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maradeekay
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Name: Maradee
Birthday: 1/27/1975
Gender: Female
Interests: reading, tennis, church history, LSU football, poker, modern art, decorating, Hong Kong, international students and foreign folks, maps & atlases, movies
Expertise: bargain shopping, proofreading, Jeopardy, Trivial Pursuit, making chocolate chip cookies, ironing
Occupation: Education/training
Industry: Education/Research
Message: message me
Member Since:
8/9/2005
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| Now that I've been back from vacation for over one month, it's probably time to post an update with some photos (in case you didn't see them elsewhere online). My friend Rob and I decided to go to Ecuador for a couple of weeks to do some sightseeing and also study Spanish with a tutor. We flew to Quito for a day, took an overnight bus to the jungle, stayed there and studied Spanish for 5 days, took another bus to another airport and flew via Quito to Cuenca, stayed there a few days, then flew back to Quito. It was great! Here's a little map of our route:
Famous statue of "La Virgen de Quito" up on a hill south of town and a beautiful Spanish-style church
 
Took a bus trip one hour north to visit the Equator--see orange line (this location is disputed by GPS, apparently!)
After the crazy nighttime bus ride through the mountains with some new-found friends, we met the staff of the jungle lodge and took a one-hour boat ride to Yarina Lodge.
This is the little cabana where we slept and bathed. There were about 20 of them, each with a hammock on the porch, a mosquito net over each twin bed, and a little bathroom. We had electricity a few hours a day and hot water at random times. :) It was nice and cosy. We actually didn't have any bugs or critters inside ours, but a few people discovered nice, hairy tarantulas and one lady had a bat.
The first full day there, we paddled canoes deeper into the jungle for a super-muddy hike. (The lodge provided tall rubber boots for everybody.) This is me, Holly, Diane, and Ted, also there to study Spanish. Turns out poor Ted had a hole in his boot and developed a slurpy, soaked sock. Lucky his foot didn't rot off!
Rob was frighteningly willing to play with the constrictor snake and the centipede, if you ask me. ("Don't worry," our guide said, "It's not poisonous, it's just a constrictor." Or something like that in Spanish.)
We had a couple of afternoon downpours during the week; otherwise it was much like Houston summer weather but at least 10 degrees cooler.
This is the main building where we ate, relaxed, and studied. It houses the kitchen, bar area, lots of tables, hammocks, and a bathroom. To the left down the hill, there's a monkey-feeding platform, which you can watch with binoculars from the lodge.
Loved the hammocks. We sometimes had to fight or be sneaky to snag one after a meal.
On another hike we climbed this big tree tower, three people at a time, and looked across the top of the whole jungle.
And then we climbed down.
I ate some of these ants, which taste just like lemon. (And no, I didn't get sick. Not on the whole trip, actually.)
Big iguana in tree
Rob and me with our Spanish teacher, Santiago. He was cool. Very dry, intellectual humor, from what I could tell in Spanish. He was very patient.
This is in Cuenca. It's a smaller, more "artsy" colonial city with even more great churches and plazas.
The river below divides colonial Old Town from suburban New Town. (Note: this is the last picture you'll see of this purse.)
View from New Town looking north to Old Town, I think. ??
We walked back down that hill and tried to find a church that Rob wanted to go to the next morning. Unfortunately, we didn't ever make it to a service that Sunday because we were busy trying to report my purse and stuff being stolen. Saturday night we ate at a "fancy" restaurant serving the Ecuadorian specialty of roasted guinea pig, and my bag was taken from the chair right next to me. Probably by a small child, since anyone bigger would've been completely obvious walking past us in the nearly empty private restaurant. Sucks that I lost my passport, wallet, camera, etc.
After we discovered the police headquarters was closed on Sundays, we took off for a couple of other little towns. Here are some guys in Chordeleg getting ready to toss up these "hot air balloon" things.
A typical covered market for locals' weekend shopping
Gualaceo had a pretty little river with families playing all alongside the banks. Ate some amazing fried plantains from a vendor there!
We had a great little hotel in Cuenca overlooking this church courtyard.
We had to leave there a day early to get back to Quito for a meeting at the U.S. embassy, but we managed to get it all done in time to ride up Volcano Pinchincha on the TeleferiQo tram 14,000 feet up! This is Quito with other volcanoes in the background.
The interior courtyard of the best little place we stayed, the last night in Ecuador. I want to go back there and stay a long time, even though it had community bathrooms. :)
That's the end of the virtual tour. No doubt I would have had some different pics on my own camera, but Rob let me use his after mine was highjacked. I highly recommend Ecuador, and maybe one day I'll have enough money saved to go back and do the Galapagos Islands as well. I'll probably forget most of my Spanish between now and then! :)
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| I am a travelin' fool! The first part of July I went on my usual pilgrimage through Louisiana to Arkansas and back again. This way I get to help celebrate both Dad's and Mom's birthdays. First I spent the night in Tioga, though, with Susie, Tim, John Winton, and new baby Walker. What a sweetie! He looks a little perturbed here, but it's an act.
About five minutes after I pulled up at my parents' house, we had a CRAZY hailstorm! Big as quarters, I tell you! Quarters! No damage to my car, luckily, and I didn't have to drive in it, even better. Thank you, Lord!
This is super random, but this is what Kim did to their refrigerator. Ever since they got this new one, she has sworn that the handles make it look like a face. She got bored at work one day and crafted up some movable, expressive features (the eyebrows slant according to mood. Whose, I don't know). Warned you it was random.
Dad grilled out for his birthday
Kim and Steve had us over for the 4th of July (Melissa will take advantage of any costume opportunity)
Afterward we went to an Arkansas Travelers baseball game at the new ballpark. Very nice...we sat in the "garden section" (a.k.a. on the grass) and I mostly watched the cute relief players from Amarillo or somewhere warm up their pitchers. Arkansas won. After that was the annual fireworks show from the River Bridge, which we could see from the park, but I have to say they were a little piddly. Recession fireworks, I think. Or maybe I'm just used to everything being bigger in Texas.
Mom got her birthday celebration at Chili's. Don't they look young!?
Happily, I got a travel partner on the way back from Alexandria to Houston. Jenny's 6-yr-old niece Mia hitched a ride with me to spend the weekend at our house. She is so cute, fun, and smart! This is her being coy, I think:
After all that road tripping, I decided a needed a new set of wheels. Check out my shiny new ride!
Isn't it fun? I can't wait to break it in on the streets/sidewalks of Clear Lake. I'm still a little wobbly (haven't really ridden a bike since 5th grade or so, but I tried Mom's out and enjoyed it) but the breeze in your face and relative speed make bike-riding more appealing than walking, most days on the Gulf Coast. I wanna get a little rack on the back or a basket so I can ride to the grocery or to Bible study or whatever. Don't laugh at me! Might get a little silver bell on the handlebar, too! ha!
This will be somewhat delayed, though, since I will be in South America for the rest of the month!! Exciting, isn't it? Leaving tomorrow for Miami and flying to Quito Saturday afternoon. The rest of the plans are still rather loose at this point, but there will be Spanish classes in the jungle (with options of piranha fishing, nocturnal hikes, and monkey-watching), long bus trips through the Andes, and sightseeing in the highlands (Quito and Cuenca, where there is a chance of snow next week!). Pray that I don't get yellow fever, snake bite, or altitude sickness! And that I come back speaking some decent Spanish and not hating my travel companion, Rob! ;) Seriously, though, we should be safe. Don't worry! (I can tell some of you already are.) Adios!
p.s. Happy Birthday again, Mandy! Fun times at your party yesterday!
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| Now that it's July, I should catch up on my June news! Have I mentioned how nice it is to be on vacation all summer? First of all, I got to spend some good quality time with the Peery girls while Brent and Karen took Garrett on a HS graduation trip. Brooke and Anna and I spent a few days hanging out in The Woodlands swimming, watching Audrey Hepburn movies, sleeping, shopping, and making smoothies. Does it get any better? (Don't tell Anna I'm posting this picture of her being silly in Target. :))
Then it was time to celebrate Jenny's birthday. She's as old as me now. We had a little birthday celebration at her favorite restaurant, BJs.
Another Texas road trip: San Antonio with some of my girls from my church small group. Here's Haylie and Amy. Amy's sister let us stay at her place for the weekend so we could tube on the Comal River (the Guadalupe was too low and hence closed!). Fun times...we suffered only minor injuries, slight sunburn, and loss of accessories.
Jess and me after some late-night movie-watching.
That Sunday, we attended Oak Hills Church, where Max Lucado preaches, but instead of Max, we got Donald Miller as the guest speaker (Blue Like Jazz, Through Painted Deserts, etc.) Very cool.
This was probably because Max Lucado was preparing to speak at the Renovare conference, also in San Antonio, which I attended with my pastor, his wife, and some other couples from our church. Renovare was founded by Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, and others with the purpose of promoting spiritual formation and discipleship in churches and individuals, using the traditional practices of the Church throughout the centuries. (www.renovare.org) There were some amazing sessions, sermons, and workshops led by Foster, Willard, Eugene Peterson, Emilie Griffin, Mindy Caliguire, Max Lucado, Chris Webb, and lots of others. (Quakers, Baptists, Presbyterians, Catholics, Episcopalians, non-denominational folks, etc.) Anyway, I could talk about it for a long time, but it was a very rich experience which I am still processing and pondering.
Here's the Riverwalk on a super-hot Sunday afternoon before the conference began:
Another cool thing about this trip was getting to stay with the Creeches at their family farm in Floresville outside S.A. There's Robert in the background while Alexis helps her dad (Landon) blow out bday candles on the cake she and her friend made for him while we were at the conference that day. The farm house has lots of space for guests with countless sofa beds and LaZBoy chairs (as well as at least one resident rat snake who thinks toilet bowls are relaxing places to sit and soak, but that's another story...).
Alexis and Tammy at a yummy Mexican place on the River 
Me and Melinda
Courtney and Clint (who have the cutest kids ever--used to watch them in church childcare last year. Precious!)
So June was high on the social and spiritual scales with lots of great traveling and bonding. I have since left TX for Louisiana and Arkansas and am about to go celebrate the 4th at Kim and Steve's house then see a Travelers' baseball game and fireworks on the Arkansas River. Happy 4th of July!
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| Sadly, we said goodbye to Britton last week. She moved off to a great job in South Carolina, so since I missed her farewell party, I had dinner with her and Diana F. You are loved, friend!
I missed her farewell party because I took a wonderful road trip to see some very best friends. First I stopped in Dallas to stay with Brooke. Ever hear of Yogurtland? You get anything you want and pay (reasonably) by the ounce, toppings included. Very yummy--though they had every flavor under the sun except chocolate!?!
Then I made the much-overdue trip to Abilene to see Laura and Emily, with a little Cole and Dan thrown in for good laughs. Here's us after Laura's linguini and clam sauce. More yum. She is truly queen of the domestic arts. :)
Who can resist thrift store fun with hats? Not me, and certainly not Emily. The three of us had such a fun day together, and I got good one-on-one time, too, which was also long-awaited! I love these girls so much. Hard to believe the two of them are now roommates! Who ever would have thunk it!?
And such a cute little "gingerbread" house Laura and Emily have in downtown Abilene! I sort of covet this life. I like smaller towns, smaller streets, smaller houses, more open space.
Since I was in the small-town mood, I drove home to Houston through the little state highways instead of interstates. Stopped in Dublin for original-recipe Dr. Pepper, had lunch in Hico for famous pie, appreciated the view from Clifton, hit the pilgrimage points in Waco, strolled the streets of downtown Calvert in late afternoon, and ate chicken in College Station. I loved every minute of it and was slightly sad to come back to Clear Lake. (I'll get over it soon, I suppose!) :) Photo highlights:
Brazos River in Waco
Fairy-tale-esque doors in Calvert
Since returning, I've done some housekeeping and doctors' visits and and wedding-dress shopping (I did find one for myself, though that wasn't why I went! ;)). Today Anne and I went to Trader's Village Flea Market and then IKEA; two more opposite places I cannot imagine! Then I finally got to enjoy Heather and David's gorgeous pool and hot tub with steak dinner and the fun neighbors. So maybe I can endure city life a little longer...it's not so bad since all my friends are so awesome!
Maybe more updates later on new eyeglasses and life with a twin bed. Not sure who's reading this blog anymore, anyway...you out there, Aunt Linda? :)
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| May has been very fun so far! May 9 was our graduation ceremony, and the school actually pays to rent official regalia for faculty who don't have their own. So for the very first time, I got to wear the REAL Baylor stuff that I would've worn had I been in the country to walk for my Master's degree. Maybe one day I'll buy my own. Don't have any pictures of me actually wearing it, but here it is. Best part of the whole thing is the "wings" that hang down from the sleeves. You can put keys and candy in there.
Immediately after graduation, Ranjana and I made a road trip to Alexandria for Kara Blanton-Westbrook's wedding at Tyrone Plantation. It was a perfect evening, and I loved seeing all my old friends. My camera stopped working, but I got this one of lovely Ruby, Sam, and his beautiful lady, Enky. We got to visit with Tim and Susie, lots of LC friends at Gina and Jim's house, and Tommy, who bought us ice cream. :)
The week after that, I finished up all my finals and paper-grading and have been totally enjoying myself ever since. Friday night, I had a really classy time eating crawfish at the dog track (Gulf Greyhound Park--world's largest/best/fastest etc.). On Fridays in the summer, they have 5 lbs. for $15. I really, really thought I could eat it all, but I must have left about 1 lb. It was so good. Lost my bet on the 9th race. Totally worthwhile evening, though!
I then got a surprise random visit from Mom, Dad and Melissa. They left LR Friday night and got to my house Saturday afternoon. The entertainment highlight was an AWESOME Motown revue at Miller Outdoor Theater. These singers, and many of the dancers, were seriously the best I had seen perform live. They did some Lionel, some Otis Redding, some Luther Vandross, Pointer Sisters, Temptations, etc. etc. Melissa was thoroughly into it, as was most of the huge crowd. Totally going back next year for the 16th annual show. These people should all be famous.
We did lots of other eating and relaxing, and I bought a new camera (which doesn't yet function with my computer/software), so I'll post more stuff later. Tomorrow I'm leaving for another trip, by myself this time. I get to see Brooke T. in Dallas and then spend a few days in Abilene with Emily and Laura and friends. I can't wait! Summer is wonderful.
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