More random stuff -- part 2?

As usual, I don't have much to say.  But, I will be taking a couple of trips in August, so maybe there will be more to tell then.  So, my only post today is a very short comment from one of my students (I think my sisters will especially like this!) and another list of songs heard this past weekend on Capitol FM.

Comment by Edison Tsuma
I was chatting with my Form 4 class ("seniors") and as usual they are very funny.  When I entered the room in which they were, one of the students said "Here's a seat for you madame" and I replied "That's okay, I don't need to sit".  Then, this ensuing conversation with Edison (who is one of the brightest and also funniest in the class):
Edison:  You need to sit because you are old. [Not sure exactly what he meant]
Rebecca:  No, I'm still VERY young! [emphasis on very]
Edison:  Madame, I think you are incorrectly using the word very!
Rebecca:  < .....laughing out loud !!! >

It's just like being at home with my nephews....never ending opportunities to make me laugh!

Short List of Songs
The only reason I keep making these lists is because it still makes me wonder how these particular songs get chosen for this "radio session" on Sunday mornings:

• Dream, Dream, Dream -- Everly Brothers
• You Are Everything (and everything is you) - Stylistics
• Don't Stop Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
• Cupid - Spinners [I used to sing along with this one walking down rural Dinwiddie road with old battery powered small radio.....yes, before even walkmans!!]
• California Dreaming - Mommas and Poppas [I think]
• Bend Me, Shake Me, Anyway You Want Me -- not sure who sings this; sounds kind of like Monkees but it's not
• Goldfinger -  yes, the theme to James Bond
• Live and Let Die - The Beatles!

Random stuff after reading < again > CS Lewis

I've read many of CS Lewis' books that are mainly thought of as in the genre of Christian apologetics.  Have recently re-read The Screwtape Letters which I've read many times.  The basic idea is that there is a "junior devil" who is in the world trying to convert this guy away from Christianity and we are reading the letters written to him from his Uncle Screwtape who is a "senior devil" and is giving him advice on how to steer people away from "the Enemy" (God).  Thus, simply posting two snippets (among many) that I found worth posting:

•  Prosperity < as defined in the earthly sense > knits a man to the world.  He feels that he is "finding his place in it" while really it (the world) is finding its place in him.

• To prevent them < the humans > from turning to God.....turn their gaze away from Him towards themselves.  Keep them watching their own minds and trying to produce feelings there by the action of their own will. When they mean to ask Him for charity, let them instead start trying to manufacture charitable feelings for themselves.  When they mean to pray for courage, let them really be trying to feel brave. 

Listening to the Radio in Marereni, Kenya

On early Sunday mornings, I usually listen to this radio station that plays "oldies" on Sunday morning.  I'm not sure who picks these songs, but it is always an anticipation to hear the playlist.  [Yes - there isn't much for me to do here, so this is one of the exciting things to do in Marereni!]  To give you a taste...this is a partial list of the songs from last Sunday: 

• What's New Pussycat? -- Tom Jones
• Two out of three ain't bad -- Meatloaf (I don't think that is the actual title)
• (So) Happy Together - The Turtles
• You are the sunshine of my life - Stevie Wonder (that's a classic!)
• Say, Say, Say - Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson (remember that video??)
• We Are the World! -- (Of course, that must be played!  But, still always makes me think of the Saturday Night Live parody....so good!)

On Sunday nights from 9 - 11 as I am going to sleep, the same station plays classical music (sometimes interspersed with musicals...e.g. West Side Story). Sunday is a good radio listening day!  Only drawback is that it requires a lot of battery use.  Awwwwww....

Brad Pitt and the rest of us in Kenya

Yes – this looks like Brad Pitt…because it is Brad Pitt (not Brad Alderson). But, alas, not in real life. We met Zahara's visiting brother and stayed a night in Malindi at an inexpensive but nice place called Breezepoint. They have "dorm-like" rooms with bunkbeds (for which we paid about $10 per person) with a type of common room in which there was a TV that had some type of digital signal. There was a channel that played "action movies", so that night we watched the movie Mr & Mrs Smith. It's a bit predictable (no surprise there), but hey, it's Brad Pitt. In my film world, its not nearly as good (not even close) as the same titled movie which is a 1941 comedy with the great comedienne Carole Lombard (directed oddly enough by Alfred Hitchcock). Now, that Mr & Mrs Smith is a true classic comedy!

Zahara had planned for us to go on Sunday to a place called Mida Creek but because we all just wanted to rest (and take advantage of the showers) we just stayed in Malindi and visited this touristy place that is a Falconry/Snake park. You know how you often don't visit the places closest to you (I still haven't been to Mount Vernon). So, we went off for a short visit which was actually fun and interesting plus it wasn't a really hot day, so it was all good.We saw lots of birds that are "rescued" and are kept here until they can be released into the wild.

Our guide told us a lot about the various birds but of course I can't remember all the information. I did get a picture of me with this one bird because the guide made a big deal about the age of this bird (36) and of course I felt really old then!! Ha!There were also snakes (sorry no pictures) and the obligatory big turtle mzee (old man). I think the turtle was a couple of hundred years old.

We had a good time joking as we strolled along the wooded park. If I were more literary, this would be a much better story, but not so much!!

But, I will end with this beautiful picture of Alli, Zahara, and me! Yes – that is me again with the graying hair. I can also tell that my face is more "full" which means I really should start running!! Just can't seem to get motivated to accomplish that task. Well – there will be time back in the US!

OKAY -- decided to add one more picture (nothing to do with the bird park visit).  This is my Form 4 class (the first one ever for this school!).  This means that they are the first students from this school who will "graduate" (sit for the national exam).  Pray for the best!