Dirty Jobs

I will have you know that I have collected roughly 25lbs. of dog excrement from my front yard. The sheer weight of it managed to make me sore from lugging it around as I collected. Gross.

Dog & Owner Training Day

Lola and I learned a new trick or two today in our first obedience class! Her highness was a little intimidated by all the new strangers at first, but her desire for affection got the best of her. She really needed a pat on the head. Although, a praising, high-pitched voice would be just as nice.

Tomorrow I go back to the 'glorified refereeing'* that is substitute teaching. *Many thanks to Carly W. for her genius. For that reason, it's time to say goodnight.

I can't make up for lost blogging time, but I can hope to somehow endear myself to those lovely readers who still check this page by improving its' and making promises to write more regularly. Today's filled with snowflakes and raindrops- a perfect backdrop for publishing musings long held in the back of my mind.

I've been cooking a lot recently, perhaps because my nervousness over finding a job makes me want to eat more, or maybe because it takes up long hours otherwise filled with attempts at 'networking' (as they say in those Improve Your Interviewing Skills books that do virtually nothing). I have learned how to bake bread: whole wheat, french, boule, as well as many different kinds of muffin, cookie, etc.. I can flip almost anything in a frying pan and have even managed to make my own frozen yogurt. When I say frozen yogurt, I mean the more complicated version; not simply taking a tub of Dannon and throwing it into the ice compartment.

My carpet-grooming skills have also grown remarkably. Since it's purchase last week, the steam vaccuum my parents have invested in has only been used by yours truly. I've shampooed every carpet in the house, and even perfected the variation of angles that should be used on those 'problem spots'. I could eat breakfast off the floor. I make a conscious choice not to. Sometimes when my family's out of town, which more often than not, I go through the closets and give away all of the items I deem unnecessary or unloved, and drive them over to goodwill.

Needless to say, I feel a little unnecessary, myself. I understand the state of the economy is very poor, and that everyone must endure rejection from time to time, but today, this afternoon, it feels especially heavy. I understand I am noone to complain; I have a family that loves me and is willing to look out for me as I tweak my plans for furthering my education and my all-out search for a job somehow related to the field. I have it really good. I have it great.

I am sure you've already slapped yourself on your forehead trying to understand what the hell I'm trying to say. I am wondering that myself. Maybe it's the snow and slush, or the overall grayness of the day, but I can't help but feel defeated. So leave me a note if you feel like it...

Enough time has passed for me to be able to reflect publicly on the mission trip to Guatemala. It feels more appropriate to call it the "zealot trip". To start off, there were at least two to three 'devotional hours' per day. To make things worse, we were 12 strangers in a house of only one bathroom. I may be wearing the obvious helmet, but that spells D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R. Hmmm, what can I add to make this a worse situation? Here you go, Sal: a senior citizen with Crohn's disease.

I was uncomfortable.

Not to be overshadowed, the children-the reason for going-were wonderful. We worked five days building benches that converted into desks, and 3' stone walls for the new school of the squatter-ville Puente Blanco. The inhabitants of said town were mostly Hondurans who had flocked to Guatemala after being left homeless by Hurricane Mitch- ten years ago. The kids were so excited about the prospect of getting a new, sturdy school, and being surrounded by fun foreigners. To the detriment of their current education, they would skip school to help us shovel cement mix and grog into the mixer. They stole the hearts of everyone on the crew. Sunup to sundown, I was shadowed by Rudy, Sulma and 'Whopperhead'. These two brothers and sister were particularly commited to us, and we became very attatched to them.

Guatemala

It has been nearly an age and a half since I last wrote, that has become apparent. I've taken this time to grow a beard down to my knees. Just kidding. You hope.

Life's been really great back in Michigan. I now have a beautiful niece named Lucia, whom I had the great pleasure of visiting directly after getting off my flight from Santiago. It's great to see my parents and sister, catch up with friends and overeat delightful American food.

Lola is doing great. She's gained about 5 lbs. since arriving, and has found a soul-mate in Marcy's dog, Mona.

I have quite the adventure coming up in a few short days: a 'mission' trip to Guatemala. Of course, you are asking yourself: "But Sally, Bible-thumpers err...missionaries? Didn't you learn your lesson after you 'accidentally' flashed your panties to a teacher in catholic highschool?" My answer is: "But- there are old men!". I love old men. We have so much in common- music choice, life views, skin conditions- the list goes on.

Plus, we're not just throwing pamphlets at people. It's more like a habitat for humanity-styled trip. So that means I'll have to put something on under my toolbelt. Stay tuned

No sleepy

I have an exam tomorrow, and for all the wrong reasons, I've decided to update you all on my life that has assuredly not changed since last you read. Well, maybe a few things have changed. For example, Lola the dog will be coming home to us here at 808 Carlos Aguirre Luco in a few days....what else....I painted my nails? In reality, I'm terrified for this exam. Thinking about it just makes a knot in my stomach.

I haven't left the house much in the past few days, and perhaps that too has something to do with it. I've decided that I have an incurable case of ADD and therefore have found it perfectly acceptable to check all the gossip websites and email accounts that occur to me. Truth is, I'm not that popular, and very little happens in the celebrity world while everyone else is at work. And so, I've settled on blogging.

Actually, we had quite the chaotic day yesterday- the abuela fell down while trying to maneuver herself from a chair to her bed, and while falling, hit her amputated leg on the ground. She started bleeding and as she's currently taking anticoagulants, you can imagine it was a lot of blood. And it didn't stop. I was home alone with her and helped as best I could, then we had to sit tight and wait for CarGlo to show up with extra gauze. The grandma was in a lot of pain as she had hit her leg very hard, and it was beginning to swell. When CarGlo showed up, we decided it would be for the best to call the paramedics just to check and make sure everything was ok. They took her to the hospital and she came home with this sad little plaster cast on her little abbreviated leg. She had fractured her fibula. It looked pretty heavy and uncomfortable-it goes all the way up to the hip.

Today, she seems to be doing much better, outside of muscle cramps. And I think that the arrival of the puppy will come not a minute too soon. Of course we do have a kitten in the house as well...the family got him the day after Susie died (draw your own conclusions).

I can't help but feel like I attract disaster. Let's hope this exam isn't one of them.

Se llama Lola

Well, it's been a terribly busy week, and there's lots to tell. First of all, I met a little dog named Lola at the veterinarian clinic and fell in love with her. She is the sweetest little puppy. She had been hit by a car and brought in by the driver who hit her with the hopes that her owner would look for her. But the truth of the matter is, she didn't have a collar, and is only 2 months old, and most likely never had an owner to begin with. We saw her while we were in the clinic with the cat, and after hearing that she had a broken jaw and dislocated hip, and no real hope for recovery without surgery, my host-father decided to go ahead and pay for it, as long as it meant she wouldn't be euthanized. As I said before, I couldn't help myself, and just had to have her. And so, I'll be bringing the little girl home with me in December. But first, we have to get her vaccinated. And that's today's task. Wish me luck.