Back from the UK, for the moment. Tomorrow morning I leave for Seattle. I had a great time, even though I was sick for practically the entire trip. We stayed in London for Valentine's weekend, which was really nice. We went on the Eye for a sunset flight and actually got lucky enough to see some sun through the clouds!

We also saw Avenue Q in the West End, which is flippin hysterical! Seriously, if you get the chance, you'll love it. (e:Rory) has a favorite line from the song "The Internet is Made for Porn"....'just grab your dick and double click'. Schadenfreude was probably my second most favorite song...feeling joy in watching other's misfortune. I know, so evil....but it'll make you laugh.

(e:Imk2), I think the unexpected full on puppet sex was my favorite scene. It reminded me of this old Peter Jackson film "Meet the Feebles"

I finally got to meet (e:Rory)'s dad who is a nice old hippy rocker who reminds me of the character Walter from La Femme Nikita TV series. He also chants the fastest Nam-myoho-renge-kyo I've ever heard in my life. I was a little concerned he wouldn't want to visit the states for our wedding, but when we mentioned it he seemed to be all smiles :) He went on and about how great a guy he thinks Rory turned out to be, and I of course agreed. It was really great to see how happy he was for (e:Rory).

I had so much fun learning to drive on the other side of the car, and road, down these incredibly narrow country lanes! I only hit the curb a few times. I did freeze my tootsies off at his house though, he has no heat. We also slept on some unusual sized 1930's spring in your rib kind of mattress. I think it was a 'twin plus'? We barely squeezed on it and I'd either push Rory almost off the other side or he'd elbow me in the head. Great fun, lovely memories!

We visited the Cheddar caves and ate REAL cheddar cheese, as in made IN Cheddar, stored IN the actual caves. It was super delicious. Plus the caves were awesome, I love caving.

I got to meet a lot more of (e:Rory)'s friends, which was wonderful. It's always great to meet someone you've heard so much about. The wedding was straight up out of 4 Weddings and a Funeral, which I loved.

I have more to say about it, and photos, but am rushed to wrap things up right now. (e:Rory) got me an awesome notebook computer to travel with, it's so freaking tiny! This way I can keep it in my day bag and it seriously weighs less than the book I'm reading right now (The 19th Wife, really good). Ciao!

We made it to the airport! Rory kind of forgot to set the alarm this morning so we were awoken by a phone call by the taxi man who had arrived as scheduled at 5:30am! We got up dressed and out the door in 8 minutes!

Thanks to the fact that I am now a 'first class gold card holder' in the frequent flyer program, we were able to skip the massive queue for check-in and waited less than 5 minutes - woohoo!

Then we got to hang in the gold lounge and eat some breakfast and play on the internet, which is where we're standing right now....ooooooh.

So anyway, we're off to London and my not have much access to internet while we're there, being a 3rd world country and all...haha. We'll just be very busy. We plan to ride the Eye tonight and hopefully watch horror movies since it's 'the 13th'. Weeee.

Tomorrow we'll visit London Dungeon and then we're going to see "Avenue Q" in the west end. FUN! I can't wait. How could the show not be great with puppets singing songs like, "The internet is made for porn"? Awesome.

Ciao for now peeps!

LC and Rory

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.

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.....

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!

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

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!

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.

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 :)

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"!