YOU CAN'T TELL THE PLAYERS WITHOUT A SCORE CARD!

Not everyone who reads this little blogsite will know everyone who is involved in this journey, so before we all depart (T minus 3, 2, or 1 days depending on who you are) we thought it would be good to give all of our intrepid readers a little bit of background on who's who. Speaking of which, if you click on the PHOTO ALBUM (somewhere on this page) and choose the "Who's Who" album, you get to see everyone who is going or staying except one... Diane C who is always behind the camera and thus not in the pictures. We'll fix that somehow.

T MINUS 3 DAYS AND COUNTING (departing for Egypt on Thursday):

BILL BATES - originally a "Valley Boy" and surfer from LA, Bill came East in 1988, liked it and stayed (but got smarter and moved south!). He was just this past month selected to be in the GREAT TREASURES ARCHIVE of the Library of Congress. No joke. He was in the movie "Back To the Future" and the film was just named as a Great American Treasure by the L. of C. You will find him in the prom scenes ("Enchantment Under the Sea") dancing with the girl in the bright red dress.

When not tending to duties at the Sadler NAture Preserve, Bill sails and kayaks and backpacks and throws pottery and would golf every day if he could, but he can't because he is Superintendent for Turner Construction Company and is building the UNC Research Lab in Kannapolis.

STEAV CONGDON - was organist at Lincoln Center in NYC, a vocal coach on Broadway, and currently Director of Music at Saint Gabriel Church in Charlotte. He does the canoe & backpack thing, too, is most passionate about sailing and, with Bill, spent two years dodging hurricanes in their yacht ANNA CRUSIS (specifically Gabrielle, Hugo, Iris, Jerry and Karen... remember Hugo?) en route to the Caribbean.

T MINUS TWO DAYS AND COUNTING (departing for Egypt on Wednesday):

TOM PONSENBY - Tom is the IT Audit Manager for Danaher Corporation, an international holding company. Along with his wife Cate (see the Who's Who album!) he is a member of St. Gabriel Parish Choir in Charlotte. Born in Chicago, Tom is very familiar with northern winters, often saying, "The north is a great place to be from..." He and Cate moved to Charlotte in 1982 from Urbana, IL, home of the University of Illinois ("The Fighting Illini"). He is an avid photographer and with Cate has traveled extensively in the US, Canada and Europe (they just got back from Alaska!) and have enjoyed vacationing in Costa Rica.

Tom has known Bill and Steav since 2004 when he was their realtor and made their connection with the Sadler NAture Preserve possible! (although, truth be known, it was Cate who first found the place!)

It is still up in the air exactly how much stuff Tom will be taking to Egypt, but he is currently in first place with the heaviest backpack!

T MINUS 1 DAY AND COUNTING (Departing for Egypt on Tuesday):

BILL COLLINS - has been in the health insurance business for the past 36 years and is really looking forward to retiring long enough to build a house in the mountains of western NC. He is married to Diane (the lady behind the camera and of whom we have no pictures) and has 2 daughters: the older daughter, Lisa is traveling with us and his younger daughter, Maribeth, is a junior in high school. Bill enjoys woodworking and traveling and is most excited about riding a camel while in Egypt (pictures WILL be posted!). He would be looking forward to the overnight felucca trip but is worried that his fellow shipmates may toss him overboard on account of his loud snoring. {editor's note: the possibility exists...}

LISA COLLINS - is a recent graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and is going to Egypt for one last hurrah before entering the "real world." She studied abroad outside of London, England, and enjoys international travel. She will be moving to Washington, D.C. upon returning from the trip and is hoping to find a job with an international consulting company.

BEHIND THE SCENES:

Cate Stadelman: Tom's wife and usual traveling companion 'cept this time.

Diane Collins: Bill's wife, Lisa's mother, often photographer, and associate manager of the blogsite if we can't get internet connections!

Noelle Congdon: Steav's sister and resident therapist at the Sadler NAture Preserve.

Laurianne Fleming: The one who makes all this possible since she is house sitting the Sadler NAture preserve PLUS dog sitting Kenya and Djimah PLUS church sitting Saint Gabriel's music program so Steav can get away.

So: First off will be Bill and Lisa who fly out January 1st, the next round is Tom who flies out Jan 2nd and finally Bill and Steav depart for Cairo (via Minneapolis, for heaven sake!) on Thursday.

We all meet in Cairo on Saturday morning and tis from thence that this missive will continue and advance! Bon Voyage to us!

And Happy New Year to all of you!

Maasalaama !!!