Happy New Year ^2

I wrote this post last Wednesday, the 8th, but this is the first time I seem to be able to upload it. I am not going to waste any more rare internet time editing it but know 2 important updates. Paul and I found a house and it looks like we may keep Puddles (see below).

I neglected a very important "number" in my last post!
Number of NEW YEARS I have this week: 2.

Yep- today marks the beginning of Rosh Hasana, the Jewish New Year
(Shanah Tova!). And Saturday, Sept. 11 is the Ethiopian New Year, bringing
in the year 2003! Ethiopians follow and Orthodox Christian calender, and
are 7 years behind and have 13 months.
Thursday, Friday or Saturday (depending a bit on lunar views) will also be
Eid, the end of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan! All this makes for a 4 day
weekend, plus lots of goats and ch
If that wasn't exciting enough......I've (temporarily) rescued and adopted a
puppy. I found her on the street a few days ago and she was in the same
place the following days. She is very young (I'm guessing just a few
months) and she kept running into the street and was hiding under a car.
Ethiopians treat dogs much better than some other countries I've been to,
but life on the street is still not easy for a puppy here (nor a person, as
I've written about before, and surely will again). Concerned, I got the
number of a vet, who came right over. He told me it was "going to cost me"
to get all the shots for her, the total was about U.S. $40! Having done it,
we discussed next steps, and the Dr. recommended getting her to a safer
place, because even with all the shots she is tiny, underfed and at risk of
other dogs, mean kids and cars. So I took her home!

I promised Paul I wouldn't get attached because I don't think I can keep
her, but I've broken that promise about a million times! She now runs out
to the gate to greet me, and waits at the door in the morning. She still
seems amazed when I bring her food twice a day! I am in the process of
finding her a home, hopefully someone that will let me come play with her
all the time!

CARE has some big arrivals today: The CEO of the National program, Helene
Gayle as well as Jenna Bush, Christy Turlington and 2 congress people (who I
have yet to hear the names of)! I won't get to be meeting anyone but Helene
Gayle (which is pretty awesome in its own right- google her!) but its
exciting to know that such people, who are influential in policy and
advocacy, are coming here to see our work.

And of course, matching all that, Paul arrives tonight as well! :)

Happy New Year (x2) everyone!!!!