tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33160934090224174872024-03-04T22:32:55.725-08:00Wayward & WanderingA collection of thoughts & pictures from our life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-84602965121802022052016-01-30T08:01:00.000-08:002016-01-30T10:45:42.183-08:00Scrape, Mud, Sand, Cry, Paint. Repeat.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ykz04e8jngXgYTRMSEdeA4EbOrO92yvpZ0LAnNvi_301RrjBKCu5VoGGAS8sqjxfA78AJUJQ7tcitWOzFNyJhzXwTvwn8hJ4x8QUp4rnMXjrjWg5VafWivPevib5eK1WmYVLX3o_9Cg/s1600/B%2526AGreen.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ykz04e8jngXgYTRMSEdeA4EbOrO92yvpZ0LAnNvi_301RrjBKCu5VoGGAS8sqjxfA78AJUJQ7tcitWOzFNyJhzXwTvwn8hJ4x8QUp4rnMXjrjWg5VafWivPevib5eK1WmYVLX3o_9Cg/s640/B%2526AGreen.jpeg" title="Before and After: The Green Room" width="640" /></a></div>
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So while Brian worked on the outside of our house, my job was the inside. Like most people, when first viewing our <i>before</i> photos, you may think there is very little work to do, but trust me when I say that the photos are <i>extremely</i> misleading.</div>
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I decided to begin with the bedrooms for a variety of reasons. First of all, I figured learning to scrape, mud, and sand walls would be a major learning process for me and if I were going to make mistakes I would rather have them in the bedrooms than in the front rooms. Also, the bedrooms appeared to need less work, and I really wanted to feel a sense of accomplishment sooner rather than later. Finally, we had most of our supplies set up in the front rooms, so the bedrooms were already empty and easier to cordon off then the front of the house. All in all, this was the right choice.</div>
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The first step in redoing the rooms was to decide whether we should start with the walls or the floor. The walls were lathe and plaster and had many, many, (so many *<i>cry</i>) cracks that would need to be fixed. The floors were absolutely covered in laminate glue and would need hours of sanding, staining, and sealing in order to be their best (if they would ever be their best, again). After reading different blogs and discussing options with the guys at Ace, we decided to start with walls.</div>
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Walls didn't seem like they were going to be that difficult. I knew they would be time consuming, since each layer of mud would need 24 hours to dry, but I thought I would have no trouble doing a step, or even two, a day (*o<i>h, the innocence of the ignorant</i>). Therefore my timeline was approximately 3 days a room, rapidly moving through the 5 steps for every crack: scrape, dust, tape, mud (repeatedly), sand. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsSkjOLp3PQkMH-oEwezyhsmM6eSFEl7CNUzxNf_X-Ds3eYFoXQH6in_YjTJhcPF6HV6qfKrnbH_7pp-IgpekrSAUmjcxHQH2YYlKO7hbk2PrmOLZKX6xxi8ao5WIsKhYLSpcDUSYuWNQ/s1600/steps.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsSkjOLp3PQkMH-oEwezyhsmM6eSFEl7CNUzxNf_X-Ds3eYFoXQH6in_YjTJhcPF6HV6qfKrnbH_7pp-IgpekrSAUmjcxHQH2YYlKO7hbk2PrmOLZKX6xxi8ao5WIsKhYLSpcDUSYuWNQ/s640/steps.jpeg" title="The Steps: Scrape. Mud. Sand. Paint. Floors." width="640" /></a></div>
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However, I quickly realized that those steps looked very different when I was performing them. And in reality, a room could take me a week, or even two. </div>
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My steps were as follows:</div>
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<b>Day 1: Scraping</b></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Scrape out all cracks in just one room.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Feel that arm is going to fall off when you start ceiling. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Realize ceiling has more cracks then all four walls combine. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Sigh, repeatedly. (Not satisfying though, because no one hears your pain.)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Turn on a <i>This American Life</i> podcast and challenge yourself to finish entire ceiling by the time the episode is done. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Repeat step 5 as many times as it takes to finish scraping ceiling.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Convince B to come help once it is too dark for him to work outside.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Celebrate the end of scraping (one room).</li>
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<b>Day 2: Dusting/Taping</b></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Vacuum/dust all debris out of newly scraped cracks.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Notice all debris is still in cracks. Try again.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Realize there is still freaking debris in cracks - curse at worthless shopvac, what is the point of stupid shopvac if it doesn't suck up debris?!?! </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Attempt dusting with damp cloth. (Youtube solution.)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Discover still more debris.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Determine that this is more of an optional step that you will now be opting out of. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Take lunch break.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Begin placing joint-tape over cracks. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Celebrate total mastery of this step.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Wish all steps were putting joint-tape over cracks.</li>
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<b>Days 3-5: Mudding & Scrapping </b><i>(1st, 2nd, and 3rd layers)</i></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Slather mud (joint-compound) thinly over cracks. Do NOT mess up tape. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">When you do mess up tape, fight your tears, and apply again.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Let dry and scrape.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Slather mud over crack a second time. Spread it a little further out, but also keep it thinner so there is no hump.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Curse when small hump appears.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Curse again when you realize you have dried mud in your hair.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Let mud dry while you repeatedly wash hair.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Try to scrape down hump. Fail.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Repeat application of mud one more time, but even thinner. This may seem impossible (because it is), but this is what Youtube experts say to do. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Pull trowel away from wall and admire. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Experience admiration quickly turn to shock as you realize a small piece of invisible dirt was on your trowel and has now messed up all previous layers.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Get B to look at layers and tell you if it is as bad as you think it is.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Deal with tarnished layers. Embrace imperfection.</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30NF2mQHkxqTcoYvHlC7dZvOpfkXqkP3vUx-QHdNdUgqzl5pJTGF4Y9_JMf7fHZ3l-MMIiJ9he9dipsF9Ko0ZZ36qgrw4Qty36J096PYj73-41Wkl3TPw1H9J1ra-sJC-ILJ0p-YjaFk/s1600/IMG_8765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30NF2mQHkxqTcoYvHlC7dZvOpfkXqkP3vUx-QHdNdUgqzl5pJTGF4Y9_JMf7fHZ3l-MMIiJ9he9dipsF9Ko0ZZ36qgrw4Qty36J096PYj73-41Wkl3TPw1H9J1ra-sJC-ILJ0p-YjaFk/s640/IMG_8765.JPG" title="Scraping the Cracks (Back Room)" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidvMxboBwhp1WGEoH4q6x9vQQbDH5lkWWBDsfF8ZjR2NBVLp2cynE1SQr_sUA8jGr4kidmz9zdKHVi2FVQczdQuYppa0JBeRK-Dlg0FtfCxSNZkbYgV7ZCJq3qVSLWe5c4VFpSkcXeDw/s1600/IMG_8773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidvMxboBwhp1WGEoH4q6x9vQQbDH5lkWWBDsfF8ZjR2NBVLp2cynE1SQr_sUA8jGr4kidmz9zdKHVi2FVQczdQuYppa0JBeRK-Dlg0FtfCxSNZkbYgV7ZCJq3qVSLWe5c4VFpSkcXeDw/s640/IMG_8773.JPG" title="Taping the Cracks" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TF6HYWlnfr673O1OYOHgokspOYFdPM3IzzUF5Uij4FpyVZYJnpoLXBrc7w5j832hLPEJNwrYM6KZ48p4GB3C-To6RDw4aF4dCLNgGhqXBKyfUslWrsZ51gxdfO9lNP4i1N9MNwRx9ds/s1600/IMG_8696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdYeA-YEYevSw2qmclbZHazUvHf3dYGHZqYufE1MjYWKpHC87eHhHnuuw6VQcXdqzBPyDA8Evaskp82Q68klE7Mhu5ygY8Ehqb_Y2shHmF_cfqq4Z5FLBqybMNVBuSHaiitR6dI4E8yQ/s640/IMG_8774.JPG" title="Mudding the Cracks" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Day 6: Sanding</b></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Lightly sand all layers.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Lightly sand, damn it! </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">When you accidentally sand down to tape, realize you must mud again (all 3 layers!).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Go to kitchen, pour glass of wine, wander outside to watch B work, take deep breath, and return to room.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Re-mud.</li>
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<b>Day 10: Done</b><i> (Realize you are never done.)</i></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Feel success that all cracks are now scrapped, mudded, and sanded. Room is ready to be painted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Notice new crack. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Cry. Let it out. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Debate ignoring crack. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Realize you'll never be able to forget stupid crack, if you don't fix it. Repeat all steps. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Notice another damn crack. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Tell B you're quitting and going to the bar.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Once at bar, watch a drunk, rather short, like we're talking 4 ft. woman, play recklessly with B's longboard until the bartender is forced to take it away from her.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Return home and ignore any new cracks that have suddenly appeared.</li>
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<b>Day 12: Start again on the next bedroom room.</b></div>
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Eventually, after what seemed like an epic period of time, I managed to finish mudding the three bedrooms and it was time to paint. Painting was a breeze compared to the previous 5 steps. Although my arm was exhausted most days and my hair was completely white, I became quickly addicted to the paint sprayer and its smooth application. I also felt insanely hardcore, since I was wearing a respiratory mask, work gloves, and wielding a power tool. Hell yeah!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLLsAfhM5-pERxgXroJAwhLOWIKMDaoS6YnjsF2JndO5xJk35mG2uy-LvTcJjbAEZOEFHGXmrQP_92m3w5j3yrmP04OqAfbYOXi90v_YaMWBA4zLryPcPO-G8f4-JD8_FUt959ABXchk/s1600/IMG_9147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLLsAfhM5-pERxgXroJAwhLOWIKMDaoS6YnjsF2JndO5xJk35mG2uy-LvTcJjbAEZOEFHGXmrQP_92m3w5j3yrmP04OqAfbYOXi90v_YaMWBA4zLryPcPO-G8f4-JD8_FUt959ABXchk/s640/IMG_9147.JPG" title="Painting the Back Room" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPAOlmvrpOG9t7StNgqtWE8JK3ySYSJEh4Gs3uSSKOJCQdcmad8ekKpsi1L2fZbXhBiIEI64O-yJ-VZ4jY-eZ8WfSnPIcsZFXTgsXBY27LQ6lcqkTJ2WTQBtbU1cMbu-utnuI8ZG0cI0/s1600/IMG_9148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPAOlmvrpOG9t7StNgqtWE8JK3ySYSJEh4Gs3uSSKOJCQdcmad8ekKpsi1L2fZbXhBiIEI64O-yJ-VZ4jY-eZ8WfSnPIcsZFXTgsXBY27LQ6lcqkTJ2WTQBtbU1cMbu-utnuI8ZG0cI0/s640/IMG_9148.JPG" title="Painting the Pink Room" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GgnmchI1dcPWY6U0VtUZgRHyimhr5_ajzro_HXEsyI8LUycfUeCcmaZJSv_UJNDy9kcV5mdi7lVS9GzYt7EX3U4Xd0f50Ev97sS-nMoMJKjL6j8eSUUUladM2w3tQQPzhmqIUV8jTJw/s1600/IMG_9154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GgnmchI1dcPWY6U0VtUZgRHyimhr5_ajzro_HXEsyI8LUycfUeCcmaZJSv_UJNDy9kcV5mdi7lVS9GzYt7EX3U4Xd0f50Ev97sS-nMoMJKjL6j8eSUUUladM2w3tQQPzhmqIUV8jTJw/s640/IMG_9154.JPG" title="Painting the Green Room" width="640" /></a></div>
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Finishing the painting was definitely a huge rush. Suddenly the rooms looked so fresh and new. All the cracks were hidden, even the imperfections, and I was gifted the feeling of accomplishment I had been craving since day 3. </div>
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The final step of the bedrooms was to refinish the floors. We were nervous about beginning this step. Until we began sanding, we could convince ourselves that gorgeous floors existed under the layers of laminate glue, paint, and carpet nails, but once we actually began sanding, we would have to face reality. It was a nerve-racking time. </div>
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After a short discussion, it was decided that B would do the actual sanding and I would be responsible for corners, hard to sand locations, and all other steps, beside using the orbital sander. We were really worried about the sander kicking up dust and ruining my perfect paint job, so I covered all the walls in the first room. (We quickly gave this up though, as there was little need.)</div>
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The first and second pass of the sander presented minimal change, but by the third pass gorgeous floors began to peak out and by the fourth or fifth passes we were ecstatic. The floors were better (and lighter) than we had ever imagined!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUP35v9jCJ7hgeALja3bh1IZJU-0JS-cokjz8v3YGiiQxD3NXmFSlX5qtGXGgQuk5yFaGrBq5pWNoHSH2tirFhcDCN83G55KzEk5PsLGGH3OPu20Mywu1wp2Lixg0gs8QcEopbsSQnL_Y/s1600/IMG_9181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUP35v9jCJ7hgeALja3bh1IZJU-0JS-cokjz8v3YGiiQxD3NXmFSlX5qtGXGgQuk5yFaGrBq5pWNoHSH2tirFhcDCN83G55KzEk5PsLGGH3OPu20Mywu1wp2Lixg0gs8QcEopbsSQnL_Y/s640/IMG_9181.JPG" title="Pink Room - Preparing to Sand" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrmp_f6qeFhyphenhyphenon3YYHgOxshNOihnYRdPpQMutFxbe4ytDIRO2KCxvqMRtELSaKA2Op0U-bmLnR-sYXLi6lPBuUVO9gTPvbocRzaX4pvVbLhhwXweI1vHzjClvovRN-lT96UvLLoCwdvo/s1600/IMG_9182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrmp_f6qeFhyphenhyphenon3YYHgOxshNOihnYRdPpQMutFxbe4ytDIRO2KCxvqMRtELSaKA2Op0U-bmLnR-sYXLi6lPBuUVO9gTPvbocRzaX4pvVbLhhwXweI1vHzjClvovRN-lT96UvLLoCwdvo/s640/IMG_9182.JPG" title="Pink Room - Beginning the Sanding" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8bGfV9ZAWA5cqsfnRHokrg4PZleZDvyNCNPowwf3wbStnt9y6b1QcUaRxcrcFS5lRiz1085uzIGO7T9x1lYOV4_G7zXyIcNWpEvgOC03sEOY704ujOSQvxXvsuD0j-Qa-2zh8nDN5Z8/s1600/IMG_9199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8bGfV9ZAWA5cqsfnRHokrg4PZleZDvyNCNPowwf3wbStnt9y6b1QcUaRxcrcFS5lRiz1085uzIGO7T9x1lYOV4_G7zXyIcNWpEvgOC03sEOY704ujOSQvxXvsuD0j-Qa-2zh8nDN5Z8/s640/IMG_9199.JPG" title="Pink Room - sanded floor" width="640" /></a></div>
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By the time B finished sanding the bedrooms, we could not contain our excitement. We were head over heels in love with our new floors. The final decision we now faced was choosing a stain. We went to the hardware store and bought a variety of tester cans. B wanted to go light - like ash colored or even white. I wanted to go a deeper pine or even a red. And, of course, we bought a dark stain too, just in case that would look best. </div>
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We applied all of the stains to a piece of test pine and were disappointed across the board. None of the stains were a color we wanted. I argued for a clear coat. I loved all the different colors already in the floor, and I thought a clear coat might just <span style="font-family: inherit;">bring them out in the way I imagined. B thought the floors were too yellow and feared that polyurethane</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; white-space: nowrap;"> </span>would just make him like them less.</div>
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In the end though, he agreed to let me clear coat one room, since none of the stains were any better than my idea. The results of the polyurethane speak for themselves:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIcRc_2k4pUjXoA6ZfaTAvnfnN03ctGxvcK7q4tdwrmLw6vBVmL5IgeojWZmLKdGqVXuN8uu2uQQz7osuAYHzXy37ggnYuxPIXg2LX-QuKOuH9D8rGMqJgR-VTb3QQW2_FvoDeaoAduQ/s1600/IMG_9201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIcRc_2k4pUjXoA6ZfaTAvnfnN03ctGxvcK7q4tdwrmLw6vBVmL5IgeojWZmLKdGqVXuN8uu2uQQz7osuAYHzXy37ggnYuxPIXg2LX-QuKOuH9D8rGMqJgR-VTb3QQW2_FvoDeaoAduQ/s640/IMG_9201.JPG" title="Pink Room" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcdYrWqEroeuWMSLFDjWZPZAp7m-CIpTUvcTTd0oEClIfuQ-Ip5RxuovJTLVNWH6uB2pDPn2dhxaWOGY22XXmWvI2_vg2zgQRvfkXj3Cp-pPOzOlHeBoM1IAMv70ChlkA3lsBC9nnqq8/s1600/IMG_9206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcdYrWqEroeuWMSLFDjWZPZAp7m-CIpTUvcTTd0oEClIfuQ-Ip5RxuovJTLVNWH6uB2pDPn2dhxaWOGY22XXmWvI2_vg2zgQRvfkXj3Cp-pPOzOlHeBoM1IAMv70ChlkA3lsBC9nnqq8/s640/IMG_9206.JPG" title="Green Room" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9n8zE4IsrN1uye08K0qvTS6Pfg19GFTKX3P_hfDY9WvvAQbLlKEiO9nkl-jVNl75ln2fuP9ExK5wR-FMYr1LTKE2UnwvqwmqrrW10AIIX4n7S4VNPkwLeiPrkvwK-AEMxMxl9LdRJUk/s1600/IMG_9272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9n8zE4IsrN1uye08K0qvTS6Pfg19GFTKX3P_hfDY9WvvAQbLlKEiO9nkl-jVNl75ln2fuP9ExK5wR-FMYr1LTKE2UnwvqwmqrrW10AIIX4n7S4VNPkwLeiPrkvwK-AEMxMxl9LdRJUk/s640/IMG_9272.JPG" title="Back Room" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIcRc_2k4pUjXoA6ZfaTAvnfnN03ctGxvcK7q4tdwrmLw6vBVmL5IgeojWZmLKdGqVXuN8uu2uQQz7osuAYHzXy37ggnYuxPIXg2LX-QuKOuH9D8rGMqJgR-VTb3QQW2_FvoDeaoAduQ/s1600/IMG_9201.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a></div>
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We loved them.</div>
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As I finished up each room, I granted myself a day of celebration. All throughout the painting, everyone had doubted my white walls. Some people thought I would never paint all the walls white, others thought I would do it and hate it, and still others simply thought it would look weird or bad. But in the end, I loved them. </div>
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However, I am still me, and I still craved something different and unique, and so I decided to paint each of the doors to the bedrooms their own bright color. To make it easy, I used the original wall color as inspiration. Therefore, the front bedroom, formerly magenta, received a pink door, the middle bedroom, formerly sea-foam, received a green door, and the back bedroom, formerly cream, received a turquoise door (because I hate cream and love turquoise).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLXqg419UdwtTTk6uGJOKWL_NKiPYy4cvvSfMeGZZV9axPL0RhWJmki5HMMhto8H8DgYTA1Ozv0usKsFK5hgLuSNtRImUthUtzDiEIt98EXiXF9ISkmXeARrwF2NxE4-1QleRAeph75s/s1600/doors.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLXqg419UdwtTTk6uGJOKWL_NKiPYy4cvvSfMeGZZV9axPL0RhWJmki5HMMhto8H8DgYTA1Ozv0usKsFK5hgLuSNtRImUthUtzDiEIt98EXiXF9ISkmXeARrwF2NxE4-1QleRAeph75s/s640/doors.jpeg" title="Colorful Bedroom Doors" width="640" /></a></div>
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The bedrooms were now complete and they were awesome. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-50246581179339287902016-01-15T09:45:00.001-08:002016-01-30T10:49:34.949-08:00Before & After: The Earthquake Retrofit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Note: B and I decided to spit up the duties in hopes of keeping disagreements to minimum. This division of labour worked fairly well. B was responsible for the outside of the house (goals like foundation and porch) and I was responsible for the inside (plaster walls, sanding, painting). So all the work you're about to see was B (and Cruz), with just a few occasional assists by me.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiux51OWW8nglMxM13zJmh2K_-R9IjRgnXUt7h3mS_0AahM3ra5V2hzV8s9sXO99_KCtv3GrQc7WWm3nu_hBDKa481lQn-nhYWAsGAWT_KDFU79yRuUJQoLaBYs8gHhFTr4Tlbrt7CxGic/s1600/BandA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiux51OWW8nglMxM13zJmh2K_-R9IjRgnXUt7h3mS_0AahM3ra5V2hzV8s9sXO99_KCtv3GrQc7WWm3nu_hBDKa481lQn-nhYWAsGAWT_KDFU79yRuUJQoLaBYs8gHhFTr4Tlbrt7CxGic/s640/BandA.jpeg" title="Before and After" width="640" /></a></div>
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As I mentioned in an earlier <a href="http://waywardandwandering.blogspot.com/2016/01/home-tour-first-look.html" target="_blank">post</a>, the previous owners had begun the work of earthquake retrofitting. Although the actual foundation of the house was in pretty good shape (especially for being 110 years old) the lower wall of the house had termites and water damage due to the fact that the original crib wall touched the soil.</div>
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Therefore, we needed to take off the siding, pour a concrete footer, build a support wall in the basement, knock out the existing crib wall, and replace it with a new pony wall and crib wall. This whole process had already been completed on 1/3 of the house, but 2/3s hadn't even been touched.</div>
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This was B's first challenge.</div>
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He began by digging the trench that would become the concrete footer.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUn4l9x1Bl23wnT9qy3aF4Uzf5rVDTHUs_WtUfIp3bjDLVEHqlIvERztMJewH9qUyjPS05kR6ixePrQZqStzSNXDaQVq6n94TDY99vdxRgR1hmlDNAPPktxhQzOK6GS5zSJvIQDDC2uw/s1600/IMG_8784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUn4l9x1Bl23wnT9qy3aF4Uzf5rVDTHUs_WtUfIp3bjDLVEHqlIvERztMJewH9qUyjPS05kR6ixePrQZqStzSNXDaQVq6n94TDY99vdxRgR1hmlDNAPPktxhQzOK6GS5zSJvIQDDC2uw/s640/IMG_8784.JPG" title="digging a trench" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhas_FVRxmE9q0cybxjNjPs8QSmEtY3zBOh47Th0W6lsoR4gH3vHiyZ7RkQ1Z1MQd73-VMFeSHum5dJ0HFxZ_hLxzFpDia7DERxBNTUGFC5c7iYkA-xxv_H4Dkx3x8gTCNQxiEsND8436M/s1600/IMG_8783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhas_FVRxmE9q0cybxjNjPs8QSmEtY3zBOh47Th0W6lsoR4gH3vHiyZ7RkQ1Z1MQd73-VMFeSHum5dJ0HFxZ_hLxzFpDia7DERxBNTUGFC5c7iYkA-xxv_H4Dkx3x8gTCNQxiEsND8436M/s640/IMG_8783.JPG" title="digging a trench" width="640" /></a></div>
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It took B a couple days to dig the trench to the right depth. There were three rosebushes along the side of the house and he carefully transplanted them to the backyard, in hopes we wouldn't lose them. He also went through three shovels, though luckily, the hardware shop was only five blocks away, so this wasn't too much of an inconvenience. Halfway through the second day, he had a finished trench and he was off to purchase bags and bags of concrete.</div>
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My dad happened to stop by just as B was unloading the bags. He began to laugh as B explained his plan of mixing the concrete in a bucket and then running to pour it into the trench.</div>
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Instead, my dad advised, get a friend and use pre-mixed cement. This was a sage piece of advice. The next day, my dad, B's good friend, Cruz, and B slaved away in the hot sun pouring concrete. By the end of the day they were successful, but B assured me it would've never happened without them.</div>
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The next step was to expose the original crib wall and begin ripping it out. Cruz offered to come help during this process, as it would be necessary to again use concrete when laying the blocks and B had already learned how important 4 (or 6) hands was in this process. He gladly accepted.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6BFY8i4tc20SWzoSFxEdOKnDcSdGXZapMna0uKn_RiuDZ-sdZkGrGaSlgV8Z7Qyr3hOla-HsLVTYwZJidWXHsiL4TIhbjilZCpIFi1mfbtfJCcwoccw17Y-P2n4SpmyIj6vATz9ctvE/s1600/IMG_9131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6BFY8i4tc20SWzoSFxEdOKnDcSdGXZapMna0uKn_RiuDZ-sdZkGrGaSlgV8Z7Qyr3hOla-HsLVTYwZJidWXHsiL4TIhbjilZCpIFi1mfbtfJCcwoccw17Y-P2n4SpmyIj6vATz9ctvE/s640/IMG_9131.JPG" title="original wall with new concrete footer" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEeWYQThRjNzkixZcgQ6Houev6oMslPk3KSWsJN1_ZWmGeigr8x1MwWxmmWqu1krOMbX7P9TakqkUqJn7R6RFxcA0672mufSRUmeNwuiOK_Ab7w0wsYrLmrB6rcYX1F-VJHO4r_4UYsU/s1600/IMG_9159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEeWYQThRjNzkixZcgQ6Houev6oMslPk3KSWsJN1_ZWmGeigr8x1MwWxmmWqu1krOMbX7P9TakqkUqJn7R6RFxcA0672mufSRUmeNwuiOK_Ab7w0wsYrLmrB6rcYX1F-VJHO4r_4UYsU/s640/IMG_9159.JPG" title="Laying bricks" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DlqVvo4hVIrmOA7hH0aLb6xeolmiDyN8sfZwGgHg_7UnzAch1OM7GPquOXgRwWL0ggDd-XbP1yN3KPVGbNVL1KkLPCVzKKjX0jkwK7C1xrZ9Gdr3WSsv0U1teie0XYIuZCyyZe3sJjg/s1600/IMG_9158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DlqVvo4hVIrmOA7hH0aLb6xeolmiDyN8sfZwGgHg_7UnzAch1OM7GPquOXgRwWL0ggDd-XbP1yN3KPVGbNVL1KkLPCVzKKjX0jkwK7C1xrZ9Gdr3WSsv0U1teie0XYIuZCyyZe3sJjg/s640/IMG_9158.JPG" title="laying the bricks" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cruz and B worked hard to get all the blocks laid across two days. It was especially time consuming because every block had to be laid perfectly parallel to the ground and at the exact same height across. It looked like an exhausting job, but in the end, it was perfection.</div>
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The next step was to put in the crib wall. Construction had been flying along nicely and B and I decided to celebrate with a night out. We came home pretty late and fell asleep on our air mattress in the living room. Just a few hours later there was <i>LOUD</i> knock on the front door. We both leapt up, unsure about what was happening. B rushed to the door and spent a few minutes talking to a man who was practically yelling, by the time B returned to the room, I had heard the whole thing. We had been red-tagged.</div>
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B and I had not done our homework and not pulled the proper permits for all the work we had been doing. The building inspector had noticed and we were now officially warned. We could do <i>NO</i> work on the house until all permits were granted - this could take weeks. We were properly bummed.</div>
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We spent the rest of the day applying for permits and hoping the inspector would come and sign off on the work. No dice. Days stretched into a week and we began to get really worried. Our plan had not included a week-off due to permits and the end of summer was quickly approaching. We absolutely needed to have the house closed up with a solid, supporting crib wall, before we flew back to Kuwait.</div>
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B filled his time as best he could. He helped me with chipping plaster, power-washed the siding, and built a gorgeous dining room table out of the scrap wood he had ripped from the house. He checked in with the inspector (still no word) and went mountain-biking for 3 days, just to escape the waiting. Finally, just when we'd both begun to give up hope, the inspector came. He quickly approved our plans, accepted our payment, and we were back in business.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIrk7hAIbhuI3cmJJnm2Cjuli8monuBdD-hTz-KAyFk6e0KUBdNEh8GKBl616f4Yqa64ZKmomntfMTJyxPRnQzQBYjYrIw0FeJK2M6U3QmV9qc1o07V0Yr_-PXy086KeNGsdflBdV9e0/s1600/IMG_9512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIrk7hAIbhuI3cmJJnm2Cjuli8monuBdD-hTz-KAyFk6e0KUBdNEh8GKBl616f4Yqa64ZKmomntfMTJyxPRnQzQBYjYrIw0FeJK2M6U3QmV9qc1o07V0Yr_-PXy086KeNGsdflBdV9e0/s640/IMG_9512.JPG" title="Lifting the attic" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYuXXF6P1208psdhAcAmeAU5o4Z5m8yXHEVh2knnSd_IhDMaY-zoar840ewD784dp_hfQtjhVHWHbPuX5RCIr9FAcNvfBGFBHMN8L36L87xkU0AmDXP-GtBn-tPFMX3beIAVBdvii5H8/s1600/IMG_9509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYuXXF6P1208psdhAcAmeAU5o4Z5m8yXHEVh2knnSd_IhDMaY-zoar840ewD784dp_hfQtjhVHWHbPuX5RCIr9FAcNvfBGFBHMN8L36L87xkU0AmDXP-GtBn-tPFMX3beIAVBdvii5H8/s640/IMG_9509.JPG" title="Lifting the attic" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItZm7DCXpt-5dK5gt8FTvdcbii0TkteCraOGNXoZIN8T6f5AgSf9IzwcSh8JrQLKMx5rdzjHC7h33ubdUIsvpu5VCkzNoNCsDXvN1MQbK3jyybIaL3Ea9RDDCSl0Pmc0hngYr5jBqGWQ/s1600/IMG_9518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItZm7DCXpt-5dK5gt8FTvdcbii0TkteCraOGNXoZIN8T6f5AgSf9IzwcSh8JrQLKMx5rdzjHC7h33ubdUIsvpu5VCkzNoNCsDXvN1MQbK3jyybIaL3Ea9RDDCSl0Pmc0hngYr5jBqGWQ/s640/IMG_9518.JPG" title="Adding the crib wall" width="640" /></a></div>
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B's next goal was the porch. He had finished the crib wall, but before replacing the siding, he needed to straighten and secure the porch.</div>
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In order to do this, B needed to take all the pressure off it. His solution was a bit unorthodox and involved two bottle jacks, four 2x4s, two 2x8s, and a huge bit of luck. He bolted the 2x4s together to create two 12-foot struts, he then attached the struts to two 2x8s that were nailed to the roof of the porch. Finally, he drilled little circular holes into the bottoms of both the struts so that the two bottle jacks would sit snuggly and then he slowly used the jacks to raise the attic off the porch. He was successful.</div>
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Over the next 3 days, Cruz and B continued to build the pony wall and crib wall around the base of the porch. During this time, I had to be very careful working in the house, as they were in constant fear that the struts would snap or the jack would tip over and the whole thing would crash in around (or on) them.</div>
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Eventually, all of the support and walls were complete and B moved onto the final steps: sheer wall, tar paper, siding. He moved quickly through these, racing the clock, and, just one day before we flew out, the base of the house was complete and our porch was secure.</div>
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It looked (and felt) awesome.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzzJaV0O7oyE5buwKaAoq_bKAtpxVCMP3cPT9fMoyFhrcoBNL60MiP1-AX0ef3-khDbrqsryV61-IUwOYv1zYMtmGRk2bam6CWFjpAZdeop1_a5LqjvLfyfnjSsIzPMHps5-xiBCXY10/s1600/IMG_9684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzzJaV0O7oyE5buwKaAoq_bKAtpxVCMP3cPT9fMoyFhrcoBNL60MiP1-AX0ef3-khDbrqsryV61-IUwOYv1zYMtmGRk2bam6CWFjpAZdeop1_a5LqjvLfyfnjSsIzPMHps5-xiBCXY10/s640/IMG_9684.JPG" title="Completed siding (right side)" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAg89URVZWXoAtjesWF_QtjxWSqOyAftT1ktvOQ1cZ4XTuYhAhb99e6_cm9dzTakaWWGqT8ueoDA3ngDNh8kL-nE2pZCffK8WRLGx1SPMhHg4j6-IoxgF2oYOWkx2lwbuZ0hlqWnJm1M/s1600/IMG_9686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAg89URVZWXoAtjesWF_QtjxWSqOyAftT1ktvOQ1cZ4XTuYhAhb99e6_cm9dzTakaWWGqT8ueoDA3ngDNh8kL-nE2pZCffK8WRLGx1SPMhHg4j6-IoxgF2oYOWkx2lwbuZ0hlqWnJm1M/s640/IMG_9686.JPG" title="Completed siding (left side)" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rNpkKWpSGf18j0Q2rR_2NR-GxXS-bl6p33iAfNBu5l5I7CNbln8LhFOkVzkwyzNV2ZJyMwhEQ1jOiQ7-9zGy1U-58I5OmlWW6j9edYdUXT820ngm4aKOhN9tzPzdBzoFlkIBJYTmXNY/s1600/IMG_9682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rNpkKWpSGf18j0Q2rR_2NR-GxXS-bl6p33iAfNBu5l5I7CNbln8LhFOkVzkwyzNV2ZJyMwhEQ1jOiQ7-9zGy1U-58I5OmlWW6j9edYdUXT820ngm4aKOhN9tzPzdBzoFlkIBJYTmXNY/s640/IMG_9682.JPG" title="Straight porch" width="640" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-60449364143620818822016-01-09T11:03:00.001-08:002016-01-09T11:05:55.167-08:00Home Tour: First Look<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we bought our house, we only really ever got one chance to walk through it, before we boarded a plane and flew back across the world. Therefore, as summer approached, we were both anxious and excited to really see what lay inside.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For almost a year, our family and friends did an amazing job of keeping tabs on it. They did drive-bys, walk-throughs, check-ins with the neighbors, and my mom even hired landscapers after the fire department threatened fines for our overgrown yard.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of this, we were fairly certain the house was still standing, but not very sure about anything else. We couldn't wait to get inside and poke around. And the day after we landed, that is exactly what we did.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here, without further ado, is a tour of our new (old) house.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35pMSlnoIu2WnFno7MhvKakAw_IfS-A3a3G27JTkpSAzAIWRuOGOPfQM2Es-roEIx2YZRUWsMT98_yM5wbVHcvCV51TLXljqUGv24qaUiEmawcNYUT1ygOLNXnKdVNcv_l7_mCAFqUSU/s1600/IMG_4919.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35pMSlnoIu2WnFno7MhvKakAw_IfS-A3a3G27JTkpSAzAIWRuOGOPfQM2Es-roEIx2YZRUWsMT98_yM5wbVHcvCV51TLXljqUGv24qaUiEmawcNYUT1ygOLNXnKdVNcv_l7_mCAFqUSU/s640/IMG_4919.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Street-View: Front-of-House</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The house is on a gorgeous block. It is by far the ugliest, most run-down house on the block, so we did well, at least according to the saying. It has lots of trees and a large yard. It is only one story, but has an unfinished attic and basement (you can even see directly into the basement above). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Eight years ago, a family bought the house with plans to fix it up. They began by building a pony wall and pouring a footing, but only got as far as one side, before facing foreclosure. The man who then purchased it from the bank had plans to flip it, however, he never did get around to doing so, and the house ended up sitting, open to the elements, for almost a decade.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We bought the house, knowing that some of our first priorities would have to be finishing the footing, completing the wall, and earth-quake retro-fitting the entire foundation. Another major priority would be straitening the porch. Even though it doesn't look bad in the photo, the left column is badly tilted due trying to support the weight of the attic. And both columns have begun to sink through the wood due to rampant rotting below.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jbPUOm1-wx88iRQTOn2CiHeIukEsF9lGONBQK-Yt0D5M7EjMBw0EwW_N_KF5v4RCxmtjAUPtmooqCEBUlb9GyeSJDGol6aiDQAFRaZ05T3Tm23XQ5yIabjXjy5sixXHgbsMR71QZNOY/s1600/IMG_4999.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jbPUOm1-wx88iRQTOn2CiHeIukEsF9lGONBQK-Yt0D5M7EjMBw0EwW_N_KF5v4RCxmtjAUPtmooqCEBUlb9GyeSJDGol6aiDQAFRaZ05T3Tm23XQ5yIabjXjy5sixXHgbsMR71QZNOY/s640/IMG_4999.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Alley-View: Back-of-House</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The back of the house looks much, much worse than the front, although it does include a large back yard and total access to a private alley. From the back, it is easy to see the layers of shingles peeling away from the roof as well as to notice the shoddy stairs and awkward double screen doors. (One of which leads to literally nowhere.)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The back porch was a later addition to the house. (We have no idea why they added two doors.) It is completely closed in and simply adds a small storage room and an extremely tilted bathroom. Neither is welcoming or anyplace we feel safe standing in for long. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgs89KiUOanIw3ECmQifDODNeK3pfZ7jBFq-UZMlI6wAE5Rnw2cFGY65OvLEltU3v5X6ATyOddLdaCgrROdVp8Wp8fvyB5XzzgzlGQPshnSTiVgapwA4lrJTJLOn5EHmWcjkRWhLB7G4/s1600/IMG_5020.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgs89KiUOanIw3ECmQifDODNeK3pfZ7jBFq-UZMlI6wAE5Rnw2cFGY65OvLEltU3v5X6ATyOddLdaCgrROdVp8Wp8fvyB5XzzgzlGQPshnSTiVgapwA4lrJTJLOn5EHmWcjkRWhLB7G4/s640/IMG_5020.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1lAogJ-jyeIznSurVKJjCRi1aTFghe7jdSfXThMrQXjYE2aqSos9Dj0dAWFHxIR89MTXfZt83Agup22NPIFxF3BfzWW60Dp_bhznXuax263dYi4i9NoqBxvC-ANyU-dT4TqAUUPpdCo/s1600/IMG_5730.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1lAogJ-jyeIznSurVKJjCRi1aTFghe7jdSfXThMrQXjYE2aqSos9Dj0dAWFHxIR89MTXfZt83Agup22NPIFxF3BfzWW60Dp_bhznXuax263dYi4i9NoqBxvC-ANyU-dT4TqAUUPpdCo/s640/IMG_5730.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Looking at the back our priorities definitely include replacing the roof and securing the stairs as soon as possible. (I would honestly love to rip it off and start again, but B is very against that.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qei_J41lFQT_kRU7QCahdVvEnw1K5m-JppPfVqyC4OH16oJIETqkLeSg9Nb19_SDRzr9H8mD_c2ivzsFvZTDInFqeVaLsFsgRMVetDcMiL5v7Yb123MZV1r_Uk9MmzI4ARti4ZRlfrw/s1600/IMG_5723.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qei_J41lFQT_kRU7QCahdVvEnw1K5m-JppPfVqyC4OH16oJIETqkLeSg9Nb19_SDRzr9H8mD_c2ivzsFvZTDInFqeVaLsFsgRMVetDcMiL5v7Yb123MZV1r_Uk9MmzI4ARti4ZRlfrw/s640/IMG_5723.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYA9bDU6aZImk-aSdoCtuFowvCTTQIxHMYP6o23TzYf_jdWOSl7WHBEkq1B3PVEgBUj_bx5YmSDORKofexqtDhSxRxxfBcUD8zcERGhre_JjuaYgfkltrt49ySys1uq1_aG-do2ZFOUo/s1600/IMG_5724.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYA9bDU6aZImk-aSdoCtuFowvCTTQIxHMYP6o23TzYf_jdWOSl7WHBEkq1B3PVEgBUj_bx5YmSDORKofexqtDhSxRxxfBcUD8zcERGhre_JjuaYgfkltrt49ySys1uq1_aG-do2ZFOUo/s640/IMG_5724.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Salon (aka Living Room)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>This is the room that made us fall in love with the house, no question. As we walked through the front door we instantly swooned. The columns, the window seat, the picture rail, the wood floors, the pocket doors, the list could go on and on. We could totally picture ourselves reading and talking and hosting our friends in this space and we basically didn't need to see anything else, we were already sold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUnzhNDyORdiBmXXPSau6KAtvyATS7j5oSaHIiktcvG5-CPIz6Cgdrx1VCB7Occp3R18g4MIfuwNsaoy426Y5SVPoR24xFlsa86vuPwymfdGA1O8fDPju4zN2VRpePKz8Tkh4NTwOkIM/s1600/IMG_5726.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUnzhNDyORdiBmXXPSau6KAtvyATS7j5oSaHIiktcvG5-CPIz6Cgdrx1VCB7Occp3R18g4MIfuwNsaoy426Y5SVPoR24xFlsa86vuPwymfdGA1O8fDPju4zN2VRpePKz8Tkh4NTwOkIM/s640/IMG_5726.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXeDaSwIlW3LCi-LDzXSZiz1KOL7jBORphGwFZ32OCmeTnVlDjFCo51gmwfSchmyUGw_qMR7hgVo3jDt-_rcwrZ_MrzW2OGmez1H93T1x6K0cKs-UiBrrLkzuuJ0JBhV22BOwO0FmNMk/s1600/IMG_5725.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXeDaSwIlW3LCi-LDzXSZiz1KOL7jBORphGwFZ32OCmeTnVlDjFCo51gmwfSchmyUGw_qMR7hgVo3jDt-_rcwrZ_MrzW2OGmez1H93T1x6K0cKs-UiBrrLkzuuJ0JBhV22BOwO0FmNMk/s640/IMG_5725.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Parlor (aka Dining Room)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The dining room has the potential to become my favorite room in the house. It is somewhat narrow, but very long. It has 3 doors coming off of it - to the kitchen, hall, and middle bedroom, as well as a set of pocket doors between it and the front room. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />We absolutely love the <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">wainscoting around the four walls, and dish rail around the top of it. The built-in cabinet is amazing and B is already </span><span style="color: #222222;">referring</span><span style="color: #222222;"> to it as our bar. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">There are a few major issues with this room, however. First, there is a massive stovepipe sticking out of the wall near the built-in - it appears to go nowhere. Second, I really, really want to add a pass-through between kitchen and dining room, but B is firmly against this, due to </span><span style="color: #222222;">unforeseen</span><span style="color: #222222;"> structural problems and his lack of experience knocking through walls. Third, the vent in this room is huge and if you step on it you will fall straight though to the basement. So all of these issues will need to be resolved in the near future.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_2dfTDfH7mooU2AZxsduStpNKcU_grQ3C5EbZDI-mn6RPQUmzpmHZIlYXO8Nd_k6pc5qKlPr_12uP62o5Ejw1vt-w7A93wLOyO70f88ljrzWnVOo01J42KTNmPCKrKPF_tq5xyeQyBk/s1600/IMG_8701.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_2dfTDfH7mooU2AZxsduStpNKcU_grQ3C5EbZDI-mn6RPQUmzpmHZIlYXO8Nd_k6pc5qKlPr_12uP62o5Ejw1vt-w7A93wLOyO70f88ljrzWnVOo01J42KTNmPCKrKPF_tq5xyeQyBk/s640/IMG_8701.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjNtYlR761-1K-1vcJw2VFHF72SbBFlYgI86b3e9TGG2kDnsiKEuMmqQS4qqVShxiwoIgXrJVxFvNhc-b-iX02KyBI287I3xkhRxSxN_9KvtLqlzFSmA9mhhnzycvk9RxQFI9nOEBZXs/s1600/IMG_8702.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjNtYlR761-1K-1vcJw2VFHF72SbBFlYgI86b3e9TGG2kDnsiKEuMmqQS4qqVShxiwoIgXrJVxFvNhc-b-iX02KyBI287I3xkhRxSxN_9KvtLqlzFSmA9mhhnzycvk9RxQFI9nOEBZXs/s640/IMG_8702.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Kitchen</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">The kitchen has the worst floors and the best walls in the house. The walls are the only ones without major visible cracks - it almost appears as if someone attempted to drywall only this room. Fingers crossed it holds. The floors are the total opposite. They are absolutely covered in linoleum glue. All the floors are covered, but the kitchen layer is so thick it is impossible to even imagine wood underneath. Unless a miracle happens we will probably tile the kitchen rather than trying to sand.</span><span style="background-color: white;">The kitchen is quite large but the space isn't used well at all. There is very little cabinet space and even less counter space. There is also only one window - I am hoping adding the pass-through from the dining room will let a little more light in. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">The kitchen also has 3 doors coming off of it (remember, this is a really old house and every room connects to every other room). As well as leading to the dining room, it is also connected to the bathroom and back porch. We have a lot of dreams for this space (butcher block countertops, subway tile backsplash, retro stove and fridge, ripping out that ugly florescent light), but no money for it, so it is on hold for now.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEdMdD9SNUxmCY_8LM0WW7IdOiKdRTH-8-nlP8e_fFs7_EPdphsye3RGFWdWhmxOP6g2edfGc03eMJjJrnggvRu0vCiqTA3PvKRugYN5-uhtzLnPus08Vq9RoaEwS-O60LiGpuJAKSLE/s1600/IMG_9721.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEdMdD9SNUxmCY_8LM0WW7IdOiKdRTH-8-nlP8e_fFs7_EPdphsye3RGFWdWhmxOP6g2edfGc03eMJjJrnggvRu0vCiqTA3PvKRugYN5-uhtzLnPus08Vq9RoaEwS-O60LiGpuJAKSLE/s640/IMG_9721.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Teeny-Tiny Bathroom</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">The bathroom is tiny - as in itty-bitty. Our best guess is that this was once a pantry and was converted into a bathroom at a later time. The shower is old and leaks, as does the toilet and the sink. Literally, every time we shower we create a giant pool of water in the room, so we are fairly positive that the floorboards underneath will be rotted out. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">Despite its tiny size, it still manages to continue the pattern of 3 connecting doors. In this case the bathroom connects to the kitchen, the back bedroom, and leads to small storage closet under the stairs. I have already begun begging B to convert that closet to somehow make better use of the space in the room, but he simply shakes his head. Much like the kitchen, this is an expensive remodel, and so will be tabled for the foreseeable future.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNB4hdjcRbRC_DZTHn1B9K6i-37mrXWbcSPXo-npAijDZF7-o9KjXLxzAVJLIjEqVLGB59MBy_C2VVNu5hQowtb8OuP8AEFwsegU9zT2W9GPat6KysclJpNnkGDIx7o_Sf1VQRzD7z5lA/s1600/bed.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNB4hdjcRbRC_DZTHn1B9K6i-37mrXWbcSPXo-npAijDZF7-o9KjXLxzAVJLIjEqVLGB59MBy_C2VVNu5hQowtb8OuP8AEFwsegU9zT2W9GPat6KysclJpNnkGDIx7o_Sf1VQRzD7z5lA/s640/bed.jpeg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfeH58U4AEQo94yuLMKqbvNXOjL7ovcinqK1jZH29OMh0pwF2cz4_8jGAOWUTcSocc1cEiWx6Wi3PdrVc_Hu6DaiLjLyISKoSxQqqo2pvdhT14smaFn61fn8wIPLFl-BOIesI_4Ue474/s1600/IMG_8687.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfeH58U4AEQo94yuLMKqbvNXOjL7ovcinqK1jZH29OMh0pwF2cz4_8jGAOWUTcSocc1cEiWx6Wi3PdrVc_Hu6DaiLjLyISKoSxQqqo2pvdhT14smaFn61fn8wIPLFl-BOIesI_4Ue474/s640/IMG_8687.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoxDnMBxV8BxnZj-aahRxZqwZbws4oMgb4SEjiOCPLtZQPyGZnnpxIYZhhmAZ8L6DSoyWi6j_S5AFtkQKjUxSIgq9OCvqdYglv2AUgFRGubBJXQgUICQuul1xpemSIPBuEcpOhWIgptQ/s1600/IMG_5732.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoxDnMBxV8BxnZj-aahRxZqwZbws4oMgb4SEjiOCPLtZQPyGZnnpxIYZhhmAZ8L6DSoyWi6j_S5AFtkQKjUxSIgq9OCvqdYglv2AUgFRGubBJXQgUICQuul1xpemSIPBuEcpOhWIgptQ/s640/IMG_5732.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Three Bedrooms (Back, Green, and Pink)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">The house has three bedrooms, although only two of them are large enough to hold a queen size bed. The back bedroom connects to the back porch, the bathroom, the middle bedroom (aka green room), and the attic. It is really small and has no closet, but I sort of love its quirkiness with its set of stairs and absolute lack of wall space - all doors and windows.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">The middle bedroom connects the back and front bedrooms a</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">s well as giving access to the dining room. It has the worst lighting in the house (only one window) but the best walls (barely any cracks!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The front bedroom is my favorite and not just because it is bright pink. It has great light with two large windows. It looks out into the front yard and connect to entry way. It shares a closet with the middle bedroom and has plenty of space.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">All three rooms run parallel to the living, dining, and kitchen areas and are all easily accessible through the hundreds of doors throughout the house.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRBeBPlEWy1KWcYLT_XMMvSvls3EgarSL6kkns-5SlO6AWAIxM4XH3-h_bQMCcc0MWH6bGtebPyNUINjH6WnMGrIfUTD8-IyvqPk0pC_300PFjg3n45bD-Qzj9ytlWS0mOGnjr3SPcGY/s1600/IMG_5013.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRBeBPlEWy1KWcYLT_XMMvSvls3EgarSL6kkns-5SlO6AWAIxM4XH3-h_bQMCcc0MWH6bGtebPyNUINjH6WnMGrIfUTD8-IyvqPk0pC_300PFjg3n45bD-Qzj9ytlWS0mOGnjr3SPcGY/s640/IMG_5013.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8NEtNzsG6D9-bG89jVNPjBXDVQKe-YzYro1awwq45mgdfI_kqNlYo_UHYTt9rcQWBSGbh2Mi57VTE6KVs0cu9g8M7PLbrcpFjDxkDKHcEXvwJbnyrot3DBPemKWvcY9Zt7iqVRquyuE/s1600/IMG_9515.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8NEtNzsG6D9-bG89jVNPjBXDVQKe-YzYro1awwq45mgdfI_kqNlYo_UHYTt9rcQWBSGbh2Mi57VTE6KVs0cu9g8M7PLbrcpFjDxkDKHcEXvwJbnyrot3DBPemKWvcY9Zt7iqVRquyuE/s640/IMG_9515.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Attic and Basement</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">Both the attic and basement are unfinished. The attic appears to have not been used for a long time, although at one point someone was definitely using it as a grow room, due to some clues found on the walls and floor. It could be a pretty sweet space, but the ceiling is low and the temperature is wicked hot. If we ever finish it, it will be much, much further down the road.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">The basement was full of junk when we arrived, but sadly I never took a picture. It is large, with 7-foot high ceilings, although the beams that intersect the room will never allow it to become a really useful space. B plans to build a workbench and use it as a pseudo-garage once it is completely closed back in.</span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-65955555358893996162016-01-09T09:20:00.000-08:002016-01-09T09:27:54.026-08:00Impulsive Home-Buying<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B and I bought a house on the last day of our 2014 summer. It was an impulsive purchase (in my mind) and the culmination of a life’s dream (to B).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We had discussed buying a house before, but it had never seemed real, at least to me, and it definitely wasn’t something we were actively pursuing. Everyone I knew who had purchased a home, had seemed to do tons of research, talk to many experts, spend hours filling out paperwork, and spend months looking at different properties, whereas the furthest we’d gotten was agreeing that if we were to buy one we would look in the United States. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We’d done no work and had no plans. And yet, in the summer of 2014, I would realize that all of the conversations I’d had with B over the past 6 years had been preparing me for this moment.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is a snippet of our conversations over the years, leading up to purchasing our house. Hopefully, you will see what I missed, B’s intensity and my obliviousness.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2008 - On a Bus, Honduras</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(We’ve only just met - this is something he mentioned in our 1st ever convo, scouts honor.) </span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B: Someday I’d love to own property and a house and just have a place to call my own.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: Hmmm? Ya… sure. That all sounds good. You’re really cute. I’ll agree to whatever you say.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2009 - California</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Doing the long distance relationship thing.)</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B: Northern California is probably the best place I’ve ever lived. I’d definitely like to come back here and settle someday.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: Only if it could be in Chico. I love Chico! Go Wildcats!</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B: Sure, Chico or even more North. Like near Lake Shasta.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: Umm.. No. Just Chico. Yay Chico! I mean if we’re dreaming, why not dream for the best? </span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2010 - California</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Planning to move to Honduras together.)</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: Oh my gosh. We are moving to Honduras. We can visit the place we met. And the place we shared our first kiss. And I can show you all the other places I loved.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B: We met in a bus station. You picked me up on a bus.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">grimacing</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) I didn’t pick you up on a bus. It was way more romantic that. This is going to be amazing. And you picked me up.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B: (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">snorting</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) Uh… no. You definitely picked me up. This is exciting though. Do you picture coming back here someday? Maybe buying property?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: To NorCal? Definitely someday. But a long ways away someday. (Like so long…)</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2011 - Honduras</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(B hates Honduras. I love it. We get engaged.)</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: Eiii!!! We are engaged. Amazing. Incredible. I never even pictured this. Ahh… we’re getting married.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B: Yep. And we only have like one year left in Honduras. Maybe we’ll have enough money saved to put a down payment on a house.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: Umm… maybe. But we have to plan a wedding and I kind of don’t want to move back yet. I’m just not ready. I need one more year. One more place. You can pick. Anywhere except the continental United States and Hawaii.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B: So Alaska or the rest of the world?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: Exactly.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2012 - California</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Got married. Moving to Kuwait.)</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: I cannot believe you chose Kuwait. This is crazy. We are moving to Kuwait?!?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B: Its cool. Its safe. I swear. Make your parents read those statistics I send them. It is much safer than Honduras and even safer than most US cities. Trust me.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: But its Kuwait. Q-8.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B: Yes. And it pays well. And has no taxes. And if we save, we can actually buy a house. Property. We can have renters. We can make passive income. It would be incredible.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: So you’re serious about this house thing, huh? This wasn’t just some passing fancy. Damn. Alright cheers to Kuwait and savings accounts!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2013 - Kuwait</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Experiencing all Kuwait has to offer.)</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: Wow. It is incredible how little there is to do here. I mean you can’t help but save money. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B: I told you. It's phenomenal. We are going to do it. We can buy a house this summer!</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: I don’t think buying a house is the same as buying a plane ticket. I think there is more to it than that. I mean where would we even buy it?</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B: Who cares? We can own property! We can buy it in Detroit. Or the Midwest. Or the south. They are all very affordable.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: Wait. I’m sorry. Did you just list a bunch of places I’ve never been?!? Why would we buy a house in a place I’ve never been? I don’t even know if I could get a job there.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B: It’s not about that. We’ll get renters. Passive income, babe.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: Umm… Buying our first house is romantic. It’s </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">our</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> first house. I want to love it. I want it to be ours.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B: Oh no. That is </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">not</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> what I’m picturing. Just a simple house to rent. That pays for itself. That is easy to maintain - maybe with a renter already in it.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: Well, I’m picturing us, in an old house, a fixer-upper, in Chico?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2014: Still Kuwait</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Year 2, beginning to consider life after Kuwait.)</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B: I sent you a bunch of houses in Northern California. Do any of them interest you?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: Are you kidding me? We can’t buy a house unseen. I mean I looked but - no way.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B: Why not?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: No way. We can look this summer and if we find one we like we can start the process. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B: The process? If we find one we like and we can afford it, we’ll buy it.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: Buy it. Ha. We’ll be lucky if we even find time to look.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 17.6px;">But B was right, as he often is. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We flew home for 5 weeks. We spent one day looking at houses in 45-minute radius around Chico, because there was no way we could afford Chico. We saw lots of houses we loved, but also knew we could never afford or actually make a life in (man, do I still dream about that purple hexagonal one in the forest, though). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then a friend recommended Craig’s List.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal; white-space: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhXxrpqMOF0AflCz1SW2r36pn9FymVTPSqEpXkruCPsC06dN3SmWpy3mUUvGhZNWusOUwJ6RTt8EH6RHB5aQILvEXMfF0bhNSwHf3MHGop4UasutD2MwW5stmyIqxoClbrbGwCV5YnhE/s1600/IMG_4908.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhXxrpqMOF0AflCz1SW2r36pn9FymVTPSqEpXkruCPsC06dN3SmWpy3mUUvGhZNWusOUwJ6RTt8EH6RHB5aQILvEXMfF0bhNSwHf3MHGop4UasutD2MwW5stmyIqxoClbrbGwCV5YnhE/s640/IMG_4908.JPG" title="Our second choice (joke!)" width="640" /></a></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">We found an old Craftsman that was built in 1905. We also found one that had the words “Meth Lab” spray-painted across the front. They were both fixer uppers, but the Craftsman definitely had more street appeal. We stopped at the Craftsman, peeked through the windows, and fell in love. It was gorgeous – or at least it could be gorgeous (the back definitely left something to be desired). We contacted the bank, right then, but it was a no-go, the house needed too much work.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKB7idlg8JahbH1kt4FGN1f2nWbeoBzJpdsaxXQNUs-JQOAsIuMLzoQdWcHp0KusH5rH1Vx3KuwXaUKT7VpPLavSGXKfZ-rzP5Zd_vQ9ieTcnOT56vaWdFuUBiMCrOhhaSUXD0sx9KSYc/s1600/IMG_4917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 17.6px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKB7idlg8JahbH1kt4FGN1f2nWbeoBzJpdsaxXQNUs-JQOAsIuMLzoQdWcHp0KusH5rH1Vx3KuwXaUKT7VpPLavSGXKfZ-rzP5Zd_vQ9ieTcnOT56vaWdFuUBiMCrOhhaSUXD0sx9KSYc/s640/IMG_4917.JPG" title="Our house" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJo61tEKKvlhe0Azu0GULa-dA11NhVWaULhS6bHfDb_ZSk0zfqPWYZYlXHl9f5RUBGxqTR0YetnyoLx0_IT_sISsJpO8knAz4ZFjO4OPlaLYXs1FFCRdyHQUtkt-dz94cytKwO7gb2hY/s1600/IMG_4999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 17.6px;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJo61tEKKvlhe0Azu0GULa-dA11NhVWaULhS6bHfDb_ZSk0zfqPWYZYlXHl9f5RUBGxqTR0YetnyoLx0_IT_sISsJpO8knAz4ZFjO4OPlaLYXs1FFCRdyHQUtkt-dz94cytKwO7gb2hY/s640/IMG_4999.JPG" title="The back of our house" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B was not to be deterred, though. He had found a house. A house I loved. A house we could afford. He was going to buy that house. Therefore, on our last day in California, we found ourselves making a deal with the seller. And, because there was no bank and only 3 people, we were able to complete all the paperwork that day, in one day, just hours before heading to the airport.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, after years of banter, it sure felt like we bought our first home on an impulse. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-3016622863918745412015-04-01T09:43:00.000-07:002015-04-01T09:56:33.700-07:00That Time a Guy Tried to Buy My Boots at the Grand Bazaar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaE60HMUzbl9gFPatX2aj8lJdmL3Y0d3TiJ0f0rti3aIUSoPWOUamdmWZ1ceGSSPiWwczO5N6Vk4xP88X8LaKHDKFzd5TiFW8tRZYlRvyrFe7teKs_S56bBPhPiYJdSM39ZJEDkQ5vCpE/s1600/IMG_7485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaE60HMUzbl9gFPatX2aj8lJdmL3Y0d3TiJ0f0rti3aIUSoPWOUamdmWZ1ceGSSPiWwczO5N6Vk4xP88X8LaKHDKFzd5TiFW8tRZYlRvyrFe7teKs_S56bBPhPiYJdSM39ZJEDkQ5vCpE/s1600/IMG_7485.JPG" title="Grand Bazaar" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Grand Bazaar was massive - much, much larger than I had anticipated. In fact, when I later researched it, I learned that it had over 60 covered streets and 3,000 stalls. It really was grand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">And bizarre, too. </span></span><i style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Nice play on words, right?) </i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">The shops and corridors were full of </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.7000007629395px; white-space: pre-wrap;">eclectic</span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"> people, colorful goods, and enticing smells. I was sure I wouldn’t be able to take it all in, especially, in just the few hours we had available.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jule had been here before though and knew exactly what she wanted. So, as soon as we stepped through the doorway, she was off, diving into the crowd, and I </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.7000007629395px; white-space: pre-wrap;">didn’t </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">have time to get overwhelmed or distracted, as I scurried after her, determined not to lose her in the masses.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we rushed down aisle after aisle, weaving through bags and bodies, on a mission to find Jule’s ‘Turkish towel guy’, I was amazed at the wide variety of goods available. Beautiful, stained glass lamps hung from the shops, rich, wool tapestries were draped over tables, and multitudes of ceramics were heaped in precarious piles all along the passageways - there was even a shop selling luxury saddlebags for camels. It felt like I could spend days in the bazaar and not get close to discovering all it had to offer.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0Zo4bCmg2_8Rs9lwTdmabO3rd9Ho9CbipuVjnhUS3Oh4uRvMTyq_xTS9c5M6JK1tJSO1FTd-1Mg_n05cVtXwFmB8R7QBUiV2zsdQbbH5Lgtx-0CQj7vM5VjGxyxCxL4dtdfCrAz8bTI/s1600/IMG_7464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0Zo4bCmg2_8Rs9lwTdmabO3rd9Ho9CbipuVjnhUS3Oh4uRvMTyq_xTS9c5M6JK1tJSO1FTd-1Mg_n05cVtXwFmB8R7QBUiV2zsdQbbH5Lgtx-0CQj7vM5VjGxyxCxL4dtdfCrAz8bTI/s1600/IMG_7464.JPG" title="Entrance 5 to the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwimTJx9YbrbsA1mUKVh_noDakm1jeaGOxfG4QIoUaCLFgv2puIAGqJ6o6chk7Cs7UbMQ76XWtTdQjLnnqM6sSMrQsfqyaYEKjl6dg0POGEmwH-nWkcDETQnY5TZn8ZFcgff-GQP41K4/s1600/IMG_7467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwimTJx9YbrbsA1mUKVh_noDakm1jeaGOxfG4QIoUaCLFgv2puIAGqJ6o6chk7Cs7UbMQ76XWtTdQjLnnqM6sSMrQsfqyaYEKjl6dg0POGEmwH-nWkcDETQnY5TZn8ZFcgff-GQP41K4/s1600/IMG_7467.JPG" title="Piles of pottery" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">The shopkeepers embraced the craziness of the market. They knew they had to stand out among the multitudes of people and products. And after years of practice, they each seemed to have their own signature strategy for capturing people's attention.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At first, wandering along, it sounded like the sellers were just hollering at the general public, but then, we began to realize that many of the lines were specific to Jule and I. Even more surprising, the lines often worked, causing us to stop and smile or even shop for a few minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Can I sell you something you don’t need?” one man shouted, laughing as he pointed to the many t-shirts hanging on his walls.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“That is a beautiful purse you have, can I show you one even better?” another man offered, motioning to Jule's purse.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You are both very pretty. Shop?” said a third, managing to make the compliment sound sincere, even as he gestured to his wares.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or, my favorite, a lamp dealer who caught my eye and asked, "Mets or Yankees?" </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Smiling, I threw my fist in the air and cheered, "Giants! All the way!" but t</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">his was simply met with a head shake and a finger wag.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhl3_G3m53TsfVjyG6BIeCNCkoKd1tLxDFNDMZwRtNHptLrITb3-rj60FBRwWzTX5A2pkUYsW9OEIrd9u6XBsFeFJX_dYQwVGecum1yetRRJqWC3YafSk_smAi8BCMP68vBnu4JC9TG_A/s1600/dangly.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhl3_G3m53TsfVjyG6BIeCNCkoKd1tLxDFNDMZwRtNHptLrITb3-rj60FBRwWzTX5A2pkUYsW9OEIrd9u6XBsFeFJX_dYQwVGecum1yetRRJqWC3YafSk_smAi8BCMP68vBnu4JC9TG_A/s1600/dangly.jpeg" title="Grand Bazaar of Istanbul" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfwX0QHmFA4B1DXXYkst2f4nRIv773C7i_eSqOVFOCfXfaRciT0k4Bwc8vtO7tTX32qqCeNq8yM47XongoePryPs82-WgjVcjGznGir-NpMuGahfTs8HmP4saYcPJSDGdhv2spiuNnxo/s1600/IMG_7471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfwX0QHmFA4B1DXXYkst2f4nRIv773C7i_eSqOVFOCfXfaRciT0k4Bwc8vtO7tTX32qqCeNq8yM47XongoePryPs82-WgjVcjGznGir-NpMuGahfTs8HmP4saYcPJSDGdhv2spiuNnxo/s1600/IMG_7471.JPG" title="Grand Bazaar of Istanbul" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some shopkeepers were less funny and more sleazy, though. One such guy, a tapestry dealer who had earlier shown us his gorgeous, handwoven merchandise, caught us on our way out. Stepping between us, he turned to face me and asked for a date - trying repeatedly to convince me to go to dinner with him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I said that I couldn’t, and explained that I was married, his face suddenly split into this giant grin. Taking a step back, he whipped his hands out of his pockets and wiggled his fingers just in front of my nose.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”Me too!” he shouted excitedly, “I'm married, too!” He flashed his gold wedding ring in the lamplight and jumped up and down, laughing. I wasn't sure what to make of this reaction, I guess I was happy we both had someone, so I just smiled and nodded and we continued on, just a little disconcerted.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few minutes later, another, much more timid, man approached Jule. Sidling up beside her, he looked her over appreciatively and then hissed </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>annn-gggeee-lllll</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in a way that sent shivers down both our spines.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NQb8YHGIhFYCYNrYQcywN89wFyRZxjJ5SJReFINz8M8l8TISF8LPF5uO7D_lgwRlK4C5FwKy9yDKjWFLarPBFvplS2eZeTUOkb8sEUX7QJaNkZM60EHMEoYBdt2fNcxv7OpOw8ocP-U/s1600/lights.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NQb8YHGIhFYCYNrYQcywN89wFyRZxjJ5SJReFINz8M8l8TISF8LPF5uO7D_lgwRlK4C5FwKy9yDKjWFLarPBFvplS2eZeTUOkb8sEUX7QJaNkZM60EHMEoYBdt2fNcxv7OpOw8ocP-U/s1600/lights.jpeg" title="Grand Bazaar of Istanbul" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaneJSrJ6z2RoQDH0fVLS7rbrV48qKzLVNnuuvDLydyPjfIoSil9z_MjIXoDouAw95sxPYlVRBRFUy4qHmKYrrDiLU7ro7m2Dz7qhB6WalL1AcfFKORlVWfmabgHtOoRU9VgLxMju24co/s1600/IMG_7475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaneJSrJ6z2RoQDH0fVLS7rbrV48qKzLVNnuuvDLydyPjfIoSil9z_MjIXoDouAw95sxPYlVRBRFUy4qHmKYrrDiLU7ro7m2Dz7qhB6WalL1AcfFKORlVWfmabgHtOoRU9VgLxMju24co/s1600/IMG_7475.JPG" title="Our Turkish towels" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, the most confusing and captivating seller caught us just after we had successfully purchased our Turkish towels and were about to exit the market. As we walked past, deep in a conversation about how amazing our towels would feel, a man stepped out, grabbed my arm, and excitedly gestured to my short, black boots.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Where did you get those boots?” he asked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I smiled and said nothing, well used to the way this worked now. I knew that this was just a ploy to get my attention, and I also knew that we were in a hurry to get to the Blue Mosque before dark, so I thought the fastest way to deal with the seller would be to say nothing and let him move on to the next shopper. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He wasn’t so quickly appeased, though. “Those boots,” he tried again, “where did you get your boots? They’re very nice.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I laughed and shrugged, honestly a bit confused. Why was he still asking? He already had my attention, was he serious? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“My boots are three years old," I responded, "I bought them at Aldo - a shop in Kuwait. I like them very much,” I added, half laughing, half trying to untangle myself from his grasp. Jule had wandered ahead by now and was looking in a ceramic shop a few stalls down.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I like them, too,” he responded. “I will buy them, ok? I will buy them from you for a hundred euros. You will sell them? Right now - a hundred euros,” he said, letting go of my arm to enthusiastically motion at my feet again.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I gave an awkward laugh. He couldn't be serious, I thought, and anyway I had no other shoes, and I really loved my boots, but still, the offer of one hundred euros stopped me from responding too quickly.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“No,” I said slowly. “No, I don’t think so. I like my boots. Plus, they are my only ones. What would I wear?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He shrugged, seemingly unconcerned with the plight of my feet. I began to wonder if he had some sort of bet with the other shopkeepers, like how long he could keep a tourist talking or if he could really convince a tourist to part with her shoes. There were a few people watching us now, and even Jule had returned to see what was taking me so long.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“No. No.” I tried again. “I think I will keep my boots. Thank you, though.” I smiled and laughed, reaching out toward Jule, hoping she could pull me away from this surreal conversation I seemed to be having.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The shopkeeper suddenly let out a huge belly laugh and threw his arms in the air.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Okay, okay, you keep your boots. I would like them, but you keep them. Remember, I offered a hundred euro,” he said laughing. Then he turned, still laughing, and waved to his shop, “Would you like to come in?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had to laugh, too, but politely declined. I wasn’t sure what would happen if I entered his shop. It was quite possible I would end up selling all of my belongings to him, or maybe, buying all of his. He was a smooth talker and I was already deeply confused.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jule started down the aisle and I turned to wave goodbye, still not sure what had just happened. Had I really just passed up a chance to sell my old boots for one hundred euro? And what would he have wanted with them anyway? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This last question would provide hours of good fodder for a feisty fetish conversation later that night.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-12681042715013114572015-03-29T10:04:00.000-07:002015-03-29T10:37:45.836-07:00Middle Eastern Misconception #1: Clothing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Note: Many people ask me what it’s like to live in the Middle East, or, more specifically, they ask what is it like for a Norcal girl to move here. This is my first attempt at a few true, short stories to show my struggles and misconceptions with my move to the desert. And, also, to share my overwhelming stubbornness to respect the culture and keep my identity.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I first began to pack and prepare for our move to the Middle East, there were lots of things I could have been concerned about.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Would I miss any major milestones while abroad? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Of course I would and have – this is one of the hardest parts of living abroad.I mean I still haven’t met my sister’s adorable baby girl!)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Would Ibuprofen or tampons be available? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Sadly, a hard no to Ibuprofen*, it’s an all about Panadol over here; and yes to tampons, turns out only in Central America do they keep them locked behind the counter.) </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Would I enjoy living in an apartment, having only ever lived in various houses/townhouses? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Actually, yes. It is different, but I love having my neighbors so close by. People make us dinner so often - it’s totally the best!)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And while all of these things may have caused me a moment of pause, I really only had one major concern, how would I be expected to dress?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had done my homework prior to moving to Kuwait. I knew that I would not be expected to wear an abaya (the traditional black dress) or hijab (the head covering). I knew that B would not be expected to wear a dishdasha (the traditional male dress). I knew that western dress abounded in Kuwait and that I would not stand out in a grocery store or on the street. I even went so far as to google street photos of Kuwait, just to assure myself that this was true. It was. And, yet, still I worried.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnx1tX1UWVDO7EJCwEHL13nLBhqU17gJyV7vOJLZNbS5Jtrs61j_R121-pR-u1GTpv0FACsIfWZkILkvPtv0gt01HRYKJOALx7cOdz8pyrWDar_c0nMJX6AnzujB6sRFouf5b_Ej7GNA/s1600/DSC00426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnx1tX1UWVDO7EJCwEHL13nLBhqU17gJyV7vOJLZNbS5Jtrs61j_R121-pR-u1GTpv0FACsIfWZkILkvPtv0gt01HRYKJOALx7cOdz8pyrWDar_c0nMJX6AnzujB6sRFouf5b_Ej7GNA/s1600/DSC00426.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyloXEzh4A8qq9e0KeRc3gl0AL7IODoqxHIZkCVT5Q7bcrTyUY-gR3VU4IX88YLpRulY_CSDKLe5HLIwM6MndNt7Z3Wl0YJ2UtIKuYU8u6n8fMx2QtFgbw3rDuRrcybbSm1DFII6GSro/s1600/DSC00432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyloXEzh4A8qq9e0KeRc3gl0AL7IODoqxHIZkCVT5Q7bcrTyUY-gR3VU4IX88YLpRulY_CSDKLe5HLIwM6MndNt7Z3Wl0YJ2UtIKuYU8u6n8fMx2QtFgbw3rDuRrcybbSm1DFII6GSro/s1600/DSC00432.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.38; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">I worried mainly because I had been told just one simple rule: keep your shoulders and your knees covered. This seemed easy enough, wear a t-shirt and some capris and I would be golden, but I didn't want to wear a T-shirt and capris. My identity was tied to my tank tops. I had quite a few, maybe even more than a few, I had dozens.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Multiple black and white basic tanks, tanks with different colors and patterns, tanks with cute phrases, strappy tanks, ribbed tanks, tank dresses and workout tanks. I was a tank top girl and, as such, I couldn’t just start wearing T-shirts.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It wasn't just about a loyalty to tank tops. I genuinely believed my arms appeared stubby and stocky in T-shirts. Their cut just didn’t allow for the graceful contour of my shoulders or the added inches my arms desperately needed. I became self-conscious in T-shirts, genuinely not understanding how everyone else could pull them off, while I appeared to have developed sausages in my sleeves overnight.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With this anxiety, I was unwilling to pack any T-shirts or short-sleeved shirts at all. I used the justification of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">wasted space</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Packing a T-shirt, even a cute one, would just take up valuable space that would be better served filled with boots - because a girl always needs lots of boots - and I wouldn’t wear the T-shirt anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, I was still stuck with trying to solve the predicament of what to wear upon arrival. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since I couldn't wear tank-tops and I wouldn't wear t-shirts, what should I wear? Then inspiration hit. I would dress as I do in the winter in the states. Nevermind, that the predicted temperature for my first few months was in the hundred’s. I would pack sweaters. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I looked great in sweaters. I would pack jeans and long skirts and sweaters. I would also pack some tank tops, as they would now prove useful under the multitude of sweaters I could be seen attempting to stuff into my suitcases and backpacks.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I felt prepared. My shoulders and knees would be covered. My arms would appear full length, swathed in fabric. My legs would look adorable in jeans and boots. I would respect the culture and look stylish. I practically shone with confidence in my logic.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, just a few days later, I shone with sweat instead.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I arrived, in the middle of the desert, in the wicked hot month of August, in a sweater, a tank top, jeans, and boots. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I spent my first few months in Kuwait, sweating profusely and bemoaning the sweltering heat, despite the fact, that I was used to similar heat and had never felt this strongly against it before. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I glistened in the multitude of photos we took. There I stood, slouched over, looking miserable in a sweat-soaked, forest green, hip-length sweater, thick jeans and tall brown boots, next to groups of girls and guys smiling in T-shirts and capris.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And still, after all this, I would not give in. I would not wear a T-shirt. I would not show my now pasty-white, still sausage-like arms to the world.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Heat be damned.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 22.0799999237061px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>*Correction: I have been told there is Ibuprofen available here, at pharmacies, just not at the grocery store.</i></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 22.0799999237061px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-50166435598862990652015-03-14T04:39:00.002-07:002015-03-15T23:04:00.066-07:00A Day in the Desert<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SNnIpktKydJq3Wd9N-w0ByAJyjUMSIwRu7RWJw_nj4FnrUhVoEwxupqwOvfrWkBh673KQGfx-hytoU9xLp2nAvT8ww7SbMeuk0wK-NWH3Az-2iNrpF-BpZ8jAbVHKpTvWaFngYNPtp8/s1600/IMG_7283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SNnIpktKydJq3Wd9N-w0ByAJyjUMSIwRu7RWJw_nj4FnrUhVoEwxupqwOvfrWkBh673KQGfx-hytoU9xLp2nAvT8ww7SbMeuk0wK-NWH3Az-2iNrpF-BpZ8jAbVHKpTvWaFngYNPtp8/s1600/IMG_7283.JPG" title="Camel Crossing" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The weather has been beautiful this week.
Absolutely gorgeous. It is so great, that no one wants to stay indoors. This is
a rare - almost never - feeling in Kuwait. We get maybe 20 days a year that
make people want to run outside, and I swear, nineteen of those days land on
work days - sunny days where I sit at my desk or stare out my classroom door
and dream of a game of beach volleyball, just to finally have Saturday roll
around and the whole city be enveloped in a sand storm. That is the springtime norm
in Kuwait, five nice weekdays followed by an overcast, sandy weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, this Saturday, the mythical gorgeous
weekend appeared and the whole of Kuwait raced outdoors.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On a beautiful Saturday in March, there are a
surprising number of options for how to spend your day. You could BBQ on the
beach, take a boat out to Kubbar, go visit the farmer’s market downtown, or
even just hang out in the courtyard. However, we chose the best option of all,
a desert day!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The country of Kuwait is 95% desert and therefore
I was under the impression that finding some desert to play-in would be a
simple 10-15 minute drive from our apartments. We did have some expectations,
though, we wanted no people, no trash, and lots of sand dunes. This seemed like
a simple wish – but in actuality it was difficult to find. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The deserts near the city are full of wind
blown litter and electrical poles. They are also filled with canvas tents –
hundreds of them, maybe even thousands. There is a culture in Kuwait of desert
camping, of going off into the desert with just your family and finding your
Bedouin roots. This is a cool idea but the reality is miles of canvas cities,
with electricity and mini-water towers, situated one after another, mere steps
from each other’s doorways.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This tent-filled, litter-covered desert was
not the desert of our dreams and so we carried onward, toward the Iraq boarder.
We passed the last buildings, the last highways, the last buses, even the last camel caravan, until we
started to see nothing, and then, before we could get excited, we saw something
again. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Signs, huge signs, everywhere, stating: No
trespassing. Military Installation. No photography. Big signs, little signs,
red, yellow, blue – it seemed really clear we were headed into an area we were
not supposed to visit, but we drove on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAru-saJRY1OAfWu32FAuBxCArqwF3aGemABBpIacx_0HIbIL1bnAu7omzEDsO45If6qpce2RPkWXVp8mn9ZssrFxdPCqolWyZdPoIFgtUxTGXEsfIc7wzm-rEnme6-6mETOGzM7nFFSo/s1600/IMG_7326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAru-saJRY1OAfWu32FAuBxCArqwF3aGemABBpIacx_0HIbIL1bnAu7omzEDsO45If6qpce2RPkWXVp8mn9ZssrFxdPCqolWyZdPoIFgtUxTGXEsfIc7wzm-rEnme6-6mETOGzM7nFFSo/s1600/IMG_7326.JPG" title="Remnants of War" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Now, before my bravery is spread throughout
the interweb, I need to correct a misconception. I would have turned around. I
would have turned around immediately. I would have never known the sheer number
of signs and tanks and roadblocks and guard towers down the road because I
would’ve flipped a U-turn at the first tiny red sign we saw.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But I was not driving, B was and he was
following our friend Mace. And Mace is a true adventurer, a man of spirit and
bravery and a man holding a Google map that clearly showed how cutting through
this military installation would save us many, many minutes and miles. And so,
with Mace at the wheel we drove on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pulling up to the guard tower we expected to
meet some resistance. Off to one side was a desert army tank and all along the
road were the numerous signs. A guard walked out in full military fatigues and
glanced at our vehicles. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There wasn’t any way he could mistake us for
military. The girls wore tank tops and ripped jeans. Our feet were propped up
on the dashboard. The guys wore t-shirts and cargo shorts. Pop music was
playing on the speakers. We were definitely not military. The guard looked
again and waved us through. Clearly, the signs were overkill.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We cruised through the military installation.
The desert stretched endlessly in both directions. There were no tents, no
litter, and no electricity poles. It would have been the perfect place to play
except for the signs. These were new signs, and they didn’t warn us that we
were on a military installation, no, they warned us that we were on an active
bombing site and that we should touch nothing. The signs were very clear -
written in both English and Arabic with little drawings of explosions they made
their point. We stayed on the road and then the sand track, hoping to find a
place without bombs in which to spend our desert day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYeiUd2N6qnV46Id2PFns7qwVVaug6x23gZG7zqrIm_VIHPTxmJvBUt41vt_eJ71ahtXhblWe6kmomaQm6sdGp0e8BI1inXwLEeZc8OyNB8tTClU7Ng9OqMlihDBbZ34vL11Xi1N4igw/s1600/IMG_7408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYeiUd2N6qnV46Id2PFns7qwVVaug6x23gZG7zqrIm_VIHPTxmJvBUt41vt_eJ71ahtXhblWe6kmomaQm6sdGp0e8BI1inXwLEeZc8OyNB8tTClU7Ng9OqMlihDBbZ34vL11Xi1N4igw/s1600/IMG_7408.JPG" title="Camels and Bombs" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckNTQB_CSGd3KJBNre_66NltjN5lN-7q3Oo3fSO4LOGYn9ag_CppH4exbOrqbQEXEJtu8ju69185vws-w-Q-Mz3DiuA57mDETr6CGjS6r_JBhrx3Hxw4UNPDfPpCHT4ww4o0cKeKlOpg/s1600/IMG_7409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckNTQB_CSGd3KJBNre_66NltjN5lN-7q3Oo3fSO4LOGYn9ag_CppH4exbOrqbQEXEJtu8ju69185vws-w-Q-Mz3DiuA57mDETr6CGjS6r_JBhrx3Hxw4UNPDfPpCHT4ww4o0cKeKlOpg/s1600/IMG_7409.JPG" title="Stay on the Track" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Eventually, we came out the other side of the
military installation. The desert was vast and empty. We began off-roading.
Mace’s truck was much sturdier than ours and he climbed dunes rapidly, coasting
down them casually, while we listened to his passengers’ cheers echo across the
desert. We stuck more to the track, occasionally climbing a small dune and
getting a rush when our jeep landed on the hard sand again. After a few hours
of this, we were ready for a break and found a nice desert berm to picnic near.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mace had brought an instagrill, a common
contraption Kuwaitis use when BBQ-ing on the beach. We had also stopped and
bought kebabs. The kebabs were simply labeled “butter and garlic” and were a
bright green color. As we tossed them on the grill, we all took bets on what
type of meat they might be. The girls were pretty sure they’d be chicken; Mace
thought beef and B was starting to be concerned they might be a form of
vegetable. Upon biting into one though, we all realized we’d missed the obvious
choice – they were lamb.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAdpZsaPRFyc1g_qMHECSZPycn1rDWBxpDmv7ad9VxCR6xpw5b7adVyY-kCWXLMD_OaSEqmCsFa4IsNfRb14EaCTLS08jL9IW_56DP8IdJASxx2yFMwa4TSZhAdpof2MYN0FueJOQYcE/s1600/IMG_7347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAdpZsaPRFyc1g_qMHECSZPycn1rDWBxpDmv7ad9VxCR6xpw5b7adVyY-kCWXLMD_OaSEqmCsFa4IsNfRb14EaCTLS08jL9IW_56DP8IdJASxx2yFMwa4TSZhAdpof2MYN0FueJOQYcE/s1600/IMG_7347.JPG" title="Lamb Kebabs" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlDb7J0FpkrUjknK_-4kGzLNVeInjKps9Or27VKAFQcXcCtBC5Y9TbL4b_6NRJQfoP5o2YSuWj4JVacgj-zZ_LgC3z9zOmS-_6tTvYcJqp4dRp5Eq6Z_3sNviuT8FQ_D9_WhB4BlJxrg/s1600/IMG_7341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlDb7J0FpkrUjknK_-4kGzLNVeInjKps9Or27VKAFQcXcCtBC5Y9TbL4b_6NRJQfoP5o2YSuWj4JVacgj-zZ_LgC3z9zOmS-_6tTvYcJqp4dRp5Eq6Z_3sNviuT8FQ_D9_WhB4BlJxrg/s1600/IMG_7341.JPG" title="Desert Driving" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7NYHrGXy9kM-hU2DAOqOlgi6t_nJv0-XcdY1DWGBnyQ5UTbsJlCZx-Eo6EfHOb9NbXwfmq8sGD6CpSz4kERGL90jg1-PEZNnZmrDW0U6bwCP9jlK6GunEtRw4aVd3lYjWQlTWgHqGb0/s1600/IMG_7400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7NYHrGXy9kM-hU2DAOqOlgi6t_nJv0-XcdY1DWGBnyQ5UTbsJlCZx-Eo6EfHOb9NbXwfmq8sGD6CpSz4kERGL90jg1-PEZNnZmrDW0U6bwCP9jlK6GunEtRw4aVd3lYjWQlTWgHqGb0/s1600/IMG_7400.JPG" title="Kuwait Desert" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">After a picnic lunch of lamb kebabs,
pistachios, grapes and water, we were ready for our final adventure: magic
carpet rides.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mace had recently watched a YouTube video of
some girls in abayas riding a carpet through the desert. He had thought this
would be fun and so had decided to recreate it. The night before he had bolted
a small carpet to a PCV pipe. He then ran a towrope through the pipe and
attached it to his back bumper. One by one we climbed on while he pulled us
behind his Pajero and through the soft sand. Watching the rider it looked slow,
almost comically so, but when you climbed on the carpet yourself, it really did
feel like you were flying. Racing over the sand, the camel dung and the random
blocks of concrete that occasionally appeared, you were torn between joy at a
carefree afternoon and fear that if you rolled off the carpet you might rip
your face off. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We all rode the carpet successfully and no
lasting injuries were sustained. In fact, we all felt so capable we agreed that
on a future weekend we might have to take the carpet down some dunes. But that
was a future plan. For now, we simply packed up our picnic and drove off. Back
through the military installation, back across the minefield, and, eventually,
back to the city, the buildings, and the people.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66AIx5vk-pa0T790RCGRX7MzKR73QakCZp9lIDGEyqw83ZHc3nYh27G09M98NoS8GcaZWZnTN1Zw-5HyiXML36EJUGXKYEnuAQCCjmjUsTyQaGWkypTUepFGQknW33qDgRHtJxKVL314/s1600/IMG_7392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66AIx5vk-pa0T790RCGRX7MzKR73QakCZp9lIDGEyqw83ZHc3nYh27G09M98NoS8GcaZWZnTN1Zw-5HyiXML36EJUGXKYEnuAQCCjmjUsTyQaGWkypTUepFGQknW33qDgRHtJxKVL314/s1600/IMG_7392.JPG" title="Magic Carpet Rides" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-12223410813105091712015-02-28T06:36:00.001-08:002015-03-14T05:19:23.904-07:00A Man in a VW Van<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FtnwYlsgrzS08Ub0ww8ngJ0Xiiv79pz9_Zk2mTgwxazUKeuwPqpTXfs3yEaf-bf9xE9FDPSGliHUxs12p2s0b5-QshYJ7xIZm39c6sgRd6T8YrCRDKExOwYYDOl7HAH0Vqq4LPLP87M/s1600/IMG_7164.JPG" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s so easy to judge a city by its outward
appearance, by its reputation, and Beirut is no different. It is dirty and
crowded. It was raining when our plane touched down, so our first walk through
the streets involved murky water, muddy sidewalks and dripping awnings.</span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And Beirut’s reputation isn’t the best,
either. People cautioned us to be careful when we bought our tickets.
Tripadvisor warned us of the safety concerns and even the Department of State urged us to avoid all travel to Lebanon.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">But the
amazing thing about Beirut is that the city recognizes its reputation - its
outward appearance - and is trying to combat it. The area we walked was teeming
with examples of the citizens trying to beautify their city. The staircases
were painted a myriad of colors and patterns. Every space that wasn’t a
building or path was full of trees, bushes and vines. Art studios and museums
peeked out between industrial warehouses. With just a few steps down an alley, I
was transported from a grimy street to a gorgeous path full of shops,
restaurants and bars.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHv_FuBAOsiqpz3SmDB5MecLvxC2qbSeRpMx-NRrub6-GiYlHIFZTBy5EP1icJmQ1-ILbHwAXCG5HiaROIj1qOSbp6a7Hi573ulq-gBs4GUTXYukcTS5XuGhcn5_LMIk44opUDb2VuIw/s1600/stairs.jpeg" /></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEaPP0tgIYGltBuqR5KrqYiY-hQYRTiY1Gi8Yvx4Bu_r7Fol64yp0KHFPkY8_gxaoj2adM93v6JmyjJXtRJdFLQhA4UeSNv5YpUirDKtZ1l9hhb1v00MM2Izm9UHdb566CzYR2rODLto/s1600/IMG_7240.JPG" /></span></div>
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bbNysaIRbKXOc1PzRdwB5xdFZjvYKRrlts2azaW8qk56NULVkPzl-HZUk6_LbD3EM_SZ5rm6Inr7xpQ2YOaEtrL-VfaKB8HWYSkRYMtKz3fm1yablak5rJQ92hNtydOXXWLGFQp2ImY/s1600/posters.jpeg" /></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;">In fact, Beirut is kind of like an optical illusion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;">You could look at the walls of ripped posters and torn advertisements and see trash, litter, ugly or you could look again and see artistic endeavors, concerts, ideas, attempts to make the walls more striking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;">You could look at the shutters on a closed shop and see peeling paint and fading color or you could look again and see someone’s attempt to brighten an empty building.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;">Graffiti fills the staircases, warehouse doors and alleyways. You could look at it and shake your head, disgusted that someone would write their thoughts on a wall or you could stop and read the thoughts and laugh or sigh at how poignant they are and think “isn’t that just the perfect line to stumble across, on my walk, right now?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #2c2c2c;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #2c2c2c;">I definitely experienced the beautiful Beirut as I walked the streets. I saw a place </span>trying to remake itself, a place trying to show its true colors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I heard “bon jour” as I wandered down an alley and whispered it back, feeling very European. I was teased by a group of old men who sat in front of a shop smoking and scolded me “to buy things to treat myself”. I felt beautiful when people smiled at me and included when people waved. I felt a part of the city and it was totally unexpected.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The best moment, though, was after I had
climbed one of the many painted staircases and ended up on a narrow, crowded,
totally congested street. I lifted my camera, thinking I had to get a shot of
the traffic in Beirut, as it is the craziest I have ever seen, and as I took
off my lens cap, I saw a VW van, my dream car, a few cars back in the line.</span><br />
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I thought, “How perfect. I’ll get a shot of
that van in the traffic.” But the cars started to move right then and I wasn’t
focused. I sighed, thinking that I had missed the shot, but then realized the
van wasn’t moving. The cars in front of it were gone, but it still sat there, in the
middle of the street, waiting for me to photograph it. So I did, obviously.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I laughed to myself, not really knowing why the van hadn't moved, but feeling very fortunate. As I started to walk, the van cruised by, with the driver’s window rolled down. I looked at the driver, an old bearded man smoking a cigarette, and I smiled. He winked at me. I knew at that moment, that he had waited for me to take the photo. He had known what I wanted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I felt so lucky, so in sync with the world. A man in a van stopped to let me take his photo and it totally made my day.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-27556830307455367272014-03-07T06:47:00.001-08:002015-03-14T05:20:50.244-07:00Before & After: Our Bedroom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYftZ0XzXHE8V7dbErorjCZ_28FPxLfnduQugYhZJ_fETPXpaYR74aQHmjI8w8uZcU8frUR0lx1BqgVpHqfbTVal-SltANv6h-hrFYf4gKXY-svax44AH_Qi3by9M5gR2iL2pXNXczzrw/s1600/bedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYftZ0XzXHE8V7dbErorjCZ_28FPxLfnduQugYhZJ_fETPXpaYR74aQHmjI8w8uZcU8frUR0lx1BqgVpHqfbTVal-SltANv6h-hrFYf4gKXY-svax44AH_Qi3by9M5gR2iL2pXNXczzrw/s1600/bedroom.jpg" /></a></div>
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I have always been a small bedroom type of gal. I like my
bedroom to be just for sleeping and napping and chilling. I like it to be a
serene, quiet place where no one will go unless they also plan to be silent.
Luckily, B feels similarly.</div>
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When we first moved in to our apartment, our bed was located
in a room that had a bathroom connected to it. This was my first time sleeping
in a bedroom with a master bath and I quickly realized I hated it. Is there
anything more embarrassing than having to use the bathroom in the night and
wondering the whole time if your sleeping significant other is actually
listening to you tinkle? And don’t even get me started on other bathroom
possibilities. Yuck. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So when I began to rearrange and redecorate our apartment, I
began trying to think of ways to make that bathroom off limits. But B’s
practicality always prevailed…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Me: Let’s just shut that door and NEVER use that bathroom.<o:p></o:p></div>
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B: But that toilet has the most powerful flush.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Me: Yuck. Well, then fix the other two toilets, so we can
shut that door and NEVER use that bathroom.<o:p></o:p></div>
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B: The toilet across the house is fixed, but it is too far
away to walk to in the night, in the dark, when we have a toilet RIGHT HERE.
(Gestures to toilet that can be seen from bed.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Me: But that’s the problem, it is RIGHT HERE. (Now I
gesture, but construing it as a negative thing.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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B: Seriously, babe, I am not going to walk across the house
when I stumble out of bed at 2 in the morning. If you don’t want to see or hear
me, then you are going to need to move our bed away from the bathroom. (He
shrugs and leaves me to my plans.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
But honestly he had just given me a genius idea; I could move the bed into the office room. The office room has one small window and four walls. No bathroom, no noise and just large enough to fit one king size bed. Perfect.</div>
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Thus began the redecorating of our bedroom. First I replaced the curtains, because I genuinely hate mustard yellow – it is in my top 5 most hated colors ever. Next, I painted the walls gray – which I loved. It gave the room a very mellow vibe, good for sleeping, napping and relaxing. I decided to keep the walls mostly empty, except for right above the bed, where I created a small gallery wall of prints we had collected throughout our travels that year.</div>
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I hung my first ever shelf and placed a few books, a candle
and vase upon it. The room looked great. I was so proud. Then B’s practicality
came walking in.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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B: You hung a shelf full of breakable things directly above
where I sleep.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Me: I totally did! All by myself! Doesn’t it look great?<o:p></o:p></div>
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B: (Tugging on shelf.) It looks dangerous. Like it might
kill me in my sleep. Is this screw stripped?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Me: Maybe. I messed up a bit, but it’ll stay up there.<o:p></o:p></div>
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B: (Lifting heavy vase.) This looks heavy. Seriously, are
you trying to kill me? Why would you put glass candles and a heavy vase
directly above my head?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Me: Stop worrying. And because it looks pretty. And it does
look pretty. Admit it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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B: Yes, it looks nice. (Smiles.) Want to bet how long it
takes the kitten to break everything on that shelf by dropping it on my head?</div>
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Me: No.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJhhXrSLEVK8_nJxpcra6YIS3u66XYszMSbhvfGuCI0ceRLjwzzaBDwp72VbomylMh89m868puPBtYiTB7AyTMbJrJNrR8uyFBpC6z1xD-Zpv_Ov33hiskKkGgikv3jbZ2EZtCwPFgAc/s1600/IMG_2668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJhhXrSLEVK8_nJxpcra6YIS3u66XYszMSbhvfGuCI0ceRLjwzzaBDwp72VbomylMh89m868puPBtYiTB7AyTMbJrJNrR8uyFBpC6z1xD-Zpv_Ov33hiskKkGgikv3jbZ2EZtCwPFgAc/s1600/IMG_2668.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYfIY2W_bcvgjdfQh5dPKVbnlQh9yOSydJfbSQl7qWoJ5pyM_P-xzbNqVyagU88ECKcWVZ2MTyc_U-IPmizw9nDmCnJ623UzJ6wGBzFXGablwJoiVjz6Q0Lw8Xut1QfCmOWPysZnhEQ4/s1600/IMG_2653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYfIY2W_bcvgjdfQh5dPKVbnlQh9yOSydJfbSQl7qWoJ5pyM_P-xzbNqVyagU88ECKcWVZ2MTyc_U-IPmizw9nDmCnJ623UzJ6wGBzFXGablwJoiVjz6Q0Lw8Xut1QfCmOWPysZnhEQ4/s1600/IMG_2653.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8GgcXVw-N2DbrOIeDamoNI30m6zVL8Id3YVKGsWiEtybRSZcJHjI0w6zHjFUVgGyzt-Lgc4JEu791Fhm_zb82eF8zp9cy8qevG-fZxoL0dmLaxQktx7WipDbNe3SasK8aPpOTEdaH14/s1600/IMG_2657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8GgcXVw-N2DbrOIeDamoNI30m6zVL8Id3YVKGsWiEtybRSZcJHjI0w6zHjFUVgGyzt-Lgc4JEu791Fhm_zb82eF8zp9cy8qevG-fZxoL0dmLaxQktx7WipDbNe3SasK8aPpOTEdaH14/s1600/IMG_2657.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The final additions to the room were a standing mirror and a
banner from our wedding. I hung the banner on the wall we would wake up to
every morning. That way we could be reminded of our “much love”. I placed the
mirror in the room because we have a very vain cat, and I knew she would love
spending hours curled up on the corner of the bed, basking in the sunlight,
admiring her beauty. And she does. That is basically where she spends the
majority of her time now. <i>(But, of course, she is a cat, so when I wanted a photo of it she hopped off and walked casually away - such a very "cat" thing to do.)</i></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Except for every Saturday morning, when she jumps on to the
shelf above B’s head and drops books, candles and plants on him. Turns out we
were both right: the shelf is dangerous, many things have been broken, but
nothing has killed him, not yet.</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-34138534707445096572014-02-28T04:10:00.000-08:002015-03-14T05:22:12.789-07:00Before: Our Apartment in Kuwait<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was
recently pointed out that I have never really given a “before” home tour of our
Kuwait apartment - the way it looked when we arrived. Since I am planning to do
a “Before & After” of each room, I thought it might be fun to show where it
all began.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTveJ4tR2lMJ3u54xXv8YnAED7GxIiEw51TGP4FU9AjmEgEYvipnSSUWp_jykSQbSS2vvvEGfBLdHLJ42JxGuFai-lMLKqRWPQP_aiOSc-Ui7rhBekreIi9Pryv4jWwK8CUWw4m0RQTFc/s1600/DSC00480.jpg" title="Dunes Family Apartment" /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The great/terrible thing about teaching abroad is that more often than not your salary includes a "furnished" living space. The great thing about this is that you don't have to try to find a place to rent in a foreign country where you may know little to none of the language (you also don’t have to pay rent). The terrible thing about this is that you have no choice in the matter, <i>you get, wha</i><i>t you get and you don’t, throw a fit</i>. End of story.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">B and I were very lucky upon moving to Kuwait. Since we were married we were eligible to live in the ‘family’ building and since we were hired early we received an apartment near the top of the building. Therefore, we walked into an 11<sup>th</sup> floor, 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom apartment. It was huge. I thought we would never fill it. (Oh, how wrong I was.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It came “furnished” with some essentials: a bed, two end tables, a couch, a loveseat, a chair, a (gorgeous) dining room table, two dressers, a coffee table, a TV stand (no TV), an oven, a fridge, a washer, and some cupboard space. Beside the bed and the table, everything was very mismatched and showed its age.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The furniture was situated throughout the house so as to give you an idea of what room was what. The dining room table was located as you walked in the front door, the kitchen was located down a hallway past that, as was the laundry room and a bedroom with a bathroom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLn69fO10QmLIzQTZvc0L-u8pWtInZBf5ffYc15QFGEL6bWDuBAIJL14uHRgHDj91ZishC7gAqcMS7fxESKWLW_sDOloTtKTV8ERGcFSXlXWnG58cyi7vEe_IrMuvZT2ysA5lm5w0QV0/s1600/DSC00472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLn69fO10QmLIzQTZvc0L-u8pWtInZBf5ffYc15QFGEL6bWDuBAIJL14uHRgHDj91ZishC7gAqcMS7fxESKWLW_sDOloTtKTV8ERGcFSXlXWnG58cyi7vEe_IrMuvZT2ysA5lm5w0QV0/s1600/DSC00472.jpg" title="Dining Room" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2tncUHly3DcppYuDBlytYjFXlCINEJOm9zuBgHJ7pxl2DLnUWpZiPBz7xoHc0i6pjyCBgYTV3paYyCYASZMPwyPsNJ3ZEtKbdqJTVtfg6LO4uaBCIiuBdfb3evJB1gBnrFYJlMxdLhg/s1600/DSC00474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2tncUHly3DcppYuDBlytYjFXlCINEJOm9zuBgHJ7pxl2DLnUWpZiPBz7xoHc0i6pjyCBgYTV3paYyCYASZMPwyPsNJ3ZEtKbdqJTVtfg6LO4uaBCIiuBdfb3evJB1gBnrFYJlMxdLhg/s1600/DSC00474.jpg" title="Bedroom 1" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7v5i5nzA_7kYHAn10RoREFeM2yYMn7IVlyb_4fSiJJm6iC8NULe4goFVw_K8nkEq0SZLPMZNs57L54SNuQXi_4HEtN1L92IZspldsYWCjtCvNrU9hvASjl8S45MASHbCK7g4UwGUcxlc/s1600/DSC00475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7v5i5nzA_7kYHAn10RoREFeM2yYMn7IVlyb_4fSiJJm6iC8NULe4goFVw_K8nkEq0SZLPMZNs57L54SNuQXi_4HEtN1L92IZspldsYWCjtCvNrU9hvASjl8S45MASHbCK7g4UwGUcxlc/s1600/DSC00475.jpg" title="Kitchen" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">The other half of our large living space held the couches, end/coffee tables and TV stand. Beyond this space, was a room identical to the first bedroom, but with a bed in it, there was also a guest bath and a small room at the end that became known as the office. There were no closets in any of the rooms but there were these five ginormous, ugly, but practical, wardrobes.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzX0dToSJVcefq1vvKgq5JAKeFQT15fRkxSfnZI_Xivk6L7si2MlISBA6oQP37T4_cmnffflOpN6mqTYa1WDRZ3HgTbwtFDrnEJdsWoMFf5bgCBtjLCogOvyFpan4YVoGMHeT-2O7cYjY/s1600/DSC00473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzX0dToSJVcefq1vvKgq5JAKeFQT15fRkxSfnZI_Xivk6L7si2MlISBA6oQP37T4_cmnffflOpN6mqTYa1WDRZ3HgTbwtFDrnEJdsWoMFf5bgCBtjLCogOvyFpan4YVoGMHeT-2O7cYjY/s1600/DSC00473.jpg" title="Living Room" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-E6mlgMO6ZwAzvP_NAYbz7znB472oLCFsG6XcETLQOflKQ6OkkP9RV_bx2UEAyi5-tZ_tvkx_yCUy2KIfbQ9hoNfkg2BtnkNetMKVseTh6D2HFdPxdFGialTzTSHPe6ctaOc09hgeDI/s1600/DSC00384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-E6mlgMO6ZwAzvP_NAYbz7znB472oLCFsG6XcETLQOflKQ6OkkP9RV_bx2UEAyi5-tZ_tvkx_yCUy2KIfbQ9hoNfkg2BtnkNetMKVseTh6D2HFdPxdFGialTzTSHPe6ctaOc09hgeDI/s1600/DSC00384.jpg" title="Bedroom 2" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiureDABhaPUr0im-PJeK4295GCTi1Buv6lhyphenhyphen8PDAGQ4G6fP0KBKsC0VMOBQzQq7MflAmBJiCoE9vZWjEWIb-vDaPuW2QRzD6rDRs574vHv9FkZvmv3FIjaYhG5oGerpP4oE_z0XBzwqi4/s1600/bthr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiureDABhaPUr0im-PJeK4295GCTi1Buv6lhyphenhyphen8PDAGQ4G6fP0KBKsC0VMOBQzQq7MflAmBJiCoE9vZWjEWIb-vDaPuW2QRzD6rDRs574vHv9FkZvmv3FIjaYhG5oGerpP4oE_z0XBzwqi4/s1600/bthr.jpg" title="Bathroom/Laundry Room" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
absolute best part of our apartment was the view. One wall of the living room
was floor to ceiling windows. It was awesome. Even with the construction, the apartment
buildings, the roads and the smog, the view was fantastic. Even better we could
see the sea touching the sky. This view became the inspiration for the living
room. I wanted to bring that sense of endlessness into our space.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
absolute worst part of our apartment was the color. Everything was a version of
tan. The walls, the floors, the couches, the pine furniture, the curtains, it
was like drowning in sand. I understood the logic, tan doesn’t show the sand
that coats everything, but I knew I couldn’t live in this sea of tan. I needed
color. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And so
began the transformation…</span><br />
<br />
If you like this post, then check out:<br />
<a href="http://waywardandwandering.blogspot.com/2013/04/5-ways-to-make-house-home.html" target="_blank">How to Make a House a Home</a><br />
<a href="http://waywardandwandering.blogspot.com/2014/01/before-after-my-craft-clothes-room.html" target="_blank">Before & After: My Craft Room</a><br />
<a href="http://waywardandwandering.blogspot.com/2014/03/before-after-our-bedroom.html" target="_blank">Before & After: Our Bedroom</a></div>
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</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgmmf52PBapRuOSlltH-ePz78lKe9BYLNkHfq3mb4JyEqqSHgLx7OeFq-qZ5CjSwMrb85QwKNvZ5b0fXI0xE-qyr0hIX68_HiGisdWnRgRXvtdfwpYUOt6RcbPMtj8gUbEOoCSxROrsM/s1600/moments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgmmf52PBapRuOSlltH-ePz78lKe9BYLNkHfq3mb4JyEqqSHgLx7OeFq-qZ5CjSwMrb85QwKNvZ5b0fXI0xE-qyr0hIX68_HiGisdWnRgRXvtdfwpYUOt6RcbPMtj8gUbEOoCSxROrsM/s1600/moments.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">There are these moments in my life that I wish
I could just freeze and live in forever. These moments where all my senses are
in perfect harmony, the sounds, the smells, the sights all coming together in a
way that fills me with this sense of never-ending happiness. It is almost
indescribable. I love these moments, I call them ‘infinite moments’ and
although they are rare, they are perfect in their completeness.</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This isn’t to say I am rarely happy. If
anything the reverse is true. I truly am a happy person. But these ‘infinite
moments’ almost transcend happiness, it is in these moments that I really am “living
in the moment” and experiencing all the best parts of life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">One of my favorite ‘infinite moments’
happened in 2001, at the end of my freshman year of university. Some high
school friends came up to make the drive home with me, heralding my triumphant
return to my parent's house, after successfully navigating a whole 9-months of
living on my own – albeit in a dorm room with 3 other girls. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We packed into my blue VW beetle, which was
stuffed with dorm remnants, two full-sized college boys and me. We were
cruising down 9<sup>th</sup> Ave., taking the back roads, when Summer Girls by
LFO came on the stereo. Immediately, our windows were down and our voices were
being carried through the orchards, creating an anthem of freedom and experience
and summer for us. We were grown-ups, driving in our cars, choosing our paths,
living our lives. It was amazing. I genuinely remember looking out the window
and thinking that this moment, with the radio blasting and the summer air
whipping around me, was one I would always remember, one that would live with
me forever, one that would be infinite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Since then, and maybe even before then, I
have had more of these moments, although not many. Just a few, scattered
throughout 30 years of life. They always seem to have some poignant song that
comes on at just the right moment, adding the perfect amount of nostalgia to
the present, as it slips away becoming my past. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghd9qDAfdjpnQ-1KdGVvSIpQIpbdwHOjhoAKYYNdKuHN8MKqwEmxPp-9rmC0HsLkOMUw7eaujqIjL_Wh3c-qE_hl9FLDkzvn8QMblR1BBv59xDiSi8sZPi6nlO4AE0NumBimxjJtKie8c/s1600/IMG_2517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghd9qDAfdjpnQ-1KdGVvSIpQIpbdwHOjhoAKYYNdKuHN8MKqwEmxPp-9rmC0HsLkOMUw7eaujqIjL_Wh3c-qE_hl9FLDkzvn8QMblR1BBv59xDiSi8sZPi6nlO4AE0NumBimxjJtKie8c/s1600/IMG_2517.JPG" title="Our morning Caribou" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jG1reL9iJeACFiEgKteKAK2Qsnz-OmLbgihksFo-g0Q8FI7_77t9sVtYNuAQguDpDumpATqY1BBrxb5IdHMb6v8P-obep6MAZIxva-YYL0Jj9y05opxvqmYMv4ozvFLrlhCC1EXSrJM/s1600/IMG_2505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jG1reL9iJeACFiEgKteKAK2Qsnz-OmLbgihksFo-g0Q8FI7_77t9sVtYNuAQguDpDumpATqY1BBrxb5IdHMb6v8P-obep6MAZIxva-YYL0Jj9y05opxvqmYMv4ozvFLrlhCC1EXSrJM/s1600/IMG_2505.JPG" title="Living Infinitely" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7C1ZQkiESqF65PW_fbivV8iJ8G2NU2u4v9ORnMNIBFNDLQIIGIiTDFvPS884aNOkna6ZKed2ajY_aMeyIsuW4UVjTyINMl7e4SlAmMl5WugLm_eIXY8O9ZPOBLy_smKM0RgLeZBks5Q/s1600/infinite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7C1ZQkiESqF65PW_fbivV8iJ8G2NU2u4v9ORnMNIBFNDLQIIGIiTDFvPS884aNOkna6ZKed2ajY_aMeyIsuW4UVjTyINMl7e4SlAmMl5WugLm_eIXY8O9ZPOBLy_smKM0RgLeZBks5Q/s1600/infinite.jpg" title="Happiness" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">I had one of these moments just the other
day. B asked me to go on a boat ride in the gulf. I was hesitant because as
nice as the boat ride is, the set-up and cleanup almost never seems worth it to
me. I can totally see why owning a boat is not just simply buying one. But none
of this matters to B, all he cares about is the sense of freedom he feels when
he is out on the water; the wind, the waves, the hope of catching a fish, seem
to make him so much more content then anything else does. So I agreed to go.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We hooked the boat up, drove to the launch
and were ready in record time. B handed me the CD player and his phone and told
me to choose a song while he primed the engine. When it is just us, I almost
always choose a song by Kidrock or Roger Clyne, as those are the anthems of our
relationship, and this morning was no different. I scrolled though the music
and stopped at the first Kidrock album I saw, Born Free. I hit play and turned
the volume up. B hit the throttle and we shot out of the marina. And in that instance
I experienced another ‘infinite moment’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There we were ripping through the waves with
Kidrock’s words ripping through the air around us:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri;">Fast, on a rough road riding</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background: white;">High, through the mountains climbing</span></span></i></i></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
</i>
<br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><i><span style="background: white;">Twisting, turning further from my home.</span></i></i></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Calibri;"></span></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Young, like a new moon rising</span></i></span></i></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Calibri;">
</span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Calibri;"></span></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Fierce, through the rain and lightning</span></i></span></i></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Calibri;">
</span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Wandering out into this great unknown.</span></i></div>
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;">And I don't want no one to cry, </i></div>
</span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;">But tell 'em if I don't survive:</i></div>
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;">I was born free! </i></div>
<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri;">It was perfect. B was driving,
savoring his sense of freedom and I was beside him savoring mine. We were
literally on the other side of the world from our homes, wandering out into the
great unknown. Kidrock was speaking to us, about us and if I could have, I
would have happily lived in that moment infinitely. But, of course, the song
ended, the boat slowed, and life continued. And although it is always sad to say
goodbye to something so wonderful, it’s happy too, because the only way I can
ever experience my next ‘infinite moment’ is by stepping out of this one.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><i><span style="background: white;">And I'm
not good at long goodbyes, </span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><i><span style="background: white;">But look down deep into my eyes, </span></i></i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
<span style="background: white;"></span></i></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">I was born free!</span></i></span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white;">
<o:p></o:p></span></i></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">-Kid Rock</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; text-align: justify;">xo.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-60587496397734201182014-02-07T09:37:00.002-08:002015-03-14T05:23:36.269-07:00The Ruins of Jerash (Jordan, Part II)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfMqNqgkq7FOOIXuXwA4Elugi66QKF8rIzHBRhol5zjA939WhtDQyakNhZUhtGb0EPz26x8fdT5nCtXjGptshDsg2ABuROwDludv5Lw_k45MsT3sIxeOMwYqvz6JP6LR6YHKPa-jsEoA/s1600/IMG_1788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfMqNqgkq7FOOIXuXwA4Elugi66QKF8rIzHBRhol5zjA939WhtDQyakNhZUhtGb0EPz26x8fdT5nCtXjGptshDsg2ABuROwDludv5Lw_k45MsT3sIxeOMwYqvz6JP6LR6YHKPa-jsEoA/s1600/IMG_1788.JPG" title="Oval Plaza Jerash" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">If you ever get a chance to visit Jordan, I
definitely recommend you rent a car and drive. The country is beautiful and
full of so much history. Also, car rentals are insanely cheap -$25-dollars-a-day-cheap – awesome, right?</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I also recommend you get a GPS, as there
aren’t always signs indicating proper directions for cities and landmarks.
However, I will warn you that your GPS will be wrong as often as it is right,
if not more so. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Our GPS would often point us in the right
direction but eventually lead us to a dirt track in the middle of desert. Now,
had we rented a 4-wheel drive truck, this wouldn’t have been a problem, but out
tiniest-car-on-earth, just couldn’t hack it. At this point we would have to
turn around, curse at the GPS, fiddle with the directions and eventually find
out, that although we were only 30 minutes from our destination, we would need
to backtrack 2 hours to get there. Needless to say, we developed a very strong,
very confusing, love-hate relationship with our GPS.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">That first day though, we still had absolute
faith in her. And as we cruised down the highway, all we could do was gush
about our GPS and her perfect directions. Once we had finally escaped Amman
traffic, the drive was smooth. We sailed down the highway heading to the
ancient ruins in the city of Jerash. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsjAGxc1a7kUVcvR7cxrsib4IahcYH2lWKhpI8iEIZBv6a52FyEg2GRfTd8Dxi4iWzlyo_OfMvHjxLcV6QGWL5H7PduLmrM7X7cV3vR15dTXSE_piJw4VswxpNqyW1LuqQZBp1W8fqb8/s1600/IMG_1799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsjAGxc1a7kUVcvR7cxrsib4IahcYH2lWKhpI8iEIZBv6a52FyEg2GRfTd8Dxi4iWzlyo_OfMvHjxLcV6QGWL5H7PduLmrM7X7cV3vR15dTXSE_piJw4VswxpNqyW1LuqQZBp1W8fqb8/s1600/IMG_1799.JPG" title="Old City/New City, Jerash" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvvIzRUdlPvpOinWl1vYTwsCrkyQGKDNH7m23IZ0YoKx0PjPJm6_J_Pq04w3InIZzH7NF90J81UAy9mO0ynnRRU7QcqTITpqYGSxHjZj-taY-nf82Yrn5UwTS7YlWa50azx1R4Sgn3po/s1600/IMG_1806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvvIzRUdlPvpOinWl1vYTwsCrkyQGKDNH7m23IZ0YoKx0PjPJm6_J_Pq04w3InIZzH7NF90J81UAy9mO0ynnRRU7QcqTITpqYGSxHjZj-taY-nf82Yrn5UwTS7YlWa50azx1R4Sgn3po/s1600/IMG_1806.JPG" title="Ruins of Jerash" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQZhOAW8PUvGZy9koh-ZkvpIrVunjSZNjvMNobaFRtnJeE8IVB6WI7DiVjhmU5mF6fZQZpByCGvflT7RK4coT69Sa8Ug-gsDo7s1tQCFqFOMy8K3umsn6w9qtO3GWoiKe_1lJ0kVOzek/s1600/IMG_1808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQZhOAW8PUvGZy9koh-ZkvpIrVunjSZNjvMNobaFRtnJeE8IVB6WI7DiVjhmU5mF6fZQZpByCGvflT7RK4coT69Sa8Ug-gsDo7s1tQCFqFOMy8K3umsn6w9qtO3GWoiKe_1lJ0kVOzek/s1600/IMG_1808.JPG" title="Amphitheater Jerash" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Jerash is a city located in Northern Jordan.
Although it is a modern city, it is a huge tourist attraction due to the
ancient ruins located within the city limits. These ruins date back to the rule
of the Romans and are some of the best-preserved ruins in the world. More
amazing is the lack of rules regarding the ruins. Although, it is clear that
the government has carefully maintained them, guests are welcome to
climb on the ruins, touch the ruins and crawl through the ruins. It was such a rush to know that
the buildings around us had stood for close to 1000 years.</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As we walked among the structures, we read
about what each portion had been used for and why it was important. My mind
struggled to imagine chariot races and festivals being held on these very
grounds. The history that I read about and teach about was all around us – it
was unbelievable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As we reached the amphitheater, a local man
approached us and offered to take our picture. This was a common offer
throughout the day, and although I had declined numerous times before, I
suddenly decided to go for it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrGcW2XfjQ4HGFiJj6VXmUvfujX7k_uNzbc8CO57lVn_VyEoQUSWDvYZOISVgE_CMRcXS5VyNXsJh8njRRuDnR_yalqO5MacU9scLLaHFN9HyFjsQjtcvOSWyGlHq6egl_foTfDvTxsk/s1600/jerash1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrGcW2XfjQ4HGFiJj6VXmUvfujX7k_uNzbc8CO57lVn_VyEoQUSWDvYZOISVgE_CMRcXS5VyNXsJh8njRRuDnR_yalqO5MacU9scLLaHFN9HyFjsQjtcvOSWyGlHq6egl_foTfDvTxsk/s1600/jerash1.jpg" title="Call to prayer" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4LtUcArwiIHBSFEXbgOdON7SQZlgr9_mblTZnWfk13dMipPLqkVSVWvuNb_R-hcuedvnBfv5Ux8jR7eFXWmUdVBKE4QVXcvumQcDDFs_NVgwHiAfgwtyeClNc5k0PrMAnP7noJ3e9fA/s1600/IMG_1789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4LtUcArwiIHBSFEXbgOdON7SQZlgr9_mblTZnWfk13dMipPLqkVSVWvuNb_R-hcuedvnBfv5Ux8jR7eFXWmUdVBKE4QVXcvumQcDDFs_NVgwHiAfgwtyeClNc5k0PrMAnP7noJ3e9fA/s1600/IMG_1789.JPG" title="Jerash Ruins" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22xotnFp7YDEqXF48JZ2BnCugu2hSBzksOVSVhRUtt0qUOeLO2SKT2NGMxFygiH-BG2O5GPk1qkCaWgrVBHZt7m41K9PqalgSHmOWo2aoPOL6hqlgreV6LkzpiEtskYAx4vT99-KlJeM/s1600/jerash3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22xotnFp7YDEqXF48JZ2BnCugu2hSBzksOVSVhRUtt0qUOeLO2SKT2NGMxFygiH-BG2O5GPk1qkCaWgrVBHZt7m41K9PqalgSHmOWo2aoPOL6hqlgreV6LkzpiEtskYAx4vT99-KlJeM/s1600/jerash3.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I handed him my camera and he immediately
took over instructing us. We had expected him to gesture to us to stand there
and then he would take one or two photos, but he had something else in mind
entirely.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He began by directing us to stand above the amphitheater
so he could take a shot with it in the background. He became very agitated when
he realized I didn’t have zoom and began mumbling under his breath. He took a
few photos and then stepped away. I reached for my camera and he shook his
head. Instead, he told B to sit down and then placed me in B’s lap. Next he
wrapped B’s arms around me. Both of us were so caught off guard we just
followed his directions, laughing awkwardly. Next, he had us stand in an
archway and again he wrapped B’s arms around me. By now, we had both begun to
feel like we were at prom getting our photos taken. The poses were so uncomfortable
and feigned. As he began to move to a different structure, I ran up to him and
assured him that those photos were more than enough. I praised his
professionalism and gave him a tip. I then took my camera and jogged back to B,
trying not to break down and laugh until we were out of earshot.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Once we reached the car, I turned on the
camera to review the photos. They were terrible. The settings were all wrong
and we were either too dark or too light or too silly. In the end though it
wasn’t the photos that made the day, it was the memory. And for the rest of the
trip we always debated taking every photo in awkward-prom-pose, but thankfully
it didn’t happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-15260958632607670022014-02-01T05:45:00.000-08:002015-03-14T05:24:13.462-07:00Escaping Amman (Jordan, Part I)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We arrived in Jordan late at night. We had
reserved a car ahead of time but approached the rental desk with trepidation,
since B had spent the last 45 minutes of the flight reading terrible reviews of
this dealer.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Luckily, the man behind the counter seemed
helpful and knowledgeable. He walked us out to the tiniest car we </span>had ever
seen. I was excited. It would be easy to maneuver and easy to park. B was
worried that his legs wouldn’t fit. The car was quite dirty and when we started
it up the gas tank was almost empty. The counter guy assured us that this was how
all rentals worked in Jordan - just return it the same way. We shrugged and
drove off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As we raced down the highway toward Amman, we
marveled at how cold it was outside. There were piles of snow everywhere. This
would have been exciting, but we were currently experiencing the cold
firsthand. We had come to realize that the heater in our car didn’t work.
Fifteen minutes into the drive we were both shivering and by the time we
reached the hotel, we knew we had to call the rental place and swap cars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEYsqqUcClgIbO71JonA_qCEu9nBzhimrEmwMuNJhgdqXdbPaB7gCh6PLT9SRaolKAOKN5aOM3-DDhokV14nznKa5kAZCKKLWc1xnQm3cKJKaJDW5r-eJt94s8r16j1iD1rscrVzPN3o/s1600/IMG_1754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEYsqqUcClgIbO71JonA_qCEu9nBzhimrEmwMuNJhgdqXdbPaB7gCh6PLT9SRaolKAOKN5aOM3-DDhokV14nznKa5kAZCKKLWc1xnQm3cKJKaJDW5r-eJt94s8r16j1iD1rscrVzPN3o/s1600/IMG_1754.JPG" title="Amman Pasha Hotel" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Our hotel was very friendly and quite
run-down. A large group of men were yelling and drinking in the bar to our left
and, as luck would have it, our room was right above that bar. Following the
motto, ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’, we decided to head downstairs and
have some drinks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We were both excited for the chance to order alcohol
- living in a dry country, makes every bar an amazing place. B ordered a local
beer called Philadelphia. We joked about this ‘American’ name, but later
learned that Amman was known as Philadelphia when it was under Greek rule.
Whoops. I ordered a local wine. Neither of us was very impressed with our
drinks and for the remainder of the trip we stuck to foreign wine and beer. I guess
we have become a bit of snobs when it comes to our drinks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqp-K2rqC-eR7705Rn8n1JUYPkuPPgaVnK1AMqo7__ZJKGU84tX-INS5ODDqeC8xS3ZWmeBUUzDrA8Vms21D_abX5zd52yi0uWdr_EU2dYG2tsBsNC6zTts4KYaBhWsTV-6rZtB4cYWjk/s1600/IMG_1753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqp-K2rqC-eR7705Rn8n1JUYPkuPPgaVnK1AMqo7__ZJKGU84tX-INS5ODDqeC8xS3ZWmeBUUzDrA8Vms21D_abX5zd52yi0uWdr_EU2dYG2tsBsNC6zTts4KYaBhWsTV-6rZtB4cYWjk/s1600/IMG_1753.JPG" title="Amman Rooftop Patio" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWCsL_NS9cIgLbFG3Li017pHpBZlRIWDPHju47yZ2aNZbzGE65Mghyphenhyphenx7ofBu7jq7EAkNdWPps00vcoNSga2YFbXBkfiV2UmtflDdDjiHL6UY2iNm17IUv3O0z7wZtwutiRw3bkD1Fmmc/s1600/IMG_1746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWCsL_NS9cIgLbFG3Li017pHpBZlRIWDPHju47yZ2aNZbzGE65Mghyphenhyphenx7ofBu7jq7EAkNdWPps00vcoNSga2YFbXBkfiV2UmtflDdDjiHL6UY2iNm17IUv3O0z7wZtwutiRw3bkD1Fmmc/s1600/IMG_1746.JPG" title="Amman Rooftop View" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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The following morning we set out to find the closest
rental place. A quick internet search revealed a branch just 5 kilometers away.
Perfect. We would head there, get a new car and then get out of town. We loaded
our bags, accepted some last minute tips from our hosts and headed down the
street - except there was nowhere to go. Every street was jam-packed. No matter
where we turned, traffic was stopped. In the end, it took us an hour and half
to travel 6 kilometers. We had to laugh, and shake it off, what else was there
to do.</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The car exchange was easy - same car,
different color - and we decided to rent a GPS for the next 10 days since we
were finding Jordan very difficult to navigate. The new car had even less gas
than our previous car, so, although we were both anxious to get out of Amman,
our first order of business was to find a gas station. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupnB-NvOwhuqAeLjEMasF2NOHr0jByrQqfkg1fVGTI0ZKyqo1vY_BJCYy88FGYdSzzm6kWLRxKGqdz1eZ7pHPRIZpLP2qrNJ9YbcoYxMspTcIP4DYavcMjLtlE_xICDrsXV7pltNBCCA/s1600/IMG_1750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupnB-NvOwhuqAeLjEMasF2NOHr0jByrQqfkg1fVGTI0ZKyqo1vY_BJCYy88FGYdSzzm6kWLRxKGqdz1eZ7pHPRIZpLP2qrNJ9YbcoYxMspTcIP4DYavcMjLtlE_xICDrsXV7pltNBCCA/s1600/IMG_1750.JPG" title="Amman Ampitheater" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Using the GPS it only took us only 12 wrong
turns to get to a station.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were both desperate
to pee, but the station had only one restroom and only men were welcome to use
it. While B was relieving himself, I was asked by the attendant to pay for the
gas. In Kuwait, this is never an issue, as everyone speaks at least some
English. But this attendant spoke none. I glanced at the total and tried to surreptitiously </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">pull that amount of cash from the giant roll of bills in my purse.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I handed the attendant the money and he
began to shake his head and gesture wildly. I had no idea what was wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I pulled out more money – a mistake, I know –
and gestured to it, trying to ask how much more he needed. He grabbed double
the amount on the machine. I started to argue. He walked away. I didn’t know
what to do. B appeared at this moment, I quickly explained (he just shook his
head when I got to the part about pulling cash out) and he went to try to
reason with the attendant. The attendant acted like he had no idea why I was
upset.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was at this moment that a stranger
appeared. In every travel adventure, I am saved by the kindness of strangers -
they are some of my favorite people. The stranger asked us what was wrong and
then translated to the attendant. Basically, the attendant was swearing that he
had filled up our tank halfway, accidentally erased the total, then continued to
fill it and that is why he needed double. The stranger added that the
attendants “were all thieves” and I should watch them at all times. I sighed. I
hadn’t been watching at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In the end, we decided to just leave it. As
is often the case, the attendant definitely needed the money more than me and I
had been reminded of an important lesson. Only show the money you are willing
to spend, not all the money you have. </span>xo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-16848891340414539412014-01-10T05:33:00.000-08:002015-03-14T05:25:02.701-07:00Before & After: My Craft & Clothes Room<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgws5KkOeu9UDBI9AtCT5q_t1hixw4y8N00HRU6EpqCiq6FJblNWgQLrYkuxmzjZMM_mBlNkStXe0LACA6ff67LkCzfg0eL8Exm3Y-bSCBGcpONFXk_MmSJAqEwc0LuFeH9u9-sJE642ao/s1600/title.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgws5KkOeu9UDBI9AtCT5q_t1hixw4y8N00HRU6EpqCiq6FJblNWgQLrYkuxmzjZMM_mBlNkStXe0LACA6ff67LkCzfg0eL8Exm3Y-bSCBGcpONFXk_MmSJAqEwc0LuFeH9u9-sJE642ao/s640/title.jpg" title="white shelves" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few days ago I posted my <a href="http://waywardandwandering.blogspot.com/2014/01/four-simple-goals-for-2014.html" target="_blank">4 Simple Goals</a> for 2014. It was
exciting to post, because it forced me to start working toward them. After a bit of reflection, I chose to start
with number 2, because I love decorating and the idea of carving out a space
just for me to create and lounge and work and play sounded amazing. It took 2
days and its not quite finished yet – I still need to add photos and art - but
already I love it - and can’t seem to leave it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My space is an odd shaped room in the back of the apartment.
We have two rooms this shape, both with bathrooms coming off of them (B uses
the other one for his hobbies, which can be quite messy). Originally, this was
our bedroom, simply because that’s where the bed was when we moved in, but a
few months ago, I decided to dismantle the bed and move it to a different room
and that’s when this space became mine.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVfX-F7VEIHUkEMmO_I4WlRow2D4bQ_2tJ7No2OhV59YjEt2JVruNwlRFyc31kTsCm9vxU7IB3ErxY1u_gdS40J701xUtY2dXUJULVy6vlEk22owMORplT_V34GUWNmXVP_nhtF1FHNg/s1600/bedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVfX-F7VEIHUkEMmO_I4WlRow2D4bQ_2tJ7No2OhV59YjEt2JVruNwlRFyc31kTsCm9vxU7IB3ErxY1u_gdS40J701xUtY2dXUJULVy6vlEk22owMORplT_V34GUWNmXVP_nhtF1FHNg/s640/bedroom.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVfX-F7VEIHUkEMmO_I4WlRow2D4bQ_2tJ7No2OhV59YjEt2JVruNwlRFyc31kTsCm9vxU7IB3ErxY1u_gdS40J701xUtY2dXUJULVy6vlEk22owMORplT_V34GUWNmXVP_nhtF1FHNg/s1600/bedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IAlHZPX1Nw3ANwUNBMwEYikib_TtwpFrBsrBk1_TIk4FkVB3D3bA2aexlQGAXYXrjuuIWyig1hRzwUddHuWofq0_yB5-SetWmP5FCl2UiS9w-eEVmv7MH_2hKCDC28LlvhMB6NuBQyA/s640/IMG_2395.JPG" title="bright colorful workspace" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jkM4FPp7BVMj7pGd2VkXrTi8m8arFBBnED_wSp0l74T1SAt4-IZLrk5V9lxUMX1NmIiG4r1RozQYvuJku9Rtrmt8IDkCjypmaiegYnsHZPra5PbWlwGNbFY5dNV16KyGTnFp3VpQ9iI/s1600/after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jkM4FPp7BVMj7pGd2VkXrTi8m8arFBBnED_wSp0l74T1SAt4-IZLrk5V9lxUMX1NmIiG4r1RozQYvuJku9Rtrmt8IDkCjypmaiegYnsHZPra5PbWlwGNbFY5dNV16KyGTnFp3VpQ9iI/s640/after.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first thing I did was paint the walls a bright white and replace the heavy mustard curtains with sheer white ones. I love how white brightens up a space and makes colors pop. It just inspires me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next, I hauled all the furniture I wanted into the room. The space is quite big, but not shaped well at all. The wall with the window is actually curved, so nothing can lay flat against it. I also have two giant, ugly wardrobes that I must keep in the room, because, as much as I hate them, they serve the necessary purpose of holding my clothes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once I had everything in the room, I began experimenting with
arrangements. This took the better part of a day, with B occasionally wandering
in and laughing at me as I tried to manhandle the enormous wardrobes into
various positions. Finally, I managed to make them take up as little space as
possible, and began the fun part – drilling.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrIeUK4Eyb6D374JRoXUWquiIfuCo6jNCc9AxnQsxquYHmX24JPa_VoHMNVCvV7o2Za80bIvAGxyLOKWsixRdgjjnSRfjZRlN_OTUjghrUYMwieaqt8BUIiMkAZjen1fmjA5QvZkJ2n4/s1600/interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrIeUK4Eyb6D374JRoXUWquiIfuCo6jNCc9AxnQsxquYHmX24JPa_VoHMNVCvV7o2Za80bIvAGxyLOKWsixRdgjjnSRfjZRlN_OTUjghrUYMwieaqt8BUIiMkAZjen1fmjA5QvZkJ2n4/s640/interior.jpg" title="two views: dressing & creating" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0cAashpERPQcaF0-sRB_gP6fir9t2RZVL6BVHglqwFCcMVofZ_DcguGr7S5l6aaxWAaBNys-NqqghZDm-nduMp2KkWH-GSy534NkpH7YoKT18MJxGPsJNLjyrndDrkhvqaX3GNVyqkU/s1600/IMG_2360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0cAashpERPQcaF0-sRB_gP6fir9t2RZVL6BVHglqwFCcMVofZ_DcguGr7S5l6aaxWAaBNys-NqqghZDm-nduMp2KkWH-GSy534NkpH7YoKT18MJxGPsJNLjyrndDrkhvqaX3GNVyqkU/s640/IMG_2360.JPG" title="wooden desk and shelf" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both B and I are so grateful he taught me the skills needed
to drill into concrete. Thinking back to just 6 months ago, when I would have
had to ask him to hang every shelf, picture frame and screw, makes us both
shake our heads in disgust. That was never fun for either of us. Plus, there is
just something so powerful about holding a pulsating drill in your hands and
crushing through concrete. (I am WOMAN, hear me ROAR!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVb9lmSFqpMDn8ThcJ0P6ZWppkNouKs5JmuhswiYBhwoSIQcwCDdU-VDYzdiOYFWI2dwbP2M3JXtF_ZSWyp7PCKa4UuOQ_hvTLb_CGUo0C9dKiPm8kHsAyQzsF_OdE1Yefctqzy5YkUc/s1600/IMG_2383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVb9lmSFqpMDn8ThcJ0P6ZWppkNouKs5JmuhswiYBhwoSIQcwCDdU-VDYzdiOYFWI2dwbP2M3JXtF_ZSWyp7PCKa4UuOQ_hvTLb_CGUo0C9dKiPm8kHsAyQzsF_OdE1Yefctqzy5YkUc/s640/IMG_2383.JPG" title="repurposing ikea candles" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0W6C1wjKzCoIYqpQ5W7blVxVzH55E5WaPKV5SbCxEURG2stYkxfflQ1S4zXB_-GNoAOhnyfW4n-FIZbNuNvrChxkok9stRI05rlFkW7OA-2MQFzP98dbcs_MYGJw-etSVO6BiDD-875s/s1600/IMG_2418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0W6C1wjKzCoIYqpQ5W7blVxVzH55E5WaPKV5SbCxEURG2stYkxfflQ1S4zXB_-GNoAOhnyfW4n-FIZbNuNvrChxkok9stRI05rlFkW7OA-2MQFzP98dbcs_MYGJw-etSVO6BiDD-875s/s640/IMG_2418.JPG" title="scrapbook organization" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBnsqK60Dc3Ly4GC4x6l6fForrVGlbLGoriH1_BiKjp7h5YUBI9Xkm9XPeBdd8RKsiwzPc9RCUBMMfWQ_VAXZSyc-FPbWgsEi_sj58khsyTvIiDczVIaom5EKfo_CNq4um1ncj5mc-pQ/s1600/shelves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBnsqK60Dc3Ly4GC4x6l6fForrVGlbLGoriH1_BiKjp7h5YUBI9Xkm9XPeBdd8RKsiwzPc9RCUBMMfWQ_VAXZSyc-FPbWgsEi_sj58khsyTvIiDczVIaom5EKfo_CNq4um1ncj5mc-pQ/s640/shelves.jpg" title="organizing little things" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The final step was to organize the mess that is my life. I
boiled old Ikea candles and took the glass cups to hold bits and pieces. I
found some fun bowls at a market and sorted my earrings and coins and rings. I
draped my necklaces, scarves and hair accessories on hooks and hung all my
dangly earrings on the window screen. I sorted my embellishments, strings and
such into baskets a friend gave me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
room began to look bright and colorful and fun. I threw myself on the couch and
admired the effect. B, somehow sensing the end was near, stuck in his head and
whistled. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXImzdnBXyuhy4oAtdvh3akVUz7IJu7qd9Pb0NUKN7wlrA_66YSwo0_fXe4gvqTXRNt_oPLtPdWNKs3-EtYnJOsYaoxYCgD-6lGeV8bvgP8X9n24i3CeNkpAu5TrqTnM3vDHCMuiGCrOU/s1600/organize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXImzdnBXyuhy4oAtdvh3akVUz7IJu7qd9Pb0NUKN7wlrA_66YSwo0_fXe4gvqTXRNt_oPLtPdWNKs3-EtYnJOsYaoxYCgD-6lGeV8bvgP8X9n24i3CeNkpAu5TrqTnM3vDHCMuiGCrOU/s640/organize.jpg" title="organizing my life" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So cheers to me. I have successfully produced a space I feel happy and
creative in – now it's time to get messy.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-31665459187720299002014-01-03T04:32:00.000-08:002015-03-14T05:25:21.230-07:00Four Simple Goals for 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Happy New Year! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I follow </span>only<span style="font-family: inherit;"> one blog religiously. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This blog is full of creative ideas, projects, advice and
more, its called <a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/" target="_blank">A Beautiful Mess</a> and is written by two Midwestern sisters who
seem to overflow with ideas. I love the feeling of inspiration I get when I
read their posts.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few months ago they posted their <a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2013/10/four-simple-goals-before-2014.html" target="_blank">4 Simple Goals</a> challenge.
The idea was simple:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Choose a timeline and create 4 simple goals for yourself. These
goals are supposed to be based on pleasure, happiness and activity, not so much
on results. Then complete them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This idea really resonated with me, but like so many things,
it became buried under work, deadlines and life, and before I knew it the
months had flown by and I had all but forgotten it. Then the New Year was upon
us and I was surrounded by people making resolutions (I love resolutions, by
the way, the thought that I can always be better fills me with hope) and the
idea flitted back to the front of my brain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So today I start anew. I have decided, in lieu of
resolutions, to make 4 Simple Goals, which are basically the same thing. Here
they are in no particular order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Post 3
blog updates every month.</b> Posting to my blog is something I enjoy, a way to
keep a public journal of our adventures, but somehow, when all my time fills
up, it becomes a low priority. And then, because I have stopped, I feel
defeated, and so I don’t pick it up again. But that stops today. For the next
year, I will post 3 updates, every month, 36 by the end of the year, exciting!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Create a
space to be creative (and messy!)</b> I love decorating spaces, our apartment,
my classroom, anywhere. I always tend to start with the spaces seen by others -
the living room, the kitchen - then I move on to spaces I share with B - the
bedroom, the laundry room - but never have I got around to creating a space
just for me. I have a room but it is ugly and uninviting and serves only as a
place to comb my hair and get dressed. My goal is to turn it into a space I
want to be in. A space I can blog and grade and scrapbook in. A space that
makes me happy and creative and that I can leave a complete mess and no one
will be inconvenienced by. (<a href="http://waywardandwandering.blogspot.com/2014/01/before-after-my-craft-clothes-room.html" target="_blank">Goal completed</a>! Hooray!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Be
active. Find time to move.</b> I want to be active again. I miss Northern
California for the activity it provided. Swimming, snowboarding, hiking,
ultimate frisbee, softball, longboarding, riding – all of this was done with
friends and all of this led me to be active and healthy without even trying.
But here in the desert, I rarely go outside, most activities with friends
involve eating or talking and I have grown lazy and unfit. I want to change
that. I am going to make a conscious effort to move. Run the stairs, hit the
gym, join softball, whatever it takes to feel healthy again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Carve out
time for friendships… new and old.</b> Somehow in all the activity of the last
3 months, I have lost touch with friends. It used to be that friends were my number
1 priority, something I loved, but lately I have been feeling very solitary,
preferring to snuggle up with a good book and the kitten. This isn’t a bad
thing, I love the pleasure of my own company, but I miss friends. So my final
goal is to make time and nurture my friendships. Talk to those in California;
spend time with those in Kuwait. Make it special and memorable and enjoyable.
Friends keep me young and happy and free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I wish you luck on your resolutions and goals as
we enter into a new year and I will definitely keep you posted on mine. xo.</span><!--EndFragment--></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-9679745028990889542013-04-27T07:27:00.003-07:002015-03-14T05:25:59.483-07:00Yachting Like A Rock-Star<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I partied like a rock-star on a yacht this weekend. Like-a-rock-star!*<br />
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoMhlsycr8S8WR8qLN3DfK-6pVlz8SlqdFsqVCf_PO9SmwDaSqCLr2SR1cnBQMdruJnM8nlJgJHdkzPo4FwwSntDyENGnuqqTk13TT_Vedy4jcWLwXrQ7huWCwCSbIlUZt5EhhpmHxGU/s1600/IMG_1139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoMhlsycr8S8WR8qLN3DfK-6pVlz8SlqdFsqVCf_PO9SmwDaSqCLr2SR1cnBQMdruJnM8nlJgJHdkzPo4FwwSntDyENGnuqqTk13TT_Vedy4jcWLwXrQ7huWCwCSbIlUZt5EhhpmHxGU/s640/IMG_1139.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjek7LwsBXTLUSSByrIWycxfcyh0VC426CAdIfyfrP22w5_Zyzhaq7qe_krsMgT5lmf_Ms6kL7hghO2cIYPirm-27QRuF2oKfOhl7ZWt7gtZ9VV7BDspz3Ntfip4cGz2DZHxP-YYAi5-Rk/s1600/IMG_1135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjek7LwsBXTLUSSByrIWycxfcyh0VC426CAdIfyfrP22w5_Zyzhaq7qe_krsMgT5lmf_Ms6kL7hghO2cIYPirm-27QRuF2oKfOhl7ZWt7gtZ9VV7BDspz3Ntfip4cGz2DZHxP-YYAi5-Rk/s640/IMG_1135.JPG" /><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></a></div>
Our morning started off at the docks – where we boarded a dazzling
yacht. We are talking full on, rapper-style, all-white yacht. We knew very few
(or more like none) of the people along for the ride, but the group could
easily be described as a fit, tan and gorgeous. As soon as we reached open sea,
girls peeled off their cover-ups to show flat tummies and tight bottoms. The
men were just as fun to look at – perfect six-packs, short, tight suits and
covered in oil.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHb6sojft_mAYYWPffG8g5AAVfOhLlMV-Z_Sy50ZKQvp4x1HkXKIJa8clUrp1oy1-0OylAHXLtifC1jtKg2D4a6MTQzy6ZPObVcO4zNXi8tPO-r_TUx5qbpFqwzMM6hwUxQ-mTiCLjGI/s1600/IMG_1150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHb6sojft_mAYYWPffG8g5AAVfOhLlMV-Z_Sy50ZKQvp4x1HkXKIJa8clUrp1oy1-0OylAHXLtifC1jtKg2D4a6MTQzy6ZPObVcO4zNXi8tPO-r_TUx5qbpFqwzMM6hwUxQ-mTiCLjGI/s640/IMG_1150.JPG" /></a></div>
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The trip to the island took a few hours and was exactly what I expected a yacht full of gorgeous people to be like. The DJ spun tracks, drinks flowed, the sun shone and I genuinely felt like I might be a rock star – or at least part of rock star’s entourage.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
The island itself was not much to look at – less than a ¼ mile in length and covered with sand and shrubs, its great appeal is the fact that large groups of people gather there on the weekends to wear bikinis, dance and drink. Technically, this is illegal, but seems to (thus far) have been overlooked by the government.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wMVox0pm8mEqvyN_MmEMMOj-_YkOdUxwE-31asFNqMud8-HpSOqDl3NwVryoIq_FqkgmBtzhfJrtACnzi-RnbpJDLT2RlW1r1PmyBBciNLI9ILL3LNn0yAzrtaCMlW_n4BeQInLvGgY/s1600/island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wMVox0pm8mEqvyN_MmEMMOj-_YkOdUxwE-31asFNqMud8-HpSOqDl3NwVryoIq_FqkgmBtzhfJrtACnzi-RnbpJDLT2RlW1r1PmyBBciNLI9ILL3LNn0yAzrtaCMlW_n4BeQInLvGgY/s640/island.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
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As the day wrapped up, I looked around at the yachts floating on the bright blue sea, the beautiful people dancing in the sunset, and the many nationalities speaking a variety of languages and it took my breath away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I love the idea that everywhere in the world there are groups of strangers coming together for a good time – fun, love, and sunshine really can unite everyone.<br />
<br /></div>
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*And like a rock-star all place/people names have been redacted to protect the peace-loving, party people.</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-34645764432354440922013-04-05T06:45:00.001-07:002015-03-14T05:26:50.763-07:005 Ways to Make a House a Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanPwRyZLPLGolvqpD6Yu02N-TsZsaDaqj49gTwa8jQRKSOXx7Ivwmg35YG9PoY55QdK8qrlS-7LCJlJb0YTVKNJ21fEUinEPcYft7qBEbMljazmiK1G2P0SyheHznMs2jMBgAdPSPuVk/s1600/IMG_0908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanPwRyZLPLGolvqpD6Yu02N-TsZsaDaqj49gTwa8jQRKSOXx7Ivwmg35YG9PoY55QdK8qrlS-7LCJlJb0YTVKNJ21fEUinEPcYft7qBEbMljazmiK1G2P0SyheHznMs2jMBgAdPSPuVk/s640/IMG_0908.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I recently wrote a post
about living abroad and how you can’t just force a place to become a home (<a href="http://waywardandwandering.blogspot.com/2013/04/home-is-where-my-heart-is.html" target="_blank">read it here</a>). That
said, there are some easy ways to make a new place feel homier. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; text-indent: -0.25in;">1. Pets</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am a pet person. Having
a little animal prowling around the house makes it feel full and busy.
There is just something about having this creature dependent on my coming home each
night and waking each morning. Even at her evilest (and our cat is very evil)
she still makes me feel loved and needed. Every time we’ve moved, we’ve ended up
with a pet mere weeks after arriving. There really is nothing like it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">2. Color</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I love color. It is such a quick and
easy way to make a place my own. Moving to Kuwait, where everything is brown, I
have become obsessed with adding blues and greens into our daily lives. Paint
is the easiest way I know to make a room feel ‘mine’. I choose the color, I
pick the place, I give the effort and suddenly the room is stamped with my personality.
B prefers plants. There are so many colors, textures and types. He loves moving
them throughout the house and is always extra excited when a new one sprouts. However
you choose to add color, do it. It will take you a lot closer to creating a
‘home’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">3. Traditions</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Back in California, I had a weekly
girl’s night. Once I arrived in Honduras, I felt left out knowing these nights
were taking place without me. Part way through the year, a new friend
offered to start hosting a bi-monthly book club and I practically cried from
joy. I have since realized that I need ‘traditions’. Weekly girl’s night,
monthly softball games, yearly friends-givings, whatever form they take, once
they become a regular part of my life, the more content I feel in my new
‘home’.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">4. A Bit of 'Home'</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Everyone comes from a different life
when they move abroad. I came from a place steeped in community. Therefore, I
had to bring a little of that community with me. I brought a quilt that my
hometown gave us on our wedding day and cards my sister wrote me as I left. My friends and family are also fantastic at
mailing letters to keep me appraised about what’s happening back 'home'. Every little bit
helps. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">5. Memories (Old & New)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It may seem obvious, but it is important to keep adding to your home as you keep living life. When we first moved in to our new apartment, I filled it with photos of the people we love. Whether I simply stuck photos to our fridge or hung them in a
display, I tried to get them up fast. As the year progresses, I keep adding new photos and such. The happy buddha reminds me of an adventurous trip to Sri Lanka with a new friend, the camel connects me to my new country and the photos can change whenever the need arises. </span>The more you can fill your space with
the things that make you happiest, the quicker you will feel ‘home’ again.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8u7rc8fWrb9010jrxRVspqXig-NORx3Nj0hC7TVphLDOGNQQ3PFaQXMMFW8nS7K1aW5YggmW-AcT8-RIo5yUKSrq-OnMODaS4_vldSG6ctH4cFi6GqGeyanvEmuqsKMgkUbEbjr4tbRI/s1600/IMG_0698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
</div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-71915775681115181782013-04-04T08:23:00.000-07:002015-03-14T05:27:40.586-07:00Home is Where My Heart Is...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Living abroad is great for so many reasons. Meeting new people,
experiencing new adventures and learning about new cultures are just a few of
the perks of moving every few years, however there are difficulties with being
“new” again and again. And one of those difficulties is creating a ‘home’.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Over the last 20 years my definition of ‘home’ has evolved.
For the first 17 years of my life, ‘home’ was a steady never-changing location.
My parents raised us on a gorgeous ranch in Northern California. ‘Home’ was as
permanent as it could get. My sisters and I were the 6<sup>th</sup> generation
on the same land. The view out my bedroom window only changed if we rotated rooms.
Even the house color stayed the same. There is a lot to be said for permanence.
It gave me the freedom to experiment with who I was and where I would live
because I knew that ‘home’ would always be there.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
When I went off to university, I didn’t go far. I traveled 2 hours up the interstate to the welcoming town of Chico. I spent the next 10 years there, attending school and then taking my first teaching position. At some point, ‘home’ evolved to mean the town of Chico instead of my parent’s house. ‘Home’ was now the downtown shops, the summer sunshine, long walks in the parks, days floating on the river, long boarding to the bars and the many friends I loved and depended on. Home was a city and I loved it.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
When I first moved abroad I tried hard to make my new house and city, my ‘home’. I hung photos and painted walls. I met people and ate at local places. I visited city landmarks and tried to create traditions, but I slowly came to realize that I couldn’t just make a ‘home’. It had to sneak up on me. It was a difficult realization. It meant a lot of homesickness and a lot of time worrying about what I was missing back ‘home’. It meant being hesitant about making new friends because I had ‘real’ ones back ‘home’. It meant comparing everything, and I do many everything, to ‘home’. I began to fear that the only way to make a new ‘home’ was to let go of the old one… and I didn’t want to let go of it. Not ever.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I am now currently wrapping up my fourth year of living abroad and my definition of ‘home’ has evolved again. I now realize that ‘home’ can be many places at once. My parent’s house is - and will always be - ‘home’. It is a sense of immovability in the ever-moving life I have created and I am so lucky to have that. Chico will also always be ‘home’. It is my past ‘home’ and our future ‘home’ and I love all the people and life that is continues to grow and change there.<br />
<br />
Most excitingly, where I am right now is ‘home’. I finally feel ‘at home’ abroad. Living in an 11<sup>th</sup> floor flat overlooking the Arabian Gulf is ‘home’. B is here with me and always will be. I have realized that ‘home’ doesn’t’ have to be a house – but it can be. It doesn’t have to mean you will know the people forever – but it is wonderful to hope for that. It doesn’t have to fulfill every part of me – but all my ‘homes’ together do. Most importantly, ‘home’ is ever changing which is okay. It stretches to include family and friends, to include my past, my present and my future, to include those people I see every day and those I only speak to once a year. Home really is where the heart is… and my heart is in so many places around the world... Lucky me.</div>
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<i>Photos (top to bottom): Zamora sky, parent's barn (photo credit: Robin), Bidwell Park, Chico storage unit, our Honduran front yard, our Kuwaiti apartment building.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-6330888256620698222013-02-28T03:08:00.000-08:002015-03-14T05:28:14.376-07:00A Riot of Colors<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Shopping in Sri Lanka was an assault on the senses. A riot of colors greeted us at every shop. The masks, the costumes, the paintings were full of art and culture and life. It was glorious.</div>
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Choosing gifts (for others and myself) was so very, very difficult. At one point, I considered shutting my eyes, spinning in a circle and buying whatever my fingers touched first.</div>
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In the end, though, I settled on being inspired by the colors, the artistry and the memories they triggered. Elephants remind me of Lizz and Julie, cats scream Kitty, puzzles are all for Parker and owls, well owls, are so very, very Robin. </div>
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I love shopping!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-47548261272679557652013-02-27T10:15:00.000-08:002015-03-14T05:28:53.994-07:00Tea Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We spent part of our fourth morning in Sri Lanka touring a Tea Factory. We wanted to learn all about the process of growing, harvesting, roasting and, of course, drinking tea.<br />
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Sri Lanka is actually the 4th biggest producer of tea and, depending who you talk to, either the second or third largest exporter of tea (behind Kenya).<br />
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Tea was first introduced to Sri Lanka by the British in the mid 1800's and you can still see the effects today. The factories have a colonial look, with French windows and vintage machines, the roasting is still done by a large oven, stoked with firewood (we threw a few pieces in - it was HOT), and the factory housing has British names and styles.<br />
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The actual plantations are gorgeous. The tea is planted in rows that contour to the shape of the land. The tea bushes grow low to the ground and are interspersed with different trees sprouting occasionally. Steep rock stairs wind down the slopes of the plantations and labours in brightly covered scarves wander about harvesting. It looks to be extremely hard work, the term 'back-breaking' comes to mind, but the views will take your breath away.</div>
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Once we were done walking throughout the plantation and touring the factory, it was time to taste the tea. The top level of the factory has been converted into a serene tea room, filled with whicker chairs and the delicious scents. </div>
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This plantations most popular tea was 'BOP' or Broken Orange Pekoe, so we opted to try that. Sitting in the tea room, sipping our tea and talking to our Sri Lankan 'mom' it was possible to be transported back in time. </div>
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But, as we went to exit, I spotted the locked box below, and was quickly reminded of the difficult labour and little pay that most of the workers live with daily. It is good, if not disturbing, to be reminded of the hard work that goes into the food and drinks I take for granted each day. We donated what we could, in hopes that it will make someone's day a little brighter.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-55772494335495120912013-02-27T04:20:00.000-08:002013-03-02T05:16:23.024-08:00The Three Temples<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When Vay and I decided to go to Sri Lanka, we agreed that we wanted to experience some culture, as well as, have some adventures. Neither of us had ever been East of Kuwait and we wanted to learn something about the beliefs held on this gorgeous little island.</div>
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Quite quickly it became clear that Buddha was very valued on the island, as every city, town and village had numerous statues on street corners and in shrines. It was also clear that they were quite used to tourists as every Buddha (even the one in the airport) had a sign in front of it that clearly stated "Please do not take photographs with your back turned toward the statue."</div>
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Seeing the Buddhas on street corners was not enough for us, though. We wanted to visit a temple. We were assured that the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy was a good choice. So after 2 days of hiking and camping in the jungle we arrived at the temple at 7 at night.</div>
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Our arrival at the temple was fortuitous, as we were able to see many of the rooms due to it being a time of worship, but also awkward, as most of the people arriving at the temple were there as pilgrims, not tourists with cameras in hand. Still, we were glad to walk through the rooms, and even get to glance at the golden casket that holds the Buddha's tooth. It was interesting and different to see the practices of this culture.<br />
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The following day proved to be even more educational, though. Our Sri Lankan "mom", a woman who had taken us under her wing, invited us stay in her home and had made us home-cooked meals each day, offered to give us a tour of the three temples winding up the hills of Kandy. We willing jumped at this offer, and so, instead of spending our morning killing time waiting for the train, we instead tuk-tuked from temple to temple learning about the practices and art of Buddhism.</div>
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The temples we visited that day were gorgeous. The first two were all built of stone, even the ground was melted rock. The third was intricately carved wood and stone together. All three temples were still actively used and hosted processions each year. The art and statues were well cared for and the views from the temples were amazing. </div>
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Recent offering were laid at each temple and our "mom" and driver would bow and whisper to each statue. Many times throughout the trip it was explained to us that Buddhism was a way of life, not a religion, whereas Hinduism was a religion that at times might incorporate Buddhism. This mixing of beliefs became clear at the temples where a Hindu temple would be located on the same ground as the statue of Buddha and, although, I was never really clear how the two mixed, everyone, the pilgims, our guides, our "mom", our drivers and others, seemed to mix the two beliefs effortless. It was inspiring to see.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-32942128615679946292013-02-24T07:48:00.000-08:002015-03-14T05:29:19.936-07:00Lakshmi, the Elephant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So we rode an elephant. It was awesome. Her name is Lakshmi. And besides being a mother, she is also a movie star and an artist. She has starred in over 25 international films,
including Tarzan the Ape Man, and her artwork sells for more than I could ever afford. She also gave birth to the first domesticated elephant in Sri Lanka, her daughter Pooja. Way to go, girl!</div>
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<br />
Want to learn more about this gorgeous place and all they do to help the elephants, click here: <a href="http://www.millenniumelephantfoundation.com/visitors/" target="_blank">Millennium Elephant Foundation</a>.<br />
<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-2397653053164134152013-01-26T09:55:00.000-08:002015-03-14T10:12:03.994-07:00The Kuwaiti Camel Racing Club<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dVmGuTEGEcfFYEJ4oY4pkPR2eafFc_34mq18JLbA0-rOaDuBcvpVZZGkC3pHIH-Eu-iHKSd6AGHt3uziBBER2IoOcSMVE0sHI0Ue8sHVgt5GqUjTkR0x-wuRnHY7UA4a96iP4xcoMpU/s1600/DSC02152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dVmGuTEGEcfFYEJ4oY4pkPR2eafFc_34mq18JLbA0-rOaDuBcvpVZZGkC3pHIH-Eu-iHKSd6AGHt3uziBBER2IoOcSMVE0sHI0Ue8sHVgt5GqUjTkR0x-wuRnHY7UA4a96iP4xcoMpU/s1600/DSC02152.JPG" title="Camel Racing" /></a></div>
Since our first week in Kuwait, I have wanted to attend the Kuwaiti Camel Races. In my mind, it was just like a Middle Eastern Dick Francis novel.
A large oval track, grandstands rising on one side, jockeys in bright colors
and camels, lots of camels. I imagined a day at the races. Maybe, I would wear
a large hat, maybe I would sip a mint julep, maybe I would bet on the winner,
but I was positive, no matter what, it would be a exciting.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The first week of January, I began to hear whispers of Camel
Racing. A friend mentioned that they had begun and were taking place every
Saturday at 2. A few buttons on my phone and Google maps gave me the location,
just a short, 45-minute jaunt into the desert – the Kuwaiti Camel Racing Club.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLB9A3HsarmO8wK5Gg-NW3Jl-zVofGvJ46YXX98a7-xJ7whAoC5sA3AIeGp13g6VwF2b2N0xnznGvX5F4PhvKa2iw9Yes8LxlGJY0XhXJuvbtxTLXrTmPdgOW9onK_xLDgyrhwH3m0f1I/s1600/DSC02117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLB9A3HsarmO8wK5Gg-NW3Jl-zVofGvJ46YXX98a7-xJ7whAoC5sA3AIeGp13g6VwF2b2N0xnznGvX5F4PhvKa2iw9Yes8LxlGJY0XhXJuvbtxTLXrTmPdgOW9onK_xLDgyrhwH3m0f1I/s1600/DSC02117.JPG" title="Kuwait Camel Racing" /></a></div>
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I convinced B to join me. He was not as excited as I
was. He listened to the day I described and then interjected some reality: I
did not own a big hat – a hijab would be more practical, I would not be sipping
a mint julep – I would not be sipping any alcohol at all, as it is haram (illegal),
and finally, there would be no betting on the races, unless I wanted to get
arrested. These were all good points, but I was still hooked on seeing camels’
race. I pulled out my secret ace: When a camel runs all 4 feet come off the
ground at the same time, didn’t he want to see that?<br />
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Turns out he didn’t, but he came anyways - he is sweet like that. So on the first Saturday
we could, a group of us climbed into our jeep and headed to the desert.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Upon first impression, the Kuwaiti Camel Club was not what I
expected. There was no racetrack and no grandstand. People milled around along
a stretch of rope and 4 feet in front of the rope was an orange fence. This
fence lined the “track” which in reality was just a flat stretch of sand. <o:p></o:p></div>
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No one knew when the races would start and there was no
announcer or scoreboards. Desert stretched out in all directions – no food
stands, no shops, and very little shade, literally a fence and a hundred
Kuwaiti flags billowing in the breeze.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_6VN0ixA711aSA-aBcW2oxXvPNrHpCj3pon0qXy0ptC_eUPiMqFKMeDSDH5Z3VVfcx43FjyV7gOrZ7PzQkrmeKd3XVNlOGsEXtqUwYgoQTZpKgFy7FcjYRZw4VqsnP-OrNTof7kkXiQ/s1600/camel.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_6VN0ixA711aSA-aBcW2oxXvPNrHpCj3pon0qXy0ptC_eUPiMqFKMeDSDH5Z3VVfcx43FjyV7gOrZ7PzQkrmeKd3XVNlOGsEXtqUwYgoQTZpKgFy7FcjYRZw4VqsnP-OrNTof7kkXiQ/s1600/camel.jpeg" title="Kuwait Flag" /></a><br />
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6 men had brought camels and were offering to give people
rides. Since the pregnant camel incident in Bahrain, I have continued in vain
to ride a camel. This was my chance. I approached a man and gestured to his
camel, he nodded and I awkwardly climbed aboard. Dozens of people stood around
taking pictures and climbing on other camels. The man shook the rains of the
camel and shouted at him to rise. The camel threw me forward, rose halfway,
gave a scary bellow and then sunk down – refusing to move. I had yet again,
failed to ride a camel.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The man gestured to me to climb off. I stared aghast as
person after person climbed aboard various camels and rode around. What was it
with me camels? Why can’t I ride one?<o:p></o:p><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieeCL5z1sHEttDsshiwlTGmE4e0jOZUf0d0Ga05C0RT7XZE7BnNlbmnrSUKKbEPiWjkUnwY3apSNfshxiuhZ_Ybx1pFDAxLzUySPjLDYYFmmhpVF921b86xVoCm53AkvUhRz_aWv1H8Lo/s1600/DSC02112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieeCL5z1sHEttDsshiwlTGmE4e0jOZUf0d0Ga05C0RT7XZE7BnNlbmnrSUKKbEPiWjkUnwY3apSNfshxiuhZ_Ybx1pFDAxLzUySPjLDYYFmmhpVF921b86xVoCm53AkvUhRz_aWv1H8Lo/s1600/DSC02112.JPG" title="Camel Rides" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuqPxkWTJH4nHOKDC-0pDkQHFYrfT9b31WKi67QeNMCHeKqFmexDa16NWzDXOZqOL6la83-rwHK24-GnG_0B61EhgvAe0sgFWF0iimDJHswCGlftpS2XugMmBWSKQaCvhu8uHh7sY8jI/s1600/DSC02156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuqPxkWTJH4nHOKDC-0pDkQHFYrfT9b31WKi67QeNMCHeKqFmexDa16NWzDXOZqOL6la83-rwHK24-GnG_0B61EhgvAe0sgFWF0iimDJHswCGlftpS2XugMmBWSKQaCvhu8uHh7sY8jI/s1600/DSC02156.JPG" title="Kuwait Camel Race" /></a></div>
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Suddenly, people started to shout and move toward the rope.
Off in the distance we could see a huge dust cloud. The camels were coming.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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As they neared, it became clear that on either side of the
camels were dozens of trucks. The trucks were literally racing across the
desert ‘herding’ the camels to race. The camels trotted past. Foam poured out
of their mouths and they looked exhausted. We watched as they crossed the finish
line.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There were no jockeys on their backs. Instead, there were just little metal boxes with whips attached. We later learned that the men in the trucks controlled the whips as they drove along next to the camels. The race we had witnessed had been 11 kilometres. The camels had started way before we had arrived, but we only saw seconds of the actual race and, without an announcer, it was hard to follow what was happening or who was winning.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyt9UJJsveWdKQzPMXv1_xWUt4OsVwy0GyNp2mezBoHvYMCHYpt0DtFWjsHa2f4ZQPEq2XPo3rklasq7UIpSIX5dpyVmt1FKPHNXdTRjTB7-0JALxXEsKiCjBkJxSc31oU_bH-OdP1zlE/s1600/DSC02115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyt9UJJsveWdKQzPMXv1_xWUt4OsVwy0GyNp2mezBoHvYMCHYpt0DtFWjsHa2f4ZQPEq2XPo3rklasq7UIpSIX5dpyVmt1FKPHNXdTRjTB7-0JALxXEsKiCjBkJxSc31oU_bH-OdP1zlE/s1600/DSC02115.JPG" title="Kuwait Camel Races" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We stayed for 2 hours. In that time, we witnessed 3 sets of
racing camels cross the finish line. They crossed in a slow lope, usually
bunched up, with maybe one or two crossing a little behind the rest. A winner
was never announced and no one really cheered. All in all, it was less than
exciting, but an experience nonetheless.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we went to leave, I decided to attempt one more camel
ride. I chose the largest camel. I climbed aboard and held on tight. The camel
rose high into the air. It was like riding a bucking bull as I was tossed
forward, backward, forward, but suddenly, there I was, looking down at all our
friends. The man led me in slow circle. It was crazy how high I was. The final
race was coming toward us and I got to watch the trucks and camels cross the
desert from my sky-high perch. It was awesome.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So although we will, probably, never again attend the Kuwaiti
Camel Races, I will always count it as a success - because I finally rode a
camel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(New goal: Ride an elephant.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-19389534040529151342013-01-19T08:29:00.000-08:002013-02-16T09:58:18.558-08:00Turning 30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Turning 30 really wasn’t that big of deal, in terms of
freaking out and feeling old. However, turning 30 + 1 month, led to me
rethinking my recent decisions of subsisting off take-out food, coke light, and
5 hours sleep.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So in a late New Year’s / Oh-God-I’m-30 resolution, I have decided
to eat healthier, drink water and try to go to bed by 9:30 on school nights. As
an added bonus, I also decided to start moisturizing my face (already seeing a
difference) and to get out and do more stuff in Kuwait. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last resolution is why I have been MIA for the last few
months – been out gathering cultural experiences, but too busy to write about
them (and I have been just a little bit lazy). That is over now, though.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am inspired. And I miss you all. So I will be writing.
Soon.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwp91se3MFZNLmrgKXY6xLuHdgSm8jgFHv3DTEOmPrIIXkYiLZbn8yzfiYz1wGEi32pxs8b-YLtk51ybcRwUybHYpIGtXWbHI-UiW2OntuayFVRZpFq4V4JYU-IYmwwPNKxFQlfcA6pAU/s1600/and7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwp91se3MFZNLmrgKXY6xLuHdgSm8jgFHv3DTEOmPrIIXkYiLZbn8yzfiYz1wGEi32pxs8b-YLtk51ybcRwUybHYpIGtXWbHI-UiW2OntuayFVRZpFq4V4JYU-IYmwwPNKxFQlfcA6pAU/s640/and7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 30th birthday: loving husband, snowy slope and a board strapped to my feet. Not a lot to complain about.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316093409022417487.post-18648149215938476912012-11-28T10:45:00.002-08:002012-11-28T10:48:07.794-08:00No Bites<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Moving to the desert, we had expected to see less green, and yet, it is still a shock to look out our giant windows and be greeted with varying shades of brown, tan and beige each morning. But, like everything else foreign, we have slowly adjusted and have began to see the beauty in it, especially on clear days when the sky is a brilliant blue and the sand looks almost sparkly.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YG6iQUIB1XYDMgoSEnWXnLpoJjrsS-057MiADKT5AGvFuJHhvj9YqzFFtjzQq4Pjc6E9OOwsXJaUuae0SSvjjmSfenh6ecAN91TmPLOboXDV2sIk0R_Aj7eh153HeGMOl4tUgOqeyeo/s1600/bocci.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YG6iQUIB1XYDMgoSEnWXnLpoJjrsS-057MiADKT5AGvFuJHhvj9YqzFFtjzQq4Pjc6E9OOwsXJaUuae0SSvjjmSfenh6ecAN91TmPLOboXDV2sIk0R_Aj7eh153HeGMOl4tUgOqeyeo/s640/bocci.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">This is not one of those days. This is a brown day. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">I have been told that although the desert seems like a dry, wretched place where nothing can survive, in reality the opposite is true, and there are many, many plants and animals that thrive in the arid conditions. This may be a fact, but I certainly haven’t seen many examples of it so far. Most of the life I witness is sustained by massive quantities of desalinated seawater. The plants, animals and people I see on a day-to-day basis, survive by drinking tons and tons of water and not we, nor our kitten, nor our plants, would survive in the desert long without it.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Growing a little green for our home.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This point is really driven home by the fact that there are no bugs here! Practically, none at all. Moving to the desert from the tropics, I had expected to leave behind the gorgeous jungle with brightly colored flowers and giant green leaves, but what I didn’t expect was to also leave behind the numerous and massive insects.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was a common occurrence in Honduras to wake up in the morning to giant cockroaches scuttling out of the light. I expected to find ants in my cereal, rice and floor and termites in the cupboards and on the counter. Hairy tarantulas were spotted often and even captured and played with by our cat. Mosquitos bit us and ruined sleep. Flies were everywhere and scorpions hid in our showers and shoes. It sounds terrible, but it was so common, I forgot to be bothered by it.<u></u><u></u></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Lots of beach and no sand fleas!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The opposite is true now. There are practically no insects at all. No spiders form webs in our corners and no ants appear to enjoy our spoiled fruit. The kitten has no grasshoppers to chase and no cockroaches to kill. Flies are so rare, that I remember the only day we saw one in the apartment. It was an event, something to talk about, a fly!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Once the realization hit that insects have ceased their daily existence in our lives it is hard to even remember how we dealt with them before. I forget what it is like to wipe the counters daily for traces of food or check the dark corners for creepy crawlies. I never wave my arm in front of me to capture webs in dusty places, there are no webs to stick to me. I no longer wake up with odd bites on my arms and wonder if I am going to die from the swollen bite. And I never lie awake listening to a mosquito's buzz and wish I could stuff my ears with cotton. It is kind of like paradise, a paradise with no green and no bites.</span></div>
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