why saturday was such a good day.

this is why:

definition of cool:

3 words

storm.trooper.masks.

my brothers and i spotted them while watching my nephew's baseball game. but wait, it gets better - they had voice boxes with programmed sayings. my kids are definitely getting some of those one day.

so that was then...and this is now:

doing some serious ensayo-writing for my spanish492 class. gotta bang out three pages in the next 3 and a half hours. have no fear, it will get done.

it's still there.

peru.

it's still on my mind.

little details that i still recall - street names, micro numbers, restaurants, name, faces, smells, sights. they're with me. and they sometimes flood my memory and overwhelm my mind and i get lost in thought. lost in images and memories...

and i desperately hope that it never goes away.

currently addicted to

1. easter candy. especially tootsie rolls and smarties.

2. this song.

3. this song, too.

4. and embarrassingly enough, this one as well.

(such a varied taste in music, huh?)

5. NOT doing homework. (unfortunately)

i'm experimenting...and it just might work!

according to my mother, this is the first year in her 42 years of marriage that she is not dying (dyeing??) easter eggs. but fear not! she has come up with another plan:

brownie easter eggs.

(as in brownies cut in the shape of eggs and then frosted)

and i have been left in charge of this easter experiment.

so i made the brownie batter - no big deal.

then came the question of what to cook them in...

...on a cookie sheet?

...in a regular brownie pan?

we want them to be thin, but i was a bit skeptical. i decided on a cookie sheet. i only put on half the batter just in case it was a bust. i didn't want to sacrifice all of the deliciousness.

well lo and behold, IT WORKED. they look like giant cookies.

now onto cutting out easter egg shapes.

oh wait...mom doesn't seem to have a cookie cutter in the shape of an egg. we have a pumpkin? no, not good enough.

so i chose all the other shapes that could possibly be related to easter:

bunny, chick, flower, cross, heart and buffalo...oops i mean that thing over in the bottom left corner, mom claims it's a sheep. i have my doubts.

check it out! i am feeling quite successful. and please notice the easter buffalo...err i mean lamb of God. my dad's reaction: "i think maybe we should just eat that one."

i think i'll hold off on frosting until tomorrow. but i will be sure to update with photos. enjoy the easter weekend!!

a few more pics:

luna was very interested.

what it looks like outside.

**update: pics of decorated brownies**

sneezing while driving and visits to the vet.

so what are you supposed to do when you have to sneeze while driving? it always freaks me out because i'm afraid that in that split second that my eyes are closed someone will speed out of a side street and hit me or an animal will jump out of the woods and onto my car. i guess the possibilities of either of those options happening are rather slim, but it still freaks me out a bit.

on another completely different note, i got a kitten for my birthday.

her name is luna. and she is wonderful. she can be a bit crazy sometimes so it's a good thing she's so cute or else i probably would've strangled her by now. unfortunately she is usually in her frisky mood right when i'm getting ready to go to bed.

another unfortunate turn of events was a few days ago when she stopped eating. which then led to visits to the vet. now what i am wondering about is what name am i supposed to give to the receptionist when i arrive? my name? even though the appointment obviously isn't for me. but i feel a little silly saying that luna is here for her appointment. it's not like she picked up the phone and dialed and decided on a time that didn't conflict with my class schedule. but have no fear. little luna is getting better and is back to her frisky self.

more good news: spring seems a little bit closer each and every day.

little letters.

dear professors,

instead of giving me a maximum word or page count for an assignment, how about telling me the minimum of what is expected? i prefer knowing how much i have to do as opposed to putting a limit on it.

dear snow,

you are beautiful and lovely, but we've got plenty right now so you can just hold off for a while.

dear people,

when clearing off your cars and driveways, please don't throw the snow into the street. it really is not helpful.

dear peruvian friends,

i'm totally jealous that you are currently on summer vacation and enjoying the warm beach weather. not fair.

dear fotocopiadoras,

i miss you becasue i'm not very good at using the copy machine.

dear amelia,

i really hope you come up for spring break.

dear gordon college,

it's good to be back, but i've noticed that we've both changed a bit.

dear friends,

please be my friends.

dear la casa,

i think of you everyday and am desperately looking for a way to get back.

dear water,

i love that you are free at restaurants and that i can drink you straight out of the faucet. thanks for being so wonderful.

dear english,

you're great and all and i'll always have a special connection with you, but to be honest i kind of miss speaking spanish.

dear TOMS shoes,

i can't wait till springtime when i can walk around in you everyday.

dear introductory phonology textbook,

where are you? why are you taking so long to get here?

dear girl i saw in lane yesterday,

why on earth were you wearing flip-flops? did you not notice the 3 feet of snow covering the ground outside?

dear french professor,

i am sorry that i decided to drop my french class this semester. i do miss taking a class with you, but right now i just need as much spanish as i can get.

dear micros,

as much as i thought it would be impossible to do so, i actually kind of miss you, and the way i felt more peruvian when riding on you.

dear may 21st,

please hurry up.

dear cold, dry winter air,

i really do not appreciate what you've done to my skin and hair.

dear hot showers,

you are so wonderfully marvelous and i will not take you for granted any more.

dear wi-fi at my house,

i'm amazed by how fast and dependable you are.

dear peru,

i'm happy here, but i miss you very much. and i don't think i'm ever going to stop missing you.

joy, love, hope.

i don't know why it has taken me so long, but i think it's about time that i write about my most recent trip to mexico. now when most people think about mexico thoughts of tacos and mariachi and deserts and such come to mind. and more recently thoughts of drug-trafficking and kidnapping and murders and violence. and especially when the border city of tijuana is mentioned, thoughts immediately jump to drugs and violence, and rightfully so. the city of tijuana is considered as the second most dangerous city in all of mexico and plays a huge part in all the illegal drugs that are brought from mexico to the u.s.

but for me it is a different story. instead of thinking of all that my mind immediately goes to this place:

and to these people:

these beautiful, wonderful, kind, caring, loving, friendly, funny and inspiring people who i have come to know and love over the past four years.

let me share with you some of the people that i have gotten to know.

--m. is reserved, loves joking around, enjoys history and is a good cook.

--l. is a sweetheart who loves to have fun, and can also be dramatic.

--a. is very friendly, a good conversationalist, and a good cook.

--r. is a hard worker who cares about and loves his family very much.

--k. is a typical boy-crazy 15-year-old girl who is overdramatic, she also has a kind heart and loves her family.

--y. is a mature, trustworthy young woman who is gentle and kind with a great laugh.

--c. and j. love having fun, being silly and laughing.

--e. has a sweet heart, a caring personality, and a beautiful smile.

--m. is quiet and mature, and he likes to just spend time with us.

--j. is quiet, but very funny.

--m. is smart, patient, helpful and fun.

--c. has a gentle nature and is also very friendly.

--m. is such a sweetheart, but has a bit of a temper when he doesn't get his way.

--b. is a little jokester and loves attention.

--a. just likes being silly and having fun.

--n. is a diva

--a. is stubborn but has the most adorable smile.

--p. and m. are strict and firm, but they really love the kids and what what is best for them.

--c. seems scary and serious, but she loves joking around and is very patient.

--s. is a little punk who is good at sports.

--j. is quiet, kind and has a beautiful smile.

--e. is a gentle, godly man who cares very much about people.

of course that is not all of the wonderful people that i associate with mexico, but it is a start. it's just a little look at what and who and why i have fallen in love with a country that people are scared of and don't know what to do with. but i have figured out what to do with mexico: love the people. love them in all of their brokenness and pain and hurt. and love them for what they are doing in the midst of such suffering. thats what i love about la casa de la esperanza en tijuana - it's joy in the midst of pain, it's love in the midst of hatred, and it's hope in the midst of despair.