Hello,
Just a little note from the present, I am still feeling fine. It is a nice thing to get so much sympathy at church. The pain and trauma is almost worth it. Being a hypochondriac has some attraction. In addition the swelling erased almost all my forehead wrinkles. I declare it to be as good as Botox.
Now back to the airport. After standing in other lines first we finally got to the point of checking in our bags and getting confirmation of flights. Sarah had a paper ticket and I had an e ticket. It required some time and an additional person to get us checked in. They handed us our tickets and said, “You are not seated together on this plane, but you can work that out on the plane. Also out of Amsterdam you will not be on the same plane.”
“What does this mean?” we wondered. I had called the companies and made sure that we were on the same plane with seats together.
Sarah and Lexi had been moved to a later flight. We did not want this to happen. “We both want to be on the earlier flight,” we told them.
After much time waiting while they tried mysterious things they finally got us both on the later flight but they could not print my boarding pass for Amsterdam. Sarah could not back on the earlier flight, as it was full. This made no since as to why Sarah’s flight would have been changed without telling her about it. Sarah figured that we should just get to Amsterdam and deal with it there.
When we got on the plane we found that I was sitting one row in back of Sarah and to the side. There was a couple with a baby. The women and babies were sitting together and the man was sitting in front of me. Sarah asked if he would like to trade with her. Sarah then sat beside me and when the person came in she asked if they would mind sitting in the seat in front. That was ok with them so we got to be together for this eight-hour flight. Lexi was a good traveler and sprawled across our laps managed to sleep some.
Paula
Monday, June 8, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Leaving Nairobi
Hello,
Sarah’s co-worker was taking us to the airport. He brought a bigger van but we could have fit in something much smaller. Besides the three of us there was a car seat, a stroller, four suitcases to check in, one of them was small enough that it could be a carry on, and we were each carrying something about the size of a medium tote bag.
Even though it was at the later end of rush traffic was not bad until we came to a crawl and then a stop. Many people came past the cars hoping to sell something to the people trapped in their inert vehicles. Their varied wares ranged from bagged fruits to blow up child’s chairs. After a while it became clear that traffic must always come to a stand still in this spot because the driver said it was always like this.
Progress was made finally. After about 20 minutes we were next in line at the round about. At that point a police officer stopped the lanes of traffic in our street. In a bit many cars started zipping round about. This went on for almost 5-10 minutes before it again became our turn. It was after dark and the police officers had on reflectorized vests. In this organized chaos it was a necessary item.
Lexi started talking about the airport and Daddy. Perhaps she was expecting daddy to be there since that was the last place she had seen him.
It was a bit of a trick to get everything on the cart, however Sarah is a master organizer. We got security scanned just inside the door and then had to reload the cart to stand in the passport/ticket check line. Lexi was a model girl at this point in time, it helps to have some things to look at with so much happening.
Paula
Sarah’s co-worker was taking us to the airport. He brought a bigger van but we could have fit in something much smaller. Besides the three of us there was a car seat, a stroller, four suitcases to check in, one of them was small enough that it could be a carry on, and we were each carrying something about the size of a medium tote bag.
Even though it was at the later end of rush traffic was not bad until we came to a crawl and then a stop. Many people came past the cars hoping to sell something to the people trapped in their inert vehicles. Their varied wares ranged from bagged fruits to blow up child’s chairs. After a while it became clear that traffic must always come to a stand still in this spot because the driver said it was always like this.
Progress was made finally. After about 20 minutes we were next in line at the round about. At that point a police officer stopped the lanes of traffic in our street. In a bit many cars started zipping round about. This went on for almost 5-10 minutes before it again became our turn. It was after dark and the police officers had on reflectorized vests. In this organized chaos it was a necessary item.
Lexi started talking about the airport and Daddy. Perhaps she was expecting daddy to be there since that was the last place she had seen him.
It was a bit of a trick to get everything on the cart, however Sarah is a master organizer. We got security scanned just inside the door and then had to reload the cart to stand in the passport/ticket check line. Lexi was a model girl at this point in time, it helps to have some things to look at with so much happening.
Paula
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Nairobi Central Park
Central Park Nairobi
June 6, 2009
Hello,
I am still feeling fine, but I am trying to be more still then usual. It works sometimes. At least I have let Leroy prepare most meals and clean up afterwards.
One Saturday, Sarah said, “I would like to see the picture display of the uprising that happen just after we moved here.”
So off we went closer to the center of the city. We parked and walked through Central Park in the direction of tall buildings. The park, complete with small termite mounds, was so much greener now in the rainy season. I was pleased to see that there was some playground equipment even if it was just a few things considering this is a city of almost three million. A group of schoolgirls walked through waving delightedly at Lexi and she reciprocated. Was that because she is a white kid and they do not see many of them? As usual the girls had on uniforms. Later some guys with suitcases set up close to a fountain wanted us to buy post cards or other small items.
Crossing the street here is not for the faint hearted. I gave a sigh of relief when we were safe on the other side. Traffic on the left and the round about with several lanes requires much thought for the uninitiated.
The pictures at the exhibit were a stark reminder of how close to violence some people have lived. Sarah said, “I really learned a lot because the TV news had been so censored. I was right here, but I did not know about a lot of this.” There was also a short video in which many news people talked about that they had seen and felt.
http://picasaweb.google.com/psbradway/NairobiCentralParkAndEnvirons#
Paula
June 6, 2009
Hello,
I am still feeling fine, but I am trying to be more still then usual. It works sometimes. At least I have let Leroy prepare most meals and clean up afterwards.
One Saturday, Sarah said, “I would like to see the picture display of the uprising that happen just after we moved here.”
So off we went closer to the center of the city. We parked and walked through Central Park in the direction of tall buildings. The park, complete with small termite mounds, was so much greener now in the rainy season. I was pleased to see that there was some playground equipment even if it was just a few things considering this is a city of almost three million. A group of schoolgirls walked through waving delightedly at Lexi and she reciprocated. Was that because she is a white kid and they do not see many of them? As usual the girls had on uniforms. Later some guys with suitcases set up close to a fountain wanted us to buy post cards or other small items.
Crossing the street here is not for the faint hearted. I gave a sigh of relief when we were safe on the other side. Traffic on the left and the round about with several lanes requires much thought for the uninitiated.
The pictures at the exhibit were a stark reminder of how close to violence some people have lived. Sarah said, “I really learned a lot because the TV news had been so censored. I was right here, but I did not know about a lot of this.” There was also a short video in which many news people talked about that they had seen and felt.
http://picasaweb.google.com/psbradway/NairobiCentralParkAndEnvirons#
Paula
Friday, June 5, 2009
Still on the Health Trail
Hello,
I walked to the garage sale this morning to find that they did not need my help so after a short visit I headed home to rest. Someone dropped by with fresh strawberries from their garden, cool whip, and two homemade shortcakes. It was delicious. Homegrown berries are the best.
Just as we were finishing lunch another person came asking, “Are you alright? Happy anniversary! Do you like Chinese?” With answers of “Fine, thanks, and Yes “ she proceeded to give us $20 with instructions to go the Chinese buffet place that is just opening. Unexpected pleasures have a special coziness.
The eye doctor put up the eye chart, left my glasses on, covered one eye, and asked me to read the lowest line that I could. I was shocked to say that I could guess at three of the letters in the top line and could not read the others. The left eye was a little worse. This was not the big E on the chart but some place farther down. The next step was another test with flashing lights that I thought was for my peripheral vision. I had some real difficulty on that. Again it was especially difficult with my left eye. When he met with me to talk about results he said he was not checking peripheral vision, but making sure all impulses were getting through the nerves. He showed me normal and then my not normal results. He speculates that there is some bleeding in the brain. It could be sealed over or it could be an aneurysm. He then ordered a CT scan for Tuesday.
“I was planning to leave town on Tuesday,” I said.
“Ok call to see if they can do it today,” He said.
I did get that done. The technician assured me that if it were an emergency they would have a different procedure. As it is the radiologist will read it Monday. I do not have a headache or other symptoms. It was to be done with and without contrast so I needed an IV. He checked my arm for a good vein. “They are so small I am going to call a paramedic,” he said after examining both arms.
“Oh great,” I thought, “needle pain as they search for the vein.”
“Wow,” I realized, “This woman is good,” as she got it on her first stab. After that it was all just a case of lying still and being grateful for people who know something about what they are doing.
My eyes are in good shape, for instance, there is no damage to the retina. In spite of that exam I feel that I am seeing just fine. Apparently I do not know what I am missing.
The Chinese restaurant had tasty food. They were busy enough that it is encouraging. That is our 38th Anniversary celebration. I am tired. Is that physical or emotional? Who knows?
I have booked a flight to Utah for Tuesday since Leroy is gone all next week at confirmation camp. Andy is also gone much of next week. I will give Miriam some help and myself some company.
Paula
I walked to the garage sale this morning to find that they did not need my help so after a short visit I headed home to rest. Someone dropped by with fresh strawberries from their garden, cool whip, and two homemade shortcakes. It was delicious. Homegrown berries are the best.
Just as we were finishing lunch another person came asking, “Are you alright? Happy anniversary! Do you like Chinese?” With answers of “Fine, thanks, and Yes “ she proceeded to give us $20 with instructions to go the Chinese buffet place that is just opening. Unexpected pleasures have a special coziness.
The eye doctor put up the eye chart, left my glasses on, covered one eye, and asked me to read the lowest line that I could. I was shocked to say that I could guess at three of the letters in the top line and could not read the others. The left eye was a little worse. This was not the big E on the chart but some place farther down. The next step was another test with flashing lights that I thought was for my peripheral vision. I had some real difficulty on that. Again it was especially difficult with my left eye. When he met with me to talk about results he said he was not checking peripheral vision, but making sure all impulses were getting through the nerves. He showed me normal and then my not normal results. He speculates that there is some bleeding in the brain. It could be sealed over or it could be an aneurysm. He then ordered a CT scan for Tuesday.
“I was planning to leave town on Tuesday,” I said.
“Ok call to see if they can do it today,” He said.
I did get that done. The technician assured me that if it were an emergency they would have a different procedure. As it is the radiologist will read it Monday. I do not have a headache or other symptoms. It was to be done with and without contrast so I needed an IV. He checked my arm for a good vein. “They are so small I am going to call a paramedic,” he said after examining both arms.
“Oh great,” I thought, “needle pain as they search for the vein.”
“Wow,” I realized, “This woman is good,” as she got it on her first stab. After that it was all just a case of lying still and being grateful for people who know something about what they are doing.
My eyes are in good shape, for instance, there is no damage to the retina. In spite of that exam I feel that I am seeing just fine. Apparently I do not know what I am missing.
The Chinese restaurant had tasty food. They were busy enough that it is encouraging. That is our 38th Anniversary celebration. I am tired. Is that physical or emotional? Who knows?
I have booked a flight to Utah for Tuesday since Leroy is gone all next week at confirmation camp. Andy is also gone much of next week. I will give Miriam some help and myself some company.
Paula
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Yesterday and Today
June 4, 2009
Hello,
Yesterday Leroy took the afternoon off and we went shopping in Des Moines. We almost never do that in part because it is a 50-60 mile trip. Most things we can live without.
But I wanted to check out the framing possibilities for our family pictures. I am pleased that we can have a custom made frame that will include all nine pictures. It was within our price range so that is great too.
It was a good opportunity for Leroy to shop for tennis shoes since he had not found any in town that fit or he liked. Because he takes so long to make sure he has the proper fit I wondered off in the clearance aisle and found some great winter boots for me. They are by Nike so I am expecting good things on my winter walks. The store was having a buy one and get half off the second pair sale. The boots were more expensive than the shoes. Then I also found a pair of Birkenstock sandals. So then it seemed that we should get a fourth pair to take further advantage of this sale. Saving money or spending money? Anyway Leroy found another pair of shoes that fit him very well so that is good, but if I had not been there we would have saved a lot of money.
We went because there was a good sale on dress pants. Well Leroy ended up with two pair and two clearance shirts besides. I guess we do not get out of town often enough.
Today I went over to help get ready for a garage sale. At one point I took some clothes up to another woman stepping over a bar on a clothing rack, realized I had brought the wrong pants, turned around, started walking forgetting about the bar, tripped, pitched forward, tried unsuccessfully to regain my balance, felt down a step, banged my knees, caught much of the fall with my left hand, felt my glasses crush against my face and fly off as my skull crashed onto the cement. I lay there a half a minute before I rolled to my back and groaned, or at least people said I groaned. Someone wanted me to get up right away, but I refused and took a bit longer to assess my condition. They insisted that I should go to the emergency room. I did not really think it was necessary, but my hand hurt quite a lot and I could not move two of my fingers. They tell me that my head did not look very good either. They quickly got ice, wondered if they should call Leroy I said no, but they did anyway, telling him to meet us at the hospital. My vision was a bit fractured for about 10 minutes. People in the emergency room took it quite seriously checking me over complete with a mini neurological test. I can subtract from 100 by 7’s correctly. Took a little thought, but I got it done.
My fingers had stopped hurting by then. Seemed strange, but the Dr. suggested that it had been dislocated by the force of the fall on it. If so it had gone back on its own. It still hurts when I put much pressure on it, but I can bend it easily.
He checked my eyes, but recommended that I have a more complete vision screening and I will have that done tomorrow.
I uploaded a picture to the fushia file, not that it has anything to do with it, but it was a place to put it.
Some people will go to any length just to have something to talk about.
http://picasaweb.google.com/psbradway/Fushia#
Paula
June 4, 2009
Hello,
Yesterday Leroy took the afternoon off and we went shopping in Des Moines. We almost never do that in part because it is a 50-60 mile trip. Most things we can live without.
But I wanted to check out the framing possibilities for our family pictures. I am pleased that we can have a custom made frame that will include all nine pictures. It was within our price range so that is great too.
It was a good opportunity for Leroy to shop for tennis shoes since he had not found any in town that fit or he liked. Because he takes so long to make sure he has the proper fit I wondered off in the clearance aisle and found some great winter boots for me. They are by Nike so I am expecting good things on my winter walks. The store was having a buy one and get half off the second pair sale. The boots were more expensive than the shoes. Then I also found a pair of Birkenstock sandals. So then it seemed that we should get a fourth pair to take further advantage of this sale. Saving money or spending money? Anyway Leroy found another pair of shoes that fit him very well so that is good, but if I had not been there we would have saved a lot of money.
We went because there was a good sale on dress pants. Well Leroy ended up with two pair and two clearance shirts besides. I guess we do not get out of town often enough.
Today I went over to help get ready for a garage sale. At one point I took some clothes up to another woman stepping over a bar on a clothing rack, realized I had brought the wrong pants, turned around, started walking forgetting about the bar, tripped, pitched forward, tried unsuccessfully to regain my balance, felt down a step, banged my knees, caught much of the fall with my left hand, felt my glasses crush against my face and fly off as my skull crashed onto the cement. I lay there a half a minute before I rolled to my back and groaned, or at least people said I groaned. Someone wanted me to get up right away, but I refused and took a bit longer to assess my condition. They insisted that I should go to the emergency room. I did not really think it was necessary, but my hand hurt quite a lot and I could not move two of my fingers. They tell me that my head did not look very good either. They quickly got ice, wondered if they should call Leroy I said no, but they did anyway, telling him to meet us at the hospital. My vision was a bit fractured for about 10 minutes. People in the emergency room took it quite seriously checking me over complete with a mini neurological test. I can subtract from 100 by 7’s correctly. Took a little thought, but I got it done.
My fingers had stopped hurting by then. Seemed strange, but the Dr. suggested that it had been dislocated by the force of the fall on it. If so it had gone back on its own. It still hurts when I put much pressure on it, but I can bend it easily.
He checked my eyes, but recommended that I have a more complete vision screening and I will have that done tomorrow.
I uploaded a picture to the fushia file, not that it has anything to do with it, but it was a place to put it.
Some people will go to any length just to have something to talk about.
http://picasaweb.google.com/psbradway/Fushia#
Paula
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Return trip to the store in Nairobi
Hello,
We walked through street repaving on our way to the store. I believe it looked quite typical, but not as blocked off as it would have been in the US. As you might notice there is much dirt and little grass.
Sarah was interested in spending her local money so we splurged and spent some time on the Internet at the café with a faster connection than the one at home.
In another picture you will see a guy shining shoes. It was typical to see business set up just about anywhere.
In the store someone must have wanted the mattress at the bottom of the stack. They seemed to discuss how to get it out before trying unsuccessfully to lift the pile to pull out a low one. Later more guys came and helped. Still not sure that was successful since we moved on to do our shopping. Sarah did not think they had box springs, just mattresses that could be folded in half in need be to get them home. We did occasionally see trucks pilled high with mattresses. They would move down the street and keep them all, but we did not know how. Someone surely knew how to tie them on securely.
This store seemed to be used more by locals than by ex-pats. Notice the baby carried on the back. Lexi is sitting in a toy car in the front of the shopping cart. Certainly something that can be seen in the US. It was cool while we were there so jackets or many wore sweaters.
The store had a little of everything almost like Wal-mart with much narrower aisles and smaller carts.
http://picasaweb.google.com/psbradway/PavingStreet#
Paula
We walked through street repaving on our way to the store. I believe it looked quite typical, but not as blocked off as it would have been in the US. As you might notice there is much dirt and little grass.
Sarah was interested in spending her local money so we splurged and spent some time on the Internet at the café with a faster connection than the one at home.
In another picture you will see a guy shining shoes. It was typical to see business set up just about anywhere.
In the store someone must have wanted the mattress at the bottom of the stack. They seemed to discuss how to get it out before trying unsuccessfully to lift the pile to pull out a low one. Later more guys came and helped. Still not sure that was successful since we moved on to do our shopping. Sarah did not think they had box springs, just mattresses that could be folded in half in need be to get them home. We did occasionally see trucks pilled high with mattresses. They would move down the street and keep them all, but we did not know how. Someone surely knew how to tie them on securely.
This store seemed to be used more by locals than by ex-pats. Notice the baby carried on the back. Lexi is sitting in a toy car in the front of the shopping cart. Certainly something that can be seen in the US. It was cool while we were there so jackets or many wore sweaters.
The store had a little of everything almost like Wal-mart with much narrower aisles and smaller carts.
http://picasaweb.google.com/psbradway/PavingStreet#
Paula
Monday, June 1, 2009
Back in the USA
Hello,
Our family picture taken in New Brighton, MN on May 8 is a great picture. All of the pictures that I bought bring such joy to me. I look at them several times a day. They are arranged on the dinning room table. I am trying to decide what to do with them. We took them to the small church and social function in the evening so a number of people have seen them. The favorite seems to be the one of Leroy and I on the ground with the granddaughters hanging on us. I thought all of them were quite good.
Our family picture taken in New Brighton, MN on May 8 is a great picture. All of the pictures that I bought bring such joy to me. I look at them several times a day. They are arranged on the dinning room table. I am trying to decide what to do with them. We took them to the small church and social function in the evening so a number of people have seen them. The favorite seems to be the one of Leroy and I on the ground with the granddaughters hanging on us. I thought all of them were quite good.
Someone suggested that I get them matted and put in one large frame with the large group in the middle. I just might do that. The picture weather turned out perfect just for the few hours that we needed it. The little girls put up with more pictures than I thought they would and even Leroy smiled.
I always thought that our children look like me, but someone suggested that Brian looks like Leroy, Sarah looks like me, and Miriam is a combination. We certainly share some resemblance.
Just so you can see all the smiling adults and sober children, but we thought it was the best and most natural. This picture has not been cropped so in the final copy you do not see my white socks.
The fushia had a hummingbird visit this morning. This bird proceeded to collect nectar all over the plant so I got to watch for quite a long time. Can life hold more joy?
Paula
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