Microwave blues

Darkness has descended upon Prague this evening. Earlier, while napping, I heard the peaceful pitter-patter of rain drops. When I'm chilled and tired, there's nothing quite like rain to make one feel justified in being lazy, getting into one's snug bed, and resting the eyes for 30 minutes, an hour, or even two hours in extreme cases.

Lately, I've had reason to take long naps... Friday morning I fumbled taking something out of the microwave which spilled on some of my fingers, resulting in 2nd degree burns. This was 7:15 am approximately. From 7:30-10:30 I alternated standing in the kitchen with my hands submerged in a pyrex dish with lying carefully on the couch with my hands submerged in a pyrex dish. Once the burning sensation stopped, my friend Aska accompanied me to the hospital burn section.

As a foreigner, one constantly learns new things. Little did I know that the hospital across the street from my work was actually a massive complex of old, old, buildings. Although communism fell nearly 20 years ago, there is plenty left behind to remind one of the not entirely distant pass. Fortunately, my wait was minimal. I can only imagine what I would have sat through in the emergency room back home in Binghamton or DC for that matter. Once in the doctor's door, it took less than a minute before the nurse guided me to a seat where she gently approached my wounds with what I will call "magic tape" followed by gauze. Once wrapped, I breathed a sigh of relief: My ultra tender skin was no longer exposed and the pain seemed less.

Hopefully, I'm on the road to recovery. Tomorrow I go back to have my dressings changed, and repeat this process every 2 days. I'm so glad I had a friend around for this emergency and that she will be around for the next 2 months as she continues her job search. (Mom, no worries, I'm in good hands!)

Life's Simple Pleasures

Okay, I'm not that old in the grand scheme of things, but I definitely don't have the energy I once had as a 21-year old. (Sigh) Those were the days of seeming invincibility. Not anymore, that is for sure. One lesson I continue to learn is how to read my body. As well, I'm still learning when to say yes, and when to say no.

This past weekend struck the right chord: a Saturday morning trip to the gym followed by brunch with a friend at Cafe Savoy, an art nouveau Parisienne cafe across the river. There's much joy to be had in life's simple pleasures.


Yes, my friend Liz, recently back from the Pacific Northwest, and I feasted as we caught up over the last 3-4 weeks. Good food and good conversation go hand in hand :)

After parting ways, I decided to cross the river by foot before catching the no. 22 tram home. Looking out on the Vltava and the many paddle boats afloat, I was reminded of what a beautiful city I am blessed to call home.

Through the Fog

It's hard to believe today marks 8 years since that horrific day in September 2001.

I lived in Hoboken NJ, December 1999 through August 2002, working in downtown Manhattan in the Financial District, a mere couple of blocks from the Twin Towers. From my cubicle space I could see the Statue of Liberty, including approaching storms, a truly fantastic sight. The conference room right beside me peered out on the World Trade Center. It was one of the most enviable views.

Everyday I took the NJ Path train from Hoboken to the World Trade Center, as I did that day. My train's doors ushered me out and onto the underground platform just as the first plane crashed. Little did I know, once above ground and standing on the street, gaping at the burning hole of the North Tower, that my world and our world had drastically changed. There is no turning back.

But amidst the pain, something amazing occurred in New York and across the Hudson in Jersey that autumn: people of all shapes and sizes and colors and accents pulled together. There was an awesome sense of community. We consciously lived and breathed each moment, cherishing it, our families and friends.

Unfortunately, the fog of life settles back too quickly. We get caught up in traffic jams, unclean dishes, long lines at the grocery store, and doctors' offices with punishing waits. We work long hours, and cut short time with our kids and loved ones. Simply put, we forget the most painful of lessons - life is fragile, it is a precious gift from our Creator. At least I for one am guilty.

Today I think back on that crisp blue sky, and I pray for eyes to see clearly through the fog.

Lazy Day

Okay, I'm soft. I can't help it. Look at this little cutie. I can't stop! During Sophia's 3-week old visit to the pediatrician, the doctor mentioned that natural smiles -- as opposed to gas-induced grins -- usually start around 2 months. Well, I wish I could be there in person, but pictures and skype dates will have to suffice for now. Thank the Lord for modern communication advances. It really is amazing.

So today was a very low-key Saturday. Just what I needed, just what the doctor ordered. I did get out at one point to go to the gym. The air had a hint of September, autumn, and football season... It doesn't matter how many years pass, every end of August, I have to remind myself that the day after labor day is just that and nothing more. A student for life I guess :)

Speaking of which, I've spent a chunk of tonight reading from ex-Petraeus advisor, Australian counterinsurgency expert, David Kilcullen's book, The Accidental Guerrilla. Kilcullen effectively argues that if we are to succeed in Afghanistan and Pakistan, it will require at least a 10-15 year commitment. Having deployed both to Iraq and Afghanistan, he remarks that while Iraqi insurgents like to win, they don't necessarily like to fight, but that Afghan insurgents on the other hand love to fight. We certainly have our hands full...

Of escalators, pot holes, and tourists

In Washington, DC, for two weeks this July, I experienced a weird sense of culture shock on the metro. After a year and a half living in Prague, all memories of crowded commuter metro trains from Court House to Federal Center, SW had been wiped clean. The need to metro surf and contort my body to fit into small spaces was not, however, what put me over this time around. No, it was the slower than molasses escalators! One thing that the Soviets did extraordinarily well was build public metro systems that doubled as fallout shelters. I lost my patience on the DC metro escalators. I simply could not cope with the snail's pace. It drove me out of my mind.

Back in Prague, I am nearly certain the escalators move faster than those in DC, but their speed has been reduced. Alas, as Prague escalators are being replaced or repaired, transit authorities are turning the speed down a notch due to new EU regulations. While the original Soviet escalators clocked 9 km/h (2.5 m/s), the EU permitted speed is a maximum of 0.7 m/s. Oh woe is me!

As a pedestrian in Prague, I've also had my share of pitfalls. Walking home tonight from the metro, the uneven sidewalk with its patchwork of concrete and asphalt loosely reminded me of how the Town of Barker has, over the years, repeatedly paved the road on which my parents' house sits. Admittedly, not all sidewalks are so bad, but the couple I happen to traverse every morning and evening on my way to and from Jiriho z Podebrad metro leave something to be desired. I'm wondering if this might have something to do with my newly discovered love of walking down the middle of streets - until a car happens to drive up or the guilt of teaching children bad habits becomes more than I can bear. Yes, sidewalks are simply anathema to me whether in the Czech Republic or U.S. Simply put, I like wide open spaces that are generally flatter and smoother than most sidewalks.

On my way to the gym tonight, I was stopped by an Italian lady wanting to know how to get to the "clock tower". I pointed her in the right direction and also showed her and her friends on the map. Funny, but a couple seconds later I could have sworn I saw them head in a different direction. Go figure?! I think I still enjoy stopping and attempting to help wayward souls. I think.

Auntie Christine Meets Baby Sophia

Yes, I know, it has been months since I last wrote. I will skip my litany of excuses and simply provide a brief update on one of this summer's most important events...

You are looking at my first niece (I write this in hope of many more :)), Sophia Isabelle Schulz, born to my sister Karen and brother-in-law Christian. Sophia weighed in at 7 lbs and 5 oz, and recently reached 8 lbs and 14 oz at just over 3 weeks. I was the proud auntie who accompanied her to her 2nd doctor appointment and had the honor of putting her gently on the scale for weigh in. We were all so surprised by the 14 additional ounces - 8 lbs we were sure of, but nearly 9 lbs was astonishing.

From an early age, Sophia is exhibiting personality, including familial characteristics. If you've spend much time around me or members of my clan, you are probably familiar with the range of sounds I make when I yawn, eat amazing food, bump into unkind corners, or suffer from a bircup. Again, I am proud to share that Sophia, too, makes plenty of sounds and is so very communicative. We are betting she will be an early talker as well as an early walker. Sophia has exceptional neck strength and has already learned to turn her head on your shoulder. We were so excited by her development that we decided to try "belly time". Although she can't yet crawl, she is making good progress toward that end. I for one am confident of this.

I could go on and on about this precious little one. On Saturday morning, I woke up in Arlington VA with a singular purpose: to view Sophia's picture on my cell phone. Of course, as I did so my heart ached something fierce. For the previous week my days revolved around helping Karen with Sophia, changing diapers, putting on pajamas, birping, and entertaining. My favorite technique to calm her was blowing gently on the side of her face or forehead. Karen saw how effective this was in soothing her and has added it to her baby toolkit. As you can see, I truly am multi-talented.

After three weeks stateside, I am now back in Prague. Throughout today, I think I looked at Sophia's picture at least 10-20 times. I miss my little "sweat pea" and "baby cakes" dearly and am so glad I was there to see her at the beginning of her life journey. Only in early August, I'm already getting excited for Christmas!

Polish Pottery Road Tripping

My trip with 3 friends from church to Boleslawiec, Poland -- the mecca for American females addicted to beautifully-decorated handmade pottery -- resulted in successful haul. The first time my eyes set upon the wonders of this craft was 1998. You might say I was in the know long before the wave hit. Nowadays army wives from Ramstein base in Germany take buses nearly 18 hours to go shopping at the myriad factory stores in this small southwest border town. For me, Jane, Liz, and Marilyn, it was only a three hour drive there and another three hours back. We also stopped for Polish pierogies, which were good, but very heavy and buttery -- perhaps too much so. Next time we've already decided we need to bring a bag lunch to optimize shopping time since some places close as early as 2 or 3 pm. It was a beautiful, beautiful day -- for more reasons than one!

London Calling

Just got back from a lovely weekend in London, England, where I met up with my dear friend Leah from college and my friend Alex from grad school Intervarsity. Had a great time taking in Winston Churchill's wartime bunker, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, and the West End production of Wicked and eating yummy cupcakes, Lebanese food, and Southern Indian.

A few thoughts on London:

The Tube is slow! I missed my flight out of Heathrow and had to spend a night and book for Monday morning. I ended up doubling my expenses for the weekend. Oh well... c'est la vie. I wasn't about to spend the night at the airport no matter how chique the new terminal 5 might be.

“We are all worms but I do believe I am a glow worm". Winston Churchill

Wicked ROCKS! I loved it. Here's my favorite song:

Easter Monday

Easter weekend in Prague was absolutely beautiful for more than one reason. The sun was out, the weather was warm, the sky was blue, and there was plenty of time for rest, reflection and fellowship with friends. After a difficult last 2 weeks or so, with lot's of unpleasant happenings (the horrible event in Binghamton, my wallet getting stolen, and my hot water heater breaking), I can honestly say God gave me a refreshed perspective. As one ponders the death and resurrection of Jesus, I guess that is bound to happen :) On Easter Sunday I enjoyed brunch after service with friends Sheila and Liz and Liz's parents. On Easter Monday -- when most Czech boys are out on the street, whipping girls with branches -- I took a leisurely walk to Prague Castle to see a photo exhibit on World War I. It was a very cool collection of digitally remastered photos from an unknown foot soldier. The pictures were from the Italian and Galician front. The photographer captured many ordinary and very human shots: burying the dead, celebrating Mass, Galician Jews, a mother picking lice out of her child's hair, ethnic Rusyn villages just to name a few. Afterwards I walked back through the castle gardens, down the steps, through Mala Strana, and eventually home. Oh, I stopped for a toilet break at McDonald's where I treated myself to a McFlurry. Yum.

A few sights from today's walk...

Singing the Praises of Modern Technology

Last Thursday I helped celebrate my friend Lenka's birthday. It was at the same place as last year - a vegetarian restaurant called Maranatha in the BBC Centrum. This year there were two differences: firstly, I got lost, but thanks to my cell phone and a good friend near a computer, I made it an hour late; secondly, the dinner was followed by African dance.

Lenka is a very special and unique friend. She often helps get me out of my nice, familiar zone of comfortability and challenges me to try new things, yet unexplored. I have to say the African dance was a hoot! It was exhilarating to let go, to move it, to even shake it like a polaroid picture, pretending I'm Beyoncé. It is hard to believe that I've now celebrated two of Lenka's birthdays here. More and more I come to realize Prague is home.

Living overseas is not as tough as it once was. Modern technology sure helps! I'm continually grateful for Skype and Facebook. Some friends loath Facebook. Their opinion: "Why all of a sudden open yourself to high school classmates and others you fell out of touch with over the years for good reasons... because life circumstances and experiences led you down different paths?" They go on to argue that email and online chatting has resulted in the death of the letter.

While it is true I miss opening up my mail box to find letters and cards, I am glad for new and instantaneous communication venues. Viewing my cousins' kids' pictures, friends' videos of their kids, newly married friends' pictures of their travels, and colleagues' videos of their kids and/or worldly travels help me both keep and grow more connected. Admittedly, I sometimes grow a bit envious, but overall, I'm a FB fan!

Super Bowl Woes

I somehow got roped into organizing a Super Bowl viewing at work in our 5th floor conference room looking out over the Narodni Muzeum and parts of Wenceslas Square. I sincerely doubt there will be more than 10 people, but we'll see. These little things are quite big in the grand scheme of things - and I find they go a long way to boost morale.

The game starts at 00:20. Yes, that's right - after midnight! Last year I actually watched it until about 4:00 am but left before Eli Manning's awesome pass to Plaxico Burress. Instead I had to settle for reruns on a German sports channel. Anyhow, last year was memorable - me, my cookies, and the tech guys, who enjoyed my cookies. We'll see who this year brings. I'm not baking as I need every bit of energy to stay up for the first quarter or two.

Today's not yet over, but it has been a good day. Enjoyed lunch with Aska, Dan, and Eliza followed by watching "Lars and the Real Girl" which is a very sweet movie if you haven't seen it. And, now for Russian homework! Arghhhhh!

Farewell, January!

A wise man once told me I need not worry about penning lengthy testimonials, but rather keep to short posts which is exactly what I shall attempt to do tonight.

Well, January is officially over - that is 1/12 of 2009 already concluded. Wow. Don't know where it went.

Today was a slow day: I stayed in pajamas till about 3:30 pm. I struggled with extreme sluggishness and joint pain. I probably could have lounged the entire day, but I managed to do 2 loads of laundry and run the vacuum and clean the bathroom. I also attended a real treat for the ears, soul, and mind: "Heaven in a Nightclub: The Spiritual Roots of Jazz" with Bill Edgar and Ruth Naomi Floyd and an outstanding saxophonist whose name escapes me. Boy, we're they good! I especially enjoyed listening to Ruth Naomi Floyd - a mezzo soprano - sing old negro spirituals such as "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" and "Wade in the Water."

And for the last several hours, snow has been gently falling here in Prague. It is always something special to look out the window and see white. I wonder what Sunday morning shall bring...

PS: Below are a few photos from our ICP Women's retreat which took place last weekend. These are an awesome group of ladies!

Merry Christmas

I'm way behind the eight ball. The optimist I perpetually hope to be, I thought perhaps I'd find a few spare moments at home in upstate NY over Christmas to write a proper update. Alas, that did not happen. Rather, over half of my family took sick with a vicious stomach virus. This was no 24-hour bug, but a multi-day bathroom excursion. As I maintained one of the highest degrees of healthiness in the household, and I was also given an extra measure of grace, I rose to the occasion as a caregiver. This took various forms: from washing the Christmas glassware and other sundry items to fetching water and gatorade to firmly instructing loved ones to vacate the bathroom floor. Sorry, but it's the truth.

I also had hopes of stealing away with my laptop the few days I spent in DC, but spending real time with friends proved more appealing and necessary. Then again, there were hopes I'd carve away a few hours this afternoon after church, but I received an email from a friend and colleague who was in need of company. I think, at least, you will find that I have my priorities straight. Blog comes last.

So, here I sit with the clock clicking past midnight and my first day at work hours away...

To sum up the last couple weeks at home in Binghamton and DC - my trip was hard, but good. Time with loved ones (despite all the sickies in NY and DC) was sweet and precious. I am truly blessed with family and friends. I just wish they had healthier immune systems!

There's more to say, but let this suffice for tonight.

Don't you love the reindeer flamingos? :) They are my favorite.