New Job, New City

Forsyth Park

Row of historic houses

My office

My office's square

Well there ya go...an overview of what I know of Savannah so far...it is pretty and where my office is located. I'll have to update y'all with something more exciting once I get to know this place and job a little better....and oh yeah, if I ever meet any friends. :) Until then, just let the beauty of Savannah entice you to come visit me.

Up the Creek Without A...

...Paddle, Boat, Clue. What a time in Nigeria. I can't really begin to describe the time I had there. It was a good experience - no doubt - but I can't see myself rushing back to visit again. The children are amazing but the adults are not so great. Geographically it's a stunning country, but the big cities tend to spoil it with their overcrowding and pollution. It'll be interesting to see what comes of it. Hopefully the oil companies who have set themselves up in the south will begin to invest some money back into the economy. I hope these pics give you a glimpse of what my time was like there...

This is Aso Rock in Abuja. This is what the
landscape is like in Jos where Ben Onono's
family is from.

This is our driver Ado. He didn't wear deoderant and I was reminded of the fact everytime I opened the door to his minivan. Ewww!


This is Alex and I in Jos. The Onono's home town.

The name of this statue is the Statue of the Big Woman - very inventive. They're really into statues of women breastfeeding for some reason.

From Jos we made our way to a game reserve about 2 1/2 hrs. north. We arranged for a driver to take us there who were were told had a very reliable car. These are some kids we met on the side of the road selling fruit.

This is us on the side of the road after our driver with the very reliable car broke down. That's me on the right with wet naps going to do a woodsie.

So we had to hail down a bush taxi to take us to the game reserve. As it opened it's doors to us this boy's chickens flew out and he spent a few minutes rounding them up before we could continue on the journey.

In the game reserve we experienced another road trouble in that an 18 wheeler was blocking the path so the locals, instead of trying to move the 18 wheeler, just cut down the trees on one side so we could go around. There's a baboon, that we saw. It didn't wipe it's bottom and it was really gross.

This was the entrance to the warm springs.

That's me in the warm springs looking tired b/c our 2 1/2 hr journey took 4 1/2 and we only had 45 minutes there b/c we couldn't travel at night.

After Jos we flew to Lagos. Near Lagos is a town called Badagry that was a huge port for slave trade. The people of this village had to pass through something called the Point of No Return. From there they would be shipped to the US or Europe. 1 in 5 surived the journey. After hearing the horrors of this I was greeted by my favorite baby in Nigeria relaxing under a table with some puppies. How fat is that baby?!?!

These are some more kids from Badagry. They loved my digital camera.

This is a boat we rented in Lagos. We took it to Tarkwa Bay where Alex was greeted by the Equator Sun and turned a bright shade of lobster.

This is the infamous Lagos 'go slow' - their version of a traffic jam. NUTS!!! People go in between lanes and sell you all kinds of things from ironing boards to the ever important toilet seat.

That's it! What a trip! How exhausting/interesting...we'll see where's next to conquer.
Lots of love,
Court

OK GO Treadmill Dance

I just love it so much.

Christmas Plea

Christmas Plea

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Corporate Accounts, Brooke Speaking...Just a Moment

Sometimes I think I'm wearing a shirt that says, "All weirdos please approach and be weird!"

I was in the midst of a conversation with Brittany as I walked into the building that houses Starbucks Regional Headquarters (my temp job from the land of boredom). I noticed an older man, about 60, kind of check me out which of course made me feel weird....down there. I didn't really think much of it because who doesn't get checked out at least daily by old Greek men?

I bet you are wondering, "Hmmm...how does she know he was Greek? Was he too wearing a novelty t-shirt maybe stating his love for Feta?" I found out because as mentioned above he decided to approach and be weird.

The following is a transcript of the conversation:

Creepy Old Greek (COG): Excuse me....(in heavy Greek accent)

Brooke (BG): Britt hold on for a sec (to the phone)...yes? (to COG)

COG: I have woman upstairs interviewing for receptionist. Her name is Becky. Are you Becky?

BG: Um..no (look of confusion).

COG: I need receptionist. Answer phones. You answer phones? You a receptionist? You want job?

BG: I'm sorry (thoughts that this man might have escaped from the local mental institution/nursing home run through head). I just actually accepted a job, but thank you.

COG: Yes...I thought that was you (Exit stage Left).

BG: Right...

Brittany: "What just happened?"

BG: "I just got offered a job to be a creepy old guy's receptionist."

After I returned upstairs to tell my co-workers (the one that talks to me) about how weird that was. She looks quite a bit like me (lucky gal), and stopped me mid-sentence. She asked if he offered me a job. She then revealed that he asks her about every other day if she wants to be his receptionist.

So yes, I'm on to the COG and his ploy to recruit a plethora of blonde receptionists to be at his beck and call, and I quickly went back downstairs and gave him Carrington's number.



JK!!!!

THINGS THAT MAKE COURTNEY LAUGH #1

Artsy Fartsy

Thank you to everyone who contributed their very valuable opinions to my career options. It was an overwhelming victory in favor of the Savannah College of Art and Design, and I have accepted a job with them to commence on September 5th. So yes finally I have a job!!!! Woo hoo...confetti....trumpets...applause!

I do believe that I will have to steal Russell and Luke's line, "Now THAT is art!", for when I visit all these aspiring, beret wearing, splatter painting artists in the making. Don't worry I will not be converted into calling a pile o' poo art....unless its in a heart shape..."Now THAT is art!"

Works everytime.

Two Roads Diverged in a Yellow Wood

Hey there avid blog readers. I need your help. I've come upon a cross road, and being a woman, I'm asking for directions. Here's the deal. I've been offered two job opportunities.

1) Savannah College of Art and Design - Student Recruitment - Savannah, Georgia
2) Balcones Resources (yes Daddy's company) - Sales and Client Relationship Management - Farmers Branch, Texas

What is a girl to do? Stay in Dallas and save money? Go to Savannah and experience its beauty and travel?

So take a vote...your gut instinct. What do you think I should do? What do you think I would be better at? I need your input and advice.

Brooke

A Love Letter to London

Dear London,

Why did you have to ruin me the way you did? No other cities will come close to your sophistication, class and entertaining ways. I will look at all other cities with disdain because they are not my fair London.

I miss you like the sails miss the wind. Remember our song? I can't even listen to it without tearing up. I know I'm pathetic, but I just can't seem to get over you.

Isn't there someway you can take me back? Its true, I admit it, I am an Anglophile, and you are the reason London. You have broken me in so many ways, and now I will do whatever it takes for us to be reunited.

Please don't make me beg. You know how I feel. It hurts enough as it is, and I dream of the days when I'll be back on your cobblestone streets and drinking in your pubs. I am a broken woman.

Yours always and forever,

Brooke

.... New Forest bound

Well, it's been a while since we posted on the blog so we thought we'd add some photos.
Later this afternoon we're off to Bob & Joyce's in the New Forest. (http://www.thenewforest.co.uk/) Bob has made some home brew ale and both Alex and myself are slightly concerned.
The weather over here is nice now - we actually have the doors to our apartment open most of the time. Brittany... book your flights!!! Actually, while we're on flights, we want y'all to come over this summer / sometime this year. And dad ... we don't have to stay more than a day in London - we can take you down to Devon (see photos) and stay at Pat & Pete's the rest of the time.

"WOOF" ... A Devon doggy

Court thought it was strange (and amusing) that you can buy a pizza over here with an egg on it. So we took a photo

Mark & Ivy ... looks like the Gogerty's are off to live in Austin in March!

Court on the beach in Devon ... the weather got better (eventually)

Courty & Ivy (don't get any ideas GM / Gina G) ... this is Mark & Staci's baby... .and she looks EXACTLY like Mark!



......>
English Neil comes to stay

AL, MILES & SARAH on the beach. England has beaches.
"I like SALCOMBE"

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Yes I am headed back to Texas. I Brooke Getter am officially homeless, penniless and 20 pounds overweight. Ok so the overweight thing is a bit of an exaggeration, but the rest is just so Stuart Smalley and 2/3 the truth!

Anyway...below is my flight information. I was really resisting booking this ticket, a bit of denial I guess. So anyone have any good job leads?

April 5, 2006
London Gatwick (LGW) 10:35am
Dallas Ft Worth (DFW) 2:30pm
British Airways
Duration: 9hr 55min Class: Economy Aircraft: BOEING 777 Miles: 4747

piccies: don't forget, you can click on each pic to enlarge

Carrington just up the road from Pat & Pete's
Court, Carrington and Sabina. Carrington flew into London for just three nights. But it was a blast!
Sabs, Coops and Court in Pat & Pete's 'gypsy caravan'.

Down on the Farm

OK so Courtney and Alex now live in Rotherhithe. And Rotherhithe has its own farm (check out: http://www.angelfire.com/pop2/surreydocksfarm/)
Here's Alex petting a sheep.
Here's Court clearly enjoying the pungent aroma of Surrey Docks Farm.
Up close and personal
Mmmm, sunshine
Here's poops & Sabs at Pat & Pete's.