Taking a break from keeping my brother's Pomeranian Princesses (yes, with a capital "P,"), we all went to Salem Methodist Church here in Havana because they had some kind of health fair. My mother was thinking she'd get her cholestral checked, but it wound up being so much more.
I tried to give blood, but found myself low again. I really got anemic in PC. Last night, I ate lentils AND red meat, then this morning have bacon biscuits (Mmmmm.....bacon!) and an iron tablet, but I was still a point low to donate.
Of course, it worked out better that way, because I totally forgot permanent eyeliner goes down as tattooing, and I've done that in the past 12 months, too.
Anyway, this little health fair had a ton of stuff, including a great massage, free pens galore and even lunch. We opted for lunch just after the shepherd's pie ran out, but I had potato soup, my father had chicken noodle soup and my mom had chili. They had at least two other things on the menu, plus sandwiches and tea. Everything had been made by the folks at church, I think. My father wound up sitting next to the person who'd made his soup
And somehow, just by timing my arrival when I did, I won a bag of groceries! It was really pretty funny. I'd thought the lady said something when I came in -- I signed in and commented I'd seen a "CC" by the line where I signed in and I thought she said something about groceries. So as we were leaving I mentioned the drawing for groceries and she said, "Oh, there's no drawing, you already won!"
They went and got this huge bag filled with stuff. I went through it when we got home. It's got potato bread, sugar-free syrup, some kind of strawberry cookie, three kinds of peas (two in bags and one in a can), peaches, yams, peanut butter, spaghetti, pickles (like a quart, seriously) and God knows what else.
So I felt we made out like bandits today.
On my two-month anniversary of being back in the States, I went to FAMU to man a PC table at an international study abroad event. It was fun, really, and time flew by. I was surprised at how many of the students had never heard of PC. I'm not sure if at that age I knew what it was, but I'd certainly heard the tagline "The toughest job you'll ever love."
Which is true. I still miss Morocco and most of the things that went with it. Noto all, but most.
In this event thing, I gave a presentation which was mostly straight off of what the PC recruiter sent me but a little of my own experience thrown in. I've learned that everyone's experience is VASTLY unique and when people ask "what's it like?" I am careful to explain that I am talking about what my experience was like and I knew people who had completely different experiences.
Still not a lot of progress in the job department, but I am keeping busy with the book. I'm also culling through boxes again in another effort to primarily downsize but also to generate a little cash. I'vecome to realize that, while I've never been a real big collector of worldly possessions and have lived well under my means at all time, I still have a lot of stuff.
So I'm trying to seriously take a look at the difference between wants and needs and just unload whatever. There's also the matter of stuff that will be needed at a later point but is really fairly easy to re-acquire at a low cost and might be better now technologically than two years ago.
(Aside: I'm still getting back into English. For some reason, that sentence was really difficult to formulate.)
Anyway, that means things like the toaster over or the microwave. They're not really too pricey in the realm of things and it's likely what I can buy now is cheaper to operate than my old stuff. Plus, if I wind up moving somewhere else I can rent a smaller truck to haul my crap and just buy similar stuff in the new city.
And no, I still have no idea where that new city might be. I've applied here in Tally, at places spotted through the U.S. especially D.C.) and a small smattering of international posts. But I still have no idea which direction I'll head. I'm certainly trying not to rush.
My week's highlight was dining with Dana and Tom (and meeting Tom) at Emeril's in Orlando. They were in the area for a little time off (as much as sports writers get; she did wind up working at least one day of spring training) and I went down Tuesday to meet them.
Zippy went along for the ride. She's kind of like Kocur in that, except she pays for gas. We got there in time to pick up the boys. I played softball with them until they ignored four warnings not to throw the bat and/or ball at each other, then I went to meet Dana.
Fortunately for me, I ran late and only wound up paying $3 to park, but I did feel bad about being late. Dana looks just the same but happier since she met Tom, who's fantastic.
We traded stories -- dog, kid, dreams, sports, sweet potato -- throughout some fantastic salmon and baconified side dishes -- then went to the NBA restaurant to watch Canada beat someone ... I forget who ... in whatever game we watched that night. I think it was Germany. Oh yeah, it was, because it led to a Uwe Krupp discussion.
Our waiter, a Flyers fan, was totally impressed we "knew" one of his favorite players (he's a Chris Pronger fan. We tipped him nicely anyway) and that random people who sat in his section on a slow night appreciated hockey. He was a nice kid.
Anyway, back on topic, which is that the photo here was shot by Tom after a wonderful meal at Emeril's and the NBACafe at CityWalk, which I never heard of until Tuesday.
I'd definitely like to go again -- Margaritaville is there -- and now I know to never go before 6.
Thank you again, Dana and Tom, for a wonderful evening.
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