Electrician Lady

Electrician lady... replacing light switch... all the power is still on... will she be fried? It's like watching the discovery channel or something! I'll keep you updated...

Southern Comfort

Well, I think I successfully proved that you can take a boy out of the South, but you can't take the South out of the boy. Here's why...

Proof #1 

I was semi fussy when I woke up this morning, nothing out of the ordinary, so out of instinct I grabbed my Alabama shirt and put it on. I almost grabbed my Bama hat, but quickly realized that since I was not going to a sporting event, 2 Alabama articles of clothing might be too much. None-the-less, my Alabama shirt made me very happy today.

Proof #2

For dinner tonight I cooked BBQ ribs, baked beans, and corn on the cob. I would have made cornbread, but my oven isn't the biggest (although, thankfully bigger than most here!) and I didn't want to take the time to wait on the cornbread after everything had already cooked. The ribs were absolute perfection! I covered the corn in butter, and the baked beans were really good as well.

Proof #3 (I'm almost ashamed to admit this)

When it was time to clean up from dinner, I was in the mood to listen to music. I went straight for Rascal Flats, followed by "Sweet Home Alabama," and then that shady song "All Summer Long."

Proof #4

The sweat tea is brewing as we speak... I failed to remember to make it in time for dinner!

Proof #5

I ENJOYED EVERY SINGLE MINUTE OF IT!!!

So... when I was in high school, I'm reluctant to admit that I simply hated the state of Alabama. Turns out I was an IDIOT in high school.  I love the South. I love the smell of summer in the South. I love the roaring football-filled days in the fall of the South . I love how Christmas decorations cover yards filled with dead leaves and grass rather than snow in the winter in the South. I love the sweet smell of wild honeysuckle in the late spring in the South. I love how tonight somehow turned into an ode to the South. And I love how one day my crimson blood will flow quickly as my heart races because once again I've stepped onto Southern ground!

Only one Southern treasure would have made this day better. Care to venture a guess??

It's hot...

...and I started sweating pretty much all the time a week or so ago. I'll let you know when I stop. Gross thought? At least I use deodorant! When I worked in Savannah, GA, one summer I had to take a shower when I thought about opening the door. Here, you need another shower before you get out of the one you're in!! 

Bamboo... Truly a Miracle

Today at lunch I began a discussion with some of my friends about the amazing versatility of bamboo. Below is a list of things you can do with bamboo. Sit back, enjoy, and be amazed at the "wonder plant."

1. You can eat the stuff and it's pretty good I must say. Today we had bamboo shoots and pork! 

2. You can make scaffolding with it. ALL scaffolding here is bamboo. You might recall a Rush Hour quote: "Chinese bamboo very strong!"

3. You can use it to beat people with. Grant it, that's not a happy thought, but who made the claim that all facts were happy? (Not sugar coating life is my gift. What can I say?)

4. You can build a house with bamboo. A pretty good one too! 

5. You can make a mat to sleep on. 

6. You can use them as stakes for your tomato (or whatever) plants.

7. You can fashion cooking tools to cook with bamboo.

8. You can make bamboo chopsticks.

9. You can make seat covers for your car.

10. You can fashion dishes such as cups and plates.

11. You can burn bamboo to cook or to stay warm in the winter.

12. You can grow a thicket of bamboo to block out noise. 

13. You can make a bamboo picture frame.

14. You can make a bamboo instrument to play as you sit around your bamboo fire, cooking your bamboo to eat.

15. You can feed bamboo to your pet panda. Although, I must admit, I have a feeling that having a panda as a pet might put you in jail and might make #3 a reality in your life.

16. You can fashion a pipe to hold your plant of choice to smoke. 

17. You can own bamboo as simply a plant which gives off aesthetic value and allows you to complete upper levels of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.

18. You can use bamboo leaves to fashion clothes. After all, if Eve was able to fashion garments out of fig leaves, I'm certain bamboo leaves would work as well. 

19. For you Lost fans out there, you can tie former foreign military men to a tree and shove pieces of bamboo under their fingernails until they produce the answers to your questions. 

20. Bamboo can be used as a walking cane.

21. I'm certain that dogs would be willing to use a stick of bamboo as a toy to fetch with. 

22. Bamboo can also be used to make furniture. In fact, I own a bench made entirely out of the stuff. 

23. You can make a ladder out of bamboo

24. Bamboo, in the hands of the right cobbler, can be made into shoes.

25. Bamboo can also be made to make very pleasing wind chimes.

There you go! You can do almost anything with bamboo really. Economic times hit you hard? Find a few seeds of bamboo and grow yourself a successful future!! Money may not grow on tress, but bamboo IS a tree! 

If a dream is a wish your heart makes...

...then my heart hates me! 

So, a few weeks ago I went to Macau to visit a good friend and take some time off. While we were together we discussed language learning and how it was going for the both of us. He told me that he recently had been having dreams in the language he's learning. I assured him that I would NEVER be at the point that I could actually dream in another language.

Well, looks like I often use the word "never" in place of "really soon." Yesterday, as I was taking a nap I found myself in a dream completely in my 2nd language. There was a conversation going on and then just lists and lists of vocabulary everywhere. I tried and tried to wake up for the longest time. It was like the dream where you are drowning, but you just can't seem to get back to the top!! 

Some have said this is a good sign, that I'm making progress. I tend to think that once again my heart has chosen to betray me... (see Dr. Pepper posts)

Dr. Pepper: A Continuing Saga of that Texan Jewel

Dec. 8th, 2008... I awoke at 4:00AM to watch Alabama get slaughtered by the Florida Gators in the SEC Championship. Although I love Alabama football more than I love some of my friends, I still needed a little boost to wake me up and keep me alert. I sauntered into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and took out the last Dr. Pepper. Within 20 minutes I had downed every drop, not yet realizing that Dr. Pepper would vacate my life for 4 months. 

April 6, 2009... At 7:18AM I walked into Macau. Just days earlier, my good friend vowed we would find Dr. Pepper. Over the past 4 months I had dreamed of that canned liquid love. There were days when I imagined that glorious unmatched taste pour into my mouth and slide down the back of my throat, reviving my un-energized body into a frenzy of joy. 

On the afternoon of the 6th day of April, we walked into the store. There was ONE Dr. Pepper left. I grabbed it up like it was the holy grail. I carried it like a newborn baby, fresh in the world. We walked to a park, sat down on a bench, and I thanked the good Lord above for the sweet can of manna in my hands. I grabbed the pop top to open it...and it BROKE. Satan and his band of idiots had snatched away my happiness. My good friend, who now deserves a million dollars, pounded on the can until it opened. I smiled, and began to slowly immerse myself back into the wonderful world of Dr. Pepper. 

Within minutes my body began to shake. I could have run all the way to Birmingham and back. It was a glorious feeling! To be honest though, it was a little much. I began to question the foundations of the earth. Had my body betrayed my heart's desire to drink in one of life's great blessings? I left Macau without another sip of Dr. Pepper, with that question lingering in my head.

April 13, 2009... At 5:05PM I walked into a western grocery store here in the city. They had just received a new shipment of products. I scanned the new selections and saw a shelf full of V8. Upon closer glance, there in the front row, tucked between two horrific cans of liquified tomatoes stood a Diet Dr. Pepper can. Before I knew it, it was in my hands. Was my body betraying the true crimson can for the less true white can? 

I walked home, put the can in the refrigerator, and left it for another day. For days I pondered what my body would think of this DIET drink. Was it worthy? Could the commercials be true? Does it taste like the real thing?

April 15, 2009... This day marked 6 months in the country. A place that, in case you haven't been reading, does not have an abundance of Dr. Pepper. I thought to myself, how should I celebrate? I walked to the refrigerator and reached for the Diet Dr. Pepper can. I sat down, opened the can, and took a sip. I took another sip. It was just how I remembered Dr. Pepper back home.

It's true ladies and gentlemen. After just 6 months in a country that does not like sugar, my body has betrayed my heart and longs for Diet Dr. Pepper!! 

P.S. I have tried Diet Coke and Coke Zero. These are still NASTY diet drinks in my book! 

Now I'm all nervous...

So, there has been quite a bit of chatter over my Billy stories! I'm at a loss as to what to blog about now. I set the bar to high, and I just can't beat myself. I will try to find a good story to post soon!