A Sad Day; But It's Not Over

I am saddened to announce that I was advised from the Placement Office today that the invitation deadline for the program I was originally nominated to recently passed and I wasn't issued an invitation departing September 2010. This waiting game is not uncommon and can happen for a number of reasons. As my application still remains in the final review process, where does this leave me after one year and a few months of waiting? Well, it leaves me with more waiting (perhaps another 5+ months into a second year), anticipation, un-groundedness and wonderment. I was told that I may qualify for some kind of alternate program other than the Business sector, perhaps the Health sector in a water sanitation project. I am in good spirits and I am simply not giving up my dream yet. Of course, I will continue to keep you posted on my journey. Thanks to everyone for their kind support and love during a difficult set back.

Pass Lake Ontario Canada

My dear friend Lisa, and I (along with her dog Shubert) spent a few days on Lake Superior near Pass Lake and Provincial Park outside Thunderbay, Ontario Canada. We hiked, talked, made smores, watched movies, laughed and got a lot of rest. Canada has a lot of beauty to offer with it's mystical forests and unique terrain. We spent a lot of time in a special little place on earth called Silver Islet roughly 20 minutes from our cabin. It is a small holistic sustainable community located off the grid, surrounded by Lake Superior and Provincial Park. This sweet place is quaint, quiet and is modest in it's resources. I hope to get back there again to see the Aurora Borealis. What a treat to experience this little treasure on earth.

Grasslands Camping

To pass this arduous time awaiting my potential departure and Peace Corps project, I have been camping, riding my bike, hiking, eating ice cream, creating with duct tape and working as well as traveling somewhat. The Colorado Grasslands are flat and located in Eastern Colorado. This year it was buggy and the park wasn't maintained as well as past years but as always, it was great to get away... This was the first time Ina; Kelly's dog could partake in the camping experience. It was a lot of fun.

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.