Attack Girl! One Girl's Journey to Overcome Anxiety and Panic Attacks.

Because Sometimes All You Can Do Is Laugh

2013-12-10T19:39:00.002-08:00

The 35 Naughtiest Dogs On The Planet. You'll Laugh So Hard When You See What They Did!

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http://distractify.com/fun/fails/dogs-who-are-shamelessly-proud-of-what-they-just-did/

Move over Movember....it's time for Dinovember!

2013-11-15T06:08:00.002-08:00

This was one of the first things I read this morning and what a great way to start the day it was! Like the writer says, in today's technology age where a childhood of wonder and imagination seems to be lost, what a cute idea to help keep the magic of life alive!

What have your dinosaurs gotten into lately?!

Wanna know what I'm talking about? Check out the link below to find out! : )

https://medium.com/thoughts-on-creativity/6f4cb1886d41

Back in the US of A **UPDATED

2013-11-12T11:41:00.000-08:00

I've been back in the US for less than a week and I've noticed some things about life back here that I wanted to spew out before I forget them/I get used to them and no longer recognize them as unique.

1. I really missed walking around barefoot in a house and not feeling dirty from doing so.

2. To go along with #1, it's nice to NOT have to sweep a house 5 times a day (and still feel like it's dirty)

3. It's noisy over here. Cars, planes, lawn mowers, dishwashers, tvs, etc. Quite different from the chickens and church announcements I'm used to in Guatemala.

4. Driving is hard. I never realized how much (over)stimulation happens when driving. Especially on highways, and when you don't know where you're going. Not only are you watching the road, but the gas tank, mileage, kids in the back seat, radio nob, directions, lights.....I never realized how exhausting it was since I was so used to it! BUT, I LOVE having a car. Not only for the freedom, but for not having to lug around all my stuff from errands the entire day. Just pop them in the car and let the car carry them instead of a sweaty backpack.

5. It's SO nice to have water fountains and (FREE) bathrooms (mostly clean) everywhere you go

6. My sister has great taste in clothes and I'm so grateful we are the same size and she doesn't mind sharing with me (or doesn't have a say since she's out of town)

7. I LOVE going to the gym!!!!

8. Americans have a lot of STUFF and they don't shy away from being rude and angry in public : ( I HATE bureaucracy (wow, normally, I consider myself a good speller, but that word made me feel special) and "policies" as much, if not more so, than when I left!!!!

9. It's nice to....
*play in grass without fire ants or scorpions,
*eat pre-cooked organic beans (make that anything already canned and ready to eat without soaking
overnight and boiling for a few hours),
*have the freedom to go places (even at night),
*watch tv
*leave the house without storing my computer, money, etc. in a safe
*eat veggies without disinfecting them
*sit on a sofa
*sit on a carpeted floor
*take great showers and have non-frizzy, not only-pony-tail worthy hair
*have a printer
*go to the library
*not have to make an entire day trip to go to the bank or grocery store or key copy or any other errand
*have a DISHWASHER! and washer machine, and dryer!
*Appreciate my country for some of the good things it has to offer.

10. CHEMICALS---I'm not a fan and they seem to be everywhere. I've always been sensitive to them but even more so now that I've removed them from my life (as much as possible). I went to the gym the other day and had to cover my nose every 5 seconds from all the chemicals being sprayed. It seemed like every time I tried to breathe, someone was spraying a machine down, spraying their towel, or using hand sanitizer. I won't even get into why this is SO TERRIBLE for everyone involved, so I'll just say it was smelly, burned my nose, and made it hard for me to breathe. Only bad part of the gym...the rest was great!

So, it happens quite often that I don't have a good photo and I simply "Google Image search" what I want to portray in the blog. It's usually spot on, no matter what randomness I type. For this entry, I typed, "It's so good to be here, even though I still miss home"....and google must be out to lunch because the results had NOTHING to do with that...they were too funny not to share. So here are some of the best picks. Enjoy.

I've never met Natascha, but I'm sure she's lovely and I would miss her if I knew her.

I do miss having funds in my savings account so I suppose this is somewhat on target.

It's not even Friday, Google. Get your s**t together.

Too many possible captions running around in my head to pick just one.

Okay, I'll give you credit for these two. I do miss my garden and my dog, so....

I guess I'm missing the woman in me? Time to go paint my nails.

I'm going to Disneyland!!!

2013-11-06T07:04:00.001-08:00

I'm sitting in my hotel room in Guatemala City, waiting to head to the airport and to the states after almost a year away. I am full of emotion--excited, sad, anxious, tired, etc.

After living in such a peaceful, easy-going town where I walk everywhere and my food store is the size of my bedroom back home, the thought of heading to congested highways and super-sized grocery stores can seem a bit overwhelming.

I arrived in Guatemala City yesterday and stopped at Tikal futuro mall for lunch in the food court. Walking in the mall (and seeing Xmas decorations) immediately created anxiety rising in me.

I still remember when I came back to the USA after living for almost 3 years in Paraguay. The first time I went to the grocery store, I walked in and immediately back out. It was too much. Later, I went to the mall with my mom (it was also Christmas time and very crowded). I've never enjoyed malls so I'm not sure why I thought that would be a good idea. This time, I only made it as far as the parking lot, saw the cars, imagined all the crowds, and had mom drive me home. Hello reverse culture shock!

Last but not least, Im anxious about the flights. I haven't had a panic attack in over a year now but the memory of my attack during a flight is still very fresh and scary. It's been awhile since I've had to practice my calming techniques so I hope I remember them. Plus, in true San Marcos style, I now have my trusty crystals with me to hold on the plane, should I need them.

And while I'm nervous about the culture shock, I think it's eased by remembering that I'm only visiting and by focusing on the positive things I'm looking forward to. The obvious, and most important reasons, being seeing my family and friends. But, as my expat friends and I like to discuss, going home is like going to Disneyland. Working, hot, showers! Clean, soft bedding! Here is my list of stateside goods I'm looking forward to most:

1. Showers! Hot ones, long ones, ones with two nozzles to adjust the temperature, ones with enough pressure to wet my hair and rinse the soap off my body, ones without mosquitoes biting me during it, ones where I know there will be water coming out when I turn it on.

2. Baths!!!!

3. Eating a meal without checking for ants in every bite and every honey pour.

4. Fresh, organic, salads (that I don't have to disinfect first).

5. Washing machines and dryers!

6. Not feeling like I'm constantly being ripped off because of the color of my skin.

7. Washing my toothbrush holder and water bottle straw in the dish washer (I brought them on this trip specifically for this reason).

8. Thai food, fish tacos, Mexican food, chocolate-covered cashews, pizza slices, gelato, more salads, and fresh salmon.

9. Having a car. I'm actually a bit nervous to drive, but look forward to the freedom of it.

10. Target. I'm looking forward to one-stop shopping and not having to go all over the country (literally) to complete a shopping list.

11. Salt shakers that work.

12. No bugs, scorpions, critters, etc. crawling on me in bed or any other time.

13. Sinks with cold and hot water. And ones that have an endless supply of water and are never turned off.

15. Throwing toilet paper in the toilet and not having to burn it.

16. Watching movies on anything other than a computer or iPod screen.

17. Radios.

18. Running new routes, on a track, and gyms( spinning, body pump, swimming)!!!!

19. Sharing the love of my friends and family!!!

***UPDATE: 20. And how could I forget perhaps the most important one....sitting on a REAL SOFA!!!! I'm loving life in the USA on my comfy sofa right now! : )

I'm a Triangle but I Want my Kids to be Stars

2013-10-10T18:15:00.003-07:00

I'm preparing myself for a trip "home" to the USA after almost a year away (this time around). I've spent most of my adult life (and formative teenage years) living/spending significant chunks of time abroad. While I'm grateful for each and every experience I've had, both at "home" and abroad, the inner processes I've been through because of them sometimes leave me feeling like I don't fit in anywhere.

I don't ever feel like I fit in in the USA because it's hard to relate to those people who have not lived overseas. This is especially tough when it's your own family and friends and you care about them and love them so much, yet find it really hard to relate to them at times. And while I often feel more at home living overseas, I'm still never truly "one of them." I've had this discussion with several "travel friends/fellow ex-patriates" and it's something we seem to all relate to. It's what can bond us together instantly and can keep boundaries up with people sometimes considered closest to us, if we know they just "won't get it."

All of this can lead to a bit of a cultural identity crisis that's hard to explain. I recently read a blog post that put the process into simple terms and wanted to share it here. I think it's a nice follow up to my most recent post, "Unintentional Cultural Exchanges," as well. What do you think?

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I am a triangle and other thoughts on repatriation

I’ve been talking an awful lot to people who know what it’s like to repatriate. I’ve also been completely hiding that part of my life from people who don’t know what it’s like to repatriate.

It’s kind of like. Um. It’s similar to, huh. Maybe you could liken it to ….You know, I can’t think of a similar situation, experience.

It’s a secret that isn’t a secret.

It’s a piece of my life that I keep to myself unless I know the person I’m sharing it with will understand...What I’m about to share with you is one of the illustrations that were shared at a retreat she recently went to... De-Brief and Renewal Retreat by Missionary Training International for missionaries living overseas. The following is my adaptation (including my basic Sharpie drawings) of an illustration that was shared at that retreat...found it to be a helpful tool for me as I flailed my way through repatriation and the reality that we are forever changed from our experience of living abroad.

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Imagine a place called Circle Country. Everyone who lives inside of its borders are Circle Citizens. The Circle Country has very specific culture, holidays, celebrations, food preferences, a language that is unique to them as well as music, education and political categories.

Let’s also talk about Square Society. Everyone who lives inside of its borders are Square Settlers. The Square Society also has the culture, holidays, celebrations, food preferences (and on and on) as the Circle Country, but they are completely different.

One day, a Circle Citizen got on a plane and flew to Square Society. That Circle landed squarely (pun intended) in the middle of the Square Settlers and their Square Culture.

Circle Citizen now lives in the midst of Square Settlers, and he or she may adapt to a degree, but will never become a truly Square Settler. At the same time, this Circle Citizen will also start to lose a bit of his/her Circle culture.

The normal circle things start to blend together with the new square culture. The major holidays in Circle Country might dissipate a bit to allow for the celebration of Square festivals.

Favorite comfort foods that remind her of Circle Country give way to the acceptance of new Square foods. The Circle culture never quite gives way to the new Square norms and at the same time doesn’t go away completely either.

He or she slowly — and seemingly unconsciously — evolves into something completely different. The transformation to a Triangle Tenant begins. Being a Triangle means you have some of your original Circle culture mixed with some of your newly adopted Square culture.

You are no longer 100% Circle, but you’ll never again be 100% Square. You are left — almost hanging — somewhere in the middle.

Now, imagine that after some time, this Triangle Tenant hops on yet another plane and returns to Circle Country. This Triangle doesn’t revert to the previous Circle status just because he has landed home. This Triangle remains forever a Triangle.

I will always be a Triangle.

As I find myself back in Circle Country, the good ole’ US of A, so far, I’ve found that I am mostly surrounded by Circles. Folks who haven’t ventured too far out of the Circle boundaries.

I still don’t quite know where I fit in. My “pointy parts” don’t blend in so well with the smooth edges of the circles. My time amongst squares leaves me with memories that will stay forever, yet there are pieces of that culture that I am thankful to not have as part of my own.

The description of the leading photo by Nathan Sawaya, The Art of the Brick

Interestingly enough, there is a fourth shape that enters this discussion. If a child (in their developmental years such as our two youngest were), follows his or her parents from Circle Country to Square Society, he or she will become — not a Triangle Tenant, like the adult parent, but a Star. They will be a Star with multiple points of reference when considering where they are from, what they believe in, what foods they like, and how they see the world.

They will always be Stars.

What do you think? Does this help to put into real terms what it’s like to enter and re-enter different cultures?

I’m happy to be a Triangle and all shapes are welcome at the playground, but it’s nice to have some solid ways to view the process of culture adaptation and what it does to a human being.

Original Source: https://medium.com/repatriation-after-the-shipment-is-unpacked/3b9fd76169f2

Non-intentional Cultural Exchanges

2013-10-09T11:42:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me knows what a nut I am for intercultural exchanges. I've basically framed my entire life around it, from studying abroad when younger, living and working abroad most of my adult life, and researching it in both my undergrad and master's degrees. I love learning about cultures and figuring out which parts of each new culture that I encounter I'd like to adapt to create my own unique way of interacting with the world.

And while I enjoy a good book/movie/lecture on the topic, I sometimes forget that the smallest of exchanges are sometimes the most powerful. I was pleasantly reminded of this as I went about my seemingly ordinary errands over the past 24 hours.

Last night, I ran into the local market to buy some chocolate and toilet paper (you know, the essentials to go with the wine back at home) on my way down to my soccer game. As I went to pay, the friendly face behind the counter (we all know each other in this town, and I love that) asked me, "Amiga, what's your last name?" (He actually said the entire thing in Spanish but you get the point I'm making here). I told him, to which he replied, and your other last name? I told him I only had one and that most people in the United States only have their father's last name. He then asked, "But what happens to your mom's last name, then?" This then lead to an entire discussion about lineage dying out, cultural norms, etc. and the ironic fact that while most Latino cultures are considered more "Machismo" than American culture, yet Latino culture preserves both the mother's and father's last names for children while traditional American culture loses the moms and only takes the dads. Food for thought.....

(only inteded as a minor joke, not to provoke a debate on machismo....)

Then, this morning, I made my way down to the soccer field to work out and train with Loki. I probably enjoy the quiet and solitude of the field in the morning as much as I enjoy the workout. So, upon spotting an entire class of school kids playing soccer as I approached, I hesitated and almost sought a new spot. I decided to stick with it, and am glad I did. As I began my workout, I looked out and noticed that all of the girls were sitting on the sidelines while the boys (and 2 male teachers) played. I continued to work out when 4 of the little girls ran across the entire field to visit me. This 4 quickly turned into 17, yes 17 girls and boys joining in on my workout (my dad always said I was like the pied piper or kids and dogs).

I had them doing squat jumps, burpees, and "letter shapes with our bodies" (aka Yoga T poses--sorry, you can take the girl out of teaching but not the teacher out of the girl). So, thanks to me, there is a new group of indigenous children trained in parts of Body Pump classes from the YMCA. It was such a fun, impromptu morning and I loved every minute of it! Even better when I ran into one of the girls a few hours later in town and she shyly said, "We'll be on the field again tomorrow, will you?" This just might be the motivation I need to get my butt down there in the mornings :)

Gluten-Free "Bread Crumbs" and Eggplant

2013-09-23T21:38:00.001-07:00

I went to cook dinner tonight and noticed my eggplant was starting to go bad so that decided for me what the menu would be.

I've been reminiscing a lot about my life in Paraguay lately and remembered fondly my delicious meals of battered eggplant with fresh-picked limes. Since the recipe calls for bread crumbs and I'm now gluten-free, I had to get creative. I was too lazy to go to the store (and would not have had much luck in my town anyway) so I looked in the "pantry" (really, it's just a shelf of food in my tiny house) and let my imagination run. I honed in on some flax seeds, sesame seeds, and almonds. Tossed them all in the coffee grinder and voila, had some instant gluten-free "bread crumbs" for a perfectly battered eggplant dish! I enjoyed it immensely and as I sprinkled on salt and fresh lime juice onto each bite, I fell deeper and deeper into my memories of Paraguay and my smile grew wider and wider and wider..... Che Rohayhu Che Paraguay!

Deberia decir "San Agustin" en vez de Caazapa pero entienden la idea : )

Gluten-Free Eggplant Recipe:

1. Slice eggplant
2. Dip eggplant into a beated egg (is that a word? nope, just looked it up. it's beaten. huh, learn something new everyday. who knows, maybe i already knew that. sometimes i forget english so it's hard to tell. )
3. Dip eggplant into "bread crumbs" (grind up sesame seeds, flax seeds, almonds in a coffee grinder or food processor or blender---you can use all 3 or any one of these)
4. Add spices to taste (suggestions: cumin, salt, pepper, basil, parsley)
5. Saute in olive oil until eggplant is tender and outsides are toasted
6. Sprinkle with salt and lime juice (*I don't eat cheese but I imagine it would be good on top if you do)

Enjoy!

As always, I was too hungry to actually take a photo before I ate it, but it looked something like this, minus the cheese and sauce, and I cut mine into rounds, not slices. Doesn't matter though; whatever floats your boat.

Gluten-Free/Eggless Pancakes (and they actually taste good!)

2013-09-15T14:28:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a lot of experimenting lately with healthy recipes and invented this gem of a pancacke the other day. It's gluten-free, egg-free, and best part: actually delicious!

Plus, it's good protein and, if you add yogurt/whey, it becomes a probiotic too. Top it off with honey and cinnamon for natural anti-biotic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Ingredients:

*almond flour (grind up almonds in the coffee grinder)

*a mashed up banana

*flax seed millet (again, just grind up flax seeds in the coffee grinder)

*cinnamon

*liquid of your choice--I don't do milk so I used a little bit of coconut milk and goat's yogurt but you can use whatever you like. I imagine you could use an egg or whey here too.

Mix them all up until they are pancake consistency and cook just like a pancake. Top it off with bananas, cinnamon, almonds, honey, etc. and enjoy---YUM!

Pictured: almond flour, coconut milk, goat's yogurt.

Sorry, I don't know how to rotate this one. It's easier for you to turn your head than for me to figure it out.

What NOT to Say to Someone After a Breakup

2013-09-08T08:45:00.001-07:00

I recently stumbled upon a blog post from a very wise woman named Sharon. I found several of her posts interesting and may share a few, but this one in particular stood out at me. So often, I think we don't know how to handle feelings that make us uncomfortable, both within ourselves and in others. Because we don't know how to handle the uncomfortableness, we often gloss over true emotion and brush it away like it's something to be ashamed of, instead of experiencing the true depth of our feelings and learning from them.

I'm at a particularly interesting point in my life that can come at a cost. While I love the opportunities that single-hood has afforded me, it's not really where I would choose to be right now. It just is the way it is (for now and not much longer, I hope). Nonetheless, being as I'm no longer a spring-chicken in my 20s, it can be particularly isolating since most of the people my age are either married, have kids, or both. The other single people tend to be in their early 20s. While I love all of my friends deeply, I can't help but feel "left out" many times. I can't share in their stories of late-night feedings or diaper disasters. I can't join in on playdates or double-dates with husbands. I can't even share all the FB posts on all things baby. And I certainly can't (and don't want to ) share with the 20-year-olds in bar-hopping and "one-night-standing it."

It can be really tough and isolating. And, while I know you mean well with comments like, "Don't worry, just find happiness elsewhere" and, "I'd kill to be in your shoes for a day," they actually make me feel worse. As if you're viewing my situation as trivial and just being "dramatic" for having these feelings. Feelings are real.

It's tough when your friends have busy lives and don't have time to stay in touch as much as I would like. I get it. I really do. But, please know that the single-hood grass isn't always greener either and I could still use my friends' love from time to time since it's all I got some times. A phone call/email/skype can take a minute out of your day and leave us BOTH smiling lots! :)

Anyway, the point of this post was not to sound sad and depressing (as I'm now realizing it kind of does), rather to share this blog post that I stumbled upon the other day about how to NOT help someone after a breakup (something you can be grateful for you probably won't experience again, but remember how much it sucked??? I still have to go through those....) That's what lead to this whole post. Here it is:

"If you’ve never been through a breakup, you would probably be shocked at just how devastating they can be. Not all breakups are equally heartbreaking, but when a serious relationship ends–especially one that was either long-term or headed toward marriage–it can shatter you.

In many ways, a painful breakup is like a death. When a relationship ends, one witnesses the demise of a dream and a hoped for future. Simultaneously, everything changes: the most significant person in your life is now gone, and your plans are completely upended. For some, the upheaval launches them into a season of depression, self-doubt, and deep-seated grief.

However, breakups don’t always receive the same attention and community care that other losses do. Granted, the loss of a breakup is qualitatively different from other losses, but the grief is still very real. Clichés and simplistic encouragements are no more comforting after a breakup than they are after any other deep loss.

On the heels of a breakup, my anguish was sometimes made worse by thoughtless or insensitive comments from friends. Which is why, looking back on it, I would offer the following advice to those of you who know someone going through a breakup:

1. Don’t rush the healing process–Although there comes a point after every breakup when it is time to move on, don’t rush the process. I never felt more isolated and alone than when my friends didn’t let me grieve. They wanted me to accept God’s plans and timing and get on with it. As a result, I felt ashamed and embarrassed about my feelings, which compounded my pain all the more.

2. Don’t pick sides–The friends of a broken-up couple should never be asked or expected to choose sides. Picking sides is unfair, it causes division, and the “picking” itself can be horribly misguided–unless you witnessed wrong-doing firsthand, you can never know whose side of the story is really true.

Picking sides also adds heartache to an already broken individual. Speaking from personal experience, the only thing worse than losing my boyfriend was losing all my closest girl friends too. I remember feeling lonely to the point of despair. In retrospect, I think some of my friends confused “supporting” and “siding.” I didn’t need them to be on my side, but I sure did need their support.

3. Don’t give easy answers–Breakups raise a lot of questions about ourselves, our futures, and even God. It takes time to work through those questions, and unfortunately cliché answers usually don’t help. It doesn’t help to hear, “You’ll meet someone better!” when you can’t even begin to think about dating again, or the only person you want to be with is your ex. And it doesn’t help to be told, “It just wasn’t God’s will” when you were SO SURE it was.

If you have a friend going through a breakup, treat them the way you would any grieving loved one: Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Make space for them to mourn. Call them. Sit with them. Check on them. Pray for them. Breakups are awful and hard, but having a caring community surround you in the process can make it just a little easier.

And if you are going through a breakup right now, my dear one, take heart! The pain you feel is real and serious, so don’t ever think you are weird or pathetic or weak for the depth of your sorrow. Know that you are not alone–so many of us have been there, or are there right now. But also know that it doesn’t feel like this forever. Little by little the pain will fade until, one day, amazingly, it will be gone."

Original Source: http://sheworships.com/2013/04/29/how-not-to-help-someone-after-a-breakup/

DIY Mayo Hair Treatment

2013-09-03T10:02:00.000-07:00

The water in Guatemala is really harsh. It leaves my skin feeling really dry. On top of that, the pressure in my shower is almost non-existent. The combination of these leaves my hair feeling drier than I'm used to. In my never-ending idea/project/diy/fill-my-day list, I decided to do a treatment for my hair.

In my research, I came across many DIY recipes using items from your kitchen. In the end, I decided to go with a Mayo treatment. I've done it twice. Once with just mayo, once with mayo and avocado and a bit of olive oil. Both left my hair silky, smooth, straight, and a bit greasier than I would like. This may or may not have to do with the fact that the instructions called for leaving it in the hair for 20 minutes and my ADD mind got side-tracked with so many other things that both times I kept it in for over an hour. I also think I may have just rinsed it out and not washed it...can't remember. It's okay though, since Guatemalan's love hair gel and I just looked like I had used half a jar in my hair and fit in well : )

Anyway, it was really simple, really cheap, and really effective. Here's the recipe should you be so inclined as to try it yourself.

1. Wet your hair

2. Rub mayo all over your hair as if it were shampoo (if you combine, mix the mayo, avo, and/or oil in a bowl first, then apply)

3. Place a shower cap on your head to seal in the heat (if you live in the middle of nowhere like me and don't have a shower cap, you can use a plastic bag and headband. I looked pretty hot like this and sure you will too)

4. Wait 20 minutes

5. WASH it out (not just rinse)

6. Smile for the cameras with your pretty new head of hair!

The Language of Love

2013-09-01T15:27:00.000-07:00

Sometimes there just aren't words to describe certain feelings, especially when it comes to love. Apparently, other cultures have come to our rescue with some words in their own languages. So the next time you're at a loss for words, try one of these. As a language nerd, I loved this article and had to share. Enjoy!

1. Mamihlapinatapei (Yagan, an indigenous language of Tierra del Fuego): The wordless yet meaningful look shared by two people who desire to initiate something, but are both reluctant to start.
2. Yuanfen (Chinese): A relationship by fate or destiny. This is a complex concept. It draws on principles of predetermination in Chinese culture, which dictate relationships, encounters and affinities, mostly among lovers and friends.
3. Cafuné (Brazilian Portuguese): The act of tenderly running your fingers through someone’s hair.
4. Retrouvailles (French): The happiness of meeting again after a long time.
5. Ilunga (Bantu): A person who is willing to forgive abuse the first time; tolerate it the second time, but never a third time.
6. La Douleur Exquise (French): The heart-wrenching pain of wanting someone you can’t have.
7. Koi No Yokan (Japanese): The sense upon first meeting a person that the two of you are going to fall into love.
8. Ya’aburnee(Arabic): “You bury me.” It’s a declaration of one’s hope that they’ll die before another person, because of how difficult it would be to live without them.
9. Forelsket: (Norwegian): The euphoria you experience when you’re first falling in love.
10. Saudade (Portuguese): The feeling of longing for someone that you love and is lost. Another linguist describes it as a “vague and constant desire for something that does not and probably cannot exist.”

Original Post:
http://urbandud.wordpress.com/2013/04/29/10-beautiful-words-about-love-that-dont-exist-in-english/

Simple Ideas--Eco-friendly Orange peel planters

2013-08-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones. I had some tomato seeds I wanted to plant the other day. I wanted to start them in planters indoors before transplanting outside. I was looking around for containers to use when I spotted the orange peels left from my freshly-squeezed juice that morning so I decided, why not?!

The alternative was to just throw the peels in the compost bin so I went for it. It was simple, efficient, and I think they look quite nice. I'm curious to see if they work since I'm wondering if the acidic content may affect the seed growth. Only time with tell.

Step 1: Slice oranges in half and squeeze out the juice using a juicer, like this:

Step 2: Scoop dirt into the hollowed-out skins

Step3: Plant seeds, water, place in sun

Step4: Drink fresh orange juice and enjoy your new eco-friendly planters. Ta Da!! (Note the chocolate bin also used as a planter. Worked great too! Please do NOT note my dirty windows.)

The Power of Sports

2013-08-19T17:59:00.000-07:00

Nelson Mandela once said that “Sport has the power to change the world…it has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers.”

The new soccer season started last week and I played my first organized-league game since arriving in Guatemala. Although it did not end with a score I would have liked (5-0 to be exact), : ( I enjoyed playing in the game and sharing the field with my teammates. I was also completely surprised by the turnout of the town to watch the games. There were A LOT of people there. Which made me especially nervous since I'm the only "gringa" girl on the team (and only one other in the league, who is amazing) so I had all eyes on me and a lot of pressure to not be a total moron on the field.

Can you spot me (the "gringa") in this photo?! : ) On a side-note, these have to be the world's most unflattering uniforms ever!

I'm amazed at how much joy the season has brought to me already and it's only just beginning! Besides the obvious love of the sport and rush of endorphins from exercise, it's helped forge deeper bonds with my community than I expected, especially after just one game. One of the players on the competing team is a local mom at the school and we both smiled at each other during the game with a mutual look of "Hey, I didn't know you played soccer too! No wonder you're so awesome! Let's be friends now!"

The next day at school, a few of the kids who were watching the game came up to me with a look of new admiration (or pity, I couldn't tell) and one of them so non-chalantly asked me, "Why did you lose?" in a way that suggested we had chosen that outcome on purpose. I teased him and told him we needed his coaching skills, and lo and behold, he showed up to our next practice, eager to help (it got rained out, but that's not his fault).

To top this off, today (Sunday) I was walking down the street this afternoon and a local kid who I had never met before stopped me on the street. The following conversation ensued:

Kid:"Hey, are you the girl who plays soccer?"
Me: "Yes," I replied, excited for the recognition.
Kid:"Your team lost the game last week, right?"
Me: "Yes," I responded again (with a little less enthusiasm and getting ready to defend our reason for
"choosing" to lose again).
Kid: "But you play soccer. You will win again. God Bless you. Have a great day."

And just like that, he and his buddy were on their way again and I was struck how the simple act of playing soccer can open up a world of comradery amongst people I didn't even know were watching.

Go Team San Marcos!

I love sports. I love kids. I love small-town San Marcos life!

Simple Murder-Mystery Salmon

2013-08-18T07:28:00.001-07:00

I'm always looking for new "recipes" to make. I use the term "recipe" loosely since I'm not much for following measurements or step by step instructions for meals, rather I like to mix and match and try things together until they look and taste about right.

As a "pescetarian" and someone who has limitations on what they can eat (no gluten, dairy, sugar, most oils, etc.) it's often hard to get creative and eat the same boring meals eat day. Also, as someone who MUST eat when hungry and has NO patience for cooking once hunger begins, I'm always looking for quick, easy meals.

I invented this SUPER EASY and SUPER DELICIOUS salmon yesterday (to be fair, maybe I didn't invent it and this recipe already exists. I have no idea since I didn't look for one, I just looked in my kitchen and threw together what I had) and thought I'd share the "recipe." I have know idea what the measurements were, so I'm just going to guess-timate. You should use your creativity and brain power to adjust for your own liking.

(I didn't actually take any photos of the meal, but I found these online and they look about the same. You get the idea).

Ingredients:
Salmon- 2 servings worth
Garlic- about 2 cloves
Olive Oil- a capful
Rosemary-a teaspoon
Basil -about 4 leaves
Ginger- a pinch
Salt and Pepper to taste
Balsamic Vinegar- 3 teaspoons? I just poured it on top to coat
A good Murder Mystery Book

To make:
Place all ingredients (except olive oil) in a ziploc bag.
Shake and let sit to marinate a bit. (I let mine sit as long as it took me to read a chapter in my book and get back up from the hammock).
Add a cap full or so of olive oil to a pan.
Pour contents of bag into pan (try to get garlic and goodies into pan for a minute before the fish but if it all falls out at the same time, no biggee) and sautee (with a lid on) for another chapter.
Add more balsamic vinegar and let simmer (with lid still) until it forms a sweet, sticky glaze, fish is cooked, and you've finished the next chapter.

Eat and enjoy!

Riquezas/Riches

2013-08-07T08:03:00.000-07:00

I was cleaning out my email and came across this story that someone sent me a few years back. It's such a sweet message and one that resonates highly with me and the way I aspire to live my life. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Estaba limpiando mis correos y encontré esta historia que alguién me mandó hace unos años atrás. Tiene un mensaje tan dulce y uno que llama la atención porque es la manera en que intento a vivir mi vida. Espero que les guste tanto como yo!

(GRACIAS GUILLE por compartirme esta historia!)

**Para la version en espa ñol, miren más abajo.

***********************

Once upon a time, a wealthy father took his son on a trip to the countryside with the intent of showing his son how poor the country folk were. They spent an entire day and night with a poor, humble family on their farm. At the end of the trip, when they returned home, the father asked his son:

-What did you think of the trip?
-It was great, dad!
-Did you see how poor the country folk can be?
-Yes!
-And what did you learn?
-I saw that we have only 1 dog at home but they have 4. We have a pool that only covers half the yard; they have a river without an end in sight. We have imported lamps in the yard but they have all of the stars in the universe. Our yard only reaches the fence line; their yard stretches beyond the horizon. They have time to talk and enjoy their family while you and mom have to work all the time and I never see either of you.

At the end of this speech, the father remained silent and the son added:
Thank you, dad, for teaching me how rich we might be some day!

************************************************************
Una vez, un padre de una familia acaudalada lleva a su hijo a un viaje por el campo con el firme propósito de que su hijo viera cuan pobre era la gente de campo. Estuvieron por espacio de un día y una noche completos en una granja de una familia campesina muy humilde. Al concluir el viaje y de regreso a casa, el padre le pregunto a su hijo:

- ¿Qué te pareció el viaje?
-¡Muy bonito papá!
-¿Viste cuan pobre puede ser la gente de campo?
-¡Sí!
-¿Y que aprendiste?
- Vi que tenemos un perro en casa, ellos tienen 4. Nosotros tenemos una piscina que llega de largo a la mitad del jardín, ellos tienen un arroyo que no tiene fin.Nosotros tenemos unas lámparas importadas en el patio, ellos tienen todas las estrellas del universo. Nuestro patio llega a la muralla de la casa, el de ellos tiene todo un horizonte. Ellos tienen tiempo para hablar y convivir en familia, mientras que tu y mamá tienen que trabajar todo el tiempo y yo casi nunca los veo.

Al terminar el relato, el padre se quedó mudo... y su hijo agregó:
¡¡Gracias papá por enseñarme lo ricos que nosotros podemos llegar a ser!!

I'm Addicted to Travel

2013-08-03T14:04:00.002-07:00

I LOVE traveling. If you've never been a traveler, you wouldn't understand it and there's no sense in trying to explain it because you just won't get IT. But that 'it' of travel is beyond amazing. I just got back from a whirlwind trip around Guatemala with my parents and it reminded me, once again, how much I love IT. (more to come on that trip in a later post)

I love travel so much, I might even venture to say I'm addicted to it. According to Dictionary.com (a highly scholarly site), addiction is defined as:

the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

I know that if I ever had to stop traveling, I would be BEYOND SEVERELY traumatized! I practically break into a cold sweat just thinking about that nightmarish of a situation. I also know that I am enslaved to travel. Every decision I make boils down to, "will this help me get to (insert next location here)?" Do I really need that Q5 bottle of water (that's about 20 cents) or can I wait until I get home and drink free water? Sure, I'd love to go out to dinner, but I'd rather save that Q40 (~$6) since I know every penny counts towards saving up for my next trip. See a job I like in an area of the world that won't allow me to easily travel to parts I want to--Pass! No thanks. Basically, all of my daily habits/practices/life choices are all based on getting me my next "fix" of travel.

I recently read this article (see below) and loved it. I especially like #s 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 15, 17, 18, and 20. (although not so much 20 anymore, since my Loki boy is at home). Mom was impressed at my #17 and my ability to pack. Everywhere we went on this trip, she constantly made comments like, "why didn't you tell me to pack that too?" "I didn't think to bring one of those." And my favorite, "See, Dani, this is why you should work in travel...you just know things like this. No one else knows to pack those!" Thanks, mama. You'll be happy to know, I don't plan on stopping anytime soon, thus I'll keep those skills honed. After all, it's for my own health to keep seeing the world; it's the only treatment for my 'mad travellers' disease.'

*************************************************

Do you break out in a cold sweat when you don't have your next holiday planned? Do your relatives barely recognise you anymore?

You may be suffering from dromomania, or "mad travellers' disease" - a medical condition that describes people who are driven to wander long distances due to irresistible impulses.
Or you could just love to travel.

So how do you know if you're developing an addiction to wandering around the world? Take a look at this list:

1. Your suitcase is never fully unpacked.
2. You can swear in different languages.
3. The only reason you work is to save up for your next trip.
4. The flight attendants greet you by name - without looking at your ticket first.
5. You have more friends overseas than at home.
6. You plan your next trip before you finish the current one - or as soon as you get home!
7. Fellow travellers ask you for directions in foreign places, and you know where to point them.
8. When you sit down at your work desk you reach for the seatbelt.
9. You have more miles in the air than you have on your car.
10. You own more of those tiny bottles of toiletries than standard ones.
11. Waking up at home feels strange.
12. You try to curve your pillow around your neck, like a travel pillow.
13. Some people collect books, but your room is filled with souvenirs.

14. You're an expert on currency conversions and have a stash of money in different currencies.
15. You panic at the thought of having to stay in one place for too long.
16. You find it hard to sleep without the sound and vibrations from the jet engines.
17. You can pack in under five minutes.
18. Your bucket list is almost entirely travel-related.
19. You wear t-shirts or other items of clothing emblazoned with country names.
20. You feel sad when you walk through your front door.

Original Link: http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advisor/signs-youre-totally-addicted-to-travel/story-e6frfqfr-1226643080602#ixzz2avvaQhHt

Playing for Happiness

2013-07-05T18:17:00.000-07:00

This week, I've been back at sports full force. My entire life I've been an athlete, playing on 3 teams at once at some points in time (soccer, track, triathlons, marathons, gynmastics, softball--to name a few). The past few years I've been inconsistent in training from so much travel and I've really missed it.

In the past 2 weeks I've joined 2 teams--soccer and basketball. It's the first time in my life I'm not a midget and thus felt brave enough to try b-ball...I'm actually on the taller side of the team : ) It's been awesome working out but also getting to know the other girls. So far I'm the only foreigner on the team and it's likely only one other will join. I'm told it gets quite competitive on the court which is interesting since it's a very non-confrontational culture here. Apparently, it all comes out on the court--should make for some exciting games!

We've been training hard several times a week, including a few "bootcamp" type sessions that I've been leading. It's been fun being in the trainer role and back into a consistent workout routine. Waking up at 5:30 am to workout before work hasn't been too peachy but it's worth it! (Being the language nerd that I am, I've taken advantage of our time and been incorporating learning Kaqchikel and teaching them English while working out!) Our seasons start in about a month and I'm really looking forward to it. The way this is headed, I'm hoping they'll be no more rainy-day blues for me since working out is the best antidepressant around! : )

I Travel, Therefore I'm Awesome

2013-07-01T18:01:00.001-07:00

I've always been pretty darn awesome. I've always been a traveler. I've often thought it impossible to become even awesomer, and yet, I somehow manage to always do so, especially after a fabulous viaje somewhere...now I get the correlation! I travel, therefore I'm awesome. It's even backed my the president, kid president...

Thanks to Nomadic Matt who put it so eloquently, there's no need to reinvent the wheel here...

Why Travel Makes You Awesome

By Nomadic Matt | Published March 18th, 2013

People always ask how travel has changed me. If I look back at who I was before I began traveling and compare that to who I am now, I would have to say that travel has made me a better and more well-rounded person. I’m way cooler now than I was at twenty five when I first left to explore the world.

Simply put, I’m a lot more awesome now than I used to be.
In fact, I think travel makes everybody a more awesome person. We end our travels way better off than when we started. I’m not saying this to be conceited or egotistical; I’m saying it because I believe that travel is something that makes you not only a better human being, but a way cooler one too. The kind of person people gravitate towards and want to be around.
You become like the Dos Equis guy.

How and why does travel make you more awesome? Let me count the ways:

More social – It’s sink or swim on the road. You either get better at making friends or you end up alone, crying each night into a pillow. You learn to make friends out of strangers and get more comfortable talking to new people. When I first started traveling, I was kind of an introvert and uncomfortable talking to those I didn’t know. Now, I’ll happily talk to strangers like we’ve been best friends for years.

Better at conversation – Travel not only makes you comfortable talking to strangers, it makes you better at it too. After talking to people all the time, the same questions get boring. You start to even bore yourself. After a while, you don’t care about where people are from, where they are going, how long they’ve been traveling, and yada yada yada. Those kinds of questions don’t actually tell you anything about the person. You’ll get better at small talk and how to ask interesting questions – the ones that matter and tell you more about the person.

More confident – You’ve traveled the world. Hiked Mt. Everest. Dived the Great Barrier Reef. Wined and dined that beautiful French girl in Paris, navigated unknown cities, and conquered your fear of heights. In short, you did awesome things. How can you not be more confident? How can you not be sure about your abilities? After accomplishing so much, you’re going to feel a lot more confident in your ability to achieve anything you set your mind to.

More adaptable – You’ve dealt with missed flights, slow buses, wrong turns, delays, bad street food, and much, much more. After a while, you learn how to adapt your plans to changing situations. You don’t get mad, you don’t get angry, you just alter what you are doing and move on. Life throws you curve balls and you hit them out of the park. Why? Because you’re awesome like that.

More adventurous – When you become confident in your ability to do anything, you do anything. Last week in Austin, Texas, despite not liking spicy food, I ate the world’s hottest pepper and some pure capsicum extract. Why? Because I wanted to. What’s the purpose of life if not to break out of your comfort zone? My mouth was on fire for ages but I’d do it again.

More easy-going – All those mistakes? They did something else for you, too. They made you more easy-going and relaxed. Why? Because you’ve dealt with all those errors and you don’t care. You go with the flow now, because if travel taught you anything it is that it all works out in the end and that there’s no need to stress.

Sexier – Stress causes aging. Those carefree, relaxing days on the road are going to make you more confident, radiant, and age slower. You’ll look young and sexy. Unless you are George Clooney, who definitely got better with age.

Smarter – Unless you sit at a resort drowning your brain in frozen drinks, travel will teach you about the world. You’ll learn about people, history, and culture, and arcane facts about places some people could only dream about. In short, you’ll have a better understanding about how it works and how people behave. That’s something that can’t be learned from books; you can only pick it up with on the road experience.

Less materialistic – On the road, you learn just how little stuff you actually need. You’ll realize that all that crap they sell at the mall is pretty useless in leading a truly happy life. Coming home, you’ll find yourself a minimalist simply because you realize what you need to live and what you don’t. As they say, the more you own, the more it owns you.

Happier – Travel simply teaches you how to be happy. You’ll become more relaxed, more confident, and see the world as a brighter place. How can you not be happy about life after all of that?
Think about all the famous, successful people in the world. How many of these qualities do those people exhibit? A lot. Why? Because being outgoing, funny, social, happy, confident, and smart are all qualities that make people more successful in everyday life.

Travel makes people better people. When you learn more about the world and the people in it, push your boundaries, and try new things, you become a more open, outgoing, and awesome person. All the people I’ve known who have traveled are better people ’cause of it. With all the ways a trip can make you more of an awesome person, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be planning your next adventure now – whether it’s around the world or just a short two-week vacation to Mexico.
You can sit at home, wishing you were somewhere exotic, having fun, and doing something cool.
Or you can listen to Kid President, stop being boring, and do something awesome: The choice is yours.

Watch the video and decide for yourself....

Original Link:

http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/why-travel-makes-you-awesome/

Watch out World, She's Back!!!

2013-06-30T20:39:00.002-07:00

So, I realize I've been MIA lately (for over a month to be exact) but I'm here to say, "I'm alive and I'm back and ready to blog away!"

I could give you a million reason/excuses as to why I haven't written, but instead, let's celebrate together with a series of images that I've (with some help from Google images) chosen for the occasion.


Woohoo!!!

(Ke$ha needs to review her grammar and the use of an apostrophe)

Dwight is delighted about this...

more so than this cat...

And a few other random images that popped up in my search and were so irrelevant I couldn't resist....


B-more love represent!


Don't ever forget this.

And, as always, the best for last...Words of Wisdom.

Until my next post people (which I hope will be in less than a month's time)...

Mal de Mayo

2013-05-14T06:31:00.002-07:00

One thing about travel that is NOT awesome is getting sick. It's never a good time to be sick when you're away from "home." For me, "home" means close to mama or other loved ones (or suckers) who can help take care of me. Even less fun is contracting some of the fun illnesses from other parts of the world. I currently have Giardia and it's not fun. To be fair, I'm pretty sure I've had it (and/or several other parasites) for about 8 years now-- ever since Paraguay. During my 3 years there, I drank the tap water (never boiled) and didn't disinfect fruits or vegetables. I figured there was no way I was going to keep up with boiling water for 3 years so I might as well get used to whatever parasites were to come my way and deal with them. Sometimes that worked well. Sometimes I was ill, very, very ill. Like the time I contracted Dengue (albeit not from ingesting dirty water, rather a pesky mosquito who probably ingested dirty water).

I first googled "Giardia" and searched images but the results were too disturbing to share. I then googled "sick girl" and some of those (sexually-overtoned) results were also disturbing (what is wrong with people?!) In the end I decided on this photo. It also displays how much I missed my mama while sick, and while away from her on Mother's Day. I also have my Maci in this photo, for those of you familiar with my Maci and his healing powers.

Anyway, if you don't know already, parasites can live in you for a good long while. They have periods of flare-ups and periods of dormancy. I've never really done anything about them, figuring I'd just tough out the hard times and forget about them during the down times. This time around, I'm changing my frame of mind. The thought of these things inside me, ruining my internal organs, sucking the life from me (literally-- no wonder pregnant women complain about being tired. It's exhausting having something sucking up your nutrients inside of you). On a plus side, at least it explains why I've been craving so many sweets and felt so groggy and down lately. Makes me feel better that I'm not just lazy/apathetic. On a scary side, I hate to think what they've been doing in there all these years. On an even scarier note, I wonder how this will affect my size since they've probably been a natural metabolizer all these years, sucking up all my nutrients and making me thin. :)

I won't gross you out with the details of what happens when you have it. Suffice it to say, it's no walk in the park. If you'd like to know more about it, feel free to read this. Just how did I contract it you ask? Before you get all judgy-judgy and ask, "don't you wash your hands?" read this. According to my friend here, locals refer to May here as "Mal de Mayo" month because everyone seems to get ill about now. It's the start of the rainy season which means raw sewage is washed out and wet everywhere, sending the poop (and it's diseases) into veggies, fruits, and the air. It's usually the local kids and foreigners who get sick since we don't have a defense built up. Needless to say, I think I will be eating a lot of rice, rice, and more rice this month. A lovely salad is not sounding so lovely about this time.

Here's a quote from the CDC website about "Mal de Mayo" from Dr. Foster's trip to Central America:

Most unexpectedly, Mr. Barreda reappeared. We had a brief conversation, and he handed me some handwritten notes, which introduced me to the phrase “mal de Mayo” (strictly translated “bad of May” and more commonly used to mean “illness of May”). Mal de Mayo was an annual event that included symptoms consistent with those of our soldiers. Mal de Mayo was associated with the rainy season, which brought countless varieties of flying insects that were presumed vectors for this poorly characterized disease. The local population was not overly concerned beyond seeking parenteral rehydration for the very young, very old, and the most severely affected. Mr. Barreda also handed me a ragged piece of paper with a short list of local remedies (in Spanish) for mal de Mayo: “cloranfenicol, yodoclorina, alka AD, intestonomicina, oreganito.

Now, in the essence of full disclosure, I have not technically been to a Dr. to confirm diagnosis. In order to do so, I'd have to give a poop sample. You read that right, a poop sample. And said Drs. are all in other towns. Somehow, when I am so sick and dehydrated that I could barely make it from my bed to the bathroom without getting dizzy and grabbing the wall for support, the thought of traveling to give someone my poop just didn't seem appealing. I trust webmd, my past experiences, the random pharmacy boy who sold me what "the dr. always gives for parasites," and the collective wisdom of my fellow ex-pats and local friends who have all experienced it/are experiencing it right along with me now. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to take said medicine from pharmacy boy because I've been so sick, nothing was staying in my system. I also avoided the local herbs kindly picked from my local vegetable guy. While well-meaning, these herbs intended to kill intestinal parasites (and I believe do, if clean) they were not exactly sanitary. As I watched him pick them, surrounded by trash, dog poop, and a swarm of flying insects, I could just envision the diseases on those little leaves. I graciously accepted them and them promptly threw them out. Maybe in another month or so.

In the past 3 days, I've had exactly 2 cups of coconut water, 1 cup of tea, 2 7ups (I NEVER drink soda) and 1.5 potatoes. That's it. And, each one of these came out as quickly as they went in so I'm not sure they really even count. The first half of a potato took me about half a day to eat. I'd take a bite, get sick, rest, repeat process an hour later. Good times. Actually, maybe even worse than the stomach issues was the splitting joint pain from the fever. Very uncomfortable. I'm happy to say that I feel like I'm on the upswing of things, at least as far as nausea and things coming out of me. Not looking forward to what comes next. It will be equally as uncomfortable. Again, I'll spare you the details, but feel free to read about it. Might make you feel better about not living in some exotic place. :)

I plan to start eating today, and thus taking my meds. I also plan on not eating too many vegetables or fruits this month (welcome a whole another set of stomach issues) but will disinfect the few I do eat for sure (I haven't really done that so far). I'm lucky to have wonderful friends and neighbors here who brought me teas, pills, coconuts, and food since I was in absolutely no shape to walk to the store or cook anything. Equally as helpful was the love and support from friends and family from afar. It was still felt from across the miles and greatly appreciated. THANKS to you all! You brought a little bit of "home" to this sickly girl and took some of the "mal" out of mayo.

It's This Simple...

2013-04-12T05:25:00.004-07:00

Your "Weakness" is Your Strength!

2013-04-07T06:13:00.002-07:00

I've often felt discouraged by my emotions. When I'm feeling sad, depressed, or lonely, I wonder why I can't just NOT feel that way. Why can't I control my emotions and just be happy? At times, it's left me feeling weak.

Having emotions doesn't make you weak!

I'm happy to say that I have a new attitude towards feelings now and it's just that; they are just feelings. You can't control them anymore than you can control your body from not feeling cold in winter or hot in summer. What you can control is how you handle the feelings.

As we work towards acceptance of others in life and changing our attitude towards mental illness, it's critical to keep this in mind. Often, we judge others as weak or lacking because of the depression, addiction, or anxiety they might be experiencing. I came across this quote the other day and it made me ponder a bit on this theme.

"Depression, anxiety, and panic attacks are NOT a sign of weakness. They are signs of having tried to remain strong for too long."

And then it made me smile. What a positive way to look at things. Instead of viewing anxiety as a defect or weakness, I choose to see it as a result of too much strength for too long! :)

Keep fighting those battles, and don't take on the world alone!

Don't forget to take care of yourself too!

A Typically Atypical San Marcos Night

2013-04-03T20:19:00.002-07:00

I was home today by 3:30 pm with high hopes of having a relaxing afternoon/evening reading in the hammock. I had no plans, and that's how I wanted it. I should know by now that that's not the way things work here in San Marcos lots of the time. My no-planned evening quickly turned into this:

Arrived home at 3:30 to find 5 men working on my house to put up an awning. Spent about an hour talking to them and finishing my stained-glass window I made. As they were leaving, I went inside and discovered both of my home's light bulbs were burnt out. My landlord, Aniceto, brought a ladder and fixed one light bulb but had to run to the store for another one. During that time, I tried to read in the hammock but one of the guys was watering the yard so I had to move.

While I waited for Aniceto to return with a lightbulb, a woman and baby walked into my yard. Turns out she is his sister and informed me that they will be building a house...right in front of mine. So much for my banana tree views : ( As we talked, another woman walked into the yard to sell fruit and let in 4 dogs when she opened the gate (including the one that followed me home this morning and looked like he was going to die so I let him in, called a woman in town who rescues dogs, had her rush down and turns out he just looks like he has a disease and it's actually just really bad fleas--whew!)

I was still waiting for Aniceto so I popped up to my neighbor's house to bring them some dinner, only to discover Kim is also sick. I offered to help in any way and came back down to try taking a bath in my shower (not bath tub, shower. I'm small, remember?) I began filling it up with the shower and simultaneously boiling pots of water since my non-existent shower pressure would have taken a year to fill up my shower. I even had candles and flowers set up. I was going to do this bath right!

Aniceto still hadn't shown up but it was dark outside so I gave up hope. Right when I was about to bathe, I got a message from Kim and Dan to see if I could watch the baby, Luminar, while Daniel cooked dinner and Kim tried to sleep. I rushed through my "bath", which now had to be a shower, and while I was in there, I heard a "Daniela" outside my window. Since my house is sort of part of a hotel, one of my colleagues was looking for a visiting teacher staying at the hotel. I shouted through the window and resolved that then rushed up to the neighbors to grab the baby...but he was sleeping.

So, I came back home and Aniceto finally arrived, but no lightbulb (at least the right wattage) was to be found in town so he grabbed the ladder and promised to fix it tomorrow. I had just turned on the stove top to start dinner when I heard, "Dani" and saw a cute baby-face appear at my door. Luminar was awake and ready to be cared for. He and I hung out and literally just sat and watched Loki. He is the sweetest, calmest baby and a really good snuggler : ) We had a great time hanging out. He left to go back home, I ate dinner, and was about to get into bed when I heard another, "Daniela" outside my door.

This time, it was another colleague and a different visiting teacher who arrived tonight had just gotten into town and no one working the hotel was around. I walked down to help out and called the owner. He informed me that he was far away traveling (even though I had confirmed today that she would arrive around 8) and couldn't help. He told me to go down into town to his son's (Emilio) store to have him get the key. So, in my pink, bananas in pajamas pants and wet towel on head, I walked to the center of town to search for the hotel owner's son to get a key for the room. Only we showed up and he wasn't there. I decided to then call Aniceto, Emilio's brother, to see if he could call his brother. Some random guy drinking a beer overheard my conversation and turns out he is friends with Emilio. He called him for me and had him come back to open the room for her.

I came back to the hotel to inform them of the happenings and by this point Josh and another visiting teacher and her sons showed up so we had a big, impromptu hang out for a bit while we waited for her room to be ready. It's 9:15 pm and I'm just now sitting down to start my "night of nothing". There's never a dull moment here in San Marcos where the community is all interconnected and I wouldn't want it any other way! : ) G' Night all!

*PS--after posting this, I got a call at 9:30pm from an employee who needs permission to leave work early tomorrow...geez I'm popular tonight! : )

Making a Natural Antibiotic

2013-04-01T05:56:00.001-07:00

As it always happens, I had off of work all week....and promptly ended up sick! I don't like taking medicines so I researched ways to cure myself with things I already had in my kitchen. Nature is wonderful in this way, and really provides all we need. An in-home, all natural antibiotic right from my kitchen!

It's simple folks! Here goes:

1. Gather:
* 2 cloves of garlic
* About an inch of ginger (optional--if for kids, leave out because it's pretty strong)
* Honey (raw and unpasturized)-about a 1/2 cup
* Apple Cider Vinegar (also optional)-about 1/2 cup
(I don't really follow a recipe with quantities so perhaps check this out if you want to be exact)

A SITE THAT IS WAY MORE PRECISE THAN I AM

2. Mix them all together in a blender and store in an air-tight container.
3. Store in the fridge for 5 days
4. Take a teaspoon each morning as preventative medicine or extra when you need a boost

Honey, Garlic, Ginger (optional), Apple Cider Vinegar not pictured and also optional

Blend and voila!

*You can also make a tea from just lemon, honey, and a clove of garlic.

I Hate 8!

2013-03-31T20:17:00.009-07:00

What do all those food labels mean? How do you keep it straight what's good/bad/who knows for you?!

I came across some websites and thought I should share them....you are what you eat, people...don't be a chemical-head!

Avoid these snacks as they contain GMOs!

http://todayyesterdayandtomorrow.wordpress.com/2007/05/28/snacks-to-avoid/

A simple way to tell if food is genetically-modified or organic.

If the label starts with 8--it's a GMO (think, I HATE 8!)
If is starts with a 9, it's fine (organic)!
If it starts with a 3 or 4, it's conventionally grown and may or may not have chemicals but is not genetically modified.
http://elingreso.com/2011/05/22/is-that-food-organic-lables-tell-you-3-4-8-9/