Beautiful Video

Hi All!
It's been an incredibly long time since I last posted anything to this site and for that I apologize. Needless to say, I've been very busy! Life has recently started to reach a settling pace, allowing me more time to network. This past spring, while I was completing an internship in Kentucky, I met a young lady who had just gone to Nicaragua with World Vets. There was instant camaraderie! The following video was produced by filmmaker Jeremiah Alley during the trip she participated on and it is amazing, so I just have to share!
Enjoy!!!

The least I can do...

is to continue to add photos, now that I've discovered this nifty slide-show tool! Was that a long enough cliffhanger?
Cheers!

Cliffhanger....

As I sit here today and mourn the impending demise of summer, I realise that my incredibly long to-do list has gotten no shorter, but the amount of time in which to finish it is minuscule.

Among these things to do is up-date this blog. I left everyone hanging with promises of pictures and stories that are unfulfilled. I believe that upon my return from Nicaragua I was so overwhelmed with what we did, what we saw, what we experienced that I couldn't even face trying to put it in words. Nothing I said would make it seem real. Now, two months later, I miss it incredibly! There is a small yearning in the pit of my being clamoring for the color, scent and sound of a life so basic yet so vibrant and undeniably real. I truly believe that my experience in Nicaragua is shaping the path of my future and I owe all of you a big "Thank you!" for helping this happen.


Sunset over San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua June 2010

First Friend

"When the Man waked up he said, 'What is Wild Dog doing here?' And the Woman said, 'His name is not Wild Dog anymore, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always.....'"
~Rudyard Kipling

Hola!

Hello everyone! I´m sorry we haven´t been able to post anything for the last few days. There have been some crazy power outages throughout the town and the internet has not really been accessable because of that. I have a lot of catching up to do....did you hear we were in the paper? The Post Independent did an article on our trip and want to do a follow up when we get back...pretty cool! They misspelled my traveling companions names, but not much we can do about that now!
We just wrapped up our clinics for the week. We treated close to 200 animals working 12 hour days with no power or water. Can you imagine doing surgery in those conditions? It was nuts, but I feel that we have been very successful! I have a lot to share with you about the experience and a ton of pictures, but I´m afraid that may have to wait until I return to the States. It is so hot in this internet cafe right now I´m afraid I may pass out, as I have not felt well the last 2 days. GI problems, go figure!
Will be in Nicaragua until Wednesday, and I will get some pics up as soon as I can upon our return. Thanks for your support.
McClure

Made it!

We arrived safely in Managua last nite after being delayed in Miami for a broken windshield on the plane. They eventually put us on a new plane......

Our driver was patiently waiting for us and drove us to Granada in a humid drizzle. What a drastic change in weather from Colorado! We were greeted at Casa Silas by our Canadian host Rob, and his 4-legged companion Silas (yes, we picked this place because of the dog!)

We slept soundly and have had a lazy morning of Nicaraguan coffee and red beans with rice and fried eggs and pineapple. We don't meet the rest of the World Vets group until tomorrrow....so now off to explore Granada!

More later....

Ready or not.....it's go time!

This is it folks. Today the great journey begins.
I can't even describe how hectic the last few days have been with work and last minute preparations. We have a room in a cute B&B reserved in Granada for our first two nights in Nicaragua, and hope to do some exploring around the city, maybe kayak Las Isletas. Saturday, we head back to Managua to meet up with the rest of our World Vets team.
I can't believe this is it! So excited and nervous, but ready for the journey to begin.

10 days!

I'm sitting at my computer right now, covered in goose bumps. 10 days. That's it. I will be in Nicaragua in 10 days! Everyone keeps asking if I'm excited, and I am, but I'm also a bit nervous and of course, overwhelmed because I am the world's worst packer. It takes me forever to decide what to take, so I should get started now!
The weather in western Colorado has been less than warm, and kind of rainy, so that has allowed me a good excuse to stay inside and read, read, read my Moon Nicaragua handbook. We arrive in Nica before the rest of our World Vets group does, so we plan to go to Granada for the first day and a half. I am currently looking for a cozy, clean and affordable place to stay, of which there seem to be plenty, it's just a matter of choosing one! I have also discovered an invaluable web source for travelers (thank you Robert!!!) called Thorn Tree. It's a forum through Lonely Planet on which people can share advice and tips on travel in different countries. It's a gem, so check it out the next time you travel.
Before I begin packing, I need to unpack my summer clothes! Yet again, cool Colorado weather has prevented me from getting out the tupperware of shorts, skirts and t-shirts that have been living in my basement for the last 7 months. I checked the weather in Granada yesterday and it said the temperature was 87, but felt like 97 because of the humidity. I have a feeling I will melt, but I can't wait! It's been a long winter here in Colorado, and I am ready for a deep thaw! One thing I read, and Lindsay take note of this, is that Nicaragua is located a scant 12 degrees of latitude north of the Equator, so the sun's rays strike the Earth's surface at a more direct angle, meaning you will burn faster and sweat up to twice as much!!! Hope Lindsay has found some 85 spf sunscreen up there in Oregon :)
Well, I have a gazillion things to do so I should run. Remember, we still need donations! You can donate money through the Paypal link on this page or check out the lower post, the Final Push, about the medical supplies needed. Thanks!