Is it an omen?
06/14/2007 03:15 a.m.
Sunday night, while walking to the pool with my 2 sons, a black cat crossed our path. My eldest queried, "Should we take a different route? Isn't a black cat crossing our path bad luck?" I answered "No, that is just superstition. Faith trumps superstition." Tuesday I got a call from Father Martin, I got the job I so desperately wanted. Then we went swimming with friends. On our way back to my apartment, the black cat lay dead to the left of our doorstep. What does it mean?
I am currently Amazed
I am listening to Clarksville

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Shoeless in London
05/23/2007 03:36 a.m.
Call it coincidence, or call it a premonition. I have moved into my own 1 bedroom apartment and am scrambling to have a Job by the end of this summer before I spend all my savings. The name of the apartment complex isLondon Park.
I am listening to Snow Patrol

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Moonflowers
04/27/2007 09:17 a.m.
Moonflowers

By Clarksville



Is there something I can say to you
To make it any easier to lose.
You’re better off a lonely heart then a trampled one,
Oh what you gonna do.


I never thought I’d see you this way.
I know there will be better times.
If anger is a short madness,
What’s got into you.

All of your sunshine,
All of your heart shine,
All of the dreams you had,
Turn into moonflowers.

You turn your back on your own good.
Don’t give yourself the love that you should,
What happens to the brightness in your eyes,
What becomes of you

All of your sunshine,
All of your heart shine,
All of the dreams you had,
Turn into moonflowers.

Moonflower . . . come on out.
Moonflower . . . come on out

I am currently Anxious
I am listening to Moonflowers by Clarksville

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A Smithy Day
02/26/2007 05:20 p.m.
I am down today. For so many reasons, I won't bore you with them. The last few days of my life could be a Smiths song. Compounded by PMS, I stumbled accross an envelope a card that is really a small photo book. I got it years ago intending to fill it with pictures of my baby and mail it to my Dad. I just knew it would make his day, getting pictures of his first and only grandchild. I could see his smile already. But that never happened. My Dad died when my son was 6 months old.

blubber, blubber, sniff.

I can't bring myself to throw this card away.

Hey, with all the teen angst on this site, I am allowed 1 pitty party.
I am currently Depressed
I am listening to Morrissey (of course)

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mission trip to La Ceiba, Honduras
02/23/2007 04:37 a.m.
See Ya in La Ceiba!

In the wee hours of the morning of Saturday, February 3rd, 31 people from various churches around the Dallas area assembled at DFW Airport. We said a prayer, then checked in 64 duffle bags full of medical, educational, and hygiene supplies and headed to La Ceiba, Honduras for a week long mission trip. The mission team is divided into 3 branches; Medical, Christian Education, and Construction. In La Ceiba, the medical team staffs the Episcopal Church's clinic and pharmacy, Christian Ed. teaches bible stories and crafts to the children of Holy Trinity Parish School in the morning, then to neighborhood children in the afternoon. The construction team created classroom space, bathrooms, and refurbished walls in the church and school.

Last year I was on the construction team, but this year I was on the medical team. Even though I have no medical knowledge and my only medical experience is volunteering in the clinic at Brentfield Elementary School - this was a great fit. I loved it! I got to interact with so many people, my Spanish vocabulary grew exponentially, and I made new friends.

I worked in triage where I said the following about 200 times:
"Yo voy a tomar la pression." - I am going to take your blood pressure.
"Yo voy a tomar el temparaturo en oido." - I am going to take your temperature in your inner ear.
"nessecito su peso . . . y altura . . . por favor, pone su espalda de la pared." - I need your weight and your hieght. Put your back against the wall." [and a few times I said "nessecito su pedo" which means, "I need your fart." I should never have learned that word "pedo."
"Cual es su problema?" - What is your problem?

Now, all you people who took Spanish classes might be cutting holes in my dialogue, and marking your computer screen up with red pen at all the errors. But this script worked for me for 5 days. Asking "What is your problem" sounds odd to us, but that is what started the interview. I learned all kinds of new words in Spanish, like the word for constipation, diarrhea, itch . . . and when asked medical questions I had to clarify "No se, no soy una doctora." But my biggest contribution to la clinica was - crayons.

Last year I heard about all the families with kids who brought no diaper bags or toys. Maybe because they are young, inexperienced mothers, or perhaps because they just don't have toys. So I brought markers from home, and a hand full of cheap little toys my kids don't play with anymore, put them in a baggy marked "For Clinic Waiting Room." I would look out from my triage station and see these 2 - 12 year old kids being so good, sitting in their chairs, waiting. So I would go out with markers & paper and tell them the markers were mine, but I will share if they will bring them back to me when they were done. Most came back. So I asked Lali, my room mate & head of the Christian Ed. team, for a bag full of crayons, and extra paper. She threw in squishy stickers as well. All were a big hit, and the kids were SO delighted and appreciative, as were the parents. And we never ran out of crayons, thanks to my 10-year-old friend Denny. Denny's Mom volunteered at the clinic all week, so he hung out with us all week. He would make sure the kids returned the crayons. So at the end of the week I gave him the crayons and 2 pads of paper.
What was really rewarding were the drawings. About half were drawn as gifts for the doctors, nurses, and staff. We were all very moved, and we hung them up on the walls turning a cold cement and cinderblock clinic into a warm, family friendly place.

Last year's mission trip was the first time I had been away from my family for so long. They left for Orlando 2 days before I left for La Ceiba, and I was already missing them. I also didn't know if I could communicate with them or not without it costing an arm & a leg. This year - no tears. I knew I could call them at an internet cafe during the week, and I did. I even talked with the birds one evening. So I kissed my sleeping fellas goodbye (at 3 a.m.) and I knew what to expect in La Ceiba.

Here are some memorable anecdotes compressed into bullet points:

Lows: ~ More puppies in cages sold by the side of the road.
~ I saw scabies for the first time. One of the first families we saw had a baby and a toddler just covered in itchy, pus filled, bleeding sores.
~ One 17 year old guy I took vital signs from just smelled ill. Not B.O., but he had that sour breath, and just smelled sick. He was diagnosed to be H.I.V. positive.
~ Most of the kids 3 and under didn't wear shoes, and many of them had "Parasitos." That's right, parasites similar to tape worm.
~ On the last day, 3 policemen came because of the crowds of people trying to push through and over the gate to get into the clinic.
~ One lady couldn't handle the culture shock of working in Central America verses vacationing in Central America, and she went home after 2 days.


Highs: ~ Families would be waiting outside for hours before they got in. But once they were in, I made many kids smile, and even cracked up some adults by just being goofy. I am not bilingual yet, but I am bi-goofy.
~ The kids from the school were so smart, and learning english so well.
~ People who have almost nothing are extremely happy when they receive almost anything.
~ I made a new friend, Denny, who drew pictures for me and signed them "To Susan, from your best friend Denny."
~ I made many more new friends. I was especially close to anyone who had Cipro (a powerful antibiotic).
~ Ziplining on a canopy tour [link http://www.roatanonline.com/honduras/laceiba_photos.htm] . This was GREAT! You are zipping through the trees in the jungle on cables. You have to use your core muscles though, or you will smack a tree or two. Yep, those pilate classes paid off that day.
~ Una Salva Vida por favor. Beuno cerveza.

What did I learn from this mission trip? I learned about the 3 kinds of infections a person can get, bacterial, viral, and fungus. (luckily, I learned this second hand) I learned that with a little confidence, I can speak and understand a lot more Spanish than I thought I. I learned that our kids in the states - heck, adults too for that matter - are spoiled rotten. I learned that I don't want to be a nurse. I don't mind doing pregnancy tests, but poking people for blood sugar readings felt awful to both parties. I learned that if you put God in the center, and serve Him, beautiful things occur.

I plan on going again next year. If you are interested in going with me, just let me know and I will put you in contact with the right people.






I am listening to White Stripes

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Lost and Found
01/09/2007 04:14 a.m.
Some of you who have been here a while might remember my poem 3 years ago about . . . my bike. It was called "Zen on Wheels" Then 2 1/2 years ago it was stolen. I was devistated. It was custom made for my by my college boyfriend. I've ridden it everywhere.

2 1/2 years later, I was driving down my alley on my way to my yoga class when I SPOTTED IT! It was in a neighbor's yard, in a pile of garbage to be picked up. I picked up that beauty, and took it home, and called the police. The police really weren't interested, since it was stolen 2 1/2 years ago.

I can't believe it. I never thought I would see Zen again. Now I have 2 bikes, but my original bike is the one that rocks. I can't wait to clean it, tune it up, fill it's cobweb covered tires and ride.
I am currently Amazed

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Poem of the Day
07/28/2006 03:16 a.m.
Oh my gosh, now I feel really guilty. I have not logged in for a very long time, and I would not have logged in except my husband has just reapplied to be on Pathetic, and he looked at the web site. He saw I had poem of the day.
I am so honored! This poem is what I am all about. I am just embarrassed that there are spelling errors.
Jeeze.
Thank you so much, who ever actually went into my library.
I am currently Divine

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Napleon
05/04/2006 03:22 a.m.
I plan on using this picture in a soon to come poem about our newest member to the family, Napoleon. He is a 6 year old Sun Conure, who's previous owners could not keep him anymore because he became to aggressive towards their dog.

He is small and bossy (Napoleon) but I adore him. He sits on my shoulder for hours while I write.


I am currently Cheerful
I am listening to The Dresden Dolls

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Jane You Ignorant $#%@
04/26/2006 02:27 a.m.
OK, I guess I need to explain 2 things. First, this is a poem written from the perspective of a teenaged girl - which I am not. I am happily married now, and no Dan is not neglecting me. He gets a gold medal in that department.

Second, since there are so many youngsters on this site, not everyone knows that "Jane, you ignorant slut." is a famous line from Saturday Night Live. In a point, counter point section of the news, Chevy Chase says to Jane Curtin, "Jane, you ignorant slut" as a starting point to his end of the debate.
I am currently Helpful
I am listening to XFM

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No Susan Thomas at Ranum
04/19/2006 07:33 p.m.
I am still friends with a few people from high school. Many of them graduated before me, and are getting ready for their 20 year reunion, so people have been easy to find.

However one person, I started emailing to, and he is very friendly, and was friends with many of my friends. But he fully admits he has no recollection of me what so ever. Also, 2 of my old friends have been misspelling my name. I went to Europe with these 2 for over a month. Back in 1987 we knew each other very well. But they didn't know how to spell my last name.

So, for the record, there was no Susan Thomas in the 1987 graduating class of Iver C. Ranum. There was me, Susan Tomas.

Well, I must get off line now and pay attention to the people who do remember me. My current family, current friends, current coworkers, and my birds (although they forget me when I leave the room).

I am currently wallowing in self pitty
I am listening to Pepper snitting in my ear.

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