onlyincambodia

WOW! I'm over the 100 mark for hearts! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I love receiving creative things in the mail and reading letters on really unique stationary. I love when people can write a mini story on the back of their postcard so that it's more than just a sentence or two.

I freqently host swaps, and have carried on the "Places I've Been Postcards" tradition. I tend to be a stickler for high standards. It's just my nature. I don't like when people seem to neglect the swap descriptions when sending out their swaps. I make very sure that I read the descriptions very carefully to ensure that my swaps maintain the utmost in quality.

I love cooking and trying new ways of cooking. I like to eat simple and straightforward food. I am not impressed by the elegant cuisine of 5-star quality. It doesn't look appealing or appetizing to me.

I have moments of craftiness and inspiration to make creative things, but it's not often. When given time or when I'm inspired I make things with my hands or use paper.

I love to travel, as you may or may not tell. Of course, Cambodia is a favorite as it's where I've been for the past 4 years. I enjoy SE Asia, and have been to Europe (about 10-15 years ago though) and Central America. I'd love to visit countries in Africa and S. America someday.

I like learning. Everyday there are learning opportunities all around me. I love knowing a little bit about everything, especially when I can apply that information. AS OF SEPTEMBER 22, I WILL BE IN A MASTER'S PROGRAM. I hope to maintain swapping, but may consider reducing the load as my study load will increase

I am an organized, linear person. I always say that I should have been a math major because my mind works in a more logical fashion, with occasional jaunts on the less-than-logical side. I do surprise people with out of the ordinary behavior or words that they didn't predict would come out of me. Hey, I gotta keep people on their toes!

I PLEDGE TO RATE what I pledged

I like taking my mother's dog for walks around the neighborhood or on the beach. She's a rescued Jack Russell mix and is absolutely perfect for my mom. She is so adorable with her wiry hair and fuzzy beard. She even has a mohawk down her back, particularly after freshly bathed.

I am a pet sitter, and have had a pet sitting business since the 1990's, though not while I was away in Asia. I enjoy taking care of animals, though not the disobedient kind whose owners don't know how to train them. So far I've taken care of chickens, horses, cows, iguanas, as well as everyday cats and dogs.

Likes: simple, practical things that can be used, re-used, or recycled. (i.e. canvas shopping bags, small zippered purses for holding bits and pieces, etc.)

good, quality writing pens that don't run, smear or skip ink.

Collages and other handmade pictures, books, etc.

Stars, particularly sparkly stickers that are holographic.

tealite candles: pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, berries

Fun/unique/whimsical stationary sets or notecards.

Blank postcards from your area, country or hometown.

Food Likes:

The sweets: dark chocolate (non-Hersheys), junior mints, Ritter Sport chocolate (but no raisins!), soft homemade chococate chip cookies, snickerdoodles, thick red licorice

Other not so sweet things: Cheetos, Chai tea (Tazo, Oregon), Good Earth tea (sweet & spicy), rootbeer, English Breakfast tea, roasted almonds, turkey jerky

Dislikes:

cutsy, girly things with lace, fringe, hearts, cartoon animals or baby animals, and pastel colors.

dust collectors(eg things that sit on a shelf and collect dust).

certain handmade crafts that a grandma might make, such as crocheted clowns or dolls or puff paint shirts.

things that have too many colors.

things with just the color purple.

Food Dislikes:

black licorice, sour candy, gum, white/milk chocolate, blueberry/raspberry flavor, chocolate with peanuts, crispies or raisins, fruit-flavored herbal teas (except blackberry tea)

My first response has and always will be: BLUE. This could be because I grew up in a room painted blue (I was expected to be a boy!), or maybe my blue eyes. I like any color of blue.

But since I've been in Cambodia for the past 3 1/2 years I have learned to embrace more colors and color combinations. Orange, or maybe more appropriately, saffron. Deep earthy red. Bright green. Pink, from bubble gum to cotton candy to dusty rose.

Life is color!

In order of most recent. . .

-Cambodia (Siem Reap, Battambang, Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Kompong Thom, Koh Ker, Beng Melea, Phnom Kulen)

-Guatemala (Guatamala City & Antigua)

-Birmingham, Alabama

-Reno & Carson City, Nevada, USA

-Vietnam (Hanoi, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City)

-Thailand (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Ko Samet, Aranyaprathet, Nong Khai)

-Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)

-Singapore

-Oregon, USA

-China (Beijing, Shanghai & Inner Mongolia)

-Mexico (Ensenada, Tijuana, Cancun, Puerta Vallarta, Mazatlan)

-Alaska, USA

-Vancouver, B.C.

-Ukraine (Kiev, Crimea)

-Germany (Hamburg & Lubeck)

-Sweden (Malmo)

-Denmark (Bornholm, AFS 92-93)

-Rome, Italy

-Indiana, USA (Phi Delta Kappa, Urbana '93)

-Arizona, USA

-New York, USA

-Pennsylvania, USA

-New Jersey, USA

-Washington D.C., USA

-Maryland, USA

I enjoy watching Hell's Kitchen with Chef Gordon Ramsey. He's so vulgar, but if you look beneath that veneer you get a chef with high standards. I guess I relate to him on a teacher level where I expect high standards from my students.

I'm fairly particular about my likes and dislikes. So when in doubt, ask. It's better than being surprised by something I won't care for. That goes along with how I like things organized, too.

I have a fondness for dark, foreign men. So far it's been 1 Ehthiopian, 1 Venezuelan and currently my Cambodian man!

So varied...a little of this, a little of that...

-Switchfoot

-India Arie

-Evanescence

-Salvador

-James Taylor

-Creed

-Maroon 5 (sometimes)

-Harry Connick, Jr.

-New Radicals (I'm so bummed they disbanded after their 1st CD)

I wish ...

1. I were more web saavy.

2. and along with this the ability to spend more time using the internet to find useful things.

3. to speak more fluent Khmer than I do now.

4. to find a really awesome job!!!

5. to find more petsitting clients in order to have a more self-sufficient business.

6. to earn more than $10/hour. I have tons of skills and can do anything (well, nearly anything).

7. to get married to my fiance.

8. to have a civil relationship with my sister where we can actual speak to each other and listen to what each person is saying/feeling.

9. that there were no political parties in the US

10. and that candidates didn't make broad unfulfillable promises,

11. and that they didn't waste millions of dollars on their campaign when it could go to help those who are in real need (i.e. flood, fire, drought, homeless, poor, etc.).

12. that media would stop hyping about celebrities and just leave them alone. There's better things to report than that junk!

13. that celebrities and athletes would not be paid more than teachers.

14. that I could get over the Venezuelan.

15. I could finally get the Umbrella Tours website up and running as well put my pet sitting business online.

16. I could lose weight.

17. I could clear out my bedroom to rid it of all the "stuff" I have managed to accumulate in my life so far.