legwork

Not too long ago, I had the opportunity to visit the hosp and doctor where one of our friends is having major reconstructive work done on his leg. When he was a child, his left leg stopped growing (I can't remember now if he had an infection in it or if it was the result of something else); by the time he reached adulthood, that leg was 22 cm shorter than his right leg. About 5 years ago he had the first of several surgeries to begin to lengthen the left leg. This process has taken years, partly because some of it had to be re-broken and re-set. For months, he's had an apparatus similar to this one on his upper leg and one on his lower leg.

Two weeks ago, he and his wife, both deaf, arrived in Kyiv for checkups. He was in the hosp for a week; during the course of his stay, the apparatus was removed from his upper leg; the Dr is pleased with his progress, bone is doing well and he can begin to put a small amount of weight on that leg as he walks with the assistance of a crutch. He was beaming radiantly, to put it mildly, at the freedom of life without the clunky thing on his upper leg.

I know a similar procedure is done at home; I'd be very interested to hear more details about how if anyone knows. I was in the dr's office and got a close up look at the many posters on his walls that explain the procedure as it's done here. This doctor designed the whole thing and was the premier bone specialist in this area in the whole Soviet Union in his day. He's a native Ukrainian and chose to stay in Kyiv- which is certainly a huge benefit to Ukr. I also got to meet the man and he was compassionate like no Ukr'n dr I've been in touch with before. He's kind and not a big-shot... I was impressed.

However, he finished his main research work in developing the apparatus in 1984 and there have been no changes at all (that I could tell), no advancements since that time. The apparatus is extremely ungainly, attached to the leg by pins and consists of a metal brace that is nearly the size of the leg itself. The brace is on the outside and is a nuisance, to say the least, to the wearer. How is this done in the States? Another question: Is it common to do this sort of procedure (break the bone and then gradually spread it apart to cause it to fill in the gap with new bone, which lengthens the bone) in adults? This man is my age... a few years older, actually.

Here's another poster from the dr's wall. They also use this kind of get-up for setting badly broken bones, which is depicted here.

guess what this is?

If you guessed 'outhouse'- you're right! I haven't seen it myself, but I know people who have... notice the door has been sawed off at the bottom so that you can close it what with the major lean to the right and the stone at the bottom. And don't forget the support staff... or should we say staffs...

ahhhh- the metro!

You've been waiting for more surreptitious cell phone pix, right? I found it highly interesting recently to see these 2 funky hair colors framing the 3 'normal' people across from me. Sorry for the poor quality of especially the first pic- but it's the one which best shows the nearly pink hair at the far left of the row....

Just another Night Owl saying...

tea for me

I love tea... coffee, too... but it's a different kind of love... or something. Coffee is I-need-some-help-fast stuff... but tea is comfort stuff... what I start the morning with... and finish the day with. Tea- Ahmad Tea's Earl Grey is my favorite- makes my tummy happy; makes me think warm fuzzy things (as opposed to super-zippy-energizing thoughts like coffee-induced ones).

Well, this was on google reader tonight- alternative uses for tea... I just thought you needed to see it, too!

So, go de-funk your feet... or wash your windows... but whatever you do, smile! There's tea!

a boy and his toys

we see this little dude nearly every week...

He's so smart... and he knows it....

we played castle/helicopter/firetruck last time

there's always plenty of action when this kids around!

the firetruck is pretty cool, actually- has all kinds of sliding doors that open and disgorge all sorts of firefighter equipment, including oxygen tanks and masks, hose, ladders and some mystery items (looked like grenades... was having a hard time figuring that one)

I want one too

teehee- should I try this? I've always secretly (not all that secretly, actually) loved cotton candy... and rice krispies squares... and s'mores... and peppermint candy canes... and (I'm thinking)... Reesce's Peanut Butter cup cereal... ummm... ok, we'll stick with cotton candy makers for now!

For Trude and Karla

Every morning when I check my google home page, the daylight map gadget has gotten a bit more depressing than it was the day before... it's hard not to notice that way up at the top of the world where some people are, there's just not much daylight each day... while way down at the bottom of the world where some other people are, there's not much break from all the daylight flying around. So, K- I suggest you look for a spot of shade! And T- hmmmm- better take a long nap! ;)

just some more favorite comics

haha- this isn't really aimed at anything, but it cracked me up. I'm reading one right now where none of the people are very smart, girls or boys. There's a sweet mouse in it, though. French, I think. Got it from Julie (who got it from Laura The Western???). Mouse isn't all that smart either, but he's sweet. It's called The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo.

This one's for Trude... she might figure out the connection... and if you read her blog, you might get it, too... :)

Ahhhhhhh.... nothing much to say here

forgive me?

Well, the post title is a bit tongue in cheek... but when I saw this my instant thought was: This is Paul and me... completely... I was such a bossy big sister. I'll admit I did my share of tattling on the kid that was my little brother- there's only 1 1/2 years between me and my mostly-very-good-friend-when-we-were-kids Little Brother. I hope he was as pragmatic about it as Hammy is. I hope he still loves me! lol (and the real question is, Does he even read this? Doubtful...hmmm)

post #290

for lack of a better title

Spent a few hours out at the airport last week- accidentally got there a bit earlier than I'd anticipated. So, since there were no more seats left in the general waiting area (there aren't so many to begin with), I headed over to the food area- enquired about a cappucino at the coffee bar- 35 UAH... or about $6; at today's rate, it's only $5... ok, that doesn't really apply since I bought it at last Thurs' price... but I'm a bit amazed at how much the rate has changed the last 5 days. The US dollar is higher right now than it's been at all since I first came. This isn't really good, though, since it's because the local currency is frightfully unstable just now and a person hopes it won't collapse altogether. Anyway, all those things which I don't understand, let's just leave on the sidelines for now. The point is- this was my cappucino... and Oh Mama Mia- it was delish! Pretty too. And came with a yummy piece of good chocolate. Plus there were all kinds of rather interesting people to watch while I leisurely sipped...Yesterday started early with a trip to downtown. By noon, we were finished with official stuff and meandering through the downtown area, scouting out the fancy schmancy food bazaar and looking for a place to eat lunch. Spied this... which is only significant because my brother has been an off-and-on Papa John's delivery guy for a long time... years and years... and here, in Kyiv, lo and behold- a Papa John's pizza place... only it doesn't look anything at all like the chain in the States... I reckon they liked the sound of the name or something and just stole it.

We didn't try it. Went across the street toI had tomato basil soup and half a chicken caesar salad... still savoring that soup... thanks E & M!

memories and more

I don't have any kids of my own... but I've sure met a lot of them... lots and lots. And I do enjoy kids. They're so full of personality and character. One of the most exciting times in the life of me was when my nephews and neices came on the scene. They are super-special, darling (just think superlatives for all positive adjectives you can come up with... except maybe well-behaved 100% of the time, but anyway...)

But before there were nephies and neice-ies, there were other little tykes. Cute. Out-going. Shy. Skinny. Chunky. Tall. Short. You name it, there was someone to fit the bill. Well, this little dude was in my inbox today- and he brought a certain kid vividly to mind. Now this kid is currently something like 15- so I won't embarrass him by naming him- but maybe his mom will recognize him. It was memorable. He had a book called 'Vegetables Gone Bad' or something like that... all about a little boy who didn't like some kind of vegetable and he managed to hide them when he was supposed to be eating them...but these veggies came back in the night to 'haunt' him (or something like that). So one Sunday afternoon, we were having lunch with this little guy's family and his peas were disappearing like nobody's business... Only later did someone discover he'd stuffed them all down into the top of the hollow leg of his metal folding chair! Poor kid- someone mentioned the 'Vegetables Gone Bad' book- and he got really worried. (I always thought he was rather clever!)

This next one's for all the foodies among us... make sure to get a great soup base- any soup'll be good after that!

little people

I skyped with my sis awhile ago. It's always a fun time. For one thing, she has so many interesting kids... here's some of what I saw (via webcam).

- Sis and I chatting; Madi, as always, has to be on Mama's lap- she's always been a cuddler- she used to have to scrunch her nose and mouth into your neck for 30 min before she'd fall asleep. She's the only one of the nephers and neiceys that were remotely cuddly when I was around. Anyway, Mama's lap no longer holds as many kids at once (kids are getting bigger you know) so Miki pressed up against Mama's knees and solemnly looked at the web cam- she's good at solemn looks. JennaMae roars up (that's exactly how it was, too) behind Mi and without any warning whatsoever, ruffles Mi's hair- as in starts at the nape of her neck and totally runs her hand up the back of her head all the way to her forehead and then rocks her head from side to side... I mean, she messed that kid's hair up but good... I was in awe. Of course, Mi wastes no more than about 5.5 seconds before she manages to dissolve into loud angry wails; JM is told to behave. (This may be a good place to say that JM seems absolutely driven to be ornery sometimes- she's got these little twin sisters and it's her mission in life to make sure they know that she's tougher than they are right now... and she's not quite 4 yet... she's cute, adorable, pink... and she won't be pushed around, Thank You.) Meanwhile, big bro Justin comes along holding the new puppy. It's completely clear by the way he cradles her tenderly that Princess Heart (I didn't name her) is his best friend. He holds her just right. He's sweet to her. He pets her nicely. He holds her up to the camera so I can see her. Along comes JM and swipes the dog away... and that's where this comic strip comes into play. The next thing I know, my sister's attention is no longer on me or the webcam or skype- oh no. She's nearly flying out of her chair and her big stern Mom voice says JM, you put that dog down- it's not a doll and you can't sling it around by its neck... and I can see by her face that the dog's lucky to be alive... Poor JM... it's tough being the 'middle child'... (tough being the dog, too)

I also talk to my brother and his family via computer. Owen has been the main talker (as far as kids go) the last couple times. Which is neat because he was this little round toddler who didn't need to talk the last time I saw him. So now, he's got this low, growly voice- it's adorable!

Here he is... I'm so enamored of him, I couldn't decide which pic to use, so I just did 'em both! He was having headphone issues tonight- they kept falling off. (and I was having cell-phone issues... forgot that I could have just used the Print Screen button to get a good copy of the pic... oh well...) I had the longest conversation in history with O when I asked him all about the pirate birthday party he'd been at recently. It was too cute! Thanks for posting those pix, Megan- asked him about walking the plank- he got all animated then!

Forrest kept roaring in and out of the pic- with a plastic chair, with a comb (he likes to comb my other brother's hair)... he was trying to put it into a ponytail...

ok, this is mostly just rambling. Time for bed, I guess.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow's the day! Hope you're all having some time with family... and turkey, dressing, pumpkin pie... Once again- please eat a piece for me!

Our day tomorrow will mostly consist of getting ready for some special company... but no special T-day food. Phyllis is making lasagna, complete with homemade lasagna noodles. I'm collecting them at the airport. Two couples who are hoping to leave with another child each. So, these next days will be interesting indeed!

yawn.... good-night! xo

random pix

Started this post ages ago... just found it in the drafts box.

Someone sent me this pic... I give you....................................................

Cats!for some reason, I felt compelled to show you my recent iGoogle homepage banner. There's a different one each time the page is opened. This one reminded me of a book I read not too long ago. An Eva Ibbotson book. Technically, a children's book- but she's an excellent writer. This could have been taken from one of her books... at least I think so (and this is very important news... did you want to see today's iGoogle banner? No???? Oh, ok... sorreeeee)

this is a shot of a very good friend... a stovetop espresso maker. Oh My. Oh Wow. Thanks very much, V, for leaving it behind when you left Kyiv. I'll be your friend forever. For completely unselfish, un... um, unmaterialistic reasons... yes... (I'm not sure if I'll have the strength to leave it behind ever... is that a bad thing? gulp)

hahaha- this one's dedicated to a friend... not sure if said person even looks at this but if so (or if said person's Better Half does) I think they'll recognize themself...

oh me oh my

really, the things people do. This was on- where else- a google reader feed today. If you've ever read Harry Potter, make sure to check it out... I'm still somewhat in awe... the broomsticks... well wow (You know, Lani- I laughed harder at this than some of your posts this week... although I thoroughly enjoyed them, don't get me wrong)

I wouldn't want to be the snitch

a few other recent pix

(whereas recent is in the last 3 months!)

sometimes you just need a baked potato! with the works! in this case, 'the works' meant: bake potato on low for a long time (that's the best baked potato!); split open and immediately dab some butter on the whole surface. I partitioned this tater into 3 parts. Part 1 got a spoonful of cottage cheese (I LOVE Kyiv partly because we can actually get cottage cheese here! The real stuff! Just like across the seas! Yay!); Part 2 got enough blue cheese to make my eyes cross from sheer delight; Part 3 got feta cheese coated with basil and oregano. (I mashed the cheeses into the potato pronto so they'd melt.) The whole potato got topped off with a healthy dose of sauteed carrots and zucchini and then chopped parsley and basil (I rolled the parsley and basil together and then chopped so that there'd be a nice mix). Salted to taste. And it tasted jaw-droppingly good. I love the punch of flavor from blue and feta cheeses.

Just a shot of some familiar folks (for some of you) this is the scene outside our kitchen window- that small cluster of buildings is a Ukrainian Orthodox chapel- sort of like a 'drive-in' only it's walk-up I guess. It gets a heap of traffic. There's another one about 5 min walk the other direction from the apt.

still on the planet

really. Truly.

Got back from Poland- always a great place to be; always a great place to leave, if you know what I mean. Jean M in northern IN- she's on my list of 'favorite people' (that's a long list, actually)- would say as we went out their front door with our bags and stuff Nice to see you come, Nice to see you go. It's nice to have a break, nice to do some sideline stuff- but then it's really nice to know I have a place and there's stuff for me to do there! Hello Ukraine!

Having said all that, this past week was fairly quiet. This morning's news said that Europe is officially in a recession. I beleive it. Ukr is feeling the pinch, for sure. The exchange rate for the dollar into local currency has been frozen at above market value for the dollar (I don't understand how this works, but apparently it does... or they hope it does); there is a freeze on withdrawals from banks in excess of a certain sum (to keep the banks from tanking... think the 30's and the run on the banks); no bank or currency exchange place can trade anything but US dollars, Euros or the Russian ruble (I don't totally understand this either- except it's supposed to simplify things for banks). There is almost no building going on- cranes are on-site but haven't moved for weeks. Cost of living has gone up, wages have not. People are scared. I know they are other places, too.

Which brought to mind 2 pix from Pol. We visited a family- Baby is 15 mos old, Dad has been working in Northern EU country for months- was home briefly about a month ago; hasn't seen Baby much since he was about 6 mos old, I'm guessing. Mom has a video of Dad on her cell phone, talking to Baby... he says Can you give Daddy a kiss? And that's when Baby eats the phone. Darling. Poignant. This is not an unusual scenario at all; Ukr and Pol are full of families just like them. Sometimes the 'away' parent gets home weekends (depending on distance); sometimes, like this case, every 6 mos or so. (pix taken with my cell phone, so have that certain grainy charm!)

pessimism pays

My dad has been known to say that Pessimists are never disappointed... and sometimes they're pleasantly surprised. Well, I'm considering becoming a pessimist.

After all the ups and downs with this visa, I finally have all my documents, all worded just exactly like the lady says... BUT tomorrow is Happy Birthday Poland Day... Polish Independence Day... something fairly major in the holiday-way and no business will be open and most are closed today already. AND the embassy I've been frequenting is never open on Wednesdays. I was having visions of being here until Thurs. In fact, I was pretty muchly Doom and Gloom this am, as I tried to quietly get up and around and ready to catch the 7 am train into Warsaw without disturbing others. Damaris practically had to smile for me... in fact, I think she did do that.



Well, at 7.50, I'm standing outside the embassy and the first thing I notice is, If these guys are going to disappoint me by not being open, then the 6 of us here in the cold can have a small pity party together. This is somehow comforting. And then, CLICK CLACK SCRAPE CLICK- Really, I think that's the sound of a door being unlocked. And sure enough- promptly at 8, they begin buzzing people in.


Well this is excitement for sure. Sunshine.


At 8.13 I'm in and the lady is smiling and saying All you need to do now is go to The Bank and pay your fee and bring your receipt back...but I'm pretty sure The Bank is closed today. (This is the FIRST I'd thought of banks not being open) Oh Joy. Nice Lady looks apologetic and sad and says Of course, we won't be open again until Thurs.


Doom and Gloom


8.15 I'm off to the bank; 8.30 arrive at The Bank and security guard informs me The Bank will be open at 9 am.


9.40 I have my passport in hand with a really gorgeously beautiful amazingly comforting 5 year visa in it... really, I'm agog... and because of how I'm put together, I'm trying not to bawl my eyes out because none of these people would have a clue.


Of course, there's the issue of a last minute ticket- Will there be one available? Will I have to wait? Will I have to sweat it out on a top bunk? minor Doom and Gloom although nothing looks impossible now


And wouldn't you know it? I have a ticket for tonight for a bottom bunk! Oh Joy and Happy Sunshine!


I'm going to try pessimism more...


maybe


Waiting for the train back to the girls' apt, I lost all control and got half a cheesecake... and we had a small party with our after lunch coffee!

special note to T's mom if you read this: See the candle? Well T's been using it! :)

Pretty appropriate Mickey!

the view from where I sat

T got D getting me

oh yes- I forgot I called

sorry to leave you hanging...hope you weren't in the middle of something important and put your life on hold while you waited for me to finish a sentence. Just got a bit distracted.

Oh yes- and I'm still in Poland. Just waiting. I told Phyllis my patience muscles were getting sore and she said Hope is a good liniment for that! Thank goodness for people with their heads on straight! Thank goodness for people in my life who help me keep a measure of balance... on whom I can (and do) lean heavily...

thank you, Phyllis! xo

So, I came across this in my inbox today... alleykat just wrote about a pensieve moment (and if you don't know what that means, well, let's just say you and JK Rowling aren't on a first name basis, for sure); anyhoo- this little guy dropped me into the pensieve of my own memories. I have a very clear picture of being at Menom preps and some of our crew having just finished up filling umpteen jars with prunes for the breakfast tables... and then this certain someone (I'd say his name but... well, let's just say he lives over on the East side now) says: What a terrible thing/indignation (the memory of his actual words isn't all that clear, acutally) it was to those poor plums to turn them into something like a prune. At the end of a long day, it was rolling on the floor funny...

oh yeah- and apparently that 'You're only 29 once' thing from that last post sort of confused some people... sorreeeeeeeeeeeeee. I thought that, if mimisusan were laying down the 'I'm-29' mantle, I'd just as well take it up.

Interestingly enough, I've never had a problem with my age... it just seemed sort of the natural bloggy-thing to do...

I'm 38

and 1 week and 1 day

afternoon in the park

this Polish 'vacation' has had its perks, for sure.
Now, it sure didn't start out to be a vacation. It was supposed to be

• in one day
• business done same day
• possibly one more day to finish business
• out the next day

When the train was 4 hours late Mon am and we never even got to the embassy that day (the day that was supposed to do the first 2 bullet items on the above list), maybe we should have been thinking: This Is A Bad Sign.

Ahhh, for the innocence of a younger more carefree time. Like last week. You don't need all the details- they're mostly boring (except to me- they're somewhat life-, energy- and strength-consuming, but that's just... ummm... that's just what I just said it was). BUT- things just didn't go as planned. The best laid plans of mice and men and all that. So, I'm still in Poland. Still 'exploring options'. (that's such a handy and vague phrase.)

Yesterday and today were big holidays here- All Saints' Day and Day of the Dead and I'm not sure what all... but not really practical to try to do something Big and Important... Sort of like trying to have a mtg on the Westside of Indy on Race Day. Or more like having that mtg smack dab on Oh, I don't know- it's just not practical. So, we had a free afternoon. So we 3 (did I mention that we're all 29? Seriously. Damaris is 29 last summer; I'm just 29; T is 29 in Jan... there's only a year and about 6 mos between us... and if that math confuses you- well shame on you.) So- Yes- we 3 went to a park that surrounds an old palace- and roamed and walked and chatted and watched a squirrel and a fisherman and sat on benches and cleared our heads and just generally had some wonderful mental health time.

D & T

bet you don't know who this is...
Even our feet were happy.
I think this is why the embassy didn't work. So we'd have today. It was great. And it's supposed to snow soon. But today was still sunny and crisp. Very Nice.

Good Night, peeps

Agnes

is fast becoming my favorite funny

I can SO relate. I can honestly say that- although I've never heard any smatterings of applause (and I ain't looking for any, neither), my life has been a series of special scenes populated with special people. I'm not sure you could get any more fortunate. I'm not whittling yet, either.

there's nothing like Friday's

Birthdays are such fun... really... they are. And I needed a decent time after all the visa ups and downs and hassles. Believe me, a big juicy medium-rare burger with fries at TGIFriday's was just the thing. But best of all? Are you ready? If you happen to eat there on your bday, they give you a free (yup, you heard it right!) free :) yummy gooey really nice... wow... oh- it was a chocolate cake... did I forget to finish the sentence? Sorry, got distracted. Well, it was good. And it was big enough that we all 3 had a chunk of that 1 piece.

And it was good. (Did I mention that?)

oh look- there we are!

Even the sugar was noteworthy... there's nothing like Friday's

You're only 29 once, right?

:)