10 Magical Years

Hurray!!! Denis and I realized that this coming weekend we'll have been "dating" for 10 magical years.

Thankful moments

Thanksgiving is coming and I've been thinking more about the moments in my life that I am thankful for.

Life can really throw some interesting moments your way- or really special ones that make you thankful for your life. As the stressful holiday's approach- I hope you all stop to think about the moments in your life that you are thankful for.

Growing up surrounded by people that had families that were far more intact and financially more fortunate than my family was, as an adult, I've worked hard to displace myself from that environment. I've fought hard and worked hard to put distance between the "haves" and "have nots" of my childhood- only to learn that the more fortunate I become- the more fortunate I was with out. Perhaps it's a realization that comes with age.

But now, as I think about my ability to travel around the world (mostly) as I desire, and I've seen poverty affecting people in ways I could not have imagined. I realize many of the privileges that I have are only because of where I was born and are because I was born with the ability to carry a US passport.

It's easy to overlook that some of life's most important gifts were given to some of us at birth.

As we watch our US economy crumble around us-I'm reminded that it's important to take some time everyday and remind ourselves of those "moments" we are most thankful for... not "what" we are most thankful for.

Any recomendations for restaurants in London?

This may be a strange blog but- I'm going with it anyway- (grin).

We're heading to London for business for 5 nights- just before the holidays.
Can anyone recommend a restaurant we should visit?
We prefer places that are not in a hotel and independently own but we're not picky.

(We have the following in mind to start with-Ethiopian , Indian and a pub night, but we're missing that nice customer recommendation restaurant or a nice romantic one if we don't have customer obligations)- any suggestions on all of the above?

Thanks a bunch!

Trip North- the details

I took a 14 day trip to the North areas in Ethiopia. We stopped in Dessie, Lalibella, Adwa, Axum, drove through the Semien Mountains- into Gondor - then down to Bahr Dahr and the Blue Nile falls. We got stuck in a town out side of some Gorge and we had 11 live chickens with us. Trying to figure out what to do with them was a challenge-laugh. Then we proceeded back to our lives in Addis.

http://fendesha.shutterfly.com/

Highlights-

We blew through 7 tires while travelling on the dirt roads
We got really good at changing tires-laugh.
We visitedwith family members and hotels along the way.
We went to cultural events, visited museums, argued, laughed and in all had a fabulous journey.
I saw poverty - fed children- visited traditional homes- spoke with different native individuals through out my journey and had the most amazing 2 weeks.

What I did during the remaining 15 weeks of my journey I've yet to document- so hang in there- I'll upload them as I*(locate them) and have time to upload them.

Enjoy the pictures.

BTW- I tried the program yesterday that "three continent family" used - and it's awesome (it's a new addition on the bottom of this page)- thanks "Three Continent!!!" There's a cute little slideshow with only 36 pictures of so if you want to see less pictures.

Enjoy!!!

http://fendesha.shutterfly.com/

See me if you want to travel like this and I'll put you in touch with somebody that can arrange it for you.

Just some pictures of my trip to Wenchi Crater (not part of the trip to the north)

Shopping at the market
















carrying water home
















Children playing by the water- curious about my presence
















Beautiful young girl - watching over her siblings















Traditional country home in Central-West Ethiopia

Get out the Vote!!!

I was so excited about voting this morning that we were there before the polls opened and stood in line.

I'm thrilled to say - It was a high energy - people smiling sort of line!!!

Tagged

I was "Tagged by Three Continent Family". - see their link on bottom right of this blog.

Today may not be the best day to do this-or perhaps it is-since I'm feeling down I could use a good laugh. I'm not certain I can come up with 7-but here goes..

Share 7 random or weird facts about Me....

1)I love to travel and I compare everything I purchase to the price of a plane ticket. Because of this my passport is the most important thing I own. When I'm not traveling, I'm reading about other people traveling or researching travel or other cultures.





2)I enjoy being left handed.

Did you notice no matter which way you vote this year- there is one thing for certain- we will have a left handed President in the Office!

Silly enough- I'm excited about this.

The two lefties:




A little humorous story:
The Left-Handed Whopper (an April 1st Joke):
In 1998 Burger King published a full page advertisement in USA Today announcing the introduction of a new item to their menu: a "Left-Handed Whopper" specially designed for the 32 million left-handed Americans. According to the advertisement, the new whopper included the same ingredients as the original Whopper (lettuce, tomato, hamburger patty, etc.), but all the condiments were rotated 180 degrees for the benefit of their left-handed customers. The following day Burger King issued a follow-up release revealing that although the Left-Handed Whopper was a hoax, thousands of customers had gone into restaurants to request the new sandwich. Simultaneously, according to the press release, "many others requested their own 'right handed' version."

3)Animals. I just adore animals and they seem to adore me.

They come up to me-they follow me around. I actually got the rabies "vaccination" when I went to Ethiopia because of how much Animals like me (and me them). Even when I try to avoid them-think Dr. Doolittle. In someways I'm fortunate-because all animals add such peace to my life. Sometimes I think I'm recarnation and they can tell-laugh.

I've had squirrels run over my feet, birds land on me- I've even picked up a wild hawk with out being harmed in any way (yes-I've had more than my share of bird poop on me too it seems), Donkeys have tried to come into my living space, chickens in hotel rooms, monkeys on my doorstep, and I've found sheep sleeping in my room. I've been able to walk up to animals other people cannot.

It's very strange- I have a strong kinship with the less "domesticated" part of the world.

4) We keep Cheyenne pepper in our pepper shaker in our house, because I don't like Black Pepper. Most people think it's because I don't like "spicy" foods. In fact- I love spicy foods. Just not the black peppercorn. Try to go a day with out black pepper. It's difficult. Although- I've learned as I've gotten older to eat things and be more tolerant of it- I still don't like it. Otherwise I would not be able to eat at most places and would not like most foods.

In an evil attempt to get you all to eat less black pepper you should know (ha ha)-

In a recent report- Black Pepper is one of the 12 foods when tested-that most frequently containing pesticide residue (grinnn).

5)My toes are shaped like fingers. I have a really long middle toe and shorter big toe-but my toes are abnormally long. They look like hands and are good for picking up things. As a kid I use to be able to pick up more with my toes than my friends could.

6)My Mini-breast. I went to the doctors once and asked about a mole on my chest- really-it's the size of a mole-the doctor told me after examination that while I was developing as a baby my body started to grow a third breast- good thing I was born on time!!!.

I don't know if I believe it or not-but this mole- and the doctors response sure has added much humor to my life.. :-).

7)I Love to bake alone (and to cook with Denis). We love having company - love to try out new recipes with our friends. Baking is a way for me to relax. The smell of the house-delights me. But when I'm busy- and I bake- it's a complete disaster!

Elevation of Addis- It's no wonder Ethiopians Can run!

From its lowest point, around Bole International Airport, at 2,326 metres (7,630 ft) above sea level in the southern periphery, the city rises to over 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) in the Entoto Mountains to the north.

USA Elevations

• Mount McKinley, Alaska (20,320 feet; 6,194 meters) — highest point in all of US territory
• Mount Whitney, California (14,505 feet; 4,421 meters) — highest point in the 48 contiguous states
• Winter Park, Colorado (12,060 feet; 3,676 meters) — highest town in all of US territory. (Note: There is no development in Winter Park above the level of Alma, Colorado; Alma also lays claim to this title.)
• Alma, Colorado (10,355 feet; 3,156 meters) — highest town with permanent residents above 10,000 ft.[1]
• Leadville, Colorado (10,152 feet; 3,094 meters) — highest city in all of US territory

Exhausted-I lay down my staff of hope and cry.

• Guantanamo Bay and the unjust tortures that are still being allowed,
• The 20 months of election "news",
• The never ending emotional roller coaster-as we wait for our adoption,
• My ever increasing awareness of racism now-racism in the 60s,
• The field of flags at our church- thousands of flags representing the soldiers that have died in the war-9 more flags added to the field-the names and homes spoken of the 9 that died this past week.
• My daily concerns over the food shortage, racial tensions between tribes, and the impact of inflation on the people in the developing country that I love.
  

I broke down into tears of sadness and anger today - is anything going right?

Exhausted-I lay down my staff of hope and cry .