I took Justin paintballing for his birthday. Hardcore fun.
Showing posts with label Justin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Justin. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
DC, Gettysburg, and Philly
Justin's sister, Andria, and her husband, Matt, and their baby, Amelia (aka Millie, Miller, Mills) came out to Baltimore to visit us for Thanksgiving. We took the opportunity to go see some amazing sights in Baltimore, Washington, DC, Gettysburg, and Philadelphia. (Well, I went to work the day they went to Philly.)
The long walk along the Reflecting Pool in the freezing cold wind up to the Lincoln Memorial:
The man himself:
The White House! There were a bunch of presidential-looking black SUVs out front, so we guessed Obama was inside. Did you know you have to request tickets from your representative at least 30 days in advance to see the inside of the White House? We didn't either. So we didn't see inside.
Lincoln at Gettysburg:
One of the many cannons and memorials throughout the 25 square mile battleground:
We got politely chewed out for letting the kids climb on this cannon, by the way.
Juma climbing on part of Philadelphia's Washington Monument
The long walk along the Reflecting Pool in the freezing cold wind up to the Lincoln Memorial:
The man himself:
The White House! There were a bunch of presidential-looking black SUVs out front, so we guessed Obama was inside. Did you know you have to request tickets from your representative at least 30 days in advance to see the inside of the White House? We didn't either. So we didn't see inside.
Lincoln at Gettysburg:
One of the many cannons and memorials throughout the 25 square mile battleground:
We got politely chewed out for letting the kids climb on this cannon, by the way.
Juma climbing on part of Philadelphia's Washington Monument
Thursday, November 18, 2010
all dressed up
Justin and I got a babysitter last weekend and went to my school's fall formal with a bunch of my classmates. We forgot to take our own pictures, but my friends snapped a few.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Happy Birthday to Justin!
Juma and I sure do love you and wish you a very happy birthday. Even if we do have to go to work and school today.
Friday, April 16, 2010
continuing
Well, I've been slacking on the blog! But since all my readers are also on facebook these days...But here's an update anyway.
We are still in Unguja (Zanzibar island) rather than Pemba. Justin went back for a couple days to get some our things, but we've been in something of a holding pattern waiting for my health to improve. For three weeks we stayed with our friends, then moved into our own place in Stone Town, the very place we stayed in 2004.
I'm feeling much better. I've actually started going to work instead of lying in bed reading books all day. I have more energy, more weight, more mental capacity, and more of a nice rosy glow to my cheeks, which were as pale as death before.
Justin has found research work to keep him busy at various departments and ministries. He also bought a Vespa, a moped. We both have licenses to drive it now, but I haven't dared yet. Justin also has started playing basketball at the court he used to play at in our first years here.
Juma started school at an international school here and made friends quickly, but school has been out for spring vacation these past two weeks. During the break, his best friends left town, so we've been having some family time. We went to a couple villages, stopped at a zoo, and have been enjoying the pleasures Zanzibar can bring us: beaches, ocean swims, actual Italian pizza and gelato.
Oh, and Juma lost another of his front teeth.
We are still in Unguja (Zanzibar island) rather than Pemba. Justin went back for a couple days to get some our things, but we've been in something of a holding pattern waiting for my health to improve. For three weeks we stayed with our friends, then moved into our own place in Stone Town, the very place we stayed in 2004.
I'm feeling much better. I've actually started going to work instead of lying in bed reading books all day. I have more energy, more weight, more mental capacity, and more of a nice rosy glow to my cheeks, which were as pale as death before.
Justin has found research work to keep him busy at various departments and ministries. He also bought a Vespa, a moped. We both have licenses to drive it now, but I haven't dared yet. Justin also has started playing basketball at the court he used to play at in our first years here.
Juma started school at an international school here and made friends quickly, but school has been out for spring vacation these past two weeks. During the break, his best friends left town, so we've been having some family time. We went to a couple villages, stopped at a zoo, and have been enjoying the pleasures Zanzibar can bring us: beaches, ocean swims, actual Italian pizza and gelato.
Oh, and Juma lost another of his front teeth.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
adventures in Zanzibar
We went from this in Connecticut
to the heat of Zanzibar in 2 days. It took Juma a week to remember he didn't have to put on a coat before going outside.
After being in Pemba a week or so, we took the ferry down to Zanzibar island (aka Unguja) to visit friends and get some work done on my project. (And to melt in the heat. No electricity, and this is the hot season.)
These images are from the port, as we waited for the ferry to arrive. It was two hours late. When it was finally time to board, we nearly got knocked over by the crowd eager to be first. Then Juma got terribly sea sick. Ugh. But we made it safe and sound, Juma vowing to never take a ferry ride again! (We took one five days later. He got sea sick again.)
to the heat of Zanzibar in 2 days. It took Juma a week to remember he didn't have to put on a coat before going outside.
After being in Pemba a week or so, we took the ferry down to Zanzibar island (aka Unguja) to visit friends and get some work done on my project. (And to melt in the heat. No electricity, and this is the hot season.)
These images are from the port, as we waited for the ferry to arrive. It was two hours late. When it was finally time to board, we nearly got knocked over by the crowd eager to be first. Then Juma got terribly sea sick. Ugh. But we made it safe and sound, Juma vowing to never take a ferry ride again! (We took one five days later. He got sea sick again.)
Friday, October 30, 2009
october
Since we only have the weekends together, we really take advantage of them. Last weekend, we went to an aquarium in eastern Connecticut. We'd been there before, so this wasn't our first time to pet sting rays
but it was our first sea lion show
Afterward, we drove right on past our house and up to West Rock, one of the highest points in Connecticut. To give you an idea of how high that is, we hiked it in about 20 minutes. Only to discover that most people drive up. Oh, how I miss real mountains.
Still, the view of the leaves changing in late October in Connecticut is spectacular.
I can't help but take pictures of the leaves every year. Can I? Nope, I can't.
And who wouldn't want to spend the day with these two?
but it was our first sea lion show
Afterward, we drove right on past our house and up to West Rock, one of the highest points in Connecticut. To give you an idea of how high that is, we hiked it in about 20 minutes. Only to discover that most people drive up. Oh, how I miss real mountains.
Still, the view of the leaves changing in late October in Connecticut is spectacular.
I can't help but take pictures of the leaves every year. Can I? Nope, I can't.
And who wouldn't want to spend the day with these two?
Sunday, October 04, 2009
a weekend in Baltimore
Justin and Juma made the drive down to see me this weekend. Walking around downtown, we happened on a big trucks expo, which Juma pretended not to like but loved.
We also went to the second-to-last game of the Oriole's baseball season. They've had a terrible season, but they won this time.
As I write, they are on their way back to Connecticut.
Juma said he's getting more used to saying goodbye, but it's still hard.
Yes. It is.
We also went to the second-to-last game of the Oriole's baseball season. They've had a terrible season, but they won this time.
As I write, they are on their way back to Connecticut.
Juma said he's getting more used to saying goodbye, but it's still hard.
Yes. It is.
Monday, September 14, 2009
kayaking the local stream
I'm avoiding reading the articles I have to before tomorrow morning and reminiscing about our most recent kayak trip, down the local stream in New Haven.
I spotted a wee turtle and we managed to catch him in our net:
We let it go again, of course, and followed him a little way down the stream:
I spotted a wee turtle and we managed to catch him in our net:
We let it go again, of course, and followed him a little way down the stream:
Sunday, September 06, 2009
more crabs. hey, it is baltimore
We've all started school now, Justin teaching and Juma in second grade in New Haven, and me in my PhD in Baltimore. Which means we're only together on the weekends. It sucks; we just said goodbye for the third time since Justin's been home from Africa.
Justin and Juma came down to Baltimore this weekend, and after a good kayaking excursion on the Chesapeake Bay, we stopped to take part in a Baltimore tradition: feasting on crabs.
Now, we'd all had crab legs before, but when the waitress came to our table with twelve crabs and just slid them right onto our table, we were...unprepared.
This was one local tradition we felt we had to try at least once.
And once might just be enough.
But then, we didn't like New Haven pizza when we first tried it, and now we think it's heavenly. Never say never.
Justin and Juma came down to Baltimore this weekend, and after a good kayaking excursion on the Chesapeake Bay, we stopped to take part in a Baltimore tradition: feasting on crabs.
Now, we'd all had crab legs before, but when the waitress came to our table with twelve crabs and just slid them right onto our table, we were...unprepared.
This was one local tradition we felt we had to try at least once.
And once might just be enough.
But then, we didn't like New Haven pizza when we first tried it, and now we think it's heavenly. Never say never.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
another week down, 4 days to go
Juma enjoyed his summer camp this week learning about sea coast ecology and preservation ("Did you know zooplankton create oxygen?").
But the week was marred by illness. Juma started out the week with a sore throat and fatigue, and I finished off the week with strep throat, fatigue, and grumpiness. I'm still recovering, but I actually had the energy tonight to actually cook dinner. Well, to boil some pasta.
In better news, Justin's coming home on Thursday! We couldn't be more excited about his return. It's been a long, tough summer without him, and now we can say we survived it. Well, just four more days.
Four days. We can do it.
But the week was marred by illness. Juma started out the week with a sore throat and fatigue, and I finished off the week with strep throat, fatigue, and grumpiness. I'm still recovering, but I actually had the energy tonight to actually cook dinner. Well, to boil some pasta.
In better news, Justin's coming home on Thursday! We couldn't be more excited about his return. It's been a long, tough summer without him, and now we can say we survived it. Well, just four more days.
Four days. We can do it.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
po box
Justin got a PO Box, so send him a letter!
PO Box 210
Chake Chake, Pemba
Zanzibar, Tanzania
He's also managed to send us some pictures of his adventures. Here's a sample.
He rigged up a "tripod" using basic tools, so he can take steadier pictures of documents in the archives. He photos things like court cases, newspapers, citizenship applications, and even a few "Top Secret" files. Shh, don't tell.
This is the fruit/vegetable marketplace during a rain storm. This is the "dry" season, so it rains every once in a while...like every day. The fruit in the foreground are oranges, partly peeled, which is how they are sold if they are to be eaten right away.
Every day, he eats lunch at "Obama Restaurant." This is a pretty typical meal of rice, sauce, fish (that's the head there on the right, behind the rice), greens, mango, and oranges.
Here is a typical bookstore; they shelves are usually under-filled like these ones.
PO Box 210
Chake Chake, Pemba
Zanzibar, Tanzania
He's also managed to send us some pictures of his adventures. Here's a sample.
He rigged up a "tripod" using basic tools, so he can take steadier pictures of documents in the archives. He photos things like court cases, newspapers, citizenship applications, and even a few "Top Secret" files. Shh, don't tell.
This is the fruit/vegetable marketplace during a rain storm. This is the "dry" season, so it rains every once in a while...like every day. The fruit in the foreground are oranges, partly peeled, which is how they are sold if they are to be eaten right away.
Every day, he eats lunch at "Obama Restaurant." This is a pretty typical meal of rice, sauce, fish (that's the head there on the right, behind the rice), greens, mango, and oranges.
Here is a typical bookstore; they shelves are usually under-filled like these ones.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
ankle
D'oh! Justin sprained his ankle playing basketball, poor thing. Yes, he was wearing his ankle braces (because of all the sprains he's experienced through the years).
Get well soon, Justin!
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