the news today

the news and comics were full of interesting stuff today. Facebook got featured... these are just from the ones I read...

And King Tut was all over the news. Anybody else notice that? I hadn't thought of him for a long time... What a tragic life the poor kid had... several thousand years after he died he finds out he had malaria, a club-foot and that his parents were siblings...

I guess I'll keep my own tidy little world, thanks.

ps Twila- I'm getting used to the new photo editor. It works pretty much ok...esp for some pix! thanks!

ah the romance of the winter that won't end

we had 2 days of warm weather- even got up to 50 F/ 10C on Sat... all the ice and all the snow (except where it was piled deep and such) was gone... totally gone... coming back from taking the garbage out Sat, this is what the path looked like...

this morning, looked out the window and saw this...

 sigh... it sure is pretty... ;)

miki-way back in dec

wow- I've got a new way to do pix on Blogger... and it's just as confusing as the last way... but I'm trying... so... skype... and web cams... and sisters.. and nieces... I have a few nieces. 3 to be specific. 2 are twins. The Big Sis is the most frequent participant in skype conversations. Then there's Madi- she likes to sit on Mom's lap and look beautiful. Then there's this little monkey. She's not so inclined to say a lot when the others are around... but back in Dec we had a Mommy-Auntie-Miki conversation. It was pretty cute. Here she is telling her mom something important...

Then she moved over to the piano bench and told me a story... I can't honestly remember what it was now... but the pix got her expressions... the whole thing came to a rather abrupt end, as I recall... when someone realized that Mother Nature had a thing or two to say as well... 

I'm not sure about this Auntie character...hmmmhahaok, a story...it was funny...we laughed and laughedand laughed?? this is where realization hit...umm, Mom... ummm, I... I... I...

What? What?? WHAT?! Well run for the bathroom!! And it all screeched to an unmerciful and abrupt end...

But isn't she a DOLL?! I mean... oh my... Miki- Aunt Nita just loves you to pieces! xo

sunshine is Oh So Nice!

This was awhile ago... we had a gloriously sunny morning and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

see that water bottle hanging by the window? That's actually a birdfeeder! K made it and keeps it stocked with sunflower seeds for the wee feathered folk!I love the faint reddish tinge here and the reflection of the sun on the ice!

K's cheery flowers

And how great when stuff inside looks dark cause it's so bright outside!

Sunbeams!

ah yes- the hosp!

Called Layna the next morning- woke her up, poor kid. Can you please come over here and help me get to the hospital? (We opted for the Sailors' Hosp- you have to pay for everything there (nothing covered by the State) so there are few lines and little waiting...)

offending foot covered in a bag. It hurt too much to try to put my boot on, so we did this to protect it from the snow...


Wish you could have seen the hosp... it was dark, wires hanging out in unruly mobs... loitering along the tops of the walls... and COLD... I mean, really cold... these were taken in the corridor outside the x-ray room (chamber?). When I got inside, I was quite amused to see the doctor wearing about 5 layers of heavy clothing AND his heavy fur hat. I don't blame him...was wishing I had one. And talk about being grateful that all I had to expose in there was my foot. I had my gloves on and my headband and winter coat... the whole time... very cuddly, let me tell you.

Back to the beginning:
We took a cab to the main entrance and went in. Talked to the Door Monitor. She looked at me (on Sharon's crutches- ha- 2 people living in this apt, both on crutches and hobbling- it was rather pathetically comical)... anyway- the door lady looked all dismayed and informed us we should have gone to a different building. She pointed it out. Out we go, down the steps and set off across a vast snowy plain... so it seemed on crutches. Layna ran ahead to find out exactly where to go. Got there (a lonnnngggg time later). Met the auntie from the night before- she works at the hosp- who looked at me in shock... Didn't I just see you on 2 feet, bouncing along? Well, yes... You see, when I left you all last night.... blah blah blah... She turned on Layna- Why didn't you get a wheelchair?! Poor L just stood there with her mouth open- honestly- neither of us even thought to ask for one. You have to be Really Special to get one of those... Auntie ordered poor L out of there and back to the main entrance to get one. I get settled inside. Auntie is hovering over me. L comes back without a wheelchair. It's broken, she says, Doesn't work. Auntie gets *this look* on her face and whirls out of there. And returns with a wheelchair of sorts... one of those walkers on wheels with a seat between the handles... It pays to know people... it makes all the difference...
anyway, we waited in the frigid corridor for the patient ahead of me and then a long time (30 min) for the film to be developed. Then back across the frozen tundra... plain... whatever. Only I'm sitting and L's pushing... and really, it's too bad not to have that on film. L couldn't see anything except my back so we went from snowdrift to snowdrift... I felt so sorry for her. She's a dear, though. Persevered and we finally got back. Up the steps, through the doors, see another doctor... who informs me: You will still live and still love! (Well that IS a relief, thanks!) He was a nice guy, really. Call a cab... and go home. Yay.
I learned a few things

• even one day on crutches leaves your whole upper body screaming in agony
• and your hands, too
• go slowly and deliberately and don't count steps... just go one at a time... slowly and deliberately
• slowly and deliberately (did I already say that?)
• a friend in need is a friend indeed

And I might be in the market for cleats! ;)

oh baby! again!

We went to see Baby the other day! Just to make sure that he's not just a rumor or something!
But first- Big Brother... (the one that never has let me kiss him...) This time I asked Does your brother sleep at night. He made a wry face and said And not only sleep... He cries, too. One of Big Brother's jobs is to get Mom's attention when Baby cries. So, he knows if the kid's not sleeping!

And now- The Star of the Show!

He has a nice repertoire of 'faces'...

Sharon, Mom, Baby and Big Brother Oh look! I held him, too! ;) He's a doll!

ps- does anyone else go crazy trying to get pix in Blogger to do what they want them to do?

it was all good until......

After visiting Baby and his family, I went on foot through a snowy part of town to see another family...

it was dusk and really quite pretty, even if the going was a bit tough... lots of ice under all this stuff... (it was going home in the dark after this that I fell BANG CRASH... in retrospect, I don't know why I didn't call a cab; I knew how slippery it was, I was feeling fortunate to not have fallen... it just never dawned on me to take a taxi... when I left, it was completely dark, few streetlights and still icy... you get the pic)

But it was great to see this character again!

and his younger sisters (twins)

and the Big Sister... she's shy and often in the shadow of the little squirts...

but she does emerge after awhile! I'm glad I saw them! Saw their mom and auntie, too.... (Dad was at work)

 

edit: How could I forget the little fellow? He was there, too... it's just he fell asleep early on and they carted him off to his bed. He's a fat and happy and mischievous little guy!

but it runs kind of funny

That jeep doesn't really feel all that great right now, though... there are muscles it didn't even know it had that are sore and aching... and some twirly pivoty motions are just not an option for the poor jeep at the moment...

It needs some more ice, some more ibuprofen and a long nap... and a few pillows under its tires, that's all... Poor Jeep

knock knock

I'm nearest the door, so I answer...
a bright-faced bright-eyed wind-blown type...
Yes?
I'm new here...
Yes?
But I'm Ready to Roll and Do Stuff For You! Your Life Will Be Brilliant... as MINE is! *glitter and sparkle*

I see. The room for heroes is just down the hall there- see it? (points to the room with the exploding walls-->)
Just make sure you shut the door tightly behind yourself... and lock the door... we're happy here...

good-bye

re the stove

2 posts down.

This is a typical stove- built of mud/clay. It forms most of the wall between the living room and the hallway. The living room has the niche in the wall that you see the kitten on. This is used for keeping things warm (and for keeping kittens warm!). Often, it is a long flat platform that is not enclosed and can be used as a bed. My first summer here, I slept on one of those things (not lit, mind you) for several weeks- put a mattress on top and there you go! Back in Jan 2008, I wrote about the death of a friend. During her final illness and weeks at home, her bed was on one of these stoves- it was the warmest place in the house and done especially so that she would be as comfortable as possible.

I'll have to see if I have some more pix of these stoves. The other side of the one in this post has the opening for adding wood (or coal) as well as the burners to use for cooking. They're a regular institution and very much a part of traditional village life.

it was a day

Today- glad to put today bed.
Day started at 5 am with alarm clocks. I had a brief (about 5 min) and pleasant chitchat on skype with my sis and bro-in-law and their guests- one of whom is an old and good friend of mine (ok- she's younger than me but an old friend- you got that, right?) ;-) (ahem- and this is where I learn the sad news of the outcome of the Super Bowl... sniff sniff... Go ahead and enjoy that Shaun... I know you are...)

Shortly after 6, Sharon and I head out the door and down the stairs- very slowly and carefully. She's on crutches with a spike sticking out the top of one toe- she had surgery 2 weeks ago and one would not at all want to bump that toe... today was the day for removing the stitches. One of our friends, T, has been very sick- gall bladder problems- and doctors here couldn't really find anything wrong... well, clear that something's wrong but they can't fix it, can't see gall stones on ultrasound (let's talk about the quality of the machine, the resolution... or maybe not- too depressing). Since we have to go to Odessa to S' dr and since S can't go on public transportation, our friend hitched a ride- she had an appt up there with a GI doc.

The roads are terrible. Awful. Icy in spots. Drifted in spots. Drifting in spots. We have a good driver, though. He's very careful. We make it in 4 1/2 hours.

S sees her dr, has her stitches removed, foot re-dressed, re-assessed... all's good, Doctor's pleased.

T gets in to her dr. And then bloodwork, an ultrasound, an Upper GI scope (with Narcoz, thanks- that would be anesthesia- this is a wonderful thing, believe me), more tests. She comes back to the waiting room from time to time to let us know what's going on. Eventually, here she is- flushed, looking somewhat shocked- I have to have surgery right now. Dr comes and says the trip back could be enough to make the thing burst- it's in very bad shape. They're prepping her for surgery. Everyone jolts into a higher gear- phone calls and arrangements to be made, arranging to be off work... in she goes. We're all relieved... but in shock, none-the-less.

Head south. Roads are worse. Heavy snow part of the way. Lots of blowing and drifting all of the way. Some ice. (Not to mention that that road is in terrible condition pothole-wise to start with.) Glad for a cautious and experienced driver. Lots of phone calls and sms'es along the way. Everyone wants to know How's T? Trip takes a lot longer than going up. I get many small naps. :)

Home. Finally.
Supper. T's hubby comes over to collect some things of hers.

Call from K- M&Y just wrote- Y's sis died, fun'l on Wed. (I'll go, that's understood.) M&Y are both deaf (they're the parents, in fact, of that darling baby a few posts back). Get in touch with them via a local webcam program- to have a real 'face-to-face'. The sis- sad story. Found on the street, 3 am- likely was drunk; likely fell/passed out; likely froze to death. 34 years old.

Another call- someone else and hubby have to go Odessa soon. Can't take 2 youngest kids. Had a baby-sitter plan. It fell through. Could Anita do that? Spend the night? (Answer- Probably... maybe... who knows? She'd like to but there are a lot of if's here yet.)

lots of phone calls, sms'es, web cam chats, arrangements. News that T's surgery was difficult but all's well now. More phone calls and etc...
I'm going to bed...

And no one's set an alarm for tomorrow... we may have one somewhat quiet morning...