Hi, My Name is Joanna and I'm an Addict

I made chocolate covered strawberries again tonight. This time I used a slightly darker chocolate. It's not quite as smooth, but it's more firm when you bite into it. I also dipped some of them in chopped almonds. *Sigh* I know that chocolate-covered strawberries aren't, strictly speaking, good for you. But there's something about them that's like baking. There's something deliberate and patient and sumptuous about them.

I've been here two months now, and all I can think is: "Wow, it feels a lot longer than two months. " (c:

The drama classes I taught for the last two months finally had their performance on Saturday night. Afterwards they made me go up onstage and get my picture taken with all the classes and then with all the kids and their parents. I don't really have words for how awful it was. I did reflect that maybe it serves me right - it probably doubled the number of photos that exist of me. It's funny how much I just feel like a white performing monkey. Oh well, it's passed.

I cut my hair today. It came out okay. Miriam did a really good job of giving me a base to work with, so I've just been trimming it periodically, but the ends were really dry and driving me crazy, so Alex (one of the other teachers) cut off about three inches today and then I layered it. I think I'm going to use this time to grow out my bangs and see how I feel about it. Input is always welcome.

Goodnight, please remember how much I love all of you!

Early Morning Rain

I woke up early this morning and realized it was raining. I opened my window and laid in bed for two hours just listening to it. It was so beautiful. I almost got up and went out for a walk, but I didn't want to risk disappointment. I think maybe anybody who feels that way needs to live in the pacific northwest.

Today wound up being very humid. My hair went crazy and started doing all of its own things. (c: I went to Costco with one of the other teachers and a couple from the church I went to last week. It was really fun AND I came back with both cheese and tortillas. I think I'll make it through this.

Later a few of us went and checked out this park. I assumed it would be a traditional sort of park, but it turned out to be the amusement park previously mentioned. One thing I hadn't realized before was that there's a place there to go bungee jumping. *sigh* Maybe some of my dreams will come true. Because there was a slight drizzle today the park had been closed, but we took a walk around and up to the tower, we tried to get to the observation deck but it was closed, so we wound up having cocktails at this beautiful revolving restaurant one floor higher. I will definitely be doing this again - at night if possible. Then we just went to catch a movie.

And now I sit, eating fresh strawberries and thinking about the rain and Romans 13:8, "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." God keep you all.