Organizing My Life

Today I almost phoned you but I decided you might be out and then it would be more difficult than just writing. My big news is that Willie has written to me! He and Steven liked the packages! Now we can send more. I know you were planning to mail things to Bagram too so get a package ready.

Do you want a dog? There’s someone in Lake Wenatchee who says he has one to give away. You know how much work a puppy is so I’m sure you wouldn’t fall for a new puppy, no matter how darling he might be. Then again you might not want to be at a puppy’s beck and call 24 hours a day. Joey is only a dog after all. Too bad he has to be so cute. I think Ron believes Joey will be no problem after he gets a few months older.

This is the month for organizing according to the amount of storage containers for sale everywhere. I’m discovering all kinds of weird things that need to be put in the garbage. It gets easier all the time. I spent last Saturday assembling a Sauter brand television console. You know how it is boxed as separate boards and then a bag of screws is included to assemble it. It took 5 hours or so and then it no doubt would have collapsed when I turned it upright but luckily Brett had to help lift it and he realized the corners were not attached correctly. I hope I remember not to think I want to assemble furniture ever again.

However the television is now high enough to keep the boys in front of it with a Kinect which is someone nicer than the Wii since it has no controllers. Grandma’s house has to be fun to keep the grandsons’ interested in stopping by. They are very busy with after school activities. Miles likes gymnastics and wrestling while Lucas is involved in Kendo, Judo and drawing classes. Remember our after school enrichment classes, especially the baseball diamond in the vacant lot with a ping-pong paddle “bat”? I did love the ice skating lessons from the Nutley’s in the flooded lot.

I just went shopping at Trader Joe's with your list. I got the Chilean wine, the Chocolate covered ice cream Bon Bon's, and the Gorgonzola Cheese but had no luck with the Tandoor Pan Bread. Please send me more recommendations. I get lost in there.
Have you talked to your sister since she arrived home from Hawaii? Where are you going on your next trip?

When will this Senchi Ferry post go away!

This post has nothing to do with you but I think it is time to write to Gloria as she likes to read anything at all on the computer. Really she only said she was tired of the Senchi Ferry title. I guess I should tell her a little bit about what we did in Africa. Judy was awesome in the classroom as she began with teaching her second grade students Zippy-do-da. She also requested that when she saw them anywhere in the village they should be singing her song. I had nothing creative to teach my students though I did provide paper and pens for them and fancy foam stick-on letters which they seem to enjoy. The children were the greatest.

The Global Volunteers website has a posting from us as it was mandatory so I'll put it here so you can learn what we did daily.

We began our day with a great breakfast of omelets and toast and a good conversation with Esther. Gary and Daniel were dressed once again to work with concrete as yesterday their plans for concrete were not realized. We were eager to get to the work site as church was being held early with singing and drumming. We enjoyed the services while Gary and Daniel began shoveling rocks into a wheelbarrow to make cement. They actually told us later that they were on the hot roof with the concrete for over two hours. We saw evidence of this activity later at lunch when Daniel ate 5 bowls of chicken soup as he was so hungry.

After a brief break we were taken to the Senchi Ferry Library to work with students who liked to read. We were also entertained by Samuel and his preschool students who loved to chant back to their teacher when they knew the answer. The van then picked us up for a drive to the bead factory. It was quite a ride through the market areas to the beautiful grounds of the factory. The owner who had learned his craft early in his childhood was an expert with the glass beads. We all bought many bracelets and necklaces but perhaps the best gifts were large glass beads which were strung on a leather cord. We won’t say who bought these as it might ruin the gifts.

We arrived back at the guest house with a spaghetti dinner waiting. It was delicious and I think we had no leftovers. The day ended with a new computer recruit and a long lesson in Microsoft Word for a long-time Apple user. I think the second time will do the trick, thanks to Philip’s help.

After we arrived back in the states we visited in Las Vegas on November 23rd since it was Uncle Ron's 80th birthday. He was joined by 12 Johansons and he tried to help us win at the blackjack tables. I think it is some myth he made up that people actually win in Vegas.

So now that Gloria knows the ferry is behind us I can talk to you. I know you are busy watching football and going to the theater. We watched some football with Peyton and Walker in Sumner but actually they were crazy about wrestling. This worked out fine except when mom came home and made us turn it off. It made a wonderful baby sitter as you know they had no toys available. Happy New Year!