tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532307697915268162024-03-12T23:57:17.250-07:00Master of my FateMargot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-44504266143274466502012-06-25T10:51:00.003-07:002012-06-25T10:54:09.321-07:00Making a Difference<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of my favorite quotes. Happy Monday!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The only people who can change the world are people who want to. And not everybody does.” </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
"I wondered why somebody didn't do something. Then I realized, I am somebody." </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The purpose of life is not to be happy - but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Real joy comes not from ease or riches or from the praise of men, but from doing something worthwhile."</span></div>
</div>Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-20806065574388607272011-09-20T08:07:00.000-07:002011-09-20T08:11:01.038-07:00I Found My KeysToday in class I was chatting with this guy next to me. He told me he'd been married for almost a year, and he never thought he'd be married so young. Then he gave me this analogy: He asked me if I'd ever lost my keys and then kept looking for them once I found them. I said of course not, and he said that's like finding your other half, you don't keep looking once you've found it. <br /><br />I hope my future husband says cute things like that to strangers when we're married. I could tell he really loved his wife.Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-86719589057910491342011-09-19T08:39:00.000-07:002011-09-19T09:03:04.875-07:00I'm Back!!Yes, I know it's been over a MONTH since I have blogged and I really don't have an excuse other than I had a little break and felt like doing nothing, then life got really busy. But anyway I have a lot to update the 3 people who read this blog.<br />We'll start with Laurent's birthday! He turned 21 at the end of August! His birthday was the first day of school so we celebrated a little early. The weekend before we went to Jackson Hole and went whitewater river rafting! It was his first time, and we had SO much fun! We bought a few of the pictures and a frame that has Snake River written on it. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEc8mQ3sqlcnf0xZ1VmzTvtpzw7TWI8qcOhTag8AEs1gSzNCetxqRCGlFZtI2b9DwFASX84jU71ABoc2YlQ7sOKtTSfzUomHFqYPpEuq86VCmfAlDK91e0WDSvj7wktjGLk7khPQeYe5k/s1600/321002_10150297424179939_804969938_7924463_4848630_n.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEc8mQ3sqlcnf0xZ1VmzTvtpzw7TWI8qcOhTag8AEs1gSzNCetxqRCGlFZtI2b9DwFASX84jU71ABoc2YlQ7sOKtTSfzUomHFqYPpEuq86VCmfAlDK91e0WDSvj7wktjGLk7khPQeYe5k/s400/321002_10150297424179939_804969938_7924463_4848630_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654101459564299378" /></a> It is now hanging on the wall in his apartment. Later that weekend we went to Las Vegas for my cousin's wedding, then back to Logan just in time for him to start school. On his birthday I made him a home-cooked meal! Props to me, right? He said he liked it so let's hope he wasn't lying. It has been so nice to spend more than a weekend at a time with him. I'm used to seeing him for 3 days once a month, I'm so happy he's a little closer to me now. <br />Next, I moved to Salt Lake City. It's been a little hard adjusting to living here-in such a big city, but I'm making the best of it. School has started, and so far so good.<br />There are a lot of strange people who live in this city. I had the pleasure of coming into one on one contact with one of them. Next to my place of employment there is a salon, I decided to go get my hair trimmed after work one day, I walk in and the first red flag is a middle aged Asian man running the front desk. I'm in no way raciest because in other lines of cosmetology work, Asian's kill at doing nails. But for some reason this looked a little suspect to me. He seemed really excited to see me, and practically pushed me down on the chair and told me to wait-only five minutes! About ten minutes later I see him coming my way with a grocery bag in hand. He hands me the bag and says, "This for you!" I look inside and to my horror there are about 7 rotten bananas! I politely thank him, although in my head I'm thinking, WTF? <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjWbY496-_4gxg4H7CPEg_QLSe1P4upfK5OXKYI6HDEAVby2bJif1dburae7CMqdrjp5l-up8V3W_QyWQV8QjLM3040R9o-lnUZ-Eja2pwDcXtqAaGBZVOThDEWkphcVGQmScLNpSsYY/s1600/rotten_bananas.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjWbY496-_4gxg4H7CPEg_QLSe1P4upfK5OXKYI6HDEAVby2bJif1dburae7CMqdrjp5l-up8V3W_QyWQV8QjLM3040R9o-lnUZ-Eja2pwDcXtqAaGBZVOThDEWkphcVGQmScLNpSsYY/s320/rotten_bananas.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654101625569454946" /></a> I wait about five more minutes and decide to make a break for it. When his back is turned I quickly dash out the door, leaving the bananas behind. I expected to see him running after me in my rear-view mirror as I drove away, but luckily I had escaped. I guess I was too scared to let someone cut my hair who offered me black bananas as a treat. <br />Anyway, those are the highlights of the last few weeks. I could include a lot more, but I promise to start blogging regularly now. It’ll be easy with school back in session cause it seems I can always find something better to do than homework.<br />P.S. Keep checking back, because I might have a guest author writing here in the near future!Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-49821047620640897442011-08-01T17:21:00.001-07:002011-08-01T17:21:54.534-07:00College Application EssayAs I have been applying to a new school, I have also had to re-write acceptance essays. I thought I would share this one here:<br />The world is often looked at with a flat and non-dynamic perspective. Many people are concerned only with their local spheres of interest. In the course of my life I have seen many different cultures and people. In addition to being born in Namibia and living in Oxford, England, my family’s travels have taken me to close to twenty other countries. In these travels I have seen shantytowns of South Africa in contrast to the opulent lives of Americans. From this contrast I have noticed that although the African people lack material possessions they are generally happier than their “richer” American counterparts. This observation has led me to ponder what matters in life and has shaped my goals for college. While many go to college with introverted aims I am seeking my degree with hopes to better the lives of those around me and use my education to benefit others.Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-88283684581864718182011-07-26T14:57:00.000-07:002011-07-26T15:25:35.124-07:00Sweetie PieI love to create beautiful food. Mostly cakes or desserts. For four years I have been a cake decorator at Baskin Robins where I have learned it all. Lately I have been trying my own creations at home. I decided that I also need to learn to make things taste good, I'm really good at the aesthetics side of things, but really don't know much about cooking/baking. Until a few months ago I haven't really cooked/baked much and I decided to start big. With a Black Forest cake. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/ zjdQPLRcouc/Ti88IZb3Y8I/AAAAAAAAATA/Knlm5OVWlA4/s1600/61233_436688979938_804969938_5124594_1693008_n.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6YB5ogLpbpl-OTL5gX_9WG3LTgfNgVKeZPlOHXopsvkbfA2gBljz0omahpEnY7JJIyLDW4J9QES-hIMVEOsd9t0ywgbu7lwdlTEe3WEHEybFj9LWDMmK-f5kqH7ZiNhSLAe5p9cUvZVE/s320/61233_436688979938_804969938_5124594_1693008_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633787773828162498" /></a> Absolutely the most delicious thing EVER! It turned out amazing! Shocked myself, and my family! <br /> I have been following this <a href="http://www.the-baker-chick.com/"></a> darling blog that has inspired me. I needed to take a treat to some people today so I selected her recipe for carmel filled snicker doodles. They turned out so well! I have surprised myself with desserts I have made at home, take a look! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmBFtsFTydi9ppxLP3yf4DMQgQIook43XHFBFr5Nx_PTnDjOJftECU7_3CvWR10ps-M3bnfat9WZL2uVF8ryfSMzbrx6wt7IhG5Usxf0G5imXtmiHN1MqQs_6tAqoJScGiCN6LPf50Kk/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 364px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmBFtsFTydi9ppxLP3yf4DMQgQIook43XHFBFr5Nx_PTnDjOJftECU7_3CvWR10ps-M3bnfat9WZL2uVF8ryfSMzbrx6wt7IhG5Usxf0G5imXtmiHN1MqQs_6tAqoJScGiCN6LPf50Kk/s400/Untitled-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633788232630096930" /></a><br /><br />Here are some other creations I have made over the last little while... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vM9LPq37AX-PYZupJK5uCX1rcWEnFwmXZs7e5WgDcwVTUpvNM6_yDUM9osVZ_c7Y4bviSbLeLsANpHSWsMeS8zajEGHq9kWkp7byH4VHp7hurg39TRcQ2KN4PkLsrrQlOj8yz5ni7yE/s1600/228156_10150183921514939_804969938_6959412_7092831_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vM9LPq37AX-PYZupJK5uCX1rcWEnFwmXZs7e5WgDcwVTUpvNM6_yDUM9osVZ_c7Y4bviSbLeLsANpHSWsMeS8zajEGHq9kWkp7byH4VHp7hurg39TRcQ2KN4PkLsrrQlOj8yz5ni7yE/s400/228156_10150183921514939_804969938_6959412_7092831_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633786726490435202" /></a><br />Crayon box cake for Drew's school cake auction! (Best cake competing! In my opinion...) <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SWFYYyTiI0LrdGmGmc92rIULG00Dn6iyW04y7sV6NKnS7fVLrHXHwq1Jl_ikZ0sjzp8UbO4qZZNIN8AsdAkNF203WoC-JpLnZySHdsJZDp6F7t_sda6XhJDY1lZr-1g1zkPlLidIkw4/s1600/196743_10150145977494939_804969938_6612621_1068371_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SWFYYyTiI0LrdGmGmc92rIULG00Dn6iyW04y7sV6NKnS7fVLrHXHwq1Jl_ikZ0sjzp8UbO4qZZNIN8AsdAkNF203WoC-JpLnZySHdsJZDp6F7t_sda6XhJDY1lZr-1g1zkPlLidIkw4/s400/196743_10150145977494939_804969938_6612621_1068371_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633786723847635138" /></a><br />Chocolate mint clown cup cakes-just for fun! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFiFscdrbOEHjd0Jj4EQzYQYLEUJbAKDyCQkuj1Lp8SuSKWbnKXkcPkaz4KLZN74jjkMZaxO30Z5VPTHWgkD2mih5_6i6__S1LKrN2LzyH4UMnPCkEFRMdGX6LuMJqQ6F03kHk1j1GYg/s1600/sif10117.108508290_400.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 391px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFiFscdrbOEHjd0Jj4EQzYQYLEUJbAKDyCQkuj1Lp8SuSKWbnKXkcPkaz4KLZN74jjkMZaxO30Z5VPTHWgkD2mih5_6i6__S1LKrN2LzyH4UMnPCkEFRMdGX6LuMJqQ6F03kHk1j1GYg/s400/sif10117.108508290_400.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633788909248609618" /></a><br />Now this isn't the actual picture of the cake, but I made an identical one to this at Baskin Robbins the other day. <br /><br />Anyway, I've done a few wedding cakes over the years, and tons and tons of crazy birthday ones. So if you or anyone you know need a cake let me know! I've even started making my own ice cream cakes at home!Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-63493132608774023962011-07-19T15:44:00.000-07:002011-07-19T16:18:37.061-07:00Ni ryari izuba, Rizagaruka, Hejuru yacu, Ni nd' uzaricyeza ricyezaI think about my beloved Rwanda everyday of my life. Sometimes the stories I heard, and things I saw still haunt me. I know I was only 3 years old when the genocide happened, and not even living in the US at the time, but I can't help but feel anger towards America for turning their backs on the people of Rwanda who were being slaughtered everyday. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDqA2bq_4wUajJFlJG_If9SuLVGm2XYNG3WEnHdT7UirWV31cRW1fFrx2DXTQGPB1aH2KWuhu054yEDaQlkJkytJtHBJIL6r5cIBfiDZ122Vy33HhmTCA37AZgsT0KdgPvRcls98UKlo/s1600/Rwanda1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDqA2bq_4wUajJFlJG_If9SuLVGm2XYNG3WEnHdT7UirWV31cRW1fFrx2DXTQGPB1aH2KWuhu054yEDaQlkJkytJtHBJIL6r5cIBfiDZ122Vy33HhmTCA37AZgsT0KdgPvRcls98UKlo/s400/Rwanda1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631206409494151202" /></a><br /><br /><br />America, the Land of the Brave? Think again. So many lives could have been saved if they put in even a little bit of effort. Over a three-month period over 1 million innocent men, women and children were murdered. Why? Because of hate. I came to Rwanda 17 years after the genocide, but yet I was told they STILL find bodies every 2 weeks or so. I figured out that, that is equal to FOUR 9/11 attacks a day. Yes it is a travesty when anyone is a victim of a hate crime, but what makes the victims of 9/11 more important than the Tutsi's of Rwanda? <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20w2hFeAcd0_Z6J6IIhf3vXrnqBjdEQoXcpwVVH_s5IdnVRpb0OJFuc0NIjLZop64Ol_gvJ8FmwWRloXCgTXC4q79jDTmRa7QwRqPY20snX2uquGmR_8umDfM-7y0CXDBJj6aRdO5F6s/s1600/rwanda2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20w2hFeAcd0_Z6J6IIhf3vXrnqBjdEQoXcpwVVH_s5IdnVRpb0OJFuc0NIjLZop64Ol_gvJ8FmwWRloXCgTXC4q79jDTmRa7QwRqPY20snX2uquGmR_8umDfM-7y0CXDBJj6aRdO5F6s/s400/rwanda2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631206558863765010" /></a><br /><br /><br />I try to stay positive because my experience there was wonderful, and I met so many brave compassionate people who watched their families killed right before their eyes, yet they have forgiven those who trespassed against them, so why should I still feel anger?Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-6406799289822085882011-06-29T20:35:00.000-07:002011-06-29T20:41:36.598-07:00A piece of chocolate a day keeps the psychiatrist awayI have an addiction to chocolate. I literally eat ONE piece a day to keep me sane. I figure I exercise about 1.5hrs a day (plus running around at work all day) so I can allow myself this little luxury. I LOVE Dove Chocolates for the little sayings inside each wrapper. I won't share them with anyone unless they promise to tell me what it says. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxd8itTd4BAxEFPMvEqqVAtQ1xM77SX4QtG0wO9iFGYdaM8p64YpINXm1vXk2XqIdPuDogEMSCazB8FNRDzDqcSZqvrebFSDKLA4jBhL9xeChYIvlb3RnQDVZ6WcqhbY8DzN1kAywNOjQ/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxd8itTd4BAxEFPMvEqqVAtQ1xM77SX4QtG0wO9iFGYdaM8p64YpINXm1vXk2XqIdPuDogEMSCazB8FNRDzDqcSZqvrebFSDKLA4jBhL9xeChYIvlb3RnQDVZ6WcqhbY8DzN1kAywNOjQ/s400/Untitled-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623852390689901378" /></a>Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-35060817517953466022011-06-27T22:53:00.000-07:002011-06-27T22:57:43.279-07:00"We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9L_nQvRH2tOF9kxKoc_KOLb1PG3IIIVYXpRuRFclPBMSiB8z2_RuYYR9tz985XQtisBWAHLuzwULkFc6L5QNxPRAfwcv_IV8CloXp9RMpAApC7R9Gv6lg_rOJYNzOy0BCu7mxPFp4Xc/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9L_nQvRH2tOF9kxKoc_KOLb1PG3IIIVYXpRuRFclPBMSiB8z2_RuYYR9tz985XQtisBWAHLuzwULkFc6L5QNxPRAfwcv_IV8CloXp9RMpAApC7R9Gv6lg_rOJYNzOy0BCu7mxPFp4Xc/s400/Untitled-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623145558798208274" /></a><br />Today Laurent told me I am just like Mother Teresa but cuter! That is why I love him.Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-81681241174561369972011-06-20T21:44:00.000-07:002011-06-20T22:05:03.771-07:00No one can make you feel inferior without your consentI am going to write the kind of blog post I would love to read-the kind that is really putting it all out there. It has been no secret that the past year of my life has not been a pleasure cruise. I usually keep personal details of my life to myself and maybe to 1 or 2 of my closest friends, so most do not know anything I have been dealing with. Because of the hard hits I have taken this year my self-confidence has severally dropped. I did not realize quite how bad it was until my best friend slammed it in my face today, and I realize it is critical to change.<br />I often look at myself and wonder where has that girl gone who was happy all the time? Where is the girl who was always smiling, and nobody ever heard her say an unkind word to anyone? Where has that girl disappeared to who loved life and thought she was on top of the world? At times I don’t even recognize myself, and want desperately for the old Margot to re-appear. So I have a plan, I will bring her back. But this time she will be new and improved and much stronger so she never has to feel this again.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1. Today I decided to make a list of things I loved about myself.</span> (Cheesy I know but it seems appropriate in my state) I listed two things, and could not think of a single other thing. SERIOUS PROBLEM. I texted my best friend Julie and told her without any explanation that I couldn’t name more than 2 things I love about myself. Without asking why I was making such a list, or thinking it strange, she replied asking if she could tell me some things she loves about me. With in the next minute my inbox was flooded with over ten things she loves about me. Some examples: Sense of humor, perfect teeth, the gift I have with the piano, she loves watching and talking to me while I put my make up on and do my hair, how brave I was to go to Africa, how I support her anything she chooses, and my strength. I know it is absolutely PATHTIC but I need to be reminded of such things frequently especially by those I love. It made me able to carry on with my own list, a few are: I love how passionate I am. If I set my mind to doing something I love IT WILL GET DONE, and be perfect. I get very passionate about people, causes, and projects. I passionately love people, and will support and love them till the bitter end no matter how many times they hurt me. I love how affectionate I am. I love to sit close to people, I hold my little brothers hand constantly, and not to mention all the love and affection I smother Laurent with. My favorite feeling in the world is cuddling a small child and feeling their fingers wrapped around mine. I love how organized I am and my ability to multi-task. Without this I would be lost at my job, and school. Lastly, I love that I can cry like a baby while listening to beautiful opera music. <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">2. Why in the world shouldn’t I be happy? </span> I feel like so many people think happiness is some gift they need to earn. I recently came across this quote that has change my outlook considerably. “People universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will maybe descend upon you like fine weather if you are fortunate enough. But that's not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it.” We all know that I saw my fair share of pain and suffering in Rwanda. People who had watch their whole family murdered before their eyes-yet a smile never left their face. They never hesitated to welcome me in to their home; they never stopped singing and dancing. They are truly a beautiful example to me. If they can be happy, why not me?<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">3. Body Image</span>. I realize this portion of my entry will be shallow. Having a parasite is one of the worst things that could have happened to me. It made me starving for junk food all the time. It stole all the nutrients from my body leaving me with the bad that caused me to gain weight. Constant stomach bloating is also a symptom. I have always been very careful with my body to keep it fit, sexy and healthy. So sudden weight gain, and a flabby tummy made me want to die. I have been working out tons lately, and slowly but surely I am getting my old body back. Not to say I was ever fat or overweight, but not having my model body has been devastating to me. It has caused me to never want to wear anything but sweatpants and made me hate myself every time I looked in the mirror. I really think the endorphins of working out have been helpful to me.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4. How to fix the problem.</span> This will be a long, life long process. First and foremost I will stop making excuses/apologies for who I am. I am one of the most unique people you will ever meet, and that makes me special. Every day I will force negative thoughts out of my head. I will do some act of service for another EVERYDAY. Stop telling myself I don’t deserve things; I deserve to be happy and feeling wonderful. Doing all of these things will make my friendships stronger, my relationship with Laurent better, and most importantly I will love myself. "Never forget that once upon a time, in an unguarded moment, you recognized yourself as a friend."<br />I know I will need a lot of love and encouragement to complete my journey of being someone I can love and share with others for the rest of my life. I know I must love myself and accept who I am and fully be what I am, then, when I am back my simple presence can make others happy.Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-87738289815305322892011-06-16T10:21:00.000-07:002011-06-16T10:41:03.936-07:00Knysna (nyzz-nah)I know that I am officially a crazy dog person now because I am dedicating this whole post to my dog, but I don't care because I love her so much! Knysna (one of our favorite places in South Africa) is the nicest dog you will meet. She loves everyone of all ages, race, and gender-unless she thinks someone is threatening you. No matter where you are in the house she will come lay down next to you, and be your shadow. Because she is a Saint Bernard she has a lazy streak a mile long. Every morning when I say it's time for her walk she lays back down and fake snores. I could go on forever about my perfect beautiful dog, but I will stop now and just let you enjoy the pictures of her growing up!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtbJLXdc4pKsb5A9R7ly3NZhiD_JIekJBxrxzIlBvNNhxn2g_OVxKpWvfaOj5TlhRQNMLRPpvZUesafoo3sQBaOxYijY2-E2BKxzud8XfZmMQ0ojyQ8mTtvneZNaz9_Zl5X-rBbuJKLs/s1600/IMG_1235.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtbJLXdc4pKsb5A9R7ly3NZhiD_JIekJBxrxzIlBvNNhxn2g_OVxKpWvfaOj5TlhRQNMLRPpvZUesafoo3sQBaOxYijY2-E2BKxzud8XfZmMQ0ojyQ8mTtvneZNaz9_Zl5X-rBbuJKLs/s200/IMG_1235.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618872655339509714" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Qu1ORIl_ntasES4cr5m6CzM78RqOlpdpg98K5LTs5UokYRWxZxkFZUKkblxlaNLOnzvXpevDSadqjOp5yn4yIxxistM4DRqd8Mobw57pvLPcLqFQABY_SAmwhKea2En52Su6x4g-NKM/s1600/IMG_1207.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Qu1ORIl_ntasES4cr5m6CzM78RqOlpdpg98K5LTs5UokYRWxZxkFZUKkblxlaNLOnzvXpevDSadqjOp5yn4yIxxistM4DRqd8Mobw57pvLPcLqFQABY_SAmwhKea2En52Su6x4g-NKM/s200/IMG_1207.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618872645302308802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JdY3P0SOKPOLNQC5TkcN7CPy_geK3trHgOvumeCVem35b5X5XvF_hbaytF0i2sfCGCWBQiMIBTjWsAArvcRot3yH3Kdny6amuWbLKGBPdViWikEuOqn5apOqUacJFSqS9sI6r7Ax_ho/s1600/IMG_1372.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JdY3P0SOKPOLNQC5TkcN7CPy_geK3trHgOvumeCVem35b5X5XvF_hbaytF0i2sfCGCWBQiMIBTjWsAArvcRot3yH3Kdny6amuWbLKGBPdViWikEuOqn5apOqUacJFSqS9sI6r7Ax_ho/s200/IMG_1372.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618872184481242114" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtoL7vBCpKtGNQSQI_GtzIxI0wo-_46GrztclOfVycwhX4q1w-y0QaT68avAWU1tMzRY2P2fpNIvVAeeXsE-4iEqWP68pwdb75rsSzvZD0V5-1xDnI9weUl_RfvH8E2eXJS_ry2OP6PE/s1600/IMG_1376.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 112px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtoL7vBCpKtGNQSQI_GtzIxI0wo-_46GrztclOfVycwhX4q1w-y0QaT68avAWU1tMzRY2P2fpNIvVAeeXsE-4iEqWP68pwdb75rsSzvZD0V5-1xDnI9weUl_RfvH8E2eXJS_ry2OP6PE/s200/IMG_1376.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618872177190683970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFntqezvP3pytuVw6pGtLj73hdzXadc9z8eO2-WktobcqEzm7nk5lrpjJoy6BWGQk9232c5Jtwle6lT_fAbRPij2tru0p-UxGSNSBxvZVMW0zjZqtwZQw6ykjEpCUCQuH0wPdW-KlZF4/s1600/IMG_1240.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFntqezvP3pytuVw6pGtLj73hdzXadc9z8eO2-WktobcqEzm7nk5lrpjJoy6BWGQk9232c5Jtwle6lT_fAbRPij2tru0p-UxGSNSBxvZVMW0zjZqtwZQw6ykjEpCUCQuH0wPdW-KlZF4/s200/IMG_1240.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618871751078988210" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzWyurqJ3Im4Tg7VG-AIIJfFKIeYOxOFkPlt8cILXDFINblB1p-zYdPKjT26WpK5AsTHESmUWA_lrM8EnyE-4GvFJqiJzSUw4l7yDMYvDCgiPZ-7tjgybme722DalkYCwBLkqYs2M0yo/s1600/IMG_1362.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzWyurqJ3Im4Tg7VG-AIIJfFKIeYOxOFkPlt8cILXDFINblB1p-zYdPKjT26WpK5AsTHESmUWA_lrM8EnyE-4GvFJqiJzSUw4l7yDMYvDCgiPZ-7tjgybme722DalkYCwBLkqYs2M0yo/s200/IMG_1362.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618871747714388114" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9mQrJag-hNCHTPpogbu0kQsAqj6aPc_VN6THcm2uo4g7TDxXsKfTFptwQx9Ro_zRGLFlftSxBOws1DhkeVniiqU3b7Zx6bGH6ve8862kUgTQy8fVtht2mDVs6Shg9cSf-WfE4XTZ30s/s1600/IMG_5429.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9mQrJag-hNCHTPpogbu0kQsAqj6aPc_VN6THcm2uo4g7TDxXsKfTFptwQx9Ro_zRGLFlftSxBOws1DhkeVniiqU3b7Zx6bGH6ve8862kUgTQy8fVtht2mDVs6Shg9cSf-WfE4XTZ30s/s200/IMG_5429.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618871436709679074" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpv4-6nsu3NRI_z-UQALokZXU6b9YcpRZPbOS4pzOB6S_4TIP0qDqvwCYOarqaWN788K8xzySlhzSHK8pdbsTZ3XuY2k-LJgJeRnnmN0rbmbciL_KNt21bQbYlhpV518HtLKSy0eB1X5Q/s1600/IMG_1381.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpv4-6nsu3NRI_z-UQALokZXU6b9YcpRZPbOS4pzOB6S_4TIP0qDqvwCYOarqaWN788K8xzySlhzSHK8pdbsTZ3XuY2k-LJgJeRnnmN0rbmbciL_KNt21bQbYlhpV518HtLKSy0eB1X5Q/s200/IMG_1381.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618871435227768914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVqDrI2CcmKkUr8YdFo6aw_NIgwplacE_DlquDidLWnqQaNZH3Jpg8RPszzj-D02IEuuTNmJ838syXMHBviti0sY7wEm8s244b1vc5nB1tkNRJ2gTc4NSA7kW-mngVcUEbJ4WexXJYO0/s1600/IMG_6307.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVqDrI2CcmKkUr8YdFo6aw_NIgwplacE_DlquDidLWnqQaNZH3Jpg8RPszzj-D02IEuuTNmJ838syXMHBviti0sY7wEm8s244b1vc5nB1tkNRJ2gTc4NSA7kW-mngVcUEbJ4WexXJYO0/s200/IMG_6307.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618870864298543058" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKs543rt39L76qRGWujsKFI4hyaop5spPtFm5olwLqd9Pld4V6jleVVu30HM_aQ69qtbnSK99c57MI600pxsQ634i5rPgJ2tYE1encWkEDDXMflw0YO82xH6aDwYe6K_yC9KdkMaRF9w/s1600/IMG_0575.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKs543rt39L76qRGWujsKFI4hyaop5spPtFm5olwLqd9Pld4V6jleVVu30HM_aQ69qtbnSK99c57MI600pxsQ634i5rPgJ2tYE1encWkEDDXMflw0YO82xH6aDwYe6K_yC9KdkMaRF9w/s200/IMG_0575.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618870852535529954" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVnF5WMrhhdhW5ULrY_1knNTXBWqzkshwQ_BllqRZHarcz5DWTg5LyoaXYC_GzM3BcJ4DsnxS4HsdzcuG5MudSj7kiFXmG5712w_0MJQiLN4nWdO5yQxrsBjNJu-U-sY374VJ25pqx2s/s1600/IMG_5336.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVnF5WMrhhdhW5ULrY_1knNTXBWqzkshwQ_BllqRZHarcz5DWTg5LyoaXYC_GzM3BcJ4DsnxS4HsdzcuG5MudSj7kiFXmG5712w_0MJQiLN4nWdO5yQxrsBjNJu-U-sY374VJ25pqx2s/s200/IMG_5336.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618870851246384594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqp7fO3KgxLcXXOd_KsOiQ2zQOvIH3_wcdbIUwXQVl40XYsdonRYZxzZErboe6KqCK-MhSDjqJHAGz0BGFHbA0YgJ59eFJZjaPwAA8du2qR7-wgyrCbauZupP-PRAs6wC9RB7YWX6s4c4/s1600/IMG_5870.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqp7fO3KgxLcXXOd_KsOiQ2zQOvIH3_wcdbIUwXQVl40XYsdonRYZxzZErboe6KqCK-MhSDjqJHAGz0BGFHbA0YgJ59eFJZjaPwAA8du2qR7-wgyrCbauZupP-PRAs6wC9RB7YWX6s4c4/s200/IMG_5870.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618870342744290626" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_2lbGFSg6LXlG-7PQLaqoR9CYqmhylFFKKAnUKBR_iWaHGGSC_0-RZt0otWRTO9tmFCfreZ0n5LsQadT8aOI_OEu6Pcc7jV9KhRCS18I2YFTy2kbthnhHK7Gdd20Y-IsTBpg_ZvaXmE/s1600/IMG_7161.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_2lbGFSg6LXlG-7PQLaqoR9CYqmhylFFKKAnUKBR_iWaHGGSC_0-RZt0otWRTO9tmFCfreZ0n5LsQadT8aOI_OEu6Pcc7jV9KhRCS18I2YFTy2kbthnhHK7Gdd20Y-IsTBpg_ZvaXmE/s200/IMG_7161.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618870337547237778" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4jkuN9jnW_XdVBURIT3NZSrGk98AsljDq16pbB8tKo0vdzd7KZm5_Qrp-kIBkU0ZonVrqWbUn1THzxk9xkXIA2uCZDkY5KOaCHV4QcyRFz8R1a4XhsUxuOm9BP1VP-dBarIZumMcJKo/s1600/IMG_5634.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4jkuN9jnW_XdVBURIT3NZSrGk98AsljDq16pbB8tKo0vdzd7KZm5_Qrp-kIBkU0ZonVrqWbUn1THzxk9xkXIA2uCZDkY5KOaCHV4QcyRFz8R1a4XhsUxuOm9BP1VP-dBarIZumMcJKo/s200/IMG_5634.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618870331174055522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiti1TZz_enpSow3Wor-fXNf7LWHeasxRBndPz4G_-DLcpVMN6l6-khOanccB1oCH7mMcihudvzoLYVAY8Qm1PXyralMzMskolwCROTurda8zIFm8NGZyKhXvfU_8_yeURMIgq5q5nhHqM/s1600/IMG_6051.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiti1TZz_enpSow3Wor-fXNf7LWHeasxRBndPz4G_-DLcpVMN6l6-khOanccB1oCH7mMcihudvzoLYVAY8Qm1PXyralMzMskolwCROTurda8zIFm8NGZyKhXvfU_8_yeURMIgq5q5nhHqM/s200/IMG_6051.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618869752611539138" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARPCMCy-GPXA2f4f5JRdr5bmQd03iDC7PuyM-1GbnZiQX3f5ap8L7mYfg6U17wjmfod_itGVR1BozYkSSv9bWSdvJ1Vd9YVn2n5VktOMDndimzAGIZn8EVi4-Nx68xgSp4MRa-s6r_Nk/s1600/IMG_5665.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARPCMCy-GPXA2f4f5JRdr5bmQd03iDC7PuyM-1GbnZiQX3f5ap8L7mYfg6U17wjmfod_itGVR1BozYkSSv9bWSdvJ1Vd9YVn2n5VktOMDndimzAGIZn8EVi4-Nx68xgSp4MRa-s6r_Nk/s200/IMG_5665.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618869749381166738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOjVqwqzO0kfUtXhfFO-H923v91fgPpcNB_lrdGS4-nfjID9ln6WIO1MTQQ94g6N3usAo1hvrBI-F7tMd4lWwbL93-qYtXI9Tj5hW_zKIjk-q7ZJ8bucXcHKPrUxU6P4SR3WrqSl58QM/s1600/IMG_2692.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOjVqwqzO0kfUtXhfFO-H923v91fgPpcNB_lrdGS4-nfjID9ln6WIO1MTQQ94g6N3usAo1hvrBI-F7tMd4lWwbL93-qYtXI9Tj5hW_zKIjk-q7ZJ8bucXcHKPrUxU6P4SR3WrqSl58QM/s200/IMG_2692.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618869488747287570" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1S3ju6Tad-Jfb4kOi-Jq5cFn-IQlxQeGHcpt7FchTu_TBwq9wPfYGDTMuameH9azSUNST6S68ZovtyKKXJ0iyucNTI_GUvixSLn0kG__KmK4TcSbuNhK9YRskgKVzR2xQiX40kvBS78/s1600/IMG_2665.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 143px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1S3ju6Tad-Jfb4kOi-Jq5cFn-IQlxQeGHcpt7FchTu_TBwq9wPfYGDTMuameH9azSUNST6S68ZovtyKKXJ0iyucNTI_GUvixSLn0kG__KmK4TcSbuNhK9YRskgKVzR2xQiX40kvBS78/s200/IMG_2665.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618869477648075618" /></a>Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-75412116300287476172011-06-15T20:00:00.000-07:002011-06-15T20:12:20.011-07:00You never really learn to swear until you learn to driveI have some bad news that might be a secret to most... If you have ever driven with me, you know you have to hold on tight. It's not that I'm really a bad driver, it's just that I like to get to places quickly. Someone once told me I drive like I'm in Africa all the time-weaving in and out of traffic, not using full stops, you know... My mom even told me that driving with me is like riding on a ride at Disney Land. But here's the secret, when I am driving with others I use my best driving behavior. What you might say!? Yes it's true I'm actually a worse driver when I'm driving solo. <br />1. I have been pulled over 3 times, but I have <span style="font-weight:bold;">never</span> gotten a ticket!<br />2. The day I got my license I backed in to someone, but didn't really do any damage.<br />3. I have hit probably 50 garbage cans.<br />4. Ran into a fence.<br />5. Knocked my side mirror off when I drove into a hedge.<br />6. Nearly flipped the car (with the whole family in it) while trying to text and drive.<br />I'm pretty sure I could go on, but I will stop here, because I still want people to drive with me, because I'm really not that bad of a driver. I promise. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9sSiGkxFf4DlyobqA9ls7Py4FPhc1B27x8a2jJgAXFdZyW18sPd4a3V7kX-S_9s9L-8QtHcOlvBM-q1wSBIbri6tG9YeCWRCBXO4RrBOLAuncOgysH5zMbjylDBQG0lmMd0s41iaFno/s1600/9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9sSiGkxFf4DlyobqA9ls7Py4FPhc1B27x8a2jJgAXFdZyW18sPd4a3V7kX-S_9s9L-8QtHcOlvBM-q1wSBIbri6tG9YeCWRCBXO4RrBOLAuncOgysH5zMbjylDBQG0lmMd0s41iaFno/s320/9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618649231806342466" /></a><br />The sad thing is, I think I might be capable of something like this...Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-31171660273232420382011-06-11T23:14:00.000-07:002011-06-11T23:28:51.223-07:00Love yourself, for if you don't, how can you expect anybody else to love you?I realize I might step on a few toes with this blog, but this is a place for me to express myself, so here I go. You know how sometimes when you’re stressed you eat A LOT? Well I do the opposite. When I am under stress, I physically cannot eat a thing. I had a very stressful morning that wiped me out for the entire day - never felt hungry at all, just nauseous. When I finally forced myself to eat, it didn't agree with me and I got sick and lost it all anyway. I realize it’s not the healthiest thing to do, but I honestly can’t help it. <br />The thing I get most bothered about is if someone is under stress and gains a little bit of weight nobody cares, but if they lose weight no one understands it. In my opinion it is just as bad to be called too skinny as over weight. It’s basically saying that whoever you are isn’t right. <br />So, stop asking my mom if I’m okay or if I’ve lost weight-<span style="font-weight:bold;">I’m just fine!</span> I’ve just had a stressful year. Luckily with this parasite I have developed a bloated tummy so it has gotten a few people off my case. I love eating healthy, and exercising, and I try to love my body no matter what shape it is in!Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-35690573218732710382011-06-08T15:24:00.000-07:002011-06-08T22:31:04.884-07:00When I grow up I want to be...After years of being asked what I want to be when I grow up, I can finally answer that question! If you know me, you know I have a wide variety of interests, so I couldn't just settle on one degree; I'm going for 3. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXuWPmE87T4Fgus-jcuUhZvQjvzO5Jyn6K_fHtg1l5vUeE7sbknN_9DxCI4dTVPeJCT3XQ_djgfxQyRQFL9WO6ejO6U4IrNHu_PDJ27mmQQugPcKSWe50cOZu8XU-aqymTBBEmPoH3vQ/s1600/194681164v5_480x480_Front_padToSquare-true.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXuWPmE87T4Fgus-jcuUhZvQjvzO5Jyn6K_fHtg1l5vUeE7sbknN_9DxCI4dTVPeJCT3XQ_djgfxQyRQFL9WO6ejO6U4IrNHu_PDJ27mmQQugPcKSWe50cOZu8XU-aqymTBBEmPoH3vQ/s200/194681164v5_480x480_Front_padToSquare-true.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615987590979891922" /></a>#1 Interior Designer. This is what I started college majoring in; the only difference is that I'm going to get my associates now instead of bachelors. Reasoning: I love designing, and being creative but not so much the technical side of it, which is what a lot of the bachelor's degree focused on. I really didn't see a point in taking a bunch of classes in things I would NEVER actually use in my career. This will be a good profession when I have a family because I can just work from home and take on as many clients as I feel comfortable doing! <br /><br />#2 Global Studies, with a minor in Travel and Tourism. This is an obvious choice for me-someone who has lived their whole life traveling. I love learning about the world, and traveling is probably my number one passion in life. With the minor in T&T it will also give me some great job opportunities.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7VXTLiVtcCYBV1lFK10FNMAMUKppvG-3mDbRxYYYZZVNr_YqWNze8ZCqhZmX-izugSUihoNzY67m4Aq0b-L7yVW0V1iqTswhsN_nuaoE_lue_wsEvYiUTe_DwH2G3MQFA8JpgcubkhU/s1600/Global_Studies-World_Graduate.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7VXTLiVtcCYBV1lFK10FNMAMUKppvG-3mDbRxYYYZZVNr_YqWNze8ZCqhZmX-izugSUihoNzY67m4Aq0b-L7yVW0V1iqTswhsN_nuaoE_lue_wsEvYiUTe_DwH2G3MQFA8JpgcubkhU/s200/Global_Studies-World_Graduate.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615987896736178082" /></a><br />#3 I want to get my Masters in Country Development. Ever since volunteering in Rwanda it has opened my eyes so much to how badly other countries need our help. This masters program is offered mostly outside the US, which is great because I would love to move someone outside the country for an extended period of time. This also fits perfectly with what Laurent wants to do, Anthropology, (just like my father, funny?!) with an emphasis on archeology. I don't like planning too far in advance, but I could see him out in the field digging/doing research while I work for a NGO like World Vision. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JJ7KMQ7islKRCCFZPODgEl8SxINdwW_icS3cprkxXWjg60kaiYBqIWFxfVV7qrFgMLDxAFtP4by3tK-cmTvdR4NWh42zSSZpF0lpr1ntPfDG00teifYhX-RGvAS-u5KjoSBfRSgV820/s1600/developing+countries.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 143px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JJ7KMQ7islKRCCFZPODgEl8SxINdwW_icS3cprkxXWjg60kaiYBqIWFxfVV7qrFgMLDxAFtP4by3tK-cmTvdR4NWh42zSSZpF0lpr1ntPfDG00teifYhX-RGvAS-u5KjoSBfRSgV820/s200/developing+countries.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615988161158630578" /></a><br />Anyway, I feel good about finally reaching a decision! I know it'll be a long road with lots of hard work, but I'm ready!Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-45994208034397695492011-06-08T08:54:00.000-07:002011-06-08T13:15:47.681-07:00Concrete JungleI recently returned from one of the best trips of my life! I was lucky enough to go to New York City with Laurent! His sister and nephew live there, and his parents were coming over from France to visit, so it was the perfect opportunity to meet the family! I was really nervous, but that quickly faded, because he has the most wonderful family in the world. We had such a good time, it was Laurent's first time in NYC so we got to go see all the fun sights. The best part though was being able to spend 10 WHOLE days with my best friend! <br /><br />A few highlights! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0kW7vj_6aOQSWy_DWifOX96T-OHl15PCfVGWUFGbbHpgJJSQSn3hfSVCBSIPseeB3-2Svui7tzh7pvrboOxoGpKT8Bjknr7Wh55rT112-dKR_WSucrOVjtu-ctJSpatuEpk7fg_36Zw/s1600/IMG_5645.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0kW7vj_6aOQSWy_DWifOX96T-OHl15PCfVGWUFGbbHpgJJSQSn3hfSVCBSIPseeB3-2Svui7tzh7pvrboOxoGpKT8Bjknr7Wh55rT112-dKR_WSucrOVjtu-ctJSpatuEpk7fg_36Zw/s200/IMG_5645.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615944650488899938" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz61_vu9w8oe3RLa40-iz8T4Oi0HtRC-YpSBODlZAZvGCsxKfuioniT6NEbWtH_3SBuDcZHqrUHw_DmJ_MzZu8QoiV6iaqEJXPZebAjMTSPr0IUsR52aGAypOLqIL0QCfymo1mgN7Zgms/s1600/IMG_5507.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz61_vu9w8oe3RLa40-iz8T4Oi0HtRC-YpSBODlZAZvGCsxKfuioniT6NEbWtH_3SBuDcZHqrUHw_DmJ_MzZu8QoiV6iaqEJXPZebAjMTSPr0IUsR52aGAypOLqIL0QCfymo1mgN7Zgms/s200/IMG_5507.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615944267275981506" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtsjP8T8Dub1Gl1x7ZheebnJSNnTXQ1KWgA5daO-r8s-0eo91LQBHZUDSuUll0ZezEgrzfpDjSV6-ijruMupmkQkFbHeTTYYuw6KndiPcA2y0jSM0FwgVqJT9MGeK_PfTLu349P0DVJc/s1600/IMG_5581.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtsjP8T8Dub1Gl1x7ZheebnJSNnTXQ1KWgA5daO-r8s-0eo91LQBHZUDSuUll0ZezEgrzfpDjSV6-ijruMupmkQkFbHeTTYYuw6KndiPcA2y0jSM0FwgVqJT9MGeK_PfTLu349P0DVJc/s200/IMG_5581.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615943038844143554" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUE74dho2ARHLjZ3clqD96PZkACGQV5YVVf65KjJWLD4bX9evAQ8YUnwIY3jdKHudN_8apt_x6VWeXusr3JsAqrJid5sFDMQRFzyoni7vXZcuGIM4XboFQASpt0OSAIMSmw-pFrNJfHaY/s1600/IMG_5533.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUE74dho2ARHLjZ3clqD96PZkACGQV5YVVf65KjJWLD4bX9evAQ8YUnwIY3jdKHudN_8apt_x6VWeXusr3JsAqrJid5sFDMQRFzyoni7vXZcuGIM4XboFQASpt0OSAIMSmw-pFrNJfHaY/s200/IMG_5533.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615943030438403810" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6V08ZOmOufcwX8gwRUCcQrCRqIdhSDzlEYglHPfj8x3P0dbj5Xj0OzagWVjzNeew-_SRroGoBNbfkVv2n7wnCFVVEh4bSqJDeE4QebpHG9U58FUSzKYOiSDvXja0TaSiGqIJloeJys8/s1600/IMG_5496.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6V08ZOmOufcwX8gwRUCcQrCRqIdhSDzlEYglHPfj8x3P0dbj5Xj0OzagWVjzNeew-_SRroGoBNbfkVv2n7wnCFVVEh4bSqJDeE4QebpHG9U58FUSzKYOiSDvXja0TaSiGqIJloeJys8/s200/IMG_5496.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615943025282371698" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-4RBKPXZjehVjJEs59y7qGp9R-eyRr_VM5jvaZPlFchHR4Xz7slMY5n108i0vBowNTEQmrdol_-X8SsjGpbIxaVInmCGDINRploLnIrd-TUIrTNKL2hbqQathn9pC1e_91ocS-LDKKk/s1600/IMG_5569.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-4RBKPXZjehVjJEs59y7qGp9R-eyRr_VM5jvaZPlFchHR4Xz7slMY5n108i0vBowNTEQmrdol_-X8SsjGpbIxaVInmCGDINRploLnIrd-TUIrTNKL2hbqQathn9pC1e_91ocS-LDKKk/s200/IMG_5569.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615943017565417746" /></a><br /><br /><br /> Love him! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTj95i33nMtG-EwM9-H9yDlmQtXd31beOlQa7WlBzoPhSbg4xRbCevWt-q7cDZt6zVMW55Z0Px8NZgf5lY8SoHXU0p4nOOrAYAR9bpfwJbqrh3IUlyOANinZK0R5gD3tR9QKbNolOTKGM/s1600/IMG_5580.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTj95i33nMtG-EwM9-H9yDlmQtXd31beOlQa7WlBzoPhSbg4xRbCevWt-q7cDZt6zVMW55Z0Px8NZgf5lY8SoHXU0p4nOOrAYAR9bpfwJbqrh3IUlyOANinZK0R5gD3tR9QKbNolOTKGM/s200/IMG_5580.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615941447148535266" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-7xXim0vdwo40b_mCzUbaLIs_0Uob6Dfwcu5uMlJ3fA3YJup9RJ_flmULkwvJc1RnStv6hG5KfNFJ5UhiyGiLoMuTcUCv2C_6YuPjto5IjYX3aYnJ62u74mK7ijsD6D8vStdDXIcHq8/s1600/IMG_5572.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 114px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-7xXim0vdwo40b_mCzUbaLIs_0Uob6Dfwcu5uMlJ3fA3YJup9RJ_flmULkwvJc1RnStv6hG5KfNFJ5UhiyGiLoMuTcUCv2C_6YuPjto5IjYX3aYnJ62u74mK7ijsD6D8vStdDXIcHq8/s200/IMG_5572.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615941439914644482" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqm9QBJ_2_oBrYZlrfngVjjRIN56SL6gZVMJglqyN-c_qg26_grmd8qLAfkIOdV22qm7VteLZZ82GVKm3F6d8Ukxe7641ciwGkEXkOLpaIoAngoVhdkghLEuIABQ6U3y8DyKADU7Wx5LI/s1600/IMG_5532.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 159px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqm9QBJ_2_oBrYZlrfngVjjRIN56SL6gZVMJglqyN-c_qg26_grmd8qLAfkIOdV22qm7VteLZZ82GVKm3F6d8Ukxe7641ciwGkEXkOLpaIoAngoVhdkghLEuIABQ6U3y8DyKADU7Wx5LI/s200/IMG_5532.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615940325600112946" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieR0Pcw6u5ZMe4ugdyNdQlwOenfO-dF4-z9bYj6xmLH5mwAq-FolJK5gv9OvbI9l-cq1T7R0yITSOleejqWABhciaqQkF8kplm1SkquM4FZ-yx-OzvVm1xky84JLZpxoBLV9HCfuOAy7U/s1600/IMG_5519.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieR0Pcw6u5ZMe4ugdyNdQlwOenfO-dF4-z9bYj6xmLH5mwAq-FolJK5gv9OvbI9l-cq1T7R0yITSOleejqWABhciaqQkF8kplm1SkquM4FZ-yx-OzvVm1xky84JLZpxoBLV9HCfuOAy7U/s200/IMG_5519.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615940315882013234" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvCbNbIIUt-E6Kl1F5lXPNV2dtvUkBle1LmW2mAUCiRqnmWzHoAJpkxNNvCTBJapUEZFvHVp6bwowRbon__3ShyphenhyphenT6ScSTSFQEw5ajZRnnFYAzPpb2CmOpY887J4BseyAoZbsGy9HlPbY/s1600/IMG_5550.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvCbNbIIUt-E6Kl1F5lXPNV2dtvUkBle1LmW2mAUCiRqnmWzHoAJpkxNNvCTBJapUEZFvHVp6bwowRbon__3ShyphenhyphenT6ScSTSFQEw5ajZRnnFYAzPpb2CmOpY887J4BseyAoZbsGy9HlPbY/s200/IMG_5550.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615940307423627410" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSX1YtJEaLNyCAExLLqwD_ujyarF8NsludSAepuuNIq198trqCOVzjTSQym3w4zEDdIokhZAx7kOR_ERhUEAkJlGHLpLZJVQpPwvOUt3Ih_NoLKjQZkZVTTvrP75fek9vPvQNGz247Ouo/s1600/IMG_5523.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSX1YtJEaLNyCAExLLqwD_ujyarF8NsludSAepuuNIq198trqCOVzjTSQym3w4zEDdIokhZAx7kOR_ERhUEAkJlGHLpLZJVQpPwvOUt3Ih_NoLKjQZkZVTTvrP75fek9vPvQNGz247Ouo/s200/IMG_5523.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615940304406378754" /></a>Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-8458429212157002042011-05-03T17:59:00.000-07:002011-05-03T17:59:03.205-07:00The Crypt KeeperI am obsessed with the popular show called 16 and Pregnant, and then following that, Teen Mom. It mainly fascinates me, and admittedly makes me cry all the time. I think it is a great show that in no way encourages teen pregnancy or glorifies it. I feel it does quite the opposite. Also I cannot dismiss that I learned a lot from it when it comes to delivering babies which came in helpful in Rwanda. Anyway, when I was watching Teen Mom online a little bit ago I was reading some of the comments on the video and someone said that Farra's mom looked like the Crypt Keeper. Curious, I looked it up and fell off my chair laughing because there is an undeniable similarity. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-HSkyxJCk6Xs4ncsXFMfURppgOhNvB6byN0-5yN_EylN-Rq1H9DrYC9OH6VUvvdLFVAyFz2HKvoOEXgWAsJF73MnGPgU6iOTiDo7S5mXg-EbPcXkoGRVOX8RJVDLhjJKyrU8iTAYB6Y/s1600/Crypt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="241" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-HSkyxJCk6Xs4ncsXFMfURppgOhNvB6byN0-5yN_EylN-Rq1H9DrYC9OH6VUvvdLFVAyFz2HKvoOEXgWAsJF73MnGPgU6iOTiDo7S5mXg-EbPcXkoGRVOX8RJVDLhjJKyrU8iTAYB6Y/s400/Crypt.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThWN8pX9j7P8YMrRWXzdJP82UMCXi1WkRBBXPI-gfGSilcWYOd71MDapX21LyxSqEplm86Md1OTVIxGsL00BpG_ZV9u_Z51Y1G3xWEB_2rwHEa4Kwt3I_gwWxlBevbeMDGiG5j_A8uLc/s1600/teen-mom-farrah-abraham-and-sophia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="382" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThWN8pX9j7P8YMrRWXzdJP82UMCXi1WkRBBXPI-gfGSilcWYOd71MDapX21LyxSqEplm86Md1OTVIxGsL00BpG_ZV9u_Z51Y1G3xWEB_2rwHEa4Kwt3I_gwWxlBevbeMDGiG5j_A8uLc/s400/teen-mom-farrah-abraham-and-sophia.jpg" /></a></div>Well at least the "Crypt keeper" produced a beautiful child, and passed on further DNA to make a beautiful granddaughter (Sophia).Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-28630349588858380892011-05-02T16:33:00.000-07:002011-05-02T16:34:25.658-07:00Current Obsessions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-aiQ_XjNItwiC9fjK6Bes4pjavLkeY1BZFXhc5Ej3fMiqTdVdTd7zSPeX7HswRpQ9-ehj1pyzTilCnnbxSUZc0RJo2QWwSIa9EXTykvevAW2G3_6wp7oWwjp0s4uDgfSpOPaSS6sU4Q/s1600/Blogggg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="309" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-aiQ_XjNItwiC9fjK6Bes4pjavLkeY1BZFXhc5Ej3fMiqTdVdTd7zSPeX7HswRpQ9-ehj1pyzTilCnnbxSUZc0RJo2QWwSIa9EXTykvevAW2G3_6wp7oWwjp0s4uDgfSpOPaSS6sU4Q/s400/Blogggg.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
1. Jewelry making. I basically taught myself how to make necklaces, and am thrilled with my new skill! <br />
2. Hula-hoop work outs. Don't laugh! They really give you a good workout! <br />
3. Pocket pigs. They stay tiny their whole lives, and get trained to use a litter box! Laurent said we can get one!<br />
4. Harem pants. My sisters from Norway introduced them to me, and I LOVED borrowing them! But I am now having a hard time tracking some down in the US. HELP!Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-79078990519143192312011-04-27T12:51:00.000-07:002011-04-27T14:43:56.524-07:00You Know You're In Trouble When......the people around you remind you of people you've seen on the Jerry Springer show. A few weeks ago for work I did a catering event at the Provo City Library. The bride and groom were beautiful, and very nice and polite. However almost every single person at their wedding were SO white trash! The comments people made were unbelievable. <br />
But the cherry on top was when this lady came through the food line, and instead of taking a little pretty cup for the punch, she filled up a <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFdcTZNpQDsiVnKN7vM1VkTJpDhbsdN_FSv2gyxawzARlS5onyQkdpWlF4jT3sLI2cyQDvNtAkAHL2XX6ETRjHndGLGgDYpFxQXNPOvlEZAd6XLQQlPizV03Dm4YmM-zw7hIyRlbClDw/s1600/biggulp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFdcTZNpQDsiVnKN7vM1VkTJpDhbsdN_FSv2gyxawzARlS5onyQkdpWlF4jT3sLI2cyQDvNtAkAHL2XX6ETRjHndGLGgDYpFxQXNPOvlEZAd6XLQQlPizV03Dm4YmM-zw7hIyRlbClDw/s320/biggulp.jpg" /></a></div><br />
7 eleven <b>Big Gulp</b> cup. Unfortunately the other two working the event with me missed it, but I stood there shamelessly starting at this uncouth woman.Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-33454519660262451892011-04-26T21:29:00.000-07:002011-04-26T21:42:02.937-07:00How wonderful life is while you're in the worldApparently in October of 1970 Elton John, and Laurent Gontier had a conversation that went like this. (According to Laurent)<br />
<br />
L: Elton I need you to write a song for this really special girl named Margot.<br />
E: Sure Laurent, no problem. It'll be called your song.<br />
L: My song?<br />
E: No, your song, here are some of the lyrics:<br />
<br />
My gift is my song and this one's for you <br />
And you can tell everybody this is your song…<br />
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words <br />
How wonderful life is while you're in the world…<br />
Anyway the thing is what I really mean <br />
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen<br />
<br />
41 years later I finally got the song that was written for me. Thank you Laurent! I love you more than I have words for. You truly are my better half, thank you for being the amazing person you are. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7ryoBIjqMkBlKqSj7MNUia6ElB3Gy1PQUCTP03dLD6zw3j-ECo6uAoe61Xwh97tem5EwuN9WHjemKHcKRvgcdK21RGg3sg0dXKwLWA9SkQBtbuO-thc7jH1fblmh7Fu1X4eSCrCXNj0/s1600/Kiss.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7ryoBIjqMkBlKqSj7MNUia6ElB3Gy1PQUCTP03dLD6zw3j-ECo6uAoe61Xwh97tem5EwuN9WHjemKHcKRvgcdK21RGg3sg0dXKwLWA9SkQBtbuO-thc7jH1fblmh7Fu1X4eSCrCXNj0/s400/Kiss.jpg.jpg" /></a></div>Side note: Laurent has actually played tennis with Elton John!Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-69283412872635413432011-04-25T18:18:00.000-07:002011-08-02T17:19:28.134-07:00We all have two choices; we can make a living or we can design a lifeHere is my bucket list, I've been adding to it for a long time, and I know I will keep adding to it.<br />1. Run a marathon<br />2. Scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef <br />3. Learn to sail<br />4. Take Up Martial Arts<br />5. Learn to say “I love you” in 50 languages<br />6. Learn enough Italian to be able to understand opera<br />7. Compose a song<br />8. Learn to belly dance <br />9. Go skydiving<br />10. Climb Mount Kilimanjaro<br />11. Learn to say “no” without feeling guilty<br />12. Go white water rafting<br />13. Race a sports car<br />14. Ride the 10 largest roller coasters in the world<br />15. Visit the wreckage of the Titanic aboard a submarine<br />16. Experience weightlessness<br />17. Break a Guinness World Record<br />18. Visit Iguassu Falls<br />19. Learn to surf<br />20. Visit the Amazon Rainforest<br />21. Visit the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy<br />22. Participate in the pilgrimage to Mecca<br />23. Take up Jewelry Making<br />24. Make a list of 100 books I want to read and read them<br />25. Go to Verona, Italy <br />26. Watch every movie that has won an Academy Award for best Picture.<br />27.Allow myself to make mistakes<br />28. Get a Masters Degree<br />29. Create a coat of arms for my family<br />30. Finish first in my class<br />31. Go to Israel and visit all the Jesus sights<br />32. Be Time Magazine’s Person of the Year<br />33. Volunteer in Thailand, Congo, India, Vietnam, and Rwanda<br />34. Publish a book<br />35. Spend a week at a 5-star spa<br />36. Own a Mercedes G-Wagon<br />37. Become a yoga instructor<br />38. Find the love of my life<br />39. Get married<br />40. Adopt a child<br />41. Sing Karaoke<br />42. Write a letter to each of my (future) children telling them what I want them to know about my life and the lessons I’ve learned, and tell them how much I love them right now<br />43. Learn to live in the now<br />44. Sit front row in a fashion show of my favorite designer<br />45. Put a message in a bottle in the ocean. <br /><br />Some of the things on here I have already accomplished, and others are going to take a lifetime to do. I know I have big dreams, but I know I can accomplish them all.Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-64027376168736224862011-04-03T18:30:00.000-07:002011-04-16T09:17:31.345-07:00Rwanda 2/24/11This will be my last post about my journey in Rwanda. I’ve had a hard time missing Rwanda since the second I got on the bus in Gisenyi. As I’ve been pondering and pining away for the past, I have come to the conclusion that no matter what is going on in my life, I have to live in the present. I need to be passionate about whatever it is I am doing, whether it is just going to work everyday, or developing new talents and hobbies. My last night in Kigali Lynn, and I talked a lot about “the circle of life.” All of us came from all over the world for the same purpose and were placed in a home together to learn and grow from one another’s examples. We laughed, we cried, and formed life long bonds and now it’s time for the next phase of our lives. Although it’s time to move on I realize I didn’t have these experiences just for that short time in my life, but I will have these things with me for the rest of my life. Another thing I discussed with my “sisters” is how strange it is that we as human beings put ourselves in situations that will be emotionally hard for us. I knew I would be working with people who have had some of the worst atrocities happen to them. I knew I would form bonds, and then have to be ripped away from that. I knew this would be one of the hardest things I ever did, but there I was in Rwanda. Why do we do that?<br />
Well this is my closing of my time in Rwanda. I hope I brightened someone’s day, I hope I helped change a life, but I know the people of Rwanda have changed mine. <br />
<br />
I walked a long way in these shoes<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LUCmGlkaiiU3t_ZPsgxr6vf7IKWR_UTo1WyHv94mLRbhkS-s47eJgiRQ3ee3edjER-DZp-x4JAi1jPLqNXn7OhT4NAXim4a_Ys_GsRAlR_SRV3us6czS-7iwMa9PGqsiRKaIhiGjYcQ/s1600/IMG_8349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LUCmGlkaiiU3t_ZPsgxr6vf7IKWR_UTo1WyHv94mLRbhkS-s47eJgiRQ3ee3edjER-DZp-x4JAi1jPLqNXn7OhT4NAXim4a_Ys_GsRAlR_SRV3us6czS-7iwMa9PGqsiRKaIhiGjYcQ/s400/IMG_8349.JPG" /></a></div>Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-75877394146853541272011-04-03T18:10:00.001-07:002011-04-03T18:36:16.030-07:00Rwanda 2/18/11One of the things I’m most proud of about going to Rwanda is that I actually went! This post is for people who want to volunteer. I wanted to go to Rwanda so I did some research, talked to people, found a reputable organization, picked a time to go, found a program I would enjoy, and applied. I got accepted, and spent the next few months working hard, and saving every penny I earned. Before I knew it I was crying my eyes out on the way to the airport. Yes, it is a scary thing to do! Going halfway across the world by yourself, but it’s all in the experience in becoming a stronger person. I have to admit I called Laurent after my second day at the clinic, crying saying it was harder than I thought it would be. I expected him to tell me that it was okay, I could come home. But instead he gave me such wonderful words of encouragement. I was able to get up the next morning, and the next until I loved everyday and was excited about the day. I don’t think he understands the impact he had on me. I will forever be grateful to him for being so wonderful in my time of need. So this goes to show you that it doesn’t take a special person to go volunteer; anyone can do it. It just takes a little bit of courage, passion, and encouragement from loved ones back home. It was some of the hardest weeks of my life, but as I’ve told several people: I wouldn’t change a second of it for anything.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxbC49x-8nU02Tz0aciZzWok68KVrMIIXMvonLXDXZqlRyi1s0lAbgWBZcnF3wYy9upf5aocsCx_Y8vXRFq2cNuHhah3ISHijdrWOCR1HBiJEHdA7vnx3SpCV2zP0OH67vHwLBzG1QS4/s1600/IMG_8082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="138" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxbC49x-8nU02Tz0aciZzWok68KVrMIIXMvonLXDXZqlRyi1s0lAbgWBZcnF3wYy9upf5aocsCx_Y8vXRFq2cNuHhah3ISHijdrWOCR1HBiJEHdA7vnx3SpCV2zP0OH67vHwLBzG1QS4/s400/IMG_8082.JPG" /></a></div>Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-56563224065946240662011-04-03T18:01:00.001-07:002011-04-03T18:01:04.369-07:00Rwanda 2/17/11Well I’ve been back for a day now and I am experiencing some severe culture shock. I don’t know why I’m having such a hard time adjusting back to my “normal” life. The only thing I can think of is because this time while traveling I wasn’t just a visitor, I lived, and worked in a community, and hung out with our local friends on the weekends. I had no one from back home to remind me of my “normal life.” When I landed in DC I saw this white stuff on the ground, and it literally took a few seconds to register that it was snow! Second, it’s so weird to no longer be the extreme minority, and not to have everyone stare at me everywhere I go. I really don’t enjoy not being a queen anymore either! I can no longer talk about whatever I want in front of whomever I want because now everyone understands the language I’m speaking. All that aside it has also been mentally and emotionally hard to be home. It’s hard going back to your previous life when for the last little while all my life has been about is others. It’s weird to be walking around the gardens, and art museum in Pasadena feeling completely idle and unneeded.Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-14110228243337124882011-04-03T17:52:00.000-07:002011-04-03T17:52:50.930-07:00Rwanda 2/16/11I can’t believe I am going home. In some ways I feel as if Rwanda has been my home for years, and in other ways it feels like I just got here. I have mixed feelings about going home. I do miss Laurent so very much and I definitely will enjoy the comfort of my home, but I will dearly miss Rwanda and everything that comes with it. I will miss all the people that I served and made such strong bonds with. I will miss the fun I managed to have everyday. I will miss all the ridiculous and inexplicable things that happened everyday. I will miss all of the hard experiences I had everyday, that have made me a stronger, better person. I will miss the other volunteers that were so wonderful words cannot describe, I will consider them my second family for the rest of my life. I’m a few minutes from landing in LA now, most of all I hope I can bring home all of my new knowledge, love, strength, and compassion with me. I will always keep Rwanda and these lessons close to my heart. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53c1R2CukHPZA9sNUTHaGYuXMa6ayPZpJabWf1D3XxTu_fmVWK3VBMcyfiMkwI6pEi1rNzhSSJrMKxgHlvajPaO9pKAYEXq6OMi0kGFKinklfW9CYK06g5MuMNwVqbDl3MNlBzN7gvSg/s1600/IMG_7677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53c1R2CukHPZA9sNUTHaGYuXMa6ayPZpJabWf1D3XxTu_fmVWK3VBMcyfiMkwI6pEi1rNzhSSJrMKxgHlvajPaO9pKAYEXq6OMi0kGFKinklfW9CYK06g5MuMNwVqbDl3MNlBzN7gvSg/s320/IMG_7677.jpg" /></a></div>Murakoze cyane Rwanda!Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-14677472588620300752011-04-03T17:39:00.000-07:002011-04-03T17:39:51.501-07:00Rwanda 2/14/11Today is my last full day in Rwanda, and I am having a hard time coming to terms with that. I miss the ease of my life back home, along with friends, family, and the boyfriend, but I just feel like being here brings out the best in me, and I’m scared to go home and lose that. We had quite the ordeal trying to get breakfast somewhere, (we had to keep reminding ourselves about Africa time) but finally settled for getting a few groceries at Nakumat, our favorite grocery store. <br />
After that we made the long bus ride out to Neomatta, which is a town that houses a church, which is now a genocide memorial.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqc-NEzQehL1n-GXk1igMUqw2heZIsq_yEUMxFYQfGKhY2FePccL6AUiuzw5FWQOo29QGpsyxuUbDZcWreFCWDwIpR-rVOzJnsDeGs3Ts4INyVfUa2YMco_eJHNzXREbXp1M1ec35ZXg/s1600/IMG_8335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqc-NEzQehL1n-GXk1igMUqw2heZIsq_yEUMxFYQfGKhY2FePccL6AUiuzw5FWQOo29QGpsyxuUbDZcWreFCWDwIpR-rVOzJnsDeGs3Ts4INyVfUa2YMco_eJHNzXREbXp1M1ec35ZXg/s320/IMG_8335.JPG" /></a></div>During the genocide 10,000 Tutsi’s went into hiding at this small church. They though that if they were in a place of God they wouldn’t be murdered. They overestimated the killer’s morals, and as a result every last one of them were tortured and killed. Inside the church they had heaps of clothing all over the pews. The clothing was a reddish/brown color stained from the blood of the victims. All of the clothing was from the people who were murdered there. Out in the back they had mass graves. You could walk down underground to look at them, some were in coffins, but there were hundreds of skulls and bones just set on shelves. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokXR4zaTZzuZiu4mlr_GpDUm8Bps4F8yHNwVS0l6DCZb4jsKmSnK-xpkaNWI2voNKPh1XEzTLyEuCakTKS4pFwmHQCr0ZSs2hl2UI65tAKNdPepOW3_oXRDu5ysIj9PQGf8tS_a68jZE/s1600/IMG_8345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokXR4zaTZzuZiu4mlr_GpDUm8Bps4F8yHNwVS0l6DCZb4jsKmSnK-xpkaNWI2voNKPh1XEzTLyEuCakTKS4pFwmHQCr0ZSs2hl2UI65tAKNdPepOW3_oXRDu5ysIj9PQGf8tS_a68jZE/s320/IMG_8345.jpg" /></a></div>Seeing all the cracked skulls, and how many of them there were, made the genocide so much more real to me. It was a very haunting experience I will never, ever forget. <br />
Marit, Ellen, and I decided to visit another church nearby. We hitch hiked our way there, we got really lucky. This man took us all the way up there instead of just dropping us off on the main road. If anything, I will always remember the kindness everyone showed us there. This church memorial was even worse than the last one. In one of the Sunday school rooms there was a huge red/brown stain covering a wall. The man there told us this is where the babies and small children were murdered, by being smashed against the wall. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK81_N_ydmQXptUa5GQTv5QoKKFE5tpozY1pjSKSMG8tZ6SWEHvu0DGjeCttD97hnDAQjstGBXa3j-4MHegIjffjtbWzxiZSXuXUpCdao_2JXPnVCX1Y2JN_arOhYPGoSFi0xRy-316Y/s1600/IMG_8342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK81_N_ydmQXptUa5GQTv5QoKKFE5tpozY1pjSKSMG8tZ6SWEHvu0DGjeCttD97hnDAQjstGBXa3j-4MHegIjffjtbWzxiZSXuXUpCdao_2JXPnVCX1Y2JN_arOhYPGoSFi0xRy-316Y/s320/IMG_8342.JPG" /></a></div>I have no words to decide how I felt standing there looking at this. I know I will never be able to get that image out of my head. I will never understand how people could do such things to innocent children. <br />
Later that night I had a tearful goodbye with my sisters as they took the bus back to Gisenyi, which I am already homesick for. Lynn (who is flying out the same day as me) and I then went and had a romantic Valentines Day dinner together. Haha. When we went home to the guest house I’m unfamiliar with, my moto driver dropped me of on the wrong street, and I spent the next hour wondering around in the pouring rain, walking down deserted, dimly lit alleyways searching for the right house. I was trying not to panic, and then out of nowhere like an angel Lynn appears with an umbrella to take me home. I have never been so happy to see someone in my life.Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653230769791526816.post-72802185969006578642011-04-03T17:09:00.000-07:002011-04-03T17:40:35.687-07:00Rwanda 2/13/11First off I would like to say that there is something significant about the fact that my first day in Rwanda was January 1st, a day known for new year resolutions, and change. And my last day, Valentines Day. A day of love. <br />
Well I’m spending my last few days here in Rwanda. All the girls came to Kigali to see me off. Baraka, Yves, Fiston, and Patrick all asked if they could escort me, but I’d rather have my sisters with me. I still had lots of candy with me so on the bus ride to Kigali I walked up and down the isles passing it out. Everybody loved me after that. Then “Hero” by Enrique Iglesias came on and the 5 of us girls got so excited and sang every word very loudly. Needless to say we made quite the spectacle of ourselves which is okay because everyone stares at us as it is, so we might as well give them something to stare at. We got a round of applause when we finished! <br />
That afternoon we went to hotel Rwanda (Hotel des Milles Collines) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilc2wBFRAY6S8CXfkv8etCXR8RPV_41I6NIxXnx1np-axRVpiLvbR3C3ba32IIl0xeulOby1W29d9iBx82XtXIxW2ACq8-hihk7mAM0JDxznvdwR9aRfSW4bE0qo8NWVln5h-GgeWG0WQ/s1600/IMG_8316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilc2wBFRAY6S8CXfkv8etCXR8RPV_41I6NIxXnx1np-axRVpiLvbR3C3ba32IIl0xeulOby1W29d9iBx82XtXIxW2ACq8-hihk7mAM0JDxznvdwR9aRfSW4bE0qo8NWVln5h-GgeWG0WQ/s320/IMG_8316.JPG" /></a></div>It was still strange to see things I recognized from the movie, and be in a place where so much happened. On the way out we took some photos by the Milles Collines sign, and silly Synnøve got dirt on it from her shoe, so then Marit being the amazing friend she is got a water bottle and tried to wash it off, the guard that was watching was having an absolute aneurysm at this point, so we just briskly walked away. Then we got stuck on a roundabout<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlXjIksPgQm9a9gt2ifOmL2ddhF3X3vNiIuuZoS3xdvygMu84158f4j9r4zySwd8DMHoTy5HtJlWD1lxP65yr2WPm6WW2a2orviGr8uQiUUwi8R2fPmp1lpjrUXFEbAIe4iuaeKkIbUo/s1600/IMG_8318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlXjIksPgQm9a9gt2ifOmL2ddhF3X3vNiIuuZoS3xdvygMu84158f4j9r4zySwd8DMHoTy5HtJlWD1lxP65yr2WPm6WW2a2orviGr8uQiUUwi8R2fPmp1lpjrUXFEbAIe4iuaeKkIbUo/s320/IMG_8318.JPG" /></a></div>in the middle of busy Kigali for about 5 minutes with all of my luggage. Good times. Later that night we met some Kigali volunteers at our favorite restaurant for a goodbye dinner. The hotel we were staying in was so sketchy we hid our valuables in the ceiling! That night I squeezed into a bed with Ellen and Marit. Good thing we became best friends because we definitely were cozy. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_Vmo1CFDX0j1RpXnh9ZZJABgZQdKXY8VKo_YiYiSbWEgNNg7I4aC_3JVwyX3ktUrKUwz7LI6Wg_PuvvoaWCvvBWtoZU6j41VYHMNpH_Wq7qa6wdUUlwhxK1KhAohAWecUAwUJhwPGOU/s1600/IMG_8325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_Vmo1CFDX0j1RpXnh9ZZJABgZQdKXY8VKo_YiYiSbWEgNNg7I4aC_3JVwyX3ktUrKUwz7LI6Wg_PuvvoaWCvvBWtoZU6j41VYHMNpH_Wq7qa6wdUUlwhxK1KhAohAWecUAwUJhwPGOU/s320/IMG_8325.JPG" /></a></div>Margot Crandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247708604779708563noreply@blogger.com0