Baby Elephants and DUNG BEETLES!!

If you're like me, you often wake up in the middle of the night after dreaming about rolling around in the mud with baby elephants with dung beetles nearby. You may find yourself thinking, "That could never happen in real life..I"ll never get to see and play with tiny little baby elephants and see a dung beetle at the same time". Well my friends, in Nairobi, that dream can be your reality.

Introducing the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage.  I've blogged about it before because I go there whenever we have visitors in Nairobi - But there is no fulfillment threshold for baby elephants.You just want more and more and more! When my brother came to visit a couple of weeks ago, a stop at the elephant orphanage was on the agenda for the first day of activities. 

Me getting ready to pick them up at the airport - oh boy was I excited. And I had my little airport pick up sign ready to go! It says NEAT not TAEN.  It's a mirror people!

 On to the elephants!

awww...they're so cute. I love the littlest ones that have to wear a blanky

awww...they're so cute. I love the littlest ones that have to wear a blanky

Most of the babies are little orphans because of horrible evil poachers that killed the moms

Oh this little guy was TINY

Oh this little guy was TINY

PHOTO SPOILER! I was about to take a nice couple shot of David and Ali and then some woman decided to walk right in front of me all incognito with her scarf on her head. It's like KONY 2012..i'm gonna make her infamous for spoiling this PHOTO!

Let's try that again. Such a lovely couple ;-)

Let's try that again. Such a lovely couple ;-)

  Another highlight of the elephant orphanage was when David spotted the DUNG BEETLE!! He was so busy rolling dung. He traveled like 40 feet in 15 minutes. 

Interesting enough - they sort of walk on their front legs and push the dung with their bag legs

Interesting enough - they sort of walk on their front legs and push the dung with their bag legs

These guys are pretty small - the dung ball was larger than he was! Dung Ball. lol.

These guys are pretty small - the dung ball was larger than he was! Dung Ball. lol.

 

After the elephants, we went to lunch at one of my favorite spots. Talisman Restaurant in Karen. I ordered WRONG.

I ordered fish...this may be the most unappetizing food photography EVER. I'm good at these. Somehow my fish had lips and teeth....it looks like a gross body part.  It tasted okay - But a little too much work for my taste. Lots of bones and skin and teeth and lips to dig through. It felt like a game of Operation to eat the thing! lol.

And a zoomed out unappetizing food photo of the fish

And a zoomed out unappetizing food photo of the fish

And top view of the fish. Under all the tomato stuff, the actual fish was pretty good.

And top view of the fish. Under all the tomato stuff, the actual fish was pretty good.

 

 Do not let this be a testament to the entire menu at Talisman. They have really good food. The feta and coriander samosas could easily be a healthy substitute for heroin.

Okay, that's it for me. Next post I will do a thorough sarcastic but serious review of  the Insanity work out and anything else that comes to mind.

Birthday LOVE

It's my birthday and...Wow, I mean, WOW.  Why are birthdays so awesome? I love the fact that someone out there, back in history, decided that we will all celebrate the day that we were born ..and every year at that! S/He could have decided that it would be every other year..or only on the 10s or something..but no, s/he decided that we should celebrate every year. Okay it would have been nice if we had half year birthdays too but yearly is pretty awesome. 
When Sergio was visiting a couple of weeks ago, we had an early birthday celebration while he was here. We went to my favorite fancy restaurant in Nairobi. I have a favorite fancy restaurant in Nairobi and a favorite shit hole restaurant - For my birthday we went to the fancy place. It's called Seven but they should call it "oh damn, I over did it". The food is good - and it's such a cool place in general. I think I spoke about it in my Easter blog post. So we got all dressed up in our nice jeans and brass jewelry and went to our "fancy" dinner.

At dinner, Sergio gave me my early birthday present from him - Um, probably one of the coolest gifts I have ever received and something I really wanted but never thought I'd actually do:

Comedy classes at the Improv DC once I move back!! Things 'bout to get silly up in hea

So, that was just the best - one, just being with Byu there and making a toast to a new year for me and then BAM! getting comedy classes is like Gold baby! Can't wait (but I'm scared!!!)

Then - Yesterday marked my big celebration with my friends here. My brother David and his girlfriend Ali flew in on Saturday night so I planned the get together the next night on Sunday so they wouldn't be face down in the masala by 8pm.   We all met up at Mystique Gardens - a Karoga restaurant in Westlands. Karoga is a style of cooking where you cook your own indian food on these little jiko grills. Typically it's a man thing and the Indian men get together and cook and then eat to get away from the ladies for a bit. It takes a while so we arranged for the restaurant to start our food early. It's all outside and you get these little bandas with a big table - like a picnic shelter. It was an awesome time. I really love all my Nairobi friends, truly. And having my brother there too was like over the top. Only thing missing was my byu. But his presence was there afterall...as I'll show you later.
Here's some of the pics of the karoga:

cookin it up - there are these little clay charcoal grills there with a giant pot on top where the masalas cook.

Me stirring the pot

I took a turn at the jiko

Jeera Chicken - Delish

My brother David and his girlfriend Ali digging into the bhajias

Some of my favorite people

I look chubby here in my giant sweater -but it's my birthday!! Who cares?

Part of the group

And with me -

more stirring. You stir this stuff for like an hour at least.

Then, I got some presents!!!! It's like people had read my bucket list of stuff I want to buy before I leave - All these things I really secretly wanted - seriously.

A really cool long necklace from Emma

Scott gave me his Ethiopian table that I have always coveted! Now I dont have to buy it from him!!!

It's so lovely - he's the nicest ever!!!! Love him.

Tara gave me an indian spice set thingy. If you go into any indian kitchen, you will find one of these filled with the various spices that are most common in indian cooking. Looks like this when it's in use:

And Scott also gave me his Ethiopian Platter thing. This thing is huge. it's like 2.5 or 3ft in diameter. I'm gonna serve up my arabic mezze on it!

And my BYU somehow managed to arrange for someone to buy my absolute favorite purse ever and give it to me at my birthday dinner!! I actually just blogged about this damn purse - I wanted it so bad. I decided I would buy it for myself on Saturday - I went to the shop and they told me someone had purchased it the day before! Turns out that it was Scott buying it for Sergio for ME! Love it love it love it love itLove it love it love it love it

Also my little brother gave me a pretty hilarious red neck margarita glass. It's so characteristic of him and it makes me love it even more - It's a great to-go margarita glass!! It's a mason jar on a pedestal. brilliant.

My awesome step mom and dad sent me a really thoughtful gift. They saw the jewelry I made here and sent me all this jewelry making stuff. Needless to say...Immo be busy makin me some blang from here on out. (I feel that bling refers to gem stones and blang refers more to like boho style stones and metals and stuff)

 And I dont have photos but my mom sent me some work out clothes, which I really needed, some sandals that didn't fit my giant feet, and this awesome coffee mug. It's a GIANT mug.You just cant tell in this photo.

So, that's it. It's 11:35 and it's now about over. Just spoke to my byu for 1.5 hours and my sister for an hour and my mom for a bit - that's about all I need, those personal connections,just to know you matter. Beyond gifts and all that fun stuff..your birthday is that one day a year where you actually realize how many people genuinely care about you and whether you exist on this planet. It's good.

Long Distance LOVE - Keep it together People!

Long distance communications has come a looong way in a short time - which has proven priceless for thousands (millions) of couples on this planet to stay close while living far apart. We have cheaper international call rates, smart phone messenger services that work across the world, skype chat, skype call, skype video call, email, snail mail and even you tube for those performers out there.  Even with allllll those communication options that help keep you together, there will always be a huge gap that can stress a relationship - there is still no way to feel a hug or a kiss or a handhold from that special someone. You really have to do all you can to keep your relationship alive and developing without being able to be physically there.
Sergio lives thousands of miles away from me - and it can be a real roller coaster of emotions - sometimes you are fine, sometimes you can fill your schedule with so much stuff that you don't have to dwell on it, but sometimes, most of the time, you just wish that person was there - right up in your face. Sergio is my best friend and now that he's away - I would trade a day of taco bell feasting or a shopping spree at Marshalls just to hold his hand or make him coffee or sit next to him in the car.

So, since I know quite a few people that are in the same boat as me - I thought I would prepare a little list of ways that we try to stay close and connected even though we live far apart. And this isn't the first time for us - we've done this international long distance thing before we were married and made it work. There is lots of hope as long as both people are FULLY committed to each other as their one and only. (no room for wondering eyes!)

1) Daily communication. Even when you are busy and feel like you have nothing to say. Still touch base.
2) Send stuff to each other. These days there are countless ways to do that - For Valentine's Day I sent Sergio breakfast from IHOP using Dr. Delivery. Almost every major city has this - Even Nairobi has Mama Meals on Wheels! Amazon ships to many places. It doesn't have to be something big - it could be something silly like a hot wheels of his favorite car or a gallon of Worcestershire sauce - doesn't really matter what it is - it's just fun to receive stuff and it lets you know that you are important.
3) Skype video - it's nice to have a real time visual of your main squeeze.
4) Try and do some routine things together. Like make a grocery list or something that is sort of normal and domestic and makes you feel like your households are connected (since you have 2). Wow, that was a very boring recommendation..make a grocery list??? But you get the idea right? I'm sure you can think of something better.  Okay, how bout a master to-do list? eh. getting there.
5) Use smart phone messaging to send daily photos of things you are doing or seeing. Sergio and I do a sort of photo journal thing where we send weird or funny photos of stuff as we experience it so you can imagine the person in whatever element they are in. Bathroom photos are not acceptable.
6) Have an end in sight. You must know when the next time you will see each other will be. There has to be a light at the end of the tunnel or you will feel hopeless and discouraged. Plan your next visit during your current visit so it's on the calendar.
7) When you talk, try not to brag about how much fun you are having or how awesome the party you went to on Saturday was.  This just leads to insecurities and fighting..which leads to my next point....
8) Try to not fight! Fights are bound to happen in every relationship but fights that happen when you are living away from each other can be even more discouraging and frustrating -  so bite your tongue more than you normally would and don't make an issue out of small things - if you know you are in a bad mood, do not have a phone call at that time. It's hard enough as it is without grumplestiltskin taking the mic.

Love my byu

Love is worth fighting for but you have to work at it every day (long distance or not!) and be willing to make compromises that will put you together in the end.
Hope this helps all you long distancers out there.

Please leave comments with any additional ideas! 

For My Mom, on her Birthday.

On a day like today, it’s important to say,

how important my mom is in so many ways.

I wish I could be there and say face to face,

you deserve a Happy Birthday and state my case.

I was blessed with a mom that’s unlike all others,   

She's dedicated her life to me and my brother. 

 She gives and she gives and then she gives more,

 to the ends of the earth she would go I am sure.

 

She’s funny, she’s smart, and so well informed – she can argue on Palestine or whether earth has warmed. 

 

   And man! have you seen her? your jaw would just drop,

she’s spunky and fit and makes the men want to stop.

 

 The qualities that I love the most about her,

she’s unpredictable and extraordinary, for that there’s no cure. 

 

 She’ll bleach her hair with whitening toothpaste,

then drink 10 cups of green tea to slim her waist.

 

She cooks like a pro and mixes it up,

not once have I seen her use a measuring cup. 

 

She’s a dreamer, a poet, authentic to the core,

she’s been there and done that and is ready for more. 

 

If you don’t know her, you should, she’s genuine GOLD –

            her name is Joy for a reason, 

may the world be told.

 

Happy Birthday Mom.

Neats Visit Kenya - Disturbing The Wildlife Tour

 I never got to do my recap of my family's visit to Kenya - and I know there are some eager readers out there that have lost a lot of sleep wondering how the trip went!

I'll keep it succinct. promise.
They arrived on Thanksgiving Night. It was so so so great to see them at the arrival area at the airport - I was feeling super charged to see them and show them everything. There were big hugs and lots of smiles when we all reunited. I wish we could do it over and over!
Needless to say, they were exhausted from the trip so Friday we planned to keep it local and just see some nearby attractions.
FRIDAY
We started the day by fighting some very ugly Nairobi traffic to get to the elephant orphanage. It was POURING down rain. They brought out the cute little baby elephants and they were just sliding around everywhere in the mud. But those elephants are sooooooooo cute - the rain didn't distract us.  For some reason I cannot find the elephant photos from that visit but just to give you an idea, below are the photos from when I took my mom there during her visit:

The clumsy baby elephants like to play with the soccer ball

awww..look at his little trunk

so playful - love those little munchichis

 After the elephants - we went to the giraffe sanctuary where we all got to show some love to the giraffes. Some of these giraffes will be released into the wild. The center was founded as an effort to conserve the Rothschild Giraffe sub-species. We learned alll about it when we went there.
.

It rained their ENTIRE TRIP. - But everyone was such great sports about it. Happy Campers.

The giraffes head actually makes my brother's look small.

Supa Freak.... of Nature.

Norma and the giraffe - A love story.

Happy Karen

He's eating right out of your hand..literally

My happy Dad

Bottom FEEDERS

me and my biker man

My sister looking like a tooth paste model  -  beauty!

Right before I almost got a giraffe-head smack down

Okay so the next big highlight of the visit was our trip to the Masai Mara game reserve. That's where we saw the real business. We took a tiny little 8 seater propeller plane from Nairobi straight to the Serena Lodge landing strip - it took about 45 minutes and was a surprisingly smooth ride..but the plane freaked me out a bit.

Always Stylin'

A view of our lodge from the air

Poser - just happy to be on solid ground

The plane suddenly looks even smaller

Zebra

Doing jumps at the Tanzania/Kenya Border

Karen and Norma holding up the landmark - And the head of david

Making friends with the park rangers...being friends with the guy with the gun is always good.

we took pictures in strange basket chairs at the lodge

The rare Norma mammal - spotted on the landing strip

In our safari vehicle - ready to roll

Fun

Amazing

We saw a TON of sleeping lions

More sleeping lions

And well, it was also mating season - for about 15 seconds

Then more sleep followed

Love these cranes - so beautiful

Perfect little dumbo.

And last but not least - the highlight of the trip. After we stalked a certain leopard by sitting outside the bush it was hiding in for about 5 minutes - it decided it had had enough of us and completely went ape shit (leopard shit?) - see photo - courtesy of David Neat. I'll never forget the sound of that growl. We, including our driver/guide, all freaked out and cranked our windows up as quickly as possible - because it literally lept at us - we all had  teenage girl spasms for a good 10 minutes in the vehicle afterwards.

This is why it's called the Disturbing the Wildlife Tour

After the trip to the Mara, we played around for a couple of days - we went to Lake Naivasha and boated around with a TON of hippo. One said hippo charged our boat, which was exhilarating and has traumatized my little sister for life. I need to find those photos. On the drive back, we saw an interesting logistical situation on the highway - a scooter carrying two men with a live cow between them - don't take my word for it -  see for yourself:

 And then we did some hanging out in Nairobi:

Karen modeled a designer giraffe mask and a giant African cloth purse. It's a great look all around.

David got a haircut

I tried on skirts at the masai market. Everyone bought a ton of good pan-african stuff. We did our part in supporting the local economy that is for sure.

Lastly - I wanted to illustrate the rainy season in Nairobi - It rained for about 4 weeks straight, including the entire duration of my family's visit. The rains were so so strong - it just seemed impossible that the sky could open like that for so many days in a row. It caused trees to fall down and take out power cords and cause tons of traffic issues - people just could not move on the roads - it was horrible and there was flooding just everywhere. The wall that divides our apartment and the one next to us pretty much just collapsed. It was a pretty intense month of rain.

 Okay, that's I'll share for now. It was a great great trip and everyone had a really good time, especially me. It was such a treat to get to show all these people that I love where I live.  It's a beautiful country.  That's why you, whoever you are, should come visit Kenya. It's amazing here.