Merry Christmas!

(Christmas Eve 2009, South Haven, MI)

Don't really have much to report, but, just wanted to send out a Merry Christmas wish to everyone out there in blogland. Whatever your reason for the season, I hope it's happy. :)

Updated... ok...so here are some pics from the evening...

The fattest Christmas tree EVER

Mom opening the raw food book we got her...which was followed by two more from her sister... :) Awesome!

Aw...lovely mom :)

On the phone with my brother Martins- see it was just like he was here! :)

Dan and his new scarf

Moonshine's first Cats gear. Thanks for all the gifts from Oz everyone!!! We loved them all!

Joel with some of the Lego I got him to add to his collection- notice the box of PINK Lego- just in case Moonshine is a girl after all! :) Or if cousin Grace wants to play... or heck...if little boy Moonshine likes pink! :)

Mom putting together the VitaMix blender that was a present for both her and me. Green smoothies here we come!

New wheels...back in Michigan!

Whew...well, I guess it's time I posted something... we've been back in Michigan a full week now. It's been a busy week.

As soon as we got home last Saturday we got right into things by hitting the local grocery superstore and shopping for our Thanksbaby dinner. :) Too much time and money later, we left the store ready for a feast. On Sunday the 13th, we got together with both of my sets of parents at my mom and step-dad's rental property for a lovely dinner. I cooked everything but the pork loin. Menu included mashed potatoes (much better than last time), sweet potato casserole (yes, with marshmallows and everything), my home-made stuffing, a corn and broccoli casserole, green salad, mushroom gravy, cranberry jelly and dinner rolls. Everyone but me got to enjoy some wine. So, the pics- one taken by my step-mom, and one taken by my dad...


It was a really lovely day (I really enjoyed the feast preparation!), and the dinner was great. I love having people enjoy my food about as much as I love having people enjoy my writing. Man, I just really need to keep things in check, so as not to turn into a food pusher with my kid!

After Sunday, the hard work started. Actually, the first thing we did Monday was have our intake appt for the new baby care. It was a long and boring appt- mostly paperwork and very commonsense stuff like, "You should stop drinking and smoking now..." Obviously an appt that most people have MUCH earlier in their pregnancy. After the appt, Joel and I were on missions to shop for Christmas presents, maternity clothes and a car. Monday and Tuesday were spent running around stores- finding gifts for all our friends and family overseas especially. We spent in excess of an hour at the post office by the time we wrapped up the last things (yes, we did wrapping at the post office), stood in line and then filled out all the customs paper work, etc. Maternity shopping went well, if a little expensive- but lord am I happy to finally be comfortable all the time, and have a few different pairs of pants to wear! :)

And then the car shopping- we didn't really know where to start with the whole thing, so we drove into a used car dealership that I knew of. We test-drove a car there that I really liked, and seemed to drive well- but the next day it was taken to the mechanics and found to have more issues than they knew of. So we kept looking. We saw a commercial on the tv for another used car lot and ended driving out there to check it out. We found something we liked, and spent the next two long days argueing over the price, taking it to OUR mechanic, etc, etc... but, on Thursday we finally came home used car owners. So here is a picture of me with our new car (in my dad's driveway):


It's an 06 Chevy Impala- lots of miles on it (mostly highway miles though), and it's clean on the inside. Drives smoothly and quietly. It's definetly the newest, nicest car I've ever owned. We kitted it out with a few little bits and pieces- a rubbish bin for the backseat, car mats, a few cds for me to listen to, and most importantly (for Joel) a hands-free bluetooth phone thing so I can talk on the phone while driving but still be safe. :)

I'm VERY happy to be able to abandon the teenager feeling of having to ask to borrow the car, and to be able to come and go where-ever as I please. But I tell you what, the whole car buying thing was damn stressful- I HATE that there is no such thing as an honest transaction when it comes to these things- especially when it comes to the used cars. I hate the feeling that you just don't know if you're really getting a good deal, if you can trust what the salesman is saying (probably not), etc, etc. After we finally bought the car on Thursday, and had dropped it off to get some new tires on it, I stressed shopped. I bought the first baby clothes that I have bought- 3 little onesies- one with little frogs all over, one with giraffes, elephants and something yellow (lions, maybe?) and one little blue one with a guitar on it that says, "Mom thinks I rock". Joel actually found that one. I'll have to take a picture cause they are just so cute. :) And now I'll try to refrain from buying too much more as I know they outgrow everything so fast, and we'll get so much as presents eventually. But it's so hard because it's all so cute! :)

So, after a week here we're (I'm?) starting to settle in. We have spent the weekend at my mom's house where I finally unpacked all my suitcases, hung up all my clothes in the closet, and more or less claimed my space. :) I plan on being based out of here mostly for the next three months until Joel comes back in March. As the birth gets closer we'll probably move back to Dad's house which is just plain closer to the hospital. So...that is what's up with us. Also, I have a mobile phone now, so if you want that number leave me a comment or drop me an email and I'll send it to you! Look for the next baby update over on 9 Months with Moonshine soon- we have our next appt on Tuesday!

Happy Thanksgiving...

Well, happy thanksgiving indeed. Eh. Sort of.

Don't get me wrong, I have lots to be thankful for. I am very thankful for my little Moonshine, my wonderful husband, my physical and mental health, a good job that pays well and affords me a wonderful maternity leave, my family and friends around the world and so so so much more. I mean, really, my life is so good, one of such privilege, I have LOADS to be thankful for. And I think it's great to have a day that brings that into stark relief, even if only for a moment.

But it's funny how celebrating a holiday that you've celebrated your whole life just doesn't always feel right if you don't have all the "parts".

The biggest thing missing this year is family and/or friends. Joel and I had dinner just the two of us, which of course is nice- but we do it every night. And Thanksgiving is definitely about being with extended family- whether that is blood or a family of friends. We had some great ones in Latvia and in China. Last year we ate alone too. I think the reason I don't try to host anything here is because it's SO hard to come by ingredients that I hate to even TRY to plan something.

Anyway...the second thing that just wasn't right this year was the food. I made stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, pumpkin, sweet potato and there was cranberry sauce (acquired in South Africa).

Well, the stuffing was good. Great in fact. I used the same recipe I used last year, except like last year, I didn't put in any raisins or nuts (because I didn't want to) or sage (because it is like THE herb that you can't find here or there or anywhere). But anyway, the stuffing was good. I made a whole 9x13 pan, and I have no doubt it'll be eaten before it goes bad. :)

The mashed potatoes turned out kind of funny. I was glad when I boiled them to see that they looked fluffy- you never know what type of potatoes you're going to get here. There is only one kind of the shelf and it's take it or leave it. I added butter and milk to the potatoes when mashing, but they just came out dry. Joel asked if I "over-mashed" them. I'm not sure if you can over-mash potatoes, but, they were just not the best potatoes ever. And usually, I'm the Mashed Potato Queen.

The gravy turned out very nicely- the only issue there was that I made enough for the group gathered at my uncle's house in Indianapolis today, rather than just the two of us. I made it out of a roux, and didn't realize how much gravy the amount of roux I made would yield. Well, at least we have plenty to pour on the potatoes.

The sweet potato was a disaster- didn't even make it to the table. I have bought sweet potato in Angola before, so when I saw it at the store on Tuesday, I figured it was worth picking up one big ole potato to add to the menu for tonight. I baked it in the oven until it was soft to the touch. Imagine my surprise when I cut it open to find dry, white flesh! It looked *almost* like a regular potato- except a bit stringy. You could smell the sweetness, but it was faint. The sweet taste was very faint too. But the darn thing was so dry and odd that I just didn't even know what to make of it. It ended up in the trash. :(

The pumpkin was out of a can. I don't know why. But it was. It was ok, but it was also bought in South Africa, and you can tell that the pumpkin it was made from was SUPER watery. The consistency was just not right. Flavor was ok.

Lastly, the cranberry sauce tasted fine, but, was the consistency of something that I would happily pour over ice cream. It was very thin, but viscous, and also had whole berries in it. Like I said the flavor was ok, but the eating pleasure was just not there.

Oh, and Joel had an ostrich steak with his food. I just cooked it for him on the pan, and he topped it with gravy. It was the first time he'd eaten it and it seems he liked it. So at least he had some bird- even if it was red meat (seriously, does it count as foul, because it was red?).

So, Joel with the spread:

(that's gravy in the tea cup, and don't mind all the stuff behind the stuffing- that stuff is always on the table)

And hey, the mashed potatoes and stuffing are usually my favorite anyway, so at least I have plenty of leftovers to take for lunch(es)!



The lovely thing is that I have already convinced my family to have a belated Thanksgiving when I get home. Mostly, because, the Thanksgiving spread is a collection of lots of my favorite foods. But also because we've got a lot to be thankful for, and I would love to be in that space with my family.

So there you go...that's our Thanksgiving round up. Hope yours was better than mine!

Sometimes, it's the things you can't put your finger on...

until you do. I just put my finger on a big one.

Living abroad is wonderful and amazing and full of adventure- but there are always things you miss about "home." I've often listed such things... Taco Bell, customer service, Old Navy, Ben & Jerry's and of course friends and family (of course, of course!). :)

Yesterday, I came across a message posted on the internet- someone in the States asking what to put in a care package for an American who had recently moved to Holland to be with his wife and was now desperately homesick. I suggested a few things- snack foods and/or candy, magazines or newspapers, holiday foods- but I also mentioned that sometimes it's not as easy as that. Sometimes you can't put in a care package the things that a person is really homesick for.

In the last few days I've been nearly overcome with want for cranberry jelly. Yeah, the wobbly stuff that comes in a can, and has ridges down its side (from the can). I don't want it for right now of course, I want it for Thanksgiving. Because, how can you have Thanksgiving without cranberry jelly? I've lamented my desire to several people who have all graciously offered to send me some- but alas, it would cost way too much to send, and would probably never get here anyway. So, yeah, there is something you could put in a care package for me- I can put my finger on that.

But tonight I put my finger on something else- something that just resounded so deeply within me that well, I was moved to write about it here. :)

I miss singing in the car. There is really nothing like being alone in the car and being able to turn your favorite song (of the moment) on full blast and belting along in your loudest voice. The music is usually so loud that it totally sounds like you're singing just as well as the person coming through the speakers. The music and your own effort is so loud that it moves something inside you, releases something- emotions, energy- good, good things. And you don't have to worry about people watching you or listening to you- you're driving, generally moving too fast to bother anyone for more than a second or two. And if someone does see you, well, whatever, you'll probably never see them again!

Now, singing in the car is of course, not an activity that one can only do in the States. I do think however, that an area similar to where I grew up is particularly conducive to it. Why? Well, in a place like Kalamazoo, you generally have to drive for a while to get anywhere- I mean, not a long while, but the length of a good song for sure- and often a few times over. Also, the traffic is not nearly as bad as lots of places- because let's face it if you were stuck in say Riga or Luanda traffic- you actually would be next to the next car WAY long enough to annoy the piss out of them if you had your stereo up full blast. But Kalamazoo doesn't usually have traffic jams that bad- and even if it does, the roads are wide enough that you're still further away from the other cars than you would be in those tight old cities. :)

Some might say why not just turn up your stereo at home- and I have just one word for that- neighbors. I hate having to hear my neighbors through the walls, and if I turned up the music as loud as I wanted, I would be seriously violating the Golden Rule. Plus, eventually you have to look these people in the face- especially in our situation where our neighbors are all our colleagues- and knowing that they've heard you off key and so on belting out possibly embarrassing songs... I just don't want to face that. It just doesn't offer the same release and comfort that singing in the car does.

Goodness knows that when I lived in Riga I used to try to get away with just listening to my mp3 player on the way too and from school- LOUDLY at that- but eventually there is always something you want to sing along to, so you try humming, but you can't tell how loud you're actually being, and the people on the bus or tram start looking at you kind of funny... I remember before Joel and I always went to work together I would look forward to getting off the bus and hitting the point in the walk that led down a relatively quiet street to school. Unless there was another teacher walking to school, there weren't usually many other people on the street that early in the morning. As soon as I would get there, I would look around in all directions and then finally start singing. :) But I still didn't want to do it too loudly- there were houses along that road and I tell ya, some people walk fast- they'd catch up with me out of no where!

So, for me, singing in the car reminds me of home- and is something I get homesick for- and it's something that I generally wouldn't be able to put my finger on- I couldn't name it when someone asked, "What can I send you in a care package?" And alas, they couldn't send it to me anyway.

You might be wondering what helped me put my finger on this tonight...(maybe?) Well, I'll just tell you, I was watching one of my current favorite shows Glee. It's about a high school glee club and the trials and tribulations of the students and teachers in it. The best part though, is that every episode includes at least two or three songs done full on by the cast- often show tunes, or pop songs re-mixed. It's great. The episode I watched tonight included a song from the show Wicked which Joel and I (finally) saw in NYC in June. Musical theater sits high on the list of things I miss living abroad- there was a point while watching the show Wicked that I started crying, not because of the show being particularly moving at that point, but because I was just overcome with enjoying being in the audience. I'm super excited that my mom is handling buying tickets for a few different shows that we'll go see together during my maternity leave.

What I am saying is, I can't wait for about two months or so from now when I will have received the Wicked soundtrack for Christmas (OFFICIALLY on my list!) and I can drive around with the sound all the way up, singing along like the star I wanna-be (not really) and without a worry in the world. :)

I haven't had much to say lately...

and there is one good reason.... I'm busy growing a person!!! :)

Growing a person has taken a physical and a mental toll on me in the first trimester. Mostly, I went through lots of ups and downs with how I felt physically. Mentally, well, the thing is, I've just been on a one-track mind. Thinking baby, baby, baby all the time. So, I just haven't had much to say on this blog, where, the news couldn't be shared until now.

But, we are finally, past the first trimester (officially well into the 14 week) and have had our first OB appointment in South Africa- where we got to see baby, and find out that everything looks good!

So- here are the baby's first pictures:




And if you want to follow the story of my pregnancy, you can do so at my new blog, 9 Months with Moonshine. That of course, is where I have been writing my heart out for the last 3 months! :)

Pictures from our trip to South Africa

Joel and I took a trip to South Africa a couple weeks ago during our October break. We spent 4 days at a small private lodge/game reserve. We paid for the "all inclusive" package that included room/board and 2 game drives a day. One was a "Big 5" (lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, buffalo) which we went to a bigger neighboring reserve to do, and one was actually a walk or drive around the lodge we were staying at. It was all wonderful.

The drives meant some early mornings- for the Big 5 drives we had to get up at or before 5. Surprisingly, the sun was mostly already up by then, so we didn't really get to see spectacular sunrises, but, the animals were definitely active that early. The evening game drives started around 4, and lasted until after sunset (around 7), which was very cool too. I have to say I enjoyed 8:30 bedtimes, 5am wake up times and 10-12noon nap times. :)

Anyway, there are loads of pictures... here they are:

Monkeys and guinea fowl early in the morning at our lodge

Sunrise over the edge of the lodge

A monkey doing something with his breakfast

Elan or Nyala- I just can't remember!

Cheetah!

Female waterbuck

Lioness

Lion

Elephants!

Wildebeest

Black rhino

Buffalo after sunset

Right before they got spooked by something and charged at/around our vehicle. Scariest moment of the whole trip BY FAR.

Kudu

Cheetah hunting (same ones as in the previous pictures- a mom and three female cubs)

More elephants

Elephants nurse for about 2 years similar to humans- which is fine. I mean, I'm ok with that. Elephant gestation though? 22 MONTHS!!!

Buffalo

Bird on a buffalo

Baby buffalo

Lion

He was looking for his female who wandered off...

Warthogs "mowing the lawn" at our lodge while we sit unawares reading by the pool

See, he had no idea...

White rhino right in front of our lodge

Guinea fowl- they have beautiful blue heads

Used to be a wildebeest. This is what happens when the lions from next door come to visit.

Monkey with baby- so cute!

Cheetah boys that lived on our reserve...

Giraffes- all on our reserve...

Zebra

Rhinos cooling off

Wildebeest

Cheetah mamma and her cubs

Peek-a-boo!

Male Nyala I think.

Lioness- a very rare white lion.

With her sister who is not white- but who is thought to be able to give birth to white lions, unlike the white lion herself.

Natural cooling system. :)

Hippo at sunset

White lion stalking buffalo

Buffalo somewhat aware of lions being around...

Buffalo charging the lions chasing them away