Okay, enough is enough. I backed into a car yesterday, moved to get away from it and hit something else. The collision place says $700 to fix both areas. Why not, I say. I’m getting used to living under a dark cloud. I’m now extra careful going up and downstairs, throw salt over my shoulder and avoid ladders.

I refuse to get my hopes too high, but today has started a bit better. Here’s the good news: it’s not the water heater but a corroded copper pipe which is now being replaced. All my flowers got planted, the backyard was weed-whacked and the front garden was weeded. The irrigation system started today so I don’t have to hand water the flowers any more. Tonight I will take my first outside shower of the season and will bring my phone with me as I have been locked inside the shower before when the latch stuck. I will take no chances!

It’s a deck day, beautiful and warm so I’ll be heading out when I finish here. Showers are predicted for tonight, and that’s a good thing as we haven’t had rain for a while. I hope for a bit of thunder and lighting.

My trip is well over two months away, and I’m already getting excited. My passport has been sent to the embassy for its visa, my yellow fever shot is scheduled, I ordered new sandals, have bought some new clothes, a new suitcase and plenty of travel toilet paper. My iPad is set for recharging on Ghanaian voltage, and I’ve started downloading some books. While I’m there, I’ll have a dress or two made and buy plenty of cloth for other projects. I figure I don’t need a whole slew of clothes as I can have them washed while I’m there. We even had our washing done during training when we were living on a small per diem as it was pretty cheap. I have a place to stay, and all I need is to find a car and driver. The one I found quoted a far too expensive rate so I have to keep looking. I’m hoping at the place where I’m staying they might have a connection or two.

I am so excited about summer, about deck movies and the theater and nights outside with friends. It will hit the 70’s later this week. A day that hot sounds like the start of summer to me.