To my husband Tom, and all the other great dads out there...

4 tornados and flood warnings

Sometimes all you want to do is relax. And sometimes relaxation is elusive like a toddler who needs a diaper change but, you have to chase him down before you can accomplish the task.

We went to a B&B. Upon arrival the place looked nothing like the photo on the internet.

The 5000 book library they boasted of were mostly old (not antique) moldy books. Some were falling apart and some smelled so bad we tried not to breathe in as we walked past.

Beautiful woodwork was covered up by too much junk all over the place. Bed bugs visited me as I sat up late that first night reading.

Visiting the bathroom in the night was also an adventure. The bathroom was across the hallway. There were mannequins in various places throughout the halls dressed in period clothing. Can you imagine making a bathroom run and seeing someone standing in front of you silent, smiling, and pointing the way?

The scenic walk the innkeeper told us about was littered with abandoned rusted out cars and a few mobile homes.

As we have traveled booking things on the internet has never been a problem. We should have known there was a problem when people who lived in the area didn't know the place existed!

We were determined however, to make the best of it. We went to visit a local museum, then went into a town 30 miles away to eat and take in a movie. We saw "Knocked Up" and "Oceans 13" neither one of these movies wowed us. We walked around the small mall there and toured the city afterwards. Shortly after dinner it started to rain. We decided we better get back to the B&B.

We drove slowly for over an hour in the thundering rain with 50 mph winds - we had no idea if we could even reach the place. Finally, we pulled over and called, they were just getting back home from chasing tornadoes and didn't see the weather as a problem. Tom expressed his concerned about getting stuck on the long sandy clay drive up to their place. I was supposed to speak at a Women's Bible Study in a city two hours away the next morning and we didn't want to take any chances.

After gathering a few supplies like toothpaste and deodorant, we spent the night in a Motel 6. I have never been so happy about a clean bed and a private bathroom! I got up the next morning preparing to drive in to speak but, when I called Vicky she told me not to worry about coming in. She was more concerned about us getting stuck or not making it than that innkeeper was.

Tom drove back to the B&B, picked up our suitcases and paid for the one night we actually did stay. Maybe we will have better luck next time!

meeting new people

We ate a great meal with Shirley and Gerry at Brick Oven happily topping it off with Sheridan's Frozen Custard!

It was good to see Tom standing behind the wooden pulpit in their 118 year old sanctuary. The congregation is currently remodeling the property with the men of the church doing the majority of the work themselves.

We loved how they kept the original sanctuary in tact...incredible stained glass windows on each side of the room give the room a peaceful feel. I had not felt that serene since my time in Assisi, Italy. We are eager to return and see how it looks a year from now!

Before leaving Topeka we had lunch at On the Border with Kathy and Ray. We met Kathy's son when we were in Oregon. We are so grateful to Brian for connecting us with the loving, caring congregation we spent time with in Topeka. It reminded me of the church I grew up in... small and close knit like a family.

Today we leave for Edmond, Oklahoma after that we are moving on again. I don't know if I will have internet access for the rest of the week. So, if you don't hear from me just know that we are taking a long overdue mini vacation for just the two of us at a Bed and Breakfast somewhere in the midwest!

Driving through Greensburg

Driving through this city was:

eerie
surreal
mind boggling

Not knowing whether the 54 freeway had reopened near Greensburg or not we set out Friday morning to drive to Andover on our way to Topeka. As we neared Greensburg Tom asked me to get out my camera. Honestly it was difficult to photograph the devastation. I was overwhelmed by what I was seeing... either nothingness or devastation.

As we slowly made our way from one from one end of the city to the other we were practically speechless.

How do you take it all in?

We gazed at buildings with 3 out of 4 walls missing, trees that looked as if they were made for one of the Lord of the Rings movies, hand made signs pointing to where the hospital was set up or where other city services were located.

Continue to pray for the people of Greensburg as they work each day to rebuild and move forward with their lives.

Small Town America

As we travel cross country seeing what life is like for thousands of folks along the way, Spencer's question yesterday still rings in my ears....


"why is the bank next door to the county jail?"

Praise God!

On Wednesday, we had the appointment to see if we could get some type of financial assistance so that Tom could have his gallbladder surgery before we return to Russia.

We found out that we qualify for a UNM Care medical plan that has a 5$ copay for a doctor visit and 25$ copay for emergency room or surgery.

We are so grateful to everyone who prayed for him. This is such a blessing. Our hope now is to get Tom in to see a doctor very soon and for surgery to be scheduled not long after!

Today we leave Albuquerque, New Mexico and head toward Topeka, Ks. We will drop Spencer off along the way so that he can travel with a group of youth from Andover and Wichita to the Young Life Camp he will attend in Colorado.

After Tom speaks in Topeka on Sunday we leave for Edmond, OK where both of us will be speaking at a Celebrate Recovery meeting on Monday.

We get a brief time out at a Bed and Breakfast before we go back to Andover to retrieve Spencer on the 17th.

What would you pay for a good cry?

Monday was movie day. The guys went to see Shooter and the gals went to see Bridge to Terabithia.

Bridge to Terabithia was about the power of children's friendships and how they transform our lives... when you are going through your awkward phase alone it is much more difficult than if you have a friend to share that struggle with. Friends can make life bearable. Friends can make life fun. My childhood friend succumbed to breast cancer last year. Margaret was one of those friends who changes who you are and I am grateful for her influence in my life.

Sitting in a chilly movie theatre on a Monday afternoon with a wriggling mass of small children it was hard to tell if this was going to be an enjoyable experience whether the movie was any good or not. Mondays at the dollar theatre all you pay is 50 cents. No wonder the place was jumping with little ones. Fortunately, the movie was a good one and the children were well behaved.

By the end of the movie many of us were so touched by the action on the screen it lead to tears. So what was the price of a good cry? You already know... only 50 cents!

Valley of Geysers

Landslide damages famed valley in Russia

By MANSUR MIROVALEV,

Associated Press Writer

Tue Jun 5, 1:27 AM ET

A severe landslide has nearly obliterated one of Russia's most noted natural wonders, the Valley of Geysers, officials and environmental activists said Monday.

The valley in the Kronotsky national reserve on the Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula contained about 90 geysers, as well as an array of thermal pools, and is the region's most popular tourist attraction.

A snow-covered mound collapsed Sunday "within seconds" and caused a massive landslide, about a mile long and 600 feet wide, burying two-thirds of the valley, park ranger Valery Tsypkov said in televised remarks.

The landslide dumped millions of cubic yards of mud and stones and destroyed most of the valley's geysers and dozens of thermal springs, stopping yards away from the valley's only hotel, he said.

Tourists and park personnel had to be evacuated, but no injuries were reported.
"The splendor of the valley has changed beyond recognition," Kronotsky national reserve director Natalya Radugova said in televised remarks.

Some officials were more hopeful about the valley's future.

The natural dam created by the landslide will turn the valley — which was discovered only in 1941 — into a thermal lake that could become a new "tourist jewel of Russia," tourism official Denis Lazarev said, according to Russian news agencies.

Experts feared many of the valley's geysers were obliterated.

"We witnessed a unique natural event," said Oleg Mitvol, the deputy head of Russia's environmental watchdog agency Rosprirodnadzor. "But the consequences of such a natural catastrophe are irreversible."

A sparsely populated peninsula, Kamchatka is located some 4,200 miles from Moscow. It was completely closed to foreigners until 1990 and now attracts thousands of tourists annually with its volcanos, geysers and national parks.

"This is tragic for humankind, in that we have lost one of the great natural wonders of the world," Laura Williams of the World Wildlife Fund said in a statement posted on the group's Web site. "But for nature, this is only a blip in the history of the planet's evolution."

Letters of Invitation

We received an email from Tania the director of the Language School that we attend in Krasnodar... she says that our "letters of invitation", which are needed to get a Russian visa could be ready in 2-3 weeks.

We asked her for new invitations so that we could renew our visas early. Our current visas are up in September. If we waited until September to renew the visas, then that would mean another trip out of Russia to get everything processed. By renewing them early we will be able to stay in school, save the cost of another trip out of the country and we would not have to leave again until January.

We speak to one another in Russian, we listen to tapes, we still text message and email in Russian but, there is nothing better than being immersed in the language as we are when we are in Russia. We are so eager to get back to school, back to work and back among our Russian friends!

Rock of Love

Looking at the mountains beneath us as we rode the tram down from Sandia Peak the other day, I saw this heart-shaped rock and quickly snapped a picture.

Each time I look at it, I am reminded of how God's unfailing love has been the rock we have leaned on over the years. His love has helped us to survive life in a foreign country. His love has helped us endure the pain of our first two children being stillborn. His love has been the foundation that our marriage and family have rested on for 25 years.

May God's love be the solid rock in your life, today and everyday!

stop and smell the roses

Time goes by so much faster than I ever realised possible. It seems as if it was just yesterday I was driving to Seal Beach to get out of the Pasadena smog for play time so the guys would take a better afternoon nap.

Nathan is leaving early Sunday morning to fly to Pittsburgh to visit friends. Spencer leaves the next weekend for camp in Colorado. Neither one of them needs me to pack their bags and decide what they will wear or to plan out their itinerary. In all of our years as a family this is a first for Tom and I.

Last year we left Nathan and Spencer home alone, Tom was here in America and I was in Rome, Italy. They spent their time playing video games and eating whatever they wanted for ten days. We were connected through text messaging and email.

This year both of them are happily leaving us behind.

I, being a mother, have mixed emotions.

I want them to grow, mature and experience life. But, I want to make sure they don't get hurt. And yet I remember when they were little "falling down and getting back up" was part of the process of development each one had to experience. It is the "falling down and getting back up" that leads to growth and maturity.

My heartfelt prayer is that they will both (like Christ) grow " in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." Luke 2:52

Sandia Peak

Here are a few of the photos I took today!

the coloring you see on the photo is Tom's Hawaiian print shirt!

a tram going up and we were going down.

On Thursday Tom, Dad, Spencer and I went up to Sandia Peak. I am glad that I let the guys talk me into going. The ride was not the scary event that I was bracing myself for. Instead it was exciting. At the top you are treated to view that spans an 11,000 square mile radius.

The last time we went to see a world record holding tourist site there was a tornado a few hours after we had been there. See this post to read about The world's largest hand dug well in Greensburg, Ks.

The tram going up to Sandia Peak is the World's Longest Aerial Tramway. The ride is 15 minutes long and you will have much to see along the way and once you get to the top.

Once at the top it was over 20 degrees cooler up there and Spencer and I were glad that we took our jackets. Dad and Tom toughed it out!

Young Life Camp

Spencer is scheduled to go to a Young Life Camp in June. I think he is counting down the days until he is away from Tom and I.

He really has had such a great attitude as he has traveled the country with us. I know when I was 17 I would not have wanted to spend my summer on a road trip with my parents!

Spencer will be going to Frontier Ranch in Buena Vista, Colorado. If you check out the website you can watch a video to see some of the activities he will be involved in.

Spencer is able to attend the camp thanks to the Outward Focus team at Hope Community in Andover, Kansas.

We are so grateful that they thought of this detail ... giving him a chance to have a real vacation before we return to Russia in July!

Reality TV

Are you watching the new reality tv shows?

One of the things we miss when we are in Russia is American TV. Since our arrival in the states on February 22nd, we have been able to see, American Idol, America's Next Top Model, The Bachelor, Dancing With The Stars and Survivor.

Now that those shows are over a whole new crop of shows are sprouting up. I enjoy watching the The Lot, which is going to award a million dollar contract to an aspiring film maker. I know there are some others like America's Got Talent and The Next Big Thing but I have not seen either one of those... the show that cracked us up last week was "So You Think You Can Dance".

Tonight's episode should be good... they will be showing auditions from LA and Chicago, I know there will be some great dancers but I am sure there will be some colorful characters just as there were with the New York auditions last week!

Another reason to drink?

Temperature guide: 33 degrees celsius= 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit

Tuesday, May 29, 2007.
Issue 3666.
Page 3.
Blackout Fears Amid a Record Heat Wave
The Moscow Times

As the temperature hit a record high Monday, Moscow's electricity provider scrambled to prevent a blackout due to a surge in the use of air conditioners.

The temperature hit 33.2 degrees Celsius in Moscow on Monday, surpassing a record of 32.2 degrees set for the day in 1995, Interfax reported, citing the Moscow area weather bureau.
Electricity use jumped 8 percent, forcing Unified Energy Systems to impose limits on corporate consumers, company spokeswoman Margarita Nagoga said, Interfax reported. The situation was exasperated by the closure of the city's Matveyevskaya transmission substation for repairs, she said.

The limits are to be lifted Tuesday. Two years ago, a surge in demand caused by a heat wave led to a power outage that began in Moscow and spread to the Moscow, Tula, Kaluga and Ryazan regions, leaving 1.5 million to 2 million people without electricity.

Monday's heat sparked small fires at several electricity substations around Moscow, Interfax said.

A poll of Moscow kiosk vendors, meanwhile, found that the sale of beverages shot up by 80 percent on Monday.

Beer sales alone were up 90 percent, according to the Interfax poll.

Moscow temperatures are expected to hover around 30 degrees for the rest of the week.

welcome!

Our friends in Andover had been on a cruise before we visited them. They said that everyday there would be a new towel animal on their bed.

This is what we found waiting to welcome us to their home. It was such a treat! We are grateful for the hospitality that we have been shown in so many unique ways since we have been here in the states.

Thanks Cathy and Paul!

have a safe weekend!

Paris Hilton

She is always in the news... we have all seen her pose for the cameras. And yet how many of us take the time to pray for her and consider her spiritual condition.

I found an article here: http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272613596.shtml

The story about Paris begins like this----> "Paris Hilton has turned to Buddhism in her ongoing campaign to avoid jail. And if that doesn't work she has a Christian Bible as well."

Just do a quick search on Google.com of Paris Hilton Bible and you will find a number of stories making fun of her desperate attempt to find some peace spiritually.

I don't know whether Ms. Hilton is a Christian, a Buddhist or what. I do know that she needs some guidance from a power greater than herself. My prayer for her and for all young people who are facing jail time or currently serving time in prison, is that God reveals Himself in an unmistakable way.

Captain Jack is Back!

Are you going to see Captain Jack? We are! We used Fandango.com to purchase our tickets early. We didn't want to take a chance on the movie being sold out! So if you are wondering about us at 11:35 am on Friday... just know that we will be sitting in a movie theatre waiting to get through all the previews to see Pirates of the Caribbean at World's End!

Walking

Tom and I have been walking the past couple of nights. I found that on the first night our walk was about 4 hours before bed and we both slept better.

An article on the AARP website has this to say:
"Walking has a long-term impact on your sleep as well as giving short-term relief. On restless nights, instead of turning on the TV, get up and pace around the house. Take in deep breaths as you move. Shake out your arms and legs. Stretch out your neck. When you climb back into bed, you'll feel more prepared for a healthy trip into dreamland. " you can read the full article about how walking affects sleep here:

http://www.aarp.org/health/fitness/walking/a2004-06-04-walking-sheep.html

You can find a fairly detailed list of benefits to walking by clicking here I found them on the AARP website as well.

Walking is a simple exercise that we should be able to do no matter if we are in Russia or here in the states! We both have good walking shoes so all we need is a path to walk on.

Celebrate Spencer Day

HAPPY 17th BIRTHDAY, Spencer!

The Name Game

On Sunday we were at church and they were having a ceremony to honor all the children who were taking a step from one level in their education to the next.

As the names were called in the earlier grades we heard a name that sounded very familiar. I believe that she was going from kindergarten to first grade. I didn't want to to talk during the service so I asked Tom about her name when we got home.

We both heard the same thing. This girls name was... Beyonce'. Yep, just like the singer.

blog your blessing Sunday

Picture of a gallbladder

Our blessing this week comes in form of Tom feeling much better. "Thank you" to all who have prayed for him.

He still has not had surgery to remove the gallbladder... because we are waiting for insurance to kick in. The insurance policy we had before only covered us in Russia.

We are blessed that he is able to follow a low fat diet and keep his gallbladder from getting angry with him!

On Russian time!

I sent a text message to Lena asking her and Alexei to pray for Tom.

I got an answer back at 3:30 in the morning.

What a wake up call! Perhaps I need to start turning the ringer off on my phone when I go to bed.

To check the current time in Krasnodar click here now to check the time in Albuquerque click here ! You can find the home page of the world clock here!

50th Anniversary

One of the blessings of being in the states is being able to participate in family events! My parents, John and Kathryn, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on the 12th of May. This is a photo of Spencer and I with my parents at Brunch on Mother's day, the 13th.

Thank you Angie, for the photo!

Spider Man 3

Nathan, Spencer and I went to see this yesterday and we enjoyed it a great deal. However, our trip out of the parking garage was not so enjoyable.

We had to take the stairs since the elevator was out of order. We came down behind a group of teens smoking marijuana. I hate that smell! I said this aloud so they would hear. The guy whose turn it was with the joint stepped out of the way so we could pass the group by. I guess I should be grateful for his manners?! It is amazing what some people will do in public.

Gallbladder attacks

Thanks to everyone who was praying for Tom after this recent gallbladder attack. We now believe that this is what sent him to the emergency room last year in Russia. We just found out that we will not have insurance with East-West until late June. So we are looking at other options to cover the cost of surgery.

Tom is doing much better. He does not at this time have any gallstones. He was diagnosed with gallbladder disease. He has been faithfully following a low fat diet that was recommended for him. He also needs to stay away from acidic foods. He is not having fun with this new diet but he is being a trooper!

Happy Birthday to Me!

I was tagged by Crickl and by Young Pastor's Wife to do a meme of 7 random things about me. Since it is my birthday today I will give it a try!

1) I was born in Chiseldon, England on an Air Force base. My mother was 7 months pregnant when she flew across the pond with my two older brothers in tow!


2) As a child the name Alida was different and rarely pronounced correctly, in Russia I have been told that my name is Russian and easy to remember!


3) My husband Tom and I, my brothers John and Kevin and their wives Karen and Shari have all been married 25 years!


4) On my mother's side of the family I have 7 cousins and only 1 female cousin, Hilary, and we are 14 years apart in age. On my father's side of the family I am one of 50 first cousins!


5) Not knowing that I would ever go to Russia one day it just so happens that I actually learned some Russian in 4th grade at Isely Elementary School in Wichita, Ks.


6) I love to knit and crochet... that is not news to anyone who knows me. However, I am left handed and I was taught by my mother's cousin Sharon, who is also left handed!


7) My favorite dessert is Key Lime pie and my gracious mother-in-law is making me one today for my birthday!

***If you are a blogger and would like to do a 7 things meme then jump right in!

Back in New Mexico

Since I did most of the driving I am pretty wiped out! I will be sure to do a better update tomorrow after I get some rest. We need to get Tom in to see a doctor as soon as possible. He is feeling better but we don't want him to have another gallbladder attack. They are extremely painful and no fun at all!

Happy Mother's Day

To all the moms out there... may your day be blessed!

Tribute to GreatMom

I will miss Velda. She was very kind and gracious to me. I am just the wife of one of her grandsons... and yet she took the time to write, send me a birthday card and a gift every year since I married Tom 25 years ago. Tom and I are grateful that our sons ages 19 and 16 have many wonderful memories of their GreatMom! We will especially remember her at Christmas time. Her Christmas cookies were always fought over when the package arrived from Newton to our home in California.

May she always be remembered for her devotion to her family.

NEWTON
Velda Sharp, 93, died May 6, 2007, at Newton Medical Center, Newton.

She was born Oct. 13, 1913, in Castleton, the daughter of John and MaryAnn Hyson DeNoon.

A resident of Newton, she was a homemaker. She was a Auxiliary member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars and she attended a neighborhood Bible study.

On Oct. 3, 1931, she married Charles Sharp in Hutchinson. He preceded her in death.

Survivors include: a son, Norman, Albuquerque, N.M.; two daughters, Charlotte Sharp Stephens, Newton, and Shirlee Larson, Blue Springs, Mo.; 8 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by a brother, six sisters and a grandson.

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel, Newton, with Chaplain Bill Regier presiding. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association, in care of the funeral home, 215 North Main, Newton, KS 67114.

meetings, meetings!

Yesterday we drove down to Edmond, Oklahoma to meet with a missions pastor. We braved all the rain we had to drive through and it was well worth it!

We got a chance to meet with a man who is doing Recovery Ministry there and were able to sit and plan for a short term mission trip by some members of the Recovery Ministry. Thanks Pastor Mike for asking us to come to Edmond!

We will be going back to Edmund on Sunday. We'll have dinner with a group from the church and then we will be sharing our testimonies at the Celebrate Recovery Service on Monday night!

Victory

May 9th is Victory Day in Russia. You can click here to learn about the song "Den Pobedy". Spencer had to remind me this morning what the date was. I think he just wanted to get out of school. It is great to go to school in Russia there are lots of holidays!

** a side note for those who may not know: if there are highlighted words within the text of my blog you can click on them and it will take you to a website that is connected to the topic that I am writing about.

New to us!

On Sunday after one of the services at Hope, Tom was speaking with Mel who was asking if we had gotten a laptop yet. Tom was telling Mel that we had not gotten the funds yet. Jeff overheard and stepped up to say that he had a laptop that was not being used and that if we could use it he would clean his information off of it and bring it over.

True to his word, on Monday night Jeff brought over a Hewlett Packard laptop and we are so excited. This donation provides us with a computer that we can travel with. Tom often uses power point when he speaks. As I type this, using Paul and Cathy's PC, Tom is sitting with our new laptop typing up a summary of book he read.

What a blessing... the kindness of people within the body of believers never ceases to amaze me!

what can I say?

Tom's grandmother passed away last night. It looks as if the funeral will be on Saturday.

We are in mourning over the loss of the this kind and gentle woman. And we are grateful that we are here in the states and can actually participate in the funeral.

Please pray for the entire Sharp family during this time of loss.

out of the mouths of babes!

Tom spoke at the service last night and again this morning. The third service got cancelled due to the weather.

Spencer and I worked with the younger kids. He had the 1st and 2nd graders and I had the 3rd-5th graders. It was a blast to see their reactions to to our talks.

One little girl asked me if there was any food in Russia that I did not like. I told her that was a good question. Then I asked the kids if they liked jello. Every hand in the room went up. I told them to imagine that their jello had chicken or roast beef in it. There was a collective "EWWW!" that rose up in the room. I explained that meat jello is called "holidelnik" and so far it is the only dish that I didn't really like!

Marilyn M. was leading the class and she explained to the kids that 75% of Russians are alcoholic. Since we had 25 kids in the room she asked 5 kids to stand up... then she told the kids that the 5 people standing were the only ones in the room who were not alcoholic. One little girl put her hands on the sides of her face and said:

"But, I don't wanna be an alcoholic!"

Spencer asked his group if they had any questions and one little girl raised her hand and said:

"I like to eat the white part out of the Oreos"!

We truly enjoyed spending time speaking with the kids. We showed off Spencer's Marvel Comic Books that are in Russian. And we shared with them about living in a different country. We shared what our frustrations are and what our successes are. We talked little bit about the economy and compared Krasnodar to Andover.

Spencer and I were both disappointed that the last service was cancelled. He was asked to speak to the kindergarten as well as the 1st and 2nd grades. We were each looking forward to what the next classes would have to say!

tornado damage

Street sign pointing toward the World's Largest Hand Dug Well

looking down into the well

Spencer standing in front of the gift shop and museum

As we traveled from Dalhart, Texas to Andover, Kansas we took the 54 highway. Greensburg is the site of the World's Largest Hand-Dug Well and since we had to drive through Greensburg I decided we should stop and go see it.

I had chatted with the woman working in the gift shop about the weather. She was concerned about getting some bad weather later that day. She was right. Greensburg was devastated by a tornado.

Many of the buildings along the highway 54 were destroyed. According to the weather channel the path of the tornado was a mile wide. The building that Spencer is standing in front of in the photograph above no longer exists.

As we drove through Greensburg we talked about what a quaint little city it is. And how peaceful and beautiful it is. Now it is a disaster area and martial law has been declared in the city. You can read about it here: http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=nation_world&id=5276741

Our hearts and our prayers go out to the people in the city and in Kiowa county.

Tom and one of our faithful supporters!

Before we left two years ago we made everyone we visited watch Napoleon Dynamite. We didn't get to watch it with Ed and Noel but they love Napoleon as much as we do!

Vote for Pedro!

one wrong letter

I sent an email in Russian to my friend Olya to tell her that I found a book by a Russian author. I tried to type "he wrote The Turkish Gambit" but, what I typed was "he urinated The Turkish Gambit".... typing one wrong letter can make or break you. Hopefully, she will get a good laugh and understand what I was trying to say!

getting ready

Spencer and I shopped for yarn for an afghan for him. It was a job that I could not be trusted to do alone... he does not want me to choose any color that might be remotely girlie! He chose 3 shades of burgundy with black for an accent. I started it tonight and will work on it as we travel. I finished one for Nathan on our last road trip.

Tom tried to get pictures of his jewelry taken today and for some reason my camera didn't cooperate for him. We need to find a camera shop and see what the problem is. Tom pointed out to me that my camera has literally taken thousands of pictures since we purchased it two years ago!

Right now I am putting all the photos that have already been taken on Photobucket. Maybe if I can get the memory card cleaned it will function better!