12-2-07 R.I.P. Ashley’s iPod-you were a great companion….

Well it finally happened, my iPod Mini died on Sunday. It had been freezing off and on the past couple of weeks. Each time that happened I had to let the battery wear completely out, then charge it back up and us it until it froze again. This could be 5 songs or 50, I never knew. Finally Sunday when I tried to put a few new Christmas songs on it, the little guy up died. It truly is a tragedy to lose him for several reasons:

Music is one of the main things that helps me keep my already limited sanity here

Listening to local music blaring on speakers on 8 hour bus rides gets a TINY bit old

All of my music is on my external drive and I don’t want to mess with that every time I turn on my laptop and I want to listen to something

My solo spontaneous dance parties aren’t as fun without music-this is something we’ve come to love-basically I get stir crazy, crank up my music, start dancing in my home and text someone else in AZ and tell them to join in-this way I’m not a crazy person having a solo dance party, at least one other person I know is dancing with me-ish

Let’s be honest, who doesn’t just need to have Bette Midler’s “Wind Beneath My Wings” available at the press of a button…

In other news, to take the place of music as a sanity keeper device I have taken up a new hobby. Remember last year when we had sock puppet theater? Well my very kind sister sent me a box of supplies to make a ton of actual sock puppets and also a “Stupid Sock Creatures” creation kit. It has a book with instructions on how to make crazy little creatures/stuffed animals out of socks, two pairs of socks, buttons, thread, needles and filling. I’ve made two so far. I suck at sewing- I think the last thing I sewed was a pillow in 8^th grade home ec class with a sewing machine and teacher telling me what to do. my first attempt is a pretty poor looking fellow, but round two’s craftsmanship is top notch! I’m sure you are all laughing and thinking I’ve gone off the deep end with this one…you are probably right…

I got up at 5am on Sunday to track the OU/Mizzou game on ESPN’s website. While that is nothing like watching the game, it was still fun to know we were whipping some ass! Thanks to Tye, Darci, Clay, Dagen and Ron for keeping me company during the game. And a big Boomer Sooner to the BCS-what a joke….

I found out last week there is a really really good chance my medical supplies project is going to go through next fall and I’m going to figure out how to manage several hundred thousand dollars worth of medical supplies getting here, being distributed to the right hospitals and making sure they are getting used. If this happens, I’m going to be busy as all get out. Keep you fingers crossed, this could be a really good deal for the small clinics in the villages so I’m hoping it actually happens.

We gave a training to some college students today on interview skills. My program manager is coming on Wednesday for his yearly check up. He’s a great guy, so I am always glad I get to spend some one on one time with him. I had a tough Russian lesson today and walked out feeling like an idiot. I’ve got to put a TON more effort into it.

This week’s pictures are of the mini-Christmas trees Jane made me, tom and joyce, my two new sock creatures, the mountains after their first snow and Tom and I at a local school on Saturday for an English Fair-the sign has my favorite Azeri saying “Nush Olsun” which means “Bon apatite” basically…