Happy New Year's!!!

We're a bit ahead of some and a bit behind some. But we're getting close to midnight, to 2011. Heard a song on the bus the other day- all about New Year's and all the hope that goes with it. We love the New Year. We seem to have a lot of expectations for bright sparkly pieces of life in the New Year. 

I'm not big on New Year's resolutions. Never have been. I'm more into making every New Day better... I don't get this right by a long shot- maybe I get it wrong more days than right- but I do think it's something I can live with better than a huge high for the New Year and a huge spurt of energy and then putzing out somewhere (very soon) down the road.

 On the other hand, I think I could live with this one! I was introduced to big beautiful pancakes with a dollop of Culver's Frozen Custard and maple syrup when I was in WI. Oh My. Oh Me Oh My. Try it... now there's something that will make 2011 lift off into outer space! ;)

somewhat relevant ramblings

- Another delicious week (or so) behind me. Had some unexpected alone time- the result of the ever mysterious immigration/registration laws around here- so zipped around several days and saw people I didn't know I'd have the chance to. Left me feeling good. And warm. And loved. And sad. And a bit worried. And wanting to just stay nearby just in case. Patiently waiting can be one of the hardest things to do. Just waiting. Sometimes you can gently nudge and sometimes you just have to wait. And hope. And pray.

- My sparkly happily-6 niece's bday cake? The missing one? Found. BIL went up to the new house to open up for the movers then dug through a box (or 2? or 3? don't know) and found the cake (which was in its own smaller box) down near the bottom of a bigger box of stuff. Unharmed and intact and prettily poodily pink! ;)

- Funny how my noticing drunks goes in spurts. Or maybe it's that there are more of them around right now. Or maybe it's just my frame of mind. Don't know. I do know that when I got on the bus in Kyiv Wednesday- the one that I'd be on for the next 5+ hours- there was an unhappy drunk 3 rows back. He was ticked. Had been waiting entirely too long and When were we EVER going to leave?! No one paid him much mind and he grumbled and complained and we eventually left. Passengers are peaceful calm and still. Nasty movie on- post WWII Russian movie called 'The War After the War'- I seriously don't know how there are enough actors around to furnish one movie with so many living people at the end when so many were stabbed, shot, sliced and otherwise viciously knocked off... and that's just what I saw when the noise overwhelmed my earphones (valiantly trying to pipe stuff into my ears that wouldn't give me nightmares later or leave me trembling inside) and I looked to see What now? Ok- off track there. For the record, though, for the most part, I do not like the movies on the bus. I'd like to choose, Thanks, what I put into the pictures in my mind. I'd like to choose, if I can, what comes back to haunt me at night. I'll have to tell you more about that other time.
Back to the drunk ranch. About 1 1/2 hours down the road, I become aware of muted shuffling and goings on behind me. Turn around. The drunk is up but being attacked (quietly) by a fellow passenger. Another passenger joins in. And another. Whatever the drunk has done, his fellow passengers didn't like it and they were quietly pummeling him. But he was hitting back. The bus driver's helper (conductor) meanders back but decides to stay out. The other passengers seem to be handling it. No blood. No cursing. All just quiet silent pummeling. Another passenger (young man) jumps in and really lets the drunk have it. Not so quiet and a bit rougher. His buddy jumps up and wraps his arm around Young Man's neck and hauls him back out of there. A man about my age from the front of the bus storms back to the ruckus. He's White-Puffy-Coat-With-a-White-Fur-lined-Hood Man. And there is something very mean looking about him. He's big beefy and looks like he gets through life fist-first. He shoves Drunk Man and gives him a short but sobering tongue lashing. Drunk Man sort of subsides. But not for long. The male passengers around him are glaring at him, red-faced. I go back to my book. Suddenly, Drunk Man lurches past us to the front (I was by the window in the 2nd row of seats from the front) and down the steps and tries to get the door open. Conductor Man stops him- we are, after all, still sailing down the snowy highway. heh. Drunk Man lurches forward again and struggles with Conductor Man. They fall onto the driver. Who miraculously keeps his cool, keeps his eyes on the road, the bus pointed straight ahead and we sail on. Someone gets up to help haul Drunk Man back to his seat. He falls onto the girl in the seat right beside me. (This is when I quickly packed up all my toys in case I had to protect (??) myself soon.) Another short scuffle. Drunk Man is mostly silent or incoherent. They park him. About 20 seconds later, he's back. And this time, White-Puffy-Coat-With-a-White-Fur-lined-Hood Man doesn't wait at all. There's someone behind Drunk Man trying to haul him back but White-Puffy-Coat-With-a-White-Fur-lined-Hood Man jumps up, goes right into Drunk Man's face and, without making a single sound or even much movement, drops him, right there, beside our seats. Boom. No fists, no wild moves. Just a tiny movement with one hand. I really don't know what he did but it was vicious and effective. And let me tell you- stay away from White-Puffy-Coat-With-a-White-Fur-lined-Hood Man when he means business. I reckon one could be scared of the likes of White-Puffy-Coat-With-a-White-Fur-lined-Hood Man. I wonder what he does for a living? Anyway, someone hauled Drunk Man back to his seat and we heard not one more peep from him. Awhile later, the bus stopped for a 10 min break, passengers filed off and the driver goes back to Drunk Man. What exactly is it that you're not happy about? he asks. Quietly, nicely. Drunk Man mumbles; I got off (my 10 min, after all, to hunt down facilities and coffee, you know) so missed the rest. When we got to Drunk Man's stop not long after the rest stop, a bunch of passengers got off. Drunk Man did not. He was having a wee snooze. The driver was noticing. He got up, walked back there and roused him. Drunk Man didn't want to get off. The side door of the bus was open and Bus Driver hauled him up, dragged him the short distance to it and shoved him right out. Into the snow. And looked mighty glad to do it. The passengers mostly laughed. It's a funny sad world sometimes. And let me tell you- these bus drivers should be making buckets of money. But likely aren't. They're good guys, though, for the most part.

smile!

Zing. Found this in my folder- don't remember why I kept it. But wow- Zing. Hisssssssss

What's not to love about Baby Blues?!

The other day- that day- lunch was done. There was a winter boots mess by the door, so I got out the vacuum and hoovered around a bit then took a wet rag and swiped a bit. Took the vacuum into the room S and I were sharing. The rug just needed some attention. Mostly the part in the middle of the room but I quickly zoomed back into the corners, too. The one by the balcony door. I hear the door to the apartment from the outside hallway being unlocked by S. The vacuum hits something. I turn to look out into the hallway. Think- Wait, what'd I hit with the vacuum? turn to look. People coming in through the door. I see a puddle of water spreading out from the corner towards me. Towards the vacuum. Towards S' computer case!!!! (heart failure... before I remember her comp is somewhere else... whew...) I shriek. People saying Hi in friendly voices. I jam the tipped over lidless water bottle upright. Swivel around and race past them for some rags while shouting Hi! Mow them over again to get back to the small lake in the living room. Random really funny comments from the people in the hallway (haha). Frantically sop up water. Knock the water bottle over again. (There are a lot of papers in the general vicinity and a couch.) Really classy way to greet guests. 

Only one of my all time favorite Calvin and Hobbes. Love it! Mom is completely hilarious here...

What I have to do to change light bulbs, get cups and glasses off the rack they're stored on, get to the rags and cleaning supplies in the cupboard. The cookies, though, are kept in a far less dangerous place! ;)

Winter quit knocking awhile ago and just roared on in! ;)

it's been snowing here for about 3 days straight now. Heavy and then not so heavy. Fun stuff.

And there's a LOT of shiny polished ice underneath that snow. So far, we have avoided all mishaps. But we are very very careful. I never cease to marvel at the people who walk out into traffic trying to cross against the light or in the middle of the block with cars whooshing by when the road is icy, too. There's an expression here- Bored with life. That must be the way it is... not for me, though. No sirree. 

sigh. Unfortunately- the pic on the left is me with a normally functioning thyroid. The one on the right was how I was when it was hyperactive. Went in this fall for my thyroid check, convinced it had gone the other way... only to be mightily disappointed to see it was smack dab in the middle of normal. I liked having energy and zip and losing weight without trying. heh.  

This is exactly how I felt trying to navigate the cliff wall of Wuthering Heights. And Jane Eyre. I know a lot of you liked them. I tried. I really did. I just couldn't do it.  

never knew all of this! ;)

I had a friend once who walked down the sidewalk purposely stepping on the cracks... made me sad. Still does. I was more like the kid here. Eventually had to make myself not look at the sidewalk because I knew it didn't make a difference but just knowing the rhyme made it hard to walk along the sidewalk and not try to avoid the cracks.... Love you Mom!

somewhat relevant ramblings

Just a few collected ramblings, again...
- The stunning news this morning when I finally got around to going online... which was more like after lunch but anyway... My oldest niece-  She-Who-Bounces-And-Sparkles-AND-Just-Turned-6... that one.

This one- on the right. (pix swiped from my sis, cake pic with permission, even, from the decorator! Thanks Lynisha!). Well, first of all, her bday just happened to fall on the day after the movers packed up their household; on the day the van with everything in it headed north north north with all their stuff (except, I'm assuming, what they need for a few more days). 

The cool pink poodle cake? Done specially for her? See it? Look closely. Because no one is seeing it at all right now. Nor did they see it when it came time for the bday party. Apparently, the movers... yeah... packed it and shipped it north with the rest of the household. I'll have to admit- I was just sort of stunned. Do movers really not think or ask questions as they ruthlessly move through your stuff and box it up? Do they really imagine that a cake this special is meant to be boxed and shipped? Or did one of them secretly have a real yearning for Pink Poodle Cake and take it? I'll have to admit to laughing in stunned awe at it all... Dear Lover-of-Pink-Niece-of-Mine: You are a special little girl for smiling through it and afterwards and for bouncing along. We do love you. And we have for a long long time- 6 years and 9 months, in fact! Happy Birthday JM!! xo Oh and Ps- I hear there's another cake in the making so that you will, eventually, have your cake and eat it, too. In fact, if Cake #1 survives, this might just be the year you get 2 really cool cakes!!

- Riding the train back to our city last Fri. It was about 10 pm, I reckon. A nice early 30's type couple across from us. They were going to the end, so were making up their beds. We were only going about 2 1/2 hours, so just sat and read... and people-watched. ;) Mr Husband puts on his coat and heads down the corridor to the space between our wagon and the next- the used-to-be-accepted place for smokers to, well, to smoke. Used to be. See, it's always been 'not allowed' but never been enforced. I'd heard that they were enforcing it. There have been a lot of police, doing patrols in 2 man teams but I hadn't stopped to think about the why's and wherefore's. So- takeabreath- Mr Husb goes off to smoke. Mrs Wife is sitting there diddling with her phone. S is reading. I'm reading. The police stroll by at a fast clip. A half a heartbeat later, I twitch forward fast because I've just realized what's going to happen. Mrs Wife has the same slightly delayed reaction and twitches just a tiny instant after I do. Only her twitch is violent and frantic. She tries to call her husband but alas, we're in a no reception zone. She slumps back and just sits. There's nothing to do. And sure enough, another 60 seconds, and here comes Mr Husb looking more than sheepish with his police escort... only there are 3 policemen now. They all cram into our small space- I'm being hedged and hovered over. After a very short and very low exchange of words, Mrs Wife goes off with her purse and the 3 policemen to the conductor's cabin. She comes back a long time later. I didn't have the heart to ask them how it all went down or just what happened. They were either fined and given a receipt for the fine (somehow, I'm guessing that's what happened) or they paid a bribe and didn't (haha) get a receipt. The fact that they went down to the conductor makes me think it was the legit route. 

ok- I'm sorry for them. And I was amazed and amused at my instinctive lurch forward to go rescue not-my-Mr Husband from the 'Bad Guys'. Commoners around here really band together against the 'enemy' and my response came as a surprise. I can't stand having to breathe all the smoke that comes through the vents from the smokers. It stuffs me up, makes it hard to breathe and generally makes the train just that much less pleasant. And, I'm really glad that they are enforcing this ban. And yet, I really felt sorry for that guy. I really did. And I would have stuck my head through that door and warned him if I'd been between him and the cops. Odd. 

- It's been above freezing and thawing and slopping and melting and raining/drizzling (off and on) for nearly 36 hours now. It does feel better, a lot easier to stay warm. ;) 

- We are now on the upward swing of daylight hours!!! Really- even before my Darling Niece graced Dec 21 with her presence, the 21/22 has always been one of my favorite days of the year. You just can't help love a day when the days, however minutely (haha) start getting longer! Or at least stop getting shorter.

- See this cup? One of them was hand delivered to me yesterday! I love it. In memory of this. :)

- On the same topic as above- Carbon Monoxide poisoning is the number 1 cause of death by poisoning in the world. It's a problem in every country. Every one. In developed nations and not so developed. Ok- I'm not sure the remaining African tribes have much of a problem with it... but...

it starts with the shoes

Something happened on the bus recently- new for me. A dad and his little (6? year old) son got on. Immediately, they both caught my eye. The color of their coats was just... different. Why? A light sky blue. Not really typical coat colors for here. As they made their way back to where I was sitting, I sort of idly noticed them. Dad parked Son in an empty seat just diagonally in front of me and moved on behind me. Sonny Boy sat there like a soldier. I looked here and there and back to him. And gradually became aware of a whole set of slightly unusual things about the kid. He was wearing a snowsuit- the kind that is like a pair of coveralls- one piece, top to bottom. OK- that's the norm for little kids but not much older than 2 or 3. His snow-pants finished in stirrups that went under his boots. I've never seen that on a kid that big here, either. His gloves were warmer looking and better than the norm. He was just different, from top to bottom. 

Then he fell asleep. Fast asleep. Kept falling onto the seat in front of him. Then the other way. Flop. Flop. FlopFlopFlop. So much that a lady who'd just gotten on and was standing by him turned an accusing eye on me and wanted to know What Was Up? Where's the adult for this child? I'm not sure, I said- the bus had really filled up and I had bags on my lap so was awkward to turn around. I did, though, and said- I think that's his dad back there at the back. She looked and then grinned- Oh, he's asleep, too. And flopping around. Wherever they'd been, they were worn out. So, the Nice Lady stood by Sleepy Boy and held onto the side of his shoulder and was Motherly. Dad suddenly came to and moved in a very direct line up to Sonny Boy. And took over from Motherly Lady. So then I looked at Dad. He was different, too. Wearing a really nice warm-looking ski jacket. Sky blue, like I said. Odd color, that... for here... on a man. Huh- look at the logo on the coat!

Now my interest is totally caught! Once before here I've seen this stuff and blogged it... Where did he get that? His shoes were good- solid and warm- more like hiking boots and not typical men's snow-type boots for here- you could go snow mobiling in them, for instance. Don't even ask me what typical is- I couldn't really say- just everything about this guy was shouting I'm Not From Here. And his son, too. Just before they got off the bus, I noticed the elastic strings at the sides of his coat- you know, the ones that you and move the plastic thing around on to make it tighter or looser- they were all stretched out. Ahhh- so it's not new stuff. Come to think of it, Sonny Boy's stirrup-things on his snow suit were worn looking, too. Then he had a brief conversation with another passenger in perfect Ukr'n... maybe a slight accent. Probably an ex-pat home for a visit. My Conclusion. 

Which brought something else to mind. (You wanted a book tonight, right?) 

Several years ago, a visitor told about visiting the USSR back in the day. You know, back then. He was in and out a lot. He told about riding the metro. Now- it's important to remember that, unless you had access to Black Market stuff, you wore the same stuff as everyone else. Period. So- Mr Foreigner gets on the metro. Sits down. Everyone's staring at the floor, for the most part. Across from him, he can see Grandma staring at the floor like everyone else. Her eyes idly move around but always directed down. Then suddenly they stop. Focus. On his shoes. They are Different Shoes. You can't get shoes like that here She thinks. Her eyes move to the cuffs of his pants- Not Normal. At All. And on to his pants- Wow- never saw fabric quite like that. And on up. Jacket- odddddd. Bag- Man, that is different. And finally to the face. What We Have Here is a Foreigner. 

Every time. Over and over again. On the metro, on the street, in the stores. Everywhere. You just looked and smelled and acted different. 

We're often taken immediately for foreigners as well. I think, no matter how long you live here, you never quite fit in. Your tastes are just a bit different. You have some sort of access to different sources for many things. (Although that has greatly changed, especially with the massive popularity recently of Second Hand Shops carrying only American and Western European goods- cheaper than the stuff in the shops and bazaars here and of much MUCH better quality. Astronomically higher in quality.) 

It's funny how the subconscious works and grabs your attention. I was amused at myself for noticing the Dad and his Son. 

the sun, a hat, a van and calories...

the sun peeped out the other day... red as red can be. About 9 in the morning...

you can see it, right? I darkened it a bit...

ok, here I painted it... orange...

 How about red? paint, I mean. ok- enough. just having a little fun. It was really amazingly red. And disappeared altogether shortly thereafter. ;)

 Many long years ago- like 10 1/2- my cousins decided they'd like to get me something special.  What can we get you for Ukr? they asked. I had no idea. None. I'd never been there. Had no clue what it'd be like. I mean- I thought likely people bathed and such but really, it was some dark unknown question mark and I had a suitcase full of toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, hand lotion and the like Just In Case. (There was coffee in there, too.) I really was clueless. This whole part of the world seemed like it all fit into Siberia, likely, so we decided to go with something warm for my head. Fur. Really and Truly. They found it somewhere south of my folks. Ordered it. Picked it up and delivered it. There are a whole raft of memories associated with the day it was dropped off at Mom and Dad's. For one thing, my cousin had her little girl, 6 months old, with her. It was the only time I would ever see that child, turns out. She was later diagnosed with an extremely rare and unpleasant genetic bone disease. Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (more links here and here- it's not a pleasant disorder. And one more link to the IFOPA) Anyway. My little first cousin-once-removed died in an accident less than 2 years later. So- that day is inexorably tied to the memory that tiny beautiful child. I was also in the middle of getting ready to leave the States and Stuff (my stuff) was whirling. Like a blizzard. We had a short photo session with the hood then. I have worn it some, but mostly it's been too warm for it. Like a lot of my other vague perceptions- Ukr turned out not to exactly be like that... Well- with the ear infection recently, my ears just felt wimpy. Like they were shivering a lot. In their insides. So- I dug out my old friend for the first time this year and Boy Did We Have A Good Day! Only problem was- the temps climbed from 8 F to 26 F that day so by evening I was more than warm. ;) I was never so aware, though, just how nice it is to be toasty warm. :)

 We hitched a ride back into town. As the (what appeared to be) van approached and slowed down, I thought it looked a bit odd... just sort of... not normal. Sort of looks like a... I-don't-know... like a hearse or something. I surreptitiously checked out the back as I opened the front door... heh... it was, in fact, a hearse! We don't very often see them here. In fact, this was the first like this that I've ever seen- most are enclosed. I'm not sure most people would have flagged this down... but it got us there! He let us off right in front of the funeral services people and we walked on down to the bus stop and caught the next bus!

The people that brought their drill to visit us? heh. One of them had a cooking 'flop' (it's all relevant, you know) in the kitchen not long before that. I didn't hear what this was supposed to be, what it's called... but I'd call it caramel fudge and Wow! Was it delicious! We finished it off tonight. Burp. (*eyes rolling in delight*)

somewhat relevant ramblings

- Want another Amish bit? Here's a very interesting post with National Geographic video embedded. I found it even more interesting because the man they interviewed is on my brother's facebook friends list... hmmm How do they know each other? (I wrote him a message... maybe he'll answer. My bro, that is.)


- It's great to have friends. You knew that. I did, too... Well, picture this. An apt with a bathtub and a shower head. The shower head isn't attached to the wall, it just sort of dangles. Fine. There are heaps like it all over and I've used lots of them. No biggie. Someone (who is a Bear of Great Brain and comes from a Bear Family of Great Brains) rigged up a plastic coated wire and twisted it around the shower head and suspended it from a metal rod up above. This is Quite Clever, really. Except that I tend to move the shower head around (I'm short after all) and that messes it up. Totally. It shoots water everywhere. Last night, I totally hosed down half of the bathroom before getting it corralled. Well, last week I'd had enough. I sent 2 emails to 2 people working together in a city not so far from here. It said, basically- We'll cook you a nice dinner and really enjoy your company if you bring your electric drill with the cement-eating bit and hold it against our bathroom wall for a few minutes. Heh. They took me up on it. Yesterday they called to say they'd be here today. I scrambled out the door this am and toodled over to the bazaar 2 min away. Asked one man if he had the doo-hickey with which you could 'причипіти' the shower head to the wall. No, but if you go down there to the end on the left there's a kiosk, a man and his 'жіночка' (totally diminutive for 'wife') and they will. I toodle down there (it was toodling, too, believe me- everything is snow-covered ice and no one rushes anywhere) and posed my question. Жіночка finds what I want and for just over $3, it is mine. Yay. And- the emailed people come, they eat their lunch, they do their thing... and Voila! We have a beautifully functional shower!

 - Ever since I discovered Google Reader, I've done all my news and all but the private blogs that way- it's easy, fast and you read what you want/have time for and skip the rest. Saves a HEAP of time. So, I have a couple fun feeds there- like Mental Floss and Neatorama- and mostly I fly through them pretty fast. Today, though, there was a Christmas songs post... which I blurred through because they were all off the wall... but we'd had a Wikileaks conversation at noon and the Wikileaks Xmas song caught my eye... and was... funny. (What I find interesting about Wikileaks? The guy is uniting enemies all over the world- just look at the commentary in this photo essay- Democrats and Republicans love him; D's and R's hate him; and similarly across the board- people who usually hate each other- either love him or hate him- for the same reason. Brilliant. Sorry- not really. But... I guess I'll stop.)

- It's amazing how many unwanted sounds soft music piped into your ears through ear buds will block out. It comes in handy a lot- the bus, the train and a few other places. I'd love to talk if you want to, I'd love to connect... but if you're just being obnoxious- this is when ear buds and some nice music (or an audio book, come to think of it) come in handy.

- Another new law is coming here. Just heard today. You will only be able to buy (what the rest of the world calls) prescription drugs with a bona fide physician-authored prescription. This is, basically, a good thing. But- the pits, too. Yesterday, I wandered down to the pharmacy and told the pharmacist exactly how my ears have been hurting and my sinuses and that I can't breathe at times and how I'm not exactly dizzy but can't always just walk a straight line (ha- and I'm not exactly drunk, either!). Do you have a fever, she asked. No. Is your throat sore? No. She looks me up and down, peers at me, in fact (I'm sure she has x-ray vision and this is all quite scientific) and then walks back to the magic drawers and shelves, roots around a bit and comes back with Amoxicillin. Ok, Amoxicillin isn't likely going to knock this- but hopefully, I can get something stronger... hopefully. But not for much longer. Yes, of course, it's better that way. Prescriptions and doctors are good and safe. It's just that- I really don't have the patience or time (mostly patience) to go to your typical clinic here and wait for hours until the doctor gets around to you. Most clinics have no appointments, you just go and wait. Not. Fun. Esp if you're already sick. Ukr is anxious to join the rest of the (civilized?) world...

- speaking of- a major benefit of living in a (post USSR) country geared toward public transportation and getting around on foot- you seldom live more than 5 (or 10, max) min walk from: the grocery, a pharmacy, a bank of some sort, a shoe repair place, someplace to buy fresh produce- a bazaar or sidewalk stand. :)

- oh- and lunch today? For the shower-head people? It was, if I may say so, yummy. Everyone else was completely tied up so I did it... and since the advent of ear aches and head aches and sinuses, I opted for easy. A roast- cut slits in it and stuffed garlic in the slits, rubbed it with about a tbs of butter, salted it, sprinkled basil, oregano and rosemary over that then sliced an onion and leek on top of it, chunked a carrot around the sides of it and covered it all with tomato wedges. Very low oven for 3 hours. It really was unbelievably simply yummy. You all grew up on it, I did, too. And it's just plain good food! Baked potatoes, too, and a cabbage/apple/pepper/walnut salad with mustard/mayo/honey dressing. And pumpkin custard for dessert.

- heh- missed the photo op... but yesterday, in the famous it's-5-min-away grocery they had pumpkins. Real Live Round Ribbed pumpkins! Just like IN! ;) (we eat lots of squash but seldom see pumpkins like what we have back 'home'). I couldn't help myself. I found the smallest one (still plenty big- heh) and got it. And gutted it. And cooked it. And made custard. And... heh- we have a lot left. We'll be having pumpkin puree and in soup. Heh. It was definitely worth it though... ;)

when you go fishing

This pic is definitely worth clicking through to have a look-see... taken in Northern Ukr... of all places! Can we say Chernobyl Frog? ;) (not necessarily... but anything odd around here gets blamed on Chernobyl)...

Tuesday what... toodles? something. Or- John's all grown up

Just did a bit of reflective writing... and it's hard to turn that off when it starts.
-Was looking at old pix of Mom's dad and Dad's mom. Those 2 very strong personalities, both in their 90's now, have outlived their spouses and are still, relatively speaking, going strong. Going, anyway. Do strong personalities always live longer? I don't think so. These 2 have, though, and I'm very much hoping to see them next summer. Living across the ocean from family makes it not always possible to be there- like for funerals. It's just life. For a lot of people. So, I'm very much hoping to see them and spend some time with them.
-Somebody made the comment recently: N thought she had to choose her family or X. And it hit me- there was a time when Dad's family thought we'd done that- chosen X instead of them, family. We chose X instead of Y. And we kept our family and kept loving them and stayed a part of them. I think they eventually came to see that. I hope so.
-Oh yes- John. hmmm.
Once upon a time- in 1997, June to be exact, I spent some time (1 month, in fact) helping out on a fairly large building project. Mostly, I helped feed people and launder their (and my) clothes and change bed linens- girl stuff like that. There was a very lively skinny little kid there, John. He was about 6 or so and lived there with his dad, mom and big bro and sis. Every now and again, other people came to help and they'd bring other little people along and J and the Littles would have a blast. One day- the day they finished digging out the pit for the septic tank- it rained. Actually, it rained every single day (or nearly) as I recall. And, John and another Little were out in the mud by the pit having a blast. At noon, Wanda and I were at the top of the hill when J and Other Little came up with the guys- and J & OL were completely unrecognizable, covered from head to foot in mud. Totally. Top To Bottom. They'd had a mud fight- thrown it in great gloppy handfuls at each other. I don't remember if a certain person named Ruth was on the spot or if W and I just instantly knew that no 2 people looking like that would ever be admitted into any dining area under R's eyes. At any rate, W & I took garden hoses and hosed those 2 off. I had John. He was little and skinny and shivering but he stood there and let me hose him off... until I noticed the water coming out of the tops of his knee high rubber boots and had a stab in my heart and stopped. Someone took them over to where the driers vented outside the house and parked them in the warm air there. As I recall, they loved every minute of it. I don't think their clothes ever did come out white again... but no one seemed to mind too much.
The thing is- I was reading someone else's blog recently and noticing the pix of her niece and Niece's b-friend. And suddenly began to see something vaguely familiar in the face of B-friend. And his name was John. Hmmm. So- I got to thinking and realized that my John story was 13 1/2 years old. Which could make him about 19. Oh my. So I wrote and asked. And- Goodness Gracious- The same kid. All grown up. Unreal. In my mind, I realized, he was still a scrawny skinny pale 6 year old, full of spice and orneriness wearing boots up to his knees. So- when did this happen? This growing up bit. And who else has gone and done that when I wasn't looking? Ok- I know this in not a new thing. I know I've talked about it a lot. I know everyone feels like kids just whizz by them at the speed of light.
But honestly? I suddenly realized why parents sometimes have a '2nd family' when the older kids begin to, well, get older. It must be hard to say good-bye to those precious little people- so full of zest and life and naughtiness (sometimes) but so ready to love and so needful of comfort. I mean- I'm having a hard time and I don't even have any of my own.
Of course it's the best and right thing for them to grow, to develop and to become beautiful young adults. That's best. That's how it's supposed to be. But? Can we just, please, hang on- for a minute here- to the Little-ishness of the Littles?
I'm seriously wondering if my nephews and nieces are still even short. Oh help.

'EEka!

We saw this doll baby again Fri! She's 2 and 9 months and not shy at all. Her name is 'Sofia' (Sofika for short) and she calls herself 'EE-ka'! With a lot of excitement! What a sweetheart!

same field, different week

Remember this? And this?

 Heading back there 1 week and 2 days after those other posts... looks a sight different.

 my first time in alone and I was a tad worried about finding the way over those fields

 I look worried, right? Or is that a cold look? It was cold. -12 C... 10 F. Cold considering that the week before it was barely coat weather and there was a bug crossing the road and the field was covered in tiny flowers... it's early for that kind of cold here.

 off we go...

 so far, so good. There's still a track.

 It wasn't so bad, really. Turns out, I've done it enough in good weather that I did know when to turn and when to go straight...

We're headed for those houses off in the distance!

 Kitty was waiting... snuggled up in the baking part of the big wood stove! No wonder her white hair is something less than snowy white...

headed back out
ps- no horse this time...

 nearing the road

 as T says- this is where you get worried. You could miss the bus and see it but not be able to get there fast enough...

 up and out!

The road looks not too bad here but it was anything but good further up. Very treacherous and follows a river, so quite curvy. That was nothing, though, to the roads that night when I headed back to where the other girls were. 3 1/2 hours in good weather... longer this time. It was snowing when I left. But the temps were rising and that changed to sleet about an hour and a half later. And the road just got worse. I was so thankful for a skilled and careful and level-headed driver who kept it in his own lane. He drove slowly a lot of the time and we made it safe and sound. When I got off and he was getting my bag out of the back, I had the strongest urge to grip his shoulder and sincerely and heartily thank him... but I refrained. I don't think Ukr'n women do stuff like that... and he was about 10 years younger than me so would have proly had a spell. I did sincerely thank him and told him 'Ви молодці' (You did great- loosely translated.) I think he got it.

life updated in a series of recent blurry pix

 Did I already tell you about these? We can get them in the some stores now. I'm limiting myself. But- oh yummers!

OSHA-approved? hmmm I think not. Works, though. They were painting...

Stopped at the store last weekend to pick up some basics and saw this on the counter. It is some kind of homemade sausage...but the blackest I've ever seen. Is this blood sausage? I know they like it here... was back there this weekend and there was another plate of it. Should have asked the cashier but didn't. 

This man was doing the 'bus station lady' job (same job, different station) and let me tell you- he's a pushover. Everyone cheerfully waltzed past him, ticket or no... wonder if he got DEmoted or PROmoted?

last week's wild drunk. He was a doozy. Obnoxious and spoiling for a fight.  He started out right behind me at the back of the bus. I moved when it became clear that he would fight if someone half gave him the chance. Others followed suit. (this pic is from when he and his sober escort were at the front of the bus... trying to bribe the driver into dropping them off halfway between stops- in Sober Escort's defense- I'm sure it was no easy task at all being in charge of this guy. The driver, though, wouldn't do it- told him the fine he'd have to pay for doing that was 10 times what SE was offering him. That, friends, is a sign of how orderly this city is... home of the quiet and happy dogs... unusual, so far, in this Dear Land.)

Drunk had just finished making faces at and belittling the driver. His hand is still moving. The pix are blurry...  which is likely what the world looks like to him. He was entertaining... from a distance. 

The end of last week, waiting for the bus. It was a long and slippery ride. Driver did really well, though. 

Ange's lesson was cancelled today so she went along to walk at the mall... and to browse the dessert counter at the coffee shop. She had some kind of caramel cheesecake; I had coffee mousse. :) S turned down dessert but we all had an orange juice- fresh-squeezed. A rare and special treat!

A very bad pic- but we were right by the glass that overlooks the skating rink. A group of early teenage boys kept crashing into the glass right by us and laughing uproariously. We were laughing, they were laughing. They got the biggest kick out of it. So- I got my phone out and shot a pic...so they ducked... then came back with a cell phone camera of their own... still laughing. It was a fun afternoon... a welcome break for all of us! (proly for the boys, too, but guess I can't speak for them!)