winter is coming

when i find myself engaged in too many mediums of sci/fi fantasy consumption i tend to dwell long and often on the notion that if i don't find a portal into an alternate reality full of mythical and fantastic creatures soon i am going to consider hallucinogenic drugs. 

this is such a time. 

in the past month i have: read 1.5 novels in the song of ice and fire series, watched 1.1 seasons of buffy and 1 episode of angel, watched the lion, the witch and the wardrobe 3 times (we watched it with the kids in africa), seen star trek in the theater for the 3rd time and perused the web for fleur delacour costume ideas for the july 15th midnight premiere of the half blood prince.

like don't even talk to me about current social and/or political issues because unless it has to do with who will sit the iron throne or the responsibilities of the chosen one or unless it can be accessed by traveling through a piece of seemingly ordinary furniture I WILL HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO RELATE TO IT.  

joy comes with the morning

a year ago today i was sitting in the waiting room at emory university hospital. a phone call from the operating room had just informed my family that the first incision had been made on my dad's arterial valve replacement and thoracic aneurysm removal surgery.

a year ago today i cried more than i ever have in my whole life.

and today my mom and dad are eating together at ihop. my sister has finished watching season one of buffy with me. my brother is working with little kids as a camp counselor. i'm getting ready to drive to tuscaloosa to see my sweet boyfriend and wonderful friends. i am eager and excited.

because joy always wins.

lil dez

this is how i would act given the opportunity to meet lebron: 

sumama ka

ello little mzungus!

that's what the tanzanians call white people. it is literally the word "white". it's not offensive like "cracker" or "wangsta" because i asked our translator reuben. it's purely descriptive.

the title "sumama ka" is in reference to a children's song that translates into "stand up, sit down." and that's what you do the whole song. oh and also you "ruka, ruka, ruka" or "jump, jump, jump." who be needin' spongebob?

i cannot articulate what my trip to tanzania meant to me. i wish there was a concise way that i could summarize what that place and its people taught me. but i can't. so you'll just have to hang out with me. because it's something i have to vocalize. i have to be able to look you in the eye and gesticulate wildly with my hands - because that's the character of the experience that i had over there.

that and a whole lot of standing up and sitting down and jumping.

and also, anna, i feel the need to make this announcement via the blogosphere because i truly laughed until i thought i might pee when i found this out:

jamba means fart in swahili.

heh. fart juice.

for i long to see you

tomorrow i will take an 18 hour plane ride to dar es salaam, tanzania.  i cannot wait. i feel like the holy spirit is just shimmering in anticipation all around me. like i could reach out and run my fingers through it. 

there is the possibility that i will have access to email while i'm over there. the email address i'll be using is sarahtanzania@yahoo.com - leave your email address as a comment and i'll try to send a mass forward out :).

see you the 20th.