ticker

So what do we think about tickers? Love 'em? Hate 'em? Should I keep it or not?

time

That title reminds me of a sketch from The Shakespeare Revue. It made me giggle.

This is a quickie to say that our clocks have already changed here in Russia. Just thought you should know.

ready...

SW2.5 is coming on 9 November for my homevisit! I *just* found out minutes ago, but feel like the latest preparations I made both last week and earlier today came at the perfect time.

I'm all about being ready. How long ago did I show you pictures of bedding and clothing, toothbrushes and medicines? How long ago did I tell you about all the multi-sized tights and socks, underwear and camisoles that are ready and waiting? Ages ago. So long ago you probably forgot. (I forgive you.) And, the preparations have continued. I've spent the last 20 months adding bits to my home and getting everything ready for d2b.


Last week I bought a bookshelf (IKEA. Ick.) for d2b and filled it with her books, train, crayons, coloring books, etc. I need to get her some blocks. And, I need two more green and pink sliding bins. I'm taking my Russian teacher shopping on Wednesday, so I'll pick them up then.




This morning, before I'd heard anything, I re-arranged all d2b's dresses (sizes 70-120...'cause who knows?) so they're hanging by length instead of by size. I can't think of anything else to do... Seriously, if you told me d2b was coming home tomorrow, I'd be ready. I just need some shoes (stocking up on multi-sized shoes seems silly), her baby doll (which I won't order until I know d2b's hair and eye color so that they match), and some more pajamas (they don't wear them in the children's home, so buying lots of expensive pajamas--'cause you know I'm a natural-fibers-no-characters-only sort--that I cannot donate if they're too small seems impractical). I could do all that in a day.

(Yes, those are bitty baby clothes next to the hats. And, yes, d2b has plenty of leggings, jeans, t-shirts & clothes other than dresses.)


Hooray for progress!! I think we're all ready for this visit. Thanks for waiting with me.

how tired are you?

Okay, so we've been teaching non-stop since mid-August with NO breaks--no three day weekends, no holidays, nothing. Do you want to know how tired that makes a teacher? Last week we had a lice scare at school. A nurse from Euromed came to check everyone's head. I admitted to a teacher friend that I was hoping I had lice just so I could be sent home. She said she was hoping the same thing!

Hoping one has LICE to be sent home to start vacation a day early...that's how tired teachers are who have taught for 45 days with no break. (That does not include professional development days and pre-school in-service...)

losing battles

Insomnia. I battle if often. Yuck. But, it's vacation! That means I have a week to sort out my sleep (I like to sleep 2 am-10 am which was perfect when I was acting but not-so-perfect when I'm teaching) and get myself back to myself.

I'm flattered by how quickly some of you read my ramblings. Some of you read that I had an e-mail from sw2. I was pretty taken aback by some of her wording. And, while I wanted to leap in and defend myself, I didn't. I decided that a gloating sw was a better visitor than an angry one and that I'd have to lose this battle. I sought some wise council and the counselor concurred. So, I said nothing about my priorities (which were called into question) or my uncertainties about sw2.5. I did not vindicate myself or insist that I get my way.

SW2 offered a compromise and I leapt to accept. Too much public disclosure is not a good thing, but, suffice it to say that 2.5 will be coming to visit.

I felt like I'd lost. I hadn't gotten exactly what I wanted out of this. I didn't get to say what I wanted to say. I didn't have the sw I wanted coming. But. But, when I thought about d2b it became no contest. Of course I'd rather "lose" the battle of the homevisit and win the war of bringing her home. How could I ever explain to her that I didn't bring her home because I was too prideful and too stubborn? I couldn't. I won't. I will smile and chat and be nice. I will catch my flies with honey. I may even bake muffins.

So, 2.5 is coming...as soon as I can get a response to an e-mail. My hs will be finished, I will get my I-171H renewed (at no cost, thank you very much), and d2b will come home. I just keep praying it's soon.

i really like...

...the sound of appliances. Isn't it FAB to hear the sound of something else doing the work you'd be doing otherwise? And, isn't it nice when people call and ask what you're doing and you can honestly say, "Doing laundry." instead of "Sitting in my pajamas watching Top Gear simply becasue it's on and reading blogs."? All that's peachy...and the white-noise is so soothing in and of itself.

...ground turkey breast. I just ground up some and am making spaghetti and saving some for future inspiration. Yum!!

...clean sheets. (winking at sybille) I've got some gorgeous, high thread count, Egyptian cotton, silver-grey ones on my bed today. They just came out of the laundry (see above) and smell like lavender and chamomile.

...reading in bed or in the bath (bubbles are obligatory to hide the off-color water).

...my LUSH products--angels on bare skin, imperialis, marilyn, various bubble bars...

...napping in d2b's room.

...getting enough sleep. I slept 13 hours on Friday night and could've slept more. Beazy woke me at 10 am needing to be fed. Yes, I was in bed by 8:30 and asleep by 9:00 that night. See, all of you who tell me to enjoy it while I can--I am.

...lots of things! I'll tell you more later. For now I'm going to eat some spaghetti, take a LUSHous bath and then curl up in my clean sheets with a book. I can't promise it will be a good book, but it will be a new one. ;>

Hope you do something you like today, too!

ETA: My break doesn't start until NEXT week. I just whiled away the evening with simple pleasures. And, even better--the book was good! I ought to add a few "likes" I thought of last night.

...when my cat curls up in the small of my back or the crook or my knees and purrs

...sleeping with the window open, especially when the nights are cool and the courtyard is quiet

...the fact that it's finally cool enough when sleeping with the window open to have an extra blanket on the bed (but it never gets cold enough for a down duvet here...)

you're not missing anything

Hello, my lovelies.

Just a quick pop-in to let you know that while I still have limited internet time, you're not missing anything. I've yet to hear from either social worker...or to have real news from my agency.

We've got a week left until Fall Break. I'm so tired that I was shaking last week. Seriously. We've been teaching since mid-August without a break. I know your non-teacher hearts are just breaking...but we really do NEED a break. I'm so glad we've got one coming.

Someone from school is on the case about new internet, so hope to have it soon. However, my definition of "soon" has radically altered since moving to Russia.

Thanks for all your lovely wishes of support and for all your prayers on my behalf. I miss bloggerland and will be happy to be back asap!

Katoosh

for the adoption junkies...

Couldn't leave you hanging indefinitely without some sort of update...

I decided that I'd prefer my SW2 (J) to do my homevisit. Some of this was just an unsettled feeling about SW2.5 (N) and some was because I was wary of having three social workers on my very fat, very atypical homestudy. I sent this e-mail to both of them last Tuesday:

Dear N and J,

First, let me apologize. I am sorry that I did not think through things faster. This is very unlike me. However, I'm sure you can appreciate the attrition that occurs in Russian adoption. You've done more Russian adoptions than I have! So, when the opportunity to have a month shaved
off my time in-process, I leapt.

Perhaps N's delay was really a good thing. It caused me to consider the impact of having three social workers involved in my homestudies. I trust you both when you say that CIS wouldn't take issue. And, it's likely that Russia wouldn't either. But, there is the possibility that they would.I am my agency's first ex-pat adoption. And, as far as we've been able to gather, I'm the first ex-pat adoption by a resident of St. Petersburg from St. Petersburg. This has made my agency very cautious. They've had me appear before the committee of the ministry of education twice
already--and my papers, as you know, are still not filed. This has given me both the advantage and the disadvantage of being known by the committee. As I'm sure you'll appreciate, being atypical in Russia is not usually a good thing. And, my case is far from "normal" in the eyes of the committee.

All this to say, I think it would be best to wait for J to do my homevisit. I've spoken with my
agency and they concur. I am sorry for any inconvenience this has caused. I appreciate the time and energy N contributed. J, after you've recovered from your holiday, I look forward to seeing you as soon as your schedule permits.

Many thanks to you both,
K

I thought this was a kind, respectful e-mail. I've not had a reply. I also e-mailed SW2 (J) about getting her visa--I'm thinking a year visa may be better since we'll hopefully have some ppr's to do in the next year as well as this homevisit. She is still on holiday. N says that they talk on the phone, so I'd think that this change in plans has been discussed between them. I've also gathered that they're very close friends. I am hoping that this doesn't impact my homestudy. J seems too sensible to let that happen, but...

I'm hoping to hear something when she returns from holiday at the end of the month. I've decided not to e-mail either of them again until then. (Unless they e-mail me, nach. I just won't instigate further contact.)

Comments? BTDT? Do you think I'm handling this correctly or should I send an e-mail to make sure they received that one? (Yahoo says it's been sent...) Was the letter too harsh? Really, I still think N is disappointed to be losing a paid trip to St. P and a paying gig. I just don't want that disappointment to come back and bite me...anywhere.

blog interrupted

Well, my lovelies, (that's how I address this year's class so far...especially when they're being either VERY lovely or very UN-lovely.) I have sad news. No, it's not THAT sad. It's only sad...not devastating. Let's keep things in perspective.

I have no internet access at home AGAIN.

Apparently, this is because I've been watching GH on my slingbox. I've asked the other IT person at school (and not the one who said he'd take care of it last month...) if he'll look into why my unlimited internet access is now limited.

Until it's back, I'm only internet-ing at school--and then only after a day of teaching, dance/drama classes and Russian lessons. Somehow I just can't manage to get online after all that unless I'm in my pajamas. I guess I could bring my pajamas to school...

force of consumerism

Who knew?

Since I've been away from the US they've stopped making my foundation, mascara, eyebrow gel, lipstick color, saline solution, bras, underwear, stockings and loads of other things I'm forgetting right now. My apologies to all of you who are suffering lack of supply because I wasn't there to do my part as a demading consumer.

At least creamy Jiff is still available. Thanks for picking up the slack. ;>

you can uncross

SW couldn't make arrangement to come in October (I said it would take a month...). She can come in November. Since SW2 was also available in November, I'm asking that she do the homevisit instead of SW2.5. I just think having three different sw names on my hs is not going to make the MOE very happy...

And, btw, has anyone looked at my timeline lately and realized we've been updating this hs since the beginning of JUNE?

Edited to add: SW 2.5 is really, really cross with me. I hate it when people are cross with me. I, rather cynically, suspect it is because she is a. losing out on a fee and b. not getting the paid trip to St. Petersburg. (Told you it was cynical...but I know she was planning to stay an extra day to sightsee, go to museums, etc.)

SW2 won't be back from holiday until the end of the month. SW2.5 is threatening says that it's likely SW2's schedule has filled up and she won't be able to come until December. The way things are going, I'm tempted to wait for SW2. WAIT?!?? Willingly? Am I crazy??

At least the I-171H now has a free update--and free fingerprinting. I'll be getting my money's worth out of that visa!

Agency agrees that fewer SW names is better.

pickles and prejudices

note: This is just a report of some of my Russian friends' take on food and culture. I thought you might like an uncensored show of current attitudes here. Don't flame the reporter, please.

Friday was a professional development day at school. The biggest perk--we get an actual lunch break...and are allowed out of the school to eat! This, for a teacher, is a rare treat. We have no cafeteria at our school, so usually I wolf down my lunch standing up (no room in my classroom for a desk for me...) after I've microwaved everyone's lunch, opened stubborn juice containers and had some second grade chat. Believe me, lunch out on a schoolday is a treat!

Since we had 45 minutes instead of our usual 30, some friends and I decided to go to a nearby chain that serves baked potatoes (jacket potatoes to my UK friends) with a choice of toppings. We were walking and realized it was noon. Then, my friend P commented, "Oh, no. It's Friday."

That's not the usual preface to a comment about Friday. However, we were headed straight past the mosque. This is a place to AVOID on Fridays. On Fridays it's filled with gypsies begging--rather aggressively. P explained that Islamic law says that one must give something to all beggars. (See disclaimer above.)

We were quickly marked and chased down. One little girl, probably about nine years old, tried to grab the Coke right out of my hand. (Professional development gave me a headache. It was medicinal.) I admit, it was a little scary. Even thought she was only nine, she was really aggressive. And, we were surrounded. I was glad to have my big, strong friends in attendance.

Then, I was treated to a debate between my Russian friends about whether or not these were actual gypsies. P says emphatically yes. N says no. P says at least these are Tajik gypsies who only steal and not Moldovan gypsies who are violent. He said they were easily distinguished by their clothes. (I could have my Tajik and Moldovan characteristics mixed up, but I think that's what he said.) Even so, we walked back by a different route.

Over lunch, I was regaled with matter-of-fact stories from P and N of how gypsies refused all schooling and opportunities for a better life, preferring, instead, to live on the streets and pick pockets. I was also told a rather scary tale about another encounter P had some years back. He warned some Americans that they were being followed by gypsies and to watch their wallets. The band of pickpockets quit following the Americans and targeted P and his friend in retaliation. P and friend had to hide in a shop! He said they could see the pickpockets lying in wait--plying their "trade"--outside the shop window. This was at a time when it was not easy to exchange money and he had a substantial sum on him--the grant funding for a project. Eventually, they called a cab and had it park RIGHT in front of the shop. They dashed to the cab and got away with the grant money safely in P's pocket.

There is a strong prejudice against gypsies here. And, I have seen many pickpockets/thieves/beggars to support this. Do I think this is a broad generalization? Probably. But, as I disclaimed, this post is just to let you know how people here feel.

On a lighter note--I was holding the table while my friends got food. I asked for chicken on my potato. (I *love* bbq chicken on a baked potato, but knew that was not going to happen. I was thinking just grilled chicken...) P arrived at the table with my potato--covered in cheese with an ice cream scoop of chicken salad on top--chicken salad with lots of pickles. My thoughtful friend chose the salad with pickles especially for me because the plain one would be "too bland". I smiled and ate most of it. And, I regretted it later! My American stomach isn't keen on the hot potato-pickle combination. I tried to just think of it as potato salad...but...no.

Next time, I'll get the grilled chicken sandwich--hold the pickles.

fingers crossed...

SW 2.5 thinks she can be here 20 October for my homevisit. No visa yet (and she thinks she can do that faster and cheaper than the consulate so I'm graciously letting her...) but I'm hoping it all works out!

paige's names

Here's a bit of silly fun courtesey of Paige:

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car),
Betsey Blazer

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie),
Peppermint Gingersnap

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name),

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal),
Grey Lion

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born),

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first),

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink),
The Periwinkle Snapple

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers),
Noel Frank

9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy),
Allure Lemondrop

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ),

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter),
Riley-Stewart Reykjavik

12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower).
Autumn Hydrangea

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)
Berry Peejaysie

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree),
Toasty Christmas

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”),
The Theatrics-Equestrian Thunderstorm Tour

Come on, do it. You know you want to….

(Seriously,though, this would be a minefield of information for those who are identity thieves...having had a friend fall victim, I've left out and changed a few answers! The questions are fun, though, so I've left them up. Discuss amongst yourselves.)

as promised

St. Petersburg is a beautiful city...but you do have to actively look for the beauty and edit out the bits that distract and detract. Here's my captured golden afternoon--edited for you so that all you see is beauty.

a month saved

While sw2 is not able to come to visit me until November, she has arranged for a colleague of hers to do my homevisit over the weekend of 20 October! That saves me a month. Hooray!!

I really do like sw2. She not only keeps the crazy facilitators happy, but also offers me some encouragement. And, I really appreciate her problem-solving on my behalf.

Knew you'd all like to share in this little victory!

saying good-bye

In case you’re in doubt, there really is an artistic personality. I need art, I need theatre and music in order to be me. It’s as necessary as breathing. Without a creative outlet, I can feel myself shrinking a little bit every day. I become a little less me.

Fortunately, the year I was hired a couple of other artistic types were hired, too. The art teacher, the music teacher and I quickly formed a little artistic enclave…which met in the second grade classroom. We could just TALK theatre, TALK art, and life was better. It wasn’t the same as performing, but it did slow the rate at which I lost little bits of myself. The p.e. teacher’s office was right next to my classroom. He told me he was amazed at how much we could talk about theatre—and that heated arguments and spontaneous song often accompanied that talk. The three of us put on the first musical the school had ever had—and, for what we had to work with, we did a bang-up job.

Art is so important! That year, kids were painting and singing and dancing and creating. They learned so much—how to work together, how to take responsibility, how to express themselves, how to practice, how to persist, how to make mistakes…

Our art teacher is great at creating a safe place so that children will try. Because mistakes are treated as opportunities or inspirations to try something new, my students are eager to dive in and start creating. While I do have an artistic bent, my forte is the performing arts, not the visual arts. I am continually frustrated by the fact that the picture in my head doesn’t come out of my pencil. I readily sympathize with my students who suffer from the same malady. But, with our art teacher, students achieved and felt successful.

At the end of my first year, our music teacher left to return to theatre in Belarus. The art teacher and I carried on—teaching, chatting, supporting. We put on another musical. One of our best field trips ever was when the two of us walked my class to the Hermitage and back. The kids loved sitting outside and sketching. And, they came up with some great pictures!




Now, our art teacher is leaving as well. He’s returning to Belgium along with his family. The artistic enclave has ended. I’m so sorry to be losing another person who started out as the best of colleagues and quickly became a friend. While I’m happy for the opportunities he and his family will have, I can’t help being a little sad for myself. This family has been a great champion of my adoption. They’ve driven me around town searching for a car battery. They’ve helped create Oz and Neverland. And now, they’re leaving.

So, to them…go forth and conquer. Be happy. I’ll miss you.

fall

It's my favorite time of year. The trees are changing colors, there's a nip in the air... It's time for football games and scuffling through leaves. We're having "Babushke Summer" right now. Obviously, it's the Russian equivilent of our Indian Summer. It got it's name, I'm reliably informed, because this time of year is like a woman who is having her last flush of beauty and vigor before she lapses into winter and old age. (Just an observation: It seems this always happens right after the city officials have, after being faced with an early winter onset and many cold, damp days, decided to turn on the city's centralized heat. As soon as the heat is turned on the weather warms up. Конечно. Ето нормально. Of course. It is normal.)

Yesterday was a perfect autumn day. It was sweater weather--cool and sunny. I went and walked through the garden next to The Church on Spilled Blood and the Summer Gardens. The light was just golden. It was heavy and soft--like a kitten who's fallen asleep on your chest and is purring contentedly.


I wasn't the only person who was out trying to both capture and enjoy the afternoon. I met many people with cameras and easels. I'll share more once I sort through the masses of photos I took, but I'll leave you with one from the Summer Garden.

green

Since I wore my new green sweater today (can you say Helsinki?) I simply couldn't resist this quiz.

Okay. I have a hard time resisting most quizes. (big surprise--however, this is reflected in my result--I am reflective and know myself well)

My favorite is the part about being "charmingly assertive". Actually, I think this one is spot-on. ;> I wonder how many greens there are...

You Are Apple Green

You are almost super-humanly upbeat. You have a very positive energy that surrounds you. And while you are happy go lucky, you're also charmingly assertive. You get what you want, even if you have to persuade those against you to see things your way. Reflective and thoughtful, you know yourself well - and you know that you want out of life.

What Color Green Are You?

Anyone else? Care to comment?

Thanks, jen, for the quiz!

re-communicado

School this year starts an hour earlier than it did last year. I'm glad. It means we get home a half hour earlier. I'm all in favor of changes that allow me to have more of a life outside of school.

Starting earlier naturally means I leave the house earlier. I don't see the same people on my morning commute. I don't see the mousy woman--mousy of hair and demeanor--who wears the brown coat and hurries to work in her worn, low heels (by Russian standards they're low...but I'd never attempt to run in them). She'll run a few steps and then walk a few steps. I've never figured out if she is perpetually late (in which case why didn't she leave earlier?) or this was her exercise (in which case, why wasn't she able to run further each day?). I don't see the man with the high-swinging briefcase anymore. And, the street cleaners on the bridge haven't started work when I'm walking across now. I miss these "friends" of mine. I used to be able to tell the time by who I saw at which part of the bridge. Now, the bridge is fairly empty.



One person I still see is my fisherman friend. He's out most days until the Neva freezes. We exchange good mornings and he is always smiling. Sometimes he tells me about what he's caught. One day he had an enormous fish and was just bursting with pride. Grinning ear to ear he held it up to show me from a block away. And, he said he'd caught an even bigger one (six kilos!) two days earlier. In a culture where smiling is frowned upon (What is there to smile about?) it's nice to have his smiling face greeting me each day.

wish i were incommunicado-er

The latest news is...

Yes, I have to have a home visit. (No use asking why we're just getting around to this point now...so I'm trying not to waste time and energy on useless whys.)

SW cannot come until NOVEMBER.

I'm going to Helsinki for a very expensive day out. We leave tomorrow and return on Sunday. Hoping a taste of the West will be cheering.

incommunicado

No telephone or internet at home for the last several days...estimated that it will be back on NEXT WEEK. Sigh. Talk to you then...

facilitators strike again

SW#2 sent the update to the facilitators for approval.

The reply was an incredulous, What?! There have been no home visits since 2006? The court will not accept this. and a reminder that the court has not seen the original homestudy. There was no mention of the fact that the court did not see the original hs because is sat on their desks for five months and then missed out on the deadline to file before accreditation lapsed. But, I digress.

I pointed out that I had been told that we would file the original along with the update and that a new homevisit was not needed.

Then, I didn't open the reply because yesterday was my birthday and I didn't want to hear more bad news.

I sent out an e-mail that said it was my birthday and asked if they had any good news. No reply.

I'll read the other later today.

I'm selfishly hoping that I am not on this adoption journey simply to be a help to others who are on the same path. I'm HAPPY to help, I LIKE helping, I am a helping kind of girl. I feel very fortunate to have been in the position I am so that I CAN help others. And, I am so grateful for the opportunity to be with new families at this amazing time of their lives. I just want a turn, too.

quickie

Just a quickie to let you know that things are going well. I've so enjoyed the opportunity to watch the transformation in this little one. On Wednesday night she was very serious. She would look at books or toys, but did it dutifully. She wanted to be held the entire time.

Thursday, when she arrived, she just relaxed (I'm sure it's partly because Mum did, too) and seemed at ease. She went to sleep easily and though she protested her bath, it was with less spirit than the night before.

Last night (Friday) she was cheerful and playing. She happily comes to play with me or on her own and checks in with her Mum. She enjoyed being tickled, and laughed and laughed. She stayed in the bath without crying. She was very perplexed when we took off some clothes (like her tights..and then eventually all but her onesie). She kept trying to put more clothes on. ;>

This morning she's been happy--singing and playing and smiling. She's enjoying running around barefoot. She's eating and sleeping well. She just woke up from her morning nap and is smiling and flirting. What a change! She still won't drink anything, so we're feeding her lots of soups and fruits. (Any ideas here? We've used different cups and glasses and beverages...)

Some of this is due simply to the amount of sleep she's getting. She's been able to get back to a sleep schedule that is more normal now that she's not running around to various offices and has a crib instead of a makeshift bed. Bringing her here and putting her in the portacrib (thanks to a generous friend--who also sent along some great toys) made a big difference. Some of it is that she's learning more about her new world. Some of it is, I'm sure, that Mum's feeling more at ease. My flat is more homey than the one she had been staying in. And some of it is my cat. Really--Beazy is fascinating to her. The sight of her always brings a big smile and some chat.

They had good news yesterday. Their visa to the UK was processed in record time. The people in the office said they'd NEVER had a visa processed so quickly. They are headed home on Monday rather than Wednesday!

I'm off to play. Who can resist a smiling baby? And, by the way, she walked straight to me last night as she called, "Kate!" when Mum asked if she was looking for me. The girl is obviously a genius. ;>

temporary leave

My friend who had court on Monday, picked up her daughter on Tuesday and was feeling overwhelmed on Wednesday. I'm picking them up after school today and have persuaded them to stay with me until they leave. So...posts may or may not be regular in the next few days. Just wanted to give you all a heads up.

amy

Happy birthday!

(My sister is a year wiser today.)

a votemom quiz

10 years ago I was: just back from a summer theatre course with the RSC, performing in "Crazy for You" and teaching first grade.

5 years ago I was: touring with a production of "The Frog Prince".

1 year ago I was: thinking I'd started my last year teaching in Russia.

Yesterday I was: having dinner with my friend to celebrate her adoption!

5 snacks that I enjoy:
1. i'm not much of a snacker

2. "dry"
3. Ryazhenka--sort of a baked yogurt that you mix jam into

4. banana and skimmed milk or toast

5. toast (I'm on a big toast with honey kick now...often eating it for dinner)

5 songs I know all the words to(I know about 5 million so here are the first ones I thought of):
1. I've Been Changed for Good

2. If Momma was Married

3. Always a Bridesmaid

4. Goodnight, My Someone

5. Somewhere, Out There
(hmmm....I can see the train of thought, but it sounds like a completely different train when you're outside of my head)

5 things I would do with a million dollars:
1. tithe

2. buy and furnish a little house in the US

3. buy a car in the US (silver crv w/ sunroof)

4. save 250,000

5. use 400,000 to establish a fund for children in need

5 favorite TV shows:
1. Anything in English

2. Lost

3. Strictly Come Dancing

4. X-files

5. Trading Spaces

5 things I am thankful for:

1. knowing i'm the beloved child of a sovereign God
2. being out of debt

3. having lived out so many of my dreams

4. amazing friends

5. US citizenship

2 names I go by:
1. Kate

2. Katooshka/Katoosh/Katyenka/Katya

2 parts of your heritage
1. AMERICAN

2. scottish/english/austrian

2 things that scare me:
1. BIRDS

2. other things that fly...like bats and moths

2 of my every day essentials:
1. hot shower

2. Arm & Hammer baking soda toothpaste (like that's a surprise...)

2 things I am wearing right now:
1. cute toille pj bottoms

2. charcoal hoodie
(and black cashmere socks. i know that's three, but they're all important.)

2 of my favorite bands/musical artists (at the moment):
1. "original broadway cast"

2. "original london cast"

2 things I want in a relationship (other than real love):
1. like-minded faith
2. cleverness

2 truths:
1. There is a plan for my life.

2. I can't mess it up.

2 physical things that appeal to me in the opposite sex:
1. wit

2. strength

2 of my favorite hobbies:
1. reading

2. horsey things

2 things I want really badly:
1. to hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

2. to not tell you what the others are ;>

2 places I want to go on vacation:
1. provence

2. talinn

2 ways I am stereotypically a chick:
1. my sense of direction

2. the song "A Mix Tape" from Avenue Q

2 things I normally wouldn't admit:
1. nice try

2.

2 things I am thinking about right now:
1. how cold my nose and fingers are

2. if i skipped any questions that i need to go back and answer
3. the fact that i don't seem to be able to follow the constraints of this quiz and limit myself to TWO answers...one would be easier than two, i think..

2 stores you shop at:
1. okey

2. ashan

2 people I would like to see taking this quiz:
1. ann marie

2. you (please leave a comment so i can come and read yours--i know rachael and chou 2 will oblige!)

2 people I haven't talked to in a while:
1. nif
2. juls

no apo

Sadly, we no longer enjoy APO mailing privileges. You can send my post (lavish gifts, etc.) c/o

AASSP
US Embassy, box L
00140 Helsinki
Finland

They will drive it to the consulate here in St. P and we'll pick it up there. Good thing Amazon will ship to Helsinki!

chock full

You guys rock.

This post is just bursting with good news.

*my new hs is finished
*sw#2 seems to be communicating well with both agency and facilitators
*agency will do the review and reccommend

*A friend from the UK had court yesterday and was granted custody with her ten days waived! This friend has been in process (indy) for four years. She went to court for an eariler referral and found out that the child had been noticed by a Russian family who was interesed in fostering. That little girl is with her Russian foster family now. (This is a HUGE simplification.) But, all's well that ends well. She collects her daughter tomorrow, will get her visa clearance (UK, remember)here in St. P--so no trip to Moscow--and will, I predict, be on a plane home on Saturday. I get to meet the little one tomorrow. She is perfectly named! (I know it's a tease, but it's all I can say.)

So--onwards and upwards!

the plot thus far

Yesterday, September 8, marked 18 months from the time I announced my plans to adopt. It's hard to pick a length of time when someone asks me how long I've been in-process. I've wanted to adopt since I was in junior high. I knew it was time to adopt when I gave up life upon the wicked stage (it's a song--sing along if you know it) and went back to teaching. So there's never really been a specific time from which I can date things. How long have I been in process? 25 years? Close to four years? It seems best to date it from the moment I opened my mouth and said, "Go!" That would be 18 months ago.

Remember this post about me adopting an elephant? (You new readers have no excuse--it's in the sidebar and alluringly titled.) Well, if I finish in the next four months, that will be true. Right now that seems to be cutting it a little close. My I-171H expires on 6 March. I'm hoping to be finished by then. That would put me just shy of 24 months. It's a nice round number. Actually, it's not really nice. And, it's not really round. I think you have to be a multiple of 5 to be really round. Since we're dealing in base-12, I suppose 24 is round-ish.

September 8th is an important day in St. Petersburg. It's the day the seige began. All over town buses are carrying posters that say, "We remember." The siege of Leningrad lasted 900 days. (That's a round number.) Nine hundred days! It makes my little siege seem pathetically short. While I'm VERY hopeful that my adoption doesn't take 900 days (that would take us to right about this time next year) I am confident that I can outlast anything that is put in my path.

Have you ever wondered what God thinks about the internet? I have. I do. I think it's safe to say that there is some horrible, evil stuff out there--and the internet gives ready access to it. But, like all things, I believe that the internet can be used to work for Good. I have been so blessed to connect with people across the world who support me and my d2b both in prayer and with good wishes. I'm amazed at the friends I've made on this journey. A cyber-friend (who is extremely supportive and spends a lot of time checking in on me and offering encouragement) recently put me in touch with an irl friend of hers. It turns out, her irl friend has been reading my blog and praying for me every night for a long time now. Amazing! I didn't even know it. Another cyber-friend e-mailed me recently to say he had a strong sense that the verse, "Be still and know that I am God" was meant for me right now. It came at just the right time. I had just started to re-read Peretti's This Present Darkness and was feeling that a battle was being fought on my behalf. I spent the next day or two with the songs, God is Bigger than the Boogie Man and Amy Grant's Angels in my heart and on my lips. I have a faithful friend who keeps up with my journey despite the very busy life she has now and is quick to offer support--and cd's. All this in addition to my amazing IRL friends whom I know have had me covered all along. This blog has been a way to keep them updated with the trials and victories I've had along the way. It's an amazing thing.

(Thank you to ALL of you 100 or so people who read my blog each day and keep me well-supported. I value each and every one of you. Thank you for your comments and your e-mails.)

This year, there was another big event that took place on 8 September. I was reunited with my now-working car. Even the windshield wipers work now (wow, I've actually mentioned my wipers in two previous posts...a little sad)! Yes, it needed a new alternator. It cost about 8400 rubles for the jump start and escort, recharging the battery, checking all electronics, parts and labor for replacing the alternator and some dead bulbs (umm...like my brake light). I thought that was a pretty fair price. Then I asked them to winterize--change the oil and filter and check my fluids. That was going to cost over 12,000 rubles. The oil change alone was going to be 3000 rubles. Welcome to Russia! Still, I can't pay over $100 for an oil change. I bet there's somewhere online I can figure out how to do it myself (said the little red hen).

So, September 8 was a big day. Today it's September 9 and I'm ready to continue on my journey (see, there's the car bit tied in) with the support of friends and family (paragraphs 4 & 5 which seemed a little random should now make more sense) for however long it takes (siege reference) to complete my adoption and bring my little elephant home (and we're back to the top).

definition, please

I was reading aloud one of my favorite books, Ramona the Pest, by Beverly Cleary. I've read it to every class I've ever taught. All of them love Ramona--and love being nostalgic about the far distant past when they were in kindergarten. My class clamors for "Ramona time" and would even trade it for recess. My teaching assistant loves to listen and says she often wants to applaud Ramona's adventures.

Today Ramona's mother was "exasperated". We stopped to guess what that might mean, thinking about what had just happened in the story. Most of the definitions were, "Is it like _____?" and the student made a face to indicate their emotional guess. (I love the way they define things.)

After talking about it some more (with some examples of things in the classroom that might make their teacher exasperated) one of my little girls said, "Is it like when my mom is busy doing something or many things and my dad is just sitting on the couch and me and my sister say, 'Moooom. MOM!!' and my mom says, 'WHY CANNOT YOU ASK YOUR FATHER?!!?' "

I told her that was the best definition of "exasperated" that I'd ever heard.

(In case you're wondering the three words that most often pepper their writing after reading this book are reluctant, indignant and exasperated.)

happy birthday

Just wanted to wish a happy birthday to my I-171H. It's a year old today. Ahhh, they grow up so fast...

huh?

Here was the response from the facilitators in the US (of course I heard nothing from the actual agency):

Basically you have a choice.

1. Submit everything without a home study agency (social worker's
license, state letter as what she is licensed to do, proof of her education,
state laws of what a social worker with her education is licensed to
do)

2. Use a home study agency with the state letter, license and
agreement.

You will need the agency agreement and sworn statement with either
option.

We read all home studies before they are notarized and apostilled (to
check to make sure it is in the format the judges want and includes all
the information the judge wants.)

Choice number one doesn't even see like a choice to me. Doesn't it sound illegal? If it IS a choice, WHY haven't they told me this BEFORE? And, if this is a choice, do we sumbit the parenthetical documents or are they a definition? Have they forgotten that I live in Russia?

I know there are people out there who are thinking about using my agency...or their sister agency. My advice, which I've refrained from giving up until this point, realizing that every situation is different, is DON'T. I am just so worn down by being faced with Russian thinking on both sides of the ocean.

Seriously, isn't this e-mail a little reminiscent of my recent post about getting my car to the mechanic?

Thank you again for all your prayers and support. I'll keep you posted. (Ha--isn't that funny on a blog? POSTED?) ;>

today's call (still not THE call)

Here's the adoption mumbo-jumbo:

So, it turns out sw #1 (who got fed up with my agency much faster than I did) told sw#2 that she would not do a "review and recommend" that is needed for ex-pats. She told me she would...but that was back in June. So, sw #2 thought we had a BIG problem.

We might. But, it's also possible that my agency can do the r&r. I just called them (answering machine memory was full halfway through my message. great. par for the course.) and e-mailed them.

If you're a pray-er, I ask for prayer for every pair of hands that touches my papers, for sw #2, my agency in the US, my agency here (without V--so sad) and the extra US facilitators. I need this finished! (And, if it could be finished BEFORE my I-171H expires, that would be incredible.) I could also use some prayers for protection--for my adoption even more than for me. A friend of mine pointed out that my accepting attitude of all this happening at the perfect time could be great. Or, it could be leaving this adoption open to attack. (Yes, I not only believe in God, but I do believe in evil.)

Wishing you all joy!

With a grateful heart, I am your
Катуш (Katoosh--what my Russian dear friends call me, and what my teaching assistant and the cleaner at school have called me from the moment we were introduced)

a lighter note

We just celebrated three birthdays within four days in second grade. I was musing with the art teacher about some huge blizzard or global blackout that must've occurred...encompassing Austria, Estonia and Turkey. Then I realized. They're all SEVEN. Happy birthday to all my millenium babies. ;>

dust yourself off...

You know, everytime I get knocked back in this adoption ride, it gets a little bit harder and takes a little bit longer to get back up and press on. After today's e-mail from sw#2 (she had concerns), I sense another knock-back coming. I'm calling her tomorrow.

Best get to bed so at least I'm well-rested for our conversation. (I'm already a little disgruntled that she didn't just call me...Why am I the one calling her? Need to try to sleep off that attitude.)

Prayer warriors, please standby.

how long is too long? (ironically--it's long)

I'm into year #3 living in Russia. There are times when I start to wonder if I've been in Russia too long. For instance, when I'm given a sturdy bag while out shopping and I think, "Wow--good bag. Better save this one." I'm talking about plastic shopping bags here. And I do save them. I hoard them. Good size, good quality and attractive--that's a keeper.

The way things went with the mechanics on Thursday made me realize how much better I understand the culture now than I did when I arrived. I remember how frustrated I was when the internet service I requested be turned on before I even arrived took MONTHS to be connected. Our new-hires at school commented on how patient I was waiting for my car to be fixed. Back in the US I could take the car to any quick oil change places and have them hook up the electric diagnoser. It would take minutes to figure out what was wrong.

We've been talking to mechanics for weeks. I've asked a friend to help instead of the office (political fallout expected because that's their job--but the guy in the office thinks it just needs a new battery. He's wrong.) We called a friend of hers who's a mechanic. He was on holiday. When we finally reached him (maybe a week later) he said he didn't work on my car, but gave us a reccommendation for a dealer. I avoid dealers in the US but was willing to give them a shot here..

When we finally reached the dealer, they said it would be three weeks before they'd be able to fit us in. They were remodelling their shop and only had one open bay. I didn't want to wait.

So, we called the mechanics that the consulate use. They don't do any electronic work. They recommended someone.

We called them. They said we had to drive it to them. (*note: remember this for later) I planned to call the jump start people (my battery is too big to be jump started by most cars available) and then drive it over. The electro boys said they could come and jump start it for the same price. I asked if they could just come and get it and drive it to their shop and was told definitively and resoundingly that they did not do that. (keep remembering) We were to call them back on the following Monday to see if they could come on Wednesday.

We did call Monday, and they said to call Wednesday. They'd see if they could fit us in. They work for the city as well (in some capacity) and if there were many accidents, then we'd get bumped. When we called on Wednesday at 10:30, they were still sleeping. We were to call back at 11:00. We're in class at 11, so we called at 12:30. Too late--but we were first on the list for the next day.

On Thursday, they said they'd come when they could fit us in. This is not the best option as I'm in class and cannot drive the car to their shop whenever they pop by. We asked if they'd come after 3:00. No. That would not be convenient. But, why was I worried about missing class? They always travel in pairs and one of them would drive my car to the shop. I just had to sign a release. (see why you had to remember?)

They came just as my class was headed to library. After much rigamarole (They enlisted the janitor to help them push the car about 20 feet away so that it would be more convenient...even though there was no one parked next to me on either side. They really didn't need to move my car. And the janitor, when I thanked him, replied that my grandchildren would pay. The secretary who was translating thought it was hysterical.) they had the car started and said that I should bring it to the shop in the next few days.

Being the experienced Russia-dweller that I've become, I said that they were meant to take the car with them. They said they couldn't. I said they must. They said they couldn't--they might get stopped on the way. I said all I had to do was sign a waiver and they could take it. They said they couldn't. I told them that the car would not start again if we turned it off and I could not leave. They said that if they wrote out a note and I signed it they'd risk the militsia.

The thing is, I wasn't really surprised by this and knew right away how to play the game. They also said that I might have my car that night (the office staff laughed knowingly and made the international money sign by rubbing thumb and fingers together). I didn't hold my breath. It's a good thing, because I still don't have my car. Neither have I heard from them. But...I'm still optimistic. Maybe I'll have it on Monday.

I don't think the patience our new-hires attributed to me is what I've gained in living here. It's closer to resignation--though without the despair or discontentment that connotates. Or, that I associate with that word. It's closer to acceptance and understanding--though without approval. And that lack of surprise in itself is a sign I've been here too long! The fact that I accept that things here work very differently is either a sign to move on...or an incredible sign of growth, maturity and tolerance. Yeah, I'm thinking the former.

(Blogger spellcheck irony--doesn't recognize internet.)

find your spot

One of my Allison-friends posted this link on our yahoo group. It asks you a bunch of questions and then tells you where your top spots to live in the US are.

My number one "match" (I use that term loosely) the first time I tried was:

"Mount Airy, North Carolina
Although known for its quaint and lovely small towns, North Carolina's Mount Airy shines above the rest. As the birthplace of Andy Griffith of The Andy Griffith Show fame, Mount Airy has a rightful claim to the moniker of "Small Town, USA". Aside from it's celebrity connections, this friendly, down-to-earth community has plenty for visitors to see and residents to love."

Umm...did they ignore my requirements of being near the arts and not in heat & humidity? Seems so... And, I don't like Andy Griffith--the show. I have no strong opinions on Andy as a person.

Maybe I'll go tweak my answers.

I broadened my search. Mount Airy still comes in the top 20 no matter what. The other place that consistently scores high is Lancaster, Ohio. (Although I did say I wanted less bureaucracy and government involvement...hmmm...Have these guys ever been to Ohio?)

Friends in Chattanooga will be glad to hear that it was high on my list of matches coming in at #7. (It's actually #8, but Salt Lake City was higher and I'd never live there. So we'll call it #7.) Funnily, this quiz classifies both Chattanooga and Colorado Springs as big cities. I'd call them small cities...

Romanovs?

I've been fascinated by the Romanovs for a long time now. It was in junior high that I first read Anastasia: The Riddle of Anna Anderson and Nicholas and Alexandra. They started me on a quest to learn more about this family. When I read, I am a character. Maybe that's the actress in me...or maybe it's just the ME in me. I have a need to strongly identify with one character and read from there. I like Anastasia. She intrigues me. And, I'll openly admit that Anna Anderson has me firmly in her camp. I don't care what they say--I'm a believer.

You know the horribly tragic story, I'm sure. The royal family was taken captive in 1917 by the Bolsheviks, eventually transferred to Ekaterinburg, and finally executed along with their few remaining servants. But, things get a little murky. There are confusing and conflicting reports, many of which sound like flimsy excuses for incompetence. (Seriously--why would they bury two of the bodies in a different place? Why? And, even if they did, why those two? Why not the tsar and tsarevich? This separate burial scheme alone makes no sense. I won't even get started on all the inconsistencies and ridiculous suppositions that have been accepted by some as fact.)

There was a report in The Guardian yesterday as well as in other news sources about the finding of the potential remains of Tsarevitch Alexei Romanov and one of his sisters that have been missing since the rest of the family's remains were supposedly found. (There is controversy about whether or not the first set of bones actually belonged to the Tsar and his family.)

I don't really have a nice summation for this post. I think you should go and read the article. I think you should also go and read some of the original evidence about the last days of the Romanov family. (It was all saved--though not methodically or carefully--and notes from various parties involved are still available today.) You can read some historical fiction if your prefer and latch on to that, though, naturally, there is more author's pov to wade through in that genre than in non-fiction; although non-fiction doesn't mean unbiased. (The Romanov Prophecy is a quick-reading thriller. I didn't like The Kitchen Boy. Post your favs in the comments!) Then, you can decide for yourself.

snacks

All this peanut butter talk has made me hungry.

Here are some Russian snack foods...or, more accurately, snack foods you can buy in Russia. My Russian teacher had never had the one pictured on the left before coming to my flat for a lesson. Now, she's competely hooked. The large snack on the left is called "crunchy". It's tasty--sort like peanut brittle. Aside from its tastiness, I also appreciate the innovative, forward-thinking that went into it. (I don't see a lot of that around here.) Basically, the bakery at Okey took the leftover seeds and nuts from the day's breadmaking and tossed them into some buttery-sugary concoction. I don't buy this often, but it is yummy.

The smaller snacks are called "dry". (At least with these names you know what sort of snack food you're getting.) They're my pretzel substitute. Yes, we do have pretzels here now, but we didn't when I first arrived. As least, I didn't find any. But, even with pretzels available, I choose these instead. I've gotten hooked on them. When I still drank Coke (Ahhh...good times.) that was a perfect complement to these. I still eat them now, though not as often. I do keep a bag at school for emergencies. As you can see, I like my "dry" with poppy seeds. There are also plain varieties.

Enjoy!

world view

Edited because I had a temporary braincloud.

I've been watching Trading Spaces on my slingbox. (I like the new-to-me format of no host.) There's a commercial that is on that I half heard while I was checking something online. (I was probably reading your blog.) It says something to the effect of:

We're all different.
We look different.
We play different games.
We do different things to relax.
But there's one thing we can all agree on...the comforting taste of a peanut butter sandwich.

This CRACKED ME UP! It's such an American stereotype and so true. The rest of the world is puzzled by this foodstuff of ours. They can take it or leave it. Most seem to prefer to leave it. Most of the world doesn't do the whole drinking milk thing either, which I think is the perfect complement to a pb sandwich. Actually, I like a glass of skimmed milk almost anytime. (yeah, big party girl here--so not) But I digress. The topic is the joys of peanut butter.

So, to lighten things up and to keep you reading until there's either exciting cultural or adoption news to report... comment and tell us all how you like your peanut butter.

I like Creamy Jiff
a. with honey
b. on toast
c. with jam (raspberry or apricot these days but I loooove blackberry)
d. grilled with jam (I think grape--or blackberry--jam is the best for this option.)
e. out of the jar (dire emergencies only)

HOW COULD I FORGET???
f. on bananas
g. in a pbb (peanut butter & banana) sandwich
h. on sour apples (the apples I've had here are often grainy--ick)
i. I have a GREAT sandwich with mashed bananas mixed with pb, honey and small chopped up apples--yum
j. on bagels or English muffins (I remember those...)
k. I'm sure there are other ways I'm forgetting...
l. I don't like it on celery. Celery cannot be redeemed even by peanut butter in my opinion. I do *not* like celery.

My little newly-from-America girl had a fluffernutter sandwich for lunch today. Not my fav, but it made me smile. She was delighted.

good news?

I received this e-mail:

"The committee has your documents, and they will let the office know when they have reviewed them."

So, this could be REALLY good news! But, it's so out of the blue that I don't know quite what's going on...and there is no updated hs yet...so....I think it's good news. Heck, I think any documentary action is good. (Okay, not the lions attacking wildebeast kind, but I couldn't resist that image.)

**Note: I didn't mean to imply that my documents were being registered. Oh, no. The committee just has my documents for review and not for filing. But, I still think this is good news.

Thanks for all your kind comments on my classroom. I think it looks great! I found out today (when most of my students arrived--they take up space, too) that it's too small for the extra table I had in there. So, now it's just the 16 desks, a couch and a bookcase, and the three computers. Not sure how long the computers will last...

where've i been?

Here've I been:

I painted my classroom (light green with polka dots, though the light green is washed out in these pix)...


...recovered the couch...


...put up bulletin boards...


and just generally got ready for today. It was open house! I met many of my students and am looking forward to our first day together tomorrow. For now, this tired teacher is off to bed. The first week is always l-o-n-g.

(No adoption news. My agency is still trying to get around the latest Interpol clearance and my hs update is still in process. They haven't found my lease yet.)

new holiday?

Salutations, friends. School's back in session (parents come Monday and students come Tuesday) so my blogging time as been curtailed. I just wondered how many of you saw this article
that has been making the rounds. Little did I know that September 12 (my sister's birthday) is a new holiday in Russia. It's conception day. Couples are given the day off from work to boost the declining birth rate in Russia. There are substantial prizes given to families who give birth on 12 June (Russia Day--that holiday that no two people call the same thing). The article also touches on the Family Capital Law that went into effect in January.

ps No, we don't get the day off from school.

how hot is it?

It's so hot that the butter in the butterdish on my counter has melted. **not all of it, but a significant part of it And, the kitchen isn't my hottest room.

no more V

Oh, dear. V is not working for my agency. That is not the good news I wanted to post.

one prolonged grumble

It's still hot.

I just got an e-mail from my agency asking for all sorts of paperwork I've already sent them...including THE LEASE. I was feeling like we were making progress, that we were almost there, and now I feel like someone who is walking on romper-stompers for the first time. (Remember those? You had to concentrate so hard the first time you wore them to just pick up one foot and put it in front of the other one. It was a huge effort.)

My car is b-r-o-k-e-n and school starts the day after tomorrow. I didn't learn enough Russian this summer, I didn't do enough ballet and I didn't lose enough weight. Everyone's class size is dropping except for mine. They only delivered 12 of my desks. I twisted my knee, there's a blister on my little toe, and I have a heat rash. I'm sick of every kind of food we have in this city and every piece of clothing I own.

I don't want to deal with any people. No one. I'm unplugging the phone, turning off the computer, taking a cool, lavender bath and some St. John's Wort and going to bed with my new book. I may or may not get dressed tomorrow.

Haven't I done enough? Apparently not. So I'll keep "doing". Just not today.

I'm hot and weary and frustrated.

And, to make it all worse, in case I didn't make it clear, it's still HOT!

I promise to post happier things tomorrow.

whether the weather is hot

Every class I've taught has loved this poem:


Whether the weather is cold
Or whether the weather is hot
Whether the weather is fine
Or whether the weather is not
We'll weather the weather
Whatever the weather
Whether we like it or not

Right now, it. is. hot.

Highs are hovering around 86 F-88 F. I can hear you laughing and sniggering and calling into account my definition of hot. While I freely admit to being a wimp when it comes to heat, I will say, in my own defense, that it feels much hotter. Even my beach-loving, sun-seeking friend Kat agrees that it's horribly hot right now. It's not humid (I lived in the South. I know humid.) here, but the heat gets trapped by the buildings...and there's no a/c anywhere. The US consulate is stifling. I've got three fans on, lights off, curtains drawn and am showering over and over. Sometimes it's a little cooler out on the bridges (the breeze!) but not always.

My poor cat is not weathering the weather very well. She's been sprawled out on her back, paws hovering, immobile for the last few days. She's a kind, affectionate, beautiful cat...but not the smartest cat I've ever had. She won't go and retreat to the cooler rooms (the bathroom tile is fairly cool) and leave me. (Maybe she's just incredibly loyal.)

Yesterday I took her into the bedroom, which is on the cooler side of the house, and we read the latest "Harry Potter" book. As long as I was there, she was content to stay put. We ventured out to use the computer, but are about to retreat to cooler climes (well, the bedroom feels like it's a different climate right now). I've got the two newest Jasper Fforde books to keep us occupied. I'll see you when the heat breaks. Of course, if news breaks first we'll venture out and let you know.

fingerprints? check!

Fingerprints? Check!

Most of you know that my fingerprints expired in June. I ordered a new set from fingerprints-r-us and they've arrived! I find the selection available there is excellent--a nice variety of whirls and swirls. And, they fit wonderfully. These fingerprints will last another year before expiring.

Silly, Kate! (That is a common refrain amongst my under-5 friends.)

Yes, in today's post, I received my FBI clearance. I also received two packages from home with everyday things I asked for, THREE new books, and some eBay purchases. (It's a good thing school is starting soon. I need less eBay time.) It was a good post day--again!

I've sent my fbi clearance on to my sw already, so...any bets? When will my hs be finished?

a little help here?

I need some car help. (Where are my brothers when I need them...)

Something is draining my battery and I think it's the starter. Or something ignition-ish. I had my car jumpstarted the day before yesterday (note: it won't be jumpstarted by an ordinary car, only by the AAA equivalent--maybe my battery is too big?) and then last night it wouldn't start! Now, I only drove it to the store and back (about 30 minutes each way) so maybe it didn't get charged enough...but it still seems wrong to me.

Now, and the last two times I had to jumpstart it (the first jump lasted longer...maybe two weeks), it doesn't turn over. It sounds a little like a machine gun when you turn the key. The lights and radio still work.

Any ideas? I could use the help because now I'll be dealing with people in two languages I barely speak--Russian and car.

p.s. Do you find it helpful or redundant to have the parenthetical remarks in a smaller font? I think both...but redundancy is bad and helpfulness is good. Oh! Just heard my friend Scott's voice in my head saying, "Kate, don't be helpful." Hmm...

Edited to add: The person in charge of vehicles at school and I had a brief pow-wow. He agrees that it's my battery, that it wouldn't start because the other battery was too small, and that I need a jump. He also said if I brought it to school he'd hook it up to a charger. Great! Let's hope this solves the problem.

wassup?

Guess what I am doing right now. If you guessed blogging you're half right--and get points for stating the obvious.

If you guessed watching live US television, you win the grand prize.

"But how," you ask, furrowing your brow in puzzlement, "is this possible? Are you back in the US?" How quickly your quizzicality turns to accusation. "You didn't tell us you were coming home. Why didn't you schedule a visit with us while you're back!"

Before your feelings get hurt (because of course I'd want to come and visit you if I was back in the US) the answer is no, I'm not back in the US. My mom and sister had a slingbox installed. It takes the programming on their tv and slings it through their computer to mine. Cool, huh? And, since my slingbox is hooked up to a dvr, I can record programs (ummm...Lost, General Hospital, House...) and watch them when it's convenient. We're already planning weekly ex-pat House nights. Cool, huh? I'm thinking that Sesame Street will be vital soon.

Please, let me need Sesame Street soon.

progress...of sorts

I often get stopped and asked for directions when I'm out walking. I was thinking about the progression in my Russian skills in relation to direction giving. Here's the progression of my responses:

I'm sorry, I don't understand.

I'm sorry, I don't know.

I'm sorry, I speak a tiny bit of Russian.

(I hear: Devoshka (girl), sltjeislkgdfeutsdk seoitsvlsteskgsjldj Aurora?)
and reply, "Aurora? To the right."

Yesterday I heard, "Devoshka (girl), ksdjfoeifjs Gdye (where) dkjslkdjfiefkdfksdjf?"

And I replied, "I speak a little Russian. Please repeat?"

He apologized and said he was asking where the Gorkovskaya Metro was, and prepared to leave--obviously thinking I didn't know/couldn't tell. HA!

I said, "Yes, I know. The park..." and pointed at said park...

He asked, "After the park?"

I replied, "Yes, after the little park, is a big park to the right. In the center of the big park is the Metro."

His girlfriend understood and they headed off.

Okay, it's not a dissertation on, well, anything. But, I think it's progress!

(clever segue)

Hopefully sw #2 is making progress on my hs. She is back from vacation today. I exercised restraint and didn't e-mail her while she was gone. I e-mailed her scans of all my documents this morning (except for the FBI check that I'm hoping comes in this week's post...it should...). I've already written up all the changes she needs to make. So, it shouldn't take her long. She didn't confirm receipt of the documents (I just e-mailed and asked for that), though, which makes me wonder if she's really back and working...

We really should be on track for a new hs to be finished about the same time my agency receives accreditation.

Edited to add: SW #2 responded to my request for confirmation. She couldn't unzip my scans. So, I changed them to jpeg, resent them, and voila! She has info.

talking rabbits

Here's another literary quiz for you (with thanks to chou-chou).

You're Watership Down!
by Richard Adams

Though many think of you as a bit young, even childish, you're actually incredibly deep and complex. You show people the need to rethink their assumptions, and confront them on everything from how they think to where they build their houses. You might be one of the greatest people of all time. You'd be recognized as such if you weren't always talking about talking rabbits.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

One of the greatest people of all time? This is a very insightful quiz. ;>

the eyes have it

How quickly can you pick up an eye infection?

I was at the children's homes on Wednesday, had a rotten night Wednesday with itchy eyes, insomnia and sensitive ankles (I promise I'm not making that up. How could I?) and woke up Thursday with red, oozy, itchy eyes and a low-grade fever. I've put some Neosporin** on them, and they're better, but not well yet.

**Okay, don't laugh. I meant to do this. One time, while I was acting professionally and had no insurance, I got pink eye. I put some antibiotic ointment that was left over from the time I had surgery on my foot to remove a piece of glass on my itchy, oozy eyes. I have no idea what prompted me to do so. The next day, at the doc-in-the-box, my eyes were completely clear! Doctor said my ointment application was probably more effective than the rx eyedrops b/c the ointment stayed on the eye.

Wanted to close with Neosporin's new tagline: "The better to see you with, my dear."

DISCLAIMER: The tube says not to put this in your eyes. So don't. Something bad might happen to you. Just because it passed the it-doesn't-hurt-so-how-could-it-harm? test administered by Kate, and has proved effective several times over, doesn't mean you should try this. (I, however, live in Russia. 'Nuff said.) I disclaim all responsibility for any outcomes of you sticking things in your eye.

to Riabovo again (long)

Yesterday I had the privilege of delivering the remains of our spring clothing drive to a local children's home. The back of my car will filled with clothes and a few toys that were too small/too young for the children in the children's home at Lopukhinka. On the way we stopped to deliver some requested items (including diapers, toothpaste and lice shampoo) for a children's shelter at Tosna. (Caterpillar has a large plant in that small city as does...that company that makes soap and detergents that starts with H...Henkel, I think...). The shelter is where children wait for a place in a Children's Home. They wait in the hospitals for a place at the shelter.

While the shelter was in "the nicest building of any of the orphanages", I found it a little sad. The children were all on the couch watching television, and looked like they'd been there awhile. They needed to have their hair brushed...or maybe it was just bedhead from watching too much television in one position. I wanted to badly to open a window! It was just a little stale and stuffy in there.

You should have seen the amount of candy some of these little boys stashed in their pockets! (Valentina cannot visit children without bringing them candy.) Then, Natasha, one of the older girls, doled it out fairly to the rest--remembering those who were currently out of the room.

V. says that she thinks children adopted from shelters--before they've been placed in children's homes--may be among the most successful placements.

After we left, we went on to my favourite children's home in Riabovo. This is the children's home I visited at Christmas. They are a small facility in a less-than-perfect building. They are scheduled to be combined with another nearby home into a large facility when it is finished. (Riabovo's director says she will strive to place all of "her" children in special schools, with foster families, etc. rather than put them in the new, large home. For that I am very grateful.)

Walking in, we noticed all the bright, new paintwork. The children have just gotten back from their first-ever summer trip. They went to the Black Sea. While they were gone, their teachers were busy painting and cleaning and sprucing up. (Teachers in Russia are expected to spend a month of the summer holiday cleaning, painting and doing repairs.) The place looked great! And, even nicer than the fresh paintwork was the warm welcome we received from the caregivers and even the cook. They were go glad to see us!

I was flattered to be remembered by both the staff and the children. In the older children's room, I was confronted again with my lack of Russian. Children don't slow down when they speak to you! They just rattle on...often with mispronunciations and a language all their own. I was able to stay for a bit and all of the children showed off their English (Thank you very much. My name is.... Yes. No.) I played a silly game with Sveta where she said, "Yes." and I'd say, "Da." She'd say, "No," and I'd reply, "Nyet." Appropriate nodding and head shaking accompanied this. We played this for probably...ten minutes! She never varied. And if I answered incorrectly (in an attempt to make it a little more entertaining) she simply continued with her yes-no-yes-no. What struck me, though, was how much she wanted to talk to me. If this was all we could say to each other, so be it. That's what we'd say.

One boy wanted me to translate something from English into Russian for him. I didn't even understand that much at the time, because I didn't understand that was he was saying was English. I feel like I failed him and wanted to go back as soon as I understood what it was he wanted. By that time we were in the car on the way home.

The older children had a family of three gypsy children (Sveta of the yes-no was one of them--and SO cute!) whose parents are in a nearby prison. They'll return to their family when the sentence is ended. One little boy had been "rescued" from a psychiatric hospital. He was being heavily medicated, primarily, it seems, for impulsive behaviour. The director found him there and fought to have him placed in her home. Otherwise, he would have been hospitalized for life. He is a doll--and told us all about seeing sharks in the Black Sea. I think the director might be considering adopting him. None of these children are adoptable. They all have relatives who occasionally or regularly visit them.

In the younger children's room I noticed the biggest change in children. Whereas before this was a room of primarily under 3's, now it was almost indistinguishable from the older children's room. There was one child left from my first visit. One child had been adopted by a family in Italy. (The 76 year old caretaker, who is quite spry and very much a character, was thrilled to show us his photographs and letter. He's even called her on the telephone.) When I asked about the rest, it seems that they've been mostly returned to their families as:

a. a result of the new family capital law
b. on a trial basis to see if the parents are now capable of caring for them

This is what I was told, though it was a guess by Valentina. I can't say if it's a trend country-wide. I think it could also have to do with the forecasted move to a larger facility.

Most of the children at Riabova are so different from the rest of the children I've visited in children's homes. They are happy and very communicative. They are warm, friendly and very unlike institutionalized children. I credit their caretakers and the director of the home. And, I do think that the small size of this home helps.

The one exception to the happy children was a little three-year-old girl (bed number eight) who hadn't been there very long. She still looked a little sad. Although, we were there during their "nap time", so she could have been tired. She and little G, who was still there from my first visit, were the only under 5's I saw.

For those of you who have looked at the schedules you've been given of your children's daily routine, not a single child was napping during this naptime. They were all on their beds, but it wasn't remotely quiet. They were mostly lying down, but there was lots of chat going on. Now, this may be atypical, but it was true. And, no one minded us coming in and interrupting them to hand out toys and candy. The biggest, best doll was immediately given to new little bed-number-eight.

I left Riabovo happy and hopeful. These children are not adoptable. But, they are well-cared for and loved. I like going there. Once again, while I was there I was ready to just stay. I wanted to stay and be a part of this home, to care for these children, to live with them and love them. I know it's not possible, but it is the *flash* I have when I'm there. (One note: I'm happy doing most things, am very enthusiastic, and am prone to seeing myself contentedly living out new adventures--historical interpreter, farmer's wife, dvetsky dom caretaker, astronaut...or even living in a historical setting, so this flash is not really atypical.)

Just wanted to share this glimpse with the curious among you. It was a great day. I look forward to returning!

commenting

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my last post. It is, indeed, insane. Everytime I walk out and find my car missing, I mutter and sputter about how ridiculous it is that they can just move my car. Sadly, perhaps, I mutter and sputter less each time it happens. I guess I'm acclimating to this ridiculousness...

In answer to some questions...

Judy, Tami, and Jane, there is a website that will tell you where your car is...after they've logged all your information. Usually it's faster to just wander around. One time our school secretary spotted my car when I couldn't find it.

Lauri, a gps would be a fab idea! I was thinking of one of those clapper things that helps you find your keys...

Kay, I read about that race, too. But, I didn't see it. I bet those girls were FAST. I think there was a minimum heel-height of three inches.

Metricgirl, I've lost my car in a parking lot before, so the first time this happened I was *really* confused. The fact that there were no other cars on the street helped me to believe that I hadn't just spaced where I parked it.

Carrie, it's a Canon powershot A620. Unfortunately, right now the screen is broken (remember Red Sails Day?) so all I can do is point and shoot...and zoom.

Chou-chou, I'm in St. Petersburg. I live in the golden triangle--between the Hermitage and the Field of Mars. (No one is able to tell me what the third part of the triangle is...)

Paige, really there was no other title for this post. ;> Great minds and all that.

Dawn, one of my searching problems is that there is no pay parking nearby. Usually they tow you to a pay-per-15 minute parking lot and charge you. The reason my car is randomly towed is there isn't one anywhere near here. So, they're not as kind as you give them credit for being...