Because...

Because I'm too dependent upon electronics:

1. Currency converters (one for type 1 and one for type 2 electronics)
2. Plug adapters
3. Extension cord
4. Power cords for all rechargeable devices
5. Extra laptop battery

Because I don't want to miss 5 weeks of Bible Study Fellowship:

1. 5 weeks' of lessons packed to do as I travel
2. 2 weeks' of lessons to use while visiting BSF classes in Manila because their semesters don't line up with our semesters (and that makes sense when you know their seasons are different than ours)
3. Addresses and contact info for BSF classes in Manila and a plan for taking a taxi to class
4. My name tag to identify me when I visit the classes in Manila
5. My Bible (I would take that anyhow)

Because I'll be doing so many different things in so many different places:

1. Athletic shoes
2. Flip flops (to be used as shower shoes, not as shoes to be worn in public)
3. Black sandals (leather, nice ones, but flat)
4. Brown "business" shoes (heels)
5. White casual sandals 

Because I can't imagine traveling (especially internationally) without them:

1. Multiple sandwich size for toiletries packed in my checked bag (pilot size, but checked)
2. One quart size for toiletries in my carry-on to meet security qualifications
3. Two 2-gallon size for doing laundry in the room if it's a better option than the sink (I will be in hotels for this trip, so I don't expect to use a bag for doing laundry -- but in a guest house in Africa the large ziploc was a huge help) and for dirty laundry (especially things like sweaty socks and damp towels)
4. A few half-gallon size just because you never know when they'll come in handy

Because I am a privileged and wealthy American:

1. My valid U.S. Passport
2. A small stash of M&M's to be used as "gifts" or "sanity pills"
3. More stuff than I need (like quite a bit of what is listed in this blog)

Remember this game?

Go ahead. Identify all the differences between these two seemingly identical images. It will be fun. Who knows, there may be fabulous prizes for people who find them all. I believe there are 9 differences. At least there are that many intended differences.

Unintended differences? Who knows.

Gee, aren't you glad you tuned in for this?

Preparation for Travel: NARNIA

In one week I will begin a journey that will include a number of "firsts" for me, including my first loop of the globe. While I've been to more places than I imagined going in my lifetime (and now am "ruined" to have a much longer list of places I want to visit than I would have had except for all that travel), I've never traveled all the way around before.  If all goes even just somewhat as planned, I will land in Orlando on Mother's Day having made an east-ward journey all the way around. 

So, I've got my lists made and a table in my room where "I need to take this" stuff is collecting -- I generally don't do that much pack-planning any more, but this is 5 weeks/5 locations in 4 cities and I'm busier than ever with stuff up until I go, so it seemed prudent.

One of the things that I purchased lately (and highly recommend if it's the kind of thing you like) is the Chronicles of Narnia done by Focus on the Family's Radio Theatre.  I'd checked out The Horse and His Boy from the public library a month or so ago and really enjoyed it - which prompted me to check it out on line to see how available and affordable it might be. I was thrilled with what I found. (I purchased my copy from amazon.com, though it is available many places, including directly from Focus.)

So, between tasks involved in deep-cleaning the bathroom and miscellaneous pre-packing and other Saturday standards (including a nap on the patio), I uploaded all 19 discs onto my eMac (iTunes) and will take those files in MP3 format on the trip.  How cool is that?  I have 10 flights ranging from 2.5 hours to 13 hours in length and will have time to listen I expect. 

Finger Painting

Wycliffe USA staff working in Orlando spent a day together to reFOCUS, reCONNECT, and reTREAT.

Throughout the day which focused on Jesus as he is revealed in Matthew 15 & 16, there were two large canvases developing. One was of a lion -- the Lion of Judah -- representing the royal, mighty, fierce, not-safe-but-always-good, majestic characteristics of the One who Peter declared the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Michael Harrar, a Wycliffe artist, provided a visual structure for the work, but let anyone who wanted to contribute participate. People dipped fingers and hands into paint and created the lion's mane and ears. The goal was more about the creation of art as expression of worship than art as a product -- but the end product is quite lovely. Soon it will hang in the Wycliffe office for a season as a reminder of this experience.


The second canvas was also a worship expression -- abstract in nature. Many more took courage and covered their hands with paint and added their hand print. In the afternoon, we cut this canvas from the frame and cut it into book marks. Anyone who wanted some could take them as another kind of remembrance.

Invasion of the Drive-Thru Windows

When we moved out here, we had to drive for miles and miles to get to anything. We had a 7-11 about 6 miles away -- an old one with limited selection of much of anything. For groceries we drove 12 miles or more. Six years later and the corner where Pulix came first (what a day of rejoicing when groceries were just 3 miles away!!) is getting filled up with options. I think there is a contest between fast food joints, banks and nail emporiums to see who can occupy the most space.

So, one place that has a building and signage and electricity and all, but isn't open yet is Taco Bell. I wish they'd hurry -- it's one of my favorites in the cheap-fast-drive-thru category.

We are still without more than we have...and it's funny how I find myself and many others who live out this way complaining more about what's not here now that there are some things here. Six years ago, we would have been thrilled with ANYthing...now, we have opinions.

New Blog Header

Here's the deal. I was sititng on the sofa watching ABC's Extreme Home Makeover and playing with Adobe PhotoShop. I call it digital doodling when I do stuff like this. I ended up making a new header for my blog. With a new header, I made few other adjustments to the layout too.

Whew. A final project for the weekend...