Glad note--
that Souljacker is back from missions and has sent another Postcard from Kabul. Sign in to see full entry.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
a painting of Mt Kilimanjaro...
Some years ago, my folks went to Africa. And a little while after they came home, Mom went through a painting phase. Yesterday I came into possession of my favorite of her efforts, a painting of the Serengeti Plain and Mount Kilimanjaro on the horizon. She never thought much of it... typical of her attitude towards her own creations. I, however, have liked it since I first laid eyes on it, and am enjoing very much doing so now. Pretty soon I will wrap it up again for the journey home. But I... Sign in to see full entry.
Monday, April 26, 2010
recipe from Senegal
The menu at the dinner for Gueoul was a dish called maffe gerte, or 'meat in peanut sauce.' The meat was beef, and there were an assortment of vegetables steamed, and served with it, and the sauce was a touch spicy and not that noticeably peanutty... very, very tasty indeed! Dessert was right up Naut's alley, lately: waternelon and blackberries. The actual recipe is on page 108 of the cookbook put out by Friends of Gueoul, called It Tastes of Your Hand. This derives from the expression used to... Sign in to see full entry.
A stunning sunrise... and... OW!
If you saw my Adventuring item yesterday, you'll know I intended to go for a horseback ride this morning. Changed my mind. It isn't the snow, directly--But snow it did, in the night. I woke at dawn to see the sky blue and pink, and mo matter it was not quite 6am, of course I threw on clothes and shoes and scurried outside. A few pictures, then back to bed... that was the plan. The snow was not an issue. Ice on the slanting driveway... It may have been dawn, but I was suddenly seeing stars!... Sign in to see full entry.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Dinner in Gueoul
Yesterday it snowed a little in Colorado Springs... a lot more, to the north! Enough that the snowplows were out on the highway pushing dirt snow around... and the drive back at 10pm was in high wind and driving snow, the roads varying from merely wet to very slushy. I did not hurry. The dinner was great! Lots of people attended, there was a silent auction of Senegalese and other things, and there was a teller of African tales to entertain. The food was a Senegalese dish, a stew with vegetables,... Sign in to see full entry.
Friday, April 23, 2010
There is snow outside my window.
Yesterday was clear and bright, with occasional thunderstorms. Pike's Peak stood out brilliantly against a backdrop of dramatic clouds. Day before was grey in the air... as if misty or smokey. Even Pike's Peak was obscured. Some days have been hot. This one... so far, definitly not. But by afternoon, it might be... This is one weird town for weather. If you don't like it, they say, as is said in many places, just wait ten minutes. Here, they add: or drive ten miles. Welcome to Colorado Springs! Sign in to see full entry.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Thanks!
Several Blogiteers have contacted me regarding helping me raise the funds for the trip to Gueoul, and I am delighted to report that since taking on this project, I have raised already over $200 through photo-book sales. I can't thank you enough for taking an interest! The money that gets me to Gueoul, about half will go to airfare, the rest to the Friends of Gueoul, and thence to the girls of Gueoul. Friday evening is the annual dinner of the Friends of Gueoul... so looking forward to attending,... Sign in to see full entry.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Welcome to Gueoul, Senegal
There is a town of around 11,000 people in this west African nation, and it has gone through a change. It is called Gueoul--pronounced 'gway-ool' Someone took note that traditionally, girls in this culture, are not educated, but are often victims of the worst kinds of crime against girls and women: assault, genital cutting, too-early marriage and motherhood, sexual trafficking, wasted lives... The town itself, like many communities paid for its neglect and abuse of its girls and women in higher... Sign in to see full entry.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Here we are at Starfest...
Charlie dressed up in his golem costume... stomped around the fest with a couple of buddies holding up signs: Hug the Golem $1--all the proceeds for Relay For Life, in other words, cancer research. He has just returned to the room and we have counted up the dollars: His organization, Bedlam Knights will be sending $70 to RFL from this night's hugging! There will be photos later on... Sign in to see full entry.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
STARFEST 2010
Next weekend, Charlie and I will be attending a sci-fi convention in Denver. He has gone the last year or two, and this year will be on the program with a couple of presentations, one on Live Action Role Play gaming--make-believe with themes, for grownups--and something about zombies. I thought he meant to teach people how to act out zombies, but no: It is all about how to survive a zombie attack. He goes to see stars like Marina Sirtis (played Counselor Troy in STAR TREK: The Next Generation)... Sign in to see full entry.