in india!

We arrived safely!

Got into Delhi last night...I had slept for most of the 15-hour flight. (seriously.) And then...fell asleep promptly at 11-ish pm. And then...woke up at 5 a.m. And I've been awake since then.

I took the necessary preparations prior to this trip to be more easily "in touch," so I have a cell phone that works AND an internet connection that I will be able to use for most of my trip...this makes a HUGE difference in my homesickness levels.

It's kind of nice to be back. We have a very busy and full trip! I am looking forward to going back to Jharkand and Bihar, and to knitting on the train, and visiting sponsored families...should be good.

I miss y'all...keep in touch...

*ahhh*

I feel GOOD.

* this weather is absolutely unbelievable...I have never enjoyed being outside more in my ENTIRE LIFE.

* I'm leaving for India in 4 days, and I feel remarkably less stressed than I ever have before a trip. As far as work goes, I feel like I'm...ready?

* I have incorporated a Lenten practice into my...practice of Lent, and it has been really good. As Nate said last night, we just need a "restart" sometimes.

* I have also taken up the practice of looking at really beautiful blogs each day. beautiful images, inspiring design. it just puts me in a good frame of mind.

mmm...

...I'll try to blog more while I'm in India.

love it

"People who don't read piss me off." -david wayne reed

I would just like to announce...

...that this evening I bought:

1 candle
1 piece of cool fabric
1 lace tablecloth
3 glasses
5 spoons
1 gilded serving bowl
3 (nice) scarves (one brand new), and
1 pair of shoes

...for just over $12.

I LOVE THRIFTING!!

In the video below, Ilene talks about our visit to a leper colony in India:

january 20

:) today is a good day!!

domestic disturbances

Over the last couple of years, maybe just year, I have cultivated a love of -silence-. I don't know if it's because I've gained an appreciation for solitude, or because my inner-peace-level is higher, or I'm becoming more of an introvert, or I'm just more COMFORTABLE with silence (I haven't always been)...but these days, one of my greatest pleasures is to be alone in my apartment, piddling around and doing stuff or just lying around...with no noise. Maybe a bird chirping or something, but no music, tv, babies crying...nothing. ahhhhh.

The funny thing is, my upstairs neighbors (who happen to be my landlords, and super-cool ones at that) don't seem to share my love for -silence-. In fact, they tend to play music quite frequently, which is fine (I love music too!), except that...
a) it is LOUD.
b) it tends to have extremely heavy and prominent bass lines. and
c) it appears to come from a location that is directly above my bedroom.

I'm on my bed right now, and I have earplugs in (at 5:45pm), and I can STILL hear the bass of whatever it is they're playing right now. (sometimes I am not so fortunate to have it happen at such a reasonable hour...the reason for the earplugs-purchase was because this was happening between 11pm-1am on weeknights. this girl has to work in the mornings.)

It's funny, too, because the music that they DO play (and, when I am earplug-less, I can hear it quite clearly) is...funny. They are probably just a little younger than my parents, but they listen to things like Beyonce, random R&B, 90's adult alternative...stuff that I wouldn't expect from...them. But what do I know.

Anyway. The reason that I decided to blog about this was because just a bit ago I was listening to them listen to "Lady Marmalade," which was definitely clashing with my quiet Bon Iver. It seems to have stopped...maybe I can resume my quiet piddling now...:)