November 2019
PA, DE, Bangladesh
2- SA- PA- I was supposed to go to Jill Dougherty's bday party but I was only going to stay for an hour. And when I figured out that I would spend over 1 1/2 hours round trip to get tot he party, I canceled and asked if I could take her to lunch on a later date. She agreed so I just hung around the lounge. I ushered again at Uptown. There was a DooWoop band and they were dreadful. They played for almost 3 hours and listening to them was painful.
3- SU- PA- I spent the day listening to 438 Days: An Exordinary Tale of Survival by Jonathan Franklin. It's the story of a man who was lost at sea for all the time and had to caught fish with his bare hands and eat it raw. He also found 75 empty liter bottles in the ocean and used them to catch rain water. I had dinner with Sharon and her family and we had a fun time. She made a mushroom souffle that was delicious. Deirdre was there with her two roommates and we discussed politics and didn't rip each other apart.
4- M- PA/DE- I had lunch with Jill Dougherty to celebrate her 50th bday. And then I went off to have dinner with Jaye and Dom. This was an eating day. I spent the better part of the day listening to the book, Sklars and Stripes by the Sklars brothers. They are comedians and they aren't too funny. I didn't want to finish the book.
5- TU- PA- It's Election Day and I worked the polls for much of the afternoon. I am assigned to the least desirable, smallest polling area and I like this little place. The college students come here to vote as do the African Americans. I like the feel of the neighborhood. And it was a great day as we were flooded with wins. And the state of Virginia finally is all blue and is now in the position to pass the ERA. This was a big, fucking win.
6- W- PA- I went to the movies. I haven't been to the movies in two to three weeks. I went with Phylis to see Judy, the sad, sad story of Judy Garland. What a star and what a mess.
7- TH- PA- I meet with Anna Welsch, the 14 year old girl whom I am trying to get to join me in China in May, 2020. Anna is an entrepreneur. She makes purses and gives 155 of her profit to literacy programs in the Philadelphia school system. She and her mother seem interested in my proposal. I hope it works out for all of us. She would be a great asset to our Women's Symposium.
8- F- PA- It was a beautiful day but, damn, it was cold. I was freezing. I went off to the movies to see Harriet, the story of Harriet Tubman. What a courageous woman. I can run on the mouth but if threatened to be whipped, I would crumble. Afterwords, I went to the Tune Up Brewery in Spring City. This place remind me of an old, corner tap room. When I first went in, it was almost empty but then the locals came in for a beverage and the place was filling up by the time I left. On the way home, I stopped at the local Kmart. The store is going out of business and I stopped in to pick up junk. Then I came home and had to deal with an Internet person who is trying to get me a great flight to China in April. And I spent the whole damn day dodging phone calls from health insurance salespeople. I answered a questionnaire on social media last night. I must have gotten 30 calls today. They are so annoying.
9- SA- PA- Penn State lost their damn football game and I am mad at them. They didn't play well. I watched with Steve, Phylis and Jon. After the game, Jon gave me his old toaster oven which I took and will probably never use. Jaye and Dom met me with two of their friends to go to Lemoncello fro dinner. Then we all headed over to the Uptown Theatre to watch a Beach Boys colder band. I ushered. There is a particular blouse that I want to take to Bangladesh and I can't find the damn thing. Now I am losing my mind.
10- SU-PA- I had a full day schedule but when I woke up, it was cloudy and looked like rain. So i talked myself out of going to Centrialia for the day. I didn't want to go all that distance and drive home in the rain and the dark. So I went to the Pottstown United Brewery in Pottstown. What a sweet little town. I was listening to an audible book but I abandoned it. I just couldn't get in to the character and I didn't care that happened to her. I went looking for my damn blouse and I still cant find it. Where the hell did I put it? I leave fro Bangladesh in two weeks.
11- M- PA- another last day for me. I went to the theater to grab some posters to hang up in restaurants around town. But I was too lazy to put them up. Then I went to get a few more tings for my big trip. Then I came back to my apartment to get my mail. I ran in to Chuck and Beth and we chatted each other up for three hours. Chuck is determined to make me a whiskey drinker. So he shared some of his best whiskey which he assured me would not burn on the way down. But it did and maybe, just maybe, he will surrender on this quest of his. My blouse is still lost. I finished listening to 438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea by Jonathan Franklin. This guy was lost at sea and he encountered so many bags of trash that he found 70 empty, plastic liter bottles that he used to collect rain water. We are a distinguishing, wasteful species.
12- TU- PA- I met up with Kathy Flatley and we went to see The Irishman, a 3 1/2 hour movie about the Mafia. What an ugly, violent world. On another note, it snowed today and it was 32F. It wasn't a lot of snow but it was just enough to get me to complain to everyone who crossed my path. I complained to one stranger and he asked me, "does your complaining get you anything?" I told him, "Yes, it gets complete strangers to stop what they are doing to listen to me." I laughed and left him. Tonight is the eve of the public Trump Impeachment Inquiry. I hope the moment blows up in his face.
13- W- PA- It was cold today. There is no turning back now to any more Indian summer days. It's just going to be cold, cold, cold for another five long months. I ran errands today and was fairly unsuccessful. I went to the bank to buy Bangladesh currency but that isn't an option in this country. I will have to wait until I get there. I go my hair cut and she cut it too, too short. But it will grow back so this isn't the end of the world. My phone picked up a virus which is atypical for an iPhone. When I went to Sprint to get some IT help, it turned out that I was just being directed to a scam group who wanted all of my digital ID. I took my clothes to the dry cleaners even though I still have not found the one particular blouse I want to take with me next wee. I missed the apartment cocktail party because I ran out of time. I had to meet Tricia at 7 PM for a lecture on how to live to be 100. The place was packed and it seemed as if everyone was hoping to find the magic pill to reach this goal. Meanwhile, I wanted to find out what I had to do to back sure I don't live to be 80. And after we took a lifestyle quiz, it appears as if I am right on track to check out at 72.5 years. I scored points for (1) getting 7 1/2 hours of sleep each night, (2) not smoking cigarettes, (3) not having unprotected sex, and (4) having three friends who I can call at any time. I failed miserably on my diet, my lack of exercise, my body weight, my portion control, my lack of attendance at church, and my attitude. Oh well.
14- TH- PA- Sue Descano came over for lunch. She is struggling on getting out from underneath all of her responsibility with her old, frail mother. She is exhausted by all of this. Later, I meet Phylis for dinner at The Social. I had shrimp and grits and loved it. Then I came home and called George Trout. He just lost his brother and we chatted about it for a few minutes. I told him I would call when I got home and make arrangements for us to get Sissy Staeger to cook us a home cooked dinner.
15- F- PA- Jaye and Dom picked me up at the crack of dawn (10AM) to drive to Penn State. We had tickets to hear Bob Dylan perform at Eisenhower Auditorium. He was dreadful, dreadful, dreadful. He never said a word to us, not a "hello" or "thanks" or "id like to introduce my band" or good night". He sang 13 songs and then left the stage. I assumed we were going to have an intermission but then it became obvious that the show was over. People were cheering and calling for an encore. I wanted to leave it alone as I wanted to go home. Every song he sang was unrecognizable. The people beside me left after 20 minutes. Dom took a little snooze. OMG, it was dreadful.
16- SA- PA- We watched the PSU football game and fortunately, we won. I needed something positive after the dreadful night I had last night. After the game, we came home and I did little to nothing for the rest of the evening.
17- SU- PA/DE- Deb and Lisa came over and I drove us to Bombay Hook to see the yearly return of the snow geese. We were filled with excitement as the photos posted the day before on the Birding Delaware FB page showed thousands of birds. We didn't see any. Where were they? Damn, damn, damn. We went to the Blue Earl Brewing Company for lunch and a flight. This place was empty when we showed up and packed by the time we left. Mostly, the crowd was my age. There was a band of old musicians who played to an enthusiastic audience. Afterwords, we went back to Bombay Hook in hopes of a change in luck but the 100,000 birds still eluded us. I'll have to try again to see them when I return form Bangladesh. I did get to catch up with Mrs. Islam, a parent of a Springfield student. She will be in Bangladesh while I am there and we plan on getting together. Her niece has already been assigned to be at my fixer while I am there. Poor woman.
18- M- PA/DE/MD- I'm having great luck today. I was introduced to the Deputy Consulate of the Embassy of Bangladesh and he is going to expedite my damn visa tomorrow. I am so relieved. I was supposed to have lunch with Betty Ulrich at the Iron Hill Brewery in Newark but we changed it to dinner so that I could continue on down the road and head to DC after we met. I found a hotel in Laurel, MD, only 23 miles away from the embassy so I should have no troubles getting there by 10 AM.
19- TU- DC/MD/PA- what a great, great day. I got my damn visa for Bangladesh. I met with the Deputy Consulate in his office and he put in phone calls and people hopped and I left with a 90 day visa so my entry in to the country should be a breeze. I am so relieved. On the way home, I went to the Alecraft Brewery in Bel Air. I came home and spent hours getting my lesson plans ready for my trip. I got an email from a man in Bangladesh and apparently he is going to cook for me while I am in ULAB. He seems excited about the idea that I will eat anything he makes for me. I listened to From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doygherty. She is an undertaker who experiments with international burial cultures. She wants a sky burial when she dies. I think I want a natural burial where I am just buried in the woods and later dug up and used as compost soil. I wonder if my family will have a hard time with this idea?
20- W- PA- I took 3 melatonin last night and slept too late today. I watched the impeachment hearings and was thrilled to hear the EU Ambassador admit that it was s quid pro quo. But the republicans in the hearing, heard something very different from me. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT. I spent more time on my teaching lessons. Then Phylis called me to help her book a flight to Florida. Later I sat in the lounge and hung at the lounge and chatted up Jackie and Tony. We compared stories about India. I heard from one of my Bangladesh students and I have been invited to his family resort for two days next week. That should be fun.
21- TH- PA- It was our Friendsgiving Dinner Party at Chestnut Square and it was lots of fun. Maybe 40 people showed up and there was too much food. I ate like a pig and had two peppermint brownies and would have had a third if I could have been assured that I did not throw it up. I heard form my Springfield parent who is in Bangladesh now. We plan on getting together and has warned me to be "despairingly disappointed" in Bangladesh.
22- F- PA- It's raining and cold and blah. And that's my energy level. I spent the day getting ready for my trip. I have too much stuff to bring. On this trip, I am bringing food since I had such a hard tome finding food when I was in Nepal two years ago. I think I am being overly cautious and this effort is probably not necessary as I will be in the major city. I am also bringing 200 menstrual cups. They take up to half a side of my large suitcase. I am anxious to get started on my journey and I am nervous. It's a funny pull on my spirit.
23- SA- PA- Penn State lost today against Ohio State. I hate that school. Oh well. Jon, Steve , Phylis and I watched it in the lounge with John Ward who is an Ohio State person. He was polite but I still hate that school. In the evening, Tricia had a Going Away Dinner for me. Lauren, Bill, Sharon, Glenn, Jim and Joann came and we had fun. Mostly we sat in the family room and told stories about mom. The way we characterize her, it's a miracle we all turned out so well. She never minced words with her. You always knew where she stood on an issue.
24- SU- PA/Canada- It's snowing and that concerned me as I thought Steve would not feel comfortable in taking me to the airport. But he did and the first leg of my trip was OK. I am in Toronto now with a 6 hour layover and then I am off to Istanbul. I'll get in to Bangladesh on Tuesday in the early morning. I listened to James Baldwin's book, The Fire Next Time. What a mind. I don't go that deep in my thinking. I can run on the mouth on the surface to so many topics. But I don't have fine enough critical thinking skills to look at a situation in a more complex manner.
25- M- Istanbul, Turkey- I'm in the airport and its 4:30 PM already, my first moment of realization that I am almost finished with this day. I just got off the plane after a 9 hour flight. I have a three hour layover and then another 7 hour flight to Dhaka, Bangladesh. I will get in at 5 AM.
26- TU- Bangladesh- I made it after 37 hours of travel. I was so thankful to have my visa. What a difference it would have made if i had to spend 3 more hours in line. I got picked up and taken to my apartment and met Alanna. She went off to class and I went to bed. I slept for 12 hours. And then , when she got back, we stayed up late and talked. I am anxious to get started.
27- W- Bangladesh- Of course, I couldn't sleep at all last night. And to add to my problem, the phone rang all night from medicare insurance people in the USA. I have to remember to turn off my cell roaming when I am in bed. That was annoying. I went in to campus and met some of my new students. They seem enthusiastic about the program. One of the students, a male, wears tuxedo type suits to school every day.
28- TH- Bangladesh- It's Co-Curricular Festival today. and Thanksgiving Day as well (but not here). Classes are cancelled and all clubs are being represented to the students in a carnival atmosphere on campus. We had a movie made by the film club. There was traditional dancing and student theatre performances. The administration came out and gave speeches and then there was an afternoon of loud, techno music. Everyone had a great time. As I was wandering through the crowd, I came upon a group of students in line and laughing out loud. It turned out that these students had a life size photo poster of trump and they were throwing darts at him. They stopped as I approached and I sensed some apprehension on their part. I laughed and they handed my two darts and I took a shot at him and then I gave a quick speech that we will work harder to get it right the next time. In hindsight, I wish I hadn't thrown the darts. Instead, I wish I had acknowledged that I was ashamed of our administration and filled with regret for our country. Allanna and I had Thanksgiving Dinner in our apartment. She is gluten free so we had a seafood chowder over gluten free noodles, brie cheese and gluten free cookies. I had brought some vegan chicken for this moment but Allanna cant eat soy also so I will save this little treat for another time. I finished my audiobook, The Last Days of August, a story about a porn star who committed suicide. I don't live in her world.
29- F- Bangladesh- Allanna, a student and I went to Paman City, an ancient, abandoned city. Many of the building structure are still standing and they were magnificent. We walked around on this beautiful day and took too many photos as usual. We went to a museum which highlighted the tools and statues of this city. We found a Chinese restaurant for a late lunch and then came back to the apartment to the constant noise of the construction next door. These workers start at 7AM and finish up at 9 PM. But last night, they worked until almost 11PM. We had a phone conference with Jerrie and the woman who was going to follow me has cancelled due to the poor attendance here.
30- SA- Bangladesh- It's Allana's last day of teaching and I start tomorrow. I am a little nervous and I just want to get started and in to a rhythm of my day. I am meeting with Mrs. Islam this afternoon so that she can introduce me to some people I can lean on while I am here. I have been waiting since 1 PM for their arrival but traffic has them coming in around 3PM so now we are all going to be rushed as have to be picked up to go to campus at 4:30 PM.
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