Friday, February 01, 2008

overdue update after a vacation home

so ive been neglectful of this and its about time for an update.
I had an over indulgent white christmas at home in KANSAS! The full leiker-side of the family actually was able to get together for the first time in forever (this time with a new addition, little leila). the incredible vacation made readjustment to the dr difficult. Noone should be allowed a 2 1/2 week vacation to the developed north. it's just not right. i honestly don't think i stopped eating once while i was home. oh well
A week back and i had a meeting with my boss and project partner to discuss our plans for the upcoming year (talk about a quick jump back to work!). ugg. my boss is one of those people who is very good at allowing for silence and i am not- at least not with her. In her silence i found myself commiting to plans i had barely considered before! I was just trying to fill the silence. So now I'm committed to English classes and stove building. Beyond that I'm still reading "el arbol generoso" to kids 3 times daily, back to taking kids to the river, back to an increasingly flojo healthy decisions group, and back to running daily with whatever muchacho, youth, parent, mule, or bull that will have me. Oh and how running was difficult after that vacation! I ran like a gordita for 2 weeks! But now I'm back. I'm back to kicking and screaming for things to work. Hoping that now that Patronales (the festival that honors my town) is over people will become more reliable, that people will attend my groups, and that my work will start back up.
As for patronales, imagine booths selling rum and beer in the street. Imagine food venders and loud music from the bars 24 hrs a day for a week straight. Imagine people drunk in the street at all hours, dancing all hours, and one big party. I got very little sleep as I live infront of a bar and after it all I needed a vacation from their party. Thank god its over!
Really though it's nice to be back. My blood has gotten too thin to live near snow. I found myself missing this weather and the beach- I know me! the one who always LOVED the cold dreary days in kansas!?! rediculous!
Now, i am working on grant writing so i can get money to build stoves. These stoves will improve the ventilation of the smoke so as to decrease the unhealthy side-effects many women experience from cooking on bad stoves with poor ventilation. yeah i have no-idea what i am doing. wish me luck!