Good Stuff

From Streams in the Desert, by L. B. Cowman

Bourne Marathon

So yesterday for the first time I watched The Bourne Identity, then The Bourne Supremacy, and then The Bourne Ultimatum, all in one afternoon/evening. Enjoyed them all.

It's been a while since I've watched an action movie. Oddly,
it was just us girls watching; no guys. Go figure. Hopefully they'll put out another movie soon--I want the David Webb bit! I guess Eric Van Lustbader took Jason Bourne and ran like crazy with him in The Bourne Legacy,... Betrayal,... Sanction, and now The Bourne Deception, due to be released this year. Has anyone been reading the whole series? Can they possibly stay good all the way? How far will this go? How does an author obtain permission to use another author's character and story line?

After a little research, I have discovered (what maybe you already know) that Robert Ludlum--author of The Bourne Identity; Supremacy; and Ultimatum--died in 2001 and 3 years later Van Lustbader picked up the Jason Bourne character, 14 years after The Ultimatum was written. Apparently that particular film was very loosly based on the book. There was a crazy bunch of background on David Webb not included in the movies. I wonder which author laid it out? Can't figure out which book all that background is in. Curious if it will come forth in a later movie? If they don’t make another Bourne movie, I may be forced to read the books. Ack! More books by my bed....

Too Many Books, Too Little Time.

How many books do you juggle at one time? How often do you finish a book you started? I can't count all the books I have going at the moment. I want to finish them all! I can't stand to start something and not finish. Here's a list of what I'm currently working through:

* Revelations of a Single Woman--loving the life i didn't expect
(by Connally Gilliam)
* Up From Slavery (Booker T. Washington autobiography),
which is available to read online
* Streams in the Desert (L. B. Cowman)
* A manual and workbook written by a friend that I am hoping will help me figure out what my personal cultural values are by "revisiting" my childhood home. What things are unique to me/my family; why do I think and operate the way I do?
* When You Look Like Your Passport Photo It's Time to Go Home
(by Erma Bombeck)
* Fighting Angel (by Pearl Buck)

I'm quite sure I'm forgetting some. When I get home I'll see if there is something else sitting in the pile next to my bed. I am so slow! I mostly read in bed at night, and rarely make it past a couple pages before I’m falling asleep. There are so many other books I have begun but don't have a clue when I'll finish, and I don't know if I will! They don't belong in the list at the moment because I'm not carrying them around or keeping them by the bed--not that either of those qualifications means I am making any progress on a book. :)

The Wedding--#2

Here are some shots from the big day. The bride is the oldest of 8 children. Be sure to click on the collages--they look much cooler in detail!

Starting from top left and moving clockwise:

Ladies playing little gongs the night before the wedding; me and a good buddy; sprinkling rice on the bride and groom in the street; the bride before the groom appeared; boys being boys--who needs weddings? Trees are so much more fun; father of the bride; one of the bride's little sisters (#7 of the 8 kids); the dishwashing station; sprinkling holy water on the bride and groom in the street; "flower girls" maybe? sister-of-the-bride and friend (well, probably cousin); center picture: me and a bunch of the kids; bride and groom

Wedding Prep

My village leader's daughter got married last week. Here's a little collage of some of the work that goes into preparing for a wedding. I sat in the ladies' spice circle and helped with grindng tamarind which turned my hand yellow for the day, but my fingernails didn't recover for a week. It is unbelievable all the work involved in preparing the spices for the meals! I also did the weeding and helped with decorations. Bottom right corner is the buffalo tied up for the feast.

Journal Entry

God, I am a broken record. Do you not tire of hearing me?....
How could you have patience with me, mulling over and over on the same issues, time and time again? How do you manage listening to billions of people, knowing each one so intimately? Maybe because you made us each unique, that's what helps you to stay sane, each of us with our unique issues, coming to you time and again. But you ARE love. It is your very essensce, who you are. How do you do it?

Broken Record

Okay, so I can't get over the new road here. I just have to say I feel it is noteworthy that I can ride a bicycle from camp to my house (8 km / 5 miles) in two-thirds the time it used to take in a truck. Sorry to keep bringing up the road, but it has unbelievably transformed our lives since it has been paved. I'll try not to bring it up again (although I imagine when the potholes return I'll have something to say--but hoping I won't have to experience that again). :) Pictured here is a sunset I tried to capture the other day biking home. Picture doesn't do it justice.

Funny Clip

My friend posted this video clip on her blog and I thought it was quite hilarious. “Everything’s Amazing, Nobody’s Happy” is a 4-minute clip from the Late Night with Conan O’Brien show, hosting comedian Louis CK. I enjoyed this so much that I went in search of more Louis CK, but was disappointed when I found a foul-mouthed man who insults his wife and kids. So anyway, enjoy this clip and don’t bother looking for more of his stuff.

P.S. If you were born mid-80's and beyond, it's possible you won't find this as humorous as those of us who used rotary phones and the old credit card machines. :)