after pics

before pics

Happy Birthday to Nelsen Mandela!

sweeping up the homeless

I just saw a headline on Yahoo! news about Denver trying to entice the homeless to sleep elsewhere during the Democratic Convention. Sleep elsewhere?!!

It frustrates me that a convention that is supposed to be based on the PEOPLE, all people, would try to sweep away the homeless for the week -- as if they could pretend these people do not exist -- and at the same time pontificate how much the Democratic party is for the poor.

You can't help people that you refuse to see.

Volunteering for The Gathering Place helped me to learn that. Once a week I worked at the computer lab helping women navigate the internet, look for jobs, and learn how to type. I was nervous at the beginning because I didn't know what these women would be like or how they would react to me. But my connection with these women was tremendous. I will never look at a woman on the streets the same again.

My compassion for women and the poor is much more real now. If the democrats continue to talk about helping the poor while at the same time refuse to meet them eye to eye -- how much can really change?

Attacking birds!

Help! Our neighbors that live in the bush right outside of our front window attack us every time we want to step in or out of our apartment! Have you ever seen Hitchcock's movie "Birds"? It's exactly like that! It's the scarriest thing to see two birds start dive bombing straight at you, and then swoop around only to do it again. I stand on the sidewalk looking like a crazy woman with my arms waving in the air trying to defend myself.

I have often thought of myself as a nonviolent person but I've found myself wishing I had a BB gun lately. And I take the hatred these birds have for us a bit personally.

Hopefully our neighbors get used to us soon....

old friends in a new city

We've been in Arlington for over a week now but we're still working on making this place our home. I called the moving company today and it doesn't sound like they're in a big hurry to make it this far east so I'm not expecting our furniture, etc. anytime soon. We also don't have internet yet so I'm a new member of the Arlington public library and using the free wifi.

Believe it or not, we've been quite the social butterflies since we've been here. Friends from Denver, Pittsburgh and Graceland have been around so we've all been exploring the city together. This has been great way to "transition" into a new place. Old friends guiding us into a new city...it's poetic in some ways.

Last night we went on a cheap date. We made a salad and ate frozen dinners at home then we went to Gravelly Point Park -- a park right next to the Ronald Raegan Airport. We watched airplanes land just a few feet away from us after they rushed over our heads. It was quite the thrill...but I had ambiguous feelings while plugged my ears and looked up to the nearer-than-ever belly of a plane. Money, pollution, the fast paced life that so many Americans live are in someways symbolized by those planes. And yet, I use them all the time. They've sent me all over the world, helped me meet the most interesting people, experience some things that I otherwise would never experience, not to mention allow me to see my parents for Christmas. Ahh....complexity of values and morals makes life interesting doesn't it?

Speaking of (not complex moral making but friends it takes a big long plane trip to see,) tonight Jeff and I will be visiting Lackings Banda, our friend from Malawi. He and his family hosted Jeff during his World Service Corps stint as well as a week or two on our second trip to Malawi. He's one of our favorite people in the world and he just happens to be in Virginia this weekend.

new city, new resolve to blog

yep, that's right. I'm here in a new city (which means a new coffee shop) and a new chance to make good on this whole blog thing. wish me luck....

Jeff and I are now living in our nation's capitol. Actually, that's a slight lie. We sold out and live in Arlington, Virginia. It ended up being a better choice for our commutes into work and back. I'm happy with our cute little apartment. I'll put up pics soon. It's a one bedroom that's been recently renovated and it's TINY! Even though we left a bunch of stuff with our friends in Denver (including our big queen bed made by my grandfather and one of our couches and a bunch of books and much much more) it will still be a tight fit. We're close to a metro stop so I'll walk a few blocks and ride the metro into DC for my job.

Since we have none of our stuff, preparing meals will require a great deal of creativity. How does one cook without pots and pans and spatulas? It will be an interesting challenge for a week or two.

Because all of our money will be going in to rent, we will be simplifying our lives -- affecting our eating habits more than anything. We will eat out only on very special occasions and limit meal planning to more basic recipes that don't require fancy condiments that we can't afford. Meals will be simpler. Lots of stews and pastas. And just like anything, simplifying our meals will help us to appreciate the "little things". The earthiness of wheat bread with a little butter, the power of sea salt on my tongue, the crispness of a granny smith apple.

I hope to sense the Spirit in all of these things.

I pray for courage this year. Jeff and I are both stepping out and risking quite a bit (namely financial security) to shape the careers we are passionate about. We are so fortunate to have an opportunity like this.

And with my new sign off....
May your stomachs and souls be full.