Not shot, dog bite! Woof woof, not bang bang!

moodin a bit of pain!

Yup, I got shot today.

Twice.

Once in each arm! With a big ole' needle each time. And my arms hurt!

Today, we went to my doctors' office. All the shots I get there are covered by my insurance. I walked in with my list of the immunizations I need, and frankly, the nurses didn't seem to know what they were doing. It was a bit unnerving! I didn't expect them to carry some of the real crazy vaccines - cholera, rabies, yellow fever, that kind of thing, we'll get that at the Travel Clinic next week. But I needed a polio booster, and a pnemonia immunization, a TB immunization, and HIB.

So I walk in and have to basically spell out what I need for these nurses. And then she told me that I could only get two shots, one in each arm. Now, maybe I'm crazy, but I don't mind taking a shot in the rear, if that's what it takes. Or the legs. Whatever. But she won't do it, so whatever. I get the polio and HIB, and she tells me I need to come back in 6-8 weeks for the next in the HIB series.

So we leave and call the health department, who are really the most knowlegeable people in the area regarding immunizations. And they tell me that they don't reccommend HIB for adults, so now that I've got one shot, don't go back for the rest of the series. Unfortunately, though, that means I have to make another appointment for the pnemonia immunization. I don't think this office knows much of anything about the TB immunization... they did a TB test on me a couple of months ago and they think that is the same thing.

Ah well. My mom and I came home, and have been trying to find two things I need online. First, I need a new swimsuit. Word of advice: Unless you plan to swim wearing very little, don't try to shop for a swimsuit online. It's ridiculous.

Second, I need an alarm clock. This is a messy area, because I am such a deep sleeper. I have found one type of alarm that wakes me up reliably is music. Not a buzzer, not radio (besides, I don't anticipate having radio over there), but music. Like from a CD or MP3 player. Unfortunately that is proving to be remarkably difficult to find. Did I mention that I would also prefer not to spend hundreds of dollars?

I never realized it would be so challenging to move overseas!

i really need to post more often

moodmellow

Guess I'm just falling out of the almost-daily posting habit.

Times are busy! I've just been working towards getting ready to go overseas, and it's proving to be more work than I thought it would be! Last Friday, my mom and I went shopping to buy clothes that were both respectful of the culture and appropriate for the climate. I pretty much need to buy a whole new wardrobe to take with me. Only a few of the items I already own fit within these categories. I have a dress code, too, but it's really pretty relaxed - mostly it just tells me how to buy clothes that are appropriate for the the culture and climate. Which means, as my mom says, "long, loose, and lots".

So I got (I think) five skirts, four or five tops, and three or four pairs of capri pants. Oh, and two pairs of flip-flops. I think that's just about everything. I still need a new pair of jeans (maybe two pair, we'll see), and I already own a couple of pairs of khakis. And I should buy a couple of pairs of bermuda-style shorts. Oh yea, and I already have two tops and three wrap-around skirts that I can take. Plus, I will get one or two pairs of river sandals (just to satisfy my mom!)

Keep in mind, of course, that all my luggage is a bit limited. For one thing, the weight limits of the airlines have gone down. I will only be able to take two pieces of luggage, maximum 50 lbs each, and 2 carry-ons. For another thing, since I will be living on a ship, I will not have a ton of storage space.

On Friday, we also took a few more hamster supplies to the animal shelter. I don't know if I can do that very often. It was just heartbreaking... the dogs jumping up, wanting attention. And the cats, reaching out of their cages, pawing me, just begging to be played with. Poor, poor animals.

For most of the day Saturday, I ripped lots of my music to my hard drive. I still plan on taking some of my CDs with me, but I also have lots of compilation-type CDs that only have one or two good songs on them. So I'm trying to sort out my music so that I only take the most necessary stuff.

This week, I have an appointment on Monday to get some of my immunizations. Probably HIB, and a polio booster, and maybe BCG. We also need to call the Health Department and see if they have any meningitis vaccines left. Later in the week, I have an appointment with my dentist to get my teeth cleaned. Then next week, I have an appointment with a Travel and Immunization Clinic for more shots. :) Meningitis, if I can't get it at the Health Department, yellow fever, cholera, rabies, and maybe flu and pnemonia. I *might* be able to get the flu/pnemonia shots somewhere else (for less money!)

Whoever knew it would be such a challenge to move overseas? But that's ok. I'm very excited about going and it's all worthwhile. Right now I'm just hanging on for the ride. I'll try to update again soon!

what a week...

mood:sick

Hallelujah, I survived my seminary course - or at least part of it. Now I have to write a bunch of papers and email them to my professor. But that won't be as bad as sitting in that classroom for hours and hours (8am to 6pm)!

My professor is very... opinionated. Can't say as I agree with everything he says, but I did learn quite a bit and had a lot of fun.

Unfortunately, I sat next to "Sniffly Steve" all week. Steve sniffled and blew his nose - a lot. And I think Steve gave me his cold, a real doozy. So I have almost no voice, I'm blowing my nose a lot, and I'm coughing a lot, but I'm on the rebound. The cough is always the last symptom to go.

On Friday I locked my keys in my car. That's the first time I've ever done that! I drove to class (roughly 45 minutes away), and when I got there it was POURING rain! I mean POURING! So I go to the backseat to get my backpack, lock the doors, and dash inside. Of course the student parking lot is not close to the door! I get inside and, as I'm setting my stuff down, it hits me- where are my keys? I run back out to the car to check and, lo and behold, I can see them through the window, sitting in my backseat. By the time I get back inside, I am SOAKING wet! Of course the A/C is running, so I was FREEZING cold all morning! :) I had to call the handy 1-800 roadside assist number, which luckily was written on a card in my wallet.

They sent a young guy out to open my car, and wouldn't you know, he had been working less than a WEEK! He had NO IDEA what he was doing. He almost opened the door to a Kia (not mine) instead of my Ford. Meanwhile, I'm at a seminary so he's asking me all these questions about what I'm doing there and why I'm taking this class, which I politely answer. He tells me that he is also a Christian. Then he starts hitting on me! Now this guy is handsome enough, I guess, though I don't know anything about his spiritual walk except that he is a Christian. And I'm flattered that he is hitting on me (I guess that means he is attracted to me?), but right now I am not interested in a relationship. So I have to be as polite and as kind as possible, and I thank him and ask him to please open my car.

Weirdness. I also found a website yesterday that I will post about soon, but right now I need to make a phone call. I have lots more things to figure out with my move to Africa, which has kept me far too busy lately. I never knew it would be this challenging to move overseas!

seminary insanity

mood:exhausted

This week I am taking a New Testament Survey course at Midwest Baptist Theological Seminary. I am seriously wondering what I got into! I mean, I signed up for the class because I thought it would teach me about the Bible and help prepare me to go to Africa. But it is so so so so hard.

I don't know Greek. But the professor is using a LOT of "original Greek" manuscripts (copies of them, at least) to determine the meanings of various verses and passages. He goes so, so fast. And it's just really overwhelming!

I want to learn this. I keep reminding myself that I just have to hang in there. It's hard to admit it but for this class, the grade really doesn't matter. I just need to sit there and learn as much as I can. But I could sure use your prayers, 'cuz it's tough!

somebody pinch me

mood:I can't decide!

Oh wow. This Africa thing is for real! It's just slowly, slowly starting to sink in. I can't decide if I should be excited, nervous, terrified, thrilled, or some combination of those.

Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow. This is for real.

around the world and back again

mood:shocked, surprised, & very, very thankful!

I got accepted.
I got an email this morning from the principal of the Academy on the Africa Mercy, and they accepted me to teach and sail on Mercy Ships.
WOW!
God is so good!

random2

Lately I've been thinking about crazy furniture. I like crazy furniture. Always have, probably always will. I like unique furniture, unusual pieces that no one else has. Beyond that, in the realm of "crazy furniture" are some pieces that are very, very functional.

I've been looking online at loft and hammock beds. Loft beds are highly functional in their space-saving capacity. You'll see lofts on virtually every college campus in the world.

Hammocks, traditionally hung in the backyard, are coming inside more and more. A hammock bed can literally be taken down and folded up during the day.

I've also been looking into a new alarm clock. Did you know that they now make alarm clocks with input jacks for your MP3 player? Very cool.

random1

moodrelaxed

Courtesy of Bunnyservant:

Check out this video! It's hilarious!

Hamster Chess

Discovery launched successfully

mood:excited

At 2:38 pm EST, the space shuttle Discovery successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center into orbit. Praise God for a successful launch!

NASA coverage of the Discovery launch

CNN coverage of the Discovery launch

you won't hear this on the news...

moodcurious

Roots of Human Family Tree Are Shallow: All Humans Share One Common Ancestor

Christian Film's PG Rating Troubles Congress

Discovery launch scrubbed

mood:disappointed, but only slightly

The launch of the space shuttle Discovery was scheduled for just a little while ago this afternoon, but was scrubbed due to bad weather. It's been rescheduled for tomorrow afternoon, and of course I will be watching. I really respect the astronauts who choose to risk their lives on the shuttles, especially after the Challenger and Columia disasters.

CNN coverage of the shuttle launch/delay

NASA coverage of the shuttle launch/delay

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139:7-10