Boots

Today as I walked to work I realized the sounds of my boots were echoing slightly through the neighborhood with each step.  Then I realized how funny it is that here in El Paso, casual Friday at work means we can break out our cowboy boots.  Mind you, we wear tennis shoes every other day of the week with our scrubs.  What can be more comfortable than that?  But wearing your jeans and boots just seems to give you a feeling of complete satisfaction that can't be accomplished when you feel as though you are wearing pajamas.  Don't get me wrong it is nice to not have to adhere to a strict dress code but sometimes you feel as though you never really got out of bed at all and it tends to make you a bit sleepy.

So speaking of boots I cam across a little email that holds so true and for any of you who have ever been to West Texas or are currently living here I would love your thoughts as I have found that I agree with these comments:

You know you are living in West Texas when:

1. You have used the phrase "Fixin to" during the last 12 months.

2.  You can properly pronounce Pecos, Amarillo, and Chaparral

3.  You can recall hot summers by the year they happened easier than you can remember your anniversary.

4.  You know why there is a town called "Notrees"

5.  You believe that more than 3 inches of rain a year is a "Rainy" Year

6.  You think that people who complain about the wind in their states are wimps.

7.  You know that the true value of a parking space is not determined by the distance to the door but by the availability of the shade.

8.  You have owned at least one belt buckle bigger than your fist but are afraid to wear it.

9.  You know that most bad traffic jams aren't caused by the accident themselves but by the rubbernecking and concern of the drivers not involved in the accident.

10.  You know that Odessa-Midland will never be.. it will always be Odessa and Midland.

11.  A Mercedes Benz is not a status symbol.  A Ford F150 Texas Edition is.

12.  You speak Tex-Mex as a second language

13.  You have had this conversation:
    
"You wanna coke?"  "Yeah."  "What kind?"  "Dr. Pepper."

14.  You own several pairs of cowboy boots but don't live on a ranch.

15.  You no longer associate bridges over rivers with water

16.  You know what a swamp cooler is.

17.  You discover in July it only takes two fingers to drive a car in order to avoid the heat

18.  Sunscreen is sold year round yet no one has weathered skin.

19.  "Y'all" can be singular

20.  You know that Chuck Norris is actually now a Real Texas Ranger

Home

Today was another beautiful day out in the ministry.  After service we stopped to try a fabulous restaurant.  We weren't able to try the dish recommended by our friend as it was only the lunch menu but what we were able to enjoy was fantastic.  Check out my mum's blog for more details on this as well as other neat spots here in El Paso.  www.floursandfleurs.wordpress.com

Right now I am sitting in Kinley's Coffee House before I head to the last class of this semester to interpret.  So interesting being surrounded by loads of El Pasoans and students and out of towners.  You can spot the out of towners right away.  I have been studying it for a while now as I remember the first time we stopped here when we first came down to check things out before moving.  I remember the stares as we must have looked funny wearing our short sleeve shirts in the middle of what I now consider chilly weather.  At night the temperatures really drop compared to the day as the lack of cloud cover allows for all of the heat to escape from the day.  Now I sit here in my cardigan and am tempted to put on my jacket as the draft is starting to be a bit much.  What a change!  I no longer notice the distinctions between Spanish and English as the chattering makes its way through the air.  I smile as I realize that I am living in a place that I truly truly appreciate for all of its beautiful qualities.  The mix of cultures, the people, the music, the dancing, the food.....did I mention the food?!!!  Though we never know what Jehovah may have in store for us in the future or where else we may have the beautiful privelege of living I am truly appreciative of the opportunity to be here in this moment, in this place, that I call home.

Things to Do Week of 12/06/2010

El Paso Events:

Railroad and Transportation Museum of El Paso

 — More than 150 years of El Paso railroad history are on display at Union Depot Transit Terminal, 400 W. San Antonio, at Durango.

Hours:

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

1 to 5 p.m. Sunday

 Admission is free.

 Information: 422-3420 or elpasorails.org.

Youngstown Events:

Fellows Riverside Gardens

D.D. and Velma Davis Education & Visitor Center

123 McKinley Avenue Youngstown, Ohio

Garden Cafe hours

Tues. - Sat., 11 am - 2 pm

Sunday, 11 am - 3 pm

Pittsburgh Events:

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Hours

Phipps is open daily from 9:30 am to 5 pm and until 10 pm on Friday.

 A tour of the Conservatory will take approximately 90 minutes so please plan to arrive in plenty of time to complete your visit before the closing times noted above.

http://phipps.conservatory.org/visit-phipps/

Admission

Members: Free

Adults: $12

Seniors (62 and older): $11

Students with a valid ID: $11

Children 2 to 18: $9

Children under 2: Free



Café Phipps, which is Green Restaurant Certified, offers fresh foods with a sustainable twist. The seasonal menus feature entrées, salads, pizza and panini, plus soups made in-house daily. Click the "View our Menu" tab, right, to take a look at the café's current menu offerings. For daily specials and café updates, click the icon to follow us on Twitter.

In our effort to be sustainable, we focus on local and organic foods and sustainably-produced wines. All cups and flatware are compostable; plus, all water is filtered on site and leftover food waste is composted.

Whether you've come to spend the day touring the Conservatory or are dropping in

for a meal or latte, Café Phipps is the perfect

place to stop and smell the flowers.

Free Wi-Fi available.

Summer/Fall Hours:

Mon.-Sun., coffee and grab and go, 10-11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m.; lunch, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Fri., coffee and grab and go, 10-11 a.m. and 7-9 p.m.; lunch/dinner, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

*Friday happy hour from 4-7 p.m. features discounted drinks and appetizers.

Current Displays:
HEADWATERS OF THE AMAZON

Featuring new plants and displays, Tropical Forest: Headwaters of the Amazon introduces you to the unique cultures and ecosystems of this diverse and exciting region. Beginning less than 100 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the first trickle of water that forms the massive 6,500 mile long river collects on Mount Nevado Mismi, in southern Peru.

The Andean mountain range boasts both the highest navigable lake and the deepest gorge in the world. Come explore the unparalleled variety of flora and fauna found in these ancient and complex ecosystems, collected and displayed with care in Phipps' 12,000 square foot Tropical Forest Conservatory, the most energy-efficient of its kind in the world.

FUTURE DISPLAYS

ORCHID AND TROPICAL BONSAI SHOW

Jan. 15-March 13, 2011

Rare and colorful orchids will be displayed in a number of rooms including a large and varied collection in the Orchid Room. Bonsai will be featured in rooms throughout the Conservatory.

Weekends

We had a lovely visit by a visiting speaker and his wife from Tucson this past weekend, they brought along with them a dear dear Deaf sister that we met when Tony had the privelege of giving a talk in their congregation about a month ago.  This is the sister who has a bible student who is vietnamese and she shared with us such wonderful ideas on how to visually show different Biblical truths when you are struggling between two sign languages.  We were so excited to see her fabulous energy filling our small group on the East side.

We've been meeting seperately on Saturdays with our East side group now for quite a while and are seeing the hard work our brothers are going through to make adjustments and make our transitions smooth.  It is such a joy to be a part of our congregation I thank Jehovah every day for our beautiful brotherhood.

This weekend was also the Cirque Du Soleil's first time visiting El Paso with a fabulous performance of "Alegria"!  What a show!  Although we have seen it before everytime it seems some acts get switched out and there is always something new that I missed before.  The music from that show literally swarms through the air and into your veins.  Your heart feels as though it has beat so fast that it has completely stopped!  If you have never had the chance and it comes to your area, go!  There is no such thing as a bad seat in the place as the stage is in the center of everyone.  Some of the shows even have clowns that are Deaf so it adds an extra little hidden joy when you know this and you see them signing "I love you" at the end of night.

Yesterday, I spent a beautiful day in service with my Mum, Da, and Shayne.  Unfortunately, we weren't able to get any of our return visits and studies at home, but Jehovah made sure to keep us upbeat with just the fact that we were able to spend time together.  Soon we are going to start attending Spanish Meetings for the Watchtower and Public talk in order to get a grasp on Theocratic terms as even those who know fluent Spanish struggle with this.  And with most of our Bible Students having Spanish-Speaking family it is important that we can thoroughly explain to them what it is we are teaching their Deaf family.  So we are nervous but with Jehovah's help all things are possible!

Lisa Hannigan

So today I woke up with the little bug my family has been passing around.  But it was really nice to spend some extra time at home.  Stefan showed me a lovely video on one of my favorite singers, Lisa Hannigan.  

So in rummaging through some others I found another video in which she is singing with another of Ireland's finest, Kathy Davey. 

 Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFIdaF7ciM8