Just NB

Lately, I have started to write a few blog posts...and never finish them. In the last little bit I've received some...backhanded remarks about my blog. Nothing major... Basically, the fact that I choose to make my crazy thoughts public knowledge makes me a target for people to judge my them. That's all fine and great...but sometimes it makes wanting to blog difficult. And I find myself thinking about what the negative-people will think about what I write. And then I remember that one of the things I always talk about is learning to care LESS about what people think of me. It's something I've struggled with since forever. I think the blog - along with some of the choices that I've made in the little bit - serves practical life lessons on how to do this. I continue to do/say things that I want to do and maybe it provokes some reactions or judgements. I'm not really responsible for those reactions...so I don't have to deal with them... Well, when I say it so ...

I'll spend Christmas Day, 2010 on a plane - flying here: Spending the holidays and New Years away from family will be very hard . For all of us..... But when I consider that these lovelies - plus one more Frenchie (their dad/husband) - will be my dates for New Year's... ...I think I'm a pretty lucky girl...

...Didn’t watch a minute of the football world cup (as originally planned)... ...Didn’t make supper for friends (as originally planned)... ...Didn’t make par on any hole at the golf course (as originally planned...YA RIGHT!)... I also.... ...Laughed until I had tears.... ...Spent some time with some new friends, some old friends, and a four legged friend.... ...Had a great, great weekend.

Welcome to the Association for Protection of Childhood (ASPE) located in the "county" of Betainaomby. I pass by this area every single day on my way to and from work. These homes house up to one hundred and twenty children The ASPE is home to three different groups of children: children who are orphaned; children whose parents are in jail; and children who are at risk (mainly children that have been caught stealing food). A group of 7 expats have committed to donate to this home. Our monthly contribution was just under $350 CDN. The woman in charge of the home asked if she could purchase mattresses with our donation. Of course, we had no objections... The boys aged 11 to 17 are taught how to tend to the garden and the chicken coup. Last month there was a large sale of 250 chickens for approx $2/kg. The girls aged 11 to 17 are taught embroidery, sewing, and needlework. Children under 11 are in school during the day. This home receives enough government financial assistance t...

I'm back to having to asking up to four people to get a ride to and from work. For the past several months I have been "borrowing" drivers from other departments, but the other departments now need their drivers back. For the next two weeks, there is room for me to ride with a share driver from another department. I now leave at 6h45 to get to work and get a ride at either 18h00 or 19h00 home...But, I can't complain because its their driver....and they are being accomodating in giving me a lift. And for lunch? Well, so far this week I've eaten bananas and peanut butter on melba toasts and instant noodles that I keep in my office for just such occasions. Today I was MEGA craving a pop, and I didn't really have supplies for lunch, so I asked two people (that have a regular but shared driver) if I could use their driver this morning. I called the driver, he was pissed off because I'm interrupting whatever he was doing, but he came to pick me up anyway. He the...

The last stop on my trip was Franschhoek, Cape Winelands. The last blog entry left off here , in Nxbega. It was about an hour or so drive (no helicopter this time!), then back on this little teeny plane. We arrived back in Kasane (where I was so happy to see my luggage ); then did the reverse of the journey from Botswana to Zambia (while listening to a bunch of senior citizens talking about their hip replacements..); then fly from Zambia (Livingstone) to Johannesburg; then fly from Johannesburg to Capetown; then drive to Franschhoek. It was a LONG day of travelling...and was the longest possible route. Three countries in one day! FINALLY arrived at La Fontaine guest house about 19h00 (after leaving Okavanga at 4h30...) What a house! Amazing views! Each night I'd sit in the reading room, and drink South African port and read intellectual magazines like all accountants do. (Yah right!!) The little cat kept coming into the room for some cuddles!! Every morning I...

Last night I went to a party/work function and drank entire two and a half glasses of wine. Wasn’t really ready to go home when my ride was ready to leave....but given it was a work function and a MONDAY thought it be best not to have an all nighter ... Went outside to get into the SUV, and there was a lack of spaces. This meant that someone had to sit in the far back seats. No one could figure out how to get in the back. Except for me. Then I did what can only be described as a leap combined with a summersault roll – while wearing a skirt - in front of my boss. All seventy two inches (one hundred and eighty three centimetres) of me came together in almost gazelle-like in gracefulness. I’m nothing but pure class. And then, upon arriving to camp, I had to go on a hunt to find the keys to my villa. Yup....the old me is totally back.