Crystal’s Adventures

Can you believe that I did all of the following things today:

• Woke up at 5:45 AM and ran 4.5 miles with Julia
• Worked 8 hours
• Filled up my gas tank
• Drove to the auto repair shop to pick up some paperwork
• Went to the post office and mailed step-dad’s missing sunglasses
• Went to the hardware store to have key copies made
• Went to the dry cleaner to drop off two shirts for cleaning
• Went to the tailor to drop off two shirts for repair
• Drove to Goodwill to drop off three bags of donations
• Ordered Clinton a gift on Internet
• Processed my mail and paid bills
• Cleaned up cat vomit from sofa
• Added more runs to our Meetup.com calendar
• Emptied my e-mail inbox (replied to everybody)
• Called my mother
• Washed two loads of laundry; folded one
• Fed the dogs
• Replaced kitty scratcher insert
• Called the lawn man
• Sorted out my purse
• Cleaned the kitchen (see picture of sparkling kitchen below, taken at 8:45 PM)
• Took the trash and recycling to the curb
• Am I forgetting anything..?

Last night and today, Clinton and I opted to play nerdy board games (Xeko - an eco adventure about Lemurs! - and Duel of Ages) instead of watching Netflix episodes of The Wire or Monk the way we usually do. It was so much better. When we have kids, I’d really like to have family board game nights (heck - why not every night?!) instead of vegging out in front of the tube.

My good friend Laura sent me a link to this site called the Pickens Plan, founded by a guy named T. Boone Pickens*. He has a seemingly very practical plan to reduce the US’s dependence on foreign oil.

The very short (5 minute) film on this site is very interesting and explains how the plan would work. I listened to it twice.

Basically, Mr. Pickens points out that 22% of the US’s power generation is from natural gas. His plan is for the US to replace the 22% natural gas power generated in this country with wind power. Then, we would move that available natural gas power over to transportation fuel, which would offset the same amount (22%) of our current foreign oil consumption. He says that this scenario would take fewer than 10 years to set up and would save us $300 billion every year.

The plan seems very well thought-out. Personally, I think we should seriously consider this idea.

I’m curious what other people think about the plan. If you visit the site and have any thoughts, please let me know.

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* Editor’s note: Clinton recently informed me that T. Boone Pickens has participated (and potentially still does participate) in some sketchy, immoral things. I can see now that Mr. Pickens is hoping to reap some wind power money profits if his plan works. I’m considering now whether or not it is okay for people to profit from doing things that are ultimately good for the environment - and I’m leaning toward yes. What do you think?

“Running is a big question mark that’s there each and every day. It asks you, ‘Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?” — Peter Maher

I have another three hours in the Zurich airport, and then I’m on my way back home to Clinton, the dogs, and my Mac computer (hooray!). It’s always sad for me to leave Africa, but I am also ready to be back in my own comfy bed and see my Sweetie again.

I wrote a lot of humorous travel log entries during my safari adventures and plan to post them here in the next couple of days, along with some great pictures of animals!

Hope you are all well.

Hello again! I’m still here in Kisumu. It’s the last day of training, and we have only a few hours left in the work day. Tonight is the end-of-training celebration for us (20 trainers) and the 65 trainees. Throughout the training, I’ve been leading all the icebreakers, energizer activities and games (including quite a lively go of the limbo rock!) - in addition to my training sessions - so I have been invited to start off the celebration tonight.

All of us trainers are completely exhausted. Tomorrow we check out of the hotel and fly back to Nairobi. Most are then continuing on back to the U.S., but four of us will go on safari at Masai Mara first. To get to our lodge at Masai Mara, we have a three to four hour drive from Nairobi, which includes incredible scenery and the dramatic descent into the Great Rift Valley. I can’t wait to see it!! I’m also really looking forward to relaxing.

Hope you are all well. Love, Crystal

Dear friends and family,

Hello from western Kenya. I am in a small town called Kisumu at the “Imperial Hotel”. We have now had three and a half days (!!) of study training here in the conference rooms of this hotel. Only four more days left to train before we head back to Nairobi.

Today is Sunday so we only had to work a half day. I’ve just eaten lunch (cheeseburger and Coke) in the hotel restaurant. Thomas, Josh, Elan and I are going out on a fishing boat on Lake Victoria for the afternoon. I’ll be sure to take lots of pictures!

This evening I will prepare myself (mentally and materials-wise) for my Product Management session I’m leading tomorrow. (It’s a big one!)

The weather is very nice - it’s sunny and warm but breezy and not very humid. We’ve tried a number of local restaurants, which has been fun. We are in good hands, and the area is very safe.

Hope you are all well! Bye for now.

Friends and family,

All is well here in Kenya. I arrived the day before yesterday and have had a great experience so far. We are staying in a lovely hotel in downtown Nairobi during our monitoring training. If you are not familiar with what I mean by monitoring training, I mean training for clinical trial monitors, which is what I am.

Tomorrow evening we leave by plane to Kisumu. Kisumu is a very small town located in the northwestern part of the country. It sits right on Lake Victoria. Apparently Barack Obama’s grandma lives here, and we are going to try to find her if we have time. (Photo op!!)

We will stay in Kisumu for seven days while we conduct a major clinical training for the local staff of one of our study sites. This is a huge training - 10 or more of us trainers from FHI (North Carolina and Kenya offices) and 65+ trainees!!

We are very safe and well taken care of by our FHI/Kenya office staff.

I’m looking forward to Ethiopian food tonight. Hope you are all well.

Love, Crystal

Contents of the backseat of my car from my crazy, full weekend:

• 1 shovel
• 2 hedge trimmers
• 1 hand rake
• 4 board games
• 3 silly hats
• 1 box of melted iced cream sandwiches (don’t ask)