the small things...

Witches Market

2011-01-30T10:36:00.005-06:00

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

2011-01-21T21:38:00.003-06:00

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

2010-03-10T21:16:00.003-06:00

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

2010-01-29T14:23:00.002-06:00

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

2009-12-28T21:01:00.002-06:00

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

2009-12-22T19:50:00.002-06:00

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...

2009-11-20T15:51:00.003-06:00

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.

Political Research or a Dating Service

2009-11-15T20:02:00.002-06:00

I just got off the phone with a research company. I have worked in research for a long time, so I tend to try to do phone research. I've been there, it's a crappy job. So I got a call about health care reform, if I approved of my states senators, etc. The guy talking apparently forgot that he was conducting research. I was asked why I didn't go to church, I "need to show God some love" and if it was okay if the researcher called on for a more "personal" call. I had to turn the poor guy down. When asked why I said it was because I've done research for too long and it wasn't proper protocol. Maybe a crappy excuse, but seriously, who does that? Totally made my night, hilarious!!!
Anna

What a couple of weeks

2009-11-15T11:50:00.002-06:00

I've had a crazy couple of weeks. Lots of bad news and drama. But this is not the site for that. Maybe I need a new one for drama. However, there have been some good things the past couple of weeks. I adopted a puppy, that will be an interesting experience. I love my animals. They are crazy and make me smile. Massy, the black lab loves to visit with my sister and my brothers dogs. So I figured I'd get her a companion. So here's to lots of fun times ahead.

Rain, anthropology, and dogs

2009-10-29T20:43:00.002-05:00

It's been raining all day here. I love the rain. It's been a little excessive lately, but I still love it.
I've been nominated for a fellowship. I don't think I'll get it, but it's still so cool that my old professor nominated me. I love anthropology...most people don't really understand what it is, but that's okay. I love that I get to use it everday and no one even realizes I'm doing it. I love that we are a weird group of folks, and I love chatting with fellow anthropologists that love it as much as I do.
I'm thinking about getting a new puppy. I don't want to be the crazy animal lady, but I think Salem needs a buddy.
Off to look at animal rescue sites :)

Anna

D&D Delight

2009-10-05T16:33:00.001-05:00

I was never a D&D nerd. (sorry if I just offended any hard core D&D fans out there). Never played it or Magic or any of the other magic/acting games. I've never owned a medieval princess dress, dated an ogre (actually that one is debatable), or jousted anyone. However, apparently this sort of activity makes a lot of people happy. There is a group that gets together every Sunday at a small local park in my city. There's usually about 30 people, dressed in full gear, bashing the heck out of each other with fake swords. I think it's hilarious. I'm happy they're enjoying themselves and they give me a good chuckle every time I drive past them.
.....................................................
I was looking for a pic to post to go with this post and ran across pics of the cartoon series from the 80s. I had forgotten all about it, my dad and I used to watch it every Saturday. I guess maybe I am a D&D nerd.

Blog Surprise

2009-10-03T16:26:00.002-05:00

Well I had intended this post to be about the incredible weather and my love of college football, however, while viewing old posts I noticed that I had comments. Did you read that? I had comments! Someone other than me has read my blog. Yay!!! That totally made my day.

Add that on top of a trip to Target (only mildly enjoyable, Saturday at Target, enough said), goregous fall weather, babysitting my cousin and college football...it simply doesn't get better than that!

Maybe it's genetic

2009-09-28T20:32:00.002-05:00

This one is really silly, but it's truly one of my favorite things and it got my Monday off to a good start this morning....
I am addicted to caffeine. I gave it up cold turkey for about 5 years but picked up the bottle of coke and fell off the wagon (everyone has to have an addiction....at least it only caffeine, right). So part of my morning ritual is to drink a coke or dr. pepper. I'm not a coffee drinker so that's my caffeine fix. From a very young age I learned from my wise father that the very best way to drink a dr pepper is when it's semi frozen right out of the freezer. I wish I had a better digital camera so I could take a picture to illustrate....but essentially, the soda of your choice isn't frozen solid...it's just slushy...not all the way through, just about the top two inches. It is the best!!!
I actually remembered to put my dr pepper in the freezer this morning. Yum! I have to remember to do this every morning. Thanks to my dad for the tip.
A couple others from dad...
Put a pixie stick in a coke icee (never done this one)
peanut butter and pickles on a cracker
always cut a grilled cheese diagnally, it just tastes better that way
you can never have too much chocolate and white chocolate doesn't count (except in emergencies).

On the road again...

2009-09-22T07:41:00.003-05:00

Well good friends, I apparently have not improved my posting schedule. Which is really pretty bad considering that I even have one post that's already written and just waiting to be uploaded. One reason for my delinquency has been my recent schedule. I have been travelling a lot lately. This is not a bad thing (other than the fact that I'm not posting). I love to travel. Most of my favorite memories stem from a trip to somewhere or another. In less than a month I've been to Washington DC twice, a spa town nearby, and am currently sitting in the airport waiting on a flight out west. It's wonderful. Give me a ticket anywhere and I'll go. However, I do miss my house, pets, family, and friends (not necessarily in that order).
I am very excited about this trip. It is to California. I've never been to CA and am excited to be some place new.
So to everyone out there (I guess this means Charlotte and my office mate) have a great week and do something new this week.

Random Observations

2009-09-09T22:06:00.002-05:00

Again I must apologize for being remiss in my writing duties. I am once again in our nation's capital (unless you're reading this from another country, which would be really cool). I have several snippets to write about but not much time so tonight we'll do a bullet point version...

life long reminders of great friendships, in this case in the form of a star tattoo
truly enjoying your work
great food with great people
chocolate
new experiences
people watching in airports (sorry cute dude in the ATL airport, but you look stupid carrying a toy shih szu)

All for tonight

Best Mom Ever

2009-09-03T21:54:00.002-05:00

Your author has been under the weather this week. She, however, drug herself to work for a day of meetings and coordinating very important things. By lunch, I was hungy and just didn't have enough energy to go get lunch. It was a very sad situation. I called my wonderful mother who was dining with my father and brother. She agreed to bring me some lunch after a minimal amount of begging. This alone made my day, but the very best part was the six random corn chips that she put in the container with my chicken strips. It was so sweet and unexpected and it made me laugh.

Dragonflies: Part 1

2009-08-31T15:57:00.002-05:00

I never thought I’d write anything about dragonflies. I don’t particularly care for anything with more than four legs, especially if they have wings and lots of eyes. There are, however, a few exceptions to this general rule, those being butterflies and lady bugs. It’s hard to be scared of a lady bug.
I enjoyed a beautiful day at the lake with some good friends and one of the best things about that day besides the company was the small dragonflies that were flying around us in the lake. We were lounging in floats in the lake and the dragonflies would land on your leg or arm and just look at you. One sat with me for a while and I was able to get him(?) to land on my finger. I had never seen a dragonfly that close up before. It’s truly amazing they are able to fly at all. Their wings look like lace and these little guys were the most incredible shade of metallic blue. My buddy the dragonfly was so beautiful (even with the lots of legs and eyes). I never thought that I would make friends with any creepy crawly. But now dragonflies join the ranks of butterflies and ladybugs…welcome.

Dragonfly Habitat

Nasty irritating weeds grew with might
They grew gigantically to knee height
A garden annoyance…they must be removed
Their presence is unanimously disapproved

Firm hearty tugs should suffice
Gloved hands pulling once then twice…
The stubborn spiky weeds nettled
Resisting… as a small dragonfly settled

Causing me to reconsider my intentions
The rare visitor stirred admiration…
The iridescent winged beauty stared
Invoking feelings…as though it cared

We looked at one another…greeting
What’s the reason for this meeting?
Only wonder can explain this delight
Swift wings lifted it into flight

Saddened as the marvel jets and darts
Suspended in the atmosphere… then it departs
Thoughts of pulling rascal weeds are retracted
If they stay, more dragonflies may be attracted
7/21/09 Theresa Moore

Urban Wildlife

2009-08-29T15:59:00.000-05:00

My hotel in the city I recently visited looked out over a small park. Just one block square surrounded by traffic and tall buildings. Over the course of my visit I had observed people walking quickly to catch the metro or the bus, homeless men lounging on the park benches, and pigeons gracing the head of a statue of a long dead war hero, but I had not seen any animals, in particular, no squirrels. In my opinion, any park with a tree needs squirrels. They’re funny. It made me sad that despite how pretty the park was, there wasn’t any wildlife to make it truly a little slice of nature in the city. On the last day of my visit I was watching the people scurry to their important appointments when I saw one lone squirrel dash from the middle of the park across the sidewalk and up the nearest tree. Maybe living in a big city wouldn’t be so bad after all…

Big Scary Grates

2009-08-26T15:59:00.002-05:00

So, I'm currently in DC. I love DC, all the hustle and bustle without the claustrophobic feeling of NYC and a better metro system. A colleague and I are walking down the street and this little boy, about 4 years old is walking by himself. (he had an action figure in his hand) His dad is about 10 feet ahead of him. What separates them? One of those metal grates in the sidewalk you find in big cities. The kid is just staring down into the grate like he can see to the bottom. Not afraid, just completely absorbed by this big metal thing in the sidewalk. The dad did good, just let him look and figure it out. It was adorable. Ah, to be curious instead of irritated that it ate the heel of your shoe.

Gardening Experiment #2:

2009-08-25T20:03:00.000-05:00

I bought a house three years ago. It was finally time to quit paying rent and I was ready to “be an adult”. Two of my goals of home ownership were 1) a dog, and 2) a garden. The dog will be another (or several posts, as she’s hilarious). The first garden I tried was my first real summer in my new casa. I chose to plant a container garden because I just couldn’t even manage the idea of an in ground garden. So I planted herbs, some veggies, and some flowers. Many of these plants are still alive today. Many of them were also dead before the end of the summer. The first experiment was fun and made me decide to try again. I don’t like yard work. So my goal was an easy and small garden. There are a lot of things about gardening that I like….the validation of having grown something yourself, the battle between you and the damn caterpillars that eat your cucumbers, the sadness knowing that annuals won’t make it through the fall. But the thing I really love about gardening…the smell. I love the smell of tomato plants, not the fruit, the way they smell spicy when you touch them. I grow herbs, not because I use them in cooking (very seldom anyway) but because you can pull a leaf and roll it around between your fingers to release the oils and your hands will smell like rosemary, or pineapple sage, or lavender, even after you wash them. I love going outside after it rains and smelling all of the plants and herbs at once, plus the rain-----heavenly! It isn’t a big thing…it’s small and fairly inexpensive, but it makes me smile, take a deep breath, and forget about whatever family/work/friend/life drama is currently on fire.

2009-08-24T20:26:00.000-05:00

the small things….
Before I begin this project, I’d like to issue a disclaimer. I am not a sunshine and kittens sort of person. I’m not necessarily gloom and doom either, but I’ve never been accused of being Suzie Sunshine. However, I have realized that despite all of the stresses of life it’s the small things that make it worth getting out of bed in the morning. The big things are great too, and trust me I will never turn down lottery winnings. BUT given that hasn’t happened yet, I’m trying to learn to revel in the everyday surprises that make me smile. Sometimes they are small and probably wouldn’t amuse anyone but myself. Other things though are universally enjoyed like ice cream on a hot summer’s day. If you don’t enjoy that you’re either severely lactose intolerant or not human. So, this is my try at writing a blog. Mostly it’s for myself, but if you enjoy it, please read on and tell others about it.