Great picture of the "young farts" in front of the beautiful Senecio Trees! You guys are doing great. You're gonna love going up "The Wall". Don't let Sharon "the psycho triathlete" run up it (you know she could). Thinking about you all constantly, reliving it all in my head. I'm on the wrong side of these emails! Be sure you are all DRINKING PLENTY OF WATER - 3 liters/day minimum! If I was there, I'd be yelling at you if you didn't (just ask Matt). Have a great stroll to Karanga Camp. You're getting close!

Paul the '08er

Hey Karen and gang,

I'm at my desk at work and this is something Karen gave me so I want to "pay it forward" - "The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you" This goes out to all of Kili '09 climbers!! Stay strong! xoxo Love, Dina p.s. Karen ....can't wait to hear your Audio!!!

YOUR DOING GREAT!!! 3 days til summit!!! you're almost there
Keep up the great work...would like to see another picture with YOU in it!!
love you
Erin

The Barranco challenge sounded like a lot of hard work. I bet you and everyone else is exhausted. Don't forget to keep drinking water. I'm checking the site daily and following your climb. Keep treking! Love, your little sis, Susie and family

Congratulations Jon on your great adventure. You all look healthy and happy. What a surprise when I saw your name on site. I have checked it out the past year,as I signed up when Bonnie Zechmann did the climb. It sure is amazing who you might see! Good luck in your efforts and stay healthy. Bye now. Diane

Barranco or Bust!!!! Terry--- you go girl!!! {rick too!}
John Rubins- thinking of you as i wandered through Park Ave bike shop today. To ALL- You are SOOOO close- you can taste it now. Stay strong, focused and keep smiling. It's hard being here when i know most of us 08'ers want to be there. #1

Love that photo. didn't realize that there was such a variety of ages. That means that I have no excuse to climb mountains. Suppose to snow here today.
I love the name Banana Yoshimoto. I should have named Desi, Banana -- or Apple -- or a fine fruit name.
I've been thinking about a pen name and I like "Lake Livingston". Eventually I'll get my Phd and then you can say, "Dr. Livingston, I presume?" And I would answer, "Just call me Lake."
I can't even imagine what you are going through right now. Thought I would add a lighter touch to the message.
Signs you might be an internet geek -- 1. You're amazed to find out that spam is actually a food. 2. You often say LOL out loud. 3. Instead of calling you to dinner, your spouse emails. 4. You don't ask for phone numbers, you ask for their web address.
There were more, but I thought you could make them up -- for those who are actually computer geeks. Are hikers computer geeks?

Without me there this year - maybe you'll get a moment to enjoy on the top - I'm looking for a Teagan pose on summit..

keep 'em rolling bro!!

Phyllis and Marty, those of us at home are marveling at your daily adventures on Kili, following your footsteps the best we can from such a distance, and cheering from the sidelines. We're incredibly proud of your grit and determination, not to mention those amazing climbing skills. Keep at it, and we will too.

Loved today's photo!
Susan and the rest of her gang

Hello Karen, Good Luck and God Bless as you journey on. you are in our thoughts and Prayers. Love Aunt Pat and Uncle Tom.

So happy to see your smiling faces in the photo that was posted today! The cactus-y plants behind you are not what I expected to see in the background of your pix from the climb up Kili, though! (Mom, you'll have to tell me what those are when you return.)

We just came from Shabbat dinner with Mike and Carole and Claire — they've been following your climb online, too, and we spent part of the evening just marveling at this amazing undertaking.

Can't wait to hear the latest audio update. Love you!

Jeff and the rest of the Belmont crew

Great photo today. It was so good to see your happy, if tired, faces. Good going! Keep it up. We're all rooting for you. It's so good to know that you're all watching out for each other. We can't wait for that triumphant photo. It won't be long now. Love from everyone out in New Mexico! People here are amazed at your progress up the mountain. Love, Harriett

Keith,

Hope you're doing well! You're in our thoughts, and we can't wait to hear all about it. One step at a time.

Claudia & Mike

Dear daddy we hope you are having a lot of fun and making lots of memories to share. I slept over at Hannah's house last night and then went to Sarah's Basketball game this morning. i finished Annalies dress and can't wait to show hr tonight. We all miss you very much.
love you lots Teagan

Hey, Desi and Alex and everyone else--From reading the posts I see that you are actualyl ALMOST THERE!~ This continues to thrill me, on your behalf. At the times when you can think about it, remember how totally powerful you are! There are only a small number who can do what you are doing! Also, those of us who have had cancer are SO GRATEFUL, knowing what the advances in cancer research already have meant for us (life!!!!) and for the money you are raising for cancer research so others can live! Now, I don't know if this is true but I am betting you could use some humor about now so here are some George Carlin one-liners someone sent me. Don't laugh so hard you lose your breath, but hope this will lift any sagging spirits! Lawrie Merz (desismomsfriend)

1. If you take an Oriental person and spin him around several times, does he become disoriented?
2. If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren't people from Holland called Holes?
3. Why do we say something is out of whack? What's a whack?
4. Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?
5. If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?
6. If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
7. When someone asks you, "A penny for your thoughts" and you put your two cents in...what happens to the other penny?
8. Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
9. Why do croutons come in airtight packages? Aren't they just stale bread to begin with?
10. When cheese gets its picture taken, what does it say?
11. Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist but a person who drives a race car not called a racist?
12. Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites?
13. Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things?
14. Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?
15. "I am" is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language.
Could it be that "I do" is the longest sentence?
16. If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?
17. If Fed Ex and UPS were to merge, would they call it Fed UP?
18. Do Lipton Tea employees take coffee breaks?
19. What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?
20. I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older; then it dawned on me...they're cramming for their final exam.
21. I thought about how mothers feed their babies with tiny little spoons and forks, so I wondered what do Chinese! mothers use? Toothpicks?
22. Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do, write to them? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen can look for them while they deliver the mail?
23. If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?
24. You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.
25. No one ever says, "It's only a game" when their team is winning.
26. Ever wonder what the speed of lightning would be if it didn't zigzag?
27. If a cow laughed, would milk come out of her nose?
28. Whatever happened to Preparations A through G.