Doria and Jennifer, fellow volunteers at the orphange, enjoy a cold Coke, a drink everyone craved in the swealtering heat of the Tanzanian summer. Nico had to self impose a two bottle limit to allow for sleep. 

This mini-bus provided transportation for the group taking them to Moshi for shopping and to the TunaHAKI orphanage. 

While in Tanzania, both Nico and Jeanine joined a yoga retreat with friend Susan Reynolds. They enjoyed morning and evening classes held in this hut.  

After travelling for more than 18 hours, Jeanine and Nico arrived in Tanzania and stayed first at the Kilimakoyaro Mountain Lodge. When the clouds cleared, they had a great view of Kilimanjaro. 

Later in the day, Maya attended the Craft Fair at church with her grandmother while my father found his way to the Concord Public Library, returning with no less than a dozen books he purchased at the fair being held there. 

Natalie rocked on bass and Dave kicked in with vocals and guitar. 

Alex was tight on drums. 

Seth was great on vocals. 

Kyle did not seem the least bit nervous and the band sounded really good. 

Today the band Kyle is in performed their first paid gig at the Bar Mitzvah of a close friend. They still do not have a name and continue to reject my excellent suggestion of the Dirt Bag Orphans.  

Maya delights her grandparents with her reading ability this morning. I played two hours of footsol (indoor soccer played on a hard surface with a smaller and less bouncy ball) with the Concord over 50 team. I will be eligible to play for them next spring and they have asked me to join the team. It is hard to believe I am approaching the half century mark but I can honestly say it has been a great ride so far. This perspective may have been favorably enhanced by playing against guys who are on average 5 years older than I, rather than 5 years young as I have for the last few seasons. This evening I attended Kyle’s coming of age meeting at the church where parents read letters to their children about what they valued and admired in them and what advice they wished to pass along. It was a very emotional experience and I only wish Jeanine could have been there as well. 

Occasionaly, while driving into work, I will attempt to set a new gas mileage record. This involves very smooth acceleration and minimal braking, conservation of momentum, timing the traffic lights, and drafting large trucks. Today I achieved my all time record of 36.5 mpg. The rest of my work day was equally efficient. Heard from Jeanine who sent e-mail via a friend with a Blackberry. Her ATM card does not work in Tanzania and she is runing out of cash. I offred to fly over with funds, but I am sure she will work something out. 

One of the completed cushions in place. 

My mom is an amazing woman. Most people would describe her as an artist (sculpture, painting) and dancer. I think she would have made a great engineer (she used to help me rebuild car engines in my youth)and there is little doubt this is where I inherited many of my talents. Never one to be idle, she is making seat cushions for our sun porch chairs. Jeanine picked the fabric before she left and I know she is going to love the results when she returns from Tanzania.