I WON'T lie, I thought adding my name to the Moon Flight Reservation list would be a little SOMETHING like this?
"Ground Control to Major Tom Ground Control to Major Tom Take your protein pills and put your helmet on Ground Control to Major Tom Commencing countdown, engines on Check ignition and may God’s love be with you"
iM Not sure how I got the in my head or where THAT idea came from, BUT I was seriously expecting like an on screen fireworks display, or maybe some theme music.
Instead I entered my pay pal information and that was it! I felt a little dooped only because it CLEARLY states that there is a confirmation print out.
In my head that meant like a certificate.
I had visions of framing the certificate and hanging it in my cube at work. It would be a little [joke/bright] spot for my day.
SO, it was a little (ok a LOT) Anticlimactic. I guess I just wanted to live out my childhood fantasy of being an astronaut. This little task was an attempt. Maybe I need to look into space camp this summer...
instead, I spent $10 being forever cemented in cyber spac.
EITHER way, I would have spent $10 on something silly. ♥ Single Girl
On A TICKETintoShanghai, China and out of Tokyo, Japan
Somewhere in the middle I will stop in Seoul Korea and Okinawa. site see Walk on the GREATWALL
See the forbidden City SCUBA Dive Eat REAL Korean Food Wash all my clothes once Take a slow boat ferry Experience several different cultures And fall in love with three completely different countries.
As part of our trip to Ethiopia we stayed a night in Addis. While we were there we took the opportunity to eat at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant. Habesha offers traditional food & drinks, traditional dances and songs.
It was FUN to eat all sorts of different types of watt! Most of the group opted for the meat watt that included lamb, beef and chicken. My mom and Almaroof went with a vegetarian plate. The veggie plate was WAY better. It had so many flavors, colors and spices. It was good to try the injera with different types of watt. The FIRST time I tasted it, i ate the injera alone. IT WAS NASTY. The injera has a distinctly vinegar taste. With the flavorful watt, you don't taste the injera at all. Just the wonderful flavor of the spices.
Side A - side with holes is the one that contacts with the sauce/meat
Scoop/Grab sauce or meat with the injera (similar to Indian/Middle Eastern eating)
Use your fingers to control; so pieces won't fall down as you put the scoop your mouth It's ok to grab/sample more than one sauce or dish on each scoop-trip
Finally you can proceed to eat the bottom/table cloth injera where the sauce was first served, by now it soaked with all the tasty juices and is full of flavors
While we were eating there was a SHOW going on. It was cool to see traditional Ethiopian dancing. It was interesting to watch the dancing, listen to the singing, and try to guess what the dances were Representative of. We were accompanied by Workenesh and Shemelis who explained what the dances were, and EVEN got up and danced! Here is a little clip of what the traditional dancing looks like.
Modern Day dancing looks kind of like a Chicken Dance (no joke it really does).They put their hands on their hips, wiggle their shoulders forward and cock their heads. I got pretty good at it while I was there. There is dancing on Ethiopian TV all the time.
I was practicing in the clinic during a lunch break and i heard giggling...MAYBE, just maybe a bunch of the Ethiopian staff and kids were watching me practice. I mean HEY I was in Ethiopia again, I should take advantage of all the "CULTURAL experiences".
It was a lot of fin, EVEN after being awake/traveling for 36 hours straight. If you have a chance I would tell you to try Ethiopian food! To find an Ethiopian Restaurant near you click here. For Utah Locals try this place.
...In 10 SECONDS. Or rather after it is posted in reader.
Dear Corporate World,
You have TOO much time on your hands if all you have to worry about is he said/she said, and what people post on their blogs. YES some of the things were not exactly flattering. I never used your NAME, quoted you out of context or posted a picture where you looked fat (That's more of a courtesy than most of my FRIENDS give me). YOU demand all WORK.BLOG stuff be removed (my co worker got busted). Fine its down in a preemptive strike, but not deleted. It WILL grace the digital world once again (the second I no longer work for you or learn a new platform).
I have not stopped drafting my work posts. Chalk full of [Funny antidotes/pictures/stories/emails/iMS/quotes]. So I can't share them at THIS EXACT MOMENT, but as soon as I figure out how to move my blog and password protect selected POSTS, I WILL!
Oh and I talked to IT, on the side. All you can do is take control of my desk top-check my history, cookies, and go into my directory if you want to get super sneaky. I cleared it all out. Removed all personal content from my comp. iM clean.
The trip was AMAZING. I loved every minute of it (minus the travel to and from).
I went back to work today. I wanted to go back to sleep EVERY minute i was there. It was a bit rough. Especially since some of my entertainment was out of the office all day, and will be the remainder of the week.
I was SURPRISINGLY mostly caught up. Thanks US Scanner team and Kris for pitching in!
iM catching up on Quickbooks, my part time employer, and slowly, oh so slowlyclearing out my reader (Its kind of fun to see all your lives in fast forward). A REAL post will come soon, but until there here are some of my favorite pictures from the trip:
Lt: the little girl in the necklace is the girl i sponsor. I gave her that as a gift and she wore it all week. She was also my little shadow whenever I was out in public. Rt: Emuti is SO beautiful. She has grown sooooo much in the last 2.5 years. She still awaits approval to go home to her US family. Her adoption has been a rough one, prayers appreciated.
Lt: Gunno is my sisters BFF in Ethiopia. She is so smart, and GORGEOUS, and kind. She gets to embarrassed around a camera. I convinced her to let me take two shots. She is so stunning but refuses to believe it. RT: A crowd of a few thousand came out to watch the championship football (soccer) game.
LT: Craig disappearing into a crowd of children. They all love the Faranji's. Especially when they have a camera out. RT: This is her FIRST picture ever. Her parents begged me to take JUST one, please just on, she never had a picture before. I will be sure to look up her name and send a copy out in June.
LT: I wish i knew who the umbrella girl was. She waited so patiently for hours inside the compound. I think she just wanted to hang out and see us [running around/working/talking/laughing]. We seemed to entertain her enough. RT: my mom in the crowd watching soccer. My dad took this picture, i think.
More to come. RECAP to follow. Sadly as I was behind the camera a lot, the only pictures i have of myself are silly ones. mostly taken by holding my point and shoot out in front of me with one arm. Sigh one day I will be IN the pictures.
I miss you- sometimes. Like when I wish I could throw my shirt in the dryer to get the wrinkles out. Or when I want to eat something other then power bars, PB&J, or juice. Sometimes I miss you when its hot at night and I can't sleep. Other then that I wish i could disappear forever.
Dear US Government, I am out of the COUNTRY on the 15th, does that mean I don't have to file my taxes?
Dear Muslim Mosque, I appreciate the diligence to your prayers. They are even melodic and soothing at night- you help me fall back asleep when the hyenas wake me up. I wish I knew more of your religion and culture. I vow to be more informed and gain and understanding and respect for you.
Dear CRAZY Ethiopian bugs, Please stop biting me. I appreciate it.
Dear Excedrine, Thank you for making a PM formula. You have been my best friend on this trip.
Dear Malarone, Please, please, PLEASE protect me from Malaria. It would be greatly appreciated. I will be your greatest fan and spread LOTS of good PR if you work like you did last time. I promise to use you again on my next trip. You amaze me.
Dear Caitlyn, Have you moved to my Mom's house yet? Please say yes fake new half sister.
Dear North America FFG committee, How was the NTC benefit concert? Was it amazing? Did you get it taped? How did my programs look? Bree how was your performance? I am soooo sad I missed this. I expect a FULL report when I return during the standing WED meeting.
Dear BLOG friends, I will READ EVERYTHING you have posted when i get back, then promptly make witty comments that are at least a week too late. Sorry, I still love you and wish you well.
Dear Bangkok Thai, I will visit you upon return. I hope your curry recipes do not change.
Dear Intermittent Internet, Thank you for holding up.
CANCER Kills, and it totally sucks. Last year my Brother in Laws mother was diagnosed with Colon Cancer. She passed away unexpectedly after Thanksgiving. It was a TRAGIC loss. In honor of Beth my family is participating in Relay for Life.
It should be a GREAT event. I was able to participate once in high school. I look forward to doing it again. I would ENCOURAGE you to think about [joining a team/donating/becoming a marrow donor/finding ways to help the fight].
NO ONE makes it through this life with out being personally effected by Cancer. think about all the people you know who have lost a [family member/friend/loved one/teacher/coworker] to this disease. Think about all the people you know who have WON the battle, and be grateful for their health. This is our chance to kill it. If you want to see my teams page or donate you can do that here. <---- Kristen that is where you were supposed to click. IF you want to Join our team- Let me know!!!
I have "entertained" the thought on and off about being added to the National Bone Marrow Registry. I mean WHAT would be the WORSE case scenario? I sign up and they never need me...I sign up and my recent travels to malaria ridden countries disqualifies me...I spend $50 and never change a life.... I am OK with all those scenarios. Apparently its a painless procedure to be tested and to donate marrow. You can find information about being tested and added to the registry here. If you want to see one woman's journey as a Marrow Donor and a Bone Marrow Recipient look at this PSA.
Anyone want to join me?
So I am in Ethiopia where most people don't worry about cancer because their life expectancy is to short to care, or they will contract an easily treatable illness like strep that will go untreated. As I REALIZE all i have, my health included- I feel like I can change the world again. I feel like my contribution CAN make a difference. Do you?
I made it toETHIOPIA. After a lot of travel we arrived safely. We spent some time in the capitol city of Addis. Tonight we ate at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant. It was interesting to see the cultural dances, and eat more of the local favorites.
Oh and its nice to be in WARM weather. I can't upload pictures, but as soon as I get a chance I will! Hope you are all well! ♥ Single Girl
It has been YEARS since I was able to make the long trip to Ethiopia to work with the Village of Hope. TOMORROW I will throwing my bags in my car.driving to the airport.and flying for 36 hours. OH how I dread the travel, but look forward to being back in Ethiopia.
Last time I was out in Ethiopia was a life changing experience. I was blessed to attend an expedition with my two sisters and my parents. AMAZING to fall in love with a new people and a new culture. To work with volunteers with such talent and ability. To see the love that the Ethiopian people have for anyone who crosses their path. CHALLENGING as we tried to understand the work we were doing. Thought about how to do more. Felt helpless to facilitate the change these people so desperately wanted to see.
So we went home. We wondered: Did we make a difference? Was our effort enough? Can we give more?
October 2006 Expedition
So we [planned/talked/prayed/thought] about what we could do to give back. My dad is a visionary man. Under his direction and efforts the Foresight Education Program was born.
Through this sponsorship children are educated. Fathers are employed. Mothers are instructed and lives are changed. His efforts have ballooned to include a Women's Education Group and Youth Program.
So as I pack my bags, I am NERVOUS- So much has changed. I was there in theory as we talked about ideas, contemplated fundraising and sent news letters. But I haven't been back since my first visit.
I am EXCITED to see the changes in the last 2 1/2 years. To see old friends (my Ethiopian crush and all). To see how the efforts of the Villagers have changed their community and their lives. To meet the little girl I sponosr!
So look for more updates here.
♥ Single Girl
If you are interested in our cause you can find out more here.
I was introduced to Eyebrow threading while I was in Seattle. I had heard of it before (Mybrother had a girlfriend in high school, who was SO cool and got it done) but had never had it done or seen it done. Susan gets it done when ever she travels. There are not a lot of threaders (or any at all that we can find) in the great state of UTAH!
It was ABSOLUTELY amazing. They lady we went to, opperates out of her home. She converted a mud room into a little studio. It was next to painless, she was incredibly detailed and my eyebrows look great! The best part...IT ONLY COST $4!!! I mean that is something I could keep up. I pay more than double to get a wax.
You should all try it, especially if you live somewhere it is available. I maybe watching this video to learn how to do it on my own.
OR hoping that someone in the entire state of Utah knows where you can get threading done?
I should have gotten them done again in NYC for only $7, just seemed low on the priority list. Now I am kicking myself.
REMEMBER HOW my car got crashed into by my bosses boss? You should, it was my last post. Well the estimate is in, and all I can say is WOW-cars are expensive. I guess I can also say THANK GOODNESS this wasn't my fault.
I am sooo sad that Vinny will be in the doctor's for another week or so...I am even more sad I will be in Ethiopia when he gets better. Man, what crap timing.
I am home sick AGAIN...it's been two days this time, and I hate it. I went back to my amazing 10 second doctor. He spent more time with me...I was probably with him for 15 seconds this time. The nurse did all the dirty work. If I could [talk/sit up for ten minutes with out getting dizzy/breath normally/swallow/go 2 minutes without coughing something up OR blowing my nose] I would totally be into work today.
Instead I am at home, in my bed responding to emails and request. Thank goodness my boss is a dream. I leave for Ethiopia on the 9th so I don't have TIME to be sick. MUST get better NOW.
Last time I was sick (yeah it was like a week ago) I had this little ADVENTURE. (O)ne time Morgs got this amazing hair cut from my dear friend Ashley. But they (mom and Morgs) are too lazy to drive to Lindon to have Ashley keep it up. So ONCE when we were at my sisters engagement party Morgan's hair need a trim BAD. So I did it. When Morgs went to get it fixed the lady simply trimmed it up and said i did a GREAT job.
So its been a while since Morgs had her hair trimmed. SHE BEGGED me to do it again. Since I was crashing at my Mom's house while i got better i thought, WHy not? I had to take breaks and sit down since I get tired so easily & Morgan probably has all manner of germs coughed all over her..hee hee, but her hair turned out cute!
ittle dooped only because it CLEARLY states that there is a confirmation print out.
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I am sooo sad that Vinny will be in the doctor's for another week or so...I am even more sad I will be in Ethiopia when he gets better. 
