My knight in shining armour

Every little girl has fairy tale fantasies of being rescued. We want to be locked in a tower or stuck in a terrible perdicament so that we can have a knight in shining armour come and save the day! We like to be helped, but not helpless. We like to fee safe and secure.

I have found my knight. Every day I spent a significant amount of time in harms way, but I do no fear. I dont worry about what will happen is somthing goes wrong, because I know I will be recsued. I just have to make a quick phone call and I am taken care of. Help on the way, confirmation at my fingertips.

I am talking about AAA of course. A first car in our society is suppose to be ghetto, and Hippo is pretty ghetto. The air conditioner squeaks, the heater squeals, the right speaker is fuzzy, the defroster doesn't defrost, the wipers don't do much wiping, the bumper hits the ground, the passenger window doesn't roll down, the drivers door doesn't have a handle, and the newest addition is that my super cool spoiler is only 1/3 attached. But I like my car. It still runs, well kinda, at least until a few days ago. But I am confident that he will run again, last time I just put a band aid on the hood, anointed i with oil and hoped back in.... its been running great!

I should be embarrassed of my car, but I am not. Because it is mine. I paid for it with money that I earned. I love my car and am proud of its almost 130,000 miles. I feel safe driving it because I know that AAA will come rescue me, anywhere, anytime. I love calling, saying I need towed home and then save gas by getting to ride in an air-conditioned cab! I love feeling taken care of, and rescued. So thanking you AAA my knight, perhaps all my car needs now is another band aid.

4321

4 Times I have called AAA
3 of those times a car was towed
2 of those times it was my car
1 of those times was yesteray

Not California

I was suppose to go to California with Sharell this week… then my car decided to get sick. We decided not to go. Sharell went with some other friends on a mini-trip and I stayed home to enjoy not doing anything: reading, beading, gone-with-the-wind, and frantically trying to finishing my tie skirt. It was really nice.

Thursday after a game of Volleyball at the Rays, Hannah invited me to go Backpacking the next day. After some apprehension, I agreed and Friday afternoon I was hiking up a hill with a 20lb pack. We went swimming in freezing water and swatted at mesquites. We made a fire and swatted at mosquitoes. We played a game of cards and swatted at mesquites. Did I mention that we had some mosquito visitors?

It was bad. Bed came before the sun, and we huddled in our sleeping bags beneath the open sky for about 10 hours… not really sleeping. A quick breakfast, sloppy packing and we ran down the mountain… swatting at mesquites. We came home 24 hours early, feeling slightly defeated… and oh so itchy.

I have about 300 bites. On my right leg alone I lost count at 150. I got bit through my pants and long sleeve shirt… I guess the little bugs like lotion.

As miserable as this all sounds, this was an absolutely wonderful week. I accomplished things, and spent time doing nothing, and backpacked. I have not yet spent time with Sharell… but we will make up for it. I am just working on not touching my right leg.

the Not post

I got on here and started writing a blog about Jon and Kate Gosslin, but I decided that it sounded too much like all the other articles I have read. I don’t want to repeat gossip or focus on the lives of 2 people, because the enemy uses that to take attention off of our King. I think I am not going to get caught up in a TV show again.

Face Paints and Friendship

I spent 6 1/2 hours at my moms school today. I volunteered to be a face painter for the last day of schools Field Day. I think I painted a few hundred faces. I had a piece of paper showing what I could do... but that didnt seem to stop kids from asking me to do stuff like "dragons" and "teletubies" and "skulls" and "horses" and "mexican flag". and and and...

I loved being around elementary age kids again, they cracked me up! One girl inparticular, one of the few I actually knew, really got me smiling. She got a really cool cat face with wiskers and the whole deal and told the girl behind her that was what she needed to get, the girl argued because she had something else in mind. "I'll be your best friend if you get it!" There was silence and she walked away hoping with all hopes that the girl would take up her offer, after all she was auctioning herself off as a best friend for the price of a simple face picture. The girl got to me, I wondered what she would do, would she succomb to the pressure. Just as was about to encourage her out of it... she said "Can I have a little butterfly and a flower?" She looked up with almost fearful eyes, I smiled and said "You absoltly can, what a great choice!" I am glad that she didnt walk away with a "new BFF" today.

My Field

This evening I was sitting in my field. The grass was tall, did I really sled down this same hill in January? I squished bugs in my fingers. I was sheltered from the wind. I looked up in the sky at watched an airplane go by, its white smoke leaving a skidmark behind. I am glad I am not on that airplane. I am glad I am here sitting in my field.

Nana

Her face had 117 wrinkles. Her hands had 201 between the pair. She wore a colored silk scarf over her wispy white hair and it draped into her stained kaki jacket. “Nana” was curled in the corner of a closed shop’s door stop. She was selling little Kleenex packets, about 15 sitting in a wicker basket next to another basket with one layer of coins. I walked past her slowly but as I got to the corner her face was imprinted in my head. I went back to “Nana” and knelt down so to be more eye level. She was frail and tiny and worn. She motioned to me that she Kleenex was 5 baht. (Equal to like 20 cents) I gave her a bigger bill then slowly took hold of her porcelain hands. I wanted to scoop her up into my arms and protect her from the world, from the jeering people who walked by and don’t look back (like I almost did.) I wanted to protect her from sickness and hunger and pain. I wanted to hold all her fears in my hands. But as I walked on I knew that God was holding her in his hands. He has her pain and her sickness and her hungry and her worries. He has her in his hands. On the way back to my hotel all I wanted to do was to go back and sit with her, but I knew God was… and he is sitting with all the other lonely people sitting with outstretched hands as well.

Layover in Bangkok

Riding in the orange taxi, driving on the wrong side of the road, listening to Taylor Swift sing her heart out, I feasted my eyes on the things outside. An elephant, and open air karaoke bar, Pizza Company, street venders, palm trees, and thirteen 7/11’s.

A crazy trip with the bro

We spent 18 hours on a train and got to Chung Du at 6 am. A map bought just outside the station directed us to the correct bus which would lead to the center of town; there we assumed we could find a Starbucks. It was there in all its glory sitting one floor below the golden arches. We waited at the door for it to open at 7:30. Free wifi, 2 frappichinos and many questions the English speaking employee later, we headed towards our hostel. Took a tour bus for three hours to see the giant Buddha, took a couple pictures, climbed down and returned to the city. Ate at a Thai restaurant near the train station, had mangos and sticky rice for an appetizer. Back to the hostel to chat with our roommates, the Hungarian Brothers. End of Day one.

Up again at 6 am, this time in a van on the way to the Panda reserve. Saw baby pandas, big pandas, drunk pandas and red pandas. Watched a funny movie. Bought some panda souvenirs. Matthew and an interesting conversation with the Ausie couple; she was a Christian and he didn’t understand it. Back in Chung Du we went to the American Embassy, it was nice to be in a place where I knew my rights were my rights! I could be a Christian, I could salute the flag, I could know I was safe. Watched happy Chinese students walk out holding accepted visas, smiles on their faces. Ate lunch at a Tex Mex, had Nachos with cheese and Vanilla Coke! Wandered the streets, found funny shops, and after a long time… a Starbucks. Tried to see a movie at the theater, but none were in English. (A week later we found out that Matthews word for “English” had been “Music” so I guess we were asking for music movies the whole time, perhaps they had an English movie after all. Ha!) Went to Hooters for dinner, witnessed to the waitress and gave her my email. The girls were trying to be something they were not and put on a pretty funny show dancing to songs like “YMCA.” Tried to find some evening entertainment and walked towards a 90ft bowling pin on top of a building. Made fools out of ourselves trying to do “tricks” next to the professionals in lane 6. They thought it was so disgusting that I LAID DOWN on the floor, but when I got more pins down with that move than Matthew, they cheered. Even though Matthew one both games. Tried our hand at ping pong, but were shamefully disgracing the sport. Matthew won the left handed game until later that he admitted he cheated by continually switching back to his right hand. So because of his cheating I won the night. Isn’t that how it always works out? Some how I always win. J At the hostel we watched Kung Fu Panda on a projector that shone on the wall in the “movie room.” Climbed in our bunk beds, chatted with the Hungarians who had once lived in Oregon, and fell asleep. That was a really weird day, day two.

Chiner

My mom says she checks blogs every night. Those of us that blog go through phases, we don't write for a while... then we write a whole bunch all at once! I am trying to be more on top of it Mama.

So I am in China now. The first day I arrived in Thailand, I said to myself, "I could live here!". But I have decided I would not really like to live in Thailand. It is really hot, and the big city of Bangkok just becomes a little annoying. Phuket, by the beach, it was nice... but I like to simply visit beaches, they are less cool if you live by them. The first day I was here in China, I thought to myself "I don't think I could live here." But now... I think I very well could.

Its not amazingly gorgeous here, in fact, it is kinda dirty. Dusty. Hazy. The streets are uneven, the cars are pushy, the people are pokey, the food is spicy... but I like it. Matthew says China is magical, unlike any place in the world. I suppose he is right. The more places I see, the more they are alike, and China is alike many other things.... but it is magical.

The people here are strictly Chinese. They don't try to be western. The food looks like other asian dishes, but it is its own. There is a culture here found no where else, like nothing else.

Sa-wa-tee-ka (Hello)

My first day here Matthew and I had hour long massages for 6 bucks. I have never had a massage before, most of it was pretty good - but she was really hard. It was relaxing though.

Our favorite food is from a little restaurant called "Charlie Browns" They have our favorite fried rice and pad Thai and coconut shakes.

We like the fountain pool better than the turtle pool because it gets the morning sun. Zoe is much to addicted to the Barney I decided to bring her. Matthew Hallie and I can not get the song "Yum Yum Pumpernickel, Yum Yum Pumpernickel..." Out of our heads! Ahhhhh.

My Birk's are giving me a bit of a rash, so I am wearing my Havanas - I suppose that's good cause Bangkok is prone to flash rain storms. And everyone knows you cant get Birk's wet. Speaking of Rain, we have had two major thunder storms. Zoe really likes them, she is not afraid. When we had a big one last night we went up on the roof so we could see lightening all around!

I didn't bring any reading books with me, I thought I would read the books I brought for Bro... but I have been deeply missing my kindred spirits of Avenlea... so I stooped to the level of reading Anne of the Island in the online format. It is the same story, but not the smell or feel of holding it in my hands. Halz says I should go to a used book store and buy the rest of the series here since I would have to buy them when I get home anyway... I just really need to finish the story!

I have ridden on the back of a motorcycle twice and in a Tuk Tuk twice. I prefer the moto. The Tuk Tuk is three wheeled and it reminds me too much of the tragic incident I was in with Amanda and Heather. I like that the taxi drivers here don't smoke like in Armenia, I feel respected.

The malls here are pretty much the same as they are in the rest of the world, perhaps a big bigger though. They make me want to walk around for 8 hours. I know I would go crazy. I think it would be easier to live in a place away from malls... where you didn't know they existed, it would sure help with overcoming temptation if the temptation was not even there to begin with!

I have been to the outdoor market once, I want to go again, and again , and again. There are so many things to see and smell and buy. I bought a sarong, I really want a few more - to stock up for the rest of my life!

Matthew and I went to a movie tonight, they are pretty cheep here. The theaters are modern looking but elaborate. Inside the rooms are golden weaved curtains that give the appearance. Matthew went out for popcorn when the little message popped on the screen that read "please stand in honor of his majesty the King". And there was this little song and sideshow and everyone stood in honor. I was in the front row, so I stood... but I was not sure if I was to do anything else, so I kept trying to look besides me and behind me to see... but I couldn't really tell. I decided that whatever happened I could pull the "dumb American" card, it usually works pretty well.

I sleep on the floor next to sliding glass doors that look out over the pool and further out over the city, I cant help but waking with the day each morning. I like it alot.

Being with my brother and Hallie and Zozee and Esther. Hallie and are enjoying relaxing, watching shows, eating sticky rice with mango's, sun bathing and laughing about many things. Zobo thinks I came all the way here just for her (perhaps that is because that is what I have told her?) And because my "magic bag" as she calls it keeps producing "surprises" every few minutes. Esther is the happiest baby I have ever known, her smile is pure energy. Being with Dude is totally fun, each time we are apart we just get to be a little more cool. I know he wants my heart to stay here, perhaps it will. I especially enjoy watching his relationship with Zo... it reminds me so much of the one that he and I once had. The way she watches him and looks up to him and responds to him, only this time he has say in what she does! It is super fun.

I like Bangkok. But I am excited to leave and travel to another city, one perhaps a little quieter, a little less busy. I want to see nature and elephants...