Arrrgh!!!

This morning, I SHOULD have been doing office work, and running errands, but I got involved in a project, and just couldn't set it down.

I have some friends who have a little boy in third grade. His class is sending travel mates to friends and relatives in an effort to learn more about the world in which they live. When the request went out for participants, I was wiggling in my seat with my hand up in the air, saying "Yes, Yes! I want to do it!" And luckily, they said I could! *S*

My little friend's travel mate is one of the original beanie babies, a moose named "Chocolate." Chocolate arrived on my doorstep on Thursday, despite the blizzard outside. I've been asked to write a message in his travel book, add something to the box and send it on to the next name on the list. I'm also supposed to send a postcard to the classroom, so they can see where Chocolate has been.

I have a niece in Perth, Australia. I sent her an e-mail, asking if there was any possibility that she could participate. Despite the fact that she is incredibly busy, she said she'd be willing to help. I'm supposed to box up Chocolate and send him on to her. She will add a few things to the box and send it to one of my friends in England. You know her....it's Bod! Bod is going to send it on to her God-daughter in London. Just telling you about it gives me goosebumps. This is likely to be the travel mate with the most air miles!

So, this morning, I realized I had to add a message to the travel book. I typed out several paragraphs, and played with the font. I had a lot of room left, and got to thinking about pictures to add around the text. By the time I was done, I had four pictures of cornfields, two of soybeans, and two of Chicago airports. There was a picture of Abraham Lincoln, one of Barak Obama, two of the Chicago skyline, two of Wrigley Field, one of Navy Pier and one of the Chicago lighthouse. There's a picture of a well head, for the oil fields down state, and a picture of vehicles in snow banks (seemed fitting given the weather this week!). And I added a map of the state. All of this was done in miniature. I was on a ROLL! *G*

I realized that if I delayed Chocolate's trip to Australia by four days, he could travel to Florida with us! So, I had to make one more page for the travel book! Oranges, alligators, the castle at the Magic Kingdom, palm trees, beaches and a light house fill in the space around the text. I was beginning to worry that I might not get all my work done. I had such a good time playing with the glue stick I really didn't want to quit. But...If I want to go to Florida, enough needed to be enough.

Chocolate will fly in my carry on, and I plan to take pictures of him in Chicago and in Florida to send to Chocolate's owner when we return to Illinois. From there he will fly to Australia. I can't wait to hear what he brings home from OZ!

I've been talking about this project with almost anyone who will listen, and I'm delighted to find that others are offering their contacts. Chocolate must be back in the classroom by May 1st, but if we have time when he returns from England, he could go on to Minnesota, and to Idaho. He's going to be a very well-rounded bear! *S*

You're probably wondering what I added to the box. Well, I went shopping for a Cubs baseball cap that would fit an 8 year old, and I added a picture book of Chicago. I had a map of Illinois, too, but that's been mailed to the classroom. I was going to send an ear of corn, and some soybeans, but they'd never make it through customs! As for what I'll put in the box from Florida, who knows. We'll shop when we get there.

Don't you just love being able to help kids with their school projects! *G*