more signage, dogs (what?! on here?!), candles, a cake, a blooming mini tree, a song, Kiki-ism

Have been seeing these all over the city: Joy will be, Success will come, To live is happiness. Not sure who's doing it or what it's all about but maybe someone along the line will eventually be able to fill me in?

see the puppy by mama dog? 

see the hole under the door step it's going down? ;) Now tell me- did Mama have Babies down there or did she move them in later? I mean... (ok, ok, I know. Still pretty clever hiding spot for your babies. I smiled. :)

Easter's a big deal here. Very big. Thurs before Easter, people go to the Orthodox Church and light a candle and then take it home with them. I've never before seen them on public transportation! We were on the bus and a whole possee of babas got on with their candles... a full bus and lit candles. I took a deep breath and pressed myself over out of their way. I'm sure nothing so terrible would have happened but it did sort of take my breath away. 

Irotchka had a birthday! This kid was only about 7 when I first saw her. Or maybe 8. Well- 11 years later... she's not 7 or 8 anymore! All grown up and studying to be a nurse. At the top of her class. In one of the best nursing programs in the country. A program, in fact, that's accredited in the US. There is a class of foreigners at her university that includes Americans...because it costs a fraction what it does in the US. (Trivia for the day. There, you've done your share.)

We got a total kick out of this. Stopped me in my tracks. Had never seen such a small tree in bloom. And then it hit me- someone had just 'planted' a totally blooming twig. Pretty! ;)

A link to a song whose melody I love. It's been going around and around in my head the past 2 days. It's by a Belorussian. Links to the instrumental version and with the lyrics. Song title translates to 'The Town of Nowhere'. I'm not exactly sure to what the lyrics are referring but they are haunting and (I'm wondering) if they refer to a person near the end of their life.

Talked to my sis last night. In the middle of the dialog, she interrupts with this from the youngest of the twins. Kiki just found an ant and I just heard her say, 'you're getting squished! prepare to die!!' This from the kid who also knows where God lives- in your heart... which is just behind...
Well- you can figure out what your heart is just behind! She's a hoot.
Now- that's enough for now! Goodnight!! xo