So I’m trying to pole vault something discouraging into something positive…positive than for more than just myself.

Summation:  Last year – got into the 3-Day semi-finals, bombed.  A friend and I thought we would rent a generator, park ourselves at the contest site (in the parking lot) and write anyway.  My Grandfather took ill, I couldn’t get time off work, it was a wash.

This year – got into the 3-Day semi-finals, bombed.  Still think I could write a book even while sleeping in my car so why not promote a cause as well? 

I thinking I’m going to rent a generator and go for it!  The worst they can do is kick me out of the parking lot, and even then, I’m mobile.  I could go anywhere.  But here’s the point:  I’m going to be writing for a cause.

If you’ve been following faithfully, you may or may not know that in late September I’m heading to Malawi, Africa, the world’s 5th poorest country, and one of the top 5 AIDS hot zones to work on constructing staff housing for the people that work at the AIDS hospital.  I’m very excited to go and be of use, since I haven’t even been outside of North America.  One of the most stressful parts about going, though, is raising the funds to get there.  So far I’ve been injected with nearly $1000 worth of vaccinations, not to mention the cost of plane tickets, passports, bottles and bottles of mosquito repellent and sunscreen, ‘proper’ clothing (as it is a Muslim area, no pants for women, no shorter sleeve than a T-shirt, no V-necks), the list, as you can imagine, goes on.  And making $9.10 an hour just doesn’t get one very far.  I could probably save the citizens of Moose Jaw, if they ever wanted saving.

So generator, car, patio umbrella, chair, outline and me writing with a hat out hoping for donations.  What do you think?  Will it fly?  Any suggestions?