Blue-Collar Anniversary

Another year, another unromantic anniversary. Two years ago today, Angela and I married. Here is a picture of us, exactly one year ago.

We were visiting a water-treatment plant that powered Bongolo Hospital in southern Gabon. Here we are today, helping my dad paint the living room.

We did go out to dinner afterwards. Cheers.

Holiday Life, Pt. II (Accomplishment)

Merry Christmas.

Although I haven't been writing much over this holiday break (I mean writing in general, not posting on this blog), I'm not worried. I think it's beneficial to take a break once in a while, so I don't burn myself out like some short-lived roman candle-- and also, I've had other worthy accomplishments.

Below, you are going to witness a photo of what is more than likely, the best gift an uncle has ever given a niece-- a realistic, stuffed guinea pig. Upon presentation of said guinea, there was some confusion:




But it wasn't long before uncertainty gave way to love.

Love, however, was short lived, as evidenced by this 1:41 video clip. You'll have to forgive my vaugely homosexual-sounding commentary, I guess it's a combination of How I Really Sound and How I Talk To Little Kids-- also, I keep referring the the guinea as a gerbil.

And, finally, a movie update:

Slumdog Millonaire and Marley & Me have both been knocked down. Both were excellent films. I was pleasantly surprised with Anniston, and thought she was at her best in the post-partum scene(s). Angela made the solid point that the latter film did a nice job of not glorifying either owning a dog, or having kids. And I agree.

Tonight at 9:30, I'm crossing off Benjamin Button. Maybe I'll actually see all the films on my list before the 12th...

Finally, here is a photo of Ang. and I in line for Marley & Me.

Holiday Life, Pt. 1

Angela and I are in Toledo, OH, for the first part of our Christmas Break (I am aware that at some point, adults are no longer supposed to have a lengthy Christmas Break-- but I'm still a student, and Ang. is a substitute teacher), and today was the day we had planned to drive up to my parents in Michigan.

The weather, however, intervened. I'm sure others already know what I'm talking about, as this storm is affecting many areas of the mid-west.

In other news, I began reading Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian today. I need to take a break from poetry (both writing and reading), and read some fiction.

Here are some pictures from the Kalb's house in Toledo, post-ice-storm.

The Holidays and Film

If anyone has any extra time over the Holidays, there are a slew of potentially solid movies that will be finding wide (a couple of these have already been released in LA/NY) release in the next couple of weeks. Here is a short list of what I will be seeking out in the theater before January 12. (The day second semester begins.)

1. Gran Torino Some are trying to intellectualize this film-- themes of aging and racism, Clint Eastwood's final acting role, a tribute to what he's done before as The Man with No Name and Dirty Harry--but I'm going to call a spade a spade. Clint Eastwood will be old, he will be beating an awful lot of ass, and I'm going to enjoy it. A lot.

2. Slumdog Millionaire Danny Boyle directing, it's already won numerous prizes-- and I usually end up being a fan of any movie that "celebrates life." Blame it on my sentimental side. And, I'm always a fan of unusual plotlines-- a poor young Indian man, on the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" is intriguing. I've heard the movie grows pretty dark at times (I think I read something about torture...), but I lalso like dark.

3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Brad Pitt. Thank you for Legends of the Fall. Keep your new mustache.

4. Marley and Me A role that will be great for Owen Wilson, and is not written by Wes Anderson. Those, I think, are few between. Angela and I both read the book, and we both really enjoyed it. Heart-warming, and based on a true story.

5. The Wrestler I, personally, am very excited about this. I think Mickey Rourke's sort of hit-or-miss, but the combination of him with Marisa Tomei (I think she's great) and director Darren Aronofsky will be exciting (as will Aronofsky's departure from movies with awsome yet strangely unsettling soundtracks). Also, this movie has that "celebration of life" potential. And the underdog-redemption-factor. Maybe I'm being misguided by reviews and trailers, but this could be one of the most solid films being released.

6. Frost/Nixon I don't think this will change anybody's life, but the dialogue should be snappy, and by all acounts, the acting is top-notch (Both Sheen and Langela were recruited from the Broadway play). Is Kevin Bacon playing a sleaze-ball in this? I can't tell.

7. Doubt Angela saw the trailer for this and said, "Ew, we're not seeing that," but I disagree. Again, the snappy dialogue, and as for the acting, well...the older generation may be quick to name Meryl Streep, but she's had her low moments. Now Philip Seymour Hoffman...I can't think of a single role-gone-wrong. Seriously. (And I've heard Viola Davis as the boy-in-question's mother is unbelievable.)

Up in the air...

6. Seven Pounds Really, this could go either way. I unashamedly enjoy Will Smith, although I don't think he's the most subtle of actors. But what, exactly, is the movie about? He changes seven stranger's lives? Boooorrrriiinnnnng. Hopefully there's more to it than that.

7. Revolutionary Road Leonardo DiCaprio is great, but how much can you do with "A young couple raising a family in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s look to break free from their frustratingly mediocre lives." This has been done--many times-- before. Also, this isn't going to resound with people as much as it might have when the film was in production. Maybe if the family was from the 30's, and going through the great depression...

Thoughts? I'd be curious if anyone has already seen any of these. Cheers.

When a man loves a woman. . .

Happy Anniversary


30 years and counting!

Publication and Brief Update

I recently had a poem accepted in the literary magazine Cold Mountain Review. It's forthcoming in their Fall issue, which will be released in January.

I'd post it, but I'm not sure if that's considered "publishing" it or not, so you'll have to wait until after January if you're interested. I'm excited.

In other news, Angela and I are driving to Indianapolis for a Halloween party tomorrow, and then on to IWU for a Sunday visit. We are not sure what we're going to dress up as-- she wasn't too keen on my idea for her to dress up as Dwight from The Office, and me to dress up as Angela.

Cheers.

. . . the greatest of these is love

Congratulations Larisa and Cameron. . .



YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED!!

we love you.

Life in Oxford, Pt. 2

This is where Angela and I were last night. For those of you not in the area, there was an uncommonly strong windstorm Sunday, and the whole area lost power from Sunday until around 6 o'clock Tuesday morning (no street lights, no restaraunts...you know there's trouble when Wal-Mart has to close). It was unique looking at the moon in-town, without street lights to dim its brightness, yet disheartening that all our food was going to inevitably spoil. Ah well.

School was cancelled on Monday, but that night back-up generators were running at the University. Angela and I were studying/snacking at Shriver Center when those went out, and word spread that there was going to be a "protest" at the President's house. Angela and I went over to see what, exactly, there was to protest. There were about 1,000 (literally) other students who beat us there, as well as a large amount of police. It turns out the student body had one demand. They didn't want to go to class- again.

Some of them got their wish, not because class was cancelled, but because they were arrested. I understand they were just having fun, but I give my class three unexcused absences...and they're paying a lot of money to protest what they're paying for....I don't know, maybe I'm getting old. I do think it's too bad that many of them couldn't mobilize and get rowdy about, oh man, I don't know-- war, abortion, injustice in general.

Here's a short clip someone took. It's difficult to hear some of the more inspired chants, from "CAN-CEL CLASS," to "HOW CAN WE STU-DY, IF WE CAN'T SEE?," but you get the point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nszdvWjereo

Summer Music

Every Thursday evening throughout the summer, Oxford hosts live music in the park uptown. It’s pretty sweet. It goes from seven-thirty until ten, but Angela and I wanted good seats, so we set up our folding chairs around seven. Arriving early is important. The townies enjoy live, rowdy music, and fill up the square. I will post pictures below as proof.
The band was a bluegrass group called New Found Road, but when the young woman announced them, she said New Found Glory, which is the name of a pop-punk group. New Found Road was an enjoyable experience, and Angela and I had our chairs on the edge of the clearing, so we were able to watch the crowd between songs.
Angela saw lots of the little kids she’s been watching at her preschool, and I don’t envy her spending five days a week with them. They were rowdy mini-townies. Twice during the show, they pulled down the chain barrier around the stage.
We’re continuing to walk and bike most places. Angela’s ridden her bike to work evey day, and I plan on doing the same when my classes start on Monday. We put a check on the calendar at the end of every day we don’t use the car. We’re grateful to be in a situation where we can avoid using the gas.

Angela and her neighbor, staking their seperate plots.

Milling townies. Note neighbor in the right background.

New Found Road, playing late.

my new favorite

The Suburban . . .
A true beauty! Mine is actually a girls one but it is the same difference.
Here is a little sample of the places the Suburban has been. . .

The Library




The Movie Theater



Coffee










The Grocery Store





Downtown


Brett and I are rarely driving the car in town. It pretty much sits unless we are taking a trip to see family for things such as The Strickland Family Reunion - yes it does exist! Good times had by all:) AND to see baby Roslynn for the first time!!

I thought I would end with Elmo since he is Brielle's favorite and she had her birthday this month. Happy Birthday Brielle!!

Tegan and Sara

This past Friday, Angela and traveled forty minutes south to see the identical twin-sister duo, Tegan and Sara. They play a sort of synthetic pop, are from Canada, and are lesbians. Being a lesbian is fairly unremarkable, however what is worth noting is that the composition of the crowd was such that we non-lesbians were a distinct minority. It was a cultural event, and the show was pretty good, T & S's voices live sounded much the same as they do recorded, which is not the case with many bands.

One aspect of concerts I’m always intrigued by is the “between-song-chatter.” It’s an aspect of the artist that one is not able to experience simply by listening to their CD. Usually there’s some crowd-banter involved, a funny story or two, or an explanation of a song. I’m a fan of all of these, although the first can quickly become boring.

Crowd-banter starts to sound like this:

Female Artist: What? I can’t hear what you’re saying, everyone, shut the hell up, I can’t hear what this dude’s saying. (Crowd quiets)

Fan: (Indistinct yelling from the front of the crowd, some laugh.)

Female Artist: Oh, you love me! Hey, I love you too!

Fan: (Faint voice, impossible to make out)

Female Artist: This guy wants to marry me! Oh, I would, but my boyfriend might have a problem with that, haha.

No one ever knows what the fan is yelling. Tegan and Sara’s banter was semi-interesting, but I have important news for anyone who is a fan of this duo (Let me quickly specify that while I enjoy them, I would not consider myself a "fan.")—Tegan is the uncool one. You might want to disagree with me, and that’s fine if you do, but by that you are also saying that long, drawn out stories about a cat sneezing while someone is trying to break up with their girlfriend are cool as well. You would also be saying unsightly neo-mullets are cool.

We had fun. Afterwards, we made the long drive up to Michigan for Mother’s Day Weekend, then down to Toledo Saturday night, and finally, home to Oxford.

Life in Oxford, Pt. 1

Angela and I now live in Oxford, OH, which is approximately 35 miles north of Cincinnati. It reminds me somewhat of Lexington, primarily because they're both cities that host major colleges. The difference between Lexington and Oxford, however, is that Lexington seemed to host UK, while Miami seems to host Oxford. Everywhere Angela and I go, whether it's a Kroger run at night or a bike ride to the Library, the city is crawling with college students.
We live in a two-bedroom townhouse, which is nice because of the space it affords us. Our second day here, I walked some move-in trash out to the dumpster, and on my way back, a blonde fellow in a sleeveless shirt pulled up on his bike in front of my door.
"So, you're the new neighbor," he said. We talked for a minute, he told me his name was Neil and that he was working on his master's in geology, and then with a wave of his hand toward the row of townhouses behind us, he imparted some information I found interesting.
"Actually, that whole row of townhouses are people getting their master's in geology," he explained. "And about half the next one, too."
I found this somewhat bizarre. Everyone? All geologists? Is there a dramatic need for geologists on the job market today? Should I put an extra lock on my bike tonight? Will I have to phone the police often because of all the loud, geologist parties?
Fortunately though, the only concerns I've had so far in the week and a half I've spent here, is that one of my neighbors in the row behind me, whom I can only assume is getting his masters in geology, is continually practicing with juggling sticks on the lawn, which I honestly don't believe I've seen since approximately 1999. I'm not talking about real juggling either, I'm referring to the activity where the participant holds a baton in each hand, and then tries to keep another baton in the air with it.
The other concern I've been forced to consider today (and this isn't really a concern, as much as a possible future trust issue), is that Neil was selling me baloney that wasn't manufactured on the farm. This morning I saw a short plump boy with a rat tail, who looked nine or ten, emerge from the back of one of said townhouses with an unopened packet of saltine crackers. He kept looking over his shoulder. Unless one of the geologists was using him for some sort of experiment, I don't think that boy has anything to do with Miami's Geology department.
I'll wait before I confront Neil. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation. Meanwhile, Angela and I will continue enjoying the benefits of Oxford's Public Library, and the warm Spring weather.

This is our kitchen.




This picture has no relation to anything I blogged about. But there was a cat that was living illegally in the attic of the Strickland house in Perry MI, and we had no choice to set a trap for it. Here is Angela and my dad posing with the cat, before he was deported to my garage for the night.

Stuff Christians Like

Obviously it's a play off "Stuff White People Like," and while the writing isn't quite as funny, some of the items in the list should hit home for anyone who's been in the Christian community for a significant length of time. Worth checking out if you have a few minutes, I added it to our link list.

# 20 Psalty gave me a good laugh, as did # 45 Getting the money's worth out of Youth Group Liability Forms

Will Smith and My New Kicks

Will Smith- for, or against? It's a question I've been pondering for two or three odd months now, since the advent of his latest movie, I Am Legend. I was in Africa when it hit the silver screen, so I wasn't able to go see it- but I wanted to. Will Smith fascinates me, I find his movies entertaining, and these two facts were prodding me to write a blog, but an event took place last night that has superceded the neccessity of exploring the crevices of the Will Smith phenomena. I will address the "event," in a moment, but first, a list. (Substituted for of what I believe to be the Pro's and Con's of Will Smith's career.)

Pro's
Enemy of the State
Jada Pinkett Smith
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Independence Day
I am Legend (I watched it last night)

Con's
His Rapping Career
Wild Wild West

I think I would have to create a new category for Men In Black. The event that took place last night, was me sitting at my computer, designing a new pair of kicks. They're money, and here's a picture.

The Money

I don't want anyone posting comments like, "Those are really ugly shoes," either, because I'll delete them. I could have written anything, up to eight letters, on the side of the shoes, but everything I thought of was stupid, and would greatly decrease my chances of making new friends in the future.

So.

If You Have Any "Africa" Sub-text References Next To Our Blog Link, It's Time To Change It

I think everyone knows by now, but in case you haven't heard, Angela and I flew home on February 13th due to Visa issues that could not be resolved.
That being said, we're happy to be back in the States. The past six months provided us with ample time, and space away from our culture and usual habits to reflect on our lifestyles, and on what we might like to do differently. That's all I have to say about that right now.

In other news, I finished reading Cormac McCarthy's The Road yesterday, and it is a fantastic novel. My opinon is backed by the fact that is received the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction. I highly recommend it.

In approximately one week Angela and I are driving out to Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to stay with my friend Kyle and his wife Amy, with whom my friend Anthony also lives. Between that, and driving to Toledo, Marion, and Indianapolis, we'll be racking up a lot of miles in the next odd week. Luckily one of our first purchases upon returning to Michigan was an FM transmitter for the ipod.

11 o’clock Tuesday

Of course there are many details. Many of which have exhausted me the last week/ month/ maybe longer. It all boils down to the final question we were asked. “You may stay in Africa and work with no visa or you may go home and be released from your contract." Needless to say our flight takes off a week from Tuesday.

Living on the ocean and working at the school has been a nice life (and I am most definitely going to miss it!), but I would be lying if I said I am not looking forward to boarding that plane so we can spend some time with family, visit friends, and not have a baby Gecko running around the apartment. :) It’s his slimy slithery tail that really get me!

- Angela

Poem on a Wednesday

Listen

with the night falling we are saying thank you
we are stopping on the bridge to bow from the railings
we are running out of the glass rooms
with our mouths full of food to look at the sky
and say thank you
we are standing by the water looking out
in different directions

back from a series of hospitals back from a mugging
after funerals we are saying thank you
after the news of the dead
whether or not we knew them we are saying thank you
in a culture up to its chin in shame
living in the stench it has chosen we are saying thank you

over telephones we are saying thank you
in doorways and in the backs of cars and in elevators
remembering wars and the police at the back door
and the beatings on stairs we are saying thank you
in the banks that use us we are saying thank you
with the crooks in office with the rich and fashionable
unchanged we go on saying thank you thank you

with the animals dying around us
our lost feelings we are saying thank you
with the forests falling faster than the minutes
of our lives we are saying thank you
with the words going out like cells of a brain
with the cities growing over us like the earth
we are saying thank you faster and faster
with nobody listening we are saying thank you
we are saying thank you and waving
dark though it is

By W.S. Merwin

Life in Libreville II

Poofy—our neighbor Rodika’s white cat—knows who robbed us in the wee hours of Friday morning. I know this, because Rodika, told me last night, while we both stood on the small landing between our two doors, watching Poofy pace quick circles around us and between our legs.

“Why not you go and wake Brett,” she said sternly to him, rolling the ‘r’ in my name. She turned and crouched down, making rapid pawing motions at my door in a decent impression of what Poofy actually does. “Wake up Brett, wake up.” She stopped and straightened up. “He knows who it was, but I do not know how to make him tell.” She shrugged.

“Hm,” I said, nudging him with my toe. Poofy can be quite the magnificent bastard, pooping on our balcony all the time, urinating in the hall, and mewling loudly outside our windows, but this one really took the cake.

Instead of finding out about the burglary from Poofy ahead of time, I found out the next morning. It was 6:40, and I was having some trouble getting out of bed.

“Brett,” Angela called from the living room, “Can you come look at the fridge please?” There was something unusual in her voice, and asking me to come look at our refrigerator seemed a strange request. I was unhappily thinking big brown jumping tarantula.

“Am I going to need my glasses for this,” I yelled back as I kicked off the covers.

“Can you just come here please!” Something was definitely different. When I walked out of the bedroom, through the hallway, and into our living room, I saw what it was. Angela was standing by the refrigerator, her hair still wet from the shower, and at her feet was the chain and padlock from our iron grate. The lock had been cut. The curtains were open, which we were careful to always keep closed at night, and the sliding glass door was open about a foot. There were pry bar marks on it.

“We got broken into last night,” Angela said, tears welling up in her eyes.

It was a strange feeling. Someone had been in our house the night before, doing basically whatever they wanted. I turned around and looked at the room behind me in a new light. What was different? What had they taken? I had taken the computer into the bedroom with me, and Angela went to check on our ipods. They were both there. The only thing missing was a little bit of money from a make-up bag that had been pulled out of a drawer.

Now I don’t want this blog to turn into an episode of Touched by an Angel, but I will point out these few facts. About twenty feet in front of the glass door is our dining room table. On the table, I had left 25,000 CFA, which is the approximate equivalent of 50.00 US Dollars. The money was untouched, left in the same neat stack I had piled it into the night before. I would say the thief had left the money, because it was petty cash, and they wanted the big score, except that they had gladly taken the money in the make-up bag, which I believe was only around forty dollars. And they had taken nothing else. In fact, it looked as though the intruder had not been in the apartment for longer than five minutes, and had never made it past the dining room table.

Maybe someone woke up (Our Guard, for instance? Anyone?), and spooked the thief. Maybe Angela and I made a noise. But nothing like that bothered the fellow(s) who had carried a ladder over to our wall to climb over, then carried the ladder to our porch, climbed up, cut the lock on our iron grate, pried open the glass door, and slipped into our silent living room. Whatever happened, he walked right back out, leaving a stack of bills neatly piled on the table.It’s strange, I’ve heard that sometimes after people get robbed, or had their homes broken into, they have a hard time getting to sleep for a while. Last night, I slept pretty heavy.

The mean streets of Libreville

Not the best guards. (Poofy, and his un-named sister.)

Christmas, Paper, and Fireworks

First things first - Christmas! Although Brett does not have many things to say about Christmas I have a lot! - but will be brief for blogging purposes. Mom, Dad, and Larisa flew into Libreville the first day of Christmas Break and were able to spend all but a couple days of our 3 week break with us. It was great to take them around our little area in Libreville and then spend time in Bongolo.

Larisa was able to do her Cross Cultural Nursing Practicum at the Bongolo hospital which included many adventures and things she never would have seen at a hospital in the states. Dad was able to get quite a bit of work done on the building project he is managing on the Bongolo Hospital campus and Brett was able to relax, write, and work some with my Dad on the building project. Mom and I were living the Little House on the Prarie life cooking meals, washing dishes by hand, drying the clothes on the line in the attic, and of course a lot of talking. It was great to spend so much time hanging out with family all break and in the evenings at Bongolo! ( 4 months is a long time!) We were also fortunate enough to have a good phone line over break so we could call our family in Michigan and Seattle to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and catch up with them as well! God Bless us Everyone!:) - Tiny Tim

Brett and I also celebrated our Paper Anniversary over break. The big 1 year:)





The truth is we spent part of the day on a mini tour of the hydroelectric plant that supplies electricity to the hospital compound. We could think of nothing more romantic OR everyone was going and it sounded fun! Either way we had a great time in Bongolo!

Fireworks were a big part of our New Years Eve celebration. We flew back to Libreville on New Years Day and spent New Years Eve with friends in town. Since November we have been hearing firecrackers popping all around our apartment, and New Years Eve was no exception. They were going off in the street and then on the tin roof of the house we were in. People were actually throwing them over the wall which of course prompted our host to throw his stash into the street as well. It was a loud night but quite entertaining! The night ended with our own fireworks show of fireworks I don't think are legal to sell in the states.
A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

Brett checking out the rainforest. I was not with him on that hike!


We saw Jakes picture on someones desk in the eye clinic on our tour of the hospital!
- Angela

Life in Libreville, A Brief Re-Hashing

The school’s director is in Bangkok for a recruitment fair, and he made a last minute decision to stay for an extra few days, because apparently he couldn’t generate much interest from teachers looking for new jobs in exotic locales. The substitute the school had hired to fill in couldn’t stay additional days, and so I had to give up doing E.S.L. for the afternoon, and teach Jr. High Science.

I have to tell you that I am not much of a science guy. In high school, my experiments often did not work, my glass tube would not bend when heated, and I don’t like wearing goggles unless I’m machine gunning from the back of a World War II airplane. I do, however, try to be a team player, so at 1:00, I headed up to the third floor.

“Ok,” I said scanning the notes that had been left for me, while the class sat quietly, with the occasional titter. “Ok…” There were two sets of instructions, both in equally terrible hand-writing, and with conflicting instructions. I saw that the old sub was supposed to have started Unit Seven, but for some reason she had gone AWOL, and started making up her own lesson plans, lingering on Six, and adding a test, from what I could tell. She had crossed out the original lesson plans I was supposed to have started, and switched them with her old ones.

“Everyone turn to page 156,” I said, opening the teacher’s manual. More giggles ensued, and I said, “Funny funny today,” right as I opened up to Unit Seven, and two pictures, side by side: The Male and Female Reproductive organs, in all their terrible glory. I froze. Carefully I turned the page. “The Menstrual Cycle,” in bold letters at the top of the page. I tried not to react, and with my head down, I glanced up, and the class exploded with laughter. I was unprepared for this situation. “Stop,” I snapped, “Everyone quiet down.”

The reason for the old sub’s lesson plan insubordination was abundantly clear. She had been a coward, although a resourceful one. She had doctored the lesson plans so I had no idea what I was walking into. All I had seen on the plans were phrases like, “Class may work on science fair projects,” “Worksheets 51-54,” “Class reads aloud 7.1.” Nothing along the lines of, “You’re the new sex-ed teacher, don’t be too surprised.” Let me also add that the class is comprised of eight, seventh and eighth grade girls, and one seventh grade boy. Not in this lifetime, mon amie. Not in any.

“Ok,” I repeated for the third or fourth time. “Let’s be mature about this. I want you to read 7.1 silently, and then I have some worksheets for you to do.” I paused, and then added, “And if you have any questions, talk to your parents tonight when you get home, or ask Dr. Moras when he gets backs.” More giggles started to bubble up, and I held up one hand.

“But Mr. Strickland,” one of them whined, “That’s almost ten pages.”

“It’s won’t take you that long,” I told her, “Anyway, a lot of it is diagrams and pictures.” I winced as the class, once more, began laughing uncontrollably.

I don’t have much to say about Christmas Break, and the month or so we haven’t updated. We had a fantastic time, and did a lot of new things, and on December 30^th, Angela and I broke the first year of marriage barrier. Also, two days ago I saw (and poked multiple times) an eel trapped in a tidepool, and a dead African Boomslang, which was very cool.

Here are a few pictures from break. Enjoy.

This is a church we went to down in Bongolo. After church, the first people stop and greet whoever is coming out, and once you get greeted, you join the line and greet those behind you. Pretty soon the line becomes a circle (A circle of life, dare I say?), with everyone clapping and greeting people. It was fun to be included in.

Angela and I, nominees for biggest Dorks of 2007.