Ticks, fleas, and Arabic food (but not at the same time)

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

I wrap up academic work before 6 PM. The dogs are ready for sleep, as am I. Maybe a pack of ramen first? Ramen comes in many flavors, many kinds, and from countries across the Asian Pacific. Tonight, I choose "Korean" with half a spice packet and sesame oil instead of the hot oil provided. Good but salty.

Look at all the avocados from our garden! We start giving them away - we trade kinds with our friends who want them. (They may have a different variety.) Our huge tree has grown from a spindly plant on the Porch for years after I planted a pit from an avocado I particularly liked. As soon as we shoved the plant into the garden, it took off. It's been hard-trimmed many times.

The dogs patiently wait for treats and attention. It's always a race to see who can sit by my seat as I work. If a dog gets up, another quickly lays itself down beside me.

Thursday - Happy Birthday, Waldemar!

For Waldemar, it's not a party but a long trip home from a conference in the US. We call a few times before he boards his first of two flights. The sun is shining on the bromeliads, waiting for him.

The morning light glows through an all-red alium.

The houseplants we used to pamper? They get cut back off the guava tree, with leaves ranging from 4"-12" (10-25 cm). The grey-pink leaves on the right are crushed, soaked, and packed into the mouth to soothe toothaches. People here have all kinds of medicinal uses for our former "houseplants."

The pond pot gets yet another coat of concrete before it is covered against the rain. Hopefully this layer will seal its perpetual leaks.

Whenever I'm feeling homesick for Seattle, I look at this pitiful ivy. Our Seattle garden walls are covered in it. Here the plant limps along in its little pot.

I finish my classwork this morning, thank God. But instead of resting, Anton and I spend 3 hours at the vet. After lunch, we hop in the car - poor dog jumps in the back, thinking we're going for the hike that we skipped this morning. Nope.

Side note: did you know that a restroom (called a "toilet" here) can be squeezed into 3'X3' (1 square meter)? I'm as surprised as you when I push open the door at the doc's. Pull up your knees! and don't touch the wall 3" (7cm) away, if possible. There's no sink for hand-washing, but see the tap above the water bucket? A long-handled scoop full of water is normally used as an alternative to toilet paper.

We wait a half hour for the tick-test to be delivered to the little clinic. A motorcycle courier can deliver almost anything - food, clothes, packages, you name it - across the city for 50c-$2. The city is abuzz with GoJek, GoFood, GoSend, and other motorbikes.

The results are processed on the spot. Anton has been bitten by a tick. PakG finds the bite on his head.

That's why Anton is lethargic, and perhaps why we had a "good walk!" He left the cats alone, too. He has small skin hemorrhages and black poop. He starts a 2-week regimen of meds - which he happily ingests, buried in papaya cubes.

All the dogs get anti-tick liquid soaked into their upper backs.

Back home, the women have baked 3 kinds of cookies. It's enough to refill what has been eaten in the last month.

Sooner than it seems possible, the Porch lights come on and night falls. How can it be 6 PM again? The dogs happily go into their crates to sleep.

Friday

We don't walk though the sun is out. The repair of the pot-pond continues. Another coat of cement, which is dry in early morning.

By day's end, it's painted. Oh no! they've painted part of the clay plant stand inside the pot - we've sometimes used it to elevate a bouquet. (I guess that's over!) The paint dries overnight. Over the past weeks, the dozens of fish from the pot swim in 2 old bathtubs at the far end of the yard. I hope they survive the moves. Some are at least 4 years old.

The dogs are supposed to rest and I don't mind a day off from walking 10,000 steps. We stop by the grocer before Anton's 11 AM appointment at the vet for an injection. The meds were not on hand yesterday. He's calm and cooperates.

Avocados get shared by the neighbors. We'll have more in a few weeks but who can eat 50 or 60?! at a time. They're picked green to ripen in a paper bag or on the kitchen counter. If we're lucky, that ripeness gets spread over a few days. When we refrigerate them, the process stops.

Lunch with Dina is good, her introduction to Middle Eastern flavors. We get back after 2 PM to unpack groceries. I'm packing a suitcase as well - what will I need next week?

W's due home in the afternoon. Traffic is typically "Friday afternoon" so his ETA gets later and later - PakG picks him up from the shuttle stop. It's been +26 hours since he left LAX.

Meanwhile Melvi finds fleas on Bailey. So all the crates need washing with bleach and soap. (On and on it goes. Still more reliable than security guards ... ) We haven't had sick dogs before so this is a new thing. It's dogs or guards here ...

We take a short walk before it's time for W to crash into sleep!

Saturday

W and I work through tomorrow's talk first thing, sitting on the Porch in the sunshine. The chore of the day is to finish packing. Travel is more complicated than it used to be. Air tags. Liquid limits. Extra visa requirements. And every country may have different plugs so we need the right adapters for charging our gear.

We try a very short (2 block walk) but Anton starts to huff and his nose bleeds = he has low platelets, which means another trip to the vet. The breeder, on WhatsApp, is a wealth of knowledge. She tells me by the time he has nosebleeds, it may be fatal. She lost a dog that way long ago. The other big dogs go along to give blood for a transfusion. He's at the clinic overnight for observation. Prayers appreciated.

I find a bite on my ankle similar to the spots on Anton's stomach. I'll keep an eye on it, especially since I fly out tomorrow. Meanwhile I print notes, syllabus, and PPT outlines just in case I have a computer meltdown without my tech "expert" along.

Sunday

Church. Shuttle. Airport. That's the plan. Prayers appreciated.

Read more:

*The Lord your God you shall follow, him alone you shall fear, his commandments you shall keep, his voice you shall obey, him you shall serve, and to him you shall hold fast. Deuteronomy 13:4

*You shine like stars in the world, holding forth the word of life. Philippians 2:15-16

Moravian Prayer: Holy Illuminator, we pray that we may reflect your truth and hope, mirroring your grace to guide and stay bright in darkness. Grant us courage to illuminate the path towards your eternal promise. Amen.

A new season

Sunday, June 8, 2025 Pentecost Sunday

Anton and Juno walk 2 loops on one leash. I pray that there are no cats for Anton to lunge at - and God's "small mercy" is that we see not a single one! We have a peaceful 2 mile stroll, with sturdy Juno as the anchor. She trots along happily, no matter what.

In the front planter, the two-toned leaves pop.

Cika helps out with the worship team. Pentecost is the fresh wind of a new season.

Tota leads and W's on his way to a scholar's conference so I speak alone. We expect the Spirit of God to be at work among us on this day when we celebrate Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit. (Read the story by clicking the link.)

The lilies are blooming at Green Gate.

We turned last week's silk&fresh arrangement from front to back this week; there was no time to make a new bouquet.

When I cook for myself, meals are sporadic - made when I'm hungry. They usually include lots of vegetables and noodles, too. Same today.

Monday

W often walks the dogs but Anton behaves for me without pulling at the leash. No cats, once again - or at least he doesn't see the three that we pass. After a walk, I have a few meetings, and then it's down to work.

The huge leaking "pond" pot was drained, repaired and painted last week. Today it is being refilled. The plan is to put the plants back later today and return the first in a few days after the water quality stabilizes. 

It's almost full when I notice that it's still leaking a bit. PakG drains it partway and repairs the cracks with aquarium glue. The pot is ancient. The ugly red color will fade to terra-cotta in the sunshine.

I have stamina for academic work until noon, between international calls back and forth. Then I take a break by playing fetch with the dog and checking social media.

FB tells me that 16 years ago, I was writing Alumni News for NU alumni around the world. Seems like a lifetime ago. I loved connecting to alumni, sharing their stories, university events, and projects in what one coworker called the university's "gossip rag."

At least a year before that (+17 years ago), W heard about something called Facebook and told me to get NU as an institution and NU alumni on it. I opened an account in my name over office protests of, "What's Facebook?" and "It will never work; no one wants that."

W was right. Shortly, I had almost 1000 "followers" and 5000 "friends" between real friends, alumni, and students. That was the permitted limit for a personal account. After a while, I was permitted to set up NU pages, including alumni decades and parent groups. If you're connected to NU, look 'em up. There's always something happening there and on IG.

By 2:00 PM I'm almost hungry enough for lunch. And I think I'll pack it in. I have almost 50 PPT slides and notes organized - with at least that many to go, tomorrow. After that, I'll have to check every reference in the updated editions of the textbooks and make sure the links are correct.

I walk out for a 5:00 dinner with a friend who is asking about God-with-us. 

What a treasure it is to be invited into God's presence with those we care about.

When I get home, Melvi warns me that a bench leg has given way. We usually sit on that bench to pull our shoes on and off. In the dark, I might have slid right off the leaning side. Termites must be in the bench wood. That will have to be replaced.

When we tip the bench on its side, we see the extent of the damage. The top of the leg is eaten away and the leg itself has been hollowed out. Frass pours out of every gap in the upholstery, like dust pellets.

Tuesday

Dawn is breaking as we head out the gate. Oh oh. Someone has left flip-flops on the Porch. Anton like to chew those! I put them away.

We pass 3 cats without incident. Waaaha! Helps when Anton wears a prong collar that puts pressure on him if he pulls hard. The past mornings, he walked nicely on a shared leash with Juno, our solid brick of a Labradoodle. Juno trots steadily and doesn't look one way or another = straight ahead, ignoring cats, chickens, and other dogs. Good girl.

I talk to Mom and Keelee before 8 AM and then it's time to work some more on next week's class. I listen to Blinkest books as I coordinate PPT slides with teaching notes.

I get the seasonal itch to redecorate. I'm inspired by the spring and early summer photos of friends up North.

The room gets updated from black and green to creams and blues. The rug needs swapping before we land in a new season.

Melvi and I walk Anton and Bailey to the corner, talk to PakIyan, and walk back. Someone asks if we want a fire pit. They have cut wood from a tree they chopped down. What do you think? (It's a lot of wood.)

Some guys have unearthed a half-gone giraffe statue under a tangle of vines. I remember seeing it years ago when we visited, but never could find it again. I assumed someone had stolen it, along with the doors, plumbing, and electrical wiring on that property.

It's a baking day to replenish what was eaten last weekend: oatmeal cookies with Kopiko coffee candy and smashed chocolate from a Trader Joe Dark Chocolate Almond bar. Thanks, IbuA and IbuS! And thanks, Adam and Jenn, who delivered the chocolate on their visit a few weeks ago.

Breakfast is half of the leftover noodles and chicken. I chop the other half into little pieces and covered it with water. The dogs happily gobble it down atop their kibble.

IbuS bakes bread so I make an egg salad sandwich for a late lunch. Supper-ish is tea, a piece of IbuA's pumpkin pie, and an apple. On my own, I'm rarely hungry at mealtimes. I don't feel obligated to eat until I feel peckish.

It thunders a bit and the sky is dark. Gypsy cowers in his doghouse but the other dogs ignore the weather and relax in the yard until bedtime.

Wednesday 

The pot-pond is still leaking when PakG fills it up. He goes back to the hardware store for cement and another can of paint. After our walk, the dogs relax and I spend the entire morning on my class notes. The leaves we picked up a few days ago are almost dry.

We change the dining room from green and pink 

to blue as well.

The rain starts at lunch and the fresh smell of gardens and green leaves wafts into the house.

Read more:

*O Lord, in your hand are power and might, so that no one is able to withstand you. 2 Chronicles 20:6

*You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation! Psalm 89:26

*Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6:11

*They drove Jesus out of the town and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. Luke 4:29-30

Moravian Prayer: Holy God of our salvation, we praise your holy name. Provide us with our daily bread, as we trust in your provision. We give thanks for your steadfast love and faithfulness.

Gentle Shepherd, your power and might are always on display. Help us to remember that this power is funneled through your great love for us, and that you love us fiercely and powerfully as your chosen children. Amen.

Goats galore - and an occasional amphibian nearby

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Nice to have some big projects behind us. I feel 20 lbs lighter without the book deadline hanging over my head. Onward ho! Today it's on to 2 class syllabi. It's go go wait wait on one syllabus; we pass messages back and forth with the registrar before we can set the class schedule. 

I get a message when I check my phone after 5 AM: "Are you coming?" Oops - we're splitting a leaders' meeting between two days. It's wonderful to hear how God is at work in women around the world = for me, it's life-giving.

Afterward, we walk the dogs. Attend more meetings. W and I have a "date" brunch mid-morning at #NaraPark. I order my usual, noodles with spicy sauce and hot tea. W has a beef bento box with vegetables, soup, meat, and rice ($5 complete). Neither of us are hungry at lunchtime.

We spot this huge leaf drying in the sunshine. It is over 2' (70cm) from tip to stem. The tree above sheds leaves almost every day - that's the difference between tropical areas and elsewhere. There's constant maintenance because leaves fall everywhere every day. The swish swish of brooms provides background noise all day long.

Anytime I bring out treats, I whistle and the dogs know what to do. At 13 yrs old, the littlest guy is losing teeth but he can still chomp down a raw chicken bone. I keep my eye on him though.

Thursday

Up for the first meeting at 5 AM, then go onward to other calls. By 7:30, we're on the road to the hike. Dina and Veronica ride along to Cikole Forest.

It's Anton's second woodland hike, but his first with his "kin" - 2 Labradoodles from the same poodle bloodline. They tussle a bit and chase around, having a great time together.

The trail is shaded most of the way. Eva has introduced the walk this way: "There's one hill at the beginning but then it's mostly flat." We chuckle as we drive into the hills. Eva is so fit that she probably doesn't notice the hills.

True again: sure enough, we go up steeply and then ascend steadily for 2 miles (3 km) before descending for almost as long. Someone who has just done the Camino walk (Portugal and Spain) remarks that nothing they encountered there was this hard.

The first steep hill is inspiring because of the purple grass heads that glow in the sunshine. They're as tall as we are and wave along the trail.

"No snakes today?" asks a hiker. "We used to meet at least one snake each time, a while back." Thankfully, we see no snakes despite the tall vegetation.

Motorbikes dig deep trenches into parts of the trails. That means maintaining a tricky balance on the sides of the gouges. We dig in our walking poles, tread carefully on the hard wet clay and all make it back in one piece.

We have lunch at Madam Sari's in Lembang. It's not big portions nor wonderful food. I borrow some rice from W's bowl to go with the small salad and a piece of chicken in my order.

Nonetheless, we're eating with nice people in a clean setting. That's good enough.

We're happy to change out of our dusty sweaty clothes and hop in the shower before we start the afternoon's work.

Tomorrow hundreds of goats tied along the streets will be ritually slaughtered for Eid-al-Adha (a reference to Genesis 22. Read the original story here. The Koran does not specify which son was with Abraham, though Genesis reports that Ishmael had already been sent away with his mother before this event.) It means 2 more public holidays (Friday, Saturday).

At night, we have a final meeting, with encouragement to move ahead on a new project.

Friday

We're up much of the night due to the ongoing chanting from mosques. People are subdued in the morning after being awake. The streets are empty except for families going to the neighborhood mosque together. Anton is a pill; he's on high alert for cats, who oblige him by darting here and there.

Jodi and I catch up. Then Gail and I call about co-teaching an upcoming class. I send off our syllabus and complete other morning work. W comes back from an errand in town before we eat lunch at Miss Bee. The staff is friendly and attentive. It rains a bit on our way home as clouds blow over but soon quits.

Saturday

Of course we walk - and this morning, Anton ("monster") is watching for cats; he's figured out where they like to sit. Today he walks past one and lunges at 3. "Leave it!" Getting there ... slowly but surely. I've had a hard workout, pulling him short for 2.5 miles by the time we get home.

The mansion down the street is coming right along - it's the fanciest in detail and the biggest house in the neighborhood, squeezed on a lot that had a modest home like its neighbors.

After I talk to Mom, I'm in the mood for crepes. They don't take long to whip up and then W and I sit on the Porch for a few minutes, enjoying breakfast. We can't believe the luxury of having good weather all year round; we eat outdoors any day  unless there's a fierce downpour or powerful mountain wind. Today the birds are chirping and the waft of jasmine drifts across the table.

'Tis the time of year for yard sales. Schools remodel and upgrade equipment during summer break. Many expats sell off their households as they prepare to repatriate to their countries. I snag a some round wooden tables (@$6.50 each) for community get-togethers. W will rent a truck to move a load in a week, once we have made room to store it.

While W takes cookies to an IES Bandung football game, I get to work. I've got less than a week to pull the first class' notes together. I teach in a week. W has to come back early as well: he's packing for a scholar's forum. A lizard hums loudly beside the Porch but I can't spot him.

Read more:

*If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:9-18

*Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory. Isaiah 6:3

*The angel said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Revelation 14:7

Moravian Prayer: Most holy Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of your glory. We stand in awe of your creation’s majesty and life- giving waters. Clothe us in your righteousness and grant us your peace. Amen.

Light up my life - or at least the street

Saturday, May 31, 2025

My big mug of tea is refilled multiple times. 

It's a long day of editing but the sun shines, the breeze stirs the wind chimes, the birds chirp, and the house is empty. We clear our heads and hearts in the space between guests. Who knows who (or what) will land next? This tri-color plant catches my eye.

Typically, the dogs sprawl at my feet for a nap. The oldest and youngest have an occasional running feud. The yap of the little white poodle and the deep bark of the big black one punctuate their play.

Sunday

Walk. Pray. Love on the people in a good Gathering. Angie brings two boxes of my favorite tea from Malaysia. Thanks!

Arya confidently spreads his long legs across the stairwell to a narrow ledge as he swipes away a swarm of ants and multiple spider webs. Oh ... the flexibility and balance youth!

We go to #Ethnic for lunch. I can't decide what to eat and opt for my usual: rice and oncom. 

The owner thanks us for the business and offers a tour of their beautiful guesthouse that has just opened.

The driveway may be unassuming but the old house has been beautifully remodeled into rooms and suites.

There are multiple balconies overlooking the area.

The rooms are spacious and clean with ensuites. (They've opened at $25 for a one-bed and $50/night for a two-bed room!)

The grounds are lush.

There's a communal kitchen and a big dining room, but with an excellent restaurant around the corner and a coffee shop next door? Sip your coffee in the beautiful landscaping and skip doing dishes.

At home, W confirms flights and shuttles for the next weeks of travel. Then we enjoy a quiet evening.

Monday

We walk. Every home turns on their street light at night. Homeowners are expected to illuminate the street in front of their house where there's no public lamp. (And there's hardly ever a public streetlight in a neighborhood.)

At the Assistant Governor's house, this group poses for photos - the guard takes a picture with their camera.

W has Anton most of the time and remarks on how tiring it is to have a willful dog. Yeah - we've been through this with our other two big dogs but they're well-behaved now. Old Gypsy is slow and not excited about walking anymore but he goes two miles like the rest.

DrW invites us to breakfast with Pak Hendy and a group of friends. They've known each other for years and do TaiChi together twice a week. Like us hikers, if we are in any danger of calorie deficit, we fill up right after exercising. hehe

My favorite: noodles! W has a study so misses the feast and the good company.

I edit for 4 hours straight and call it a day. There's one 25-page chapter (second round) to go, plus footnotes and titles! Next time I'll work straight from a paper copy: I printed it out after the first round of edits but now most pages have marks for something I could have clarified on the first go. Sigh. I was trying to save our paper and ink $$.

Adi sends over some fresh baking - cheddar and onion bread buns. So good!

Tuesday

After our walk, I talk to Mom and a mentor. After 3 hours, the book edit is finished. Hurrah! I send it off with a request for a published copy since we don't get paid by this press. It's a fascinating look at Asia's potential to shape the world. I'm no perfectionist, but I hope I caught what I needed to, shaped what needed reshaping, and have moderately improved the academic's work. (He's a gifted writer, thank God.)

The team comes over for a meeting, complete with tea and cookies. By special request, we take out a banana bread and enjoy that, too. W and I dash to the grocer to save ourselves a trip tomorrow. Look at the beautiful orchid for sale! I leave it behind.

Supper is simple: an avocado from our tree, homebaked bread, and rujak (fruit in peanut sauce.)

W does one more round with Anton while I wrap up writing. Some nights, you feel especially happy for sundown and rest.

Read more:

*Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name! Psalm 97:12

*Those who love your name may exult in you. Psalm 5:11

*Hanna made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life.” 1 Samuel 1:11 

*Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. Luke 1:57-58

*As the apostles left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah. Acts 5:41-42

Moravian Prayer: Lord almighty, please look upon us, your servants, in our need and remember us. Shower us with your great mercy and grant us the desires of our hearts. May we, like Hanna and Elizabeth, give back to you all the days of our lives. 

Lord Jesus, your name is exalted above all names. Like your apostles, help us teach and proclaim you as our savior everywhere, especially at home. Faith is the best gift we can offer to our children. Amen.