Current mood:

refreshed

Ah... Spring
The sun is shining, birds are singing, kids are playing, bells are ringing, much is a-doing, Sarah’s not spewing, and all is right with the world. (Sorry Grandma Jane, I needed to complete the rhyme scheme.) It was a truly beautiful spring like day here, though you wouldn’t know it to see people on the streets. We were told there’s an inertia problem with people and their wardrobes; they are still dressed to go ice fishing. I was in a t-shirt getting more odd glances than normal.

We walked to the corner café for lunch, had some delicious stuffed cabbage, while Sarah had a piece of lemon marshmallow pie/cake and tea. Don’t worry, she’s all better, but sometimes she does not follow the accepted rules of consumption protocol. I also had baklava, which was quite tasty. There are a number of these cheap and decent restaurants within walking distance from our apartment, so that is a nice thing, especially if the weather continues to behave as it did today.

Is anyone sick of baby pictures yet? Yes, I see one hand up in the back. Well, too bad. Our visit, number 9, was peachy. Asella really enjoys reading and turning the pages of things, and generally doing things to her toys, especially putting them in her mouth. Both kids are also fascinated of pictures of babies. There are several framed pictures of former inmates, er… residents of the orphanage, and they crane and strain to stare at them. Asella also REALLY loves the bungee jumper apparatus thing, as pictured here.





She’s got 2 tiny teeth poking up from the bottom and really enjoyed her dragonfly teether today. Note that at long last they changed her clothes, and she and her playmate Grant (who has now been named by DJ and Kim) were resplendent in their matching white and orange bovine creature outfits.



We’re told all our paperwork and process stuff is on track and moving along smoothly. So that’s good. Yesterday we had to prove we existed, and I think we both did a marvelous job at that. I’m not going to tell you how as that’s for each person to figure out on their own. But I’ll give you a hint: It involved a slice of cheese, a kazoo, and the muffler from a 1986 Pontiac Fiero.

After the visit we all went a walking to the grocery store, sans translator. We made out reasonably well; we’re just hoping that the bag of white powder we bought is indeed sugar. So far not so much luck on the chocolate front. I’ll keep searching though, if I have to try every brand and every confection in the store. It’s a mission I’m willing to accept.

I feel like we just go from meal to meal here and eat a ton, yet I’m always reasonably hungry. Maybe I have a tapeworm. But, some of you are probably saying that it’s always seemed like I’ve had a tapeworm, so perhaps this is nothing new. The portions here are actually more realistically portion-sized, and not the huge behemoth mega-truckload of food generally served up at your local Cheesecake Factory or Ed’s Obesity Diner and Cardiac Testing Center. This is actually convenient, because the to-go boxes cost extra. As does bread. But tip is included, so it all evens out. Except if you want a slice of lemon for your water. Then you get hosed.

Speaking of dinner, we had a nice meal at a somewhat authentic Italian restaurant (again within walking distance). I had a pizza with pears and blue cheese. Sarah had spinach and cheese ravioli doused in a sauce comprised entirely of salt. Aside for the massive coronary she will likely suffer from sodium poisoning, it was pretty good. We did not get charged for our to-go accouterments, as they simply put the ravioli and a slice of pizza in a plastic bag. Most of the patrons were enjoying a pre-Friday night-out beverage, which was a big goblet of beer, drank through a straw. It’s fun playing the wacky cultural and social mores discrepancy game!

Well, that about wraps up March. Hope this journal finds you well. If it misses you, there will be another one tomorrow. Good night/morning/whatever!