Random Thoughts of International Travel & Return

International travel can be very exciting, also, stressful.  The whole  wondering if the water is safe to drink is my biggest stressor.  The joy of turning on the bathroom tap and wetting down that toothbrush just about tops all things...unless needing a sip, just a sip of water, but knowing that a sip from that enticing water fountain could cause unspeakable gastrointestinal problems!  

We experienced an earthquake during our travels earlier this month.  A new and somewhat unnerving experience for us both, I would say.  Although 5.8 on the Richter scale may not phase some people, seated in a restaurant on the top floor of a 10 story building in a third world country gave TBO and me a little pause.  Although we did not kiss the ground when we reached it, we witnessed some who did!

Customs and security lines can be frustrating, too.  On one leg of our journey, one of my carry-on bags set off a sensor.  It was emptied out, very apologetically, I must say, by a security person.  

Nothing was found that should not have been there, but the mere sound of the buzzer made me shiver!  Customs, for me, could not have been easier...not so much for TBO.   He had to explain everything in his bags at one entry point.

All in all, we had a great trip, long, but still wonderful.  Home looked pretty wonderful after two and a half weeks!  

 

Travel Preparations Wear Me Out!

We are leaving Saturday morning for a mission trip to Mexico and Cuba.  I have been furiously trying to get enough clothes for 3 weeks into one bag.  Ain't gonna happen.  Clothes in one bag, other essentials in another...I will have to deal with it!  Luckily my luggage will stack and roll freely once I am in country.  Bless you Samsonite for great rolling bags!  

I keep waking up at night thinking of things I should add to my suitcases, Saturday needs to hurry up...I won't be able to put many more things in those marvelous bags.  Every time I go on a trip I think I'm going to streamline my packing...I just haven't got it down yet.  I wish I could be one who could put all they need in a backpack and carry it on...I do love my lotions and creams too much, I fear, since I have way more than a 1 quart baggie will hold!

Anyway, we're making the final (ha!) run to the store for the last minute items today.  Keep us in your prayers as we travel.

Surprise

Well, our newest daughter-in-law pulled off a surprise 30th birthday party for our middle son last Friday night!  Kudos to Karissa!  She had been worried that he might have figured something out, but, from his reaction, I'd say that it was a total success.  KT said he'd never had a surprise party before, so this was especially fun for him.

He and his sweetie are on the way to Mexico, even as I write, to enjoy some sun and beach time and celebrate his "real" birthday on Wednesday.  I hope they have a wonderful, relaxing time and that the weather will cooperate for them.   Happy, happy birthday to you, KT.  May you have many, many more.  I love you!

Happy

Sunshine in the Morning

Ahhh, wonderful sight this morning...the sun in its glory shining in my bathroom window to greet me as I awoke.  Bliss, pure bliss.  Plus, our furnace was still working--it had been cranky yesterday and we still had the power on.

The joy of being able to flip a switch and have lights, or cook, or just your basic coffee!  I now know that I would have been a poor pioneer.  I do not have the stuff it takes to rough it for very long.  I guess if I had been born in that era it would have been different, since I wouldn't have known any different, but, thank you very much, I believe I'll just continue my life in the 21st century.

Thank you to the wonderful electric company provider repair people who worked so hard to restore the power to us and so many others.  You people are amazing.  I know you faced the worst of the storm getting here, and working out in it.  I am grateful for your expertise.  May those of you who traveled from great distances to help us out in Texas have traveling mercies home and those who are based here, also have a sense of the gratitude those of us who benefitted from your work experienced.

Snow, snow, go away

It is official. I am sick of winter. I am sick of being cold. I am sick of gray skies. I am sick of sitting in the DARK in my house because my electricity has gone out.

How, pray tell, you may ask, are you blogging? TBO got us a generator. Now, our food stash will not have to be trashed, and we can have a few lights on this evening, and maybe even watch a movie. But best of all, TBO can have his breathing machine.

I am so happy that we have a fireplace, and that it actually seems to produce a little heat. I also am ecstatic that our sons were in the Boy Scouts and that their dad was a designated camping person! He has a most wonderful down filled sleeping bag that has kept me from freezing my extremities today.

I know that one day of no power is no big thing. I truly do. I am so grateful for the noisy generator out on our patio--set way out from the house--that I can hardly believe it. Hoping that the power will return during the night, but if not, there is a promise of a hot shower in the morning!  Even if it is at my friend's house across town!

My fingers are getting too cold to type, so it's back to the bag for me. Stay warm everyone.

Is There Still a Sun Out There?

I know it is winter, and that means some gray, nasty days. What concerns me is that since I live in TEXAS, not the Pacific Northwest, I think there should be a few more SUNNY days here. We did have one nice, sunny day sometime in the last week, but I forget when it was, due to my SAD. All I can say is that I am sorely upset that the groundhog saw his shadow.

TBO and I are dieting, and as a result, we are much more susceptible to the cold, I guess. Many days in the last week or so have found us bundled up to our noses while sitting in the house, whose thermometer resolutely states it is 68 degrees F. I, who am never cold, have taken to wearing socks to bed, long sleeved gowns WITH pajama pants. I am a sight to behold.

I am supposed to sub tomorrow and have outside duty after school...I think the rain is due to let up and it has been forecast to be up to a balmy 50 degrees F. I sincerely hope the weatherman has made a good forecast. If it is still raining in the morning, come by the school for an interesting show of cold/wet weather attire. Flannel nightgowns and pjs are part of the teacher's dress code, I'm sure!?