Except that the worst of it is over. Appraiser came today, told my realtor "Oh hell yeah, this place is worth what they're paying, no doubt!" Yaaay. The buyers wanted some credits for a few things, it seriously pisses me off, but really it's a drop in the bucket. I can't wait until it's really all over, it's so stressful, worrying about if for some ( Read more... )

I adore them. Especially rescued pits. No dog on the planet is sweeter, more grateful, or more loving. Not only are they cute as hell and puppies 'till the day they die, they possess other qualities I find irrestible. They are marginalized, mistunderstood, widely considered dangerous and mean. But they're only as mean as the jerks who abuse them ( Read more... )

Having finally learned to revel in my spinsterhood, I honestly don't care anymore that I never have romance on the big day. BFD. This is the first year I have been able to experience it for what it is, just another Hallmark (cards) holiday. No different than St. Patrick's day or Cinco de Mayo being celebrated by people who aren't even Irish or ( Read more... )

Only 12 days 'till blast off! It's really all I can think about these days, now that life is kinda normal and quiet. Just working at an old job, studying (too little) for the GMAT and having a life. Yesterday I pissed off three people because I didn't want to give them what they wanted from me. I tried to be polite about it, but it doesn't seem to ( Read more... )

Well, on the penultimate day in Arusha, I am hoping to finally buy some souvenirs, and am trying to make sure I am prepared for my trip. I am flying to Zanzibar tomorrow, for 5 days, because I am too much of a princess to sit on the bus all day. I can't wait to sit on the beach, go snorkeling, and just RELAX! I'll post more pix later, as there are ( Read more... )

I went to Boma Siara to teach the girls how to do a rub off. This is a popular trick used by every major designer I've worked for, because there's always some amazing garment one might want to have a pattern of. Because said garment is often rented from a vintage purveyor, or bought from a store to be returned shortly, it's best to be able to copy ( Read more... )

Tonight Beth and I went to Via Via for dinner and music. It was fun, but the band called "Sounds of the Serengeti" which was billed as "African music" played about as many Mexican songs as they did Congolese! So rather than just walking to my local Cantina to hear "La Bamba," "La Cucaracha" and other Mexican party hits, I flew halfway across the ( Read more... )

Pix from Ngorongoro crater are here ( Read more... )

As a child, I was a very picky eater. Getting me to eat anything other than chocolate was always a terrible chore. So, like many American mothers, my mom would tell me, "Think of all the starving children in Africa!!!" As if guilt would work on me. It didn't, but I have become very conscious of waste in my old age, especially here in Arusha where ( Read more... )

Well, first of all, let me apologize for being retarded. I was so sure that I carefully recorded my phone number and sent it out, but no. I left out a zero. Sooooo for those of you who wish to call my cell in Tanzania, the real number is (no longer valid) from the US. It's free for me to receive calls, and Arusha is 10 hours ahead of California ( Read more... )