Toronto 1

Oh, man. It has taken until Christmas for us to post about our fun vacation to Toronto. But here goes! 

 and I decided that trains are cool and so is Canada, so we'd ride the rails to Toronto!

Once in the T we visited the Eaton Center (big shopping mall), the CN Tower, plus an old distillery district where they do a whole holiday nights program. We stayed downtown and road the subway all over. It was a great first day.

PS - I am reminded that while at the CN Tower we also took a virtual adventure ride to the HIMALAMAZON! and got sprayed by the water in this 4D spectacular!  ALSO, we ate artisan grilled cheese sandwhiches and saw these cool rubics cube mosaics!

Spending some time in Dallas telling youthworkers about Motown Mission. Missing Anna this weekend and kinda thinking it was a mistake to drive down here. But lots of good connections made plus some funny pictures with fake mustaches. Cheers!

Living on Borrowed Time

Daylight Savings Time is a strange event, especially in the fall when you have an extra hour in your day.  It is many individuals' dreams come true.  Another hour in the day to do whatever it is you need to do.  The twitterverse and news-streams were aflutter with suggestions on how to use the extra time and how not to waste it.  Strange isn't it?  How much of a difference does one hour really make?

But it does.  If only we were to live every day as productively as our extra hour.  And to always think of every hour as borrowed time, I wonder how productive we would all be?   Or how rested?  Or how well read?  It seems that we are not utilizing our 24 hours wisely, but if we get the chance to have 25 well...that makes all the difference.

For most people the extra hour is a blessing.  For those on call that night, it means an extra hour of call shift.  I pray that those individuals get an extra hour in between that shift and the next.  Or they get the next holiday off or something.

I think what we need is to have this extra hour every day, whether it is at 7am-8am or 10pm-11pm, or whenever.  I think each of us would do well to think, what am I going to do with this special hour of my day that is meaningful to me?  If we thought about that every day, I think our life satisfaction would increase, because we'd be spending our time intentionally.  So, what are you going to do with your extra hour tomorrow?

Lance Armstrong no longer super-human

I know that the Lance Armstrong news has been pushed under the rug, what with the election debate and the World Series going on right now, but I would like to take a moment to reflect on this issue.  The reports have been damning of the man and his teammates but I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank him and those that exposed this new development in his story.  It gives me hope that I am doing okay.  I'm not superhuman and haven't won seven titles of the worlds toughest race, but then again, neither is Lance Armstrong.  He needed extra help to do that...and so would I.  So thank you Lance, for exposing the normal-abled, non-superhuman that you really are.  It makes me feel better about myself and I hope others will realize what this means also.  

Radical Hospitality

This month marks the second round of the Wayne County land auction of 2012.  That means, if you want to get your hands on an as-is house for $500, now's your chance.  Or you could pay slightly more and possibly get something livable.  It has become a yearly tradition for the Detroit hipsters and entrepreneurs for acquiring cheap buildings and land.  You can check out the available sites at whydontweownthis.com.  Some use this as a tool for establishing or growing their business.  Others use it as a cheap way to own a home.  Yet for others it is a really scary time as the county begins to sell their homes right out from under them because they couldn't pay their taxes.

A friend of mine bought a house last year from the land auction.  I couldn't tell you how much he paid but I have a feeling he may not have a mortgage.  But the thing is, when he bought the house it was already being lived in.  By a man who was born there and whose parents were the ones who built the house.  It had been in his family for generations but they had come upon hard times as many Detroiters have.  It's hard not to miss some tax payments when after the auto bailout many took a 50% pay cut and others were downsized.  

An amazing thing happened however, probably the best that this family could hope for in their situation.  This friend of mine who bought the house, instead of posting an eviction notice (which would be within his rights), he came and met the former owners of his new property and came to an agreement.  And a few months later, he moved in with them.

It has been about nine months that they have lived together and I don't know the details of how it is working out but man, can you imagine?  I know many who have trouble living with chosen roommates or family, let alone a total stranger that the only thing that brings you together is happenstance.  I am truly inspired by this act of hospitality.  Not only on the part of my friend but also the family that already lived in the house that agreed to take this guy on.  It will definitely be a challenge for anyone to share their most intimate places with others but as Christians and followers of Christ that is what we are called to do.

Following Christ is not the rewarding, self fulfilling picture that Joel Ostein preaches where if you believe in Jesus and are a generally pious person then you will be blessed with a big checkbook and a fancy car.  It often is sticky and really hard.  It will put you into situations where you are massively uncomfortable.  But there it is.  Jesus was a radical.  He made the powers of his day mad because he was so.

So how are you showing radical hospitality in your life?  Are you?  I could probably use some work in this area and I know that the friend I am referring to in this blog is doing a much better job.  I guess  that is why I wanted to mention it because it is an example of something we can all strive towards.  Not that we all need to buy a house on the auction and move into a house that is already lived in but it gives you an idea of what a picture of hospitality really looks like.  

No one is above the grace of God.

In the past five or so years, I think since starting medical school really, my faith in Jesus and in God has wained.  I have found more excuses to avoid going to church, I have put my trust in myself and other places instead of in God.  I have become judgmental of those who frivolously give their trust to a story that although beautiful in its execution, right now is still just a story to me.

The world is a scary place right now.  With talk of nuclear power and possibly warheads coming to Iran with Israel and possibly the US trying to get in the way of that venture.  With people losing their homes to foreclosure and the US losing it's entire manufacturing base to places like Mexico or China.  With murder and killing rates being elevated in the city of Detroit.  With mass shootings in Aurora and bombings at the US Embassy of Libya.  With Russia jockeying for power by controlling much of the worlds fuel resources.  With North Korea and China, Japan and others trying to display their rights to the Pacific ocean.  With mothers who have to drive their kids to school who once upon a time would have walked because they have fear that someone might harm them.  With all of the hand sanitizers and CDC or WHO releases on what next big epidemic is coming.  We live in a world of fear right now.

It is strange I find myself questioning God's presence during this time, because it always seems that folks are more faithful during times of trial than times of prosperity.  It is these times that we realize our inability to manage our lives and the world by ourselves.

During my freshman year of college my faith was strong.  I had been diagnosed with a unpredictable tumor and my dad had suddenly passed away of a heart attack.  My faith was so strong at that time I had an ichthus fish tattooed on my ankle to remind myself that if God could get me through those two hardships, God could get me through anything.  Unfortunately that ankle was also the one I lost to amputation six years later, so I no longer have that tattoo as a reminder of my faith and what God has done for me in the past.

I have recently been reading the book by Don Miller, Blue Like Jazz.  I had hesitated reading this book many times as I didn't want to be one of THOSE kinds of christians.  It seemed like the predictable thing to do.  I had seen him speak once at a combination concert with Derek Webb.  I didn't buy the book then because I was judging the type of church that hosted the event.  I somehow thought of myself as more authentic because I didn't worship in a large warehouse type building out in a cornfield in Midland or Saginaw or wherever it was, with people that dressed like Adam Hamilton or wore glasses like Rob Bell.  It was hubris on my part.  After starting to read this book I have been humbled to find how many things I have to learn; from people like Don Miller, or Rob Bell or whoever I have judged to be less authentic then myself.

Don Miller talks about a moment when he was being taught a lesson.  He was asked by a friend about what he could pray for him.  Don mentioned all of the friends and other worldly problems that he wanted to pray for but didn't mention anything about his own life.  When the friend presses him about something in his own life, he says something to the effect that his life is going pretty good and didn't really need any prayers right then.  The friend rebutted that no one is above the grace of God.

This was a strong lesson for me to learn as well.  Right now, although life is going okay, I need the grace of God more than ever.  I need it because of my judgement of others whose faith has surpassed mine.  I need it so that as I am here, questioning and doubting God, I can somehow find my way back to faith.  It is hard to get off this pedestal of mine and really examine what in my life needs grace.  But by doing just that I am one step closer to God.  I am no less or more deserving than the homeless man who stands on my way home from work, or the teenager at the box church who raises their hands to praise God in a predictable way.  No one is above the grace of God.  Its a good thing we cannot do or say anything to earn the grace of God because it seems like for a while now, I have been rejecting it.

I have yet to get back to a place of true faith, the place where I was in College or even prior to that.  But I am inching my way.  Luckily, although I have abandoned God for a time, God has never left me.  As I think about the future and the possibility of bringing children into this world, it scares me.  Because who knows what the next fifty to 100 years will bring.  But I hope that before that happens I can come to a place of faith, and humble myself enough to realize that many things are out of my control.  I just need to have enough faith in God that there will be something better for our children, and that as a disciple of Jesus Christ I am vetted with the task of helping make that so.  And I am no more suited to do that than the next guy, because Box church or cardboard box,  not one of us is above the grace of God.

5 Years!

This weekend we are celebrating our Cinco de AnnaNCarl-versario! It was so nice that friends Drew and Catriona honored us by also getting married this weekend. we danced the night away and had a great time with Anna's friends gathered from far and wide.

Then today we had the amazing chance to have a holiday off (lucky Anna, don't tell the Gods of Call). So for a special day we took off for Point Pelee National Park in Ontario, CA. Isaac stayed south because we couldn't have asked for better weather. What a beautiful place. Good job Canada.

And here they are in no particular order, the top five reasons we love being married to each other:

5. Exploring the world - near and far.
4. Someone to catch you when you are about to fall
3. The joy of each other's family and friends
2. Having each other to laugh at when you are stupid and laugh with when you are funny.
1. Creating home together.

No longer the Medical Student

Today was one of those realizations that kind of scares you.  I had a medical student following me around today for the first time, and after I slowed down to realize enough that I was supposed to teach I was like "Oh yeah!  I'm supposed to teach!"  It is the first time that I realized that I may have something to offer. 
    Remembering back to my third year when I was a brand-new bright-eyed student on their first rotation and said things like "This is so cool" when we were signing out patients.  It is actually somewhat refreshing to have her around.  After only one week of being on the floors (almost a week and a half really, feels like years), being yelled at till I cried only twice (you can't make me cry!  You'll never make me cry!), and having to tell my best friends that I couldn't make it to their wedding rehearsal that I am supposed to be in because I couldn't get anyone to cover for me, well, I have been getting a little bit cynical.
   It is nice to be reminded of how exciting it all once was and why I got into this in the first place.  Now certain aspects that have become so routine and are something that is annoying to me could be a teaching moment.  Stuff that I think is so mundane that others obviously should know the same things, but sometimes they don't.  After being followed around for two patients where I just hastily wrote notes for fears that the attending would get there before I was finished with the chart, I finally realized, I know some things that this girl doesn't yet. 
  I hope that in this process I can be able to learn and teach at the same time.  She watched me sign a prescription today and said "That is awesome!  You sign your own prescriptions!"  I told her how our days usually go, we do sign out, then we break to go see our assigned patients, and write a full SOAP note, get to know everything that happened and all the new information from overnight, then go over your plan for the day with the attending, make the changes, put in orders, (yeah, I can put in orders now), have some lunch at some point, and then in the afternoon follow up on anything you may need to re-check or that you ordered.  I told her to document when you see the patient and talk to them, so that everyone knows the work you did (including billing, your supervisors, your senior residents, and god forbid, lawyers).  She actually seemed like this was all news to her so I think I wasn't telling her something she already knew. 
  I guess the hard part is finding out what the students know already, and what you can teach them.  But also, knowing that I was not to distantly in their shoes--that maybe they can teach me something too.  Like today, Bianca reminded me to enjoy medicine because although it scares the shit out of me right now, gosh darn-it, this is pretty cool.

Interns 101

“Since I was a kid, I've been able to sleep through anything -- storms, sirens, you name it. Last night, I didn't sleep.  I guess I get a little goofy when I'm nervous. You see, today isn't just any other day. It's my first day. [proudly, to his reflection] I'm the man. And four years of pre-med, four years of med school, and tons of unpaid loans have made me realize one thing...' Nurse:'Good. Could you go drop an NG tube on the patient in 234, and call the attending if the lavage is positive?'... 'I don't know jack.”

These are the opening lines of the show Scrubs. Possibly the most accurate depiction of what it is like to be a medical intern of any television show that I've seen.

Last week I started out on the floor for my orientation of what it's like on inpatient medicine.  I had my first call shift, I wrote my first script, I admitted a few patients and discharged a few.  I may have even made one decision on my own.  It was terrifying.

This week I saw my first patient in the office, while being shadowed by my advisor Dr. Otsuji (36+ years in practice).  Carl said it best "They shouldn't call it shadowing, they should call it... scrutinizing."  After about five minutes of talking to the patient I looked at him with the thoughts in my head "Well, you're the doctor..what should she do?"

It is a big leap from fourth year of medical school where you are always under the guidance of others, and they make all the decisions, to intern year where the nurses call you doctor and ask you to write medicines for patients.  Now I'm expected to know things, and make decisions and all of that crazy sh*t.  It's been rough getting used to introducing myself as Dr. Gladstone.  It feels phony.

I have also learned that my work personality is shy.  I was told that by our orientation director, Dr. Zeltzer.  Interestingly enough, I've never been called shy in my life.  I guess you learn something new about yourself all the time.

Another line from the first episode of Scrubs goes like this: "So, what's it like being a young, hot-shot doctor?' 'It's like... Did you ever go see a movie that everyone told you was great, and then because of all those expectations, you ended up totally disappointed?' 'Movies nowadays have too many special effects.' 'Yeah, that was pretty much my point.'"  And I totally know what he means.  Well, if you don't hear from me for a long time that is because I am a medicine intern and I have no life outside of the hospital.  Wish me luck!

Let's Get Along

   When people ask me where I'm from, I say Detroit. But well, I grew up in Ann Arbor. Then they ask me where I live, and I say Corktown. They nod and say how much they love Slows. I think I may have had more street cred when I lived in Grosse Pointe Park on Barrington, one street outside of Detroit. Then I could say I lived near Jefferson and Alter. After living in Detroit for almost two years, I have fallen in love with the city but I can hardly call myself a seasoned Detroiter.

   I have been reading Detroit: A Biography by Scott Martelle. Which hardly makes me an expert, but a certain theme continues to pop up throughout the history and disintegration of this city: Racism. In the 40s and 50s when a black family moved to a neighborhood, the value of all the houses went down. You know someone has to decide the value of those houses right? It doesn't just happen that they devalue. So white people moved to other neighborhoods. They formed bands of roving mobs to punish the blacks for moving in on their turf. They formed “neighborhood coalitions” to dictate who could and could not move into their hood. If you think that young black boys in gangs originated turf wars, think again.

   Who was it that said “Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Well, I have an idea on how we can save Detroit. Lets forget the racism. And classism. Lets forget whose neighborhood this or that is, and lets all just get along. Why can't we all just get along?

I was really saddened by this article in Curbed Detroit (http://tinyurl.com/clx2mhk) not because I don't agree that it is sad that the Imagination Station burned, but because it was written as if this is somehow worse than all of the house fires ever before in Detroit. Thank God no one was hurt. Like in this story from just a few days ago (http://tinyurl.com/bt3b76r) or in March of this year (http://tinyurl.com/bnyo83o). Or how about in December last year when two people had to jump out of a window? (http://tinyurl.com/7tmrvlv) ?? The comments on the page of the Curbed article got ugly and defensive, and racist.

   Why can't we improve on the city without suppressing others? During the Fireworks this year almost 300 youths were arrested and detained for violating a curfew that many of them did not know about. Sometimes it's hard to get the news if you don't have a paper, or an iphone, or a TV, or a computer. Was that really necessary? Why do we have to arrest young Detroiters in order to make it safe enough for out-of-towners to enjoy the fireworks? I'm sure there is a better way.

   So how about this? Veteran Detroiters, why don't you join Mr. Mongo of Cafe D'Mongo's Speakeasy when he corrects his friend who said “These white kids, takin' over the city.” Mongo told him “Naw, they fill in the gaps. They left first, we filled in gaps. Then we left for the suburbs, now they fillin' the gaps.” And you, New Detroit Hipster Crackers (I'm definitely a cracker, I don't know how hipster) why don't you stop using the fact that you live in Detroit like a badge of honor? And don't get so defensive when someone questions your understanding of the city's pain. Maybe if you sit and listen, you will learn something and become a better person.

   All in all, my point is that when you live in Detroit. There is bound to be some losses. I had two bikes and a car stolen in less that two months. And nearly 300 youths were arrested on fireworks night for being out and about. And Jerry Paffendorf's Imagination Station burned. And someone's brother was shot and killed. And... So let's not compare our losses. But why don't we share in the dream of Detroit?  

Tourist in Detroit #2

Well, this weekend was another successful Detroit ho-hum good time.  Last week was Carl's and his intern's first week of Motown Mission Experience 2012!  75 youth and counselors came from as far as North Dakota to live and work in Detroit for a week.  They managed to work hard in the Cody/Rouge neighborhood in Detroit and no major mishaps.  Although he did send all of them to the record breaking Tigers game where the Rockies scored 8 runs in the top of the 10th inning.  Seriously Detroit, what is going on?  Didn't we put out a record breaking contract for Prince Fielder?  Where are those results?

Strange sign to have in a Photography Gallery

But while those kids were at the game we had a leisurely evening at the DIA Friday Night Live event.  There was Solanye Caignet y Sergio Medina from Mexico which felt extremely appropriate to be listening to in the Diego Rivera court.  Also there is a fun photography exhibit by Patti Smith right now.
  I can't wait until July 15th when the Picasso and Matisse show opens.  And when we were walking around Carl said aloud "We are members here?"  It is hard to believe especially since he was still wearing his clothes from a long day on the job and I was wearing camouflage shorts.  Maybe next time we will dress the part a little more.  What an amazing place we have right here in Detroit.
Then on Saturday during the day Carl and I diverged, he went to Ohio to see Lakeside and the Ohio Conference's "Youth Annual Conference" of the United Methodist Church and I attended my cousin's graduation party in Vicksburg, MI.

In the evening it was a Detroit sports evening.  We volunteered at the Detroit City Futbal Club game shagging balls, and then Carl and his soccer team Cass Corridor United (CCU) were the half-time show shooting Jorts (jean-shorts) into the stands and waving their "Suck It" flag.  "Suck it" has become CCU's official team motto.  After that we walked across Cass Park to the Masonic Temple where the Detroit Derby Girls Championship was taking place.  And the Detroit Pistoffs took the title for the second year in a row.  After our trip to Portland and visit with their Derby Girl bout we figured we should go see the girls who are featured in the film Whip-It!  What a funny group of folks we have here!  It was a blast.

Cool Venue for a sporting event!

Then for a nightcap we stopped at Motor City Brewing Works, had a pizza and some beer and met a nice woman named Shawn.  She was super fun and also asked us to pray for us because she is still struggling from the loss of her mother.  We could relate to that, and agreed to keep her in our thoughts and prayers.  We also ran into our friend Devin Hanson.  What a fun city to live in.  You get the experiences of a big city (Major league sports, big concert venues, lots of restaurants) but every time you go out you run into someone you know and it feels like a small town.  I love this city.
Sunday for Father's Day we went up to PoHu (Port Huron) for Rev. David Gladstone's last sermon before retirement and then spent the afternoon of father's day at the Henry Ford touring the Titanic Exhibit.  Carl and David perished in the sinking of the ship, but the ladies managed to survive.  "Woman and Children First!"  What a somber exhibit it was.
All in all, it was a productive and eventful weekend!

A tourist in your own town...

After our awesome trip to Portland, seeing all of the sights, it struck us, our town is pretty awesome, too.  It's funny how you take things for granted when you live there.  So I made it a goal to be a tourist in my own town.  Here is Day 1 of Tourism in Your Own Town from Last week:

As the kickoff to summer, Memorial Day weekend opened with an awesome Tigers Game W (we listened to it on the radio, but we went to a game last week, does that count?)  While they were playing, we too were playing with our favorite four and six year olds Casey and Sam at Zap Zone!  We got some awesome prizes due to our joint effort in the Deal or No Deal game (1007 tickets, what what??)  It was great to be included as part of the family outing for Sam's Big 4.

Saturday Morning was started with a trip over to Good Girls Go to Paris Crepes.  Even though it was the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure, the line wasn't too long.  I love the taste of Crepes in the morning:)

After that I popped over to the Eastern Market, which was crazytown.  But that is okay, I like it when all those awesome folks come in from the burbs:)  But the new Devries & Co., however NOT Hirts it may be, have made a few improvements.  And I am glad I could return my Calder Dairy Bottles there.  Makes me feel more authentic to buy Milk in a glass jug.  Then it was on to the Detroit City Futball Club game at Cass Tech.  But wait, it was pouring rain.  Too bad, that didn't stop the fans from showing up.  And they pulled off a stunning 3-0 win against the Erie Admirals.  Way to go Le Rouge!!!

This week was also an exciting time of Tourism in our own town.  It started on Saturday after getting back from a week of camp.  I had learned the dance for the proposed flash mob in support of the Ruth Ellis Center.  It was to be done at Motor City Pride.  But it literally rained on our gay pride parade.  Boo.  So no flash mob, maybe next year?  But the Ruth Ellis center does really cool stuff and I was excited to participate.  I rode my bike from Hart Plaza to Metropolitan UMC which was quite the sociology experiment.  I left from the GLBT Pride event, then drove past the Tigers fans during a rain delay, then up to Midtown where the DSO was about to start (fancy, Meh), and then through New Center which is pretty shut down during the evening.  It showed me all the different people that belong to this city.  Pretty neat.

Monday night I went to my first ever Magic Stick concert.  But first we attended Happy Hour at Roast's Bar...very reasonable!  And what a burger for $4! Then we saw the Punch Brothers!  They were awesome.  And if you don't know them, check um out.  They are the new rendition of Chris Thile's (of Nickel Creek) band.  It was very fun.

Tuesday brought us to Detroit City Futball League's game night.  My mom came in for the game and wanted a hot dog....so I took her to Lafayette Coney Island, which was actually my first time.  I still have not done the challenge (compare Lafayette to American) but now I can at least say I've eaten at the original.  And let me tell you, they are not popular because of their service (NO) but it was quite an experience nonetheless.  Sorry to say, Cass United Lost but not in spirit!  The afterparty at Nancy Whiskey was fun and we even got a visit from Detroit Pleasure Society, one of our local Party Marching Bands.  Here is a quick clip (doesn't do the energy justice):



And on Wednesday Laura McLaughlin and Jamie Delp came in to join us for a Tigers Game (no W this time).  We went to Seva Detroit, sat on the patio and they have quite a nice Happy Hour as well:)

Broken windows, shattered dreams.

There has been a rash of vandalism on our street this week. A few of our neighbors have had passenger windows shattered or sideview mirrors broken off. It is truly an act of pointless vandalism. Nothing stolen, just broken. It makes me feel so hurt, like the boy in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close who can't understand why someone who has never met his Dad would run a plane into a building and kill his Dad, or how Carl described the first time he experienced and understood meanness as a kindergartener and just wondered "why would anyone do that?" When pointless meanness exists in the world, it shows we must have really failed someone along the way.

I have started listening to Detroit: A Biography by Scott Martelle and in the preface he points out that 3/4 freshmen in Detroit Public Schools will flunk or drop out. That's 75%! 75% is passing in most schools, so we are passing at the failing test. We have succeeded in failing these children. It breaks my heart, but I have no idea how to help.

Here I am in my Detroit home feeling helpless and having no idea how to help this problem. How do we motivate kids to care about school? How do we improve the curriculum on such a small budget? How do we change a culture of dropping out to one of finishing and going on to higher education? How do you foster a respect for strangers? How? How? How? If anyone has any suggestions, I am open to them. I am ready to take action, I just don't know how. And I'm not talking about vigilante justice here. We need to travel up the river to find out where all the dead are coming from, instead of just burying the bodies.

Portlandia

As we arrived in our fated land, we immediately felt as if we had left someone at home.  Yes, our new (to-you) Subaru would feel completely at home in this amazing new world-- Portlandia.  As would our Dog, where people value their dogs more than their children and love standing in line.  It was a strange mirage to go from Detroit to one of the Whitest cities in the USA.  But we managed to become accustomed to the culture shock.  Immediately we immersed ourselves in the land where young people go to retire.
Monday night started out late as we got in to Portland at 10pm, but we were told by our lovely friend Emily that the main band had not yet gone on and we still had time, Phew!  So we made our way through barbar to Mississippi St. Studios where the whitest crowd stood and slightly swayed (but not too much!) to the tunes of Agesandages (all one word), a new local band I would compare the styles to Of Monsters and Men or Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.  I tried to dance with Carl but he immediately put a kibosh on my shenanigans as we were in a Portland bar, where being too cool for school is cooler than dancing to the fun music that is playing.  Carl fit right in.

So Zen

On Tuesday we contemplated our belly-buttons at the Japanese Gardens in Washington Park.  It was so Zen, and no you cannot take wedding photos there or have your wedding there-- they are so over weddings.  But the view of Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Hood are super gorgeous from there.  We later stopped at Powell Books, did you know there are these places where you can get pretty much any book you are looking for, all from one store???  So we bought the Zinester's Guide to Portland, among other things because--well, when would we have the opportunity to do that again?  I mean, who really buys books anymore anyway?  Portlanders do!  And we capped off the evening with one of Portlands 40 plus Brew-pubs.

Sad tale, closed sorry for the convenience....

Wednesday was our gateway to the outdoors as we traveled to Multnomah Falls and hiked up to the top.  It was a great hike and then we realized once we got to the top that the passage to the top of the falls had a cave in and was currently closed.

Multnomah Falls

Above Multnomah Falls

Do a little dance...

Ahh, The Shining

But it's cool because we got our daily ego boost for hiking up the mile and a half vertical hike.  After that we traveled to Mt. Hood to have lunch at Timberline, I don't know if you know this but that is where the outdoor scenes from The Shining were filmed.  So we ate a late lunch, including some Moscow Mules (if you have to ask, you don't deserve to know) and soup and bread bowls.  The St. Bernard was chillin' in the office per usual.  When we got back we attended Trivia at Quizzissippi and placed happily along the median.  Did you know that He-Mans' cat's name is Cringer/Battle Cat?  Because Carl did.  In the end we topped off the night with some Old Dirty Bastards and Cock-n-balls, and if you didn't already know, those are doughnut flavors from Voodoo Donuts.  The worlds best and most creative donut shop.

ODB and Tang!

Yes, there is real bacon on that doughnut

On Thursday we had the pleasure of a meetup with the Conklin family, we went on a short hike and saw a little bit of the Arb/Forest Park.  Then we ate at a fun Vegan place that came highly recommended by Mira and Goose, and ended our day of fun with some more doughnuts from Voodoo...did you know they make Vegan Doughnuts?  Mira did!  And she got a discount due to her participation in the Rose City Rollers Rec League! We got home in time to celebrate Paloma's birthday and then hit the hay.

Conklin's trying to make sense of the bjorn

Friday Carl and I decided we would see Portland the way it was meant to be seen-- By Bike!  So we rented bikes, drove around town on all the bike lanes, headed over to distillery row for a tasting.  And I swear I did taste a little of those Fennel notes that she was talking about...but other than that it was way over our heads (or taste buds).  But we left with a big bottle of White Dog to enjoy once we make it home.  Emily met up with us and we had some smoothies at Prasad, a Yoga studio that is sooooo00ooo much more than a yoga studio.  And then we drove our bikes back up to N. Portland during bike rush hour...man, those people are serious about their bike commutes!  Tweet Tweet, I'm BIKIN' HErE!  On our way we stopped to check out "In Other Words" the feminist bookstore seen in Portlandia, and I almost got a copy of the feminist mystique but realized I had a copy already at home waiting for me.  In the evening we met up with Mira and Auggie at the Hanger for a Bout between the Rose City Rollers and the Denver Bruising Altitude.  It was fun and I think we actually learned the rules, among other things.



Saturday was a day full of Markets, we went to Farmers Market so that we could stand in a long line and wait 10 minutes for coffee and 25 minutes for biscuit sandwiches (worth it).  And then it was on to the Saturday market to view some art, and if that wasn't enough we made our way over to Crafty Wonderland-- which it was, I wanted a little of everything but managed to take hold of my inner impulse buyer.  Saturday evening was spent with Emily and Adam in the Portland Underground.  We learned the true meaning of what it meant to be Shanghaied!  And we also learned that some folks are more excited about this part of Portland's history than others.  It was interesting to see this side of the city's history, though.  We ended the evening (or so we thought) with Pok Pok, and some really yummy thai.  But as we were trying to sleep we were distracted by the party that was occurring a few houses down from the back of Emily's house.  It escalated to a fight that ended in wailing and a police officer saying in a calm voice "So, your party got a little out of hand, did it?"  And no, it was not us who called the police.

Portlanders love waiting in line for food

Sunday we traveled to Cornelius to see Eric preach and hang out with the Conklins again, then in the evening after a nap we headed up to Mt. Tabor for a picnic.  How can one city have so many awesome large parks?

Monday was the last day in town for us...so we did what anyone would do.  We went to Goodwill and a few other vintage stores.  And we went to see The Lorax at St. John Theatre and Pub.  Carl thought it fitting to see the anti-establishment movie at such a time as this, and in Portland no less.  And afterwards, after one last Fresh Strawberry shake, Emily took us back to the airport to fly home on the red eye.  As we woke up on the plane coming into Detroit it was as if it was all a dream.  The place really is too good to be true.

Last Days in Kenya: A Retrospective

As Carl and I made it to Meru we were pleasantly greeted by thirteen children at the Kithoka Amani Children's Home.  It was a good thing I had a few bags and two crutches because every kid wanted to help us get our stuff into our room and they each wanted to carry something.  They were all so adorable.  But when I stepped out of the car with a metal leg one of the girls who I would later learn is Bessie, was staring with such concern over the state of my leg.

After settling in and getting oriented after a rest we made our way down to dinner where the kids were playing outside.  They were mighty curious about my leg so with the help of Cecilia, the house mom, I explained what happened and that it was okay to touch, and no it didn't hurt me, etc...  After dinner was very nice because once all the kids went to bed we stayed up and got to have an extended talk with our driver, Ashford.  It was the first time I really felt like we were able to talk and learn more about each other.  He is a great person.

On Friday morning we got to tour the grounds of International Peace Initiative (who runs the children's home) and our little friend came along (one of the kids).   It's a beautiful place and they have small farming down to a science.  Our Detroit farming friends would love to see what they have to offer.  We even learned how to shuck black beans from the kids and spent a good chunk of time trying to help but I am not sure anything got done faster because of our presence.  Carl got really good at hitting the pile of beans with the stick, the first step in the shucking.

In the afternoon we drove around Meru, went to visit some friends of my mom's, and drove through the market.  While in a bit of a traffic jam in the market with our windows open a man came up to Carl's window, leaned in and started asking him questions, "who are you? Where are you from?  Ooh, USA?  Did you elect Obama?" without missing a step and wanting to make sure he had the right answer Carl said "yes, we elected Obama!". Well maybe not us personally but the answer seemed to be good enough for this man because he smiled and shook Carl's hand and walked away after that.  

We got to walk on the campus of Kenyan Methodist University which has grown immensely since I saw it in 2004.  It now boasts a medical school, and when I was there they had just a one room clinic in which they weren't allowed to advertise that they had free condoms to give away.

Friday evening we handed out footballs (soccer) and toys to the kids.  I passed out stickers and somehow most of them ended up on my arms.  We got to have a yummy dinner, Carl's new favorite food are Chipatis.  And we had somewhat of a sharing time after dinner.  The kids did a few dances for us, we had a guest friend who played the guitar and even Carl and I sang a few songs.  It was really fun.  It felt like we were part of the family.  More after dinner conversation and then it was off to bed. 

Saturday we departed early for Nairobi so that we could see some sights and downtown.  It was about 4 hours into our ride and only 60 km from Nairobi when suddenly the Carl broke down.  Hadn't we had enough car trouble?  Guess not.  We pulled over to a Mutatu station and were assisted by some other drivers who said it was needing to be fixed in a mechanic shop.  So Ashford called the other driver who was coming from Amboseli to pick us up and take us to Nairobi, but that meant a wait.  We got out and joined the patrons on the bench at the Mutatu stop.  Carl was initially pretty nervous about the situation but as time went on it allowed him to see that it was just any bus stop and people were just going about their days.

We were the butt of a few jokes, Kenyans not used to seeing Mazungus at the mutatu , but overall it was no big deal.  A "luxury shuttle" drove by, which was just a glorified mutatu and tried to pick us up, knowing that those white folks must have money.  But we stayed put and waited for Ben.  When he finally arrived, Ashford had bought some hand made rope which he tied the broken van to the working one.  

We made it almost 30 km before it broke!  Luckily Ben is a party man and a friend of his from Mombasa was driving by on the highway and had a metal hitch to let us borrow.  We made it most of the way to the guest house but had to leave Ashford at an area where he could try to get the car fixed.  It was really sad leaving him there as we had to say goodbye.  Next to the highway is not the ideal setting for emotional goodbyes and I had grown quite attached to Ashford.  He was a very nice, cautious, friendly, thoughtful guy and I am so glad we got to spend the week with him.  

So after a shower and a dinner with Chipatis one last time we repacked and were off to the airport.  As we drove the street back to the airport I found myself getting really choked up and teary eyed because this land has really treated me well and I don't know how soon I'll be able to get back here.  I love Africa so much, I miss it already but I was so glad to have the opportunity to call it home.  Even if just for a little while.

Samburu

So in the morning we awoke in Samburu to more mischievous vervets stealing Ashford's mangos! In fact, he said, "they didn't even eat them! They just made little holes in all of them and then threw them away!". Ah, well, I think next time we'll come during the rains and get some great mangos. I hear that's when they are sweetest!

But despite our lack of mango goodness we headed out for an early morning game drive. Soon we were in the midst of tiny dik diks (Anna and I both heard the Spaceballs "Dink dink" song in our heads everytime we saw them), giraffes, oryxes, and more.

In our endeavors to see a cheetah or two we went up to a more rugged road and promptly got stuck! Ashford had to add sticks and grasses under the wheels, I drove on the right side drivers seat/left sided gear shift while Anna played lookout for any lions or other large predators. Ashford taught us that the thing to do if you see a Lion is to yell and make LOUD NOISES!

But, the day really belonged to the elephants. As we went out and about we saw a few small families of pacaderms out in the bush. But as we turned in to the lodge for breakfast we made a swing by the dried up river bed. And there gathering for some kind of elephant conference were about 50 of the giants all standing around.

Some of the elephant village were actually digging for the salts left over by the evaporated water. The little ones (some only 2-3 weeks!) stood there underneath their mothers for shade or chased each other around. The anti-social bachelors seemed to hang around the banks pouting.

It didn't seem like the place for giant animals to be- what with the hot sun, no food, etc. but they must have had some business to attend to, because by the time we headed out in the afternoon they were still there! The next day they were even joined by a giraffe convention!

While we saw lots of great things in Samburu, including ostrich families, giraffes bending down to drink water, etc. I think the giant herd of elephants was the best thing!

Solio: Five Lions in a tree

In the morning we woke up at the ark to lots of warthogs, buffalo and bushbucks outside. We packed up early to meet Ashford for a drive in Solio Ranch. From the road it looks similar to a roadside park in the UP, not that exciting. But once you pass the front gate it opens up into a vast landscape somewhere between mountain forest and desert savannah.
On entry to the park we early on saw lots of Rhinos shading themselves behind bushes not more than 15 feet from our car! We drove on and saw some far off lions stalking some pray but they didn't have any luck while we were watching. We drove up a hill and saw some Ilans, the largest in the antelope family, a whole big family of rhinos (about 15 under one tree), and some zebras making loooooove. As we were making our way out of the park at a faster clip Carl shouts in a whispered tone, "lions!" and sure enough, right next to the van was a tree filled with Lions. So don't count on escaping up a tree if a hungry lion is chasing you!!!!
After being dropped off in Nyeri (Ashfords Place of residence) for a quick lunch and Ashford said goodbye to his sons and wife, we took off at a fast clip in order to get to Samburu before dark. We almost made it but then entered the park just after sundown. When we made it to our hotel we were amazed at the proximity to the wildlife! During dinner we were pestered by a spotted genet cat for scraps- it's amazing he wasn't much fatter!
As we retired to our rooms we heard what can only really be described as the barking sound of a lion in the vicinity. Apparently we missed last night, the leopard eating the head of a dead crocodile just in the riverbed below the viewing area. After a long journey we were tired and went to bed early.
At around 12:30 the promised cut off of all power to the lodge came. They do this every night and afternoon to save fuel - since the whole place only has generators for electricity. There is something intense about spending all day finding lions and leopards around you, and then at midnight being separated from one of the man-made things that helps us pretend like we are safely apart from those beasts when we lay down to go to sleep. And apart from some tortuous sounds of something eating something else at around 3:00am, all went well even without any lightbulbs burning or iPhones charging.

Puncture

Today began with a realization that US dollars aren't as magical as they may seem. We tried to exchange both travelers checks and cash but no banks in Nakuru Town do travelers checks anymore and any US cash older than a couple years isn't accepted anywhere in Kenya. Sheesh! Luckily the ATM worked and we had some cash newer than 2006!

Then we hit the road and headed to Aberdare National Park and a lodge called The Ark. It was our first taste of really getting "out there" on safari.

First off, Aberdare is up in the mountains and so is a jungle landscape.
On our game drive on the way up to The Ark we were surprised by a tusker elephant grazing on jungle bushes almost right above our heads on a skinny mountain road. It is amazing that something so big can hide so well right next to you!

Then after seeing some skunk monkeys (____________ for real), various asundry warthogs and bush bucks, our guest guide for the day talked in Swahili to his driver and then said in English, "Oh, I am sorry. We have a puncture." Apparently the left front wheel had blown and we were on our own with a bus full of Chinese and Argentinian friends to fix it. Anna and I were the only English-only folks there, plus the only Americans, so to avoid seeming pushy, we stayed on the bus and didn't lend any thoughtful gazing to the tire changing effort at all, but the rest of the folks certainly did. Especially after the guide told us NOT to get off the bus.

But the tire was successfully swapped out and we were on our way up to the top for a night in The Ark. The best feature of this hotel is the salt lick, pond, viewing deck, and flood light combo that allows guests to watch the late night antics of the creatures who come to visit. One bell rung in the middle of the night means the are elephants to see. Two bells equals rhinos, three; a leopard, and four; all other rare sightings.

About two-thirty in the morning we heard a single bell and hopped out of bed. When we arrived at the viewing platform we saw both a big old tusker elephant plus two black rhinos! They drank water, scuffled over who owned the salt lick and in general put on an enjoyable show. Then the bad guys showed up as a pack of hyenas followed, threatened and were ultimately rebuffed by a giant forest hog.

While watching these animals from the indoor observation deck, below us on the porch were two bush babies! One even came up the emergency stairs and looked Carl right in the face! Our guide Ashford stated that he has lived in Kenya all his life and never seen a live bush baby because they are so elusive. And guess what? We forgot to take a picture!

Did I mention that the Ark was built to resemble the biblical boat sitting atop Mt. Arararat? Well it is and certainly delivers on a similar amount of wildlife with it! It was a great way to see that part of Kenyan game culture.

Hello Kenya!

After much anticipation, I finally made it to Nairobi to meet Carl. He was waiting for me at the airport with roses and that silly mustache! I told him he would look more appropriate at the Houston airport in boots and a ten gallon hat. But it was so nice to see him after this long trip! We made it to the guest house and got to meet Dr. Karambu Ringera, the head of Amani Travel and International Peace Initiative. They served us a hardy dinner, and we tried to nod off around 9pm but someone in the neighborhood was having a party! All night! And their was also a few Mosquitos inside our net which were stupid because they didn't bite but made plenty of noise while buzzing around your ear. In the morning we jokingly mentioned it to Ashford and he immediately complained to the guards. Apparently she has done this before (parties) and it's not allowed. I hope we didn't get anyone in too much trouble.

In the morning we departed from Nairobi for Nakuru. It was so interesting because we drove straight through Nairobi's city center--what a giant place with skyscrapers and a central park--it felt much like a big city at home. Ashford said there are 3.2 million people living in Nairobi. It seems like a very westernized city.

After leaving the city we drove a ways on the highway, which was pretty flat and then turned off to the left where a short distance away the road opened up and it seemed like the ground just fell away into the Rift Valley. What a gorgeous and unexpected site! We stopped at the mountainside to take some photos and go into the curios shop.

Then we went on to Nakuru National Park. At the entrance to the park we were getting out of the van when a vervet monkey with her baby on her belly jumped into the van. Carl valiantly jumped out of the way while I was stuck in the car, monkey between me and the exit. Ashford came to the rescue and quickly shooed it away. It was quite a funny sight!!

After lunch at our accommodations we went on a game drive and saw almost every animal in the book!! It was an excellent first day of Safari for Carl!! Late in the day as we were driving back to our hotel we came across a hippo walking near the road. We stopped to take some photos and he was coming nearer to the car when he looked Carl in the face, huffed and jumped a little, ready to charge. Carl hollered and sat down quickly, which I think startled the hippo so then he just stood there for a second, eyeing us and then went on his way. We also saw a whole pride of young lions, a black rhino, a white rhino with her baby and much, much more. It was a very successful day! Asante sana!

So I'm here in Amsterdam! (this is CArl by the way). On my way to meet Annie in Nairobi. And I took her challenge to get out of the airport, get on a train, and find the red light district! Well, she didn't say that last part, but it's where I ended up. I'm not really the right kind of person for that kind of thing. I kept apologizing and looking away when some of the pros started tapping on their preview windows to get my attention. More my speed was the overwhelming amount of bikes there were downtown, the place is overrun! Oh and I thought the pack of German elementary students who'd bought Flarp right before our train ride back to the airport was funny too:)Anyway, one more flight this evening to Nairobi, then a little siesta, then Anna arrives! Can't wait! I think she's gonna love the misery mustache that I grew in her honor (for all 10 minutes that I leave this thing on my face once she sees it)Hope all is well in 'Murca. C

Last Day

So my last day at QECH was a shorter one, however I tried my best to photo and reflect on my time here as much as possible. I photoed the entrance to the hospital, the minibus stop, different parts of the hospital. It is amazing to think how nervous I was just six weeks ago, entering a world of unknowns. I managed to find my way around QECH and Blantyre, even with one leg and no car.

I spent the morning after the handover saying goodbyes, handing out thank yous and then I headed over to the Malaria research ward to see how Dr. Taylor spends her days. It was very interesting and refreshing to see how methodical and consistent they were with the patients. It just goes to show it can be done, however it is obvious that they have much more people and resources. If only the whole hospital could get research type funding, the level of care would be astounding.

In the afternoon I took what will likely be my last minibus ride, phew! Made it without a scratch (knock on wood). And then after a nice nap I joined some of my roommates at a program called Noah's Ark. It's a program for children that have lost their mothers, they pay for school, help them with schooling, feed them and give them a place to go after school. What a fun afternoon! I handed out stickers which everyone patiently waited their turn. We played with bubbles and sang songs like "If your happy and you know it.". There were the Malawi versions as well. I have video of the little kids dancing in the middle of the circle, so precious! The lady who runs the program also just happens to be from Flint! Go Michiganders!

This evening we had a lovely dinner with visitors and had good discussion, good drinks and great cookies! Thanks Simone and Liz. I had a nice long conversation with Christopher, one of the guards about the political climate in the USA and the political climate in Malawi. It was very interesting. We even discussed gay rights! Which their are none of in Malawi, homosexuality is illegal here. It was a nice discussion and I enjoyed getting to know him a little better. I feel spoiled by all of the blessings I have experienced here and will miss it all, but I just talked to Carl and I'm looking forward to seeing him in Kenya! Yay!

Minibus stop at QECH

Main theatre entrance

Malaria research ward