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DaPickniPlace
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Name: Ms.
Gender: Female
Interests: Biking, Walking, gardening, exploring, dancing and singing - sometimes simultaneously
Expertise: Cleaning, listening, writing and speaking, helping small things grow...
Occupation: Education/training
Industry: Education/Research
Message: message me
Member Since:
9/26/2005
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| I still haven't sold Dad's house. It's going on 19 months that I've actively tried to sell it and it just won't budge - not for a price that would be fair for all involved. I actually got 2 offers today for it, but they were both over 50K less than our lowest price. I can't help thinking of that famous line from Coleridge's Rhime of the Ancient Mariner "I KILLED THE ALBATROSS!" as i keep digging and searching for some reason or neglect on my part that has kept this sell from happening. I am not the most passionate of "realtors", but 6 months of those 19 we had a professional realtor show the house at least 50 times, so it's not just me. I've had friends lose a loved one, put their house up for sale, sell it and move their parents during this time span - one just emptied a whole house of gift store items; moved into a new house and sold the old house in just a year of this time; and it causes me to ask God "Why have you overlooked us? Are we not also your beloved?" We've dropped the price 20K since we started, and 18K from the appraised amount and as we've researched we find our house is modestly priced, for its size and condition, and in keeping with the other houses in the same neighborhood.
I'm tired...disappointed...sick-at-heart and feel like a failure. Who will remove this albatross from my neck? My dad died...he died. Who will heal my wound? Who will exact justice for him? When will I see my prayers answered and my victory won. I know this is just an earthly tent, but it holds so much significance for me - oh God, only you can answer my heart's cry - come quickly, Lord, for I am downtrodden and I don't know where to turn.
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| I've been pretty inspired to write recently and may start this page up again this week with some ideas...Coming soon to a blog near you! Stay tuned!
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| Wow, it's been a long time since I blogged. There has been a burgeoning of "facebook" activity among my friends and I've neglected my little site. But It looks like it's time to do some catching up on some insights and writing I used to do back when.
First, i am in a temporary position at a charter school where I take the attendance, count the kids who eat breakfast and lunch, and basically observe the lives of teenagers in Middle and High School from a unique vantage point I have not been able to observe from before (the office staff's vantage point). I love the staff, kids and volunteers at my little school - which shall remain nameless, but is tucked away in a strip center/office front - you would never know it was a school if you didn't work or pick up kids here. In fact, as you look out the front doors you see a freeway frontage road. It's weird.
Last night I was honored to attend a quinceneara of one of the High School student's and it was quite inspiring. A quince...is a party to mark the coming of age of a young hispanic woman (at 15 years) accompanied with a church service (usually Catholic) and a pretty fancy (bride-like) reception afterward. Lots of times the teen will have attendants, much like bridesmaids and groomsmen, in equal amounts to accompany them as they do a dance or two (partner-dancing like the waltz or salsa) for the attendees and there are some rituals (god parents giving gifts; or pinning of money on the gown; or other creative things) and then the young adult is free to mingle as they please and cut their special cake. Decorations are also beautiful and there are many decorated dolls in the teen's colors.
These things are all beautiful and I'm amazed at all the pomp and pageantry, but the one last night was unique in that the girl did not have female attendants - only male - so she was definitely the center of attention; and the male attendants looked more like her bodyguards as they encircled her and moved back and forth on their feet (standing in four corners around her) to the rhythm of the music. I was impressed by their seriousness; carefulness over their steps and how they weren't embarrassed to make some pretty graceful handmotions, always looking to honor the queen. They even tried a pyramid formation, but when the girl couldn't quite make the stretch required in her belle-like dress, they all humbly smiled and moved on. It was really...COOL. I was proud to be of Mexican heritage as I watched them.
After they danced together, the "queen" was required to dance with special men picked out earlier and called from the audience. Men came in new jeans and boots; nice pants and shirts and suits to dance with her (like men from all walks of life) starting with her dad, and they were very careful - though masculine - not to step on her dress, which reached to the ground, as they two-stepped around the floor with her. Then all the teens went to the changing rooms, came out in more casual clothes (blue t-shirts and bandanas) and danced a more modern dance in formation together, ending with the guys doing a special dance just for her - a sort of "fight" dance with glow sticks for weapons. I think it was a throwback to their Aztec heritage.
Anway, it was very impressive seeing these kids, who at school look totally different, take on such a mature and serious stance in this celebration. I was totally impressed and so honored to be invited. If you get a chance to witness a cultural celebration unlike the culture your from, I say go for it!
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| A friend sent this to me via email and I had to adapt it and post it on my blog site, for a little interaction and some more exploring. I've tasted a lot in the last year and would like to be a little more informed the next time I go abroad! Please respond with any you have sampled and your thoughts (on a separate list in the response/comment submit). Thanks! Below is a list of 100 things that is suggested every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food - but a good omnivore should really try it all. Don’t worry if you haven’t, mind you; neither have I, though I’ll be sure to work on it. Don’t worry if you don’t recognise everything in the hundred, either; Wikipedia has the answers. Here’s what I want you to do: 1) Copy a list of the items you've eaten in your response 2) Describe the taste to the side.
3) List other unusual items you've tasted (in bold) and would like to taste (regular type). Let's see where this gets us! The Omnivore’s Hundred: 1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. buffalo
5. Crocodile (alligator tale)
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart (I’ve had tamales from the street…does that count?)
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Iguana and eggs
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare or rabbit
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93.Camel
94. Catfish
95. Mole
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake | | |
| I have had a lot of things going through my mind lately...things I've wanted to write down...explore. I rediscover so many things when I write about them. Let me start with our latest trip to China. It was hard. It was harder than last year in some ways because of having to stay there 3 weeks instead of 1.5. And my roommate was having some difficulty.... that, coupled with just getting used to life in another land, was heavy. But I love China...wouldn't have traded that opportunity for anything...and learned a lot; just not sure the kids I was sent to learned a lot from me. I hope they did. So, if I could condense my trip to China down to one paragraph, which I guess I should since it was so long ago now...I would say: China is a beautiful place; very close to the heart of God. There are very dear people there -people who work very hard and love their country in ways we only dream to love ours - because it is their only perceived hope for betterment for posterity. There are amazingly talented young people there. The Olympics was so impressive and a big boon to the national spirit. And people aren't afraid to talk about and hear about faith...China is ripe. China is a go-getter. I love China and her children; and I won't forget her...and the kids there won't forget Aslan. :) I also appreciate the wonderful team I was a part of, and even though my roommate and I struggled she related well with the people -and that's what it was all about. Sometimes missions are hard...not failures...but still hard, nonetheless. I'm still sorting out how we could have done it better...and that's ok too. | | |
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