One of my new favorite shows

is Randy Jackson's America's Best Dance Crew on MTV. These kids can dance. I'm so impressed with the talent on this show. When I first heard about it, I wasn't expecting much from Randy Jackson, but they have some real talent. That being said, I just want to remind everyone of the fact that my husband was doing what BreakSk8 is doing now, over 50 years ago. For those of you who don't know, one of my husbands is(was?) Gene Kelly. Back in 1955 he was in a movie where he tap danced on skates. The movie wasn't great, but the scene was mesmerizing. Check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aus1PA5-SyI

My DR photos

Here's the link to my pictures from the DR. You don't have to sign up with Shutterfly to view them. Just click View pictures, then I suggest view slide show. That way, you can see the titles and know what you are looking at.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AcOXLlq3YsmLy4&emid=sharview&linkid=link4

MIA

I know I've been missing in action for a few days. I have had the cold from hell. When you have the flu, you expect to be out of commission, but this cold knocked me off my feet. The first two/three days I had a painful sore throat, the rest of the week I was all congested, it was awful. Since Thursday, I have been house/dog sitting for a co-worker. They have these two big sweet dogs, so I got to bond with them. It was fun. I meant to take a camera over there so I could take a picture of the big babies, but of course I forgot.

Good news

NOT GUILTY!! It was so good to hear those words. The jury was out less than an hour before they came back and told us what we already knew, that our client was not guilty. Client was so relieved, he can finally get his life back to normal. I now have to get back to all my other cases that have been ignored recently.

DC Jail

Here's a link to a blog about someone who spent a weekend at DC jail. Imagine what it is like for my clients who can wait up to 2 years for trial. We actually had a case once of a woman who was tried about 3 times before she was found not guilty and she was locked up the whole time. I think she was at DC jail for about 10 years. I can't imagine. Check it out...
http://inthiscase.com/2008/03/03/get-back-to-your-cell/

Trial

I had to testify today. Not about anything serious. I had to go out and drive some routes and then testify about what I drove and how long it took me. No matter how simple the testimony is, I still hate it. I hate having to go into the courtroom. I know logically, some good things happen in court, but my experience is that nothing good happens in the courtroom. I remember once upon a time, I wanted to be a lawyer but now, there's no way. You couldn't pay me enough to be a trial attorney. I'm always begging my attorney to figure out some way that I don't have to testify. He doesn't listen, I think he will probably try to find a way to put me on in all of his trials. His way of torturing me. Anway, we have closing arguments tomorrow and we're done. My other attorney starts a trial on Wednesday, but I'm not really involved too much in that case. Someone else took it over when I was in the DR and she kept it.
I also hate having to get dressed up. I've gotten so used to wearing jeans and sneaks that putting on a suit doesn't seem natural. I guess if all I did was sit at a desk all day I could get used to being in a suit again, but not with all the running around I do. It's more trouble (and pain in my feet) than I want.

Back home

So, I'm back in DC. It's taking a lot of adjusting. I just want to run away back to the DR. It's hardest at night in bed and when I'm freezing walking up to the parking garage. I'm actually in trial now, so I don't have a lot of time to be day dreaming about the DR.
I'm about finished with Shutterfly, that's where all my pictures will be posted. I'll send out that link soon.

My beach..paradise

This is where I would go in the afternoons. It's wonderful. There are no waves at Sosua's beach. If you want waves, there are other beaches to go to. This is the one that was in walking distance from where I lived. This is also the beach that I was walking to when I fell and busted my knee.

Los Charimicos

Los Charimicos. This is where Antonio's mother lives. There are all these little paths between the houses. Antonio also lives here, but down a different path. These are the houses that the government is going to demolish.

Home

So, I'm back in DC. I actually came home a couple of days early. My mistake. I had some stomach issues (I won't bother you with the details) and I knew that I had two trials starting on Monday. Basically that meant that I would not have any recovery time when I came back. So, like an idiot, I came home early so I could get better. Come to find out, both trials have been continued. If I hadn't come home early, I would just now be getting to the airport instead of sitting in the Wales room waiting for a demonstrative exhibit to print. So I'm home early, it is very nice to be in my own bed, but today for the first time in a month, I woke up with a headache. I know now is not the time to be making any life altering decisions, but if I wake up with a headache on the day I'm returning to work, what does that mean?

Villa Liberación

A while back, I wrote about the government's plan to move the neighborhood where Antonio currently lives. These are the new apartments that all of the residents of El Tablón are going to be moved to. I think that each apartment has two bedrooms. According to Antonio, he gets one, his mother gets one and his sister gets one. He has two other brothers that I think live with his mother and I don't think they get their own apartment. I think you have to actually own your apartment in Los Charimicos to get the new place. The conditions that they live in now is nothing like anything I've ever seen before, so you would think this is an improvement. I'm just a little wary when the government decides that everyone is just going to up and move. Especially considering that where they live now is right on the river and will be prime real estate which of course the government will be able to develop. Also, Antonio keeps talking about this guy that keeps coming by and offering to buy his apartment. It sounds like there is money out there, but only certain people are going to get it.

We've got cows

As I've said before, I'm a city girl. I get excited when I see cows and chickens and horses. These are not things I see on a regular basis. The chicken that I see is wrapped in plastic in the grocery store. However, in the DR, there are chickens everywhere and roosters don't just crow in the morning, they crow all the time.
So we are riding up this hill to pick up Erika (her actual name is something like angelika, but it sounds like erika to me) from school to take her home and there is this cow just walking up the road. So, I say hi cow (actually hola vaca), which Antonio thinks is just the funniest thing. (Yes, I talk to animals and I know most of the people reading this post also talk to animals, so don't give me any grief.) I just want to know where this cow is going. It's not on a farm, it's just walking up a hill. It seems like it has someplace to go and I just wonder where and who does it belong to. I mean, someone has to own him, right? I also wonder about the donkey/mules (I don't know the difference) that are just tied up to a tree on the side of the road. Out in the country, every few miles you will see a donkey on the side of the road eating grass, tied to a tree. Who does he belong to and what is he waiting on? These questions didn't really get answered with my broken Spanish and Antonio's broken English.

Waterfalls!

Ok, so I have finally gotten to see waterfalls. It's not the El Limon waterfalls, but still a much bigger waterfall than I have ever seen before. Antonio took me to Jarabacoa, which was about 2-3 hours away. We went on the moto (big mistake). I keep forgetting that his sense of time and distance is always underestimated. We went to the Salto Jimenoa Dos, it's one of three waterfalls in Jarabacoa. I wish I could post my pictures. To get to the waterfall, you have to walk this trail and cross two wooden suspension bridges, but it's worth it.
On a side note, Dominican women always wear heels. I don't know how they do it because there are no smooth roads or sidewalks, but they always have heels on. Anyway, even walking a trail and a suspension bridge, they're wearing heels. This one woman was walking the bridge and every other step her heel slipped between the wooden slats. Obviously, I would have had multiple broken ankles if I had worn shoes like them, but somehow they pull it off.

Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore...

well, maybe Kansas, but certainly not Washington, DC. Let me just say for the record, I am against outhouses. I have a huge amount that I need to write about, but I'm not feeling well and my posting is going to have to wait until later. The short version is I ended up in BFE with an upset stomach, I worked the whole mind over matter for a long time, but finally I had to go to the outhouse. I'm not sure how it's suppose to work, but I obviously wasn't doing it correctly. I think I would have preferred to just go in the bushes. I am a city girl. Always have been, always will be.

I miss...

my bed and my 6 pillows - so very much
my family and friends
my cat :(
a wash cloth
kraft mac & cheese
daily phone calls with my mom
quiet
the privacy of my condo
being able to condition my hair well enough to get the tangles out of it
straight hair
Papa Johns pizza
a good book
DSL
cell phone

PB and J

Ok, so money is getting tight. It´s the end of my trip, so I need to budget some. I went to the store yesterday to get some peanut butter, jelly and bread. I practically lived off of pb&j before I came, so I figured no problem. Ok, the jelly is NOT the same. I don´t know what it is, but it´s not the jelly that I know and love. The peanut butter is fine (skippy) and the bread is ok, but I will not eat that jelly again. It really was not right. Just no to jelly. I´m working on a new plan. They do actually sell ramen noodles here, we´ll see if it gets to that point. The problem with that is I don't even have the nice little hot plate that I had at Don Antonio any more, so no cooking the ramen. To think I scoffed at the hot plate when I stayed there.

Obviously, Europe didn´t get the memo!

Speedos should never be worn unless you are competing in an Olympic swimming/diving event. PERIOD, EXCLAMATION POINT. Even IF you are young and good looking, NOBODY looks good in a speedo. And if there is the slightest doubt in your head if you are young and good looking, you´re NOT. I think there should be a UN resolution banning speedos. They are an eyesore, it messes up a perfectly good beach view.
To be fair, women also really need to think twice and a third time before wearing bikinis. Again, if there is any doubt, DON´T.
Lastly, if your breasts are real, you probably should not go topless, unless you are 18. After age 18, they really aren´t where they are supposed to be and not attractive without support. But I guess guys don´t care where they are and are just happy to see them. Trust me, the other women on the beach see you and are talking about you.

Weird European Guy

Ok, so to add to my list of the ¨crazy german lady¨ and ¨touchy teacher¨ I now have weird European guy. I go into the ocean, it´s a pretty big place and I´m just swimming/floating, minding my own business... This older european guy comes into the (massive) ocean and ends up swimming/floating within 2 ft of me. WTF! This is not some crowded beach, there are maybe 5 people in the water within shouting distance. I turn around and kick and I actually hit his foot. I decide it´s time to get out of the water. Of course, he also gets out of the water. WTF! I go lie down on my chair and he stands on the shore, just past where the water comes to. I´m thinking seriously? I´m on my stomach, with my eyes closed and I peak out every few seconds. He´s standing there like superman with his hands on his hips and feet about shoulder width apart. Every few seconds he turns a quarter turn. The guy is standing up sunning himself. On occasion, he will hold his arms out to the side with palms up then down. This went on for about 30minutes before he walked away. I still don´t know why he felt the need to swim so close to me.
Maybe I need to get out more, because some of these people just seem crazy to me.

Antonio and el motoconcho

This is Antonio. This is how I get around Sosua and Los Charimicos. Yesterday, there were 4 of us on the moto, two kids, Antonio and me. I often picture my death, falling from the back of it. But so far so good. Actually, I don't piture my death, I picture extreme pain for a long time. I wouldn't be lucky enough to die quickly, I'd be all cut up and bloody with no hospital nearby. (just joking dad, it's perfectly safe)

Updating old posts

I now have a cord for my camera, so I will be updating old posts with pictures. It's a slow process, because I don't have uninterupted periods on the computer, but check out some of my old posts.

Spanish class

Ok, I'm getting close to my limit with class. Somehow I am now sitting next to the "teacher" and he feels the need to touch me. Now you know I don't like being touched. I'm screaming in my head stop touching me, stop touching me... (just like with the crazy german lady, stop talking, stop talking). He's says mira!(look), and puts his hand on my arm. First, I can hear, you don't have to touch me to get my attention and second, I want to look at my book because that is where the exercise is that I don't understand.

Another reason why I have a short fuse now is I again am the slowest one in the class. I feel like George Bush must feel during head of state meetings. The other three girls are more advanced in Spanish than I am. I've also noticed that while I'm learning Spanish, I'm losing my English. It took me 30 minutes to remember the word pipe. It's a very weird feeling to look at something and not know what it is called.

How DC and DR are alike...

-Everybody knows everybody else and in some way, everyone is related.
-Whenever you walk around, there is someone trying to sell you a bootleg CD or DVD.
-The music from the cars is insanely loud. The difference here is that some pickup trucks put 3 feet tall speakers in the back and play their music for the world to hear.
-The same crazy homeless who want change. Although I am much more likely to give someone in DC change when it's 30degrees than someone here when it's 80degrees.
-Just because people say they are married, does not mean actual legal marriage.
-Men don't wear wedding bands.

Where the boys are

Ok, Keeshia this post is for you. I found THE Dominican men that everyone is talking about. They live in Santo Domingo. This is where the professional, well-to-do men are. Very good looking and well put together. Of course I was with Crazy German Woman, so I didn't get to have any interaction, but they were out in the bars and restaurants. Unfortunately, Santo Domingo does not have a beach. There is one nearby, called Boca Chica, but I didn't see it. The people in Sosua look down their noses at it and call it ugly. Santo Domingo is a city, it has a lot of history, but it is definately a city. I don't think I could live there.

Stop talking, stop talking, stop talking.....

Ok, why did I go to Santo Domingo with crazy German lady? I had a whole conversation in my head about whether or not I could smother her with my pillow while she slept. She talked constantly usually about nothing. "oh, it's raining, oh they are happy people, oh, they have pretty faces, oh blah, blah, blah...." And even if she was asking a question, she didn't want any imput. Crazy Geman woman. She's not actually German, but Austrian... but it seems as though it's very similar. She drove me crazy. If an Austrian or German told her something, well it had to be right. (Even though it was proven wrong often) She was very impolite and short with the Dominicans. Then she would say they were stupid if they got her order wrong, but her Spanish was horrible, it made no sense. Let's not even discuss how Jews are dirty, and Swiss are stingy... She travels all over the world, but her opinions of others is so narrow minded... Oh my god I was ready to scream. I'm so happy to be back and alone.

Primo will be the death of me.

Ok, so just about daily, I have been doing something pretty dangerous. I ride the motoconchos around town, with out any protection or anything. But nothing has happened to me, it´s been perfectly safe. So today, I´m WALKING to the beach and boom, down I go. See, I blame Primo (actually, I blame a lot of things on Primo, but that´s for a later time). Flash back to New Years Eve, and Primo decides to tackle Katie when we are leaving Hamiltons. I was an innocent bystander, but of course Primo tackles Katie and they both fall into my left leg and I also go down. So, since then, my knee has hurt, nothing major, but pain if I tried to kneel on it and sometimes on the stairs. Today I´m walking down the path and I crash down on my knee. I get up with no grace whatsoever, brush off and limp down the path to where we get on the beach. My knee is bleeding, my ankle and palms are scraped. Now three hours later, I´m still limping. Tomorrow touring (walking) Santo Domingo is going to be interesting. I had a perfectly good knee until Primo. So if I come back with a permanent limp, look to Primo.

Santo Domingo

This weekend a classmate and I are going to Santo Domingo. We are taking the bus, it's a 4 hour trip on Saturday and coming back on Sunday. My classmate is Renalta, she is an older German woman. Has lived all over the world. Must have money because she says whenever she finds a place she likes, she buys an apartment there. Must be nice. I'm going to be eating ramen noodles in my "retirement".

My Routine

I get up around 8 and take a shower and then go get breakfast. Now that I´m at the school, breakfast is included. They usually have a choice of some cheeses, bread, deli meat (I can recognize the pepperoni and maybe ham, unsure of the rest), mango, pineapple. Today, they had ¨hard¨ boiled eggs that weren´t really hard. OJ and milk, I haven´t tried the milk and of course coffee.
Class starts at 9'ish. We work until 1030 and then there is a coffee break until 11. Then from 11 to 1230 class. Our afternoons are free. Some afternoons, they have group activities, like going to Puerto Plata or a BBQ (all for an additional fee). I either go to the beach for a couple of hours or go get lunch and then go to the beach. Then I spend an hour or two working on my spanish. I try and complete a couple of lessons ahead of the class so I don´t have to try and figure it out during class.
I´ve met a guy Antonio who has taken me around the area and shown me areas away from the tourist area. I´ve gone to where the Dominicans live, it´s basically concrete floors and walls with tin roofs. Lots and lots of people. In a couple of months, they are going to move them all to this big apartment complex. Three levels, each apartment has 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, kitchen and open room. I think the real reason is to clear them away from the beach. Where they live now can then be torn down and many hotels can be built on the beach.

Puerto Plata

On Wednesday, we went to Puerto Plata, 6 people from class, our "tour guide" from the school and our taxi (minibus) driver. We toured the rum factory. I can't bring back 151 because it is flamable and not allowed on the planes. I can bring back the "normal" rum (Eddy and Keeshia). We also went to the Museo de Ambar. Pretty interesting, but small and no gift shop. They have the amber that was used in Jurasic Park with the mosquito in it. They also had one that had this little lizard in it. The best part of Puerto Plata was the telerifico (cable cars) to the top of the mountain. It was beautiful. I always said I wouldn't die in a plane crash, but I wasn't too sure about dying from a cable car crashing. At the top of the mountain, they have a Christ the Redeemer statue like in Brazil. All around the top is their botanical garden. It's really a site. Unfortunately, some of the fountains aren't being kept up, so it's a little lacking. However you don't know that until you've already ridden the cars to the top of the mountain. Then of course, you have to go back down. Anyway, it was well worth the dangerous drive to Puerto Plata.

Don Antonio

Tomorrow I get to leave the hotel-apt Don Antonio. What can I say about the Don Antonio. First two good things. It has cable and if my head hadn´t felt like it was going to explode last night, I could have watched the season premier of Lost. I was also able to see some of the Carolina game. Second, it has air conditioning. But it´s winter here, so I don´t need air conditioning. The Dominicans are freezing, but it´s comfortable to me. It gets to about 83 degrees.
The bad... Don Antonio is the local prostitute hotel. My first morning leaving, I walked out with at girl wearing a skirt up to there. Nothing left to the imagination. I came home and a different girl with a guy were leaving together.
My bathroom flooded the first night. They fixed it after two days. My bathroom is literally 5ft by 5ft. The toliet is to the left, the sink right in front of you and the shower is diagonal to the left, between the two. Taking a shower is complicated and difficult. However there is good water pressure and hot water. I will never walk in there without my flip flops on. I expect I will try and shave and end up falling over and cracking my head open.
It is the loudest hotel ever! The taxi stand where the guaguas (buses) and motos pick people up is right next to the hotel. I have motorcycles all night long right next to me. Even with the windows closed it sounds like they are in the same room.

Tomorrow I move to the school!

Dominican Men

are VERY friendly. No touching, but very persistant. I've met two so far that want to show me the area. Not to mention my teacher who wants to take me to Puerto Plata for the carnival on Sundays in Feb. Good for the ego, but very tiring. I keep trying to explain to them that I am a poor student. NO Money here!

THEY SPEAK SPANISH HERE!!!

and I really don´t. I´m getting used to things. I think that the hotel that I am in this week is the local prostitute hotel. It´s right next to the Texaco where everyone picks up taxis. When I say taxi, I mean motorbike. Everyone rides these loud motorbikes. So no waking up to the sound of the ocean. More like trying to sleep over the sound of motorbikes. I got a ride my first morning because I got lost walking to class. The ride is not as scary as it looks. I forgot my memory card, so I had to buy one my first day.

I´m getting used to class. At first it was horrible. I didn´t remember any Spanish. It´s getting better now. Tonight we have a bar'b'que at the school. Yes, I´m going to be social. Tomorrow we are going to go to Puerto Plata in the afternoon.

Not ready, not ready...

Ok, I got sidetracked tonight by my co-workers and went to see a movie (27 Dresses, enjoyable, but $10 a ticket is insane!!) and dinner instead of packing. Priorities? Anyway, it's now 10:30pm and I'm not packed. And now I'm writing on the blog. Who needs priorities?
Getting a little scared now. I'm going to a foreign country, by myself where I don't know anyone. When did I think this was a good idea? It's all going to turn out ok. Slevin suggested positive thinking, so I'm going to work on that, while I finish my packing. Hopefully, my next entry will be from Sosua, Dominican Republic!

1 more trip to Target

I got my passport today from the safe deposit box. November sucked so bad, that I had this irrational fear that my condo might burn down, so I put my passport in the safe deposit box at the bank. No logic to that whatsoever. Anyway, I have it now.

I also made my second trip to Target. Went this weekend and spent lots and lots of money and of course forgot things. Today I didn't spend nearly as much, but still didn't remember to buy bug spray. As sweet as I am, I have to have bug spray. I'll probably wait until Saturday, so if I think of anything else this week, I can just make 1 more trip to Target. I did glance at the cameras while I was there. I'm trying to keep myself from buying yet another camera. Step away from the cameras!

Weather: 38degrees, cloudy - Washington, DC
75degrees, partly cloudy - Sosua, DR

Off topic -- A real concern

The Primary Source: Morning Buzz - Not ready for a black or female president?

Mel Watt has a legitimate concern. I don't think he is the only one who thinks like this. It was a huge concern for me until Obama won Iowa. I mean really, how many black people live in Iowa? I've always been a supporter of John Edwards. Maybe we need baby steps. I would love an Edwards/Obama ticket.

Hilarious!!

http://tackychristmasyards.com/

My School

I think this is where I'm going to class. I'll upload pictures once I get there. We'll compare and see if the picture they show and the one I take look the same.

http://www.edase.com/E_L02C_IIC_Sosua_School.htm

Where I'm going...

So, awhile back I decided that I wanted to do a Spanish Immersion program. I did some internet searching and came across http://amerispan.com/. They arrange all kinds of language immersion programs. I wanted to learn Spanish, be near a beach and go someplace where the cost of living is low. I decided on going to Sosua, Dominican Republic. Sosua looks absolutely beautiful.

Almost Predictable...If I'm going somewhere, I'm bringing the rain with me!

Rains, record-lows to continue over most of Dominican territory

SANTO DOMINGO.- The rains and record-low temperature will continue through Thursday, as the predominance of north-east winds, said the National Meteorology Office. It said although there’s a low east of Puerto Rico, this weekend’s conditions will be "very stable."
It said it rained yesterday in the Cibao valley, the central, northwest and east regions, and the northeast mountains.
It said a high pressure a system will continue to dominate weather patterns, which would contribute humidity in the lower elevations.
http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2008/1/10/26657/Rains-record-lows-to-continue-over-most-of-Dominican-territory

countdown has begun

Ok, the countdown has started. Today is the 11th and I have 16 more days until I arrive in the Dominican Republic. I'm so excited. Almost enough to break into a Pointer Sister's song (but not quite). I've started my lists. I'll probably go shopping this weekend since we got paid today. Well, I'll go shopping if I can work it around my work schedule. I need to go find some witnesses this weekend. I have so much work to do before I leave. Tomorrow I'm going out with a native Spanish speaker to try and find some Hispanic witnesses. Hopefully after I go to the DR, I won't have to rely on my bilingual co-workers so much.