tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30135162430646112252024-03-14T04:11:19.286-05:00the adventures of poke and tokehere you can follow our journey through life and around the world.sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-41961082335146338062009-11-16T07:53:00.003-06:002009-11-16T08:33:08.737-06:00<div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div>so, when you hear a gunshot in the middle of the night, and its not a gang fight cuz there are no gangs... then you hear lots of laughing the next day and look out the window and see the guys scaring the dogs with the dead caracal... then you know you live in the bush!</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404706755540108322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1m5SdPcr9f01xSaIITAqpPj6TOGig0ADCIgqSo9Dq-vS7l6xyqF3VebrDiZNYR3sxoEmKXfEzK_uu4NG2UPmuW60QoYIIs2QNJOVvSUYnfv8N9aPT_DlUHQi_4OxxU4j8qoOsQF0KHs7/s320/IMG_5275.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404706767587824226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7yXWGt2VBaSKK6rN5ny1ctV_-e4_Luo15x6S2vQFzhxKuy7ISv_Qwvz5qdcxGYZFqZeEJ7XJhN77vuBO-UeyDyNoD3P14aGVyruUndHA32VfgWtXjg7nts9N7cL0HEnzdAMGqBviTWBp/s320/IMG_5270.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>baby triplets, getting love!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404706773982313122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqt34qJnS_bejpBUkf_io3jP7YU06pWjnwaQEoki7AmrdPMRen4O1RrAgmzLw5s_d7eS3ZybI4_Bhb2FRTEaJcWjXq6uFt4PcAlpT0Zd7IJvlM6fXr5bTM84jbl1dtINZqulW3_jttExS6/s320/IMG_5295.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404706775466260898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vmbSTZW22UNEUrtRTdACTw5zPlOPDuguo2kedU77e7MXzFectvKJLUF5C3Kx7sOHP-6R6h-JIs9dKnCO9vebkoqbCQTmxmfiOUqfYU5MxtJ5aU0fZXGuNlcuE9thVijQ5DtaHUI_yGni/s320/IMG_5306.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><div> </div><div>this is what you do for halloween when there is no pupmkin! (plus when your sis sends a felt your own barack!)</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404706764367784610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2ZUKZLngKEfUNasNYBuQcMiCSuzUzxKfXb0h3n7LBUWfGlN_oZjnBSZgL1V5NJdDc59UuGui4k-M9hDEDr1hp5gNy-uQpOEnnjEmaKkAHnQHSxoyCDEMOyfwuy9U5XEUh4YLhqIIHtkl/s320/IMG_5267.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-39824708726233462042009-10-16T02:40:00.002-05:002009-10-16T03:13:18.861-05:00two days in a row!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieeE_yHVge_gXUX1NzJHeg3bH2R5yC7qGrarY9AkIbNaPiwVovQz6LnfzC-kb5pKXoBnjsuIXUsWz_Kscqibs0aVQT4cxbo-Ij7QPo2icgzCKJWcf9FCFKCOTnvOh9ebPX84QdeUD6jBoB/s1600-h/IMG_5234.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393104982675909058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieeE_yHVge_gXUX1NzJHeg3bH2R5yC7qGrarY9AkIbNaPiwVovQz6LnfzC-kb5pKXoBnjsuIXUsWz_Kscqibs0aVQT4cxbo-Ij7QPo2icgzCKJWcf9FCFKCOTnvOh9ebPX84QdeUD6jBoB/s320/IMG_5234.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb4L5gD_0ao2enwpG8CDUcxep4pyHuRJU8qQmx4msZMVEyWrBH6XXqUcl9cxHdCk6hFFY17YzxqgLk6rJ4X5F08VXOOXfayyeVtafIO1FDO_Xz-knQNXyuXcUq7aQJk_Gu7gXd9JKXyCQ/s1600-h/IMG_5226.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393104974890890770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb4L5gD_0ao2enwpG8CDUcxep4pyHuRJU8qQmx4msZMVEyWrBH6XXqUcl9cxHdCk6hFFY17YzxqgLk6rJ4X5F08VXOOXfayyeVtafIO1FDO_Xz-knQNXyuXcUq7aQJk_Gu7gXd9JKXyCQ/s320/IMG_5226.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSuGM2ICqvVeD80ghhX1RiECcsaavcBhFb3TX_d-4NfOSAoaqKGr0HW70z1rVXBfvOQjj8wi_Tuitd1vPNKqeTjRdgSdEbbH-1EFwp7eXxyeaVCIvaQgXYG-gwmn8XnIQFl3FdAqI3LWi/s1600-h/IMG_5190.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393104962642970130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSuGM2ICqvVeD80ghhX1RiECcsaavcBhFb3TX_d-4NfOSAoaqKGr0HW70z1rVXBfvOQjj8wi_Tuitd1vPNKqeTjRdgSdEbbH-1EFwp7eXxyeaVCIvaQgXYG-gwmn8XnIQFl3FdAqI3LWi/s320/IMG_5190.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEBt-Yu-xNxu1trs4cYwzw8eJy_fsh-_bCRaDzgciWWzzEtgRb0zagip-HuYKKfr4gkUadK-7n78GX4xss7bmyU3hY_ANzmVXBwUcLWhclOrV-tKaCiFP4hS_tkmrgo73tgCkuMHkvFU0/s1600-h/IMG_5178.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393104946687220370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEBt-Yu-xNxu1trs4cYwzw8eJy_fsh-_bCRaDzgciWWzzEtgRb0zagip-HuYKKfr4gkUadK-7n78GX4xss7bmyU3hY_ANzmVXBwUcLWhclOrV-tKaCiFP4hS_tkmrgo73tgCkuMHkvFU0/s320/IMG_5178.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcWa1hLpVlRr7OJWDaaBju1DQA4IirYego00e1NQQ_Z2HZlUOI40ZXqxh5Yh43-QR4ujoOYp2O9ncPGNuwoqCOgMSEMPr7b5XFf6MR5priqjjLBUVfCWbZisCasTwmZuJlokDLucaT1yc/s1600-h/IMG_5171.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393104938514317138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcWa1hLpVlRr7OJWDaaBju1DQA4IirYego00e1NQQ_Z2HZlUOI40ZXqxh5Yh43-QR4ujoOYp2O9ncPGNuwoqCOgMSEMPr7b5XFf6MR5priqjjLBUVfCWbZisCasTwmZuJlokDLucaT1yc/s320/IMG_5171.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>can you believe it? i was a little distracted yesterday writing the post, but i will try to make up for it. these are pics of our swearing in ceremony, wearing traditional swazi wear! that was on august 28th i think, so its been almost 2 months now! dang! some back ground. we live with the Myeni family in Nsubane which is near the south african border in south eastern swaziland. at our homestead there is our host mom and dad (make and babe) our brother and his wife and 5 kids. we have tons of cows, chickens and goats! including our lovely orphaned goats, annabelle and oliver. i love them, they are like our pets! we are getting close to the end of integration and will be able to do more "real work" soon. we are doing pretty well, there are definately ups and downs, but its becoming like home. ourcommunity is super rural... as in you walk for an hour and a half to catch the bus, and on the way you maybe see a person or two. not many people speak english, so we are practicing siswati quite a bit. we love hearing from all of you and miss you a lot! hope you enjoy the pics, love you! peace</div></div></div></div></div>sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-72829325734463779192009-10-15T03:05:00.004-05:002009-10-15T03:59:09.416-05:00hello all<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8loRPP1wPdBvuPSWWrxzh3WP7IfcRc4zRqDtC4Ws5f_SE54r5SbqKRbeA3dfb9YRA6Qg8YkI4vW81MY87mGqSlLB2dmJ9BoWZXayXcizFvjuaWv5d_mK4ppono9OvtdXNKXhpaF0m9iH/s1600-h/IMG_5128.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392744593681451234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8loRPP1wPdBvuPSWWrxzh3WP7IfcRc4zRqDtC4Ws5f_SE54r5SbqKRbeA3dfb9YRA6Qg8YkI4vW81MY87mGqSlLB2dmJ9BoWZXayXcizFvjuaWv5d_mK4ppono9OvtdXNKXhpaF0m9iH/s320/IMG_5128.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XgQmGuKQKMz4_ECP5sbWMn657rsM8ZJqVixzccHAb-M4Xksl6YIOwdqmPutpwIxvh_rM8U2TVR6rZBXZggs6tbuRmVYsCX4_c2G40X1vmeWZ0lsGCAT9efI1-LPUiwcRrwUZrQqjMTCd/s1600-h/IMG_5131.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392744585874215138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XgQmGuKQKMz4_ECP5sbWMn657rsM8ZJqVixzccHAb-M4Xksl6YIOwdqmPutpwIxvh_rM8U2TVR6rZBXZggs6tbuRmVYsCX4_c2G40X1vmeWZ0lsGCAT9efI1-LPUiwcRrwUZrQqjMTCd/s320/IMG_5131.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnz6qTkBI2HzIcGMhD2s8myQtlgSU9i_ucf_wx4KHtvXzEblYuhxISXWRaGIo5eeZSMSKVCZa0aQMstnXBHjnZA8zLIHJy2PyPlRCfeSo8gO7aBLq0BYQWYTUynZQXwFBJSmOlsx47lmG/s1600-h/IMG_5139.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392744575266560482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnz6qTkBI2HzIcGMhD2s8myQtlgSU9i_ucf_wx4KHtvXzEblYuhxISXWRaGIo5eeZSMSKVCZa0aQMstnXBHjnZA8zLIHJy2PyPlRCfeSo8gO7aBLq0BYQWYTUynZQXwFBJSmOlsx47lmG/s320/IMG_5139.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>ok, so it has been a long long time, but i thought i would just through up a few pics for you all to see. we are doing well, still in integration, which means we are staying busy (aka not busy) meeting people, going to the school, and doing a lot a lot of walking! we love our family so much! they are the most wonderful people i have ever met. the other day it was chilly and raining and i just sat for a few hours in the cooking hut around th fire with them. we chatted, ate a big lunch of corn meal porridge (lipolishi) and beans and Make just kept saying how happy she was that i wasnt full yet and hot fat i was getting (a compliment). we love you so much, sorry its been so long, i will try to update again soon.</div></div></div>sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-25243681337822021432009-06-21T15:50:00.002-05:002009-06-21T15:57:29.752-05:00tomorrow, tomorrowon the fourth day til leaving, america gave to me...<br />moving all our stuff over<br />dinner at sujees with lots of friends and yummy indian food!<br /><br />on the third day til leaving, america gave to me...<br />coffee and breakfast with christiane<br />doing laundry with christiane<br />cleaning the house<br />lunch at the wedge (yummy)<br />and a going away party!<br /><br />on the second day til leaving, america gave to me...<br />breakfast at classen grill with my mom and david<br />lunch at grams with the whole family!<br />packing our bags for the final and best time with the help of christiane!<br />a wonderful dinner and cake made by lindsay eaten with tyler, staci, josh, lindsay and chris and me!<br /><br />on the last day til leaving, america gave to me...<br />goodbyes<br />the last load to the kramers<br />lunch at 501 with maggie, little maggie. gram and dad for fathers day<br />errands<br />dinner with the kramers<br />and more goodbyes!<br /><br />we love you all and will miss you dearly!sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-51854786363672951472009-06-18T14:16:00.001-05:002009-06-18T14:16:54.137-05:00heres our addressSusanne Kramer/Chris Kramer PCV<br />PO BOX2797<br />Mbabane H100, Swazilandsus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-35348221776046084192009-06-17T16:47:00.008-05:002009-06-17T17:36:41.378-05:00on the ....on the eleventh day til leaving, america gave to me....<br /><br />packing and still more pack<br />ing<br />and yummy qeusadillas<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKbY0n8YxLjHneB7mSY3w7CgK7Vn4rPLjZBo9oiSlRABVW6XjWidgLuKXjF2fqdzZwb97AgelH9_o35v39C4wX1bfPXkFaS3ab9vw909bgCi2ASFfNbi2f-tLZ5EKMYPM0Yx893wAobQh/s1600-h/spring+summer+09+185.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKbY0n8YxLjHneB7mSY3w7CgK7Vn4rPLjZBo9oiSlRABVW6XjWidgLuKXjF2fqdzZwb97AgelH9_o35v39C4wX1bfPXkFaS3ab9vw909bgCi2ASFfNbi2f-tLZ5EKMYPM0Yx893wAobQh/s320/spring+summer+09+185.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348425006855990370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsLC-gcTr8xpqN_PL_iBBdWgmbEfM7vSXV-qtQ2HVJyVrFZ1BcPlIMnX9OJMQ1dsu_o3KMbUBi0ynHC1PxUiEKq6-m1FThLQPoaQ1nAHGGn6CF-y-U4CUgqAlWi-7qf6fTEVFhjbKiIrT/s1600-h/spring+summer+09+189.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsLC-gcTr8xpqN_PL_iBBdWgmbEfM7vSXV-qtQ2HVJyVrFZ1BcPlIMnX9OJMQ1dsu_o3KMbUBi0ynHC1PxUiEKq6-m1FThLQPoaQ1nAHGGn6CF-y-U4CUgqAlWi-7qf6fTEVFhjbKiIrT/s320/spring+summer+09+189.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348425017087053170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifB-gEMklW-LWfSOgUk6eseJaasxhyphenhyphenkfPigY8hr3x79KLyaXHHwlhIvoU8w0n-hjzKf8U9eZLvQocCPytMB7YEGtMvvttyBarMwAmEsGc-fvTINatnlf1JJOGpCwNDLlNh7_ZSrb7OxAL8/s1600-h/spring+summer+09+186.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifB-gEMklW-LWfSOgUk6eseJaasxhyphenhyphenkfPigY8hr3x79KLyaXHHwlhIvoU8w0n-hjzKf8U9eZLvQocCPytMB7YEGtMvvttyBarMwAmEsGc-fvTINatnlf1JJOGpCwNDLlNh7_ZSrb7OxAL8/s320/spring+summer+09+186.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348425008590970226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />on the tenth day til leaving, america gave to me...<br />a pedicure<br />crepe myrtle<br />a trip to lawrence<br />and zen zero<br />a documentary on crazy amish teens<br />hanging out with sicky alyson<br /><br />on the ninth day til leaving, america gave to me....<br />walking around down town lawrence<br />lindsay getting new birks<br />dinner at free state brewery with rachel<br /><br />on the eighth day til leaving, america gave to me...<br />naps<br />a new camera<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOr7fNgXJ5EuTntSjulCgKumL3kPd6TUlDLqkdyXXH4WbTsoXrRF0_flKIG8ZCvgR4QphgWCsSw6hsYjUd_YPfkza7VnYinGkVsijRFXNgu4uNlSr2zs2D9FwjkexnPKvq6ixEGBhmuU2j/s1600-h/spring+summer+09+192.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOr7fNgXJ5EuTntSjulCgKumL3kPd6TUlDLqkdyXXH4WbTsoXrRF0_flKIG8ZCvgR4QphgWCsSw6hsYjUd_YPfkza7VnYinGkVsijRFXNgu4uNlSr2zs2D9FwjkexnPKvq6ixEGBhmuU2j/s320/spring+summer+09+192.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348427853542662818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />on the seventh day til leaving, america gave to me...<br />still more packing<br />moving<br />dosas with sujee, lindsay's friend from the library<br /><br />on the sixth day til leaving, america gave to me...<br />fixing chris's camera bag<br />helping chris pack<br />dinner with elyse and lindsay at galileos<br />kate spent the night<br />repacked my bag<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8bgJ82thu-dvmyRFfhTfUBnbbNKZZLTYitjDCpbiRssXwgjxtqJLrs4W1s4Ac0mTRGav6EmxiyfAxEAaaNynXgWF_x3n9nMZV3-jyNE1_gxUnFbiAbuBWklsDrqqWPDIGpQ0rJ1SSuPM/s1600-h/spring+summer+09+190.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8bgJ82thu-dvmyRFfhTfUBnbbNKZZLTYitjDCpbiRssXwgjxtqJLrs4W1s4Ac0mTRGav6EmxiyfAxEAaaNynXgWF_x3n9nMZV3-jyNE1_gxUnFbiAbuBWklsDrqqWPDIGpQ0rJ1SSuPM/s320/spring+summer+09+190.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348425021375339794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />on the fifth day til leaving, america gave to me...<br />my last breakfast and soy cappucinos with gram<br />a jin shin tara session<br />lunch at cafe 501<br />swimming at the kramerssus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-13891594125006597872009-06-10T09:47:00.004-05:002009-06-10T10:17:52.944-05:00the twelve day til leaving (for swaziland)on the twelfth day til leaving, america gave to me....<br />making a hat with nora for my sister<br />coffee with gram<br />PACKING OUR STUFF<br /><br />stay tuned for the last eleven days...sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-13708681223066584002009-04-27T19:00:00.002-05:002009-04-27T19:04:52.256-05:00pug pug squishy face<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDH6wXSkJxk8NG45s26JBt5UlCD_oZJ5YR5FVvrvgk9zcFBQptz01yVytACGnm3UBUszxMi8j8Uj4vNPzccWmeJQMTwTg2dxY_9mhq8mLQX0dWhowM2W1dL8w0uHhT9KBNLKdNIyNL9wda/s1600-h/pug+squish+face+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329526338893089618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDH6wXSkJxk8NG45s26JBt5UlCD_oZJ5YR5FVvrvgk9zcFBQptz01yVytACGnm3UBUszxMi8j8Uj4vNPzccWmeJQMTwTg2dxY_9mhq8mLQX0dWhowM2W1dL8w0uHhT9KBNLKdNIyNL9wda/s320/pug+squish+face+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKvtlSSDL-gHicyJmPT60JeRmZ088TA23SDttXKnYlmtOfwvAxy_lBvm5tSY0UyhQRJXoCOAoJZF51gIHuZDZYjDEjkVli-DrHeJ_VN2ok7kl5mV4VTAxMHkBL9PsP4TJAAbAmv07_-oL/s1600-h/pug+squish+face+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329526334247309506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKvtlSSDL-gHicyJmPT60JeRmZ088TA23SDttXKnYlmtOfwvAxy_lBvm5tSY0UyhQRJXoCOAoJZF51gIHuZDZYjDEjkVli-DrHeJ_VN2ok7kl5mV4VTAxMHkBL9PsP4TJAAbAmv07_-oL/s320/pug+squish+face+034.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-0w0vPWSNsTX7pmh94CCpWmjIiMxbU5iFL-r-V8W_SHFRA7W-4s774tr1GQWdTRA6phvCvI_LiUXGscbDU9SVT4IXEVrbofLgacDWwwZLKlPGXAgrapqqgT3E0Z16xy1W-wVfIbboJz6/s1600-h/pug+squish+face+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329526327502243250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-0w0vPWSNsTX7pmh94CCpWmjIiMxbU5iFL-r-V8W_SHFRA7W-4s774tr1GQWdTRA6phvCvI_LiUXGscbDU9SVT4IXEVrbofLgacDWwwZLKlPGXAgrapqqgT3E0Z16xy1W-wVfIbboJz6/s320/pug+squish+face+033.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeDPfyV69tUAc2yfby8hsGGK2on0hxxdqnM1E3WralfSzClaBXwlQT6uRKAVaEuKeIVnwn9CLk_HF7V0t4pS6OlXQWrJJUCptN5K473sNIwXUvvV-9NMPvnGfz-3Wd4sBcBQ05SFn4fUa/s1600-h/pug+squish+face+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329526325143580610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeDPfyV69tUAc2yfby8hsGGK2on0hxxdqnM1E3WralfSzClaBXwlQT6uRKAVaEuKeIVnwn9CLk_HF7V0t4pS6OlXQWrJJUCptN5K473sNIwXUvvV-9NMPvnGfz-3Wd4sBcBQ05SFn4fUa/s320/pug+squish+face+032.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpXHo1O_WnhzBhFJr4zMrzmKdsCuaif2h1li_3MFCueA-pezvWSmLtEZUJVAjzl0w62a_HwHxXRAFPZNyFfJMQbtmj80AcIIpwIW6tBnYK788x4S7yJqFuwGKFy-krJlbMvpXsrGG8D3I/s1600-h/pug+squish+face+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329526320632032418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpXHo1O_WnhzBhFJr4zMrzmKdsCuaif2h1li_3MFCueA-pezvWSmLtEZUJVAjzl0w62a_HwHxXRAFPZNyFfJMQbtmj80AcIIpwIW6tBnYK788x4S7yJqFuwGKFy-krJlbMvpXsrGG8D3I/s320/pug+squish+face+028.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />oh the fun you can have with a pug! how we will miss you and your face!<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-12423531477285900702009-04-27T18:56:00.004-05:002009-04-27T19:12:55.204-05:00okc memorial marathon<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNf7bCOaulxvPHMvhjU_IcEEJ2OlNSqGZsl9SVbh0P6Y3sq964AVX6PnxZ9YbwEjlhn_0uh4te7-qYWJ5OKVYHjpTD_OpMODUlzMhbRgbtZ9mGoP1t7AOTjwN21D1vE6bABoc7lPVGfNx/s1600-h/mail3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329525037778431586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 162px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNf7bCOaulxvPHMvhjU_IcEEJ2OlNSqGZsl9SVbh0P6Y3sq964AVX6PnxZ9YbwEjlhn_0uh4te7-qYWJ5OKVYHjpTD_OpMODUlzMhbRgbtZ9mGoP1t7AOTjwN21D1vE6bABoc7lPVGfNx/s320/mail3.jpg" border="0" /></a> the runners (and walker)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DuaUuCdETMwYnx66ELkS2gh_YZI34B6DGzmbbxlnpyZd_pjBnF9uCGQ-C7JcYb_M8wCmnfqiGGa-lqjrMy5gUHJxkf7sHXmy0qXCEhtTFoxFgDVFEtBr4hcuABD3Ag7_RZozu0FslUMs/s1600-h/mail2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329525036731171746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 151px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DuaUuCdETMwYnx66ELkS2gh_YZI34B6DGzmbbxlnpyZd_pjBnF9uCGQ-C7JcYb_M8wCmnfqiGGa-lqjrMy5gUHJxkf7sHXmy0qXCEhtTFoxFgDVFEtBr4hcuABD3Ag7_RZozu0FslUMs/s320/mail2.jpg" border="0" /></a> the whole fam<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9kyWxcmmnGegnyrJNhHv1f-SlNDC5rVHFmB3YyQNClWHXRE_a8QdrWk2bFgiKTVlT0RxNHEYpJwjTn1zaX2oScTCwDjiiMvnL21rpKI12EEcGW_8eASlNhC6s8HeA8pddajTqkKrWnt3/s1600-h/mail.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329525031449279410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 151px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9kyWxcmmnGegnyrJNhHv1f-SlNDC5rVHFmB3YyQNClWHXRE_a8QdrWk2bFgiKTVlT0RxNHEYpJwjTn1zaX2oScTCwDjiiMvnL21rpKI12EEcGW_8eASlNhC6s8HeA8pddajTqkKrWnt3/s320/mail.jpg" border="0" /></a> team kramer krew we came in around 45th for the family division relay!<br /><br /><div>so the kramers went out for a run (and walk) some of us did the relay, and some the half marathon, but it was a great day, followed by some arts festival corn and ice cream and then the lion king musical.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /></div>sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-66085701644320442542009-02-24T21:12:00.002-06:002009-02-24T21:21:44.607-06:00camera updateso (cross you fingers)<br /><br />after visiting 2 different camera shops, passing through the skillful and not so skillful hands of the employees (including mr eperson himself) ruining 2 rolls of film.... i think i got it loaded and working!!!!<br /><br />yippee<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaf9Mr-VSfgFOZUr6xYLjz3gPkGgvxZrl0oR3t6tRA3ItoEOskQfVMtT-jbUmbpV4CxJbvcO5v1SbZ85OCvpB9FNZzJcCesQ0VNF2dg4HKZ54O-_RkFmNcFa23dOEGy5MSxwaPPpvS1AZ/s1600-h/kuball.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaf9Mr-VSfgFOZUr6xYLjz3gPkGgvxZrl0oR3t6tRA3ItoEOskQfVMtT-jbUmbpV4CxJbvcO5v1SbZ85OCvpB9FNZzJcCesQ0VNF2dg4HKZ54O-_RkFmNcFa23dOEGy5MSxwaPPpvS1AZ/s320/kuball.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306569758395718978" border="0" /></a><br />also, we went to the OU/KU basketball game last night with chris' parents, it was an awesome game! they started out behind, hooped it up to 20 points ahead, almost lost their lead, but luckily (and sadly) all the OU fans left the stadium with 2 minutes left, during the almost comeback, but won in the end!!!sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-60435349246215284292009-02-21T20:12:00.003-06:002009-02-21T20:34:25.280-06:00ok, so its been a while<div>but i think i will try to keep up a little better...</div><div><br /><br /></div><div>some exciting things...<br /></div><div>1. i bought a grain mill attachment for my kitchen aid mixer</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305442171737285074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 168px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 146px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZh0a0Zs_gVqXL-URszVV4qQLMr73e2D2TvXt0XuA5p45BUyxZdhkq5B034dZ1jsnXBOdYhGIiMKl1c9o4zOynlYoT9PynRPFyPGe_oTxGZ4INXuo_UGIjdgeXp7sN9j3J_DYPujTxBFSU/s320/kitchen+aid.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>2. i got the world's cutest camera (but haven't figured out how to load it yet)</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305442174414220658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 260px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYBd3Ubje8nbwhQ_wcBLhAZq0Xj8JoS3rhwNJwoifqftDGnhCXiXv244J_WigG5_RxCd-OtV-WDFXyHqpvB2Aixz_DTrXa85xpVJB3AcZ4lVS5mL8I6EwkuBCbpE9ivQPJsJsZs_Z250W/s320/zenit.jpg" border="0" />3. i am going to see my sister in 2 weeks! and am taking a reiki training there<br />4. i made black bean soup and corn bread for dinner since it is cold<br />5. we went to the flea market today and i choked while having a mouthful of coffee and spit it everywhere<br />6. we drove around some alternate universe streets in okc, saw a big brick mailbox with extensions making it into a cross plus other crazy stuff<br />7. i like ugly betty<br />8. lindsay and josh have been digging garden beds in the back yard, so it looks like 4 dead bodies in the back yard<br /><br />hopefully more to come...<br /><br /><br /><p></p>sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-73984598903448974212008-11-28T09:55:00.001-06:002008-11-28T09:57:23.603-06:00coming to the endwe just finished our last yoga class and went out to dinner to celebrate birthdays, thanksgiving and going home. we will be home wednesday night after a long day of travel! we can't wait to see you all! love and peacesus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-90651285118960305742008-11-26T04:13:00.001-06:002008-11-26T04:24:31.365-06:00Happy Thanksgiving<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdNyrvYgbgr2O7rJ8PZ0kQ_xyPkFDmznxefBvoIjwpwonBMCdVgDY3VGtfEdpTOvv_8qyIUdFAxWimEc4XaUoRiW9OUFcMeQa4pg3dXS_7_kqci8sDWcIo80w6xEquZMYFuLBMeEsJhLg/s1600-h/IMG_4295.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272908587335383186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdNyrvYgbgr2O7rJ8PZ0kQ_xyPkFDmznxefBvoIjwpwonBMCdVgDY3VGtfEdpTOvv_8qyIUdFAxWimEc4XaUoRiW9OUFcMeQa4pg3dXS_7_kqci8sDWcIo80w6xEquZMYFuLBMeEsJhLg/s320/IMG_4295.JPG" border="0" /></a> so, while all of your turkeys are roasted and sitting on the table about to be eaten, ours are out playing at the park!<br />now thats a HAPPY TURKEY day!<br /><br />we miss you all and wish we could celebrate the harvest with you! see you in a week!sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-49207787760942460272008-11-15T06:31:00.002-06:002008-11-15T06:46:52.703-06:00Atma Vikasaso, i keep meaning to add pictures, but if you want to see our teacher, you can click on the link (the title).<br /><br />so a little about our time here in Mysore...<br />we wake up at 4:45, and greet the sun with asana class for an hour and a half,<br />then we all go get chai and juice and chat for a while,<br />then at 8:45 we have pranayama which is breathing excercizes for 45 minutes, it is also like meditation and our teacher gives a little talk at the end<br />then we are supposed to think about our class for atleast 10 minutes, so chris and i usually write in our journals<br />then we go to the coconut stand and get our first 'fix' of the day, and sometimes treat ourselves to one of the best dosas known to man (an indian savory crepe type thing filled with spiced potatoes)<br />then we have sutra class, studying about the philosophy of yoga (10:15-11)<br />then we get lunch, made by our teachers mother<br />yay for rest! free time until 5, we read and cook and nap<br />at 5 we have our very intense back-bending class, really pushing us to the edge of our abilities and making our minds stronger!<br />then our reward of another trip to the coconut stand (usually we get 2 at this time after so much hard work and sweat, we need to replenish our loss of electrolytes with some coconut water... straight outa the coconut)<br />then 30 minutes of bajhan, spiritual songs/chants<br />then dinner and sleep!<br /><br />this is our daily schedule monday-friday, keeps us pretty busy<br />today we went to a bird sancuary and we got to see huge bats and crocodiles! pics to come...<br /><br />just 2 1/2 weeks and we'll be home!!! crazy crazy!<br /><br />peace and love!sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-41417353215752623022008-11-10T03:41:00.003-06:002008-11-10T04:13:13.846-06:00pictures<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266964671305136178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMkBRE4DdWXRCluPJUSOniBMrcN5NStZM7Gig65a9eDkLiIi88j5Cq1v49RQt1trtGHsoLJI5anORpAQGqNu18jKtwValG1QuMOfYBJVXJN7a_u9BEGLhupsXqZ6sZEQAM91MtAQHJNE7/s320/IMG_3609.JPG" border="0" /><br />sus rockin it on the scooter in goa!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gR22JgXzjGTugIEOYpS6l1kMNBHRtp_TQxoFZkmLjHV5s-0ckDKHdf3-wtCGM7KxcvFLG8bVFdFiob4m-0O5Mi-2pXKRMSkRrbt53po6QsniQRzlJ50TvS55TtSulZcPwVWFm-Lm7tgp/s1600-h/IMG_3774.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266964711401553618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gR22JgXzjGTugIEOYpS6l1kMNBHRtp_TQxoFZkmLjHV5s-0ckDKHdf3-wtCGM7KxcvFLG8bVFdFiob4m-0O5Mi-2pXKRMSkRrbt53po6QsniQRzlJ50TvS55TtSulZcPwVWFm-Lm7tgp/s320/IMG_3774.JPG" border="0" /></a> stairway to heaven (hampi)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJq4t-JC0oFrlVEzvRfIL12KvX4rmP8IeuPjuIQOMoW465TiB5eokVks-poyht-F_5yrxKOBu6ZcQdfMY3ujJQ9cpANFhqnRGFpVQP7qdwBql0-HIQ4waBKVfBRJ7oIEBlOfj6BufP_17O/s1600-h/IMG_3699.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266964699364413058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJq4t-JC0oFrlVEzvRfIL12KvX4rmP8IeuPjuIQOMoW465TiB5eokVks-poyht-F_5yrxKOBu6ZcQdfMY3ujJQ9cpANFhqnRGFpVQP7qdwBql0-HIQ4waBKVfBRJ7oIEBlOfj6BufP_17O/s320/IMG_3699.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />too bad this was chris' bike! (hampi)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfuizBhjp71FAd21O6H8EdUB4tzvK_ORqIx8Qov5NEwzRwHD01EcZ6hiY9sUg4Y64Ob31zwbnVweOgGIBSWEDx6ICZApmAQQsyPA_VfDBtyx82rACh73pXxCREetR6XKV6Ul382voWaB0/s1600-h/IMG_3670.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266964689141349570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfuizBhjp71FAd21O6H8EdUB4tzvK_ORqIx8Qov5NEwzRwHD01EcZ6hiY9sUg4Y64Ob31zwbnVweOgGIBSWEDx6ICZApmAQQsyPA_VfDBtyx82rACh73pXxCREetR6XKV6Ul382voWaB0/s320/IMG_3670.JPG" border="0" /></a> the puppy friend we made (we miss you sooner, ninnah and abbey, you too schnooze)<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfSkT8YR3PczaSQjNH03Hc0D1HpUla0VlR5ew4-D6ZXmHRi08158JKj8olKRq7UwaUbcwdAIXq6Ry-VVRv8ThFDKJFwrTJykHTo1Hi3Y1Y5HwbAbAc7m78xYpVIGfu8NbmBNLlbw1r2BJ/s1600-h/IMG_3647.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266964681770289634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfSkT8YR3PczaSQjNH03Hc0D1HpUla0VlR5ew4-D6ZXmHRi08158JKj8olKRq7UwaUbcwdAIXq6Ry-VVRv8ThFDKJFwrTJykHTo1Hi3Y1Y5HwbAbAc7m78xYpVIGfu8NbmBNLlbw1r2BJ/s320/IMG_3647.JPG" border="0" /></a> beautiful sunset over a temple</div><div> </div><div>more to come!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-66811942808523536612008-11-06T04:31:00.003-06:002008-11-06T04:58:30.551-06:00mysore: a blue state for sureso, along with our fellow american yogis, we decided we needed to have a symbolic vote of our own, on november 4th, then send over the good vibrations! looks like it worked! congratulations america and the universe!<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265492811459204114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeebdDe_B_J1LPvMCJdl2efyIPB8XRUDEEVnYvU6Wpj5FOSmt04sv5oElff8a15aYBumayoOq7SdscRLWTNSgxplNzeH1f-urZVoM8LAynKYZFshlGjonaH-Kr05HJ_9BLqp9vlqMNhzG/s320/IMG_4163.JPG" border="0" /> standing in line at the polls<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265492818107694706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rgxNiY5bUgNfv0WmLkFwFkJC38LfeBMhtshQF-Je8STG2o9kILGDlABYajjS0ljtmmz93DikQyemTbkmjGjePMOf2DpZ2QrnToOi-3qp8TaQ9iN2mcjK7r-9pGV-n8R-iUEcM3VjI3tK/s320/IMG_4172.JPG" border="0" /> a landslide victory! unanimous! </p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJpTlAgcgWBzgnmId90Js-ATaRSA1FFwYMUbjvXxO4YmYmVVWjqd1fq2nM8CtjBAb6fW7Bkj3rB8css6maU2YbyNcbaQw4L94VvFdM6u_exHisjrZ84hN9FsaU0a69LRV3IXWFrZOsnDp/s1600-h/IMG_4174.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265492830323075762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJpTlAgcgWBzgnmId90Js-ATaRSA1FFwYMUbjvXxO4YmYmVVWjqd1fq2nM8CtjBAb6fW7Bkj3rB8css6maU2YbyNcbaQw4L94VvFdM6u_exHisjrZ84hN9FsaU0a69LRV3IXWFrZOsnDp/s320/IMG_4174.JPG" border="0" /></a> watch party!!!<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDlqVH66hsHOTK3a7noSFmiYdqzjOOi3ryYZZMOmAcXZY8r9y-eB697Ib5RRTlQ0NdcaL9W_Nwj2B8eTRZMVurduAZkOkJ6AMcSukJHBJDTtjEZlzXnP2brzqZYvLgcPVB_kq3O4ZRmd6/s1600-h/IMG_4173.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265492825130556818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDlqVH66hsHOTK3a7noSFmiYdqzjOOi3ryYZZMOmAcXZY8r9y-eB697Ib5RRTlQ0NdcaL9W_Nwj2B8eTRZMVurduAZkOkJ6AMcSukJHBJDTtjEZlzXnP2brzqZYvLgcPVB_kq3O4ZRmd6/s320/IMG_4173.JPG" border="0" /></a>some fruit and fruitcakes for obama!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-7925193567555010642008-10-28T10:54:00.003-05:002008-10-28T23:16:13.528-05:00sivananda yoga vedanta dhanwanthari ashramso, i wanted to share a little bit about my time at the ashram...<br />it started off just feeling like a group of tourists, or like summer camp, but with some rituals that i had no idea about or what they meant. it took a while for me to be able to break away some of the layers and soften my heart and be open to God and spirituality fully again. i feel like all the craziness of india (even though it is supposed to be a spiritual place) had caused anxiety in me and made me harden. as my body opened up and felt the benefits of 4 hours of yoga asana and pranayama (breathing excercizes) and my mind settled down, i was able to turn to God more fully. i met a girl from seattle named Michelle and we talked a lot about intuition and energy in the body and spirit, which are both God-given and both things i want to learn more about. she and i were almost instantly comfortable and it felt like we had been friends for a long time, and will continue to be. i learned about and felt the energy and vibrations that different things can bring to your body and spirit, like food and music and chants. i not only learned about the chakras, but felt mine being stimulated and opened... a crazy energy radiating from my forehead. i knew it was God showing me more about the intuition he had given me to be able to follow him and love others better. as the time went on, everyone seemed to open up and become more comfortable with themselves and each other. we had 2 special pujas (ceremonies), one in a temple, where we chanted a lot and offered flowers and the other was a purification ceremony for the whole ashram and everyone in it. there was a special priest there who was cleansing the space there and all of us. we had a chance to make an offering to the fire of something in our lives that we wanted to give up to God and to be purified. the atmosphere of the room changed from somber to very light and free when it was all over. we all truely knew that we had been cleansed. i went from being very skeptical of the chants and rituals and feeling like "my religion" was too different to realizing that if you are worshiping God in your own heart, He knows and that is all that matters. some of the things we did, like the fire offering, were both symbolic, yet so real and powerful. I found that through chanting i can really open my heart and mind and become more intune with the Lord. i also realized how important it is to quiet your mind each day to be able to listen. i feel like i have woken up once again to life and to God. when we have so much blocking our heart and weighing it down, it truely is impossible to love and be open to others, yourself or God. There is so much i am ready to explore and learn about for my future, i feel like i have been recharged and am ready to push myself and be challenged and grow and love, and all the while depend on God and follow his guidance in my life.sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-57414675798287474902008-10-24T03:06:00.002-05:002008-10-24T03:10:13.072-05:00A good NYtimes Editorial on their pick for the election.<br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/opinion/24fri1.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink"><br />HERE</a><br /><br />We've been chanting and mediating for world peace the past week.<br /><br />Jaya Obama Jaya Obama<br />Om Namo Narayanayasus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-4320939831738302922008-10-17T03:17:00.002-05:002008-10-17T03:43:45.659-05:00the past few weeks (abridged and unillustrated)from Murud to Panaji...<br />Panaji= the cutest little indian Lisbon in the world, we walked around, saw some super cute old portuguese houses. saw an awesome hanuman temple, at seafood and got news from the peace corps that we aren't going to north africa or the middle east... but where? to be continued<br /><br />Panaji to Arambol<br />Arambol=a little beach town with nice laid back people and hippies. we rented a scooter and scooted around the area (very slowly) (i dont think we went about 30 km/hour) (and that felt like we were flying!) we hung out on the beach, played in the water and caught huge hermit crabs, but didnt kill them, only made them pinch eachothers shells!<br /><br />Arambol to Hampi...(another bus ride of hell) so we think we are on a "delux sleeper bus" and actually when the bus comes to pick us up it is very nice, way nicer than we were expecting, we have a nice spot, double size bed... then they stop, pretty much in the middle of the highway median, tell us all to get out to go to our other bus.. note, the bus is full of unhappy israelies... and they speak their mind, sooo... the other bus is where? where? "oh just cross that street(highway) and walk a few hundred meters" yeah.. into an alleyway behind the bus company and get on a horrificly old and nasty bus... but when we get our seats we think, not so bad, we arent in the very back, but lo and behold and hour or so passes and the bus guy wakes us up (from our benadryl induced sleep) to kick us to the back back row into broken seats that don't latch to lay flat or to sit up, so every bump you get catapolted! hello whip lash... anyway, we made it.... alive and only a little stiff<br /><br />Hampi=an amazing little town set among even more amazing ruins and boulders and rice paddies and banana plantations. oh it was wonderful. we walked and climbed and bouldered and explored and made friends with a dog (we miss you sooner and abbey and ninnah!) and rented bicycles and rode ourselves to death almost and crossed a river in a big upside down thatch saucer with like 10 people, 2 bicycles... and 2 motorcycles... thats right. and we found out that we are now going to sub-saharan africa and leaving in june<br /><br />Hampi to Bangalore<br />spent the day in Bangalore, went to a cricket game...for chris' early bday present. it was fun!<br /><br />Bangalore to Cochin<br />cochin was fun and cute, but chris got strep throat, so we rested a lot. its a very western feeling town on the water, lots of cool shops and restaurants<br /><br />now we are at Sivananda Ashram in southern Kerala. we wake up at 6 for meditation and chanting, then do yoga , then have a yummy brunch, then have a lecture, more yoga dinner and end the day with more meditation and chanting. its pretty cool so far, but its only been 2 days, but it is very nice to be back into doing yoga... we have to get ready for our month long course in mysore! chris is still sick, but got some meds, so should be feeling better soon.<br /><br />we love you guys, and we miss all of you very much.sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-91175109226164031982008-10-13T08:56:00.002-05:002008-10-13T09:31:49.207-05:00Murud:so after a few weeks in the big city, we decided we needed a bit of a beach holiday. we in one day took 2 taxis (one thru calcutta, one thru mumbai) 2 buses an airplane and a ferry! we made it to Murud (just south of mumbai) just in time for the sun to go down. we stayed at a cute little place on the beach with hammocks and palm trees. we used our time to relax and plan the second half of our trip.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghl7AoseUbn9iqPf_ef2dK8CN0bKZsZYF2TgVnfMALY_BWYe3H2j6u7-jD1UX72cz2vkVrs58G1SCrAXKpaolfNXyNfewADWvKKTdmoxw2K5pDgG6vF2r7I0dhxDxMqXQX0BHQvsVf5uDQ/s1600-h/IMG_3250.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256642566877784866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghl7AoseUbn9iqPf_ef2dK8CN0bKZsZYF2TgVnfMALY_BWYe3H2j6u7-jD1UX72cz2vkVrs58G1SCrAXKpaolfNXyNfewADWvKKTdmoxw2K5pDgG6vF2r7I0dhxDxMqXQX0BHQvsVf5uDQ/s320/IMG_3250.JPG" border="0" /></a> the beach was long and shallow, so when the tide went out you could find hermit crabs and clams!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMhlYj-_VQPOyPKslJaKCwLLBbRD4grq_mJ-GYcdJZ8WcTmP9InEfHxekANGIpMcfAFz5pu5XeJcGaYcemgr9jw9NFWeqTi-4sRQPhOjoM1So9C6irECx22NYiwJbRXl19kwy75JBxVnM/s1600-h/IMG_3254.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256642571438093890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMhlYj-_VQPOyPKslJaKCwLLBbRD4grq_mJ-GYcdJZ8WcTmP9InEfHxekANGIpMcfAFz5pu5XeJcGaYcemgr9jw9NFWeqTi-4sRQPhOjoM1So9C6irECx22NYiwJbRXl19kwy75JBxVnM/s320/IMG_3254.JPG" border="0" /></a> the infamous beach cows of murud! what a life!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTNZyttiJID1cqWs7IZQiPxUOWIBq0QCpeBkQ2eqMc0NKPE7x0VHELjWp3ePX-ETfabRV71kJCTsX1wlQpPoMtmIZZmwIBAh0LMkBgUEapJuO7RFUyNUuDZzaIz5VMW4KoWJoApY2qTEB/s1600-h/IMG_3270.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256642576511458930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTNZyttiJID1cqWs7IZQiPxUOWIBq0QCpeBkQ2eqMc0NKPE7x0VHELjWp3ePX-ETfabRV71kJCTsX1wlQpPoMtmIZZmwIBAh0LMkBgUEapJuO7RFUyNUuDZzaIz5VMW4KoWJoApY2qTEB/s320/IMG_3270.JPG" border="0" /></a> so we decided to go exploring ever these rock and around a little island, and got the great idea of trying to catch our dinner... i didn't really think i could do it, but i threw a rock at this poor little crab and killed it! he was too tiny and i felt so bad. i am sorry little guy, but i am sure he made a nice little snack for a puppy or something else!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_J-OoZBfpbx1eQg2brjKTorPQ_Ip2PrXSf6_VU6AzjQsGZ2ja4fMNCF2qS0Wn6-32_hOxYj5iX70ENXWQtiu_NhPtRmHFhHDo04HeCQuT0LYds3MwYqdprB_vQxrEQffXI3xlt3BsK1Y/s1600-h/IMG_3277.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256642574415197074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_J-OoZBfpbx1eQg2brjKTorPQ_Ip2PrXSf6_VU6AzjQsGZ2ja4fMNCF2qS0Wn6-32_hOxYj5iX70ENXWQtiu_NhPtRmHFhHDo04HeCQuT0LYds3MwYqdprB_vQxrEQffXI3xlt3BsK1Y/s320/IMG_3277.JPG" border="0" /></a> this is one of the main attractions in Murud... Janjira Fort, built on an island, so it looks like it emerges straight from the sea!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dxLzay196ufYLCLunVmbrwm-Opx7OPUgS27BgqTM5SNl3B571OgrdZjRPs2McwSHFpuDUxkisai-8A2pU2dGWz3uTkr7DUI5zoFnrRZjPaa2qvQw4lcJaWHsielT5YBaUB8EpgdOasSD/s1600-h/IMG_3316.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256642581774559074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dxLzay196ufYLCLunVmbrwm-Opx7OPUgS27BgqTM5SNl3B571OgrdZjRPs2McwSHFpuDUxkisai-8A2pU2dGWz3uTkr7DUI5zoFnrRZjPaa2qvQw4lcJaWHsielT5YBaUB8EpgdOasSD/s320/IMG_3316.JPG" border="0" /></a> walkin' on water!<br /><div></div>sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-1954034893887604062008-10-08T07:43:00.007-05:002008-10-08T11:29:33.647-05:00Kolkatta: City of Joy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNLv3G_IESpSPS-k5YAacoIzH0ROkxy8Lt9VzVKeisohnlAWCLS0fSJrR7VNpB0GuDwn0aXCfhYiCUYXYcFG_9hvKMTK3nRjLEVxDDxLXuE7B3YT8n3D3VY8ILh71GxUv60Tr3_GKIk4K/s1600-h/_MG_4111.JPG"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></a><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kolkatta</span> is called the 'City of Joy', what a misnomer, right? The streets are not just streets, they are beds too. a gray light seems to be everywhere stealing color from your sight, but walk around some more you might be thinking, 'hey this place has a nice vibe' see all the community activity in the neighborhood streets, "it's like new york city" you might say, "a dingy new york city" but if you keep walking more not joy things come into view. so many beggars, even for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">india</span>, some grab you, some women 'rent' babies from the villages to have on their shoulder as begging props, and those are just the ones that work the tourist circuit, the poverty is very difficult to wrap your head around. But there is an intangible that makes <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kolkatta</span>, they city of joy, maybe the weirdness of it's history, the weird combinations that make up it's culture, it seems unique to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">India</span> and very <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Indian</span> at the same time. there were times when i was knee deep in street water (from constant rain) dodging traffic getting drenched losing my hearing to massively loud car horns, being shouted at,grabbed, having to pee so bad but there is no place because every little piece of the streets and alleys is seems to be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">someone's</span> house and i was thinking this is city of headaches. but the next morning i might '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ve</span> had the best 6 rupee breakfast in the city, laughing with kids, seeing all the weird buildings and only in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">kolkatta</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">experiences</span> and i might think 'okay, okay, city of joy. for now"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">a little slice in pictures..<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNLv3G_IESpSPS-k5YAacoIzH0ROkxy8Lt9VzVKeisohnlAWCLS0fSJrR7VNpB0GuDwn0aXCfhYiCUYXYcFG_9hvKMTK3nRjLEVxDDxLXuE7B3YT8n3D3VY8ILh71GxUv60Tr3_GKIk4K/s1600-h/_MG_4111.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNLv3G_IESpSPS-k5YAacoIzH0ROkxy8Lt9VzVKeisohnlAWCLS0fSJrR7VNpB0GuDwn0aXCfhYiCUYXYcFG_9hvKMTK3nRjLEVxDDxLXuE7B3YT8n3D3VY8ILh71GxUv60Tr3_GKIk4K/s320/_MG_4111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254764709751921458" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3e9whXBdHKgc186tnjW2VCC7qB0Jyn3OhbIbGGQktlxQ8G_UH8Rbi2fl1KL0H5Q8w9o7s8B5GA0pxYKoyBTGUmdM4AiKKD2e7adNXu8GvbM3WIIrPSsJ7jMbqLii8GeIQs_8rNsIGVYwU/s1600-h/_MG_4525.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3e9whXBdHKgc186tnjW2VCC7qB0Jyn3OhbIbGGQktlxQ8G_UH8Rbi2fl1KL0H5Q8w9o7s8B5GA0pxYKoyBTGUmdM4AiKKD2e7adNXu8GvbM3WIIrPSsJ7jMbqLii8GeIQs_8rNsIGVYwU/s320/_MG_4525.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254764708307918306" border="0" /></a>traffic = crazy, and while we were there it rained a lot.. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">alot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">alot</span>. the most common sight on the street ...yellow taxi's. a million of them. i think the official figure is 2 taxis for every person living in the city. second most common sight, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">kolkattas</span> buses. also special to the city.. they look as if they are made out of coke can tin and have gotten a squeeze from a giant's hand, but are painted something fierce, they fly up and down and don't seem to stop for passengers only slow down some. Both of these <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">vehicle</span>s spray out the nasty black smoke that gives <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">kolkatta's</span> air it's metallic flavour.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGiXZOL0kZfz_jCMZG6B6sLAMMDepso03b5xNm5xXGMRNqgba-aeOUs30QMBoRhlBx4sw1SfZH8C-YGLrqIkmf-1FtF-WWL_UKrtrivwPH6SuglScCM8UXisrMOMeqAwcGzyC3UpTsJY_/s1600-h/IMG_3160.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGiXZOL0kZfz_jCMZG6B6sLAMMDepso03b5xNm5xXGMRNqgba-aeOUs30QMBoRhlBx4sw1SfZH8C-YGLrqIkmf-1FtF-WWL_UKrtrivwPH6SuglScCM8UXisrMOMeqAwcGzyC3UpTsJY_/s320/IMG_3160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254804828334396194" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">victoria</span> memorial is a weird sight, here is the queen's statue in front...nice place to walk around but strange... nearby is a flowery park area, called the maiden , also nice to walk, we saw some of our first Indian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">PDA</span> here. way to go, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">kolkatta</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZ6ig0TUcP6OjlC6hypM0qrAO-eZFi9HtCeJqhnSGuBWM3kFCMJaTCUs-Jq08kqdwUGKRRh3FCgxF4lAorVtjhGbwYO1bZs_YFfcIwhyphenhyphenX5dx9ccNKHOfD4Dx6SJpCXNDuJZrszPTVJFYU/s1600-h/IMG_3178.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZ6ig0TUcP6OjlC6hypM0qrAO-eZFi9HtCeJqhnSGuBWM3kFCMJaTCUs-Jq08kqdwUGKRRh3FCgxF4lAorVtjhGbwYO1bZs_YFfcIwhyphenhyphenX5dx9ccNKHOfD4Dx6SJpCXNDuJZrszPTVJFYU/s320/IMG_3178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254804833161336626" border="0" /></a><br />singing in the rain<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQAbuEK_l1TwaItMESPNbb_1hKknznJsGwVsISlmfA1Q0h5YYp-tqNbRi2sqV84rG0YrkerkJJga5z5gmZvLRxxjmofo2nzHcOuOM76qEYj56U8QZoNt7YkBAtGz5D3d5cRspiSAh7Qde/s1600-h/IMG_3213.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQAbuEK_l1TwaItMESPNbb_1hKknznJsGwVsISlmfA1Q0h5YYp-tqNbRi2sqV84rG0YrkerkJJga5z5gmZvLRxxjmofo2nzHcOuOM76qEYj56U8QZoNt7YkBAtGz5D3d5cRspiSAh7Qde/s320/IMG_3213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254804837840530018" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">sus</span> worked at the mother <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">theresa</span> founded <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">motherhouse</span>, here is a sister of charity during mass.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTG5E1nIlgq0FJxHokalR7y1z_BDLOWK-VC-TGzIJqI8rMjiDoIAi9E7wz34rye6YVIDsyx019DQrhpYdAhhHBs5fcrD7wIkIt12HAkCMZjntlvr3hlxKYZzvYiyLSywirkHZ8FfoQByyA/s1600-h/IMG_3216.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTG5E1nIlgq0FJxHokalR7y1z_BDLOWK-VC-TGzIJqI8rMjiDoIAi9E7wz34rye6YVIDsyx019DQrhpYdAhhHBs5fcrD7wIkIt12HAkCMZjntlvr3hlxKYZzvYiyLSywirkHZ8FfoQByyA/s320/IMG_3216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254804835756562162" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">sus</span> worked one on one with this boy, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">shubasheesh</span>, at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">daya</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">dan</span>, a home for mentally and physically handicapped kids.<br />it was a great <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">experience</span> for her to be able to spend some time there and be a part of mother <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">teresa's</span> work since she has been a big <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">influence</span> on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">sus's</span> life and worldview.sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-88272131403527551072008-09-26T09:09:00.002-05:002008-09-26T09:44:17.189-05:00varanasse: mother ganga<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTF_kwrUPl1GE-ZYc9LyPlcxsy49_M_p85BJjJpNbq9VeqV47dZzrx-YDrhzuulwOfF7wy-E-aM1UUKdvRyIXnzVETsw_47XMLJckMywD01PgkrHYQ_3m2vnovNG1Tm2p2lKMWw9BYrgCd/s1600-h/IMG_2930.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTF_kwrUPl1GE-ZYc9LyPlcxsy49_M_p85BJjJpNbq9VeqV47dZzrx-YDrhzuulwOfF7wy-E-aM1UUKdvRyIXnzVETsw_47XMLJckMywD01PgkrHYQ_3m2vnovNG1Tm2p2lKMWw9BYrgCd/s320/IMG_2930.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250337375618710018" border="0" /></a>sunrise over the sacred ganga river.<br />we took a sunrise boat ride our last day there, it was incredibly beautiful<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFr-x7i1m-99kNLeAEa35mTTIO3FSslSisIiXWPzZ8BEPS5ivFpK8jS_yibjPY8dBfkGy7x5IQAInbb3mjQNkP5OLzEoMyJyG9BgBtlEaFERdWJs3AENMnidVQxzlR_Ar4jPIMa4JJO9Dj/s1600-h/IMG_2974.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFr-x7i1m-99kNLeAEa35mTTIO3FSslSisIiXWPzZ8BEPS5ivFpK8jS_yibjPY8dBfkGy7x5IQAInbb3mjQNkP5OLzEoMyJyG9BgBtlEaFERdWJs3AENMnidVQxzlR_Ar4jPIMa4JJO9Dj/s320/IMG_2974.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250337389984578258" border="0" /></a>there was always a lot going on down by the ghats (the steps leading into the river) people come to varanassi from all over india to wash their sins away in the river and to cremate their loved ones. the pink building is the ma ganga temple, full of people constantly singing hari krishna hari rama.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCB0s1UNSYykBWEu_f4KcM3ZW11uW_P-I5Y1_cz2xM3uhDwd7wnA8QYoQTMvkLmQjFAFv6H7CRw2s0tJFvf8RGOt-95A3s1wTBawFCCGTaZVckbtsv3LTaV9OVB6DCn9s1zU94QIbiDAym/s1600-h/IMG_3008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCB0s1UNSYykBWEu_f4KcM3ZW11uW_P-I5Y1_cz2xM3uhDwd7wnA8QYoQTMvkLmQjFAFv6H7CRw2s0tJFvf8RGOt-95A3s1wTBawFCCGTaZVckbtsv3LTaV9OVB6DCn9s1zU94QIbiDAym/s320/IMG_3008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250337394464411714" border="0" /></a>this is our boat wallah, he was cool! the water may look beautiful, but it is septic, there are barely fish that can live in it, yet people bathe in it everyday, including using it to brush their teeth!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOct5JrdqhGIzWFt-eCKYxKr6eS8CTwiG7Ape-kSoxoaci7BKmUXG5IioAQySK2DojEhp3gfl4zTrH9EmUHU4A-vKhuET2HNcX_B6hpvlCr8EyzcU0F7qKesFyKCDBmP_4p3HAnu-ao0Ff/s1600-h/IMG_3012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOct5JrdqhGIzWFt-eCKYxKr6eS8CTwiG7Ape-kSoxoaci7BKmUXG5IioAQySK2DojEhp3gfl4zTrH9EmUHU4A-vKhuET2HNcX_B6hpvlCr8EyzcU0F7qKesFyKCDBmP_4p3HAnu-ao0Ff/s320/IMG_3012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250337393372091170" border="0" /></a>i just liked this pic, these are some dudes heading to do their pujas (prayers) in the river<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtp8huCZrvyNFsCPXbPIvP4Zjm2jTV-2dn8Np_5sve8rrIsDU7diyUgGfWRy_OHTDvO_uaUbrJILAVXQ787YhFcxApDgjuMl9MdqbNyZM421KrDKENTr5vd0xSlDxBLV9DnGhe6oC2-HZs/s1600-h/IMG_3023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtp8huCZrvyNFsCPXbPIvP4Zjm2jTV-2dn8Np_5sve8rrIsDU7diyUgGfWRy_OHTDvO_uaUbrJILAVXQ787YhFcxApDgjuMl9MdqbNyZM421KrDKENTr5vd0xSlDxBLV9DnGhe6oC2-HZs/s320/IMG_3023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250337398852894114" border="0" /></a><br />a saddhu (holy man) doing a ritual. didn't he pick the best spot to do it?sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-72077824775291582712008-09-25T01:00:00.002-05:002008-09-25T01:47:10.691-05:00Kajuraho: Kama Sutra Temples<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5vtpgg0nyukrXj58wjJxWMk0a9667s9TFLIEE7u5sa3Jcp95MCWzVv-6THOM-unqv8aS6RhuVtXTKbHiv5E0RRo0XmPkO1oHoioMY1l4WfeKyA_yIAS2ccpPKh-UkxvEFvHiML_yhM4J/s1600-h/IMG_2850.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249843880961148482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5vtpgg0nyukrXj58wjJxWMk0a9667s9TFLIEE7u5sa3Jcp95MCWzVv-6THOM-unqv8aS6RhuVtXTKbHiv5E0RRo0XmPkO1oHoioMY1l4WfeKyA_yIAS2ccpPKh-UkxvEFvHiML_yhM4J/s320/IMG_2850.JPG" border="0" /></a> here we are infront of one of the temples... trying to learn some things... j.k<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_8ucSxIc4QX7EADY6lAnQSqF67hC-KSCoB85SLCPLWpmrICPh9SoQNQnEnWfFn4dg8QDg4WcIOhRui-_ZNGZvDl41rMf2Gd_GyMEkWeM5nFN0KiU-16sWPalvaV0X5CRgtfc8onM7K81/s1600-h/IMG_2851.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249843885476706594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_8ucSxIc4QX7EADY6lAnQSqF67hC-KSCoB85SLCPLWpmrICPh9SoQNQnEnWfFn4dg8QDg4WcIOhRui-_ZNGZvDl41rMf2Gd_GyMEkWeM5nFN0KiU-16sWPalvaV0X5CRgtfc8onM7K81/s320/IMG_2851.JPG" border="0" /></a> one of the lesser dirty carvings! so legend has it that they built the temples here because there was a certain "power" in the land if you know what i mean!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4xqgEJbhhWaTiPZnp7ND6KP_4HqkefiRXDxRB8m_t9tQtojUNib3dSYmINVaq-yZU-zIAk-hW3QOKaCFls4L884GPv5Pz4xCmHYVuBgys_3q12lw5sk7LcNnzNsTS5iU0wuvdwoypLQ0/s1600-h/IMG_2856.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249843887630745650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4xqgEJbhhWaTiPZnp7ND6KP_4HqkefiRXDxRB8m_t9tQtojUNib3dSYmINVaq-yZU-zIAk-hW3QOKaCFls4L884GPv5Pz4xCmHYVuBgys_3q12lw5sk7LcNnzNsTS5iU0wuvdwoypLQ0/s320/IMG_2856.JPG" border="0" /></a> from across the park... it was actually a pretty quaint town, we rented bikes and rode around, spent some time chatting on the porch at our hotel, talking to other travellers and to the yogi!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY51GrihCzYcpRHKbtlbO6NqDJI84_sPChVQo126zBQMTfVT4VzlX1aVKFIlzpxM1YC5Falabn_DYaYL-YhB9_JbnFST3OGtoC9FL5PBb07Xbo8s0qiIcc56Z2oFRtRPAlZz4rEsDFBMrS/s1600-h/IMG_2869.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249843893988598274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY51GrihCzYcpRHKbtlbO6NqDJI84_sPChVQo126zBQMTfVT4VzlX1aVKFIlzpxM1YC5Falabn_DYaYL-YhB9_JbnFST3OGtoC9FL5PBb07Xbo8s0qiIcc56Z2oFRtRPAlZz4rEsDFBMrS/s320/IMG_2869.JPG" border="0" /></a> this is a freaky little chipmunk that chased me for a really long time, at first i was like oh cute i'll take a pic... then it would not leave me alone and i was afraid it had rabies or something!<br /><div></div>sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-62807069067710227342008-09-18T00:32:00.002-05:002008-09-18T00:51:18.915-05:00home sweet 'homafirst of all, i have been kind of homesick the past few days, the pollution in calcutta is getting to chris and me. so, feeling under-the-weather and hearing about the bombs in delhi just kind of made me miss being home. <br /><br />so, yesterday, i got to go to a volunteer meeting with the missionaries of charity, the mother teresa mission. not only did i set up times to volunteer while we are in calcutta, but also got to hang out with some babies, sweet cute and wonderful indian babies! this helped me snap out of being homesick! but anyway, here are some things i miss from home<br /><br />1. our wonderful family and friends!!!<br />2. cooking<br />3. having a place to live all the time!<br />4. salads!!!<br />5. clean clothes<br />6. being able to run errands easily and knowing what to do and where to go<br />7. chips and salsa<br />8. ninnah<br />9. sewing<br />10. good coffee/ soy lattes!<br /><br />things i love about india<br />1. the scenery<br />2. the colors<br />3. fresh pommagranite juice for 20 rupees!<br />4. cute kids!<br />5. good food almost anywhere you look<br />6. the fact that they dont try to hide the bad parts of life<br />7. learning to be tough<br />8. the phrase "sorry sir it is not possible" used about 1 million times a day here!<br />9. all the different varieties of the indian head tilt/waggle<br />10. the availability of cheap homoepathic medicine/doctors<br /><br />so, we are trying to rest up, so we can have stong immune systems against the pollution, b/c we want to stay in calcutta for atleast a week, but won't if we dont start feeling better. this city is really interesting though. really we feel like it is identical to NYC or Paris, and the main commercial street is the champ elysee or 5th avenue, but really we may have just been in india too long. but its amazing, there are street signs, side walks, stop lights, parks!!!<br /><br />we love you all very much!<br />too bad the rest of the world cant help us vote for president, b/c everyone we talk to is in love with obama as much as we are!!!sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013516243064611225.post-9415187230228003842008-09-17T04:24:00.002-05:002008-09-17T04:32:18.565-05:00bus wreck!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8LcEzL5IYzLtZHEW5vputW5rd_KQGxv5bPaQFat7OcP8mLcV9Jou39NUH3JFkds6plesT1TauEPHJGHtXUkDcn42x6gG4QNGO4joY7UsQO3K70OHNJp7qKCOZ7hSXuKG4M3bbp47nls1/s1600-h/IMG_2842.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246919681941825714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8LcEzL5IYzLtZHEW5vputW5rd_KQGxv5bPaQFat7OcP8mLcV9Jou39NUH3JFkds6plesT1TauEPHJGHtXUkDcn42x6gG4QNGO4joY7UsQO3K70OHNJp7qKCOZ7hSXuKG4M3bbp47nls1/s320/IMG_2842.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>so... after being told that our bus driver was "very fast" and when we asked "safe too" they said "oh yeah!" as in "yeah right!!!" we waited on the bus at the nasty bus station for about 4 hours, then headed out... about 30 minutes into the ride we hit a tractor pulling a trailor, and it took a huge chunck out of the bus, the driver got out yelled ot the other driver for a bit, then got back on and kept driving, totally unphased! that's india!</div>sus and chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823569363695126859noreply@blogger.com3