The Day After the Birthday...

I'm a little sleepy today after being up with SOMEONE until 3:30am. I drug myself out of bed to attend the state midwife association meeting. It felt appropriate to be tired while talking with midwives. (or just ironic) It was a great little meeting time to catch up with people. The older midwives were giving me advice about balancing work and family. Perhaps I should be more grateful I have been able to complete training while single. Cheers to spinsterhood!

Celebrating Another Year On Earth....

A little personal party on the beach. (Lake Michigan) The tulips were blooming in Holland and I enjoyed a lovely morning basking in the sun. (Didn't get to far studying) I never pictured myself past 25, so this has been quite the day!

And of course you have to post the cheezy...hold-the-camera-over-your-head shot to prove you were there.














All the while I hear Kate in my head..."Hello, I'm Melissa and these are my lips"

Music Problems

Classical music is supposed to be beneficial for studying, right? The baroque style helps you process and waltzes are supposed to help organize your thoughts. So, my question is…what do you do if the whole time the music is just making you want to get up and dance or ice skate instead of sitting with your textbook?

If I pass these tests I shall have to write YoYo Ma a thank you note

Back to School

I bought a poster today that says "College...the best 7 years of my life" Perhaps I can change that number with a post-it note since I will inevetably go over 7 if things keep up the way they are.

Let me encourage all of you who have recently finished highschool.
TAKE ALL YOUR PLACEMENT TESTS NOW!
Get you sciences...everyone you could ever need at anytime NOW.
GET all your crazy math classes NOW.

Cuz you don't want to end up at 26 sitting at a table for 3 days straight with "The Complete Idiots Guide to Algebra"

Midnight Confessions

Confession is good for the soul...so they say. I'm going to let you into a redneck side of me you might never see. In our neighborhood we have a specific "trash day" where the city comes buy and picks up your trash. You put household garbage on one side and lawn cuttings or tree trimmings on the other. Though you can't put out hazardous waste, they take pretty much ANYTHING you put out. The night before trash day you will see refrigerators, couches, cribs, plastic statues, and other random large items.

Some of this stuff is in pretty good shape. When I first moved here I was horrified to see neighbors pull up and go through the bigger items. However, after a few of my own late night runs to collect items put out for the trash, it doesn't seem like such a big deal. The largest thing I ever pulled out of a trash pile was a 3-seater couch with lovely wooden legs. The upholstery was trashed and the springs a bit worn, but within a months time I had reupholstered it in a lovely faux-Italian tapestry print and re-stained the woodwork. It sold at a consignment shop later that summer.

I haven't gone trash scouting in many years, but tonight I saw the neighbors put out a pretty decent love seat. It called my name and I slipped out to check it out. The couch in question sat under a roll of old carpet padding and trash bins full of construction trash. I slowly got closer to try to identify why this couch was put out. (Smells...bad stains). The upholstery is worn, but the springs are good(no funky smells). I was so tempted to just get a cart and wheel it to my garage. The thing is headed to the dump!!!

But then I was thinking...how in the world would I tote it when I move across the country. With my insane school schedule this summer when would I upholster it? And even if I DID upholster it...where would I put it? There is a part of me that just says "I have to go get it"

Since my dad's back isn't so good it would be quite a scene...me with a rusty, squeaky cart rolling down the street with a love seat. Hmmmm...Yes, now you all know how truly ghetto I am. Well I'll sleep on it...the trash guys won't be around till at least 6am...there is still time.

O, and the craziest part of the story...two guys whistled at me as I was looking at the couch as they drove by...yep nothing more attractive than a girl digging through trash. (I certainly hope they were joking)

A Little Shout Out

Happy 27th birthday to one of the best friends in the WHOLE world (as one who has traveled continents, I should know) See you soon!

A Date with Index Cards and Baroque Music

So, I'm back in my "home state" on a Saturday night. A quick flip through my phone book revealed none of my friends are answering their phones tonight. Trying to seize the day I head off to Panera bread with my 300 or so index cards full of psych notes, psych terminology cards and my psych textbook. With baroque music on my computer I FEEL smart. Who cares that I'm not sure I'm ready to take the CLEP. The little white, lined, pieces of paper and classical music give the impression I know what I'm doing.

I can't say that all this studying is in vain. I can now confidently say I know how to spell "psychology". Whew. That wiped me out. Hmmmm lets see about another refill of hazelnut coffee.

Jane Austin's World

After hearing such high praise of the new "Pride and Predjudice" movie, I finally watched a "real" copy. The one Rox got in Asia was definately NOT original. (The real cinematography was actually quite good - no fuzzy arms in your view) Though I liked the Jane and Mr. Bennet better in this one, Colin Firth will always stand out in my mind as the best Mr. Darcy (in the A&E 5 hour version)

I've noticed a trend in Jane Austin's stories. The guy and girl have some sort of misunderstanding and end up parting ways. There is an intense honest argument where everything comes out on the table. (P&P, Emma, Persuasion?) For a faint moment the audience must question "will they get together?" Guarenteed in just a few scenes he will come back and realize he can't live with out her and she realizes she let the best man in the world get away. (This scene just after one of the sisters has some trajic break-up or near-ellopement)

They have this encounter where, though he mubles a bit, he manages to bust out one of the most romantic conversations and proposals. He goes to talk to her dad or family and viola! they are happily ever after. We all sigh and stare at the bowl of ice cream we have just devoured (or my latest vice Trader Joes garlic hummous).

Contrast this with a story by a male author. How about Hamlet? What happens at the end? EVERYONE dies. Or what about Romeo and Juliet? The main characters die. I see a trend...Or my favorite play, Cyrano...once he can finally confess his love...he dies.

The Race to the Altar?

Looks like Andrew might just beat me, Erin, & Sarah to the altar...(the official engagement 4/14/06) You knew the tide was turning when the youngest of our crew...Debi got hitched earlier this year.

Challenged in My Own Country

I was reading Brother Andrew's book God's Call while at my friend's house in the metroplex. I was suddenly challenged that though I am now back in my home country where I am fluent in the language I haven't taken the opportunity to be bold in my faith. If God has called me here for this season I think I need to make the most of it. That may look different for me, a somewhat shy introvert, than say an outgoing extrovert-evangelist type. However, the challenge is still there for me.

An Evening In My Parents Attic

My name is Mel and I am a sentimental packrat.

I have the hardest time letting go of things because I want to hold on to the memories. (Perhaps it also has to do with the fact I’m just cheap and want to hoard stuff so I will have it “just in case”)

Avoiding studying for my psych CLEP I crawled into my parents attic to look through some boxes I’d put in there about 3 years before I left home. Moving every 6 months or so for the last 3 years has been annoying at times (and often with a tight international weight limit), but it does force me to go through my possessions regularly. However the parents attic always seems like a little safe place for me to stash some stuff I just don’t want to have to go through.

So, it’s been YEARS, yea, closer to a decade since I was in Russia. So why do I still have a Russian dictionary, Russian Berlitzer, and various “Russian in 5-minutes a day” workbooks? Do I plan to return? No! Have I practiced since I came back? No!

Then you have the Teen Missions box. In this sacred arc I have kept old “Get Dirty for God” shirts, the dark denim/hot pink uniforms, rain ponchos (yes, I’m so ashamed), a worn Bible colored for Bible marking, hats, etc. From my more “conservative” days I have sturdy-washed-in-the-bucket- floral jumpers (yuck), calf-length swimsuit covers (double yuck), and splitskirts (the HEIGHT of my fashion). Realizing I’m probably not going back on TMI soon and even if I were would not wear that stuff I let it go. (Well I kept one fuchsia shirt).

The attic beams can now rest with at least 3 boxes cleared out. Some books will go online sales, others (like my old chemistry notebooks) will great the trash men in the morning. Tomorrow I will tackle the international souvenir chest and a box of clothes. In just about 3-4 months now I’ll move yet again.

What Do I Call Him?

While traveling the country and visiting with friends I have noticed that in the last two years most of my friends have

A. Gotten married
B. Had more kids
C. Gotten engaged
D. Started serious dating

In each location I meet the new guy/girl in my friends' lives and get asked..."so, what do you think" (That's a question about as loaded as "does this outfit make me look fat") This change in the singlehood, however, is not the point of my post.

There are a few friends (yes, more than one) who are "aquainted" with "significant others" but they will not call it "dating" or "courting". They are looking at this in the frame of potential marriage, but refuse to put it as a "serious courtship". On the other hand they refuse to call it "dating" because it's not so flippant and they really aren't going out on dates.

This is all fine and dandy to me a pretty laid back friend UNTIL you have to figure out how to refer to said person. They don't refer to him as a "boyfriend" and won't let me say they are "courting".

So finally I asked one friend, "What the heck do I call him?" She didn't know so I came up with my own term, pulled from the recesses of my memory reading old books. I call them "gentlemen callers". To me it gives more of a picture of a guy coming over whose interested with intentions, but not the usual dating.

As I have always said...arranged marriage would just make this so much easier. =0))

Another Adventure Together...WALMART in TEXAS

I had the amazing opportunity to meet up with my midwife buddy in Texas (she was visiting Oklahoma). Hey, even my other red-headed friend skipped class to come with me. The last time we saw each was on the eve of my departure from Asia...wow

Moving?!?

Looks like the Dixie Chicks might have something about the Wide Open Spaces...

A MUST-READ

This is a link to a post written by one of my former co-workers. It is a great description of the reality of maternity care in the developing world. Anyone who worked at that clinic could probably tell you similar stories.

http://woodfest.blogspot.com/2006/04/tiny-baby-stories.html

On the Road Again...

Flight to Texas...$109

Early Morning coffee...$2

Day of a rental car...$24

Walking through a convience store in the plains of rural Texas in 3" platform stilettos......PRICELESS

(O, wait! That should say Starbucks with Erin...PRICELESS)

When Safety Bites You in the Behind

Being rear-ended is so much more cruel when you get hit because you pulled OFF THE ROAD to answer your cell phone. Thankfully my opinion of DCs has improved over the year and after a little adjustment I can move my neck.

Flower Power Is Back!

It seems Nic and I have reestablished our amazing "superpower" connection since my return to the US and subsequent visit with her. Last night I was telling her about this amazing missionary DVD someone had given me and how she just HAD to see it. Turns out she had JUST ordered the series.

Speaking of flower power...MY OLD ROOM! After living in an apartment with cool Asian flare I was shocked at the girly/flowery nature of my old room at my parents house. The wallpaper and carpet were already picked when we moved in (a mint green floral variety). However, I am soley responsible for the floral bedspread, bedskirt, re-upholstery job on the chair, and the various frames containing black and white photos with hand painted flowers in color.

Hug a Bump and Kiss a Baby

Today I went out to lunch with old friends. I must say Mina's little almost-5- months-along fundus is the cutest little bump in the state! And then, to round off the day I had dinner with six siblings...perhaps the cutest little prayer supporters I have (plus their mom and dad). I got to kiss the little newest member who was born while I was away. A sandy-haired, seven month old doll with the best smile and giggle.

After talking with Mina about the changes of being a first time mom and kissing the baby I started to miss my practice...

ahhhh...bring on the insane summer semester...I'm signed up for classes! I've gotta get back out there.