"sandstorm!" written by Ladycroft on estrip.org

02/11/09 03:53 - 44ºF - ID#47710

sandstorm!

Holy flipping sandstorm Batman! Seriously, I'm just sitting here at my desk, the sun is shining, guys outside my window are doing some gardening...then all the sudden it got dark and the sky turned orange. Then the guys start running and I could hear a weird rumbling noise.

Next thing I know I can't see more than 20 feet as sand comes pelting passed my window at 80 miles an hour! Making a rush to close my window I got at least a teaspoon worth in my eyes. You can smell it in the air!

Fo shizzle, this had better not mess up my travel plans for this weekend!!! I am SOOOOOO looking forward to getting out of here for a while.

Permalink: sandstorm_.html
Words: 121
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: birthday

02/06/09 06:41 - 19ºF - ID#47655

happy birthday lettuce!

I'm not sure if I'm late, I'm not sure if I'm early, I'm not sure if I'm exactly on time. Which ever way it is.....

Permalink: happy_birthday_lettuce_.html
Words: 26
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: potpourri

02/03/09 10:44 - 23ºF - ID#47615

thank you rory

I was having a not so good very bad kind of day yesterday. Seriously. You know those days. You're already a little cranky because you didn't get the sleep you needed, then it turned out to be a 'hate on LC' kind of day, followed by a series of 'crisis' situations, followed by a series of 'I need your attention now, now, now!" situations, followed by my workshop students are being little shits kind of day. Meh.

Anyway, this post really is to say thank you, Rory. You were able to bring me back to relaxation, take the tension away, make me smile, and give me a peaceful night's sleep. I love you always.

and he got me flowers!

Permalink: thank_you_rory.html
Words: 121
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: potpourri

02/01/09 11:42 - 37ºF - ID#47590

caution..zombies ahead!

Someone hacked a road sign. Hahahaha! I would have loved to see this while I was driving to work.

Permalink: caution_zombies_ahead_.html
Words: 21
Location: Niagara Falls, NY
Last Modified: 05/31/13 06:48

Category: photos

01/30/09 06:33 - 26ºF - ID#47568

random cambodia shots

I attempted to put my Cambodia photos on my site but am having issues with internet today. I'm still working on the Vietnam photos, but they shouldn't be far behind. Here are just a very few.

looking dorkish with traditional dancers

rory in the back of our little motorcycle taxi called a romauks

we took a boat ride through a floating village

and got stuck in some heavy plant life

we learned how they harvest and process silk (pretty amazing really)

and visited an art training center which teaches painting, sculpting and carving to deaf kids

then of course we sweated our way through the massive angkor wat temple complex

and i got to stand where 'lara croft' stood....omg yay!

amazing stuff!

rory peaking into the tippy top of one

so beautiful i can't wait to go back for more!

Permalink: random_cambodia_shots.html
Words: 163
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: dreams

01/28/09 03:22 - 26ºF - ID#47547

weird dream

I popped into the grocery store tonight and saw these cookies. They made me laugh. I find humor in the most simple things I guess.

On to my dream....

I was on a business trip of some kind with (e:imk2) and some other girl I don't know. We were in Italy. When we arrived at our 'hotel' we realized our rooms were actually tents pitched on the beach. I thought it was cool, the other two didn't agree.

We dropped off our things, freshened up, and decided to head out for dinner. On the way we stopped into the hotel gift shop; a large hut on the beach. However instead of the usual, the place was full of college graduation gear. Gowns, hats, medallions, diplomas, cords, you name it. (e:imk2) bought the type of gown traditionally worn when you earn a doctorate. I jokingly asked her if she was going back to school and preparing early. She said she was.

We climbed a fire escape ladder to the roof top of a nearby building. The roofing looked like traditional red tiles used in Italy, only they were actually made of dark chocolate. Maybe Willi Wonka owned that house?

Anyway, (e:imk2) asked me to guess what she was going to study. I had no idea really, so I said Anthropology. She jumped up in excitement and said, "No! Paranormal Science!". Then my darn alarm went off. Seriously weird dream.

Permalink: weird_dream.html
Words: 243
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: potpourri

01/25/09 06:52 - 12ºF - ID#47515

i'm not such an ogre

I'm passionate about my work. I give it my all and I really think about situations before I act on them. I do my very best to keep my team motivated but also challenge them to grow. Many, many times over the last year and a half I have felt like a mean ogre.

While other people seemed more intent on having people 'like' them, I believed I would earn their trust and respect through leading by example. I cried so many times wondering if the tides would ever turn, or my kids just wanted me to be lax like everyone else.

Since the start of this semester I think the tide has finally turned! 'Problem children' have suddenly been responsive to my requests for conduct hearings, some residents are stopping by to tell me good things, not just list their problems, and today TWO people stopped by my office to give me something.

From one I got a hand carved wooden crocodile from Botswana, while she told me how much she appreciated that I stayed in contact with her while she was having a hard time and how much I helped her get back into school. The other got me this amazing painting from Tanzania, done on piece of burlap by a 10 year old! Just to say thanks for being her supervisor.

I am blown away. It seems in these moments when I really doubt myself I am given not just a ray of sunshine, but a blazing sun to blot out all the gray. It is the greatest motivator to continue doing what I'm doing and push through all these obstacles, because I can finally see I AM making a difference in these kids' lives. I love it!

On another note, thank you so much peeps for your very kind words on the previous post - I'm all smiles :)

Permalink: i_m_not_such_an_ogre.html
Words: 311
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: potpourri

01/22/09 07:15 - 26ºF - ID#47484

i am happy

I was thinking about it last night. My happiness. The fact that I am truly happy for the first time in a very loooooong time. I can only describe it as a constant giddy sensation as if I've just started dropping down the big hill on a roller coaster. Butterflies in my stomach, anticipation of the thrill ahead.....this is contentment.

Sometimes it makes me cry I'm so happy. I love when this happens because I feel so alive. SO ALIVE! Now I have to learn a new vocabulary just so I can adequately describe my feelings!

On a side note. If you have any special talents that you would like to contribute to a festivity (meaning our US reception) we'll be looking for volunteers in the near future :) (e:Lilho), you are hereby appointed "Official hair and make-up artist"!

Permalink: i_am_happy.html
Words: 140
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: food

01/20/09 07:41 - 17ºF - ID#47454

popcorn

It's all I can think about. All night, all day...I have an unstoppable hunger for popcorn! I think I need to duck out of work early to go buy some. I need it!

Permalink: popcorn.html
Words: 36
Location: Niagara Falls, NY

Category: work

01/15/09 05:00 - 6ºF - ID#47413

frustrating

These are some of my regular frustrations with work.

Working very hard to plan something in advance, getting it all down the the tiniest detail, then someone walking in and saying, "Oh yah, we're scrapping that".

Working very hard to plan an event which you know you cannot attend, but everyone insisted it happens on that day. So you do it, and you do it very well. Every detail is taken care of, all they have to do on the day is have fun. But then without your presence apparently everyone forgets their very simple job and it becomes a huge mess. They do not take responsibility for it, they blame it all on you by saying, "Not my problem, I didn't plan it". Sigh.

Having endless meetings about something, getting everyone in agreement about the actions your going to take in a large scale event. 2 months later someone walks in and says you did it all wrong and all the work you've already done has to be taken back, making you look like a complete tool.

Being told something is a crisis, emergency, world is going to end situation - busting your ass to deal with it, only to find out it didn't really matter at all.

Being on duty every time there is a holiday or birthday celebration resulting in me missing all the fun.

Being told you're allowed to do things your way, then when you do them your way, being told you should do it their way, making you do double the work.

People being incredibly ambiguous with information you really need in order to move forward on a project.

Being told you can't get any programs or products to make your life SO much easier because you'll be moving into a new building in 2 years - 3 years ago - of which the building hasn't even broken ground yet - of which we'll not move into for at least 2 more years.

Sigh. Off to get passport pages added. I filled mine up in 5 years!

metalpeter writes at 04:18:18 01/17/09 - Comment #44566: I don't even have a passport so I can't imagine having one filled and going, How do I get more Pages?

In terms of the work thing, with out knowing how everything is set up it sounds like what you need is a good, ok a very good like minded a-sis-tent (can't remember how to spell it) who then can fill in for you when you can't be some place and give directions so things don't blow up on you. The other stuff sounds like you work for some US government agency of some kind.

lilho writes at 12:34:53 01/15/09 - Comment #44516: i can't believe you filled up your passport! that makes you one of the coolest people i know!

leetee writes at 08:57:37 01/15/09 - Comment #44509: Do you work for the state of new york?

We plan an outing based on the repeated, request of an individual. It takes months of planning and arranging of finances, because we are in a budget crisis. Often begging, because this would be so good for this individual, boss! The individual brags about it for weeks and weeks. Safety plans are drawn up, meetings with mental health professionals are arranged to make sure the outting will be safe. Plans are in order. Day of, individual changes mind saying that the outing sounds boring.

Sorry to hear about your frustrations. I can't give a back rub or a hug, but i can sympathize.

janelle writes at 08:05:13 01/15/09 - Comment #44508: Ha! If I didn't know better, I would think your job was as a minister of a small church! Drew has some of the same issues. You should commiserate with him.