Sweet Nothings

Hi Mo,

Like waves sucked out to sea, the snow recedes from the field and yard. No crashing surf or crackle of sea foam decaying, only the birds declaring  their presence and post.

The road erupts in cycles of flowing mud and icy freeze, as day defers to night and night to day: its Rotten Island!

Charlie goes outside for longer prowls; spring training for the coming summer of carnage.

A plum tree girdled by hungry teeth, will in exchange for this mini-meal certainly die. 

The maple sap slips out the spouts as springtime ticks away. Here is the syrup of time distilled.

Oh, alright......, your car goes to Ernie's on Monday and we haven't looked into the fuse thing yet.

Just a short note to let you all know that I'm still alive.

It's been hard to use the internet because there's a huge group of 8th graders from Hanoi who are staying in our hotel and taking up all the time of the two computers in the lobby. And I'm cheap and don't want to go to an internet cafe.

Today we actually went to the lagoon. If I'm going to get sick, it will been now. We had to walk out to the boat through some really really really nasty water. Huge amounts of trash and god knows what else. Then we ate a lot of seafood for lunch... I'm just crossing my fingers that I have a strong immune system.

The lagoon was okay- it was a little hard because most of the tour was on a boat with a very load moter- and it gave me quite a headache, well, that and I was dehydrated. I also got quite a sunburn yesterday... which has been hurting a bit. I'm now trying to be extra good about sunscreen and long sleeves. And not to be completely negative, but it's gotten to that point in the trip when some of the people are grinding on my nerves a little bit.

Anyway, we're leaving for Hoi An in the morning, so I have to try and remember to get money exchanged. I meant to get more out of the bank, but I forgot, and I also didn't tell Banknorth (debit card) that I was going to be in Vietnam, so I think if I try and take out money they'll freeze my account. Oh well. It shouldn't be a problem.

What else...

I guess that's all for now, many more details to come later. I'm off to read and write and pack for Hoi An. It's been a long day.

Hope you're all well-
Love,
Morgan

I'm nearly ready to go!

Hi again,

I was hoping I'd hear from you again before I leave for NC but maybe you are traveling.  Andy may have a chance to post a little since he's soon to have a five day break!

We had a short message from Chloe's group to say that they've had an amazing time and that they will be leaving on Saturday to return to the states.  Little news and few details but it sure will be grand to have you both back home soon.

You will be surprised to see how much spring has advanced...and it has.  My garden is nearly entirely exposed.  The roads are still pretty bad.  Seems I had some gossipy news for you...must have seen someone but I can't remember who. OH.  Here's a small detail: NO NEED TO HOUSE SIT FOR MICHELLE AND NICHOLAS.  Michelle's mom was very ill and just got released from the hospital to Thompson House.  N and M are still planning to go to Switz. but the neighbor kid would like to "do" the animals and so she will.  We're off the hook.

Oh, here's the small gossipy stuff>  Performathon cannot be at the River Garden because Skyla never sent the signed contract with the check for the deposit way back in October!! So, it'll be at Centre Congo Church.  And, they've just switched Salute Night dinner from April 4th to  the end of May because they were so     behind in all their planning.   OH WELL.

Charley has missed you.  Come see him soon as you get home!  I'll plan to be here on Sunday  evening for dinner with the family!  Can't wait!

Love to you,

Mom

Hi from the Rice Farm Fam.

Andy worked yesterday and I was out, for some reason, most of the day.  Fran invited me over for dinner so I effectively was not home until 9 or later.  Charley must have been a little miffed so in his ever-so-not-very-sneaky way, he discovered a Ghiradelli white chocolate bar and had over a third of it while I was at Fran's.  That of course included a good bit of paper and aluminum foil, too. 

He looked pretty sleepy when I got home and very UN hungry so we both went to bed and he slept like a baby until nearly 8 a..m.

He seems to be none the worse for the wear today and I finally fed him, for the first time today, at about 4.

Today was another pretty nice day though not quite as warm as yesterday but guess what?  There are daffodil shoots (with buds!) up on the south side of your bank where they always get a healthy boost due to the hot air that blows on them from the phone company building across the street.  Signs of spring:  I heard a good sized flock of geese flying north while I was washing my car (another sign of spring).

I took your car to Ernie's today and he said that 2 of the three pieces of plastic I brought to him do NOT belong to your car...Chloe's maybe?  Anyway, he says he can use that long piece - in other words, he won't have to replace it - and he'll do it this coming Monday (0ne week from today).  I'll be in NC but Chloe can help dad get it there etc.

Chloe's car's going in for a check up this Wednesday.  We may not get around to the fuse problem in your car but we could schedule some time some morning when you have a therapy appointment or something.  I'll bet it will only take a minute for Fletcher's to figure out.

Still no word from Chloe's group since the first that they'd arrived in Kenya. And they're due home in less that one week, at this point!

Chloe said she and Lyra ate the street food in Bangkok to no ill effect.  Probably when everything' cooked it's OK.  Take pictures of the tiny tables and chairs!  Do you drink tea?  Is the food generally spicy and hot!

Charley's tea-potting and listening for mice:  He ate a Horace today, I think.  Hope it sat well with the the Ghiradellis!

Love,

Mom

More from Vietnam...

Yes, the tiny tables and chairs! They’re all over- and very cute. It seems like mostly the Vietnamese eat at the tiny tables and more touristy restaurants have normal sized chairs and tables. I’ve enjoyed both- although we’ll see if I get sick due to eating the street food. Things are fine so far… yesterdays adventures with food included fried corn pained with butter and MSG! It was quite tasty.

I seem to be adjusted to this time zone pretty well- last night was the first night I didn’t sleep very well, and I’m a little tired today. Luckily we’re not up to much, just working on our presentations and wandering the city. Other than that- I’ve been getting up pretty early and going to bed early- or, early for me…

I’ll look for spices for Andy- there’s definitely a lot of them! Huge bags all filled up at the market. Of course, that means bartering, and I’m not a huge fan of that… but I’ll get over it.

The hives went away after I took a Benadryl. It really wasn’t a problem, and I’m not sure what it was caused by.

I have had some fruit, although I haven’t hacked into much of it was my knife. We eat breakfast here at the hotel and there’s always a lot of fruit that they have all cut up. It’s really good- I wish I could bring some back. Funny story about my knife… I got stopped when I checked by bag in Hanoi (we had to get our luggage and then recheck it between Hanoi and Hue). They pulled me back into this room and started going through everything I had checked (well, the one bag) and finally the woman said “You have something that looks like a knife” and I said- “Oh, yes,” and pulled it out. After that she seemed to think everything was fine, had me sign some list and let me go. I’m still not sure what the big deal was.

Okay… I should go do something- like have more corn with MSG.

Yes, I have my car keys, and I’ll come to Rice Farm Rd. for dinner on Sunday or Monday since John is working until Tuesday.

Oh, John- if you read this- I have seen a few… I guess I’d call then bowler hats. I’ll send a link with a picture at some point. Let me know if you want one (it’s hard to pick out hats for other people!)

Nothing exciting going on around here - and that's good news!

Hey, Morgan

It' really nice to hear from you since we hear nothing at all from Chloe.  They said it would be difficult to send e-mails.  I hope all is going well and that she's tolerating the food.

Anyway, I do hope you're taking lots of pictures, too - I really appreciate your descriptions of the market though.  I can just see everything.  and the little tiny tables and chairs?  they sound like what Chloe had described in Bangkok.  Must be  a southeast Asia "thing."

Please say hi to Leslie for Chloe and me though I doubt she remembers me...oh!  and from Karla.  I told her that you and she were on the same trip but that was before I knew you were roommates!  Anyway.... whose schedule are you living on?  Is it hard to get up in the a.m.? easier? sleep in general?  Sounds like you're being adverturous (? sorry) enough with regard to food.  OH!  Why not bring dad a bunch of spices? And we don't even need to know exactly what they are if we could just have an idea if they are, say, hot, curry-like, or some ingredients of curry (that would be great.).  Yeah, look for curry either entirely made up or components of curry.   

What ever happened with the hives?

We're having very nice, sunny weather and it IS getting a bit warmer day by day. The little rivulets on the sides of the roads are burbling and charging along with minds of their own.  And they are fresh and clean which means, to me, that they are snow melt and/or holding some spring water, too.  We haven't had rain in awhile which is a good thing.  The roads are still heaving but in a more "controlled" manner.  The worst of the mud that was, is past.  I think there's a good bit more to come, however.

They still haven't opened the road by the pond but, when you drive about, you discover that there were spots that were really bad and that have since been filled in with cantaloup sized stone.  Hey! How's the fruit?  Have you bought any that you'd hacked into directly with your knife?

Did I tell you I saw Shelley the other day?  Pretty good:  Katie Olmstead and Jen in one day, Karla and Shelley in another.  Heather's in Florida on spring break (boring) with her OLD boyfriend, Sam!!  Really boring.  Shelley's going to take Alex and a boy from Nepal who's at NMH this year on a college "tour."  Among others they will visit Cornell and Syracuse.  Both guys seem to be interested in architecture.

UMMMM...running out steam and stuff to say.   I leave on Thursday (4 days from now) for NC.  Sorry if I'm repeating myself:  I've been in contact with Julie and she's excited about our coming and has some stuff planned including an evening out to hear Jack (her husband) sing at some nightclub.  Cindy's very up for it.  She's been living a quiet and secluded life, on the beach though she does sing in a choir and goes to water aerobics. We think Kelly's going to arrive with not enough warm clothes so I'm going to stick a pair of your? pants in the car for her. They'll probably fall off her.

Charley goes out 3,4,5 times a day but still not for very long - it's still pretty consistently windy (March winds...etc.).  Andy's been trying to brush him but that just gets him agitated and Andy scratched.  He needs his toenails to be clipped!

I'm wondering how I can see you for a minute before school resumes but maybe you told me you'll be heading directly for John's?  I expect to get home on Sunday, March 29.  I'm going to take your car to Ernie's tomorrow for him just to take a look.  We may get in it (well, Dad and Chloe) the following week to be finished by the time you arrive home. Andy and Chloe will drop your car off at school before you get home and, verify for me, YOU HAVE YOUR CAR KEYS WITH YOU. YES?

Did I tell you I drove down your road the other day?  I went the full 2 miles to the point where it becomes another name.  I was alone so I could not quite figure out where your place is but, given what Dad later told me, I think I know the drive.  The road was fairly crappy and there were tree guys in cherry pickers cleaning up from the winter's ice storm.  That's going to be a long and protracted job!

If you've read all the way to this point, you must be in need of dull, life-goes-on-back-home sort of news  Pretty dull.  Not much happening.

Thanks for writing.  Andy's home tomorrow after his weekend on so I imagine he'll have time to write you too.

Love, MOM

Dinner, Market, etc.

Ha. The keyboard on this computer isn't nearly as bad.

Anyway- I had a very exciting morning wandering around the huge market! They had everything- ranging from meats of all kinds to clothes to packing materials, to fruits, to spices, grains, flip-flops, hats, hardware, pretty much all you might need. Some of it was in a rather large building, and some was outside. It was all very packed together and felt rather like a maze. I was with Todd, Cathy, and Tim (nice break from college students...) and Todd commented that he felt rather claustrophobic with all the people grabbing him trying to sell stuff. I'd have to agree. In any case, it was quite amazing.

Last night for dinner I went out to one of the street vendors (hope my stomach survives...) and sat on the very tiny chairs at the very tiny tables that are typical of Vietnam. I had pho (noodle soup with meat and some vegetables), which was quite good, though some what spicy. My nose dripped a lot. The soup was served with a plate of hard boiled eggs (robin eggs maybe? They were really small), which we ate with (wait for it...) MSG. Yum.

Anyway, things are going well, although I'm still looking forward to having a bit more structure. Hopefully later this week.......

Oh- John, if you happen to read this, is the hat you have a poetry hat? And if not, can I get you a poetry hat? And does anyone else have any requests other then silk for Jane? Andy, I think I'll bring you back some dried ginger, there seems to be a lot, and Todd has been seeking it out.

More later, I'm hoping to run into Cathy, Tim and Todd for lunch, and then we're meeting some of the other students over at the Citadel (hope that's spelled correctly....)

Cheers!
Morgan

Sorry... sorry...

I'm here!
I just haven't gotten around to emailing until now. Uh, and this keyboard is quite a pain, the space bar is rather sticky.

Anyway, yes, we all got here safely! I'm roommates with Lesley... she's pretty spacy, but it's okay.

We spent yesterday wandering around the city- it was quite warm, and very steamy! Today it was actually pretty chilly. I regreted wearing another layer. We went and saw lots and lots of pagotas etc. While interesting, it was a little overwhelming. I'm not sure what I'm doing tomorrow- some of the group is going to the DMZ, but I opted not to. I'm hoping to find a way to get out to the country and see some mountains.

Humm....
Lots more has been going on... but it's hard to sum up! Anyway, I've been taking lots of pictures, and I'm sure I'll tell yall all about it when I get back.

Sorry to hear about the roads... sounds like a pain.

It's rather easy to email- there's a computer in the lobby of the hotel- I'll try and be better about communication!

Much love to you all- and kisses to the kitty, even if he does have meatball breath.

Are you there? are you OK?

Hey, Morgan.

It always seems like FOREVER between moments of communication. Last we heard from you was at the Hong Kong airport.  Did you make it to Hue?

I saw Karla and Shelley today and went to a meeting today at  Lynn Herzog's house.  Freddie got an email from Devon but I think I already told you that

I can't wait to hear something more from you and to know that you are OK - especially re: hives, etc.

Post when you can and let us know how you are.  NOthing from Chloe's group since learning that they had arrived.

From limbo land,

Mom

Hello from muddy Rice Farm Road

Hey!  GREAT to hear from you, Morgan.

I got myself so confused with the international date line and trying to figure out the time zones, I never could quite figure out when you'd be where by OUR time.

I think you must have finally arrived in Hue about 10 hours or so ago.  However, it seems as though it could have been about a week ago.  With you and Chloe both gone, it seems time has either stopped or moved on into some other dimension.  I'm confused. And now I;m working to wrap my mind around your returns.

F0r example, Ernie told me he's very booked for this coming week.  I surmised that this meant we wouldn't be able to get your work done before you were back to work at school. Andy reminded me that you come back at the end of the following week!

And, another confusing matter is mud season.  It is endless.  The road by the pond has been closed for a number of days now and I think they have not intension of doing anything about it with bigger fish to fry out there in other parts of Dummerston.

It's been cold so the melt is incremental.  Charley is venturing out for somewhat longer periods of time but, I think, would LOVE it if the snow would disappear and the grass would turn green and edible.  He's cute:  and he doesn't mind sleeping to fill his time.

Dad and I went to Dummerston Center to see Zeke's play tonight.  Lots of others were there, too, for the controversy.  It was extremely minor - the scene, anyway.  I think Zeke cooked it up himself for the publicity!

Anyway, it was pretty good - entertaining and quite well acted and sung.

Life hum drums along. Not much news.  It'll be zero tonight but in the 40's tomorrow.  Cousin Julie tells me it was in the 80's in NC the other day.  I replied that it must be just like Kenya and Vietnam - not at all like VT.

I'm seeing Karla tomorrow.  I saw Katie Olmstead and Jennifer on Tuesday - I went to Noho.  Jen fed me dinner.  Julianna may drop her grad program to take a yoga instructors course and may switch out of materials science altogether to teach YOGA.  Freddie called to say she got an e-mail from DEVIN!! 

Blab, ba, blah, blah, blah.

We can't wait to hear more about what you're doing.  Keep snapping that camera lens/

Dad says HI MO _WE LOVE YOU.  We're holding the Toyota hostage! Ha, ha.

Write soon!

Love, Mom

In the Hong Kong airport...

Yup, here I am. In the Hong Kong airport. It's a very large airport, and I have yet to fine the Dim Sum restaurant, although I haven't actually looked yet.

So far things have been going smoothly- the first flight was actually shorter then we expected, and I managed to get some sleep and do some reading. The most exciting thing that's happened so far is that when I got off the plane my arms started itching horribly, but I've taken some benadryl and it's going away. Weird, I didn't think I was allergic to anything. I'm also a little loopy in part because of the time change, and in part because I'm all off my meds.

Anyway, back to finishing this presentation, which is what I'm suppose to be doing right now.

Much love to you all-
Morgan

Mo

Roads  are muddy and deeply rutted. Don't get stuck. If questionable passage, consider park @ World Learning and using  Rice Farm all wheel drive shuttle, aka Chumbler's Subie.

Good luck. Rain after 11 AM today.

Tiny family

Farewell and belated Happy Birthday

Hey!

Dinner tonight at the Front Porch Cafe in Putney - 6:45 p.m.  chloe will join us when she's done with work.  Mo, Chloe says you'll know what to order for her ( in case she's late and we don't want to hold the place us waiting for her.

Chloe seems to be about 99% packed and ready to go tomorrow.  I hope the itineraries are here in the email somewhere.  I am confused about dates, times, etc.  Maybe I'll trasnfer them and post them here as our all-family clearing house.

We all lucked out on the weather today.

See y'all tonight.

Tiny mom

Charley sleeps

Brrrrrr!

Emergency switch to furnace switched off accidently. Fifty-two F in Casa Rice Farm. Tiny man nippy.

Ordered Canon 880 IS  for family camera; it is the model below yours. Pretty sure Chloë's won't make it back from repair on time.

Have you a converter to  allow you to charge your camera battery when in the Nam?

End of random thoughts. 

Hey, it's me

They seem to think I can't do this so I'm proving everyone wrong.  I can and I have.  Now I have to take a shower that I've been waiting over a 1/2 hour for!!

Here's a question for MO.  On Friday night, do you want to go to A) the Putney Diner or B) the Putney Pizza place which apparently serves a variety of Italian food on Friday nights.  Chloe can meet us at about 7 Friday night.  What do you want me to make you for your birthday cake?

Cheese cake? A chocolate cake or something else? a wide variety of ice creams?  Can you and John meet us to do all this?

Let  me know!

Love, Mom

Late

Tiny, you made it on, yay!

Well, it's late and I'm wasting time that I should be sleeping looking at the website for the hotel we're staying at in Vietnam (here's the link) and the airline we're flying over on (Cathay Pacific- sorry no link.)

Spent most of my day doing work for my tutorial with Todd or the Vietnam midterm. Speaking of the VN class... Kate (the professor) mentioned John's plan the other day. I chatted with her after class and she was very enthusiastic about John coming down to sit in on class sometime, and seemed rather happy with the fact that we're going out.

Anyway, I'm sitting in bed, and Mouse is asleep next to me. He's looking really cute, all stretched out, but with his heat wrapped up in his paws. I took a picture.

More another day- I should be sleeping.