera case while we were all there. I think that he just put it in the camera case and the thief saw him do it.

I did discover that I had been the victim of a theft while I was in Rome but it did not happen in Rome. Starting about four days before, I could not get my ATM/VISA card to work in any of the machines. They kept saying that my bank wanted them to confiscate my card but it gave the card back anyway. I called Reag and asked her to run by the bank (since she used to work there) and see what was wrong...it seems that I was victim to the card fraud that has been going around Searcy. I am not sure how they got my information since I haven't used that card in Searcy since September but someone was using it in MEXICO. They used it at a Burger King, Walmart and an ATM. The bank shut it down before it could be used anymore. The bank also has replaced all the money they stole...thank you, Simmons! But I know in the long run we will all pay for the stolen money through additional fees an such. That just makes me mad.

Now, back to the trip. After Rome we took an overnight train to Taormina in Sicily (Tammie, write this down so you can remember where we were!) and spend the day in that beautiful town. We went back to Messina and had to spend the night there because all the trains back north were full. That is a town were EVERBODY goes down to the main piazza on Saturday night and walks around or drives around. Next morning we took a ferry to Reggio di Calibria and strolled around there until time for our train to Naples. At the train station in Reggio di Calibria Vivian and I were waiting for Tammie to finish some necessary business when all these police started pouring into the station. We first thought it had to do with the fire was billowing smoke out of an office building but then a police officer came up and asked why we were out by the train tracks. When we showed him our ticket he said in a very serious voice that it was "dangerous" for us to stand there and he moved us back into a little hallway. We told him that our friend was still in a room down the outside of the building but he didn't quite understand. In about a minute a group of either soccer players or fans came trouping through the train station and the police made them walk between two lines of poilice officers until they got on the train. Right then, Tammie came walking out of the restroom and walked right behind the police line and never knew anything was out of the ordinary. We had to laugh.

We spent the night in Naples and first thing the next morning went to Sorrento. I love Sorrento. We found a great hotel near the station and roamed all through the town. The next day we took the ferry over to Capri. The views were wonderful but many of the shops have closed for the season. We decided not to take the bus or a taxi up to Anacapri because Vivian is so prone to motion sickness. I was afraid that she would be up there and not able to get down!

After two nights in Sorrento we headed back to Rome for them to catch an early morning flight home. I came back to Firenze to get ready for the next round of company. Julie and Mark from Munich will be here tomorrow with another couple they know from church. I am trying to think of all the things they need to see in the couple of days that they will be here. If you have any suggestions, please let me know!

Nekkid Statues

2006-11-18T17:06:00.000-06:00

The banquet is over. The students did a great job with the decorations and the gift giving. They gave me a group picture that they all signed on the matting. It is wonderful and I got a ceramic plate from that man who hand paints ceramics next to Mario's Cafe. It is of the villa and it is beautiful. I think I will hang it right under the painting that Robbie gave me last time of the villa.

The entertainment was fun. Logan and I sang the following lyrics to the tune of Jingle Bells (moleskins are the small blank books that the students have to fill with their notes from the museums and galleries we visit and the whisperer is what we call the wireless listening devices we use to hear the tour guides).

Dashing through the streets

Another sight to see

Come on hurry up

Our guide we have to meet

Moleskins in our hands

A whisperer in our ear

And I can’t find my pen right now

So I’ll just have to stare.

Fall 06

Fall 06

HUFfers now are we

O what fun it is to see

The nekkid staturary EEE

Fall 06

Fall 06

HUFfers now are we

David, Venus, Hercules

Are nekkid as can be!

Leonardo everywhere

Michelangelo wants to share

His gift of art with us

We’ve tried and tried to hear

Just what he wants to say

Bout beauty and the plan

But all it seems to say sometimes is

It’s a nakkid man!

Fall 06

Fall 06

HUFfers now are we

O what fun it is to see

The nekkid staturary EEE

Fall 06

Fall 06

HUFfers now are we

David, Venus, Hercules

Are nekkid as can be!

Obviously there are a couple of inside jokes, but we do see lots of nakkid statues. My nephew, his wife and their seven year old daughter are coming to Florence in mid December. They have been watching lots of travel videos to prepare for the trip. On one video they saw the David statue. The seven year old said, "Mom, he's not very modest." The mom was preparing to discuss the nakedness of the statue when the daughter went on to complete her thought, "He doesn't have a shirt on!" If all she noticed about that statue is that he doesn't have a shirt on, then we maybe can make it all around the piazzas here without having to discuss the total nakedness of them!

JUMP BACK LORETTA!

2006-11-15T13:47:00.000-06:00

I have spent the entire afternoon and early evening hours cooking! It is true! I have been helping Mona, Tracy, Leslie, Leda and Paola sox the desserts and the cornbread for Thanksgiving dinner. We are having Thanksgiving a week early since we will all leave for different corners of Europe next Wednesday. I can't believe that we only have 7 days left of the semester. I suppose they are going to want me to actually grade those tests they have been taking.

Promised Pictures

2006-11-14T21:45:00.000-06:00

Olive harvest

Forum in Rome

The wreck outside my bedroom window in Rome.

Villa decorations

Student Website

2006-11-14T08:55:00.000-06:00

http://www.harding-firenze.org/new/alumnipages/2006/06fall/

this is the student project website. It is a little hard to navigate through but the pictures are great

The Metro and Panties

2006-11-14T05:07:00.000-06:00

First let me say that I am using this new tool on my browser that lets me drag and drop photos but I have no idea how to control the placement of the pictures...so they may be randomly placed in this post! Yesterday I got to go to the Metro yesterday with Mona. That is a wonderful warehouse shopping place like Sam's. Tammie, you would just love it! We bought everthing for our Thanksgiving meal. I mean everything from cute aprons for us to wear to dried figs and dates to huge hunks of cheese. We were there for two hours!! There are aisles and aisles of fun stuff to look at and buy.

We are having Thanksgiving on Thursday of this week because we will all be gone next Thursday. Next Thursday Tammie and Vivian and I will be having our pasta and NOT washing the dishes! I am so excited about them coming.

This morning we all woke up to new decorations in the villa. It seems that the males living here have not been "thinking about thier panties before midnight" and the plastic tub that holds the underwear was overflowing. Some little fairies in the night tied all the boxers and briefs in the laundry room together with cute ribbon and strung them up all over the place. It was funny but I know they will be looking to get even.

so, the new drag and drop photo thing does not work...sorry
I also have no idea to what scale the photos are going to appear. If they are blurry I will re do them later today.

Rome

2006-11-14T04:42:00.000-06:00

The trip was Rome was absolutely great. When I was here before, we did the entire Rome experience in three days and now we do it in four. That means that this time we did not have to run through the city in order to see all the major sites. And we did see all the major sites!

One of the things that I love most about Rome is that you can be walking down a street and window shopping for great contemporary stuff and then you see a ruin. Or you turn the corner and see the Colluseum. Our hotel was a block from the place where Julius Caesar was stabbed!

Tracy took some of us to new attraction called the Time Elevator. It is just like a ride at Universal Studios or DisneyWorld but it is about the history of Rome. You get strapped into a seat that jerks and turns you alittle and feel like your are space traveling and flying over both ancient and modern Rome. Great fun.

The food was good! We went to this wonderful coffee place that is known for its special coffee blends. All my friends will be surprised to hear that I have been attempting to drink coffee. I LOVE the cappuccino and the cafe is growing on me.

One of the craziest things that happened in Rome was the traffic wreck that occured on Saturday night right outside my bedroom window. Tracy and I were sharing a room and we were exhausted so we went to bed at about 10:30 pm. At two minutes to midnight (I checked the clock!) we both woke up to a very, very loud sound of metal hitting metal. I had heard a police siren in my dream and sure enough a police car with lights and siren had been hit by a crazy Rome driver. They hit so hard that one was knocked into a bicycle on the side of the street. Within seconds there were 12 other police cars there on the scene. They immediately started dealing with the traffice because it is a busy main street in Rome. The traffic was wild. It took about 5 minutes for the ambulances to get through the traffic. The policeman was taken away on a backboard but he was moving his arms and legs so I think he will be ok. The people in the other car were sitting on the curb so I think they are ok also, but what drama in the middle of my sleep!

There were a couple of trips to the Hard Rock Cafe...I know, it screams "I Am a Tourist" but the food is good and I really needed a hamburger and onion rings.

The weather was good until Sunday when the rain started. I can say with blessed assuredness that I had so much more fun in Rome with the pleasant 60 to 70 degree temps than I did in the summer of 2000. That was week of the Polish pilgrimage to the Vatican during the summer of Jubilee. 60,000 Polish travelers in the 90 to 100 degree heat can be quite smelly. Plus, I was sweating and you know how I hate to sweat. This visit did NOT include sweat. For that I am very, very thankful!

I Leaving for Rome

2006-11-08T09:33:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow at 6:45 am I am leaving for Rome. I am going to scout out all the places that Tammie and Vivian will want to see when they arrive! If you have ever been with Robbie on his super marathon run through Rome then you can sympathize with me. He can move fast through those streets and you'd better keep up. The evenings will be free time and I know that I will enjoy the yummy places to eat and on Friday night we will be at the Hard Rock Cafe because they give free refills on Diet Coke.

I had an interesting phone call this morning from my husband in Searcy. It was at 10:40 am Italian time which means it was 3:40 am Searcy time. It seems that he tried to reset the alarm clock after the daylight savings time change and couldn't get the alarm set to a normal time and he did not know how to stop the alarm! I think he needs me! It is so nice to be needed.

Olive Harvest and Book Signing

2006-11-06T16:10:00.000-06:00

We harvested olives today. It was great fun. We divided into teams and had a competition to see which teach could harvest the most. I was not officially on a team but I did help the one who had the fewest members. After we put parachutes on the ground to catch the olives we took long plastic rakes and combed the tree limbs. We worked hard with a muffin and hot chocolate break at about 11 am. We finished all the trees before noon! Only one other fall group has done that much! We had one student who shall not be named who climbed a ladder for the first time. Imagine that! Picking olives for the first time and climbing a ladder for the first time.
I will put up some pictures tomorrow.

Robbie had been invited to a book reading and signing by the US Consul General and since Mona was busy with company, I got to go with him. We went to one of NYU's villas and the authors showed slides of some of the photos in their book. It is about the 1966 flood and the recovery process and since this the 40th anniversary of the flood there was a special number of the people who had helped with the cleanup. They call the "Mud Angles." Several of the Mud Angels also spoke about their experiences. On man said that one of the first businesses to recover was a restaurant and since the Italians love their food that it was reopened only two days after the flood. Robbie's dad was one of the Mud Angels who helped at the National Library behind the Santa Croce. I sat next to one of the authors. We had a small reception in the foyer of one of the classrooms for NYU in Florence under the Murano glass chandelier (and those twins Couchette and Chandlette were no where in sight!).

Fall Weather and The Prince

2006-11-04T11:24:00.000-06:00

Today was a very good day. First of all the weather is incredible. Just like the perfect Homecoming weather with cloudless blue sky and crisp, clean fall air. This morning Jeff (who is visiting here until tomorrow) showed us all the photos of HULA, HUG, and HIZ (Harding in Zambia). Dan, I think that our master’s program can certainly work with the program in Zambia and send four students there once a year and also send four a year to England. They have a place in Zambia that takes in babies whose mothers have dies before the baby is able to eat solid food. Sometimes they bury a baby that age with the mother because there is not enough money to buy formula for the infant. Haven Inn (or maybe it was Haven Place, I can’t exactly remember) takes these babies until they can eat solid food and then they return to their families. Our students could certainly be there helping and doing language development activities with the babies. There is also a grade school where English is the language so our students could help out there. It is going to be a great thing!

For lunch today we put all the students on a bus and went to Machiavelli’s house and tavern where he used to eat when he was exiled from Florence. It was also during that time he wrote “The Prince.” His villa was incredible with a most wonderful terrace that you can actually see the duomo and bell tower in downtown Florence. Lunch was all salad and grilled meat. Oh my goodness! Ribs, chicken, pork roast, and the best Italian sausage I have ever eaten.

After lunch we went to Robbie and Mona’s condo out in the Tuscan hills. There we had dessert and celebrated three birthdays! It was so much fun….and I FORGOT TO TAKE MY CAMERA!!! I guess that means that I will have to take Gene, Reagan, Murr, Tim, Stephanie, and Ellie back there. I can be a martyr and suffer through another meal for them and the photos.

word for today's five sentences: bolzano

Halloween and Free Travel

2006-11-02T16:16:00.000-06:00

I am sorry to say that I will not use the word couchette in this entry.

Since I last had a free moment we have had a Halloween party at the villa and gone on our second free travel for the semester. The Halloween party was so much fun. My costume friends (MLD and SCP) came up with great suggestions for my costume but I ended up being a rapper. Long story but it was funny and the kids were amazed that I know a few phrases that a gangsta might use.

The kids are so creative and one even came as an African street vendor in Florence. He was hilarious and kept trying to sell everyone watches and belts! The Haunted Grounds was so much fun and the tacos were great!

So, the next day we went to Porciano. Martha was a wonderful hostess, as she always is and the kids enjoyed hanging out in a castle.

Barbara and I took a Thursday afternoon train to Verona and spent the night there. It was fun to stroll downtown with all the local folks and see the beautiful buildings that look like Juliet is going to come out on the balcony.

[Jeff Hopper has arrived here in Scandicci bringing copies of the Bison for this semester. No one told me that the three Moore ladies were featured in one of the issues!!!]

So, back to the trip…We left Verona on a day train to Munich. The trip through the Italian and Austrian alps was incredible. I think that I have been on that exact route in 2000 but at night. I don’t think that I will ever sleep through Europe again because the scenery that you miss is so dramatic. We saw so many castles on the hilltops.

Mark and Julie Ellis met us at the train station and took us to their really cool apartment in downtown Munich. As soon as we had put down our luggage Mark, the tour guide, led us out of the house and down to the street where he had rented bicycles for Barbara and me. Those of you who know me well, know that I have not been on a bicycle in 30 years! And besides that…I am no so coordinated. So we set off on a bike tour of Munich. We had not gone 30 feet when I started laughing and immediately fell off the bicycle and bounced my head off the curb! Julie and Barbara were already planning how they would get the body back to the states but having dense bones is a blessing and I got to my feet and back on the bike. We continued around the city for a while seeing all the cool places like the spot in the river where people actually surf on the rushing river, and a part of the English Garden, and the new government center.

We did stop for supper at a great place in downtown Munich. The sausages were great and I had a new beverage…part Coke and part Orange Fanta. I was amazingly good. We set out for home on the bicycles again and I was going pretty good until some lady opened her car door right in my path!!! I tried to swerve but lost my balance again! The poor lady was sooo apologetic because in Munich if a rider is on the bike path no one can get in their way. I had a couple of bruises and a huge case of lost dignity but I did manage to make it out of bed the next day!

On Sunday, we worshiped with the church that the Ellis’ attend in Munich. John Mark Hicks was there for a special workshop and he preached. It was really good. After a lunch at the KFC, we headed out for the Linderhof castle. That crazy Ludwig sure knew how to spend some money!

He didn’t want anyone to see him eat so he created this contraption that would lower his dining table down into the kitchen so that the servants wouldn’t see him eat but they could still put all the food on the table and then raise it up to where he was seated.

Monday Julie drove us out to the Neuschwanstein castle. It really does look like you enter an amusement park. We also drove into the town of Fussen to shop around there. I turned the day into a “Bakery Day” and we did manage to taste several yummy treats.

Tuesday we took the one of the best walking tours I have ever been on. We took the Hitler’s Munich tour. The guide was from Ireland but we saw all the major locations were the Third Reich came into existence and where they ruled until the government moved to Berlin. I was amazed at the number of coincidences and the amount of plain dumb luck that fell into place as the Nazi party rose to power. I highly recommend this tour for those going to Munich! After the tour we had a kind of a picnic in the gardens downtown with sausages that MLD recommends, cheese, pretzels, and artichoke hearts. There was a kind of a pep rally for the soccer teams playing that night and the fans were marching through the streets beating drums and blowing whistles. It was crazy fun!

Wednesday was a train trip back to Florence with lunch in the dining car. It was almost like being on the Orient Express! We saw snow when we stopped for a few minutes in Brenner’s Pass and then found out that Munich was hit with a major snowstorm Wednesday night.

The cooler weather if officially here and I couldn’t be happier! The sad news is that we only have three more weeks of time for the semester. The happy news is that when the semester ends more of my friends begin to arrive. Tammie and Vivian then when they leave Julie is bringing a friend to visit and when they leave Gene and Reagan come!!!

Time is Flying!

2006-10-24T15:40:00.000-05:00

Times flies when you are having fun!!!
Jessica was right that Sicily is beautiful. We arrived at Mazzara after a long night and full day of travel and sight seeing. The overnight train from Florence to Reggio Calabria was good. I had a couchette all to my self and it had a connecting door to Robbie and Mona’s couchette. We visited until time for bed and each closed our doors for a restful night of slumber. At about 4 am I heard some yelling in the hall and I thought that something had broken because the train slowed to a stop just a minute after that. In the morning, I was told that the yelling came from Robbie who caught a thief coming into their couchette! Robbie jumped down from the top berth and grabbed the guy by the arm. He tried to say that he was just in the wrong car but he had broken the lock on the door and was up to no good. The attendant came running and they made the guy get off the train. All that excitement but the motion of the train lulled me right back to sleep!

We took the cog train up to Taormino for supper and it is so beautiful. We went back up see the Greek Theater the next morning. Next was the Villa Casale in the middle of the island and then Agrigento. It rained and rained and rained in Agrigento but we still walked through the Valley of the Temples.

Palermo was also raining and raining. We went to the Cappucin Church there and I thought that I had walked into a scene from the Pirates of the Caribbean! In this crypt instead of decorating it with the cleaned bones of those dearly departed, they just hang them up on the wall with a rope around their chest!!! Clothes, dried skin and all! It was weird but strangely compelling!

Next was the overnight boat/ferry to Naples and the tour of the Archeological Museum there. The tour guide Giuseppina, also prepared our sack lunches for Pompeii and I have never seen so much food in a sack. We each got a huge sack (not a package, a sack!) of potato chips and a sandwich of about a half a loaf of bread with a fourth a pound of ham!

Overnight in Sorrento for two nights with Capri ( I love Capri!!), worship service with some of the Christians from Naples and Monday morning a bus ride over the most amazing road in the world to Positano, no wait, an even more amazing road came after Amalfi. We took a boat from Positano to Amalfi. Positano is beautiful and we walked from way above the town down 6, 345, 297 steps to the port. Really, I counted every step!!! A boat from Positano to Amalfi, lunch with the cutest, funniest old man serving as the head waiter (when Robbie asked if they had seats for five the little man said, “of course, we have been waiting for you!”). Then that other incredible bus ride over the twistiest, tiniest, windingest road in the world.

Those of you who know Robbie know that he makes friends everywhere he goes and then the new friends name their children after him and want to adopt him…well, there is a sweet family from Vernazza who own the restaurant the HUF group always eats at and he invited Anna (who is 78) and her son Robbie (in his fifties) to go with us to Siciliy. They are so nice and Anna is so sweet. When we said goodbye at the train station last night she had Robbie translate to me that “Beckie and I did not talk with words, but we talked with our eyes!” She is precious!

Many, many funny stories because Mona, Tracy and Beckie were traveling together but one funny, tragic, happy-ending story…. After our train arrived in Florence last night the students went to get on the bus but Robbie, Tracy and I were saying goodbye to Anna and her son and we needed to get out to the villa to be there when the students arrived so we took a taxi (JRS, I know that is a totally ungrammatical sentence but I don’t care!). One of our really sweet girls got on the bus and realized that she had left her purse on the train. She jumped off the bus leaving her suitcase with the others and didn’t even give them a chance to say one would go back with her or anything. So the bus took off and she ran back to the station and jumped on the train to look for her purse…just as the train was pulling out again and leaving for Bologna. She did not find her purse and she was on her way to Bologna with no ticket, no money, no ID, no passport at 10:45 at night. The students forgot to tell me any of this until midnight when she still was not at the villa. No one had heard from her and we had no clue where she was or what was happening. At 12:20 am the phone rang and she said that she was in Bologna in the police station at the train station with no purse but maybe the purse was at the police office in the Florence train station. No trains were headed back to Florence until 4 am and if Tracy drove to Bologna she might not get there until 3 am because the extra car had been loaned out and on and on and on as each bit of news got worse. So, the girl decided to wait in Bologna and take the train back at 4 am. When she got to Florence they told her that they did not have her purse but maybe the one man who was not in the office had her purse and on and on and on! So she rode the bus out to the villa and walked up the hill by herself to arrive at my door at 7:10 am without her purse. I sent her to bed!! When she woke up at about 2:30, she got herself organized and got the photocopy of her passport to either prove she owned the purse if it was found or to start the process of replacing her passport. I just heard the good news that the one man who was not in the office this morning did have her purse!! Jan and Steve, get ready because each HUF group has to have one experience like this!

The other good news is that Barbara Duke has arrive safe and sound. We ate pizza a Gallo’s tonight, cappuccino at Mario’s this afternoon and tomorrow is the tour of Santa Croce, the Bargello and lunch at Del Pennello and an afternoon of strolling around Florence. Life is good!

[I know that I haven’t posted any photos lately but the internet is so slow and it takes so long to upload them…maybe after this next free travel I can catch up!]

Down to Sicily

2006-10-17T14:29:00.000-05:00

It was so wonderful to have Reagan here. We were both sad for her to have to get on the plane but when she comes back in Dec. she will be all finished with her coursework. Gene called last night to say that her flight was delayed getting from Pisa to London and that she had to spend last night in London. I hope that she got to get out and go visit a couple of her favorite spots.

The biggest news is that we drove to Pisa and I drove back to the villa alone. I didn't even get lost. That means that when you come to visit me you can just fly straight into Pisa and I can drive to pick you up!! Well, at least Tim, Steph and Ellie are going to do that!

We are leaving in about 45 minutes for southern Italy. We will sleep on trains and on boats and ride ferries and buses...this is one of those trips that I will end up counting all the different types of transportation that we use before we get back to the villa.

So, I won't be able to post until Tuesday, Oct 24...by then Barbara Duke will be here!

Ciao!!!

Solving the Coat Issue and Other Travels

2006-10-13T01:57:00.000-05:00

I have returned from the first free travel. I traveled with Robbie, Mona, and Tracy to Germany. I feel so honored to be able to say I have done that because they are usually so busy that they don’t get to go anywhere during free travel times. [has anyone noticed that I began the first three sentences of this paragraph with the word “I”?]

My first free travel began with a quick trip to Venice on Saturday to buy some ties for Ellis. His clients wanted more so I was happy to run that errand for him. I traveled by myself to Venice, got on the vaporetta alone and found the tie shop in Piazza San Marco. There were about 3.6 million people in Venice on that day. Actually, there was some kind of parade, or demonstration just beginning as I walked out of the train station. I never found out if they were protesting or tying to find a cure or just raise money for a worthy cause but there were a lot of them and they all had t-shirts and signs and even balloons.

On Sunday afternoon the four of us got on a plane from Pisa to a town just out of Stuttgart, Germany. You have to love those Ryan Air prices…total cost for roundtrip tickets was 45 euro. We rented a car and Robbie raced up the Autobahn to Heidelberg. I had stopped in Heidelberg four years ago but then we just spend a couple of hours at the Christmas Market. We spent the night and Monday we had a great time shopping, eating snitzel, pretzels, and visiting the castle. I also solved my coat dilemma there. I bought a beautiful black rough leather coat at the German equivalen of Lane Bryant. It is perfect!

Monday afternoon we drove to Aachen (I am not sure how to spell it) to the town where Charlemagne had one of his palaces and a beautiful chapel/cathedral. We arrived just at dusk and we had no idea the layout of the town. Robbie pulled into what we thought was a parking place and was going to run into a book store to buy a book on the town and hopefully a map. We had only been there a minute or two when we discovered we were in a spot where the buses had difficulty making the turn and a taxi driver yelled as us to move the car. So, Tracy jumped in the driver’s seat and we were going to go around the corner…only there is no around the corner in this town. We drove for about ten or fifteen minutes and had no idea where we had left Robbie. Mona tried to call his cell phone and to our horror his phone rang in the car. It was one of those awful moments like when the girl in the horror story hears that the person calling her threatening to kill her is upstairs…we had his cell phone ringing in the car with us and he was lost on the street in Aachen. We began to get worried. We drove for another 20 to 30 minutes without seeing any thing that looked familiar. We knew that we left him across the street from the “Bak Factory” and just down from “Killer Hair” but we could not find our way back. We asked directions from some English people on bikes and they said they said “go down to the right” which we did and did not find the right street. Then we asked directions from the guy with the blue Mohawk haircut who was cleaning car windows for handouts and he told us to “go down to the right” but we never found the “right.” Finally, Robbie’s cell phone rang and it was him calling us from a pay phone. We ended up stopping at a hotel and he took a taxi to us. It was traumatic!

The next morning we found the old town section and all really enjoyed wandering around the old streets. The Palace is, of course, gone but some of the foundation stones are here and there and the chapel was beautiful.

We made a quick stop in Koln (also known as Cologne) at the beautiful cathedral there. It is right in the middle of a very unattractive shopping area but still a beautiful building.

We spent the night in Mainz and had supper with J.R. Duke and a couple of our HUF students. J.R. is teaching there until sometime in July. Mainz also has a beautiful cathedral and quiet, clean streets lined with cute stores. After leaving Mainz we headed back to the airport and when we touched down in Pisa Reagan was waiting for us!!! I was so happy to see her.

Today we spent the day at the Scandicci Fair. It is a cross between a county fair and the Tuesday Market in Florence with a little of Canton, Texas First Monday thrown in. Great food, good shopping and a gazillion people. We met some of the other Americans who attend the Florence church, a couple of Avanti members, and Kate Tucker there. It was a fun morning of shopping and then a great picnic type lunch with us all buying different stuff from the food vendors and everyone sharing. After lunch, Reagan and I headed into Florence for her to show me where she lived while she was a nanny for Zoe and Renee. We even went back to the fair after supper tonight. All I have to say about that is Nutella Crepes! Oh my!!!

It has been a lovely, fun, busy and exciting week. Tomorrow is the first class day of the semester that I do not have to teach a class!!!! I think we will have breakfast at Mario’s. Tomorrow night is the opera, “The Barber of Seville.” Can’t wait.

Friday

2006-10-06T13:03:00.000-05:00

It’s a little weird here at the villa right now. It’s 7:30 pm and there are only 15 students left here. They will join all the others on free travel within the next couple of hours. I am going to bed at 10:00 pm and no one can stop me! The only drawback to living in the loft room is that they never want to go to bed and when they do (curfew is midnight) they laugh all the way up the stairs. On one hand I am happy that they love each other and on the other I am a little miffed at them because I am old and I love my rest.

We have students going to Norway, Luxembourg, Spain, Austria, Czech Republic and Switzerland. If you are reading this and your child is going to Switzerland I think they have decided to paraglide rather than skydive. They are so young and they think they are unbreakable. I am praying that they are!!!

Before I leave for Stuttgart with Robbie, Mona and Tracy, I am going to run up to Venice for the day and buy ties for Ellis. He needs more and I am happy to run that errand!

Reagan and Gene are ticketed and set for December 6 to leave from Memphis. Bill S. came through again. Mother and her sister are working on theirs, Tim and Steph are all set and now we just need Julie and Tina (cousins) to finalize their plans.

A final note…I think it might be time to do the Fall Happy Dance in Florence!

Pictures

2006-10-05T05:08:00.000-05:00

Without getting too emotional, let me say that I found the hardest part of the memorial experience was the realization that the majority of those who rest in this place were the exact same age as the male students walking around. I think they sensed it, too.

See that hillside with the horizontal rows in the far distance...that's where we climbed and picked 140 tubs [no, no I was wrong and I am editing this comment...it is only 70 tubs) of grapes and they will make twenty bottles from each tub.

Grapes

2006-10-04T17:21:00.000-05:00

How can I describe the Italian countryside with all its hills and castles on the hills and more hills and the grapes hanging on the vines with the sun occasionally hitting them and making them glisten? I don't have enough words to do this justice.

The journey to the back woods of Tuscany started with a stop at the World War II Memorial just outside Florence. I have never been there and it was so moving. It is a beautiful place with just the right mix of Italy and US all around. We sang "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" and had a prayer together. It was a lovely thing. Many of the students (and teachers) were moved to tears. Then one of the sweet girls reminded us that one of our guys is in the Army Reserve and is here on a special three month pass from his Reserve activities. Then we had a special prayer for him and everyone cried! We took time to each stroll through the crosses and look at the names. I was amazed at how touched the students were and how they strolled individually and not in groups. It was a wonderful time of reflection.

Then back on the bus and off to pick grapes. The hill we ended up on the side of is directly opposite a medieval village that still has a castle. Each one of us was given a knife or scissors and each two students took a large plastic tub and set off down the rows of grape vines. The bunches of grapes were really thick and they sometimes grow all twisted around the leaves and vines. Most of them were just bursting with juice. We cut and hauled for about two hours with a snack break in between. The vineyard owners were impressed with the work ethic of the students and I am sorry to report, Jessica, but they both said that this group worked harder than last year's group. It seems that last year a couple of malcontents did not want to work but to sit over on the side and discuss their love angst. I also need to report that there were no serious injuries and I only cut my hand in two places!

After the work came the picnic the owners fixed for us. We had beef short ribs cooked over a bed of smoky embers and Italian sausages, fatunta bread (toasted over the heat and sprinkled with olive oil and salt), Gouda cheese and Nonna's cake for dessert. It was great. Now the hike up a third hill to get to the picnic spot was not so great. I got Nature all over me and had to climb over/under two fences!

When we got back to the Villa, Kate, Blaine and Hudson had arrived. It was so good to see them. They will be here through next week so I will visit more with them later.

Today was the Uffizi day. It has so many beautiful paintings and my very favorite is the Holy Family by Michelangelo. The colors are so pretty and the expressions on their faces look like they love each other. Then there is that round frame,so unusual.

Tonight Robbie rented a soccer field for some of the kids to play each other. I went to watch and it was a great evening to sit and watch. Tomorrow we have classes and on Friday our first free travel starts!!

Tears of Bliss and Tears of Laughter

2006-10-02T15:40:00.000-05:00

This morning Robbie announced that we could not go to the Vasari Corridor today as planned and instead we would eat supper together at......Gallo's!!! I was so excited that I almost cried then and there. This is my all time, bar none, favorite pizza. It is the thinnest possible crust cooked in a wood heated brick oven, with only a smattering of tomato sauce and the most wonderful topping every. Robbie orders about a zillion pizzas (no, really only about 60!) and we ate until we couldn't eat anymore. Then comes the Nutella calzone. It was great.

While we were waiting on the calzone, several of us started playing the funniest game that Tracy taught us. You pick a vegetable name and then with your mouth open (can't close it or you lose) and your teeth totally covered (once, again if the teeth show you lose) a person starts by saying your vegetable name, (like Okra) is calling another of the vegetable names (like corn) while you use a silly voice. Then the person who is that vegetable has to do it to someone else. I know it sounds so silly, but people get the strangest looks on their faces and then you can't close your mouth...I guess that you have to be there to experience it...but I laugh so hard I cry everytime we do it.

Even though everyone in the group was not playing this game, I can report to concerned parents that everyone in the group was having a good time visiting, eating, and laughing. It was the best event we have had so far for group bonding. The staff at Gallo's had seated a table of Italian men back on the back terrace with all of us and I was afraid that we were distrubing them. When we left one of the men said in English that all the life had left the room and now all he had to entertain himself with was the TV. He was so sweet.

What a good day.

You Didn't Leave Your Name

2006-10-02T05:39:00.000-05:00

So, an anonymous commenter on this blog either doesn’t know me very well or has not taken the time to read all the other blogs and comments. I don't know your name but I have some comments for you.

I LOVE the students here. There are some of the sweetest, kindest, Christian young adults here with me. They are funny, clever, energetic, caring, and just entertaining. Sometimes they act like 12 year olds. Don’t we all. We have to be told that we are being stupid or moronic or just plain petty and sometimes even mean, or disrespectful. I told them after one thoughtless incident, “I will love you again this afternoon, but for now I am not happy with you!” I think they know that I love them. Once a week we have hug day. Every single student gets a hug from me as they go through the lunch line. Are a couple of the students a handful? Oh, yes. Do I love them? Oh, yes. Do I want them to be a little better people after they leave this semester? Oh, definitely. Do I want to entertain my friends who can’t be here so I tell them the funny stuff. Most certainly!!!

Having said all that….anonymous must not know me at all. I think that my friends do.I really try to find the humor and good things in every situation....Do you Anonymous?