tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5765555648424703462024-03-14T03:57:22.260+01:00An American in Belgiummusings on living in BelgiumMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.comBlogger199125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-17443424322760490282012-02-19T16:14:00.000+01:002012-02-19T16:14:44.685+01:00It's Hard to ExplainIn January I began co-teaching a ballroom dance class with a friend of mine. Every week I send out video links and reminders regarding the next class. Shortly after I sent out my latest missive, I received this email response -<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><i>I'm sorry, but the kids and I are heading to Rome on Thursday, so we won't be able to attend on Thursday.</i></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My initial response was - oh well, we'll miss them but see them next week. Then I got to thinking about how friends and family back in the States might perceive this and realized it is an odd world over here. We country hop like it is nobody's business. Trains can get us easily and quickly to England, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Allen has "away" meets for track in England, Germany and the Netherlands. There are discount airlines that make Rome or Dublin day trip or weekend destinations. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In the time it takes us to drive from DC to Michigan we could be in Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and/or Switzerland. If we don't feel like driving so far then we simply visit the Netherlands, Luxembourg or closer parts of Germany or France. Having lunch in France is not unreasonable.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">All of the above is not to brag - I hope you don't perceive it to be. It is to say that geographically, we can get to many interesting destinations without alot of fuss and expense. Thus when I hear of people going to Rome, I really do think nothing of it. Belgium may not be a fantastic travel destination but truly it is a great <i>travel from</i> destination. One that we have been fortunate to enjoy. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">European travel is great. There are many places to see and enjoy. I understand it is a big deal. Trans-atlantic plane fare isn't cheap. Once you take the Atlantic Ocean out of the way though, traveling European countries becomes quite economical and something many Americans enjoy while their here. </span>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-17272973524424793902012-02-11T12:00:00.000+01:002012-02-11T12:00:03.722+01:00French ClassThis week I began my fourth semester of French class here on SHAPE. Every semester brings a new mix of classmates and this one was no exception.<br />
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In the upper level French classes there are fewer and fewer Americans and this class is no exception. Of the 12 of us, there are only two Americans. There are three Italians, a Lithuanian, a Romanian, a woman from Portugal, a Canadian, a man from Spain a woman from Ecuador and one more European that is not immediately coming to mind. Not only are these individuals quite advanced in French many of them also speak English well. <br />
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I enjoy the international flavor of our class and the opportunities we have to explore not only the French language but cultural differences as well. In past classes we have discussed (in French) health insurance, curfews for teenagers, and shopping on Sundays. This is great for stretching our vocabulary as well as learning about other cultures.<br />
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This week we began our lessons on the subjunctive tense. This is the last verb tense that French students learn, probably because it is the most difficult. Any verb that is irregular is really irregular in the subjunctive. Any and all exceptions become even more exceptional in the subjunctive. In addition, there are very few other languages with the subjunctive tense, thus it is difficult to understand how it translates back into one's native language.<br />
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This is my third time learning the subjunctive (college, last year and now). I have the verb conjugations down and have a basic understanding of when it is used. This week however, it finally clicked for me that the subjunctive tense is used when one is expressing a subjective (versus objective) thought. I wish that, I would like that, It should happen that, etc.... <br />
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Probably the most common usage is with the phrase - It is necessary to/ It must.... When I put these phrases together with the idea that what comes after is put in the subjunctive (subjective) tense, it made me smile - the verb tense that follows reminds us that what we think is required/obligatory/necessary is our opinion not fact. A great reality check and something that might change the flavor/feel of our debates and disagreements.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-38868153132336745182012-02-04T10:40:00.000+01:002012-02-04T10:40:08.207+01:00Alaskan Camping Gear is Useful in BelgiumAlmost four years ago I took an Outward Bound trip in Alaska. I spent over a week sea kayaking and camping in cold, rainy, beautiful Alaska.<br />
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As part of my preparations for the trip, I was given an extensive shopping list for clothing and other items. I bought several pairs of wool socks, long underwear, fleece pants and shirts, rain boots, jacket, rain pants and a rain jacket. While no one item (other than the North Face jacket) was particularly expensive, all together they came to a healthy sum. <br />
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I knew I would get good use out of them while in Alaska (and I did) I didn't think I'd get much use out of those items afterwards. And then I moved to Belgium...<br />
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If I haven't mentioned it before, it rains here. Alot. The rain jacket very useful. The rain pants get pulled out fairly frequently and the rain boots certainly keep my feet dry when walking the dog.<br />
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This week the long underwear is coming in handy. We are in the midst of a cold snap and it is predicted to last another week or so. Our house and many SHAPE buildings are not exactly the most energy efficient when it comes to holding in heat. It helps to have those extra layers to keep me warm. <br />
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Now I don't feel so bad about buying all that specialized clothing. I have gotten far more use out of it than just those 10 days in Alaska. Both in Alaska and here I would have to say - huge <a href="http://shop.hellyhansen.com/BE/products/sale/?partner=6225">Helly Hansen</a> fan!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-80473429081473979772012-01-28T13:15:00.000+01:002012-01-28T13:15:50.794+01:00Vegan MonthOne of Kyra's goals for this year was to eat a vegan diet for a month. She has since decided to do it for three months over the course of this year.<br />
Today is the last day of her vegan month (a friend comes to visit tomorrow, thus four full weeks have been deemed sufficient).<br />
In our family Kyra has been the only one to be completely vegan, though the rest of us have mostly kept to a vegan diet. Allen and Kyle have had meat on occasion. I have had the occasional cheese and meat, though I would have to say that the meat I have consumed over the past four weeks is roughly equivalent to what I would have eaten in about 5 days. So not much meat at all.<br />
The biggest challenge for me was not the diet itself, but the meal planning. I'm already limited by Allen's allergies and then meat was taken away as well. I had to completely ignore many of our family's staple recipes. I spent more time flipping though my cookbooks (yes I have more than one vegan cookbook) and more time preparing our evening meal.<br />
As you might expect we ate more healthy food, though by American pre-processed/fast food standards our diet is already quite healthy. We ate more beans and more vegetables. I felt a bit anemic about three weeks in and did buy some ground beef and eat a bit of it over the course of four days. <br />
We are no strangers to tofu and I do know a bit about cooking with it, but I had never done an all day marinade for it before. Now I have. The verdict was - eh. Not great, not horrible. Kyra pronounced that it would probably taste much better with chicken.<br />
My favorite recipe would have to be curried sweet potato soup - I'll definitely be making that again. Just wish I had found that recipe earlier in the month so I could have repeated it several times. Golden spaghetti pie was also a family favorite - spaghetti baked with chopped olives, capers, raisins and bread crumbs. Simple, fast, tasty and vegan.<br />
There were a few changes I noted with our switch to veganism. Even though I bought significantly more fresh produce and more organic products, grocery bills were lower without the meat. I really miss my immersion blender! I needed it at least four times a week. Transferring everything to and from the blender was a pain! My food processor would have been nice as well. Both appliances are in storage in the states as the voltage change is especially not good for appliances with motors. I don't know how I would have done it without Post Punk Kitchen (cookbooks and blog). Love her recipes and love her food. To mark the end of vegan month, I will be making her chocoate raspberry vegan brownies - and there isn't a single thing about those brownies that says deprivation.<br />
We start veganism again in March (months have been strategically chosen so as not to limit her diet around favorite food holidays - Halloween, Thanksgiving- or family gatherings - family reunion in July - or vacation travel). Just as I am ready to have some more meal planning flexibility, I suppose I'll also be ready to return to being and almost vegan again a month from now.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-22161783245487397322012-01-22T12:46:00.000+01:002012-01-22T12:46:11.755+01:00French - I have to brag a bitSince arriving here in Belgium, I have been taking French lessons twice a week in classes that last 90 minutes each. When I arrived I took an assessment that placed me at an intermediate plus level. I had retained some of my high school and college French. <br />
As I moved through the first semester of classes gradually what I had learned year ago started to return. When the new semester came and there weren't enough students at the intermediate plus level to offer that class so I was bumped up to the advanced class. This was more challenging but even still I was able to keep up with the grammar and just needed to work on expanding my vocabulary.<br />
This year there weren't enough students for the advanced class which means that I was placed into the highest class the center is offering which I would call intermediate plus plus or low advanced. I've come to the conclusion that it matters little what level of grammar instruction I am receiving, what matters is that on a weekly basis I am speaking and practicing my French.<br />
Most of the time when I am speaking French, I do so with ease. I can carry on basic conversations and even specialized ones (like about Allen's medical care). I don't translate my thoughts from English to French. If I am speaking French, my thoughts are in French (until I hit a word I don't know).<br />
One of the things I am enjoying about learning French at this level is that I have begun to learn expressions and idioms. It is fun to throw them into a conversation and watch the reaction I get.<br />
My two favorite expressions - fall in (amongst) the apples is a way of saying to faint. And if you have other things you need or want to do - you would say I have other cats to whip. <br />
The biggest compliment I get when I am speaking French is when I am asked where I am from. Of course, I do not speak French like a native speaker, but my accent and ability to speak doesn't immediately identify me as American. So I am not overly butchering a language I have come to love speaking and will miss speaking when we return to the US.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-15049151484789715312012-01-19T08:59:00.000+01:002012-01-19T08:59:54.339+01:00Schoolhouse RockIf you are my age you remember that watching cartoons was a Saturday morning activity. In between the shows we'd be exposed to short educational animated songs called Schoolhouse Rock. These songs were about grammar, multiplication tables, history and science.<br />
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Now these songs are a show - Schoolhouse Rock Live! and this winter/spring I'm directing Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr. I've got nine kids and we'll be putting on the show in April. Between now and then we'll be learning songs, lines and choreography. <br />
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I've been busy these last few days choreographing the songs. So far I have most of a <i>Noun is a Person, Place or Thing</i> and a third of <i>Elbow Room</i>. Still to go I've got to figure out <i>Interplanet Janet, Adjectives, Circulation, Melting Pot, Three is a Magic Number, Preamble, Interjections </i>and two others I've completely forgotten.<br />
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The songs and ideas spin around my head throughout the day. Right now it is kind of fun but I imagine before long I won't much care what the function of a conjunction is.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-42557128175243775392012-01-15T07:41:00.000+01:002012-01-15T07:41:20.162+01:00This Week it BeginsBit by bit the new year has begun. First the kids went back to school. The next week my French classes began again. This week theater camp and dance classes begin and then the following week rehearsals for the play begin.<br />
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I feel a bit like one of those circus acts with the plates spinning on high sticks. The first plates for me are things like laundry, grocery shopping, dinner, driving the kids around and exercising. Last week I added the language class plate (not a huge commitment other than the three hours of class a week - if there is homework it doesn't take much time.) This week I'm adding alot of plates and quite a bit of time commitment. Theater camp meets Monday, Wednesday and Thursday for two hours. I'll be teaching three dance classes (all on Tuesday) for three and a half hours. <br />
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With these come not only the instruction time but also the preparation time. I'm choreographing dances and directing the show (Schoolhouse Rock Jr. Live!) and co-teaching the dance classes which means figuring out what is to be taught and once again choreographing recital pieces. It is fun and I definitely enjoy it. I just find that the initial act of getting all these plates spinning takes a bit of energy. <br />
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If I can get them all up and spinning, I think I can maintain. We'll see....Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-55250739983444071492012-01-13T12:29:00.002+01:002012-01-13T12:29:00.283+01:00Vegan for a MonthAround the end of December Kyra decided that she wanted to follow a vegan diet for a significant period of time. This has now been defined as the month of January to be repeated periodically through the year.<br />
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If you are not familiar with the term vegan - it not only means no meat but no animal products like dairy and eggs. I have often referred to the diet we regular follow because of Allen's food allergies as vegan plus meat. <br />
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So if you know our family diet restrictions due to Allen's allergies and Kyle's sensitivities it looks like this:<br />
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<ul><li>no milk, cream, sour cream, etc</li>
<li>no cheese</li>
<li>no butter and most margarine</li>
<li>no eggs</li>
<li>nothing with any of the above in them</li>
<li>no nuts</li>
<li>no beef</li>
<li>no peas</li>
<li>white flour based bread/pasta in moderation</li>
</ul><div>And Kyra's vegan month has now knocked chicken, turkey, fish and pork off the list of available food as well.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Honestly, I don't mind the food - fruits, vegetables, grains. It's healthy. I have good cookbooks and because of Allen's allergies we are most of the way to veganism anyways. The biggest annoyance to me is menu planning. I'm not used to cooking exclusively vegan multiple days a week. I've had to do some extra time with my cookbooks and extra time cooking recipes I don't know by heart. By the end of January I should be in the routine and then Kyra will want meat again.</div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-2201592062990401082012-01-12T08:31:00.000+01:002012-01-12T08:31:28.933+01:00I'm Back - maybe<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Yes it has been a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll give this a try and see if I can maintain regular posting until we head back to the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So to make up for lost time here’s what has been going on since I last posted (briefly) –</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>Allen had surgery for an infected abscess in October.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then he has had daily bandage changes and yes they are still on-going.</li>
<li>I began teaching dance classes and was the assistant director for an after-school drama camp production of <i>Sleeping Beauty</i><span style="font-style: normal;">.</span></li>
<li>Kyra played the fairy Merriweather in <i>Sleeping Beauty</i><span style="font-style: normal;">.</span></li>
<li>Kyle and Kyra had a mini vacation to Paris at the beginning of November (Allen had to stay home for bandage changes and I stayed with him. </li>
<li>Making arrangements for Allen’s school work and in home tutoring (due to extended school absence) was quite time consuming.</li>
<li>My French speaking is now improving exponentially and most of the time I am thinking in French rather than translating English thoughts to French.</li>
<li>I was understudy for Martha Jefferson and Abigail Adams in a production of <i>1776</i><span style="font-style: normal;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I played Martha once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of fun but lots of work.</span></li>
<li>Allen went skiing with youth group over Christmas break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poor Allen had to ski in the Austrian Alps.</li>
<li>Kyle, Kyra and I went to the South of France and enjoyed sunshine and the sights of Nice, Cannes, Grasse, Eze and Mougin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></li>
<li>I have learned to cope with the short days and grey skies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It helps that this year I had other things to focus on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was healthier and it rained less.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></li>
<li>I’m way behind on scrapbooking.</li>
<li>I learned I won the Army’s Festival of Arts award for second place actress in a musical for my role as Laurey in <i>Oklahoma!</i></li>
</ul><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">This isn’t everything, but a gist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s going on now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Kyra is eating a vegan diet for the month of January, which means I am meal planning and cooking without meat or animal products.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I just auditioned for <i>Six Characters in Search of an Author</i><span style="font-style: normal;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Next week I begin teaching three dance classes (I have a partner instructor – Leslee who is fabulous) and will take on more directing responsibilities for theater camp's production of <i>Schoolhouse Rock Live</i><span style="font-style: normal;">.</span></div><!--EndFragment-->Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-16572476588381456942011-09-22T10:00:00.001+02:002011-09-22T10:00:02.509+02:00Lunch in the Grande Place<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ij7r138X-Oc/TnWlkMaTUmI/AAAAAAAAAi0/ygoj4AJn0kI/s1600/DSCN4366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ij7r138X-Oc/TnWlkMaTUmI/AAAAAAAAAi0/ygoj4AJn0kI/s320/DSCN4366.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Last weekend Kyle and I went to Antwerp for the day. We visited Reuben's house and the Antwerp cathedral (more on those in another post). While in Antwerp, we had lunch in the grande place, because that's where one has lunch when in a European city. <br />
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If the weather is nice, you can sit outside and enjoy views of the city hall, various guild buildings, a fountain and/or a statue. This was the view from our lunch table. Notice we could see all four of the above items.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IgWVyQs1vZ4/TnWlwXGLrJI/AAAAAAAAAi4/fm_HtVjY1uA/s1600/DSCN4367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IgWVyQs1vZ4/TnWlwXGLrJI/AAAAAAAAAi4/fm_HtVjY1uA/s320/DSCN4367.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
As we were in Belgium we were offered the traditional Belgian menu items pictured on our placemat - mussels, fries and beer. Kyle had a beer and fries. I had a few fries. I will note that Kyle and I have both tried mussels and don't find them worth trying again. They don't taste awful, just nothing special. <br />
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I indulged in my favorite European lunch - bread and brie. This restaurant served it as a sandwich with honey and walnuts as well. Kyle had a sandwich on a baguette. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e3d6VLyOG_A/TnWl5vQ_y_I/AAAAAAAAAi8/_4jN0zzIZ18/s1600/DSCN4369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e3d6VLyOG_A/TnWl5vQ_y_I/AAAAAAAAAi8/_4jN0zzIZ18/s320/DSCN4369.JPG" width="240" /></a>While the food in Grande Place restaurants is never anything terribly special, you can't beat the views and the opportunity for people watching. And the chance to say - I've been there. While all Grande Places have charm, unless you are eating in one, you tend not to linger long. You walk in, admire the pretty buildings, snap a couple of photos and are on your way. (I've been to Brussels' Grande Place three times now and probably spent less than an hour total there and most of that was spent waiting in line to view the flower carpet). When you stay for lunch (particularly a European paced lunch) you spend much more time in the Grande Place and can watch the tourists move through, take a closer look at the beautiful architecture and soak in a bit more of the atmosphere.<br />
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I'm grateful that I'm not running through all of Europe at a high speed pace trying to check off as many sights as possible and have the time to stop, take a break and just be here. I think that's when I enjoy being here the most.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-55886286075614804202011-09-20T09:43:00.001+02:002011-09-20T09:43:00.699+02:00Plaza SuiteAs we open this week, I should probably blog on this a bit.<br />
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SHAPE Players' fall production is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaza_Suite">Plaza Suite</a> by Neil Simon. The play has three acts that all take place in suite 719 of the Plaza Hotel. Kyra and I were both cast in the play. Kyra plays Mimsey Hubley, a bride who has locked herself in the bathroom on her wedding day. I play Muriel Tate, a married woman who has gone to the Plaza Hotel to meet her high school boyfriend who is now a famous Hollywood producer.<br />
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Over the past few weeks I have been keeping busy with rehearsals and helping with the set (thus few blog posts). The volunteer who used to help with set construction moved this summer so there is as much to do, but fewer trained hands to do it. Thus Thomas (the set designer and builder) has taught me to use some of the power tools - circular saw, nail gun, staple gun and drill (already knew some drill skills). I've also done a good amount of painting as one look at my clothes will confirm.<br />
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Rehearsal wise, I've had a lot of fun. I most definitely prefer the shows with a smaller cast. I guess I'm selfish that way - I like to have more time with the director, more time to run lines and the calmer atmosphere of a small cast. Plaza Suite is essentially three small shows that share a common setting. So in some ways we are functioning as three separate shows. Full run throughs allow us to see what our fellow cast members are doing but otherwise we don't rehearse together. I've seen a good amount of act 3 solely because I bring Kyra to rehearsal and then sometimes stay to watch.<br />
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The show is set in 1968 so the costuming is fun. Yes I will post photos - keep an eye out for them.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-1855282160278427402011-09-18T09:42:00.000+02:002011-09-18T09:42:49.213+02:00Lille Flea Market<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9mhKPBz0G3c/TnWfEwThhsI/AAAAAAAAAiw/NhK6jAbAv1E/s1600/IMG_0288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9mhKPBz0G3c/TnWfEwThhsI/AAAAAAAAAiw/NhK6jAbAv1E/s320/IMG_0288.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lHkf0AmCxzo/TnWe4BqNGaI/AAAAAAAAAis/hh39gl77SDo/s1600/IMG_0289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lHkf0AmCxzo/TnWe4BqNGaI/AAAAAAAAAis/hh39gl77SDo/s320/IMG_0289.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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On the first weekend in September, Europe's largest flea market is held in Lille France. Lille is just about an hour's drive from our house, so Kyle and I decided to check it out.<br />
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There are vendors all throughout the streets of Lille and they do sell everything. As one would expect, there are lots of antiques - furniture, china, toys, linens, books and more. You can even find plenty of mounted antlers if you are so inclined.<br />
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In addition to the antiques there are vendors selling cheap cosmetics, shoes, candy and other dollar store type items. <br />
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The big food item at the Lille market is mussels. Restaurants hold a competition to see who can create the largest pile of mussel shells. They have big bins to contain the shells and then let them pile up through the weekend. Imagine millions of people, hot sun and unwashed seafood shells and you will know why Kyle and I opted to attend early on Saturday rather than late on Sunday. <br />
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I did buy a few things. Those things will just have to remain identified as things, as they were all gifts. And the recipients read this blog.<br />
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All in all a fun day and an opportunity to experience another part of Europe.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-89797727983440403362011-09-08T07:14:00.000+02:002011-09-08T07:14:32.610+02:00You know you've accepted life in Belgium when...Last weekend Kyle and I went to Lille France for Europe's largest flea market. I need to write a bit more on that but I have a more pressing blog inspiration today.<br />
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This fall I will be teaching a couple of beginning jazz classes to students ranging in age from 8 to 18. In order to do this, there is a bunch of paper work to be completed. One piece of the paper work is a background check.<br />
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In the US this involves filling out a piece of paper, writing a check for the fee and waiting for the report to be mailed (snail or email) to whoever wanted it. Maybe a ten minute investment of my time - tops.<br />
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In Belgium, I had to personally go to my city hall during their very limited business hours, hand over my ID watch them tap at their computer keyboard for 15 minutes and then receive instructions to come back on yet another week day during very limited business hours to pick up my report. <br />
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So yesterday I went and began this process. It wasn't until I was driving home that I realized that I thought nothing of this! I wasn't moaning and groaning to myself about limited hours, about paying for parking, about how nothing in Belgium is a one step and you are done process. I simply accepted it as the way life is. And really, I'm still not really bothered by this, it is just what is done. In fact, as I was walking out of city hall I was thinking to myself, "well that was easy."<br />
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Go back and read my Belgian ID blogs and you'll see how far I've come in accepting how bureaucracy is carried out here.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-75133846956292736072011-09-04T08:31:00.000+02:002011-09-04T08:31:31.629+02:00Tanks in Town<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o_c-o1uooyE/TmMZpTRnknI/AAAAAAAAAic/vJvouoTJAek/s1600/DSCN4343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o_c-o1uooyE/TmMZpTRnknI/AAAAAAAAAic/vJvouoTJAek/s320/DSCN4343.JPG" width="320" /></a>A guest post from Kyle who really really wanted to write this and bugged me for days.....</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Tanks in Town – Commemorating the Liberation of Mons from the Nazis</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TW13shJztsE/TmMZ6nDON_I/AAAAAAAAAig/G9oWLU-_91c/s1600/DSCN4348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TW13shJztsE/TmMZ6nDON_I/AAAAAAAAAig/G9oWLU-_91c/s320/DSCN4348.JPG" width="320" /></a>Mons was occupied by Nazi Germany from May 1940 until September 2, 1944. The liberation did not involve a battle, but rather reconnaissance elements of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Armored Division drove into Mons and stopped for a bit before taking up pursuit of the retreating Nazi forces. The Army Major leading the American tankers signed the city’s registry with his name and tank number. After the War, the US Army gave that tank to the City of Mons, where it was parked on the main square. Forty years later, with the tank in disrepair, the city passed the tank to a WWII vehicles enthusiasts group, which began to commemorate the liberation by having several dozens of WWII-era jeeps, motorcycles, half-tracks and tanks “invade” the city of Mons every year on the weekend before Sep 2; thus was born the “Tanks in Town” tradition. They drive in on the same route 3<sup>rd</sup> Armored followed, parking for the evening on the main square.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gg-RxsMlyRQ/TmMaadXZLjI/AAAAAAAAAio/SK8bV8wSqjY/s1600/DSCN4340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gg-RxsMlyRQ/TmMaadXZLjI/AAAAAAAAAio/SK8bV8wSqjY/s320/DSCN4340.JPG" width="240" /></a><o:p> </o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nYjElI6hCNM/TmMaL7z6BZI/AAAAAAAAAik/ToCnzI7oVx8/s1600/DSCN4349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nYjElI6hCNM/TmMaL7z6BZI/AAAAAAAAAik/ToCnzI7oVx8/s320/DSCN4349.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Our whole family went down to see the drive in. The neatest part was seeing the bigger tanks drive up the narrow cobblestone streets without hitting something. It had rained much of the day before and most of the tanks were covered in thick mud where they had chewed up the ground at their muster point outside of town; some tanks--all covered in mud--were towed in on trailers, presumably having become disabled in the mud. The loud engines and gas and diesel fumes were enough to give Melissa and Kyra a headache. It’s really neat to see all these vehicles being preserved by families committed to preserving history and acting it out each year.</div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-78248293144731689162011-08-22T09:11:00.000+02:002011-08-22T09:11:25.629+02:00Adventure Courses in a non Litigious CountryIf you saw my facebook post yesterday, you already know that on our 18th wedding anniversary Kyle and I (and the kids) went spelunking, zip lining and did a ropes course.<br />
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I'm a bit sore and bruised today from the experience but we all had fun and it is always good to challenge myself to go a bit out of my comfort zone. In many aspects the ropes course we did here in Belgium was like those we have experienced back in the states. We wore a safety harness, there were caribeeners (spelling???), and all kinds of wires. We walked on lines high above the ground. There were unstable steps, cargo nets, rolling logs, etc.<br />
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What was noticeable different was the level of staffing and the level of staff engagement with participants. Pretty much the staff made sure the harness was on correctly, showed us how to clip on and off a line, pointed to the start and said yell if you have any problems. From there we were on our own. No one supervised if we were indeed clipping on and off the safety line correctly. No one yelled encouragement if we were unsure about going forward. No one was there to help us figure out a tricky element. <br />
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A few people did have difficulty with the ropes course. It took several minutes of yelling and/or whistling to get assistance. Fortunately no one completely freaked out. As a family we did fine on our own - it helped that all of us have done ropes courses before and have a decent level of strength and balance and that the height didn't bother us. Kyra did fall off one element, but was able to pull herself back on without assistance. <br />
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I think Kyle and I were the most struck by the lack of supervision in the caves. We were shown a map of the tunnels, warned that some of the passages were tight, and pointed down a flight of steps. The staff person said if you get lost, just yell for a while and someone will come. This may have been reassuring had there actually been a staff person who was nearby the caves, but as soon as instructions were given, he left and we were on our own. No one monitored the caves. If we had gotten stuck or lost, we would not have been discovered until someone else entered the caves. <br />
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Many times I have encountered excessive safety barriers and warnings for idiots in the US and thought, is this really necessary? Yesterday, we were fine without the excessive care but I wonder if there isn't a happy medium.<br />
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-43863251275591461172011-08-20T11:01:00.000+02:002011-08-20T11:01:18.317+02:0030 Day Movie Challenge<br />
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">A few months ago one of the teens at church told me about Stumble Upon - an interesting way to surf the web and certainly can get addictive.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Anyways, today I stumbled upon this - a plan for watching a movie a day (not that I or anyone has that kind of time). I doubt I'll do the challenge, but I think I may take on the challenge of figuring out what I would watch for each category. Some are much easier than others to figure out.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Day 8 - movie I've seen countless times - Singing in the Rain</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Day 23 - favorite animation - would have to be something Pixar - just have to figure out which one</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Day 19 - favorite movie based on a book - Field of Dreams (the only movie I've seen that was better than the book - in every other case the movie was a good adaptation ie: harry potter movies or worse than the book ie: sister's keeper, clan of the cave bear.....</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Day 22 - favorite documentary - Spellbound or Sound and Fury (maybe I could use one for Day 11)</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Wish I could figure out Day 25 - most hilarious - gotta think that through and then watch it - I love to laugh</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Read the categories below, do you have any suggestions?</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-align: center;"><strong style="font-size: 1.05em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The 30 Day Movie Challenge</strong></div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-align: center;"><strong style="font-size: 1.05em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Day 01- The best movie you saw during the last year<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 02 – The most underrated movie<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 03 – A movie that makes you really happy<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 04 – A movie that makes you sad<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 05 – Favorite love story in a movie<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 06 – Favorite made for TV movie<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 07 – The most surprising plot twist or ending<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 08 – A movie that you’ve seen countless times<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 09 – A movie with the best soundtrack<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 10 – Favorite classic movie<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 11 – A movie that changed your opinion about something<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 12 – A movie that you hate<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 13 – A movie that is a guilty pleasure<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 14 – A movie that no one would expect you to love<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 15 – A character who you can relate to the most<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 16 – A movie that you used to love but now hate<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 17 – A movie that disappointed you the most<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 18 – A movie that you wish more people would’ve seen<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 19 – Favorite movie based on a book/comic/etc.<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 20 – Favorite movie from your favorite actor/actress<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 21 – Favorite action movie<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 22 – Favorite documentary<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 23 – Favorite animation<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 24 – That one awesome movie idea that still hasn’t been done yet<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 25 – The most hilarious movie you’ve ever seen<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 26 – A movie that you love but everyone else hates<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 27 – A movie that you wish you had seen in theaters<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 28 – Favorite movie from your favorite director<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 29 – A movie from your childhood<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Day 30 – Your favorite movie of all time</strong></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-6882026677662381122011-08-16T09:24:00.000+02:002011-08-16T09:24:43.955+02:00Back to School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-COG1TZD2Oig/TkoZ4pfebEI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/UYbb3VhF5dM/s1600/DSCN4333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-COG1TZD2Oig/TkoZ4pfebEI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/UYbb3VhF5dM/s320/DSCN4333.JPG" width="239" /></a></div> Kyra<br />
8th grade<br />
organized school supplies and folders yesterday<br />
reviewed independent study plan<br />
got up 2.5 hours before school bus arrival<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KgG5nbVeE_o/TkoaCCrRjuI/AAAAAAAAAiU/7WaKdek7RHI/s1600/DSCN4335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KgG5nbVeE_o/TkoaCCrRjuI/AAAAAAAAAiU/7WaKdek7RHI/s320/DSCN4335.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Allen<br />
10th grade<br />
threw some paper, a pencil and two pens in his backpack 20 minutes before leaving for school<br />
woke up 1 hour before school bus arrival<br />
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-56023849273522598612011-08-09T15:41:00.003+02:002011-08-09T15:41:01.750+02:00Oklahoma<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nRifwRsMtPg/TjafMQUV64I/AAAAAAAAAiI/4nrm13-8WZM/s1600/DSCN1588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nRifwRsMtPg/TjafMQUV64I/AAAAAAAAAiI/4nrm13-8WZM/s320/DSCN1588.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curly and Gertie center stage - Gertie's laugh hillarious!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Now that I have some time (and before I don't have very much again) I've been reviewing past blog posts to see what I have missed. <br />
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One of those things was Oklahoma! By blogging about it now, I miss the in the moment thoughts and feelings, but maybe I gain the perspective of time.<br />
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It seems odd to realize I have only done two productions with SHAPE players because those productions were all consuming and seem so much more than just two shows. <br />
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Tartuffe had a small cast of under 20 and Oklahoma had a large cast over 60 of us. That meant bigger stage, more people and more moving parts. Scenes took longer to stage and rehearse because it took everyone really paying attention. Tartuffe and Oklahoma were two entirely different experiences.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vnwzRAjhWl8/Tjaf7sqVKoI/AAAAAAAAAiM/kSS72xB2Vj8/s1600/DSC02535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vnwzRAjhWl8/Tjaf7sqVKoI/AAAAAAAAAiM/kSS72xB2Vj8/s320/DSC02535.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">semi-pro photographer in the audience took this one</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I will note, I have never considered myself a singer, and still do not. The role of Laurey was challenging for me in that respect. I did work on vocal training. I think the hardest thing for me was to just get over myself and potential embarrassment of not singing well (which I didn't) and just get on with the show.<br />
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I enjoyed the energy and laughter of working with a larger cast but missed the intimacy of a small one. I also enjoyed the more intergenerational -ness of the Oklahoma! cast. It was fun to share the stage with children and youth. <br />
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As a show, you can't go wrong with wonderful songs like Can't Say No, Kansas City and Oklahoma, especially because those were ones I didn't sing.<br />
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Very soon auditions start for the next show - Plaza Suite. Yes I'll be auditioning and we'll see what happens.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-90409872775663344662011-08-07T14:43:00.000+02:002011-08-07T14:43:01.536+02:00Service Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ozPdnQebDJs/TjaDcXwF1NI/AAAAAAAAAiE/Fq7qENLcff8/s1600/rom3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ozPdnQebDJs/TjaDcXwF1NI/AAAAAAAAAiE/Fq7qENLcff8/s320/rom3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> As a high school freshman/rising sophmore, Allen was old enough to go on his youth group's mission trip. In the US he likely would have ended up in Appalachia working on homes or in an inner-city helping with a VBS or feeding program. <br />
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In Europe it meant that he traveled to Romania. In Romania he helped build a playground and assisted with VBS and sports camps for kids. <br />
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The living conditions were rough - camping in the rain and cold. The travel less than desirable - 30 plus hours by bus. But he had a great time and I'm sure would go again. His one complaint - his small group didn't have deep enough faith discussions. So when his group finished up (early) he went and joined a group that had longer and deeper discussions.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-udJSs91Opv0/TjaDZLHI5BI/AAAAAAAAAh8/Xljiy98VmUw/s1600/rom2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-udJSs91Opv0/TjaDZLHI5BI/AAAAAAAAAh8/Xljiy98VmUw/s320/rom2.jpg" width="320" /></a>Next summer we will be moving back to Virginia, even so, I imagine we'll do our best to make sure he can go on this mission trip again.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UZd9Bto4f68/TjaDam36ZCI/AAAAAAAAAiA/I2iM6q7SIn8/s1600/romplaygroup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UZd9Bto4f68/TjaDam36ZCI/AAAAAAAAAiA/I2iM6q7SIn8/s320/romplaygroup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-62148208001625131742011-08-04T12:26:00.001+02:002011-08-04T12:26:00.205+02:00Trick Candles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vlM_M2gjPR0/TjaArAcSiEI/AAAAAAAAAhs/Hg9Ny63GQYw/s1600/DSCN4031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vlM_M2gjPR0/TjaArAcSiEI/AAAAAAAAAhs/Hg9Ny63GQYw/s320/DSCN4031.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> Honestly, it was unintentional. The commissary had a very limited supply of candles. I didn't want the little kid ones, with Dora or Sponge Bob. I grabbed the first package that looked normal. Except they weren't. They are the kind that relight after you blow them out.<br />
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I didn't tell Allen that. Here he is anticipating eating yummy cupcakes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MzpzSbg6_0s/TjaA3RsDCdI/AAAAAAAAAhw/5-0Xw18HQY8/s1600/DSCN4032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MzpzSbg6_0s/TjaA3RsDCdI/AAAAAAAAAhw/5-0Xw18HQY8/s320/DSCN4032.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>And his first attempt to blow them out<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wn77lZE4yCg/TjaBBgf-_pI/AAAAAAAAAh0/wKfYGNneg9Q/s1600/DSCN4033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wn77lZE4yCg/TjaBBgf-_pI/AAAAAAAAAh0/wKfYGNneg9Q/s320/DSCN4033.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
and realizing what was going on...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BDirvNRVfQw/TjaBNmj80EI/AAAAAAAAAh4/s1BC5oNXPD4/s1600/DSCN4034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BDirvNRVfQw/TjaBNmj80EI/AAAAAAAAAh4/s1BC5oNXPD4/s320/DSCN4034.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>and making another attempt<br />
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eventually he just spit on his fingers and squeezed them all out.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-86277301130650154072011-08-01T12:26:00.000+02:002011-08-01T12:26:06.978+02:00Cinderella Weekend First of all - hooray! We start a brand new month, which means our internet is back up to regular speed and now we have an unlimited data plan. That means photos I put on the blog upload faster and I don't have to worry about using up limited data.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UsVVPPT6CvA/TjZ9FmuwQBI/AAAAAAAAAho/mYgvnOIwWqo/s1600/DSCN3977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UsVVPPT6CvA/TjZ9FmuwQBI/AAAAAAAAAho/mYgvnOIwWqo/s320/DSCN3977.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This was performance weekend for theater camp. The kids all did a great job and it was fun to watch parents and friends enjoy their kids' production. <br />
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I enjoyed watching the evolution of the performances from learning lines and blocking to practice runs to dress rehearsals and then the live shows. Many of the kids got bolder and braver in their characters and gave some very entertaining performances. Some stepped up in ways they didn't think themselves capable. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tOdu4sSwv-E/TjZ8_8IZ5RI/AAAAAAAAAhk/CbnU-f9HuYs/s1600/DSCN3926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tOdu4sSwv-E/TjZ8_8IZ5RI/AAAAAAAAAhk/CbnU-f9HuYs/s320/DSCN3926.JPG" width="320" /></a>There were some days of theater camp that were more enjoyable than others. The mice certainly gave me a "fun" time. Let's say they weren't the most focused characters nor did dance steps stick in their brains. In the end they were an audience favorite. <br />
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The icing on the cake for me though is that now when I am going about my errands in the SHAPE community I enjoy surprise hugs from the kids at the PX and Post Office. Can't beat that.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-87368290120481398112011-07-29T13:12:00.000+02:002011-07-29T13:12:48.275+02:00Vegan CupcakesMy facebook status today says that my life changed 16 years ago when Allen was born. Every mother quickly learns that life before your first born and life after are two different things. <br />
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At 7 months of age Allen had already so turned my life upside down that he prompted my grandchild-desiring mom to tell me "All children are not this hard." To which I responded "you have four other married couples of child-bearing age, don't expect me to do this again any time soon."<br />
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By the time Allen reached 7 months, he had been diagnosed with asthma, multiple anaphylactic food allergies, severe eczema and had undergone skull surgery. I count Allen's first year of life as the most stressful time in my life.<br />
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He still has asthma and has gone on to have other surgeries and yes he has those food allergies 16 years later. Which is why I bake vegan cupcakes for him (thanks for the cookbook Paula!). This morning Kyra and I spent a good amount of time in the kitchen preparing chocolate/vanilla swirl and margarita (fresh lime juice, tequila and salt) cupcakes. I'd upload some photos of them except Allen has used up almost all of our monthly internet allotment so no photos on my blog until after the first of the month. Trust me they look pretty and taste great.<br />
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Yes my life was turned inside out but is so much richer and funnier and joyful with him in it. (I could do without the surgeries though)Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-78097418921130116272011-07-26T08:20:00.000+02:002011-07-26T08:20:31.307+02:00InternetOne of the many things Kyle had to do when moving into our house in Belgium was arrange for phone and internet service.<br />
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Belgacom (the phone and internet provider) gave him several service options ranging from dial-up with limited downloads per month to DSL and unlimited megabytes per month. Kyle chose the second highest option which gave us fast-ish internet and 100 megabytes per month. <br />
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The last three months we've been hitting the limit of 100 megabytes earlier and earlier in the month. When we hit it our internet speed drops to dial up speed. This was sort of workable when we hit the limit on the 29th but as that crept to the 21st or this month the 15th it has become unworkable.<br />
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Within the SHAPE community there is a genuine dread of working with Belgacom. But the lack of internet tipped the scale and motivated me to make a visit to the Belgacom office. We definitely wanted high speed and unlimited megabytes. <br />
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Yes I had to wait a bit (under twenty minutes - not bad by Belgian standards). I talked with the customer service guy and saw the graph of our internet usage (a steadily climbing line) and arranged for the top tier service.<br />
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Good news - we are going to have it. Bad news - it doesn't kick in until August. Good news - for 5 euros I could purchase an additional 20 megs for the month which takes us out of dial up speed. <br />
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The new service requires a new router which Belgacom provided. I was sent home with the router and instruction guides - 2 of them. One in French and one in Flemish. I was told to hook up the new router before August 1st. So this morning I gave it a shot. And hooray! Here I am on the internet, that I hooked up using French instructions (and lots of pictures).<br />
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I'm looking forward to the faster speed next month. Uploading photos onto this blog takes several minutes at our current speed - I hope it is faster next month. If so, watch out - more photos coming your way.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-22940021118402462952011-07-21T21:03:00.000+02:002011-07-21T21:03:26.260+02:00Theater CampThis summer three out of four Dunlaps are involved with SHAPE Players' theater camp.<br />
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Allen spends morning at the theater working on back stage production - painting, carpentry, costumes, etc. In general I think he likes what he is doing. What he likes best is hanging out with all the other teenagers who are working there as well.<br />
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Kyra is a camper - this means she experiences the fun stuff of camp - learning theater stuff and is part of the production.<br />
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I am the choreographer. This means I get to work with over twenty kids of varying ages and dance abilities and most challenging - differing desires to be in theater camp. Overall it is fun and the kids are great, even if they are loud!<br />
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The camp is putting on a production of Cinderella next week. They are doing the Disney version and I would have to say they are doing a good job. Lines are memorized, choreography is memorized, the set and costumes look great. Some of the kids are amazing actors and are quite good at getting the audience's attention.<br />
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The theater intends to offer an after-school version of this camp a couple of times throughout the school year. I think Kyra is seriously considering this. I am on board to help with choreography. I think Allen will jump ship though and return to cross-country and track.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-576555564842470346.post-28641269930184001462011-07-17T13:46:00.000+02:002011-07-17T13:46:01.127+02:00BlogsYes, I know I have not been a consistent blogger these days. In December I was sick. In January, I got cast in Tartuffe. In March and April the kids were out of school more than they were in. Then I was cast as Laurie in Oklahoma. Then school let out and now I have a part-time job and kids out of school for the summer. I'm going to try to be a bit more consistent but time will tell.<br />
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I also have found some blogs that are keeping me busy. I'll spare you the craft blogs - I like them. I want to make the cute, lovely, crafty things I see on them. I lack a craft store and supplies, so I simply look at them and wish.<br />
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This blog is torturing me. <a href="http://www.randomabs.com/">Random Abs</a>. I hate doing core exercises. I am putting on some (just some) of the weight I lost doing shows. I have yet to make it through a complete routine (there is a new one every day) but I try to do at least half.<br />
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Best title for a blog - Rage Against the Minivan. I've been reading "best of" and generally poking around a good portion of this blog. One of my favorite recent postings is this one - <a href="http://www.rageagainsttheminivan.com/2011/07/lengths-i-will-go-to-in-order-to-avoid.html">The Lengths I Will Go to, to Avoid Making a Phone Cal</a>l. I don't think I would go quite this far, but I'd come close.<br />
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And if you are interested in Christian and inter-religious dialogue and liberal Christianity doesn't make you flip your lid, I like Rachel Held Evans. I enjoyed <a href="http://rachelheldevans.com/12-ways-make-arminianism-cool">12 ways to make Arminianism Cool again</a>.<br />
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You might like some of these. You may not. Just thought I'd share some of what I'm finding on the web these days.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415312005767322413noreply@blogger.com1