Meriliberia

Bibio

2011-01-04T07:21:00.000-08:00

Picture this:
You're sitting upon a lazy susan, you are facing the 70ties, your legs are up. Earthy, rhythmic tones float in through your ears and up through your hair. You want to have a fro now, you want to be in bell bottoms, you want rainbows to shoot out of your eyes. The beats are simple and catchy, the music raw and the guitar is loud. The sounds of the needle kissing the record lightly is barely made out, the music sounds ancient. Someone just started hitting a cow bell. You want blue skies and Simon and Garfunkel to just show up. Then you're spun like a Chinese dinner... and electronic, digital beats rip your neck open and shake your spine til you have no choice but to dance, dance like its 2010. This music is confusing. Pick a century. Its that 70ties show meeting club dunk. You want to move your legs and wear glow in the dark headbands. This is what it's like to do drugs. This is Bibios Ambivalnce Avenue.
Listening to it now wishing it didn't hold so many memories for me. Nevertheless I couldnt be happier with an album. I would have chosen one song to hark on but I couldn't. Every song makes me wish I was born earlier, every song makes me happy to be alive now.

Eels - Man Up

2010-12-29T06:31:00.000-08:00

His dark chocolaty voice rasps out these words in a way no other man could.
Thanks Eels.
-------

In my heart of hearts I know it well
Been giving myself the soft sell
Anyone can see that i've been running away
Not facing the day that's here

It's time to man up
I'm man enough
It's time to man up
I'm man enough
I'm man enough for you
It's time to man up

The phone is off, the blinds are down
Me and my heart are out of town
The sign is hammered up
Do not disturb
Don't say another word to me

It's time to man up
I'm man enough
I'm man enough for you
It's time to man up
I'm man enough
I'm man enough for you
It's time to man up

In my heart of hearts I know it well
I hit the ground hard when I fell
Not licking wounds but more like sewing them up
Man it was rough for me

But it's time to man up
I'm man enough
I'm man enough for you
It's time to man up
I'm man enough
I'm man enough for you
It's time to man up

My name. In a Christmas SONG.

2010-12-11T06:33:00.000-08:00

Ding dong Merilee on high,
In heaven the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riv'n with angel singing.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

E'en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And "Io, io, io!"
By priest and people sungen.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime
Your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

My next boy.

2010-12-04T08:23:00.000-08:00

Well, the look on the cake
It ain't always the taste
My ex-boy had
Such a beautiful face
I wanted love
But not for myself
But for the boy
So he could love himself

Oh my next boy
Will be nothing like my ex-boy
I made mistakes back then
I'll never do it again
With my next boy
He'll be nothing like my ex-boy
It was a painful dance
And I got a second chance

Oh, a beautiful face
And a wicked way
And I'm paying for his beautiful face
Everyday
All that work
Over so much time
If I think too hard
I might lose my mind

Oh my next boy
Will be nothing like my ex-boy
I made mistakes back then
I'll never do it again
With my next boy
He'll be nothing like my ex-boy
It was a painful dance
And I got a second chance

Oh my next boy

My next boy

its time.

2010-10-14T03:45:00.000-07:00

I am saying goodbye to Meriliberia for just a while.
Hopping on another ship.
I might be back though.

You can click on the link below only if you want. I have two blogs now and feel quite bloggerific. Checking my blog, writing on my blog, updating my old and new blogs... wondering whose blog to follow. Its a blogging world out there folks. Dont be left behind. Im in cambodia now for a while, so Im bloggin about that. Heck..I might eventually start another blog about my life in Alaska...
call it: My life in a (b)log cabin
hahahaaaa
okayyy im done.

http://ode2joy.tumblr.com/

This is for Mama Bev

2010-10-11T07:03:00.000-07:00

My time here started out with a bang! a clang a clash a crash a motion... of emotions.
Learned quick from Kendell better not be late to devotions

Ma Bev took me under her wing... showed me the ropes. I was her intern daughta
then I got handed off to Taya, building BSF's.. learning all bout da clean wata

The days rolled by like clouds in the wind of the sky we try, we lie, we cry, we shine, we light
MMMMMM and girls! best not be out past mid-night!

I was taught quick the roads of the jungle, the taste of cassava. I was filled in with the things I lack. Eliz would say it was so good to be done with four weeks doing assessment of impact

I watched girls grow like seeds from the ground, like petals on a rose, they tossed they turned like diamonds once burned.. but from ashes and dust, dirt to the touch, they are beautiful. They are whole. They are no longer alone.
Jesus let me see this healing in the wonderful Think Home.

I learned responsibility. I tried to practice positivity. Erred on the side of optimism, avoiding sarcasm (yeaaah right)... hopping on the train of surrender relying on God to be the meander. Jacob wasn't a car crash, just a fender bender ;)

I'll crave zaa zaa's muffins in the morn', the way tito the driver got me my burnt corn, oh the corn, hit the horn, I'm forlorn... they way my clothes and shoes grow moss. what do those white stripes of the flag mean again? Oh yeah, rice and sauce

I was on fire with the highs but down hearted with the dips. I had sorrow in my throat and tried to keep jesus on my lips.
Some though could call meh creepy, a little bit weepy... when I dance I get leapy. Yes of course I watch Joni sleepy and showed Danielle how to shee peee

I cant forget this place or the space, running this race, feeling alone feeling at peace. I grew up, I threw up.... the old self. Now I'm new. Now I'm better. It took burying the chest to find the treasure

Some women here said I was FAT-O! I like to say stalky, hearty, plump, maybe chunky? I'll miss everything about these five months, even being a skud monkey

So I want to say thank you. For making every day new giving me something to chew, something to do, someone to be, finding out who... I AM. You stood by me when I was healthy and when I was sick. Fever, head cold, sore throat, runny tummy, heck! malaria, probably diphtheria...
But you stayed right there.. so THANK YOU. Dont forget about me SP LIBERIA

YupDate

2010-08-27T21:38:00.000-07:00

Africa is no longer where my physical body is, but its still in my blood. My heart is still there.

I departed in a whirlwind on August 13th... Friday the 13th to be exact. I didn't cry because I didn't have time too. I didn't have time for my heart and mind to touch bases. They had been doing different things lately. I hadn't prepared myself to leave at all. It was just another day, and that's what it felt like as I was driven to the airport.
I'm hoping soon it will all set in... and I can process everything, work through what I saw and learned.... and let Liberia really get into my bones instead of just sit on my skin.

The weeks before I left Liberia I was out in villages doing VBS and follow-up. Back to back to back. I came home to Monrovia for two days, was able to pack, see some people and jump in the ocean one last time. Then out again to play with black babiesssss and teach them more about God and Jesus again up until the day before I left for America.
Danielle (new intern and new dear friend) and I bathed out in the moonlight most nights during vbs. The women in the village would heat up water for us and we'd take it in a bucket back behind the jungles arms and let loose with a bar of soap. Some of the closest moments I had with God was when I was stark nude bathing under all of His glory...and not in mine. The stars splashed the sky...no street lights, no tall buildings, no airplanes flying high above. Just the raw open black lid. As I would shower little glow lightening bugs would come dance around me while I was washing the day off. I loved them....they lit up my area so I could see better! I would sing most of the time during this euphoria... out into the night sky... all I wanted to do was sing. All I wanted to do was thank Jesus for just being alive.

We got a chance to hike up to this magnificent thundering waterfall during my last week in one of the villages!! I have a video of it I am trying to load. Hopefully it works

waving my hands like: YEAH

2010-08-02T03:14:00.000-07:00

life has been insane. in. the. membrane.

INSANE IN THE MEMBRANE

I am just saying hello. I am running out the door to go do VBS in a village called Moramu. We tried to go there last week but the roads were so flooded we couldn't make it.

The roads are still flooded today as I type this.
But we are going to make it.

We are hiking in!!! Through the rough terrain,and snarled branches... along side the slippery snakes and hairy muulrats. Yes, wild African muulrats. They exist. With hair thick as mud and teeth sharp as Edward Cullen.
Our motto: We kill them before they can kill us.

I am excited. After this village we head straight to another community called Gbangata. I dont think I spelled that correctly at all. But sound it out, the G is silent.
We will be there til Sunday then the helicopter is picking us up. I come back to Monrovia for one week to debrief, pack up, and say goodbye to Liberia. Raise your hand if you want to throw up your own lungs...?
Oh. Me. Hands up in the air. Mehhh
I am very sad and I would say confidently I am not ready to leave yet. But this is the end.

Welp. My ride is here. Lots more to blogget about! Including that one time I got worms and they came out of my own skin.
YAy

Tootles.

failed.

2010-07-08T12:18:00.000-07:00

The video did not load... obvioooooously.
But I tried and triiiiiiied!!
The internet is just not strong enough.

Instead I will just put up some pictures of me and the girls the night we filmed.
Not as good as a video but it will portray who I have been hanging out with lately and also a glimpse of
their cuteness.

Noodles

2010-07-07T07:32:00.000-07:00

I'm frustrated.

This is my 6th attempt at 'blogging'.
I've tried desperately to update you, my lovies, but I'v either lost internet or lost power each time. And because my computer is the best computer in the universe it dies 45 seconds after power is cut off from it, so I have blogged... lost power... and therefore lost my bloggin' words

but alas! I have power and internet and I am trying at this one last time. If I lose this entry though.. say goodbye to meriliberia...... FOOOR evvvvvvvvv verrr (said like squints on sandlot)

So here at S.P. Liberia we have a helicopter, and that helicopter has a pilot and that pilot has a wife and that wife birthed 4 kids. This team of 6 makes up the Spencer Family and they are pretty great. They just departed 2 weeks ago for some time off in the states. Believe it or not they are from Cincinnati Ohio... which is a place that is dear to me and where I spent much of my time during the past 3 years of my life. Their kids are adorable. They didn't really have kids actually, they had little puppies and kitties and bunnies for offspring. Sometimes their youngest daughter was so cute I had to leave the room. I liked them all very much and we had fun together. They invited me over to play with the cutes from time to time and for dinner. One night, in honor of our mutual feelings for Cincinnati, they made me sky line chili. I almost cried as the smell of it was wafting through the air. It was a familiar smell and made me feel like a piece of my past was giving me a hug.
One night they invited me over and we watched The Sound Of Music!! That is one of my all time favorite films. I think it has inspired many a' dress or shirt or skirt made out of old curtains or pillow cases (ginger) in mine and my sisters lives. After the movie was over I think we danced around the house and sang for a good 30 minutes before Mr. and Mrs. Spencer had to come rally the little fluffs to get them to settle down and go to sleeeeep.
So I wanted to put up this video. Its of me and the three spencer girls and they are hilarious and cool. We made the video one night after a crocheting party. We crocheted a beanie!

Oh and the first week of VBS went incredibly well. I will definitely be writing more about it soon. Like tomorrow. Now we are in our second week of VBS so you can still be praying for THAT!
I think I discovered that I dont really like children and they dont really like me... or just that they dont like puppets and it makes them scared... and I dont like telling them to be quiet. I just like getting them excited and hyper but then calming them again is no fun.
These kids though... in the video. I like them. Go ahead and watch.

Oxy gen.

2010-06-17T07:11:00.000-07:00

Life is weird.

It’s up and down.. you know? it’s to the side, is crooked .. it’s to and fro. You make it, you fake it, you shake and bake it. A few days and your heart can feel great, your mind is at rest and you feel like around every corner Jesus will be there to give you a hug.

Then some weeks you fail, and fall down and mess up and quite frankly life just hurts.

I am a piece of drift wood on a stormy day in the ocean. I drift between these two worlds.

I am jacks bleeding esophagus.

I am jacks thrown up yogurt parfait.

Consistency is something in my life I always long for, always wish I had. But if I had it would I get bored? No. But I think I would. Which tells me maybe I should grow up. There are exciting elements to not having a routine life, but in matters like reading the bible, praying… growing… perhaps eating healthy and staying in contact with those I love… I could most certainly use a leg up in the climbing of the consistency tree.

For the past few weeks since I was out in the jungle for a month, I have been under the supervision of lovely Elizabeth. She is Project manager for Program Development. She is the brilliant lobe who wrote the impact assessment and trained all of the numerators and myself. She is a mover and a shaker. She’s is also quite fun and loving and caring. I learn a lot from her. We hang out very much outside of work and it’s very nice. I have been able to be her secretary these few weeks. When she leaves for meetings during the day in town, I organized her desk a little bit, run make copies, arrange for quick meetings and drink the rest of her coffee.

A new intern comes in 3 days and to be honest I already don’t like her. What? I’m just kidding. But seriously. What if she is really cool and people like her better than me? No I’m not serious. I’m excited for her to come. She just better not be cool, or funny, or good looking.

Totally kidding. Noooot really

Her (new intern) and I for the month of July and my last weeks in August will be running VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL! IN THE MIDDLE OF THE JUNGLES UGLY WET MOUTH. The philistines are upon us and I am not excited about it. And by philistines I mean rainy season. When it rains here, it waterfalls. You can’t walk out of your house in it without feeling like you just tried surfing for the first time. You are soaked and sad. So new intern and I will be upcountry and out in villages for 9 weeks playing with kids and telling them about Jesus in gross conditions. But who really cares. I get to tell kids they are loved and play games with them and act like a child. It will be great. I’m working on the curriculum for it now… brainstorming inventive ideas… how to make these kids ‘get it’ but not just understand in their minds about Jesus, but in their hearts. I’m thinking lots of skits and puppet shows. And candy!! And hugs!!

I was deemed Project Manager over VBS 2010 which made me nervous… nervous where my entire insides were attacked with waves of anxious lizard tales that tingle with the force of a thousand tooth fairy prickles…

Yet it also gave me a sense of worth and significance as far as leadership goes here at sp. I’ve been just the ‘intern’ for 3 months now… taking orders… taken numbers. Now though I get to oversee a project… make some key decisions… and feel needed.

VBS is taken quite seriously here actually, as it should. Satan hates it. The devil wants to destroy the efforts and the love the VBS team wants to put into these kids all over this country. Telling the younger generations about a powerful God and seeing life changes is the best thing we can do for the foundation of Liberia and its potential rising leaders! So of course these labors will be met with stronger opposition than I think we understand. I know the team of 2009 faced many scary spiritual warfare type situations out in the villages, where they felt very oppressed and could sense a greater evil trying to destroy any and all of their work with the kids. So VBS Liberia 2010 definitely needs some prayer. I want to piss Satan off. I want him to try and ruin things, I just want to be prepared when he tries. I am fighting for a great power here and have confidence in that victory. We just need to be soldiers along the way and not be discouraged. So if you want too, go ahead and pray for our team. It will help.

Anyone else watching The World Cup? Anyone else think that they saw some cuties on the Japan team Monday night?!!?

Today I am catching Mexico vs France.

Yo quiero taco bellllllllll! No but seriously

Think Home Graduation + Dress girls made for me = A heart achy yet wonderful day in my life and theirs.

2010-06-10T16:33:00.000-07:00

Please Pray.

2010-06-02T20:15:00.000-07:00

http://www.ktvb.com/news/Former-BSU-student-survives-deadly-plane-crash-95465459.html

Me and my family know this family. They are our friends in Alaska. A plane crash has put them all in the hospital with severe burns, one in a coma, and a little 4 year old was sent to heaven. The full story can be read if you click on the link. I don't understand why this happened, I just have to understand that God is still loving, and He is still in control. It all sounds pretty messed up. But that is faith.

Please pray for their probably scared hearts and for their families. This is tragic.

james bon fyre.

2010-05-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

Hello World.

In total I have been out in the ‘bush’ for a month now. But as of this past Friday Impact assessment 2010 is officially over!!! :Slaps the nearest moving human beings rear end:

I was co-supervisor with my boss and friend Elizabeth who was head supervisor, over five Liberian Numerators who, overall, did a fantastic job at executing the profession. I’ve already written about what we did, but let me REFRESH ya. Went into over 60 communities, talked to over 600 people, and traveled to two different districts, in one fantastic country, to find out if Samaritans Purse has made an impact on them! Woot woot.

I was peed on, stepped on, pooped on, kicked and I almost ate monkey.

Speaking of Monkey, I am putting up some pictures of a monkey who really had some spirit. You can see a couple of his different excited expressions/poses. One he is raising the roof, another he is fist pounding it, and the other one he is just ‘hanging out’ with his friend.

Hahaha get it. HANGing out

Anyways, I liked this guy. If only he weren’t dead. If only he still had a head? If only this family weren’t going to eat his dirty meat for dinner.

In between the 4 weeks of the Impact Assessment I had the privileged to come back one weekend and go to a campout with the Think Home ladies. We watched movies, made a bonfire in the woods, danced around like wild zebras, had a fashion show and enjoyed a day at the beach playing in the water.

The time shared around the bonfire that night were seconds in time I won’t ever shake from this brain of mine. Each girl, including myself, was given a piece of a branch that when it was their turn, they would stand up and throw into the fire representing the burning of their old life and old ways. When it was their turn they also each had the chance to say something to the rest of the girls and it was open for anyone to ask for forgiveness if there had been any quarrels or wrong doings that had transpired between any of them. Through sobs and tear stained cheeks some of the girls got up and laid their hearts out for all of us to see beating. I was struggling to hold it together. Many of them expressed how thankful they are to their teachers and counselors for bringing them out of the destructive and hopeless lives they were living; some got up and thanked Jesus for loving them despite who they used to be and what they used to do; and others got up and went to the girls around them asking for forgiveness for things done. When it was my turn I just prayed I would be able to talk, and I was.

It’s all kind of a blur but I told them that Jesus loved them no matter what they did, where they had been and even after the things they will do. I told them they were precious to God and that they had every reason to live confidently because their identity is found in Jesus… not in themselves, not in their friends, and not in men. I told them they are strong women who shouldn’t be afraid to take this world by force, because they can make a difference. By the time I sat down I realized that what I had said was what I needed to hear myself. I was preaching to Merilee just as much as I was speaking to those girls. The power that was in that place that night was overwhelming and I knew that God was there and that He would continue to work in their lives.

Nothing really can top my experience here in Liberia so far. Ive seen so much and done so much. I feel ripped up and sewn back up, and its beautiful and God is good. I only have 2 and ½ months left!! I am half way done. I can’t imagine leaving at this point. So I wont imagine it. I’ wont think about it. Aga gah gah

Tonight I am eating home made lasagna, and moist cake. Then watching movies on a projector on a huge wall. Yay life.

cup of water.

2010-05-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

I love you, Lord, my strength.

You are my rock

my fortress and my . deliverer.

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation

my stronghold.

I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.

The cords of death entangled me
the torrents of destruction overwhelm me.

The cords of the grave coiled around me
the snares of death confront me

In my distress I called to the Lord
I cried to my God for help.

From his temple he heard my voice!!
my cry came before him, into HIS ears.

The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains SHOOK

they trembled because he was . angry.

Smoke rose from his nostrils
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.

He parted the heavens and came down

dark clouds were under his feet.

He mounted the cherubim and flew

he soared on the wings of the wind.

He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him
the dark rain clouds of the sky.

Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.

The LORD thundered from heaven
the voice of the Most High resounded

He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies,
great bolts of lightning and routed them.

The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.

He reached down from on high and took hold of me
he drew me out of deep waters.

He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.

They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.

He brought me out into a spacious place
he rescued me because he delighted. in. me. (rilee)

Psalms 18

This passage makes me tremble.

God, creator of the Universe. Who rides on dark clouds and coughs up bolts of lighting... cares for me. Smoke comes out of his nostrils when He's angry!! When He sees that I am in need of Him, when I am in deep waters and am desperate to be pulled out.

He wants to be my protector and my strength. I need to let Him.

With a breath from Him the earth can be laid bare, in ruin... just a speck in the galaxies.

I serve a mighty and loving God. It’s too much to conceive of or wrap my head around. Maybe that is why most of my time I spend with Him I am silenced

Rainbow

2010-05-04T15:10:00.000-07:00

I see fascinating and great things out in the jungle.
Its hard to write them all out... to paint the scenes for you so you can see them too.
Therefore, I took pictures of the beautiful people and things Ive come across. I shan't post them all. I think I have three though.
When I was growing up my sisters and I were mildly obsessed with this doll called Rainbow Bright. Anyone else?
She had rockin pink hair, a silk blue jumper dress, color splashed socks and she rode a unicorn over the rainbow. Every adolescent girls dream.
(a young confused boys dream as well)
During a survey/interview last week I just happened to look up and over as a hardworking teenage boy stomped by to go work on the farm. I glanced at his attire and when my eyes put together that his shirt wasn't just a blur of flashy colors but a captured scene of a legendary fictitious character that I once loved and cherished as a child, I almost had a seizure.
He was wearing a Rainbow Bright Shirt. This manly young boy, who was about to go work his day away making money to support his family and put food on the table by digging up vegetables and planting rice, was wearing a rainbow bright t-shirt.
I took a picture of it. I almost bought it off him but then thought that probably shouldn't happen. Ms. Bright needs to remain out in the jungle, colorful and happy, giving joy to everyone who gets the privileged of looking at her.
I asked him where he got it but he didnt understand me. He liked that I took his picture though, so we both win in the end.

I also took a picture of one of my favorite little girls I have encountered yet. Her name is Rebbecca and during a survey I was supervising, her grandmother brought her over to me. She told me that her granddaughter wanted to introduce herself. Rebbecca was rare and lovely, she is an albino African with the coolest hair possibly in the world. In the picture she is giving off such a gangster vibe, sucking on her little candy wrapper with her head tilted to the side. I loved her. She came and put her arm next to mine and said we were the same. Her grandmother says she never sees white people so this was a special occasion.

The third picture is of fish!!!! In tin foil!!! Whole fish, eye balls and all. We ordered 5 of them. Before our eyes our dinner was prepared on the busy streets of Gbarnga in central Liberia. The ocean reptiles were taken out of a big bowl, slathered in a tangy zesty almost bar-b-quey sauce and thrown on the grill over a fire. We watched them roast with much anticipation. Once cooked the fish were topped with fresh avacado slices and more sauce. The whole week we had been eating rice and granola bars, so this was a good mix up in our menu. It was our last night of the Impact Assesment journey, the closing of two weeks out in the jungle, and we wanted to celebrate. And you cant celebrate without eating an entire fish: tales/scales/eyeballs/skin. Right?

After they were roasted and we had piled up our plates with fried plantains and drank our cold sodas, we wrapped up our food and headed back to the headquarters to indulge. Looking for dinner in Gbarnga was thrilling, we trotted up and down the busy streets of the main road at dusk to search. The sun was setting over the city, chickens were wabbling across the road and the venders were calling out to the hungry onlookers.
There were many options of food at multiple different food stands yet we ended up at the fish lady.
I definitely enjoyed eating the crazy fish fresh from their watery grave, I mean it kind of made me feel weird, and later I did regret it, but at the time it was truly grand. I ate my whole fish minus the eyes and the bones. Some of you are already contimplating a nice way of discontinuing our friendship because of what I have done. But dont do that. It was just a fish. Not that gross.

Hopefully you can see the food in the picture sitting in the tin foil, waiting to be devoured. My expression says alot I think. A mix between worry, anticipation, hunger and sheer confusion.

Met a girl named Blessing today

2010-04-21T14:25:00.000-07:00

The past few days have taken my eye lids and pried them open using the forks of realization and unbelievable circumstance.
I make children urinate.
so, Monday I arrive in Foya and Tuesday, yesterday, we begin the impact assessment. We travel to 3 villages a day. start at 7 am and usually end around 5pm. granted it has only been TWO days of this but I feel like a pro... and like Ive been doing it for weeks.
We go out with the motive of tracking down mothers in the community to talk to them and see how Samaritans Purse has impacted their daily lives and households.... We cant interview everyone so we narrow it down using this complicated-but-not, random selection method (the houses are numbered, then clusters are chosen at random out of the total sum... then the total number of houses in that cluster is divided by 10.. and whatever your answer is, THAT is the number in which you you count up by and use to divide the houses among the interviewers. ex. take 70 houses in a cluster... divide by 10... gets you 7.. therefore each surveyor is given two houses that falls within every 7th house count)
blah. I dont know if that makes sense.
Anyways... I skip around and sit with each surveyor during an interview, supervising their technique and skills during, hoping they are getting the adequate and accurate results we need. I am there to make sure the information we give is translated properly and to see that their answers are recorded correctly. At the end of each interview we weigh the mothers children who are under the age of 5 on this compact and ingenious scale. You have to first place the child and their little chubby legs into this big black diaper looking thing that has one long strap attaching both sides of it which allows you to hang the child from the hook on the scale... that is hanging from the ceiling on a rope.

Well I have asked around and no other surveyor has had an issue like mine. Most of the kids scream and cry when you weigh them. thats fine. They are being hung up like fresh meat, I understand their discomfort. BUT do I understand their instant and desperate need to pee everywhere as soon as their diaper is almost on and my arms are grabbing their two legs?
No. I dont understand it. It has happened three times now. Three spray downs. Two yesterday, one today.
It gave me a new and fresh meaning to the word peeeeee[king]
People laugh alot when it happens. I just try and not weep. I am the only one its happened too. When I sat with Lawrence today and it happened he just laughed and laughed and ran away... proclaiming this was his first peeing encounter.
But its all part of the job, and once the child calms down and I calm down, life is a'right again.

I won tonight, in a rowdy game of Spoons. If you haven't once taken part in this game of vigor and alacrity, either on holidays, camping trips, vacations, night in with your friends, I suggest you try your hand at it (pun pun pun). Emmanuel and I were neck and neck at the end of this game tonight... and I even had my own cheering squad. I was dealt 2 kings right off the bat and I knew the winnings were looking up for me. When I was finally slid the 2 other Kings, one right after the other, I paused a minute to look at my opponent in the eyes as I nonchalantly slipped my hand across the table to grab my treasure.
He wasn't happy, but my victory dance WAS

Tomorrow we gear up to go out again, and I believe Friday we have some more villages to attend.
I plan to wear a plastic bag for a shirt for the remainder of my time out on the field so that I may be peeeeeking proof

My-story meat.

2010-04-18T23:34:00.000-07:00

My last day at the Think Home was lovely!!
I was suppose to arrive there Friday at 11am to start 'games day' with them, but my ride didn't show up. He went to town. So I didn't manage to get over there til 1pm. My substitute ride just dropped me off in front of the compound instead of taking me in through the gate like usual. So I had to go run up to the huge iron gate and pound on it for entry myself. When the guard swung the door open I was exposed to all of the girls playing in the front yard of the house. As soon as we all locked eyes it was like a wave of joy sprinkled with happiness that rolled me over and knocked me down. They all came bounding over to me, yelling and screaming and laughing. MERRYY LEEE!! I felt like I was on The Price is Right and just guessed the right amount for the mansion house in Napa Valley with two complimentary new cars and my own private vineyard... then comes your entire family and extended family, and friends, rushing up on stage hysterical with excitement. The Think Home crowd of girls were wild out of control excited and delighted. Of course I thought about crying, because it was more love than I could handle. I dont know how else to describe it besides overwhelming. 20 some girls so happy to see you, surrounding you, ALL hugging you and dancing... unable to contain their joy... if that doesn't take your heart and squeeze it, I dont know what else will. They bombarded me with love... they constantly did... all week.
We ended up playing more games, then eating lunch, then having a dance party. I have videos of some of the dance party.. maybe they will go up on here one day. For now I am trying to put up a video of Lunch time!! Its having trouble loading so if it doesnt show I will just have to try again laterr. Janet, one of the counselors, insisted she document me and Rita sharing lunch together. I have no idea what I was really eating. Inside the bowl was a freaking crab body and a fish head... and then pieces of fish...swimming in a red sauce... and it was called Pepper Soup. I ate the dang thing. And I ate a Sardine Sandwich.
When in Africa...

It was so hard to say goodbye to them. We ended the day with a rowdy game of kickball then we hugged alot, then I departed. I am camping out with them sometime in mid May and also am doing all of their makeup for their graduation May 29th. I cannot wait!! I love them. I love this. I love Jesus for allowing me to be here. I am very blessed and very thankful for all that he is doing in me and hopefully through me.

more.

2010-04-15T14:59:00.001-07:00

I'm going to put up a picture of the monkey I met the other day. I'l just put it riiiiight there... ahh, k. I just posted this picture on my facebook but I wouldn't want anyone that looks at this blog and not my facebook to miss out. Like my eldest sister gsauce... who refuses to use fb... which is probably a wise choice because it does ruin lives.This, this is here for her. And for Mrs. Muff.

The monkey is female and she was very nice. I touched her on her shoulder and hand.

Being at the Think Home this past week has restored my soul. Its where I have wanted to be for so long and where I hope to be forever.. in places like that.
Tomorrow is sadly my last day there for this round. The next two weeks I will be away up-country in various villages helping out with Impact Assessment that SP is conducting to see how well their projects have been working on and in the villages. We will be measuring the 'impact' of our programs on the lives of the beneficiaries. I am very excited to get out and get my hands 'dirty' again.

Thursday, thursday was grand. Yesterday and today I did dramas with the girls. The first one explained Jesus as the substitution for our sin, and today was a skit on Luke 14.. the parable about the wedding feast. The main gist was that we should humble ourselves.. all the time.. in every situation... and God will lift you up in due time. I think both skits, today and yesterday had a clear impact on them. Many of them thanked me later and the teachers asked me many questions afterward about the text.
But yes thursday, today... I received my dress!!! Hand made by the girls in the sowing class. It is a beautiful peach sunset color. They were beaming with pride when they showed me it, and I was glistening with tears. I was so thankful. I tried it on and twirled and hugged them. It melted my heart all the way down inside my chest.

I sang for all of the girls, the teachers, the counselors and the cooks... the National Anthem. I printed off the words and gave them copies because they were eager to learn it as well. I belted it out... I gave it all I had. Im sure if someone was video taping, it would end up on youtube along with all of the other National Anthem travesties. But nonetheless it was exhilarating and I felt crazy. I did it for them though, not meee. or youtube.

When I got home today I was greeted by a silky black lab named Annie who is now going to live with us! She is sweet and I pet her often and I think she might like me.

I read this today and appreciated the imagery used in it. I couldn't help but picture God up there in heaven, with mammoth size white branches protruding forth from his middle lower back.. each faction of the marshmallow limbs soft like bunnies fur, yet sparklingly like fairy water... and he is hunched over waiting to hug me... in all of His glory and beauty

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart

psalm 91:4

Tuesdays with Maurylee

2010-04-13T14:14:00.000-07:00

Peeeeekchas! of peeeekings. and me. and the girls at the Think Home... they arent great ones of me but its all I haaave. Some were taken yesterday, and then some today. I played a game called 'find the kitty' with the ladies today... there is a picture of me in the circle with them. Dance moves were flying, thats all I will say. There is also a picture of two of the girls whose makeup I did! It really was the funnest day. For two hours I was able to draw on their beautiful canvases.. they really liked it I think. Up there is a picture I took of one of their outdoor classes while in session. Oh! and I taught PE as well during 5th period today. That was funny all in itself.

Hope.

2010-04-12T16:07:00.000-07:00

As the locks of my freshly washed hair were being tousled today, simultaneously, by 7 different young ladies, while 3 little peekings sat on my lap, [one of which licked my sp name tag like it was a candy cane on Christmas morning], and the African sun was beating down on my already bronzed (ya right) skin, I couldn’t help but think to myself… “How did I get here???”

This question was then followed up with an immediate prayer to Jesus, thanking Him for the opportunity to even be in this place…to see what I’ve seen and experience the things I have. All I know is that I’m here because HE willed it. I had to follow. I had no choice.

Today started my 5 day visit to the Think Home… This is a home/shelter here in Liberia that takes in women who have been rescued from the malevolent throngs of society, who led lives filled with desperation and compromise. Many of them come who have been abused sexually and physically, while some come straight out of prostitution, and still some were victims of the horrid and monstrous sex trafficking industry. There is a total of 24 women there, ranging from the ages of 14-24. The nursery was filled with the giggles and screams of 10 adorable peekings whose moms are residing and growing in the Think Home. It’s a packed haven for healing and rebirth.

The women are split into 3 different classrooms during the morning school time. (They awaken at 5am for devotions! Then breakfast, then school starts at 8:30 sharp) There is a level 1 class, level 2, and level 3. In which ever level they test into, that is where they remain and hopefully accelerate in their education during their 9 month stay. Math, science, reading, history, spelling, government, social studies, bible and PE make up their academic schedules. During the bible course in the level 3 class today I was asked on a whim to get up and teach the girls about the Easter story in Matthew. Feeling unprepared I hopped up there and told them all that I knew. Some didn’t understand exactly why Jesus had to die, so that was the topic of great conversation for a while. I explained how Jesus’ sinless blood became the way for us to have a relationship with a Holy perfect creator. No more sacrifice, no more ritual or tradition, no more animal blood… Jesus became the new covenant. They asked very good questions and I hope God used me to speak to them.

After a spicy lunch I was taken around to the “skills” classes. At 3pm they split off again into 3 different sections to learn life skills. One day, and for these women its coming up this may when they graduate from the Think Home, they will be out on their own, needing to make money for themselves and for their family. Therefore they are taught ways to make a living that will last a life time. One class was the pastry/baking section, another was a class on needlework/sewing, and my favorite was their cosmetology class. There they were taught how to style/dye hair, how to apply makeup, and how to give pedicures/manicures. I spent the last half hour of my time in the sewing class though, where they sized me up in order to make me an authentic African dress. I told them they didn’t need to do that at all, but they insisted. All day today I felt so loved, which felt backwards. I thought I was supposed to go there and love on them, but in all reality it was their love that moved me deeply. I can’t even fathom the wounds and despair they have undergone throughout their broken lives, yet their willingness to rejoice and extend love to me was outright overwhelming. I didn’t know what I could do to repay their kindness. I am glad I get to go back the next four days. I’m hungry to learn from them.

Which reminds me, tomorrow during their free time section I get to do ALL of their makeup!!! The head counselor told me today it will be therapeutic for them. Whatever I can do to make them feel beautiful and take their mind off the worries in their life, even if it is momentary, I will gladly jump at the opportunity. The fact that it involves applying makeup is a plus for meee

I read today in Isaiah that God will hold my hand. I broke down at that thought. He will hold my hand. My little hand. This past week has been an emotionally stripping one and a spiritually bountiful one at the same time. He knew I needed to read that he’d be here for me. He gives strength to the weary (me) and increases the power of the weak (me). That sounds like a good promise. Pluuus I get to hold his hand.

Isaiah 42:6 a

pineapple banana strawberry with a splash of coconut

2010-04-05T15:48:00.002-07:00

Im sitting here on the couch in our living room with hot goose bumps.
I got sun burned today and my legs are on fire. With the standing fan gently giving my body a cool lick every time it swings my way, I have managed to become freezing.
From the inside out I am a hot searing pan, but from the outside in, I am rippling with little shivers.
My body is crisp, and sleeping tonight should be interesting. I want to flop down into a bed of chilled jello. Fall back gently in the position I deem most comfortable, land into the sugary pad, letting the fresh feeling of the cold dessert press against my hot outter layer... and not move all night.
I woke up at 10am today because it was a holiday here and by 10:15 was laying on the beach with my girls. (and Bevs handsome young sons)
We played and swam and dove and boogie boarded til about 12:30 or 1pm. Occasionally coming back up to the beach to fall asleep in the sun or read. After the sun soaked me up and spit me out, we all took cold showaas... and Christy, Elizabeth and I went to Sajj for good conversation, smoothies and for luuuuunch I ordered a schwarma wrap... perhaps its spelled differently. I bet it is.

We came home and watched Casino Royale and I think I hate love. Bond chooses to be with Vesper and forsake all others, including his position as agent double O seven... only to find she has betrayed him, taking all of his money to give to the enemy. She dies in the end, even though he tries to save her deceiving heart., he is too late.

Yuck

I got home last thursday from my two weeks of up-country fun... then had a 4 day weekend, (LOVELY easter including: sunrise service on the beach followed by cini buns and coffee, then a wild brunch where I took home made gravy and Elizabeth made biscuits, then fell asleep on the beach on this resort only to wake up and watch the sunset as it tip toed across the sky).
I've had much time to relax and reflect. Its been 3 weeks since I arrived here from Boone NC.. and a month since I left Ohio. Time has really flown.

Jesus is good to me... and it is nice of him to let me get to know him better.
He is the right example of what love is really like and what it is suppose to be.

I should sincerely stop watching dumb movies

Harvesting fish in a village

2010-04-02T17:08:00.000-07:00

scrapes and scrapes

2010-03-31T16:32:00.000-07:00

things I did not do today

1. stay clean
2. eat breakfast
3. feed a giraffe
4. sneeze

things I did do today

1. attended a village who was having their fish harvest... (going to try and post video of it soon).. so many fish! the people would all get in the water and catch them with their bare hands

2. talk to my mother on the phone

3. rode a motorcycle bike and also crashed while on it, but remained okay

4. went with joni to a village tonight to observe her CLP program (church livelihood program)... teaching women how to read and write

5. watched an incredible lightening storm out the window of the back of a truck going over bumps and making up songs in my head

things i will do tomorrow

1. perhaps take a hot shower
2. ride on a helicopter for the second time here in Africa
3. think about holding a babie antsbear

Does it smell like updog in here?

2010-03-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

Thats my new thing. OKay? I walk into a room filled with multiple Liberians and ask if it smells like updog in there.... and they clearly dont understand. But then I probe.. and they eventually ask "Oay, wut ezz up dog???". And I start crying because its wonderfully funny. And the great thing about Liberians, is they love to giggle and laugh and wheeze and slap their knees and let it fly... so when I laugh they laugh 4 times as hard. And when they get what they actually said... bellows of laughter come from the deepest of chests. I really soak it up. The two Liberian girls here at the base in Foya now walk by me and yelll... WUTS UHP DOOOHG!!!
Its priceless.
I dont think I have laughed so hard as I do and have here. Hard to believe because Ive laughed pretty hard at times in my life, but laughter here just seems contagious. Even with the team of ladies Ive been working with/traveling with... the pharisee, jesus, towns people, and narrator... (if you dont get these references you might as well just stop reading all together right now).

So today I got sick for the first time here. Definitely actual illness but I think it was mixed in a bit with some crazie nerves Ive been feeling yesterday and today. I was suppose to adventure to the great outdoors on a motor bike but noooooooo, I was told to sit and relax. I wanted to retort, oh come onnnn, i carried the savior of the universe on my back on a dirty road in 100 degree heat, I'll be fine.
But I didnt.

Peeking: Child
Pumwee: White person
Pronounced: Poooom Weee!!
We went on a warm evening stroll tonight around the base here to the surrounding little huts... and within the first 30 seconds emily and I had about 15 little peekings chasing us around yelling POOOM WEE POOM WEE!! We would ignore them and keep walking forward til they were all gathered behind us in a bunch saying our little nick name... But emily and I had a plan. As soon as they got close we'd count to three and flip around scrrrreeeaming at the top of our lungs and chase them. OH MY GOODNESS. Havent had that much fun since the chicken slaughter'n of '89. Shoot dolly... those peeekings scattered like flower petals on a windy day... half laughing half hollering like it was their last breath of life. It was so fun. A little twisted, but fun.

Yotti Yotti

2010-03-28T14:09:00.000-07:00

Have you ever looked at the illustrations in the book Where The Wild Things Are? The setting throughout is typically palm trees meshing in with the forest. The monsters definitely appear...chasing each other... dancing about, some in mid air, some hanging from branches, some peaking out of the bushes. Depends on the page. Well that is what everything looks like to me here. I envision the monsters of course, but the jungle... it looks like that. Even the yellowish tint of the pictures in the book is real life here and the sun is smeared a bit with clouds to make a creamy orangish atmosphere. That is Liberia, that is mah jungle. The people here are constantly burning large areas of land for their farming. They clear it out by burning the heebies out of nature. So most evenings I do not see clear Africa sky... I see haze and smoke... and it makes everything look like it was dipped in a gray filmy miasma then rolled in mouse.
I have sooooooooooooooooooooooo much in my head. If I made my skull all glass and was able to look inside, it would look like a gumball machine! All of the different colored gum balls would be my experiences, and my feeeeelings, and my thoughts... and i would charge more than 25 cents for the purchase of one of them... well not if you were old and toothless... or a new born baby. I would give one to you for free, because you cant chew, you don't have the ability too. You could only just gum it to death.
Pun intended. (?)
I spent from this past thursday morning til just this afternoon in a lovely mountain top village called Malaru. It overlooked the vast African beauty on all sides, wherever I looked I gasped a bit which led to most thinking I had turrets when I first arrived. We slept in this backroom they built in their church!! They used to worship a Devil Bush, and practiced witch craft and followed Satan and sacrificed people. But someone was brave enough to go there and tell them about Jesus!! And now Samaritans Purse has put water filters there and built relationships with the people and it truly is a miracle and I am honored to have gone there and seen it.

I will end soon. Im so tired I cant darn see straight. I will leave you with this. Today was Palm Sunday and the pastor in Malaru asked us gals (6 girls went up on the trip) to teach sunday school... which of course was also known as skit time... which granted, was my favorite part. We acted out Jesus coming into the city, the people crying Hosanna Hosanna!! And used huge actual live palm branches I cut myself, to lay down for him... And we showed the Pharisees with their little angry tightie whities in a knot. Taya was Jesus, Joni was the put-off Pharisee, Bev the Narrator, and Emily and Susie the excited towns women.
Merilee tackled the difficult role of, yes, yes my people... the donkey. In all my glory, with leaves for ears and sticks as a tail, I was privileged enough to escort Jesus into Jerusalem... on my back. And you bet your sweet bippy I did sound affects.

goooooodnight

ps.

2010-03-24T15:47:00.000-07:00

that picture below is of my peeekings!!!

Nuyah. Nun ya business

2010-03-24T10:08:00.001-07:00

I am heavily affected by the mood of other people. I would say I am an ‘up ‘ kinda gal. But when those close to me are down, I feel that weight as if it’s a thick rope around my own neck.

I think I knew coming into this that there would be hard days, and times where I am sad, and moments where I could punch baby hamsters and feel no remorse. I just didn’t think that time would come so soon. Relationships in my life are incredibly important to me and affect me deeply in so many ways. When one feels off, I feel off. I had a tough night last night emotionally and I can’t seem to shake it.

Satan wants that… doesn’t he? To take the things in our lives, the insecurities… the addictions… the lies…. and sickly twist them for his purpose. I know he hates me, and I know he wants to destroy anything good I am learning… and rip down my walls of progress while I am here. You, whoever you are reading this, maybe just my mother and cute grandma… can pray for me if you want. I think I really need it right now. I want to be transparent with everyone I encounter in life, even if the encounter is electronic. I am definitely struggling right now. I don’t want Satan to have any sort of foothold.

The last three days were a rollercoaster (literally and figuratively). HA. Going deep into the jungle with Brandi , Jay-Z, and Casey &Jo Jo barely scratching their way through the radio yet still able to be audible was an interesting juxtaposition. I was singing along with JB our driver, ‘ I promise to never fall in love with a stranger. You're all I'm thinking of, I praise The Lord Above, for Sending Me Your Love. I Cherish Every Hug I Really Love You” (lyrics to famous rap-ish song called All My Life by Casey and Jo Jo) as I zoomed by remote villages made of straw huts, where kids were sitting playing in dirt, and mommies were beating the snot out of chickens for dinner. Seemed almost weirdly appropriate. Well to me at least.

Its hard not to fall in love. With peekings.

Ya, don’t worry. That is not a sexual innuendo, or an odd fetish, or the name of bird feed. Its what the people here call children. In the villages we did the analysis on, I was really no help. Lets be honest… I played with all the freaking peekings and drew on them. That’s what I am good at. This one little girl (my fav) had crazy little orange braids sticking out from every button hole on her head, was sporting a lovely white dress up gown and was obviously on a mission. She marched straight up to me from across the road, never breaking eye contact, and buried her little cute face right into my legs. I almost cried. Really.

This is so long. Ugg, I promised I would never be one of thoooooose

Sabil

2010-03-22T13:13:00.000-07:00

Today (I am convinced) that I went where NO man has gone before(!!!), which of course is a total lie... but it sure felt like it
Scariest car ride of my life. No no mother I am not afraid of the killer spiders, or poisonous snakes, or even the angry mobbers.. it is driving through the wild country going 80 miles an hour on back roads that makes me think I might being seeing the good sweet sovereign Lord on High face to face today.
Take Mr. Toads Wild Ride, mash it with Space Mountain, add a dash of Indian Jones... sprinkled with Swiss Family Robinson... and you have my March 22nd. Me and the crew who work with WATSAN( Water and Sanitation Project), left Monrovia this morning and drove 3 ish hours out to the middle of the jungle to a village called Bopolu. This village has a Samaritans Purse Base building where we are sleeping and eating. During the day we will be going out to the surrounding villages to do sanitation education and see if the people are using their Bio Sand filters.
By golly though, it was like the roads opened up their rocky mouths and swallowed me whole... chasing me with a tall glass of dust and humidity. Yet Taya said those roads were even "bad".. that I hadnt "seen nothing yet"... and that "theres worse to come". Encouraging lass.
I still feel the jolts up and down in my little mind... and I bet I look amusing to other people as I try to gain back my balance and well as my dignity while I stand on flat ground in the middle of a room about to fall over

So Bopolu! I will be here a few days.. then back to Monrovia for a night.. then out again to another village I shall remember the name of later after I post this

Alligator Mouth

2010-03-19T17:03:00.000-07:00

I was asked a few days ago to draw on the faces of a handful of rowdy 8 year old girls tonight at a birthday party. The pilot for SP has a lovely and hilarious little family, which included a daughter who was the center of attention this evening... and I got the privilege of drawing a rainbow and a butterfly on her face.
Before she chose what she wanted though, her older sister (age 11) came up and announced that I shouldn't draw anything on her little sister but instead write out Abraham Lincolns entire Gettysburg address on the side of her face. She was dead serious. I laughed very hard. Who says that?
Kids.

This morning I drove out about 2 hours into the wilderness of Africa with Jones to see my first real tribal village. We went and checked on a project j had been doing there with them. Life here is so incredibly different then life at home. That's the only way I know how to articulate what I am seeing and feeling about things here at this point. Its overwhelming.

deals shmeals

2010-03-18T03:20:00.000-07:00

Im afraid of everything.
The guards last night outside of our house thought it would be funny to call me out to the front portch and tell me to 'chom heer, chom heeer'. i did.
what i saw next was devastating. they had a crab, in their hands, and when i got close enough they sprawled that thing open and i kid you not i screamed like a newborn iguana. maybe it was the crabs sick looking everything, or maybe the fact that one of its slimy eyeballs literally came out of his head, pointing up at me( just one, just one eyeball. they both apparently come off its head like two little antennas with balls on the end of them... but i was only good enough for one of his to come out and visit. ) but nevertheless... i aint neva seen anything like that in real life. my only crab experience has been with little mermaid and at least he had the decency to have an endearing Jamaican accent.

im learning alot right now about water sanitation and disease prevention. people in villages dont know that drinking the same water they go to the bathroom in is bad for them, and if they do realize that.. they dont stop. the river is where they do many a' thing... get water for drinking... wash clothes....throw away old food.... take bathes.... drop a deuce...

on that note. the food here is excellent. lots of rice!!! rice rice riceeeeeeee
rice and sauce

ok.

2010-03-16T16:20:00.000-07:00

I JUST KILLED A MONSTER COCKROACH THAT WAS ON MY CEILING IN MY ROOM

–noun
any of numerous orthopterous insects of the family Blattidae, characterized by a flattened body, rapid movements, and nocturnal habits and including several common household pests.

cockroach
1624, folk etymology of Sp. cucaracha "chafer, beetle," from cuca "kind of caterpillar." Folk etymology is from caca "excrement."

EXCREMENT

Blue Snakes

2010-03-16T13:44:00.000-07:00

Heres what I am thinking about heavily today...
this is hard for me.

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly
and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God

micah 6:8

ZEBRA EYE LASHES

2010-03-15T10:04:00.000-07:00

no one is reading this, I am prepared for that. so if you are reading this, weird. and thanks. dont tell your friends about it.
im in Monrovia, Liberia (Africa for all you unedumacated folks).
left the US on saturday, arrived last night at 8:30ish Liberia time.
in the airport 3 kids came up to me and asked 'can we take a picture with you kesha".
i said No, nope... naw. Im not kesha. Andd they walked away and I felt sad. I dont look like that girl, no no no.

I live in a staff house right by the ocean with 6 other girls.
I woke up this morning and went to the bathroom where i encountered the most dreadful spider god ever created. The length and width of it was that of a BAGEL. Its stupid crazy legs were toggling everywhere. its body was all black and spotted and hairy and awful. I wanted to die. I put a picture up of it so that you can all cry along with me. Taya, my roommate came and killed it. Apparently there are alot of those running around in the house.
YAY

the titles of my posts will most likely be completely unrelated to what I write about
just warning you

100% humidity here. hallelujah