Home Sweet Home

My home no longer scares me. It is a good feeling. That is all I need to write.

Why my hands hurt. But worth the fresh salads.

Almost burgled . . .

This Morning

My house is glorious. I renovated against all better judgment. The money I saved for travel is virtually diminished now; however, I am content in my home in times of rain, sunshine, and boredom. I hope to take some video (maybe for the next post) of the large amount of work presently completed so that you all can see that, while in the bush, certain characteristics still shine through my rugged exterior. A nice visitor tried to force his way into my home to appreciate my newfound stylish interior. It was a bit scary, especially because there was no cell service. My only course of action was to buckle down the fort and fight back. With my slasher, I started screaming obscenities mixed with Ateso phrases about “scummy thieves.” To supplement my crazy vocal outburst, I started hitting the door from the inside. Whether because the thieves thought I was some crazy man or for another reason, they fled. Just another day in the life of a villager. School term ends at the end of the week, giving way to a full month of holiday. What is a man to do? I have in-service training for a week, and then I will take to the garden to continue farming. Now in my seventh month, I’m starting to forget what life was like pre-PC. What is a sink? Toilet? Light bulbs? Dating? A supermarket? Movies? Wireless Internet? So many things that seemed so easy prior now exist only in my dreams. As always, I love and miss you all. No matter how long or far away I am, I could never forget the people who made my existence pre-PC. Stay well and in touch.

Love,

Adamg.

A Bit in Advance . . .

Wishlist 2008: I know it is July, but I wanted to throw out some small suggestions for gifts to ensure my mental health around the holidays. After all, I’ll be without snow, family, and song. . . . and the mail takes fu©king forever.

1. Sierra Club Calendar 2009
2. Writing Journal or Novel
1. The Book of Negroes/ Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill
2. The Story of a Marriage by Andrew Sean Greer
3. The Tale of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling
3. Entertainment (movies, books, CDs all count) that doesn’t take thought
1. Suggestions: India.Arie, The Holiday, Prime, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Mean Girls, Ugly Betty, Grey’s Anatomy, etc.
4. Sharpie Pens with extra-fine tips
5. Brownie or misc. baking mixes (no explanation needed, my grumbling stomach speaks for itself)
6. Gardening gloves (to save my beaten, battered hands)
7. Colored Pencils or Markers (they don’t exist here)
8. Batteries (AAA)
9. Bert’s Bees Lip Balm & Bath Oil (makes bucket bathing almost worthhile)
10. Crest White Strips (yes, I can still have white teeth in Uganda)
11. American Apparel polos (think dark colors. I get down and dirty daily)
12. Money to stay a night at Soroti Hotel (very posh). The American value is about $40.
13. A call or card from you to make my lonely holiday go by faster. 
14. Measuring cups/ spoons
15. iPod earbuds
16. Scented candles

Just a thought or two: Anything is nice. I tried to think of things that can be shipped in larger envelopes rather than boxes. Also, next holiday season, I plan to make a visit home, so this is our only jolly time apart. Love and miss you all.