tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50541860348202183322024-02-20T00:37:22.016-06:00Wild OkieThis is a blog concerning the lives of a teacher, an Okie, a misadventurous redhead with a big temper and a good deal of neuroses, an activist, a coffee-obsessed runner and a friend to many friends. All of these people live in the same body and take turns running the keyboard. This is a blog about the struggle for equality and peace and blood and sometimes just for fun.Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.comBlogger267125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-58159415535177014652016-02-07T18:04:00.001-06:002016-02-07T18:04:47.711-06:00COPDI thought I'd give a quick update on my health. I am slowly coming to realize that there is a medical limitation on my life, and it's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It joins my asthma and has superseded the asthma as the biggest pain in the ass in my life. COPD means that I wake up every morning and clear the mucous out of my lungs. I cough and cough, and take my medicines; there are more than I've ever taken in my life. I have two inhalers, a nebulizer, and a daily tablet. The best medicine is what I've been doing my whole adult life: running. <br />
<br />
I can't emphasize enough how important my relationship with my healthcare provider is. Because I can have real conversations with her and because she's seen me over time, I was able to avoid getting bronchitis in January. I haven't been able to do that in years. A short course of steroids was the trade off but I was able to wrangle the antibiotics before my sinus infection entered my lungs. I mean, I'm not a huge fan of New Year's resolutions, but I make them every year and sincerely keep them in mind. This years is to avoid bronchitis. To that end, I saw my doctor early, took all of the stupid antibiotics and stupid steroids, and rested like a boss. And as a result, for the last few weeks, I've been able to get to the gym (I have to run indoors to avoid pollen, dust, and other triggers) three times weekly for two miles at a time. I run like an aging penguin, but I do it. And I feel better. It helps my energy, sleep cycles, and mental state.<br />
<br />
So those are the upsides. I think for me the major downside is that I absolutely won't have any days where I'm not coughing. People will always ask if I'm getting sick and I don't know what to say. I have some fears. I hope I never have to have an oxygen tank. I hope I don't get lung cancer. I hope that it doesn't get worse. I really, really hope that a glass of red wine is part of the cure. <br />
<br />
And I guess I'd like to answer those questions that will come up: The diagnosis came from my pulmonologist. I got it from teaching at a middle school in Oklahoma City where they had known mold and asbestos and were remodeling right while classes were going on. I inquired about the health risks; I got sick. I had bronchitis for 10 months straight. My doctor then told me that if I didn't find a different job I could die. And he wasn't kidding. It didn't help that I grew up in a home where people smoked. They didn't know about the hazards in the 70s and 80s like we do now. <br />
<br />
Until this morning when I finally read the literature on my condition, I was kind of able to pretend I didn't have it. So there you have. I'll get used to it. Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-13061132050225344732015-11-17T15:50:00.000-06:002015-11-17T15:50:38.193-06:00Naomi Shihab Nye<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In light of recent attacks and some ridiculous idea from politicians to only accept refugees who are Christian (My God, do we not remember turning the Jews away during WWII?), I thought I'd share this comforting piece. </span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Many thanks to D</span><a href="http://davidkanigan.com/2014/11/16/gate-a-4/" style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">avid Kanigan</a><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> for reminding me of this gem. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Gate A-4 By </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naomi_Shihab_Nye" style="color: #162b45; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Naomi Shihab Nye</a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">:</span><br />
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Wandering around the Albuquerque Airport Terminal, after learning my flight had been delayed four hours, I heard an announcement: “If anyone in the vicinity of Gate A-4 understands any Arabic, please come to the gate immediately.” Well— one pauses these days. Gate A-4 was my own gate. I went there.</div>
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An older woman in full traditional Palestinian embroidered dress, just like my grandma wore, was crumpled to the floor, wailing. “Help,” said the flight agent. “Talk to her . What is her problem? We told her the flight was going to be late and she did this.”</div>
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I stooped to put my arm around the woman and spoke haltingly. “Shu-dow-a, shu-bid-uck, habibti? Stani schway, min fadlick, shu-bit-se-wee?” The minute she heard any words she knew, however poorly used, she stopped crying. She thought the flight had been cancelled entirely. She needed to be in El Paso for major medical treatment the next day. I said, “No, we’re fine, you’ll get there, just late, who is picking you up? Let’s call him.”</div>
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We called her son, I spoke with him in English. I told him I would stay with his mother till we got on the plane. She talked to him. Then we called her other sons just for the fun of it. Then we called my dad and he and she spoke for a while in Arabic and found out of course they had ten shared friends. Then I thought just for the heck of it why not call some Palestinian poets I know and let them chat with her? This all took up two hours.<span id="more-27170"></span></div>
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She was laughing a lot by then. Telling about her life, patting my knee, answering questions. She had pulled a sack of homemade mamool cookies— little powdered sugar crumbly mounds stuffed with dates and nuts— from her bag and was offering them to all the women at the gate. To my amazement, not a single traveler declined one. It was like a sacrament. The traveler from Argentina, the mom from California, the lovely woman from Laredo— we were all covered with the same powdered sugar. And smiling. There is no better cookie.</div>
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Then the airline broke out free apple juice and two little girls from our flight ran around serving it and they were covered with powdered sugar too. And I noticed my new best friend— by now we were holding hands— had a potted plant poking out of her bag, some medicinal thing, with green furry leaves. Such an old country traveling tradition. Always carry a plant. Always stay rooted to somewhere.</div>
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And I looked around that gate of late and weary ones and thought, This is the world I want to live in. The shared world. Not a single person in that gate— once the crying of confusion stopped— seemed apprehensive about any other person. They took the cookies. I wanted to hug all those other women too.</div>
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This can still happen anywhere. Not everything is lost.</div>
Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-7475642025274480262015-10-10T22:29:00.002-05:002015-10-10T22:29:55.691-05:00Autumn<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember me? </td></tr>
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Hi There.<br />
<br />
Been awhile.<br />
<br />
Sorry.<br />
I got a couple of nudges lately that I haven't been keeping my blog up and that I should do so.<br />
<br />
Life was busy there for a moment. But here I am, writing to you from my own time and space. Same me, same house, same sweet husband. All is well with us. Life has just been really, really busy.<br />
<br />
Some family stuff came up recently. Mostly I've been concerned about my brother-in-law, who suffered a stroke a few months back. That same week, my "little" sister-in-law had her baby entirely too early. We weren't sure what was going to happen with such a little micro-preemie and both my SIL and niecelet were sick, sick, sick.<br />
<br />
But they are tough, tough, tough.<br />
<br />
You know what? Everyone is fine. <br />
<br />
It makes me a little happy-weepy to say that. Weeks in the hospital for everyone. ICU, NICU, FYI... And they're all home from the hospital. My niece "Little G", is up to 5 pounds thanks to her very persistent mom and dad, a saint of a doctor, and (probably) a highly dedicated team of nurses.<br />
When all this was going down, G thought he might pop on out to either Atlanta or Louisiana to help out. We just didn't know what to do. This is the price we pay for living so far from Gs family; there's no easy way to head on over to the right coast. His dad went to my BILs side and his mom took my older niece while everyone was hospitalized.<br />
<br />
If you're reading this and you're of the spiritual, religious, or praying sort, please send up a big "thank you". I know I am really glad, really grateful and really relieved.<br />
<br />
So that's the big thing on my end. I guess it takes a lot of energy to hold your breath.<br />
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Work is good. I do love it. I've gotten to meet some interesting characters. Hopefully, someone somewhere says "She's an interesting character". And I feel more "normal" in my job. I began the way anyone should: by listening to the administrative assistant. Our office has three secretarial types. They are fantastic and know what they're doing. You never, ever want to ignore your admin. And I knew this going in. She sometimes makes a gentle suggestion and I always take that advice.<br />
<br />
Ok, enough updates. Let me throw in a few photos to catch you up, and I promise I'll write sooner rather than later.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IcTzNfPAy0E/VhnUymMGQ1I/AAAAAAAARio/3b3P59xQ3U4/s1600/20150802_221110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IcTzNfPAy0E/VhnUymMGQ1I/AAAAAAAARio/3b3P59xQ3U4/s320/20150802_221110.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucy is a snuggler. Her favorite snuggle time is 4 a.m. The rest of the time, she's a little spooky. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-baLCUJW2ZDE/VhnXBEh3ftI/AAAAAAAARjk/mLJM1pmPMvU/s1600/20150904_214228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-baLCUJW2ZDE/VhnXBEh3ftI/AAAAAAAARjk/mLJM1pmPMvU/s400/20150904_214228.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, we're at a RODEO! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mTMWEnfkVWs/VhnU20unJmI/AAAAAAAARiw/6pWxcDi4-Fg/s1600/20150808_144730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mTMWEnfkVWs/VhnU20unJmI/AAAAAAAARiw/6pWxcDi4-Fg/s640/20150808_144730.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the "before" of one of the night stands I am rehabbing. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbWi5ciH9lxPUZUXX_atwUBRR2FO4Pt6tLIyVwkqDXxK0_yPOciqbuAndKD_wmAodjPwAx6alYh234MNel3Wco_zOg8D2xofD6lKeyL-UigmlYcr2CpsUWVSFbstT2LmaUgxH_73LbCwf/s1600/20151005_071200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbWi5ciH9lxPUZUXX_atwUBRR2FO4Pt6tLIyVwkqDXxK0_yPOciqbuAndKD_wmAodjPwAx6alYh234MNel3Wco_zOg8D2xofD6lKeyL-UigmlYcr2CpsUWVSFbstT2LmaUgxH_73LbCwf/s640/20151005_071200.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is an "in progress" photo of the same night stands. The color isn't this dark. It's deep blue. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D0zzablG87U/VhnU5GMSDVI/AAAAAAAARjI/aF-aPeO8CCE/s1600/20151007_143908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D0zzablG87U/VhnU5GMSDVI/AAAAAAAARjI/aF-aPeO8CCE/s640/20151007_143908.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My buddy Rich and I on "National Coming Out Day". My shirt says "Ally".</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JtLIwehZ9SU/VhnU8uQgU_I/AAAAAAAARjY/vW53-aeu0m8/s1600/20151010_113504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JtLIwehZ9SU/VhnU8uQgU_I/AAAAAAAARjY/vW53-aeu0m8/s640/20151010_113504.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today we went to our first powwow in Washington state. Met some really nice people! </td></tr>
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<br /><br /><br />Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-4541150075767194242015-07-11T10:42:00.001-05:002015-07-11T10:42:19.980-05:00BatteriesI got a new job at my university.<br />
<br />
I love it, I really do.<br />
<br />
I was asked to be the interim Associate Dean for Student Achievement.<br />
<br />
My friend Jesse held this position. In fact, he is the one who brought me from Oklahoma to Washington in the first place, saying he felt for sure that I was a wildcat.<br />
<br />
But for family reasons, Jesse and his family moved to Oregon, where he took a position at Oregon State. I miss my friend. In fact, I think everyone who ever worked for him misses him. <br />
<br />
I got a tap on the shoulder from the Dean of Student Success. She's a good mentor. She's outspoken, she's got red hair. Hey, what's not to love? And she placed her faith in me by asking me to do this for a time.<br />
<br />
So I guess that makes me her "mini-me". <br />
<br />
Really, it's quite interesting work. I head a group of 9 directors who run programs to help students succeed academically. I'm the idea person, and the one steering the boat. I try to coordinate all of our efforts and make sure we're not working at cross purposes. There are about 75 of us. My job goes a million miles an hour...all the time.<br />
<br />
What this means for me is two things. First, that I get to try on the job for size. I've only committed to 6 months to a year. If I dislike it, I can go back to teaching full time. The English department is holding my job and my office, just in case. I have time to learn what to do-and what not to do. It's important to me that they do a nationwide search so they find the best person for this job. It might be me; we'll know soon enough. But sometimes in academe there's this move to just directly hire someone without a larger search, and I don't want that. I want to be interviewed and asked the hard questions and to win or not according to my merits and not by any perceived favoritism. If I end up with this position permanently, it will be because of my own performance and not because some higher-up likes me. I wouldn't want my employees to think that's why I got a job. I seriously couldn't handle that. I resent it when it happens to others and a national search is the right thing to do. Yes, I could lose. But also, I'm still not sure that I want the job. Mostly though, I want to do things right.<br />
<br />
There are definitely good things about this. I work with pretty amazing people who are committed to helping others. They have a passion for what they do. They're effective. They're well educated. I couldn't ask or better people.<br />
<br />
And there are clear paths for my own actions. I tell people that I really work for the secretaries, since they pretty much tell me what needs to happen and what some of the processes are. I do a lot of writing, of research (YAY) and interacting with others in the university. And these last two weeks, I've been volunteering with our new student orientation. Orientation is a huge deal- we have two offices committed to running it every year. Hundreds of people at the university at all levels are heavily involved in this group effort.<br />
<br />
There are only two real drawbacks. First is that this doesn't come with teaching responsibilities. At least until January. I'll miss teaching; it's my true passion in life and something that keeps my soul alive. If I do this on a regular basis, I'll need to be able to teach a couple of classes a year. Of course, the upside is that I don't have to do any grading on the weekends, in the evenings, or at any time. My job usually runs from 7:30 to 5:30 or 6. That's it. I am refusing (so far) to think about work when I'm not at work.<br />
<br />
The second thing is that I'm an introvert who has been called upon to do many, many extrovert activities lately.<br />
I love them, and I love doing them. Sometimes the things my office does can make all the difference in a student's life.<br />
<br />
Being an introvert doesn't mean that I hate people or being around people. It just means that I draw energy from being alone and engaging in quiet activities and that being around groups means that I spend that energy. And by the end of the week, I am usually drained.<br />
<br />
So you know my last post with all the pictures? Yep, we're out recharging my batteries.<br />
<br />
I'm going to tell you something embarrassing right now. You might need to sit down.<br />
<br />
When I'm all out of battery power, I become cranky and somewhat irrational. I try to keep that to myself and just deal, but uh, that doesn't work. I even try to just ignore it and pretend that everything is ok with me, even though on the inside I'm just about to stop whatever I'm doing, sit down on the sidewalk, and scream like an overly-stimulated child who has had too much carnival rides and ice cream and who now needs a time out or a nap. Extroverts do understand this. My husband understands this philosophically. Eventually, I just need a day to myself, to hide under proverbial blankets and not really talk to anyone. So last night, after a long walk and some dinner, G gently suggested that we not go anywhere this weekend. I have to go to a parent barbecue today, with people attending, and be a dean. He suggested that I go to bed early, sleep late, and read a book today. That we not have adventures, that I take care of myself, and that he just leave me alone too.<br />
<br />
It's like turning your phone all the way off. The batteries recharge faster and when it comes back on, it's ready to go.<br />
<br />
So today, I'm catching up my blog. I'm going to go for a walk, make some baba ghanoush, and read a book. And by tomorrow, I'll be ready to go. If not, I have an extra day to rest.<br />
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See you soon; I'm putting myself into time out.<br />
<br />
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<br />Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-52097582406650896902015-07-11T09:54:00.000-05:002015-07-11T09:54:07.705-05:00Catch UpIt's been way too long since I've had time and energy to compose my thoughts. No posted photos, no thoughts on marriage rights, nothing. So, in ten photos or less, I'm going to get us caught up.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wrapped up the quarter with AMAZING students</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_oOQkZy2jgNNXgg89s819hoOFvJt3WNYkBe6-Y142NNBhyphenhyphenPpIm6BBBsaeIH3WRQAerPBKddTZpDH4R6H9Mm6HMvETH1t5eKCJzDA8ByHObi7Im-qZTq2mOA5cYvv5XqOu8PsIsMuz99t/s1600/20150613_104118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_oOQkZy2jgNNXgg89s819hoOFvJt3WNYkBe6-Y142NNBhyphenhyphenPpIm6BBBsaeIH3WRQAerPBKddTZpDH4R6H9Mm6HMvETH1t5eKCJzDA8ByHObi7Im-qZTq2mOA5cYvv5XqOu8PsIsMuz99t/s640/20150613_104118.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My wonderful niece graduated from her 2 year college</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's headed to Eastern Washington University- because Hogwarts doesn't take FAFSA</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMR_36tSniKx02dAEaUeAX6ipsLLfC68sgeReqCIYij140CBk9HmptUt5TbDpD4Ovbm2R8vRQuRFkDpiRSprLKnrVSnuS3ntAdYUxlOSF55ro00YVtD02VetnhsD8HDqVizWJa_g4hKxgM/s1600/20150613_162255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMR_36tSniKx02dAEaUeAX6ipsLLfC68sgeReqCIYij140CBk9HmptUt5TbDpD4Ovbm2R8vRQuRFkDpiRSprLKnrVSnuS3ntAdYUxlOSF55ro00YVtD02VetnhsD8HDqVizWJa_g4hKxgM/s640/20150613_162255.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the family resemblance?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FjYV7Xu_Z54/VaEoK5zc_aI/AAAAAAAAPKE/iu8fO1y_sn8/s1600/20150613_201845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FjYV7Xu_Z54/VaEoK5zc_aI/AAAAAAAAPKE/iu8fO1y_sn8/s320/20150613_201845.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We enjoyed Walla Walla once again, and all of its beauty</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z78D3ZOun-I/VaEoKlMs-yI/AAAAAAAAPKI/vbQIc8THBYI/s1600/20150618_153419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z78D3ZOun-I/VaEoKlMs-yI/AAAAAAAAPKI/vbQIc8THBYI/s400/20150618_153419.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got into a stupid Facebook argument after posting this picture. But seriously, this is an issue close to my heart</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZjrQz3tLjns/VaEosiAiM7I/AAAAAAAAPMo/v0jYbXc8k8M/s1600/FB_IMG_1435328212220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZjrQz3tLjns/VaEosiAiM7I/AAAAAAAAPMo/v0jYbXc8k8M/s400/FB_IMG_1435328212220.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am proud to be an American right now. I mean, I am always a proud American, but marriage equality came to our country. YES! Some say congratulations to same-sex couples, but I say congratulations to all of us! We're not free until we're all equal. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzeDcxk6KXRn6gO3v1TihVdMabGs4G33r8VuqkLonbWIVCC2CSMTb_GjG0eCjXkrTer9dsOuSHgxHcY9IEEwnGn1GesTIQ2eryuM5VXBPA9yRwTxvtFlND4A90zXeud-0hac275JnsE3B/s1600/20150620_113917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzeDcxk6KXRn6gO3v1TihVdMabGs4G33r8VuqkLonbWIVCC2CSMTb_GjG0eCjXkrTer9dsOuSHgxHcY9IEEwnGn1GesTIQ2eryuM5VXBPA9yRwTxvtFlND4A90zXeud-0hac275JnsE3B/s320/20150620_113917.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">G and I have been traveling around the state</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wRylkSIftFA/VaEo1_cKMRI/AAAAAAAAPMs/LAHJycovuQ8/s1600/20150620_192247.mp4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wRylkSIftFA/VaEo1_cKMRI/AAAAAAAAPMs/LAHJycovuQ8/s1600/20150620_192247.mp4" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Snoqualmie Falls. My friend Chris Stinson says that next time we're in the area, she'll take us hiking!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V7iO3R1igWg/VaEoQs9wARI/AAAAAAAAPKk/cqqkusxg5JA/s1600/20150620_194713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V7iO3R1igWg/VaEoQs9wARI/AAAAAAAAPKk/cqqkusxg5JA/s320/20150620_194713.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ever watch Twin Peaks? We went to the cafe.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HJv3KSW98Pg/VaEoTxz2c1I/AAAAAAAAPK0/_BWnjiddQfw/s1600/20150620_195806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HJv3KSW98Pg/VaEoTxz2c1I/AAAAAAAAPK0/_BWnjiddQfw/s320/20150620_195806.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the TV show, Kyle Maclachlan has a piece of cherry pie and a damn fine cup of coffee. And so did I.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYicIimYjh3yRqtS94_Al5U8zvmzKF-UeDv0-yRWH58eFfpdMhAQOf3Pu-SUaaDF3JeIqwHh-FezJjYMBk1SX50CrA2t4-tDeFeA1D3XSCrNPGW-CBd9AJa8_CWtok_vLtl62FsrBJTet/s1600/20150621_103504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYicIimYjh3yRqtS94_Al5U8zvmzKF-UeDv0-yRWH58eFfpdMhAQOf3Pu-SUaaDF3JeIqwHh-FezJjYMBk1SX50CrA2t4-tDeFeA1D3XSCrNPGW-CBd9AJa8_CWtok_vLtl62FsrBJTet/s320/20150621_103504.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went hiking outside of Leavenworth one day</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u2HXSY0NtmI/VaEocceuW4I/AAAAAAAAPLE/XNGJES-KgcM/s1600/20150621_133720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u2HXSY0NtmI/VaEocceuW4I/AAAAAAAAPLE/XNGJES-KgcM/s640/20150621_133720.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area. We came across a deer, snake, and a bunch of other wildlife</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwAUsjfPQjJFjVhGc1BpbI_fd0NQ_Ihr07qGk3jv6hnOzc8yrSrskn-zPkRtt399Wb4xGcMLDkdJuzPDlBpNmYeMKJjgaHnppg8s8inSobVfzePJ5auwBLIJYuRxqKYh93cGB8ZwUrhzO/s1600/20150625_061459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwAUsjfPQjJFjVhGc1BpbI_fd0NQ_Ihr07qGk3jv6hnOzc8yrSrskn-zPkRtt399Wb4xGcMLDkdJuzPDlBpNmYeMKJjgaHnppg8s8inSobVfzePJ5auwBLIJYuRxqKYh93cGB8ZwUrhzO/s320/20150625_061459.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've been up early- 5 am- since about January. I go for walks or go to the gym every weekday</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s0dyGWElLpA/VaEoeVEJQkI/AAAAAAAAPLU/qAcBYrjl358/s1600/20150703_202139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s0dyGWElLpA/VaEoeVEJQkI/AAAAAAAAPLU/qAcBYrjl358/s640/20150703_202139.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 4th of July weekend took us to Olympia. We don't have AC and it was over 100 in our town</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1jUtR9JiTbb0YjOc8tL6A2TjPSY_mZ1GhCa5wTJxmIUS78UcjGJfP259eSM0R6CMETvpdyWUiBumo9ou-Ap4rox_qqY-oOSDQWQ75FxSFRnNJgTuwYBnMxTmaG2wggS1869Y9lTdxyqk/s1600/20150703_201349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1jUtR9JiTbb0YjOc8tL6A2TjPSY_mZ1GhCa5wTJxmIUS78UcjGJfP259eSM0R6CMETvpdyWUiBumo9ou-Ap4rox_qqY-oOSDQWQ75FxSFRnNJgTuwYBnMxTmaG2wggS1869Y9lTdxyqk/s320/20150703_201349.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"When the tide is out, the table is set"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SMcKAjAASNE/VaEohNMP-cI/AAAAAAAAPLc/Pi4Hd8iBLQo/s1600/20150703_203534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SMcKAjAASNE/VaEohNMP-cI/AAAAAAAAPLc/Pi4Hd8iBLQo/s640/20150703_203534.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could live in Olympia.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9OVJi_KoG8E/VaEohyDk_jI/AAAAAAAAPLk/IplXj9nWs5A/s1600/20150703_203548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9OVJi_KoG8E/VaEohyDk_jI/AAAAAAAAPLk/IplXj9nWs5A/s640/20150703_203548.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, just buy a houseboat and live on the water.... </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iP52MEsYH7M/VaEoix6h8sI/AAAAAAAAPLs/bds8_7hmv1k/s1600/20150703_205556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iP52MEsYH7M/VaEoix6h8sI/AAAAAAAAPLs/bds8_7hmv1k/s640/20150703_205556.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Dignity in Labor". I framed the state capitol building in this. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J29BLOl-xs0/VaEoneCcRXI/AAAAAAAAPL4/RsMq7y8hylA/s1600/20150704_124640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J29BLOl-xs0/VaEoneCcRXI/AAAAAAAAPL4/RsMq7y8hylA/s640/20150704_124640.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Washington, lots of wilderness runs right through town. This photo was taken right by a giant freeway overpass. This is Tumwater falls</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bQHQzqWr14s/VaEonb7Ne1I/AAAAAAAAPL0/E9uJK9QDdF0/s1600/20150704_131349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bQHQzqWr14s/VaEonb7Ne1I/AAAAAAAAPL0/E9uJK9QDdF0/s640/20150704_131349.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I laugh at this photo all the time. It's a face and it's drinking water... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OSBHLITLuEQ/VaEoqW_yjMI/AAAAAAAAPME/jenE8PhDAbk/s1600/20150704_183745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OSBHLITLuEQ/VaEoqW_yjMI/AAAAAAAAPME/jenE8PhDAbk/s320/20150704_183745.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely little bed and breakfast</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q5FbLFix5tY/VaEoqs3-mxI/AAAAAAAAPMI/Mpds0dsV0FM/s1600/20150704_183812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q5FbLFix5tY/VaEoqs3-mxI/AAAAAAAAPMI/Mpds0dsV0FM/s400/20150704_183812.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the Swantown Inn. Great place to stay, excellent homemade gourmet breakfast. Xeriscaped with a garden in front and lots of recycling. They even keep bees. </td></tr>
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So that just about catches us up, right?<br />
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Except that I got a new job. I'll write about that in the next post.<br />
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<br />Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-63699869185503761042015-05-30T11:00:00.001-05:002015-06-01T10:53:55.444-05:00Black Lives MatterI get up most mornings between 5:30 and 6. I just naturally wake up early. This is a new thing in the last year, as I've always been something of a night owl. In any case, I usually get up, make myself a bit of coffee, and head to the gym. My normal routine there is a bit of cardio and then a bit of weight lifting. Then home, breakfast, and off to dive into my work day. It's a nice routine. Healthy. Since I'm at the gym early and since I don't really want to talk to humans that time of day, I haven't made many friends. I'm one of the regulars. Me and the old timers do our stuff and go. There are a couple of bro dudes who continue to swell their pectorals and utter guttural phrases such as "gotta get swole" and "I'm doing two-a-days this week. Gotta get a tiny waist." There is a younger guy, perhaps in his early twenties, and his buddy and possibly bro dude mentor, in his late 30s to 40s. For some reason, Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" is the older bro dude's favorite song. Why do I know that? Because I didn't have my music turned up high enough. They are sort of intimidating at first, due to the dropping of weights and profound advice, but I got used to them. On the other hand, I actively enjoy the morning crew: Pat, who is the only person to talk to me, is retired and is traveling to Germany and Turkey next year; old guy #1, #2, and #3, all of whom do cardio for like a minute, then circulate chatting about agriculture and investments while periodically lifting a weight and scratching. They all have those old Navy style tattoos like "Mom" and the eagle with where they were stationed on their biceps. There's Seahawks gal who wears head to toe gear every day. She's got style. I have a place too: sleepy sweaty woman who never talks.<br />
<br />
There have been recent changes at my gym. New owners, one a personal trainer and the other a former police officer.<br />
<br />
I don't like change, not this kind. I like the old owner; he always says good morning to me and is both peppy and mellow. He sort of sets the vibe in the room to "chill". <br />
<br />
Some of the changes are good. There is more emphasis and space for the personal trainers. There are now books on nutrition and training available. They tried offering daycare, even though that didn't work out. And there's a push for better equipment and more group fitness classes.<br />
<br />
And a problem: There's a free for all board where members can anonymously write whatever is on their minds. I like that, for the most part. I commented on how women feel comfortable working out there. But one week there was a comment about one of the staff members. That he was hot chocolate. Another member commented assent. This went on for two weeks. I don't like the idea of objectifying people or commenting on their hotness (or coldness?), and this made me uncomfortable. I'm pretty sure if this were a female they were commenting on, it would have been erased quickly.<br />
<br />
And another problem. There are now printed signs everywhere that say "Law Enforcement Lives Matter. We support all law enforcement, all the time". <br />
<br />
Please bear with me. I support law enforcement. They are necessary to the functioning of a just society. They are to protect and serve. I won't go on ad nauseam about this. I will say that my family has a long history of both law enforcement and military service. Believe me, I get it. I know that there are good ones and bad ones.<br />
<br />
What I don't "get", what makes me disagree, what makes me uncomfortable enough to keep me awake at night, is the idea that police are above the law, that they are above accountability and reproach. That men like Eric Garner can be choked to death with no arrest, with no inquiry, with no justice even though this was recorded and even though if this was done by non-police, it's most likely that two people would be standing trial for murder.<br />
<br />
I wish they would change that sign to "We Support All Law Enforcement, except when they abuse their power, because we believe in them so much that we hold them to the highest ethical standards."<br />
<br />
Here's what happened yesterday, though. An older guy at the gym, who is there maybe two mornings a week, came in wearing this:<br />
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If you don't know what this is, it's a reference to the death of Eric Garner, who was choked by police- <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2014/dec/04/i-cant-breathe-eric-garner-chokehold-death-video" target="_blank">on film</a> (warning: graphic video)- and saying "I can't breathe!" He was not resisting at all and they choked him to death. To death. No charges. Why were they arresting him? Possibly for selling cigarettes. And here is this man, wearing a shirt MOCKING the death of someone at the hands of bullies who have no business being police officers. Bullying others who might think of stepping out of line. I mean, according to this logic, I could and perhaps should be shot for speeding. Or jaywalking. Or participating in an act of disobedience against an unjust law. Or selling cigarettes, or being a prostitute, or a drug user. Or being Black.<br />
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The shock of this message did take my breath away.<br />
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I'm going to offer several links related to statistics and the death of black men in our country. Yes, I am going there. Go there with me. Or keep reading and catch them later. Just remember: I don't particularly trust the media but I do trust statistics.<br />
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http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/10/young_black_men_21_times_more_likely_to_be_shot_dead_by_police_than_whites.html<br />
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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32740523<br />
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http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/02/politics/kristoff-oreilly-police-shooting-numbers-fact-check/<br />
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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/02/1348891/-Fox-Distorting-the-Stats-on-Police-Killings-of-Black-People-Again#<br />
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http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/blacks-are-killed-at-a-higher-rate-in-south-carolina-and-the-u-s/<br />
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http://www.bustle.com/articles/36096-do-police-shoot-black-men-more-often-statistics-say-yes-absolutely<br />
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http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/04/08/oreilly-cherry-picks-debunked-statistics-to-dow/203223<br />
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I was pretty incensed by this shirt, and by the privileged and arrogant position this person takes. Yes, it's a free country. Yes, he has the right to free speech. But I also have a right to be outraged by someone with the audacity to say that if you break the law at all, you deserve to be murdered. That your life doesn't matter. And that due process of law means that the police are judge, jury, and executioner. Due process. That's what I demand. Due process for everyone.<br />
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But mostly, I'm sad. At the lack of compassion and understanding by both this business and the human being who finds it necessary to wear bigoted clothing. I hope he someday, somehow, feels really ashamed of himself.<br />
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And I'm really proud of myself for not getting in his face. But perhaps he needs that. Perhaps he, like so many of us, is just ignorant. And perhaps I would have beat the snot out of him and gone to jail.<br />
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Instead, next week, all week, I'm going to wear my own shirt; one I bought a few weeks ago. Because if you need to advertise who you are, then perhaps you need to know who I am as well.<br />
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We all matter. Not some of us; all of us. Nobody matters more than anyone else. Black Lives Matter.<br />
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I wore this shirt last Friday on campus. I was in the student union making small talk with a group of students. Another person came up and complimented me on my shirt. Then he said "All lives matter." "Yes," I said, "but today we're talking about Black lives." "Right on." Yes, white people can have conversations about race. And it's time we did because it's not the job of non-white people to explain this to us. Or convince us. The evidence is all around us, but we've been trained not to see, so I'm making the invisible visible.<br />
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Maybe it doesn't matter at all if I wear my shirt. It's not a huge protest. It's not getting in a bigot's face, because that's not going to change his heart. But it's my thing, because I cannot be silent about casual racism and bigotry. The little things are sometimes big things.<br />
<br />Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-57202221147434557872015-05-28T16:01:00.002-05:002015-06-01T10:54:39.290-05:00ManastashI'm going to upload a few more photos today of a hike to Manastash. Let me give you a topographical view first.<br />
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Manastash is south and east of town, just a few miles. It's not a straight up and down climb, per se, but it is pretty close. All told, the hike from bottom to top is only about 2.5 miles. The <a href="http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/manastash-ridge" target="_blank">Washington Trails Association</a> says 4 miles out and back, but my fitbit says different. The elevation gain is 1,700 feet. And yeah, my hamstrings will tell you that's about right! The 4-5 miles is really doable for a beginner, but the vertical change is insane and if this is a first hike for you, just go part way.<br />
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Here is the view of top from the bottom. Doesn't look like much.<br />
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Here is the view of the bottom from the top. A little more impressive. And look at those wildflowers!<br />
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This is about 1/4 of the way up.<br />
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Looking back from the 1/4 marker.<br />
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No, I haven't tilted the camera. That's the vertical change. Husband for scale.<br />
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Nothing to see here, just a bunch of gorgeous wildflowers and their buzzing bees running the world.<br />
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Trees that grow on an angle.<br />
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This is after the hard part of climbing, about 3/4 of the way there.<br />
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At the top, looking West towards Seattle. That road leads to Leavenworth through those mountains.<br />
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Looking East towards Kittitas.<br />
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And a perfect little cactus flower no bigger than the palm of my hand.<br />
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And just because they are enchanting, pictures of the flora decorating our path.<br />
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Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-9526775390139556782015-05-24T17:22:00.000-05:002015-05-24T17:22:45.365-05:00Vancouver!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy!</td></tr>
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I know, I know. I've been terrible. Lately I haven't done much writing because I've been holding my breath for things that did not materialize. So then after that I spent some time just hiding under my bed. <br />
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Ok, on top of my bed but under the covers. Sometimes G would join me just to keep me company. He's cool like that. In fact, he can hide in my blanket fort anytime.<br />
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For his birthday this year, I told him we were going on a trip and to not ask me any questions about it. I planned out a trip to Vancouver, BC. He had never been to Canada except for a brief few hours in his youth. So I stole his passport and picked him up at work on a Friday at noon.<br />
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We walked and walked, which won't be a surprise to any readers. We ate scrumptious food and went on a tour of the city. We stayed at the oldest working hotel in Vancouver.<br />
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And we enjoyed every moment. We even saw friends from Ellensburg while we were there! It was awesome.<br />
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In the words of my husband "This was my favorite birthday ever. So far." <br />
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Just wait until next year, buddy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statuary</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doesn't she look like a teacher? </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's like we're sisters!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hi</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stanley Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Aquarium</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RhArb_SOqWE/VWIT-sAdhII/AAAAAAAAMNQ/j15CzQOaWuE/s1600/20150509_110225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RhArb_SOqWE/VWIT-sAdhII/AAAAAAAAMNQ/j15CzQOaWuE/s320/20150509_110225.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This rescue dolphin's name is Helen. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tT0e5_gv9Os/VWIT-sjG6ZI/AAAAAAAAMNM/GWCjC-g0pzo/s1600/20150509_112647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tT0e5_gv9Os/VWIT-sjG6ZI/AAAAAAAAMNM/GWCjC-g0pzo/s320/20150509_112647.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beluga Whale</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0g8swK2VELs/VWIUJiBc-VI/AAAAAAAAMNc/AMvW5l2-_TI/s1600/20150509_121103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0g8swK2VELs/VWIUJiBc-VI/AAAAAAAAMNc/AMvW5l2-_TI/s320/20150509_121103.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4 D Movie!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I LOVE totem poles</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWktUjgMxob3Tf6j7LypNUKglbp0dhlCs2sbYAdjPmalkEwiSQrd46cJ06kq8WZ-ZZ3kncwub1vpbjMkpQnNVu6tA4OzEE3j1VmQZgougdjg8W1F58-5C_CrtNp51gIyVaG_6UjCRQGnaK/s1600/20150509_144321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWktUjgMxob3Tf6j7LypNUKglbp0dhlCs2sbYAdjPmalkEwiSQrd46cJ06kq8WZ-ZZ3kncwub1vpbjMkpQnNVu6tA4OzEE3j1VmQZgougdjg8W1F58-5C_CrtNp51gIyVaG_6UjCRQGnaK/s320/20150509_144321.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's called "The Diver"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you ever get the chance, eat at a place called Salmon and Bannock!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the other excellent place to eat- Go Fish. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhodedendrons</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading home, back to the good old U.S. of A. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are my mountains</td></tr>
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<br />Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-38648177351501019502015-04-26T12:56:00.001-05:002015-04-26T12:56:11.377-05:00Assignment- Past, Present, and FutureApropos of nothing, I thought I'd share an assignment I came up with for my honors college course. It's called "Adaptation in a Changing World" and uses an integrated approach to learning that also encourages reflective and creative thinking and combines it with developing research skills. So I thought I'd share it too. I think my students will like it. What are your thoughts?<br />
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<b>Past, Present, and Future</b></div>
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DHC 270 Integrated Learning </div>
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Research Assignment </div>
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Adaptation in a Changing World</div>
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This research paper takes an integrated approach to predicting the future of a given field of study or work. </div>
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Take for instance the field of <b>aerospace engineering</b> (also see “rocket science”). </div>
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Introduction: You might look up some background and context for the field, and think of definitions related to this field. You do not need to justify your interest in this field; your choice to research it is justification enough. In aerospace engineering, you’d look up terms like astrodynamics, electrotechnology, materials science, aircraft structural and design, avionics, software, and fluid mechanics. Maybe you’d like to see what sorts of jobs are available in this field. Narrow this a bit- instead of aircraft and spacecraft, think just of one field- spacecraft (because why not?)</div>
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Next, think of the history of your field. You should be creative here. For example, in aerospace engineering, there is a raft of history, cultural significance, and research; so much so that you’d have to pi ck and choose. I personally would begin with thoughts of Galileo, and Copernicus, then move to mythology and stargazing (astronomy? astrology?!) and flow into speculative fiction, such as the works of Philip K. Dick, Arthur C. Clark, Isaac Asimov, and Harlan Ellison. While I’m at it, I’d swing by the original Star Trek television show by Gene Roddenberry. </div>
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This is not fancy, however, as art and speculation often prompt real world development. Think of the communicators from Star Trek, as seen below left. </div>
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Visual elements are encouraged. </div>
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Dr. Martin Cooper, who invented the first handheld mobile phone, credits the Star Trek communicators for his inspiration. Flip phone, anyone? Imagination and creativity are what spark innovation. Negative outcomes are still valuable outcomes. Do keep that in mind. </div>
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There should be a point in your paper in which you describe the general trajectory of your chosen field. For instance, in aerospace engineering, they have gone from myth to speculation to steps towards space flight to actual space flight, landing on the moon and landing a rover on Mars. </div>
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Then the paper gets fun. You’ll need to do some speculation of your own. You may consult the stars (not really), but perhaps your paper would be better served with primary and secondary research. Your speculation may take the form of where this particular branch is heading- in our example, I would consider space tourism, a colony on the moon, the likelihood of a manned space flight to Mars, and exploration outside of our solar system. This won’t happen in our lifetimes, but perhaps we can imagine what will take place eventually. Incidentally, I recommend a book called “The Martian”, by Andy Weir. It’s speculative, as scientifically accurate as possible, and comments on the human condition, even when someone is stranded on Mars alone and far from home. </div>
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In the conclusion, you might imagine your place in this field. My place in this field is to encourage others to follow their dreams and shoot for the stars. If my life were arranged differently, I might have been an astronaut. </div>
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There is no minimum page count, though you may not exceed 15 pages not including the works cited. Use MLA format and make sure you conform to the conventions of research and writing. </div>
Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-46257502835205561472015-04-11T11:24:00.000-05:002015-04-11T11:24:13.377-05:00April ShowersI'm sure you remember how much I do not like the month of April. I sort of crouch down, hide behind the couch and wait for it to be over. April is always filled with disparate images of life and death and regeneration. It teaches me something though, a lesson I hold onto with all I've got. It's the crocuses. Even in the midst of loss and sadness, and a fear that nothing will ever get better, these tiny blue, purple, and yellow flowers push up past the old pine needles, hold aside the dead leaves from last fall, and declare themselves. They are not tall, nor flashy, nor even particularly spectacular. But they are a quiet spot of hope in a sea of decomposition.<br />
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In my early twenties- a lifetime ago it seems now- I lost my great aunt and cousin to a drunk driver the very same month as an ex-boyfriend committed suicide. I am loathe to think of those times and those sad, dark days. Let's just say it's more complicated than those few words. I didn't have a support network and did most of that healing on my own. I did it badly and it took a long time.<br />
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Anyway, April hasn't been a great month since then.<br />
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This last week has been particularly rough, and it doesn't help that I hold these things in. I'm trying to let them out. I promise. It's always been important that I compartmentalize and not feel things for awhile. So when I hear news such as this, I just sort of go on for the day or week. Then at a juncture which is quiet and in which I am alone, the feelings leap up and and the scream that's been sitting at the base of my throat will suddenly find its voice. This week, in three days, I know three people who died. One from natural causes; two from suicide. All pretty devastating for their families. As I type this, ever keystroke feels as though it's hitting a bruise. None of these men knew each other, but I knew each one.<br />
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There is always a crocus though.<br />
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Joy.<br />
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I have been very fortunate in my life, given my background and history. People sometimes ask me how my life turned out differently than those around me. I tell them this: I have amazing women friends. I seek out positive women who exhibit kindness and generosity of their spirit and I befriend them. I mentor younger women. This is the difference between me now and me twenty years ago.<br />
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I tagged along with my friend Joy for a road trip to Yakima. No big deal, just a beautiful drive, lunch, time to talk and a bit of shopping. We listen to each other and we are vulnerable to one another and we plot revenge on our enemies and celebrate the good parts of our lives. If Charlotte or Cathy or Patricia or any of my Oklahoma friends had been close by, I could have gone on this same road trip with them.<br />
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This is not to say that G isn't my biggest supporter. He is. He is who I run to when I have good news and bad, as my best friend through everything. And he has cheered me up this week and made me laugh and just sat on the couch and held me because believe me when I say that I crawled into my pajamas at 4:00 and didn't leave the house thereafter. That's love.<br />
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It's Joy who will scream obscenities out a car window with me. Maybe not a flashy friendship, but one which pushes aside the sadness and says that we will make it through another spring.Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-7966628792336594222015-03-17T15:40:00.004-05:002015-03-17T15:40:44.230-05:00FinalsIt's that time again- finals week.<br />
For some it's just the end of the quarter. For others it's make it or break it time. For a lot of professors this is a sort of blow-off week. I say this because I have seen a trend over the last five years. That's to say that the final exam isn't used to demonstrate the knowledge one has accumulated over the course of the allotted tim as often as when I was an undergrad.<br />
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Maybe this is one of those "when I was a young sprout" stories. Really, I did like it at the end of the semester we had a big test. I'd study my head off and get a great grade. It was affirming, like a pat on the back and an 'atta girl'. But really, from a curriculum standpoint, a cumulative final exam can help students review what they know and help them to relate that new knowledge to other knowledge so it has a greater chance of sticking.<br />
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But teachers in some places, with far too many adjuncts, have a hard time investing themselves for a longer run. A favorite strategy in the English department is to give a take-home final and not even meet the day of the exam. The <strike>mandate</strike> rule is that you have to meet with your class and engage in meaningful activities for the final exam. But given the pay, the hours, and the lack of oversight, is it really a surprise that sometimes teachers give a final that can be turned in online and be done with it? You can get an extra few days of vacation and planning time that way. It's tempting.<br />
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Today I gave the second of three comprehensive finals. It took my class, on average, about 2.5 hours to thoroughly complete and it's mentally taxing. Their hands were tired from writing. I handed out gum and owl stickers to lighten their moods, played classical music, and reminded them every hour to stretch and look around to avoid eye strain. One of my online friends asked why I would do such a thing. It's a good question. But I promise the answer is not that I enjoy twisting a knife and making my students uncomfortable.<br />
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Have you ever done something hard and found out you had more in reserve than you thought? A lot of times our curriculums do not challenge students enough. When they walked out of that classroom, there was no doubt in their minds that they can write well enough to find success in college. <br />
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This is not the only goal in my teaching life, but it's an important part of why I do what I do.<br />
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Now to go grade <span style="font-size: large;">all the things</span>. Finals is exhausting for more than just the students. Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-91280601050061515432015-03-09T12:33:00.003-05:002015-03-10T08:36:47.012-05:00We Need Change at The University of Oklahoma **UPDATE**<em>**Update is at the end**</em><br />
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<em>Hi Friends:</em><br />
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<em>If you're used to my usual mild discussions and observations about life, you may want to skip this post. Because something happened which touched a nerve for me; dealing with racism is part of my life's work. </em><br />
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<em>Yesterday, a video went viral showing fraternity members at the University of Oklahoma chanting a racist chant. I won't link to it, I won't tell you what the words are. But it's not good. It makes me feel a little sick to think of. If you want to see, google SAE or Sigma Alpha Epsilon and University of Oklahoma. The national SAE chapter revoked their membership and the university cut ties with them. But that's all. A quick fix for a national embarrassment. Perhaps this will blow over. </em><br />
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<em>But I hope that this is where we begin a constructive conversation about race and racism and institutional change. OU doesn't even have a diversity officer. Nor do they have a diverse faculty or staff or student body. </em><br />
<br />
<em>I have been told that letter writing is still a thing
and that it's effective in bringing about change. What happened with
SAE is not an isolated occurrence. It's part of a systematic problem.
But we can we do about it? </em><br />
<em>I wrote a letter to President
Boren this morning, calling for creation of a Diversity Officer (and
office!) at OU. Please write him too. The email address is
actionline@ou.edu. There is a diversity enrichment program at OU, but
it's really insufficient. </em><br />
<br />
<em>Strike while the iron is hot; this is our best opportunity to fight back against racism and oppression in the OU community!</em><br />
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<strong>Dear President Boren: </strong><br />
<strong>As
an alum of the University of Oklahoma (Ph.D., Education, 2011), I have
always been proud to call myself a Sooner. My fellow graduates and I
always boast of our attendance at the flagship university, an oasis of
tolerance and academic excellence in Oklahoma. </strong><br />
<br />
<strong>But not today. Today I feel ashamed. I felt nauseous when I viewed the SAE video.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>I expect better of our campus, our greek life, and the culture at OU. We can do better, and we must. </strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Here are two suggestions I have.</strong><strong>
First, please read the introduction to my dissertation. It details my
observations of the systemic racism seen in my classroom at OU which
became the impetus for my research topic. The dissertation itself deals
with racism and white privilege in the college composition classroom. </strong><strong></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>More
importantly, I hope that you will open a diversity office with a chief
diversity officer to educate students, faculty, and staff about
systematic oppression and to attract more diverse employees and students
to the institution. The diversity officer should be supported
financially and ideologically by the university. </strong><strong></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Punishing
one branch of one group is effective for a day. Educating,
enlightening, and demanding equality for everyone is preferable if you
want to improve a part of the culture. </strong><br />
<br />
<strong>The
university's home page claims that "OU students benefit from a diverse,
vibrant campus and community, and an exciting global heritage". Please
remove this mark on our university. </strong><br />
<strong>If I can be of service, please do not hesitate to contact me. </strong><strong></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Sincerely, </strong><br />
<strong></strong><strong>Dr. Mindie Dieu</strong><strong></strong><br />
<strong>Class of 2005 and 2011</strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since I posted this, I have learned that President Boren kicked the SAE off campus. They had until midnight to vacate premises. Their sign was taken down and many of the young men were recorded by local reporters saying how embarrassed they were. Somehow, I just don't think that's enough. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Football coach Bob Stoops and his players walked off of the field yesterday as a protest, and the group OU Unheard staged a silent protest. I think this has put some pressure on the administration.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">President Boren took it a step further. He told Wolf Blitzer that this was not an "isolated incident", but that he can't just expel students for this unless he can prove they have created a hostile environment for others. You can read the news report <a href="http://www.mediaite.com/tv/university-of-oklahoma-president-racist-chant-not-isolated-incident/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Additionally, the house mother- who went on with Boren- reported never hearing such things from the students' mouths. Yet the Lost Ogle shows a vine with her....well, <a href="http://www.thelostogle.com/2015/03/09/the-sae-house-mom-likes-to-rap-the-n-word/" target="_blank">maybe you don't want to know what she's singing</a>. This seems to be indicative of a culture of oppression. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't think President Boren is amused or even surprised. The ball is in his court and I look forward to his next actions. I feel a bit hopeful, because once you shed light on the dark parts of things, you can correct the injustice. </span>Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-29539690943624779312015-03-05T11:07:00.001-06:002015-03-05T11:07:03.070-06:00KindnessToday I want to give credit where it is due- to my readers. Thanks for hanging in with me for these last four or five years. I was digging through old blog posts, trying to find a particular one- more on that in a minute- and it made me think about who reads this and just what the hell we all get out of the experience.<br />
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Hopefully, I'm showing a bit of my world. This morning, I'm in my heavy red bathrobe, sipping hot coffee and trying to come to life before I go do my weightlifting. I'm in the office portion of the house. The office is part of my dressing room, on the second floor, with no door and just my old dresser and a rack for hanging clothes. And make up, and hair stuff, and a mirror, and a rocking chair that my sister Patti gave me. The heater is on because it's 27 degrees outside. However, it's predicted to get up to about 60 today. First time we've seen 60 since October. If you've read my blog even once, you'll know that I'm not excited about Spring. Oh, it's a lovely season and it's neat to see the world wake up from a long slumber. Except that we didn't have any slumber this year. I'd say we had less than 3 inches of snow in total for the entire year. You might imagine that as someone whose favorite necklace is a snowflake pendant, I want more. We've even gone to visit snow in the mountains. The ski areas up here have had very few operational days, and ski tourism is out all over the state and in Idaho. Boo. *sips coffee*<br />
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Back to the world. Our old house is from the turn of the century, around 1900. The owners put in modern carpet and put in new drywall. The original doors are still up and the weird nooks and crannies that go with the architecture of a peaked roof are naturally still in place. Our bedroom has angled ceilings that slope such that we have few places where we can strategically place the bed without banging our heads every time we go to sleep. I love it. The only thing I don't love is the tiny kitchen. We have the upstairs and half of the down. The other half is walled off- along with (probably) the other half of the kitchen! The owners use their half of the bottom as an office. I think besides the drafts in the winter- you can stick fingers through the sliding windows- these are the only downside of the house. It's wonderfully located and the owners are quiet, only showing up a few days a week and never early. With a Starbucks, a pizza place, and a grocery store within 200 meters of the front door and an easy mile walk to work, I couldn't imagine a better place for us for now.<br />
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I get up earlier these days, 5, 5:30, 6 ish. Going to bed between 8 and 9 is better for me, even if it's not more fun. I'm more productive in the mornings. I get to go work out if I get up in time, and since I do most of my grading online, I can knock some of it out in the mornings. I like to have a little time alone too, to think and write and read. I do love reading for pleasure. Most of my life follows a routine: wake up, get around, work, teach, work, teach, teach, teach, volunteer hours, grading, home, dinner, sleep. I get the workouts in where I can. I often get a yoga class in once a week, though I try for twice. Since G and I both work so much, we eat lunch as our big meal and usually just have something light for dinner. On the weekends, it's travel.<br />
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My life seems to be missing something, and indeed it is. I miss my little kitty, Eleanor. I miss her about as much as I thought I would. Her presence was pervasive in my life for almost 19 years. I must have burst into tears a dozen times the first day she was gone. And the second day. On the third day it was less. Now the rawness is gone, but I feel as though I am missing something or someone important, like a low-grade fever. You can ignore it for awhile but eventually you have to get some rest. On Saturday the vet called to say her ashes were back. I hope by saying that here, I get up the guts to go get her. Nobody has said to me: Eleanor was just a cat. Because DUH, I know that. Nobody has said "get over it". That might be because nobody would say such a thing to my face or even online.<br />
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Everyone has been kind. Like really kind. My veterinarian's office sent me a handwritten card. My in-laws sent me flowers and a sweet note. My former student came by with hugs and flowers too. It's just too much to list how many nice things people have said- in text message, Facebook messages, phone calls, and notes.<br />
<br />
Thank you. So, so much. When we figure out how and where we will be, G and I will adopt another rescue pet. The Nevada SPCA is where Eleanor came from. I think shelter animals are often the best kind.<br />
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Now, if you're still reading this, I'm hoping you can help me out. GR asked a question about a blog where I talk about hunting, and a friend of mine who hunts, and how I reconciled his philosophy with my own. I can't find the damn thing anywhere. I looked at every post between the first one and the time I met G. Zilch. If you run across it, can you alert me in the comments or email me? That would be awesome. Thanks!<br />
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My quarter at school is coming to a close. Two more weeks, then a week of relaxation. Ok, planning. Then I'm teaching 4 classes. Two is considered a full load for tenured faculty; three for non tenured. It's going to be busy. I'm looking forward to it though. I was invited to teach an honors course in academic research; just up my alley. I'm not sure how I'm going to pull this off and retain my sanity. I love to be busy, like really busy. But my days are already full and I'm not willing to give up sleep or gym time. Sometimes I feel like a juggler with too many balls in the air; every week, some ball will get dropped and I will have to remember to be kind to myself about the whole mess. I will make it through, probably laughing with all the new stuff I learn from students. They think I'm the teacher. Little do they know they are the reason I'm here.<br />
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Have a good weekend.<br />
<br />
<br />Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-43138618928207166902015-02-19T12:57:00.000-06:002015-02-19T12:57:03.776-06:00A Little Story of a Lady and Her KittyI got Eleanor in the 1990s, before some of the nieces and nephews were born.<br />
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This is me and Henry and Eleanor. They were litter mates. Henry died at age 10, and Eleanor was happy to be an only cat forever after.<br />
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She's always been so bright and inquisitive and incredibly attuned to me. When I don't feel well, she sits with me, sometimes ON me and makes me feel better.<br />
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In November we learned that she has cancer. That's ok. I was pretty firm in my conviction that we not try to treat it. Cancer in a young cat is sometimes operable. Two years ago, I asked the vet if she would clean Eleanor's teeth. No- she is too old for anesthesia. What would have happened is that we would have done x-rays to find what kind of cancer it was. Then maybe if she was healthier and younger, an excision or surgery to remove it. Sometimes cats get chemo, though it's much more common in dogs.<br />
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Not for us though. I thought maybe if we were lucky, we'd get another month. We got 2 1/2.<br />
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Since 2009, Eleanor has had prednisone twice a day to deal with her arthritis. It works fabulously, and she is easy to pill. Unless she's feeling frisky. Then she'll sort of cheek it and spit it out when she thinks you're not looking. She also has a twice daily oral liquid metrocloprimide to help her pass food from her stomach through her duodenum. In 2013 we added a thyroid medicine twice daily.<br />
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She's always been such a sweet kitty. A little mischievous. She sits in my lap when I type or behind me on the chair. At night she sleeps between my feet. The last few weeks, she's taken to climbing up on my pillow and purring at me to wake me up and feed or give her water in the middle of the night. I don't mind. Sometimes she doesn't want anything except to cuddle and her soft purring is comforting, even if her fuzzy face against mine sometimes keeps me awake. This is also how we get up in the morning, pets and cuddles and purring. Caturday means that G gets in on the act and we drink coffee and pet Eleanor as she sits between us, getting tummy rubs and snuggles. This is, I think, a good life for a cat.<br />
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Last night she crawled under the covers with me, like she used to when it was cold outside. When we woke up, she wasn't purring.<br />
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On Monday, she started to crash. Renal failure causes a disorientation, dehydration, confusion, and when I see it in her, it causes panic in me. Dr. Val, who owns Mt. Stuart Animal Hospital, gave me a bag of saline to administer to her once a day subcutaneously. Don't freak out; I've done this before. I used to work for a vet, I lived on a farm for a long time, and I'm resolute in giving my little kitty the best care ever. I cried every time I had to poke her with that large gauge needle.<br />
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Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, I came home and she was up and around and wanting to go outside in the sunshine. So yes, of course, we did.<br />
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We spent about an hour out there, enjoying the sunshine and unbelievably mild February weather. Both times she was exhausted and fell right to sleep on her heating pad.<br />
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Last night, I sat on the couch between Eleanor on her heating pad and G, and watched tv. I petted her for a long time and told her the story of her life. I told her about the Nevada SPCA and how we would never have declawed her anyway. I told her about how she used to love to climb as high as she could. I told her about our 4 cross country moves together, and how she tried to pop Gs head the first night he stayed with us. I told her about all of her friends and people who inquire about her on a regular basis and how sometimes she is referred to as Queen Eleanor. And I told her how much she has meant to me these last 18 years and that even though she's ten days from her 19th birthday, I still won't let her drive the car. And she purred quietly to herself while I scratched under her chin. These are old stories and she hears them all the time.<br />
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This morning, I held her and cried and cried. Also nothing new this week. I can't keep forcing her to stay alive when it's just for my emotional benefit. She hasn't been eating for awhile. Not really.<br />
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G and I took her to Dr. Val. She asked why El was all wet. My eyes may have leaked all over her. G brought his iPad with him, of all things. I thought "why check your email at a time like this?", but of course I was wrong. He wanted to play her favorite jazz music, by John Coltrane. Val gave Eleanor a strong sedative and I put her on my shoulder like I always do. That's how we hang out, El on my shoulder hugging me.<br />
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After awhile, Val came in and give her the final shot of Beuthanasia. I held her the whole time and G was there, and crying too. She's the only cat he's been able to be around for an extended amount of time, since he's so allergic. Val gave us a few minutes, and as the door shut, I couldn't hold back the sobbing anymore.<br />
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This is how I will always remember her, not for the myriad of pictures below but for this: She was the quiet reassurance that I am loved, needed, and valued. The physical comforting presence when I was sad and my little friend to talk to about nothing at all. She never wanted me to leave her alone. She was loved by people who met her, even if she didn't always enjoy strangers.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty sure this is a C paper.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P-JRj6FVUpM/T1A3B0ThuMI/AAAAAAAAA1M/G7BGaTYxxrk/s1600/Eleanor%2Bis%2B16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P-JRj6FVUpM/T1A3B0ThuMI/AAAAAAAAA1M/G7BGaTYxxrk/s1600/Eleanor%2Bis%2B16.jpg" height="640" width="596" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No Papparazzo!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gl3WxVfXxwg/UDT3S1q_ybI/AAAAAAAABGA/wrcZJtxB9NA/s1600/El%2Bgrading%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gl3WxVfXxwg/UDT3S1q_ybI/AAAAAAAABGA/wrcZJtxB9NA/s1600/El%2Bgrading%2B.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Grading time is over toots. Time for pets"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best Pals</td></tr>
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<br />
The house is too quiet today.<br />
<br />
I took the day off, and G went back to work. I'll spend some time cleaning house, since she couldn't control her bladder at the end. And I suspect I will catch myself expecting to see her walk into a room, asking for pets or just wanting to be nearby.<br />
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This, then, is the price of loving a pet. As awful as it is to lose her, I would pay twice the emotional toll and be glad just to have had the privilege of knowing such a sweet soul.<br />
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We donated a bunch of food to the Kittitas Valley Friends of Animals, and will probably continue to make donations. Perhaps helping other rescue animals will ease the pain of losing mine. I got her when I was so young- hardly an adult- and we grew up together.<br />
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She really did rescue me and I couldn't be more grateful.<br />
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Good bye, dear friend.<br />
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<br />Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-37706884070749749032015-02-14T14:49:00.002-06:002015-02-14T14:49:41.125-06:00Happy Valentine's Day!I drove to Yakima yesterday. It's slower to go down the back road, but much more beautiful. I took a few photos. This is from Yakima Canyon Road.<br />
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I also took a little video. Hope you like it!</div>
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Today is Valentine's Day. I left G to sleep in and went to work out. On the way home, I picked up some flowers, fruit, cheese, and chocolate dipped strawberries for our breakfast, along with extra strong coffee. </div>
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In turn, he prepared the food. He made extra strong coffee. That means he brewed the coffee and put the coffee back through with new grounds. I can't stop shaking and I'm typing really fast! </div>
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I made us reservations this evening for our favorite restaurant. As much as I don't like Valentine's day, I do love G and he's a helpless, hopeless romantic. He got me a cool gift too- new earbuds especially made for exercise. I keep fearing that I'm going to sweat too much and end up electrocuting myself as I work out. I'd never thought to get good earbuds and that's an incredibly awesome gift. You can't get them in town so he had to order them in. I didn't know about any of this until the UPS guy showed up at our house at almost 7 last night. The package had fallen in between others on the truck and he was on his way out when he saw it. </div>
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Too cool. </div>
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Hope your day is bright and kind and loving and thoughtful. </div>
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Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-27257204001764208542015-02-12T10:03:00.003-06:002015-02-12T10:03:45.541-06:00ExodusThis quarter at school, I've had a lighter load than usual. I thought "Oh I'm going to get so much done. So much writing, so much planning, and it's going to be an easy time." <br />
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I was wrong. I ended up spending most of my free time on Facebook and having to rush to do my grading. My students and I deserve better from me.<br />
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So, I pulled the plug. Just turned it off.<br />
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Almost immediately, I got three inquiries from friends and loved ones who were concerned about my health. That made me feel good, but it's not enough for me to turn it back on.<br />
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And I feel better. I'm getting more stuff done, like yoga, visiting with friends and attending lectures. And I'm writing more now too.<br />
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I've given this two weeks, and week one has been great. I'll let you know how week 2 goes. I may not reactivate the account.<br />
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You know, because life. <br />
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And now I have more time to.......:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIQMGeOAXlFB8IFi9WALlO659odlLDKPEkbE16bx2hHTJ7zC2tRHv0lvfQ_UUdN4ndGy8LsO5nFdtAYLV2ZCa_PAriLQEQv4cjpbWRWl-VKkoXZ0rSMEwX4qE3qx4bHhybwkys_0LRFjk/s1600/20150210_095824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIQMGeOAXlFB8IFi9WALlO659odlLDKPEkbE16bx2hHTJ7zC2tRHv0lvfQ_UUdN4ndGy8LsO5nFdtAYLV2ZCa_PAriLQEQv4cjpbWRWl-VKkoXZ0rSMEwX4qE3qx4bHhybwkys_0LRFjk/s1600/20150210_095824.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walk in the park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-tAAVAY4H-JFUmwuagGVLBvnxWgu8f6WAH4i45ovitxmW4ur7Ec1qilwLrOEoSvfi7iuyw4UprERu35oiYGNYUipdetlnK1Iy4CzR7gofSfAVIvv8BY71iy2sTeWbk5J5Hf6HOXWN8eZ/s1600/20150210_100043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-tAAVAY4H-JFUmwuagGVLBvnxWgu8f6WAH4i45ovitxmW4ur7Ec1qilwLrOEoSvfi7iuyw4UprERu35oiYGNYUipdetlnK1Iy4CzR7gofSfAVIvv8BY71iy2sTeWbk5J5Hf6HOXWN8eZ/s1600/20150210_100043.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feel annoyed that there isn't more snow</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V5GNKWvTPkw/VNzOKJ0SCoI/AAAAAAAAHeQ/AhgB_LPNB5c/s1600/20150210_135747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V5GNKWvTPkw/VNzOKJ0SCoI/AAAAAAAAHeQ/AhgB_LPNB5c/s1600/20150210_135747.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brush my hair</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kUHzOfHNDxQ/VNzOKK9bwYI/AAAAAAAAHeQ/Y5BHnfHkDsE/s1600/20150210_091519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kUHzOfHNDxQ/VNzOKK9bwYI/AAAAAAAAHeQ/Y5BHnfHkDsE/s1600/20150210_091519.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Make breakfast!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attend concerts (photo by permission from Canadian Brass)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get mah workout on</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oz5IpHa6DmE/VNzOKPUVwdI/AAAAAAAAHeQ/Q61icA85vQo/s1600/20150208_115200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oz5IpHa6DmE/VNzOKPUVwdI/AAAAAAAAHeQ/Q61icA85vQo/s1600/20150208_115200.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And watch this guy Facebook</td></tr>
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<br />Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-74574241448483971422015-02-08T10:24:00.001-06:002015-02-08T10:24:12.420-06:00Winter Wanes<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iJE-2aODfkg/VNeM8ZxPOKI/AAAAAAAAHUQ/8MsOC4Yl3NQ/s1600/IMG_20150125_081607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iJE-2aODfkg/VNeM8ZxPOKI/AAAAAAAAHUQ/8MsOC4Yl3NQ/s1600/IMG_20150125_081607.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eleanor says she's doing just fine, thanks. </td></tr>
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After our return from the fabulous-ness that is London and Paris, we settled in for the new quarter. In the dead of winter, the sun doesn't rise so early- as late as 7:45 a.m. It goes down early too- 4:30. If you're not careful, it's easy to live in total darkness for about three months of the year- late October through late January. Lots of people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) for this reason. Imagine this compounded with all the rain in Seattle. We live in a relatively dry area, so the rain doesn't factor in much- but still. Beginning in October, I start reminding my students to remain active and to get some sun on their faces at least fifteen minutes a day. This ensures that their bodies will be able to make enough vitamin D and that psychologically, the smaller amount of daylight isn't as impactful as it could be. I follow that rule too. Is that my job as an English professor? No. Not technically. But I also warn them against coming to class if they are infectious with any weird (or normal) illness and to buckle up when they drive. Yes, I'm your Aunt English Professor. When you live this far north, SAD risk factors are just a fact of life. For those of you sun lovers, you should know that it stays light until 9:30-10 p.m. and the sun comes up at 4-4:30.<br />
<br />
I remembered pretty quickly my strategies from years ago, before I moved to Oklahoma, how to live in a dimly lit place. Judge me all you like, but I love winter and shortened daylight hours is one of the reasons. I get up early these days, between 4:30 and 6, and when I don't have to be at work before 9 a.m., I go to the gym in the mornings. If I don't get there early, I have something to look forward to in the afternoon or early evening. My days are mostly the same; meetings, teaching, answering frantic emails, and grading. Grading takes up a lot of psychic space for me. I have 77 students this quarter and each deserves time and attention. Writing is serious business and can be a huge part of their success in college. I volunteer to teach the beginning writing courses and I do enjoy it. I like knowing that because someone helped a student learn to read and write better- to more critically examine the materials presented to them- they have a better chance of graduating with a degree that means something to them. As a matter of fact, while I'm writing this, I simultaneously have a tab open to grade a homework assignment. In any case, I try to do these things in the morning while I feel energized.<br />
<br />
That's because once it gets dark, I lose my motivation to do...anything. My preferred evening activities are reading on the couch with G on one side and Eleanor on the other, or watching television in the same configuration. And I'm in bed between 8 and 9. This is also why I love winter: I feel ok just resting. I'm *supposed* to hibernate. I have four favorite jammie bottoms made of soft cotton or flannel, with snowman and snowflake patterns. I just love to put them on and stay home. This is also my favorite strategy for avoiding SAD. You know, because Happy! See? Longer nights means more snuggle time.<br />
<br />
My annual routine for work follows the quarter system now. For the fall quarter, I'm very enthusiastic; I join committees and do research, plot out my lessons for weeks and months in advance, and make sure that I have at least one class of freshmen to welcome on their first day of college. In winter it's more of a settle in and run the race. Slow and steady. It's about routine, getting things done and meeting commitments. This is also when I work out any new materials for classes and invent something for spring quarter. Spring quarter is the hardest. Students and faculty get all squirrely. I don't blame them. March is a difficult month for me and by April with the advent of spring, everyone wants to go outside, feel the sun, go hiking and spring skiing, and relish the warmer weather. Students mentally check out somewhere in April, and by mid-June when we wrap up, ugh, I'm ready for them to go. No new creative projects really happen for me in spring.<br />
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I think I may be one of only two people who mourns the loss of winter. I think we had our last snow for the year last week. All of the weather reports are in the 50s this next week. We didn't have any real accumulation this year! If I want to see real snow I have to drive up to the mountain passes. The other person who mourns is, of course, my husband. There's something exciting to waking up to a heavy blanket of snow, or a blizzard, and having to bundle up to go outside. Since we both walk to work, we get to tromp through small drifts and place our feet carefully lest we slip on a patch of wayward ice. This is also how I get my sunlight time every day. G works earlier than I do; he has to be in by 8. When the sun is sleeping in and going to bed early, he risks never seeing it. So he sits and has lunch by a big picture window where I often join him. It's also a great place to watch the weather outside. Last week, my mother-in-law posted a photo of her trimming a rosebush. In Louisiana, it's in the 60s and 70s right now. The same day, I took a photo of our last snow, hoping it would stick around at least a little while. To tell the truth, though, I think today I'd like to see a little sun. Maybe it is time to think once again about the earth waking up and shooting up a few daffodils and snowdrops.<br />
<br />
With less snow and precipitation this year, that means there is less snow pack to melt off slowly during spring and summer. We're running the risk of another terrible summer fire season. Man, I hate to think of a worse fire season than what we had last year- it was the worst on record in Washington state. The first two summers I was in Ellensburg, I had to stay indoors and take real precautions because of the smoke. It's super bad for my lungs and the first year I caught bronchitis from walking outdoors. Fortunately, this last round with it went away really quickly and I'm back at my usual activity level.<br />
<br />
Oh! I almost forgot: My New Years Resolutions. I have made a grand effort to be more social this last month. We invited friends over to the house one Friday, invited other friends to watch the ill-fated Superbowl, AND we met another friend out at a restaurant. All in January. Am I done for the year? As far as my health is concerned, I had some luck last month with my running. I made five miles in less than an hour- twice. So a pace of 11:15. Not fantastic, and not terrible. I'm happy with it. I also did my mile in ten minutes a couple of times. I have to do all my running indoors now, and I've added in weights and yoga twice weekly. It's running and walking that really help to clear my head. That's also my best strategy for beating off any winter blues which may come to call. Ok, that and Nutella. If you've never had Nutella, it's a hazelnut-chocolate spread. One of my friends calls it a jar of candy. I say it's not. It's quasi-healthy frosting. Maybe not the best stuff to eat before attending my sister-in-law's wedding in March (can't wait!) but it sure is delicious. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nsYXRyXRmDA/VNeLuxuG0XI/AAAAAAAAHUA/PymejtP5nfo/s1600/IMG_20150207_145946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nsYXRyXRmDA/VNeLuxuG0XI/AAAAAAAAHUA/PymejtP5nfo/s1600/IMG_20150207_145946.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sigh- so much sun</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l32J_UA1Ck8/VNeLu1qwLvI/AAAAAAAAHUA/Bc5g-r8FQis/s1600/20150207_131829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l32J_UA1Ck8/VNeLu1qwLvI/AAAAAAAAHUA/Bc5g-r8FQis/s1600/20150207_131829.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's raining through the sunshine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tyUhXK0NzNk/VNeLu0hioyI/AAAAAAAAHUA/Ur0duLKI50E/s1600/20150207_131332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tyUhXK0NzNk/VNeLu0hioyI/AAAAAAAAHUA/Ur0duLKI50E/s1600/20150207_131332.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure what's going on with my face. Look at the handsome guy instead, k?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YLWGpfdqIwg/VNeLu2xNGzI/AAAAAAAAHUA/1grU9-n2JXk/s1600/20150204_084226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YLWGpfdqIwg/VNeLu2xNGzI/AAAAAAAAHUA/1grU9-n2JXk/s1600/20150204_084226.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little bit O'snow </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Urh274_G-M8/VNeLu2GrLGI/AAAAAAAAHUA/ybqnyKdzdQk/s1600/IMG_20150202_131351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Urh274_G-M8/VNeLu2GrLGI/AAAAAAAAHUA/ybqnyKdzdQk/s1600/IMG_20150202_131351.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our campus has an awesome diversity office!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9nEYnqcuUc/VNeLu1UrpuI/AAAAAAAAHUA/fiOFXoI3Y7k/s1600/IMG_20150202_102248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9nEYnqcuUc/VNeLu1UrpuI/AAAAAAAAHUA/fiOFXoI3Y7k/s1600/IMG_20150202_102248.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't think I'll ever get tired of this view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BgpcoE7zx4Y/VNeLu9Iz7vI/AAAAAAAAHUA/k6G0Oq005x4/s1600/20150201_192943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BgpcoE7zx4Y/VNeLu9Iz7vI/AAAAAAAAHUA/k6G0Oq005x4/s1600/20150201_192943.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? I had people at my house!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ye3xyQwrhmM/VNeLu3VD1JI/AAAAAAAAHUA/J_7Hz1Lu5Ss/s1600/IMG_20150127_161442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ye3xyQwrhmM/VNeLu3VD1JI/AAAAAAAAHUA/J_7Hz1Lu5Ss/s1600/IMG_20150127_161442.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Seahawks lost! Boo! There's always next year.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XtLwjeerQ3M/VNeLuxO1P5I/AAAAAAAAHUA/QYPfzsw57Do/s1600/IMG_20150128_134104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XtLwjeerQ3M/VNeLuxO1P5I/AAAAAAAAHUA/QYPfzsw57Do/s1600/IMG_20150128_134104.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How is this winter?!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErE3BVleIuXotMa61GESSVZNB4DcyIV-rsA7mIxGjLeKiaasvOuvWsAtnZ3FMgD9eOX-T73Town46UcCXbVHS0Ci4RCem93WJfJL4yZ2D6yvfhl2NI2yjPHApBqH1edCevouk8uKIzul_/s1600/IMG_20150128_134812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErE3BVleIuXotMa61GESSVZNB4DcyIV-rsA7mIxGjLeKiaasvOuvWsAtnZ3FMgD9eOX-T73Town46UcCXbVHS0Ci4RCem93WJfJL4yZ2D6yvfhl2NI2yjPHApBqH1edCevouk8uKIzul_/s1600/IMG_20150128_134812.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barge Hall- the first and original building on campus</td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8rPD14YYNS0/VNeLu1jlptI/AAAAAAAAHUA/D2AAFS-vbcU/s1600/IMG_20150128_060925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8rPD14YYNS0/VNeLu1jlptI/AAAAAAAAHUA/D2AAFS-vbcU/s1600/IMG_20150128_060925.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eV9vs3WUiwk/VNeLuw_Qw_I/AAAAAAAAHUA/YLv35OdF50U/s1600/20150127_064127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eV9vs3WUiwk/VNeLuw_Qw_I/AAAAAAAAHUA/YLv35OdF50U/s1600/20150127_064127.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Five thirty on a foggy morning</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h7aJzssqieY/VNeLuxGoLpI/AAAAAAAAHUA/LJs4zzBMsxI/s1600/20150124_143716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h7aJzssqieY/VNeLuxGoLpI/AAAAAAAAHUA/LJs4zzBMsxI/s1600/20150124_143716.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eleanor</td></tr>
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<br /><br />Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-34686433367469356632015-01-22T13:58:00.001-06:002015-01-22T19:48:25.167-06:00OnwardThis has been an interesting couple of weeks.<br />
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It's been like the weather; a dump of snow, then a melt, then a bunch of sunny days and back to winter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xqc7txAs20U/VMFTmfT4klI/AAAAAAAAG5s/0XQ6QDbbBDE/s1600/20150116_075949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xqc7txAs20U/VMFTmfT4klI/AAAAAAAAG5s/0XQ6QDbbBDE/s1600/20150116_075949.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the view from the English department</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WINbkB8F1UI/VMFUAadR-2I/AAAAAAAAG58/79q3xjRPcIU/s1600/20150116_074601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WINbkB8F1UI/VMFUAadR-2I/AAAAAAAAG58/79q3xjRPcIU/s1600/20150116_074601.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is something about Ponderosa Pine trees in the snow</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwbQuyDW1aI/VMFUAfwtvoI/AAAAAAAAG6A/r6VBRtyrMc8/s1600/20150116_074849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwbQuyDW1aI/VMFUAfwtvoI/AAAAAAAAG6A/r6VBRtyrMc8/s1600/20150116_074849.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not so good at the phone phocus</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2mE74PuK9XU/VMFUDT75HbI/AAAAAAAAG6Y/1fnLOSJ2nSE/s1600/IMG_20150116_080737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2mE74PuK9XU/VMFUDT75HbI/AAAAAAAAG6Y/1fnLOSJ2nSE/s1600/IMG_20150116_080737.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmm, winter!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zhgJVTaolXM/VMFUDehTP-I/AAAAAAAAG6U/vy0rVD0AIWk/s1600/IMG_20150120_112113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zhgJVTaolXM/VMFUDehTP-I/AAAAAAAAG6U/vy0rVD0AIWk/s1600/IMG_20150120_112113.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my new "I Love Winter" necklace. </td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
Before Christmas, G went to the doctor because his voice was cutting out. He was snoring so loud I could hear him from downstairs. Sometimes, it felt like something was stuck in his throat.<br />
<br />
When I say "he went to the doctor", I mean that he doesn't really do that unless he feels it's necessary. But he went. She sent him to a specialist, an otolaryngologist. He took a look; stuck a doohickey (sorry for the technical term) down his nose and took a peek. Said "that needs to come out."<br />
<br />
Wait, what? What needs to come out? Huh?<br />
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Some sort of growth. A burst polyp. You can get polyps in lots of place on your body. Colon, nose, throat, places like that. This one nestled on top of Gs vocal chords.<br />
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The Oto said this needs to come out now; G said "Let's wait until after Christmas". He scheduled the surgery for the second week of January.<br />
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While Christmas was fun and traveling is exciting, I had a low-level worry the whole time. Like when you know there's a sliver stuck in your toe or something. Can't do anything about it but you always know it's there and try not to worry.<br />
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The surgery was really efficient. We arrived at the outpatient surgery center at 7; we left at 10. G had never had a surgery before. He said the hardest part was getting the IV put in. That man. The doctor told me that the polyp was larger than he thought and that in a week we'd know if it was malignant of benign.<br />
<br />
Anyway, thus began three days of no talking and another week of low-level worry. I tried to teach him a little bit of sign language but G figured that I'm good at context clues and lip reading and that for the rest he could trace letters in the air or text me. Sometimes this was hilarious and effective. Sometimes this was hilarious and frustrating. Sometimes I just made up stuff he would never say, like "Don't you think it's time we bought a farm in the country", and "Seriously, can you make me a well-done steak?"<br />
<br />
He lived. He ate popsicles. He had to stay home for those three days and while I was at work, on the first damn day, he drove himself to McDonalds and wrote a note for a caramel frappe. <strike>What the ham sandwich?!!</strike><br />
<br />
I went to his boss and explained that while he could be at work Thursday and Friday of last week, he couldn't talk. It wasn't a problem. When he went back to work, G reports that he used an entire pack of post-it notes answering questions. They were not yes or not questions, apparently. And his boss doesn't exactly use email.<br />
<br />
So on Dr. King's birthday (which I usually write about but this year I suck), we went back for the test results.<br />
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Benign.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But then the sun came out and it was 51 degrees.</td></tr>
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Confession: I don't have a "low" level setting for worrying. It's sort of my hobby and preoccupation. I like to pretend that I don't worry about things. However, once I set my mind to it, I can worry about just about anything.<br />
<br />
Like Eleanor, the sweetest kitty and my best little friend of 18 years, who does have cancer.<br />
<br />
I have a full blood panel done on her every 6 months. In May, all was clear. In November, it showed on the CBC.<br />
<br />
I am sorry, readers. I just didn't know how to tell you.<br />
<br />
She's doing ok, really. Doesn't eat very much. throws up more often. I give her medicine to stimulate her appetite and suppress the vomiting, though it will shorten her lifespan. This could take months or a year or just a few weeks.<br />
<br />
When we went to Europe, she stayed with my friend Joy. Joy asked if I wanted to know during the trip if Eleanor died. Yes. Yes, of course I wanted to know that very instant. G was not in favor of this. But no, I couldn't have gone a day without worrying that this day it had happened and I didn't know. It would have ruined the trip for me. So Joy promised to tell me and sent me picture after picture of Eleanor, with her daughter, with her, eating, and sleeping on her heating pad. Yes, I sent the heating pad and that wonderful and afghan along to comfort her. And I set up with my vet that if she needed any kitty health care, she would have it.<br />
<br />
This is an exercise in not worrying for me. I don't know the source of the cancer and I'm not going to. I don't want to put her through a bunch of tests. It's not like she is healthy enough for them to remove a growth or even put her under anesthetic. And when the time comes, I'm going to see if the vet will come to the house to help her through those final, awful hours rather than taking her out of the comfort of home.<br />
<br />
Until then, I am awakened every morning to what I term "aggressive snuggling". Eleanor still gets around well and can navigate the stairs. She sleeps on the bed and wakes me up by purring, then laying on the pillow with me and napping a bit. Then she puts her face by mine. Then I pet her. Then she nudges me with her head until I either keep petting her or get up to give her food and/or water. Personally, I think she's using cancer to get into more mischief and get away with it. Now she'll sit beside me in the kitchen and head butt me until I feed her. She used to get squirted with water if she was a pest. Now I just can't. And somehow, she.knows.it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uT0aJ2v0hbo/VMFV1XAJCEI/AAAAAAAAG60/qrynfJTP3Ks/s1600/20150105_170706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uT0aJ2v0hbo/VMFV1XAJCEI/AAAAAAAAG60/qrynfJTP3Ks/s1600/20150105_170706.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm going to need you to feed me some tuna. By hand.</td></tr>
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G is not buying it. Yes, he adores Eleanor. Yes, he will pet her all day and clean up vomit and make a run to the grocery store for me to get cans of the particular food that she's into (while ignoring the 90 other flavors in the pantry). But when she's bad, she still gets a little squirt of water. I know this because when I told him about her condition, I <strike>proclaimed</strike> announced that from here on out, she wouldn't ever get into trouble again, he may have quietly chuffed. I didn't hear that part because emotions. But last week, I was petting the sweetest kitty in the world and telling her how awesome she is, and noticed her fur was wet. "Did you give Eleanor a drink?"<br />
"In a sense."<br />
"...?"<br />
"She scratched on the bathroom door. She got squirted."<br />
"But.....cancer!"<br />
"She's well enough to be a bad cat; she's well enough to pay the consequences."<br />
Heh.<br />
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But I'm still going to worry.<br />
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<br />Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-47247286398336733832015-01-02T14:28:00.003-06:002015-01-02T14:28:45.920-06:002015Friends, enemies, people I love and people who tolerate me in their lives...2015 is here. And with that comes my annual review of what the heck I've been doing with my life. I like to use the time between quarters to take stock and decide what works and what doesn't and what needs to go. I think about my health, spiritual life, relationships, career, and life goals. I also like to pay attention to what I do for fun and relaxation. I'm a real type A personality, so it's also helpful for me to think of what I need to just let go of and what I need to give myself a break on. With that in mind, here are a few things I've come up with.<br />
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1. I need to practice more emotional self control. Last year, I decided to stop cussing people out when they drove improperly. I switched instead to reminding myself that not everyone can pay attention all the time and perhaps that text message or phone call is really important. Instead of cussing out loud, I would say "I hope you make better choices!". Of course, nobody can hear you when you're in another car but it was good for me. My next chore to tackle is to pay attention to my attitude when others behave poorly in public. I know there is a line and that it's easy to cross and hard to know when to speak up. For example, I felt comfortable speaking up at the Musee D'Orsay in Paris- the signs clearly show that there is no photography of the art, but two people were repeatedly taking photos. It made other people uncomfortable and frankly, it made me mad. I wish I could have taken pictures of some of the most beautiful paintings I have ever seen. So did the other 300 people around us. Apparently the rules didn't apply to these two people so I did plainly say "there is no photography in the museum" loud enough to catch a docent's attention.<br />
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However, it was perhaps not nice of me to intentionally step on the back of a man's shoes at the Eiffel Tower. He did shove me out of the way in line, but perhaps that's no reason to let me temper get the better of me. It did feel good though, because those were nice shoes.<br />
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Clearly, I have some work to do here. And I need to be more patient in waiting at restaurants.<br />
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2. Cutting out junk. I love junk food. Not typical junk food like pizza or candy or soda. Junk food as in I don't eat very many regular meals. I'm a snacker. I think it would be better to eat a meal than to eat the pieces of a meal. I will just eat a few pieces of cheese, then later a tomato. Then later a piece of bread. Shouldn't I just make a sandwich in the first place?<br />
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Having said that, I am also cutting out all soda pop. That's an easy one for me. They are really, really bad for you. Soda often has carbonic acid, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, aspartame in the diet stuff, and all sorts of shit you just don't need to put into your body. Coke is great for cleaning your toilet, just not your insides. Pretty easy; I don't remember the last time I had a soda (like 6 months ago?) and am much more likely to reach for a Monster energy drink- which I will also stop drinking. I think I had three or four last year.<br />
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Then there is sugar and additives. I don't eat much sugar on purpose and I like cooking my own food instead of buying prepared stuff. Processed food just isn't good for me and I don't really like chocolate. Here's the real challenge, and try not to laugh: I like to take my daily multivitamins in gummy form. Yes, I'm a gummy-aholic. If you want me to take medicine, make it something I like and I'm more likely to take it. I take a multivitamin, vitamin D, and a pro-biotic. That's 6 gummies a day. I'm less likely to take a pill, so if you all have suggestions, I'd love to hear them. Now, those vitamins are <i>in addition to</i> <strike>not in place of</strike> eating a diet filled with as many vitamins and minerals as I can get.<br />
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My other addiction is cheese. I can't get enough of that stuff. G and I buy three or four packages at Costco every month.<br />
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So, more greens, less cheese. And I think I'm going to try adding in more meat into my diet this year. It's kind of yucky to cook and it doesn't taste really good, but I'm going to try for more lean meats. Here's my problem though: I hate chicken, especially chicken legs and stuff with tendons and ligaments and stuff. Barf. May I'll try chicken breast sometime. I'll keep you posted and let you know if that pans out. My favorite local Mexican food place serves a good carnitas platter, which I get from time to time.<br />
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In case you just read that last paragraph and thought "I thought she was a vegetarian?!" Yes, I am. I'm a vegetarian because meat tastes yucky and factory farming is an awful, inhumane practice. Actually, we're pescetarians, though I think we eat fish maybe once a month. There are two stores here in Ellensburg who sell locally grown, humanely treated animal bits. I'd feel ok trying that. No weird growth hormones, no crazy antibiotics shoved into a cow. Whenever possible, we get eggs from my friend Joy, who has lots of happy chicken-pets. <br />
<br />
So that means no fast food, which is not a problem. I haven't ordered at a drive-through in a long, long time. No sodas, no pre-packaged stuff from the grocery. I don't think I'm going to commit to getting away from buying bread. Seriously, I have to have a life. I'm not baking my own damn bread. I think I can do this.<br />
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3. Letting it go. G and I don't often disagree but I do like to keep track of what I can do better to listen in tense situations. One thing I hear is "you need to let things go more". Now, I am as tenacious as a bulldog. When I get my teeth into something, academically speaking, I see it through to the end. In this way, that's a character asset. In my personal life, I don't let many people close to me so I don't like secrets and I tend to not stuff slide- I get a little too confrontational at times. I know this; I'm working on it. I did a good job a couple of years ago in learning to cut my significant other some slack in relationships. To be clear, I don't think I'm horrible or a control freak (too much). I just think I could do better than I currently am. In practicing, I also give myself a break sometimes and try not to hold my own feet to the fire so much.<br />
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4. Sleep. Funny you should mention sleep. I've got insomnia, which I've developed in the last two years. It's stress related, and coffee related and age related. Right now, I can get to sleep just fine, but wake up about 3-4 hours in. Then I'm awake for 3-4 hours, then I sleep again for a bit if I can. There are a few things I absolutely lose sleep over and I plan to knock both of them out in the next few months. With less stress, hopefully I'll be able to be more productive, more happy, and more able to give it a rest (literally). <br />
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5. Miles. This one is fairly easy for me. I want to make sure I get in 35 miles a week for 2015. That's about 1,800 miles for the year. I think I came in at about 1,400 this year. Two miles per day are just walking to and from work, so the rest is about intentionality. One thing that will help is my other resolution: to get a 10 minute mile at least once every month. I'd like to also get at least a couple 9:30 miles, but that depends a lot on air quality and my poor, failing lungs. I have seen a huge decline in my lungs since I taught at an inner-city middle school which was remodeling while we were in session. They had posted mold and asbestos and I had bronchitis for 10 straight months. It was "not happy". But I'll do the best I can.<br />
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6. Speaking of my physical health, I'm going to find it in me to go to a massage therapist from time to time. I always think of this as a major luxury rather than a necessity. I broke down (metaphorically, not literally though it was close) and went to a chiropractor here in town. After 5 or so visits he said I don't really need him anymore but that I'd benefit from massage. I'm doing yoga twice a week right now and that helps, but maybe a massage a few times this year would be nice. <br />
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7. Relationships. I always think I have this dialed in, but relationships take effort and work. I'm hoping to do a little better at visiting friends this year, so if you want me to come visit, please invite me. I'll practice saying yes more than no, even though I'm a total homebody introvert lazy bum. I've done a better job of enforcing boundaries with loved ones and at school, but it's hard for me to say "no" when something is easy to say yes to. So, more authentic connections, less overcommitting, and more awesome conversations with people I care about.<br />
<br />
Ok, that's it. Seven is a lucky number. I do welcome input, of course. What are your goals for this year? Do you even make resolutions? I find them helpful but try not to become too attached. Let me know.....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The author in her natural, confused state</td></tr>
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<br />Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-42375494173734897492015-01-01T22:28:00.002-06:002015-01-01T22:30:05.764-06:00London and Paris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I sit in front of a computer screen wondering where to start. At the beginning, when we caught a bus to Seattle, then a non-stop international flight to London? At the fourth day of our trip when I started getting sick? At the day before Christmas Eve in Paris where we had to find a doctor? Maybe Christmas day when I finally got a prescription for antibiotics filled.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rosetta Stone; a good symbol <br />
for this trip</td></tr>
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I guess I'll start right here: sitting in front of my computer screen with a hot cup of sinus soother tea, still coughing out the bronchitis that invaded my lungs and which will take another month to really clear out. I'm tired. I've had insomnia for almost 2 years now but these last few days paired with jet lag, I've gotten either 4 hours of sleep or I go to bed for a few hours, get up for 4, then sleep a few more. <br />
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It almost seems incompatible to say how much I enjoyed the trip, given how sick I got. G has been to Paris before, but neither of us had been to London and we greatly anticipated this trip. Those first few days were really great. I mean, we lost an entire day in travel, but the London Eye, the Tate Museum, the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, and high tea were great. That was just the first day. There was the Trafalgar Square,Tower of London, the British Museum, and an incredibly yummy meal at a place called <a href="http://www.dishoom.com/">Dishoom</a>. At Dishoom, they added some magic, a black olive and <i>green tea </i><strike>holy crap</strike> to Gs old fashioned; he reported it being one of the best drinks he's ever had. We got to figure out the metro system (thanks entirely to my husband's excellent research), and took a double decker bus for a bit. Just as an aside, all museums in London are free. Isn't that cool?! We also visited the Cathedral of St. Peter; it's quiet and huge and is a working church. We climbed to the whispering gallery where you can supposedly whisper on one side and hear it on the other. That didn't work for us but it was an amazing view. Then we climbed even higher- to the very top- and were rewarded with breathtaking views of all of London.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F4zK8f0_qyY/VKYRVRPzQBI/AAAAAAAAGIs/Hnwu6WahPuk/s1600/IMG_20141214_193857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F4zK8f0_qyY/VKYRVRPzQBI/AAAAAAAAGIs/Hnwu6WahPuk/s1600/IMG_20141214_193857.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is all he packed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12R7Pd-RZqL_PR_xH7TzlCdAe1vmL4a2cuLdxYSqY6mQyWPFnyCaIGhNW_MFd99Yqc0x1DWKmnCyfb_O2yhVQRqtXj3ofIR2Daoh3btUdaCxN9n1u8KNPO7gHL-xcKPvt25tjMk6CX3v9/s1600/20141218_111220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12R7Pd-RZqL_PR_xH7TzlCdAe1vmL4a2cuLdxYSqY6mQyWPFnyCaIGhNW_MFd99Yqc0x1DWKmnCyfb_O2yhVQRqtXj3ofIR2Daoh3btUdaCxN9n1u8KNPO7gHL-xcKPvt25tjMk6CX3v9/s1600/20141218_111220.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along the Queens Walk, Thames</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-orBedaGh1qw/VKYRUrmtEXI/AAAAAAAAGIk/_YQ54q9ILCU/s1600/20141218_133245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-orBedaGh1qw/VKYRUrmtEXI/AAAAAAAAGIk/_YQ54q9ILCU/s1600/20141218_133245.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Barbados Lion (extinct) in Trafalgar Square</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trafalgar Square </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1EwSyIsBwoKsqp4Er52izYXZzDcx-JcOp9YxnAZvk35ebThAfBDJhP4zqba9lACda-na6GfCGlxJtHbcNS5EedJtiVtpQrsnFHvH0MFtMlCrUtmopSGJK8oDtKMn-YdLBvh3Rfub5zJm/s1600/20141218_100646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1EwSyIsBwoKsqp4Er52izYXZzDcx-JcOp9YxnAZvk35ebThAfBDJhP4zqba9lACda-na6GfCGlxJtHbcNS5EedJtiVtpQrsnFHvH0MFtMlCrUtmopSGJK8oDtKMn-YdLBvh3Rfub5zJm/s1600/20141218_100646.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">London Eye</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFRSmUBbWYI/VKYR9mR1UBI/AAAAAAAAGI8/WLb_h_xzDWk/s1600/20141218_100725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFRSmUBbWYI/VKYR9mR1UBI/AAAAAAAAGI8/WLb_h_xzDWk/s1600/20141218_100725.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A View from the Eye</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cETtTGqIMP4/VKYR9pa4X8I/AAAAAAAAGI4/ZV5faOzGLuk/s1600/20141218_100948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cETtTGqIMP4/VKYR9pa4X8I/AAAAAAAAGI4/ZV5faOzGLuk/s1600/20141218_100948.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Westminster Abbey</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2vrRjyTxPL8/VKYR_tYaIFI/AAAAAAAAGJQ/AgIkq-tqCLo/s1600/20141218_102002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2vrRjyTxPL8/VKYR_tYaIFI/AAAAAAAAGJQ/AgIkq-tqCLo/s1600/20141218_102002.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a County Administration building. Now it's an aquarium</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PgqANN0Pr0Q/VKYSCYj4PoI/AAAAAAAAGJg/ItKrASHZXMs/s1600/20141218_131429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PgqANN0Pr0Q/VKYSCYj4PoI/AAAAAAAAGJg/ItKrASHZXMs/s1600/20141218_131429.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Westminster Abbey</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qtWeR3Cu640/VKYSAiktd3I/AAAAAAAAGJY/gi8sAp5yZM4/s1600/20141218_132516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qtWeR3Cu640/VKYSAiktd3I/AAAAAAAAGJY/gi8sAp5yZM4/s1600/20141218_132516.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guards at a government building</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r7u6s9igpgw/VKYSC7BxzeI/AAAAAAAAGJk/XbbV-VGc8NY/s1600/20141218_132747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r7u6s9igpgw/VKYSC7BxzeI/AAAAAAAAGJk/XbbV-VGc8NY/s1600/20141218_132747.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how you enter the Ministry of Magic</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d22ISvOFsMY/VKYSDMmJpTI/AAAAAAAAGJs/0vVA_qW8P_E/s1600/20141219_130831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d22ISvOFsMY/VKYSDMmJpTI/AAAAAAAAGJs/0vVA_qW8P_E/s1600/20141219_130831.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took this in St. Peter's before I realized that no photos were allowed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0zUso7bOUQ/VKYSE2FdBYI/AAAAAAAAGJ4/1A9uNl9jQ5A/s1600/20141219_142502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0zUso7bOUQ/VKYSE2FdBYI/AAAAAAAAGJ4/1A9uNl9jQ5A/s1600/20141219_142502.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A View from the top of St. Peters</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qx4qrKAC314/VKYSF4ZQBVI/AAAAAAAAGKA/aajzcftUbmA/s1600/20141219_152134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qx4qrKAC314/VKYSF4ZQBVI/AAAAAAAAGKA/aajzcftUbmA/s1600/20141219_152134.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Peters</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SeonGXfdK2w/VKYSFrNF2kI/AAAAAAAAGJ8/vYbryajPLVI/s1600/20141219_154446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SeonGXfdK2w/VKYSFrNF2kI/AAAAAAAAGJ8/vYbryajPLVI/s1600/20141219_154446.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evening in London</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZnAJuvOKSMircxN3TXaPqla3Wjh_-2Fy-zbZgAhQfhFElJOkLD98n11JFrfTGb_ABSduawglESPJ9S6zL2PWXVDyMqAvVzgu_5xrBvvaY6mSkgULihXN5pAEd77yYVpEwYgjGsy7QEJH/s1600/20141219_154835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZnAJuvOKSMircxN3TXaPqla3Wjh_-2Fy-zbZgAhQfhFElJOkLD98n11JFrfTGb_ABSduawglESPJ9S6zL2PWXVDyMqAvVzgu_5xrBvvaY6mSkgULihXN5pAEd77yYVpEwYgjGsy7QEJH/s1600/20141219_154835.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't it beautiful?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVt4aG8k2rzI-ygVrU1uemnOni2oeafOKV_1ekRqm8Labo8D7iK3N9qef25xZcurc7OMYFGyNAZgbSGIfO6Ans9_R7R_GQGeu1RGpmjfzLWyq6Ug4DseOh7AjIrDJsuNyzwMj1mjUEInI/s1600/20141219_154856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVt4aG8k2rzI-ygVrU1uemnOni2oeafOKV_1ekRqm8Labo8D7iK3N9qef25xZcurc7OMYFGyNAZgbSGIfO6Ans9_R7R_GQGeu1RGpmjfzLWyq6Ug4DseOh7AjIrDJsuNyzwMj1mjUEInI/s1600/20141219_154856.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That was quite a climb</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeijztQyhBXLGKQJObfvDCcQiTBzXBVAnV1Edy2jifNz7fynvEWMaAOOngYV_Xye84cZhyDDw9W5XiyqnSCMV3bAuv5NtShxZtbJ7PNi2zkxsRwJhE4zvvZo9bIHLtTHoy4uyRvpSJIWX/s1600/IMG_20141219_164923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeijztQyhBXLGKQJObfvDCcQiTBzXBVAnV1Edy2jifNz7fynvEWMaAOOngYV_Xye84cZhyDDw9W5XiyqnSCMV3bAuv5NtShxZtbJ7PNi2zkxsRwJhE4zvvZo9bIHLtTHoy4uyRvpSJIWX/s1600/IMG_20141219_164923.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-46axh1eJmKg/VKYSIcWGMrI/AAAAAAAAGKc/wN_6eRAK-LU/s1600/IMG_20141219_165032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-46axh1eJmKg/VKYSIcWGMrI/AAAAAAAAGKc/wN_6eRAK-LU/s1600/IMG_20141219_165032.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
We took the <a href="http://www.eurostar.com/us-en?gclid=Cj0KEQiA_ZOlBRD64c7-gOzvrP0BEiQAAYBnd_Z4xxl5REdH-w9GYhYk72RcFeSpK77eEDDt430iMoQaAsz18P8HAQ">Eurostar</a> to Paris, from St. Pancras International to Paris Gare de Nord. The trip was just over 2 hours since the train goes under the water and travels at an average rate of about 215 miles per hour. <br />
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Let me pause here to say that not everything was peachy keen. I got sick, but I also have a different travel style than G. He's a planner, thank goodness. He does research and plans meals and activities. He'd even planned a day where we visited Shakespeare's Globe Theater and took a boat to Greenwich for some shopping. We didn't get to do that day because I got sick. He even makes lists of possible yummy places to eat. This is for the most part the reason our trip was so fun. He doesn't like shopping for trinkets; I do. My travel style is much different from his. I'm a "not planner". That's a polite way to say "squirrel on crack". I like to go see what we feel like doing that day and then do it. I like vague plans. The advantage is that two people can give input and then decide from there. The disadvantage is that it's impossible to make reservations. Let me reiterate: I didn't buy a museum pass for Paris in advance. The downside is that we spent almost 2 hours waiting in line, outside in the cold, while I had bronchitis and G had a slight fever, just waiting to get inside to buy the museum pass. The upside of that is that since we had both gotten sick, we wouldn't have been able to use a 4-day pass and saved a lot of money. It took some doing for us to get used to each other's style. I mean, we're in our 40s, and neither of us really wants to change that much since we've purposely evolved our styles. I appreciate the value of what he does and I know he derives pleasure from planning. I derive pleasure from discovering along the way. One of the many things we have in common, however, is our mutual love for and fascination with museums. We were like "Hello Europe. We've come to look at your dusty old stuff". This really united us in our travel excursions and made for an exciting trip. I think wandering around the Louvre and discovering all the beauty inherent with G was one of the best things I've done in a long time.<br />
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In Paris, instead of the 7 days we thought we'd have, we both got sick and we ended up with 3 pretty good days at the end. I learned how to navigate Paris pharmacies and even to talk to medical professionals in French. <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">One of my Facebook friends remarked that if I had to get really sick, there were worse places to be. In some ways I agree; it was only 23<span style="color: #252525;">€</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"> to see a doctor and the pharmacist didn't need to see my prescription for the cough medicine in order to give me a refill. And the cough medicine- sans sucre (without sugar)- tasted like cake batter. Liquid cake batter. On the other hand, my french speaking doctor didn't understand about my history of bronchitis and was reluctant to give me an antibiotic, so I suffered an extra two days. When you're in a hotel room in Paris, nobody brings you food or water. We ended up going next door to the bed and breakfast in the mornings to the Starbucks for two liters of Evian, some yogurt, and coffee. I also ended up way over-taking the antibiotic. As in I doubled the dosage because I don't actually speak french and she didn't write anything down. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gUD8Y4mJtdk/VKYUB6XU1WI/AAAAAAAAGLk/oBGc_OzXzIs/s1600/20141221_160519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gUD8Y4mJtdk/VKYUB6XU1WI/AAAAAAAAGLk/oBGc_OzXzIs/s1600/20141221_160519.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the fellows from Easter Island</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">There were some really neat things about London that I observed. Our bed and breakfast, The <a href="http://www.ridgemounthotel.co.uk/">Ridgemount</a>, was really fun. I enjoyed the staff and the breakfast every morning was delicious. They even offered things like beans for breakfast and sometimes, broiled tomatoes. Our room had it's own bathroom with shower, something of a </span></span></span><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">rarity in European traditional hotels. And it was centrally located; we were half a mile from the </span><a href="http://www.britishmuseum.org/" style="line-height: 22px;">British Museum</a><span style="line-height: 22px;">. The new "Night at the Museum" movie is set there and part of their promotional advertising was inviting children to enter a contest to spend a night in the museum. I was really tempted to sign up. <strike>Wish I wasn't so old. </strike> Sigh. My favorite part of that was the Assyrian exhibitions. I'll post some photos. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXLwiD087Oh9nTrPyP6aolDS_6hf7XTmRbCmGh9hys_N34VuLL6Y-jccAIjx478HJ7Pi1Roo9PbssIYq432GA93mtYgNfzLMF4zD_KRbGhi0cbsJ0x9RRQ9pzyHw-mLUVKIBOwPbUOruD/s1600/20141221_115754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXLwiD087Oh9nTrPyP6aolDS_6hf7XTmRbCmGh9hys_N34VuLL6Y-jccAIjx478HJ7Pi1Roo9PbssIYq432GA93mtYgNfzLMF4zD_KRbGhi0cbsJ0x9RRQ9pzyHw-mLUVKIBOwPbUOruD/s1600/20141221_115754.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is an optical illusion. From the front he has two legs, from the side- 4. In total, he has 5 legs!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0S2O04PjLxU/VKYTVRChlwI/AAAAAAAAGK8/s3GAqf7bBuU/s1600/20141221_120259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0S2O04PjLxU/VKYTVRChlwI/AAAAAAAAGK8/s3GAqf7bBuU/s1600/20141221_120259.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bastet</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Tv6puDziMk/VKYTV3BOjSI/AAAAAAAAGLA/8OILZlZiR8w/s1600/20141221_151017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Tv6puDziMk/VKYTV3BOjSI/AAAAAAAAGLA/8OILZlZiR8w/s1600/20141221_151017.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parthenon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-85F06XM5IKk/VKYTXE2GZ5I/AAAAAAAAGLQ/gzfJPQh100I/s1600/20141221_151808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-85F06XM5IKk/VKYTXE2GZ5I/AAAAAAAAGLQ/gzfJPQh100I/s1600/20141221_151808.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frieze</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fx3xvWaGpNk/VKYTX-sz1gI/AAAAAAAAGLY/jRsLiwRyuWk/s1600/20141221_153110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fx3xvWaGpNk/VKYTX-sz1gI/AAAAAAAAGLY/jRsLiwRyuWk/s1600/20141221_153110.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unrealistic beauty standards</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-znbWyZA13uI/VKYVd0uHXHI/AAAAAAAAGNg/8BEzGXs3O_M/s1600/20141220_190206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-znbWyZA13uI/VKYVd0uHXHI/AAAAAAAAGNg/8BEzGXs3O_M/s1600/20141220_190206.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By the British Museum. Marx used to drink here after a day<br />
of writing in the Reading Room at the Museum.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">I think my other favorite part of London was the Tower of London. We spent all day there. I'll post a ton of photos, but one I didn't get was of the crisps (potato chips) in the coffee shop. They were called Real brand, and the salt and vinegar was the best I've ever had. G concurs. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5B0TJSlbk62XFVQtZuiQla-Ycl4pE5k2lwmZgvZJ6dX5nDGVdBNv_sIlS-R9ENYRmInShhU-WV2xBTF_BKTxlgG7cX41ketgS61YByhNi1E5wG-hHdHgjLeeCIQSkAvfY4R5xS_-lebva/s1600/20141220_104516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5B0TJSlbk62XFVQtZuiQla-Ycl4pE5k2lwmZgvZJ6dX5nDGVdBNv_sIlS-R9ENYRmInShhU-WV2xBTF_BKTxlgG7cX41ketgS61YByhNi1E5wG-hHdHgjLeeCIQSkAvfY4R5xS_-lebva/s1600/20141220_104516.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Beefeater at the Traitor's Gate</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LY6E5-vE0ZM/VKYVUcuWypI/AAAAAAAAGMA/R77VUoqqy6s/s1600/20141220_105855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LY6E5-vE0ZM/VKYVUcuWypI/AAAAAAAAGMA/R77VUoqqy6s/s1600/20141220_105855.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing tour guide and royal guard<br />
at the palace</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kuVkwGHPnWE/VKYVUDNR2vI/AAAAAAAAGL8/SjKL0jVKJw0/s1600/20141220_141104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kuVkwGHPnWE/VKYVUDNR2vI/AAAAAAAAGL8/SjKL0jVKJw0/s1600/20141220_141104.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tower and the Tower Bridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-obFm9n5zWqs/VKYVVnVoFDI/AAAAAAAAGMQ/uFjgDhappcg/s1600/20141220_141237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-obFm9n5zWqs/VKYVVnVoFDI/AAAAAAAAGMQ/uFjgDhappcg/s1600/20141220_141237.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three queens were beheaded on this spot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nCN13xJr5uQ/VKYVWNdo8oI/AAAAAAAAGMU/MKer8MdrwPA/s1600/20141220_142004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nCN13xJr5uQ/VKYVWNdo8oI/AAAAAAAAGMU/MKer8MdrwPA/s1600/20141220_142004.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graffiti from the prison</td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6sylnqPWVfM/VKYVWTAqcpI/AAAAAAAAGMY/NIAZkIT4dus/s1600/20141220_142012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6sylnqPWVfM/VKYVWTAqcpI/AAAAAAAAGMY/NIAZkIT4dus/s1600/20141220_142012.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More graffiti</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LCio4gKra9Y/VKYVXZ-_xJI/AAAAAAAAGMg/npGpk3rtcBQ/s1600/20141220_142357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LCio4gKra9Y/VKYVXZ-_xJI/AAAAAAAAGMg/npGpk3rtcBQ/s1600/20141220_142357.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out the date on that</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aMOtwzAKTgE/VKYVZFdwXEI/AAAAAAAAGMw/O1LxiRK4Q0o/s1600/20141220_142415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aMOtwzAKTgE/VKYVZFdwXEI/AAAAAAAAGMw/O1LxiRK4Q0o/s1600/20141220_142415.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graffiti</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DNFH6DQTAkU/VKYVZzfn8EI/AAAAAAAAGM0/nlnb0Iw5c14/s1600/20141220_142430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DNFH6DQTAkU/VKYVZzfn8EI/AAAAAAAAGM0/nlnb0Iw5c14/s1600/20141220_142430.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty intricate graffiti</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nrxH1aKN3b0/VKYVaZMulwI/AAAAAAAAGM8/9U9l7241CI0/s1600/20141220_142531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nrxH1aKN3b0/VKYVaZMulwI/AAAAAAAAGM8/9U9l7241CI0/s1600/20141220_142531.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I guess when you have time on your hands..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xt4oeklWeSA/VKYVbdyB3PI/AAAAAAAAGNI/0B74Orj1cBg/s1600/20141220_150620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xt4oeklWeSA/VKYVbdyB3PI/AAAAAAAAGNI/0B74Orj1cBg/s1600/20141220_150620.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the original walls in 1100.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tFgUnCMQubU/VKYVcBvezOI/AAAAAAAAGNQ/x0PRSZJqL7k/s1600/20141220_150647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tFgUnCMQubU/VKYVcBvezOI/AAAAAAAAGNQ/x0PRSZJqL7k/s1600/20141220_150647.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tower Bridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tLV__3ElPSc/VKYVcgONsUI/AAAAAAAAGNU/uiGe8jIxVi0/s1600/20141220_160719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tLV__3ElPSc/VKYVcgONsUI/AAAAAAAAGNU/uiGe8jIxVi0/s1600/20141220_160719.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside of the Traitor's Gate</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_q9uz8ZesfA/VKYVear0mAI/AAAAAAAAGNs/57pkXQcgfTc/s1600/20141222_162807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_q9uz8ZesfA/VKYVear0mAI/AAAAAAAAGNs/57pkXQcgfTc/s1600/20141222_162807.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v7Yhf0QSvmg/VKYVeL6iZ8I/AAAAAAAAGNk/PuH_mf9_UM0/s1600/IMG_20141220_214835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v7Yhf0QSvmg/VKYVeL6iZ8I/AAAAAAAAGNk/PuH_mf9_UM0/s1600/IMG_20141220_214835.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the 8 royal ravens. For good luck. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vxq7-bWukX8/VKYXU7HxVmI/AAAAAAAAGPE/9jjVSuH1HpQ/s1600/IMG_20141220_214336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vxq7-bWukX8/VKYXU7HxVmI/AAAAAAAAGPE/9jjVSuH1HpQ/s1600/IMG_20141220_214336.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original tower, the White Tower</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ZSqF0HqyNI/VKYXTlMzr_I/AAAAAAAAGO0/7qzwy9IWXCM/s1600/20141220_150632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ZSqF0HqyNI/VKYXTlMzr_I/AAAAAAAAGO0/7qzwy9IWXCM/s1600/20141220_150632.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the outer walls </td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zFzeRQvM-t0/VKYXUQh7uGI/AAAAAAAAGPA/cLndykrHSJ4/s1600/20141220_151115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zFzeRQvM-t0/VKYXUQh7uGI/AAAAAAAAGPA/cLndykrHSJ4/s1600/20141220_151115.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IaX1KxnmUHY/VKYXTtCIPDI/AAAAAAAAGO4/vxkB5wlg65s/s1600/20141220_143208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IaX1KxnmUHY/VKYXTtCIPDI/AAAAAAAAGO4/vxkB5wlg65s/s1600/20141220_143208.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the guarded entrances</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_-p_WLeGWiU/VKYXSUrzXAI/AAAAAAAAGOs/RTz_E3Be3zI/s1600/20141220_141258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_-p_WLeGWiU/VKYXSUrzXAI/AAAAAAAAGOs/RTz_E3Be3zI/s1600/20141220_141258.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The blue door on the right is the chaplain; the left is the village doctor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jc9JDUZo-Kw/VKYXQs0WUlI/AAAAAAAAGOc/i4_IOng0D7A/s1600/20141220_140907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jc9JDUZo-Kw/VKYXQs0WUlI/AAAAAAAAGOc/i4_IOng0D7A/s1600/20141220_140907.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inner structures. We walked the entire wall</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RS9POJxu-60/VKYXM9JV0UI/AAAAAAAAGOI/AampSCSPY2s/s1600/20141220_080257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RS9POJxu-60/VKYXM9JV0UI/AAAAAAAAGOI/AampSCSPY2s/s1600/20141220_080257.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some goofy person</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80IsoStanEdkkZX45JWowd3WbUKp8XK2iQC-_G-9-6sqZFlxOpIElM_90P7psPlIeTtlhqp26laLjrv4HZy3CVaRpTh3G6MvUAsKuqFQ3Z8kq9ZtyiXNMCxoXDOfmVDhkM458JpLVcV8B/s1600/20141220_113342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80IsoStanEdkkZX45JWowd3WbUKp8XK2iQC-_G-9-6sqZFlxOpIElM_90P7psPlIeTtlhqp26laLjrv4HZy3CVaRpTh3G6MvUAsKuqFQ3Z8kq9ZtyiXNMCxoXDOfmVDhkM458JpLVcV8B/s1600/20141220_113342.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Crown Jewels are kept at the Tower. Here is a guard</td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uLhygeWT3N0/VKYXM1wHUhI/AAAAAAAAGOA/d-MK30Q6x5E/s1600/20141220_113600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uLhygeWT3N0/VKYXM1wHUhI/AAAAAAAAGOA/d-MK30Q6x5E/s1600/20141220_113600.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This hasn't been used in 150 years</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2wcinWTZuwo/VKYXP1Ve5wI/AAAAAAAAGOU/N5iUAkZ-P4E/s1600/20141220_121330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2wcinWTZuwo/VKYXP1Ve5wI/AAAAAAAAGOU/N5iUAkZ-P4E/s1600/20141220_121330.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another shot of the White Tower</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2nQXV2aahxw/VKYXQMnYI4I/AAAAAAAAGOY/_X9o1S_7g1A/s1600/20141220_132625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2nQXV2aahxw/VKYXQMnYI4I/AAAAAAAAGOY/_X9o1S_7g1A/s1600/20141220_132625.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A schematic of the Tower</td></tr>
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<div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;">In Paris, one of the first things we were able to do was to visit </span><a href="http://www.lesdeuxmagots.fr/en/ambiances.php#/ambiances.php" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;">Les Deux Magots</a><span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;">. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JBFDPOk9Iqw/VKYYrXzZgcI/AAAAAAAAGPc/oTfBamGkKUk/s1600/IMG_20141224_155525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JBFDPOk9Iqw/VKYYrXzZgcI/AAAAAAAAGPc/oTfBamGkKUk/s1600/IMG_20141224_155525.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best Chocolat Chaud in Paris! </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;">We ordered in French - my first time with major props to G- and I had my first real hot chocolate. I mean melted chocolate with some sort of magic creamy chocolatey stuff in it. I don't think I'll ever have chocolate that good again. Mostly because I don't like chocolate very much. It was lovely and the server was also really kind. In fact, most of the people we encountered in Paris were really nice. Since it was off season, and the tourists weren't crazy, I think everyone was pretty relaxed. We tried our best not to be obnoxious tourists and for the most part, were successful. We even hit up a movie, <i>An American In Paris</i>, and shopped at a local grocery store where we found paprika flavored Pringles. Here are some highlights: </span><br />
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">We hit up the Eiffel Tower: </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eZGqeCEfzaI/VKYY-rP_xYI/AAAAAAAAGPo/WrINiTK8KoE/s1600/20141224_094018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eZGqeCEfzaI/VKYY-rP_xYI/AAAAAAAAGPo/WrINiTK8KoE/s1600/20141224_094018.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ta-Da!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cNiZGx6eYHVXS8SHjMS5-mfdxT-sPOIYhqCGBq3K4WqF9pd4ltQ_bTVLcKBGD4KFPmXn_UfB9UfoNJCu-gttg9yEZSDza8IUXVvG705GmVC0nlHxxOzi8NM9DRH3w3SP7DJ1sbJaqGbK/s1600/20141224_094731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cNiZGx6eYHVXS8SHjMS5-mfdxT-sPOIYhqCGBq3K4WqF9pd4ltQ_bTVLcKBGD4KFPmXn_UfB9UfoNJCu-gttg9yEZSDza8IUXVvG705GmVC0nlHxxOzi8NM9DRH3w3SP7DJ1sbJaqGbK/s1600/20141224_094731.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i7fn1ietc7U/VKYY-EXKAUI/AAAAAAAAGP8/9DjcawWuENo/s1600/20141224_101335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i7fn1ietc7U/VKYY-EXKAUI/AAAAAAAAGP8/9DjcawWuENo/s1600/20141224_101335.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2N_Yrf8s2uI/VKYZBhbNkyI/AAAAAAAAGP4/uh1YuEvD8VE/s1600/20141224_101348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2N_Yrf8s2uI/VKYZBhbNkyI/AAAAAAAAGP4/uh1YuEvD8VE/s1600/20141224_101348.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris is HUGE</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hn7qmvKeRI8/VKYZCEF71AI/AAAAAAAAGQE/wC0FgCpiOS4/s1600/20141224_104017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hn7qmvKeRI8/VKYZCEF71AI/AAAAAAAAGQE/wC0FgCpiOS4/s1600/20141224_104017.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a long way down</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c1J_6fN9_dk/VKYZC8QjheI/AAAAAAAAGQM/9Ny91_BqsQg/s1600/20141224_104022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c1J_6fN9_dk/VKYZC8QjheI/AAAAAAAAGQM/9Ny91_BqsQg/s1600/20141224_104022.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the Seine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jJZWA8SwF7w/VKYZEFkaT8I/AAAAAAAAGQY/iJy6DGAQDYg/s1600/20141224_104349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jJZWA8SwF7w/VKYZEFkaT8I/AAAAAAAAGQY/iJy6DGAQDYg/s1600/20141224_104349.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another of the Seine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;">The Louvre</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LkleXAv5w0Y/VKYZvtdHFaI/AAAAAAAAGQs/qmSLwVgrC_w/s1600/20141226_090633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LkleXAv5w0Y/VKYZvtdHFaI/AAAAAAAAGQs/qmSLwVgrC_w/s1600/20141226_090633.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wait was closer to 2 hours</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KCDy6Q8s-20/VKYZviYWwJI/AAAAAAAAGQ0/i8zGaO0yTBU/s1600/20141226_113333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KCDy6Q8s-20/VKYZviYWwJI/AAAAAAAAGQ0/i8zGaO0yTBU/s1600/20141226_113333.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jU4R_o9xt5s/VKYZxWc__0I/AAAAAAAAGRA/FCv1Ck_wMIs/s1600/20141226_113347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jU4R_o9xt5s/VKYZxWc__0I/AAAAAAAAGRA/FCv1Ck_wMIs/s1600/20141226_113347.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8MKolTyZqLM/VKYZyzvCDjI/AAAAAAAAGRI/egPTGNzwhNQ/s1600/20141226_130731(0).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8MKolTyZqLM/VKYZyzvCDjI/AAAAAAAAGRI/egPTGNzwhNQ/s1600/20141226_130731(0).jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ql_5ZpWnuYo/VKYZyyoaV4I/AAAAAAAAGRM/v-DusJqeFag/s1600/20141226_160151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ql_5ZpWnuYo/VKYZyyoaV4I/AAAAAAAAGRM/v-DusJqeFag/s1600/20141226_160151.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you hear the people singing?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pc0SLNyWrjhkmaDVT6oJxuEvAzSP3FRzTFHPF4rcWqiMENX6_xkrfwQtFLdxvW3PCaD01FPQ_UmAQ1ZUQpgYJyH30I7f_EwceIAmkVvi626W0Pa16MYOLGAwnpNrMpcAK_FCmyYPCDHF/s1600/20141227_085245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pc0SLNyWrjhkmaDVT6oJxuEvAzSP3FRzTFHPF4rcWqiMENX6_xkrfwQtFLdxvW3PCaD01FPQ_UmAQ1ZUQpgYJyH30I7f_EwceIAmkVvi626W0Pa16MYOLGAwnpNrMpcAK_FCmyYPCDHF/s1600/20141227_085245.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FyhmjEPa2Wk/VKYaTNfPngI/AAAAAAAAGRo/EgylH6I_WWg/s1600/20141226_084045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FyhmjEPa2Wk/VKYaTNfPngI/AAAAAAAAGRo/EgylH6I_WWg/s1600/20141226_084045.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the Seine on the way </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialU3dNmWMTGPNIxy6fQkW4de9DSRetKrX2dFbPyHQMH_csnbtXKCfFqVA6Xq1-lD0yvaXHPy_wh_z6GjvbWlGv0FWLYPXaozq97DMPbRYoCDo9jPVLfKeRv01uDJFQVuEyuyYqvtkYQFt/s1600/20141226_091757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialU3dNmWMTGPNIxy6fQkW4de9DSRetKrX2dFbPyHQMH_csnbtXKCfFqVA6Xq1-lD0yvaXHPy_wh_z6GjvbWlGv0FWLYPXaozq97DMPbRYoCDo9jPVLfKeRv01uDJFQVuEyuyYqvtkYQFt/s1600/20141226_091757.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the palace</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXY5oLHIORrnd-9W7NDnkdBHqavrU6vPcEkAJQ5HJ6190uWGIzswCsrg8r2F_fXqcWx1bxSRoTF_GSgaT0LpY5dQi4ek85gN9gker_Gh2KiT_TJmbZiO9YsZWQXxvCWO7WyxjtQKSBtAX/s1600/20141226_091840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXY5oLHIORrnd-9W7NDnkdBHqavrU6vPcEkAJQ5HJ6190uWGIzswCsrg8r2F_fXqcWx1bxSRoTF_GSgaT0LpY5dQi4ek85gN9gker_Gh2KiT_TJmbZiO9YsZWQXxvCWO7WyxjtQKSBtAX/s1600/20141226_091840.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An older part, I think</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JqQ6fiWwohE/VKYaUMHkesI/AAAAAAAAGRs/w3aw-06ZhRE/s1600/20141226_092331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JqQ6fiWwohE/VKYaUMHkesI/AAAAAAAAGRs/w3aw-06ZhRE/s1600/20141226_092331.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a big place</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4kn7bRMQHMe9xDzZG6XX4rF4K47rcMT9bRWVklrxRyv3nQ6eQisFPswIO_lDzySbS32Xl6cr3f4n1tTbo9BEJbP-ZqhzipX7riIZQ4VGwf7c9jKdfMRbRoOLR9f73DcU7GbECBHVyAev/s1600/20141226_092808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4kn7bRMQHMe9xDzZG6XX4rF4K47rcMT9bRWVklrxRyv3nQ6eQisFPswIO_lDzySbS32Xl6cr3f4n1tTbo9BEJbP-ZqhzipX7riIZQ4VGwf7c9jKdfMRbRoOLR9f73DcU7GbECBHVyAev/s1600/20141226_092808.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over by the pyramid. In that building is a<br />
cafe called Cafe Marly; good food</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bmKSSKDAIAs/VKYaV7LTCjI/AAAAAAAAGSI/-bvj2bbFo9g/s1600/20141226_124013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bmKSSKDAIAs/VKYaV7LTCjI/AAAAAAAAGSI/-bvj2bbFo9g/s1600/20141226_124013.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cat worship was for the Assyrians too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w5xjm6ORdYQ/VKYaWuYwg-I/AAAAAAAAGSM/GZgMmrvPluU/s1600/20141226_134433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w5xjm6ORdYQ/VKYaWuYwg-I/AAAAAAAAGSM/GZgMmrvPluU/s1600/20141226_134433.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Flying Victorie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wj7AvJ-8xog/VKYaXCjYKLI/AAAAAAAAGSQ/8Rtim7mgpv0/s1600/20141226_154826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wj7AvJ-8xog/VKYaXCjYKLI/AAAAAAAAGSQ/8Rtim7mgpv0/s1600/20141226_154826.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bK1IksFgp1U/VKYaYyyHxkI/AAAAAAAAGSw/66cFf53KR3E/s1600/20141226_163307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bK1IksFgp1U/VKYaYyyHxkI/AAAAAAAAGSw/66cFf53KR3E/s1600/20141226_163307.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pyramid at night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PE8LxgmvxXo/VKYaYLprKrI/AAAAAAAAGSg/GYQBdsF-5GE/s1600/20141226_192922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PE8LxgmvxXo/VKYaYLprKrI/AAAAAAAAGSg/GYQBdsF-5GE/s1600/20141226_192922.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Under the great pyramid!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jXIWXDTRZ8w/VKYaYkvfxpI/AAAAAAAAGSk/GKzLDsnRbJo/s1600/IMG_20141226_200955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jXIWXDTRZ8w/VKYaYkvfxpI/AAAAAAAAGSk/GKzLDsnRbJo/s1600/IMG_20141226_200955.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Venus de Milo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iBUpLfPRCr0/VKYaZTBxDHI/AAAAAAAAGSo/Im6F8fe95wU/s1600/IMG_20141226_202100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iBUpLfPRCr0/VKYaZTBxDHI/AAAAAAAAGSo/Im6F8fe95wU/s1600/IMG_20141226_202100.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m1pwmpMmhTg/VKYaZ0r4ReI/AAAAAAAAGTI/foDUa2tslAQ/s1600/IMG_20141226_202325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m1pwmpMmhTg/VKYaZ0r4ReI/AAAAAAAAGTI/foDUa2tslAQ/s1600/IMG_20141226_202325.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yLqjDK5QhE0/VKYaafTmZjI/AAAAAAAAGTA/jEiei1oGNO0/s1600/IMG_20141226_202908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yLqjDK5QhE0/VKYaafTmZjI/AAAAAAAAGTA/jEiei1oGNO0/s1600/IMG_20141226_202908.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Code of Hammurabi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zR2FFqaqV1w/VKYaa5W1-zI/AAAAAAAAGTE/0tpGLeaRaXI/s1600/IMG_20141226_203306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zR2FFqaqV1w/VKYaa5W1-zI/AAAAAAAAGTE/0tpGLeaRaXI/s1600/IMG_20141226_203306.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even ancient kitties didn't want to be petted</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Ngdh5yW0Lk/VKYacHqjIgI/AAAAAAAAGTM/WqT6VOrDdBk/s1600/IMG_20141226_203505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Ngdh5yW0Lk/VKYacHqjIgI/AAAAAAAAGTM/WqT6VOrDdBk/s1600/IMG_20141226_203505.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palace grounds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">and the Cathedral of Notre Dame. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2o4E1sxXZO77ieBj-xp2C8MQH89aNFPpnbIWz3lOA9RuK0-zPMokqtIQRt-KZq2_rlWiMWFINc816PuSweLhZ483k5kRcm-GsZBSvJp1tI7cAUotcXNwyRvVgaZ8ruhrqJrYuexMAq3N9/s1600/20141224_113349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2o4E1sxXZO77ieBj-xp2C8MQH89aNFPpnbIWz3lOA9RuK0-zPMokqtIQRt-KZq2_rlWiMWFINc816PuSweLhZ483k5kRcm-GsZBSvJp1tI7cAUotcXNwyRvVgaZ8ruhrqJrYuexMAq3N9/s1600/20141224_113349.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MIo_MR1kosc/VKYbuxeNZQI/AAAAAAAAGTo/raWnZ7QYSH8/s1600/20141227_092032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MIo_MR1kosc/VKYbuxeNZQI/AAAAAAAAGTo/raWnZ7QYSH8/s1600/20141227_092032.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlemagne </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-usZSKn9AtgA/VKYbu1NLrxI/AAAAAAAAGTk/RwwSTkbdPYw/s1600/20141227_092431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-usZSKn9AtgA/VKYbu1NLrxI/AAAAAAAAGTk/RwwSTkbdPYw/s1600/20141227_092431.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wKozxlSdGFE/VKYbuhSzACI/AAAAAAAAGTs/1Wc77MKSNmI/s1600/20141227_093235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wKozxlSdGFE/VKYbuhSzACI/AAAAAAAAGTs/1Wc77MKSNmI/s1600/20141227_093235.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An alcove dedicated to the Pope </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DBgCkNEp9qw/VKYbxrZVd1I/AAAAAAAAGUI/eCXQmuryR_o/s1600/20141227_093241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DBgCkNEp9qw/VKYbxrZVd1I/AAAAAAAAGUI/eCXQmuryR_o/s1600/20141227_093241.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I do love this pope</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IZqQ0sRgBFxRUWgSmV_Ze25SSfChs5ZWtL_mHUZ2rlMWJ6FCk9zFSUfGsDFJ0VZvBAEa60fdB7sn33oG8CVguM7DFxqHFX6nFZ_suBoXG8vML-t10r8DyCJPAGepzpOwWlPBY1qxduRC/s1600/20141227_093517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IZqQ0sRgBFxRUWgSmV_Ze25SSfChs5ZWtL_mHUZ2rlMWJ6FCk9zFSUfGsDFJ0VZvBAEa60fdB7sn33oG8CVguM7DFxqHFX6nFZ_suBoXG8vML-t10r8DyCJPAGepzpOwWlPBY1qxduRC/s1600/20141227_093517.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the Rose windows</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0zF6Hiabvhg/VKYbzGcUNhI/AAAAAAAAGUM/iqTV8Hd2m_M/s1600/20141227_100648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0zF6Hiabvhg/VKYbzGcUNhI/AAAAAAAAGUM/iqTV8Hd2m_M/s1600/20141227_100648.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gargoyles</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">flying buttresses</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5dzSfscxKzQ/VKYb1P1hOhI/AAAAAAAAGUk/l8QY2rZkDqU/s1600/20141227_100743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5dzSfscxKzQ/VKYb1P1hOhI/AAAAAAAAGUk/l8QY2rZkDqU/s1600/20141227_100743.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side entrance </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cFvxOA7pEQo/VKYb1zedKtI/AAAAAAAAGUs/JbarRLzhv6Y/s1600/20141227_100825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cFvxOA7pEQo/VKYb1zedKtI/AAAAAAAAGUs/JbarRLzhv6Y/s1600/20141227_100825.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this photo</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_X87yKd5nsCgqd1TXfv2cMkw4Rq-GIsR8qJFrDUtvfw2pCNiNXmWAEifc8vLqa-soMagqOa_EN9NxPo6oMKx8lBvVJTLa-1Mw9ect-Pmow79O30q6xlewR0bkWtlf-4p_UFKnibYfCxh/s1600/20141227_100923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_X87yKd5nsCgqd1TXfv2cMkw4Rq-GIsR8qJFrDUtvfw2pCNiNXmWAEifc8vLqa-soMagqOa_EN9NxPo6oMKx8lBvVJTLa-1Mw9ect-Pmow79O30q6xlewR0bkWtlf-4p_UFKnibYfCxh/s1600/20141227_100923.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPHXHntzf1RBHaTIRfCKNjOg8A5Tf17Hf-kvfi2ucJIpljMGnqAMCZdbb-VLVF2QM-RkQgFkXANoujbPOUIrl9AcevdC1lSdoc0_dSfmNzk5uWPTwIWV4Ae8SaDCA16Haf3QVDpfwuENc/s1600/20141227_100927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPHXHntzf1RBHaTIRfCKNjOg8A5Tf17Hf-kvfi2ucJIpljMGnqAMCZdbb-VLVF2QM-RkQgFkXANoujbPOUIrl9AcevdC1lSdoc0_dSfmNzk5uWPTwIWV4Ae8SaDCA16Haf3QVDpfwuENc/s1600/20141227_100927.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8UUhusyE6zc/VKYb3ptuOUI/AAAAAAAAGU4/l95qqfaBySk/s1600/20141227_101605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8UUhusyE6zc/VKYb3ptuOUI/AAAAAAAAGU4/l95qqfaBySk/s1600/20141227_101605.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A View from the South</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Finally, the day before we were to leave, we hit a restaurant on Gs </span><i style="line-height: 22px;">Great Paris Restaurants </i><span style="line-height: 22px;">list. <a href="http://www.angelina-paris.fr/fr/">Angelinas</a> is supposed to rival </span><a href="https://www.laduree.com/en_int/" style="line-height: 22px;">LaDuree</a><span style="line-height: 22px;"> for macaroons. We ate macaroons from LaDuree. There is no contest so we didn't even try! Angelinas is amazing though. Since we had week-long Navigo passes (the metro system in Paris), we just hopped along for brunch on Sunday. It was amazing. I was too tired to even really try to order in French; the server kindly switched to flawless English and delivered one of the best meals I've eaten in a year. There was hot chocolate too, though not quite as perfect as Les Deux Magots. Every other restaurant we'd been to didn't bring us water. In fact, you have to ask for and often pay for water at restaurants. At Angelinas, I know it's a small thing, but there was water at the table for us. Perhaps the silliest realization I had from this whole trip is that <i>I have a favorite restaurant in Paris.</i></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l4VFjzxdYRY/VKYdLDvBD3I/AAAAAAAAGVQ/iPYZDCUOyks/s1600/20141228_110630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l4VFjzxdYRY/VKYdLDvBD3I/AAAAAAAAGVQ/iPYZDCUOyks/s1600/20141228_110630.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you very much; I'll be back!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Now, I'm sure I've complained about airline service before. American Airlines is on my list of companies never to patronize again. But Delta, on the other hand, was awesome for international flights. I didn't even need the customary Dramamine in order to fly with them. Comfy seats and lots and lots of beverage service. Their partner from Paris to Seattle is AirFrance and that was a fantastic flight too. We ended up at Seattle in good time and caught the shuttle bus two hours home within 2 hours of landing. I was so tired from not having slept in 22 hours that when we were dropped off at Starbucks in Ellensburg, I ordered a coffee like I had been doing for the last week at the Starbucks in Paris- and had to stop myself from using the french words. It was an odd linguistic situation. In an American company in France I had to come up with new words to get what I needed; in the same company at home I had trouble switching back. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">I know what you're thinking, and what you've probably been thinking all along: what about the cat? </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Eleanor went to stay with my friend Joy and her husband and little girl. She did great; she loved them and they cared for her so well. Eleanor even put on a little weight when we were gone and I'm glad for it. I'm so grateful to have friends whom I can trust to pill her twice daily and <strike>spoil</strike> love her like I do. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">I'm glad to be home. G went to work the day after we got back, and we passed a very quiet New Year's Eve at home last night. I still have jet lag; I'm tired but I have to stay up a few more hours, else I'll wake up halfway through the night. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AZHPtyVJoto/VKYdZ8xgBhI/AAAAAAAAGVY/Gx_-RKk9erw/s1600/20141228_125056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AZHPtyVJoto/VKYdZ8xgBhI/AAAAAAAAGVY/Gx_-RKk9erw/s1600/20141228_125056.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not ready to come home</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">On the other hand, I feel ready for a new quarter at the university. I love the bracing winter winds, the snow, the shortened daylight hours. Once my lungs recover, in about a month, I'll be back to running. This next year, 2015, will be a good one. That's my only real prediction. I know I'll spend time in front of a computer screen, wondering what to reveal and what how to reconcile the life I think I live in my head with what I know is probably closer to reality. Thanks for staying around while I sort it out. </span></span></span></span><br />
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Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-32046114222909194952014-11-30T22:16:00.000-06:002014-11-30T22:16:53.911-06:00Giving ThanksI'm not sure that I even have pictures to accompany this blog post. But anyway, we had Thanksgiving, camera or no. I think I can scrounge something up.<br />
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And it was lovely! Neither G nor I love traveling by car when the mountain passes in Washington are frozen. Usually, as was the case this year, they were frozen. So we just make plans to eat at home and have a quiet, four day weekend together.<br />
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I found a great sale on fresh, unfrozen Dungeness crab (less than 100 miles from here). G made mashed potatoes and a scrumptious cream cheese brownie from scratch. I made candied sweet potatoes. We feasted and held hands and talked about how lucky our lives are and all of the good things in them. Among those blessings are that my mother in law is home from the hospital and recovering from a recent illness. We couldn't be happier.<br />
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We went for a walk in the cold fresh air. It was bright and chilly and we saw several others out doing the same. I steered us towards the outlook with a clear view of the Kittitas Valley. Very fun.<br />
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The next day, we walked around in our downtown area and visited a small bookshop that a friend of mine owns. The local food bank, FISH, unexpectedly caught fire that morning and the talk of the town is how people who needed it would get food. I think that Ellensburg is a pretty good community. Fiscally and socially conservative, but they realize the great necessity of charity. And charity begins at home in the community. <br />
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Immediately a new command center was set up and volunteers were rerouted. The building was insured and recently inspected, thank goodness. And even though the Thanksgiving food had been distributed, the Christmas stuff they were readying were a total loss. The whole building is a 100% loss.<br />
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I had to grade papers today but asked G if he wouldn't mind running to the store. He made a list of what the food bank said they needed most and got some of everything, dropping it off at a local church. When I asked what was going on, he said there were so many donations pouring in that he was almost unnoticed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BL2scMDBfoM/VHvqjjCMq5I/AAAAAAAAEM0/x9NvuWcgd-I/s1600/IMG_20141129_134416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BL2scMDBfoM/VHvqjjCMq5I/AAAAAAAAEM0/x9NvuWcgd-I/s1600/IMG_20141129_134416.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bought this tea pot at a local business. I love it!</td></tr>
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And that warms my heart. Not just that but the number of businesses that immediately put up donation boxes. That a community would recognize that everyone is important, that food and shelter and a hot meal are basic human rights, and that they would also act on that. I'm glad to be part of this community, if for only that reason alone.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Pc5bJwnXb4/VHvqhihT1YI/AAAAAAAAEMk/8wHCIGJPriw/s1600/20141129_122647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Pc5bJwnXb4/VHvqhihT1YI/AAAAAAAAEMk/8wHCIGJPriw/s1600/20141129_122647.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">G made me breakfast on Saturday. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was so pretty outside I opened the door</td></tr>
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We are coming up on the great escape to Europe- just a few weeks out now. I'm excited but it brings up a problem for Christmas. I'm sort of hoping nobody gives us gifts this year because we won't be able to receive them until we get back (I'm purposely being vague on dates because, you know, internet). And we're getting everything sent out hopefully by the end of next week. Is it bad to ask that instead of sending me a gift, a kind and thoughtful person would make a donation to charity in my name and let me know? Because if you know me at all, you know that's the sweetest thing you could do for me.<br />
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Ah well. Tomorrow is back to the grind, until the end of the quarter. We'll get everything wrapped up and ready to go. Then it's time for final preparations, packing, and before we know it...whoosh!<br />
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Happy Thanksgiving!Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-50525392664056943812014-11-21T12:34:00.001-06:002014-11-21T12:34:47.297-06:00Ten Days of GratitudeI know an amazing group of women in Norman, Oklahoma. Several years ago, they did the hard work of helping me grow into a responsible, less neurotic, and more balanced person that I am today. I don't think it can be overstated the impact their friendship has had on me. Hopefully, I contributed to their lives as well in a small way.<br />
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Since we moved to Washington, I've mostly kept up with them on Facebook. I see their families grow up. I see them becoming parents and grandparents and going out into the world and doing good things. They make me happy and I love keeping in touch even from afar. One of these friends created a group called 21 Days of Gratitude. This is my first real chance to participate- ten days in. Ah well, better late to the party than never. Here are the prompts and my responses.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Day 1: What do you have enough of?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">I have enough love. I am a well loved person. I have friends, family, people I care about. Pets. Friends pets. Friends kids and their pets. And students. Yes, there's lots of love. The more you give away, the more you have. Works for compassion too. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Day 2: Who do you know that you could never repay?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">I could never repay Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for his impact on my life. Nor Michel Foucault, or Paulo Freire for their guidance through theory and practice. They all changed my world, made it bigger, and made it ok for me to make mistakes and learn from them. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Day 3: What do you take for granted?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">My safety. I live in a relatively safe place. I never felt secure until I bought my own house, and even then my hypervigilance took a long time to go away. I'm still a light sleeper. I worry for people who do not live a life where they can exit their homes alone at night or who live in fear of a loved one. I try to create a space in my classroom, not just of physical safety, but where students can be comfortable and free from ridicule and bullying. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Day 4: What inconvenience are you grateful for?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">We made a decision a few years ago when we moved to Washington that we would walk to work and home every day. It's inconvenient, especially when I'm running late. But I'm grateful because this imposes discipline in me, and gets me out in the fresh air twice every single day. And we save gas and don't add more pollutants to the atmosphere. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Day 5: What is your most precious memory?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">I have a lot of them. They're not just memories about things that have happened to me- like getting my black belt or graduating with my Ph.D. I have precious memories that revolve around people I love. Nieces and nephews graduating from high school, a first day of college, holding my great niece for the first time and watching her little smile. Spending summers at my grandparents house when I was a kid. Fishing with my grandpa. There was this one time I went out on my sister's boat with her, her husband, and their son. Beautiful water, crab pots out, swimming off of the boat. It was really magical. And, of course, the day that G and I got engaged. We were at Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City. I'll tell you about it sometime...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Day 6: Which artist lights up your world?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Picasso. Not just his cubist paintings, though those are mind-blowing. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Want to see one I really like? </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">I've been thinking about this as a tattoo for about 6 years now. My friend Kat has it on her shoulder and said it would be ok if I did the same. I might do it. If I ever get around to it. I may settle for a framed print. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Day 7: How have you changed for the better?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">This is going to sound sad, but it's happy. I'm much better at accepting love than I used to be. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Day 8: What do you know that you never want to forget?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">That being a freshman in college is hard and that I don't know about other people's lives. That it's best to leave my assumptions at the door and listen to what they need rather than overlay what I want. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Day 9: What's the best compliment you have ever received or given?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">I've gotten some really nice compliments. G paid me the compliment of respect. Ok, he still is respectful. And being loving when I don't really feel lovable. And he uprooted his whole life to come here to Washington. He loves it here, which is a relief. It's a powerful thing to have someone not just say they believe in you, but to bet heavily on you. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">And the other day, I overheard my students talking about me. They were talking about how old they thought I was. One said that I reminded her of a cool aunt and that she'd like to hang out with me when I wasn't her teacher. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Maybe the real compliment is in the high number of students who take multiple English classes from me. I'm not an easy grader, but I'm glad they still think it's worth their time. It makes me feel valued as I derive a bit of my self esteem from teaching. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Day 10: What's the best advice you have ever received?</span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">My husband gave me this one- it's from his mom (My favorite mother in law!): </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">"Don't borrow sorrow from tomorrow"</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">And since my favorite MIL is currently in hospital and I tend to worry about her incessantly, I'm trying to remember this one as a mantra for today. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">That's it, peeps! All the stuff I'm grateful for today. That and personal space heaters at work. And that my quarter is wrapping up nicely and that we're heading across the world in less than 4 weeks. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">I'm also grateful for soup and two legs that work and chiropractors. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Have a great weekend!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-1508654790477415852014-11-12T13:46:00.000-06:002014-11-12T13:47:27.288-06:00In Other News...I think sometimes during the school year, I get all up in my work and forget the world around me.<br />
G is very patient about this. He generously lets me do my thing in the evenings, a day on the weekends, and whenever I have some big grading project going on. So when I got the opportunity to show him how much I value his friendship, love, and understanding, I took it.<br />
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We went to Seattle last weekend. I didn't tell him that's where we were headed; I just said that he should wear layers and sturdy shoes. He initially thought we were hiking in Wentachee. I sort of blew it when I said we'd be going over <a href="http://www.wsdot.com/traffic/passes/snoqualmie/">Snoqualmie Pass</a>. Ah well. He had no idea what we'd be doing.<br />
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First stop was brunch at the incredible Seattle restaurant <a href="http://tomdouglas.com/index.php?page=dahlia-lounge-brunch">The Dahlia Lounge</a>. Great food, great service, great time. G loves a good restaurant and that set the mood for the whole day. Then I gave him a choice: the <a href="http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/">Seattle Art Museum</a> or the <a href="http://www.seattleaquarium.org/">Seattle Aquarium</a>. You can't do it all in one day, not with a two hour drive each way. The SAM has a pop departures exhibit right now, but we've already visited there a couple of times. He opted for the aquarium, with their touchable sea animals exhibits and outdoor enclosures right on the city pier. The animals seem pretty happy there. They have plenty of room to roam (except for the river otters; they need miles and miles). There were divers, octopi, and an under the sea sort of dome with hundreds of salmon, halibut, sturgeon, and multitudes of others. Lots of people too. It was amazing.<br />
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Our last stop- since we'd been walking most of the day- was my last surprise. A movie. This may not seem like a big deal.<br />
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However. G likes nothing more than a good movie and since we moved to a little town, the nearest art house theater is in Seattle. We saw<a href="http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/birdman-or-the-unexpected-virtue-of-ignorance/Content?oid=2472147"> Birdman, </a>with Michael Keaton, Ed Norton, Emma Stone, and Naomi Watts (among others). G said it was the best movie he's seen this year. I agree. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a beautiful day</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at his sweet face! Reminds me of the Neverending Story.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puffin!</td></tr>
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In other news, it finally froze last night. Hard freeze; got down to 17f. The rest of the week is cold, with a chance of snow. Snow! I am so excited. I busted out a warm scarf that my friend (and Oklaho-mom) Charlotte made for me. Before it froze, I gathered the last couple dozen tomatoes and cut back my little porch garden. We're ready for winter!<br />
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Finally, buried at the end of my post: in other news we are spending the holidays in London and Paris. It's my first trip to Europe; I'm so excited! We booked plane tickets and hotel reservations and have created loose itineraries for our time. For Christmas eve, we'll be at midnight mass in Notre Dame.<br />
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How.Cool.Is.That??!!? <br />
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Ok friends, stay warm. It's a polar vortex out there! And now I'm back to grading, practicing French phrases, and huddling happily by my space heater. <br />
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<br />Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-24168911113269064112014-10-26T21:17:00.002-05:002014-10-26T21:17:52.053-05:00Note To SelfI sometimes need to remind myself to live in the moment. I have this tendency to want to take a certain action and I overthink it. If I do this, then this might happen, then surely this person will react this way, and then this will happen and things are just going to go to heck in a hand basket.<br />
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I call it the spiral. One moment, life is good. I go to work, do my job, love my life, exercise my body, encourage others and eat really good vegetarian food with some fish. The next moment, I contemplate a change. And from there my thinking starts to get out of control. My fears start to get out of control.<br />
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I didn't have a lot of what one might call 'consistency' when I was growing up. Not a lot of firm ground. As a consequence, my fears always culminate in me losing my job, my house, my loved ones and ends with a picture of me and my cat living under a bridge by Seattle, with our own shopping cart and a machete for protection. Don't worry, I know how to use it. For variety, my fears now include taking my husband with me and his favorite handmade afghan for comfort and warmth. <br />
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Anyway, a few things have happened lately to make me think about insecurity and the more distant idea that someday I will lose everything dear to me. It all boils down to fear and not being in control every minute of every day. I think that some people would do well to maybe just let me run their lives- as though that were my business and as though I could do so. I can barely manage my own life, let alone someone else's.<br />
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It's about alcoholism, of course, and my bad reaction to it. <br />
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When someone I love gets all crazy in their sickness, I almost never give an outward sign. It's not my business. <i>Except when it could hurt someone besides themselves</i>, says my brain. No. It's not my business. Alcoholism always does hurt others, but mostly the alcoholic. <strike>I still hate it. And it makes me scared</strike>. It's still my job to first protect myself, then to love.<br />
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I used to <strike>be self destructive</strike> skip that first step of self protection. I just can't afford to do that anymore. My life means something to me and even my wellbeing means something to G, and I have to take care of my heart and all the soft parts that want to make things better for someone else who isn't just on a path of <b>if </b>they self destruct, but <b>when</b> and <b>how hard </b>and <b>how many others</b> have to go through hell too...<br />
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For me that means not to rescue anyone from jail. Not to offer to make things better. Not to enable, not to nod affirmation to something I think inherently is not right. It means that I love and don't judge- or at least do my best to not judge by saying mean things to or about someone- and that I keep my own circle of sanity nice and clean.<br />
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It's not really that I worry that I'll end up living under a bridge. Eleanor is a tough old cat. We'd have an afghan and a machete. G could tell jokes and everything would be ok. We like rain.<br />
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I worry about the fallout for everyone else, for people that aren't as good at curling up in a little ball as I am, as we all wait for the current hurricane to pass. I try to not take this personally. Because really, this isn't about me.<br />
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I am reminded of something we used to say a few years ago, in Al-Anon. It's an organization for the friends and loved ones of alcoholics. Ready?<br />
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You did not cause it. </div>
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You cannot control it. </div>
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You cannot change it. </div>
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And you don't have to contribute to it. </div>
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Making a little note to myself. <br />
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I spent a lot of time in Al-Anon, and I am forever grateful for the women and men who helped me when I so desperately needed help with boundaries, detaching with love, and giving myself permission to enjoy life. Sorry if this is somewhat of a bummer of a post. I try to keep the things I write light. If I'm not careful, I can drift too far towards the ills in the world. But you know, life isn't always light or bright. It's what we do in those hours that define us.<br />
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<br />Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054186034820218332.post-20932239842528679132014-10-14T18:29:00.001-05:002014-10-14T18:29:36.830-05:00Catch up!Catching Up!<br />
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Life is moving fast, so I'm going to hit a few highlights and add lots of pictures. Sound ok?<br />
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As it cools down outside, my tea love spouts again. Actually, I started drinking hot tea to help get me in the fall mood, even though it was over 80 outside then. I love this mug, and if I'm honest, all things owl. My husband doesn't, so I keep all my cool owl stuff at work.<br />
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My little kitty is certainly aware of how cute she is. This is how she gets people to cuddle when they're running late.<br />
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I snapped this on campus. The science building is lovely, and even mores with bright trees turning color out front.<br />
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Eleanor is running out of fall days where it's warm enough to go outside. Almost every day she demands a few minutes out in the autumn air. On the porch, away from bugs and dirt.<br />
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Saturday mornings are our sleep in days. I love to get up before G, make a strong pot of coffee, and whip up some breakfast in bed. This is my favorite. His favorite is- always- blueberry pancakes.<br />
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Yup. Still knows she's cute.<br />
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This is the building where I work, taken from the south side. <br />
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This little creek runs all over town and is part of my daily commute. By "commute" I mean that both G and I walk to work.<br />
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Hello Fall! This is right outside of city hall and half a block from home.<br />
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This concoction is butternut squash and apple soup. It was delicious. We finally got a crock pot!<br />
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Closer picture of my building. There is no bottom floor on the bottom. All this is just the middle joiners of two buildings- one on either side of the camera's view. My office is on that top floor on the right.<br />
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Maybe not a GREAT view, but the window opens wide.<br />
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Ready for fall, it just hasn't happened yet!<br />
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As the faculty affiliate for women's softball, I go to as many games as I can. We had one two weekends ago- just exhibition games. G is gracious and goes with me.<br />
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This is Barge, the oldest and most beautiful building on campus.<br />
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Snuggle time.<br />
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Fall means the roses are fewer and farther between, and also more dramatic.<br />
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Yellow roses always remind me of my sister, Patti.<br />
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Part of my commute. One of my bloggy friends reminded me of how lucky I am to live in an absolutely beautiful part of the world. I couldn't agree more.<br />
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Speaking of beautiful, look at that cup of coffee! Just kidding. The other thing I am so, so grateful for is the opportunity to work in the same place as my husband. We get to have lunch together several times a week too. Doesn't he look like Sam the Eagle from the Muppets?<br />
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Well, that's my catch up. Hope you are enjoying fall as much as I am. Fall is almost my favorite time of year. I can't WAIT for the snow to start falling. I'm hoping for a really cold, really snowy year. Wish us luck!Wild Oregonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11218538589273491724noreply@blogger.com3