Tastytronic diary for blvdgirl

7 Oct 2008

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:07:50 -0700

Congratulations, Isaac! I'm sure that Meaghan will warm up to the idea of a little boy soon enough, and, though I'm not a mother, as a teacher and youth leader I've always thought that boys were much much easier to handle than girls.

4 Oct 2008

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 07:27:53 -0700

Work continues to be miserable, my health in mostly better (still coughing a lot when tired), and my mom needs two organ transplants instead of just one...

25 Sep 2008

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:17:59 -0700

I just week running for the first time in over a week. I have a lingering cold, and I suspected that I might double over coughing. But, I did pretty well, and it felt really good. Of course, now I'm wide awake when I could be sleeping...

My new boss at work is driving me a little crazy. Actually, it's not just me. Several of my fellow teachers are also a bit disappointed/annoyed/frustrated at the prospect of micro-management. This really shouldn't be a news flash, but teachers don't like to be micro-managed... I'm the queen of my own happy-little domain. Anyway, I will keep you posted.

Best wishes to you all. Hope you're well.

11 Sep 2008

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:34:15 -0700

I got a free vaccination yesterday. The Brazilian government is giving away rubella vaccines to everyone between the ages of 12 - 39. And there has been a widespread advertising campaign--everywhere you go, smiling young people on the sides of buses tell you to go get your shot. Apparently, they're worried about an outbreak this year... Anyway, I should be safe from rubella this year, at least. Now, Dengue Fever on the other hand... Let's just say that the mosquitos are back (as a red, itchy welt on my achilles will attest). We'll see how the situation unfolds. But the powers that be are expecting a bad dengue season simply because even if the outbreak is smaller than last year, the death toll is likely to be much higher. You see, if you get Dengue once it's like a very nasty flu, but, the second time, it's pretty serious (and digustingly bloody, if what I've heard is true).

I went to my first international "football" match last night: Brazil vs. Bolivia. It was pretty boring actually--neither team scored any goals, and the stadium wasn't full (I guess because they raised ticket prices really high in the days right before the game). Still, a Brazilian soccer crowd is rowdy regardless, and they are just as likely to boo & hiss their team when they're doing poorly as they are to cheer when they're doing well.

I need to update my blog. Maybe I'll get around to that tomorrow. It would be an excellent way to procrastinate on all of the grading I need to catch up on so that I can get progress reports out.

Hope you're all well. :)

1 Sep 2008

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:49:01 -0700

Happy September! Had a nice rainy weekend in Rio followed by a beautiful but chilly day today... Apparently, I've gone completely native--wrapping up in a friendly afghan when the temperature hits the 50s.

3 Aug 2008

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:12:27 -0700

M&M story = laughter... you guys think too much. :)

22 Jul 2008

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:43:21 -0700

Hi all. I was just thinking about how much I miss my friends in Brazil and then wandered the cyber-road this way to catch up on over a month of posts, and now I'm missing all of you as well... I've been travelling for five weeks here in the states and am definitely overtired--that's my excuse for feeling so sentimental. It's just hard to believe that I didn't see a single diner friend in all my travelling this summer (though this summer was mostly dedicated to relatives); guess there's always next summer... I fly back to Rio tomorrow, and I'm delighted about that. :) Take care of yourselves. xoxo

28 May 2008

Wed, 28 May 2008 09:09:57 -0700

I enjoyed your post lukas... Some days are just like that.

This past Saturday evening I spent with my Brazilian family (the covenant church plant group that I've been meeting with). We had our regular Bible Study followed by a luau on the beach. We got to the beach around 9ish and didn't leave until well after midnight. I played frisbee and fresco ball and soccer and pretty much just ran around like a child, splashing through the waves and collecting seashells. Then, a group of us went out to a bar and sat around talking until 4. Then we went back to my friend Carol's where we'd started the evening and put in a movie. One by one people dropped off to sleep. It was a great time...

Which brings me to my philosophical dilemma... I'm having a great time in Rio. I'm making good friends, I enjoy my work, and everyday seems to present an adventure of some kind... But, I'm here as a missionary... Should I be having this much fun?

21 May 2008

Wed, 21 May 2008 15:10:50 -0700

Things are really good down in the Southern Hemisphere. I'm active and useful and all that jazz. Our last day of school is the 13th, and I'm pricing plane tickets for the middle of that next week--all scary. But, I will figure something out. I'm excited about seeing family and getting real Mexican food, but it almost seems too soon to be coming home. I know that it will be the only trip for at least a year, and that is an overwhelming thought.

You should all come down to Rio. I would be an excellent guide!

2 May 2008

Fri, 02 May 2008 12:28:26 -0700

Ok. So the soccer game fell through. But, that's ok. There will be time enough for soccer next season. :)

Brazilians love holidays--especially if they fall in the middle of the week. Last week we had holidays on Mon & Wed; this week we had one on Thurs. Too many holidays make students go crazy...