Gator Nation: Another SEC title!!!

It's really great to be a Florida Gator! The face-off held between Alabama (1) and Florida(4) was at the Georgia Dome and how I wished I would have been there as part of the record breaking 75, 892 crowd!! My friend Josiah was sending me regular updates via text message and when I got the one that read 31-20 a little after 1am my time, I fell asleep smiling!

My boy, Tim Tebow, with his fine self, delivered again! Tebow passed for 216 yards and three TDs - yeah baby! I'm nominating him for the Heisman trophy again - this dude is made of everything nice with sugar and spice! Here is a great article,published last year,that in my opinion truly captures why we love Tebow so much! He is more than just football.

FINAL SCORE: ALABAMA 20 FLORIDA 31

A Kenyan murdered in Baltimore Maryland

(Copied from Diaspora Messenger -11/29/08)

The late Alexander Waiganjo Njuguna

Alexander Waiganjo Njuguna, a Kenyan living in Baltimore Maryland was murdered by unknown assailant in his apartment between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Alexander was 29 years old and is the son of Rose Njeri Njuguna of Baltimore Maryland.

The circumstances of his death are still unknown and the police are still investigating.

Family and friends are currently meeting at Rose's home (Alexander’s mother) in Baltimore as they try to come to grips with this terrible tragedy. They are requesting all Kenyans and friends everywhere to join them in prayer and also in comforting and assisting Rose to take care of the expenses of the funeral and burial which will take place in Kenya sometime within the next 2 weeks.

Well wishers may send money through the following account:
BANK OF AMERICA
ACCT No: 446009463985
ROUTING: 052001633
NAME: ROSE NJERI.

My heart goes out to the family during this tough time. Also, my condolences go out to my friend, Peter Mugo aka Kaka, who introduced Alex to us just a year ago at Thanksgiving. Alex (in dreads) and Kaka have been long time friends since their childhood days in Buru Buru Estate. Death reminds us that our days are numbered and that we must make the best out of every day we are alive. R.I.P.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The original pilgrims celebrated their autumn harvest with a feast of thanks and gratitude. Thanksgiving is exactly that - a time to be thankful of what you have, a time to celebrate with friends and loved ones and for me and other shop-a-holics, "Black Friday" Sales!! I'm getting giddy just thinking of this:-)

This is my first Thanksgiving back in Kenya and I am definitely missing the buzz of activity that would be in my kitchen at this time. For a good number of years I was always the 'go-to' house and I loved trying out new recipes to wow my friends with. My menu always consisted of an 18Ib Turkey, Dressing, Sweet Potatoes, Mac 'n' Cheese, Creamed Spinach, Creamed Corn, Green Bean Casserole and Cranberry. In addition to that, I had other dishes that I had been trying to master throughout the year so that I could debut them at Thanksgiving. I loved the first smell indicating that the Turkey was really starting to roast, yelling at Jonathan to clean the house faster before the first guest arrived, hearing the first knock, spiking the hot cider and eating until we almost OD'd. Ahh the memories!

This year, I am there in spirit with all my friends and thankful for the years we all spent together. I have also passed on the baton to my friend, Kaka, and hopefully he will do me proud. Of course, I will be needing pictorial evidence that he actually did all the cooking. Happy Thanksgiving!

Savanna Coffee Lounge

 

Last week my brother and I we were driving past Nairobi Hospital, saw that the newest Savanna Coffee Lounge had opened up,on Ralph Bunche Rd, and made a mental note to check it out. This is Sasini Coffee House Limited's third installment of its kind in the city - the other locations are on Loita Street and Museum Hill. Sasini's vision is to put Africa on the map by opening a multitude of "African-themed coffee houses".

After a hard day of apartment hunting, Jonathan and I decided to make a pit stop at Savannah and find out what all the hoopla was about. As I walked through the black-stained wooden doors (Lamu style in my opinion) leading to the lounge, I was immediately greeted by the gentle "woosh" of water falling on rock and what do you know? There is a water feature on one side of the wall, which drowns the noise from the street and let's face it...the voices in my head. As I pull myself from the hypnotic lull of the water, I notice that the patio area is markedly bigger than the actual lounge. Airy - that is how I would describe the Savanna Coffee Lounge in one word. One of the waitstaff says hello as Jonathan makes for the lounge (he hates being in the elements) and I cannot imagine why anyone would want to sit inside when the patio is so open and inviting. The Parasols on each of the tables are burnt orange and nicely complement the earthy terracotta tiles on the patio floor. I did look inside the lounge and loved the chocolate brown leather loungers/sofas as well as the zebra patterned pendants that hung above the counter - not bad at all - kind of stuff I would want in my living room! I think that must be what they were going for - "inviting" - just like your own living room would be.

Even though we are here on a coffee break, I take the time to really look at the entire menu and can't help but wonder when I'll be back for a real meal. I ordered my regular poison of choice - black coffee, no sugar and a ginger cookie. Jonathan ordered the Masala Chai, which is a mix of Sasini Tea with selected spices brewed in hot milk (smelled heavenly and according to Jonathan it was really good). Savanna offers everything from Breakfast, Soups, Sandwiches, Salads, to Burgers, Grill and Main Courses from around the globe. For drink selections, think Icy Fruit Slushies in 8 different flavors, Milk Shakes, Frapes, Coffee Chillers, Iced Coffees/Tea, Mocktails (the lounge is non-alcoholic), Smoothies and Luscious Hot Chocolate (Dark/White). Let's face it, I'll have to come back quite often if I'm going to eat my way through this expansive menu! One menu offering I'm dying to sink my teeth into is listed under the "Quick Eats" part of the menu - Buffalo Croquette (Buffalo mozzarella mixed with potatoes seasoned with a dash of herbs, and crumb fried to a sunny gold. Served with a sweet tomato chilly dip). Mmhh, these little balls of melt-in-your-mouth goodness are just calling my name!!

While I was there, the board of directors was having a meeting and since I asked to take pictures, I got to meet some of the members as well as the Head of Operations, Mark Matthews, who struck me as a laid back kind of guy who lets the operation run without the power trip. He and his staff made me feel very welcome and this is a place I would be happy to recommend to anyone. There are three reasons (apart from the food) that will make me come back to this place - great customer service, use of local artisans for all labor/aesthetics and use of locally grown ingredients.

License to sound...

So yesterday Jonathan was picking me up in my mom's matatu (slang terms: mathree or jav if you are uptown) and he got pulled over in Kilimani. Evidently it wasn't the cops who wanted anything but rather the Music Copyright Society of Kenya. Jonathan asked the dude what the problem was and was informed that the radio in the matatu needed a license and unless he paid Ksh3150 he would not be able to drive the van. And get this, it is a yearly license so you have to pay this fee every year!!! The guy informed us that the information regarding this had already been gazetted and thus everyone was aware of these newly imposed charges. My mom's matatu is a private van for family use and the radio doesn't even work so when Jonathan asked whether he would still have to pay he was told yes. However, if you removed the radio from the van then you would not be subject to this crap. But, if you have a radio that doesn't work i.e produces NO sound, you still have to pay!

We decided to stop arguing and just paid the fee and got a sticker to add to the multitude of stickers already on the windshield. The guy who gave us the sticker and receipt couldn't even articulate why the "copyright" society was doing this. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't copyright the legal right to own original works such as the written word, audio, video etc??? So I'm not sure why a "radio" should be under the jurisdiction of MCSK. The guy who took the license fee said that we were paying to hear the sound (this is a direct translation from Swahili). In my earnest effort to get the real reason, I decided to call one of the 6 numbers on the MCSK receipt and wouldn't you know it, none of them went through. One number was missing a digit and the other ones were a combination of "could not dial this number" or "mobile subscriber had turned off the phone" and one other that just displayed a message on my phone stating "Not allowed". Jeez!

Oh and by the way, just down the street was a guy selling a whole bunch of pirated CDs and DVDs - the MCSK couldn't be bothered in the least about this type of copyright!

Obama campaign documentary in the works

I was web-prowling earlier today and came across this New York Times article about a documentary about the Obama presidential campaign. The documentary, slated for next Spring/Summer, is still in the works and has been picked up by HBO. Actor Edward Norton's Class 5 Films has been filming since 2004 and will continue to get footage until the Inauguration. These presidential campaign behind-the-scenes stuff is usually very exciting because you get to see the real person. In fact, I remember seeing Bush's "Journey's with George" and I remember being struck at how funny he was on the campaign trail - which was a far cry from the frown we always saw on TV. So, needless to say, I can't wait until the documentary is completed and distributed for mass consumption.

Price Check!

Walmart's profits rose 10% despite financial crisis but for the rest of us, things are not that rosy! In Kenya, we have already began to feel the pinch in our purses, gas prices are crazy (Ksh93.80 per litre) and the farmers have been fighting a drought then now flooding rains. What gives? At any rate, a couple people have been asking me about the cost of goods and so I wanted to share some of my receipts with you. If you click on the image, you can see a bigger version.

Congratulations to the 44th President of the United States

AMERICA, WE ARE PROUD OF YOUR VOTES. THANKS FOR STANDING UP FOR CHANGE. YES WE CAN!

Longest Day Ever

This has been the longest day ever! Forgetting that I was in a different hemisphere, I woke up early so I could start setting up my laptop on the various election trackers available out there. Well, Kenya is 8 hours ahead of the US (EST) and right now it's 11pm and that means it is only 3pm in the States. My index finger is numb from all the surfing I've done all day to get election news, my neck has a crook in it and I'm starting to see a whole lot of white spots! So, I'm going to sleep for like 3 or 4 hours and by that time, some of the polling stations will be closed/closing so I will probably see some action in terms of numbers on my trackers.

If you haven't voted, stop reading this blog and get your hiney to the polling stations!!!

Shelby - here is your DAWA!

 
Shelby and I met at The Home Depot where we were both active in The Women's Link (formerly WIN - Women's Initiative Network). She left depot for Coke and I left for Kenya. In September, shortly after I arrived, Shelby was in Nairobi on a business trip and we hooked up for dinner at Spurs - Mayfair and ate till our waist bands popped! However, Shelby had been to Carnivore the previous evening and had the pleasure of drinking "dawa" and gushed over how she would love to get her hands on the recipe! Shelby, this one's for you - hope it tastes the same as it did in the motherland:-)

(Courtesy of The Tamarind Group)
The famous Dawa cocktail was first introduced to Kenya at the Carnivore.
In Swahili, "Dawa" translates somewhere between medicine and magic potion. Under the African sun the "Dawa" is the drink chosen to rehydrate, refresh ones being and sharpen the taste buds.

Dawa Power!
A stimulating concoction guaranteed to raise anyone's spirits:
*2 tots Vodka
*1 table spoon sugar
*lime cut into quarters
*Crushed ice

Put lime and sugar into a whiskey glass and crush slightly, add the crushed ice and pour in the Vodka. Enjoy!

NOVEMBER 4 - GO OUT AND VOTE

Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the Obama Family for the loss of Obama's grandmother, after a battle with cancer. She was 86 and died in her sleep with Obama's sister at her side. In a statement, Obama said this about his grandmother:
"She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure." (CNN.com)

The entire world is watching the American elections today. In Kenya, lots of people have asked for today and tomorrow off. There is a huge election night party at "The Carnivore" and I'm sure it will be bananas! Since we can't vote, we are urging the American people to go out and cast their VOTE today. This is as historic a day as most of us are going to witness in this lifetime and boy am I proud to be alive. The fact that the whole world is so into this particular election speaks volumes of what HOPE and CHANGE can do. This election has touched everyone because the same "hope" and "change" we want to see in America, is the same as we would want in our own countries, in our own lives and for generations to come. The cornerstone of America depended on this as well - way back then when immigrants came to America looking for "hope" and "change". This is not a foreign concept (as painted by the opposition) and I'm hoping all Americans want to see a fresh, young and determined face as the leader of the most powerful country in the world!!! Let your voices be heard across the world! Vote for Change.

The Next US President

Barack Obama. Plain and simple, America needs Obama to be the next US president. I tried not to comment about politics in my blog but I confess, I have "Obama Fever" and I don't want to recover from it. With 5 days left to go, we in Kenya, can think of nothing else but getting Obama into office. Let's face it, whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, I think everyone wants to make sure that the next presidency will not mimic the mediocrity of the last 8 years. The next president of the United States should remedy the oil situation, rising foreclosures, slumping dollar, bring the troops back home, create a comprehensive immigration reform and cut taxes responsibly. These are just some of the reasons that should make every American cast their vote for the candidate of their choice - just be an informed voter!

As estimates go, Obama has 277 electoral votes to McCain's 174. That means 87 toss up votes. In the past couple of days Obama has gained ground in Colorado, a state that would normally have voted Republican! And let's not forget....the World Series was delayed so Obama's 30 min ad could run - if ya'll don't think that shows clout, I don't know what does. McCain mentioned that "it used to take an act of God to stop the World Series..." I'm thinking that should speak volumes - it is an act of God. Even HE wants Obama to be president:-)

Welcome Baby Zachary!

Zachary Charles Tenney was born Sunday, October 19, 2008 at 12:05 am. He weighed 7 lbs, 6 oz and was 19 3/4 inches long. Great shot of big brother Chandler welcoming baby Zachary into the world! As you can see in the pics Zachary is already being brainwashed with all the "Georgia Football" regalia! Ok,Jeff & Heather I'm giving ya'll this one and then the games begin...be on the lookout in the mail for a cute "Gator" onesie:-)

Which character are you?

I am a die hard Grey's Anatomy fan and tonight I couldn't sleep and found myself taking this test at 2:22am!! I don't know what I should be scared of more - the fact that I'm not asleep at this time (even after taking a night cap) or the fact that my personality match is Bailey - the Nazi, as she is known on the show! Ok, maybe I need McDreamy right about now:-)

By the way, if by some great miracle the folks from ABC TV audit blogs for Grey's mentions, I would like to complain that I tried to watch the new episodes online and rudely found out that if you are outside the US, you are blocked from watching the shows!! I cannot believe that after 4 seasons of never missing an episode, I am going to have to wait a full season before Season 5 is out on DVD!

So there are things to do in Kenya ...

This past weekend I went with my brother to a place called "Sagana". He was shooting some Plan-B footage for the new and hot "BlackStar Entertainment" TV show called "Wakilisha". The show, which airs every Saturday at 7:30pm on NTV, is done in three segments 1)Hood Passport 2)Heavy Hitters and 3)Plan-B.

Plan-B basically shows Kenyans that there are other things to do over the weekend other than the basic 'beer and nyama choma' weekend plan. The past shows have shown us that Plan-B can express yourself artistically with WAPI, learning where to take Capoeira classes and last week's show on Street Dancing. I'm probably giving it away but another Plan-B can be a place like the one in Sagana. This is a camping ground that caters for campers who may be interested in Kayaking or rafting down the Sagana River, Bungee jumping or for the faint of heart - plain ol' hanging out at the barbie:-)

Restaurant Review: Artcaffe

Today is a national holiday in Kenya and being a Friday, everyone is ready for the long weekend! I dropped off my sisters kid's at a birthday party in Adams Arcade and headed to Westgate Mall. This is the newest mall, located in the Westlands area and it is 24-7, which is a VERY new concept here. I haven't been here at 3am so I can't vouch for the 24-7 being exactly what it means.

Today, I have come to the Artcaffe which is an upscale cafe that I have been wanting to visit since I first toured Westgate. Artcaffe is a modern Coffee & Bakery that serves everything from fresh artisan bread, to Carpaccio to Humus sandwiches. In addition to their coffee, you can also get gourmet ice creams with names like "Affugato" which according to the menu is "two scoops of vanilla ice-cream, hints of cream iced with chocolate sauce then topped with espresso...knockout" I'm a lactard so of course I didn't sample this but at a cost of Ksh290 (about $4) it is very reasonable for a place that is considered "upscale".

This is probably the largest coffeehouse I have ever been to and perched from my loft vantage point, I count at least 20 tables on the main floor. The walls are white brick made to look stucco-ish with a ton of round pendant lighting that hangs from the extremely high ceiling. The ceiling itself is painted black in that industrial looking style and complements the white walls and dark furniture to a tee. In addition, Artcaffe boasts a huge tiled patio, which is the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon of grazing. The loft is small, only three tables and is adjacent to the bathrooms. If you don't think about the bathrooms, the loft serves as a really good place to look into the kitchen prep area, the main floor and also take a peek at the patio.

The atmosphere is casual but assaultive - the music played is great but WAY too loud. So, people resort to talking over the music and coupled with the sound of the open kitchen the place comes to a crashing crescendo. I'm not sure if the locals mind that too much because the place has been busy and the tables turning over at a rate that makes me want to see what kind of revenues this place is raking in:-) The clientele here is very varied, which must be one of the reasons they are turning tables quickly. You can definitely tell that all races are represented - Kenyans, Asians, Americans, Arabs, Indians...and that's all at first glance from my vantage point. They definitely must be doing something right!

As luck would have it (and my luck with restaurants has been shitty to say the least)I wait about 20 minutes before anyone waits on me. Of course, I count about 10 waitstaff who have passed by me and I say nothing (I'm all about the principle). Finally, I stop a meek looking waiter and ask him for a menu. He brings me a menu and politely takes my order. I also ask him to have his manager come to my table so I can complain about the wait time. The MOD comes and I tell her that I have waited for over 20 minutes and that the people on the patio (who I can see from my vantage point) got seated AFTER me and they already had their food. In addition I complain that 10 waiters passed me by and none of them asked to help. She was very apologetic and made sure I got my sandwich in about 5 minutes so all is not lost!! I ordered the Caprese sandwich (Ksh 490 or $7)and a tall glass of Passion juice (that has been my one indulgence since I landed) with lots of ice. The sandwich was good but if I were making it, I would definitely use a thicker slice of mozzarella - that's just me!

If you are around Westgate, definitely check this place out - you will not be disappointed!

In the City

 

 

 

 

Around Town...

My mom and I were hanging out today so we decided to go to the Safari Park Hotel for the Belgium Exhibition, which was advertised in the Nation newspaper. We were both disappointed to find that there were no Belgian chocolates and worse, it was not really an "exhibition" - we expected to find products on display as had been stated in the ad. What it turned out to be was an info session along with vendor tables and printed material. But all was not lost, we decided to stop by the KWS (Kenya Wildlife Service)table and met a very informative gentleman who told us about the Lodges that KWS offers in most of the parks - from Amboseli to Mt. Kenya to Ruma. Of special interest to us was the Fishing Lodge located in the Aberdare National Park. Prices range from about $150-$180 per night and the lodge has two units that can house approximately 14 people - not too shabby, huh? Might have to check this one out.

Weekend in Ngong

Spent the weekend in Ngong at my Uncle Mike's house. Quite the relaxing weekend and got to see my great-grams who lives on the same property so that was great! This is the second time I've seen her since I got back and she is still in disbelief that I'm here - she once told me over the phone that she wasn't going to die until I came back home. Thank God she's still holding on!

Sunday was also my niece Aggie's 8th birthday! Kids really know how to hint...I got her a skateboard and so did her parents:-) She decided to keep both because the one I got her is a "stunt" board and the other one is a regular board - ok, as long as she knows what to do with the darn things, I'm good with it!

Halfway through the day, nephew Adrian says "look at the rainbow!" and I dismiss him because it hadn't rained so why the hell would there be a rainbow? And besides, I was in a food-coma and had my lawn chair in the perfect spot with half my body in the sun and the other in the shade. No way, Jose, I ain't gettin' up for nothing! But as with all little boys, this one wasn't giving up and I begrudgingly get up and of course, I'm looking west to east and I don't see a rainbow. Darn these kids...then he says, "no, up there!" Sure enough, I look straight up and before I am blinded I see an amazing rainbow that is in a perfect circle. The paparazzi in me heads for the house, grabs my camera thinking, "I could be witnessing some great event and here I am doubting a 4-yr old!"
I actually tried to take a picture of the rainbow with my Fuji FinePix s10000fd and could not take a decent picture (ok so if I bothered to read the manual maybe I could have found a way to take this blinding picture) so I decided to take video instead and then just broke down the video into a bunch of frames and this was the first frame. Like any self respecting research freak would do, I went online to find out what this thing was and tons of websites indicate that a full-circle rainbow is nearly impossible to view because the only way to see a full circle of a rainbow in the sky is to be above the raindrops and have the sun behind you. You would have to look down on the drops from an airplane. So considering I was not in an airplane, this is the coolest thing I've seen from the ground!

Proud Parents - Baby Kennedy

Congratulations to parents Jacob and Tia on the birth of their baby boy! This little fighter, all 8Ibs 6oz, came out into the world with a blast. Baby Kennedy had Meconium fluid in his lungs but after spending 5 days in NIC, doctors and God working together, this little tyke is finally home! I wish I was there with you guys!

I'm glad cats have 9 lives

As you will remember, my cat, Joi, has been very traumatized since we left the States. He is the arch enemy of Scooby, my sister's Spitz, and has been planning his escape since we got here. I am usually very vigilant about letting Joi out of the house but around these parts, I am the Nazi who will not let the cat out to get some fresh air. So, on three separate occasions, I let the cat out so he could enjoy the fresh air. In catspeak, Joi is thinking..."finally, out of this Alcatraz!" and he makes a jump for the high fence, clears it and is gallivanting the neighborhood. Needless to say, a day later, I noticed that he was hiding under my bed and would not come out for nothing. The only time he does that is when he is sick...and don't you know it, the poor thing was limping. I tried to find out what was wrong with his front right paw but could find nothing so we take him for his first visit to a Kenyan vet (Scooby's vet to be exact!).

Upon checking his vitals, the vet tells me that his temperature is the highest they have seen - at 41 degrees! The normal temperature of a cat is between 38 and 39 degrees and anything over 39.5 (103 Fahrenheit) is considered febrile (hyperthermic). The vet cleaned the cats paw with some hot salty water, gave him an antibiotic injection and proceeded to tell me that she had to keep him under observation. So, Joi is still at the vet hospital and the earliest they will release him at this point is Wednesday or Thursday. The vet thinks he may have gotten into a fight with another cat (our neighbors have 7 outside cats!!) and because the claws retract, the infection may be deep within his paw. I will definitely give you all an update as soon as I find out any more information!

Shipping Delays

I sent an email to my shipper to find out if my confirmation date of September 25th was still valid but I am disappointed to report that the answer is not promising. This is part of the email response to me:
"Your shipment left on August 28th at 12.00pm from our warehouse for Savannah or onward shipment to Mombasa but the trucking company could
not make to the port before the cut off time which was 4.00pm and therefore they put the shipment to leave on Sept 8th 2008. We had bad weather on the 26th and 27th and could not have loaded in the rain, the tracking No for the container is XXXXXXXX and the website is zimlines.com. The container will start showing movement from Sep 8th 2008 on the web."
I haven't been able to locate the zimlines website stated above but I googled it and came up with a website for ZIM Integrated Shipping Service and I think they are one and the same. The entry under my container number does not give any departure/arrival dates and only shows a size number "4" and "HC" under the type. At any rate, the site provides email addresses to the cargo shipping agents so I have just sent them an email to find out whether they can provide me any further information!

Job Hunting

I have been job hunting the past week and discovered that Kenya has requirements that I never gave a thought to before now:
*Some jobs require you to be a certain age or sex
*Most jobs require at least 3 referrals and 3 letters of recommendation.
In my situation, my referrals are proving to be problematic because they are all from the US. Friday, it was suggested to me that I find a local referral (not in my family) who has known me for a while and is in the business sector. Ok, let's think about this for a second...I have been away for almost 14 years so how would I have a local professional who has known me for a while? I've never been gainfully employed in this country so I'm not sure how they would think I would have a local referral?

My Birthday!

Today is my birthday and I must say ...I feel exactly the same as I did yesterday. None of that crap about being pensive and thinking about what I want to do with my life. Which is great because that means I'm not wiggin' out over being 30 something - I'm just happy to be home and hanging out with my sister!

I did like any renaissance woman would (with my dear sister in tow) - woke up at the crack of dawn, took pictures of the kids (my niece and nephew) as they got ready for first day of school, finally went to the bank to open some accounts, went to the mall for lunch, visited two aunts, tried to memorize the way to the kids school, got some amazing flowers and chocolate from Jonathan AND to top it all off...bought myself a birthday cake:-}. As Rachel Ray would say it, Yum-O!!

I'm also saying a special prayer for anyone that was in the path of Hurricane Gustav. Haven't heard of any fatalities yet so that is a huge PLUS! Also, the Army Corps indicated that the walls would hold so lets hope that holds true as well.

Margarita Woes

I am a die hard Margarita fan and I am in a desperate search of an establishment that makes good Margaritas. I refuse to believe that I will have to find a new drink when I go out! I have been to Crooked Q's, Galileos and Slims but none of them have come close to the Classic Margarita. Does anyone out there feel my pain...please recommend a place that will quench my Margarita thirst.

Video Footage - On the way to Cargo Terminal

I decided to take some video footage of our trip to the Cargo Terminal and along the way we came across a police road block (toward the end of the entire 12 minutes). These road blocks are all over Nairobi and the 'burbs so I though I would share it with you. This was my first attempt at using my new camera's video function and also the roads in Kenya are very unforgiving - a good bit of the video is bumpy due to potholes and stuff!

Update: Video could not upload due to connections speeds. Will have it up some time this week.

Joi's Saga

First stop after arrival - baggage claim - this place is a JOKE...the monitors don't work so you have to ask someone which conveyor belt you should go to AND couldn't get Jonathan to come help me with my bags because he was denied a "special pass" to come into the baggage claim area. I was told to find a porter and he/she could help me with my baggage. In addition, the immigration check is still on the 2nd floor so you have to go down two flights of stairs to get to baggage claim - no escalators here. The signs and paint haven't been changed since the 80s either...I understand the government is spending some a small fortune on renovations - they should just tear it down and start from scratch.

Let me get back to Joi. After my bags were handled, I decided to find a KLM office to find out what was going on with Joi and when he would be put on a flight. The KLM flight attendants did not know who I needed to talk to so I had to guess as to what I was supposed to do. My sister, Lils, accompanied me to the terminal where the KLM office was located but she was denied entry and had to wait outside the glass doors(crazy!). I spoke to Jamal Ali (KLM Mgmt) who helped me complete "lost luggage" paperwork (since Joi was checked in as excess baggage) and he also indicated that he would work with the Amsterdam officials to find out what was going on. Late the following evening I received a call that Joi had arrived safely and was waiting for pickup at the Cargo Terminal in Embakasi. Since it was really late, we decided to pick him up early the next morning and that was when the mayhem began...

Thankfully, my brother-in-law, Duncan, decided to be my spokesperson when we went to Embakasi. I'm thinking "spokesperson for what exactly?" and my sister said "carry some money" - again, for what exactly?? Ok, so this was my first real lesson on being a Kenyan and how stuff gets done:-) Duncan, looking foreboding in his attire (which I later found out was deliberate because Kenyans don't take anyone in jeans seriously...yeah, marinate on that BS for a minute)asked me to let him do the talking and I was happy to relinquish the reigns. We get to the Cargo building and there is a gate with guards who proceed to ask us for our business there and give up our IDs in exchange for some visitor passes. They direct us to the first building and with no signs posted we asked some dude what office we could pick up "lost baggage" from. He quickly indicates that we were in the wrong office and he kindly walks us to the third building, up about 5 or 6 flights of stairs (to the 2nd Floor - go figure). We get there and the KLM agent says, "who sent you here? This is not where you should be picking up your cat. Go back to the first office." After these first few minutes I'm already pissed that I have to walk back down those stairs and go back to building 1. The kind gentleman who helped us is still in tow and noticing our frustration says,"I'll help you guys" and I'm thinking, "Thank You Jesus!" What I am VERY unaware of is that this guy is on his HUSTLE and this is how he makes his money - offers to help because the system there is screwed and he knows that we could be there for hours. After going back and fourth from building one to three, Duncan is finally at his breaking point (I broke already and at this point I'm in a corner singing Kumbaya...ok not really but this SO could have been me). The only thing we have learned of Joi and his whereabouts at this point are that he is somewhere in the Cargo Terminal and that KLM decided to send him as "freight" rather than "luggage". What this means, my dear Watson, is that he has to be CLEARED through customs in the regular way product is imported into the country. Which means they put a value on him (like they care about a cat) and I have to pay Clearing Charges, Customs Excise Taxes, Handling Charges, Compound Fee & Agent Fees(agent=kind gentleman helping us out)! Can we say Nai-ROBBERY!!

Since we are now officially screwed and figure out that these guys will hold on to the cat until we show them some $$, Duncan demands that the agent dude tell him what fee he intends to gain upfront and that he wants proof that Joi is alive and actually on the compound. Agent takes us to the animal compound where he had earlier indicated that the "Vet" was examining and monitoring all the animals and all I'm thinking is "please don't touch my cat!" We enter some concrete cells and only two seem occupied but no sign of Joi. We inquire whether they have proof that Joi was really brought here and they motion to one of the cells and say, "isn't that one yours?" I take a few steps closer to the cell and sure enough, I see orange fur but the kennel is not Joi's but I decide to take a look inside just to make sure. JOY, it is JOI (corny, so what?). I question as to why he was in a different kennel than the one I specifically bought 2 days previously for the flight. I went to the TSA and KLM website and got a kennel to their exact specifications and he arrives in another kennel???? Pray tell, what happened to the kennel he was in (that had the food and water bowl they specifically asked for) and the one with his toys? Which other critter has been in this kennel and could there have been any communicable diseases passed between the kennel exchange? This is INSANE. Truly, it's like having lost luggage and when you get to the airport to pick it up, it is a different bag altogether with your contents in it - I mean, really, where's the sense in that? Oh, Oh, and get this...when I identify the cat as rightfully mine, the "vet" asks me "where is his paperwork?" and I almost lost it. Err, let's recap. The original paperwork that KLM and the Embassy of Kenya approved, was attached to the kennel per their requirements when we left Atlanta. Mmmh, new kennel has ZERO paperwork because it is not my kennel! How very convenient...thank God my vet in Woodstock makes a card for each animal that contains ALL the pertinent info - vaccines, microchip tags, weight, etc. Boo-ya!

We go back to the KLM office in building 3 and even cool, calm and collected Duncan has "had it with these guys" and he states that we would like to lodge a complaint against KLM. We are ushered two desks down to the "complaints department" and Duncan tells the lady that he would like to know what the SOP for lodging complaints. OH brother! This would have to be re-enacted it was SO very painful...in short, we go back and fourth and the lady gives us (customers) the # to someone in Amsterdam so we can call him ourselves. She also gives us email addresses to God knows who and repeatedly asks us to CC her on the communication. Ok, why the hell is the department called the complaints department if all she does is hand off customers to other people? She never once picked up a phone to find out what had happened in terms of why Joi had been left in the first place, why he was in a different kennel, why he had been sent as freight and why I was being asked to pay to get my cat out of that hell-hole they called "animal compound." No, she just kept on saying that we (the customers) would have to call the guy in Amsterdam and that she had nothing to do with it even though she is the complaints department for KLM. Go figure! After wasting about 30 minutes TRYING to lodge a complaint we leave her desk and guess who's waiting outside the door? No, not Joi but the hustler - Mr. Agent, ready to cash in on his fee.

We were there for about 4 hours before we gave up the good fight and succumbed to the idiotic system and paid roughly Ksh9,000(~$130). It's the principle and not the amount of money! I had already paid for Joi's license, excess baggage fees and vet charges before we left just to ensure I had done everything right! Needless to say, I have filed my complaint against KLM and will be expecting reimbursement. I will keep you posted via the blog:-) As for Joi, he was happy to be reunited with his mommy but only to be thrown into a world totally foreign to him. Meeting my sister's very fiery Spitz, Scooby, and a live hen has proven to be more than he can handle. These days Joi spends his day walking stealthily around the house as if avoiding land mines, hiding under my bed and planning his escape back to the land of milk and honey where his days consisted of looking for the best sun spots!

Flight Risk

D-Day: August 17, 2008

Travel Day was very eventful and I’m happy to have had the real “Traveling Pants” Duo, Jaco & Tia, with me! These guys do a lot of international traveling so they are well versed in ways to make shit fit in your suitcase even when you think your bags are already busting at the seams. My pal, Rozi, was there as well and discovered a hidden talent – TSA lock prep extraordinaire:-) Needless to say, I still paid $400 in excess baggage fees but it was ok – at that point, I was just ready to get out of dodge! The lady at the KLM counter was very helpful and she looked over Joi’s paperwork and set him on his way after he and his kennel received special “inspection” from the immigration folks. They tagged his paperwork, food and kennel and sent him on his way to the air-conditioned van to await flight boarding. We even had a lot of extra time to eat at Houlihans and ponder on how I was going to get my heavy carry-on bag into the overhead cabin (this thing weighed almost as much as I did)! Of course, even after all the boxes I shipped, I was still overweight when we got to the airport and had it not been for these guys, I probably would never have had my bags ready to be on the flight.

My flight was supposed to leave at 4:40pm so I said my goodbyes and headed to the terminal. However, due to some unknown reason, our flight was delayed until 5:40pm so that was cool because I was able to make my last minute calls to some of the friends who had been blowing up my phone all day! When we got on the flight I made sure that Joi had made it as well and was surprised to find out that the lady sitting behind me was allowed to carry her cat (Orange Tabby, 8Ibs) on board! Mmhhh, I had been informed that during an international flight, no carry-on animals were allowed on board. The lady’s cat was agitated the entire flight and cried most of the way there however since she was a kitten, the cries were barely discernible. Believe it or not, the whimpering provided solace to me since I was wondering how Joi was faring amidst all that luggage...I really felt like a bad mommy:-)

We made good time and made it to Amsterdam by 7:40am. It was a rainy, dreary day out but being at the Schiphol Airport makes you forget how crappy the weather is outside. Schiphol is one of the best planned out airports and it operates on a one terminal concept where all the piers and departure halls are all interconnected. The airport is also the lowest commercial airport and sits 3m below sea level. Schiphol has large shopping areas that are accessible to even those who are not flying. In addition, the free luggage trolleys are a welcome (At Atlanta Hartsfield you have to pay to get those trolleys) and trust me…I needed to off load my carry on luggage - my bag was so heavy that if you stood it up, it toppled over due to the weight. I was very lucky that both times I needed to get the bag into the overhead cabins, I had really tall and strong people to help me…a lady actually helped me on the flight from Amsterdam to Nairobi.

This however, is where the drama begun. As I did in Atlanta, I made sure to ask the flight attendant to ensure that Joi was ok and that he had boarded the flight. She comes back to me and says, “they say there is a problem but 'they' cannot tell me what it is at this point!” She indicates that she will check to find out what the issue is and report back to me. Needless to say, she does not come back so I flag down another flight attendant and ask whether Joi was on board. He tells me that he does not know of any animal on the flight but will check. Sure enough, both flight attendants come back and tell me that the cat is not on board but the airport authorities were checking on his “paperwork” because something was missing. I inquired what 'they' thought could be missing seeing that I got the requirements from the Embassy of Kenya in DC and the KLM Customer Service Agents. The flight attendants goes back to check on the progress and that is when I hear the captain’s voice on the intercom indicating that we were going to be delayed. I think to myself, “Yes! They must be finally loading Joi (because he is SOOOOOO important)”. WRONG. We were delayed due to an influx in air traffic - the usual reason for a delay in the absence of bad weather. Hey, I knew that…I was just trying to be optimistic about the situation. Well, 20 minutes later, we are pulling out of the gate and I flag down the flight attendant (everyone else is buckled in at this point) and she says, “I’m sorry to report but your cat is NOT on the flight. He has been held by Animal Control and someone will give you more information when you land.” I’m thinking, “SHIET! Is she kidding? Does she know where we are landing? Does she know that where we are landing, not too many people care that I have imported a cat into the country? Does she know that people will probably be laughing at me instead of sympathizing with me? OMG…I could not believe it! I think she sensed my distress and comes back after 10 minutes to assure me that my cat will be okay and that the animal compound in Schiphol is a top grade animal compound and that the cat will get VIP treatment. Although I'm doubtful of anything referred to as "animal compound", I felt a little better (throwing big words around like VIP) but was still pretty bummed out because I can only imagine how agitated Joi was (think about this – he had been in the kennel for about 11 hours at this point since we left my front door!). I think anyone at that point would just slit their wrists if they could – good thing cats cannot do that because Joi would totally off himself!

The flight comes to an end with little fanfare and we touch down in Nairobi at 7:40pm. I'm not sure if this happens on every flight but as soon as we touched down, tons of people were clapping. I didn't know what to make of this - were they happy that the pilot had landed the plane safely(!?) or were they just happy to find out that an African country had an actual runway and we didn't land in the "jungle?" Errr, not sure what the clapping was about...Anyway, as we taxied to the gate, I couldn't help but notice that it was DARRRRKKKK outside. I know it was 7:40pm but aren't there white, yellow-white, red or blue lights that line the taxiways? Didn't see nada but that was when I knew I was really in Kenya...maybe someone had thugged the lights on the runway or maybe there was power rationing going on. Ok, Ok, I know...that is not a good assessment of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport but I'm being honest about the million things that were running through my mind at that very moment!

I bid you Adieu

Yesterday, I spent most of the day at the SSC (Home Depot Store Support Center) saying goodbye to my friends and colleagues (sob!). I wanted the day to go in slow motion so I could take it all in and brand it into my memory...but alas! the day flew by! Here are a couple of memories I will take with me ...

Franklin Road Days:

• Being able to park 2 steps away from the office and no garage to deal with!
• DSM-sponsored cookouts in the walkway between the two buildings
• Hurricane Team - all the late nights, conference calls and SAD stories that had us sobbing like little girls (we really bled orange back then!)
• Halloween - we actually used black tarp and really decked out our cubes. It was fun seeing the kids come through and get really scared when they went through Emilie's award-winning area packed with guts, coffins, skeletons....wow, I really miss that!
• Success Sharing Celebrations - the money tree and the MONEY, MONEY, MONEY song blasting from the stereo?
• The intercom - I hated getting paged during POSMs!
• Potlucks - we made up every excuse back then to bring food to the office and once had a "diet dessert" day! Really, who were we kidding?
• Computer Issues - Kev and Craig were right there...no line to call into, no tickets...
• Stores and Vendors - we knew most by the sound of their voice and memorized their store #s and actually knew what was going on in their store!!
• Tickets - concert, sports and show tix were always in abundance

SSC:

• 3 entrances to the parking deck but still takes 15 minutes to get in and out of those orange gates
• Main street events - great deals on books, jewelery and vendor-related items
• Fire Drills - these were a killer when I was on the 15th floor. I guess I should have been going to the gym more often(!)
• Affinity Group Events - got to meet/see a whole bunch of personalities: Jasmine Guy, Nadia Bilchik, Frankie Beverly, Ambassador Andrew Young and Dr. Cornel West among others.
• Team Depot and Kaboom volunteer opportunities - always great to see a whole field of orange shirts building a playground, building a house...power tools rock!
• Panera within walking distance - their Turkey Artichoke Panini and Iced Green tea are to die for.

It's been a great ride and even though I'm sad to be leaving, I am definitely ready for the next phase.

The Art of Microwave Cooking

When I shipped my entire house, it didn't occur to me that I would have to live frugally for a little bit. I was on a natural high the day after the shippers arrived to pick up my stuff....my house looked exactly like it did the day I moved in...clean, clutter free, Zen-like. Then it hit me, "oh, no...what I'm I going to eat now that my refrigeration options are nil? How can I survive without my frozen grapes or my crushed ice or my brie and figs? But being a self-proclaimed "foodie" and a once-struggling college student (think PB&J sandwiches), I knew all hope was not lost! I took one look at the microwave I hate SO much and said, "it's you and be baby!"

On my way to Publix, I contemplated getting a family-sized jar of Jiffy, a loaf of bread and then it hit me..."who was I kidding...I love peanut butter but not that much!" I was definitely going to have to be creative. First stop - produce aisle to get fruit. I love cold fruit but believe it or not, fruit is sweeter and juicier when it sits on your counter. Second stop - canned goods - this is a no-brainer (think Tuna, Chicken, Salmon, Veggies and even Eggplant Tapenade!). Third stop - grains because a girl needs some carbs! Picked up some Couscous and also found these microwavable 90-second Uncle Ben's rice packets (Wow! Rice is so easy to make I never imagined anyone needing microwavable rice). Okay, so at this point, I'm thinking what I'm going to do for dessert (damn the eggs and milk that spoil the party). So this is going to sound pathetic but I remembered seeing a commercial for those warm delights from Betty Crocker (why couldn't I remember neat things like the Pythagoras Theorem...oh, because I can't eat that!) Anyway, the warm delights come in a little bowl with a little pouch of brownie mix and a fudge packet. The recipe - mix with water, stir and nuke for a minute and ta-da! Warm dessert...ok, it's not like real cake but desperate times call for desperate measures and you can't beat the fact that they are 150 calories each!

After a little experimentation with these microwavable foods I must say that I now qualify to be a bachelor - isn't this how they eat anyway?! Here is a sample dinner:
Nutty Couscous with Eggplant-Olive Tapenade and Sliced Nectarines
Couscous - in microwavable dish, bring to boil some water and set on counter (or use stock because Couscous needs all the flavor you can impart), add the Couscous and cover for 5 minutes and it's done. To make it nutty, I took a couple of nuts and crushed them and sprinkled on top of the Couscous along with a pinch of salt, pepper and parsley. Then, pop the lid of the tapenade, empty into microwavable dish and nuke for 30 seconds. Serve on top of the Couscous. For dessert, slice up one nectarine into a microwavable dish, squeeze a lime on top and sprinkle some cinnamon sugar and nuke for about 15 seconds. Voila! Dinner's served.

Disclaimer: Although I found some good microwavable stuff to quell my hunger, I would not recommend this diet as a lifestyle - these foods contain way too much sodium (not to mention tons of preservatives). I'm definitely going to need to detox after this! Mmmh, good thing I'm going to Kenya because my juicer will be working extra hard that first week.

Intercontinental Moving

Moving is overrated and only exciting once it is done. Moving to a different continent (Atlanta to Nairobi) is unique and hardly a process that I would sanely recommend to anyone...but here I am doing it! It would have been so easy if it was just me and 2 pieces of checked luggage but no, I had to be attached to my stuff and my fiery cat, Joi. Needless to say, there are some things that I had to become very familiar with such as shipping companies, pet import licenses, temperature Embargos...yikes.

Airfare Tickets:
Shopping for and buying your tickets in advance will ensure that you get the most competitive airfare. Ask around and find out if any of your friends have a wholesale travel agent that they have dealt with before. These travel agents normally have the lowest tickets and you do not necessarily have to buy your ticket in advance. If you wanted a ticket for the next day, they can get you one (at that lowest price) as long as there is space on that flight! I used Loise Sauer, who was recommended to me by a friend. Loise is easy to talk to and will definitely find you the cheapest tickets around! Her number is 305-439-0390.

Shipping:
If you decide to ship your belongings to Kenya, please research your shipper and ensure that the company meets all of your requirements. I used Shipping Logistics but I am not endorsing the shipper so if you decide to use this company understand that you are doing it on your own recognizance. The process is loosely described below:

1. I purchased Extra Large boxes (l got mine at U-haul), tape, bubble wrap, etc and packed all my boxes
2. Labeled all sides of my boxes with a sharpie and numbered the boxes (helps when you are clearing the stuff in Kenya)
3. Shipping company came to my house and picked up all my boxes. In addition, they shrink wrapped all my big items (appliances, sofas, beds)
4. Shipping company detailed my shipment on an invoice and gave me a copy for my records

When my shipment gets to Kenya, I will definitely have a post to review the shipper on shipping integrity, tracking method, damages, clearing costs, etc

Pet Importation:
The government of Kenya is a pet friendly country which means that your pet will NOT be quarantined nor is a microchip a requirement (all European Union Member countries require this). However, before you and your furry friend can travel, you need to do the following to build your Pet Passport:

1. Current Health Certificate from the Veterinary Doctor - The pet must be vaccinated for rabies at least 30 days prior to travel to Kenya and not more than 12 months prior to travel. Rabies vaccination is not required for Dogs and Cats entering from a rabies free country such as the United Kingdom. DHPP vaccination is also required. The veterinarian is certifying that that the pet is healthy, free of parasites and that there is no evidence of diseases communicable to humans. .
2. Kenya then requires that you send them an Import Permit Application (The Embassy website did not have any forms attached so I Googled and found this and other vet forms at Pet Travel Store) along with a processing fee of $50.00 US. Money Order or Cash only, payable to Kenya Embassy (for other countries, please check with your Embassy). Include a return self addressed prepaid envelope (FedEx, USPS, DHL, etc) - they promise to send your permit back to you in a few days. I just sent mine a couple of days ago so I will keep you posted on the turnaround time.
3. Five (5) days or less prior to entering Kenya, the vet must complete the APHIS form (USDA Form 7001). Vets normally have this form and I have been informed that Kenya (or other country) may not require it, however the USDA export officer at the airport or the airline may require it. The vet must complete this and send to USDA for a valid stamp. There is a $24.oo charge for this and you must also send a return self addressed prepaid envelope.
4. Kennel Requirements - check with your particular airline to make sure you are adhering to their standards on the type and size of kennels that are acceptable. Here is an example of the information as posted on the Northwest/KLM website.
   
5. Day of Travel - Pet(s) CANNOT be sedated/tranquilized, etc. If you are traveling in the summer, make sure you understand the "Summer Travel Embargo" - these are temperature restrictions that may be prevent your pet from traveling with you if the temperatures are too cold/hot. Check with your airline. Here is an example from Northwest/KLM.

First Post is food related - shocker!

This was supposed to be my first blog entry...but as I've learned, blogger does some maintenance stuff that shuts everything down. That is what happened and I got shut down trying to post that night. Then today, this post magically appeared in my post list and I was like, "what the hell, I'll post it anyway!" Trust me, I have quite the relationship with food so I'm sure this is the first of many food-related posts that will grace these pages:-)

Not much to say for this inaugural post because I am watching the Food Network (big surprise there?) and Alton Brown is doing his usual skits that I absolutely love. This one is really funny because he has taken the "hissing" cell scene between Hannibal Lecter and Clarice but the show is on "Power Trip" aka nutritional power bars. Anyway, the person portraying Hannibal takes the power bar and sniffs on it saying something like, "mmhhh high fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, etc" and maniacally tears into the bar. Meanwhile, Clarice (Alton) is running down the hallway in search of the real nutritional bar. Hilarious. If you don't watch Good Eats then you won't get it - you kinda have to like Alton's humor and his deconstructed cooking show.