Safari luck prevails, even in the USA… Shocking event…

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Mariucci Arena at the University of Minnesota campus.

Last night, when we returned from a fun evening with Tom’s family at Billy’s Pub in Anoka, Tom saw a shocking story on the local news. I had gone to bed and dozed off, but he awoke me to share what he’d seen.

At Mariucci Arena, where we attended Maisie’s graduation the previous evening, there was a shooting, details of which are continuing to emerge on various news sources.

Here’s the story from Fox 9 news:

“Shooting outside Wayzata HS graduation at Mariucci Arena: 2 victims, suspect in custody

By Nick Longworth
Updated  May 30, 2025, 11:02 pm CDT
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 9
Photo from ten years ago, May 31, 2015:
More huts in Moorea, Society Islands, above the water, often for rent for higher prices than regular hotel rooms. For more photos, please click here.

Maisie’s graduation…Fantastic family time with the graduate…

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Maisie, center photo, was heading to her seat as the graduation ceremonies were about to begin.

Greg picked me up around 2:30 pm, and we headed to Mariucci Arena, where the rest of the family was also headed to attend Maisie’s Chanhassen High School graduation beginning at 4:00 pm. I brought our camera on this trip, hoping to take good photos using the zoom for closer shots when Maisie was handed her diploma. We are so proud of our girl.

It was exciting to see her in her cap and gown.

As it turned out, the camera battery went dead at precisely the time she was approaching the stage for her diploma. Fortunately, other family members took good photos of the event using their phones. People don’t use stand-alone cameras as much as they did in years past, as cell phone cameras have improved significantly.

After the students were all seated.

We observed this fact when we noticed that very few tourists were using cameras, as they felt comfortable using only their phones. I haven’t gotten to that point yet, when I prefer to have a more proficient means of zooming in for close shots of whatever may be our subject of the moment.

Maisie and her boyfriend, Dakota.
Maisie and her dad, my son Greg.

When looking at the graduation program, which featured over 500 students receiving diplomas, we assumed we’d be there for hours, perhaps as late as 8:00 pm. However, after the music, various speeches from school staff and students (which were both interesting and inspiring) followed, and the diploma process began, with the staff starting to address the 500-plus students on the list.

Maisie, her mom, Camille, and her dad, Greg.
Maisie and Heather, Greg’s girlfriend and dad, Greg.

We were all surprised how quickly the list advanced, and finally, Maisie’s name came up. Wouldn’t you know, the camera battery died, and I couldn’t get the second battery in place in time for the perfect photo ops. Alas, Greg managed to take several good photos of Maisie as she received her diploma.

Maisie and her brother, Miles, and sister, Madighan, are our grandchildren.

I am waiting for Greg to send me a few of those photos, as he’s currently working. In the meantime, I decided to prepare this post using the pictures I took before and after the battery failed.

Maisie and her mom, Camille, and her aunt, Penny, Camille’s sister.

After the ceremonies ended by about 6:00 pm, considerably earlier than expected, we all met outside, waiting for Maisie and her boyfriend, who would meet up with us. Unexpectedly, it started pouring rain, and we all got soaked. I ended up placing the camera under my shirt and somehow managed to take the included outdoor family photos in the rain.

Maisie and I, grandma and her dad, Greg.

After we finished the photo session, we all headed to our respective vehicles to drive to Texas Roadhouse in Shakopee, about a 30-minute drive from the arena. The rain had stopped by the time we reached the restaurant, and all 11 of us had a wonderful dinner, hosted by my ex-daughter-in-law, Camille, Maisie’s mom.

Sitting across the table from my grandson Miles, age 17, Maise’s brother, we had our usual entertaining conversation. Oddly, even with a 60-year age difference, we have so much in common, it’s uncanny. We love technology, the same movies and series, and have a passion for science, health, and fitness. The conversation, so thoroughly enjoyed by each of us, made the time fly by in a blur.

Maisie and I, grandma.

All of a sudden, it was time to go, and we all took off, with me, Greg, and Heather in their respective vehicles. They brought me back to the hotel where I changed into my pajamas and settled in for the night. I called my sister, Julie, and we spent an incredible two hours on the phone, talking and laughing as we often do.

By midnight, I crawled into bed, and a short time later, Tom called to let me know he was on his way back to the hotel after spending the evening with his family. I stayed awake to greet him, as we shared our stories of our evening apart.

All of the above are in this group photo.

On Saturday, Maisie’s graduation party begins at noon at Camille’s house and ends at 4:00 pm. We don’t have plans for the remainder of the evening, but we’ll see what unfolds. On Sunday morning, we’re meeting Tammy and family for brunch at 11:00.

Our calendar is filling up quickly, but we’re enjoying every moment of this special time in Minnesota.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, May 30, 2015:

The huts for rent along the shoreline in Moorea. For more photos, please click here.

House fire in Marloth Park!…Graduation Day for Maisie!

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A fire almost completely destroyed this house in Marloth Park, the source of which is not available at this point. Neighboring houses were safe.

From a Facebook post on May 21, 2025:

“MARLOTH PARK – Around 16:45 this afternoon volunteer members of the Marloth Park Fire team supported by all the Security companies, CPF and rangers managed to contain a fire that started in a garage in Hyena street, due to the quick response and having the necessary equipment available to them, the fire team managed to save the house and only the garage was lost.
We thank all who readily give up their time to ensure minimal property is lost or damaged due to fire.
Marloth Park Fire & Rescue NPO management
A word from Vaughan Potgieter :
Guys, we want to extend a huge thank you to our CPF for always being there to assist us. I forgot to thank them as I see them as part of the Fire team, but thank you to each one of you who are always available to assist.”

As of May 29, 2025, there are no confirmed reports of active wildfires in Marloth Park, South Africa. However, the region remains at high risk due to a combination of dry weather conditions and the proliferation of invasive plant species that significantly increase fire hazards.”

A serious house fire occurred in Marloth Park a week ago, and today’s photos illustrate the damage. The occupants were rescued but experienced some injuries and were taken to the hospital. Reports on their well-being haven’t been made public at this point.

Thatch roofs burn quickly and often facilitate the spread of fire. In this case, the hard-working fire response team prevented such an event.

Fire Risk Factors in Marloth Park

1. Invasive Plant Species

Marloth Park is grappling with several invasive plant species that exacerbate fire risks:

  • Parthenium hysterophorus (Famine Weed): This aggressive weed grows rapidly, reaching the flowering and seeding stages quickly. It spreads easily and can cause allergic reactions upon contact.

  • Lantana camara: Known for forming dense thickets, Lantana is highly flammable and can outcompete native vegetation.

  • Chromolaena odorata (Triffid Weed): This plant grows rapidly into dense thickets, especially in damp areas, and is highly flammable.

  • Solanum seaforthianum (Potato Creeper): This vine climbs into trees, smothering them, and contributes to the fuel load for potential fires.

These invasive species not only threaten biodiversity but also increase the intensity and spread of fires due to their high flammability.marlothparkhonoraryrangers.co.za+6marlothparkhonoraryrangers.co.za+6overbergfpa.co.za+ 

You can see how quickly the thatch explodes with flames.

2. Dry Weather Conditions

Current weather forecasts for Marloth Park indicate consistently high temperatures and low humidity levels:

Currently 88° · Sunny
Marloth Park, South Africa

Very warm with plenty of sun

Today
88°
50°
Very warm with plenty of sun

Very warm with plenty of sun

Friday
90°
56°
Very warm with plenty of sun

Partly sunny

Saturday
83°
55°
Partly sunny

Clouds to start, then sunshine returns

Sunday
84°
53°
Clouds to start, then sunshine returns

Very warm with plenty of sunshine

Monday
87°
51°
Very warm with plenty of sunshine

Plenty of sunshine

Tuesday
84°
55°
Plenty of sunshine

Episodes of sunshine with a stray shower; cooler

Wednesday
71°
50°
Episodes of sunshine with a stray shower; cooler

Such conditions dry out vegetation, making it more susceptible to ignition and rapid fire spread 

3. Human Activities

Human negligence has also contributed to fire risks. For instance, a recent incident involved hot embers from a braai (barbecue) being dumped into dry brush, nearly causing a major fire. This highlights the importance of proper fire management practices among residents and visitors. WorldWideWaftage –

Fire Prevention and Management Efforts

1. Removal of Invasive Species

The Marloth Park Honorary Rangers, in collaboration with the Nkomazi Municipality, are actively working to remove invasive plant species from the area. Property owners are legally required to eradicate these plants from their stands. Efforts include manual removal and the use of biological controls, such as the cochineal bug, to manage prickly pear infestations 

A few hours later, a pile of rubble.

2. Community Engagement

Community involvement is crucial in fire prevention. Residents are encouraged to:

  • Avoid introducing non-native plants into the environment.

  • Properly extinguish braai embers and dispose of them safely.

  • Report sightings of invasive species to the Honorary Rangers.

  • Participate in local conservation initiatives 

3. Adherence to Bylaws

Strict adherence to local bylaws is essential. These regulations prohibit the introduction of exotic plants and mandate the removal of invasive species. They also outline guidelines for fire safety and environmental conservation. Marloth Park Honorary Rangers+1mppoa.info+1marlothparkhonoraryrangers.co.za+3Marloth Park Honorary Rangers+3marlothparkhonoraryrangers.co.za+3

While there are currently no active wildfires in Marloth Park, the combination of invasive plant species, dry weather conditions, and human activities poses a significant fire risk. Proactive measures, including the removal of invasive species, community engagement, and strict adherence to local bylaws, are crucial in mitigating these risks and protecting the unique biodiversity of Marloth Park.

For more information and resources, please visit the Marloth Park Honorary Rangers website.

The fire response team acted quickly.

As for today, here in Minnesota, Greg and the family are picking me up at 2:30 to head to the arena where Maisie’s graduation will take place. Afterward, we’re all going to dinner, after which they’ll drop me off at the hotel. Tom has plans with his siblings and nephew Kevin today, whom he hasn’t seen since we arrived four days ago. He will attend Maisie’s graduation party with me on Saturday at her mom’s home.

That’s it for today, folks.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, May 29, 2015:

Rough seas have necessitated the closure of the swimming pool. Walking about the ship has been challenging over the past 24 hours, as the rough seas have intensified. Neither of us suffers from seasickness. For more photos, please click here.

We finally booked an accommodation in Barcelona…Fun birthday party with family last night…

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I took this photo as we were leaving the restaurant last night, celebrating Greg’s girlfriend Heather’s birthday, including Heather’s four children, Hannah, Doug, Megan, and Andi, and Greg’s three kids, our grandchildren, Maisie, Miles, and Madighan.

Although we were still a little tired from traveling, we both felt an urgency to book our future stay in Barcelona, Spain, from September 15 to October 27, when our cruise sails out of the port of Barcelona. Initially, we’d planned to stay in a hotel to avoid the necessity of grocery shopping and making meals.

However, after considerable research, we had to change direction and book a holiday home which was much more affordable and overall convenient, especially when booking for  42 nights. We booked it through Capital One Travel, using our credits and points, and saved hundreds of dollars.

The jacuzzi tub is located in the spacious en-suite bathroom of the beautiful apartment.

The following are some photos of the apartment in Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain. This place will be perfect for us at a little over $114 a night, after all our discounts and credits were applied. Grocery stores, the beach, restaurants, and more are within a five-minute walk, which I can now do.

The lounge room looks comfortable and suitable for our needs.

My legs seem to have improved, and I can walk without pain. I only have problems when I walk too far for too long. However, I can easily manage short distances and find myself walking with more confidence and feeling steadier on my feet. This makes me so happy.

The property is situated in a high-end neighborhood, conveniently close to numerous attractions and plenty to keep us engaged and busy during the 42 days.

The kitchen and dining room are perfect for us.

On another note, last night, we attended a birthday party at Dolittle’s Restaurant in Golden Valley for Greg’s girlfriend Heather. Her four children, who were in high school or older, were in attendance, along with a niece and Greg’s three children, our grandchildren. There were 11 of us and we had a fantastic time.

There are two bedrooms. We’ll sleep in one and keep our bags in the other.

It was especially fun to think that this lovely group of individuals is now “our family” since Greg and Heather are a solid couple, making many plans for the future. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have this excellent relationship with this lovely woman and her family.

With seven young adults between them, they certainly are busy. It’s special for us to be a part of their plans while we’re here.

We’ll spend many hours sitting on the veranda overlooking the area. The weather will be in the 70s and 80s in Barcelona during our stay.

We’re also busy making plans with Tom’s kids, grandkids, siblings, and other family members. It certainly will be a busy three weeks. I can’t believe we only have 18 days left until we begin the return trip to Marloth Park, back to another area of our lives that we love and find fulfilling.

That’s it for today, folks.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, May 28, 2015:

Tom refused to partake in the “Sexiest Man Aboard Ship Contest” that transpired the prior afternoon. We both got a kick out of watching the contest poolside. For more photos, please click here.

Fun afternoon with friends coming to call…

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Our dear friends Chere and Gary stopped by yesterday for a visit, bearing gifts. It was wonderful to see them both.

When our friends Chere and Gary contacted us yesterday to get together, we were surprised that we were feeling well enough to socialize after only one intermittent night’s sleep. Although we don’t seem to have jet lag, it takes a few days and a few good nights’ sleep to get back to our usual energetic selves.

To make it easy, they decided to come here to our hotel, where we could get together in the dining room. They don’t serve food in this restaurant during the day or evening, except for complimentary breakfasts in the morning from 6:30 to 9:30 am, and from 7:00 to 10:00 am on weekends. We each had our water and iced tea in to-go cups and sat at a comfy table for four.

Recently, Gary had a series of strokes, and we were anxious to see how he is doing. He has been through so much, but was looking great.  Today, he has more tests that will provide them with added information for going forward.

It was terrific to chat with them as the time flew by. By the time they left, after arriving at 1:30 pm, it was already 4:00 pm. At this point, I was starving after fasting all day, and we ate an early dinner, savoring two extra Jimmy John’s unwich (bread-free) sandwiches we’d purchased the previous day when we checked in to the hotel.

We’re back to normal after another good night’s sleep. Although we each only slept around six hours while adjusting to the time difference between South Africa and the US, we’re surprisingly well again today.

Oh, oh! Look what Chere and Gary brought for Tom…those fattening/sugary jelly candies that Tom loves from Fleet Farm. After he lost so much weight, he needs to savor these slowly. I will be the Food Police! Of course, I loved my flowers! Zoom in to see what Chere put on the card!

We felt so well yesterday that we managed to conduct more research, make a decision, and book a six-week stay in Barcelona, starting on September 15, which is only 111 days from today. In tomorrow’s post, we’ll share the cost and the photos.

We are relieved to have this booking handled, which means we now have almost everything we needed to book for the next year, except for the two months we’ll spend in New Zealand in December. We’re waiting to speak to the owners of the alpaca farm in New Plymouth, as they requested, to see if the farmhouse will be available. If not, we’ll find another holiday home for that period.

There won’t be a lot of availability due to the holiday season, but it’s worth it for us to wait to see if we can rent that fabulous property that we loved so much.

Soon, we’re heading to Costco so Tom can buy more cleaning supplies for his hearing aids, and we can use some of the credits we’ve accumulated over the past year, when we spent a lot of time in the US and shopped at Costco from time to time.

That’s it for today, folks! Have a great day!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, May 27, 2015:

Tom, at the bar on the ship, was enjoying a few cocktails using his unlimited drink package. We’ve since discovered that having such a package isn’t worth the cost. We don’t drink enough to make it cost-effective! For more photos, please click here.

Clarification…No ETA required to transit through the UK. We finally made it…No jet lag…Memorial Day in the US today…

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Mr. or Ms. Hornbill enjoying seeds from the hanging bird feeder at our holiday home in Marloth Park.

Tom was concerned we’d need an ETA to transit through London for our five-hour layover at Heathrow Airport. After checking online many times to ensure we wouldn’t have an issue, we decided not to bother. Here’s the information we found on this topic:

As of May 2025, whether you need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to transit through London Heathrow Airport depends on the nature of your transit:

No ETA Required — Airside Transit

If you’re transiting airside—meaning you remain within the airport’s international transit area and do not pass through UK border control, you do not need an ETA. This exemption applies to Heathrow and Manchester airports and was implemented in January 2025 to facilitate smoother international connections.

ETA Required — Landside Transit

If your transit involves passing through UK border control—for example, to collect and recheck luggage, switch terminals without a secure connection, or stay overnight—you are considered a landside transit passenger. You must obtain an ETA, unless you already hold a valid UK visa or are otherwise exempt.

 Key Considerations

  • Check with your airline to determine if your connection requires passing through border control.

  • If you have two separate tickets or need to collect and recheck your luggage, you will likely need to go landside, requiring an ETA.

  • If your layover is under 24 hours and your baggage is checked through to your final destination, you may be able to stay airside.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult the UK government’s official guidance on transit visas and ETA.

On another note, after the fiasco in Nelspruit on the way to the airport, as described in yesterday’s post here, the remainder of the travel time was incident-free. We didn’t sleep much on either of the two long flights.

Overall, I watched four or five movies. We both had trouble with the sound in our monitors, making movie-watching less enjoyable. We didn’t experience any significant turbulence or delays. The first flight was with Virgin Atlantic, and the second was with Delta.

The food on both flights was awful. They both served a choice of chicken rice curry, laden with flour, and a vegetable pasta dish, neither of which I could eat, nor did Tom care for either option. Then again, we don’t fly for the food. Sure, it may be better on Business or First Class, but we’re not willing to pay six or seven times the fare we pay for Coach tickets. We nibbled on some peanuts, and Tom ate the bread, crackers, and desserts served with each meal.

To our surprise, we neither felt bad after staying awake, missing an entire night’s sleep. At the airport in Minneapolis, we picked up the rental at Sixt, the best price we could find for a nice Subaru SUV. By the time we were on the road for the 20-minute drive to the hotel, we realized we needed to eat and stopped at a Jimmy John’s to buy bread-free unwiches (sandwiches using lettuce instead of bread), knowing that once we arrived at the hotel, we’d be ready to eat.

On our way, son Greg called and said he wanted to see us immediately, and he met us at the restaurant. I can’t describe how meaningful those big hugs from Greg were. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. We both looked and felt tired, but we didn’t care.

We checked into the hotel in no time at all. But before we ate those delicious unwiches, we both got busy unpacking. We got everything put away so we could sit down, relax, and watch a show, after loading our various streaming services to the big TV monitor.

We decided we’d have to stay awake until 10:00 pm to ensure we’d adapt to Minnesota time as quickly as possible. We nodded off a few times but woke each other up to avoid taking a nap and upsetting the intended schedule. Last night, we both slept about six hours. My Fitbit indicated I’d slept about six hours, which made me feel good today. Neither of us has jet lag, this time around.

Today is Memorial Day in the US, when we honor veterans who lost their lives but we have no plans. All the activities with family and friends will begin in a few days and continue through the three weeks we are here in Minnesota.

We’ll make every effort to post daily while we’re here. Thanks for all the love and support from our readers!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, May 26, 2015:

Tom’s miniature lemon meringue pie for dessert on a cruise. For more photos, please click here.

Wait until you read this story!…

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The sunset after leaving Mpumalanga/Kruger/Nelspruit Airport yesterday afternoon.

Note: We are at Heathrow Airport in London as we put together today’s post. We wrote the content yesterday after the event occurred.

I don’t know where to begin.

We’d decided to leave early for the airport in case of issues on the N4. I’d downloaded an app on my phone that provides up-to-the-minute notifications if there are problems along the highway on our route.

Everything was going smoothly until about 20 minutes before we arrived at the Mpumalanga/Kruger/Nelspruit Airport. We stopped, as usual, at the same petrol station we’ve used dozens of times to refuel the rental car at this last petrol station on the way to the airport.

Tom had the fuel topped off. As we were leaving the station, an employee, one of many employees who were wearing high-visibility vests with “security” emblazoned on the front and back, approached us and said the following:

“There’s been a bad accident on the road to the airport, and the road is closed. But they are letting people heading to the airport get through using a token. You must return to the petrol station to buy the token.”

Patrons stood in line at a bank of four ATMs while these “supposed” employees assisted them in getting the token using a credit or debit card.

Tom didn’t know our South African SIM phone number, and the two cards he tried didn’t work. At this point, he became very suspicious.

Suspecting it was a scam, he left the station to find me waiting in the car, as worried as I could be, for at least 30 minutes. I was so relieved when I finally saw him walking toward the car.

He explained what happened and said, ” It was a scam. Let’s head to the airport. There won’t be an accident or a road closure. ”

He was right. We breezed down the road for the final 20 minutes to the airport, but he kept saying we needed to call those two credit card companies and cancel the cards.

When we checked in for the flight, we finally had time to call both credit card companies. One of the cards was charged over US $2745, ZAR 48985, to an investment company. However, the credit card company suspected it was a fraudulent charge, and they put a hold on it, waiting for Tom to call to see if we’d approve of the charge.

Fortunately, Tom called both cards in time to cancel them. The two new cards will arrive in the mail in the US while we are there.

This post is a warning to all travelers on their way to or from the Nelspruit Airport. But this type of scam could happen anywhere in the world.

Tom is not naive and is a very savvy traveler. But as tourists, we aren’t always aware of how things are done under certain circumstances in a foreign country. At first, it was easy to think that such a token was a normal process on a busy highway.

We’ll be back at our next opportunity.

We board the next flight from Heathrow to Minneapolis for another nine-hour flight. The flight to London was over 11 hours. We didn’t sleep more than a few hours off and on. Now we are waiting with a five-hour layover, with only two more hours to go. We both feel surprisingly well.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, May 25, 2015:

Balcony view of our cabin on a Royal Caribbean ship heading from Honolulu to Sydney. For more photos, please click here.

We’re off to the US!…

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Right up to the last minute before our departure, our little mongoose friends came to call. There are about 75 of them in this band.

We are packed and ready to go. I am dressed in all black, which is easy to wear for a long trip to avoid showing any potential spots or stains.

My compression socks are in a ziplock bag in my handbag, along with a long cord for recharging my phone, the cord to charge my Fitbit, and two sets of earbuds, one for watching movies on the screen at my seat and another for my phone. I’ll share the long cord with Tom when he needs to charge his phone.

We’ll be seated across the aisle from one another, allowing us each to have easy access for getting out of our seats and only sharing one armrest with another passenger.

The short flight on Airlink from Nelspruit to Johannesburg is very short, taking about 30 minutes. Once we’re in Joburg, we’ll have dinner during the 2½ hour layover, if time allows. If not, we’ll have no choice but to eat the less-than-healthy meals served on the 11-hour flight to London.

I no longer fuss about what I am served. I pick at the food I can eat and leave the rest. Tom shares anything that works for me, and I share the bread, starches, and dessert with him. Going a day or two with little food is no big deal. Besides, sitting in the narrow, cramped seat without a full belly feels much better.

We rarely drink alcoholic beverages on these long flights, even though they are complimentary on Virgin Atlantic while seated in coach. It seems we can rest easier without having had a beer or wine. If we can somehow manage to get three hours of sleep, we’ll feel fine. But that’s highly unlikely since I can’t sleep sitting up. But, here again, missing one night’s sleep is no big deal in the realm of things.

We arrive in Minneapolis, Minnesota, around 3:00 pm, Sunday. When we collect our bags and get the rental car, it will be 4:00 am, Monday to us. With traffic on a Sunday of Memorial weekend, arriving at the hotel may take about 40 minutes. We’ll probably order GrubHub for dinner after we get unpacked and settled.

Then, the challenge will be to stay awake until 10:00 pm. At that point, it will be 5:00 am to us, approximately 39 hours after we left. But after missing an entire night’s sleep, staying awake is tough. It’s essential to immediately get into the schedule of where we are, instead of where we were.

We aren’t certain at this point about posting each day over the next several days. A short post may be possible during tomorrow’s almost six-hour layover in London. Please keep an eye out.

Thanks for all the well wishes and support from our readers/friends/family.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, May 24, 2015:

We spotted a banyan tree in Waikiki as we rode the bus to the mall. For more photos, please click here.

Making lists…How much did we lose so far?…One day and counting…

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This is a Blue Waxbill, a common bird in this area.  

Today is packing day. Since we’re leaving for only three weeks, packing is relatively easy, as I’ve run around the house collecting items we will need for this short period.

When the mongoose appeared for their usual morning meal, I used the last piece of paloney. They’ll likely visit again tomorrow morning, but I’ll dice bite-sized pieces of cheddar cheese and beat the remaining two eggs after I make breakfast for Tom. As carnivores, they can also eat dairy products.

To make grocery shopping easy when we return, while still experiencing a bit of jet lag, I have already made a grocery list on the app on my phone since my memory may not be sharp until we recover for a few days.

When we arrived here from Mumbai, India, during COVID, after traveling for 59 hours, I easily recall how impossible grocery shopping was when we went to Komati the next day. I told Tom we’d have to return another day when my thought process was more focused. Not sleeping for three days made it impossible to focus on shopping.

When we return in three weeks, we’ll have traveled for over 36 – 40 hours, and again, shopping must be put off for a few days.

However, with the new market here in Marloth Park at the Marlothi Centre, we can pick up a few items to get us through the first few days, entirely avoiding a big shopping trip to Komatipoort as soon as we arrive.

Also, I made a short grocery list in the Cub Foods online app for some basic items we’ll want to have on hand in the Minnesota hotel room, including a kitchen. We won’t be cooking dinners in the hotel room. Instead, we’ll dine out for dinner, or on those few nights without plans, with family or friends, we’ll order GrubHub delivery using our delivery-free membership with Amazon Prime.

Tom decided he’d rather eat two plain old-fashioned donuts from Cub than the complimentary breakfast at the hotel. The hotel’s scrambled eggs are processed with unhealthy ingredients, and their bacon is deep-fried in awful oils. I offered to make him bacon and eggs daily, but he chose to have two donuts with his coffee rather than eat the homemade breakfast.

He can’t get plain old-fashioned donuts here or in many countries, so he loves to have them while we are in the US. I guess the donuts are the lesser of two evils, says the Food Poice. I’ll be happy if he doesn’t buy ten pounds of those awful jelly candies, shown below, that he loves from Fleet Farm. He’ll go through ten pounds in a week. See the story about this at this post:

Tom ate all of these candies in one week and gained ten pounds.

Since we arrived in Marloth Park at the beginning of March, he has lost 15 pounds, 6.8 kg. It would be a shame if he gained it all back while we were in the US. If he eats the two donuts and a reasonably healthy dinner, he should be able to maintain what he’s lost and then begin the low-carb lifestyle again when we return.

We’ll see how it goes for him. I’ve lost 23 pounds, 10.4 kg, and need to lose another 7 pounds, 3.2 kg, to fit into those jeans I have been carrying for the past few years. I was taking heart medication that causes weight gain and other horrible side effects, which I no longer take it as instructed by the doctors at the Cleveland Clinic.

I’d gained 30 pounds, 13.6 kg, from that drug, hoping that when I stopped taking the medication, I’d automatically begin to lose weight, but that didn’t happen. When we arrived in Marloth Park, we both began cutting back on how much we ate and how often we ate… and just like that, we lost weight.

I lost more than Tom because I didn’t eat unhealthy food when dining out and stuck to a strict keto diet, eating less food, less often. It worked.

Now, I will pack, and I should be done in no time at all. Tonight, we’re off to Jabula for dinner.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, May 23, 2015:

Our final video of the Laysan Albatross as we prepared to leave Kauai after our four-month stay. For more photos, please click here.

Long-legged beauties come to call…See Tom’s video, taken this morning…Two days and counting…

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Note: In the above video, Tom said it was June 22, when in fact it was May 22, 2025.

Last evening, while we were lounging on the veranda enjoying our sundowners, six giraffes stopped by for a visit, and we got a few of today’s photos. However, before I was outdoors early this morning, Tom made the above video when they stopped by in their long-legged beauty.

Last evening, this was our first view of the giraffes.

We don’t feed giraffes since they don’t bend to eat, only to drink. Instead, they savor the leaves on the treetops, especially when they are more plentiful than the low-lying bushes, and they don’t have to share them with other animals, who obviously can’t reach that high.

Three giraffes meandered into our garden while we attempted to capture some photos.

For the past few days, we have had WiFi problems. They have been reported to Tech Connect, the service provider. However, I managed to upload the above video to YouTube, which Tom made this morning while I was still in bed. He always gets up a few hours before I do since I tend to be awake for a few hours in the middle of the night, but I can sleep in the wee hours of the morning. I am usually up, showered, dressed, and outdoors by 8:00 am.

Getting decent head shots is always challenging with their heads buried in the treetops.

Undoubtedly, I suffer from FOMO (fear of missing out) and long to be outside on the veranda as early as possible, fearful I will miss something in the garden. Tom always awakens me when Norman stops by. I wouldn’t want to miss seeing him for anything. He visited twice yesterday, each time staring deep into my eyes.

Check out her tongue. It’s a lot longer than it appears here.

I’d like to think that Norman looks at me like that out of love, but he most likely knows how to get me to cut up carrots and apples for him. It works every time. Sometimes, Toms looks at me like that, but I don’t think he’s longing for carrots and apples. Nonetheless, whether it’s a look from Norman or even Tom, I detect a strong sense of love that makes my heart sing joyfully.

Life is good. I don’t have a complaint in the world. In two days, we’ll begin the long trip to the US and look forward to getting past the lack of sleep for two days, the seven-hour time difference, and the physiological disruptions that come with long-distance travel.

Our busy schedule will commence once we have recovered for a few days. Something is planned almost every day until we leave on June 15. Tom and I will attend most events together, but we will have a few family get-togethers on our own to maximize our time in Minnesota.

Side by side, these three held their heads down checking something out.

Soon, Tom will drop me off at Inbewe Spa in Marloth Park for a pedicure. Yesterday, he had a haircut with his usual stylist at the Bush Centre hair salon. Yesterday, I assembled various items for our upcoming trip into ziplock bags. Now, all I have to do is pack a small amount of clothes, but not a lot, since we’re buying some items while we’re in the US.

This time, we’ll be packing our two large checked duffle bags. Based on how much we purchase, we’ll purchase a new large suitcase to replace one of our large bags with a broken wheel while in the US.

Finally, a decent full-on pose.

It’s time for me to get ready to leave for my pedicure appointment. If we still have WFi issues when I return, I will contact Tech Connect to see how they can resolve them.

That’s it for today, folks.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, May 22, 2015:

We seldom can get a photo of us together without imposing it on others. On occasion, when appropriate, we’ll offer to take a photo of a couple or a family, hoping they’ll also take ours. For more photos, please click here.