Way to go, Smurfy! :razz:

My dad has been traveling a lot for business lately. In a few months, he's going to be going to Africa. One of the organizations for the blind that he works with (I can't remember which one he told me it is) is organizing an expedition for the blind and a few sighted people to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with Erik Weihenmayer, an experienced climber. It's not really a vertical climb but it will still be a strenuous physical task. Not everyone who attempts it is able to complete it. It's meant to be a motivational exercise, not only for the individual members participating but to show other blind people what they as a group are capable of. It sounds like it will be the experience of a lifetime and my dad's really excited about it. He's started exercising more to prepare for the trip and he wants to arrange to go on a safari while he's in Africa.

Thats cool Pika, I would never have thought a blind person could go on a mountain climbing expedition. But I guess everything is somewhat adaptable for the blind if you think about it. You should try to go with him, if only for the safari part. Africa dont really interest me as much as some other countries do but I would love to go on a real safari.

Wow, how exciting for him Pika.

Thanks to everyone who's asked about my mom! I wanted to update everyone, real quick. She has been released from the hospital and transferred back to the nursing home yesterday, which is fabulous because I really didnt want her to lose the room at the facility, she has a private room at one of the best facilities in the area and she is only about 5 minutes from my home. They only hold the beds for about ten days, so the timing was good. She has a blockage in her kidney that started this whole illness, they have to clear up the infection before they can begin to correct the blockage, and from what I understand, she has 2 more weeks to go on the iv antibiotics before she is comepletely free of the infection. But meantime, her fever is gone and she is trying to talk to me, but right now its just mumbling. It's so odd, I always believe myself ready to accept the inevitable, but whenever she gets sick and I have to prepare for what could be our final few moments together, I find that I am not yet ready to let her go. That's soooo incredibly selfish of me, but true, anyhow.

Tif, it is not selfish. It's normal for us to not want to let go. No matter how much we think we have prepared ourselves. I'm glad your Mom is out of the hospital. Sending lots of *hugs* your way.

I'm going to raise ladybugs!! :grin: For my biology class we have to do a report on an insect and I was wavering between doing my report on lightning bugs or ladybugs. While I was looking up information on bugs, I found a site that sells a ladybug kit where you can raise them from larva to adults. I've always loved ladybugs so I decided to order the kit whether I do my report on ladybugs or not. I just ordered it on Tuesday and I got the kit today! It came with a certificate to get the first packet of ladybug larva so as soon as I send that in and get my packet, I can start raising ladybugs.

Cool...but why wouldn't they send the packet with the kit?

I was wondering about that, too, and I think it's because a kit can sit on a shelf in a store for years with no harm but live insects would die in that time so they sell the kit seperately and then you get the insects when you're ready for them. On the certificate, it asks if you want them delivered right away or you can specify which date you want them. Or it could be that the kits are manufactured in a different place than the ladybugs are supplied from.

I wouldn't want to kill cute little ladybugs. I'll either keep them through their life span, which ranges from a few months to two years depending on their food supply and habitat, or release them. I'll have to see easy it is to care for the ladybugs. It shouldn't be hard because they just need water and a raisin every couple of days.

Good for them Brinna. I always find it amazing that more parents aren't like that. Most of all good for you I have found that some of the teachers don't even bother trying to talk to the parents.