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Well, in one of my previous blogs I wrote that there was the possibility of travling to Tanzania this summer, and I’m here to tell you… it’s on! I leave for my big adventure on July 11th, and with an overnight in Amsterdam, I’ll be on my way to Tanzania for just a little over a week.

Google Earth is such a wonderful thing! I am a girl who does not travel hardly at all, and I’ve never been outside the US, so this will be an adventure for sure. But, as you all know you can get onto Google Earth and check out pictures other people have posted from places all over the world, so I’ve been ‘touring’ all over Amsterdam, which had been both helpful and sometimes humorous. On Google Earth I get to see the Anne Franke House, all the shops and squares, the sidewalk potties..OMG- have you seen the outdoor sidewalk potties? Crack me up! I’ve never seen anything like that before! But it’s so much better than having people pee on the sidewalks….

Oh, and they also have a Prostitution information Center.. always helpful I guess, if I ever lose my job here. I mean, do they have brochures and pamphlets on the subject.. sortof like what you would get at a job fare? is there someone there to answer all my questions… is there vacation pay? Again, this is just something we don’t have here and it’s funny. And don’t forget marijuana is legal in Amsterdam. A friend told me the other day I could have some hash with or for breakfast, and seriously… my mind went straight to hashbrowns… or that corn hash stuff…. I never even went to the marijuana! It wasn’t until I was telling my boyfriend about the conversation that he pointed out what she meant by ‘hash’. We got a good laugh out of that one.

I went the other day and got my shots, but will still need to go back for the best shot of all.. yellow fever. Now, I’m going off my Humira just so I can get this shot right before I leave in July. So we’ll have to wait and see how all of that goes as there are no studies o fhow things go once one goes back on Humira. Will i end up getting yellow fever or not? We’ll have to wait and find out.

I’ve got my tickets and my passport, I’ll be buying a few travel pieces of clothing to take with me.. and soon I’ll be all ready. I’m getting both excited and nervous about my trip. It’s just going to be a very long trip!!

So I will go visit some of the lodges in Tanzania where we have our clients stay. Check out the lodge grounds, amenities, etc. I’ll stay overnight at a few of the lodges and then there will be about 3 nights of tent camping in the National Parks, which should be fun. An experience of a lifetime!

I will also spend my last 2 days touring some non-profit orphanages and secondary schools between Arusha and Moshi. Now most of these places will have AIDS victims, children mostly, but adults too. I am sure this experience will impact my life greatly…. we just don’t have this kind of sadness here. We have our own poverty struggles, but not like in Africa and other parts of the world. I have never thought about how I would feel seeing and holding an infant or small child that I know is dying. To them it’s a way of life.. what they know. It’s very sad.

I will post my pictures when I get back, probably on the www.choroa.com website, as that is the Safari Company I work for and will be using for my trip. Although I don’t think I will put the orphanage pictures on that site, but I’ll keep everyone posted as to where the other photos will be.

I will also be going to a village that Simon Mtuy of Summit Expeditions & Nomadic Experience does alot of work in outside of Moshi.. I think it’s outside Moshi. He was just here in Bend, and he held a few speaking engagements. Very nice guy. i met him one morning and we spoke about where he grew up, his Kilimanjaro climbing and the company he owns that leads guided trips up Kilimanjaro. You can check Simon out at www.nomadicexperience.com

Anyway, as my trip gets closer, I’ll try and write, and then I’ll for sure write when I get back

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About once a year my boyfriend and I will spend the day making tamales the old fashion way… well, except for the help of the Kitchen Aid mixer.

I had the idea when we were in Texas over a year ago. I had never had a tamale in my life, but we had some very yummy ones while we were there visiting his family. So, when we came back home I said we needed to find a good recipe and try to make some tamales of our own. The first time we tried making tamales, it took ALL DAY! I think we just needed to find our groove, because when we made them just recently, it didn’t take quite as long.

Anyway- We put it all on the web for other people to look at and use the recipe too- check out www.makingtamales.com

 You have to try them! They’re sooooo yummy!

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No matter how old I get, I’ve decided there are just some things that I, as a woman, must do, no matter what.

Now, I know my friends, family and boyfriend may not understand my reasoning, but maybe someone else out there reading this will agree with me.

It never fails when I leave the house, looking less than presentable that I bump into someone I know, or someone who knows someone I know.  Every single freaking time!!

I was staying with my sister in Portland (no-not the cute one j ), and she asked if I was going to shower and all that before taking my son to the airport at 4am the next morning. I immediately said yes, but then after we talked about it a little more, I came to the conslusion that I wasn’t going to bump into anyone I knew at the Portland Airport at 4 in the morning. So why bother getting myself all dolled up, just to come back and go back to bed?

So the next morning I got up, brushed my teeth. Put my hair up in a clip, did the best job I could do with unshowered bangs, got dressed and was out the door. No shower, no makeup, no hair done just right. But I was proud I did it. I wasnt going to worry about who saw me… I had no one to impress…. I mean- who was going to be at the airport at 4 in the morning?

Well, so I was sitting there at the airport at 4 in the morning, when much to my surprise, the best friend of a guy who I had been seeing years earlier came up and said hi. Actually he came up and said “I know you don’t I?” Well, right there I could have died. I smiled back and said “yes.. yes you do.” After exchanging ‘hellos’, and meeting his new wife- they were off flying out for their honeymoon.

When I got back to my sisters house she was up and I had to tell her all about it. Told her I was sure he was going to tell the other guy he bumped into me and boy did I look like hell… and it would have been the truth!

Well, so this morning I said to myself… who was I going to see at the store while I got a coffee and some cat food? My loving and adoring boyfriend doesn’t understand a womans need to look presentable.. but bless him.. he’s a guy.

So there we are getting out of my car, he sees a couple getting out of their car, whom he and his ex wife knew. He’s told me about these people and how they’re a little anoying, and I’ve actually met the husband a few times, but never the wife. The wife works with the ex-wife- so I’m sure you can see where this might be going…. The guy seems nice enough, but then again, when you meet someone for only a few seconds it’s tough to really know anything about them, or how annoying they may or may not be.  And I didn’t want to see them, because of course my first thought is, OMG- my hair isn’t done, I don’t have any make up on, and I’m looking frumpy in my sweats…. and they’re going to go back to the ex wife and say.. “oh- we saw so and so this weekend, and man, is his new girl uuuuugllllyyy!”….. ‘You look so much better than she does”…. or “man, did he make a big step down after you”.

Ok- call me shallow, but as the new girl, you want to make an impression of the good kind.. not the man she’s scary kind.

Well, once my boyfriend sees this couple, he all of a sudden ducks sortof behind me and rushes me, almost in a walking fast sprint into the store where we proceed to walk as quickly as we can, without actually running, to an isle so we can hide out. And while hiding out, I found some really cute hair clips…..

 We wait there until it’s clear and we proceed as cautiously as possible through the store for the few items we came in for, do the quick self check out.. and we’re back out the door. A quick stop at the coffee shop, for coffee to go, and into my car.

I was actually surprised we didn’t bump into them on an isle.. thats usually what happens when you’re trying to avoid someone- you still end up bumping into them. And I guess you can’t very well, turn and run when you do see them round the end of the isle you’re on, coming towards you. I mean, I guess you could…… but that woud be a little too obvious I think.

So my lesson….(and I’m sorry honey) if I want a Starbucks coffee in the morning, I’m either going to have to put my sunglasses on, and go to the drive through over on 27th, or I’m going to have to drag my butt out of bed a little earlier and get all pretty to go to the Fred Meyers Starbucks so I can get groceries at the same time.

I have a trip to Africa coming up, and I wasn’t going to worry about make up and fixing my hair while on safari and all, but with my luck I’ll bump into someone else I know.. so I may have to rethink that one.

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Hey- check these out… I came across them while looking for travel stuff on Tanzania for my upcoming trip….

www.safariweek.com

www.expeditionreview.com

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I found out last week that there is a chance that I may be send to Tanzania in July or August of this year, for business. The President of company I work for here locally, has a small photo Safari company that we’ve been slowly working on, and hoping to make larger and attract more business,  www.choroa.com

Over this past year, I think we’ve done pretty well for ourselves.. booking a few more safaris than normal. As of January we already had 2 safaris booked for 2008, and that’s pretty good if you look at where we were this time last year. We’ve recently appreared in Luxury Travel Advisor magazine, (http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/lta0208/index.php), we’re on page 65- and this is a beautiful magazine by the way!

We’ve appeared locally in ”The Source” newspaper, which was exciting,,,and we also have an article coming out in April in an Atlanta based Mens Magazine called ’Tuxedo Road’.

So, for a girl who has never traveled outside the US, and really only been to a few states here, I have to get my passport, and a bunch of shots.Whoo hoo! Can’t wait for those! Actually, giving myself Humira shots every two weeks I’m used to needles, but I’m still only ok with them- they still hurt no matter how many times you get them. At least I won’t be doing the yellow fever one. I can’t have live virus injections, so we’ll bypass that one, and as long as I don’t stop in a country that requires the yellow fever injection, I won’t need one to get into Tanzania. And I say a big ol’ AMENto that one, cause I hear that one REALLY hurts!

So, there I will be, little girl in big Africa. This a trip that could not happen at any point in time, so I don’t want to get too excited about it, but inside I’m squealing like a 14 year old girl! This is such a great opportunity that may never come around again. And to experience a place I’ve only read about or seen on National Geographic, and the Discovery Channel.

And since this is business, I will be traveling around Tanzania, where the Safari company is based. Visiting lodges, hotels, and staying in camp. Yes, I said camp. I’ll be staying some of my time in a tent in the middle of the wild. A lion could easily walk through camp, or I could be awaken by a heard of elephants. Can you imagine, while eating your breakfast beans and toast in the morning, seeing a lion walk around your tent? ok- I’d probably crap my pants right about then.. possibly even before, but OMG- can you imagine? This is going to be amazing!

I won’t be there totally alone. I’ll be traveling with some people from the travel industry, and one of Choroa’s partners Themmy, a very big guy in African standards will have to be my protector. Is it ok to say that being that far away from home is sort of  scary? I mean to be in a  foreign place, where i don’t know where anything is, and I only know 1 person…this will definitially be different…

Even with all the wild animals running around, and the bugs, this is still just an extrodinary opportunity that I cannot pass up. I mean- who gets a paid trip to Africa? Did I mention this is going to be amazing?

Anyway- I’ll keep everyone posted as the trip gets closer, and I’ll take lots of pictures that we’ll post on the Choroa website for sure. 

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Seems you can’t listen to the radio, watch the tv or surf the internet without hearing about the latest news on the death of actor Heath Ledger.

Of course, I didn’t know him, but I still feel it is such a tragic loss of such a great and talented man. I have watched almost every Heath Ledger movie, and I feel he was just beginning to make his mark in the movie industry. He’s alot like Johnny Depp, I think, in the fact that neither of these men seem to get the attention they deserve. They have each played such diverse and controversial roles, with very little attention. Sure we might like the movie, but these great actors themselves don’t seem to grab the attention they deserve.

Maybe it’s because these guys are just so down to earth, and just all around nice normal guys.  Humble. They like to live as normal as possible, out of the glaring spot light, which makes them a world apart from the Brad Pitts, and Matthew McConaugheys of the red carpet.

For those of us who did see “Broke Back Mountain” I have to say for me, I think that was Heath’s greatest role to date. I know it was a controversial film, but for me it was such a great love story. And yes.. I did say it was controversial! But you have to look beyond that part of it to see the real characters and the story play out. And towards the end of the film where Heath opens his closet and you see the two shirts hanging on the one hanger…. just made me cry. That was such a nice touch on that story.

I’ve heard recent chatter from the film industry, of possibly not releasing the newest of the Batman series “The Dark Knight” which is set for release in July. Warner Bros. isn’t sure how fans will receive this release, since it is Heath Ledger’s last full movie he filmed before his death. “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” the film Heath was currently working on has been suspended, deciding whether to re-cast or abandon the project.

This fan hopes they stick with their scheduled release of “The Dark Knight” .  There has been so much hype and advertising for this movie, and I have been patiently waiting for it’s release. Sure, it might be controversial to release the movie, but it could also be a way for his fans to honor him and his last great role. A sort of ‘going out in a blaze of glory’. I heard Heath did such a tremendous job with this character, and I for one would love to see him as the joker!

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You know… as the years go on, everyone and everything around us seems to get more ‘politically’ correct.. with everyone trying to please everyone else. I say enough!!

In Australia this year, they were telling store Santa’s not to say “Ho Ho Ho” because it may or may not be offensive to women. I’m sorry.. but when I hear “Ho Ho Ho” especially coming from Santa, I would have never even considered it offensive, or that Santa was referring to me as a “Ho”.  Never in a million years would this have even come into my mind. The only way I can imagine it being remotely offensive is if you are a “ho”.  And if you are.. that’s your business. But if you’re offended, then change your ways.. dont expect people to change years of tradition just for you.

And what about the people on the new campaign kick for a new healthy Santa…. that the current Santa portrays an unhealthy, unfit Santa….what the CRAP is THAT about? I mean, lets be serious here people! All the stories and books about Santa, show a chubby Santa…one who is ‘jolly’.. ‘and when he laughed his tummy shook like a bowl full of jelly’. Do you mean to tell me you are going to rewrite possibly hundreds of years of folktales, bedtime stories, and family tradition? I can’t picture a slim Santa being jolly and his tummy would definately not shake like a bowl full of jelly if he was all skinny! My Santa is not wafer thin!

And who wants to be politically correct about the holidays? Again, I’m sorry. But I don’t get offended when I see a Hanukkah card in the store, or Kwanzaa on my calendar, or Canadian holidays. for that matter.  I understand there are many religions, celebrations, and beliefs. And everyone should be able to celebrate their belief without getting crap from everyone else. What I AM offended by, is that I have to bend over backwards, and even tip toe around the holidays that I grew up with because someone else out there may not feel or believe the same as me. Tell you what, you believe what you believe in, and I will believe what I believe in. We won’t try to convert one another, won’t put down each other’s beliefs. I won’t snicker and sneer behind your back while you celebrate in the way your family has for centuries. I don’t want to say Happy Holidays… I want to say Merry Christmas!  And if you don’t like it, then that’s just going to have to be too bad!

I have to give kudos to Mike Huckabee in his Christmas message, where he actually wished people Merry Christmas. He wasn’t afraid of his beliefs, and if people would accept them of not. He said his Christmas message the way he wanted to say it. Way to go Huckabee!! 

I grew up with Christmas… Santa… Baby Jesus, the Easter Bunny, and all the other calendar holidays. Will we try and change Thankgiving to be something else, so that we don’t offend race or religion… or color? What about the 4th of July? President’s Day?

My question is, if you start changing the things that have followed alongside the building of our great nation.. the things that our ancestors believed in…holidays,  religion… whatever it might have been.. where does it end? People want to change my Santa and my Christmas. The things I have believed in all of my life.. the things my parents believed in.. the things my son believes in. Everyone is so afraid of offending someone by saying Merry Christmas, but what about those of us who are offended that we can’t say “Merry Christmas’ because it might be offensive to someone within ear shot? Instead of changing things so we don’t offend, why dont we all embrace our differences and be happy with that?

When you say Merry Christmas to someone, they don’t have to say it back.. they can say Happy Holidays, or Happy Hanukkah. We are after all a nation of different people, cultures and religions. Who said there is only one right way to celebrate or believe? I saw a sign years ago that read “God created so many different kinds of people, so why would he choose only one way to serve him?”

Now, I’m not saying I’m religous, but I loved that sign. Embrace your belief and let others embrace theirs. None is more right than the other…. but please, leave my Santa alone….. leave the “ho ho ho” alone.. and leave my Merry Christmas alone!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!

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Well, it’s been a while since I last wrote anything, but life has been crazy and very busy, and am hoping that sometime soon it might all slow down.

I need to list a few of my newer favorite places to eat. The first place is Batter and Beans in downtown. They have a nice selection of crepes. My favorite so far is the banana, peanut butter, nutella and granola. There may be another ingredient in there, but off the top of my head I cant remember what it is. But it is reeeeaaally good. They also make those mexican, egg and salsa ones… my boyfriend likes those.

The next place I really like is the 541 lounge. Augustine, the owner, is great. He takes time to come and talk with you, and even remembered us from a few days before. Their filet is delish!! They have a nice assortment of red wines… my favorite, and it’s not to expensive is the writers block syrah. I’ve not been there on Friday or Saturday late evenings, but I hope it is popular or will get there… the service is awesome, and their live music is a nice change from the piped in stuff at most places…

My boyfriend, son, and I went on vacation last week. We had a blast! Seaworld, water parks, the Alamo. The flight down was good. pretty much on time… no problems. A little bumpy turbulance on the descent, but all was good. The flight back however was a disaster. The flight was cancelled after a three hour delay, then another couple hours at the airport waiting to hotel/food vouchers from the airline, waiting to get booked out of LA the next day, and then again, another line once we got to the hotel. In bed by 4am, and back up at 8:30am. didnt get home until 7pm that night.

Back home and into the heat of the summer. I, unfortunately until last night, did not have airconditioning. My house in the mornings, was 88 degrees. But lastnight my boyfriend and I took an older air conditioning unit to Sears to get re-charged, Long story short, he ended up buying a new unit altogether. So we got it all hooked up and I finally had a good nights sleep in some cooler weather. Thank God the storm is here today.. ok- well maybe later tonight, because that will cool off my house finally.

Looking forward to the weekend. Going kayaking for the first time, but it will be nice in the hot weather. Maybe a fall in the water will be nice too.

Thats it for now…

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Do you ever have a day where you just want to walk away from it all? Go back to a time when things seemed like they were more simple? No cell phones attached to your ear, or back to back to back appointments?

I have a picture from a magazine hanging on the wall in my office of a large beautiful two story log cabin in Idaho. It backs up to a tree covered hill.  There are corrals off each side of the home, and the area to the front and just beyond the corrals are grassy like meadows. And the part I love the best? The small river that runs in front of the home. There are even two wooden chairs next to a small tree down by the water. I so want to be there!! I could sit in one of those chairs for hours! Do some fishing, some reading maybe. Seems so quiet there…no craziness! Sure you may need a snowmobile to get out during the winter, but it almost seems worth it. Just make sure you load up on the firewood and the basics.

Or what about a move to Amish Country? They have a great sense of community, and family, and no one cares if you’re at the store without any makeup on, they dont care about having materialistic things, and ladies,–you may have a little more time to bake some bread, whip up a quilt, and the men can raise a barn.

See……skills…..Isn’t that what girls want? Men with skills?

Ok- so Amish Country may seem easier and not so hurried, but is it really? I mean there’s the farm to run, and quilting and cooking and baking… cleaning… beating your clothes against rocks or with sticks … washing ALL your dishes by hand….hmmm …wait….where is nap time scheduled again? Where’s the peaceful quiet time? Maybe you’re not busy all day and you can sit on the porch or go dip your toes in a creek someplace.?

Anyway- Im just thinking that summer is coming and that means its time to do some traveling, and just get out of town. I have a backpacking trip to experience once the snow melts. I’d love to go on an extended vacation. …. like for a month or two. Go to Panama… Costa Rica…..live on the beach or in the jungle. A place where you are actually living life.. not just living through life as life and everything in it passes you by. Where there are no watches, or clocks to remind you when you have to get up, or that you need to be at an appointment, that it’s time for work. Where you have more time for family, or for yourself. More time to just sit and enjoy. I think I get so busy sometimes I forget to breath.

Whatever your plans are for this summer, remember to take time to slow down a little. Take a break from your cell phone.. even if it’s just for a day.. if you can. Spend time with family. With friends. Go for a hike, go camping. Breath. ….

Whatever it is, enjoy….

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I was at coffee today with my boyfriend when I saw a very harsh fashion flop. This girl came in wearing some gray pinstripe slacks, and a light blue sweater. A blue sweater might have been ok to try and match the blue in the stripe, but not the kind where there’s large blue puff bobbles at the end of the ties that tie at the neck. And to top it off she was wearing a cream colored jacket with the fur around the hood. I can say her hair wasn’t completely ugly….. maybe..

Then another girl came in. What the crap?!

Now-I have to say she really looked a lot older than me. I dont know how old she really was, but the go-go dancer makeup could have been the cause. Then she’s got these low-rider hip huggers on, (way to tight), and some short tight shirt and jacket. Then she had her looooong hair in Maryanne (Gilligan’s Island)  pig tails, and sporting a mesh truckers cap. And to top off her dazzling outfit she had these very ugly flat silver shoes on. SILVER!

Now, I will never claim to be a fashion diva or anything, but when people are getting dressed in the morning, how can they think the combination is anything they should put on? I mean silver shoes? Maybe at prom or a big New Years bash or something, but not with your tight pants and pig tails.

My boyfriend said I had an obligation to go help them and I declined.  But wished my sisters were there to help me rip on these people.

Now- my sisters and I  have shared in some fashion horror sightings.  And I have to say that only my sisters will understand the urgency for women all over to think about their choice of outfits before walking out of the house. But then again- who will we make fun of then? And yes- I know we’re going to hell for making fun of people, but at least its tropical there.

Ladies- maybe check your look in the mirror before you leave. Know what styles you like, and what looks good on you. Some people can wear a number of different styles, but not everyone can pull that off. Don’t walk out of the house with so much makeup on that you look like youre going to a halloween party, or that youre taking a break from street walking. And please, when you hit a certain age pig tails are no longer something you are allowed to do- unless you and your guy are getting frisky….. but lets not go there! Lets leave pig tails for the little girls.

And if youre still not sure about any of this… please at least brush your hair before you leave the house, and hire a fashion consultant.

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