Poetry in Ocean

A last minute TDY (work trip) brings me to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania for the week. Which rules. Just wanted to send some photos from my trip so far in an effort to be a "better blogger" (see every post for the last two years or so where I make that promise).

So the trip had a strong start with a little upgrade action - don't worry, this is not being paid for by your tax dollars (question numero uno from my dad). Anyway, I like to get caught up on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Holy cow, I love that show.

My hotel is on the ocean which is nice, but there's something to be said about another feature that I discovered upon arriving

Yes! Andrew could hear them meowing while we were on the phone and instructed me NOT to let them in our room. So far, I have resisted. But seriously. Seriously.

In other good news, my first full day was International Women's Day. Awesome. A real highlight has to be the sub title on the cover of the Newspaper:

(Women are capable, and it's unfortunate that there are people who still despise them).

Yes, that's definitely unfortunate.

I went to lunch on Friday with two of my favorite folk from Malawi and after the meal I was BLOWN AWAY by what was put on the table.

So if I haven't impressed you enough already (!), my highlight (hands down) thus far was sailing yesterday. I did a horrible job taking photos, but wowza. Andrew and I went last summer and there's just something about being on the Indian Ocean.

All of that said, I'm excited to get back to the one and only...

The past few months - so much.

Okay, brace yourself. There's been so much cool stuff that's happened these past few months...while I haven't been updating my blog. Not to worry, I have captured it below primarily in photos, in order.

1. Turning 30 + 1: I thought 30 was amazing, but wow, 30+1 is even better. And what better way to celebrate than with friends. The evening special guest starred Dave Allen (SHS '99).

I'm not fooling you with this guest starring crap though, only one star...

If you look closely you'll note the hard shells. That's right, it was a taco dinner from the 80s (when I was born). When it's your birthday dear reader, you get whatever dinner you want. Well, in America at least. Ew, that just got political in a way I wasn't intending...

...Look! It's Niall!

Also, there was dessert - no explanation needed.
2. Next up: NYE. I've posted a few photos already on the FB, but here's a quick recap of the amazing dinner at the Weathersfield Inn (cannot get enough of that place):

Johnny VI - SHS '99
Dave - SHS '99

AA - ?HS? '00

3. Visit to Vancouver - we went out for a very cool wedding and did a little site seeing. The highlights:

4. Fun visits, important photos, Iwe - self explanatory pretty much.

Smithsonian with Dave
Yup, a cabbage patch doll in a cabbage patch.

Artsy.
Actually artsy. Lots of love to Mahnu.

And on that note, a wrap my friends. I recognize my readership is down, but I shall start trying (a lot) harder to keep up with this bloggy blog.

To hold you over

So now that I've caught you up - in one efficient post - on all that has transpired in the past two and a half years, you're probably checking the blog religiously. You want more! And I can't blame you.

I'm heading to Red Square tomorrow so a post is on its way. In the meantime, I wanted to share with you something personal. Many of you may not know this, but I really like Conan Obrien. So to hold you over, I am posting one of my favorite skits ever. You're welcome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zWNJHS9PBE

Back. Oh, and Cat Theatre.

Wow, it's been two and a half years since I last updated this blog. The pressure for this post to be epic is overwhelming. But how can I be funky and fresh while at the same time playing catch-up? Perhaps we'll keep the latter to a minimum through an exciting list. We shall call this list "Top 4 Awesome Things that Have Happened In My Life Since 2009". In the spirit of a Wayne's World Top Ten List, this shall be in order of awesome to most awesome:

4. I hesitate to rank this 4th because it was SO awesome. Did someone say SHS Class of 99 ten year reunion? Unreal. Below is a snap shot of me and one of my best friends during the Alumni Day Parade. Yes, they do shut down the streets for this and we did have a float. And yes, for international holidays we chose St. Patrick's Day. And finally, yes, at the end of the parade, the tradition states that the float must be burned in a bon fire. (*a note to the reader on this, I found that tradition somewhat shocking - just goes to show that this is a cruel world with lots of adult lessons).

You can see I'm trying to play it cool with the float on fire in the background, but it's very awkward (even more than usual).

3. We moved from Lilongwe to DC. I really miss the warm heart, but it had to happen as Andrew wished for further education in the study of disease transmission. We almost moved to Atlanta, but at the last moment on Zomba platueau, Andrew had an epiphany so now attends school in Baltimore. And I work in Washington, but travel a good amount. Overall, a nice gig, but had to be number 3 because I love Malawi-wowi and our friends there so much. Fortunately, many live in DC now too which worked out very well.

2. Leaving OBall in Malawi was devastating. While we knew she was a jungle cat who needed to be in Africa, I was like "but she's so political" and really wanted to bring her to DC. I was heartbroken until Andrew relented and said the six most magical words (that I long to hear again): "we can get a new one." So we adopted a kitten in July of 2009. His name is Iwe - Chichewa for "Hey you!" It works very well as I often wish for him to come running in my direction. Photo from day of adoption. Man, talk about pure joy.

1. We got married! And it is fantastic. I strongly recommend (especially to friends from whom I may get an invite) getting married. The celebration is unreal and then life as a married couple also rocks. You may not know this, but once you're married, no more additional driver fees for a rental car! And you have a fantastic partnership supported by all of your friends and family as well as the IRS. I give it a total A+.

I think that is sufficient catch up. I really did provide you with the highlights. Well, save, a very fun bowling party and some amazing travel. More on that stuff later.

So as I mentioned, my new job has me traveling quite a bit. To keep you reading my blog, I'd like to provide the following video of the Cat Theatre I recently visited in Moscow. As if I need to tell you - it blew my mind. Also of note, I was the only person over 5 years of age. I could not be deterred and pushed with the rest of the kids to touch the cat on a pole that was passed around. Pure magic, my blog readers. Pure. Magic.

I'm not dead

True story!  I know a few of you had your doubts, but, my friends, please.  In fact, just took some family photos last night - proof.

As you can see Oball is as cute and lovable as ever - AND I picked up a twin giraffe statue over the holidays.  That's right, one carving x2 giraffe.  Andrew said it was "dumb" but I think you'll agree that he doesn't think it's so dumb in the photo.  

Note, the sheer number of carved, wooden animals in this country sort of boggles the mind...but how often is there a BOGO (dad, that means, "buy one, get one") opportunity?  Not to point out the obvious here, but I have a real eye for the handicrafts.

So we did a lot of traveling over the holidays - stay tuned for some photos and stories.  

Garden + Red Couch + Plumber + Department of Energy =....

Yet ANOTHER blog post!  How excited are you that I'm back on my bloggy blog horse?  Yeah, that's what I thought.  

So here are 4 aspects of my life that I've been meaning to share with the world through the internets.

1.  We have a really nice garden.  In this first shot I'm playing with an African Wildcat in this very said garden.

Anyway, every night we go out and pick basil or arugula for salads - it rules.  And something(s) really nice have "bloomed" in the last few days - check it:  

Yeah, that's a big eggplant.  I'm really excited - we're going to make some eggplant parm this weekend with that sucker plus a little basil, onion, and some tomatoes from the market - you get the picture.  

2.  We have a really red couch.  I'm not even just saying that - it's completely true.

This is where and how I do most of my blogging in case you were curious.

3.  So I was walking around our neighborhood last weekend and I found out that we live right near an expert plumbers office.  Perhaps I missed the sign in the past, but fortunately for you, I had my camera with me: (despite sign's claim, plumber somehow missing)

4.  In my former life I worked at the Department of Energy.  In many ways the DOE was a truly magical place.  Never in my life have I been in the presence of so many white walls, fluorescent lights, space heaters, photos of kids playing with coal, and really, truly awesome folk (I'm looking at you PA&E).  Anyway, in many ways I feel that life is very far away...that is, until I walk into the market in Lilongwe and see this:

That's it for me tonight.  More sharing in the near future because, my friends, sharing is caring.

America, you decide

So I'm really making up for my non-blogging behavior these last few months.  

But I think you'll agree that this subject warrants a post...

So we found out last weekend while looking at a safari animal identification book that Oball is an African Wildcat.  Don't believe me?  Well, you decide:

I don't think there's any question here..