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...

conference call....check

Guess what happens when you have several women...and one man...on a conference call??? Are you there, Lance? lol Thanks so much for all the helpful insight our fearless leader Stacy shared with us last night. I had difficulty sleeping following the conversations...thinking of what I needed to remember to bring...what not to do....what to have arranged ahead of time... But mostly, I worried. I worry that I don't know how to prepare myself for seeing and hearing the children we will not be able to feed...even though they will ask. I worry that I won't be able to "listen" and will do too much "talking." But mostly...I worry about seeing the women, with babies strapped their backs, who will plead with us to take their precious children back to America. To a family. To a house. To a doctor. To clean food and water. I don't think they have dreams of ... let's see... the dress up clothes, the gymnastics lessons, the birthday parties, the soccer teams...No, I'm quite sure they don't even imagine any of that.

Kidane Mehret Children's Home

This is the orphanage that we will be visiting in Addis. So many sweet faces!!!

Thanks for the contributions....still collecting!!

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