Grandpa

Grandpa worked on puzzles for hours yesterday. It has become his passion. I dug out the children's jigsaw puzzles we had saved and have been slowly building up the collection via Amazon. Target and Rite Aid have a very good selection of the 25-60 piece sized ones too.
Last night as I gave him his pills, he grabbed my hand and told me he loved me. That is pretty normal, but he told me he loved me as his doctor because her could count on me. I said "I like being your doctor. You make me smile." He asked why. I said because he was always so happy. He said. "I am happy because of you." Pretty neat from a crabby old geezer whom I was positive I could never care for precisely because his attitude was so rotten-especially to women.
While I never planned to care for either of them the way I do. It has turned out to be a good thing. Especially for Matt.

Star Trek

Today I talked to Rakieta and told her Matt and I were going to see Star Trek. She said "What's that?" I explained. She said "That's weird. Are there people in real life who go to space?" I said "Yes, there are people out there right now trying to fix a space ship. But it is different. It is cold and dark and dangerous." She laughed and thought the whole thing was quite silly. Just a footnote so you would understand that not every corner of the world lives in the state of mind we in the US do.
Now, keep in mind they still believe in witches.

Regis, Michael and Michel (pronounced Michelle)

These are Fidel and Rasmata's children. Rakieta's nephews. Regis who is the oldest, and the twins. They are both named Michael, but one is the English pronunciation and spelling and the other is the French.

Happy Birthday Delilah!

Delilah in her new do. She got it the morning of the day I left for her school program.

The girls blowing out their birthday candles. I wrote about this several posts back if you'd like to read more about this.

Today begins the litany of birthdays in my family for about a month. Today is Delilah's birthday. Happy birthday Delilah! We wish you a great day!
Delilah went to go live with her birth mother shortly after my trip over last year. She moved to another region. However, she is learning English because our e-mails from her are now coming in English.

Ouaga 2009?

(work in progress) Well, it is time to begin to decide whether or not we can afford a trip to Ouagadougou this year. First, we need to make sure Rakieta gets her new leg. I'll write more on that later. I need to figure out just how much cash is still needed. Then we need to make sure my husband is still employed. Let me tell you Obama's "changes" get to be a bit much some days. If we are all having fun now, just wait until he gets through "fixing" health care. That should destroy another large segment of the economy. I digress
Anyway, I was casually checking prices and it looks like if I am VERY flexable about when I go, I can get a ticket as cheap as $1,000. That sure beats the $3000 from my list trip.

Cyndy or Cinderella

My mornings go like this: Down the stairs I come at promptly 8:00, hopefully to a yet sleeping grandpa. Isabelle, the dog wants out. So first I let her out. Then I let any cats out that want out. I start the coffee,wipe down the table, get breakfast on the table, make hot chocolate for Adele. When the chickies were in I would take the towels off the cages (for darkness) and feed and water. I get pills ready and then I can have some me time. If grandpa is up, I don't even get to the bathroom first because he is usually up to mischief. On some of these mornings I can't help but giggle that my mornings are a bit Cinderella-ish. Remember the dance show we just did. I watched every version of Cinderella over and over as we were preparing for the show. Maybe I am Cinderella-ed out, but you have to admit I have a point.

Pics from Rasmata

This is one of Rasmata's twins. Rasmata is Rakieta's older sister. I am not sure whose kitchen this is as I was not in this home while I was in Burkina. But this is a more upscale house than Rakieta's parents have. Note the stove in the corner. That is typical of the area. This is an average middle class kitchen. Having table and chairs is a luxury. The woman in the picture is Rasmata. There are 3 pictures in this set. They were sent several months ago, but with all the grandparent chaos and subsequent computer mishaps, it had to wait. As of tonight I have my computer life pretty much back to normal. And boy does it feel great!!!!!!!!!