absolutwillie

Tag: friends

  • Snow and rainbows

    Today showed me how very differently one class could respond to a particular L.O. lesson than another. Where the Gr.X C-class nearly yawned the class into Oz, the A- and E-classes loved every detail! Where the first class was decidedly bored out of their skulls the moment they walked in the door – the other classes snapped out of it the moment I started the lesson. They enjoyed what I had prepared for them, and participated to such an extent that the lesson felt less like a class and more like a lively discussion among friends. It was amazing.

    Your preparation as well as the kids make all the difference. The classes who put something of themselves into the lesson, got something more in return. This mix of energy allowed me to pour my whole self into the moment and emerge with my learners, energized and ready to move on at the end of the period (which flew by in no time).

    I have yet to figure out why the first class differed so greatly from the other two, and what I could do to bring their spark out in the former group.

    …

    After school I went to buy my colleague a milkshake for his birthday (which he didn’t want celebrated elaborately). Three of us jumped in a car, drove in the icy rain to the mall, and celebrated with sweets while surrounded by snow capped mountains. From the pay-point, I took the following photograph:

    All was right with the world.

    I also made him this little video as a birthday present :0)

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V8DpEi_33Y?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata&w=320&h=266]

  • Saturday Fun-day tester

    An experiment in vlogging:
    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iImS2Rl443w]

  • Walking with my neighbors

    Living in a historic neighborhood is turning out to be the most fun I’ve had in ages! Joining the Museum Hill Neighborhood Association was just what the doctor ordered.

    Some of the neighbors got together this morning, for a walk around the neighborhood. After yesterday’s delicious decadence at the Gothic House, I definitely needed the exercise! So I got up, dressed up, and stepped up. And boy, am I glad I did!! We walked quite a bit more than I thought we would, but it was so much fun!! I got to meet new neighbors, chat with neighbors I already know, and learn quite a bit in the process.

    Here are some of the pictures I snapped along the way:

  • Blitzkrieg: a holiday in retrospect

    The Lunar New Year.
    9 days off.
    Death in the family.
    Major surgeries scheduled for 3 family members.

    Time to go home.

    • Friday: Classes end, clean up. Finally got an answer to my marriage proposal: No.
    • Saturday: Packed ex’s belongings, departed for Hong Kong, then Johannesburg.
    • Sunday: Had a lovely brunch with friends at OR Tambo, flew to George, visited Grandpa’s ashes, cried when I sat down in his house and realized he’s passed through the veil. Family time.
    • Monday: Jetlag, NGO meeting, processed orders of business cards. Time with my folks.
    • Tuesday: Family time, office time, groceries, made chocolate desert, supper club in Groot Brak.
    • Wednesday: Dept. of Home Affairs, meeting with our attorney, quick visit with my uncle, dinner at Transkaroo.
    • Thursday: Family time, checked in with friends in Mosselbaai.
    • Friday: Meeting with NGO affiliates, farewell hugs, dinner with Gran, pack for the return flight.
    • Saturday: George airport closed due to adverse weather conditions, special time with Dad, missed flight to Hong Kong, Special time with Jonathan in Johannesburg.
    • Sunday: Checked in early, missed a wedding in Kaohsiung, relaxed in The D Lounge at OR Tambo, boarding for Hong Kong in 40 minutes.

    Pulling myself towards myself.

    Taiwan, ready or not, here I come!

  • watch it. watch it again.

    and watch it in full screen,
    with the volume way up…
    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2mf8DtWWd8?fs=1]
    if you’re going to drive – don’t drink. AT ALL.
    and if you see your “tipsy” friend taking his/her keys and heading for the door – take their keys, get them home safely, worry about the vehicle when everyone’s sober. (an acquaintance of mine gave his buddy his bike’s keys back, who proceeded to smash into someone else.)
    THINK
    before you
    DRINK
    before you
    D(R)I(V)E

  • I've got a crush on you…

    Baby Isaiah :0)

  • True Colors: it gets better

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnYa9R4N-8c?version=3]
    turn up the volume
    and view this in full screen
    thank you to the Gay Men’s Chorus of LA!

  • gifts

    happy birthday to me :0)

    some videos friends sent me:

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmvjI-7v7y0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&w=320&h=265]



    can’t believe i still haven’t seen the movie!

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByUdhNhy9po&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&w=320&h=265]

  • prayer request

    i know this isn’t really what anyone wants to read so close to the festive season, but if you have the inclination, please spare a thought or two:
    for my old friend Leon, who has lost the battle against cancer and can now only wait…
    for Love to grow and heal where me and Peter so desperately need it, and
    for our friends and families that have their own journeying and healing to go through.

    and remember – live life fully and live life now.
    tomorrow… well, tomorrow is not a promise we can keep.

  • notes from beyond: 28 August – SA – am

    It’s 10:56am and we’re sitting in Cape Town International Airport waiting for our flight. no delays so far – but we’re early. that’s what happens when you arrive 2 hours early for your international flight and then realize the first flight on your itinerary is domestic… they should really do a bit more for domestic travelers. in a word the domestic terminal can be described as: meh.

    aside: i saw a super slick BMW on the way up Table Mountain – al shiny and black – license plate: MEH

    *i laughed*

    soooo… our SA adventure is coming to an end. at 12:20 we board for Jo’burg and then it’s off to Hong Kong! this time ’round we should be able to enjoy the Hong Kong experience a bit more – seeing s how we have a 9 hour stop-over before we fly to Kaohsiung.

    i had 8 hours in Zurich once: walked a lot and took some snaps of a chapel’s stained glasswork – by Chagal nogal.

    it still feels surreal when i think that we’ve been here for 15 days already. there’s never enough time when you’re having fun. but i prefer having had too little time rather than too much. it’s positively ghastly when you have too much time on holiday…

    we did manage to do a whole lot with our time, though.

    our first day was spent in Johannesburg, where we got to have fun with Karl at Gold Reef City (did the tour and everything). we also got to have dinner with Jonathan, his bo Jon as well as Clive and FJ! i was also blessed to have my dear friend Keri (from my days at Tukkies) join us for drinks. (non-alcoholic ones for me, of course.)

    busy first day: check!

    the following morning Karl whisked us back to the airport – next stop: George!

    some pics of Gold Reef City:

    heading into the mine

    the terrible twins (astrologically speaking)

    fanagalô

    Peter’s got the gold!

    now THAT’s a burger!!

    time for a break.

    more to come ;0)