“Do good because of tomorrow”
What kind of luck do I have? Irene is heading this way though it would seem Sunday and Monday are the possible landfall days. Saturday is predicted as rainy, and I’m hoping rain will not prevent my flight from leaving. The Sox are planning a double header for either Friday or Saturday so they won’t have a game on Sunday. I’ve already brought in some of the glass hurricane lamp chimneys from the deck, kind of ironic. I have more stuff to bring inside, but I’m leaving a few bird feeders and will have my house sitter bring them inside if necessary. I’m filling my dining room with all the candles, lambs and tables.
Yesterday was gorgeous with a cool breeze. Today is a bit more humid which makes the air feel much hotter. Maybe it’s air-conditioner weather.
My before I leave list is getting smaller and smaller and today is get money and bus ticket day. I got an invitation to a party in Accra on Monday being thrown for us returned volunteers by Peace Corps and the current volunteers. It will be at Ryan’s pub! I figure that means I’m destined to be there! I’m sorry no one from my time will be in Accra. It will be great meeting new people but reconnecting with long ago friends would have been an added wonder.
Here I am sitting in my den, my usual spot for writing Coffee each morning. Out the window I can see some of the bird feeders, the candles in the trees and a bit of the deck furniture. The leaves in the big old oak tree are swaying a bit and their shadows on the deck move with the breeze. The sounds I hear are lawn mowers and clippers. In three days I will land in Accra, into a whole different world. It will be filled with the sounds of cars and people. I will stand out in any crowd and hear obruni again for the first time in forty years. I will smell car exhaust, food cooking and the trash which seems to pile up everywhere. I’ll hear conversations in Twi. I will listen intently to Ghanaian English until my ears again become accustomed to the accent. It won’t take long. When I called to make my reservation, I understood just about every word. Ghanaians laugh a lot. I’m looking forward to that.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: Ghana, Peace Corps, to do list, Volunteers
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
August 25, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Well Kat, as The Beatles once sang “It Won’t Be Long Yaeh Yeah” or words to that effect.
I sure hope Irene will leave you be as it would be the pits if the lady foiled your plans.
I can imagine the contrast between the Cape & Ghana would be a shock to most but I know you will take it all in your stride.
So batten down your hatches before you leave and come back safe & sound to your dedicated followers.
Bon Voyage
August 25, 2011 at 8:09 pm
Pete,
can’t believe it-two days to go though because this is almost over, I’ll just say one. All my errands got done today: bus ticket to and from the airport, travel money and dog treats they didn’t have the other day. I also took several things off the deck in anticipation of the hurricane. Not much left out and not much left to do!
Irene is due in Sunday so I’m just missing it. That is sheer luck! My friends are a bit anxious I am traveling by myself but I’ll be just fine.
Look for a post periodically!
August 25, 2011 at 1:59 pm
I doubt rain will stop the plane from lifting and I do hope Irene feels a bit lazy and arrives long after You left! I guess they can start in rather hard winds but I doubt it will feel especially nice in the plane.
We´ve had gloomy weather here today but with high humidity so its been a bit nasty. I´ve sweated a lot what ever I have been doing.
Have a great day!
Christer.
August 25, 2011 at 8:11 pm
Christer,
It looks as if I’ll miss the storm by one day. I was a bit worried
at first but am okay now as all the weather reports seem to be the same.
The humidity was also high today. Off Cape got rain but we missed it.
Enjoy the rest of the week.
August 25, 2011 at 4:41 pm
I’m surprised you didn’t add “Goodnight Irene” to your song list.
I’m excited for you. It’s early for me to post, so I’ll post a bit later.
Beginning to Wave,
Lori
August 25, 2011 at 8:13 pm
Lori,
I am really excited. Stuff is all over my bedroom waiting to be packed. Tomorrow is water the plants, change the bed and the litter day then Saturday is pack then leave day.
The wave will take a long while to get to you!
August 25, 2011 at 5:39 pm
“Goodnight Irene” is everywhere here on the beachfront, on signs, in windows, people have quite an imagination. We are getting ready to shut down at 6PM when her outer ring swings through central Florida. We expect 55 mph winds and mostly a downpour for 12 hours. I heard on the news it would have dropped to 80 mph winds by the time it hit Boston. You may hit that window between Friday and flight day. Or we’ll be reading your blog Monday as usual. Probably not usual, just missing a few four letter words.
August 25, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Z*Me,
I haven’t seen one mention of the song except in Lori’s post above.
The news at 6 had it hitting on Sunday, not Saturday and the Sox are playing a day night double header that day assuming they won’t be playing on Sunday. By all accounts i should be fine getting out of Logan.
August 25, 2011 at 6:02 pm
I awoke this morning to the sound of thunder and raindrops. Unfortunately, it didn’t last very long and the grass was wet but the ground underneath was still rock hard and dry. At 5 PM the temperature is 101 degrees.
Anticipation before any trip is part of the experience. While packing and getting all your ducks in a row it seems that the departure date will never arrive.
I assume your flight to Europe will depart from Logan airport in the Evening. Most of the flights going Eastbound across the Atlantic Ocean depart the East coast in late evening so as to arrive in Europe in the morning. The North Atlantic Track System is one way Eastbound at night and one way Westbound during the day. It is the most heavily traveled airspace in the world. The tracks are between 25,000 ft. to 40,000 Ft. at 1,000 Ft. Intervals. Every day the tracks are relocated north or south depending on the winds. Hopefully by the time Irene reaches New England she will be downgraded to a tropical storm and your flight will be able to depart.
The video shows all the large aircraft flying in the world in one day. Notice the number of flights going to Europe and back to the US.
August 25, 2011 at 8:20 pm
Bob,
That was intriguing. I watched it twice until darkness started to settle. The US is filled with yellow dots. I noticed Ghana had only a few and even less at night. I should look at it again and let it lead me to my next vacation: the place with the fewest planes.
My flight leaves around 10:15 to Frankfurt then a three hour layover before I leave for Ghana. It should be raining Saturday but the heavy winds winds won’t arrive until Sunday. I can’t imagine how I’d handle a canceled flight.
August 25, 2011 at 11:00 pm
Things are so hectic right now, I’m afraid if I wait to wish you a great trip, I’ll miss out. So, perhaps a bit early, but “have a wonderful journey.” I hope you enjoy getting acquainted with new friends and enjoy getting REacquainted with your old haunts (and possibly seeing some of the people you taught when they were just kids). Soak it all in and hurry home and tell us all about it.
August 25, 2011 at 11:20 pm
im6,
I have high hopes that the wind will blow through on Sunday, and we’ll wing our way east in the rain. I am at that point where I don’t really believe I’ll be in Ghana Sunday night.
I would love to find some former students. The students I taught were ages 16-32. Many lived in the town though it was a boarding school. I’d love to find a couple and will check elementary schools just in case.
I’m going to Bawku where I had my live-in. I’ll knock on doors where my family lived and at a house right near them where my language instructor lived. I might just get lucky and find someone.
August 26, 2011 at 5:08 am
Perhaps the early effects of Irene will push you to your destination a little early. What an adventure you are embarking on! Best of luck and Bon Voyage! Keep that smile lighting the world.
August 26, 2011 at 11:46 am
Thanks Cuidado,
I should be okay with the weather as I’m heading in the opposite direction from the storm. I am so very excited just writing these words gives me goose pimples!
August 26, 2011 at 6:34 am
Hi Kat,
Wow! One more day. That 9 days went by like a flash and it isn’t even my vacation. 🙂
I’ll wave good-bye today as well just in case I miss you. Hope you have a lovely flight and a wonderful vacation.
August 26, 2011 at 11:47 am
Hi Caryn,
One day is the worst of all for waiting. It’s like Christmas Eve.
I will post a short goodbye tomorrow and some travel songs.
I’m waving right back. I’m in the window toward the front of the plane!
October 4, 2011 at 6:00 pm
Sorry about commenting so late. I am victim of two typhoons, a tropical storm, a defunct mother board and of course laziness. I’ve basically been out of commission for a ‘few’ weeks and its taking forever to get back on track. The biggest problem with catching up, of course is slow internet. New computers are a pain to get into some shape to catch up, but I think I’m almost back to where I left off with your blog.
This thing is tiny and difficult for me to get used to. My other was a 17″ laptop and I do miss it. It will be another three to four weeks before the new mother board comes in and then it will be standing in line to be installed. I might be used to this one by then, but I will put the other back into service also as it is much better for editing photos.
I am really enjoying your trip, as I’ve read some out of sequence (that is legal isn’t it? LOL). And I’m looking forward to more.
Carl
October 4, 2011 at 6:39 pm
Carl,
Time is of no matter when you comment. I’m just glad to hear from you!
You may read the entries in any order you please! It was just easier for me to write them in sequence as I recalled the trip when I got home.
I hope eveything gets back to normal as quickly as possible for you!