The Flight Has Been Booked

Well, today we received our Visa's and Darren has booked our flight for Tuesday, October 3rd. We will be flying out on Lufthansa Airlines and arrive in Germany with a two hour layover prior to going to Lagos. We will have to spend the night in Lagos before heading to Port Harcourt via O'Warri Airport. The Port Harcourt Airport is still closed for repairs so flying to O'Warri will put us a few hours from Port Harcourt but with traffic I'm sure it will take us much longer to get to our final destination at the Residential Area. This will be a very interesting trip regardless, as we will have our two young daughters and two cats. We're a little weary of the Lagos Airport since it's much larger and more traveled than the Port Harcourt Airport and with the airport closed for repairs the Lagos and O'Warri Airports will be much more crowded. The Nigerians love children and they let families traveling with young children go to the front of the lines and the airports etc so I'm sure we won't have to much of a bad time. I've tried to explain to our children about the guards with the large guns to prepare them for what they will see, not sure it's sinking in though. Trying to explain that there are No Wal-Marts, Targets or McDonalds is proving to be a task also. I explained to them not to say anything out loud for fear they may offend someone, so I've told them if they have questions or comments to whisper them in my ear like it's a secret, I hope this works because I'm sure they will have lots of questions/remarks on what they will see and witness.

I'm not sure when I'll get to update the Blog, our PC's are in our Air Frieght and there is and Embargo on all Air Frieght to Nigeria right now due to so many coming in. We may get out Sea Freight before our Air Frieght which really doesn't happen.

Still in Holding Pattern

Well, it's Tuesday, September 19th and we still don't have our Visa's and we're not sure when we'll depart for Nigeria. The way it's going our Freight will be there before us. Darren calls our Expat Coordinator every day to check on our Visa status and no news yet. As I said before, the Nigerians don't rush for anything.

On a happy note, we went to see our Greybabies this weekend since we had some extra time and we needed some love from them, we miss them so much. They are doing greyt!!! Blacky and Chopin have lost weight and gained muscles and look fantastic. They are happy and full of life and were very happy to see us and gave us lots of kisses. Reigni and Spur are also doing wonderful, and enjoyed having us there. I'm so glad we were able to see them one more time before we left, I was really missing them. It was really nice to see how happy they are and doing so well. I think with all the exercise they are getting and the weight Blacky and Chopin lost they will be with us for many many more years to come.

I'll post again when I know our departure date. Once there I'll be taking some picuters with our new cameral we got, Cannon Rebel and it's awesome, the pictures it takes are out of this world.

Air & Sea Freight Day

Well guys, we started packing up our household items yesterday with the moving people and they are loading the boxes etc as I'm typing this. We have been delayed departure by one week though (our Visa's haven't arrived yet) told you, Nigerians move at a very slow pace. At least our Freight will be on it's way so maybe we won't have to wait so long for it to arrive. The movers said they aren't as busy right now with overseas moving since school has started. That maybe a good thing also, not so many air and sea freight for our stuff to get delayed with.

The Dina Saga Continues

OK, everyone knows that at the end of July I fell at the casino in Lake Charles, LA and hurt my ankle really bad right. Well you may already know that I've been suffering with a sinus infection (my first one ever) since the begining of December 2005. I was finally referred to a ENT (ear, nose & throat) doctor a few weeks back and he ordered a Cat Scan.....the rusults came back and I was told by the nurse that I have Extensive Sinus Inflamation and needed to see the Dr. to discuss my treatment option. Well I went today and I have to have surgery on my sinus's....can you believe that????? One sinus infection has caused damage. The front right side is bad and the back left side is bad. Since we're moving to Nigeria next week this won't be able to be done until December when we come back for a visit.So I'll be on antibiotics fro two more months. I had to get another Cat Scan today at the hospital which was more indepth and I had to wear this funny little helmut thing that went into my ears and a part rested on the bridge of my nose. It was weird but it didn't take as long as the other Cat Scan and I only had to lay on my back for this one. They actually send the helmut thing to the OR for when I have my surgery and he'll use the images as a reference guide during the surgery.

Now on the Africa Front:

To make things worse, we haven't gotten our Visa's back yet nor the letter they are to send us which after we receive the letter it takes 5 more days to get the Visa's so instead of leaving on Wed. September 13th we may be leaving a few days later. The Nigerians do everything at a slow pace, they don't rush for anything so no telling how long it will really take them to get everything completed.

Knitting Adventures

I read an article in a magazine saying that knitting was coming back in fashion and that it was becoming very popular and I decided it was time a took up a hobby. My mom always crocheted and one of my sisters learned but I never got into it. So this article prompted me to order a knitting book online "Stitch and Bitch" which I highly recommend. I also ordered a knitting starter kit and my journey began. One of my friends' mom is from Belgium and learned to knit at the age of 7 or 8 so I asked her to give me some pointers which was great to "see" someone knitting in person. I also went to our local Hobby Lobby to pick up some yarn so I could practice and found a knitting CD ROM that was very helpful. So December 2005 is when I officially started knitting and I LOVE it, I find it very relaxing and a great stress release.

Here are some of my completed projects, to see them larger just click on the pictures:
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I've knitted many more items but just haven't taken pictures of all of them yet. I'm working on Christmas Presents at the moment so I can't post those pictures yet.

The Greys have Departed

Today is a very hard day for me, Darren just left with the Greyhounds to bring them to our friends kennel while we're in Africa. I tried to be strong but I started crying this morning and now that we've loaded them in the van I can't seem to stop. I love those puppers just like they were my children and it just breaks my heart that we have to leave them behind. Reigni and Spur have been there for about 2 weeks and they are doing fine and enjoying being with other greys and whippets and running around in the large runs they have for them. In fact we're told Reigni never wants to come in they have to go and get her out of the field everyday. Spur is also enjoying it and bosses Reigni around. I know they will be well taken care of and have lots of fun and they will probably become very fit & more healthy while there which in the long run will ensure they will live long happy lives with us when we return. It's just so hard to say good-bye to them as I've been with them everyday for the last 2 years.

On a happy note, I'd like to share with you some pictures of 2 whippet puppies that were visiting with us for the last two weeks. They are Charlie Brown (white w/brown) and Linus and they are the sweetest, cutest, funniest little things ever.

CHARLIE BROWN





LINUS