run, mzungu, run!

[click on the title for the full post]

Today's Think Kit prompt:

Deck the LOLs

Let's loosen up: share a side-splitting story from the last year. What made you laugh out loud until tears formed? What made you giggle every time it was referenced? Whether it's a story, an image, a video – we want to hear about the banana peel on the floor, your best practical joke, or gems from the mind of a three-year-old. Whether it's sassy, sarcastic, or just plain silly: make us laugh!

This is one of those cases where the joke was on me. Months later my reaction has morphed from breaking into a cold sweat to laughter. I'm not sure I'm at the LOL stage yet.

I'm not one for bathroom humor, but this story is all about the potty.

Let me set the scene.

I'm in Tanzania visiting my godmother, Sr. Janet, and we're in the middle of a crazy-long bus ride. Unbelievably I had been looking forward to the bus trip. I pictured that the bus would be full of people, luggage, and live chickens.

My vision was right about the people -- folks were stacked on top of each other and kiddos were wedged on parent's laps and in the aisle. The boy pictured above was standing on a 50 pound bag of rice over my shoulder. What I didn't picture was the chaotic process of purchasing a ticket or getting on the bus. Arms were waving, people climbing over each other and boxes tied with twine and luggage and children bags of food were flying.

The bus was made for smaller people. I'm not tall by any means, but my knees were firmly in the back of the seat in front of me. And the seats were so tall that you couldn't see in front of you, it was quite claustrophobic.

We were on the bus for several hours before there was a bathroom stop. We pulled into a lot with stands and vendors and people holding stuff for sale up to the windows.

My godmother gave me a baggy with a roll of toilet paper and I jumped over the obstacle course in the aisle and tumbled down the steps of the bus. I was trying to find the toilet while making my way through the throng trying to sell me things. I must have said la asante (no thank you) a hundred times.

I finally found the bathroom, figured out that the man in front of the door asking me for money was for use of the facilities, found the right amount of shillings to give him, and walked into the women's room.

I should explain that toilets in Tanzania are not the toilets we're used to. They are "squat" toilets. Click here if you'd like further description.

Going to the bathroom is involved -  holding up my skirt, positioning my underwear so that it was out of the way, and balancing myself over the potty while holding my purse and a baggy with a roll of t.p.

You can laugh.

I got my clothes organized, poured some water in the bucket in the stall to flush and refilled the bucket and walked out pretty darn proud of myself for navigating the process and keeping my shoes dry.

That was short lived.

The bus was gone!

I saw it rolling towards the highway, a football field away. I took off in a sprint, waving the baggie of toilet paper as I ran. While I was running, my petite godmother was trying to navigate the blocked aisle to get the bus drivers attention.

At this point there are probably close to a hundred people watching the Nora show.

I was panicked and there were tears running down my face. I can only imagine how crazy I looked.

Then I heard the chant of "Run, *Mzungu, Run!" coming from the crowd.

I burst out laughing, the bus slowed down, and I fell on in a shaking pile of panic.


*Mzungu - Swahili for white person, someone of European decent.

a picture is worth a thousand words, right?

[click on title for full post] 

under the mosquito net, Morogoro, Tanzania. 

I am a last-minute participant in the Think Kit blogging challenge. I tried to blog everyday last December, but it fell apart for various reasons....mostly because December is busy with work and play and obligations and holiday panic, blah, blah. 

But I really want to start writing again. I still write the music column for the Broad Ripple Gazette, but I've let other writing opportunities slide and I don't like it. 

And this year I have plenty to write about and need to capture those stories before they have totally left my brain. 

So here we go. Again. 

Day One prompt: 

Nothing like a strict word count to kick off our month of blogging...just kidding! Share your year in photos. Was there a moment of unrestrained happiness? An unexpected encounter? What role do photos play in your life – were you more selective with your phone (er...camera) this year? Or are you the King of Selfies? Dig into the deeper meaning of a moment frozen in time.

I'm all about the photos and think that the idea of selfies might just have been invented for me. In previous years I took an extraordinary amount of feet snapshots - so many that they have their own label on this blog. 

I moved away from photographing my feet when I discovered the whole selfie thing. Or maybe because I lost weight and figured out the right angle to tilt the phone to hide the double chin that I was born with. 

I embraced the foot photos again this summer when I spend most of July in Tanzania visiting my godmother. I started wrapping up my day with under-the-mosquito-net facebook posts. It was a great way to reflect on the adventures of the day and there is great comfort and safety in being  under a net. 

Tucking the net in makes going to bed intentional and marks a clear end to the day. Going to bed at Chez Pez is fluid. I get up to find the charger for my phone, up to get a glass of water, up to double check the lock on the door, up to start laundry, up to grab another book.....

I think I should add a mosquito net to my Christmas list, I think I'd sleep better. 

+++++

So what is old is new again....photos of toes, blogging, and hoping to make it through the month. 

I'll see you tomorrow. 

weddings and raindrops

Celebrating with the father of the bride - Cousin Jeff

Dad and I headed to Cass County (where he grew up) to attend the wedding of his great-niece Courtney. The ceremony and reception were held in the middle of a beautiful field on Cousin Jeff's property. 

The weather did not cooperate. At all. Buckets of rain fell hard and quick. 

That didn't stop the celebrating- and the Spitznogle's know how to party, no matter what the weather.

The guests were all instructed to wear boots, even before they knew the forecast. I was glad there was straw readily available to sprinkle on the puddles.

I cleverly also brought my rain boots with me. I not so cleverly left them in the bed of the truck. They turned into a giant rain gauge before I could retrieve them.

happy feet

Like most people, I totally soak in the vibe of the folks around me and tonight I filled my positivity tank to the brim.

I got to spend the evening with one of the most positive and action-oriented and all-around cool folks that I am lucky enough to know - Robert Egger.  It was a lovely evening, spent with lovely folks in a lovely house - as you can tell, there was lots of lovely flying around!

Robert's brother, sister-in-law, and nephew live just a few blocks from me in this amazing home. It is  beautiful, cozy, and clearly home to a happy family.

Cheers to good vibes! 

indiana State Fair day 4 - 2011 edition

Finally, some rain!

Read all about my trip to the Indiana State Fair Day Four by clicking here.

radioactive spider bite

These way-cute rain boots were a Christmas gift from a friend.

They were parked on my porch for two months waiting for a rainy day that didn't also include ice.

I was pretty excited to wear them for the first time  a few Mondays ago, they made the rainy day a little brighter. I snapped this photograph right after I put them on for the first time.

About five minutes from work, I felt something bite one of my left toes.

I drive a standard transmission which means that in order to stop I need to use both feet. One on the clutch and the other on the brake pedal.

I had to wait until I could pull into the parking lot to peel off the boot and claw at my foot.

My toe had a little hole in it, itched like hell and was turning red. I downed two Benedryl - incidentally I had a very productive day.

I sort of thought it was all over, but by Thursday I was sitting in the doctor's office.

Nothing ten days of antibiotics can't fix.

Stupid spiders.

I still love the boots.

grrrrrr

I’m wrestling an 81 year-old house in to the digital age. 

And we’re both dragging our feet. 

Even though it’s called ‘wireless,’ it requires wires. And drilling through brick and plaster – and woodwork, unfortunately.

I’ve been paying for internet access for years, but the wiring and controls were on the other side of the house (I own a double and live on one side and rent the other) and I wanted to move them for a couple of reasons. I hated that if something was wrong I had to ask my tenant to deal with it or go to her house to fix it. Of course, it also felt a little shady to have to bill go to one address and the access go to the other.

Last Saturday was a crappy weather day. It is waffling between big fat raindrops and big fat sleet. The technician and I walked around the house discussing our options.  They both involved drilling. His idea was to drill through the floor of the other side of the house, run the wire under the floor, drill through the cinder block wall dividing the basements and then drill through my floor. My idea was to run the wire around the outside of the house and drill into my wall. One drill hole, verses three. And I figured that plaster is easier to patch then replacing the wood trim.

He promised that he would drill through the plaster and not the wood trim. I even offered to take the storm window out so that I could hold a yardstick out to show him the spot. Nope, he had it.

His first attempt hit the edge of the wood and cracked it! I was yelling, “STOP!” through the window. He came in to check it and went back out and drilled LOWER – through the woodwork. I thought I was going to punch him. 

But I’m a wuss.

And at this point the damage was done. What good would being angry do? He was a subcontractor for the giant cable company, so I knew that my chance of any reparation was slim. And it was my idea...and I got to pay $49 for the pleasure of having two holes in the brick and the woodwork. 

I wonder -- at what point do I stop putting up with things being ‘good enough?’ I don’t let myself off the hook that easily, why do I let others slide?

In the meantime, I’ll drown my sorrows in a rousing game of on-line Scrabble. 

feet frequency fail

It tried, I really tried.

I had a grand and ambitious plan for 2011. I blame this guy - Doug W. ran every single day in 2011. And if that's not crazy enough, he blogged about it too. Every single day. Jerk.

I thought I could do the same thing in 2011. Not the running part - don't be ridiculous, the writing. Couldn't be that hard, right?

I had the idea that I would take a photograph of my feet that day and blog about something that happened along the way.

The photo above, of Doug and I was snapped on December 31st, after his last run of the year. I had a head full of good intentions and a belly full of stew and Guinness that afternoon.

I did pretty well the first two weeks. My parameters were that I had to take the photo that day and at least start the blog post.

That part was easy. Finishing the posts in a timely manner was not. Some days were just to frantic and busy. Or boring. Or sad. Or in some cases all four. I was missing out on some good stuff for lack of time and throwing up some junk just to check it off. I can't tell you the number of times in the last twelve weeks that I've fallen asleep with the open computer on my lap and jerked awake with the idea that I was failing.

I'm throwing in the towel on the blogging every day scheme. I just can't do it, and the myriad of other things in my life. There are several blog posts that were waiting for me to fill in the days between. I'll post them now, gap days be damned.

Starting now, I'll blog when I can, most likely with a foot photo.

Thanks for swinging by....

xoxox,
N.

icepolocypse 2011 day 5

It was very important that I get the car unstuck today. Because it was very important that I be sitting in this chair, reading a magazine and getting my hair cut (and let's be honest, some color too).

At first I thought I could walk to the appointment. It was only a mile away, a mere ten blocks. Ha! Not on this ice. Not even with the potato fork.

Friends to the rescue! As much as I like to think I can do everything myself, pushing the car out is a team effort.

Don used a pick axe around my tires. I tried not to micro-manage, but an axe, near my tires. Really? Trust, it's all about trust.

Scott shoveled and pushed. 

I might have given this helpful message the finger. 

In the end, we freed the car. Don drove and I joined Scott pushing and it popped right out. I was able to guide the car down the icy hill without hitting the vehicle parked on the street across from the driveway. 

And I got a kick-ass new haircut. 

icepolocypse 2011 day 4

Christos and Nora

Are you getting tired of seeing the snow boots? I know that I am tired of wearing them. 

Another day, another precarious trip down the driveway with the help of the potato fork and hitching another ride to work (thanks Kipp!). 

Work was a little more 'normal' — maybe 'typical,' is a better word. School is still canceled. The three inches of ice on the sidewalks and parking lots makes it too dangerous to send the kids out. Although at this point I think I could come up with thousands of parents to hack away at the school entrances. 

Today is the first Friday of the month, and there is a city-wide First Friday initiative to celebrate the arts. Most galleries are open and new work is unveiled. My friend, Christos Koutsouras, is in town for his show at the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art. I had been looking forward to it for weeks and intended to go - ice be damned.

My friend Jake fetched me, and the potato fork from work to go to the show. It was Jake's first visit-ever to an art gallery and I was happy to share it with him.

Christos and Jake

Christos work was on two floors of the building and included an installation piece (which basically means that you build something on site, just for the show). 

I wish I would have leaned the potato fork against the piece - it already reminded me of a corn crib. If you looked though the slats you could peep at some amazing drawings and studies Christos' has created. 

It was also the first art opening for the twins. The girl is the perfect height to see the art.

inside the piece

The boy twin.

The show was great - on the second floor was some of his earlier work. I also enjoyed seeing Christos in his element. Although I suspect that everywhere is his element. 

When he lived in town there was a period that we spent some time together. As you might guess, I tend to be pretty jumpy as a rule- always worried if I am doing the right thing. Christos really worked on teaching me to be present in the moment - and not worry what everyone else is doing. 

He's also very confident and I admire that, but is happy to laugh at himself too. He's one of those guys that in the course of saying hello winds up with his hand on your ass, and somehow you don't care - and moreover, it doesn't seem offensive. I'm not sure I can explain it. 

The show - and his painting of the sea was a nice respite from the ice. 

icepolocypse 2011 day 3

Back to work today.

Folks need to eat.

My car is still stuck as stuck can be.

Thankfully neighbor Kipp gave me a ride to work. He picked me up at 7:30 after chipping the ice off of his truck. On the way in I commented that I couldn't believe that school was called off again, which he hadn't heard. And it meant that his office was closed too. Whoops!

The potato fork is coming in handy. I'm not sure I could walk down the hill of my icy driveway without it. Lots of salt and chipping and an hours work cleared one of the doors to Second Helpings.

We told the volunteers to stay home, but some came anyway — which was great, the staff worked in the kitchen and helped deliver the meals.

I sorted bread and desserts. I love thinking about the folks we're serving — cupcakes to the kiddos and pies to the seniors. 

Being hands-on today reminded me of the generosity of our donors and volunteers. 

Life ain't bad. 

Except for this damn ice. 

icepolocypse 2011 day 2

Uncle Cletus's potato fork came in handy today. It's pretty darn good at chipping off the ice.

And there is plenty of ice.

Another day of no work.

I spent hours clearing the ice off the car. And the damn thing won't budge.

Stuck as stuck can be.

lazy sunday

There is still plenty of snow, if anyone wants any.

Today was a lazy day. No work, no deadlines.

Church, than  back to bed.

I managed to rally long enough to go hear music and visit a new brewery downtown, Flat 12 Bierworks. 

The very talented Tad Armstrong and Brian Deer were playing.

And I got a brewery tour.

It's nice to see how the other half spends Sunday.

bleck

I'm tired of the snow.

I worked at the Red Key tonight. Which I always enjoy.

And I usually like taking out the trash.

Seriously.

But now the dumpster is halfway across the icy parking lot.

And locked.

With a big iron bar across the lid. When unlocked the bar only moves a few inches.

There are two choices. One is to hold the lid up with your head as you swing the heavy bag five feet up to get it in the dumpster. The second is to talk a hapless customer into going with you to help. Then you get to hold the lip up with your arms as the trash and bottles are hurled just inches from your face.

I'm not bitter.

Seriously.

hot rollers

I joined an all-woman jug band and purchased hot rollers. Yep, that was pretty much the path from not owning a brush to buying rollers. And you know that this will lead to other purchases, like hairspray and sparkly eye stuff.

It's been fun to hang out with girly-girls who dress up and take the time to apply makeup and wear red lipstick.

Next thing you know, I'll be wearing a flower in my hair.

desk

While I'm a charter member of the clean plate club, my work desk does not get the same distinction.

It's a combination of things. Most of my days tend to be one long interruption.  I don't have the opportunity to file things or even stack them in to a neat pile before I get called away.

My desk also becomes a dumping spot of things that no one knows what to do with - toss it Nora's desk, she'll take care of it. I also have coworkers that are fond of printing out the e-mails that I sent them and giving them to me.

I've come to terms with the fact that I can't keep a clean desk, yet I'm very methodical with projects. It might look like hell in production, but the finished product is always stellar. 

While I don't fancy myself as an Albert Einstein, I love what he had to say about desks:

If a cluttered desk signs a cluttered mind, Of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?

So there!

When I'm done with a project, I tend to put it on the floor so when I get up I can take it to the proper place.

Today I've gotten a ton of paperwork done.

You can tell by the floor.

super!

There is a big old football game coming to Indianapolis next year. And it will take an army of volunteers to run it. I'm excited to be one of the volunteers and tonight was the first meeting of the environmental committee.  Hopefully I'll get assigned to the sub-committee that work on rescuing food from the official events.

Super Bowl XLVI - Indianapolis.

Fingers crossed that the labor dispute gets resolved.

how is it possible....

 ...that I'm qualified to speak to a senior level college class?

And maybe I'm not - but I spent an hour and a half tonight with a class focusing on nonprofits. I've learned over the course of hundreds of speeches that I do better without too many notes. I have a five minute talk about Second Helpings that I can give at the drop of a hat. It's easy to expand on all of our great programs for a more in-depth view of our agency. And it gives me a chance to throw out my best food rescue jokes. 

I was encouraged by the preparation and research the students had done and all of their great questions and the challenges to the way nonprofits are run. Before I started working for a nonprofit agency I had the thought in the back of my mind that nonprofits needed to be managed more like businesses. I've flipped that around, especially in this business climate - businesses could use the transparency of nonprofits. I am mindful that every decision I make and every dime I spend for Second Helpings needs to further our mission of feeding hungry people, training adults and rescuing food. I can't tell you how easy that makes the hard decisions.

On a side note, I was slightly distracted knowing that there were guys right outside the door playing Dungeons and Dragons - to further the stereotype, we were in the engineering building on campus. The Purdue (my alma mater) is the icing on the nerdiness cake.

fancy brunch

Brother J.R. treated us to brunch at their club to celebrate Mom's birthday. I didn't know that I liked waffles so much. And sausage and birthday cake. Off the charts Weight Watchers points, I'm sure. 

It was delightful to have a chance sit with family members and laugh and listen to my sweet niece tell silly jokes -- she's a girl after my own heart.

Mom's birthday was much fancier last year -- you can read the re-cap here.

Nap time!

tgif, sort of

unexplained water on the woman's room floor

I think the winter doldrums have arrived. It's cold. It's gloomy. It's late January. I go to work in the dark and come home in the dark. Bleck. 

That said, work is going really well -- all three of the jobs. I'm especially re-energized at the main gig.

But I really enjoyed mopping today. First of all the problem was not as dramatic as advertised; Nora, the bathroom is flooding and covered with six inches of water! That got me up from the lunch table in a hurry. 

No flooding, I couldn't find the source of water, it was just one of those one-time mysterious crop circle-like dealies . The water was clear, instead of, well, you know. All and all, not bad. I've dealt with way worse.

And I enjoyed the process of mopping. I could see results — less water on the floor, more water in the bucket. 

Mop, wring the mop, mop, wring the mop, mop. 

Way more satisfying than that spreadsheet I'm working on.