TOUR EGYPT

Didn't realize how much I missed Karim and Ahmed until I read "A Tale of Two Brothers" an article about their successes as businessmen in starting and running Tour Egypt.

These brother's took me under their wing and offered everything from 3AM rides home, mountain climbing encouragement, food, adventure, employment opportunities & a real shower offers & genuine friendship. They truly changed the shape of my experience, I owe them many thanks. & probably trip to Canada.

(Photo Via Pablo/ Tour Egypt)

Heart Melter

Scary

 

Ah HAHA just remembered this blog post by former roommate Alex Doffing (pictures by former roommate Justin Frey) from the Minneapolis Zombie Pub Crawl '10 - so. much. fun.

crave.

before bed.

50 Books Every Woman Should Read -- New Bucket List Item.

& hey, my book hording habits are working in my favor - finally - because I already own a nice chunk of them! This list almost makes me ready for this inevitable Minnesota winter.

...if only I had a cozy reading chair.

Whenever Monday Comes

Monday is has become an automatic clean up life day.

& usually I start with e-mail. Today, I found a poem that Jess sent around my birthday in '09 & this little segment yelled out (hope you like it too): 

"Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline be gentle with yourself.

 

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have the right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should."

-Unknown Author

"Meet Me in the Middle of the Ocean"

It's a large coffee, grandpa sweater, warm scarf, Freewheelin' Bob Dylan kind of day.

Down the Highway -- explains it all.

I'll always love this album. & its cover.  Always.
 & I really love this kissssing blog, warms my heart.

****

I usually don't swear in this blog (do I)? But today, I'm throwing all caution to the wind because - What The Fuck Has Obama Done So Far - is awesome/entertaining/informative. CAN'T STOP CLICKING moremoremore. Love it.

& while you're off being informed, check out the November Women's Press 'Think About It' segment. Or if you're feeling saucy after the Obama site cool off with some Good Fucking Design Advice.

Get the Sticker

"I'm sure that every one of my colleagues - Democrat, Republican, and Independent - agrees with that statement. That in the voting booth, every one is equal."

- Barbara Boxer

"If American women would increase their voting turnout by ten percent, I think we would see an end to all of the budget cuts in programs benefiting women and children."

- Coretta Scott King

"Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting."

-Franklin D. Roosevelt

Okay. Ready, Set, Goooooooooo vote. 

Free and Independent

Also, being that tomorrow is Election Day I encourage you all to read an article put out by Aid Watch about the importance of a 'Coffee Party'.

My favorite reason:  

"10. Our country is based on the ideals that ALL “are by nature equally free and independent,” and have “inalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” men and women, blacks and whites, gays and straights, immigrants and natives, Christians and Muslims, citizens and foreigners, rich and poor. The Coffee Party wants our country back."

To read the other (wonderful, right-on) 9 highlights of Coffee Party rule - see here. 

Okay, now go figure out where to vote and who to vote for ...

African Sister

An immediate way to kill an uneasy morning:

"Assalam Alaykum
Hey friend how are u?
I miss u so much!!!!!
take care :) 

farida seif "

Love her.

Weekend Advice

ne

AND

... & dishtowels as head wraps.

Socks

One (of many, many, many) thing I love about the Karen is their style. It's quirky. Functional. Thrifty. Unique ... & Hilarious.

I would love to start a Karen Fashion blog, but alas, my clients are scared enough of me - it's hard to imagine how they'd react to photo shoots. So I'll just say - in the last 24 hours I've seen: 

A bath towel used as a scarf. Bathrobes. Socks used as arm warmers for adults and tights for children. A Winnie the Pooh costume. 


I'll keep you updated. Love them.

Oh, Georgie

"Tell me, who am I without you, by my side?" 

- George Harrison, What is Life

Monday Blues

I had such a fun, thrifty, cozy, filling weekend with my mom and Sister. Wish it wasn't over.

Van

Cruised around downtown St. Paul in the KOM van this morning... hadn't driven one since LSI intern days. Made me feel like a refugee resettlement Super Mom!

bigcoffee

I start work at 8:30. Today, I woke up at 8:20. 
What do most people do when they realize they've overslept? I'm curious. Here's my breakdown: 

- Panic.
- Determine if hair needs to be washed (it always does)...
- Wash hair. 
- Call boss.
- Throw together a lunch. 
- Run around the house 4 times. 
- Buy a HUGE coffee and caramel roll from Swede Hollow Cafe. 
- Freak a bit more, then immediately enjoy: lack of traffic, sunshine, coffee, extra-sleep-energy.
- Bust into work at 9.
- Practice "GOOOOD MORRRRNING" with eager ESL students in the hallway.

Lets do this.

It Gets Better

If you have the Internet - you've probably heard about Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burn's video speaking out to youth in the GLBT community. Sending the message that IT GETS BETTER. 

When I saw how much the video had affected my dear friend Kimberly Hope Athay I decided it was time  to make the 13 minute commitment to watch it myself. Because Kim - she has a good sense for important things. Here you be. Watch it. Think about it. & I added in another for good measure, because today - I too needed someone to tell me - It Gets Better. 

"happyiest moment"

I probably over-use my 23 year old limit of omg, o.m.g., oh. ma. ga., so on & so forth. BUT THIS, this is a top OMG moment.

Due to my space travel a few weeks ago - I failed to update my lovely blog readers about some of the best news (or the best news) I've heard in weeks, months, maybe even the last year (that is - after gettin' hired).

Khalda had her baby*!!
Anwar sent me an e-mail titled, "you invited to chair our happyiest moment". Wasn't expecting ... "As I told you the doctor told us the baby is girl, but surprisingly the baby is boy." It looks like Sarah Jeanna is out of the name game, but oh well, Ahmed Anwar probably sounds better anyway.

Immediately I splurged on some Skype minutes & called my sister up! Thinking I was being sneaky ... Khalda didn't think twice about it (note, we haven't heard each others voices in over a year) she just goes, "Oh HI. You hear the news? Jeanna - I SOOOO happy."

We chit chatted for about 10 minutes & I can't even begin to explain how happy it made me. Hearing her voice/laugh was meaningful enough, but to be able to share in such a happy moment. BEAMING. SMILING. GLOWING.That's all I've got, I can't form sentences.

Welcome to the world baby Ahmed. You've got yourself an amazing mum, & an excited American Auntie.

PS: I keep pestering the woman for pictures, & she keeps reminding me that I should cool it- she just had a baby. She wins. Updates to come. xoxo

*Didn't remember she was preggers? No problem - here's a reminder.

Homebody Weather

1

Most of the time - I itch for the go, go, go. But lately - all I've been cravin' is a nice chair. Plenty of adventures in books, cups of tea and nap-dreams, yeah? 

2

3

4

5

via:  1. pink of perfection 2. elle deco 3. uo 4. severely vintage 5. yvestown

InstaFan

 

...of Information is Beautiful. 

It's just that! Informational & Beautiful. 

Check out the website & I can guarantee you'll learn something without straining your brain. Awesome? Yes.

Burma: It Can't Wait

30 pages deep into Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo soooo my head is filled with an anti-celebrity aid talk, but my heart still says whatever works, works. Be entertained, learn something. xo

now

"The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second-best time is now."

- African Proverb

Ready for a Rant?

DISCLAIMER: If you're not in the reading mood - skip to the second half. 
Tonight. I* almost didn't go. I'm tired of being alone. I'm tired of venturing to events alone. For paying for parking alone. I'm tired of being the loner the corner. Tired of creeping people out by attaching too quickly - talking too much - trying to force/flatter people into being my BFF - & if not forever, at least the evening.

I almost didn't go. I went in circles around Dinkytown trying to find free parking. It was a failed attempt. I was going to have to fork over an hour of pay for a mere two hours of parking.

I almost didn't go because I walked in the wrong direction. With my phone (aka safety net) sitting where I accidently left it - the driver's seat of my car.

I paid an hours worth of pay for parking. & I was arriving late (from walking out of the way) to an event where I knew full well I'd be the girl hangin' solo in the corner.

But, Alhamdulillah I went to the Not for Sale sponsored event at Bordertown Coffee to listen to James Stewart lecture on what it means to be an an abolitionist. The twist - Stewart is a historian and his claim to fame is expertise in the US abolitionist movement during the transatlantic slave trade. Back in the days of the civil rights movement when he was 23 and in college - he asked - how did we get here? How did we get to this movement? & has spend the last 45+ years figuring it out. & has been quite successful.

So why is Mr. Stewart is a bit annoyed? Because he has spend his entire career studying the grassroots and political movements that eventually abolished slavery ...no regrets... BUT today - there are double the amount of slaves in the world in comparison to time of the transatlantic slave trade. Yes, I said DOUBLE. 27 million enslaved people today. So this guy - abandoned the Historian way - and started using his knowledge of history to bring awareness/progression to the future. Because even if you don't understand modern day slavery - we must question - where are the lines between slaves and oppressed persons?

Are you catching the drift that I love anyone who motivates me? Therefore, I love this man. His humor. His drawl. His analogies. e.t.c.

Stewart asked as all to become abolitionists. Not half hearted abolitionists. Not tomorrow. But today. This is where I wish I could quote/would have taken better notes - ready for ramble? He said that in all his studies, all his books, travels and research he found it was the committed, full on abolitionists that found success. The people like Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman and John Brown weren't all that different from you and I - but they, they woke up abolitionists. They brushed their teeth as abolitionists. They wanted slavery to be abolished yesterday.

He asked us to look at the person next to us - and truly imagine owning them. He asked us to close our eyes and imagine being the forced prostitute, child solider, enslaved laborer - and attempt to feel owned the way in which they do. Afterwards, can you really feel comfortable with what's going on around the world?

Maybe it was easier back in the day. Slavery was visible. It was acceptable. There were records. There was something/one to fight. Today, the average person cannot stand up to a trafficker, we're dealing with the secrecy of the Internet, there is no opposition, the industry is HUGE, slavery is not in our faces. But slavery is in our world, in our state, in our city. It is in our products. Our chocolate. Our coffee. Slavery is still everywhere.

Welcome Non-Readers: 
So what? What do you do? How can you even start to end something so gigantic. & the answer is - what you're good at. This is where I got excited. Because it doesn't take someone powerful and famous to make a change. Anyone can be and act as an abolitionist. Because the only way modern day slavery will ever come to an end - is if we can create a movement. If we can start seeing human beings. It can end if its demise is engrained in our everyday. If we can agree - that it should have been obsolete yesterday.

Some people, can go out and be committed lawyers for victims of human trafficking. Others can write heart-wrenching/warming pieces about slavery today. Myself - I can educate my blog readers & refugee co-workers/clients & beyond! You - could choose to read a book on modern-day slavery. Or donate a book to a library, a high school. Not a reader? Watch a documentary on modern-day slavery - then pass the title on. Watch it with friends. Are you an artist? Create. Are you teacher? Teach. Are you a crazy person? Do something crazy. Bring your talents and abolitionism together. It's possible. & together - everyone teamed with their passions/talents - can create a movement. We can end it. Because we've done it before.

& so. When I left. I wasn't alone. At least my parking spot was an hour's pay rather than a week, or the value of my sold body. I left part of a group. A movement. & with that friends will eventually come. & until then - at least I have my voice and freedom. & some energy. Come on. Call yourself an abolitionist.

*my apologies for the whinny I I I I I talk, but it got better, right?

my apologies

Especially Now

"I love that feeling. You know, the one you get when you take a deep breath and suddenly everything feels like it's going to be okay. When you're hopeless as can be, and life is going nowhere, there's those moments we have every now and then where we just stop, and we get this feeling, that can't be described, but you just ... you just feel like everything really is going to be okay. Like the world stopped spinning for a second, and everything was clear. I need more of those moments." 

- The X

Mr. President

Adjusting to KOM has been challenging and patience-trying to say the least. But howling laughter in the halls & little tid-bits like this "Letter to the President" have made me fall head over heels for the Karen already. 

Where There is Joy There is Henna

A few weekends ago my dear friend Jess came up to visit & because it's 'what we do' - there were many adventures involved. Including, but not limited to: a 5 mile Kayaking trip down the Cannon River (the next weekend I did a 12 mile with Mike - still sore), an authentic Turkish meal at the Black Sea (even after a few appetizers & main courses we found room for baklava/Turkish coffee), & most notabily a trip to Minneapolis' own SomaliMall for henna. 

Henna is a plant native in some regions of Africa, southern Asia, and northern Australasia (I had to look it up too). Since umm - forever* it's been used to dye skin, hair, fingernails, wool, leather, and silk. The earliest texts link henna skin dying with celebrations of a woman's marriage/fertility.

Henna is a symbol of luck, beauty, and joy - and the most detailed and exquisite patterns are saved for brides to be. Today the hands and feet of many husbands to be are dyed as well. This pre-wedding celebration is sometimes called 'The Night of Henna'. It is not uncommon to see women with simple henna designs on their hands and fingernails daily. But intricate designs are saved for weddings, holidays, and celebrations.

 

Henna can be a great way for women to make money too! At Karmel Square a young woman named Hawa decorated Jess and I. She was trained by her older sister Halima, and together they were apprenticing their niece Eda. Business women?!

It's the beauty of henna that really gets me.
The small shops & spaces where women come together to be decorated with henna - are truly magical. You can feel girl power. It breaks through all differences of background, race, language, religion, etc. Be it in a hotel room in D.C. with girls from Tanzania and Nigeria, Khalda's living room, a hole in the wall beauty shop, or a small space in Karmel Square (Somali Mall) - henna brings women together & makes them feel good!

*for more detailed information on henna click here. 

Penny

A map - that you scratch off where you've been.

                               

'nuff said. I need one. 

You too? Get it here. 

(via A Cup of Jo)

WhataYear

Mid-December: a random couple talks me to at a Caribou coffee in Red Wing, MN. They think I'm someone else. Then invite me to attend a meeting about the co-op they are trying to open. (PS: it's now open... check out http://www.riverbendmarket.com/ for more information about this beautiful project). 

I go to said meeting, and meet Collie Graddick who works for the MN Dept. of Agriculture. He tells me I should e-mail Sara Chute from the MN Dept. of Health. I do. She becomes a wonderful contact who gets me involved in the Metro Area Refugee Health Task Force, coaches me on grant writing, and sends me community refugee updates. She likes chips and salsa as much as I do. 

July: After a wonderful spring/summer of volunteering with WISE I find out that I did not get an AmeriCorps position with them. Same day - Collie e-mails me about a position at the Karen Organization of Minnesota (KOM). I'm much to depressed to apply. Sara keeps sending out e-mails about KOM's August 5th Open House (she's the Board Chair). I think, "Maybe I should apply, too bad I have to work during the Open House." 

This is where it gets crazy, folks. 

August 3rd: I apply for the position.

August 4th: The schedule at work changes - I can go!

August 5th: Schedule at work changes again, I can't go. Being obviously upset - a gracious co-worker takes my shift. I rush to the KOM Open House. I get shuffled to a random table. After the program a man comes to the table and introduces himself as KOM's Executive Director. To my surprise he reacts to my introduction by saying,
"Jeanna Bauer?! I called you today."
"Uhh, really?"
"Yeah, why do you not listen to your voicemail?"
Then I lose him. Later in the night I find the Chang Bee Vang again and ask about this voicemail and he tells me that he wants to interview, "Hows tomorrow morning?"

August 6th: Interview at KOM.

August 9th: Interview at Emerge (Emerge is the organization that received AmeriCorps funding - they then 'sub-contract' the volunteer positions to smaller non-profits around the Metro. All of Emerge's AmeriCorps positions revolve around the same issue of Employment). The interview went wonderfully - and as I was pulling out of the parking lot got a call from KOM offering me the position.

I start Americorps training on August 23rd, and start with KOM full time for the year August 30th. I'm still in shock.

Is that a circle or what?!

!!!

I got a job.

Finally.

Here - The Karen Organization of Minnesota

More to come. Very, very soon.

EEP!

HEY YOU - ATTEND!

If you know me and you're free - come to this event!

See what my dear friends and I have been up to all summer! The girls have made some a-maz-ing projects including personal collages (see mine here), talking suitcases, batik, and more! This is their chance to showcase their creativity & culture!

I've been put in charge of hula hoop making - this should be incentive enough to come. BUT in case it isn't... there will be ethnic food, cultural (& fire) dancing, entertainment, hands on art projects, and more art galore!!

I've already sung my love for WISE , so come see for yourself why it's so great. Please. & Thank you.

Driving Directions: Take 94 towards Saint Paul and get off at the Snelling Ave. Exit. Go North on Snelling (towards University). 3 blocks past University, turn right on Edmund St. (there is a Holiday Gas Station). Drive down the block and Hamline Park Plaza is located in front of you. Most of the activities will be located in the Rose Garden. The entrance is near the entrance of the building. Free parking in the ramp! 

Not Milk

It's incomprehensible.

62,000 barrels a day.
205,800,000 barrels total.

That's 76 floors of the Empire State Building filled.

& when I think oil - I think gallons - when I think gallons - I think milk...

x 8,643,600,000 

& to think, I thought it was sad in May.

la porte

The BIG 21

Whoops. I'm a day late in publicly blog-style celebratin' my little sista's 21st birthday! I could say our day was full of rowdy debauchery, but really Emily was shopping and I - was cleaning my car.

Isn't she beautiful? (& all grown up?!) Oh Emmy Bee  - heres to wishing you the happiest of birthdays and an adventurous, fulfilling and happy year. xoxo

Stat

I believe it has already been confirmed that I have the world's best, most beautiful, sympathetic, inspiring, thoughtful, understanding, fun, adventurous, interesting, etc. friends. & now, it's really time to live with one of them. 

Kindness of Strangers

So remember when I blogged about the novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson? & I also said something about bothering a customer at the deli with all sorts of questions about it?! Well, wellllllll today before heading back home, Natalie from Washington came in and gave it to me. Isn't that sweet?

I've been serving her, her daughter, and mother  for a few weeks, and slowly been forming an interesting bond. I may have known their favorite drinks and dishes before their names, but let me tell ya - a few tears were present at our short & sweet goodbye today.

At the end of it all, I'm thankful for this rain - it's time to read.
At the end of it all II - this is all the more proof that I should move to Washington, yes?

Again

yr. ago

Sandpoint, Idaho. 

Splittin' Time

Look what Alex did for my dad & his log splitter -- Alexandra Doffing Freelance

* Photo by Alex Doffing

Ashley in Ireland

Okay. So I promised travel profiles every month. & in June - I didn't deliver. But really, it's no big - because this month I'm bringing you Ashley.

Ashley Heffern is yet another Rwanda co-traveller turned IRIS co-worker (which really, is an equation for greatness). To say that Ms. Ashley is loyal - is an understatement. She's unintentionally hilarious, takes a-maz-ing notes, works hard, loves cows and Africa, and has a huge heart. It would be impossible to count the number of times her levelheadedness has lifted me from moments of pure ... ditz. This girl, her laugh, and her hugs- are going to change this world.

I only wish you all could hear her tell these stories herself. She's got a flare for storytelling :)

Ashley- being Ashley, didn't even take a picture of herself the ENTIRE trip. She's the beauty on the far right!

Where did you go (where IS it), how long was your visit, and why?

I traveled to Ireland (Europe) for two weeks. We traveled through both the Republic and Northern Ireland. Ireland is a place I've always wanted to visit because almost all of my family heritage if from there, so I finally decided to go for it!

Cultural facts, please:

Ireland's population is about 6.2 million, with about 4.5 million in the Republic and 1.8 million in Northern Ireland. It is an island with low-lying mountains covering much of the country. The country is primarily Christian with Roman Catholic being the denomination of about 73% of people on the island. Religion is a big issue, as it has been a source of conflict in the past. There are lots of churches missing their roofs because they were removed as an act of religious persecution.

The food was very European, but with many signs of more traditional practices. The potato is a staple (as you might have guessed) but seafood is common as well as different kinds of fresh bread and cheeses. We found that corned beef and cabbage (a 'traditional' Irish meal here in the States) is actually not Irish at all. They eat bacon and cabbage and many people think that early immigrants may not have been able to find bacon in the U.S. so they substituted corned beef.

English is the first language of the vast majority of Irish, with only less than 10% fluent in Irish (Gaelic). Gaelic is still an official language of Ireland and all public schools are required to teach it. There are certain areas that are considered Gaelic-speaking areas and school children will go there and stay with host families to become more proficient.

Ireland is very 'western' in terms of transportation - many airports and very good roads throughout the country. They also make good use of all their waterways through seaports and ferries to surrounding countries. Roads were very narrow and sometimes scary!

Most difficult cultural adjustments:

In all honesty, there really wasn't much cultural adjustment at all. Ireland is a lot like the U.S. The people were very friendly and welcoming, there wasn't much change in food, and transportation was easy!

Favorite story:

There are a lot of them! But one of my favorites happened on one of our last nights. The World Cup started while we were there and I was VERY excited about this. The Irish didn't make the finals, but they were still excited about the games as well. We did our best to watch all the matches and it was fun to cheer with our Irish friends. In order to understand this story, you have to know that not only did Ireland not make it to the finals,  but they were beat out by the French. Now this in itself would have been upsetting, aside from the fact that the Irish strongly dislike the French to begin with, and to top it all off, the was won in extra time by a blatant handball by the French. They were not. happy. SO we were excited to watch the French/Mexico game at our hotel with friends. As the game starts we realize the entire bar is full of French people. The only people who were not French was our group and the bartenders. It was an exciting game and it was fun to watch the French get beat :)


Trip highlight:

The trip highlight was probably all of the amazing scenery. I'm from Northeast Iowa which is very hilly and green, so it reminded me a lot of home. It really made me realize why so many Irish immigrants settled there, it probably made them feel like they were at home.

What did you learn about yourself?

I think the thing that impacted me the most was how open and friendly everyone is. People would greet us on the street and would ask questions and were always helpful if we needed anything. There are a lot of stereotypes against Americans even in Ireland, but people were still friendly.

Another thing I noticed is there is very little diversity (although from what I understand there's more than there every used to be). This made me realize how much I appreciate diversity and how fortunate I am to live in a place where diversity is fairly, readily embraced.

Favorite souvenir:

I got my sisters matching Claddagh necklaces which represent a beautiful Irish tradition that I was happy to bring to my family. I also learned a lot about religious symbols and was able to bring one home for my mom.

Essential travel item:

I can't travel without my journal. It's the best way for me to work through struggles, document personal growth and cultural understanding, and just remember my trip! Oh, and I can't go anywhere without my neck pillow either :)

Where next?

Hopefully either back to East Africa or to South Korea to visit friends. Either one would be fantastic!

What is something you wish the WORLD knew about Ireland?

I think this goes back to the friendly and welcoming nature of the Irish. They also have great public transportation, which I think can be greatly improved in the U.S.

Thanks, Ashley! Happy weekend to all! xoxo

Sugarplums

Happiest of birthdays to my wonderful Mother! 

She thinks I'm a strange bird, but I think, I learned from the best. Side note: It is really a shame high energy cannot be learned.  

Thanks for a wonderful day of desserts and drinks - cheers to many, many more. Oh, and thanks for (almost) always answering the phone. 

Love you! xoxo

Tattoo Crazy.

Has this book been stalking anyone else? No seriously, I use the word stalking because I feel like everywhere I go - it's there. My friends are reading it. Strangers are reading it. People who read bestsellers are reading it. My co-workers want to read it. People are talking about the movie.

& I want to be part of this crowd.

Yesterday, I just had to stop a customer at the Deli and ask questions. She didn't have many answers other than, "If you start it - power through the beginning, it's rough. Oh, and sometimes - it's very, very bad. Like, cover your eyes and blush kind of bad." Then, today I read an article by my dear Nicholas D. Kristof congratulating the novel for  bringing awareness to issues of modern day slavery and human trafficking!

Needless to say my interest & curiosity are officially sparked (even though I still know little to nothing about the series).

It would be easy enough to Internet search characters and plot summaries, but instead I'll just add Girl with the Dragon Tattoo to my "READ THIS" list. If only I had some beach time...

Big Week, Small Motivation

It's safe to say - I'm freaking out. 

8 months since my return from Cairo & I'm ready for something new. This week revels if I have a plan for the next 365 days or if its time to start kicking butt. Rut. Rut. Rut. 

Heat Wave

I ran out of things to say. Then I ran to Iowa. & now, I'm running sandwiches. Oh me. Oh my. 

NEED THIS.

Try

"If you think education is expensive, try ignorance."

- Derek Bok

I've been less than impressed with the majority of people lately. Where did "Do Unto Others ... " go? 

It's Madly Fab

Not too long ago I raved about my first issue of MN Women's Press, and kids - my second is equally fabulous. I highly encourage you all to pick up a copy of the July issue (I got mine at Goodwill in Hastings) or visit www.womenspress.com. 

One my favorite articles this month was called Alice's Journey by Lyndall Johnson. Even though I had seen Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland I never took note of all the girl power! Johnson praises the movie for finally portraying a Heroine the right way -- a woman who defies cultural norms, stands up for the greater good, and follows her dreams - no matter what society says!

Emily and I watched the film tonight, her for the first time and I with a new perspective. Let me tell ya - it rocked my girl power socks right off. I've enjoyed the stories of Alice for a long time - so to now see my dear Alice as a positive female role model - warms my heart.

"From the moment I fell down this rabbit hole I've been told what I must do and who I must be! I've been shrunk, stretched, scratched and stuffed into a teapot! I've been accused of being Alice and not being Alice, but this is my dream. I will decide where is goes from here! ... I make the path."

Top Customers

At the Deli I serve a lot of different people, but my favorite - hands down - are customers over 60. Here are a few reasons why:

they call me cute names (doll, sweet, lovely, sugar, hunny, etc.),
their jokes are terrible,
they always dress to impress,
they are polite,
they laugh a lot,
they love chocolate,
trying something new off the menu is a huge deal,
they are comfortable eating alone,
they savor pastries and baked goods,
they order caffeine at night &
beer in the afternoon.

My favorite though, is when they order ice cream, because they always - and I mean always - get a double scoop.

Dang Mosquito

My legs are covered in mosquito bites and I'm pissed off about it! I want to go on a rant about red itchy splotchy legs and chemical filled repellents, but I can't. Because after every complaint a little voice in my head says, "Jeanna - at least Malaria isn't a worry." & the little voice is right, I'm lucky. 

Kinigi, Rwanda 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO):

Over half the world's population is at risk for Malaria.
There are over 250 million cases per year, 1 million resulting in death.
Every 45 seconds a child dies of Malaria.
Symptoms of Malaria include (are not limited to) fever, shaking, respiratory distress, and vomiting.
Malaria is both treatable and preventable.

For more information on transmission, symptoms, risks, treatment, elimination, prevention and more I suggest reading the WHO Malaria Fact Sheet.

OR better yet if you want to do something about Malaria prevention (& ultimate elimination) go to http://www.nothingbutnets.net/ & consider donating a 10 dollar mosquito net or organizing a fundraising team!

Map Mania

Ever since I saw these adorable World Map Collections by the Callaghan Art Gallery on etsy.com - I've been thinkin' - I need a map. A big map. Strolling through the aisles of Ikea with my Mama I was reminded of this dream, and let her know (she has got a good eye for flea market finds). Turns out, WE HAD SOME IN OUR BASEMENT. They were thisclose to being trash material, but thankfully were saved. 

Aren't they gorgeous? Swoooooon. How do I choose which beaut gets the honor of being hung behind my couch?