Alien Abduction Road Trip

9 Days before Jamaica, Kelly and I traveled 3800 miles across the desert. It was amazing to say the least! Being in close quarters to anyone is difficult on it's own, but then you add a male. We did great and I can't exactly pin point the best part of the trip but here's what we saw: Roswell, N.M., Petrified Wood Forest, Carlsbad Carverns, Large Antennea Array, Painted Desert and Meteor Crater, A.Z., Death Valley, C.A., Area 51, Rachel N.V. and Vegas. The scenery and terrain was incredible as you can imagine. I can't report that we actually saw any unusual activity in the sky, but we did see amazing things. What a facinating place we live in!

Day 1: 800 miles, exotic birds and cuties for dinner, we're exhasted!Don't go through Artesia, it stinks there; petroleum!
Day 2: Explored Rosewell and Carlsbad. Lesson; don't wait too long to eat, it sucks!
Day 3: The usual for breakfast, egg mcmuffin with gas station coffee, yummy! Banana splits for dinner, yummy! The Antennea Array was fabulous and gigantic!
Day 4: Ducks flapping wings woke us up... Finally, my bowels decided to regulate. Windy days, will we make it to Death Valley tonight?
Day 5: We survived all the harsh desert elements. Expensive edibles in Death Valley, I feel small here. It's artsy, interesting and all encompasing....
Day 6: Morning boo-boos and mishaps but off to see more fabulousness. Scotty's Castle, rolling desert rocks and off to Rachel and Area 51.
Day 7: Family visitation a good one and eggplant parm. Trader Joe's for healhy eating at last! Bean soup uneating as evening mishaps and boo-boos re-occur, damn bungies (we didn't learn the first or second time)...
Day 8: Salina sucks and curses us with bad luck, but we muddle through and will never look back! Truck stop anyone??? It's been a great trip, my face hurts.

Last Tropical Escape?

Negril Jamaica was different from Mexico and I'm glad I could make it to a warm place with my fabulous girlfriends. We spent 7 days doing nothing other than going into the Carribean back to our lounge chairs. It was exhasting to get from our room to the beach while grabbing Blue Mountain coffee on the way... Jamaica has a lot to offer in terms of it's beauty but it was difficult to see such poverty surrounding us. My memories consist of laughter, humidity and warmth, unusual things to see and eat, fast drivers and cliff diving, sting rays, "Lena's Ting", rum punch, small mangos and soursop, rainstorms everyday with no sunsets, colorful lizards and lovely meals by the scenic clear warm ocean water. Thankfully we got out before the drug trafficing got really bad.

There's A lot to Miss

I just completed a great book, "So You Want To Join The Peace Corps, What You Need To Know Before You Go". A great book for someone like me or any other volunteer, as there just isn't material available to prepare for this kind of experience. My favorite part in the book is a short entry written by various volunteers. It's based on what they have missed while away from home. I thought I'd share mine prior to leaving as I'm sure it will change once I am there. I will miss my family and friends, a routine schedule, the grocery store, trail mix, whipped and sour cream, movies, electricity and running water, perhaps a bathroom or toilet seat to sit on, the hot springs, a warm and comfy bed, the thought of total security and a local medical facility close by, feeling well, a computer, my funky wardrobe, scarves and red hair, calling my folks everyday, popcorn, dark chocolate, wine, Mexican food and burgers, English, my Subaru, driving, my bikes, hiking, the mountains, everyday yoga, camping, snow shoeing and x-country skiing, sunny days in Colorado, art, teaching, the old folks, babysitting, designing, auto cad and sketchup, thrift shopping, bead and gem shows, dim sum and sushi, entertaining and tea with friends, travel, Mexico, celebrating holidays, my life as it is, a warm shower, all the various music at my disposal including live shows, summer outdoor concerts, picnics, my town home, privacy, the Louisville community, a fire place, my jewelry, cooking healthy meals and of course, my best friend and companion kitty; Dizzy.

Premature

I recently purchased a few items for my journey. One being a full length, lightweight down coat which has a fancy furry hood attached for added warmth. The second, is a pair of very lightweight water proof boots which are made for negative degree weather. These two items will suit me well being in a very cold climate, not to mention help me tolerate bad circulation. Several of you have been wondering where I'll be placed during my service abroad. The answer may be premature, but I think it will be Central Asia; most likely one of the "Stan" countries. My attitude thus far has been to trust and let go of any need to know. I believe that the placement will be the right fit for myself as well as the host family that I will be living with, the community which I will be immersed in and the project which I will take part in. My excitment you ask? It goes up and down and is mostly in a holding pattern.

Preparedness

So... here I am in the waiting stage of things. It has been 11 months since I began the process of applying for Peace Corps service, including the nomination process early August. And at this juncture, I am anticipating the final stage with invitation to country, knowing in the back of my mind that anything can happen. It's an awkward place to be in not knowing how my life will unfold. I am learning a new level of patience and letting go of attachment while I fully absorb every aspect of my life as it is presently. And what a beautiful life it is...