Tah Dah!!!

And then the crushing disappointment sets in when you realize that I can't take pics to save my life.

SO, you deal with it.

Okay...so let's get right to it! THESE are the babies!


Are they not the cutest, little, grungiest (and somehow fattest) puppies EVER!? Of course, they are greasy and have ticks all over them...but I still love them.

Josh, you can rest easy -- the local guards won't let me take them...they said that maybe they will let them come into the housing compound...maybe.... but they were worried about them falling into the pool (I'm thinking it might actually be nice for them to be able to swim -- perhaps clean up a tad...I'm just saying puppies...a little personal hygeine will go a long way!)

This is the Catholic Church - you kinda can't see it; however, in my defense - that tree was NOT there when I started to take the picture..... I wasn't allowed to stop and get out of the car to take the photos (not by the Sudanese - they don't care as long as I have my license) but because I was on my way to a meeting (pretending to work) and I can't be that blatant in my goofing off. You see....it's a fine line... However, really REALLY exciting news that I don't think I have thrown in your faces yet - is that the Embassy celebrates all LOCAL holidays in addition to the USG approved holidays. (I mean, it would be rude not to do so.) This year, I pretty much get three Easters.

Jesus would want me to have it.


Fruit stand. (pics are small, I know - I'd be here all night trying to upload them if they were normal sized.....sorry man!) However, fruit here is tiny (so photo pretty much represents actual size) and not so yummy, as it turns out.

Burdj Hotel (can't spell that) - has a FAB gym and spa inside. It's almost like you're not here! However, yearly membership to this gym is close to $3K....Josh is probably not going to approve when we have access to at least three FREE gyms here. When you do the math, the sauna and steam room might not make up for the difference in price (Maybe. Check back with me in two months.)

We took these as I drove around.....it was not easy, we literally created traffic jams as I slowed to a crawl to take the pics...Right now, there are probably some Sudanese drivers who are just now getting over their road rage in the city out there somewhere. I should probably stay out of the downtown area for a bit to let it settle....

The Blue Nile -- which I do realize that you cannot really see....but I'll try to get better pics....I SHOULD actually go to the water and take a pic of that, but frankly, I'm too scared I might get some of it on me!

I think I've been pretty clear about how I feel about Nature touching me....