Amazing Life

Well, it has been a really good few weeks. Since my birthday I have gone to Pensacola, FL, burnt my entire back side, peeled, gone to Atlanta to visit my sis, had third row center tickets to Wicked on Broadway, worked all week in Destin, FL at the Chadwick's beautiful beach house, and now visiting Joel in Auburn for the Sticks Country Music Festival! Busy busy! I am moving on Sunday! Ahhhh! I didn't realize it until today that I spent my last night in my bed last week. Sad day. My bed really is Heaven! 

Anyways, Peace Corps stuff is coming along. I still have to buy some kind of camera/computer backpack, Chaco's, tennis shoes, rechargeable batteries and underwear. That should be it. Although, most of them are heavy items. I think I am cutting it close. I am getting extremely excited though! It hasn't really sunk in yet that I am MOVING to Fiji. Right now it just feels like I am going on a nice vacation. I probably won't realize it until I am indefinitely stuck there. Training may take some getting used to from what I hear. I know I will be fine though.

Oh, and of course IRELAND is coming sooner than I think! Castles, castles, castles! Oh, and of course some ale! We even get to eat dinner with an Irish family inside their home! Oh boy! I can't wait! And before Ireland my best friend Lauren is coming down from Jersey to visit and go to Crawfish Boil! Yay! She is so fun!

Well, enough of my jibber jabber! I will post soon!

Cheap Cheap

As a Peace Corps Volunteer it seems that everyone is willing to give you freebies, or at least discounts. All you have to do is ask! I am told that if I want anything while I am serving, to try! Well, considering I am so frugal, I am pretty sure I will try anything to save a buck here and there! Here is a compiled list of what I have found out thus far. FRE-7s may want to pay attention to this!

 

Bivouac: They were very helpful and knowledgeable and give most volunteers 20% off. They also price match. They don’t have a PC volunteer policy, but if you are/were a boy scout you can get 20% off as well.

Chaco: Gives PC volunteers 50% off! Call 970.527.7413 or email help@chacousa.com. They will ask you to fax or email them a copy of your invitation and then they will email you a promotional code which can be used on their website.

CVS: volunteers are sometimes able to print photographs on laminated waterproof photo paper for free.

Moosejaw: Some locations and possibly on their website you can get 10% for life!

Keen: Request a certificate for their Pro Purchase Program. Choose Industry Partner and fill out the form. They will email you a certificate number, and then you can get up to two pairs per season at the discounted price (which is 50% off!).

Uncle Dan’s: Gives 10% off everything to PC Volunteers.

The Economist: gave them over 50% off a year’s subscription and delivered it to the Peace Corps bureau in country.

Burton: They told them they wanted to duneboard in the Sahara so they sent them a snowboard in exchange for photos

Teva: Gave their wonderful Peace Corps Host Country National language trainers free sandals after the Volunteers told them how great they are and included photos.

Freeplay Energy: This one comes from Nathan Danielsen in Senegal    freeplayfoundation.org/ 

Substantial discount on two items.

Lifeline radio: US$42
http://freeplayenergy.com/indigo.html

Indigo Lantern: US$23.85 http://freeplayenergy.com/lifeline.html

Contact: Penny Thornton
Toll Free: 866-526-2826
pthornton@dixiesales.com

If you know of any other deals, please let me know!

Back from Tejas!

Just took a trip to Texas to see all of my family and it went perfectly! Thank you fam! Daniel and I went to Bass Pro Shop, Main Event, Braum's (mmmmm), and Six Flags Over Texas! Then, my amazing cousin Nathan picked me up for the weekend and Ashlee, Nathan, and I went to a really neat restaurant, Jo T. Garcia's, where I only had two choices on the menu, enchiladas or fajitas! It just might be my new favorite restaurant because it was set in an old villa, it seemed to go on and on, and the food was amazing! Then we headed to a house of beers, The Ginger Man, where I proceeded to pass out on the couch and kick the boys' butt at darts. The next morning we visited the Rangers' stadium so that cuz could get his new, sexy security uniform! Lol. It's cuuuute! Then it was time to head up to Gainesville and see my Aunt Sarah and Uncle Mark! Their house is beautiful and they have buffalo roaming their backyard! Too cool! From there we went to a casino in Oklahoma with the biggest gambling area in the US! I lost all of my $14 (playing penny slots) and so we got some Texas brisket and Nathan and I headed to my Aunt Susan and Uncle Frank's house (there was some Braum's in there again!). We enjoyed a good conversation around the campfire! Then it was time to head home and get some rest for church the next morning. After church we went to a neat TCU/college restaurant where I had the best vegetable/taco salad ever! Well, honestly, I'm not sure I will ever have the chance to order one of those again. So, my weekend was coming to a close, we stopped by Cabela's on my way back to Aunt Lisa's. I relaxed with Aunt Lisa and Daniel the rest of the night (had Braum's, again!) and headed to the airport the next morning. Wow. Good trip! Thank you Nathan and Aunt Lisa for being so accommodating! I thoroughly enjoyed my trip and it was because of ya'll! 

On to a Peace Corps note, I have lots of questions that I have been asking Leslie and John who are already in Fiji! So I just wanted to give a shout out and thanks for all of your replies Leslie! I would be lost without you! Can't wait to get there and meet you! Less than two months left!

On another note... those care packages I so frequently mention... I didn't realize it would cost an arm and a leg to send me stuff. So, please do not feel the need to send me anything if money is tight! I do not expect anyone to pay the kinds of prices I was quoted at the post office! It's the thought that counts! Much love.

I am also searching for a Gregory Deva 70 Small Hiking Backpack if anyone reads this and has one they want to sell me I would much appreciate it!