Witches Market

Well, i couldn't find my post about Peru, so I'll write a new one. I would tell you why I was in Peru but then I'd have to kill you. Actually it's not so exciting as that. I went there to look at child and maternal health in rural northern Peru. Now my background is in medical anthropology so this trip was right up my alley. We toured hosptials, met with government officials, and went to rural clinics. All of that was great. But the best part was a conversation I had with our translator on the way back from the clinic.

One of my areas of interest is folk illness and medicine. The translator and I got into a long conversation about folk illnesses which led her to telling me about the witches market. Now I have to say that that's not a great translation. A curandero(a) is a healer. But a lot of times it gets translated to witch.

The local market is a decent size. You can buy everything from laundry detergent to flowers there. And one whole corner is dedicated to herbs/curandero(a) supplies. There were herbs, and candles, and snake skins, and a monkey. Some was for good healing and some was for not so nice curandero(a)s. It was like years of research all within my reach. I could have spent a year just looking at the herbs and talking to the vendors. I'm pretty sure I could cure anything with the supplies there. Or at least empacho, susto, and mal ojo.

Oh, and just a warning, stay away from the corn juice from hell.

Anna

A year in review

I can't believe how long it's been since I've written. Three days after my last post, my aunt died. Shortly after that, my cat was diagnosed with diabetes, then I began a 6 month travel extravaganza. Understandably, my writting time has been curtailed. I realized though how much I miss writing. I don't often get creative outlets and this silly little blog was very therapeutic. So, here I am writing again.
There were high points to the last year. Some things that made me smile...
1) going back to the town in Spain that I studied in while in college. I could still find all of our favorite haunts after 12 years!
2) traveling. I have been to Peru, Savannah, Austin, Spain, Johnson City, Iowa City, Oklahoma City (I think that's all the 'cities'), Washington DC, Shreveport, Houston...I think that's all. I think my favorite was Peru. it was beautiful. My favorite part was the herbal market. I could have spent a year there learning about all the plants and remedies.
3) my nieces and nephew. I officially have two nieces and a nephew. I get to babysit for all of them. They are wonderful and make me happy.
So that's all for now. I do have a post from Peru that I'll post about the herbal market. It was so awesome.
Type soon!

About time

This week I have seen my aunt in pain, the funeral of a good man, and overall blahness. However, there are a couple of bright spots. Today on the way to work I noticed the jonquils were out. There is one spot on the highway to work that has a square patch of jonquils that comes up every year. It's located right between the highway and an on ramp. Did someone used to live there? Did someone plant them? I'm curious. However they got there, I'm glad, because they make me smile. And this week that's been a great comfort.

Better Late Than Never

Well, I haven't written in forever. There's been a lot of stress lately so the small things have been harder to find. However, there have been bright points. I adopted a new puppy named Huck. He's adorable and constantly makes me laugh, like when he's sitting on top of the plants in my big pot on the patio. Or he and Massy playing tug of war. And I have some great travel in my future, which is one of my most favorite things. We're having a snow day today which is also very nice. So in short, I will try to do better in the future and write more often. I eally enoy the process and will need to keep up with it in the months ahead.

Anna

Hellllo 2010

Well Christmas is wrapped up, or rather unwrapped. It was good. I never did get into the Christmas spirit, but I have gotten into the New Year's spirit. There are some things that are going to happen this year that are going to be bad. But I'm focusing on the things that I know are going to be good. Mostly TRAVEL!!! I love to travel, give me a plane ticket and I'm there. I actually have two international trips planned. One to a place I've never been and one to somewhere I'm very familiar with. I'm so looking forward to both. Plus, other travel for work.
So come on 2010....let's go somewhere.

2 Days and Counting

It's Tuesday, Christmas is just around the corner. I've had a hard time getting in the Christmas spirit this year. There's been a lot going on, both good and bad. So this post is going to be about things I like about Christmas...
1) Christmas movies, the best in my opinion are a Claymations Christmas, It's A Wonderful Life, and A Christmas Story
2) Days off from work, whether spending time with family or just relaxing at home, it's nice to be away for a couple of days
3) Christmas morning, presents and a big breakfest

So while I may not be decking the halls or singing carols, I will do my best to enjoy this Christmas season.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

There is a Christmas tree lot down the street from my house. It's been there for years. About this time of year I notice the lot gets mowed, the lights are repaired, and a little trailer appears. Shortly after the first load of trees arrive. There are several reasons why this makes me smile. First, I LOVE the smell of fir trees, second it means that Christmas is getting close, and third it's cool to drive by and watch people pick out trees and load them onto their cars. A couple of years ago Massy (my black lab) and I would walk through the lot just to look at the trees and enjoy the smell and the cold weather. I think the lady probably thought I was crazy, but oh well. And for the record, I am a plastic tree person 100%. We did a "live" tree once when I was in junior high and we all hated it. Yeah it smells good, but they're sticky and hurt to decorate. However, as long as it's not in my house, I think live trees are great. Or at least tree lots in my neighborhood are.