something H2o

The "pool" at my house has a stagnant 2 feet of water in it, a little bit annoying since there are no other options near by for swimming. So, the water hose became my friend. My host family pitched a big fit about my hair being attacked by cold water and they insisted I would get sick. But I am willing to take my chances, in fact I think I am making a difference by being such a rebel.

pool boys

While we were having a going away party at my house for Igit, who left for Iraq, these boys were having the time of their lives in the pool. 1 or 2 feet of water is all they needed. It was much more fun to take their pictures than the teary eyes inside....

cherry picker

Taken from the inside of my bedroom while watching 'American Gangster' in the middle of the afternoon, realizing how lazy I am compared to Aida. She's a cherry picking fool and a cow milking professional.

One of the things I noticed here right away is how close the Armenian people feel to Americans and how Americans have no idea where or what Armenia is. My family's kitchen here is decorated with sugar and spice bins that resemble the American flag... I had a good laugh inside when I first saw them. When I told my grandmother I was going to Armenia, she asked me what country Armenia is in. True story. But it doesn't matter, they adore us anyways.

curious georges'

Just about everyday, I will get a gang of followers out in the street asking me... where are you going, what are you doing, when can you come play? Its difficult to bypass the curious georges'

eat, sleep, speak armenian?

This is the real deal farm life. Just like on TV! I am privelaged to eat cheese and drink milk straight from the cow because I have no other choice. Other than the whole village smelling like a stockyard, life in Arzakan is truly something else. You would have thought that Jesus Christ himself was walking down the road, the way people here look at us, especially in the small village. I am going to pay fifteen times more for posting these pictures, so I hope you enjoy!

a long way here

I've arrived. My group of volunteers and I are staying high up in the mountains in cabins for a few days before we begin living with families. The country is quite beautiful, mountaineous, green, lots of wildflowers. I have almost no time to write and use the internet, this is a quickie..... there are people waiting in line behind me and our transport leaves soon. We all just met the other 80 volunteers who were whooping excited to see all of us. All is good, I'm signing off but will write and post pictures sooner than later....

what!!??

....who's who of nerds

lines

I don't look up enough, usually never notice the design of things like crossing power lines. I accidentally manipulated this one by my incompetence using photoshop. Sometimes accidents are nice... you find something you never knew you liked before, a neat effect.

the road

I didn't take this photo, I take no credit for it. Photographer is Bruce Dale. I do however like it very much. Said to be taken somewhere near the border of Iran and Armenia.

babeh boy

I got to Houston late last night, slept on my brother's couch and woke up to the bright morning light and a tiny bundle of new life, Hunter, their week old son. Adorable.

mrs winti

i'll have you know that the quentin tarentino shades...... are back.

the moody reds

In the last year, I've seen Graham play plenty. He's got a way about him on stage.... born to be up there or something. I like these high contrast red hues... the lighting had an inspiring effect for picture taking

luisa maria guadalupe

She is not very loyal, but she is quite novel..... she told me she had come all the way from Mexico

my parents

run down shack

I know this picture might look cliche, I think it is a little too, but I waited for 45 minutes for the birds to cooperate for my picture. These birds swarm around the fields and ponds across the way from the nursery I work at. I know they feed on the crops. Probably pests, but after watching their flight choices and patterns I began to enjoy the simple picture I was after. I don't know why taking pictures is so satisfying, it just is though.