candle lit dinners are no longer romantic...

...when you have them every single night because there is still no electricity.

yes, I'm slightly bitter about this situation today. But, my computer is currently charging off of the solar panels that the family bought. I feel so full of green energy. I wonder if I'll start photosynthesizing.

On another note, bed bug bites are incredibly itchy. Holy moly. I have never desired to have sandpaper at my immediate disposal to use on my own skin. I now know the wisdom behind the saying "don't let the bed bugs bite." I feel like I need the same oatmeal bath I had when I was 4 years old and had the chicken pox. I hope they go away soon. The kids in the family still have lice (this is going on 3 months now?) and one of them slept in my bed this weekend while I was away on the east coast. I had a dream that I was in the supermarket searching for lice treatment but had difficulty because there was a disco party in the store and there were so many people, lights, noise and craziness. I just wanted the lice meds so I could prevent the child-to-babysitter transmission, but no dice (just lice). I am sleeping with my head at the foot of the bed and changed the sheets and pillows. Wish me luck. There is a new brand of beetle that inhabits my bathroom. The new arrivals are small, black, and speedy. There are also some new ants that bite that cause me to wake up smacking myself. I didn't know I had rolled out the "welcome" mat to the insect world.

Anyway, work is going well. Very very busy. I have lots to write about from the past few weeks, including my escape to Dar es Salaam last weekend.... the land of electricity. Hope to write soon.

Miss you all!