Midwifery Potluck...and all that vag...

We had our annual faculty hosted midwifery potluck this evening. Admittedly, miwives love potlucking - we'll do it for most any reason. Actually, we don't need a reason - seeing each other is reason enough.

But, today we did have a reason. Each year this potluck is for first years to pass on wisdom (in the form of study guides and black book pages) to the GEPN students. For 2nd years to honor the faculty. And, most importantly, for the 2nd years to perform an original pice or two.

So, we filled the tables with delicious food...

Ate our fill

And then - the good times rolled!!!












We're leavin' for integration.... (sentimental)

and

All.....That....VAAAAG!!! - this one is spunky!

Feathers and fishnets look great on midwives, don't you think?










"Traction on the cord, don't wanna involute
Don't need retained placenta, or to get a lawsuit
Gush of blood, I see a lengthening cord
Now you can head on up, to the post-partum ward
apgars are nine and nine, uterus is mid-line...

And all.... That....VAG!

And finally, we said goodbye to our wonderful Meredith (who is leaving us in December for a private pactice)...

It was a good night for all.

Bee Keeping

Until today, everything I knew about beekeeping was from the book "The Secret Life of Bees". I highly recommend it - great read. Haven't seen the movie yet, but I hear it's good as well.

At any rate, having learned from this book that when one raises or tends to bees, the most important factor to the bee keepers safety is to enter without fear and to "be one" with the bees. Same for interaction with any living thing, if you ask me. But, perhaps more difficult when standing in the middle of a potential swarm of small creatures with mighty stingers.

Here's the colony we were tending today:
A friend of Clo's (my roommate) has recently started taking bee keeping classes and has two bee boxes set up in her back yard


We stopped by her house after the fun run today and she asked us if we wanted to fee the bees. As I have always wanted to don a beekeepers suit and learn how it's done, I jumped at this chance. They allowed me to wear the full suit, since it was my first try and Clo put on the make-shift suit.

Boy, did I feel official!

look at me, I'm a beekeeper!

What a pair of beekeepers we are!

The first step when approaching a hive, is to use smoke to make the bees go inside. Seems like it would be more logical for them to come OUT with smoke, but apparently during forests fires, bees retreat INto their homes. Interesting.

I grabbed the smoke can ...

and gave a few puffs towards the bee box as Clo removed the lid:

Then we used a funnel to pour the sugar water into the side of the box where the bees feed.

Unfortunately, some of the little guys are not too intelligent and had drowned in their dinner. I lovingly scooped them out, while reminding the other bees (in a loving voice, of course) that they should beware not to suffer the same fate).


After we poured their home-made nectar, some of my new little friends lapped up small drops that had fallen on the wood. Aren't they cute?


It was a fun experience. Maybe in the spring I can help collect the honey!

Pumpkin Run

Today I let my roommate, Clo, talk me into joining her on a 5Km fun run. It was the 16th annual Haddam-Killingworth (Connecticut) Pumpkin Run. I admit that I was slightly grumpy at the thought of running 3.1 miles - particularly when I woke with a nagging head ache this morning. Last night I hoped yesterdays rain would continue into today solely to prevent me from running.

Boy was I wrong!

It was a perfect, cool (but not cold) fall day. The leaves were cheering us on...as was Clo. She ran with me, despite my slow pace and encouraged me all the way. I ran the whole way - never stopping to walk and ended up making pretty good time (34 minutes 17 seconds). It was delightful!

I think I'll do more 5Ks! What a great way to get exercise, stay in shape and be outdoors!

Here we are before the race started. I was not technically a participant, hence I have a shirt (gift from Clo) but no number.


And the finish line is in sight.....


HOORAY!!!! We made it. I'm feeling strong!
A perfect fall day for a perfectly fun run!

It's been a long time

It's now been just about a year since I posted anything on this blog. Spring semester was really intense for me and I was gone most of the summer. Doubtful anyone is even checking my blog anymore after such a long time, but just in case....

I'm going to start blogging again. I'm going to start with NOW and then slowly play catch-up for all the adventures I've missed.

a video tribute to my Do

Here is a beautiful picture video tribute to my Do that was played at the wake. It shows pictures through the course of her life.

Click here to watch it on youtube

Dorothy Thaller Schultz

I know I have yet again become lazy in my postings to this blog. It is as though I hardly have time to come up for air in my course of study. However, I must take this moment to share my love for a beautiful life that has recently passed away from us.

My grandmother, Dorothy Schultz:

Dorothy T. (Thaller) Schultz

(written by my mother, Mary Schultz)

DOROTHY T. (THALLER) SCHULTZ, 90, died on September 28, 2008 in a circle of care like many she had drawn around all the stages of her life.

After 10 years of progressive illness, Dorothy came to nursing home at St. Dominic Village for the last weeks of her life. It was just steps from the office where she had served as School Health Coordinator for the Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston (1975-1982) and just around the corner from the Dominican Sister's retirement/ rehabilitation center, initiated with nursing services and policies established by her (1972-1975).

Born the 13Th child of immigrant parents farmers from Alsace-Lorraine, Dorothy grew up as a farm girl, surrounded by family in central Illinois. She took up the profession of nursing in the footsteps of a beloved doctor who'd become her mentor after both parents died. After signing on as an Army Nurse in WWII, she met and married Colonel Charlie Schultz who brought her home to the rest of her life in Texas. Faith and family were Keystones to the life of Dorothy Schultz. Though the values were immovable, they could be demonstrated through gentle compassion, tough determination or playful camaraderie.

Husband Charles often referred to Dorothy as "an activist"- a term which may have described her constant energy in work and volunteer projects, usually for the Church; or maybe her progressive politics which was in contrast to his own; or perhaps to Dorothy's propensity to step in and take care of any family member or friend in need. Dorothy Schultz's creative contribution to children and Church began when her three young children were primary students at parochial school in San Antonio. Form 1956-1958 she established a kindergarten to support the mission of the Presentation Sisters. The kindergarten continues to this day. While living with the family in San Antonio, Dorothy also taught both full time and substitute in the parochial school; a work she continued at Mount Carmel grade school after the family moved to Houston in 1963. She was director of religious education at Mount Carmel (1966-1969) and Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral (1971-1974)

Dorothy is preceded in death by her husband Charles Schultz (d. 1994) and all of her sisters and brothers. But the gift of her life will live on with gratitude and love in the lives of her three children, Mary Emily Schultz, Charles T. Schultz and Carol J.S. Coulston with husband Robert; three grandchildren, Joseph Coulston, Andy Coulston with wife Sae, and Emily Lawson; as well as two great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2008 from 5- 7 p.m. with a prayer services at 6:30 p.m. at Forest Park East Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, October 3, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, 11011 Hall Rd., Houston, TX 77089. Interment will take place at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Columbus, TX. The family is requesting that you sign the guest registry on line at www. Houston Chronicle.com. In lieu of flowers donation can be made to Dominican Sisters of Houston, 6501 Almeda, and Houston, TX 77021.

To sign the guest book, click here.

Port Au Prince, Haiti

I started working on this post in March, but didn't get past uploading these pictures. So, this will have to do for now as I would like to try to catch up on my postings.


We had two weeks of spring break in March and knowing I wanted to go somewhere warm, I bypassed the ideas of typical beach destinations like Cancun and the Bahamas and opted for somewhere far more unstable. A good friend of mine has spent the last 8 months or so working on her PhD in Haiti. She is studying Haitian politics and the governments reaction/interaction with outside aid. Since she was there, I decided to spend a week of my spring break visiting her in the poorest country in the western hemisphere.


I have seen poverty all over the world. This place has some of the most tangible that I have ever experienced. Never have I known that people around me were actually eating dirt in attempt to survive. Never have I had to scoot past guards with semi-automatics in *every* store I entered. Never have I seen UN peacekeeping trucks around every corner with troops from countries around the world.

And yet, as usual, I felt welcomed and embraced by the people I met and got out of the city long enough to experience some of Haiti's natural beauty (namely some gorgeous beaches).
Before leaving I packed a huge duffel bag full of children's clothes (after a friend from church suggested it and organized the collecting of them) which I took to an orphanage. It was difficult for me to leave without one of those beautiful children

It was a great experience and I am glad to have had the opportunity to go. Fortunately, I returned before the unrest began again in April. Here are some pictures of my trip to give you a small glimpse of this island country.

Sunset in Port Au Prince

a woman coming home from the market

street market

view of the smoggy city

Port Au Prince at night

public transport

and from the back

you have to pay to have your garbage picked up, so there are lots of community made dumps like this one

many houses look like this because the taxes are less if the house is unfinished!

a view out of the gate

(I love this picture)

this one speaks for itself

superstars!

With my friend Sheree (who I was visiting)

visit to the fort in town

Some boys we met there

A night of Salsa in Haiti!!

trip to the beach - we're not as tough as we look!

one of these things is not like the others....

girls in the sunset

boys working on their future music careers

sunset with Sheree

saying goodbyes

Final stop at the orphanage - aren't they beautiful!

Quito, Ecuador

My final posting from Ecuador contains sights of Quito - the capital city built in a great Valley near the center of Ecuador.

From the top of TeleferiQo, you can see the whole city spread up and down the valley. Every inch seems to be covered.

the three cousins about to ascend to the highest point in the city to see the view

And what a view!

almost in the clouds

a view of the city at night (from a little lower - at a friend's house)

And, of course, no capital city of a country names Ecuador would be complete without the equator running through it.

Strangely enough, the large equator monument, built by the French several hundred years ago) is just slightly off - by about 500 yards. So, we had to visit the large monument (actually the "wrong" equator) and the smaller museum (built on the correct one - and proven by forces of nature)

Not really it....

the real thing!!!

one foot in each hemisphere .... so cool!

If you are ever in doubt as to whether or not you are standing on the real equator...here are a few tricks that will give you a definitive answer:

1. It is very difficult to balance on the equator. Our bodies are used to the pull of one pole, so if you try to close your eyes and walk with your arms out along the equator, the pull of both the North and South poles equally makes it very difficult!

"I think I can, I think I can"

2. When you are directly on the equator (without arms etc extended) there is only one force. Unlike the northern or southern hemispheres, where the primary pull is north or south, respectively, on the equator the pull is directly down. This is shown a couple of ways. First (not pictured here) the water going down a drain does not swirl at all, it goes straight down and out. This was proven on the equator by filling a sink with water, placing a leaf in int and pulling the plug. It swirled around in both the northern and southern hemisphere (only just a few feet from the equator) but directly on the line, the leaf moved directly down without any circular motion. Secondly, you can balance a raw egg on the head of a nail. This is true because the fluid inside is being pulled directly downward. It took some adjusting, but I did manage to balance this egg:

Look, mom! I did it myself!

Another interesting tid bit about Ecuador, that we learned at the equator museum, is that the shrunken head tradition is Ecuadorian. In case one might be inclined to try it at home, here are the directions:

Your end product should look something like this:

The last fun fact from this museum that I'll share with you is the role of the guinea pig in the Ecuadorian culture. In the past, people kept multiple guinea pigs in their homes. They say that they warn of evil spirits and negative energy. Apparently, if someone with ill intent enters the premises, the guinea pigs will start running about and squealing frantically. They had some on the tour and fortunately, our group had great energy because they just went about their business while we were in there (but the tour guide did say that he's had 3 groups that set them all a flurry)

Funny, I wouldn't have pegged these guys are "guard pets"

Stranger yet may be that though these animals are revered for their energy sensing powers, traditional Ecuadorian cuisine also includes roasted and fried guinea pig. Hmmm...??? Doesn't quite add up to me. But, I guess if your guard-guinea pig population is multiplying rapidly you have to do something about it. Martina and I had to try it out for ourselves:

you could see their little toes (see next to Martina's thumb)

but I ate it anyway. A little greasy, but not the worst thing I've ever eaten (believe me!)

The first part of my time in Quito was spent with my cousins. Martina had been living there and was just moving when we arrived. So, we helped her move and saw a couple of the neighborhoods in Quito.

the view from the roof patio of the first house

moving day: there was no room in the cab, so I squashed into the back

a view of a street seller from the back of the moving truck

With Asha and Martina we had some nice dinners out in Quito and took a trip to some natural hot springs in the mountains near Quito. It was truly magnificent - fueled by the volcano, the water was so hot and relaxing. The cold mountain air made the experience even more wonderful.

Dinner at Tapas y Vino

Emily and Asha in the hot springs with the mountains in the background

And of course, no trip to Quito would be complete without seeing some of the old town. The colonial center of town always has a buzz of activity surrounding these beautiful stone buildings and cobblestone pedestrian streets.

a plaza in old town

a view up one of the old town streets

the statue on the hill is the virgin of Quito

a cathedral in old town

inside the cathedral

the "gargoyles" are native animals (these are Galapagos turtles)

Yes, this is a modern cathedral!

another street in old town

After returning from the rain forest with the Herolds, we spent a couple of days together in Quito as well. One day we took a trip out to Otavalo market - a traditional market in the mountains a couple of hours from Quito.

at the market - I love the colors and patterns

Happy and I in our wares that we purchased at the market

lunch break after a full morning of shopping

On our drive to and from this market, we saw rows and rows of green houses. We learned that Ecuador is one of the biggest exporters of roses. We stopped at at "flower shop" where we purchased 4 dozen roses for about $3.00. Amazing!

aren't they beautiful?

On the Herold's last day in Ecuador, we all had lunch in old town. It was such a fantastic group of people that included the Herolds, me and Martina, Jorge (our guide from the rain forest) with his wife and daughter and Maria Clara (the daughter of the owner of another place they had stayed). Here's a fabulous group photo:

And because I had to leave in style, my last evening in Quito included one final shopping spree where I bought this amazing carnival mask. I'll let it speak for itself!

the Rainforest, the Amazon Rainforest

(So much for my vow of more regular writing. This one had so many pictures that it deterred me from spending the time it takes to upload them all..... but, here it is)

Each part of my trip in Ecuador was uniquely wonderful. However, the days I spent in the rainforest were especially fantastic both because of the unique look I had into the life and culture of the rainforest, but also because I spent this portion of my journey with some close friends from Atlanta. While we were together over Thanksgiving, it came out that we'd both booked tickets to Ecuador for almost the exact same dates. We were floored by this coincidence and immediately began to plan which portion of our journeys we could spend together. They were generous enough to take me along to this tourist oasis in the middle of the rainforest. What a great adventure!

After spending more than six hours getting to know the other guests on the trip and snacking in the VIP lounge at the Quito airport (due to weather delays) we took a short flight to Coca, Ecuador. From there, we boarded a motorized canoe and traveled for about two hours (sixty miles) down the Napo River,

walked for about half a mile on a boardwalk of bamboo slats, boarded paddle canoes for another 20 minute ride across Lake Garzacocha (Heron Lake). Here on Lake Garzacocha, we arrived at La Selva Jungle Lodge.

The lodge consisted of about 20 individual cabins connected by bamboo-slat raised walkways. Beware - bamboo can be quite slippery when wet! Each guest was provided with tall rubber boots to wear on our excursions into the Amazon Basin Rainforest that surrounded the lodge grounds. Our group of five also had two guides of our own. Jorge was a bilingual naturalist guide from Quito and he was accompanied by another guide (bilingual in Spanish and the native tribal language) who was indigenous of that part of the rainforest and could offer information about the jungle beyond even what Jorge knew.

Our first morning, we awoke with the generator around 6am and prepared ourselves for some jungle exploration. Our first stop was a huge Kapok tree.

Built around this tree was a huge tree house - probably eight stories high - that reached to the canopy of the rainforest. We spent several hours in the tree house bird watching and enjoying the sights and sounds of the rainforest.

In the tree house

After appreciating and learning about some of the rain forest creatures of the air, it was time to see what we could find on the ground. Jorge had a great eye and we were able to see, learn about and even hold some really neat little critters. Here are a few:

Tree Frog

You have to hold this little guy really tight or he'll get away!

some adorable mushrooms reach skyward

baby tarantulas are to be seen, but not held

these are my favorite type of ants

there were lines of them all over the forest floor

This little guy looks vicious, but actually is the only type of non-poisonous ant Jorge knew of in the jungle. His pinchers didn't even hurt!

Again, looking rather lethal, this millipede was ok to hold.

Centipedes are poisonous, but not millipedes.

(But don't hold millipedes too close to your eyes because they emit cyanide)

How do you know the difference you ask?

Millipedes had four legs per body section and centipedes have only two.

Unfortunately, you have to pick them up to figure this out.

Thank goodness we had Jorge!

And of course, no jungle tour is complete without some vine swinging. So, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you:

Jane of the Jungle

Starring: Emily

What fun! We all had a turn on the vine.

After lunch on our first day, it was time for a swim. We took out canoes, kayaks and had a nice swim in the lake around the lodge. When we were "swum out" it was fishing time.

There were not poles, but rather sticks with line. The bait: Red meat (hmmm... what are we fishing for???)

Janet caught a couple fish. (I did not.)

And it turned out, we were fishing for.....

piranhas!!!!!!

Yes, we had just swum in the exact place where we then went fishing for piranhas. Yikes! I'm glad I still have all my toes. I guess those Amazon movies exaggerate some!

However, it gets worse...

As many of you know, I am deathly afraid of snakes. As it turns out, this lake where our lodge was located an in which we'd just boated and swam is also the home of a.... 15 foot....

anaconda!!!!!!

Remind me why I went to the rainforest??? :) (Just kidding...sort of)

We canoed across the lake after learning that the resident 15-foot anaconda had been spotted that day. There is was- sunning itself on some sticks at the side of the lake. I guess we can officially say that we swam with piranhas and anacondas. Although, I must admit that I didn't really swim...boated and put my feet in...my intuition must have known this all along. After learning about the residents of the lake, I was glad that I made it back with all the members of the group that I'd started with! Yikes.

After these lethal creature spottings, I was happy to canoe to the other side of the lake and enjoy some peaceful monkey spotting for a while. Now, these guys are cute!

And the day ended with a delicious meal in the dining room. All the guests of the lodge eat at several long tables to share stories of their day. We'd made friends with several other guests and so had a great time over dinner. Jorge even joined us and added some excitement to the meal.

The next day, our adventures took us to visit the house of an indigenous family. We retraced our steps across the lake, the bamboo walkway and about 10 minutes down the river in the motorized canoe until we came to the house of one of the community leaders.
In the canoe with Jorge, Janet and Pat
the house we visited

traditional rainforest style (bamboo and palm leaf)

hand-made dug out canoe belonging to the family

We learned about some of the vegetation around us and both dietary and medicinal uses.

an unripened cocoa bean and cocoa bean pod

(opened with machete, don't try this at home....unless you live in the jungle and have been trained with the machete since age 4!)

Trying some of the manioc alcohol - the traditional drink

It is made by chewing up the manioc, then spitting it out, allowing the deposited saliva to ferment the manioc paste. Essentially, it tasted like liquid sour bread dough. Not my favorite.

And of course, no trip into the Rainforest would be complete without a lesson on blow gun hunting. First, we painted our face - hunting style.

Happy gets her face painted using the traditional fruit as paint.

This pod fruit is also used for dying clothes and beads. (But it washes off skin!)

Emily, Jorge and Janet - ready for the hunt!

Pat captures the blow gun lessons on video.

The smallest daughter of the family is intrigued and not at all shy to watch how it works.

She shoots!

She scores!

(Ok, this was my tenth try....but those blow guns are LONG and hard to aim!)

The family we visited was so hospitable and friendly. We had a great time and bought some of their hand-made jewelry before leaving. (You can see the necklace and earrings in the picture above)

Later that day, Jorge gave us a tour of the butterfly farm run by the lodge. It is a thriving business and they ship butterflies internationally. We were able to see and hold both the caterpillars and the actual butterflies. Apparently, it is a wives tale that if you touch butterfly wings they will fall apart. With gentle handling, no harm is done.

my favorite sticky-footed caterpillar on Jorge's finger

a beautiful butterfly

This part of the trip was truly spectacular. I hope to do it again sometime!