Failure

Once again, it appears that I have failed packing. Last year when Lesley and I went to Istanbul, I forgot some of the basics. I should know better than to leave the USA without long black pants (I had black capris), a plain black skirt below my knees, I had a "little" black dress, some t-shirts…I've had experience, I know what to put in a carry on suitcase. What the hell was I thinking?

On September 1 I embarked on another journey that I thought I had packed for. Haha! Guess what? I had, and probably still have, absolutely no idea what to expect for this journey. Because, this time, I'm not packing for how hot it may be somewhere, I'm not packing for what may be more acceptable dress for a woman in a culture different from mine.

You're packing a suitcase for a place

None of us has been

A place that has to be believed

To be seen

(Bono/U2 - Walk On)

On September 1, I started a 30 day physical challenge to practice yoga and pilates every day. The purpose is to raise awareness and money for famine relief for the Horn of Africa. Those of you who know me know I'm not a disaster relief kind of person. My focus is on after the relief organizations have come and gone, after the attention is off the disaster or problem…then I think rebuilding civil society is so critical, helping to create sustainable, self sufficient solutions in response to disasters.

I digress. My point to all this is, I was prepared for the physical part - thinking I would be tired, sore, physically inefficient. I was not prepared at all for the mental and spiritual journey I've found myself on. It reminds me of when I returned to college at the ripe young and fabulous age of 50…I figured I wouldn't be smart enough, that the other younger, traditional students wouldn't accept me; but it never occurred to me that returning to college would entirely upset my personal apple cart, change my worldview entirely. Right now, I find myself a little more emotionally fragile, perhaps a little more vulnerable - something I'm not totally comfortable with. But I find I am filled with such joy; I am finding such incredible pleasure in the practice of yoga. I have the most amazing opportunity - through myself I can help others. Is that really a possibility?

Yesterday after I dropped my car at the repair store for new tires and an oil change I chose to walk the two miles home. As I walked, I began to think about how irritated I was that my husband wasn't available to pick me up, that the lady who takes customers home wasn't there, right at the moment I wanted a ride home. As I walked, I thought about the women and children in the Horn of Africa, particularly those who are walking 28 days to hopefully get to food and safety before they, or their children, die. As I walked, I wondered what would happen if my neighborhood of 95 homes had to all leave and begin a journey, on foot, that might cost all of us our lives. I imagined what the exodus from my neighborhood would look like. How can you even begin to explain that? How can you even begin to justify that?

I'm 10 days into my 30 day challenge. Wonder what it will feel like at 30 days?

nbb

Famine

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend time traveling with my husband. We were able to have a few days together while he was working. As I traveled, I found myself looking for news on the natural disasters that occurred in our country. I was craving all the details I could get and I was impressed with what I saw and heard. Local, State and Federal government officials were being extremely proactive by taking advantage of a very wired constituency to alert people, to evacuate people, to set up shelters for those who had to leave their homes; all efforts to prevent the loss of life.

Imagine if those types of safety nets existed for people living in the Horn of Africa. Imagine if the famine were covered on the international and national media level equivalent to what we saw over those days. Imagine the devastation that could have been prevented if officials were proactive in times before a famine. Imagine saving the lives of the more than 30,000 children now lost. Imagine the lives of over 12 million people that will be affected in this drought. Imagine walking 28 days with the hope of getting you and your family to a place where you might be able to find food and having to choose which one of your three children you would have to leave on the side of the road to die because you were too weak to carry them.

I agonized over this situation; this needless loss of life. I agonized over the idea that I would ever have to choose which one of my children I would have to let die first. Even worse, where I live, people die from obesity, obesity related causes – we have too much. And, people in a different part of the world die from not enough.

What good does it do for me to worry and agonize about a famine in another part of the world? What can I do? Can one person make a contribution that might make a difference? Those of you who know me, know that when I get frustrated with something that is happening I make a conscious decision for change.

On September 1 I began a physical, personal commitment to practice yoga and pilates every day for 30 days. The purpose of this endeavor is to raise awareness and money to support the work that CARE and the World Food Programme are doing in the Horn of Africa. I know that my physical challenge in no way equals what people in the Horn of Africa experience daily but I believe that through my commitment to a 30 day journey of physical healing I can somehow honor the lives that have been lost. I can also reach out to each of you to join me in this experience.

How can you participate?

1. Support me. Donations can be made to Mango Tree Foundation with all proceeds received from September 1 – October 15 going equally to CARE and the World Food Programme.
2. Engage your local yoga and pilates studios to do a community oriented event with the proceeds coming to Mango Tree Foundation, which will then be donated to CARE and the World Food Programme. Suggested donation amount is $30 (people living in extreme poverty live on less than $1/day – $30 for 30 days). Of course, if you are feeling more generous, please give freely.

Through my physical challenge I hope to honor the women and children and men who are struggling every day to find food, to stay alive. Sometimes we need to be reminded of how secure our lives are, how lucky we are. Yes, I know that one person can affect great change in the world. But, I can only start with myself, share with you what I am going to do and ask you to join me.

nbb

Her and Me

Her: Are you still wearing that thing for your teeth?

Me: Huh? What thing? Are you talking about my retainer?

Her: Yes, that thing - the retainer. You need to start wearing it again - your bottom teeth are starting to get crooked.

Me: Huh? I haven't had that retainer for almost 40 years - I either swallowed it during my sleep or the bed ate it - before I went to college the first time when I was 17!

Her: You need to get to the dentist and get a new one. Your teeth are so white and beautiful - it's a shame to let that go!

Me: Are you serious? I'm 56 years old - I'm not going back to the orthodontist. I cut my bangs.

Her: Good, I don't know why you insist on wearing your hair so long. At least I can see your eyes.

Conversation occurred within an hour and a half of my arrival into see my Mom in June. I like it when she clears the air so quickly - just go ahead and get all the issues out there. Gives us the rest of my visit to deal with all the other critical things in our lives…

Hot Pool

After a weekend of sitting on the porch, drinking a little, eating a little, watching baseball games, playing Words With Friends, going to the movies and doing a few chores, I hit the pool this morning. It was tough! The pool temperature was 84 - by my 8th length, I was sweating bullets. Did my 20…that's 1,000 meters. Usually I leave the pool a little flushed but today I left the pool HOT!!!!! Loved it though!

I think too the hubby's cigars bug me. Stop my head up. Maybe that's what my problem was today! Haha. The distance was easier - I was just so hot!

n

Swimming Pools

Clearly MountainView Aquatic Center has got their Fridays confused. The pool, because of budget cuts in Cobb County, has had to close some days and take furlough days on others. The new schedule is that they are closed on Sundays and closed on the last Friday of every month! Imagine my surprise when I went to the pool for my Friday morning swim and it was closed. By my calendar, the last Friday of the month is June 24. That's not today! But, I checked the schedule and, oh yeah, they're closed next Friday too - swim meet. I'll be swimming somewhere else!

Went to LA Fitness to swim and much to my surprise, had a great swim. I was able to get right in, didn't have flailers or floppers trying to share my lane with me and was able to get my 1/2 mile finished in, wait for it, in a little under 30 minutes!!!!! Woohoo!!!!! Its a 25 yard pool and I felt like I was flying! I guess there is a benefit to working out in a 50m pool.

Shipping my old pots and pans to Joe. Finally joined the 21st century with some new shiny Calphalon pans - can't do nonstick - Tim tears them up. So, bought some fabulous stainless steel pans. Now to just train Tim to make sure he uses these in the most beneficial way. It was exciting buying new pots and pans. I decided not to ship the popcorn pot to Joe - it's one of my favorites.

A little girl maintenance, going to the golf course with Tim and friends - only putting - because I still can't really hold anything in my right hand…my right hand has taken a supporting role lately because of my golf cart accident last Friday! I still don't like golf - I love the social part.

n

When I Diet I Don't Eat

Yesterday I had a quick meeting with Jill Gregory from Venice Nutrition (www.venicenutrition.com). She's been working with several of the clients of Pilates Tutor (www.pilatestutor.com). Through the pilates studio, I got a free one hour consultation from her - thought I would see what she had to say. One of Jill's first questions was "are you a dieter?" I kind of am but as soon as I hear the words "you can't eat that" of course, that's the first thing I really want to eat! I told her that my biggest issue is that when I feel like I need to try to loose weight, I don't eat. That's what I did when I was 18 - we didn't eat - we just drank beer, cheap wine and tequila! Provided all the nutrition I needed - I went to college and lost 20 pounds.

What I got from our short meeting is that Venice Nutrition's primary focus is on maintaining stable blood sugar levels - eating several little meals a day with each meal having a good balance of carbs and protein. I think that basically I'm fairly sound nutritionally. However, I'm not a big breakfast eater…particularly when I first wake up in the morning. Eating first thing in the morning is critical to maintaining stable blood sugar. I'm going to start with a part of a protein bar. Today I used an Atkins Day Break Bar. The other interesting tidbit I didn't know was that when you are looking for balance between carb and protein - the numbers should be within 5-7 grams of each other. So, 30 grams of carb and 5 grams of protein isn't really a good balance! There's a whole lot more to it but we didn't get a chance to really chat about all the details. We are meeting next week - weight and body mass/fat measuring - YUK!

Did Pilates this morning - mat focused TRX. So hard. Then went to LA Fitness for a spin class. Always fun!

n

More Frustration

Last Friday, I agreed to go golfing with my husband and another couple in the neighborhood. I don't particularly care for golfing, no that's being nice - I hate golf. It's just a waste of time and after about 30 minutes I'm bored. I enjoy driving the golf cart, having a cocktail and hanging around outside. The golf part I can totally do without.

And, if there is another time I golf, I will drive the cart. We had a little accident with the golf cart - well, how to put this gently - I got hit by the golf cart, knocked me down, severely sprained my wrist - casted at urgent care *fortunately no breaks*, braced by orthopedic. The driver wasn't drinking…at all! I was!

A sprained right arm/wrist totally wrecked my weekend and the first few days of this week. It's pretty hard to do anything when you only have one hand, as I did for four days. Saturday I spent napping and sitting around - I actually took one pain pill and it wiped me out. Sunday, was a little better - still very limited movement in my hand and still a fair amount of pain. Sat around again - did what I could - not a lot though. Went to ortho on Monday - he gave me a brace to wear for the majority of my time, and some drugs that, as the pharmacist says are "jacked up motrin." They are anti-inflammatories and pain pills…took one yesterday - wiped me out - I had to keep walking around the house to keep from going to sleep. But, I do not enjoy sitting around. There's nothing worse - just sitting - trying to figure out something to do to keep me awake/interested.

We had a mini Mango Tree Foundation fundraiser on Monday night. It was a lot of fun and we raised about $800. It was a Mary Kay cosmetics Makeover Fundraiser - 50% of the total sold in cosmetics will be donated to Mango Tree Foundation. How awesome is that? Still working on Girls Night Out for September. We need to figure out how to make sure we have enough people - 150 would be freaking amazing! Want to do it at Pico Autentico - a Latin American theme - tasting Latin American wines and eating Latin American food! Maybe even a little music?!? Would be so much fun.

I was able to swim on Monday - no pain in the pool. Took yesterday off - mostly because I was so tired from being up on Monday night until midnight. Then realized that, already, I'm out/off my "new" workout schedule. I am ready to go today. Will swim, try pilates tonight. Meeting with a nutritionist this afternoon at 5 - before pilates. Going to movies with friends tonight.

I have got to, got to find something mental to do. I can't continue to be as bored as I have been…it makes me whiny and needy.

Work in progress.

n

PS - Swam 24 lengths today…in 40 minutes! 6 breast, 12 free style, 6 kicking…first 16 in 30 minutes. Pool was a cluster - ended up having 3 other people sharing my lane - two older guys and a lady (for a while). Bumped into one of the men - who told me we are supposed to always swim on the right side of the lane - okay, that's cool - but then don't freaking flop around in the middle of the pool…I'm willing to share but seriously! Aarrgghhh!!!!!!!!!

n

Frustrated

I've been awfully irritated lately. Trying to figure out why. As I swam today I started thinking about just what the freak my problem is. Here's what I decided my problem(s) are:

I've been so frustrated since the pool changed from a 25 yard pool to a 50 meter pool. It has given me serious irritation. I get half way through a length and think, oh shit, I still am only halfway.

I think what has frustrated me the most is that I don't feel like I've gotten more fit since I started swimming laps 6 months ago. (I'm probably being too hard on myself.) Suzanne tells me I've just got to stop eating bread…I don't eat bread except for on pizza night - Friday night - when I have two slices of pizza.

I swim three days a week. My goal has always been to swim 1/2 mile. Today, I just said forget it, I'm going to swim and just get it done. And, I did. Maybe it's a breakthrough for me.

Swam 22 lengths in 40 minutes…1100 meters. A mile is 1609.34 meters. So, I'm 500 meters off from a mile (that's another 10 lengths).

While I was swimming I decided that I really needed to set some specific goals. Like swim 1/2 mile in 30 minutes. So, that's the goal. I want to swim 1/2 mile in 30 minutes.

Plus, I think that I'm not getting enough cardio workouts in. How to fit in more exercise. I go to pilates MWSa - sometimes T/Th. I swim MWF - water aerobics and then laps. Should I add more days of swimming? Perhaps a spin class or 2 a week. I could probably spin on T/Th and then swim laps after that around 1ish. But, realistically, is that even possible for me to do. Next week, I will give it a try.

Sort of plan:

Monday - water aerobics, laps, pilates

Tuesday - spin, laps (afternoon) or yoga instead of laps

Wednesday - water aerobics, laps, pilates

Thursday - spin, laps (maybe yoga instead of laps)

Friday - water aerobics, laps

Saturday - pilates, tennis (for only two more weeks)

Sunday - tennis

Tennis doesn't count as cardio for me - too much stop and start.

Then how to make the food stuff fit what I am doing - fuel my body without gaining weight. I have always struggled with this aspect. The more I work out, the hungrier I am. The hungrier I am, the more I eat. Vicious cycle. So, how to organize great nutritious food with the workouts to keep myself FIT!!!

If I'm lucky, take good care of myself, I can probably keep doing what I am doing for another 10-15 years…should I tell you how old I will be then? But, if I don't do anything what the heck will I be missing???

Then I thought my frustration might be related to the weensy bit of estrogen my doc prescribed, if I wanted to use it. Took 2 doses, one a week for two weeks - cutting that stuff out now.

Or, it could be the extreme heat. 13 days in a row of over 90 degree heat. Sucks, sucks, sucks. I love summer but when it starts in June being so damned hot, I hate it. Leaves no where to go but continued hot, hot, hot.

Maybe it's all of the above.

n

The Fifth Time

Bogota always completely and totally overwhelms me. This is my fifth trip to this City and my fifth time to realize I am absolutely out of my league.

I require help when I come. I need someone to help me with hotel reservations. I like to have a prearranged cab waiting for me at the airport when I arrive - so someone has to do that for me too. I am frequently discombobulated about where I am when I am here. I don't know the streets, or how they relate to each other much less to how they relate to where I am.

However, not all is bleak. There may be hope for me. I am actually starting to recognize places and things along my common routes - I know when we are close to Uniminuto (and no it isn't just because of the huge sign that says Uniminuto)…it is because I recognize the home supply and construction store, it is because I recognize the local Carrefour (love that store). Neighborhood names are starting to mean something to me. I love that now, I have a clue which TransMillenio bus to take to Ciudad Bolivar and I love that I know which bus to get on when I transfer to a second bus to take me to Sierra Morena. I have struggled so much over the last 2.5 years when I come here because I am so spatially confused. I finally got a map on a visit to USAID last year - but it was, honestly a shitty map. It was like the one they hand out at the Marriott (where I have never stayed) - you know the one, it has a big red star on it where "you are" and everything else is totally irrelevant. Today, after my visit to Yo Mujer with Amira, Amira gave me a proper map!!!!! I am so excited. I know, I'm easily pleased but can you say excited? I totally get where I have been, where I want to go, and where all my important places and neighborhoods are. But then again, my perspective is totally limited because normally when I am in Bogota, I am working 16-18 hour days. We are either at Uniminuto, in Ciudad Bolivar at Yo Mujer or going to a meeting somewhere. Normal day: up at 6, working until 6 or 7, dinner around 8 and then falling in bed by 11 or so.

We arrived Thursday night, got our cab to my new favorite place to stay - Viaggio Parque 54, Cra #4, 54-24. Don't ask me how the streets are numbered…We have a room on the 3rd floor with two beds. Everyday there is a great breakfast - fruit, cheese, ham, rolls, juice, coffee, hot milk, chocolate - and you can get scrambled eggs (with or without ham, tomatoes, onions) and a sandwich - ham, cheese and, if you want, a slice of tomato. Yesterday I had eggs, this morning I had a sandwich. The neighborhood here is safe, I think. I probably wouldn't know if it wasn't. Around the corner and down a huge hill, there is a Juan Valdez (which doesn't open before 10) and further down the hill is Exito. Exito is the Colombian version of WalMart. If Exito doesn't have it, you probably don't need it. Two doors down on the left is a little mercado - they have diet coke, some food items, probably some liquor and, Bogota potato chips - which are potato chips with plantain chips and chicharrones. I always bring snacks - I have been here and been absolutely starving. One trip, we worked so hard all day that when I got back to my room about 7:30 I took a shower and went to bed! Didn't eat. Couldn't have cared less.

This trip was easier for me. We were up early yesterday for a meeting at our hotel - American Women's club - but she came to our hotel. Meetings at Uniminuto and presentations from CED, Fundacion Eudes, Vencedoras de Batallas and, MTF! Lunch with the ladies from Vencedoras and Padre Renee. Skype tech meeting. Small reception honoring Mango Tree Foundation in Uniminuto Director's office (surprise, surprise, surprise). Back to our hotel. Walk down the hill to buy coffee to take home for Mark. Quick clean up for dinner in La Macarena with our new friend Robin and our good friend Paula. We had Serbian food. Best was the Serbian Raki…so good…oh yeah!

This morning up not so early, leisurely breakfast, TransMillennio out to Yo Mujer - Lynn is working with Paula and Rigo on a paper. Home and typing this by 3! First time ever I have had downtime! Amazing!

Inconvenienced

Last week, the South where I live, descended into a hell of snow and ice. We were stranded, stuck, held captive in our home for the better part of 4 days. I hate winter, hate snow (except for when I go to it and leave it behind) and definitely hate ice storms.

Sunday night into Monday we had about 5 inches of snow. Monday it started freezing rain/sleet - there is supposedly a difference but I don't know what it is and, I guess I don't really care. The snow and then the ice and the fact that the City of Atlanta and most of the surrounding burbs have about 25 snowplows/sanders. Can you believe that? In fact, I heard that the City of Atlanta has only 12 snowplows. I'm generously adding 13 because I believe that between the counties of Cobb, Forsyth, Gwinnett there may have actually been 13 extra snowplows.

But let me put this in perspective…we had food, we had heat, internet access, and no one was injured in the melee of trying to drive in the South in ice and snow. So why am I all whiny? We didn't have mail, no daily papers, and we couldn't really get in our car and go anywhere. But, can I tell you, in all honesty, I was miserable. I couldn't go to the pool, yoga was cancelled, pilates was cancelled.

But all my whininess and frustration made me think about my whininess and frustration. And other people. People live in war zones for years with absolutely freaking nothing - happy for an occasional meal, to be able to go outside without having bullets fired around them. Happy to be able to get clean water. The women we work with in Bogota are forced to give up absolutely everything they have, lose family members and have to flee to a place they don't know with kids in tow, no money, no jobs, no home…And I've got the guts to be whiny and inconvenienced. What an absolutely crazy, ridiculous, self absorbed way of thinking.

When I put my own little piece of the world into perspective by keeping the broader world, the impoverished, the sick, and those who really are inconvenienced in my thoughts, it keeps me and my whacked out little mind in line! I realize how incredibly lucky I am, every day!

As we continue in to the New Year of 2011, I renew my commitment to remember that I am so lucky - through some dumb luck and some hard work - to be where I am doing what I am doing. I renew my commitment to tackle the issues of poverty and the need to address women's issues with grace, strength, creativity and the determination to make a difference.

Georgia Winter

Snow day #3! We have been locked in by snow and ice for the last two days! Started snowing on Sunday night and we got about6 inches of snow - beautiful snow. But then Monday after the snow it started sleeting - frozen rain and sleet. That's where things got complicated.

Virtually everything has been shut down…no newspapers, no mail, no UPS, no FedEx. No people going to work. No school. Universities closed, local schools closed. Government offices have been shut down for two days. The new governor even had to delay his inauguration! In the south, how to deal with things like snow and ice, even though they only happen once in a while, is a completely foreign notion! We have not had a salt or sand truck in front of our neighborhood for three days. I have this stuff called "ice melt" in my garage - we used it once to melt some ice on our driveway, it ate the driveway. I'm almost thinking that I could put that stuff on the hill and make things much, much better. But, if it eats the road, I'm probably going to be in trouble.

Andy had a friend in from Minneapolis - he was with us until Sunday night then went back to his aunt and uncle's home. He got stuck there. Absolutely nothing to do. I feel bad for him - at least he could have gotten stuck here with us where there were other folks his age to do things. Another friend of Andy's is still in high school and he has been with us since Sunday. I finally got them out yesterday - admittedly they even had cabin fever - and sent them on a walk - up to Publix - closed, over to Kroger, WalMart and then to the gas station for soft drinks for me! I needed, desperately, a diet coke. Apparently there are scarce resources all over the city. People say they are running out of food - I doubt that - if they are like us at all they just don't want to eat what's in their fridge! We've done very well with food and stuff.

Tim was supposed to travel yesterday - haha. Our neighborhood is in a relatively hilly area. We have a huge hill in our neighborhood that also runs in front of us that has been an icy mess. Yesterday before Tim decided to postpone his travel, we walked to the main corner, turned right and walked a little up the hill…the roads were still icy but cars were out and trying to get up the hill. For every five cars, only one made it! We laughed - people were getting impatient and trying to pass the cars that were stopped…Tim is going to try go leave today!

I miss my workouts - no yoga, no pilates, no pool. Yesterday I was a little cuckoo so I decided to shovel the driveway. We have a fairly long inclined drive and I worked for about 2 hours shoveling. I don't have a snow shovel so I had to use a straight edge garden shovel. It had a fairly short handle and the snow was heavy and sticking to the shovel so I couldn't just flip it out of the shovel. I had to pick up a shovel full of snow, walk to my little snow bank on the side of my driveway and bang it to get the snow off the shovel! I got through about 3/4 of the driveway and my back decided that I was finished. But, it was a nice little workout - and my back was nothing that some aleve couldn't take care of! Andy and his friend finished it for me. But, how nice to have a fairly clear, dry driveway. This morning I hallucinated that I saw the newspapers on my driveway (a little desperate) and I walked out - had to be a little cautious in places where we had a little dripping that refroze. Fortunately I didn't fall, unfortunately there were no newspapers.

It hasn't been all bad…we have had some neighborhood fun in the middle of being stuck. Some of the ladies got together for scrabble on Monday, then yesterday we got together (9 of us) to learn to play Canasta. Some of the hood ladies know how to play the game so they agreed to teach and coach the rest of us. It was an absolutely blast. Of course, there was wine and food involved. We started at 3. About 5 I got a message that the guys were going to an alternate location to play poker. I got home about 8, Tim didn't get home until almost 10! Lots of fun and what a great way to spend a locked in day. I sipped on a little raspberry infused vodka mixed with LaCroix pamplemousse sparkling water. Yummy! Needless to say, this outing created a Saturday evening event in the neighborhood. And, discussion about a monthly canasta group (can you say fun?!?) and a monthly dinner group. Love the canasta idea, not so sure I am thrilled with the monthly dinner group - I like to have parties but like to invite different people...

Tim is going to try to leave town today. I am going to try to venture out today - reformer pilates at noon, I hope! If I can get out of the hood. It will be interesting.

Plates and Classes

I have signed up for pilates classes for 5 days a week for the next six weeks. I take mat classes on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings - all at 8 a.m. Then I am scheduled to work out on the reformer two days a week - Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings…yes, I am going to try to do back to back workouts on Saturday mornings. I go to the most wonderful, wonderful studio - Pilates Tutor - www.pilatestutor.com. Amazing instructors, great classes - definitely check them out. I may be absolutely crazy but I figured it wouldn't/couldn't hurt. My thoughts are to really ramp up my workouts for six weeks to see how my body reacts. I think it will also change my mental perspective. None of that can be bad!

The key is to go to every class with the determination to work very hard and to make the most of my time - that may be challenging. Sometimes I think it's easy to sign up for things, then when you start to feel a little physically overwhelmed, participate at a minimum level. Or even begin to treat it as an obligation rather than an opportunity.

So on top of my swimming three days a week, yoga at least two to three days a week, I should see some physical and mental challenges!

I was able to enroll in a course at Kennesaw State. I am taking the Introduction to International Business. I practically had to beg to get into the class…seriously! The class wasn't full, I'm a summa cum laude graduate - shouldn't that give me some leverage!??? And, oh yeah, I'm taking Spanish II. Saturdays!

I'm looking forward to both the mental and physical challenges. Plus, being engaged with these activities will keep me home, hopefully keep me from great wanderlust…maybe.