Saturday, March 24, 2007
Smiley Faces!!!
I'm doing my 'I'm so excited I can hardly stand it' dance!! In three hours - THREE HOURS!!!!!!! - Adrianne and I will be at the airport ready to take of for Paradise. We are spending spring break in Belize. I know you all read this hoping to read shake your head, smiley things and I aim to please. So here's today's: Adrianne and I leave for Hopkins today. We will be staying in a little cabana on the beach with indoor plumbing, a fridge and breakfast provided. From what I hear the cabanas are clean and the owners are nice but it's quite basic. Alfred leaves for Hopkins tomorrow and will be staying a mere 5 minute walk from where Adrianne and I are, in a luxury resort with air conditioning, a kitchen and a vehicle at his disposal. Why are we not staying together you ask? Well, because Adrianne was supposed to be going with a friend that backed out at the last minute, and Alfred wasn't supposed to be there till next week. Now the arrangements seem just ridiculous but it's all arranged and easier than changing everything. Adri and I are commandeering the vehicle, though, while Alfred's at work and also saving some money by having him take us out to supper each evening. We need the wheels because Adrianne is on crutches and not supposed to put any weight on her foot. On Tuesday she managed to tear a bunch of tendons in her foot and has been on bed rest, with the offending foot elevated, since then. We are basically praying for serious beach weather so she can lay on the beach and not have to move around a lot. At least with access to the 'car' we won't be stranded and will be able to see a few things. Do you suppose it's possible to snorkel with one flipper? Hopefully we'll find out and report back later. Stay warm everyone!!
Monday, March 19, 2007
How to Tie a Knot
Hi everyone (or Mom as Adrianne says my Mom is the only one who reads my blog),
Today I thought I'd share some coping skills that I have learned, as I prepare for this adventure. Maybe they will help any of you that are considering an extended adventure away from home.
When I was a teenager (not that many years ago :)) There was a poster that seemed to show up almost everywhere. It had a kitten on it that was hanging off the end of a rope and the caption read "When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on". Well, I have definitely reached the end of my rope and so I have tied a knot. If you ask my old cub scouts or my family, they will all tell you that knot tieing is not my forte. Consequently, the knot at the end of my rope slips from time to time and has to be retied. That's OK as long as you can hang on and tie at the same time. Otherwise you may have to ask a friend to tie for you. Never be afraid to ask for help. (By the way, Sister Harker is really good at starting supper if you have to be in three places at the same time and can only physically manage two.) So here are the loops and turns of my knot. Yours may be different but maybe seeing mine will help you tie yours.
The first loop of my knot is organization. I am not good at following lists but making them helps me see the whole picture and gain a sense of priority. The first thing I noticed about my list was that one person had no hope of being able to reach the end in the time I had been given. So I looked at what absolutely had to be done and knocked off the stuff that could be neglected. The dogs can really manage with a walk every second or third day, it may be nice to thoroughly clean your house daily but you may have to lower your expectations a little - a good cleaning once a week and a lick and a promise on other days. There are others but you get the idea. Your best friends on this loop may be the yellow pages and a 'phone. Anything I can do from home I do from home. If someone delivers it's worth the $10, if I'm not sure the store will have what I'm looking for I 'phone first. Again, you get the idea.
The first turn in my knot may look wrong to the casual observer; like this move will actually unravel the knot when the opposite is actually true. This turn is called down time. Each day you need to take time and breathe. Not two minutes time but and hour or maybe two depending on how high your stress levels get. It's like blowing up a balloon: you need to put in enough air to keep it full and pretty but if you put in too much it will pop. Better to let a little air out now and then before you put more in. OK, bad metaphor but you are smart, figure it out! My down time might include a long bath, a couple of chapters in a book, reading scriptures or writing a blog. And sometimes down time happens in weird places: like doctor's offices or in the car outside of the school - we all have those waiting times, even when we are busy, instead of letting them ramp up the stress (why am I just sitting here! I have so much to do! I don't have time for this!) use them as down time (finally a couple of minutes to sit still, take a book and read or day dream or just close your eyes and breathe, whatever works for you).
The next loop is WORK! Keep putting one foot in front of the other and, even though you may doubt it from time to time, it will all get done! Sometimes it's hard to know exactly where to start but most of the time the where isn't as important we think it is. Just pick an edge or jump right into the middle. It doesn't matter how or where you start, just start. This is where the list comes in handy again. Even if you don't follow the list, remember to check off what is done. Seeing the list get smaller is a real boost!
Turn #2 is a sense of humor. Hold on to yours with both hands and feet. It's true that running back and forth between the walk-in clinic and the x-ray clinic was not in the plans for today but who can plan for, what is now referred to as, the tweezers accident. And let's face it, it was funny to see her roll her eyes, every time someone asked her if it was a sports injury, and she had to explain it was more like a clumsy injury. I mean who stubs her toe on a plastic packing carton and tears the tendons in her foot? On some level, that's funny. Find that level! She thinks she'll be off crutches before we go to Belize for spring break - I think we should take them along in case!
The last loop is to remember what is important. Spend time with your family and friends. Call your Mom for a chat. Go to your Sunday meetings.
Then, when my knot is all tied I pour priesthood glue all over it. Get blessings when you need them. Write them down and read them often.
So far my knot is working for me. I hope yours is working for you! Talk to you later.
Today I thought I'd share some coping skills that I have learned, as I prepare for this adventure. Maybe they will help any of you that are considering an extended adventure away from home.
When I was a teenager (not that many years ago :)) There was a poster that seemed to show up almost everywhere. It had a kitten on it that was hanging off the end of a rope and the caption read "When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on". Well, I have definitely reached the end of my rope and so I have tied a knot. If you ask my old cub scouts or my family, they will all tell you that knot tieing is not my forte. Consequently, the knot at the end of my rope slips from time to time and has to be retied. That's OK as long as you can hang on and tie at the same time. Otherwise you may have to ask a friend to tie for you. Never be afraid to ask for help. (By the way, Sister Harker is really good at starting supper if you have to be in three places at the same time and can only physically manage two.) So here are the loops and turns of my knot. Yours may be different but maybe seeing mine will help you tie yours.
The first loop of my knot is organization. I am not good at following lists but making them helps me see the whole picture and gain a sense of priority. The first thing I noticed about my list was that one person had no hope of being able to reach the end in the time I had been given. So I looked at what absolutely had to be done and knocked off the stuff that could be neglected. The dogs can really manage with a walk every second or third day, it may be nice to thoroughly clean your house daily but you may have to lower your expectations a little - a good cleaning once a week and a lick and a promise on other days. There are others but you get the idea. Your best friends on this loop may be the yellow pages and a 'phone. Anything I can do from home I do from home. If someone delivers it's worth the $10, if I'm not sure the store will have what I'm looking for I 'phone first. Again, you get the idea.
The first turn in my knot may look wrong to the casual observer; like this move will actually unravel the knot when the opposite is actually true. This turn is called down time. Each day you need to take time and breathe. Not two minutes time but and hour or maybe two depending on how high your stress levels get. It's like blowing up a balloon: you need to put in enough air to keep it full and pretty but if you put in too much it will pop. Better to let a little air out now and then before you put more in. OK, bad metaphor but you are smart, figure it out! My down time might include a long bath, a couple of chapters in a book, reading scriptures or writing a blog. And sometimes down time happens in weird places: like doctor's offices or in the car outside of the school - we all have those waiting times, even when we are busy, instead of letting them ramp up the stress (why am I just sitting here! I have so much to do! I don't have time for this!) use them as down time (finally a couple of minutes to sit still, take a book and read or day dream or just close your eyes and breathe, whatever works for you).
The next loop is WORK! Keep putting one foot in front of the other and, even though you may doubt it from time to time, it will all get done! Sometimes it's hard to know exactly where to start but most of the time the where isn't as important we think it is. Just pick an edge or jump right into the middle. It doesn't matter how or where you start, just start. This is where the list comes in handy again. Even if you don't follow the list, remember to check off what is done. Seeing the list get smaller is a real boost!
Turn #2 is a sense of humor. Hold on to yours with both hands and feet. It's true that running back and forth between the walk-in clinic and the x-ray clinic was not in the plans for today but who can plan for, what is now referred to as, the tweezers accident. And let's face it, it was funny to see her roll her eyes, every time someone asked her if it was a sports injury, and she had to explain it was more like a clumsy injury. I mean who stubs her toe on a plastic packing carton and tears the tendons in her foot? On some level, that's funny. Find that level! She thinks she'll be off crutches before we go to Belize for spring break - I think we should take them along in case!
The last loop is to remember what is important. Spend time with your family and friends. Call your Mom for a chat. Go to your Sunday meetings.
Then, when my knot is all tied I pour priesthood glue all over it. Get blessings when you need them. Write them down and read them often.
So far my knot is working for me. I hope yours is working for you! Talk to you later.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
I'm so smrt
As I struggle to see the screen through half shut eyes, I have to come to the conclusion that the best thing about moving to Belize is no time changes!!! This daylight savings time messes me up every time and I really don't have time to be messed up right now. Yesterday I took the big step and made it real ... I bought packing tubs. You'll have to forgive me for tooting my own horn but I am some kind of genius. (Ok you guys, I can feel the eye rolling from here) Because we won't have much, if any, storeage room and because we don't have to take much with us (our accomodation will be furnished in a big way), I bought those squatty, long tubs that will fit under the beds. Then, when they are empty, we can put food storeage in them. See, and you thought I was kidding about the genius thing! Now, I'm going to take a nap! I just remembered the other great thing about Belize (besides napping in a hammock on the beach) no early morning seminary!! I actually love the seminary part but could do without the early morning part. Later all.
Friday, March 9, 2007
Help! I'm surrounded by idiots and drowning in a pile of paperwork!
Totally in line with the way my day has been going, I had finished this blog and clicked something that sent it floating out into 'net space somewhere and now I am starting again. Take 2!
I don't know what you all are expecting when you log on to this blog and I know it will be so much more interesting after July when we are in Belize, but, if nothing else it is an outlet for my frustration and stress. So, those of you that don't sign on to listen to me whine and rant, please come back in July. For the rest of you, here is my latest purge.
How can the people that are hired to guide our children through the education process be so lacking in, what I consider, common sense. (apologies to those of you with brains that are employed by the educational system - and I do know that is most of you. I have just been lucky over these last couple of weeks to have been dealing with the idiots!) If, after reading this you think I'm the one who is out to lunch I would appreciate it if you would keep it to yourself. I find great solace in being right - ask Alfred. Now back to the problem at hand: I know we are not the first parents to set up virtual schooling for our children. This premise has been substantiated by the idiots with the paperwork. So how can no one know how it works? After explaining our plans and needs (using very small words and short sentences) to a school counsellor she explained to me that the best we could hope for over the course of the ENTIRE year in Belize was that Brynn would complete CALM, art 10, phys ed 10 and english 10. Then she mapped out Brynn's grade 11 year for me. It looked like this: sem 1 - english 20, social 10, science 10 math pure 10 sem 2: math pure 20, social 20, biology 20 and chemistry 20. Now we all know that Brynn is a genius (well, at least I 'know' it) but this schedule looks like it could cause Steven Hawking to attempt suicide! To his credit, the asst principal of the virtual school we have chosen assured me Brynn could do a solid grade 10 year with no problem. Of course he said this. He isn't the one that will have to convince her to work with the Caribbean Sea beckoning from the front door. I, on the other hand, am sure that Brynn can do a solid grade 10 year with some problems and closed drapes! Problem 1 solved.
On to problem 2. We have to buy a lap top so that the kids can access the virtual school. We have been looking in all the usual places; Staples, Best Buy, etc and they all come with vista. Now we are not at all sold on vista (that kids is what we call an understatement) but we will get it if the school will be using it. So I call and ask the asst principal the computer question. Now you think I would have learned from problem 1 not to ask the idiots questions. In my defence, this particular idiot was in disguise. He cleverly fooled me by agreeing with me in the last paragraph. He said he would ask the IT people and get back to me. At this point I still have faith - that seemed like a reasonable answer. Well, my rose colored glasses were about to be tossed from the bridge. He called me back to tell me that the IT people were pretty sure vista would cause all sorts of problems but they were going to have to deal with them sooner or later so I should get it. Apparently the idiots don't recognize when they aren't talking to another idiot! It is not my job to enliven the evil IT guys lives (no appologies to those of you who are IT guys. You know you are evil!) Just because they need a guinea pig and have decided it should be us doesn't mean we'll go without a fight! And people think Mormons have horns!!! hah!!! Needless to say we are not going the vista route.
OK, deep breath. This weekend I am only dealing with small details that don't involve idiots or paperwork! Maybe by Monday I will have managed to swim to the top of the pile and be ready to tackle more. End of purge. Thanks for hanging in.
I don't know what you all are expecting when you log on to this blog and I know it will be so much more interesting after July when we are in Belize, but, if nothing else it is an outlet for my frustration and stress. So, those of you that don't sign on to listen to me whine and rant, please come back in July. For the rest of you, here is my latest purge.
How can the people that are hired to guide our children through the education process be so lacking in, what I consider, common sense. (apologies to those of you with brains that are employed by the educational system - and I do know that is most of you. I have just been lucky over these last couple of weeks to have been dealing with the idiots!) If, after reading this you think I'm the one who is out to lunch I would appreciate it if you would keep it to yourself. I find great solace in being right - ask Alfred. Now back to the problem at hand: I know we are not the first parents to set up virtual schooling for our children. This premise has been substantiated by the idiots with the paperwork. So how can no one know how it works? After explaining our plans and needs (using very small words and short sentences) to a school counsellor she explained to me that the best we could hope for over the course of the ENTIRE year in Belize was that Brynn would complete CALM, art 10, phys ed 10 and english 10. Then she mapped out Brynn's grade 11 year for me. It looked like this: sem 1 - english 20, social 10, science 10 math pure 10 sem 2: math pure 20, social 20, biology 20 and chemistry 20. Now we all know that Brynn is a genius (well, at least I 'know' it) but this schedule looks like it could cause Steven Hawking to attempt suicide! To his credit, the asst principal of the virtual school we have chosen assured me Brynn could do a solid grade 10 year with no problem. Of course he said this. He isn't the one that will have to convince her to work with the Caribbean Sea beckoning from the front door. I, on the other hand, am sure that Brynn can do a solid grade 10 year with some problems and closed drapes! Problem 1 solved.
On to problem 2. We have to buy a lap top so that the kids can access the virtual school. We have been looking in all the usual places; Staples, Best Buy, etc and they all come with vista. Now we are not at all sold on vista (that kids is what we call an understatement) but we will get it if the school will be using it. So I call and ask the asst principal the computer question. Now you think I would have learned from problem 1 not to ask the idiots questions. In my defence, this particular idiot was in disguise. He cleverly fooled me by agreeing with me in the last paragraph. He said he would ask the IT people and get back to me. At this point I still have faith - that seemed like a reasonable answer. Well, my rose colored glasses were about to be tossed from the bridge. He called me back to tell me that the IT people were pretty sure vista would cause all sorts of problems but they were going to have to deal with them sooner or later so I should get it. Apparently the idiots don't recognize when they aren't talking to another idiot! It is not my job to enliven the evil IT guys lives (no appologies to those of you who are IT guys. You know you are evil!) Just because they need a guinea pig and have decided it should be us doesn't mean we'll go without a fight! And people think Mormons have horns!!! hah!!! Needless to say we are not going the vista route.
OK, deep breath. This weekend I am only dealing with small details that don't involve idiots or paperwork! Maybe by Monday I will have managed to swim to the top of the pile and be ready to tackle more. End of purge. Thanks for hanging in.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
I need a Hero
These cute little guys are Tony and Jason. They live in a little village in Belize and signed on as our tour guides one day when we were looking for cool birds. (that is the cheap emotional ploy that goes with the rest of this blog)I'm wondering if you have a hero? Maybe a favorite superhero left over from your misspent youth; or perhaps someone you know or know of; or maybe your hero is a sort of Frankenstein monster made up of bits and parts from all of the above. I have had the privilege of meeting some real life heroes. They are working hard to help the kids of the Stann Creek district in Belize. They run an organization called HANDS (web site http://www.handsbelize.net/) The last time I was in Hopkins, I took some meds for the Dr and sat and chatted with a lady named Dorothy Peterson who works with this organization. One of the biggest social problems they have is keeping the kids busy enough to keep them out of drugs and trouble. Most of the kids in Hopkins quit school at age 14 and then there is nothing for them. These marvelous people are trying hard to find the kids recreational opportunities. Dorothy runs a drumming school and gives the kids a place to perform. They have created a soccer league and they encourage the kids to make use of the basketball 'court'. This 'court' is a patch of left over asphalt that looks like it has had a hard life of being chewed up by really large trucks. It has two hoops (one at each end) but no baskets per se. So this is where I tell you haw you can sign up to be a hero. These kids play these sports barefoot. Not because that's the way they like it, but because the vast (and I mean vast) majority of them have no shoes. Consequently their feet get pretty beat up and the kids get discouraged and stop playing. So this is what I'm asking - and I am just asking, really no pressure at all - if in the course of your spring cleaning you come across runners or soccer shoes that your kids have out grown, are in good shape, and may fit a child between the ages of 5 and 18; could you please put them in a bag or box and give them to me? I will take them to Dorothy and you will be a hero! To quote Bonnie Tyler:
Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where's the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and turn and dream of what I need
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
Up where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the sea
I would swear that there's someone somewhere
Watching me
Sunday, March 4, 2007
The $2 tour
Hi everyone welcome to the $2.00BZ (thats 1$ american) tour. Kelly booked this tour but I see she brought a few friends along.
We are now flying out of Belize City on our way to Dangriga (the closest airport to Hopkins) If you look out your window, you will notice that there is more water than land. And this is the dry season! The square water is not a freak of nature nor is it a really fancy swimming pool. It is a shrimp farm.
You have now landed at the Tropic Air terminal in Dangriga. It may not look like much but it is air conditioned! From here we will drive over potholed, washboardy, washed out dirt trails for about half an hour to get to Hopkins. Seat belts are the law but the locals know that all they really do is leave bruises to remember your trip by. See you've barely arrived and you already have your first souvenirs, compliments of your friendly neighbourhood driver! You are welcome!
Ahhh! After your long and gruelling trip you have arrived at your villa at the Belezian Dreams Resort. We are hoping this is what our home will look like for the next year, except we want the villa on the beach instead of one on the courtyard. That is still to be decided, however we have our fingers crossed big time! It will be somewhat embarrassing to have people over for dinner though considering our wealthiest Hopkins friends will be living in a home similar to this one:
And now that your imagination and appetite have been whetted, I'm done for today. You all probably just want to lay on the beach and recover from the flight (s) anyway. If you want more you can tune in again. Same bat channel, some other bat time!
We are now flying out of Belize City on our way to Dangriga (the closest airport to Hopkins) If you look out your window, you will notice that there is more water than land. And this is the dry season! The square water is not a freak of nature nor is it a really fancy swimming pool. It is a shrimp farm.
You have now landed at the Tropic Air terminal in Dangriga. It may not look like much but it is air conditioned! From here we will drive over potholed, washboardy, washed out dirt trails for about half an hour to get to Hopkins. Seat belts are the law but the locals know that all they really do is leave bruises to remember your trip by. See you've barely arrived and you already have your first souvenirs, compliments of your friendly neighbourhood driver! You are welcome!
Ahhh! After your long and gruelling trip you have arrived at your villa at the Belezian Dreams Resort. We are hoping this is what our home will look like for the next year, except we want the villa on the beach instead of one on the courtyard. That is still to be decided, however we have our fingers crossed big time! It will be somewhat embarrassing to have people over for dinner though considering our wealthiest Hopkins friends will be living in a home similar to this one:
And now that your imagination and appetite have been whetted, I'm done for today. You all probably just want to lay on the beach and recover from the flight (s) anyway. If you want more you can tune in again. Same bat channel, some other bat time! Friday, March 2, 2007
It Has Begun
Here we are huddled together to ward off the cold, dreaming a belizian dream. Only in a dream, all the work is done by the dream fairy and I never have to break a sweat. Sadly this is not the reality. It sounded so easy ... let's take the kids and move to Belize for a year. At that point I was blissfully unaware that before I could do more than dream of a hammock on the shore of the Caribbean Sea, I would have to do battle with the 'Pirates of the Caribbean'! The dread pirate 'Paperwork' is almost appeased ... for now. (he has a habit of coming back to life just when I think he's breathed his last) The stealth pirate 'Grime' is slowly being beaten back in the face of my perseverance and greasy elbows. The only one I have yet to really find the proper weapon against is the elusive and cunning pirate 'Mom/Dana I need' but I'm working on that one! I hope you all will enjoy this blog and the virtual journey I will try to create. Hiyou!! Let's go to Belize!
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