snowstorm in cambridge

i was scheduled to begin orientation at the fletcher school today--my first day of school! sadly, the snow got in the way. everything in boston seemed to be closed for the 14+ inches of snow that fell. it was nothing like the "snowpocolypse" in d.c. last year, and i was amazed with how quickly the cambride dpw plowed those roads--but it was fun to walk around town and watch the big dig out!

harvard square

tim broke out the skate skis in the morning!

looks like that tree might need to go--but in cambridge, of course, there is a public hearing scheduled to discuss the matter in depth. UPDATE: Indeed this is the case: http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter87/Section3



bahama mama

i'll be the first to admit that nassau isn't the most cultural of places to travel to. cruise ships, senor frogs, the atlantis, coconut drinks, rum tasting, parasailing...nothing truly "bahamian" about that. our day in nassau in january, however, was wonderful. blue skies, warm weather, clear water, a beautiful beach...and a yard glass at senor frogs to top off the experience. it was my third visit to nassau, and instead of critiquing the tourist destination, we enjoyed it-- it was worth it! 

holidays in vermont

we were lucky enough to spend 4 days in peru,vermont over new year's with tim's family. a welcome change of scenery from busy nairobi. it is amazing that time can fly by so quickly, with so little on the agenda. i had no complaints--and enjoyed every minute of it!

back to skiing--x-country at least!

downtown manchester, vt, near the equinox hotel (the best bloody mary around!)

new years eve drinks at the mill tavern, londonderry,vt

defending foreign assistance

i found myself having to defend the small amount of the u.s. federal budget that goes to foreign aid over the holidays (one half of one percent!). i saw this line from jfk on usaid.gov--and thought i'd print and keep in my wallet for times when i find myself having these "fun" conversations. he says it better than any of my horrible attempts.

"I realize that there are among us those who are weary of sustaining this continual effort to help other nations. But I would ask them to look at a map and recognize that many of those whom we help live on the 'front lines' of the long twilight struggle for freedom—that others are new nations posed between order and chaos—and the rest are older nations now undergoing a turbulent transition of new expectations. Our efforts to help them help themselves, to demonstrate and to strengthen the vitality of free institutions, are small in cost compared to our military outlays for the defense of freedom."

—John F. Kennedy, Special Message to the Congress on Foreign Aid, March 13, 1962