If you were a fly on the wall...

Conversations heard around our home:

DH: Baby, can you do me a favor?

Me: Sure but... you have to Justin Bieber me first

DH (giving me quizzical look): Huh?

Me: Yeah, before I do you the favor you have to do this: (holding hands together and moving them rhythmical in classic Bieber style) and then sing "and I was like baby, baby, baby, ohhh"

DH: That is not a Justin Bieber song, that is a Temptations song as in: baby, baby, where did our love go"

Me: This is a Justin Bieber song and that is what you have to do

DH: baby, baby, baby, ohhh (half-assing the movements)

Me: you forgot the "and I was like", that is the best part

Needless to say DH won't be asking me for favors any time soon ~ the cost is too high.

After any number of situations:

Me: say it

DH: you were right...

While on the couch:

Me: bug, bug, bug!!

DH (squishing it with my phone): there

Me (sarcastically): thanks for squishing it with my phone

DH: sorry, I realized after I squished it that I used your phone for it but look, no guts on it or anything 


Often:
Me: UUUGGGHHH!!!! You did it again
DH: what...?


On several occasions:
DH: good morning!
Me: hmpf!
DH: what??
Me: you upset me in my dream, I can't believe you did xyz!
DH: you know it was just a dream, right? I didn't really do anything...
Me: it still upset me
DH: sorry for whatever I did in your dream, I won't do it again, I promise
Me: okay, good morning

It's Spring LIMPIA time!

Can you believe March has arrived already?!?  How did this happen?!?  And in Denver we have been having weather in the 60s and 70s of all things and with this warm weather comes the inexplicable feeling that we need to clean, clean, clean.  And yes, I suffer from this malady as well.  The urge that I need to get stuff done, organized, throw out the clutter, dust and shine comes on strong and it doesn't feel right to just do this for my home... which is where the Spring Limpia comes in.


Have you heard of a Limpia before?  A Limpia or spiritual cleansing, is used to cleanse the body, mind and soul of negativity.  It is known to remove all sorts of bad juju or whatever you might call it. The Limpia is meant to bring you peace, rejuvenation, protection, clarity, and sometimes opportunity, your way.  It attracts prosperity and blessings, stimulates the third eye, balances the chakras, and more.


Ever had a Limpia?  I had my first the summer of 2009, done by a woman in Denver who trained with Tetzkatlipoka Kalpulli of Serpent and the Sun fame and does what she called Aztec Massage.  Have you ever heard the rumors that the Aztecs were a violent or ruthless people?  If the "massage" (more like being rung out like a rag) was an indication I would say the rumors are true.  The "massage" involved me being completely naked - typical you say for a massage?  This one didn't involve a sheet to include any idea of modesty.  Also, I was touched in places that should never be included in a massage, happy ending is what you're thinking?  No!  One example of this is she stuck her fingers in my belly button (any innie if you must know) repeatedly, to sever the negative ties I had to my mother, excuse me??  I cried real tears and I cried out during it (all part of the process I was told) and after 2 hours I ended up with bruising and soreness all over, just ask DH.  I left feeling exhausted, burned out and slightly insulted by what had transpired.  This my friends is NOT the Limpia I recommend!!! 


In November of 2009 right around my birthday I asked my friend Suzie Q if she could give me the contact information for the person she went to (because everyone knows the best Limpia people are those that are recommended through word of mouth).  This experience was a complete 180 from my first.  Not a completely 'traditional' one with things like raw eggs but more like a Reiki massage.  My 'therapist' whom I will call Healing Soul met with me prior to the experience and walked me through what she was going to do during the process.  I laid on the massage table fully clothed and with a warm blanket on me.  The room reminded me of a spa where I would go for a regular massage.  Healing Soul never placed her hands on me - not once!  She used a smudge stick and candles, we laughed together during the experience, she gave me notes an hour later so that I could keep working on things at home and I left feeling light hearted, happy, unburdened and... clean.  


It was such an awesome experience I recommended Healing Soul to several friends soon after who went to see her and even bought a certificate for one as birthday gift (I was told that was the "best gift ever"), I even sent DH - who willingly obliged.  Some friends see her on a regular basis and others like myself, once or twice a year when the need arises.  


So this year, when the itch/urge/compulsion to clean arises within, think about maybe doing some inner cleaning as well, I know I will. 

A 'traditional' looking Limpia

Who is your Professor Schang?

I just received the Ripon College "Note from your Class Agent" today which I think has become somewhat extinct.  In this era of social networking if I want to find out who is doing what I check my Facebook newsfeed and if someone isn't updating their status I can just send them a private message and "check-in".  But anyhoo - I'm getting off track.  This time the "note" included a testimonial from Susan S. Meier '79 on what her favorite professor meant to her and what Ripon College taught her and it gave me pause.  Right off the bat I knew that my "Professor Schang" was Professor Eddie Lowry.  


I had classes with Professor Lowry during my junior and senior years because as DH says I wanted to take Greek "for fun" (hey, I got a minor in Classical Studies out of it and a love for Gustav Klimt too! - it's a long story).  


Not only did I learn to appreciate the roots of the Greek language in English (I also grew a hatred for the buzzword "proactive") and Spanish but I came to appreciate Greek texts such as The Odyssey and The Iliad and discovered so much about ancient Greek and Roman culture (it was easy to get Professor Lowry sidetracked and onto interesting side stories including why ancient cultures liked to make cakes in the form of genitalia) that now I can barely watch Gladiator without judging it for its horrible inaccuracies and instead enjoy the HBO series Rome with appreciation.


Now, keep in mind that I originally chose to attend Ripon because my family didn't know a soul in Wisconsin that could "keep an eye on me", and coming from a place where we knew just about everyone the thought really appealed to me.  That plan bit me in the butt somewhat.  Looking back I had a hard time adapting to Ripon.  Although I grew up in a bicultural household I still grew up in Costa Rica and Ripon was a completely different world for me.  When I arrived at Ripon, I had only been in the country for a year (not counting summer vacations when I went back home).  By this point I still didn't completely grasp what it meant to be an 18 year old in the States - and with no family or friends nearby.  Add to that a roommate who was as empathetic as a cinder block and not an ounce culturally competent (thanks for telling me your dad hated the thought of you rooming with me for being Latina the first week of school) and you had a recipe for disaster.


I did have some pretty awesome floormates (Mel, Erika and Jenny), who were ever so kind and opened up their hearts and homes to me, helped me build a wardrobe that took into consideration Wisconsin weather, took me on countless trips to the mall, aided me with the preparation for my first real college date, first formal, first Lucky Charms diet (and many more firsts including missing an eye!) and tried to indoctrinate me into the Packer fan base.  To this day I hold their actions near and dear to my heart.  


Then I was lucky to find AXO and a group of sisters that didn't always understand me but definitely made me feel accepted and a little less lonely, I only wish now I would have been better able to build bonds with all of them.  


Overall, I learned a lot at Ripon.  I have a better understanding of what the newcomers that I now work with go through (especially their kids) and I can help them navigate those hurdles.  I am pretty good at developing partnerships and getting people who hated each other to work with one another and with me.  I have a constant desire to learn and indulge in it often.  I have a better sense of who I am and who I want to be.  My critical thinking skills are respectable and I like to work outside of the box.  I'm also able to dream big but make the small steps happen to achieve the bigger picture.  My rigidity at school allows me to be incredibly flexible now and my focus is even more honed than before.


I never expected to attend a school where I would have a professor call me after I had missed class to find out if I was alright (cough, cough - I'm sick today) or invite me over to their house for an ancient Roman feast or reassure me that it was okay to be myself, but that is what you got with Professor Lowry and that is what you got from Ripon ~ so, what did you get out of your school and who is your Professor Schang?