Granola Girl: Modern hippy woman minus the heroin and STD's. Socially aware and active with a penchant for hemp and sodium-free soap. May eat tofu for breakfast and sweeten food with agave syrup. Is determined to save the world.

(Definition provided by UrbanDictionary.com)

Damn!  That's not me.  I'm not really into hemp so I'm not a Granola Girl by definition.  In addition, I avoid tofu because soy is a GMO (genetically modified organism).

Wow...sooooo...this might actually make me more granola than a Granola Girl.

Nevertheless, here's some granola that's healthier than what you typically find.  (The secret is no butter.  Unfortunately, in many opinions, butter is what makes granola ROCK.  So...choose your battles on this one.)

Granola Girl's Granola

3 cups rolled oats
1/4 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cup of unsweetened organic coconut flakes
3/4 cup almonds (I use whole, but sliced would be good too)
1/2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla

Pam Spray

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.  Spray a baking sheet with Pam Spray.  Spread granola mixture evenly across the baking sheet and coat with Pam.  Bake for 30 minutes. 

Store in an airtight container.

Green Mean Veggie Machine

Almost a year ago, I introduced Veggie Smoothies into my breakfast routine.  Yes, that's right, I said that I drink green vegetables that have been put through a blender.  Yummy!

Vegetable Smoothies are a great start to the morning.  You don't have a heavy carb sitting in your stomach to start off the day.  You also get a huge serving of raw fruits and veggies for the day (and you know you probably aren't consuming enough of that).  Because it is raw, there is less for your body to process and you actually get energized quickly as a result.  It has been a great addition to my pre-run routine -- I actually got the idea after reading "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall. 

The trick to making it more palatable is to make sure there is enough fruit in your concoction.  You can always start off with more fruit and then cut back on your fruit (sugar) as you get used to the taste of your veggie smoothies.

Veggie Smoothie
Serves one.

1 cup almond milk
1 cup spinach, kale, swiss chard
1/2 cup of frozen pineapples
1/2 cup of frozen mangos
1 tsp flaxseed meal
Ice (optional)

Blend together.  As simple as that.

Enjoy!

Where's Waldo?

Even for a feature film, there is no glamour involved with being a background actor.  You are literally just that -- someone filling space in the background.  You work a long unpredictable day (typically 10-14 hrs) and even when you are paid, it is usually equivalent to minimum wage. 

Extra work can be a fun opportunity to see what it takes to make a film or video.  I have used it as an interesting way to get a glimpse of a world that I am not familiar with.  I have met some cool passionate people who are still working towards their big break (an idea that I love regardless of whether it is for acting or anything else in life).

This is a DHS Training Video created for the Lodging Subsector called "No Reservations" (click here for a link to the DHS website for a hi-def download).

When you are an Extra, your job is be part of the background and not to be a point of focus.  Here's approximately where you can spot me in this video (and no, you won't be able to point me out if I didn't tell you exactly where I was):

• 0:55 seconds - That is my elbow, skirt, and purse on the right edge of the screen (I was supposed to pretend to be on the cell phone)
• 1:03 seconds - That is me standing in the distant back to the left of the flags
• 1:23 seconds - Don't blink, but that is me pulling a suitcase (you can hear the wheels) behind the column right before the kid says "Hi, Dad!"

Did you miss me?  THAT's how good of a job I did.

If you are ever trying to learn the secret to a magician's card trick, you know not to focus on the card at the center of attention, but to observe everything else on stage.  It's a difficult concept so I don't blame you if you didn't see me.  Try again.

It was a 10-12 hour shoot, and the scenes that I participated in may have filled 3 minutes of this entire 9-minute video. 

To find Extra work, register with a local casting agency.  In the DC area, I am registered with Central Casting.  DragonukConnects.com is another fantastic website fo find out about potential jobs in entertainment in the DC/VA/MD/PA area.

It's hard work, but someone has to do it.

Pumpkin Pecan Bread

I had a 10K this morning for which the registration fee was actually a loaf of homemade bread.  I whipped this up using ingredients in the kitchen cabinet.  

Easy.  Makes one loaf.  Great to serve with coffee or tea.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup water
• 15 oz can of pumpkin puree
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Sift the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together.

In a separate bowl, mix the sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla, and water. Add the flour mixture to the liquids in three parts.  Fold in the pumpkin puree and pecans. Once the ingredients are all incorporated pour into a greased 9 by 5 by 3-inch loaf pan.

Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. At this point a toothpick inserted into the middle of the loaf should come out clean. Cool for 15 minutes and turn out onto a cooling rack. Cool completely.

Are You Laughing at Me or With Me?

As my nine days at Wings of Hope comes to an end, I think about how absolutely rewarding this trip has been.  I laughed and laughed and laughed.

Some of the ridiculous moments:

• Boys will be boys.  Though they can not feed themselves, two of the boys with cerebral palsy mustered enough control to use their respective wheelchairs as bumper cars and push one another out of position to change the tv station.  I knew I should stop the fight, but I kind of wanted to see what would happen.
• That wasn't rain.  I was standing in the alley behind the house when I felt a drop of wetness hit my head.  I looked up and realized I was standing underneath the boys' balcony.  One of the boys was looking down at me with a huge drip of drool hanging out of his mouth.  (Awwww...mmaaannnn!!!)
• No thanks, we are NOT that hungry.  Since the older children were often still hungry after their light dinner, I decided to share my chocolate protein bars with them one evening.  They were all very excited at the "bonbons."  After one bite of a Lunabar, Sadraque returned his portion back to me.
• Again, no thanks, we are NOT that hungry.  Not knowing what to expect, one of the volunteers, Michael, bought Spam and Tang at the grocery store.  I asked him if he consumed these products back at home.  He said, "No." (?!?!)  I am going to bet that there will still be Spam and Tang in the kitchen cabinet when I decide to return to Wings of Hope next.  There's something to be said about food products that have a longer shelf-life than you.  

• The Ramp of Death.  Each day of classes, we would help take the children with wheelchairs down to the first level.  Since the house isn't designed to be wheelchair accessible, the wooden planks on top of the stairs were relatively steep.  One of the children, David, would make a special request for me to take him downstairs because he thought the look of fear in my eyes as I wheeled him downstairs backward (using my shins as a brake) absolutely hilarious.  *Note the scuff marks on the wall.*
• Big wheels, not just for kids.  We brought out the big wheels and bikes with training wheels for the children to ride around on the patio one day.  By children, I mean us volunteers.  By us volunteers, I really mean me.  I hadn't seen a big wheel in years.  And man oh man...if I didn't do some knee cartilage damage while banging myself up against that steering well.  It was a training exercise in my pursuit to be reigning queen of that patio.

Non-traditional Communication

Vivian, a Haitian teenage girl, sees me and tells me to wait where I am.  She brings a photo album to show me pictures of the boy that she has a crush on.  I give her my approval and we giggle together. She goes on to tell me about how scary the earthquake was as well.  The floor shook.  People were crying.  Some people were hurt, some died.

Not your everyday conversation when you realize that Vivian is deaf and I don't know sign language.

In the US, we are constantly talking about the importance of communication.  There are tons of articles on how to communicate with your boss, your client, your best friend, your significant other, etc.  "He's not a mind-reader.  You have to be specific."  We have to think about what we are saying and whether or not we conveyed it clearly to the other person.

I learned here how easy it is to communicate with others even when you don't speak the same language (or don't speak at all).  It is so amazing.  While in Haiti, I speak Kreyol, French, use French-sounding words (remember when you did this "confidently" in high school to trip your teacher up), and English.  There are also a lot of hand gestures involved.  And you know what?!!  The children understand me.  And since a lot of the children are not able to speak and those who can speak only speak Kreyol, I have learned to pay intimate attention to their gestures and body language to understand them.  It works!

I understand when Teddy needs help putting on his headphones so that he can listen to the radio.  I understand when Fritz wants me to sit him upright to feed him, and doesn't want me to forget to put a bib on him so that there is not a big mess.  I can gently attend to a huge insect bite that has become infected on David's arm because he is afraid that if I touch, it may hurt.  I can fetch a new shirt for Sam because he's uncomfortable with how wet the current one he is wearing has gotten from the dribbled juice.  All of these named children have cerebral palsy and none of them verbally told me what they needed in a traditional sense.  I just learned to pay attention and ask them questions to confirm that I understood them correctly. 

I scold the children in English when they aren't following directions.  They get it.

Jozye took a page full of stickers out of an activity book, even though he was specifically told not to.  I asked for them back -- in both French and English.  He hid them behind his back with a huge grin on his face as if to say, "I have no idea what you are talking about."  In English, I threatened not to go horseback-riding with him the following day or talk to him.  He gave them back so I would finish coloring with him.

I also yelled at some of the neighborhood kids today.  They were peeking over the gate -- I'm not sure if they were curious about me (the foreigner) or wanted to spy on the kids.  Either way, when one of the girls began to mimick the noises of one of my highly autistic children, I told her firmly to go away in English.  She understood and ran off.

It's not that complicated.  

What Matters

I stood with the kids for their morning sermon.  Seeking affection, Josephine had grabbed my right hand as I was passing her.  As I settled into the hallway, with one child at one hand, another little hand grabbed for my other.  Fritz, who has cerebral palsy and cannot even feed himself, focused enough to reach out and hold my hand.  I was touched!

I looked across the hallway and smiled at Lazar.  He said something to me.  Not knowing if it was Kreyol or nonsense, I asked him to repeat himself.  I still couldn't understand him when he did.  "Pas comprend," I responded.  He said it again.  I shrugged and apologized for not understanding.  I began to look away when he shouted it out clear as day.

"I love you."

My eyes welled.  My heart filled.  Don't cry -- I told myself.

Before I had come, I had a lot of anxiety and was questioning myself on whether I could add any value during my short stay at Wings.  I was trekking to a country under distress that I was not familiar with.  I didn't have a background in physical therapy and did not have much experience working with children with disabilities.  I didn't know Kreyol and only had some basic French....

But this was a confirmation of my purpose to be here.  This was not a home where the ratio was two parents to a child.  Though these kids have a wonderful support system, they are still children who want attention and affection.  Well, lucky for them, I am great at giving hugs and kisses!  I can provide this!  And you know what?!!  These little guys are fantastic about returning the favor too!

It's love -- this shameless, uncomplicated, simple feeling.  No strings attached.  Just a reminder to one another that YOU matter.

Fermathe, Haiti

Fermathe stands in the mountains south of Port au Prince (30 miles and a 90 minute drive from the airport).  The two biggest attractions for potential tourists/volunteers to this small town are the Baptist Mission and Wings of Hope. 

Once you are in Fermathe, you will get everywhere by foot without a problem -- it is very small.  Knowing some basic Kreyol is essential to communicating with the local workers in the open air market place.  Also, purchases are made using gourdes or Haitian dollars.  When you ask them how much something is, they will often quote you in terms of Haitian dollars (which you can convert to gourdes yourself), not US dollars.

The Baptist Mission has created a little community of its own which includes a restaurant and gift shops.  As a result of the small population of American missionairies who stay in this little area, you will be able to communicate in English and even use US dollars to make your purchases within the Mission community and from the guys who sell souvenirs, trinkets, and paintings directly across the street from the Baptist Mission.  You will want to clarify that the prices they are quoting you are in US dollars (because it usually is).

Buying Food

There is a bakery that sells this wonderful flat bread at least three times a day.  It is on the road on the right (the Boulangerie sign will be on your left) going from Wings of Hope towards the Fermathe market.  You can tell by the scent near the bakery if they are currently baking or not (but generally around 11:30am, 1:30pm, and 4:30pm).  There is a quantity discount as well; the more you order, the cheaper each piece of bread is. 

The open air market in Fermathe is a great place to buy fresh produce like beets, carrots, onions, avocados, etc.  Some produce is only sold in the morning (such as bananas) so if there is something that you are looking for and can't find, simply ask.

There are small grocery stores in Fermathe as well.  They kind of look like dark cellars.  You will see a line of people outside waiting to get in because the store owners will typically grab the item for the customer or only let a handful of customers in at a time to prevent theft.  This was a convenient place for us to purchase coffee and beer.


Where to Eat

The Baptist Mission offers a restaurant that sells American food -- burgers, pizza, steak sandwiches, and sundaes.  Just a warning, it also offers everything at American prices.  There is a beautiful view of the mountains and valleys from the restaurant.


There is also a Pate stand (similar to a Jamaican Pattie or a very large Empanada) amongst the vendors to the right of the Baptist Mission sign.  It is a fried dough stuffed with chicken and cabbage, generally sold around lunch time.


Shopping
Within the Baptist Mission, there is a gift shop which sells items at a fixed price.  They offer many handicrafts, but I am a fan of the locally-made vanilla extract which turns out to be a great souvenir. 

Across from the Baptist Mission sign are several souvenir stands.  If you are looking for statues, boxes, or other trinkets, ask for Simon who will generally give you a good deal if you bargain with him for a bit.  For Haitian paintings, I went to Wilmott Robert's stand (an enclosed shack filled with paintings --  he now has his name painted on the outside) and found a portrait that I absolutely loved.

Election Day: Manifestation

In Port au Prince, we had heard that morning that someone was already killed trying to vote.  It's a madhouse.

Today is Election Day is Haiti.  When I planned my volunteer trip to Haiti, I didn't realize that I was coming around the time of their presidential elections (an event that occurs once every five years).  It is a time of predicted chaos and violence -- a time when Americans are discouraged from visiting Haiti as a result.

Well, I came anyway.

A few of the volunteers and I walked down into the town of Fermathe to see what was going on at the voting booth.  We walk through the market place in Fermathe to discover it is a relative ghost town in comparison to the day before.  How many people decided to stay home today because they were afraid of what was occurring outside?  How many of these people aren't voting as a result?

The local voting was taking place at the Baptist Missionary School.   A crowd surrounded the outside of the gate.  A crowd stood inside the play yard waiting for their turn to vote.  Police cars (the only ones I ever saw during my nine days in Haiti) drove up and down the street.  There was a sense of tension in the air.  I was uncertain if it was a good idea that we were there after all.

Hours after we left the voting location, I found out that the same thing had happened in Fermathe that had already happened in Jacmel earlier that morning.  Someone had gone into the voting booth, pretending to vote, and grabbed the ballots and ripped them out.  Amazingly, these people keep escaping into the crowd and getting away with it.

One of the employees at the home I was staying at left early this morning to vote in Port au Prince. He came back in the evening and said he was not able to get down to the voting booths.  There were no tap taps or vans allowed through Port au Prince.  It's crazy how safety could also make it difficult for someone to be able to exercise his or her right to vote.  Another one of the employees had better luck and proudly showed off her thumb which had been marked as a sign of voter participation (and to prevent double-voting).

We watched the news all day.  The live coverage in Haiti is different than in the US.  While there is ususally commentary that accompanies the US news to explain what was going on, in Haiti, you only saw the images.  I saw hoards of people parading down the street in unison  on television.  It was difficult to tell whether it was good or bad parading.  

I asked a Haitian man if the situation was worse or better than he expected.  He just responded with, "This is bad.   You have your responsibilities.  I have my responsibilities.  But a lot of people don't need change."

The Day before Haiti's Presidential Elections 2010

My driver asks me if I speak Kreyol.  I respond, "Non, mais je parle un peu de francais" with a heavy emphasis on "un peu."  He says something in French to me and I laugh.  Apparently, while I may speak a little french, I don't understand much at all.  With lots of curiosity and broken french, I still attempt to strike up a conversation with my driver on how many candidates are running for president.  He begins to rattle several names off...I interpret this as "many."  (I learn later that it's 19.)
  
2010 could not be any crazier without adding a presidential election to the picture -- but this is exactly the timing for one (it occurs every five years in Haiti).   Due to the earthquake, the world has thrown so much money to Haiti to help rebuild the country (by the way, CAN you rebuild something that sort of was broke to begin with?).  As a result, the winner of this presidential election will have access to more money than Haiti has possibly ever seen.  In good hands, this will be good.  In bad hands, well...you know the rest. 

Some people are afraid to vote.  Others just shrug as if to say "What's the point?"  I learn you can be killed for voting for the wrong one.  Of course, who defines the "wrong one?" 
Tomorrow is Sunday.  The day of elections.  I have spoken to many locals and the concensus is to stay home.  Every one is uncertain about how the country will react -- and this isn't even a predictable race by the way.  The presidential nominee needs to have over 50% of the votes to win; however, with so many nominees, it's likely to be a very diluted vote and create another run-off.

It seems to all be a question mark.  Kind of like a big winter storm that you hear is coming, those of us here are prepared to stay in for a day or two just in case a big storm actually does hit.

The Children of Wings of Hope

As soon as I entered the gate of Wings of Hope, I was overwhelmed by the greeting of kids who came up to immediately hug me and a brown lab named Zel. 

Wings of Hope is a home for 38 boys and girls with disabilities high in the hills above Port-au-Prince.  In such a poor country, families do not have the means to support a child with special needs.  And in some cases, due to superstition, the disabilities that these children have are interpreted to be bad omens or even the child being possessed by a bad spirit.  While some of these kids were brought to the home by their parents who couldn't take care of them properly, most of these children were outright abandoned somewhere. 

It's unbelievable because these are the most incredible children.  Many of them have cerebral palsy, autism, mental retardation, vision problems, or other deformities.  However, despite their disabilities, they are incredibly sweet, loving, and thoughtful.  

The Wings of Hope house was deemed unsafe after the January 2010 earthquake.  As a result, it has been demolished.  They are starting from scratch so that the new house will be handicap-accessible and have a stronger foundation.  In the meantime, everyone has moved to two adjoining rental properties.  The children are crowded in one house; the adults are in another.  There is no running water and only intermittent electricity; in order to flush, you simply pour a pitcher of water down the toilet.  However, the children are safe, get three meals a day, and their classes/programs have now resumed.

The children are impressive.  Those who are "capable" help to feed those who are less capable.  And those who are less capable keep an eye on the room to make sure that everyone is fed. There is an allowance system which encourages the children to pitch in with chores around the house.  As a result, I have observed the children with a strong sense of pride when they are able to purchase something with the money they have earned.  They are not selfish and share things with one another.  In every sense of the word, they are a family.

Some of the boys who grew up in St. Joseph's Home (a sister property in Port-au-Prince that is a home for former boy-slaves) have gone on to be caretakers at Wings of Hope.  As a result, they understand the emotional support that is needed to help "lift up" the spirit of a child who has otherwise been abandoned by society.  The children and young adults that I have met from both of these programs have been so great -- it goes to show what a supportive environment they are growing up within.

A typical day for me as a volunteer:

6:00-6:30am       Wake up

6:30-8:00am       Get ready, study Kreyol, journal, drink coffee, eat breakfast.  (On an energetic morning, I may go to the kitchen to assist with the preparations or dance with the children who are gathered around.)

8:00-8:30am       Feed the children breakfast

8:30-9:30am       Participate in the morning sermon or hang out in the girls/babies room holding the little ones

9:30-12:30pm      Class (computers, art, social skills) or laundry

12:30-1:30pm      Feed the children lunch, followed by juice time

1:30-5:00pm        Play with the kids, go to the market, take a bucket bath, do personal laundry

5:00-5:30pm        Feed the children dinner

5:30-7:30pm        Watch a movie with the kids, eat dinner, play cards

8:30-9:00pm        Go to bed

Wings of Hope survives mostly through contributions made, predominantly coming from American donors.  It takes an average of $6000 to support one child per year (food, shelter, medicine, caretakers and nurses, teachers, physical therapists, security, etc.).  If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.heartswithhaiti.org. 

Little facts about some of the kids:

• Josephine has a sweet smile and a way of finding her way into your heart on first impression.  She speaks english VERY well and loves to sit in your lap.
• Lazar understands and speaks English, but doesn't want the volunteers to know immediately so that he can listen in on conversations.
• Sam is ticklish and will giggle if you sing the Cookie Monster song ("C is for Cookie....").
• Teddy will teach you about patience.  If you pay attention to his gestures, you will be able to figure out what he needs help with.  Just don't get frustrated with yourself because he certainly won't.
• Despite the pink footsie pjs, Aluckson "Booboo" is ALL BOY.  Though he doesn't see well, he will find the electric socket in the room to play with (just like any other 3 year boy).  When feeding him, he will bite hard on the spoon.  It's his little way of feeding himself.  So while you may not be willing to let him spoon-feed himself because of the potential mess, after you've put the spoon in his mouth, just let it go.  When he is ready, he will hand the spoon back to you.
• Though he has a wheelchair, David likes to hop around the floor to get to where he needs to next.  I've seen him get run over by someone passing through the hallway, but his reaction is to burst out in laughter.  He laughs -- A LOT. 
• Jozye is the tech whiz.  He sets up the projector every night for the kids' movie.  Though he doesn't speak, he is a master imitator and can imitate the cries and sounds of the other children very well.
• Pierre and Erique will mimick one another.  They are two peas in a pod.  It is funny to be in the middle of them while they are doing this.
• Steve and Frank Ely love to dance -- morning, noon, and night.  In addition, they will take fresh cloves of garlic from the kitchen to eat -- so beware of close talking!  ;)

Look for the One-Armed Porter Named Jackson

After I make it through the chaos of Immigration and Baggage Claim at the international airport in Port au Prince, I wheel my cart outside only to be hit with a wall of heat and Haitians asking me if I know where I want to go. 

"I'm looking for Jackson" is my only response to any inquiry.  All I know about Jackson is that he has one-arm and can speak English.  It seems comical, but I have been told that he is the porter who will help me with my bags and point me out to the driver I've hired.

One man finally responds with a smile, "Yes, I know Jackson.  This way."

I question him suspiciously.  I don't trust his smile.  I refuse to let him take my baggage cart and question him again.  He responds, "Jackson is outside."  I need to head that way anyhow so I pretend to follow.  We get stopped by a guard who wants to see my baggage claim tags.  I use this as an opportunity to find someone with a more trustworthy answer, "Do you know who Jackson is?"  My new friend interrupts before the guard can respond, "I told you Jackson is outside."

At that moment, a new voice says behind me, "Are you looking for Jackson?  I'm Jackson!"

I turn around to see a hand reach out to shake mine.  I look at his other shoulder and my eyes follow down -- no arm.  "Yes, you ARE Jackson!"

Jackson takes my cart and leads me to the parking lot.  He instructs me to stand with my bags while he seeks the driver that I've hired.  The Haitian heat is sweltering.  I realize how ill-prepared I am when I see the other Haitians pull rags conveniently out of their own pockets to wipe their foreheads.  Sweat is simply dripping off of me and I can only use the back of my hand.

An English-speaking cab driver tries to lure me away.  I don't pay attention and eventually Jackson rejoins me to shoo him off.  Jackson tells me to be patient while he still attempts to locate my driver.  "No worries.  I'm not going anywhere."

Jackson calls my host, Michael, and learns there was a breakdown in communication -- no driver is coming.  He gives me the phone so that I can hear the instructions directly from Michael to get in a cab and not pay more than $30.

Jackson introduces me to a man with a covered pick-up truck.  They begin to put my bags in the back which makes me a bit nervous at this rushed assumption.

"How much?"  I ask.  Jackson shrugs at me.
"How much?" I yell at the driver before he has any more control of my property.
"$40."
"No," I respond sternly.
The driver renegotiates, "$30."
"Okay, let's go."

We get into the truck and I hear Jackson tell something to driver about "Michel."   "Good," I think.  He's telling the driver to find Michael for me.

I'm lured through the dusty roads of Port au Prince.  There is dust everywhere -- the kind that is created from rocks and stones.  There are lots of school children in uniform out.  I realize that they must have just been released.  It's everyday life.  And then I see a bustling tent city.

Port-au-Prince has an amazing amount of traffic.  And I thought DC was bad!!!  We stop at an intersection.  The driver tells me, "It'll be okay."  I think, "What will be okay?"  All of the sudden a swarm of people come at us from the left.  I remember reading travel advisories warning me to not ride in cars with the windows down.  When I try to roll up the window, I realize this old pick up's electric window opener doesn't work anymore.  Well, my driver doesn't seem nervous so I reassure myself that there shouldn't be anything to be nervous about.  The crowd dances, cheers, and chants.  They throw flyers through our open windows -- Oh!!  Now I understand.  Supporters of one of the presidential candidate's are marching through the street.  I watch a truck go by filled with a booming voice over loud speakers.   My driver explains that the candidate's name is Sweet Mickey.  Apparently, he's a singer.

As we continue on our way, my driver finally points out that we have made it to the right street.

I say, "Ou est-ce que Michael?"  (Where is Michael?)
"Michael?"  He is puzzled by my inquiry.
"Qui est-ce que Michel?"  (Who is Michel?)  I wonder if I asked the question the wrong way so ask in a different format.
"Michel?  Michael?  Michel?"  Oh no, I realize he has no idea what or who I want.

Quickly I yell out the window at a lady to my right who is sitting on the curb selling snacks, "Ou est-ce Michel?"  She answers down the street and to the right.

My driver thanks her and we make our way further down the block.  I explain to him, "En anglaise, 'Michael.'  En francaise, 'Michel.'"  He laughs at the clarification.

I pull the address out of my bag and we approach an opening door that has seen us coming.

"Welcome!  I'm Michael!"

Prepping for Haiti: Precautionary Safety Nets

Visit travel.state.gov to review travel advisories; register for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and list travel plans with the local consulate.

Create an Emergency Contact List for family, including:

• Passport, DOB info
• Satellite Phone Info (provided by Iridium)
• Destination address and contact name/number/email
• Travel plans (including flight itinerary)
• Travel Insurance Policy Info 
• Medication
• US Embassy info

Reconfirm travel arrangements with the host.

Make copy of Passport for self and memorize passport id number.

I Heart Coconut Water

Gatorade is too sugary and water is too...well...plain.

In search of a more natural drink, I have managed to fall in love with coconut water as hydration support on my long runs.  Coconut water is an isotonic beverage that contains more potassium than a banana.  A great assist against leg cramps, right?!!  In addition, it offers magnesium as well.

I like it because it's slightly sweet, but not too sweet.  I am used to carrying a Fuelbelt that would contain 2 bottles of watered down Gatorade and 2 bottles of water.  I needed the water because I would eventually get sick of the sweetness of the Gatorade.  I would need the Gatorade because I would get bored of the water.

I learned that I could tolerate the coconut water in all 4 bottles pretty happily.

The only thing to be weary of is that coconut water doesn't have nearly the same sodium content of Gatorade.  So you may find yourself craving pretzels on long runs.  I started carrying pretzels or salt packets with me as a result.

When purchasing coconut water, it is important to get the kind that doesn't contain sugar.  The ones I found offered at the asian grocery stores and restaurants always have additional sugar.  Actually, other than my yoga studio, I have only been able to stock up on all natural coconut water/juice at Whole Foods.

Some brands are tastier than others.  My favorites include:

Amy & Brian's Coconut Juice
Zico Coconut Water
O.N.E. Coconut Water

Remember to drink it chilled.  It is a great pre-, during, and post- exercise drink!

In another blog, I'll tell you how dried pineapple chunks are a great natural caloric replacement on long runs over Cliff Bloks.

Running Review: Vibram Five Fingers

"What are THOSE?!!"  This can be said with some disdain, but the comment is always made with complete curiosity.

My canned response, "They are called Vibram Five Fingers and it mimicks barefoot running or walking"  (Note:  I clearly feel like I have to still justify myself which is why I explain the reason that I'm wearing them.)

I remember when I saw a picture of them a couple of years ago that a fellow runner sent me.  My initial response, "It's not worth it.  I don't care how fast those things make me run."

However, after digesting the concept of barefoot running a bit more and having some interesting conversations with friends who owned them (oddly, none of them were actually runners -- they just liked how comfortable they were), I finally gave in to my own curiosity.  I had sprained my ankle snowboarding and wanted to restrengthen the muscles as a result.  I went to my local HTO to try them on and bring home a good fitting pair.

It had been a few weeks since my injury and I was able to run 3 miles in my regular running sneakers again.  However, my first run with the Vibram's only lasted about half a block before I realized that my ankle was still too weak to handle the additional pressure.  For sure, these puppies were going to be more trying on my muscles.  

The instructions that come with the shoes tell you that you'll need to train in them slowly.  I trained in them by walking as much as I could, and running when I was able to.  Immediately, they felt incredible.  I like being barefoot so this is a great complement for me.  It's weird because you feel every crack and pebble underneath you -- but it doesn't hurt.  The Vibram rubber sole does a great job of protecting your own soles (the only time I've had some trouble is while walking on a REALLY jagged surface.

On the other hand, running has become so much more fun.  Since my feel are substantially lighter, I feel quite spritely when I'm running.  I actually find myself doing silly things like leaping from side to side because I am able to maneuver around things much easier than in my regular running sneakers.

I strategically only run in them for up to 3 miles however.  Personally, I found that I got a weird blister if I ran more than this.  If I was truly running barefoot, I would have just allowed myself to develop callouses; however, since I'm a girl who still wants girly feet, I opted against the roughage and decided to just run up to a dainty 3 miles.  I wore my regular running shoes for the longer runs still.  The shoes helped to substantially change my stride -- what a huge benefit.  When running barefoot, you are forced to run with a mid-strike instead of rolling from heel to toe.  My running has become more efficient.  I don't have the same knees issues that I have in the past.  I have had more issues with cramping this season which MAY be attributed to the increase in training I've had.  Otherwise, I'm happy to say that my marathon PR improved by 16 minutes this year.

Running or no running...I still love these shoes.  In yoga, you are encouraged to spread your toes.  These shoes do it for me.  It's a great after work after having my poor tootsies crammed into cute but pointy heels all day.  In addition, I love them for travel.  They are super comfortable on the plane, but also conveniently light and small to pack.

As long as you are comfortable with the additional looks of "curiosity" that you'll get, I highly recommend these shoes to anyone who likes being barefoot.  Put it this way, I haven't met one owner of a pair of Vibram Five Fingers who doesn't absolutely love them.

Prepping for Haiti: The Medical Checklist

"When a great adventure is offered, you don't refuse it." -- Amelia Earhart

I went to India in 2004 and joked that I had to get vaccinated up the ying yang for almost every common traveler's disease.  I could (and should) have traveled everywhere for those first 5 years.  Alas, I'm in my 6th year since India so it was time for some updating.  Luckily, it was only Typhoid.  But daggonnit...wouldn't you know I've got to take the dreaded Malaria Pills again?

According to the CDC, the current immunization recommendations are:

• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid
• Tetanus
• Flu shot

I had a Typhoid shot last time, but the doctor recommended an oral vaccine which should cover me for a longer period of time (something I should look into).  It's 4 pills that are taken every other day and need to be completed at least 1 week before you enter a high-risk area (I'm cutting it close as usual).  And much to my dismay and ridiculous bias against the Flu Shot (because I SWEAR I always get sick from it), I was convinced to get this year's Flu Shot.

Other precautions: 

I'm not a fan but am taking Malaria Pills.  Consult with your doctor of different malaria pill options because some have a higher percentage of side effects (like paranoia) than others.  The different versions also have different costs and different lengths of treatments. 

Cipro is also coming along with me -- just in case of Traveler's Diarrhea. 

I found it funny that the doctor looked me in the eye to tell me not to do anything while I traveled that I would not do in the States.  She seemed to put extra emphasis on catching a STD.  I was like...really?!!!  I'm volunteering at an orphanage for disabled children.  Promiscuous sex is the last thing on my mind.

L-Day

I have worn glasses or contacts since the 5th grade and today, I will be free of them!

My friend drops me off at the doctor's office.  See you in 2 hours!

The technician takes me aside to go over my post-op care.  He's a bubbly man with a huge smile that has made me really comfortable this entire process.

• Continue to use the anti-bacterial eye drops and anti-inflammatory eye drops 4 times a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, bedtime).  Use the re-wetting eye drops as often as you need -- your eyes will be dry.
• Your eyes will be light-sensitive immediately after the surgery so here are your protective sunglasses.
• Sleep with this Eye Shield for the next week so that you don't accidentally rub your eyes in the middle of the night.
• Don't wear eye makeup for the next 4 days.
• Don't get water in your eyes for the next 4 days.  Be careful in the shower, no swimming, and no strenuous exercise.
• When you go outside this first week, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from dirt that may be blowing in the air.  We don't want you rubbing your eyes.

Anyone who knows me knows that I don't really like being told what to do without understanding why I have to do it.  My questions in return:

• So why the 4 day rule and 7 day rule?  What can happen within those first days that I am trying to prevent?  Your corneal flap will not be completely healed so we don't want you to rub it and dislodge it.  It'll become more sealed by the 4th day.  Also, you will be more prone to infection.  Your eyes should be completely healed within a week.

I imagine what my contacts look like when they flip and decide I don't want my corneal flaps to do this.  I stop asking questions.

The doctor comes in to go over what will happen in the surgery.
Doctor:  Do you need a Valium?  
Me:  No. 
Doctor:  Are you sure?
Me:  Yes.  I'd probably be asleep for the next couple of days if I took one.  
Me  (Do you notice how you question your own decisions when someone asks you something twice?):  Why would I need a Valium?  For anxiety?  
Doctor:  Yes.  But you seem like a calm person.  You should be fine without one.   

I go to the room with the laser.  It has a big glass viewing window for anyone who wants to watch.  I lie in the chair which is reclined all the way back.  As the technicians prop the neck pillows around my head, I notice that my chair is vibrating.  My hands are shaking like crazy!!!  I relax my hands and put them by my side.  My arms are still shaking!  Breathe...three-part yogi breath...fill your belly, chest, top of the lungs...exhale...top of the lungs, chest, belly...breathe....

The doctor tells me to look at the blinking light and puts a ring around my eye.  The suction begins.  This will be the most uncomfortable part he reminds me.  It's a little pressure around my eye.  But I'm thinking...oh my goodness, he has just cut my eye!  Breathe.  You should be losing sight now.  Yes -- mission accomplished!  He swings me to the laser.  His technician does a countdown.  35 seconds...20 seconds...Is my eye closed?  Because I can't see and just want it be closed right now....10 seconds...Eeewwww...it spells like burning hair...5 seconds...done.  He covers my right eye and says we're going to repeat everything on the left side now.  Breathe.  I see a little spatula going over my eye.  He's smoothing out the corneal flap.

Good job.  You did great.  Everything looks good.

The technician asks me to sit up.  Can you see what the clock says above the door?  It's almost 2pm.  So this is what I can see without contacts or glasses?  Yep -- but it'll get even better once you are healed.

Amazing. 

How Much for the X-ray Vision Upgrade?

"Are you nervous?"  No, I'm not nervous -- but maybe I should be.  I mean, I'm not nervous because it seems like everyone and their mother has had Lasik by now.  I feel like I'm one of the last ones left.  But here I am, thinking about the fact that tomorrow...someone is cutting into my eyeballs.

I have been so busy with a new job, marathon-training, leading my alumni club, and planning for my upcoming trip to Haiti that I did  not even sit down to think about the potential risks.

How many days have you had your contacts out for?  10.  The technicians dilate my eyes and re-check my prescription.  They tell me the rules:

• No eye make up tomorrow and for 4 days after wards
• Bring a Tylenol PM to help you with the discomfort after wards by also allowing you to sleep it off.

The doctor comes in to go over my stats and reconfirm that I want to go through with this tomorrow.  Why is he asking me again?  Oh yeah...because this is serious!

Bethany goes over my check-list for tomorrow:

• Will you have someone with you to give you a ride?  Yes, exactly, how long will I be in the office however?  2 hours.  Can she drop and pick me up afterwards?  Yes, but she can also stay to listen to your post-op care and watch your surgery.
• Did you fill your prescription for the eyedrops yet?  No.  Was I supposed to start those today?  Yes, actually, I'm going to give you a trial sample so you can start them right now.  Then put them in dinner, bedtime, and breakfast tomorrow.
• Did you order your postsurgery Eye Care Kit?  Yes. (Okay, this was true but I didn't order it when I was supposed to.  I was supposed to order it 7 days in advance of the surgery.  Instead, I ordered it 3 days in advance.  Luckily, when the woman checked, it had made it to the office already.  Whew!)
• You will need to come in 1 day after the surgery and 1 week after the surgery.  

Scatter-brained.  I'm having surgery tomorrow -- am I prepared?

Marine Corp Marathon 2010

I wake up at 6am and roll into the running outfit that I had lied out from the night before (shorts, shirt, sport bra, sweat pants to be tossed away, and a long sleeve zip-up to keep).  I'm covered in bodyglide and sunscreen.  Tissues and an emergency twenty dollar bill are stuffed in my pocket, along with 3 GUs.  I make myself a veggie smoothie and down a glass of coconut water.   My bib number is securely pinned on.  My shoes are tied and it was time to head out into the cold.

I live about a mile from the start line, but meet up with some friends from my running group in advance.  Sindy is going to be my running buddy/pacer today.  We had run all season together and realized that we were the right speed to appropriately push one another.

At the start line, music is pumped through the speakers.  I begin to dance.  "Save your energy," the girls warn me.  Forget about it -- I'm pumped!

*Boom*  The start goes off.  And the crowd of runners cheer.  We begin to run only to come to a quick stop.  We're nowhere near the start line -- there's at least 10,000 runners in front of us!  So we walk for another 20 minutes until it's our turn to cross the line and officially begin count.

Sindy and I take off and run up through Rosslyn.  We see costumed heroes, men dressed in drag, babies and doggies dressed as various furry critters, a few Waldo's, and a smurf.  At mile 2, we hit our first water stop and agree to walk through it.  At mile 4, we opt to take our GUs as well.  This becomes our pattern for the remainder of the race.

Sindy and I enter into running banter.  Vacation plans, dating dilemmas, past race experiences...any random thought that distracts us from the physical pain of the run.  I tell her my next random thought, "I want to beat a smurf today."  Sindy responds back, "Maybe you already beat one.  He could be behind us."  I don't know -- but I'd really like to beat a smurf today.

At the half-marathon point, I do a quick check with myself.  I feel pretty good.  I say to Sindy, "Hey!  If we keep this pace up, we'll finish the marathon in...."  "Don't say it!" she interrupts.  We're on pace for a 4:40 marathon.

At mile 16, I do a quick check again.  I still feel pretty good.  A bit tired.  But good for a 16-miler.

At mile 18, we pass another water stop and they are handing out Cliff Sport Beans.  They taste like jelly beans.  I grab two bags.  Sindy tells me to keep going.  She wants to walk.  I lose my running buddy.

At mile 20, I run across the 14th Street Bridge.  This should be the infamous wall.  I have my hat on to shade me from the glaring sun.  But there is no wall, I still feel good.  I begin to pass a number of walkers.

At mile 22, I run through Crystal City.  Still no wall.  I keep running.  And now...I see the Smurf!  He's walking.  I run by him and smile gleefully knowing that I beat a smurf!

At mile 24, I am by the Pentagon.  Ooommmphhh...what's that...the beginning of a wall.  But I've only got 2.2 miles left.  That's less than 25 minutes if I keep running at this pace.  I lighten my steps.  I try to run more spritely by reminding myself how much more fun I am having than the walkers that I am now running past.  No need to over-push myself.  I just want to last until the end.  No wall.  No wall.

At mile 25, I have 1.2 miles left.  Can I run faster?  Mmmmm...no.  I decide to keep my current pace up.  I feel good.  I feel good.

At mile 26, I only have the last .2 miles up the Iwo Jima Hill.  This is it, friends!  The very last of it.  I do my best to push past the crowd of runners that have now slowed down.  I want to get this over with though!!  I try to run around the slower runners.  Oh my god, I'm going to vomit.  Don't vomit!!!

Wahooo...finally...I cross the finish line.  4:38 is my time.  A new PR!!!  Where's my medal?!!!

After a post-recovery meal of Pho and a good nap, I felt incredible.  So good that I decided to register for the Goofy Challenge in January.  Yes, that's the Disney Half Marathon on Saturday and the Disney Full Marathon on Sunday.  You get a Donald medal for the half, a Mickey medal for the full, and a Goofy medal because you're crazy (or stupid) enough to do both.

I must still be on a runner's high.

Prepping for Haiti: The Packing List

In preparation for my upcoming Volunteer Trip to Haiti, I created a packing list:

 
Clothes

• Running shoes
• Rain Poncho
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• 2 Long sleeve shirts
• 4 pairs of pants (men may wear shorts; women should wear below-the-knee skirts/pants)
• T-shirts
• Underwear and socks
• Sleepwear
• Flip flops with a thick sole ( like Chacos or Tevas)
• 3 sweat shirts
• Sweat pants or pj bottoms

Comfort

• Bed sheet, pillow case
• Towel, hand towel
• Headlamp
• Mosquito netting
• Ear plugs
• Anti-bacterial gel
• Baby wipes
• Face wash, soap
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• First aid kit
• Malaria Pills
• Bug spray (non-aerosol) w/ Deet
• Duct tape
• Leatherman/pocket knife
• Tweezers
• Nail clippers

Food

• Canned tuna and can opener
• Water bottle
• Emergen-C packets, Crystal Light, Gatorade powder
• Peanut Butter and crackers
• Trail mix
• Protein bars

Other

• Journal and pen
• Backpack
• Camera
• $1s and $5s
• Copy of passport and emergency medical insurance info

 Items to Donate to Wings of Hope

• Latex gloves
• Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Lollipops/toys for the kids
• OTC Medicine

Project Wedding Cake

I woke up Saturday morning and realized, "OMG!  Lisa has a lot of faith in me because I'm doing her wedding cake.  I mean, this is her special day...the day where EVERYgirl wants EVERYthing to go perfectly.  And she has trusted ME to her wedding cake?!?!"  Alright, then I reminded myself that I'm such a perfectionist and so incredibly reliable -- there's no way it crossed either of our minds that I'd let her down.  Honestly, what an honor to have and hold this project.

The plan was for a stack tiered, double-layer vanilla cake filled with strawberry buttercream and covered with an off-white Italian buttercream.  She wanted a clean looking cake decorated with black ribbon and red roses.  She also showed me a photo of a cake with a big black bow that she loved.  Since they were expecting 200 guests, I opted to build a 4 tier cake (6", 9", 12", 15") with an extra 9x13" sheet cake to be kept in the back.

Week's schedule (this girl has a full-time job after all so scheduling is everything):
The weekend before: I made a list of all of the supplies I needed and went shopping!!!
Monday:  1 batch of Italian Buttercream (7 cups)
Tuesday:  1 batch of Italian Buttercream (7 cups)
Wednesday:  Off (I had a work event)
Thursday:  Baked 2- 6" and 2- 9"; then 12" and 9x13"; then 2 16"; then 12" and 9x13" cakes (yes, that's 10 cakes)
Friday:  Prepare 3 batches of Italian Buttercream (21 more cups) -- one of which is turned to strawberry buttercream; simple syrup, layer with strawberry buttercream, stack the second layer, crumb coat, and refrigerate cakes for at least 30 minutes.  Then, I frosted those babies.
Saturday:  Smooth the finishes (using a papertowel and warm hand) and transport.

Once I got to the reception hall, I stacked the cakes.  Let me tell you...use a metal spatula!  I used just my hands on the first layer and left little fingermarks on the cake (d'oh!).  Precutting the ribbons by using the cakepans was smart.  I used little pearl pushpins to hold the ribbon ends together in the back.  Then, the big bow had twisted floral wire in the back to hold it to the cake.  In addition, I ended up piping little beads on to the bottom of two of the layers.  It was a minute detail that seemed to catch the praise of a lot of friends after wards.

Voila -- 18.75 cups cake flour, 14 cups sugar, 49 sticks of butter, and 57 eggs later...you've got wedding cake!!   

The best part -- it tasted really good too!  That's just as important as how it looks.

I definitely made more than enough cake though, because I saw 3 boxes stacked on the cake table after wards by the caterer so that the bride and groom to take home the leftovers (one being the 6" topper, of course).