Jackie in Real Life

So my very favorite restaurant in all of Atlanta so far is Rise-N-Dine, just a stone's throw from campus. Up until yesterday, the reasons for that were simple: fanstically tasty, healthy food; friendly and efficient service; and an atmosphere that was funkily comfortable. Yesterday, another reason was added to the list: I made a new friend! You know, like it happens in the movies. I was sitting at my own table; Adam was sitting at his. I asked the server for a bit of cream for my coffee; Adam offered me his. I asked if he was a student; he said he just graduated from seminary. Delightful conversation ensued. E-mail addresses were exchanged. Today I received an invitation to hang out with him, his fiance and his roommate sometime soon.

Does this really happen in real life? Do people just walk into cafes and make new friends? Apparently so!

Oh, yes. I have not forgotten my NY Resolution. Blogging about my transatlantic journey will happen this weekend.

2008: Cozy and Lazy

So far, I could best describe 2008 as cozy and lazy. I am in Elkhart, staying at the home of friends, one of whom authors the blood-stained lintels. It snowed 9 inches last night and hasn't yet let up. I am wearing my fuzzy orange slippers and typing this on a borrowed MacBook. I slept in, drank coffee, ate egg-bread (otherwise known as egg-in-the-hole) and a whole banana and some christmas cookies and bits of chocolate. I reclined on the couch and read. I talked on the phone. I chatted with my friends. Today has been cozy and lazy and pretty perfect. We are making chicken curry tonight, and continuing to stay in. Not leaving the house feels great.

I am bad at resolutions, New Year's or otherwise. In spite of that, I resolve to blog more in 2008 than I did in 2007. Seeing that I posted 54 times in 2007, a mere once-per-six-days posting average would achieve this rather modest goal. (I won't even bother to menton the scandalously infrequent 23 postings of 2006, and how easy that was to best last year!)

It seems appropriate to begin 2008 by reflecting on 2007. By far my most unique experience was my 12 day transatlantic journey by means of which I returned stateside from 5 years in the Netherlands. I took more than 1,000 photos during those 12 days (excessive, I know) all of which are available on my flikr account in the collection entitled "transatlantic voyage." Take a peek if you'd like, though I'll be posting highlights here for those not inclined to wade through the massive number of images.

Here's preview of what's to come...

IMG_3167, originally uploaded by polder.palooza.

the PZM Isolda, my 12-day home, docked in Cleveland on July 23, 2007


my parents, my bike, and myself, in my cabin


an example of the magnificent Polish food we were served


the view