Bohemi-Anna

The funny thing about travelling to South America in July...

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:48:00 +0000

It really throws off your sense of seasons. Oy.

Now that it is cold and rainy/snowy in Minnesota, I am extra unhappy about it since I've had more than enough crappy weather this year. The fact that August and September were unseasonably cold here doesn't help matters at all - it seems like it's been winter for the last 4 months only it's really just starting. I predict I will be seriously tweaking out by March. Considering that I'll also be in the midst of writing my senior paper then, I'm thinking I should just go ahead and schedule a nervous breakdown now.

I've also had more than enough media-sensationalism and general panic about the H1N1 flu, or "La Gripe A." I just wish they called it "La Gripe A" in the U.S. - it sounds so much scarier in a comedic way - like a cartoon villainess.

Mini-Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:26:00 +0000

This past weekend, Jake and the girls and I took a little mini-vacation to the Mall of America. Those of you who know Jake may have just raised an eyebrow or chortled in disbelief since a mall is generally about as appealing to him as a root canal but I speak the truth. However, we didn't do much in the actual shopping areas since for me shopping with Jake in tow ranks far worse than a root canal for me. What we did do was visit Underwater Adventures and the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park.

Even though we live only an hour away, we decided to make more of a vacation out of it so we drove up there Friday afternoon and spent the night at the Hilton hotel just a few blocks from the mall. It was a bit of a splurge, but we got a package deal that included a breakfast buffet for the 4 of us ($50) as well as 4 passes to Underwater Adventures (about $60), and the total room cost (with tax) was $180 so it wasn't all that bad. It came with the nice Hilton perks like super comfy beds, Crabtree & Evelyn soaps, and upscale decorations which made the girls feel like princesses. However - with only 10 free tv channels (less than basic cable), a cost of $15/movie to watch in the room, $5/show for on-demand tv, and a $10/day charge to use the wireless internet, all of which we passed on, the Hilton didn't seem so hospitable. The continental breakfasts might be a bit dodgey sometimes but at least most budget chains offer free wireless internet. I can't say I'd stay at another Hilton if I had a choice, but it was fun for a night. We swam in the pool for over an hour and a half before having dinner and settling in for the night.

On Saturday, we got to the mall at 10 am and stayed until about 6 pm - a full day that left us all pretty exhausted. Underwater Adventures was our first stop and it is a neat experience, especially to see the rays swim up over the glass tunnel right above your head. We saw turtles, rays, sharks, fish, an octopus, jellyfish, sea horses, sea stars, coral, anemone and more. On the downsides, the underwater tunnel is a bit dizzying since the curve of the glass and movement of the water creates some optical illusions that mess with your sense of balance, there isn't as much information about the different animals as you'd find in a zoo, and it's a bit harder to wander at your own pace in a tunnel with a bunch of other people, so it's not a place I'd insist on visiting regularly but I'm very glad we went and I'd go back again sometime. The thing Jake and I, and other older visitors, really enjoyed was getting to pet the star fish, horseshoe crabs, anemone, and snow crabs at the very end of the exhibit. By that time, though, Cecelia and Vivian were more interested in running off to the little pirate ship play area so they didn't get as much out of the hands-on exhibits.

Our next big stop was the American Girl store which delighted Ce and Vivi to see the dolls they ogle over in the catalog up close and personal with all their tiny little accessories. We watched the hair stylists in the doll salon create new hair-dos for visiting dolls, and quickly checked out the bistro upstairs where girls can eat lunch with their dolls. I was also impressed with the staff there who were incredibly friendly and personable to all of their clients - they really seem to enjoy their jobs and it left me with an even better opinion of the company.

Then we spent the rest of the day at Nickelodeon Universe where we rode almost all of the rides for which Cecelia and Vivian met the height requirements. Usually this involved Jake and I being crammed into kid-sized cars as well, but even some of those rides were surprisingly fun. We took a break to eat at the slightly overpriced but child-enchanting Rainforest Cafe. With a $10 off coupon printed from their website, it was pretty reasonable and the kids thought it was amazing.

By the time we left at 6, the place was starting to get a bit crowded, Cecelia and Vivian were starting to wilt, and Jake was starting to fray at the edges from a day spent in a mall. I got a couple of mochas for Jake and I, and chocolate chip cookies all around which perked everyone up enough to make it to the car without any meltdowns. Vivi was asleep before we were out of the parking ramp and both she and Cecelia were happy to lay their heads on their own pillows when we finally got home and they had some dinner.

All in all, it was a nice little trip and a great chance for the four of us to spend some time together playing and having fun.

Okay... I lied

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:02:00 +0000

I made myself my handy schedule of when I'd post things about my trip and then I promptly ditched it. In my defense, school this semester has been intense and work at the Humane Society has also exploded into a lot of time-consuming, challenging stuff.

I WILL get that stuff posted and I will continue to blog, but you all will just have to be patient with me as I fight to keep my head above water...

San Telmo

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:21:00 +0000

San Telmo is one of Buenos Aires' oldest neighborhoods which means that it is filled with beautiful old architecture, but also means that a significant portion of it is also very run down. At night parts can be rather sketchy and I know several people who were mugged in the area. Still, there's a lot about the area worth exploring.

My favorite part of San Telmo is the street La Defensa which becomes a pedestrian only street on Sundays and overflows with street performers and vendors.

There are vendors selling hand-knit sweaters, leather goods, flea market antiques and vintage clothes, jewelry, mate gourds, photography, and tons of other things. There are also musicians, mimes, tango dancers, and the above man who does a unique marionette opera show.

I loved walking down La Defensa on Sundays! Especially with a cone of amazing Freddo ice cream in hand...

El Ombu

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:38:00 +0000

One weekend, my roommate and I took the bus from Buenos Aires to the small town of San Antonio de Areco and spent the day at an estancia (ranch) called "El Ombu."

After a bumpy $8, 2-hour bus ride, and a crazy private taxi we arrived at the estancia. The main public building housed a dining room, reception, kitchen, and bathrooms, with the larger original ranch house divided up into individual guest rooms. I was most excited about the roaring fire in the dining room - actual heat!!! We didn't stick around the building for long though because there were horses to ride.

I've gone horseback riding many times, but I am far from comfortable on a horse. Something about hopping on an animal several times my size that can run at break neck speeds and expecting my clucks and desperate tugs on the reigns to convince it to do what I want just doesn't seem sensible to me. Still, it was fun - and though the first horse I rode didn't like to run despite my asking it to, and the second horse didn't like to walk despite my asking it to. But I survived, rode with gauchos, and got a feel for the country life.

Between our trail rides, we settled in to a fantastic lunch on the lawn of the estancia. We were served a traditional estancia meal of grilled meat, sides, and wine. It was fabulous and we ate until we were stuffed!

Then before heading back to the city, we were served Argentine sweets and tea while we watched the sunset across the sprawling pampas (flat grass lands).

The day at the estancia cost us about $70 but it was a full day and a full experience. I'm so glad we went!

Home

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:36:00 +0000

Don't worry, I made it home as scheduled almost a month ago, it's just been a whirlwind of activity since so I haven't had time to update my blog! I also didn't have time during my last week and a half in Argentina, so I'll be adding more about my adventures there soon. In fact, here's a schedule...

Later today: La Estancia "El Ombu" - a ranch outside in San Antonio de Areco, about an hour from Buenos Aires
Monday 9/7: The San Telmo neighborhood
Wednesday 9/9: Iguazu falls
Saturday 9/12: Colonia, Uruguay
Sunday 9/13: A recap of my experiences and my favorite things from my time in Argentina
So stay tuned!

Growing on me...

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:39:00 +0000

After 2.5 weeks here, I can say that Argentina has really started to grow on me. It helps that the weather has warmed up a bit and I was able to do a little more exploring this past weekend than I had done previously. On Friday night I partied it up like a porteño, making it home at about 5 am (only 15 minutes before our host-sister came in). Saturday I went with a group to the city of Tigre, an river delta area where the majority of the town is located on islands accessible only by boat. Then Sunday I took a long bus ride out into the country to visit an Estancia (a type of ranch) where I rode horses, watched a gaucho show, and was treated to a fabulous dinner served on the lawn of the ranch.

My Spanish skills are also constantly improving and though I am a long LONG way from fluent and can't even imagine using the language effortlessly, I understand more and am able to express more every day. I still feel like an idiot when I have to ask someone to repeat sentences multiple times, or when I use the wrong word, or completely misunderstand something, but at the same time I am proud of how far I've come. That is a really good feeling...

My daily life in BsAs

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:43:00 +0000

7 am: Wake up call. I go take a shower in our bathroom that is basically a giant shower and as a result requires special arrangements to prevent everything from getting soaked.
7:30 - 8 am: Get ready for the day and curse my lack of warm clothes.
8 am: Eat breakfast which consists of black tea and toast with a cream-cheese like spread and marmalade.
8:30 am: Board the Subte at Estación San Juan with a couple hundred other people.
8:45 am: Get off the Subte at Estación Lavalle and walk the remaining 6 blocks to school.
9:00 am: Class starts.
11:00 am: Break time! I go get a cup of tea or hot chocolate and maybe a snack.
11:30 am: Back in class.
1:30 pm: Class finishes for the day and it's time to go find something to eat and maybe explore the city a bit.
6 pm: I usually go to the Locutorio (internet shop) for awhile to call Jake and the kids on Skype and check e-mail.
8 pm: Time to finish up any homework I didn't finish in the early afternoon.
9 pm: Dinner with the family after which we help clean up and wash the dishes. Dinner usually consists of meat, vegetables, and bread with water to drink and a piece of fruit for dessert.
10 pm: I settle into my bed to do more homework, read or journal.
11 pm - Midnight: I'm out for the night...

Things I've Discovered in BsAs

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:28:00 +0000

The annual rainfall here is something like 4 inches. I think today we got at LEAST that much and this kind of rain does not make porteños or their gutter systems or roofs very happy.
Usually the rain is much more of a mist.
During a downpour, roofs in even nice building leak.
People eat eggs on almost everything... on sandwiches, hard-boiled on pizza, hard-boiled inside pastries, etc. but never for breakfast.
Breakfast here consists of coffee or tea and toast, crackers, or these sweet croissants called medialunas that are to die for.
There are several Jewish temples, but keeping kosher here must be quite a challenge since meat and cheese (usually together) are huge staples of the diet. Also...
Beef may be a strong part of the economy and the pride of Argentina, but ham is their other favorite meat. There are several different varieties of ham flavored snack crackers available at every snack stand and every restaurant has several options of ham-based meals. Bacon is also popular although it's not crispy and resembles ham more than American bacon.
People do not clean up after their dogs here, and there are a lot of them, which means you really need to watch your step.
There are TONS of pigeons here, one of which almost pooped on me further lowering them in my opinion. I have grown to loathe pigeons.
There are very few controlled intersections so driving and walking is always an adventure.
In the intersections that are controlled, they give a yellow light warning when it changes from green to red, but also when it turns from red to green letting people know to get ready to GO and FAST.

La Boca

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:07:00 +0000

Yesterday we went to the neighborhood of La Boca which is the most colorful and vibrant part of the city surrounded by the worst (and notriously most crime ridden) slums.

The 9 or so blocks that are fit to go down, however, are very interesting. The buildings are painted a variety of bright colors and the pedestrian-only streets are lined with restaurants, shops, and art galleries. In the streets themselves are Tango dancers, Gaucho dancers, and other street performers.

Wandering around the area was the most fun I've had exploring the city so far. Even the cold weather and our cab driver's warnings about the dangers of La Boca didn't prevent it from being a good day. The restaurants there were a bit on the pricier side for the city but the souvenirs were good prices and there was plenty to do and look at for free.

Finding My Way in Buenos Aires

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:36:00 +0000

I've been in Buenos Aires for 5 days now and I'm almost now starting to feel like I know where some things are. It's a very large city which makes it intimidating, and the lack of street signs doesn't help any. Of course, even if you know what street you're on, if it crosses another major street, it is likely that its name will change on the other side and the street numbering will also start over. As you might imagine, this makes finding your way in the city a bit difficult. The subway is actually the least confusing, at least when you're on it... figuring out your bearings once you surface is a different story. Still it is starting to make some sense to me and I'm starting to recognize street names and sites.

Another part of finding your way is figuring out the culture. So far it has been my experience that the porteños (the name for citizens of Buenos Aires) are rather reserved, unless of course they are trying to sell you something on the street. They might give you a kiss on the cheek when you meet but even that feels a bit distant. This has made the city seem like a very cold place in a figurative sense in addition to the cold temperatures. As a result, I'm not exactly in love with Buenos Aires yet, though in fairness, I haven't had much time to visit the most interesting sites since I've been busy with homework and fighting back a cold. I have 3 more weeks here to see what Buenos Aires has to offer and I'm keeping an open mind but... well... I can't say yet the BsAs is a place on my to-visit-again list at this point...

P.S. For those of you following my blog from the Global Crossroads study abroad blog of the University of Minnesota who are interested in the backstory, here´s a link to my earlier posts about my trip to Argentina.

¡Estoy en Buenos Aires!

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:05:00 +0000

I arrived in Buenos Aires on Sunday after a very long over-night flight during which I got VERY little sleep. As a result, my first experiences of the city are sort of hazy. After meeting my roommate at the airport, we took a cab to our home away from home and started to unpack. We live in the neighborhood "San Telmo" which is one of the oldest parts of the city. Every Sunday they have a street fair with performance artists and artisans selling various items so we wandered around that for a bit before crashing for a serious 3 hour siesta. For dinner I had empanadas for the first time and started to feel a bit more human and settled in.

Yesterday was my first day of classes and so far they are going very well. Spanish is still a struggle for me, but most of what I learned last summer has come back to me and I´m holding my own. The school and the instructors here are very good and I´m really enjoying the class time. I´ve had quite a bit of homework so I haven´t had much time to explore the city yet, but I´m starting to develop familiarity with the area in which I live and where the school is located. Having a sense of normal for those things makes it then easier to try new things. The new thing for today was the Subte (subway). It´s pretty much like any other city subway so is nothing too exciting, but having a first experience of the subway under my belt makes me feel much more comfortable branching out to check out other places, or ride the subway into different areas of the city.

Pictures will follow eventually, but not today, unfortunately. I have homework to do!

Countdown to Argentina - 1 day!

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:49:00 +0000

Tomorrow morning, I will leave at 10 am for about 20 hours of travel, flying from Minneapolis to Dallas and on to Buenos Aires arriving at 6 am Minnesota time on Sunday (8 am local time.) *yawn* I suspect the rest of the day Sunday will be spent recouperating from a night spent trying to overcome anxiety and being wedged up next to some stranger in order to get a little sleep. But eventually Sunday or Monday I should find my way to a computer to give some updates.

Bags are packed, MP3 player is loaded up, and everything else is either done or not getting done by me for the next 4 weeks.

Ready or not, here I go...

Countdown to Argentina - 3 days!

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:31:00 +0000

Here's the state of affairs...

My kids are safely and happily up north with my mom with everything they'll need for the next month - except their mama. (Many tears shed over the goodbye, but we'll all survive...)
I got a good selection of guilt gifts all wrapped up for the girls to open while I'm gone and a note with stickers for each day they're away.
My suitcase is packed. (Though I'm thinking about how to pare it down... it's carry-on size, though I'll be checking it, but I still think somehow it's too much...)
My carry-on is packed.
My flight info has been confirmed.
My bank has been alerted that I'll be using my ATM cards in Argentina and possibly Uruguay.
All important information has been written out/copied and given to all concerned parties.
I've been getting the things that I handle wrapped up at the Humane Society. (I'll finish that tomorrow.)
Since the kids are now gone, Jake and I have had a little more time together and went on a hike up the big bluff along the river tonight. We watched the sunset and saw a red fox on the trail. Soaking up the together time before we say goodbye for 3 weeks.

But...

I still have a lot of clean laundry that should get put away lest it become dirty in my absence. And really, who wants to come home from a month abroad to put away clothes?
I need to connect with my friend Carol about meeting up with her during my layover in Dallas/Ft. Worth airport.
I could stand to study Spanish a lot more... all of the adult English-language learners that I work with are Spanish-speakers so I get some practice in which helps. Today I translated a questionnaire and one man gave me a 5 minute lesson on the way I pronounce "b" and "v" today. Most of them love that I stink at Spanish - I think it makes them feel better about not being proficient in English yet. I am all about making others feel better about themselves at my expense. :)
My stinkin' Eyewitness Argentina book that I bought on Half.com almost a month ago still hasn't arrived. I read other travel books, but I love the Eyewitness ones because they are small and have good detail, especially in their maps. Hopefully it will arrive before tomorrow or Friday.
I REALLY need to back up my computer files. My laptop is on it's last leg. I am only able to see anything on my monitor courtesy of a gigantic clamp that is pinched at the top left of my screen - without it, it's just technicolor stripes. It also shuts itself off all the time and I have a trojan every time I do a virus scan. *sigh* I think I better back it up now in case it decides to just stop powering back up when I get home.

All in all, "Woo-hoo!" and "Holy #$%^!" - I'll be on my way to ARGENTINA in 3 days!!!

This Date in History

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:26:00 +0000

233 years ago something happened that is kind of important in U.S. history, yadda, yadda, yadda...

What's MORE important in our house is that 4 years (and 1 hour) ago, Vivian came into the world and things have never been the same. Vivian's name means "full of life" and sometimes I joke that we should have named her something that meant "dull, boring, quiet and never sassy" because she certainly has lived up to her name.

She is my snuggle-bug who is always wanting a hug and a kiss and to tell me she loves me. She is my alarm clock crawling into my bed at 7:30 am saying, "Good Morning, Mama!" with her face about 3 inches from mine. She is my boundary tester, never quite believing that I really mean what I say. She is my fountain of energy, always wiggling, bouncing, jumping, running - or dead asleep since for Vivi there is no middle ground. She is my performer, always putting on a dramatic show involving improved songs and interpretive dances. She is my bull-horn, whose whisper is louder than most people's conversational tone. She's my baby, forever my youngest, my sweet, lovable, hilarious, determined, caring, feisty, dramatic Vivian.

Happy Birthday, sweet girl. Your mother loves you more than you will ever understand.

This week

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:15:00 +0000

Time flies when you have an insane to-do list...

This week I spent several hours in the Mayo travel clinic getting my yellow fever and typhoid vaccinations. Vaccinations kind of ook me out - not the needles but the STUFF being injected into my body. *shudder* But so far I'm feeling fine. Also from clinic I received a horrifying little booklet that goes through the worst case scenarios of all of the injuries and illnesses that could befall you if you dare to leave your home country. In fact, it's probably best if you never leave your house. (They don't go to quite that extreme, but it's not a far leap.) I understand that it's important to know the risks, but man, LIFE is a risk. Some risks are just worth taking. Besides, the majority of the travel advice can be summed up as, "Don't be an idiot and pay attention." Look how much they could've saved on printing!

This week I spent 5 hours cleaning the house we rent out to get it ready for the new tenants. I am not a huge fan of cleaning in general and am even LESS excited about it when it's someone else's mess. Particularly if that someone still owes me a lot of money.

This week I finished up with a series of Family Fun Nights I was leading with my fellow religious education teachers. This was the final of four weeks and I helped 7 little kids tie-dye t-shirts. I only had one pair of latex gloves so I let the kids wear them. This is the reason that my hands are various shades of turquoise, purple, pink, and green. We had a lot of fun with the program and I really enjoy the other teachers I work with, the kids, and the parents but at the same time, it's nice to have one less thing rattling around in my mental to-do forum.

This week my girls started to get sad about leaving to go up north. I figured it would happen eventually, but I'm confident that they will get over it and will have fun without me. Still... it's hard.

This week my sunflowers started blooming, we ate several meals that included fresh herbs from the herb garden, and my tomato plants sprouted flowers! My black thumb is showing the slightest shades of green which delights me. I doubt I'll have tomatoes before I leave but just the fact that I kept them alive long enough to form buds is promising. My pumpkin vine is also growing so I hope to have homegrown pumpkins to carve up for Halloween. Jake and I also planned out the landscaping for our front and back yards. It'll be awhile before we'll have the money to do everything we want to do, but I like having a plan, especially one on paper so Jake can't dispute it later.

This week I spent a ridiculous amount of time working on MixBooks - online digital scrapbooks that can be printed out in bound books. I'm working on one with friends to showcase pictures from our get together in Kansas, one for my trip to Mexico (which I want to finish before I leave to start on a new trip), and two of my girls.

This week I stood in the kitchen of my old house (the one we rent out) and remembered 4 years ago. Four years ago, Vivian was born in that house. I sat in that kitchen watching the few fireworks I could see above the neighboring houses holding a newborn baby. I remember it like it just happened, but that baby turns four tomorrow. Time flies, to-do list or not...

How-to Tuesday: 2 shirts for the price of 4!

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:50:00 +0000

2 for the price of 4... believe it or not it's a good deal! Check out my how-to blog for instructions on lengthening tank tops!

Countdown to Argentina - 2 weeks!

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:10:00 +0000

Two weeks from today I will be landing in Buenos Aires, Argentina and embarking on a month of adventures!

I'm at the point now where I'm as ready as I'll ever be. There are things I want to do and need to do in the next two weeks, and I could certainly stand to have more money and know more Spanish, but there comes a point when it's time to go - ready or not. I learned this last year and discovered that although I panicked to get the house completely spotless before I left, there was still cleaning to do when I got home, and although I scrambled to accomplish things for people and organizations I'm involved with, they all survived just fine without me for awhile. Basically - I'm not quite as important as I like to think I am.

Jake is entirely capable of fending for himself for a month (even if he DOES forget to clean the bathroom) and Cecelia and Vivian are well cared-for and happy staying with my mom and in-laws. We will all miss each other, but we will all have a lot of fun and have great stories to tell when we're back together. So this time around I am not as worried about the other people in my life.

I am also not as worried about myself. I learned last summer that in less than one week in Mexico I had figured out enough Spanish to have a reasonable conversation, take a cab, order dinner, and buy a cell-phone. Being immersed in a language I hardly know is intimidating and sometimes overwhelming but it's also really fun and interesting. I also learned that even though I love my family and miss them very much when we are apart, it does not prevent me from having fun without them.

Almost everything about going to Argentina will be different than going to Mexico, but the key lessons I learned about myself and my family from last summer's experience remain. Am I nervous? Of course I am! Do I have an insanely long to-do list? You better believe it! But still, I feel ready in the ways that are most important and am confident that the rest will fall into place.

The Reason for the Drive

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:17:00 +0000

I've posted about some of the things the girls and I saw on our road-trip to Kansas and back, but I haven't posted about the whole reason we went on the trip in the first place.

We went to my friend Allison's house in Topeka, Kansas along with Jess and Angie from South Carolina, Kristin from another part of Kansas, and Corey from Colorado. All together there were 6 moms and 11 kids - quite the crew! - and Allison graciously hosted ALL of us in her home.

We had a fantastic time "meeting" people we already knew just hanging out at Allison's house, and going to the park, the pool, an outdoor concert, and the lake. It was a blast and we can't wait to see our friends again next summer - location to be determined!

The Grotto of the Redemption

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:44:00 +0000

Wow.

The Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, Iowa is... big. And covered in stones of varying shapes, sizes, colors, etc. It really can not be described or captured in photos... it is something that must just be experienced.

There are shrines depicting various aspects of the life of Christ, including the above corridor with the stations of the cross, and devotional shrines to the Virgin Mary and other saints. Every inch is covered in shells, coral, and stones of varying brilliance from basic brown rocks like you'd find in your driveway to agates, turquoise, and quartz.

It is a massive structure with wandering paths, staircases, and cathedral-like arched rooms around every corner. The above is a composite photo of one of the huge Marian shrines...

It was a ridiculously long drive on tiny little Iowa roads to get there, but it was worth it. Cecelia and Vivian had a blast running around discovering all of the little coves and whispering (think loud stage whisper), "MOM! Come here, you've got to see this!!" There was plenty to see and plenty of space to move around on the winding paths and staircases. The Groto Cafe was closed so we didn't get any snacks, but we got to stretch our legs and take in some wacky religious awesomeness. Definitely worth the detour.

World's Largest Ball of Stamps

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:28:00 +0000

Instead of taking the much faster (though more boring) interstate highways back to Minnesota from Kansas, we took a bit of a detour, heading north into Nebraska and then over into Iowa. This allowed for two silly Anna things... First, I got to check off Nebraska as a state I have visited - 18 down (plus D.C.), 32 to go - (and unless the Western side is a heckuva lot more interesting or future road-tripping requires driving through it, one visit was enough). Secondly, I got to go to the world's largest ball of stamps.

I have kind of an affinity for stamps. They're little and delicate (especially the old ones), are usually pretty or at least look interesting, and are most often from some place far away. I love them! This would be why I have a table covered with them and make earrings out of them. Anyway, so we needed a place to stop and wander around and the ball of stamps just happened to line up with my route. (It's amazing how things will "line up" for you when you make lengthy detours.)

The ball of stamps resides in the Leon Myers Stamp Center which is actually just kind of a back room of the Boys Town Visitors Center in Boys Town, Nebraska. There's the large 600 pound ball, the wall mural of stamps, some stamp history, and stamps for sale for a penny all the way up to about $100 for serious collectors. We took pictures, looked at stamps (naturally) and bought a few new ones from the penny bins.

Cecelia even found a stamp from Argentina on the ball so we had to take a picture. The cool thing about a ball, or table as we've discovered, covered in stamps is that it makes for a great I-Spy game so the girls had a blast and got to stretch their legs. Yay for weird stuff to look at...

"Ooh, Eee, Ooh, I look just like Buddy Holly"

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:10:00 +0000

It was to that Weezer song that I first danced with Jake (back when he WOULD dance on occasion) and now, almost 12 years later, we are celebrating our 8th wedding anniversary. How time flies...

Cecelia and Vivian love that song, but had no idea who Buddy Holly was. I'm not sure they know a whole lot about him even now, but they got a bit of a crash-course in music history when we visited Clear Lake, Iowa. We went to the Surf Ballroom which was the last place that Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper played before their deaths.

We looked at photos, newspaper clippings, and souvenirs (passing up our chance to buy a plastic replica pair of "Buddy Holly glasses.") We also visited the memorial built for the 3 musicians and the pilot who died in the plane crash.

It's a neat place with interesting, though sad, history and wandering around there provided a good chance for us to stretch our legs. The kids also got a little education out of the experience and thought Buddy Holly was pretty cool when I put "That'll Be The Day" and "Peggy Sue" on in the car.

Countdown to Argentina - 3 weeks!

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:55:00 +0000

Holy #$%&. Less than three weeks to go - also known as the point at which I start to kind of freak out a little. Luckily, all of the big events in June are past so I have a bit more time to dedicate to freaking out. I really don't have all that many things to do related to the trip, but there are just so many things that I want to do and I don't want the summer to just rush by either.

Here is what I hope to accomplish before I leave:

Mail out Vivian's birthday party invitations. First I will need to decide what time we will be having her party. Her birthday being a major national holiday is sometimes very complicating...
Refinish our dining room table. This has been on my to-do list for over a year.
Draw up the floor plans and landscaping plans for our home remodelling.
Go to the pool at least a couple times each week. We live just down the street from an awesome park with a great pool but we don't get there nearly enough. I need to get my stuff together more often to pack us a lunch and go hang out down there for the day.
Plan the big first-ever Gala for the Humane Society.
Purge and reorganize the kids' toys.
Make some fun new things for my Etsy shop.

For the actual trip, I need to start taking my Chloroquine (malaria prophylaxis), get my yellow fever vaccine, plan things for the girls while I'm gone, brush up on my Spanish, and do the final things like packing and loading up on books and magazines for the plane.

Awesome crafty blog

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:42:00 +0000

Carina's Craft Blog http://www.wardi.dk/2009/06/act-inspire-yourself.html

I LOVE her use of color. Excuse me, I must go craft something now.

Road tripping

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:44:00 +0000

Being in a car for extended periods of time is not always fun... add in young children and no other adults and it can be hell. BUT it can also be a great experience if you do it right. I'll admit that I don't always love to drive around with my kids, but I don't dread it either. In fact, not even 24 hours after getting out of the car from our last 1100 mile trip (which was AWESOME, by the way, details to come), I started mapping out an even further one for next summer. I might be completely crazy, but there's a method to my madness and my girls have become pretty good travellers.

What I have learned in all my insanity...

Ice cream pails are necessities, especially if you have a child prone to motion sickness. Even if you don't... it's good to be prepared. We have two in the car, one that I use for trash and another on standby. Baby wipes, toilet paper or tissues, and an extra bottle of water (for cleaning) also come in very handy.
Books on CD are one of technologies greatest gifts. Of course, not all audiobooks are created equal. Long, slow-paced, or intricately detailed stories are not great with young kids (or to keep the adult who is driving awake - the Secret Garden for one.) Also, depending on the age of the kids, some stories may be too mature (like the later Harry Potter books). Dr. Seuss books are good on CD but, at least in my opinion, are far better when accompanied by the pictures so they are not my favorites. Still, there are some great books out there. This last trip we listened to The Tale of Desperaux (a bit on the slow side but good), Because of Winn-Dixie (perfect), Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle (funny - a big bonus), and Ivy & Bean (short, engaging, and funny). A tip - take a look at the running time. An 8 hour story is unlikely to keep anyone's attention straight through... unless you know it's a favorite, stick to the shorter stories or break it up into sections.
MP3 players rock. A long car ride is the perfect time to bust out some music you might not normally pick. For example, a short playlist of "dance party USA teeny-bopper type-o-shit" (name that movie!) can be a great way to break up the monotony and get everyone grooving from within their seats. Zydeco, Reggae, and 50s-60s oldies are fun and Mariachi music is perfect for maneuvering in traffic and going around and around various exits and cloverleafs. As a rule, I do not play kid music (especially not on long car rides when my sanity may already be in jeopardy) but I WILL play the Hairspray soundtrack and other kid-friendly music that I also happen to enjoy.
In-car DVD players may rock, but if you have a motion-sickness prone child, these are not so hot. Also, they do not rock so much if they do not also have headphones and you as the parent do not want to listen to Happy Scrappy Hero Pups (name THAT movie!) over and over and over. Plan accordingly.
Pick good in-car toys, and pick them yourself. I have learned the hard way that when my kids pick out their own toys we end up with a random smattering of things - like a doll shirt but no doll - with which they do not actually play in the car. I have found that the BEST toys are ones that allow them to use their imaginations in many different ways, are very washable, do not require adult help, and are small. Although we are an Adult-Barbie free house, I love the little Kelly dolls and they are great to bring along - just without their shoes which inevitably get lost anyway and require adult help. Also, the Littlest Pet Shop, Puppy In My Pocket, and similar small toys are good. Puppets are fun and simple dress up items like little tiaras, gloves, and sunglasses are good. Silly Putty is fun for slightly older kids but is a pain in the butt, no pun intended, when it is sat on and smooshed into the car seat and the child's clothes. If you see Vivi out in a pink dress with a big green stain on the side, this is why. I avoid any books other than board books since paper pages are easily ruined by spills and being tossed around and are also not good for the motion sickness.
Plan for stops. Lots of them. For every 2 hours of drive time that Google Maps tells you, I add at least 15 minutes. It is best to be proactive about stopping - stopping BEFORE you're all of a sudden 40 miles from the nearest toilet and someone has to pee NOW (leading you to teach said child how to squat on the side of the road) or BEFORE everyone's nerves are totally fried and no time on the playground will make you happy. Parks are easiest to find in small cities, and in my experience tend to be located near bodies of water - if there's a lake, drive around it and you stand a good chance of hitting a park at some point. This is also a place where Roadside America comes in... my kids love to stop and see wacky stuff and it gives me something to look at while they run around. If the weather is crappy there are always McDonald's playplaces, but even just wandering the aisles of a Target can be a good chance to stretch your legs, use the bathroom, and pick up anything you suddenly realized you forgot. (Wal-Mart works too and their parking lots are also apparently good places to cause traffic accidents, but that's another story.)
Plan your route. Especially if you are the only adult in the car, figure out where you're going and what roads you'll take before you start driving. This is also a good time to plan out some possible stops given the info in #6. I like to give myself a rough time line as well so I know how far we are on or off schedule and thus how long we can afford to stop.
Kids' Thermoses are fantastic. A water bottle with a good spout that keeps the drink cool is so great to have and easy to refill from a larger jug or with water/juice picked up at the gas station (which would otherwise be major spill-hazards if left in their original bottles.)
Snacks are a must. I hate using a lot of disposable packaging, but I love to divvy up large quantities of snacks into little plastic bags or containers. It is so much easier to hand back a bag of pretzels than to hand back 3 pretzels every 35 seconds. Our favorite car snacks are: pretzels, cheesy crackers, trail mix, apple slices, grapes, strawberries, bananas, orange slices, cucumbers, baby carrots, cookies, granola bars, peanut butter sandwiches, cheese sticks, and yogurt. Obviously, a small cooler is important to keep the perishables cold.
RELAX! Remember that "getting there is half the fun" and just go with the flow.

Here's how I stock my car for road trips alone with the kids...

In the center console area: sunglasses, phone, MP3 player, wallet, chapstick, camera, and my water bottle
In the passenger seat: a small cooler and a box full of individually packaged snacks, as well as a notebook with my directions and maps inside
On the floor of the passenger seat: a jug of water for refilling water bottles, my backpack with my purse/umbrella/sweater inside, a library bag with books on CD
On the floor of the backseat: a pair of flip-flops for each kid in addition to the shoes on their feet (they often take shoes off and can't find them in a hurry to go in to the store), the garbage bucket
In between the two carseats in the backseat: the extra bucket, the tote of toys.
In the pocket of the two front seats: a small pillow and blanket for each child
In the trunk: everything else!

This is what works for me. :)