Currently...

Reading: Middlesex

Watching: Deadwood, any movie that comes out at Cineplex, good, bad, or otherwise, Aljazeera and BBC when my landlord has actually paid the bill for DSTV

Listening to: O.A.R., All Sides

Attempting to cook with: Eggplant

Paying (UGX): 30,000 for an hour long massage, 15,500 for a standard size bottle of Listerine, 14,700 for 12 slices of turkey, 6,000 for a round of bowling, 2,000 for a boda-boda ride from Kololo to Bugalobi, 1,500 for a pineapple

Working on: The design document for Life Choices, an interactive stage drama and DVD where the audience makes key decisions in the life of Bosco, the main character. Making sure all of AFFORD/UHMG’s knowledge, attitude and behavioral objectives are addressed by our household survey. Reviewing best practice documents in preparation for AFFORD's upcoming mid-term evaluation. Convincing all of the HIV counseling and testing stakeholders in Uganda that having a national campaign to promote couples testing is, in fact, a good idea.

Excited about: The prospect of the arrival of my new ipod, a collaborative effort between Aliya, Kojo, Best Buy, Bank of America and moi. The newly discovered free spinning class at Kabira on Saturday mornings. The grand opening of the new Mexican restaurant.

Relieved that: Seven trips to immigration, one to the Uganda Revenue Authority, and 90,000 shillings later, I finally have a special pass.

Frustrated by: The low disk space condition of my computer. The number of days it will take to download iTunes 7.0. The new blue color of my previously white and green bag, compliments of my well meaning housekeeper. The way it keeps getting really overcast on the weekends.

Planning: This week's dinner dates. Typically with married couples.

Missing: The annual, extended family, get rain in your tent, eat cereal under a blue tarp, build sand creatures, perform synchronized swimming routines, play under the leg freeze tag, jump off the rock, see how many people can ski slalom at the same time behind the boat, eat corn on the cob, play Boggle, have campfires, sing cheesie songs, be in bed by 10pm trip to Lake George. Kaylan's birthday. The roof deck.

Amused by: The multitude of strategies other than bug spray used by 8 arguably intelligent people to disappear the mosquitoes buzzing around our heads at dinner this weekend, including: moving the table away from the fluorescent light, turning on the ceiling fan, lighting and placing a plain wax candle on the nearest chair, and trading places to more strategically position those with less desirable blood nearer the ‘squitoes.

Resisting: Walking down to Katch the Sun to get a cappuccino.

Contemplating: How much longer I can go before braving a hair cut. When to go up-country and see our health fairs in action. Life after December 19th. The topic for an interesting blog entry.

Putting off: Getting, transporting home, and carrying up multiple flights of stairs my really heavy refilled water jug.