my archenemy

Thanks for all the nice comments about my recent change in haircolor. It's lightened a little, and I'm no longer jumping out of surprise every time I look in the mirror.

My archenemy, who showed his ugly face this past spring in Austin, has done so again, only here in Windhoek. I thought I could out run him, well, at least outsmart him changing hemispheres and all, but he found me nonetheless. Cedars, blooming bushes, trees I never knew existed while growing up in dusty West Texas, all have joined forces to keep me down for a week. Allergies. What a puny sounding word to describe something so miserable. I used to (have prayed for forgiveness for this), roll my eyes at people when they said, "I'm sick with allergies". Boo hoo I thought. No big deal. I now have great empathy for them.

I feel like I've been run over by a steam roller. I'm sneezing, runny nose, stuffy head, sinus headache, itchy, sore eyes.... the list goes on. For one week my archenemy, the allergen, has been beating down my door. Allegra has made a small, temporary dent in my symptoms, but no lasting relief. I need something more powerful! Like all the bushes and trees removed from Windhoek!! Too extreme?

My years growing up in West Texas, where nothing grows on its own, did not prepare me for life among the flora and fauna. I lived in a bubble, blissfully sneeze and itching-free. Alas, I shall pay for those years of innocence... or at least buy a life-time prescription to claritin and flonase...

In other news, I was informed that the female missionaries who come to Windhoek are warned that they should carry a condom in their wallet.... WHAT?!? Yes, you read that right. Here's the idea. You can survive a rape, but you can't survive HIV. Sounds harsh, but its a reality. And while it may seem silly to think about shoving a condom in the face of a rapist, its worth asking. A recent study published by the government-funded Medical Research Council of South Africa, found that 1 in 4 South African men admit to committing an act of rape. And with over 15% of Namibia's population infected with HIV, it may not hurt to wave a condom in front of his face....

Tears of Frustration

I am sooo frustrated right now. I think the right words to use would be "seething with frustration."

Saturday night I drew the line. Having put on 20 pounds since I graduated from high school in 2000, and five of those just in the past 7 months, I decided I needed to change. So, I joined weightwatchers online. Starting Sunday I stuck to not drinking any cokes, I ate A LOT of fruit and veggies, with salads every day for lunch and working out at least 40 minutes every day.

Yesterday was my birthday. I didn't even celebrate. I got calls from family and friends, which were much appreciated. I went to work, had a healthy lunch, left work at 7pm, went to the gym, lifted weights, did cardio, ate a healthy dinner of grilled chicken and fresh vegetables and I didn't even eat cake. no birthday cake. birthday cake is my favorite. All in an effort to safely lose 20 pounds in 5 months.

What do I get for 5 days of hard work and no birthday cake? I GAINED 2 POUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!

Literally, frustrated to tears right now. Next to me at the gym, as I'm sweating, running with all 148 pounds moving all over the place, I'm surrounded by itsy, bitsy, teeny tiny women who do 10 minutes of running and get off.

Is it worth it? EAting foods and still being hungry. Abstaining from my 2 favorite foods: Soft drinks and bread. I get nothing except for 2 more pounds.

Working 50+ hours a week, only to go home and do more. I have no life. Is it worth it?

Legally Blind...not quite

I found out this week that my eyes have gotten worse. I now have a -9.5 prescription in both eyes. Fortunately, I discovered that to be categorized as "legally blind" you have to have less than 20/200 vision WITH corrective lenses. So, as long as I have the sent-from-heaven-contacts, I'm good to go!

PSA: If you wear contacts on a regular basis, you need to take them out every night!! For the past several years, I heard similar warnings while continuing to wear my soft contacts for weeks, sometimes months on end without taking them out... uh, not a great idea. At my yearly eye check I was told that I had increased blood vessel growth in my eyes (not sure which part) due to wearing contacts too much. It's kind of scary when the warnings come true. Take Home Message: Give your eyes a break! You only get one set! Trust me, I looked into getting a new set, and got shot down.

In other news, perhaps you've heard of a little team called the "Patriots"? Yea, well, they are my hometown team now and they just so happen to be undefeated and are 1 game away from, uh that big game. (Hey, if the Players can't say the word, I'm not going to jinx it either!) 3PM on Sunday, I want to hear some good hootin' and hollerin' for those Patriots, even in Texas!

"Hey Sexy, Can I buy you a Pepsi?!?" -- yes, this was an actual pick up line shouted at me the other night as I walked to the grocery store. It's hard to be this beautiful...

Boston is good, but still cold. brrr. The high tomorrow is 24. 2 weeks ago we had almost record high of 62 degrees. I was inside working all day, but even going home that night was great, you barely needed a jacket! I'm hoping that will last me until Spring comes, which apparently isn't until MAY here! Yea, May. May in Texas is summer!

I realized today that I am several different ages, all at once. Let me explain:
Chronologically I am 25 years, 10 months, 14 days, 10 hours and 16 minutes. :)
My "Real Age" is 23.9 years
I feel, and probably will feel for awhile, 17 years old.
In Texas, especially West Texas, I'm considered old for being almost 26 and not married.
In Boston, 26 and not married is considered young.

I guess age really is relative, in that case, I wouldn't mind being this age again:


School Spirit? Check.
A great pair of jeans? Check.
An appetite for fine chocolate? Check.
A winning smile? Check.

I'VE GOT SPIRIT YES I DO! I'VE GOT SPIRIT HOW BOUT YOU?!?

Recipe for Success

Around this time of year, all I hear are females (sorry ladies, its true) moaning and groaning about how much weight they're going to gain during the holidays and "woe is me, how will i ever make it through the month of December and not turn into a blue whale?!?" Alas, I have the answer: A kind stranger passed this recipe on to me only a few days ago, and I feel I would be betraying my fellow XXs if I didn't do the same. It's a recipe for success, a way to make it through the holidays without getting the nickname "Lardo".

Here are the ingredients:

2 cups loose stools
4 cups nausea
1 tsp achiness
1/3 cup of stomach cramps
Just a Dash of Headache

Mix this all together and let simmer for 8 hours. Drink it Christmas Eve and I guarantee binging on sweets will be the last thing on your mind. Trust me, I know. *insert another thank you to the kind stranger who passed this on to me* Beware, don't over do it on the ingredients, if you put too much in, you'll be sick the day after, and then you'll miss all the good shopping.

Off to finish my chicken soup and Sprite,
Em

It's that time of year again

I'm allergic to finals.
seriously, everytime they come around, my throat swells up like a grapefruit, all the mucous cells in my nose head south, and lymph nodes pretend their softballs.
5 days, 5 finals.

Seriously, I think God does it so He can receive all the glory (as He should). Because I don't have the energy or the clear-headedness to study like I should, and sometimes I'm so ill I don't even remember taking the test. Therefore when my grades come out and I've made A's and B's, I know it's by His Grace alone.

so here I am, sick again, and full of Grace. Prayers being accepted now on my behalf.