I don't know when it changed, but I've realized that I don't like to hug anyone except my boyfriend.

I think that I used to hug people and not feel awkward about it.

I had another moment today. They come less frequently than they used to. It was a moment where some small thing someone does or says brings back a flood of crazy, intense memories from Kenya.

This time it was "Good Samaritan" that brought on the moment.

If there had been a true Good Samaritan for Harun, perhaps he would still be here.

I'll have to sort through more memories (I need a pensieve!) in preparation for my Peace Corps talk that I'm giving at PU Calumet later this month.

I'm done with this place in four short weeks! Yes, I'll be back in August, but I won't be in the same apartment.

I haven't been in a book store since I picked up An Echo in the Bone back in September... and somehow I completely missed that Anita Shreve had a new book out at the SAME TIME. Ugh, I can't believe it's been out for months and I just found out about it. And it even takes place in Kenya!
I'll be making a stop at Borders tomorrow morning.

My cell phone contract is up at the beginning of next month... which means I've been back for almost 2 years.

My Form 1's are now Form 4's! Those kids were ridiculous...

I guess I'm where I thought that I'd be after Peace Corps, but I didn't think there would be this much drama.

I really miss those peaceful nights when I'd blow out the candle or turn off the head lamp, and everything would be dark and quiet.

Colts vs. Saints!!

Sometimes I have mixed feelings about being back in America, but right now I'm so freaking happy to be here! The last time the Colts were in the Super Bowl (XLI), I was invited to a party with Marines(!), but had to decline because I was supposed to be in Kajiado, Kenya (in the desert, without decent tv). I was a sad, crying mess all night and anxiously awaited score updates from my Dad and brother-in-law. I got almost no sleep, but was happy to receive congratulatory texts from other PCVs the next day.
My Mom bought a Colts Super Bowl Champions t-shirt (which I wore today when the Colts were playing the Jets), but I didn't receive it until April. Strangely enough, a few weeks before Super Bowl XLI, I found a Peyton Manning jersey at a market at Caitlin's site in North Kinangop... Of course, I bought the thing without really bargaining and proudly displayed it in my house.

Soooo even though it's icky and rainy and cold here (compared to warm and rainy in Nairobi), I'm glad I'm not halfway around the world.

Hopefully, I'll soon be wearing a Colts Super Bowl XLIV Champions t-shirt... and send a picture of it to Carlos.

yeah, yeah, yeah... they say it's what's on the inside that counts, but it's amazing what bright blond highlights and a pair of booty-licious pants can do to improve a girl's mood

I'm getting myself out of this rut. It's a new year and time to start over.

I'm not usually one to make New Years' resolutions, but I thought of one for 2010: No more dating stupid alcoholics. Regular stupid guys are ok, and so are the smart alcoholics (they're rare, but they are out there), but I need to stay away from the stupid guys that drink way too much on a regular basis.

Maybe I'm a little late in realizing this, but at least I'm learning.

Check back in 2011 to see if I made good on my resolution.

meant to be spent alone...

While everyone else is going back to work tomorrow, I'll be on my way to a condo on the beach. It won't be warm enough to go in the water, but at least I won't be wearing a coat and scarf and gloves.