On! On!

Jinja Relay 2009

The annual Kampala-Jinja Relay took place this weekend.  17 teams composed of 9 members each met at Kiira Town Council at 7:00am to begin their journey of approximately 90 kilometers through sugar cane plantations, forests and across the Nile River to reach the town of Jinja.  This was my third year to participate in this event  (Remember this?).  I really love it.  I would say that it is probably one of the events I look forward to doing most each year, and it comes along at the right time of the year--at the end of the school year when stress levels are through the roof, and I need a positive outlet.  Fighting a few kilometers of steep hill in the blazing sun is a great way to cool down after dealing with a few of Satan's disciples. 

This year's run was great.  Our team, No Hope, went through a few changes--as it has a tendency to do--but change, in this case, is welcome.  The run is a great opportunity to get to know people on a more personal level.  Instead of hanging out for a couple of hours on a Monday evening, you get to spend an entire day with your team.  Plus, the heat, stress and (perhaps) booze tear down barriers that sometimes prevent you from seeing who a person truly is.  It is sometimes surprising what a person can/will reveal over a 90 km trek.  This year's run made me face my personal demon of driving in Uganda.  In the more than six years I've leaved here, I'd only driven a motor vehicle 3 times.  I'm not exactly sure why I've refused to drive.  I really don't like driving.  Period.  I'm a good drive; however, because of my perfectionist tendencies, driving makes me exceptionally anxious.  How does one drive perfectly?  What does that mean?  Anyway:  I'd only driven 3 times and they were very short distances.  Well, I drove most of the route to Jinja (when I wasn't running, of course).  True, we were on back roads, so it did not matter if I kept right or left, but the important thing is that I was behind the wheel of a motorized vehicle for an extended amount of time.  I even got to put it into 4-wheel-drive for a while as we went through a pretty muddy area.

The route we take is well off the main roads and the scenery is lovely; it really makes the difficulty of the task worth it.  We definitely provide a quite a bit of entertainment for the people who live along to path to Jinja.  I think this is the only day of the year that so many people pass through their communities at one time.  And we're a very diverse group, so I bet this is the only time in many of their lives that they've seen Europeans, North Americans or East Asians together with such a rowdy group of Ugandans.  I could be wrong about that, but judging from people's reactions as we trotted through their villages or took a break on the roadside, I don't think I am.  The weather was beautiful:  blue skies, few clouds and not a drop of rain.  The only negative thing about this is that it ended up being hot as hell with no relief from the weather.  A light shower would've been welcome around 1:00pm.

My team spent the night at Zamo Hotel in Jinja, a no frills hotel, but adequate.  On the way home, we stopped by the Rain Forest Lodge in Mabira Forest for a quick drink and a walk around.  I'd never been there.  It.  Was.  Beautiful.  I'm already making plans to go back and spend an entire day their with friends.  I'll spend a night there... when I marry rich.

Imagine the Most Beautiful Flower in the World...

Imagine the Most Beautiful Flower in the World...

This morning during my daily morning browse of the online newspapers and gossip blogs, I came across this:

I love the colors, and they do look like they are enjoying the occasion.  Putting politics aside (if that is even possible), I think this a great photo of Uganda's President Museveni and his wife, Janet.  As always, I'm not a fan of his hat... or hers, today, come to think of it.  The title that accompanied this story was Museveni Condemns Genital Cutting.  Important issue, yet not a feel-good read.  Follow the link if you'd like to know more.  

When I got to work this morning, where we get a physical copy of The New Vision, the above photo was blown up on the front page with the huge headline:  

Uganda Confirms Swine Flu Case

The title of the actual article that went along with the photo was printed to the side in a much smaller font so it really looked like the Musevenis were the confirmed case of swine flu.  Not true, but if the rumor begins to swirl, we can blame it on the New Vision.   

Swine flu was bound to reach Uganda; I guess we were just waiting for it to arrive.  How could it not?  Now, the New Vision story was very limited on details, but The Monitor wrote that the infected guy came from the UK, arrived in Entebbe, passed the health screening, went to Kampala--where he stayed with some friends instead of at a hotel--then got came down with the flu.  There is no telling how many people were possibly exposed to the virus.  Some people I met today were freaking out just a bit.  Should I be?  I don't know.  I just live with naive thought of:  It can't happen to me... Until it does, and then I deal with it.  

I Dream of Salmon

I Dream of Salmon

Happy Canada Day (albeit a bit belated).  I love my Canadian friends and at times confess to being a closeted Canadian.  Danger Bay on the Disney Channel is responsible for that.  As a child I used to dream of one day living in Vancouver.  At this point in my life, Toronto sounds more up my alley.  Canada has been on my mind a lot this week, not because of their recent national holiday, but because one of my tights just flew home and we've been communicating on a regular basis.  Her first facebook update after reaching home was:  

bbq, cedar salmon, bevies, family, high speed, love - what more could a girl want! ok one more thing....

Of course the one thing more a girl could want would be me... but that's a whole other blog post.  The part of this update that got my salivary glands working overtime was the bit about cedar salmon.  Actually, I've never eaten it (being from the South East and all), nor am I a huge fish fan, but I do enjoy salmon and anything grilled, especially using cedar.  Then there are photos like this I see on recipe and grilling websites:

YUM!

Good food is frequently on my mind... like some other delicious necessities of life.  Funny how I don't think much about breathing; that's one on life's necessities.  Then again, I guess I would think of it more if I did have to go long periods without good air (somehow like Spaceballs).  I guess in many ways, I'm just a typical male.

I've been invited to a welcome-to-Uganda dinner tonight for a group of grad-students from somewhere in the US.  I'm always excited to receive a dinner invitation, being the social butterfly that I have a tendency to be, but this group of people just flew in this afternoon.  I imagine they will all be super-exhausted; that's a few long flights strung together.  I've been there.  Ouch!  But we'll see.  Maybe they'll just be super-excited to be in Uganda... After 6 years, I still am.

Dinner.  Something Ugandan?

YUMMER!

Getting Things Done

Getting Things Done

I've been a man on a mission for the past several weeks.  I've literally worked my ass off, and I have the jeans falling off my ass to prove it.  When I was an AmeriCorps volunteer, about a hundred years ago, our motto was 'getting things done.'  And that is still what I strive to do.  Well, I'm done with what I had to do--the final big task I had to complete this school year.  I must admit that I was more successful than I imagined I would be.  Two weeks ago, I encountered this behemoth of a challenge, and I almost freaked out.  I was on the verge of an anxiety attach more than once this week.  I am so thankful to friends and colleagues who supported me and those who were wise enough to just get out of my way and let me get things done.

Speaking of AmeriCorps, my former project director and I just became friends on facebook, and I discovered a new project she is working on; she's still involved with AmeriCorps.  The project is called I Am AmeriCorps.  The following is a a description of what it is.

The idea for this project was sparked by the desire to recognize the millions of individuals who work to build and strengthen communities through AmeriCorps. This project was launched on Inauguration Day 2009 when AmeriCorps Alums, Inc. marched in the inaugural parade. The faces you see represent alumni, current members, community partners, the Corporation for National and Community Service (federal agency that sponsors AmeriCorps), and many other countless organizations doing amazing work. AmeriCorps is a dynamic vehicle for change in our country. Over half a million Americans have served thus far. My goal is to build the collection to at least a half a million photos to be a symbol of the power of service. Show your support and post a photo holding an "I AM AmeriCorps" sign.

Well, let me get my beauty rest, so I can get my sign ready for my photo.

The Experience

The Experience

Tonight I went to Rouge for the Maurice Kirya Experience.  The Maurice Kirya Experience takes place every last Tuesday of the month and has been taking place for over a year; however, this was the first time that I took to opportunity to attend.  What did I think?  Honestly?  Well, I love Maurice.  I've seen him perform in the past, and I've always left impressed.  Overall, I think the Experience is a great way to spend a Tuesday night.  Maurice describes his music as 'fusion soul', and I think that is a very appropriate description.  He sings in five languages and blends together various styles.  My favourite song is one he sings in Luganda.  I wish I knew more Luganda  so I could tell you more about the song.  Tonight, he performed a song in English that reminded me of Positive K's I've Got a Man.  It was a great song, and the way he delivered it, with so much theatrics, was fun.  

I was not so interested in the other acts.  There was this one guy with really bad hair, but he was very entertaining on the guitar.  But he went a bit too far with his whole pulling a keyboard down, banking a cacophony on it and then throwing it on the floor.  This guy, -ozi-something had a decent voice, but he just didn't do it for me.  I thought the live backing band was GREAT.  

It was nice to go to Rouge.  I ran into  several old friends--people I'd not seen in almost a year.  I've only been to Rouge a hand full of times, but tonight was a great night to be there.  The Maurice Kirya Experience is worth catching.   See you there in July!

Mauritian Wine

to

I've just arrived home from a 13-hour work day.  For crying out loud:  I'm a school teacher. Who does that?  Ok, some of you new, first-years might claim that feat, but I've been at this for a while.  Yuck!  Well, you might say that I signed up for it, that I volunteer to be on the board of governors.  Yes, it's true.  But I did not sign up for management meetings and board meetings on the same night.  

So how was my day?  Let me rate it on a scale from Mauritain wine to bacon.  Definitely Mauritian wine.

On a lighter, more positive note, I'm going through another Elle Woods phase.  Legally Blonde is my New Year's inspirational movie that I must watch on, well, New Year's Day.  It's kind of like blacked-eyed peas (not the music group, note:  no capital letters); they bring me luck and set the tone for the year.  But I sometimes need the perkiness and sticktoitiveness of our blonde heroine to inspire me and keep me (or put me back) on track.  This particular phase was triggered by the soundtrack to the now-closed Broadway musical version.  Right now, I need to be positive, keep it positive, and get whipped into shape.  Omigod you guys!  I don't want to be overly negative or slap her to the floor, but I do some days fantasize of running away to, perhaps, Ireland.  Ok, that's enough Legally Blonde association.  The soundtrack is good stuff. And I will not be defeated.  

I'm just plowing through Wednesday, then I'll be home free... I hope.  I plan to do a bit of coasting after that.  And, no, I'm not getting lazy.  Believe me, I've earned that privilege. Remember:  Mauritian wine.

All Day Sucker

It's Sunday evening, and I'm just relaxing at home after a not-so-eventful-yet-pleasant weekend.  I'm lying on my back on the sofa, laptop in lap listening to Stevie sing/play Songs in the Key of Life (which, by the way, was released the year I was born).  I'm trying to decide if I want to eat supper tonight or if I'll just call it an early night, grab a book and head to bed.

After spending most of yesterday in my bedroom brooding, I put myself to task and prepared dinner for five and invited over some friends.  Originally, it was to be a dinner for three, but the other two each brought along one more.  Stuffed pork steaks (the ones with blue cheese, bacon and apples) were my original plan, but that plan was slightly altered when I discovered one of the last-minute guests of a guest was Muslim.  But as fate would have it, I'd bought chicken breasts while at the supermarket, so stuffed chicken breasts (with blue cheese and apples, no bacon) were added to the menu.  I cooked my first carrot cake (success).  The supermarket did not have cream cheese, so I substituted plain yogurt to make the topping.  It was not as thick as I would've like (hence the name change from icing to topping), but it tasted great.  I had a fantastic evening with John, Leo and friends.  

Today started with a good 10 km run.  I hate to begin a run, but once I'm out on the road, I just can't get enough; I love those endorphins.  They make me happy, and happy people don't go around killing people.  I ended the run at the new Nakumatt shopping center.  Since I had a bit of cash in my pocket, I decided to take care of this week's 'taking care of me' activity.  I have a plan where I try to do one pampering (taking car of me) activity each week.  It might be a hair cut, a pedicure, a massage, etc., just something that is not absolutely crucial, but makes me feel good--lets me unwind and takes care of my mental health.  I'm the kind of person who holds a lot in and gets stressed over small things because I'm on an unattainable never-ending quest for perfection.  Today I was a bit short of cash, so I went for a manicure.  I decided to try the new Salon Ultra in the shopping center.  The place appeared to really need the business; it was empty.  Overall the manicure was good.  However, I prefer Sparkles at Garden City.  The guys at Sparkles really seem to know what they are doing there; however, I think they could pay more attention to detail when doing nail work.

(If you can't love yourself, how the hell are you gonna love someone else?)

By the way, As is playing right now.  I cannot hear this song and not think of Taye Diggs singing it to Eric McCormack on Will & Grace.

This afternoon was spent between going to some friends' farewell barbeque and episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  I finished season 1 and began season 2.  Buffy is one of those shows I can watch over and over again.  I'm getting into the season 8 graphic novels.  I've read the first one and the second one has been ordered from Amazon.com. I'm anxiously waiting its arrival.  

Well, maybe not dinner, but a bowl of cereal might be enough.

Hatcher out.

Memories and Michael

I've been in my bed all day.  Reading and reading and reading some more.  All about MJ.  Oh, and I've also been making my credit card company and iTunes very happy by downloading songs that are a part of the soundtrack of my life.  True, I already have a good collection of  Jackson's hits, but there are a few songs that I love that I let slip between the cracks, plus there are some favourites that were never 'hits' so they did end up on later compilations.  

"Thriller" is a 7-year-old buying his first album with his own money he'd save.  It beat out the "Flashdance" soundtrack.  "Beat It" is Dana's elementary-school talent show performance, sequined glove and all.  This is the year before she scandalized the PTA with her pre-pubescent performance of "Like a Virgin."  The "Bad" album is my brother Steven and Christmas 1987.  I cannot hear "Man in the Mirror and not think of Kristi K.' s 1988 birthday party when we all loaded up her mom's car and were driven around town to toilet paper some friends' yards.  "Smooth Criminal" is study hall in the 7th grade.  We tried to figure out how Michael and his dancers could lean over so far without nails through their shoes.   "We Are Here to Change the World" is my sister, Melissa, and I enjoying Epcot Center in 1994 before I went off to college.  It was the final family holiday before our family was irreparably severed.   "You Rock My World" is a frustrating and lonely volunteer experience in El Salvador.  "The Way You Make Me Feel" is me wishing that Britney would sing live.  "Speechless" is, well, BMac.  Peace Corps Uganda (2002-2004)!

With all his flaws, I loved MJ.  I didn't do my usual morning browse of the online newspapers yesterday morning before I went to school because I overslept.  I was stunned when I saw the notice written on the board in the staff room:  Michael Jackson has died... a genius.  I really thought it was some very unfunny joke.  I refused to go online at work yesterday.  I didn't want the news to be real.  Of course I didn't know him personally (but I did know one of the dancers from the "The Way You Make Me Feel" video who is now a foreign service officer) but it did seem like I lost someone important in my life.  I waited until I got home to deluge myself with internet news and speculation.  

Good or bad, like it or not, this man had a huge impact on the world.  At this moment, I choose to focus on the positive contributions.  He will be missed.

Michael Jackson:  The Death of Peter Pan

"My heart ... my mind ... are broken. I loved Michael with all my soul and I can't imagine life without him."

"I'm devastated he's gone."

(I think this is an amazing photo of Liza.  Her makeup is simple but fantastic.)

"He was just a really splendid man," she said. "And a brilliant performer who changed theatrical history. And I will miss him, I cannot tell you."

Liza also said:  "All of us who knew him well really know what he was like," she said. "And I'm sure that now the accolades are going, and I'm sure when the autopsy comes, all hell's going to break loose. So, thank God we're celebrating him now."

Thank you for the music.

My whole life is just one big song.