pineapple here we come

our bags are packed- filled with shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops and other warm weather gear that hasn't seen the light of day since we got to Mongolia in October.

our apartment is clean- ready for our apartment/cat-sitter to take residence.

our cat is clearly aware we are about to leave- she's been running around the apartment all evening, alternating between wanting to sit in our laps and wanting to attack all of the clothes we're trying to pack.

my students have been warned that they better behave for my substitute while I'm gone. they've also been reassured that I am indeed coming back in two short weeks (high school students can be dramatic- I got several "TWO WHOLE WEEKS" complaints).

our fridge is empty of perishable goods- we successfully used two cartons of milk in three days (think lots of cereal, some pudding, pancakes and hot chocolate), as well as 10 eggs and some vegetables. This has led to some interesting meals (mashed potatoes with spinach anyone?) but it's accomplished our goal of not wasting any food :- )

our itineraries have been printed, our camera batteries charged and our long layover activities carefully packed.

our minds have tried to wrap themselves around the reality that it is 88 (EIGHTY-EIGHT, people!) degrees in Phnom Penh right now. It was -30 here today, so there's not any real way to comprehend this fact other than to jump up and down, shriek and sing hallelujah. All of which I have done in the past 24 hours.

I. cannot. even. fathom. 88. degrees.

all this to say, Hol and I are headed to Cambodia tomorrow for two weeks and we're all kinds of capitalized letters, exclamation point filled excited.

we'll be visiting our fellow asia mission intern Joseph and seeing as how he and I flew to our interview weekend together way back in April- beginning this whole crazy adventure that led us to Cambodia and Mongolia, it will be wonderful to spend some time hanging out and experiencing life with him in his new home (bonus: he has a hammock and a puppy).

so if there are no (or limited) blog posts for the next 15 days....blame it on fruit, warmth, sunshine, flip flops and Cambodia :- )

(side note: I had grand plans to get some blog posts written before we left- including finishing up my triple crown series, writing about communication issues and teaching English. I may get to one or two of these tomorrow before we leave, but if not- know they are eventually coming.)