Exciting pre-travel news!

This just in from Stacy... "I am so excited! we are going to be able to put the beds together!!!!!!! In the houses. I can not believe we are getting this opportunity! We also have decided to buy a family bed (big bed) because most houses will not hold a bunk style. We are going to be able to purchase 17 beds, 17 mattresses and 17 blankets!!! AHHHHHH. In other news karlee and I visited the dump area today. Kill us now. We also did 7 home visits. love you all see you all soon!!!" Cool..... And on a side note, we did reach our goal of collecting nearly 100 sets of sheets for the students who will be re-entering school in the fall. They will be so excited!!!

100 or bust

This is what 100 pounds of donations looks like...all bagged up and tidy. Unzip the zipper and you will have an explosion of scientific proportions. lol. It's a good thing at least one of the bags has wheels. And I actually went to Target the other day to buy a "smaller" bag for my own belongings because I thought the suitcase I planned on taking was too big. haha. I needed room for the extras that didn't fit in my two allotted humanitarian aid bags, and then there is the whole female problem of not knowing what to bring to wear.....but at least I won't be alone...I bet Susan is struggling as well!! Thanks to all my awesome friends!! I've been blessed!

Geek post

I recently read on my favorite science Facebook page that Neil Armstrong landed on the moon ... Controlled by a computer that was less powerful than a iPhone. So I think I can make it to Ethiopia and back... Take lots of photos, update the blog, keep in touch with family through Skype, check on and confirm flights and entertain myself with games and music all on one device . Got my new phone today... Almost ready to go!

Can Twizzlers make your poop red?

Just curious.....

SOOO excited. Began packing tonight...because the stuff is taking over my sewing room. So far it weighs in at 106 pounds of donated sheets (27 sets!), shoes for the kids, soccer balls, bubbles and school supplies. That's over my weight limit and I didn't even pack the Twizzlers yet! A third bag will be needed. :) Just having a little panic attack over actually maneuvering the bags into the airport...hmm...I'll have to get a cart or something. Our fearless leader Stacy has arrived in Ethiopia with her awesome girls. I can't wait to give them all a big hug! One of Ellie's favorite teachers asked me today..."What will she do without you for two weeks?" My reply: She will spend the 4th of July weekend on Long Island at my parents "retreat" where she will swim and go to the beach and play with her cousins, she will go to theater camp for a week (which she LOVES!), ride her bike and hunt for bugs after dinner, be spoiled by relatives and friends, and take care of the boys left at home by trying to do all the "mommy chores" by herself. On second thought...I could probably stay a month before she notices I'm gone!

...3 weeks and counting

Most frequent 5 questions I am asked about my trip..... 1. Are you going for service or vacation? This is a trip of service that I am choosing and will be accompanied by women I love to be with. Does that make it both? Given that there is no sewerage or running water...I would opt for the "service" option...but then again...I could have booked a Carnival Cruise... 2. How long is the plane ride? I don't know and am purposely not trying to figure out. Given that their are so many time changes...it will either take one hour or two days. 3. Will you miss Ellie? Don't be silly. I miss my daughter when I go to work EVERY DAY!!! But, I am good at this. 4. Isn't that a dangerous part of the world? From most accounts I've read...I don't believe so. The people are poor. Just very..very..poor. That doesn't make them dangerous. Cancoun is likely to be a more crime stricken area to travel to. 5. Are you excited? ....this....is the question I hear most often from my good friends. The friends that really know me. The friends that can see my face and know my heart and know what makes me tick. And they are only sharing in the adventure by asking, because they already know the answer. xxx.

Not for the squeemish!

visit to the UCONN travel clinic...check. 6 immunizations later...3 advil, a big plate of pasta for dinner... and enough information handouts on scary infectious diseases to wall paper a small room. The good news is I figured out my BMI from the charts and I was pleasantly surprised. ;) But still, no big frosted donut like Ellie had after her tooth extraction last week! 4 more weeks until travel...