The Vatican & Sistine Chapel

I just booked my Vatican & Sistine Chapel guided tour!
I understand you can wait in lines forever in July to get in there, so
was advised to book up to 2 months ahead to be sure of admittance.
Since I will be in Rome on a weekend, I thought it would be especially important. I will do this tour on Saturday then explore the Coloseum, etc. On Sunday I will observe Mass at St. Peter's Basilica!

Getting so excited & BUSY

Now is the time for final preparations!  
I need to make my list today of things to take care of before it leave on June 20. This weekend I am packing up my classroom, for the most part, & moving my things into the sewing room portion of the home ec. suite on the far side of campus.  EXHAUSTED!  I woke up at 3:30 a.m. yesterday thinking of all I had  to do, so of course I did not go back to sleep.  I was at school at 6 a.m.  I had about
an hour break mid-afternoon then continued until 5 p.m. Still more to do, but most is done.  HOORAH


Other tasks: YMCA memebership of hold, stop mail & newspaper,  review my packing, clean the house, have dog visit his summer homestay ;-) , meetings for my new job, make
sure the school gardens will be watered over summer, party with my sisters...
oh, and grading my students work to!  That is what Memorial Day is for.


With all this I keep thinking forward to this trip & the delights that must be in store.  That is so exciting.  I also know things can go wrong.  My travel insurance folks & a few friends
will help me through any emergencies that may arise I am sure.


Might not post again for a couple of weeks.  As you can see, I am BUSY :-)  Happy busy!

New Type of Year!

WOW- never dreamed this year would bring so much exciting change.  

This trip is only the beginning!

I am happy to announce a new job(s) for next year: 

I will be the new school district teacher-science specialist and 

teach one class of CHEF SCHOOL at my dear 

Einstein Middle School 

(where I have taught science for 17 years)!!!!! 

linking Chef school to the gardens & to science of course!

Butterflies in my Stomach

How fun to meet people who can give me good ideas of what to do along the way.  On Friday I met a woman who suggested I go visit some gardens while I am in Nice, France.  I had thought to simply wander the waterfront & oldtown, but now I have an even better plan!  I will walk 10 km (6 mi.) east along the the waterfront in the morning with a fabulous destination: Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. (click to view!)  Sweet!  It is a lovely historic villa open to the public, overlooking the Mediterranean.  It is surrounded by amazing gardens & a tea room (where I shall take lunch).  If I am exhausted, I will find transit back, otherwise, stroll back into Nice late in the day.  I could not have thought of a lovelier way to enjoy France for one day!

Woo hoo!

Crazy good purchase today: iPad 2.  It will be so cool to have! Purchased online so I could get my email address engraved on it. It is only 1.5 pounds.  I can do most things I use my laptop for plus take photos & videos with it & go wireless anywhere (most places I am staying have WIFI).  I can video chat with people back home while I am gone as well.  I will save my back & neck by not adding my laptop weight to my backpack.  That is what is especially important.


Today I also got the last few small items I needed for my trip: an electric adapter kit.  I needed 3 different adapters!  Also picked up some non-toxic-to-humans bedbug spray---rids the mattresses of the bugs  :-[
AND an inflatable neck pillow to help me sleep on planes & trains.
LESS THAN 2 MONTHS!

Church contacts for my trip:

Auckland: Te Ngakau Waiora

Mercy Spirituality Centre

Kuala Lumpur:

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church

International Church of Kuala Lumpur

Istanbul:

Barcelona: International Church of Barcelona

YOU GOTTA HAVE A DREAM, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A DREAM, HOW YA GONNA MAKE A DREAM COME TRUE?!

SO EXCITED!!!! I heard back from the manager at the Catholic Mercy Spirituality Centre in Auckland and they have a room for me the 3 nights that I will be there..my first 3 nights overseas ever! ALSO-they are going to arrange a singing group of Maoris & others to sing praise songs for me to video!

To take care of myself---

I just bought myself REALLY GOOD travel insurance for the trip today!

Places to stay--

My first stop is Auckland New Zealand after a VERY  long plane ride!
I just discovered this place & really want to stay here:
TE NGAKAU WAIORA MERCY SPRITUALITY CENTRE
run by the Sisters of Mercy nuns.  They have 10 rooms they provide for travelers.
It is safe, clean & a quick walk to the center of Aukland & easy bus ride to many
places I might want to visit!  For only about $50 US they even include a continental breakfast.
I have asked them if they can help me find a singing group of native Kiwis who might
like to be videotaped singing Amazing Grace.  I am waiting to hear from them!

So excited!

I have contacted Eco-Schools International & have already gotten contacts in Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul & AMsterdam for visiting schools on my trip!  One more great way to meet good people along the way!


Also- so happy that my middle school just earned the Eco-Schools USA Bronze Award!!

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE---> Around the world & altogether now!
(click above & enjoy)


I love Vicki's idea! Amen, Vicki!  She wants a video like the "All You Need Is Love" but with a Gospel song! How can we get that to happen?  Maybe that can be a goal on my trip, although there will be only 11 countries I visit. I will be able to video record.  What would  be a fun Gospel song?  I could try to contact groups ahead of time to meet up with to record then singing it!

Excited!

We change to Daylight savings time tonight!  
It feels a bit like spring!
I feel like this trip is really going to happen!


The earthquake in Japan makes my knees shake, 
so I tell myself I am 
glad I did not add that to my itinerary, 
but New Zealand got hit really 
bad a few weeks ago!  Who knows what could happen?  
But of course that is the adventure we have day to  
day no matter where we are :-)
Ciao!

Exciting Day!

Today is such an exciting day because I did 3 things for my world trip:

1. I booked my hotel room in Baden-Baden, Germany for 2 nights in early August.  That is a town renowned for its mineral springs & spas & wonderful scenery on the edge of the Black Forest.  I am sure I will need a day of soaking in the springs after 6 days of busy travel & hiking & activity as I go from Florence, Italy, to the Swiss Alps, Salzburg & the Austrian Alps, then across southern Germany!
2. I bought my Eurail Global Pass!!!  That is  big deal!  It will get me all through Europe!  Something I like about needing to get the global pass to do the amount of travel I will do, is that it is automatically 1st class travel.  I think that means a bit more space & meals included.  We shall see!
3. I continued my exercise plan following my hand surgery: vigorous walks & pilates most days of the week.  That way I will be strong & fit on my trip.  I love to hike all over towns & cities & beaches & forests!  I also continue my P.T. for the carpal tunnel & will do so for my thumb as soon as I get the pin out of it on Monday.

So excited today!  I looked my itinerary over again too & got kind of tingly in my bones 'cause I know it is more and more REAL!

Around the Corner...

I am struck by how life can change suddenly in a moment. Just around the corner things can be so different than you thought they were going to be.  It always amazes me that we limit our thinking. We were made to be creative people, so why not believe in wildly exciting possibilities and outcomes?  Anything is possible.  Even bad things can suddenly happen & be so very interesting: I had no idea that my hand would need surgery this year. The pain was not an issue for me.  I have had plenty of that. But this infirmity has included a whole series of events that have taught me much about my own vulnerability and more about life, family & friends. I have learned to sink into a feeling of comfortable dependence.  It's OK.  I would have fought it at one time, but I accept it now.  Something new. 


I like being open to change. Even when it is scary. I must be ready for that on my world trip.  So many things will go right and I will be astounded. Some things may go wrong.  I will flex and accept and adapt.  I will find help in unlikely places. I am more open to the possible than ever before.  Surprising things, just round the corner.

Seriously dreaming of the whole world today!

Stronger, loved, better...it is possible!

This Is My Father's World -and let me never forget!

Feeling Good, Nina Simone

HE's GOT the WHOLE WORLD

Well, I just got back from a beautiful 1 1/2 days up by this beautiful mountain, Mt. Baker.  The glorious view itself is inspiring, but I was at a women's retreat that inpired me in much bigger way:

• As we sang together, earnestly thanking God for being "Ruler of all nature," I saw a much bigger vision. I saw the whole world more as He must see it.  Yes, He sees the wars & hate, but I KNOW He sees, all over the world, people singing to Him, walking around with joyful hearts because of the beauty of the Earth.  Salted through the whole planet is the seasoning of happy, joyful people, caring for the planet, caring for each other, feeding each other, singing happy songs & smiling.  I know God sees this & loves it.
• As I travel I will look for the good seasoning.  Taste & see, the Lord is good!

If you get a chance, check out Dirt: The Movie.  It is a fantastic film about protecting the thin film of soil that most life on our planet depends on.  Maybe you will want to taste the soil!?

Tell you what-

I plan to heal beautifully, live life to the fullest & go around the world!


I am exercising my hand several times a day.  The 4 fingers must be flexed and
extended to keep the tendons moving smoothly through the carpal tunnel during 
healing.  The thumb must remain stationary at all times!  It is like rubbing your stomach & patting your head at the same time; try that, then try the fingers while keeping your thumb still!  LOL


Monday I went to my Italian language class after a 2 week hiatus.  I really enjoy it, but I was completely lost!  Tuesday I went out to eat downtown with my son.  FUN  Tonight, Wednesday, I am going back downtown with a friend to the Triple Door to hear a John Denver tribute singer.  Should be exhilirating!  Hey- ain't gonna stop, ain't gonna quit-everybody ona move! lalala!  Everybody lets move! (see Michel Franti post)

what a difference!

It is so great that a day can make so much difference!

Fresh starts!  The crocuses bloom so quickly!

My healing is so rapid!

Already off pains meds, even Tylenol & Advil.

Hour-long walk today made me believe again that the trip

is really do-able & will be fantastic.