January Meeting

Wow just over 90 days until we leave! Thanks to Lynda and Dan Kristoffersen for their hospitality for the use of their beautiful home and WONDERFUL cooking! Luke arranged for us all to go on a cruise on a beautiful 38 foot Grand Banks with Joe. Luke also fixed us up with lunch and libations! Check out the Rainbow! A lot was accomplished and a lot is left to do! Thanks to Hillary for posting the photos and getting us set up! I am so very lucky to be able to do this with all of you and can't wait to go! Paul

January Meeting- North Bend

Team X-Tudo met again on January 23 to continue planning for the trip. The lovely Lynda hosted us at her home in North Bend for breakfast, and after group planning and photos, Luke arranged a cruise up the Coos River for the whole team.  After the river cruise, Luke, Kristy, and Paul stayed on to attend the local Rotary banquet, while Marc and Hillary returned to their respective cities. The weather was beautiful and we are now several steps closer to leaving for Brazil. Is is starting to feel real yet? 94 days and counting...

Kudos to "unofficial" team photographer Jeff McBride :)

Team Change

2010 brought a big change to our team. Due to work-related issues, Katie Blair (pictured on left) made the tough decision to remove herself from the group. She was a great team member and will definitely be missed. In her stead, Kristy Hessman (pictured on right), previously first alternate, will be joining Team X-Tudo. Kristy brings a lot of travel experience to the group and is excited for this next adventure. Our best to Katie and our congratulations to Kristy!

Spider Post for Luke

This post is dedicated to dear Luke, who seems to have a fascination borderline obsession/phobia of spiders:

The Brazilian wandering spiders, armed spiders ("aranhas armadeiras", as they are known in Portuguese) or banana spiders (not to be confused with the relatively harmless species of the genus Nephila) are a genus of aggressive and highly venomous spiders found in tropical South and Central America. These spiders are members of the Ctenidae family of wandering spiders. These spiders appear in Guinness World Records 2007 as the world's most venomous spider, and are considered to be responsible for the most human deaths due to spider bites.

You're welcome Luke ;)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy new year everyone! The end of the year passed with a flurry but our team did manage to meet in snowy Bend on November 14.  Despite the wind and snow advisories over the pass, we all made both trips safely and were able to prepare and lengthen our already long "to-do" lists for the trip. We also got to know everyone, team-members and partners, just a little bit better, which should make for an easier trip away from home. The trip was capped off by a GREAT Duck football game against Arizona...GO DUCKS!!!

A big thanks to Kristy and Paul who provided the venue for the meeting and post meetings, and to Justin who mixed up the MOST excellent famous Brazilian cocktail, the "Caipirinha".

We are now working on purchasing team uniforms, preparing our team power point presentation, and creating the team brochure and business cards. We are finding out more about the Espirito Santo region, deciding on host family gifts, and starting to make personal arrangements regarding insurance, visas, passports, and medical checks for the big trip. Hard to believe we will be leaving in just 116 days! The next team meeting is scheduled for January 23 in North Bend and I personally am VERY much looking forward to the crabbing!