Thursday, December 22, 2011

Miscellaneous Update

Around the beginning of February, a small group of us from Fairbanks are heading to Africa for a couple of weeks on a short term mission trip. The group is being led by a couple who lived there with their family for four years and have maintained many excellent contacts as well as a wealth of knowledge and insight into things like appropriate behavior and language. They have led numerous small groups there over the years and I feel blessed to be able to participate. Projects and tasks are still in the process of being identified and prioritized by the local church. I have more details later in the STM tab.

One of the my first steps was a visit to the local clinic with an travel itinerary so the doctor could figure out the appropriate immunizations. Here is phase 1 along with a handful of oral medications. My arms are still sore. This trip may end up changing my long bike trip plans for the summer due to the expense and possible shortage of vacation time.

On another note, I am now a grandfather. My son and daughter in-law had a beautiful baby boy this morning here in Fairbanks. No problems, no issues that I know of and they should be able to head home soon. I don't know many details except 8 lbs. 7 oz. and named Talon.



Merry Christmas!
University Fire Department

16 comments:

  1. Congratulations Grandpa !

    your trip sounds exciting. Take lots of photos for us. 2 weeks sounds too short for a trip so far away, but at least the weather will be warm (or HOT).

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast

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  2. First off, ouch on all the shots..

    And second Congratulation on becoming a Granddad. My Grandpa always said the best thing about grandkids were they went home.........

    I am thinking that trip to Africa will be really amazing. Can't wait to hear the tales and see pictures.

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  3. The trip sounds wonderful. I hope your arms have healed up.
    Best of all, Congrats Grandpa! What a nice Christmas present! :)

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  4. Ouch, vaccination, the downside of some travel. I hope it heals quickly! Looking forward to lots of pictures from that trip.

    Congrats, Opa! (German for Grandpa).

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  5. Hearty congratulations! That's great news....ya know, Talon would love rides in Grandpa's sidecar rig.....

    Hope your planned trip to Africa is great and am looking forward to pics....

    Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    Dom

    Redleg's Rides

    Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner

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  6. Congratulations Richard! I wish Talon a long and healthy life, may the fortunes smile favorably him.

    Ouch, I hate getting immunizations, but they are a nescessary evil. The mission trip sound fabulous.

    I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, sounds like you got the best present a grand baby!

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  7. Richard: Merry Christmas and congratulations on being a grandfather.
    ~k

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  8. Bobskoot:
    You're right, two weeks does seem short for the 32 hours (with only 2 short stops) it takes to get there.

    Trobairitz:
    The arms have stopped hurting. I heard that same saying plus when they start smelling bad, you just hand them back.

    Bluekat:
    Thank you, but it's just something I stumbled into.

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  9. Thank you, I think that my son and his wife have their work cut out for them.

    SonjaM:
    Fortunately, most of the immunizations last a long time. I'll try to take lots of pictures though I'm still trying to figure out what camera to take.

    Charlie6:
    I think you're right about the sidecar rides. One of these years....

    Dar:
    I'm really looking forward to the trip though the language is going to be a challenge for me. Getting old I guess.

    Keith:
    Thank you and merry Christmas!

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  10. Congratulations Grandpa!

    And congratulations on the trip, I forgot about the required immunizations needed to travel abroad. Have fun and take plenty of photos.

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  11. Wow, sounds like its going to be quite an adventure. Both Africa and... being a Grandpa.

    Congratulations!

    Merry Christmas, to you and yours, Richard~

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  12. Merry Christmas and Congratulations. I'm so happy for you. I'm also extremely proud to see people taking care of other people. Good luck. Have a great season. (There is a definite shortage of babies in Germany where we live. My family has a lot of babies these days, and it's sad not to see them. Enjoy the new life!)

    Brady
    Behind Bars - Motorcycles and Life

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  13. Troubadour:
    Thank you and I hope to be able to take lots of pictures though there are some cultural issues associated with photography. And the shots are almost forgotten and many of the immunizations last a long time.

    Fuzzy:
    Looking forward to lots of adventure! Thank you for stopping by.

    Brady:
    Lots of new thing on the horizon and looking forward to them. The Africa trip has a lot of associated homework and I haven't been in school for 30 years.

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  14. Oh wow! Such exciting bits of news wrapped up in a little post.

    Congratulations Grandpa!

    And an exciting trip in the works to Africa.

    Great adventures abound for the future! :)

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  15. Lori:
    Thank you! I'm looking forward to the upcoming adventures. Still not sure how to take pictures yet...

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  16. Congratulations Grandpa Richard!!

    Our first one has been such a neat adventure.

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