leecaubleblog

[leecaubleblog]

Our Share

While communities in our country struggle with clean water I want to take a moment to share how other people in the world get clean water. This is in Duran Ecuador. On Tuesday & Friday afternoon the water truck comes rolling down the street. You flag him to stop, pay him 50¢ & he fills the 50 gallon drum that sits in front of your house. That water is for cooking and bathing for your entire household. Households from 5-13+ people. The periodic table comer helps keep bugs & other critters out of the water.

We are privileged to have mostly an infrastructure that brings clean safe water to most communities. But not all. Flint Michigan is still dealing with lead contamination,as are other communities. The western states that depend on Colorado river for drinking water and irrigation for so much of the food we eat is in serious danger of loosing this resource. All while Kentucky Mississippi Missouri & more struggle with flooding . There is isn’t enough snow pack to feed the Colorado. Changes in extreme weather patterns are feeding floods & wind storms at an increased pace

This started as a “hey look how people in Ecuador get water -strange” but I realize (as I recalled that day) a lot is changing in our world. China is experiencing the highest temps ever recorded over a large part of the country. Melting glaciers in the Himalayas along with extreme summer rains is wiping out entire towns in Pakistan. Last summer Europe saw medieval streets rushed away & this year Europe is baking.

We have to change if we are to survive. I’m no expert but I’m working on doing my part the best I can. Will it matter if I turn off the water in the shower while I soap up? You know Wet-wash-rinse. Does eating fewer animal products reduce greenhouse gas? What about the water to grow those plants? Are you practicing “if it’s yellow it’s mellow. If it’s brown flush it down.”

I guess what I’m getting at is there is no one solution. We can all do a little everyday and maybe-by some miracle, we can restore our planet Our home 🏡🌎

[leecaubleblog]

She Whispered

I was sitting there, just minding my own business. The door to the dining coach slid open with a woosh. The wide brim white hat tilted over her left eye. Her glimmering chestnut hair hugged the curve of her cheek camouflaging the scar under her jaw - revealed in the light when she turned her head. The black dotted Swiss dress hugged her body ending just below her knees. Black & white pumps click clacked as she crossed - one leg in front of the other across the wooden floor.

“Is this seat taken?” She whispers.

Not waiting for my answer she placed her shiny black clutch on the table and slid into the chair, legs crossed at the ankles, swinging her knees under the table. She motioned to the waiter. His eyes were locked on her just like everyone else in the car.

“Water please, no ice, with a straw.” She turned her attention to me.

“Hello”, she whispered, “I’m Ginny. Thank you for sharing your table.”

Thank you? Thank you! I had no choice. This was not the only open seat in the car, there were plenty of open tables, but for some reason she chose to sit with me.

“Oh hi. I’m Andi!” my hand extended - ignored. She shifted in her chair

“Quite well.”

I worked to make small talk. “Did you just get on? Are you headed to LA?”

She glanced out the window, ignoring the question. The waiter returned with her water. She sipped, her violet lips pursed around the paper straw.

*************************************************

I gasped a gulp of air as I opened my eyes. Where am I? Where’s Ginny? My clothes are soaked, my body immovable, pinned not by ropes or chains but something or someone heavy across my chest and arms and legs. I can move my head. I look around, swiftly, side to side. I open my mouth to call out but - nothing. Total darkness surrounds me except for the sliver of light at the far end of the room. Her silhouetted long dancer legs partially blocking the light.

She whispers “Ready?”

*************************************************

What the hell? Jumping from my bunk I smack my head, rubbing the goose egg growing from my right temple not so much to push it down as to clear the fog of sleep. What the hell was that? Where was that? I don’t even own a plaid shirt. I pulled on my working blues and headed toward mess. We’d been at sea for three months slipping into San Diego at sunset last night. This was my first long voyage. Was this some seamans sickness from being out for so long?

“Seaman”

“Chief”

I stood aside allowing him by in the cramped passageway. Heading into mess my brain is still floating in the fog. It's only 5 bells and already crowded. I grabbed my tray and piled on the chow. I slid into one of the long tables never looking up. The bits of memory flooding in (Her chestnut hair hugged the curve of her cheek…)

”Good morning Andi.” - She whispers.

“Ginny? I mean Petty Officer James. Good morning.”

“Easy sailor. Why so jumpy?” She smiled with a hint of a laugh.

Her chestnut hair cropped just below her ears. The scar from the catch line that nearly took her head off and left her with that soft husky whisper only adds to her beauty - her strength.

“I had some weird dreams. We were on a train having drinks.” I left it there not including the seductive bondage part.

“ We - as in you and me? That’s got you jittery? What’s with the knot on your forehead? Did you get it checked out?”

I’d forgotten about that. Reaching up I tried to cover it and wave it away. “Oh. its nothing. Just a little bump when I was getting out of my bunk. I thought I was late.”

I tried to make small talk but she had already moved on.

“I can’t wait to see Jack and the girls. They’ll be here around 9. We’ll probably go to the zoo. I don’t really want to go to the beach. Ugh! More water. Are you off? Wanna come with?” She missed her family. She missed Jack.

I mumbled some excuse about already made other plans. She grabbed her tray with a shrug. Looking back over her left shoulder she offered one last time.

“You sure you don’t want to come? It’ll be fun.”

I just shook my head no. She stepped through the door waving good-bye.

Crush.

[leecaubleblog]

VOTE!

Dear Friends & Family, In 2014 less than 40% of eligible voters actually voted. If what is happening in today’s political climate doesn’t scare the shit out of you and motivate you to get off your ass, get your neighbors off their asses, get out and vote then I don’t know what will. Has there ever been a time in our 240 year history that the American people have been played for such fools. ( I write this while watching The Patriot.) I am reminded of the sacrifice made to ensure freedom and justice. Yet today a loud mouth braggart is ready to shred the constitution. And far too many of our brothers and sisters are willing to allow this. I understand the frustration being expressed concerning the current state of our country. Our “elected” officials have devolved into pitiful caricatures of leaders. We are faced with choosing between candidates who are looking, not how to make the lives of the citizenry better, but rather how to place themselves in positions of power to further their own interests. Even the most well intentioned candidate is in some small way looking to further their agenda. I don’t know the answer. I pose this question-how can we do better? My father would say “Throw the bums out.” But for who? I am still hoping that we can choose the least of all evils in this election. I wish I could say the best leader but alas not this time. My plea to you is a simple one. Consider your options. Carefully! Even a runaway train can be stopped. It just takes a lot of bricks. Be a brick in the wall. Stop this crazy train. Go to town hall meetings. Stand up and speak out. Hold up signs and when they take it away bring out another. If you are thrown out stand outside and speak up. We still have a constitution and freedom of speech. No one can stop you from walking up and down the street expressing your opinion. It’s been a long time since I’ve been politically active. I vote in every election - since I was 18- no matter how small. Never have I ever been this scared for our country, our freedom. Not even Johnson or Nixon or Goldwater scared me like this. When our leaders have lost all sense of civilized discourse, of reasoned debate, of goodness and justice, it is left to us. We must stand up. We can and must do better. VOTE!

Post script: the lot has been cast and we now have a clear choice. Hillary crashing the glass ceiling of politics is not reason enough to vote for her. However under no circumstance, in no reality, no alternate universe is a vote for Donald a choice you should even consider. Hillary still has a lot of work ahead to counter decades of innuendo half lies and flat out misinformation. She has been faulted for standing by her philandering husband and not being a cookie baking stay at home mom. Good for you Hillary. Good for you. Despite the obstacles, mistakes and naiveté in choosing and email account (despite at least 2 former republican secretaries using a similar approach) you are a step behind simply because you are woman. Despite the trails laid down by Margret Chase Smith and Shirley Chisholm, you will be called shrill when you raise your voice. But that's ok. Raise your voice. Sing your praise. You have worked for this. You have earned this. Knock the crap out of this good ole boy network.

[leecaubleblog]

If I applied for a job at Facebook

Facebook asks applicants “what is your best day on the job that you feel is an accomplishment?” Well Mr Zuckerberg I’m a nurse and my best day is when I can make a difference in a patients life. Just last week I sat with a patient and reviewed his medications. He is on 6 blood pressure meds yet his pressure is always high. We made a med boards and taped each medication to the time of day he was to take it. Within a week we have eliminated one of the medications and his blood pressure is normal. The difference- he can’t read so he did not understand the instructions on the bottles. Now he matches the pill to the one on the board. No guessing. I stood with another patient struggling with alcohol addiction and said the Serenity Prayer several times. He is still struggling but he knows I’m here to support him. After being a mother or father, being a nurse is one of the most important jobs you can do. (I also put teachers in that category.) Every day you have a chance to make a different in a life. How are you making a difference today?

[leecaubleblog]

Loss Love and the Gift of Life

On this Christmas Eve I am pleased to share a story of love, life, loss and giving. At 8 pm last night one of my long time patients left me a voicemail "hi it's the day before Christmas Eve and I just got a call they have a kidney for me. I'm headed to the hospital to get a transplant on Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas!" This fun energetic woman has been on dialysis for 7 years. She had a cancer scare a few years ago that temporarily suspended her being on the list. Fortunately it was benign. Yesterday as I was passing out Christmas cards we talked about her wish for a kidney for Christmas. I'm so glad she got this gift. It comes with so much love because for her to get this gift of life a family is grieving a loss. Because of this gift their loved one lives on. Thank you to this and all the families who give the gift of life. #givethegiftoflife

[leecaubleblog]

Accepting recognition

I never understood why some people constantly need to be propped up. Good job. Way to go. Keep up the good work. There are those among us who will tell you every time they make a call to report a lab result or how they relieved someone's pain. The only reason for this "reporting" is to be acknowledged for doing their job. I am a believer of just do what you were put here to do. No one needs to thank you because you did your job. Satisfaction in knowing you did exactly what you were to do resulting in a positive outcome and that is all the thanks you need. Our society has become a bunch of me too children always looking for approval. I believe doing a good job is its own reward. Knowing I've done my job, my calling and done it well is all I need. Maybe that sounds smug. And I'm not saying an occasional "thank you" isn't nice to hear. I just don't expect it. Now having said all that how do I humbly accept recognition from my company, from my coworkers, from my bosses. All I can say is I am honored. I'm also surprised at how this makes me feel so appreciated, so valued. To those who believe in me and bestowed this honor I say Thank You. It is indeed my pleasure to work with the most compassionate and caring people on this planet. DCI Desert Dialysis you have given me the opportunity to become who I am today with your support and encouragement. It's been a great 30 years. I can't wait to see what comes next.

[leecaubleblog]

Soylent Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies - YUM!

So no more intro, here's the skinny. Oh yea - use a big bowl.

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup brown sugar

Mix these together to incorporate the sugar into the eggs

Add 3/4 cup of peanut butter.  (If you are going with the powdered you should probably reconstitute it first and you will most likely need additional fat) 

2 ounces of vegetable oil ( I used the Soylent oil blend. You could also use plain canola. You could try substituting 1/4 cup of applesauce)

mix with the egg and sugar mixture. 

To 1 bag of Soylent add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

Add about half of the Soylent along with 1/4 cup of water to the egg mix. Mix together on low speed. Slowly add in the remaining Soylent and another 1/4 cup of water. The final mix should be kind of gooey. Fold in 1/2 - 1 cup of mini semisweet chocolate chips.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. 

Pre heat oven to 325F

Using a teaspoon place on ungreased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Dip a fork in flour ( I happened to have some rice flour around so I used that trying to keep with the gluten free) press each cookie down to about 1/4 inch thick. dip the fork prior to pressing each cookie.(Jonathan suggested they could be thinner and I agree.) Bake for 10-12 minutes. longer cooking may make them a little crispy.  Remove from oven and allow to cool. 

Enjoy with a nice glass of Soylent.

Let me know how your cookies turn out or 

if you have any suggestions for improvement. 

[leecaubleblog]

Baked Soylent

This is not my first attempt to bake with Soylent. During beta testing I made a few batches of peanut butter cookies.  I made a few mistakes with this batch of brownies but overall the taste and texture are OK. My hubby, who is not a soylent drinker, came home and cut himself a big piece. On first taste he knew these weren't regular brownies, but that did not stop him from finishing them.  The 2 biggest mistakes I made was pouring the powder into the bowl then adding the wet ingredients. Most baking recipes have you mix the wet ingredients first then adding the dry to the wet. I'm sure this will result in easier mixing and not overworking the batter. The second mistake was covering them before they were completely cooled.  This resulted in the crunchy crust that formed in baking getting soft and the brownies became sticky and difficult to cut. This was easily fixed by simply leaving the cover off overnight. As for the recipe:

Combine:

1 pouch of Soylent

1/2 cup of cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup sugar 

Mix together:

1 egg

1/3 cup vegetable oil (=1 bottle of Soylent oil blend)

2/3 cup +1 tablespoon  water

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Once the wet ingredients are combined slowly add the dry mix.  I used a whisk but an electric mixer on medium speed would work fine. If it is too dry add additional water at 1 tablespoon at a time but no more than a total of 1 cup of water. 

Grease the bottom and sides of a 8" x 12" glass dish.( I used good old Crisco. You could use the spray on products like Pam. Do not use butter) Pour in the mixture. Bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Insert a knife to check for doneness. If it comes out clean you are done. If the batter is still wet bake an additional 5 minutes.  

Please share your experience and feedback on this recipe.  I look at this as the scientific process and experiments should be reproducible by others.

ENJOY! 

[leecaubleblog]

Baked @Soylent #soylentme #soylenteer

[leecaubleblog]

Soylent 1.0 - The First Taste Experience

Last May I started as a Soylent beta tester with v.60. That first batch had promise.  The taste was pleasant and the texture was similar to a popular instant breakfast drink, a little gritty. It was missing something. I really found it necessary to begin experimenting with flavorings using flavor drops, fruit,  spices, and of course peanut butter. As each new version arrived there were obvious alterations. Most were in the texture but some were in the taste. By the time v.89 arrived I stopped adding flavoring to every glass.   Beta testing ended in November and I have been hungry for Soylent v1.0 to ship.  Today that wait is over. I visited Soylent headquarters and got to mix and savor what will be hitting doorsteps across America in about 10 days. There is an old saying “Good things come to those who wait.” Not everyone would agree with this sentiment but today I am happy to say the wait is over and yes it is a very good thing. 

Tearing open the pouch there is a very familiar aroma that evokes a distant memory. At first I couldn’t quite put a name to it.  I followed the directions on the packet. Pour the powder into the Takeya pitcher. I filled it ¾ with water, put the top on and - shake it up baby. Open the top and add the oil (adding the oil after you have dissolved the powder avoids clumping). Since I was going to consume my Soylent immediately I followed the suggestion to add about a cup of ice cubes then filled to the top with water. Cap back on and shake, shake, shake. This whole process took about 1 minute. No blender balls or immersion blenders. Pouring that first glass the aroma hits me again and I am beginning to identify it.  The first taste confirms it. I am having a malted milk shake! I am in heaven. You might think this taste would get tiresome but I can already tell it is going to accept flavoring to mix things up a bit very nicely. It took me a while to identify the malt because it is so subtle and most likely derived from the added flavoring that masks what would otherwise be a bitter taste from the vitamins. There is some texture but it is not gritty. I am wondering if that will dissipate completely after it sits a while and all of the powder soaks up more of the water? After an hour I go back for a second glass and hypothesis confirmed. It has become a smooth rich concoction.  There is no chalky aftertaste. In fact there is no aftertaste at all. And that malt has become even more subdued. With each sip I’m thinking “I want more!”

To fully enjoy the Soylent experience, mix it up the night before when possible. Come time to head out the door, pour into your favorite portable container and drink up. CHEERS!

[leecaubleblog]

The 5 month Soylent experience

I first heard about Soylent in February 2013. Matt and Rob had been working on various projects for the last 2 years.  In the course of one of our Sunday phone calls Matt told me about this drink Rob had come up with to replace food. I started asking questions. Why did he do this? How does he know this is safe? I didn’t know Rob well but I knew him enough that he was not much of a cook and one of his favorite meals was #1 on the combo menu at any fast food joint. By his own admission, his eating habits were poor at best and probably unhealthy for the long haul. In April I started getting more texts and calls. The most intriguing was “This stuff is amazing! It’s going to change food.” By May the crowdfunding campaign took off and that’s when I said, OK  I need to try this.

I started reading the info that was already out there; Rob’s blog, interviews and the discourse forum. I got a week’s worth and with it came instructions. Yes I became a guinea pig better known as a Beta tester. It came in a Ziploc baggie and the oil was mixed in with the dry ingredients.  It was beige and smelled a little sweet. The instructions said to mix it with 2-3 liters of water.  So I went for the 2 Liters. That first batch was not what I expected.

1.       It was lumpy. Stirring by hand left clumps of unincorporated Soylent. That’s when I bought an immersion blender. This solved the clumping problem which was actually a result of the oil and dry ingredients being pre-mixed. Since they began shipping them separate the immersion blender is not needed.  Now it is literally a 90 second shake in a 2 liter pitcher.

2.       The taste was a bit salty. This was a combination of things.  Using Tucson tap water added more minerals and that changed the taste profile. Also using only 2 liters of water was probably unwise. My next batch I used 2.5 liters of filtered water. The taste improved.

3.       Consuming that much Soylent took me 2 ½ days.  I was using Soylent for 2 meals a day and a snack.

In April prior to starting my experience  I had my labs done for my annual checkup.  I generally eat a pretty well balanced diet. I like veggies but I also like steaks and potatoes. Sunday is pasta. My biggest weakness in the sweets category is ice cream; High quality premium ice cream.  Overall my total cholesterol was good (under 200) but my LDL has always been on the high side and my triglycerides stay high. I hate exercise for the sake of exercise. I’ve walked from the Colosseum to Vatican City for the purpose of getting home after dinner. Just go out and run a mile – no not me.  In October after 5 months of consuming Soylent for about 70% of my meals I had my lab work repeated. Total cholesterol, LDL and Triglyceride improved about 20% overall. I’m especially happy that the triglycerides are now at the upper limit of normal.

   April 2013        (desired levels)        October 2013

Non HDL 146 mg/dl      (<160)             Non HDL 120 mg/dl

Total Cholesterol 189 mg/dl  (<200)    Total Cholesterol 162 mg/dl

Triglycerides  164 mg/dl  (<150)       Triglycerides  151 mg/dl

HDL Cholesterol    43 mg/dl   (>45)      HDL Cholesterol   42

LDL Cholesterol 113  mg/dl   (<130)    LDL Cholesterol   90  mg/dl

VLDL Cholesterol  33  mg/dl  (0-29)    VLDL Cholesterol 30 mg/dl

CHOL/ HDL Ratio 4.4   (<4.5)              Chol/HDL Ratio 3.9

 (These results are transcribed from the actual lab report. Because the lab report contains personal information I am not including it here.)

The results of my CMP (comprehensive metabolic panel) & CBC (complete blood count) were essentially unchanged, all remaining in the normal range.  I especially wanted assurance that liver enzymes, renal function as well as bone mineralization would not be impacted negatively by Soylent. In comparing the pre and post Soylent labs there was no need for concern.

I didn’t mention weight before because I am not looking at Soylent as a weight loss product. I have lost weight - about 6 pounds. While that is not a lot, for a postmenopausal woman who wasn’t trying to lose weight that is pretty good.

Probably most surprising was the way my approach to food has changed. When I eat something other than Soylent it is because I really want it, not because that’s what’s for dinner.  I’ve taken Soylent with me on 3 trips, one out of the country.(1)  Instead of the high fat breakfast buffet at the hotel, I had my Soylent to get me started. It was great. It made it easier to sit through long morning meetings without getting sleepy from trying to digest a lot of food.  When I do have whole food, I find I am satisfied with less.  Something others have mentioned is how you notice the smell of food, both the good and the bad.

Working with a young start up food company has been a surprisingly pleasant experience.  There have been some glitches along the way but Team Soylent has been quick to respond to criticism and to make changes when needed.  When a batch sent out was not up to quality control standards, they issued a recall to all beta testers and sent replacement product. The oil started showing up separate from the dry ingredients and this allowed for some additional customization as well as a better overall experience.I like peanut butter in my morning Soylent but this adds almost half a days worth of fat. So now I can just add half the oil. The taste and texture have evolved. The early beta had everything in one pack.(that was lumpy) then the vitamins came packaged separately with instructions to consume one of each (MVI and Omega) daily. Not so good for me as I am bad at taking any vitamins or medication on a regular basis. Then the MVI was mixed back in and the oil and omega were separate. (one of those was sour) From a bit salty and lumpy to sour and gritty to slightly sweet and a little texture. One of the best things, it has never had an unpleasant aftertaste. The last beta iteration had a very pleasant mouth feel and was still an excellent platform for additional flavoring. This last beta has a sweetener added in but it doesn’t have a sweet taste. It also is the easiest to mix with the dry ingredients and the oil and omega blend packaged separately. Now I don’t have to remember to take a pill.

I’ve become a bit of a flavor guru for Soylent and have probably better than 20 combinations just to keep it interesting. I’m working on putting the receipts together.(2) The Takeya 1.98L pitcher has been perfect for mixing my Soylent. Instead of measuring out the water, I put in the Soylent dry mix, fill about ¾ with filtered water and shake. Add the oil/omega blend and fill to the top with water, give it another little shake and done.  I now consume each batch of Soylent in 1 ½ days usually. There are some days that are all Soylent, usually though it’s all but dinner.

The beta test is over now and like others, I am waiting for my first batch of full production Soylent.  From what I hear it is going to be awesome!

1. Before traveling with my Soylent I split it up into individual serving sizes. I have a gram scale and portion out 70gm into Ziploc bags for a 500ml (16oz)serving. It’s easy to find a bottle of water to mix with that size. I have a nalgene bottle that it all goes into then shake .I’ve also opened the resealable pouch and mixed it with 500ml water as a base then poured about 1/4 into a bottle and added another 500ml water for a serving.   I don’t usually add flavoring when I travel since that would mean another thing to pack. If you are intent on having flavoring try Dasani pineapple coconut flavor drops for water. Just remember a little goes a long way. Soylent breakfast is much easier when trying to get ready for an early morning meeting. No waiting for a table or for food to be cooked and served. So I get to catch an extra 30 minutes shut eye. In Ecuador, lunch was a little sketchy some days. I just broke out my Soylent and had plenty of energy to work on the construction project in the afternoon.

2. Some of my favorite variations for Soylent is my breakfast boost and my mid-day smoothie. For breakfast I mix 2 cups (500ml) Soylent with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter and a banana. Throw it in a blender and go. If you don’t want the extra fat but all the flavor of PB try “Just Great Stuff" powdered peanut butter. I’ll mix up 500ml Soylent with frozen fruit for a smoothie. My favorite  is mango pineapple. I add about ¼ cup of each into the blender then take it with me to work for a snack. For a little more protein and a thicker drink I add ½ cup of plain Greek yogurt. If the Greek yogurt is too tart add a tablespoon of honey or other sweetener. If you are looking for something that doesn’t take a blender add a little cinnamon and vanilla or try 1 tablespoon Hershey’s unsweetened cocoa powder with 1 teaspoon chili powder and 1 teaspoon cinnamon for a Mexican Chocolate. A little decadent!  Just put it in your bottle and shake. Enjoy!

soylentme

[leecaubleblog]

WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST HUMAN MEMORY?

playing in the snow at my granparents

[leecaubleblog]

Reflections on Ecuador

What an incredible 10 days I had in Ecuador.  My initial reaction to the poverty was quickly replaced by a profound appreciation for the daily kindness of the people I met.  On our first work day, we walked into the school yard with 8 large piles of rock and dirt waiting to be moved. It was going to be exhausting and rewarding.  Our saving grace was the overcast sky and the relatively pleasant 85 degrees.   This changed in the afternoon when the clouds cleared and he sun heated up. But we had more grace to come. Walter! I’ve said it before and I will say it again – He is superman! We learned that Walter is not only a guy who can work hard, he can move the community. On our first morning we were alone.  We were 9 middle age (mostly) American men and women working with our Ecuadorian site supervisor to build this concrete court. Walter told us he did not know about our plan to do this project but that he would be sure we had help the next day. Sure enough as parents brought their kids to school they came over to start work on the piles. Men, women and even some children came to help. Some even brought their own shovels or buckets.  One of our SMA crew learned that there were no plans to use reinforcing wire for our slab because there was not enough money in the budget. She asked Gabriel how much it would cost. $800. She went to the liaison from the church and had him take her to the supplier. She paid for the needed supplies out of her own pocket. She also had seen the saw Gabriel was using was not the sharpest tool. She bought him a new saw. The supplies were delivered later that day. She also learned that Gabriel had someone he worked with but again no money to pay him.  Gabriel told her it would cost $20 a day. She said “get him here tomorrow.” Every day she pulled $25 from her pocket to pay him. (These were 9 hour workdays) When I found out, I gave her money to help with the next week’s salary.  

We mixed concrete on the ground with shovels. 10 loads of sand, 10 loads of gravel, 6 bags of concrete mix, add water and shovel like hell to mix. Place in wheelbarrow and role to prepared site. Level with a 2x1 and finish with a broom. That gets about a third of the area for each 8x40 foot section covered. So repeat.  Oh I forgot to mention, at about 2pm each day the water would be turned off. This was just a habit of the caretaker to be sure water would not be wasted since school was out and usually there would be no need for water in the afternoon. (Water is delivered a few times a week via a tanker to fill the well.) After the second day, he got it that we needed water to be on till 4pm. We were sure to not let it run when not being used.  

At the end of each workday, Gabriel and Jose would go into the store room and change from their work clothes.  Chris, our youngest team member at just 21, would go to one of the local “stores” and buy some beer. The term store is used lightly here. The store would be the front of someone’s home maybe with a case with some candy and a fridge with drinks. Some days he could get 6 bottles some days 4. Gabriel would finally sit down and he would begin with a story and then a song.  All in Spanish that most of us didn’t understand. Well not the words, but we knew what he was singing because of the expression of his face and hands. He sang about loss and grief and tears and joy.  Gabriel lost his wife 14 years ago and he is only 42. He has raised his 3 daughters and he is soon going to be a grandfather.  One of his songs was about losing your love.  On the day the bishop visited, Gabriel and Jose put their beer behind their chairs. We all found it very funny. Given the priest had just delivered a sermon about drinking on the previous Sunday, I guess not so surprising.

On our last day Walter returned wearing a pair of yellow duck boots.  At some point someone got a look at his feet. They were cracked and red. They took him to the clinic. They treated him and gave him medication to help heal the sores. John learned Walter’s shoe collection was limited. That day, John took off his shoes and socks, washed them out and gave them to Walter. John worked the rest of the day in a pair of flip flops.

That last afternoon was really hot. We were all exhausted but Gabriel and Jose were not quitting. So we could not quit.  But Chris and Ali had developed a following among the kids. By that afternoon the kids were glued to them. Next thing they were all playing a game that sort of looked like volleyball but using a soccer ball so they were throwing it over the net. Not as easy as it sounds. More kids joined in as their parents were waiting to be seen in the clinic.

Final count for the week was 675 people seen in the clinic and another over 200 just for glasses.

By that last day I saw more than poverty. I saw kind, generous, happy people who welcomed 26 strangers into their community and could not say thank you enough.  I learned a lot that week. I learned I am grateful for the gifts I have been given in this life; my family, my home, clean water, bountiful meals, my health. Thank you neighborhood Guyca! 

[leecaubleblog]

Meeting Superman

We started out first day of work in Ecuador facing 8 piles of rock and dirt. This was to be the base of our concrete basketball court we are building this week. So how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. How do you move 8 piles of rock and dirt? One shovel at a time. So 9 of us began the attack on the first pile. At times it seemed there was more rock than dirt. We easily hauled out a ton of large rock. By lunch time we thought we had made good progress. We had nearly finished one pile. We have 2weeks to complete the project so a pile a day sounds right. Then he appeared-Superman. In kaki pants,a dark blue shirt and cap. Superman's name is Walter. Walter has 3 kids in the school and he is the president of the parent board. Walter came to work. In one hour he moved more dirt than 9 of us in 4. The dirt just flew off his shovel and ended up exactly where it needed to be. We now have a new workforce equivalent. Walters. As in how many Walters does it take to cover a 100x80 foot yard with concrete in one day? 7. When Walter told us he could not come back till Thursday we were crushed. Collectively we screamed ";noooo". Lucky for us, 8 little Walters showed up the next day. The dirt is spread. Now we wait fir more supplies.

[leecaubleblog]

Poverty is in the eye of the beholder

Two days ago I came to Ecuador do do something I've waited 50years for. Ever since Kennedy announced the peace corp I wanted to go somewhere to help others. I know there are a lot of people in our country who live in poverty. I thought I had seen poverty. But today was something I had never seen before. It wasn't just a neighborhood or 2. This was an entire city. Water is collected in drums when it rains. When they are empty they are covered with whatever can be found to keep the bugs out. Two boys came running up to us to tell us about the iguana they had caught and were going to have for dinner. Ten children and 3 adults were going to share what looked like about 2 pounds of meat, if that. And they were smiling saying they might try to catch another. They were proud to tell us about the family of 13 that lived in a home that was maybe 120 square feel elevated about 3 feet off the ground to avoid flooding in the rainy season. Every person I met was smiling and welcoming. Tomorrow we start work at the clinic and school. We are probably going to see over 500 people this week at the clinic. We will be building a concrete pad in the school yard so the kids will have a place to play year round . There is a fine dust that blows through the air in this dry season that covers everything. There are no windows with glass to keep it out. In the rainy season it becomes a mud pit. So we will make a dry place for the kids to play. As I met these wonderful people who welcomed us to their city and into their homes I wondered-do they know how poor they are? Do they wish they could have the everyday convinces we take for granted like running clean water and indoor plumbing? I walked streets today with chickens and dogs and cows. And children who just wanted to say hello. Yes I saw poverty. But I also saw families doing what they can every day, in a country with over 30% unemployment, to have food and shelter. I felt the generosity of their hearts at a small reception they had to welcome us with fruit that surely came from their own homes. I am honored and grateful for this chance to perhaps make a small difference in even one person's life. What I see as poverty, they live as life.

[leecaubleblog]

What I learned this week.

I am a leader. I learned that to be a leader you have to stare down a crazy person and maintain complete composure while everyone around you is freaking out with fear. I learned that this week was not the scariest day of my life. That happened 24 years ago when I picked my baby boy up from the babysitter and he was like a limp rag. That sitting in the back of an ambulance racing through traffic all that goes through your head is “Get out of the way you stupid asses. My baby is sick.” I learned the importance of being able to smile when inside all you are thinking is “How the hell will this end? Why is this happening? Can I convince them all that everything is Ok?” This week I was tested to my limits. I was able to maintain composure while a crazy man yelled incomprehensible crap at me. I learned just how far I can be pushed before I call in the cavalry. When someone threatens my team, I will not back down. I am stronger than I ever imagined. I am no victim and I am no one’s patsy. (Which as I learned in 2007 with that baby I almost lost, comes from an Italian family feud with a very bloody ending?) Despite all that happened this week I have no sense of relief, no I am not grateful for the ending. Despite all of the threats, and dozens of phone calls and pages of notes, I do not feel victorious. I am sad that such things happen to someone that it turns them into a raving lunatic. We can say that we all have things happen to us and we all don’t go off and scream at people for saying hello. We can say that someone needs to deal with the past and move on and take responsibility for their actions now. Some things happen to some people that forever damages them. And for people who already have flaws it only makes them worse. I learned this week that what we do to our children lives with them forever. I learned that being in charge is more than a title. Being a leader is standing against all the horrible things that were done by someone else to someone else to protect the people you lead. 

[leecaubleblog]

Nothing but Soylent - Day 5

Day 5 and no more auditors. My boss planned a pizza party for the staff as a thank you. He also made sure there were fresh fruit and veggies available. The pizza wasn’t appealing but in the spirit of community I sat down to have some of the veggies and fruit. Just enough to be present and participate and to say thank you to our staff.  Soylent still was the primary nutrition source for my day.  Ken brought Popeye’s chicken home for dinner. Just before Ken came home I had a large glass of Soylent so eating was not about being hungry, just having time with family.  I had a piece of chicken and one of those fabulous biscuits. We talked about how our day went and what was coming up.  

Did I fail my nothing but Soylent experiment?  I don’t think so. I have learned that yes I can survive on Soylent for an entire day- even two.  I’ve also learned how important sitting down to dinner with my family is to me.  I was talking with a friend about how hard it is for him to get his family to sit down together for dinner now that his kids are getting older and I realized how we have made this a priority at our house without even trying. When Matt comes home, he makes it a point to be home for dinner between plans with his friends. Although he may be going out to dinner with friends he will sit down and have something with the family.

I also learned how aware I am of the smell of food. This is a powerful stimulant. So I think for those of us who especially enjoy food and cooking the smell is an important part of the experience. I have recently realized Soylent smells like malted milk. For me this is a pleasant smell and reminds me of my childhood. Could I live on Soylent alone? Yes. Would I want to? Probably not.  I am happy with the ease and completeness of Soylent to meet my needs throughout the day.  I like it on its own and with flavorings.  My final verdict is I’ll have Soylent around as part of my daily nutrition. It will most likely continue to replace my meals throughout the day while I have dinner with the family.

For those considering Soylent, do it because it fits your life and it will give you the nutrition you need. Do it to feel better. Do it for more time in your day. Do it because it tastes good!