Rants, Raves, & Faves

Why Lord?

2012-01-26T09:38:00.001+02:00

As I mentioned a while back we bought a house with land.

Well I was planning on moving this week but God has decided otherwise.

our house is not easy to get to under normal weather conditions, its up on a hill

where thw one lane roads are just dirt and rocks. well it finally. decided to start snowing and raining This week. couldn't snow for Christmas or new year. Nope, had to wait till I need to move.Grrrrrrrrrrr :-Q

Friday The 13th.....

2012-01-15T10:48:00.001+02:00

So obviously this post is going to be about that superstitious day.

So Friday morning I get up early, feed the kids wash the dishes so I can get out and go pick up a friend who is going to replace my front doors in my new house..... Oh yeah we bought a house with land earlier in the week. I'll post pics later in another post after I move in.

So anyway. I get to my car and what do I see? The lock in the driver side door is sitting at an angle. I touch it and half of it falls off. Some punks tried to break in, I'm assuming to steal the car since there was nothing of value in it. But they broke the lock and couldn't get in.

So I manage to get the passenger door unlocked si I can get into the car. I pick up my friend. He goes with me to a parts store. They tell me I can't buy just one lock I have to buy a set, which will cost me 1,000 lei, about $400-500! Forget that! So we go see about an alarm system. That will only be 450 lei which includes installation. So I'll be able to lock and unlock the doors plus have an alarm.

I could wring those punks necks!! So glad that I'll be moving to the country soon!! The teens around here are getting too ballsy!!!!

So we get up to the property. I turn on the water to the house. All the spigots and hoses going to the sinks, toilet, bidet (yes a bidet), shower stall and water heater are all leaky and need to be replaced. My bathroom floor is covered in water. I bought all the parts at a price of 200 Lei. Now I gotta pay the local plumber there in town and the man who was taking care of the property to install it all. If Marius was here he'd do it. But he had to go back to work.

So that was my Friday the 13th. But on the bright side, by Thursday the doors should be replaced. The water/plumbing issues taken care of, and then I can start buying furniture and moving it in, so that me and the kids can start living in our OWN home out in the country where I'll be growing all my own food and raising chickens. ;)

And....I'm viral....

2012-01-08T22:23:00.000+02:00

In my last post, I mentioned Raoul Pop. He has interviewed me for his viral series entitled "Romania Through Their Eyes". He finally finished editing it and published it just after New Year. So here it is, my World Wide Web video debut. ;p

Enjoy! And please make sure to check out the other ex-pats that Raoul has interviewed as well as his wife, Ligia's videos on YouTube: "Ligia's Kitchen".

Getting Around...

2011-12-16T23:36:00.001+02:00

So a friend of mine - well I met him and his wife online, and recently in person, was featured in this article on Romania Insider. Raoul Pop and his wife Ligia, are both Romanian, whose families emigrated to the U.S. when they were younger. They have returned to Romania, and are rapidly teaching healthier eating habits to Romanians; which is a good thing, since pork seems to be the main staple on the tables here. Raoul is also a very talented photographer, who after running into many ex-pats here and speaking with them, decided to start filming a series that he puts online, called "Romania Through Their Eyes". His goal is to hopefully get the ear of those in positions of power who can bring about some much needed change. Even just getting the ears of average Romanians.

I was recently interviewed for this series, which I understand Raoul is currently editing, and I'm a bit nervous, as I'm a bit of a talker - especially with my hands - I think it's an American thing. ;)

Anyway so in the article, right under Raoul, guess whose name and photo is listed?!? That's right - mine. I was utterly shocked, since the other ex-pat bloggers listed are professionals who are actively working here in Romania, where I'm just the American wife of a Romanian man, with 3 kids, who struggles desperately to learn the language.

The man listed directly below me, is absolutely hysterical, and definitely a must read for any ex-pat here in Romania, or anyone wanting to visit Romania. Sam's motto, is "You might have been born here, but I'm still more Romanian than you" - and I think he's probably right! PLEASE check out his blog here!

Time Machine

2011-12-07T22:30:00.001+02:00

So maybe I mentioned this before, I can't remember, but I notice the kids at my kids school. I mean the teenagers. Obviously my kids aren't teenagers and don't require me to walk them to and from school. I mean the girls trying, sometimes desperately to get the boys to notice them. And the boys with their coolness just standing there. They KNOW they don't have to do anything, they don't have to really try to get a girls attention, and even if they do have to try to get their attention, they look cool doing it; whereas the girls, well we just make ourselves look like idiots.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. People are the same all over the world. The only thing that really separates us, besides language, is culture. But even with language and cultural differences, we're all wired the same. Girls will always pretend to be stupider than they really are so that they don't make the guy they're crushing on to feel inferior or something.

I watch these 15 year old girls run around acting silly and giggly, and I just want to grab them by their shoulders, and yell at them "STOP IT! Stop pretending to be stupid, focus on your books, make a life for yourself. Forget about the boys till you're done with University, and have a career. These boys here and now, they're not going to get you where you need to go in this life!" But it wouldn't do any good, they wouldn't listen, cause hey, when you're 15 you know EVERYTHING, and us 'moms' - pshhhh, we don't know nuthin. We might as well have dropped off the turnip truck yesterday. Gah!

I keep trying to instill that into my girls, and have been since they've been old enough to comprehend complete sentences. I tell them, what matters in this life is your education, and how you treat others. Focus on learning, going to college, and getting a career, then AFTER all that, that's when you worry about marriage and babies. Don't mess around in school, do good in school so that when you get big, you can have all the clothes and shoes you want - they're girls, they love clothing!

If I've just repeated myself, excuse me, just these daily observations of the next generation make me laugh, and look back at my own awkward adolescence; I was weird, self-conscious, and insecure, too worried about what others thought of me instead of grinding it out in the books. If had kept my nose in the books I could be anything right now, who knows I could be sitting in congress shakin' things up....okay maybe not shakin things up, cause well, they'd assassinate me for not playin' ball with the lobbyists, et al.

Looking Back

2011-11-21T19:21:00.001+02:00

So I wanted to go back, since, well, I've never given my first impressions of Romania. And yes, even though it's been nearly 3 years since my arrival here, I still remember very vividly my initial thoughts and feelings. So let's go back to January 20, 2009, the day we arrived, the same day that Obama was sworn in too, oddly enough.

So we arrived in Bucuresti with our 3 kids in tow. Kelly was 6, Isabel was 4, and Paul was 18 months old. We'd been traveling for about 17 hours total. Paul developed air sickness in the form of diarrhea - FUN, and I'm sure the flight attendants just LOVED me when it was time to clean out the trash bins. :/

Anyway, so there we were with 2 carts FULL of all our luggage. My hubby had lost his passport and was traveling with a Embassy Travel Document. He'd not had a visa to be in the U.S., and the border agent asked him if he'd had one, he was honest and said no, we were told to wait a minute. The agent came out from the booth and as he passed Marius, he told him quietly: "your lucky. my boss left early today." He went into a little office, and a few minutes later came out and gave us all our documents back. He told Marius, look I fixed it in the computer that you DID have a visa. They'll stop you again before you get to the lobby, if they ask if you had a visa say yes. *whew*

We weren't stopped again. There were military guards by the doors to exit the airport, they looked straight at us, Marius was sweating bullets, I wasn't worried, I think it was a mixture of exhaustion, and over-wrought emotions. The guards, instead of stopping us, sent an airport worker to help us get our bags to the car. Marius' 2 brothers and his sister were there waiting for us. Marius hadn't seen his family in over 12 years. It was a bit of an emotional roller-coaster ride standing there in the airport.

So off to the rental van we went. We arrived at 4:45 p.m. - can we say RUSH HOUR?!? It took us 4 hours just to get out of Bucuresti. What should have been a 4-5 hour drive took 7. We didn't arrive at my mother in laws house till 2 a.m. By this time we'd been travelling well over 24 hours. There waiting for us was of course my mother in law, one of my other sister in laws, and her nephew who lives with MIL in a TINY 2 room apartment. So there we were, 11 people crammed into a 300 sq.ft. apartment. Yeah. Claudiu, the baby, left to go back to Bucuresti, where he lives with his wife, their son and his in-laws. Vali the brother under Marius and his wife, went back to their house there in Tulcea. All that was left, were me, Marius, our 3 kids, Elena, Marius' sister, and Vali's son, Cristi. So we crammed ourselves into the beds and sofa beds to sleep. The next day I felt like I was in a dream. It was the dead middle of winter. Everything was stark and grey. I could see the beauty beneath the harsh veneer of Soviet style architecture. Old cobblestone roads. It was quite an experience.

Marius took me to Piata Noua, the farmer's market. we were besieged by dirty little kids begging for money. Marius ignored them, I started digging in mine and his pockets to give them some change. One night, Me, Marius his brother Vali and his wife Cati (Cathy), went to a local restaraunt to have a coffee. While we were sitting there, a little ran up to the table, my sister in law yelled at her, then one of the men who worked there, came out yelling at her, chasing her out, and kicked her in the behind as she ran for the door. I was shocked. I put my head down and tried not to cry, but I couldn't help it, the tears welled up in my eyes. Evidently Marius or one of my in-laws noticed the change in my composure, and Marius looked at me and asked what it was, and I said, what was that? Why did he kick that little girl. It was a gypsy kid. I knew that. Marius explained they have a bad habit of running up to your table and grabbing whatever is on the table, or a purse, jacket, whatever. I was near the window, and none of my stuff was accessible, which was good, since I had mine and the kids passports in my purse. I told Marius I understood the concern, but it was still no reason to kick a CHILD, gypsy or not. My in-laws at first didn't understand why I was so upset, but when Marius explained to them, that a child is still a child regardless of whether it's a gypsy or not. They told me to wait till I'd been here a few years, stuff like that wouldn't phase me anymore. Say sorry sai, but they were right. After having my kids picked on by gyspy kids who live in our bloc, or CONSTANTLY come to my door begging, it doesn't phase me. I've even had to yell at them. They would come to our door, I would give them some money, or some bread, or fruit, well then they started coming EVERYDAY, sometimes 2-3 times a day. Enough was enough. I would tell them I didn't have anything, and really I didn't; and would close the door, they would knock again, again I would say "N-am nimic. Imi pare rau." (I don't have anything. I'm sorry). Close the door, yet AGAIN they would ring the bell. That was enough, I was being taken for a fool, so I opened the door, and said loudly "N-am! PLECA DE AICI!" (I don't have anything, GET OUT OF HERE!) They don't come to my door everyday anymore. Maybe once a month. Usually when the seasons change and I clean out the kids clothes for things they've outgrown or messed up, I bag it up, and when they come to the door, I give them the clothes.

Gypsies aside. I noticed a difference in people's attitude here as well. People here are very guarded, for good reason 40+ years of Communism makes you guarded. I would smile at people we passed on the street, and I kept noticing that they would look at me strangely, especially the men, older ones in particular. I mentioned this to Marius; "Do people not smile here? I mean I smile at people when we pass them, and they look at me like I'm crazy or something." Marius asked what I meant, and we had just passed an older man. I told him, well, when we passed that man I smiled at him, and he looked at me funny. Marius laughed and said that usually when a woman smiles at a man, she's telling him that she's available. I stopped smiling.

Life moves slower here. At least in Tulcea. In the larger cities like Bucuresti, maybe it moves at a faster pace like in the U.S., I don't know. But I like it here. In the spring and summer the landscape is lush with green and flowers. Lots of birds, especially here in the delta area. Winter is dismal and harsh, but there's still beauty to be found, even in the bleakness, especially when the city is laying under a blanket of white!

Like I said, those first few days felt like some sort of waking dream. I'd just left everything and everyone I'd ever known and moved halfway around the world, where everything was different. And I didn't understand a word being said. But it was cool, I noticed things that people here didn't notice anymore. Things Marius had never noticed the whole time he was growing up here. He got to see his hometown with new eyes too.

Americans: What NOT to do abroad....

2011-10-04T22:22:00.000+03:00

Okay, so this post is mainly for you younger people - you know who I mean....You college age kids whose parents are footing the bill for your adventure in Europe.

Rule 1: It is NOT necessary for you to talk loudly everywhere you go. This is NOT the U.S., people here in Europe don't want to hear your conversations. While you may think that they don't understand English - they DO. They just pretend to be stupid so they don't have to converse with YOU!

Rule 2: If you absolutely insist on speaking loudly, at least speak with some appearance of intelligence. The word 'like' is not a conjunctive word. It does not need to be used, like, every other, like, 2 words, or like, whatever..... The Valley Girl girl slang died a quick death back in the 80's, so please leave your 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' mentality at home in the U.S.
*Note: History is NOT stupid. Those who don't study history are doomed to repeat it. If that's the case then I feel sorry for myself when I get old as you idiots will be the ones in charge. *sheesh*

Rule 3: IT'S EUROPE, It's NOT the U.S., so NO, the rooms aren't going to be big like back home, and yes, the water heater has to be plugged in at least 2 hours prior to bathing. AND DON"T USE YOUR FLAT IRON here - unless you want to knock out the power to at least 10 city blocks!

Rule 4: Just because your daddy paid for your little adventure doesn't mean you are better than anyone else. It doesn't mean YOU are wealthy, it just means your dad is an idiot for giving you everything you want instead of making you earn the money yourself.

Last Rule: If you can't behave like a nice, quiet, intelligent, civilised human being, than for God's sake, and all us ex-pats actually living in abroad, JUST STAY in the U.S.

♪♫Waiting For The Man♪♫

2011-08-22T17:35:00.001+03:00

....well that's how David Bowie put it anyway. Albeit 'The Man' in Bowie's classic is NOT the same 'Man' I've been waiting on. No - no smack for me, thank you very much.

..No, the man I've been waiting on, well several anyway, is an arm of the Romanian government. Yes, I do love it here, but there are situations where my love and adoration is caught in a 'Catch-22'..... *sigh*

Okay, so Marius came home 2 weeks ago for his vacation. We went to the D.M.V., or the RO version anyway, to see what was needed to change our drivers licenses from U.S. to RO ones. Marius had gone about 2 years ago, and was told we would have to take an exam, and that you could study and practice online - Marius didn't even pass the online exams - I guess they want the drivers here to be Einstein's - if you meet a RO with a RO drivers license I can guarantee they KNOW how to drive, and drive safely, even if their driving looks a bit scary.

So on this visit, we were told NO, we did NOT have to take exams, we did however have to have the following:
1. Our original U.S. licenses
2. Copies of our D.L.'s, and copies of ID cards (mine being issued by Immigration)
3. Translations of our D.L.'s into ROmanian, which had to be notarized.
4. Medical Visitis (which included a Psych eval; sorta)
5. Taxes to be paid
6. Criminal background check (which included paying more taxes at another place)
7. A notarized declaration stating, that our D.L.'s were real, not revoked, no outstanding warrants on them, etc.)

The criminal background check for me wasn't ready till today. Marius was able to get all of his turned in last week - literally the day before he left. It took us close to 2 weeks to get all of this done. My background check took 4 days because I'm American, and mine had to be done in Bucuresti, unlike Marius' which was done locally here in Tulcea.

So anyway, I get up this morning, head on over to the Police Station to see if my Cazere (background check) was in, and it was, I then head straight over to the D.M.V., since I have everything else. I got there at around 9:15. There was already a HUGE line ahead of me. So I waited around for a few minutes, then I notice that the first hour (9-10) was for the people taking exams. So I decide to walk next door to talk to my sister in law, who works at a pet store there. We drank a coffee, and then I hiked back across Piata Ciuvica, and across the street to get to the Romtelecom offices to pay my home phone, cable, and internet bill, then walk back over to the D.M.V. It is now 10 a.m. and the same people are still in line. I thought about leaving and just coming back at 2 p.m. Cause the offices close at 1 for lunch, and re-open at 2. Glad I didn't. After waiting for nearly 2 hours, the guy (actually the dept. boss) looks at everything and notices MY declaration is incomplete. It was exactly the same at Marius'!! Well according to law, because I'm not a RO citizen my declaration needed to cite a few laws and say a few more things. GRRRRRR...... WHY DIDN'T THEY TELL US THAT WHEN MARIUS WAS HOME?!?!?

So off I go to the Notary, and bring them the wording, and law citations and attempt to explain that MY declaration needs to say such and such. They say it will take half an hour. It's 12:40 - I explain I need to get home, my kids are there waiting on me, and that I would come back at 2. PERFECT! the lady says!

Okay, before your panties twisted in a knot, it's acceptable and normal here to leave your kids alone in the house for a few hours. That and they are old enough to stay alone.

So I grab them some snacks they begged me for and head home. I get home just before 1. I've also got to go to the P.O., cause I have a package from the U.S. there. I can only pick up pkgs from outside the E.U. at a certain P.O. on certain days, Mondays & Thrusdays, and then only between 1-3 in the afternoon. So I hang up the laundry I washed, grab all my stuff and head back out the door at 1:40. Arrive at P.O. at 1:45, get package, which was from a friend I haven't heard from in ages. She made my girls some very pretty hair bows. So now back to the notary. I arrive there at 2:03, and notice the notary headed out as I'm headed in. *grrrrrr*. They give me the declaration, along with the paper the dude at the DMV gave me, make sure everything is correct, and give it back to them. Now I have to wait an HOUR for the notary to come back - why didn't she tell me the notary would be leaving at 2 - I could've come back at 1:30.

So 3 o'clock rolls around, and here comes the notary. They take care of me first (thank God), and I pay for their services and head on over to the DMV. Now the guy told me to come back in the morning with the new declaration, but I said, "Nah, let me just go ahead and get this over with now". So I go in, hand it to him, everything is good! I take my picture, sign what I have to sign, and he then tells me it will be mailed to me within about 15 days. I ask him for the temp. license; a piece of paper that I show (if stopped) to the po-po proving that I have permission to drive, just waiting on the actual license. He doesn't have any, and that I have to come again in the morning around 10 or 10:30, so his co-worker can fill it out! So now I understand why he said to come back in the morning.

*****SSSSSSSIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGHHHHHHH*****

So about the medical visit, which included seeing a shrink. We get to the medical place at around 9, give our info, pay the fees, and are told to go across the hall. Another doctor comes out grabs us, hurries up and takes our info. signs off where he has to sign off - that he examined us, and we're cool. Then tells us to hurry up and go over to the shrink - who is in the mental hospital, which is right next door to our apartment building coincidentally, but to hurry, she will be closing her office at 10, it's 9:30. So off we run, park the car at 9:40, run around, and finally find this woman's office, we walk in at 10 min. to 10. I say hello, and give her my ID, Marius explains we're there for the fisa for prescimbare permis de conducre. She takes my ID, and looks at it, and asks "what is this" to herself. Marius says "Ea este Americanca". It was hysterical. She immediately puts the card down, and hurries up and fills out our fisa, and signs it. We then go to the eye doctor, who was late coming in. I get in there, and I have to read the very last line. Now, in Romanian they don't have names for the letters - they just say the ABC's by their sound. So there I am BUTCHERING the letters, and I guess the doctor and the nurse kinda looked at each other and at Marius a little funny, cause he again explains "She's American, and still learning the language". "AH! Bine. She's okay!" I'm done.

Now if this would have been Marius on his own doing all this, he would have gotten nothing but ATTITUDE from everyone at every Dr.'s office, ever place to pay taxes, EVERYWHERE, but because his wife, the AMERICANCA was with him, well they were just a sweet as sugar, sweeter maybe, if that's possible. This is that catch-22 I was talking about. You have to run around like a chicken with its head cut-off to get anything done here, but because I'm AMERICAN, it goes easier for me and Marius, for the most part anyway. Oh that and you can get things done faster with bribery. Yesh, I know that goes on everywhere, but it seems to be more open and blatant here, which again is a good thing and a bad thing.

I asked Marius, why the DMV didn't just do it like they do back home, you know put the little eye checker's there, and pay everything there. And WHY all the medical sign-offs? I was like it would make things much easier for everyone. He looked at me and said, cause if they did that, they couldn't get your money, and he's right. It cost us right around $500 for the two of us to get our licenses.

Romania I LOVE YOU, but at the same time, you make me crazy!

What I ♥ about Romania

2011-07-26T13:07:00.000+03:00

I've been here in the old Eastern Bloc for nearly 3 years now. Yes there are things about back home that miss, mainly my family, the rest of it...meh. But here's what & why I love living in Romania.

1. Romania is peaceful.
Romania has a long history, with it's share of violence, but none that she herself started. Since it's inception, WAYYY back in the day. Romania had 1 thing on her mind: how to live a good and peaceful life. She never sought world domination. Instead she was attacked and plundered by the Ottoman's - who she eventually overthrew (the only country I know of that did that during that time) thanks to Vlad Tepes, a.k.a. Vlad the Impaler, or for you 'Twilight' freaks - Dracula. Then came the Romans, who were in this country only a short time - the shortest of all their occupations. Then later came the Soviets and the only way that they really kept Moscow out of their business was to be even harsher in their policies than the Russians themselves. And now - the E.U.....but I'll save that for another post.
Romanians have a mentality of "let those fools take care of themselves, we've got ourselves to think of". And in that I think they are right. They don't want to get involved in physical or cultural wars. They just want to live a good life, one that doesn't involve scraping by, or constantly fighting. For this they have an enormous amount of my respect. But this has also made them weak in the sense that it allows countries and politicians that are perceived as more wealthy or powerful to prey up on this intrinsically rich country.

2. Romania is old fashioned.
Travel through a little village (Satu) here in Romania, and you will still see horse drawn carts, horses and mules being used to plow fields. The old ladies cutting funny looking plants to boil into a tea to cure an ailment. The ways of the past live on here. Yes technology is here as well, otherwise, well I wouldn't be blogging now would I. But it doesn't permeate every facet of life here, and for this I'm grateful. I don't have to rely soley on whatever crack-pot calls themselves a doctor here (at least in Tulcea anyway), I can talk to the old ladies in my neighborhood and they will tell me exactly what I need to do in order to cure a cold, or kidney stones, or liver or kidney problems - and they work! LOVE THEM OLD LADIES!!!!

3. Romania is Beautiful
Romania has some truly gorgeous landscapes. Granted the sovietic style architecture detracts from the beauty to be found along the coast of the black sea, and in the cities. But out in the country, there are mountains, hillsides, everything. It's untouched. Now there is a MAJOR problem with littering here. For some reason or other the people here have no qualms about leaving trash on the streets or sidewalks. I don't understand that. It makes the country look poor and ugly, and it's really not. Another thing that would help, especially in the cities, is if they learned what landscaping is. Yes, the blocs of apartments are old and ugly, but some fresh paint on the buildings and fences, put in some grass, bushes and flowers, and you could really make it pretty. Everyone in the building could chip in to renovate the outside to look as good as what they've renovated inside their own apartments.

4. Romania is "Centrally" located.....
......well at least to all the places in Europe I have always wanted to visit. Italy is only a 2 hour flight away. Germany, about the same. Odessa, Ukraine is only a few hundred kilometers by boat or car. I want to see the city with my name, mainly so I can steal the sign that says "Welcome To Odessa", even if it is in Cyrillic! ;p Turkey, specifically Istanbul is just across the black sea, or a 1 day trip by bus. France isn't too far either. Ireland - I think I will save the home of my ancestors for last, cause I really want to take my time there, and enjoy it. No I won't be having a pint of Guinness - that stuff is just awful, but I can pour you a perfect pint!

There is more to this list, but this will have to do for now. I've stayed away from the C.T.'s cause I think most people, well Americans anyway think I'm nuts when I start sharing those! ;p Speaking of Americans. I will soon follow up with a "How To Behave When In Europe" .... my last trip to Italy, made me embarrassed to be carrying a U.S. Passport, thanks to some College girls from the states. Oy to the vey!

Desensitized ???

2011-07-25T17:15:00.001+03:00

So 80+ teens and young adults were ruthlessly gunned down in Norway by a lone gun-man. But what REALLY got our attention as a society.....

....Amy Winehouse found dead in her London flat.

Don't get me wrong I loved the late singer. She could croon with the best of them, and had an awesome back-beat in her songs. But, I mean c'mon, was it really all that shocking. Ever since she made it BIG she's been in and out of rehab, making a complete hash of her live performances, and let's not get started on her marriage. Yes, she seemed to be doing better, was looking healthier, and staying out of the press.

But still, SHE took precedent in the Media over this incident in Norway. Some friends and I were having a discussion regarding these two events over on Facebook. Granted I won't go into the one about the whole conspiracy theory of it all......and yes believe it or not, there are some theories out there. But I'll save that for another post.

The thing we noticed is how desensitized we've become over things like this. I mean 30 years ago, if someone would have said they were gay, HOLD THE PHONE! Now, famous actor comes out and says their gay, gay marriages, Tibetan monk eats fetus in public, etc., etc. NOTHING shocks us anymore. We've become so desensitized by the media that absolutely nothing gets to us anymore. Not knockin' the gays, just trying to make a point.

We are constantly being bombarded with craziness and horror to the point where things that should make us gasp and cry, and start building bomb shelters in our back yard (film: Blast From The Past), but instead, we change the channel from the evening news to South Park, where even more despicable things are displayed, but oh wait....that's just a cartoon.....no harm there......

....and we wonder why our kids are so violent?!?

Animal vs. Humans....what's the worth

2011-05-23T09:28:00.000+03:00

So we none of us got raptured Saturday - big surprise! That was sarcasm! But I did come across a very interesting video the same day about the horrible things the Romanian people do to animals. The Brits wanna know what Romania is doing with the Millions of Euro given to it to help the animal problem here. Well within the past week, it has come to the attention of not just the Brits, but us here in Romania as well, in the protected national park of the Danube Delta area - not far from me here in Tulcea, that the wild horses that live in the park, are being rounded up, beaten, starved, etc., then sold to companies in Italy or elsewhere for food. In case you didn't know it, they eat horse in Italy-supposed to be very good. Sorry I ain't eating horse!

Anyway, this video on YouTube made it out like this is all the people of Romania do, is mistreat animals. Now, that is NOT true. There are a lot of wild dogs here, due to when Nicolae Ceacescu took power he seized land of the farmers and people living in the country, forced them to leave their homes and move into the Blocs of apartments he had built. The people had no room for their animals so they had to leave them behind to fend for themselves - hence the now overpopulation of dogs and cats here.

I don't know if the E.U. is really giving that much money to the RO government to handle the problem, if they are, I'm not sure what they are doing with it. I will say, that when we first got here 2 and a half years ago, there were dogs running around everywhere here in Tulcea. Not anymore. There are hardly any dogs roaming around any longer. They have been humanely taken care of here in Tulcea city.

Another thing the Brits were saying is that the RO governement pays like 15 euro to a person who kills a wild dog. False, false, F.A.L.S.E.!!! The politicians here are NEVER going to give the people anything, not even a 1 cent coin, let alone 15 Euro - 15 Euro will buy food for a week, possibly two!

The instances of animal cruelty do exist here, like anywhere else in the world, but it is NOT the norm here. People here are outraged over what is happening to the wild horses here in the Delta area.

The Brits are proposing to picket the RO embassies there in the U.K. on May 26th. You know what - you guys do that if you will feel better, but here's my question - what is better to take care of, animals, or people. Cause the people here have a hard life, much harder than the people in the U.K. or elsewhere in Western Europe will ever know. And why is that, well because countries like the U.K., and Germany, France, Belgium, basically all the 'Schengen' countries of the E.U. are too busy 'raping' Romania economically.

If you guys are so worried about all the animals - especially the dogs who run in packs and attack people unprovoked, get you some big buses or vans, come over here, round them up and take them back to your countries with you and find homes for them, cause the people here can barely afford to feed themselves let alone take care of an animal they way you think that they should.

I'll be happy when Romania shreds herself of the notion that she needs organizations like the E.U. or the U.N. She is strong enough to stand on her own - history shows that, and she is richer in more natural resources than most other countries in Europe - which is why Brussels gives her a hard time whenever she tries to do something to benefit herself and her people. Hai Romania!! Tu pot facut orice!!!

What's the World Coming To?

2011-05-07T15:45:00.000+03:00

So there is a massive bloc party in the U.S. at the news of the death of Osama Bin Laden. Whatever.....I think he's been dead for years, but that info was never released in order for us to have a reason to stay in the Middle East. But POTUS' #'s are in the toilet so what does he do, first releases his long form birth certificate, which is proving to be a forgery - big shock there - and now....he takes out the world's most wanted man, and then doesn't release proof....sounds fishy to me.

But enough of the conspiracy theories, as I'm sure I'll just piss off someone back home, which will prompt a phone call from my dad.....*sigh*. So if you aren't aware I live in Romania, a small-ish city on the banks of the Danube River delta. It's a small, peaceful, and quiet city. But today has shook me to the core. Next door to me is a hospital for people with infectious diseases, like Hepatitis, Tuberculosis, etc. Now what really gets me, is they let patients out of the hospital (in their PJ's) to walk across the street to the little convenience store there. Well today, while I was gone to the larger store (grocery store), a young girl came out of the hospital, went to the store, then crossed the street to go back to the hospital, but before she could get back the maybe 20 ft to the hospital 3 Gypsy men who had been waiting in their car (parked in front of my bloc) got out and dragged the girl to their car. She put up a fight, screamed and fought, but they overpowered her and got her into the car and sped off. Fortunately a lady saw the whole thing, got the plate numbers and called the police. I hope they find her.

This sort of thing is something I expect to hear about going on in Bucuresti, Cluj, Timisoara, Brasov, or Galati even - all of these cities are much larger than our little city, and are usually in the news, but Tulcea??? Things like this never go on here. I went to the little store that she had gone into and asked the cashier if the girl was very young. Her response "Ah....she was a gypsy"..... she could have cared less. In her eyes, and probably most of the people here, to them it was just one less gypsy to worry about. Now granted the gypsies don't do much to help their standing in this country, or anywhere else in Europe, but c'mon people - this was a human being, a young girl!

I usually let my kids go outside by themselves to play in front our our building. After today, this won't be happening anymore. Events like these are things that keep me awake at night. I fear for my kids, even thought nothing even remotely close to this has ever happened, sometimes when I am trying to fall asleep I am gripped with fear, panic and images of something like this or similar happening to my kids and it shakes me to my core.

If you pray, please pray for this girl that was taken, from what I could find out she was a teenager. Pray that she is found and is unharmed.

Romania is a 3rd world country?????

2011-04-27T20:05:00.000+03:00

So I made a new friend on Facebook....have I mentioned how much FB rocks?!? He is a Romanian native who is studying architecture in Bucuresti, he read my entire blog, and found it interesting (he must be smoking some good stuff there in the capital), anyway, he finds it interesting to see/read how foreigners view his country. He pointed me out to this blog by another ex-pat. Sam is hysterical, and spot on! My friend on FB found my blog through King of Romania's blog. Evidentally Sam scoures the internet looking for outsider's views on Romania, he came across one I did back in August, where I posted a bunch of pics of painting, pottery, etc. of local artisans. He LIKE ME!!! Whoo-Hoo!

Anyway, in that same post "king" posted a link to a missionary from Kansas City & the IHOP (international house of prayer - GAG!), where she described Romania as being a complete 3rd world country. I have to agree with King Sam on this one - it was a thinly veiled guise of superiority on her part. Romania is NOT a 3rd world country - just outside the cities they could care less about technology - they still farm and do things the old way, which in my book is WAY cool; since all the old ladies know what plants to boil into a tea for whatever illness you have. It's trés cool!

I got stupid questions before we moved over here like "will you have electricity", "will you have running water"??? C'mon people! Yes, Romania is pretty much the rear-end of Europe, but it's not the deepest darkest jungle in the middle of the amazon with head-hunting cannibals running wild in their loin cloths! SHEESH!!!!

Bobie

2011-04-03T04:08:00.000+03:00

So I think it's time I tell you about my grandma, we called her 'Bobie'; the "o" is long. My oldest cousin Gregg gave her that moniker. Not sure how he came up with that out of grandma or Gloria - that was her name.

Anyway, I was thinking about her and decided to see if I could find that song "I'll Fly Away" by Allison Krauss on YouTube. And I did. See above. This was one of her favorite songs.

Bobie got me and my little brother when I was 4 1/2, nearly 5, Calvin was close to 2 years old. My parents had split up and my dad got full custody of me and my brother - a thing that was virtually unheard of in the early 80's, but I think it's because my mom didn't really fight for us. But it worked out better for me & Calvin in the long run I think.

Anyway, Bobie was what you call 'Old School' - and I do mean OLD SCHOOL! I mean, she was tell me to do something and I would say "Who?" - her response: "Your feet don't fit a limb! Get to it!" Yeah.....

...Anyway. She could cook! And she loved to laugh, and sing and dance. We would be cleaning the house and she'd have Conway, or EmmyLou or Cash blaring, and she'd grab me, we'd start 2 stepping!!! She instilled the fear of God in me though, can I tell ya! But I loved her, she was in essence my mom.

Anyway, I was 12 years old, nearly 13 - and I was starting to test the boundaries a bit. But not too much because my brother was ADHD with Tourrett's so he kept her and my dad hopping. Seriously - that boy literally bounced off of walls! And of course there was that and knowing that Bobie's logic was this: "I'll give you just enough rope to hang yourself with"! She wasn't stupid - she'd been there, done that, wasn't letting her grand kids anywhere near it!

Early on the morning of January 16, 1991, just a little over a month before my 13th birthday, Bobie died. The coroner's said it must have happened around 1:30-2:00 a.m. - what's funny, I woke up around that time. See we lived in a very small 2 bedroom house. Me and Bobie slept together, and my dad and brother had bunk beds. I sleep like the dead, no pun intended. I mean you can play AC/DC's 'Hell's Bell's' full blast next to my ear and I won't so much as flinch.

But somewhere between that time frame, I woke up, I felt Bobie's back against mine. I scooted a little closer to the my edge. I tried to go back to sleep for 5 minutes and couldn't. She was sleeping on her side, when she had the heart attach, I think her body spasm-ed or jerked her back, making her back to lean against mine. She would've been on her back, if I hadn't had been in the bed. Calvin, my brother who was 9 at this time said he had a dream that night that she was bitten by a snake and died.

I don't know if it was her that woke me, or perhaps the God that woke me, trying to get me to help. But all I know is that I felt an insane amount of guilt for years. I kept thinking, if I would have just gotten up, looked at her, maybe it would be different, I would have been different. I really would have. Had she not have died, my life would have gone a different path. She died at a crucial point in my life, only I didn't realize it then. I didn't realize that till many, many sad years later.

My brother found her that morning at around 6:30 a.m. We were already late. She was supposed to be at work for 6:30. His screaming woke me up. He was shaking her, and yelling "Wake Up! Odessa, she won't wake up!" I jumped up, and as soon as I touched her arm, I knew something was wrong, her skin was like ice. I grabbed a mirror that she had on her nightstand, and held it up to her mouth and nose - there was nothing. I ran to the living room and called my Aunt's house. Oddly enough, my dad had stopped by their house for coffee. He had gotten up and left at around 4:30 to go to the gym to get in a work out before work. He had just gotten there, he had found out that a couple they all knew had died in a car crash around midnight. *they say people die in 3's*

I told my aunt, "I think something is wrong with Bobie." My aunt asked me "what do you mean?" I said "She won't wake up, I think she's dead." I could hear the panic in my aunts voice, even though it was calm, and even, you could hear the fear in it. That's when I heard Calvin start screaming "She's Blue! Odessa she's blue all over!" My Aunt asked what Calvin was screaming. I told her to hang on. I went back in the room. Calvin had turned the light on. It was garish. Her lips, and her psoriasis were all blue and purplish looking. I told Calvin to turn the light back off. I went back to the phone, and told my aunt "She's dead, there's no breath, not heartbeat, her skin is cold and blue." My aunt told my dad "somethings wrong with momma - go home." My aunt came back to the phone, and told me that daddy was on his way for us to just stay put.

I kid you not, my dad was home in 3 minutes. My aunt's house was at least a 10 min. drive due to the curves. He came in the house, and went straight to the room. He came out a few minutes later, he looked like a little boy, with his head hanging. They called the funeral home, the newspaper, etc. People started milling in and out of the house. When the undertaker got there, they quickly shuffled me and Calvin across to the street to neighbors we couldn't stand, who we were related to by marriage some kind of way.

Calvin and I sat there with four adults hoovering over us, not really saying anything. I think the silence was the worst part. I kept starting out of the living room window - you could see everything that was going on at my house from where I sat. When the adults would try to talk to me, I just wanted to tell them to shut up and leave me alone. But I couldn't do that, Bobie wouldn't have liked that, so I sat still and quiet. Till I saw them rolling her body out and putting into the back of the hearse. I cried and cried and cried. When I stopped, I didn't cry again after that for quite a while. I think when that hearse drove off with Bobie, it took a little of my mind with it for a while.

I don't remember much of the wake, people would try to talk to me, then just get silent. I remember just walking around - I tried to find a quiet corner to sit in, but could never find one. Later one of my friends told me that I was like a zombie at the wake. That I wouldn't really say anything to anyone - i was just dazed. I remember the day of the funeral though....

..my grandfather came, he had left Bobie EONS before for another woman. I had gotten dressed, and was trying to get Calvin squared away while dad finished getting himself together. Calvin started being a little brother and we started the bickering. My grandpa, 'Papa Gene' got up, grabbed Calvin to face him and told him "Your Bobie's gone now, you hear? You listen to your sister, she's the woman of the house now." And he went and sat back down.

Both Calvin and I stood there in stunned silence for a minute. The finality of it all hit home. For Calvin it was more that the only mom he'd ever had was never coming back - and for me - my innocence and childhood died in that instant with those words. Looking back I can see where there was a load placed on my shoulders with those words, weights that came with a chain that tied me up for a long time.

My dad came out, and we were getting ready to head to the church. Calvin and I never saw dad cry, and my brother called him out on it the day of the funeral. Calvin accused my dad of not caring, not loving her. I knew better; I understood that daddy was a man, and that men don't cry in front of others, especially not in front of their kids in circumstances like this.

That was the only time I think I saw my dad's muscle's twitching from ~~anger~~ hurt/pain. He gave my brother a look, that made Calvin back down a bit. Dad got his cool back and told him "I loved Bobie, and I miss her a lot." Dad's love, mourning, etc were never questioned by Calvin ever again.

There were easily over 300 people at her funeral. Bobie had always loved children. She ran the nursery at our church, taught Sunday School, and worked at a day care center with the infants. All the parents from the day care came. Every child she had ever had in her sunday school classes came. Every girl that had worked under her in the church nursery was there. I don't think she realized, and until then, neither did I, just how many lives she had impacted - all for good.

My regret is that I didn't get to tell her I was sorry for being such a brat that night. I didn't get to tell her how much I really loved her. I still miss her even now, 20 years later. She would have LOVED my husband - they would have always been off fishing together - she LOVED to fish, I hate it!

Of course her great grand kids, not just mine, but my cousin too. Me and Leigh were popping out kids at the same time. Bobie would have been in 'hog heaven' back in 2002; her grand daughters having daughters!!

I wonder would she be proud of me now to see the woman I've become despite the mire I walked through to get here? Did she know how much we loved her, how much I loved her?

Those are the questions that plague me from time to time. In my heart of hearts I know that she knew I loved her, and that I was just a silly kid going through an awkward age that would soon pass, and I would be ok. But still never getting to say good-bye hurts, and I don't think the hurt ever goes away, it just lessens a little with time. But every now and again, time sneaks up on you and kicks that hurt all over again.

Tonight is one of those nights.

Friends & Face Book

2011-03-26T10:29:00.000+02:00

As I sat on my balcony a little while ago, watching the newness of the day start, and enjoying the cool breeze of a nice spring morning, my thoughts turned to my friends - mainly the ones I've left behind in Louisiana. I miss them dearly some days more so than others.

Something about this morning reminded me of one of my oldest and dearest friends, Briana. She and I have known each other since 6th grade. I transferred from the Magnet school to a regular school, she was in the office waiting for her mom to pick her up because she was sick, I was sitting in the office while my grandmother got my transfer sorted. I was embarrassed to be there. I didn't do bad on tests or anything at the Magnet school - I couldn't get to the first half of my classes on time because the campus was so big and I had 1/4 of my books with me for these classes. Book sack and arms full, I would run across campus - but could never get in my seat before the bell rang. So I lost points in each class. Hence my academic probation, resulting in my transfer to a school full of kids I went to elementary school with that I didn't like, and they didn't like me.

Anyway, Briana and I have been through everything together. In 8th grade we got into a fight, over God knows what, and we didn't talk for nearly the whole year. I fell in with a bad crows after that, and things happened to me that should never happen to a person, especially a girl.....

......but we made up and everything was fine. We had a few little spats in high school but nothing major - we were in different circles in high school. All the popular girls loved her, but they couldn't stand me for some reason. Whatever - if I coulda, I woulda made Voodoo dolls of them all...*sigh*

After High School we were still friends. I was always at her house - we were inseparable, did everything together. One night, instead of staying at her house, we went to visit some friends, who were guys. We wound up staying the night there. Completely innocent I assure you. The guys didn't like me in that way, and the feeling was mutual. And Briana was as pure as the driven snow. She was a tiny thing - but don't cross her, or try to force her to do something she didn't want to do. Strongest person I know.

Anyway, so we get up the next morning and drive to her house (a trailer). When we pulled onto her street - a lot of people were standing in front of her trailer. We were like 'what's going on?' We thought maybe her mom was doing something crazy - Gerri tended to do that.....she liked to PARTY. But it wasn't Gerri. It was the trailer. It was all black and charred and puffs of smoke rising from it in scattered places. The fire department had come and gone. I had a part in my car that I was scheduled to have replaced that morning. Being half awake, and half in shock, I did the STUPIDEST thing. I left Briana there with the on-lookers to go get my part, I think a headlight replaced. I was an idiot. I apologized later when I realized how what I had done was so awful. She of course forgave me, but she never forgot.

We both kept thinking what a good thing it was that we fell asleep at our friends house. When I stayed with Briana I would always sleep on their couch. The weird thing - the fire on the end of the couch where I would lay my head. *shudder*

But let me move on to Face Book - such a wonderful invention - mainly for the art of Time Suckage, but too, it has allowed me to re-connect with lost friends. For instance my friend Damaris. Her parents were missionaries in Mexico. Her father was killed in Mexico when she was young, and her mom brought her home to Louisiana, and put her in our school - which was part of the church. We were instant friends, joined at the hip. She spoke Spanish - stupid me didn't try to learn.

Facebook has let me find one of the COOLEST chicks I ever met, or ever will meet, Damie. I met Damie in High School. We were part of a small quirky little circle. We were what was considered the freaks. 99.9% of the kids at our school were always in Girbaud jeans, Polo shirts, Bows in their hair. Every hair in place - perfection. Us. Think Nirvana, Janis Joplin, etc. We like music all kinds. We dressed how we felt, if that meant gypsy skirts with combat boots - well.... Anyway, Damie was always super cool. Kind of had this quiet wisdom. So glad I found her again on FB - she hasn't changed a bit!

Then there's Mark. My sophomore year of H.S. brought my mom back into my life - that a story for another time. SO I decided to give the whole "mom" thing a go. I moved in with her down in Buras, LA. which is in the Delta of the Mississippi River - the end of the world. When I got to the school the first day - it was like the school I just came from, only - the kids weren't looking at me with disdain - it was with a sort of awe, like "she looks so cool" - one person told me I looked like I just stepped out of a magazine - I was wearing black jeans and old faded black Banana Republic t-shirt and a flannel shirt over it. Chokers around my neck 3 earings in each ear, and dark lipstick. I looked at her like she was the one who was smokin something - not me!

So I was the latest curiosity - but I found the others just like me, who were all guys. I was the only girl evidentaly that listened to their kind of music. In this group was my friend Mark - I talk thin guy, with somewhat long hair, who never said much to anyone. Very quiet and introverted. But we talked, he was cool, I liked Mark. We would write each other notes in class and pass them to each other in the hallway in between classes. Mark was 1 year ahead of me, or maybe 2. I made friends with other kids to, girls who dressed more "normal". They would freak when they would see me talking to Mark. They thought he was strange, and weird. I tried to explain to them, but they didn't want to get it, so I didn't bother trying. I lost touch with Mark after he graduated. But you know, I kept EVERY note he ever wrote me. I think they are in storage at my dad's, unless they all got tossed when my brother and his wife moved into the house after us, and did a clean-through.

So I found Mark on FB, and now, after much pleading and encouraging from me and a few others, he finally started his own blog. He's very sharp, witty and interesting, and if you get a chance go here and read his blog!

The Pot Calling the Kettle Black.....

2011-03-22T20:30:00.000+02:00

Okay, so evidently one of the non Orthadox churches here in Romania has some sort of scandal - it's just 1, ONE individual church. Something about taking money from the people in the church - for all I know it could be about tithing. I don't know all the particular's - but it has give the Orthadox church here a HUGE stone to throw. They are trying to convince the RO government to make all other religious sects illegal or something to that effect.

Well here's my issue with the Orthadox church here in Romania. Drive through the country - go through any small, run-down, and I do mean RUN DOWN village, and what do you see, the Orthadox church spending hundreds of thousands of Euro to build a HUGE, NEW church building in a place where the people have no money. These people have to decide what they are going to do with their money when they do get some; do they buy food so they can eat, or pay their water or electric bill? You think I'm joking, no, I'm dead serious. And here's the kicker:

Someone in their family dies, they have to PAY the priest to perform the ceremony, even though that person when to mass every Sunday!!! The dead person's family has to buy and give away food to all the people at the grave site! Okay, that is a tradition here, I don't know if that has anything to do with the church or the culture. But you get my point.

The orthodox church receives money from the RO government. The priests pay no taxes - have a nice home to live in (monastery) with indoor plumbing (some not all), electricity, clothes, plenty of food, and NEW vehicles to conduct their "business" in. Not to mention they all have cell phones too! When you visit the monastery you can purchase things that are made there on the premises. One convent just outside of Tulcea produces honey and wine - both of which are really good. So they are always making money some kind of way, but I never see them HELPING those that they expect to attend church every week.

Want to get married in the church - you have to fork over money for that too, regardless if you attend regularly. That's not for the use of the church space - that's for the priest, personally!

During the Christmas and New Year season, the priests go around from house to house, apartment to apartment and "Bless" the homes - guess what, if you allow the priest to perform this rite - you better fork over some money.

One priest came to my door twice this past holiday season. I explained I wasn't Romanian, nor was I Orthodox. He proceeded to perform his rite anyway, and then I was pressured into kissing a picture of Christ, on BOTH his visits. Everything in me was SCREAMING, but I was polite, and respectful, and kissed the friggin' icon anyway. I felt like I'd just committed idolatry, even though I believe in Christ Jesus, and it was an icon of Christ!

So why did I do that? Well because my kids were standing right there, and I didn't want to make a scene and confuse and embarrass them - not yet anyway, I'll wait till they're a bit older......

.....plus, for all I know that same priest could be teaching their religion class one day, and I don't want them to have a hard time.

As far as I know none of the other denominations charge for any of that. The church that my sister in law attends is "pentecostal", but not what we think of as pentecostal in the U.S., technically they are somewhat charismatic. But not like Benny Hinn, et. all. She has never mentioned them asking the members of the church for money for funerals or weddings, etc. Basically her church is a lot like the church in Acts Ch.2 - the members meet the needs of the other members.

The Communist regime was atheistic, but allowed the Orthodox church to remain, out of tradition they said - but really the church operated as tattle-tale agency for the government. When a person went to confession, or attended mass too often - the priests turned that parishioner into the Securitate; this was one bad a** agency you did NOT want to get tangled up with.

Even now, in some of the smaller towns and villages in Romania and Moldova, when a non Orthodox church "opens", more like people meeting in their homes - the Orthodox priests have been known to disrupt the services by throwing rocks through windows, etc.

So I guess my statement to the Romanian Orthodox Church is "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone".

Moondancing

2011-03-19T23:46:00.000+02:00

So the moon is supposedly bigger tonight (3/19/11) - however, I can't detect any difference, not really, not like what I saw back in October of '98 or '99 - OMGosh - the moon was ENORMOUS then. I was driving from Houston to Baton Rouge - and it was just mesmerizing, it was all I could do to keep my little Mazda B2300 on the road...cause my eyes kept staring at this incredibly LARGE moon!

Even though the moon doesn't look much closer to our little planet than it normally does, I did however manage to snap a few cool shots from my balcony window. I wish my 70mm-300mm lens had stability control in it, but it doesn't, and unfortunately I didn't feel like dragging out my tri-pod so some of the closer-ups of the "up close" moon, are a bit wobbly - to be more precise, you feel like you have double vision - Schnapps, anyone????

Anyway, here are a few of the better shots:


Zoomed out - with corner of balcony from the bldg. next to me.

I Really like this one (above)

Double Vision


Clouds started converging - if only I wouldn't have gotten the bldg. in the shot - it would've been perfect.

So there they are a few of my Moon shots. Sorry for the wobbly hands!

Sweet Child O' Mine (Ch.2)

2011-01-27T09:11:00.000+02:00

Antonia replayed the last 20 minutes in her head. She went back till she found where she had ‘lost’ him, his interest, his calm. It was when she started questioning his past, especially when she started talking about that old band, Armored Roses. His demeanor went from calm, engaged, and interested, to somber, mellow and sickened in a matter of seconds. She wanted to meet with him again, to undo any harm she might have caused. But she didn’t have his number, or his address. Wait, he said he was here every night, it was his routine. She would hang back over the next few days to see if he would re-appear at his usual spot.

Meanwhile, Bill was trying to find a place he could get comfortable in, but to no avail. His heart was pounding out of his chest. A mixture of feelings poured through him, his mind was in complete disarray. He walked across the hall into the kitchen, opened the fridge, grabbed some sliced ham, cheese, mustard, lettuce, a tomato, and a mayo type spread similar to ranch dressing. He set the items on the table, grabbed a plate, butter knife, and some sliced bread. He took a deep breath, and started to prepare his sandwich. As he sliced the tomato, he started to calm down. His heart rate slowed, his breathing returned to normal. He focused completely on making the best tasting sandwich in the history of the universe. With his concoction complete, he returned all the ingredients to the fridge, then grabbed a bottle of Heineken from the top shelf of the fridge, closed the door, picked up his plate with his free hand and made his way back across the hall to his living room. He sat in his over-sized recliner that faced the windows to the balcony. The windows were opened. He listened to the business of the people on the streets as they made their way home for the night. The cars and scooters honking at each other, or the pedestrians attempting to cross the street outside of the crosswalk. A dove landed on his balcony. It perched itself near the window and cooed at Bill, as if to tell him, it will be okay. Just relax. Breathe, Bill, just breathe. Bill sat down his half eaten sandwich on the plate and took a large swig of his ice cold beer. The icy beer washed down not only the sandwich but the rest of his anxiety. Bill continued to sip on his beer and listen to the pigeon. Allowing the peace and solitude to return him to a state of complacency. He sat and stared at the bird till it cooed its good-night and flew away to its own home, which was probably in one of the many old bell fray’s around the city. Bill looked at the digital clock on the DVD player, it was 10:15, the sun had finally set completely about 45 minutes earlier. The room was dark. He reached over to the table besides his chair and switched on the lamp that stood there. He could see her eyes staring at him, inviting him in, asking him to lean closer. He rubbed his eyes, and shook his head. He felt his heart start to pound again. “Enough of this bullshit!” he said as he gulped down the rest of the beer. He took the plate with the half eaten sandwich back into the kitchen. He threw the bottle into the garbage, placed a paper towel over the plate, and put it into the fridge where he grabbed another beer. Bill was not a heavy drinker, at least not anymore, but tonight, he needed it. He wanted to sleep, to allow his mind to rest, and a few beers usually did the trick.

Bill returned to the living room, where he sat back down in his recliner, grabbed the remote from the table and flipped through the channels. There wasn’t much on, other than football. Football is all that seemed to be on the TV in Italy, it was the only thing he disliked about living in Europe; the fascination with football. He found an interesting program on Discovery World. He watched as they toured though excavation sites around the world, uncovering how man lived thousands of years ago. He loved how they always made it a point to show how science “proved” that there was no God, or how all the different religions basically believed the same things, they just had different names for it. He wasn’t an atheist, but he wasn’t bible thumper either. He believed in God, the rest he wasn’t sure about, it just seemed like a bunch of rules that somebody came up with in order to subdue the masses. His beliefs weren’t set in stone, but he had to laugh at the way science poked fun of religion and it’s followers. The beer was doing it’s job, as was the program on the TV. Bills eyes began to feel heavy, they were taking longer to open after he would blink. He forced them back open, finished off the rest of his beer, and hit the sleep button on his remote. He set it for 30 minutes. He sat down the empty bottle and remote on the table. Propped his feet up on the ottoman in front of his chair, folded his hands over his chest, and let nature take it’s course.

“Mr. Buxton, how do you feel about the decision? Are you relieved Gunner? Can we get a statement Gunner?” Light bubs were flashing, the lights from the TV cameras were blinding. He could smell the aroma a dozen different colognes and perfumes. The heat from the bodies of the crowd pressing in around him was overwhelming. His hands formed into fists, his knuckles were white, his jaw was clenched. He felt like one of those old bear traps that could spring shut with it’s iron claws at the touch of a leaf landing on it’s trigger. His entourage was pushing him through the crowd. “We have no comments at this time.” he heard the man to his left say to the plethora of journalists following him to his waiting limo. As they descended the steps of the court house and reached the waiting car, the crowd of journalists divided in front of him. The photographers were snapping photos of a person waiting in front of his car door. Now they were back to shooting him, then the other person. Then he saw her. She stood tall and silent. The victory he had just won, was a heavy defeat in her mind. She stood her ground as he got closer. Her stony expression never changed. He was now standing right in front of her. The man next to him started to speak: “Not here, not now Bill, you…” but Bill stopped him as he started speaking to the woman standing in front of him. “ Elaine, I’m sor…” THWACK! The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed through the air. The shutters snapped even more frantically than before. She had slapped his left cheek. As he looked back up at her, her expression had not changed, there was no expression in her face. But her eyes, yes her eyes were screaming at him behind the tears that were slowly falling from her eyes. There was a fury there that no words of judgment either in his favor or hers would ever erase. There was a man who had been standing behind her, he put his arm around the older woman, and started to lead her off “let’s go home mom, it’s over now.” The man gave a cold stony look at Bill, daring him to say another word. She allowed her son to lead her to their car that was waiting two cars up from Bills‘. Bill stood there, thankful for the sunglasses that were hiding his eyes that were rapidly filling up with tears. His lawyer and bodyguard ushered him into his limo, crawled in after him and closed the door.

“Well the criminal part is over now Bill. Now we have to prepare for the civil suit that I’m sure Elaine and Tom are going to bring against you. I think we have a great shot at being able to get out of having to pay any damages to them.”

“Give her what she wants Tony, I don’t care what the amount is, just work it out with her side, and get with my manager and accountant.” Bill said.

“But Bill!!! You were just found innocent in her death, why should you have to pay?”

“JUST DO IT TONY!” Bill screamed at his lawyer. “No more filings, briefs, affidavits, depositions, juries, court hearings, I’m done. I just want to put this behind me. Give Elaine what she wants, end of discussion!”

The car phone rang. Bill didn’t hear it he was staring out of the window. There was a large hard lump in his throat. He swallowed hard. A tear started to trickle down from his left eye. He took a deep breath and sat up straight, gained control of himself till they reached his Malibu home. Tony stuck the phone in his hand. “It’s Sonny for you.” he said. Bill apprehensively took the phone from Tony. He didn’t particularly care for Sonny, but he was head of his record label, and he had to play nice with the guy that ensured he made money; money that he was now gonna need more than ever.

“Yeah, Sonny, what’s up?”

“Congratulations man! I knew you had nothing to worry about!! Now that this is all behind us, we can get back to the studio and wrap up these last few tracks for the new album. And we need to meet up to discuss the tour.”

“ Yeah, okay Sonny. Look I’m exhausted can we talk later? I’ll call you tomorrow, k?”

“Oh yeah, sure man!! Look take the rest of the week off, and come down to the studio Monday morning, say around 9 ok?”

“Ok, see ya then Sonny.” Bill said flatly

“Cheer up man, you’re free! Go celebrate!” Sonny hung up. Bill handed the phone back to Tony. “Ass-wipe.” Bill said under his breath. Tony placed the phone back on it’s receiver. Sonny’s got a point you know, you just got your life back, you should be happy, let the last 9 months go, man. Look I’ll send my guy over to ya, he’ll fix you up.”

“No Tony! Just leave it okay!” The car was pulling up into his driveway. It came to a stop. Tony started in again about how he needed to relax, party. How he was sure the guys would be over soon with some beer, girls, and anything else he wanted. Bill threw the door open to the car. Tony was right behind him. Bill spun around as Tony continued to talk about throwing a big blow out!

“ENOUGH TONY!!! I DON’T WANT ANY DRUGS, GIRLS, OR PARTY! My wife is DEAD!! Her family blames ME! Just leave me alone, get the hell off my property!”

Bill woke up, sweat was pouring from his body. There was a strong breeze blowing through the open windows. Bill’s heart was pounding again. He wiped the sweat from his face. Placed his feet solidly on the floor. He leaned over and placed his head in his hands and cried for the first time in 17 years.

Sweet Child O' Mine (chapter 1)

2011-01-26T11:10:00.002+02:00

*this is a work in progress. posting here for thoughts, feedback, and ideas*

Bill was sitting at an outdoor café next to the sea. He was sipping on a cup of perfectly brewed espresso. The sun was setting behind the mountains of La Spezia. The gulls were crying, and the pigeons were walking around the tables looking for bits of bread from the tables of the other patrons. This was his nightly routine. Sit at the café, drink an espresso, read a paper, and a book.

He had since finished the paper. Same story different headline: death, hatred, sadness. There was nothing inspiring to read, ever. He didn’t much feel like reading his book, which was a historical book he thought looked promising, but was proving dull, and repetitive. Watching the other patrons at the café was much more entertaining.

Italians love their football. Soccer was a sport he could never get into. Actually he never got into any type of sport. He played little league while growing up in the Midwest America, but only did it to make his dad happy, which like everything Bill did seemed to do only infuriated his dad.

The other patrons had all turned their chairs towards the large flat screen the current game was now playing on. They were yelling at the referees, cheering at the goals, etc. Bill’s table was at the back end of the perimeter of the café, next to the fence that bordered the sidewalk next to the street. His chair was also facing the set, but it was also facing the sea. Bill’s attention was drawn from the sea and the gulls above it. His focus was now on the collective cohesiveness of the football fans watching the game. They were one in mind and spirit, separated only by bodies.

The long cool sleekness of a woman who sat down at the table in front of him pulled his attention from the people watching. She was wearing a white linen sun dress and sandals. Her long silky dark hair was loose. He couldn’t see her face but knew by the way she carried herself that she was beautiful. Her skin was an olive complexion that is generally found in Italians. Unlike himself with his German and Scottish ancestry, the ability to get and maintain a tan had not been inherited by himself. He had fair skin, that while had a slight tinge of color, wasn’t what anyone would call ’tanned’. Even though he had not seen her face, he was staring at her. He felt something he not felt in a long time, an intense desire to really to get know someone. For years he had not wanted to really build a relationship of any kind with anyone. Perhaps she felt his eyes drinking her in like a cook drink of water on a hot summer day, because she turned around and looked at him. His breath caught in his chest when his eyes met hers. She had the face of an angel. High cheek bones, perfectly formed mouth with soft full lips. And her eyes, they were bright hazel green pools of intelligence, beauty and kindness, framed by long, full black lashes.

Suddenly from the T.V. a commercial for some set of 10 CD’s consisting of all the hits from the 1980-1990’s was blaring. There it was, THAT song. Bill’s attention was called to one of the other tables, a young guy stood up and was lip-syncing to THAT song. Mimicking and making fun of the lead singer from one of the largest rock bands in the world who started during the 80’s. Bill’s breath was back, a darkness loomed over him. That song, it haunted him, pursued him like a demon dog out of hell. His past life loved to rear its head and mock him every chance it got. And here his former self was again, blaring at him from the flat screen and the mocking of a young man he had never set eyes on before now. He had forgotten about the girl, until she spoke. As he met eyes with her again, the world lightened back up, the darkness rolled back. She spoke:

“I’m sorry, am I in your way?”

“What?”

“Am I in your way? I mean, can you see the game, or should I move?”

Bill smiled, laughed softly and shook his head, “No, not at all. I don’t like football. But you can join me if you like.”

“Not like football?!? Oh! The Sacrilege! Better not say that too loudly around here!” She laughingly said. “I would be happy to join you, if you are sure it’s not a problem.” she said.

“Of course not, see I saved your seat for you!” He said as he picked up the paper and book and laid them on the table. “Can I get you something to eat or drink? What would you like?”

“A glass of red wine sounds good”. She was pulling her wallet out of her hand made bohemian style purse.

“No, please, allow me, it would be my pleasure.” Bill said as he got up and headed towards the counter. “One glass of red wine coming right up.”

Bill ordered two glasses of red wine. His espresso was still there, not yet finished, but it suddenly had lost its appeal. As he waited for the waiter to open the bottle and pour the glasses, he looked back to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating. It wasn’t a flashback, she was real. She was looking down at her hands. She fiddled with a ring on her right index finger. A small smile of a good, distant memory passed her lips. She felt Bill watching her, and looked up. He smiled at her and motioned to wait just another minute. She smiled back and nodded her head in the affirmative.

The waiter placed two glasses of wine in front of him, asked him if wanted some food to go along with with. He replied that he would. He hadn’t eaten since noon, and wine on an empty stomach gave him nothing but a head ache. He didn’t want to have to leave this angelic like woman any sooner than he had to; tonight might be the only time he would get with her. He would make the most of it. The waiter said he would bring the food momentarily. Bill paid the bill, and took the wine and headed back towards the table. As he side stepped around the chairs of the other patrons, he looked down to make sure he didn’t trip over one of their chairs, or knock their table. It was then that he remembered his age. He was 49 years old, a washed up has been. An aging recluse, with a small beer belly, crows feet and slightly graying hair. He was still attractive for his age, but he was no Robert Redford; who looks good no matter how old he gets. The wind was knocked out of him again, but not in a good way this time. As he made it back to his table and sat the glasses of wine on the table a little voice inside his head laughed at him and said

“Who are you kidding Billy-boy?!? Look at her, she can’t be older than 24! You’re old enough to be her father. But besides that she’s gorgeous, and you?!? You’re old and out of shape, do you really think she’s interested in you in anyway, other than being charitable with her time? Face it, she’s being nice to a seemingly nice OLD MAN!”

Bill smiled as he took his seat next to her, that black cloud creeping back up over him again. Memories of past relationships gone wrong rapidly played in his mind’s eye! Her voice caught his attention and drew him back to the here and now.

“So you are obviously not from here. Are you on vacation?” she asked.

“No, I moved here about 3 years ago. I needed a change of scenery. I’ve always like Italy, so here I am.”

“Really?! Yes Italy is beautiful. But I have to ask, if you don’t like football, why come go to a café, when you know that everyone will be watching the game on the TV.?”

“It’s my routine. I come here to this same café every evening, watch the sunset, drink my coffee, and occasionally a glass of wine..” he held up his glass “… read a bit, and of course people watch. It’s distracting, and occasionally quite amusing.” he said with a smile.

“Aha!” she said with a playful smile. “You are a philosopher and perhaps a poet too, I think.”

Something flashed in her eyes as she said this, that perhaps no one would have noticed, but it didn’t escape Bills notice. It piqued his curiosity, but he thought it couldn’t be anything bad. How could this ethereal beauty have any kind of malice in even an inch of her goddess like body?

Bill laughed, and replied to her “No, not a philosopher, and definitely not a poet. Just a retired bachelor, enjoying his life, in what he considers paradise. My name is William, but my friends calls me Bill.”

“I think I like William, it suits you better.”

She was looking intently into his eyes. He felt the black cloud roll away. He felt warm sunlight beaming into his soul. What did he do to deserve to have even 1 minute of her time?

“And you, miss, what do your friends call you?”

“I’m sorry, that was rude of me! Please forgive me. My name is Antonia. My English friends calls me ‘Toni’”.

“No, not Toni! It’s too common, and you Antonia are anything but common.”

She blushed, and pushed her hair back off of her sleek shoulders. The waiter came with a small plate of small pizza slices, a small bowl of peanuts, another of chips, and divided bowl which contained black and green olives. “Grazi” bill said as the waiter placed the last bowl on the table and turned to leave. He motioned for Antonia to help herself. She smiled and moved forward and took a green olive. Bill took a small slice of the pizza. The setting sun, had made the air a bit cooler, especially being so close to the water. Antonia rubbed her arms as a small shiver passed through her.

“Are you cold, would you like me to get you a wrap? I know the owner here, they usually have an extra jacket in the back. Should I get it for you?”

“No, it’s okay. I have a small wrap here in my bag, see?!?” she said as she reached in to her bag and pulled out a powder blue and cream colored hand woven cotton wrap. She unfolded it and placed it around her shoulders. She smiled again at Bill, and said “see, I am like your American Boy-Scouts, always prepared.”

Bill laughed and nodded approvingly. He took a sip of the wine, the taste of sweet red grapes played against the tomato sauce from the pizza. She placed another olive in her mouth. He watched her lips form a into a pucker as the saltiness of the olive hit her palate. She pulled out the pit and placed it on a napkin.

“So Antonia, are you from here, in La Spezia?”

“Yes, I am. I was born here, and lived her most of my life. I am here on vacation, visiting my parents. I live in Paris now.”

“What do you do in Paris?”

“I work at the Louvre, you know, the art museum.”

“Yes, I know the Louvre, I’ve been once before. It was fascinating all those ancient pieces of art that have lasted through wars, plagues, and all other sorts of atrocities. What exactly do you do there?”

“I’m a preservationist, and curator there.”

“Really? Where did you attend school, here in Italy, or there in Paris?”

“Actually I attended U.C.L.A.”

Bill didn’t really care for California. Yes it was a lovely place, it had everything, mountains, beaches, desert, ever imaginable climate, all found in one place. But the people, especially in places like L.A., and Berkley, he didn’t like. They were arrogant, self-absorbed elitists who thought that they owned the world, and that their thoughts and ideas were the only ones that mattered. Even when they were all clamoring for his favor and attention years ago, he couldn’t stomach them. They wanted his attention, which only provoked his anger, and irritation. He couldn’t picture her in the same atmosphere with those people, let alone living amongst them.

“Did you like California?” He asked.

“It was nice, reminded me a bit of home sometimes, but for the most part no. The people were too opinionated and full of themselves for my taste. There was no discussing anything unless you shared the same point of view as they did, which is pointless if you ask me. I mean, what is the point of discussing a subject if you don’t even want to hear an opposing point of view. This is life, what it is about, contradictions, conflict, finding a middle ground so that we can all grow as persons, find a way to live in harmony, yes?”

He agreed with her, “I think you are the philosopher and poet, as well as the art historian.”

“Perhaps a bit.” she said.

“What about you though, are you yourself an artist?” He inquired

“I suppose you could call me that. I travel all over helping to restore antiquated frescos and other pieces of art that are in constant exposure to the elements.”

“No Antonia originals floating around out there?”

“A few. I do paint, but not often. I have to feel really inspired to paint anything that I feel is good enough to try to sell or show in a gallery. I have a small collection being shown in a gallery in Paris coming up in a few months. That’s actually why I cam home to La Spezia for my vacation instead of staying in France or going elsewhere. I have one more piece I need to do before I can show the collection, and I always find inspiration here. Maybe it’s because it’s my home, and I know it so intimately” She was looking out over the water and at the mountains in the distance. Her face seemed to light up as she drank In the view of her life history.

Bill felt completely mesmerized. He continued to sip his wine, and nibble on the pizza and nuts. It was like the windows to his life that had been closed shut for many years had finally been forced open, and the fresh breeze was blowing away the cobwebs from his mind.

“And you William, you said you were retired. What did you do?”

The question he was hoping that wouldn’t be asked, but knew it to be inevitable.

“I was a musician back in the states. I made some smart investments and got out so that I could enjoy my life, and here I am, sitting in what I consider heaven, enjoying a glass of fine red wine with an angel.”

His flirtatious answer did not go unnoticed, and it even reciprocated a flirtatious look from Antonia who was gazing at Bill with inquiring eyes. There was more to his past than he was telling her. She could sense it. She smiled sweetly at him and continued the questioning of his obscure past.

“A musician, see I knew you were a poet. All musicians are poets! But what kind of musician, I mean you must have done something pretty big to have made enough money to retire early. I mean you don’t look older than 40.” Yes, she was being kind. Bill’s age showed. It was easy to take once glance at Bill and presume him to be around 50. But being the kind woman that she was, and herself knowing that aging is not something any of us enjoy, she stroked his guarded ego, hoping that he would open up.

“You are being too kind, but thank you for the compliment. I’m actually 49, I’ll be the big 5-0 next month. But yes, you are right, I did do some rather “big” things musically. I was in a band, we did well.”

“REALLY?!?” there was something about the way she asked this that made Bill think that she already knew this piece of information. That she also already knew exactly who he was , and what band he had been in. He tried to lie to himself to shrug it off. How could she know she wasn’t old enough to have known his music, she had probably just been born when they hit the scene back in the day.

“What band were you in?” She quizzed

“Oh it was a long time ago, you weren’t even born yet I don’t think. You can’t be a day over 24. And I played what was called ‘heavy metal‘ back in the states. A sound that wasn‘t immensely popular here in Europe.”

“Actually I’m 28. And I listened to all kinds of music growing up, especially American music. I loved American music. I was, or rather still am, a huge fan of Otis Redding, and Ray Charles. My favorite band from the 80’s as far as ‘heavy metal’ goes is that band ‘Armored Roses’. But I don’t consider them heavy metal, just a really great rock band. I had a HUGE crush on their lead singer when I was a little girl. I thought ‘Gunner’ was so handsome. I wanted to marry him. You know how little girls are when they have a crush. Silly, huh?”

Bill felt even more uncomfortable now than he had in decades. She completely unnerved him. She had just admitted to having had, what was probably her first crush of her life on him. He felt his face flush. His palms and forehead began to sweat slightly. He decided to try to turn the conversation a different direction, then excuse himself as quickly as possible. He took a large sip of his wine.

“So have you started that last painting yet? I mean, have you found the inspiration that only being home can give you?”

She had taken a sip of wine and was swallowing it when it came time for her to respond.

“Mmmmm. Not yet. I just got here yesterday morning, so I’ve been catching up with my family and friends. I spent today walking around and just drinking in the scenes in the city. The children playing football in the streets. The teen-agers walking along hand in hand, engrossed totally in each other, forgetting that there are other people in the world besides themselves. That’s a wonderful feeling - that first twinge of feeling in love with someone, when all the world seems to melt away, and that nothing bad will ever happen because of that other person next to you. Don’t you think?”

“Yes, it is nice. Sounds like you’ve found your inspiration already.” He took another large sip of his wine. His glass was nearly empty. Hers was still half full.

“Oh, well yes, that can be inspiring in and of itself for some very pretty prose, but not for a painting. I think I may have found something today though that has a glimmer of hope for a wonderful piece though. She looked intently as she took a long slow sip of wine. She licked her lips and smiled somewhat seductively at Bill.

This was too much. He needed to get out of there quickly. He felt like a mouse who had been tempted towards the cheese in the trap, and if he didn’t resist and run away now, the trap would snap shut and he would be done for. That angelic face hid a dark intent. He didn’t know exactly what it was, but life and experience had trained him well. He argued with himself. “Stop being a scared old fool. Not everyone is out to get you, man! Honestly, how many times do you get in this lately to sit across from a gorgeous, talented, sexy woman, who looks at you, and tells you with her eyes that she likes you, that she would like wrap her arms around you, and kiss away all your troubles?!? Buck up man!”

He felt that he was loosing his calm, his center. He was beside himself. He couldn’t take it any longer. He leaned over, placing his hand to head, and wiped away a small amount of perspiration that had collected there.

“I think the wine was a mistake for me. I’m feeling a bit light headed. I feel a bit foolish. I’m so sorry, but I need to get home. It was lovely to meet you Antonia. I hope you find that inspiration you need in order to finish your collection.” he said as he stood up.

Antonia looked surprised. She was sure she was on the way to being invited to his home, where she was sure to have seduced him, which would have helped her in getting what she was after.

“ Would you like me to walk with you to your home?” She asked.

He thought about it for a moment. The temptation was great, but he resisted, even though everything in screamed at him “YOU IDIOT!”

“No, I’ll be okay, I don’t live very far from here. But thank you for asking. No, you stay, enjoy the rest of your wine. And trust me, these guys are quite amusing; who knows, you might find inspiration right here at this table.”

He had no idea that he had spoken truth. She had found inspiration at that very table, but not for a piece of art. For something far more valuable that some paint on a canvass. She looked up at him, disappointment, and a begging him to stay look in her eyes. Bill held out his large hand. It was strong, and fine. She slipped her long, elegant hand into his.

“It was a pleasure to meet you Antonia. I wish you all the best.”

“The pleasure was mine William. But don’t wish me all the best, I hope that we will meet again.”

Bill smiled at her, withdrew his hand and turned and walked away. He paced himself so that it didn’t appear that he was literally running from her. His mind was a muddled mess of confusion and disorder, something he did not like. He had maintained his composure in every situation, something that took him a long time to learn. Nothing had rattled him like this in nearly 20 years. He was looking but didn’t really see where he was or where he was going. His feet knew the route, and within a ten minute walk he found himself unlocking the door to his building.

Learning Curve

2011-01-25T09:28:00.000+02:00

While I used to think of myself as somewhat intelligent, I now question that assumption. I mean they say people who learn other languages quickly are smart, really smart! So what's wrong with me???

I've been in this country for 2 years now, and can only understand and communicate verbally on a small scale. However I can read and write it dang near perfectly!!! What's up with that, it's normally the other way around. Most people learn to speak it first, and later they master the written part!!

I always knew I was a little different, but c'mon! Okay, enough squawking from me. One thing I have noticed of myself though is that it depends on who you are conversing with when trying to understand and speak a second language. For example, my mother in law, who I thought would be the very LAST person I would be able to communicate with, has been the first.

Let me paint you a mental picture of my mother in law. She's 58 years old, at least 6 feet tall, or just under it. Set in her ways. Never been outside this country. She grew up under communistic rule. She's got have things her way. When she speaks with Marius or his siblings, etc. It's not "harsh", but it's not "sweet" either, it is just matter of fact. When asking why they did such and such, it's not in the the tone of "well, baby, why did you do that?" It's more like "WHY? Why did you do that?" (conveying tone of voice is not easy). I hope you know what I mean.....

...so you can see why I was thinking I would never be able to communicate with her. I was scared, but it does make a person nervous. However, with my mother in law, she is patient with me (something I wasn't expecting, as she is NOT the most patient of persons). Another example, the woman who owns the little store in front of our bloc - I don't speak grammatically correct, and I mis-pronounce the words, but she is patient with me, helps me when I need help in saying a word. She talks to me as if I understand her, and believe it or not, most of the time I understand about half of what she is saying.

Then there are people who when I try to talk look at me like I'm a retarded alien from the planet Xenon! So what I've learned to do is when I go to the market, or a banc, or somewhere new, where the people don't know me (like the people at the store by my bloc), I start off with saying "Scuze, nu vorbesti Romaneste foarte bine....." then go on to say what I want/need. That usually softens them up and they know that I dont' speak well. And they try to help. Most of them do, I still get some cranky women from time to time who think the sun and earth revolve around them, and they start chastizing me for NOT speaking the language fluently! Grrrrr.....I would like to rip them up out of their comfort zone and drop them in middle of Kansas where there isn't anyone around who speaks Romanian, and tell them, "OKAY!! Your Turn. You have 1 year to be fluent in English, now, let's see you do it! And oh yeah, here are 3 small kids to deal with on top of it all!"

Yeah, I know, wrong attitude, but I'm human, and well, that's just me. But for all of you out there who run into emigrants, who don't fully speak the native language fluently, or even partially. Be patient with them, especially if you see them trying. For myself, when people look at me funny, cause they don't get what I'm trying to say, it makes me want to shut up and not even bother. But when I see them trying to understand me through my butchery of their language, and then try to help me, it gives me a little more confidence, like, "Hey! I can do this!"

And I can, I mean I look at my husband, he speaks 5 languages, well 4 now really, as he hasn't used one of them in so long, it's kinda touchy with that one.

So next time you run into a Mexican, German, French-man/woman, etc., and you see them trying to speak English, don't look at them like "YOU SHOULD BE FLUENT", don't give them attitude, help them out! Encourage them. And a lot of them probably know more English than they think they do, but are so self-conscious about their pronunciation and bad grammar that they are embarrassed to try to speak! Encourage them!

Starting Over (pt.2)

2011-01-24T11:14:00.000+02:00

So my parents had returned to the states and I was okay, until October, when my best friend since the ripe ole age of 12 got married. Not being there for Briana's wedding was hard to take, I cried, got a bit depressed. Then came December it wasn't just my first Christmas without my family around, but my other best friend was giving birth to her first child. Grey had been my room-mate and side kick. She was with me through my entire pregnancy with my oldest - she even gained sympathy weight, and was with me in the delivery room when Kelly was born. She was kind, patient, never complained about the crying, collicky baby screaming her little head off at 2 and 3 a.m. But I was still okay. I had my husband, and children, that was why I was here to keep MY family together. So that my kids wouldn't go for years without seeing their father, and that is what would have happened, had we stayed behind in the U.S. and let Marius come over here alone.

So everything is going okay, and then rolls in 2010, Marius had finally found work in March of 2010, only it was in Italy, which wasn't ideal, as he would be away from home for months at a time, but it was better than the alternatives of no work at all, or a little work here in Romania working for pretty much nothing. Or me and the kids being back in the U.S., as I stated earlier. There was a small glimmer of home that I would be able to fly home in April for my brother's wedding, only I had no one to keep the kids for me, and no funds. My parents were helping pay for the wedding, and if they bought me a flight, then they wouldn't be able to afford to fly over and see ALL of us in the summer. So I stayed put in Romania, dad brought his laptop to the wedding and we attempted to have me there via webcam. Just as the wedding started, the computer overheated and shut down. I got to see my baby brother in his tux and talk to him prior to the wedding, but I wasn't there, and then I couldn't even see it with the aid of technology.

I wasn't there to watch my brother take the steps from boy to man, his transition to being an adult. At this I was angry, I didn't want to talk to anyone. Marius called and he was like, it was just a wedding, I missed a lot too. I yelled at him saying "You never missed anyone's wedding! You have 2 brothers and a sister, none of whom have had a wedding! I only have 1, O.N.E. brother, who I helped raise!!!" He realized there was no way to console me, so he let me vent. *Have I mentioned how extraordinarily awesome my husband is?!?*

So I got over it, obviously. I continued to try to adapt, and eventually found my rhythm. I found myself learning the language more and more since Marius was no longer with me everyday. I was beginning to be able to communicate with my mother in law. MIL are generally not a great thing, at least not here, but even with a language barrier me and Ana get along, she loves me, I help where and when I can. I try, and I thought she would be the last person I would be able to understand, or have understand me as I muddled my way through the language. But to my surprise I learned more from her, and she has more patience with me, than most other people. I went to visit Marius in Italy in June of 2010, and noticed that when I was with him and his room-mates, all the RO I had learned flew out of my head, I wasn't even trying to understand what they were saying. I subconsciously knew that he would translate for me. I hated myself for that. But I still do it, just a habit I guess.

So here I am now exactly 2 years later since first arriving in this country. It is a beautiful country, and has so much possibility, if crooked politicians would stop lining their pockets with Romania's life blood of it's people. My language skills are still pretty bad, but I'm getting it slowly, but surely. My kids are thriving, and my husband is working.

It's not fun playing the single-mom to three kids for 48 weeks a year, but it's a choice I've made, and for me it is better to have my husband only a 2 hour flight away instead of a 20 hour plus butt-load of paperwork away. My kids are getting a better education here, than they would in the U.S. They are bi-lingual, and will soon be tri-lingual, as I want them to take another language besides English in school. I want one to take French, another Spanish, and the other to take German. German is supposedly easier for native English speakers to learn. My kids are getting an advantage they wouldn't have in the U.S. They are learning how hard life can be, because here life is extremely hard. There are people who have to choose whether to buy food, or pay for electricity.

Yeah, my life is hard, more emotionally, and psychologically hard here than it would be in the U.S. But honestly I wouldn't change my mind about coming here. Keeping my family together is more important than anything else. While I would LOVE more than anything to be able to see my parents and brother and sister in law any time I want, my marriage, and my kids having their father close by is more important.

Marius if you are reading this, I LOVE you with all my heart and wouldn't change a thing about our life, well except for maybe us owning our own apartment instead of renting one! ;)

Starting Over (pt.1)

2011-01-23T22:47:00.000+02:00

January 19, 2009,4:00 p.m. Ryan Airport, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.A.

LOADS of luggage, heavy winter coats, 2 adults, 3 small kids, 5 carry on bags. My parents, and brother, his girlfriend, and her parents, and siblings standing near the security gate crying our good-bye's. My kids were somewhat oblivious to what was really going on. No matter how hard I explained that we were moving for good to Romania, that I wasn't sure if or when we would ever come back to the states, they were fine, which was good. I was okay, holding it together, that is until my dad hugged me and wouldn't let go.

I could feel him holding it in, and I lost it at that point - the tears flowed, no matter how hard I tried to restrain them. At that moment I had a fear of that being the last time I would ever see my dad's face, his kind eyes, hear is infectious laugh, and be held in strong, safe arms. Even now thinking back on it, I get bleary eyed.

Fast forward 20 hours: January 20, 2009 4:45 p.m. Otopeni International Airport, Bucuresti, Romania
Feel like I'm in a dream. Just watched a miracle take place with my husband's Embassy issued Travel Document, and admitting to having been in the U.S. without a visa. Romanian Border agent fixed husband's problems in the system - so now there was no more problem. We gather our gagillion pieces of luggage on two carts and head out into the lobby. There we are greeted by his two brothers and one sister. Tears of relief, and joy are flowing freely. My husband hadn't seen his family in over 12 years.

We leave the airport at around 5:30 p.m., seven hours later, at 1 a.m. we arrive to his mother's apartment in the small city of Tulcea. We begin to start again. Marius takes me all over the city showing me where he went to school, where he hung out. I met his childhood friends. I sat in the back-seat of his brother's small Dacia bracing myself in a daze, from what I was sure was going to be a head on collision due to small streets, and people not knowing how to park properly. I understood nothing of what was being said.

I call my dad's cell phone to let him know we made it safe and sound, and were home. It was nearly 2 a.m. in Louisiana, I got his voice mail, and hearing the sound of his voice made me cry. It was a big adjustment for me. I was okay for the first 6 months or so, and all it once it all hit me. I came home from one of the "supermarkets" and screamed at Marius because of people pushing me with their buggies, or standing right on top of me in the check-out line. The couldn't stand back and let me pay for my items, no they had to peer around to the read out to see my total.

I walked in, slammed the door, and dropped the bags on the floor, and started yelling "WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?!?" Marius totally oblivious to what I was talking about, was just sitting there stunned - I never loose it like this. I explain about the check-out line. He explains it goes back to when it was communist, and people had to get up before the sun to get in line just to get milk and bread and the stood close to each other to keep people from cutting in line. I said I understood that, but it wasn't communist anymore. Then I just started yelling about how everyone was a communist - to which Marius jumps up and just holds me close.

I wouldn't admit it to him, heck, I could barely admit it to myself, but I hated it here, I wanted to go home. I hated everything, and everyone. I would sit in the bathroom and cry, because I didn't know what else to do. What it really boiled down to, was my fear of never seeing my parents again, especially my dad. I didn't realize that was where my anger and frustration was coming from until they came to visit us in August.

They arrived in Bucuresti, we met them at the airport, when my dad hugged me, it was similar to the hug he gave me when we left, but this time, it was "I'm holding my little girl again" hug, not a "I'm sending my little girl off into the unknown" hug. We were all of us crying, and everyone at the airport was staring at us. They just don't display affection like that here - I didn't care, I had my dad with me again, even if only for a week or so.

When they left, I was okay, I was at peace within. My fear of never seeing my dad again disappeared in the airport. I would love to see my dad's house, to sleep under his roof again, and that might still happen one day.

I had spent 8 months in a foreign place trying to understand the language the cultural difference. Getting some of it, but missing most. I watched as my kids quickly adapted and learned a new language. I watched as my oldest daughter started school in a new country, while still learning new words in phrases in a language she had learned only 6 months earlier. He aptitude for language astonished me. She was fluent within 2 months of our arrival! My middle child learned the after resisting to learn for six months, but once she let go, and decided to learn it, she was just as quick. My son, my baby was only 18 months old when we moved here, he was still learning English - he stopped speaking all together for a while. Now he is speaking both - not great at his pronunciation, but he understands and speaks both!

TACI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-01-16T14:51:00.000+02:00

So I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but the people who live above me like to fight - and loudly!!! We have been awoke at 3 a.m. to hear the sounds of furniture being shoved around, accompanied by shouting and yelling.

I think most of time time they are near the bathroom when the fighting starts up, as that is where it is the loudest - in my bathroom. Then sometimes they take it to the kitchen, and the balcony just off the kitchen. I have no clue what they are fighting about. However one time I did hear the woman yell a very bad word at the man. The only reason I know this word is because in English when you say 'pull-up' it sounds like this Romanian word for a mans 'member'.

So the other day, I'm in the bathroom, giving the girls their bath, and we hear the fighting, they've been going at it for a while now, and it had been one of those days, where EVERYTHING was getting on my last nerve. So after getting the girls dried off, dressed, and sent to get under the blankets to keep warm, I was picking up in the bathroom, and just got tired of hearing their yelling, so I looked up at my bathroom ceiling and yelled at the top of my lungs "TACI" (pronounced 'toch' [short 'o' sound])!

Taci, is romanian for shut up, Taci din gura, mean shut your mouth; gura means mouth....

...anyway, so after I yelled Taci as loudly as I could, the fighting stopped, at least we didn't hear it anymore. Not the rest of that day anyway.

Honestly, I have NO reason to be annoyed with the noise level coming from any of my neighbors, since my 3 monkeys make more noise than you find at a Metallica concert.....okay, not really, but it's close! I mean they play loudly, and they fight even louder! And of course I have to yell, so that they can hear me above their yelling, it's really quiet embarrassing, and I'm surprised none of our neighbors have ever said anything; in fact they usually stop my kids to talk to them, or will bring them treats from time to time.

So if you are ever in Romania, and someone is getting on your nerves just tell them 'Taci din gura'!

New Year, New Rants....

2011-01-10T21:42:00.000+02:00

So just finished up my 3rd attempt at making Fudge. The first time, I discovered how Hershey's makes it's syrup. The second time, the middle was gooey, this time.....er.....not sure, waiting for fudge to cool and set.

....hmmmmm.....still don't know what 'sheen' is, as when it looses that, is indicator to stop beating and pour into pan....

..On the upside, have emptied about 1/2 a liter of milk into saucepan, and will be enjoying some pretty amazing hot cocoa/chocolate in just a few! Aren't you jealous now?!?

...yeah, I wouldn't be either.

N-E-Way, Marius was home for like 2 whole weeks for Christmas and New Year. Was so nice to have my little family all together for the holidays, this year was especially nice, since Marius' 2 brothers and 1 sister were all together for the first time in over 13 years.....there's a lot to be thankful for.

We spent more than we should have on food - of which I cooked - I lived in the kitchen beginning Christmas Eve and ending the day after New Year! I was T.I.R.E.D.!

But as I said, it was totally worth it. Money is made to be saved and to be spent, especially on special occasions such as this was for us! Now if MY family would have been able to have been here as then too, well, I think I would have died right there, flown up to the pearly gates and asked St. Peter to pinch me to make sure I hadn't dreamed it all up!

...wooops, I hear the milk hissing at me......until later....

Is God There?

2010-12-19T13:41:00.000+02:00

So I went to a pentecostal church here in Tulcea this morning with my sister in law. My Romanian is still very, VERY, limited so I understood pretty much nothing. The services here are much different than what we experience back home, there is a lot of standing, sitting kneeling & praying, then singing. The several different men got up and spoke, reading scripture [i think], then more down on the knees and praying.

I didn't know if people were "speaking in tongues" or just praying out loud in Romanian. I didn't feel God's presence, and I couldn't help but wonder if it was because I didn't understand anything being said, or if it's something else. Kinda made me wonder.

I know that most of what goes on in the mainstream churches in the U.S. is heretical and un-biblical, so it made me wonder if some of the 'charismatic' move has moved on over here too. I believe in God, His son Jesus, the crucifixion, resurrection, etc. However, I don't necessarily believe in the whole slain in the spirit & speaking in tongues, 'holy laughter', etc. that runs rampant these days. Most of that seems demonic, not righteous and holy. BUT, I do believe that a fraction, a very small fraction of it is real.

I think mainly I've just seen the Word so twisted and convoluted in "churches" - that it has left a really bad, bitter taste in my mouth. I try to not judge and not be bitter, not be so cynical about it, but I guess the whole fool me once: shame on you, fool me twice: shame on me, kinda fits the bill here. I've been fooled one too many times by charlatans and false teachers, and propho-liars! I can count on 1, ONE, hand how many TRUE men/women of God that I know, who are teachers/preachers.

Anyway, so do you think it comes down to understanding what is being said in order to feel God's presence, or is it like most everything else in churches these days - a big show that induces psychosomatic sensations, i.e. the power of suggestion?

Benefits of being motherless

2010-11-25T10:38:00.000+02:00

Well, first of all, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Since my hubby is working in Italy, and it's just me and the kids, we aren't really doing T-day here - too much food, for just me and 3 small kids. And people here don't really do cornbread dressing, so, oh well.

So the temperature is starting to drop, it's 8 Celsius today, and my friends over in Prauge got the first snow yesterday. Not to mention that they were predicting this winter to be the coldest Europe has seen in about 100 years. So I needed to put anti-freeze in our Volvo station wagon - yeah, I drive a station wagon!

Marius was like just go get some anti-freeze and put it in the car, you're supposed to flush the system, but just put some in the resevoir, but don't start the car, I'll deal with all that when I come home at Christmas. And so I went this morning, after bringing the kids to school, and bought some anti-freeze and water. I then walked back my bloc where my car was parked, and proceeded to flush the system myself.

I got strange looks from passer's by, I mean most men here don't know what they are doing when it comes to cars, much less, (God forbid) a Woman!!!!

But there it is, my car is now safe for winter, with fresh anti-freeze & water sitting peacefully in the radiator and it's resevoir.

This is where I'm grateful to my mom for not being around while I was growing up. I love my mom and all, but it actually worked out better for me that she wasn't there. If she had been, then I don't think I'd have the awesome relationship with my dad, that I do have.....

....and he wouldn't have taught me to change tires, brake pads, oil, and flush a cooling system. I wouldn't know where spark plugs where, what they do or hot to change those either. I wouldn't know where to find the steering & brake fluid, or bleed the brake lines; making sure to pump all the air out of the lines to avoid catastrophe!

If mom had been there, I would have learned about make-up, hair, and how to dress myself. But then I wouldn't be able to take of myself in regards to car mechanics (making sure I don't get ripped off by a mechanic), or stranded on the side of the road and at the mercy of whatever freak happens to stop to "help" me!

I guess the draw back to that I always related better to guys than to girls. I could talk "shop" about cars, hunting, guns, politics, history, etc. Where all the girls ever wanted to talk about was clothes, shopping, boys, make-up, clothes, shopping, boys.....

...you get my point. The draw back to that was that guys always viewed me as one of them; "one of the guys". Which was cool, because that usually meant I had a shield from the weirdos and creeps, on the other hand, it kinda cramped my style while on the 'dating scene'. Even if my guys didn't scare a potential suitor off, then I did, because they realized they couldn't pull the proverbial wool over my eyes!

But then, I met a few guys like my husband, who were awed that I could cook well, wash clothes, be girly, but wasn't completely reliant on them to do all the "guy" jobs. That I could hold my own with them, even if that lug nut was screwed on just a bit too tight, and I needed their muscle to loosen it for me. They were just genuinely impressed that I knew which tool to give them when they asked for a crescent wrench!

So thanks mom, for leaving me in dad's hands! Without his teaching, I'd be up a smelly creek without a paddle!

Politics Run Amok....

2010-11-24T20:23:00.001+02:00

So between the nudie scanners and sexual assault now being hung around the people's necks like the heavy yoke that it is, we now have the Senate Bill 510.....

....evidentally Big Brother doesn't trust The People to grow tomatoes in their backyards. ALL agriculture will have to be approved and supervised by the Feds.

..My theory on this - they want us to eat only the chemically 'enhanced' food grown by them. Chemicals that probably include the swine or bird flu (probably both), not to mention sterilization. Hello, Obama's science Czar is all for copying China's 1 child law, as well as contaminating municipal water supplies that will render the drinkers of such sterile.

I just read where both of my state senator's Mary Landrieu & David Vitter (Louisiana) recieved HUGE amounts of money to vote FOR SB 510. Both of them voted to push the bill through the first stages last week, gee, I wonder how they will vote when it comes down to the wire?!?

What I wanna know is How much CRACK are you guys in D.C. smokin' these days? I mean which version of "Waiting For The Man" do you have on repeat 24/7???? The original by Lou Reed & The Velvet Underground, or Bowie's cover of it??

...I'm beginning to think George Orwell was a bit of a psychic.....

Question: would a U.S. Citizen living overseas still be labeled a 'Domestic Terrorist' by the N.S.A. for speaking out against unconstitutional acts???

Loss for Words??

2010-11-11T12:25:00.000+02:00

So in my last post I mentioned Americans abroad and their behavior. One that struck me as quite profound, is the 'like' lack of education among the younger generation.

As my husband and I were walking back to the bus station in Portovenere, we past a group of men, one of the men who was speaking was twenty-something man from the northern parts of the U.S. - he had the accent, ya know?

Anyway, he was talking rather loudly (as Americans tend to do), and I swear to you every other second or third word was the word 'like'!

I was suddenly aware of my generations lack of the vernacular when verbally communicating. I know that I have been guilty of that in the past, back when I was in my early twenties. Maybe it's an age thing?!?

I wanted to turn around and tell him "DUDE! Use your words!!" I mean if you are comparing something you could say "The taste was similar to that of a ...." instead of saying " It was like the taste of like a...."

....do you see what I mean. My auditory and mental sense felt like they had just been brutally assaulted! And I felt embarrassed for not just him, but myself and other people my age and especially younger. It's like we all watched "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" or "Valley Girls" and the movie never stopped playing in our subconscious mind.

Americans Abroad

2010-11-09T17:01:00.000+02:00

Yes, I've been living overseas in Europe's old Eastern Bloc for going on 2 years now, however, where I am in this little Romanian city, I don't really happen upon American tourists much, NEVER really. There are a lot of German and occassionaly some Asian toursits here in our quiet little city.

Italy though, is a whole different ballgame. I was there last week visiting my husband. We took a train to Monterossa al Mare - about a 10 min. ride from where he lives and works in La Spezia. There was a LARGE group of American tourists - all around retirement age, while they were nice and respectful in most aspects - they were also rather loud and somewhat obnoxious. I suddenly realized that I don't like Americans!!! While most are kind and well behaved, there are those that spoil it for the rest of us. Those that think that because they ARE Americans, everyone should make way for them. Those are the ones who make my life hell - because then all the locals in these European places, think that all Americans are like that first one they encountered! Grrrrrr......

Life in Europe, especially in Italy definitely moves at a somewhat slower pace. For example - don't even attempt to get any type of shopping done between the hours of 1-3:30 p.m. Everything is closed for lunch! The whole month of August - the country shuts down for vacation! It's insane, cool but insane. I did notice that bars and pubs don't stay open past like 10 p.m. There are a few here and there that do, but for the most part, nope, if you want to party - do it at home! I like that. It's like that here too, at least in Tulcea. Maybe in the bigger cities like Rome, Milan, Bucharest, etc. Maybe there are places that do stay open till the wee hours of the morning, but they are few and far between.

I understand why Europeans generally don't like Americans, and why they overcharge them for items (that is not right in my book), but at the same time, it's more of a jealousy issue. Even as badly as the American immigration & judical system treated my husband, he still LOVES America and everything about it. Sometimes I wish I could be so forgiving.....

....to put it bluntly I'm pissed at my own country. My husband made mistakes, yes, he paid the price for those mistakes, but yet, they still denied him legal entrance into the U.S. Forget the taxes he paid!

Latest Trip to Italia

2010-11-07T20:17:00.001+02:00

So this is my latest trip to Italy. The kids were out of school for 1 week, so I used that time to go visit hubby again, even though he will be home December 20th for Christmas straight through till just after New Year. Anyway these were taken yesterday (11/6/2010) in Monterossa, Itally. The first (or last - depending on your view) of the Cinque Terre - that means Five Lands - absolutely breath taking. The pictures aren't that fabulous, as I was coming down with what I thought was just a cold, but now appears to be the flu! uggghhh! Anyway hope you enjoy!

Monterossa, Italia

Digital vs. Film

2010-10-20T23:10:00.000+03:00

So I bought a new printer today, that has copying and scanning capabilities. So I decided to scan my wedding photos....

...in the middle of doing that I realized that nobody has prints of candid photos anymore. The only "REAL" photos people have anymore are either portraits that are taken in a studio, or on location by a pro., or photos taken by pro's of special events, i.e. weddings.

So is this digital age really that great, cause hey guess what folks, when my motherboard fried back in June or July - it fried my hard drive as well - the one with ALL My photos on it. Thankfully I had uploaded most all of them onto my facebook page.

But photos that Marius had taken of the Restoration of Mississippi's Old State Capital - in which he did all the stucco and plastering work - gone!!

We hired a guy to build him a website, and brought him all the photos, we think he still has the digital copies we gave him, LORD I hope so, cause those photos were irreplaceable, literally!

This is one of the reasons I miss film camera's - yeah they sucked cause if you took a bad shot, accidentally cut off cousin joe's head then you wasted not just film, but money as well - money on the film and money on the processing.

Too you don't have to worry about over or double exposure with digital - but sometimes that double exposure thing was really cool!

Not to mention that with film - you don't loose resolution. There are a lot of pro's out there who prefer using film, just because they like quality of the prints it gives. Granted film advancement has come a LONG way since the old days.

I Love my digital SLR - great for beginner's like me. The digital helps you not waste film, as you can immediately see your shot, and see how you could improve it. But, I gotta say though, I'm kinda missing film just for the whole, holding the actual photo in my hand quality!

Inquiring Minds Want To Know....

2010-10-19T13:11:00.000+03:00

So I've been requested to pick up my blog again, which I'm happy to do, only I don't feel like I've got much to say.

Not much has been going on, other than kids in school, getting sick, waiting to get paid, both myself and hubby.

It's been fairly uneventful, apart from fevers and vomiting - which has ceased for the time being.

On the upside, I did make a friend. One mom of one of the boys in Isabel's Kindgergarten class speaks English. Her husband is from Canada. She is headed to Canada this week actually to spend some time with her hubby, then bring him back here to Romania at beginning of December.

She doesn't like Romania, and cannot understand why I'm here - actually a lot of people seem to be curious as to why I, an American with 3 kids (also American) choose to stay here in Romania.

Well I want to keep my family together, yeah, hubby is in Italy, but that is only a stone's throw away and a heck of a lot cheaper than the U.S.

It's not so bad here, yeah there are things that make me want to ram my head through a brick wall - but there are similar things in the U.S. - the idiots in D.C. for starters - from the White House on down to the Admins handling their mornonic schedules!

Got a care package from parental unit last week, which included Hazelnut coffee creamer - seriously, best stuff ever made! Also included in pkg. was a candy thermometer - about to try my first batch of fudge.....

....so if any of you readers has a good, yet simple recipe, please share - please note that I can't find any type of syrup here, let alone corn syrup. *note: dad did sent me some Blackburn's Pancake Syrup* We've had pancakes twice this week. Of course home-made - no boxed mixes!!!

Would love to go visit hubby in Italia first week of November - the kids will be out of school that week, not sure why, but they will. However my hubby's family isn't real keen on helping me with the kids.

C'est la vie......
...or something like that.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

2010-09-29T17:57:00.002+03:00

....No I didn't go to Vegas and win a big hand at Black-Jack.

I actually suck money butt at card playing, even when it's just for toothpicks - God help me if I ever have loads of food stuck between my teeth and the only option to getting a tooth pick depends upon my winning at Texas Hold 'Em or Black Jack! I'll have a teeth full of food - gross!!!

No, day before yesterday, I came home with the kids from school, and stayed outside with them for a little while, so they could run off some of that pent up energy.

While I'm sitting there watching the kids, and the expression on the faces of the neighbor's kids when they hear me talk - cause I'm an alien, who speaks in funny sounding language!

...seriously, that is how they look at me. However I'm pretty sure I'm the best looking alien they've ever seen, I mean my skin isn't green or anything. I'm a non-mutie type o' gal! They even laugh when I talk, and ask my kids "Ce zic?" (what'd she say?)

So anyway, as I'm sitting there minding my own business (actually trying to mind other people's too, but language barrier sucks), one of the neighbors in the adjoining building starts talking to me.

He's an older guy, wearing a funny wanna-be cowboy type hat, tinted glasses (sort of a rosy/red tint) that happen to blend perfectly with that 'I've got a drinking problem complexion'. PLUS he's missing teeth.

...don't I feel oh so special?

So he's talking to me, I can't understand him, not just cause of language barrier, but the lack of teeth, compounded with massive quantities of either wine or beer. Isabel can't understand what he's saying either, and she's fluent in RO!

He keeps invading my personal space (which is one of my pet peeves), and then he asks me how old I am, was shocked to find out I'm over 30, he thought I was like 24 (he did score brownie points there). He then compliments my blue eyes, and proceeds to tell me his wife is gone, and his kids are in England.

After he's said all this, as well as other stuff, of which I have no clue. Out comes a couple who just got married Saturday, I believe he was trying to tell me they were leaving for their honeymoon, as he made the international body language sign for 'bedroom wrestling'.

Thankfully my 3 year old son LOVES his mommy, about a minute after this "sign language" took place, Paul runs over to me, wraps himself around my leg looks up at the old man and pointedly tells him:

"Mommy mea! My Mommy!"

I got out of there as quick as possible. I wasn't scared and didn't feel threatened or anything like that, I actually found it humorous, but as I could smell some sort of alcoholic beverage on his breath, I decided that it would be better if I got the heck out of dodge as quickly as possible lest he start thinking I was enjoying his advances.

So lucky me, I won the "chicken dinner": being hit on by old man with no teeth, stinky breath, in a foreign language!

Now, aren't ya jealous???

Romanian Craftsmanship

2010-09-22T19:11:00.000+03:00

So every year on August 15th there is a HUGE celebration here for sailor's or people named Maria, Mary, Marius, etc. - in honor of the virgin Mary.

Well for a week prior to the 15th, tradespeople come in from all over the surrounding area, artistsans of every type have a booth set up where they sell their goods. Here are some of my shots.

Please bear in mind I'm an amateur whose still trying to learn all the "tricks".

**NOTE: if you click on the pictures you see the picture in the original size (or you should be able to)!

It don't mean a thang....

2010-09-22T18:04:00.000+03:00

....if it ain't got that swang....

And that's what it is folks. Getting back into the swing of things after a much needed visit from my parents, who incidentally flew my hubby in from Italy for one weekend while they were here.

It was nice to have my some-what "whole" family together, even if it was only for a weekend. Would be better if my brother, his new wife, my cousin Leigh, and her gang, her mom and dad (my aunt & uncle) coulda been here too, but maybe in a few years, after I win the lottery....

....yeah, right - I don't even gamble.

It worked out well though, cause Marius was home for the kids first day of school. My youngest 2 started Kindergarten this year, well Kindergarten and Pre-K, respectively.

But my parents had to leave at the end of last week, so me and the kids have been trying to find our balance in the absence of our much missed "guests"!

While trying to get into the swing of getting not one but 3 kids up and ready for school this year is a bit of a challenge, I'm also trying to get back into the swing of my new paying gig - doing research and writing, which will eventually morph into me editing, and managing clients and other free lance writers. YEA!!!

But in the mean time, here are a few pics from my mini family reunion:

Family on first day of school


Grand-Parents & kids on 1st day of school


At the Park


Maw-Maw & Pops with the girls


Me & Marius with the kids

Out for Pizza, Isabel didn't get her way - hence the tears


Maw-Maw made it better

Pops helped too!

Kelly Jean with her hearts


My 2 men

Paul is ALL about his parental units!


Kelly at the Bus Station


Dad & Darlene @ Bus station


On the Faleza with the family


With Marius


Dad & Darlene, getting ready to take a walk

Sleeping Giant

Angel Face

The Love of my life, Marius (this man gives so much for us)

A rare photo - I can never catch him smiling or laughing! (GO ME!)

Knees a knockin'

2010-09-06T01:44:00.001+03:00

So, while I'm letting laptop cool down and recharge, I'm flipping through the channels, and stop on a channel here called 'Euphoria'. They were showing something called Video Fashion Daily. Basically you know showing all the fashion runways, but it was for Spring/Summer 2010.

One thing I noticed was, besides the EXTREMELY skinny models, was how when the models are doing the catwalk, that their knees looks like they are knockin' each other. Kinda funny....

...I mean here are these beautiful women wearing [sometimes] beautiful clothes, and they look pigeon toed!!!

..It was kinda funny. I had kind of an epiphany, if you will....No One is perfect, no matter what the camera lens says, or tries to say!

All women wished they looked like those women on the catwalk, but if looking like that means I have to walk like that, forget it, and besides, I don't think they are allowed anything to eat, just water and cocaine....

....ummm, no thanks, been there done that....it was HELL, can I tell ya, H.E.L.L. Seriously screwed up my nose (random nose bleeds), but for the grace of God, that's all been healed, and I'm still here to tell the tale...

...of my catwalk wannabe days! Actually the opposite held true for me, instead of getting stick then, I blew up like Shamu!

I'm the only person I know who could get higher than a 747 in mid flight, and eat like a pig being fattened up for the Christmas kill!

Anyway, back to knott kneed stick insects masquerading as fashion models. I don't envy the life they must have to live....

...Ego-manical designers, photogs, other models, and like, NO fillet Mignon for you dear - your 6'0 figure must stay below 105 pounds - Goodness!!! Can you imagine?

*Just to be clear, I'm only 5'4", no where near 6'0!*

HER voice said....Pass the Award!!

2010-09-04T14:42:00.000+03:00

So my cuz, LTM over at 'That's Write' passed on some sort of award, thingy, in which I have to HANDWRITE answers to some questions, and take a picture and post here, which I will do now.

..Without further ado, here are the questions:

Write down (by hand!) on a piece of paper the following:
1. Name, Blog Name
2. Right handed, left handed, or both?
3. Favorite letters to write
4. Least favorite letters to write
5. Write out "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog"
6. Write in CAPS: BABOON, SPLENDOR, ONOMATOPOEIA, FLIP-FLOPS, HUZZAH!
7. Favorite song lyrics
8. Tag 7 people
9. Whatever else strikes your fancy

So here is a picture of my handwriting - atrocious as it is!!! And below the picture, my typed out answers to these questions!:

Odessa's Handwriting

Okay, so my answer's were:

1. Name, Blog Name: Odessa - Rants, Raves & Faves

2. Right handed, left handed, or both? - Right

3. Favorite letters to write - O, M, T, B

4. Least favorite letters to write - E (seriously, that letter is impossible in cursive)

5. Write out "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" Okay, you can see where I wrote that

6. Write in CAPS: BABOON, SPLENDOR, ONOMATOPOEIA, FLIP-FLOPS, HUZZAH! You can see where I wrote those too.

7. Favorite song lyrics :I'm so obsessed, my heart is about to beat right out my untrimmed chest. I believe you, like a virgin, your Madonna, and I'm always gonna wanna blow your mind.... ("Hey Soul Sister" by Train)

8. Tag 7 people I could only think of 3, so Danielle, Melissa, & J-Lo

9. Whatever else strikes your fancy "C'est lés bonton lés roulez!!" (my cajun coming out)

My new bosses!

2010-09-03T13:34:00.000+03:00

She works hard for the money...

2010-09-02T22:39:00.001+03:00

Yeah, that's right, I'm a working girl now.....

....not in the "Pretty Woman" sense either...so don't go there (i'm talkin to you 'Lee-Roy')!!!

No, some friends of mine have hired me to help them with their marketing business, part of this new job entails me doing research on technical stuff, and [gasp] writing articles for their blog!!

The best part - I'm getting paid!! Whoo-Hoo!!! Now, I can use my pay check to cover monthly expenses, and we can leave Marius' check sitting in the bank where they will 'bloom and grow, bloom and grow forever....Eidelweiss..."

...sorry, had a Sound of Music moment there. Yeah, we are just covering all kinds of music ain't we. I know you started singing "She works hard for the money, so hard for it honey.." as soon as you read the title. Well here's some more for you....

..right now, I'm listening to Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love" as I'm writing this. Not sure how my mind can "sing" a song from a musical, while listening to savvy 80's music.

Okay, that song wasn't "savvy" per se, but his video sure as heck was! I remember seeing those Alabaster white chicks with their slicked back hair, black skin tight mini dresses and bright, glossy red lips, and thinking - I hope I look like that when I grow up!

...Obviously God didn't hear that little prayer, or he did, and thought a practical joke was in order!!!

I'm the total opposite of those 80's babes - who by now are, I'm sure are fat, saggy and horrid looking from all the partying that took place in hell-ay back then! (yes, my attempt at making myself feel better)

Upside: I'm still fairly skinny (after 3 kids) and non saggy thanks to the fact that "my girls" never graduated 8th grade!

Anyway, back to paying gig - yeah, I'm excited, but it's also leaving me little time for my own little rants & raves!! ;)

What's really annoying though, is that my kids NEVER need anything, or fight with each other, UNTIL I'm eyeball deep into writing an article. You know, trying to focus my thoughts, and put a coherent sentence together?!?

Ahhhh....but then school starts in like oh, 2 weeks! YES! I will have all morning to work tirelessly! "Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh, oh oh!" - Led Zeppelin "Black Dog" (guess what's playing now?)

Oh yeah, technology fix. So my monster laptop, that had to have motherboard replaced....when I got it back - the blue-tooth adapter wasn't working - it is now!!!

Thanks to some guys over at the Windows 7 Forum! They did their legwork and posted a couple of links to a patch and a drive file, that I for some reason could not for the life of me, find on the Dell website.

So now, the Blue-tooth is finally working - "Sooooo Happy." - Audrey Hepburn as 'Princess Ana' in Roman Holiday

Also, am getting better internet, a.k.a. DSL connection through cable company. Will still have to pay for crack smoking connection currently provided by mobile phone company till April.

But it don't matter, cause my friends (new bosses) are going to pay for new connection, which will only cost like 10 Euro ($15) a month!!!

That's it for now, going to go jam out to "Stone Fox Chase" by House of Glass

Definitve Seasons

2010-08-29T21:27:00.000+03:00

Today has been a really beautiful day, not in the typical sense, as sun shining, birds singing, flowers blooming etc. Today was overcast, and kinda gloomy looking, but the weather was perfect. Not too hot, nor too chilly, there was a sweet fragrance blowing in the air today. It was nearly magical. And it got me thinking about the difference between here and South Louisiana.

Yeah, if I hadn't mentioned it before I grew up in Baton Rouge. There are no definitive seasons in Louisiana, there is warm (for winter), and standing at the gates of Hell (for summer). But here, like today, you feel the change in the seasons. It gradually cools down, you notice the birds starting to migrate further south towards Turkey and Greece as fall starts setting in. The trees actually turn color and the leaves fall. Winter here is totally depressing, everything is dead, the sun is never out, it's always gray and overcast. But then in March, the sun peeps it's head out more and more, the green buds can be seen on the trees, the grass starts growing, the birds start flying back in to their homes in the Delta Danube. The weather is nice and warm in the day, in the evening a light shawl does wonders. Then summer hits, kids playing soccer, old men sitting in the park watching the young girls in short shorts and short skirts sashay by - which is really funny!

Today felt nostalgic, you know one of those days that you know will always stick with you, like the day your children are born, the day you get married, graduate from college, get that first BIG, cool job. It was like that, only without all the coolness, or excitement factor. It was just something that I know will always stick with me, just for the sheer fact that it was a little thing that showed me the difference of where I come from, all the things I think I KNEW, and where I am now, and learning that I never really KNEW much at all!

Orange & Windows 7 - GAG!

2010-08-24T23:32:00.000+03:00

Okay, so I've mentioned *ahem* on occassion that my internet takes trips to the "coffee" houses in Amsterdam. That connection comes to me through a 2 yr. contract courtesy of Orange Mobile; a company owned and operated by someone in France. Okay, nothing against the French, cause they have wonderful food, and wonderful wine (at least I've heard), and of course Paris is the epicenter for fashion, isn't it?!? But technology is Not their bag, baby, yeah.... Okay, I jumped the pond a bit there, sorry!

I and my husband have both called the customer service center for the internet section of Orange Mobile on several occasions, especially when experience frustrating service, or rather lack there of. Fortunately contract expires in April, not soon enough for me though! I hate HAVING to pay for something that doesn't work properly! I miss capitalism, and people who actually understand the concept of Customer Service! If your job, or circumstances necessitate a move to Europe in the near future, do yourself a favor: Steer Clear of Orange!!! I mean give them a WIDE Berth!

I have contacted my cable comctpany via email, cause I don't think anyone in my local office speaks English. Anyway I've contacted them to see about getting DSL connected in my home; added to my TV contract. That email went to Bucuresti, waiting for reply! I desperately need better internet connection, as I'm starting to do the virtual telecommuting!!! God Help Me!

Now on to Windows 7. WHY did Microsoft change?? XP was perfect, all they had to do was keep XP, just update the appearance. I got my Dell notebook back from Dell Service Center in Bucuresti, where they put in a new Motherboard, and made my secondary HDD, my primary one. The old primary HDD (that contained all my pics, etc.) fried when the MB fried. Anyway, I did have Vista Home Premium on old HDD, for some reason or other the idiots @ Dell decided I should have Windows 7 - they did this so they could charge me another couple hundred bucks for licensing, etc. My BIL lives in Bucuresti - so he dealt with them. He got the notebook and told them to jump off a bridge, he wasn't paying them for that! I wouldn't wanna tangle with my BIL - he's like 6'5, and 220 lbs. easy. His job is a bodyguard to the guy transporting money for companies and banks, etc. He was an MP for the RO military as well!

My point - Avoid Windows 7 & Orange Telecom at all costs, unless you have a wish to be bald!!!

Ka is wheel indeed, do ya ken it?

2010-08-23T11:35:00.000+03:00

Okay, so a few blogs back I posted about Stephen King's "The Dark Tower" series. I just finally finished the last book (#7) last night. Generally I fly through these books in a day, 2 at the most. However, on this last book, my other laptop started giving me issues, then hubby came home, and getting online, much less on the computer at all was not really a good thing. So I'm back catching up on my fav. blogs, reading and of course my writing!!!

For those of you who haven't read SK's DT series, I'll not spoil the end for you. I will say this it felt a bit like watching the last episode of LOST, sorta sad, and depressing, unfulfilled and leaves you with a bitter aftertaste. However, as much as I didn't like the ending, it fit, it made sense, and at the same time it answered a question I had already been posing to myself about the characters.

Ka is a WHEEL, that just keeps rolling, round and round, and round again, do ya ken it???

Family Time

2010-08-22T22:24:00.001+03:00

So my hubby just left for Italy to go back to work yesterday. Having him here was both wonderful, and exasperating at the same time. Wonderful, cause well my family unit was once again together and a UNIT, even if only for nearly 2 weeks! Exasperating, cause my hubby is a perfectionist, and I'm, well... NOT! I'm just not nearly as anal retentive as he is about things.

I think the thing that drives me nuts the most, is that he dresses me. My mom sent me some really cute shorts from Old Navy, I like them, they aren't short-shorts, they fall just about 1.5 inches above the knee, they fit me, like they aren't too baggy or too tight, they FIT! But he don't like them! He says they don't look good on me, that I need a tan! No matter how many times I explain to him, that freckled red heads don't tan, that they just burn and freckle up even more - he don't get it!

As for fashion, well I'm still in comfortable, S.Louisiana, Cajun-girl mode. I've yet to delve too deeply into the world of Euro fashion, mainly cause it scares the living be-jeezus out of me! I mean, do you remember the Z.Cavarrichi's back in the day, you know those pants that had the crotch that hung down to the knees??? My grandmother FORBID me to wear them! I now understand why! Well they are alive and well and thriving over in Italy - GAG!!! Haven't really seen them here in RO, but I'm sure they'll show up eventually! Here the women like obnoxious colored hair, I know I've mentioned this on another post, but it really is amazing. Reminds me of that opening scene in 'Notting Hill' where Hugh Grant's character is describing his neighborhood, which includes the hair dresser where everyone comes out looking like the Cookie Monster, whether they wanted to or not....it's something like that; only not quite as nostalgic! Needless to say I haven't even attempted going to a hair salon here! I'm generally not scared of anything, especially getting my hair cut, cause hey it's hair, it DOES grow back, but these gals over here, and their hair-do's and hair color, yeah, I'll admit it, I'm SCEERED of what, or rather who, lurks behind the doors of those Frizziere's!!!! (Hair Salon in RO)!

So yeah, he kinda gets on my nerves with the clothing thing!!! But also, I never seem to do certain things the right way - his way!!! No wonder all my hair is rapidly turning white! That sounds harsh and unloving. I do LOVE Marius with everything in me, if I didn't, why on earth would I subject myself and my kids to living in THE poorest country in Europe?!?

Speaking of the kids, they were the 3 most adorable, well behaved, and obedient children while he was home. No lie, the morning he left - it was like he took all the goodness with him! Now they are back to fighting with each other, and not listening to me. Today, my oldest did however get up and CLEAN their room without being asked! I obviously praised her for that, as I want that kind of behavior to continue. There is just something about the father's in family - the kids listen to their dad's no matter what! Mom's, eh, mom, schmom - they're push-over's and door mats, doncha know?!? Heaven help me!

Internet connection is acting like it's going to through with drawls, which it very well may be - I cut off it's crack supply!!! : p So as soon as it gets to acting normal, or I can get my DSL connected (this week hopefully, gonna need it for virtual telecommuting gig), I will upload some photos of Marius and the kids - and no, I'm not really in any of them - I'm the shutter bug in the family! : D

Awards, Crisis, A/C & Washing Machines....

2010-08-17T09:51:00.000+03:00

So my wonderful, witty writer cousin, Leigh gave me a Blogger Commenter award. Yes, I like to comment, especially if I really like a blog, and I usually have something to say on Leigh's blog, cause well she's family, and I love her to pieces. You should really check out her blog 'That's Write' by clicking here.

So Computers are revolting against me lately! First the Motherboard on my Dell Studio 1735 laptop fried, along with one of my 320 GB Hard Drives, the one with ALL my photos on it - GRRRRR!!! Got that fixed, and back from brother in law 2 days ago, and now the fan isn't kicking on!! WTC???? Back up laptop, a Toshiba Satelite, had to be sent to Bucuresti yesterday! The keyboard decided to start smoking crack evidentally - the warranty expires in like 3 days. Only, we have to wait for them to call my BIL back to tell him WHEN he can bring it in - with my luck that will be after the warranty expires! Heaven help me!

So hubby came home last week, we went and bought me a washing machine - something I've done without for a year and a half! I've been washing by hand, and when I had blankets, etc to wash, my mother in law would let me bring her clothes, etc. for her to wash in her machine! I used to hate laundry with a passion, even with living in the states - now I LOVE IT! My laundry stays done. Dirty clothes don't stay in the hamper longer than a day now! *GRIN*

As I've posted earlier, it has been extremely hot here - usually isn't that hot here in Romania, then again, last year we got all kinds of snow where we live, and from what the locals told us, they haven't seen that much snow here in Tulcea in like 20 years! So much for Global Warming, eh??? Anyway, back to the point. We were fine, with just having oscillating fans, even if my little monsters nearly destroyed them, but my son got heat rash from the top of his head to his feet, and everywhere in between - we took him to the ER cause it was so bad. So we decided to talk to the landlord and see if we could get an air conditioner, and deduct it from the rent, which we did. We talked to him, the next day, two guys came over with an air conditioner, (it also heats in winter), and installed it! Everywhere else that sells the AC units told us we would have to wait at least 5 days, maybe 10, before their guys could install it! But our landlord knows a guy, hehehe, and well we got it the next day, it comes with 5 year warranty, and the head guy that installed, i.e. owns the company, speaks English, so if there are any problems - I'm okay!!!

Da-da-dum, da-da-jig, Ka is a wheel, can ya dig???

2010-08-06T00:13:00.002+03:00

Okay, so I love to read, I mean I have a voracious literary appetite, that doesn't get fed as often as I like. 3 kids have a way of detouring that! Anyway, a friend of mine sent me like 68 files that are books in .pdf format, only it's ALL of the books ever written by Steven King. (There are no book stores with English books here, so I'm stuck with electronic format for now).
Normally I am NOT an SK fan. I tried to read one of his books LONG time ago, and couldn't get the whole way through it, it just bored me to tears, that book was 'Needful Things'. I later read the Green Mile, which I liked, even though the story moved too slow for my taste. So I just never got into his stuff. But this friend who sent me these files, and another friend of mine said you HAVE to read this book, or rather series of books, you will love them! I didn't really believe that, but they said if you like LOST, you will like 'The Dark Tower' series.

So I started reading the series, which consists of 7 books, last week and I haven't been able to put them down. I was surprised at how much I actually like this series. I'm kinda bummed I didn't find it earlier, however if I would have found it earlier in my life I would have been frustrated at waiting for the next book in the series to come out, like I was with the Left Behind Series. I started reading that one, when it was 3/4 of the way done, then had to wait for the last 3 books to be published, which irritated me to know end! I'm a fast reader. I think I made it through the Left Behind series in like 2 weeks. I could get through one whole book in a day and half. With no interruptions, within a day. Yeah, I speed read, especially if the books holds my interest. I think the only books that took me longer than a 2 days to read were Gone With The Wind, and it's sequel Scarlett, which each took me about 1 week each to finish. I was in High School. I would read my book in Algebra - maybe that's why I had such a hard time with math?? Do ya think?

Anyway, back to the point(s), one thing I've noticed in SK novels, especially this series, is how elements of the bible are woven into the stories. I don't know what Mr. King's religious preferences are, or if he even holds any. Maybe he is a believer in God, or maybe he isn't, and this is his way of poking fun of or at people who do, I don't know. But it makes me wonder. The way he weaves it into his stories are good, and don't come off feeling or sounding like he is poking fun, etc.

My two friends have been asking me how I like it so far, etc., etc. One of the, the one who sent me the PDF files, was scared I would hate and he'd loose his friend. I've known this guy since High School, he was cool as beans back then and he still his (say Hi, Mark!) Knowing I like the book is kind of a relief for him I think!! :D

So what is the book about - it's hard to explain, but I'll break it down like this, it's like LOST, meets the Bible, meets the Wizard of Oz, meets Alice in Wonderland, meets The Outlaw Josey Wales!!! Yeah, it's a sci-fi, thriller, western - strange I know, but wery, wery ka-kool!

The Freaky, Neighbor dude.....

2010-07-28T14:29:00.000+03:00

I mentioned in my last post (if it ain't 1 thing it's 20) briefly about my freaky neighbor. I went back through my blog to see if I had ever mentioned him, I haven't. Well here goes. I happened to meet him in the stairwell last year sometime. My husband wasn't home at the time. My Romanian was limited to hello's, how are you, and good bye. So I didn't understand much. I understood he asked something about a computer. I responded 'da', and told him to come back tomorrow to talk to my husband. Something seemed weird about him when I met him, but I chocked it up to my lack of conversational skills. So he comes by the next day when my husband is home. My kids are naturally affectionate, they hug everyone! So they were talking to the new guy, he was nice with them, but something was rubbing me the wrong way. That nagging little feeling in the back of your head that screams "Danger! Danger Will Robinson!"

He had asked if he could use our computer, we said okay. He started showing up when my husband wasn't here. The way he talked to my kids made me nauseous. He was all of about 17 I guess, said he wanted to be come a priest in the Orthadox church. But there was something about him. He was an only child and his father had died when he was young, so he was raised by an overly affectionate, indulgent, or worried mother. I blamed his weirdness on that. One evening when he was here, he was on his phone talking to a friend, my husband said he was flirting, but he was speaking in the masculine, when if he was speaking to a girl, he should have been saying things a different way. When he got off the phone my husband asked him flat out, "Are you gay?" It surprised him, and he asked Marius how he knew. Marius was like well your body language is effiminate, but the way you were talking - you were speaking masculine, when you should have been speaking with the feminine. He said yes, he was, and begged Marius not to say anything, cause no one knew, and here where we are in Romania, that can get you beat the hell up, or worse. Marius said he wouldn't say a word, but he asked him how he thought he could be a priest, he said he didn't know. He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't help it.

Not long after this, was waiting and wondering my oldest daughter was, she had long been due back from school. My doorbell rings, I open it, and there is freaky neighbor with my daughter!!!!!! He comes in - I still don't know why he kept coming over, when I didn't understand a word he said, and visa versa! Anyway he comes in, he uses the bathroom. I asked Kelly, what was going on, she said he was waiting for her at her school, and he walked her home, but not the way she normally came back home, a different route, he took her to a park and asked her if she wanted to play, she said no, I need to go home, I'm going to be in trouble if I'm late. He stopped at a little store to buy something, and he bought her a piece of candy! I was ready to tear this little dude a new one! Only I didn't have the words. He hung around for a while, used the computer I noticed he was using it to talk to some man, who was at least my age. He finally left. When Marius came home I told him what had happened, it was a good thing the kid wasn't here at the time - Marius was livid, he would've ripped the kids head off. Marius is very, very SLOW to anger, but once he's there, you need to stay away! Kelly informed us, he was regularly at the school. Which is weird to me. He isn't in that school. Why they allow people to be on the school grounds who have no business there is beyond me. A few days went by before we saw him again, and when we did, Marius had calmed down, he told him - what you did was wrong, you NEVER take one of my children from school unless you are asked to. He further told him, if you wait for my kid at the school again, I will go straight to the police, and what do you think will happen will I tell them a homosexual was waiting for my kid at her school, unasked by me or my wife. He went white and apologized profusely! Kelly said he made her feel weird. After that when ever he came over, she gave him a wide berth, would barely talk to him. The way he was with my son though - ugggggg!!!!!

Marius had told him, if I'm not home, you don't come to my house. It doesn't look right, and people will talk if they see you always over here with my wife and kids when I'm not here. He agreed, etc. BUT, he come over more when Marius wasn't here, than when he was. Marius had by that time told him, no more using the computer, you're using to continue a homosexual relationship, and I won't be party to that. But still he came. Finally around Christmas, Marius had had it, he was ALWAYS at our house. Marius had just come home from a pitiful little job that didn't pay that much, things were tight, and the doorbell rings. We all stayed quiet. We were eating dinner as a family. We ignored it, not 5 minutes later, it rings again. Marius gets up from the table, opens the door and says. "Man, it's enough. You are always over here, even when I'm not here, which I've asked you NOT to do. If you have an emergency, and we can help, we will, but other than that, I'm sorry, but I'm done. Good night." and he shut the door.

And that is the last we've heard from him. We pass him on the street or in the stairs from time to time, and he still turns my stomach, and I want to bash his head in when he leans down to talk to my son. The girls have figured out that Mommy doesn't like him, she thinks he's weird or bad, or something, so they don't say much to him. But my 3 year old - he doesn't get it yet!

So anyway, that is who informed me of water in my apartment yesterday, I would rather have been possessed by Satan than have heard that from this guy. The less contact I have with freaky neighbor dude, the better!

If it ain't 1 thing, it's 20.....

2010-07-27T22:01:00.002+03:00

So my day started off rather uneventful, apart from sibling rivalry. Fed kids breakfast and lunch, then at about 1:30 left to go get some things from the farmer's market, which is about a 10 min. drive. Me and kids leave, go to the market, take another 10-15 min. to get what I need, hop back in the car, drive home. Get home and walked across the street of apartment building to the little store, grabbed a 2.5L of Pepsi, some tomato sauce. As I'm leaving the store, my freaky little neighbor (mighta mentioned him another post, if not I'll extrapolate in another post why he is weird), anyway, freaky neighbor dude says something about my apartment and water. My five year old translates as best she could, but she's not really paying attention. I shuffle the kids across the street, while toting a sack of groceries that weighs about 15 pounds, and up 2 flights of stairs.

There's water on the stairs, and neighbors in front of my door. I get that water is leaking from my apartment, but I was not expecting what I found when I opened my door. There was 3 inches or so of water all in my apartment. It didn't quite make it all the way into the one bedroom or the living room, but it started to. It was all in the bathroom, kitchen and entrance & hall way. They have shut off the water to the building. They turn it back on, and we find that it is coming from under my kitchen sink. I'm standing at my sink, wildly turning the knobs to the pipes to make sure my water in the kitchen is indeed off. I didn't leave water running either, so please save those comments!

So there I am standing at the kitchen sink, and I just loose it. I just broke down crying - not hysterically or even uncontrollably, but just crying. You know, the tears you hold back and bottle up when things go south sometimes?!? Well the flood gates opened. My neighbors are standing in my doorway talking to each other, trying to talk to me. I walk to the door, there's 2 men standing there talking to me, and I finally say, through the tears "Nu intelegti nimic!!!" That translates, I don't understand anything! Then in English I just simply say "I wanna go home, I just wanna go home!" I felt like a 5 year old, who just got their butt whooped by the school bully! I briefly pulled it together, and found my landlord's number in my cell phone, dialed it, handed the phone to one of the men talking at me and said "Proprietor, explicat el" - landlord, explain it to him.

They explain, I understand landlord is on his way. They give me the phone back, I then call my husband, whose working in Italy - cause these neighbors are asking when my husband will be home, I try to explain he's working in Italy - they don't understand me. Hubby answers the phone, I hear loud noises in the background, he's at work, in a shipyard. I have to yell for him to hear and understand me. At this point I'm not crying anymore, but the moment I have to start yelling, I break again. He in turn gets worried, tells me to calm down, asks me why I'm crying, and I let loose on him: "I'm crying because I'm in a place where I don't understand anyone, and they don't understand me, and everything is backwards. Think back to when you first came to the U.S. and no one understood you, and you didn't understand them, and everything worked differently!" But it was different for him, he was with a lot of other Romanians. So he had people to talk to, I have no one, just my kids!

Anyway, landlord arrives, they find the busted pipe/tube, whatever, we start scooping and dumping the water, take all the rugs outside. The neighbors are helping. My kids, especially 3 year old is trying to help, but getting in the way. I've stopped crying, momentarily, and am helping rid the apartment of water. By this time, the neighbors have figured out from my crying rant at my husband that this was the straw that broke the camel's back for me! After several hours, the water is cleaned up, the pipes/tubes are repaired, landlord is not mad at me (thank goodness), and all is right, for now. Called hubby, and had nice, calm conversation, apologized for the tear-fest, but he understood, and is thankful for such a wonderful wife, who left all behind to follow him to keep their family together!

Okay, now I know you are thinking, okay, it was just a busted pipe, and yeah, you're in a different country, but there was no need to cry. But lately, it's been one thing after another. About 2 months ago, my laptop, a big monster of a thing broke, wouldn't turn on. Turned out to be a bad motherboard, which fried one of my hard drives. So I just spent about $4-500 fixing that. Gas in the car, bills left and right. A mother in law who likes to stay in everyone's business and create drama! No friends to talk to, a husband working in another country because this one has no work for him! Hot weather, no air conditioning, washing clothes by hand, and 3 kids who fight with each other, don't listen to me, and keep my house looking like the wreck of the Hesperus. It could have been worse though, this could have happened over the weekend while I was at the beach in Constanta, 2 hours away! So I guess in a way, I was lucky.

Today was just the day that it became too much to deal with anymore! Ever have one of those days, if you say no, then you are either lying to me, or to yourself; take your pick! But what's really bad, is after I've cried at my hubby, gotten all the water scooped up, I'm mopping while the neighbor is fixing the pipes, the tears slowly start falling, not out of frustration, but this time out of anger - anger at my own country for putting me in this situation. Yes, my hubby hand a hand in it too, but we didn't meet the burden of proof for Political Asylum. Yes, I'm angry at the U.S. because it sent 4 of it's own to a foreign country just to make an example out of one person, a person, who if you needed it would give you everything he had, including a kidney or liver! But the U.S. doesn't want people like him, they want gang-banging, drug running thugs from Mexico!

Okay, I'm done, cause now I'm just getting myself really ticked off, and I don't want that, right now, I just want to eat my dinner that should be done in a little while, eat and read the rest of book three of a series of 7, then go to bed!

Where is Buster Pointdexter????

2010-07-18T18:44:00.000+03:00

Cause I'm feeling "Hot! Hot! HOT!" And no not in that I'm a young smoking hot, sexy wife and momma. No, hot as in the it's 35 C, no breeze, no a/c & I'm taking HOT baths in a closed door bathroom just to get my body temp higher than it is inside, so that when I open the door from the bathroom, the hot apartment is actually cooler than me! Old trick my dad taught me as kid growing up in S.Louisiana when the window unit would break down!

I mean I go sit on my balcony, which is has a door from the kitchen to it, which I keep closed, with butcher paper in the glass pane to block out the sunlight; i.e. heat. So it's unrealistically hot on the balcony. I mean the walls are as hot as an oven - no lie!!! So I go sit out there for a few minutes, and start sweating, then get up after about 5 minutes, and step back in the house, cause hey it's cooler in here than the balcony!

The upside, I only have like one more month of this heat, then fall weather will start setting in. That's another upside to living here, there are 4 distinct seasons, and summer is VERY short. It doesn't really start getting hot till like June 1st., and then starting around September 1st it starts cooling off. Of course then come November it gets wickedly cold. But it's easier to get warm than it is to cool off, I mean let's face it there is only so much you can take off, but you can always keep putting clothes on - hello Joey did it in an episode of Friends! How you doin'???

Tom Jones, Mean Girls, et al

2010-07-15T20:03:00.000+03:00

Okay, this is going to be a totally random rant, so bear with me.

Okay, we get "Duck Dodgers" over here, a cartoon starring Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, only sci-fi. The theme song is sung by none other than Tom Jones. I hate it and love it at the same time. Love it cause the lyrics are hysterical, at least I think so, and I hate it cause I can't stand to hear Tom Jones sing. Seriously, the guy sounds like he's in pain when he sings. Take his voice and Aaron Neville's face and it ain't nothing but an auditory and visual pain fest! Tom sounds as if in pain, and Aaron looks like he's in pain! Uggg....

So my writer cousin wrote a blog the other day reviewing a YA (that's Young Adult) novel about mean girls, and it spurned discussions in the comments about our own kids; our thoughts, fears etc. for our own daughters, as well as our own experiences growing up. Her post can be found here. I had a hard time as a kid. I didn't have a big house, or new car, heck one parent was MIA. I wore hand me downs, lived in what looked like an over sized building block - no lie - it had a flat roof, and was made out of cinder blocks. My brother was ADHD and was constantly in trouble with the teachers and other students, and I was always bailing him out. I wanted to fit in hang out with the "cool" kids, only they didn't like me. It wasn't till high school that I realized that these people didn't matter, that once we got out of school I would probably never see them again for as long as I lived. I wish I would have gotten that earlier, woulda saved myself a lot of heartache, and probably would have focused more on my books! Ah hind-sight! Gotta love it! Too little too late, I guess. But I see my oldest daughter headed down the same path, she will do anything for approval, and that scares me. The other kids have figured this out, and use it to their advantage. If I give Kelly a few bucks to buy herself some chips, or candy, that's when she has "friends". If she doesn't have anything, they don't play with her. I tried to explain to her what took me so long to learn. I don't know if she gets it. I don't want my kids to feel like I did, nor do I want them to be like the girls that were mean to me, which is what I have to worry about with my middle child, also a girl. She is cute, and she knows it! She loves you if you are pretty!!! She only really likes people who are pretty! She bases everything on looks. She plays with kids who are older than her. Only once have I seen her play with another kid her own age, and this was only a few weeks ago. And this little girl was pretty, and knew it too. Talk about 2 peas in a pod! Isabel isn't mean to other kids, but she will tell you point blank if she doesn't like you, she doesn't let anyone push her around. Somewhat scary! I pray for wisdom daily! God, hello, do you hear me down here? Can you help me? Can you help my kids? Hello? HELLOOOOOO???????

So I have taken some advice and started writing, not sure if it will be a novel yet, I'm kinda stuck, and I'm only in the 3rd chapter - not a great prospect! No, it's not about my life as an ex-pat, etc. Completely fictional. I should write about my life, I mean they say to write what you know, right? I just don't know how to put our story on paper without some serious repercussions - for those of you not familiar with my situation and why I'm here, basically it could land my hubby in some serious political/criminal trouble with his government. No, he didn't kill anyone or anything like that, but hello, it's only been 20 years since Communism fell here, and all the politicians are old Commies! But I digress. It should be interesting if I can figure out exactly what I want to do with my female lead. I have the guy figured out, but not sure what to do with her, she's complicate, but then again, aren't all women???

Last rant. I wrote last week about how much it's been raining here. Towns have completely flooded, etc. It's been pretty bad. But it finally stopped, only this week - the heat has been unbearable. There is no such thing as central A/C, they do have units, and we could get one, but it would jack my electric bill up. Electricity and gas are SKY HIGH here. We have a fan, but I only run it during nap time, and at bed time in the kids room. Anyway, so it rained today for about an hour, and I was happy, cause it cooled off for a few hours! WHOO-HOO!!! But it stopped, and now it's stifling again! GAG!!!

I thought about something else to rant about, but it has now escaped my mind! Help me Lord! The gray hairs have penetrated the brain!

Rain, Rain Go Away...

2010-07-10T22:14:00.000+03:00

So I got up Friday morning and made the 2 hour drive to Constanta to visit my husband's aunt, uncle, cousin, his wife and son. As soon as me and the kids got in the car to leave Tulcea, the rain started - no exaggerating. It literally POURED, and of course the idiot drivers here, scare me to death during good weather, imagine my nerves in the pouring rain through winding roads, yes the highway has these hairpin curves - it's crazy, and people think it's totally cool to pass someone in a curve - MORONS! Thankfully the kids sat still and quiet in the backseat, maybe because I threatened to pull the car over and wear out thier heinies if they didn't stay seated and buckled up! My 3 year old son wat the only one who wouldn't stay in a seat belt, yeah, I know, but, what ya goona do?!?

I was hoping to take the kids to the beach, and take tons of pictures, but the rain kinda of prevented that, maybe when I go back from them in 2 weeks it won't be raining, I don't know we shall see! It was pouring rain when I got back from Italy 3 weeks ago, it rained so much that the Danube river has spilled over into the city, people who live in the lower laying areas of the city are flooded out of their apartments and houses. THe city is giving those whose hourses are flooded free rooms in local hotels that include meals, some family showed up at my mother in law's house last night evidentally to stay with her instead of going to a hotel. This irritated my MIL to no end. My MIL is a piece of work, she has her good points, as well as her irritating ones.

Anyway, so it has been raining non stop here. It's good cause it helps cool it off a bit, however I don't think this part of Romania has seen this much rain in YEARS. I'm ready for it to stop, I would like to take my son to the lake to swim while his sisters are staying with their G.Aunt, Uncle & cousins in Constanta for the next 2 weeks.

A Ninja did it.....

2010-07-07T20:53:00.000+03:00

So as I was putting my kids to bed a little while ago, my 3 year old son says "Mommy! Look!" he is pointing to the light fixture in their room - the glass covering is missing. He continues:
"Ninja did it! Nija face asa. Kelly do'ed it cu Nija fac asa!"

To which I reply: "Da! Stui. Yes, I know. Kelly did that. It's okay now, go to sleep."

At first I was like a 'Ninja' came in here and Karate chopped the light, huh? But then I remembered that the word for ball in romanian is "ninja". I know right?!? I had to laugh at my own language learning curve, and the differences in words and their meanings in different languages. Like in Romanian the word "Fac", which means do, doing, etc. is prounounced like the english word "F*ck". So for me, when I first met Marius and heard him speaking to other Romanians, I would blush, and look all dear caught in the headlights, I mean, this wonderful God loving man was CURSING! After he explained it to me, I had to laugh.

Another example is the English word "Foot", in Romanian sounds like the RO version of the F-Bomb! Also the word Pull-Up sounds like the Romanian word for a man's "member"! So it's kinda funny, yet embarrassing in a way, especially over here, when my kids are saying my foot hurts in public, and all the old people are looking at us horrified!

Learning another language - it can be quite funny sometimes!!! A Ninja Did It - Classic!!!

Diety vs. non-Diety

2010-07-05T20:46:00.000+03:00

So I was reading my friend J-Lo's blog, and no she's not the one from the block. She has, like me seens so much false doctrines, and false teachers, etc. That has made us both question our beliefs, why do we believe that the bible says this? So we started digging through the bible, Greek and Hebrew dictionaries. We both started to discover that most evertyhing that was crammed down our "charismatic" throats as kids was not really what the Bible says.

I have to wonder why when we all, and yes, I believe that everyone in this world at some point or other questions the existence of God, or their beliefs in Him; why is it that some of us come to the unshakable belief that God is real, that He exists, that the Bible is His inerrant Word, and that Jesus Christ of the Word made flesh, and then some of us completely deny it.

Is it maybe that we go into our research determined to prove what we want to believe? I mean I read Lee Strobel's "A Case for Christ". He was 100% athiest, his wife got 'saved', which drove him nuts, and he basically set out researching to prove to his wife that whe believed a fairy tale, but in the process came to know God. Why is it that two atheiests can read the same things, and come to two different conclusions? I believe that in Mr. Strobel's case it was due to a praying wife, with many believing friends standing in agreement with her that he would come to the Lord.

I have many issues with the "church", but not an issue with God. I think sometimes when I say things about the "church", people take it as I'm bitter, and my love for God was waxed cold, but it's really the opposite. I'm not gonna lie, I don't read my bible the way I should. I don't do as Paul said and pray without ceasing. And I am guilty of REALLY praying when my back is up against the wall, so to speak. Something that I need to rectify. But....here would be the perfect time for my dad to pipe in with "Excuses are like rear-ends, everybody's got one!"

Picnic Postponed, next, Beach

2010-07-04T15:59:00.000+03:00

So the trip to the woods for a picnic got cancelled, much to my relief. I don't much care for sitting in the woods trying to grill, while being eaten alive by Dracula's minuscule cousins, commonly known as mosquitos!

But next weekend, I get to make the 2 hour drive to Constanta to see my husband's Aunt, who very desperately wants my middle child to stay with them again this summer. I probably shouldn't because all sorts of hellish drama will ensue with my mother in law, who isn't speaking to her sister, for what reason, I don't know, and honestly don't care. I don't like being put in the middle of something, especially when I don't know what is going on - they tell me, but I don't understand everything they say! Why can't this be like the Matrix, where I just jack into some computer program and download a language program to help me communicate?!? Where is Johnny Mneumonic when ya need him??? WAIT, Keanu Reeves was lead character in that movie too, come to think of it, I think Matrix was just a better written script of that movie, which TANKED!

Anywho, so I'm headed to the beach next weekend, where hopefully there won't be too many women parading around topless - one of the things that annoys me about living in Europe - they are too liberal about nudity!

Fun, 2 hours with screaming kids in the back seat, on REALLY bad roads! I kid you not there are pot holes the size of small towns over here! The E.U. sucks monkey butt, I tell ya! November is just around the corner people - vote the commies out, especially Pelosi & Reid. If you can find a way to 86 Obama, get on it! So that's it of my political Tirade! Will try to get some pretty shots of where I am going, which is a little town at the northern end of the coast in Constanta. The little town is called Eforie Nord - reminds me a lot of Galveston, only slightly less cleaner. Not sure why these people can't wrap their heads around keeping the streets cleaned, and grass cut. There is a reason the rest of Europe thinks of Romania as one huge trash heap.....But there are some really very beautiful places to be seen here. A lot of things are still done the way they were hundreds of years ago, which is really awesome in my opinion, but hey that's just me! I'm not against industry and progression, but I find it sad when we loose some of the old ways, the ways that paved the way for progress and invention!

So if internet connection cooperates, I should be posting more photos next week, we'll see how my candid shots of people come out. I need to branch out to animate objects instead of focusing on the inanimate ones. Then again there isn't a lot of cool inanimate objects to really capture where I'm going. Ah well, C'est la vie, eh?!?

Interesting Fella

2010-07-03T10:38:00.000+03:00

So, a stranger commented on one of my blogs, and generally when someone I don't know comments on my blog, I click their name and head over to their blog, and 9 times out of 10 begin following their blogs, because they are funny, interesting, or educational. Sadly, I personally know most of my "followers". Sounds weird to say I have followers, makes me feel like the leader of a cult of something, albeit a v.sad, small cult, but you get my drift.

Anywho so I click on commenters name, which was Gorges Smythe - his bio was articulate, and witty, so I immedately head over his blog, and was very pleased. A good ole country boy with a voice and a blog! Whoo-Hoo, my Saturday morning just started off very nicely. Next up, picnic in the woods with my lovely sister in law, my kids, my mother in law, and nephew. Honestly I'd be happier if it were just me, my kids and sister in law. My mother in law is nice, and means well, but she has to control everything, and my nephew just annoys me to no end, he never shuts up, he constantly talks (in a language I still trying to fully understand), and very loudly. When he and my oldest child (who also has a loud voice) get together, it is the perfect recipe to give me a migraine, especially when compounded by two younger children and Mother In Law who, like my middle child literally "fights" to be the center of attention.

Anyway, I got off topic there. So if you are looking to read something that reminds you of sitting at your mama's kitchen table head over to Gorges' Grouse!

The LOST/Miami Vice Connection

2010-07-01T03:47:00.000+03:00

Okay so over here in the rear-end of Europe we are in the last few episodes of the final season of LOST. In season 6, the alternate reality has Sawyer as a cop. As I was watching tonight, I kept thinking, WHO does 'Sawyer' remind me of???

Well they also show re-runs of the 80's hit T.V. show "Miami Vice" on T.V. So I happened across an old episode a little while ago, and there was Don Johnson in his bright, spiffy looking clothes, well they were 'da bomb' circa 1983! He had his spiky mullet, and it hit me - SAWYER IS THE MODERN VERSION OF 'SONNY CROCKETT'!!!! Think about it, they are both gruff, somewhat rough around the edges type of men. Neither have steady love interestests. They are both somewhat reclusive and conflicted characters. Shoot they even look somewhat alike! And now they both play cops....well sorta.

Tangent: Of course what I wanna know is how in the world does a vice detective afford a Ferrari??? I

mean even by today's standards that's outlandish. It was even more outlandish in 1986!!! But I guess it

makes for interesting T.V., yes???

Anyway, so your thoughts.... do you see a similarity between the characters of Sawyer and Crockett? Forget the premise of their respective shows. Just the characters themselves. I find it strange, and have to wonder if one of the writers of LOST has the whole Miami Vice series on Beta Max that he watches religiously, and if so, did 'Crockett' inspire the character of 'Sawyer'? Does this writer have all of Vangelis work on Vinyl or CD? Are there multiple Nagel's hanging throughout his house, along with geometric patterened bed sheets and curtains??? You get my drift.

Your thoughts?

Nooby Photographer does Italy....

2010-06-28T23:12:00.000+03:00

So I just got a brand new Canon Rebel XS with a 15-55 mm & 70-300mm lenses. It's totally a beginners camera, but I love it. Beautiful shots no matter what!
Let me just say, I have absolutely NO clue what f/stops, metering and exposure and all that "shop talk" pros use! I got the camera just in time for my 1 week trip to see my husband in Italy. I took 757 photos, not including the ones I deleted because they just came out crappy!

Out of all those shots there were a handful of really awesome shots, great lighting, composition, etc. My "eye" really developed as the week progressed, and of course it's easy to shoot inanimate objects. I guess that's the learning curve for us noobies - shoot things that don't move! So here are a few of my favorites.

Leaning Tower of Pisa

The chuch and other buildings at Pisa

A cross on the fence in front of a church in La Spezia

The Cross on the top of the church in La Spezia

A Water Fountain & Sculpture in one of the Piazas in La Spezia

I have a thing for doors, light posts, etc. evidentally I kept shooting them, this is one, that came out exceptionally well, imho

I fell in love with this sculpture in Piazza Europa in La Spezia

This is the same sculptor. I love the angel stepping on the man's head.

These are their water fountains. They're so unique...

A little light house at the end of the pier. I liked how the lamps are lining the way

A water fountain in a memorial park.

This building had some gorgeous reliefs and sculptors all over it. I loved these empty soldier suits with the evening sun hitting them!

Tunnel Vision

View of flowers with surf crashing on the rocks in the background at Larici Castle in Larici, Italia

Insert theme song from "Titanic" here! Also from Larici Castle

Hubby took this one. Not sure why Larici Castle had a statue of a dinosaur, but I decided to kiss him! He was kinda cute! ;p

The castle ruins in La Spezia

I liked the way they had the tables set at this cafe

Same table, just zoomed in.

Last, but certainly not least, my wonderful husband, without whom Italy would not have been as wonderful as it was!

Italy, here I come!

2010-06-17T22:58:00.000+03:00

So I leave my hometown of Tulcea in the morning at 9 am to make a 2 hour drive to Mihail Kogalincheanu Airport, in Constanta. My flight takes off at 1:10 p.m., and by 5:00 p.m. tomorrow evening, I'll be hugging my hubby for the fist time 3 months!

Marius and I have been together for a total of 7 years. We "celebrated" our 6 year wedding anniversary May 7th. Of course since he was there and I was here, it was a phone call that went something like this: "Happy Anniversary, I love & miss you. Okay outta credit, talk later!" In the 7 years we've been together we have NEVER had 1 whole week to ourselves. My oldest child, is not his biologically, she was God's way of getting me back into the "fold". You can say what you want about my past life, yeah I made mistakes, and she is a product of my sin and mistakes, but if you dare to call her an Abomination in the eyes of God (yes, someone once told me that to my face, happened to be a v. old, v. close friend of the family), I WILL come through the internet connection and beat you over the head with your own bible! Yeah, I know, not Christ like behavior, but hey, what can I say, I get a bit hurt and offended when someone calls an innocent child "trash"! Anyway, back to my point. We have never had more than 1-2 days completely alone with each other. So we are totally going to enjoy this week, belatedly celebrating 6 years together.

In our 6 years of marriage we've dealt with more hard times that would normally destroy most marriages, than most couples experience in a lifetime! But because we keep God in the center, and always talk to each other openly, and honestly, our trials have only made our love stronger! We don't go to bed angry with each other. We talk about everything before making any decisions, and he always makes the decision!

Anyway, so when I get back, hoping my internet connection will have laid off the crack pipe so that I'll be able to post some wonderful pics from my short visit to the Tuscan area of Italy. La Spezia, Genoa, and Pisa are where we will be visiting!

I can't wait to see a country I have ALWAYS wanted to visit with my wonderful husband! Pray for me to have a safe flight there and back, and I'll see you on the flip side!

Liars, Thieves & Idiots!!

2010-06-12T00:25:00.000+03:00

Okay, so now that I have a way to access the internet, and the plethora of infomation on DIY computer fixes out there, I've found out that I think the guy "fixing" my laptop is lying. The service manual from Dell says doesn't mention anything about a compressor in my system. The guy told me it was the compressor, or a chip to the compressor.

Also he told me that my hard drive had "cracked" or something, but that he could fix it. So today I ask him if he has wiped the hard drive yet to re-partion it. He said "No, is broke". So I ask you can fix it though right? his response: "I hope"! WT****???? He says the Hard Drive shorted out, which sounds about right, the system was overheating. So I'm getting a bad feeling here. For all I know this guy could be taking out my Intel, RAM, all the good stuff, and replacing it with crap!!!!

I'm picking it up tomorrow, sending it to Bucuresti, so that my BIL can send it to the Dell Service Center there. At least I know they won't mess me over, and the work should come with a warranty or guarantee (I can hear Justin Wilson) of some sort.

So I'm hoping the parts won't be too expensive, and that it won't take but maybe a couple of hours to fix, seeing as labor is something like 10 Euro/hour, that's like $12-13 per hour. Not too bad, but it adds up quick!!!

So my few readers, pray, please that my laptop hasn't chopped up and cheap parts put in it, and that Dell won't charge me an arm & leg, and that they can fix it ALL, quickly, and inexpensively! I'll keep you posted.

Oh yeah, one more thing, that my internet connection lays off the crack pipe so that I can upload some pix!!!!

Communication Breakdown.

2010-06-11T01:59:00.000+03:00

...No, this isn't the opening riff from classic Zeppelin song, although, those guys did Rock! No, this is more along the lines of what happens when your computer falls spectacularly to pieces, and leaves you digitally stranded back in reality, with no outlet to vent!!! Sorry I have no friends here to whom I can vent, I do, but they don't understand a word I'm saying, and I'd rather not let them see the scary side of me, before they can completely comprehend what it is I'm ranting about!!!!

Evidentally some chip on my laptops compressor (for the cooling system) is busted, along with a few other electrical items, but that chip is supposedly darn near impossible to locate! Grrr...... Fortunately, we had my parents pick us up another laptop and bring to us when they came to visit last summer. It's been in Bucuresti with my brother in law since September or October I think, well, he was going to have to send it back to me anyway, so I could bring it to Marius in Italy, next week, did I mention I'M GOING TO ITALY IN 7 DAYS?!?! N-E-Way, back to my story, so BIL sent me 2nd laptop by bus this evening, and it's sad how much I've missed my digital friends!

On the upside my New Canon Rebel XS with 2 lennses came in last week, and God answered my prayer, I didn't have to pay any VAT on it. VAT=Value Added Tax, or Customs Fees. I seriously got the coolest customs agent ever. Makes me regret having called all the Postal Worker "Friggin' Communists" as I left the Post Office.... I blogged about that in a post entitled "God has taught me to hold my tongue", labeled under 'romania'.

Anyway, so I've been snapping photos like CRAZY I tell ya, learning all the bells and whistles, what an f/stop and apeture and metering are.....I'm still a little fuzzy, but I can take some decent photos. I'll upload some, when my internet connection decides to lay off the crack pipe! Seriously, been out of the loop for two weeks, and my internet connection is obviously on vacation, IN AMSTERDAM!!!! Sheesh! Can't a girl catch a break? Lately, I swear, everything that can go wrong, Has gone wrong, horribly wrong!

Sleeping with the Enemy.....

2010-05-31T01:19:00.000+03:00

So I found out some time ago about a guy I went to H.S. with back in Buras, LA. who was charged with the rape and murder of two girls. One of the girls was the younger sister of one of our classmates. Back in 2005 he raped and murdered another girl from Bayou La Batcherie, AL. her body was thrown in the Pearl River. The guy I went to school with was Eric Buras.

Let me say, Eric was NOT the type of person you would ever have thought would do something like this. Eric wasn't a stellar student by any stretch of the imagination. He smoked pot - actually he was the first guy who got me high! He was always cracking jokes, he was the class clown, always in the principal's office for disturbing the class, etc. He would get into fights, but not the type of violence he is now serving a life sentence for.

Our Senior Trip was a cruise to Grand Cayman and Cozumel. I was a tom-boy, I was always one of the guys. Seriously, like a week before graduation one of my friends turned to me in English class, and said "You know I never thought of you as a girl, you were just one of the guys, till you and Dennis hooked up!" Grrrr.... My brilliant plan back-fired, you know, show the guys you're cool, can do the same crazy stuff as them, hang with the drinking, without getting plastered beyond recognition, etc. , yep that was me little ole 5'4" 120 lb. me drinking 6'5" tall 250+ pounds guys under a table. Anyway so on the cruise there I am with all the guys drinking beer, cracking jokes, smoking pot, basically being a stupid teen-ager! One of the guys is getting a head ache, so me and him head back to my cabin where I have some asprin, I open the door, and it's a HUGE all girl drama fest. One friend was busted with the boyfriend of another friend. I quickly grab the asprin, close the door, and high tail it back to the guys room. I tell them what is going on, and ask if I can crash with them, cause I just can't deal with the drama - NOT my thing! Sure no problem. So I wind up bunking with Eric. No, no funny business, he was the perfect gentleman, didn't even attempt to 'spoon'!

Eric was always very cool, down to earth and nice around me, so when I found out about the hideous things he has done it completely floored me. My heart goes out to his mom, who was THE SWEETEST woman you have ever met! I just don't understand it!

I guess it just goes to show you never really know someone like you think you do. People will always surprise you, however this is one surprise I would rather not have had!

Sawyer

2010-05-26T21:57:00.000+03:00

Love me some Sawyer. What's not to love?? I mean seriously, the guy is a man's man, ya know. That and it doesn't hurt that he's good looking to boot. He this grizzly bear with a fuzzy underbelly that very few ever get to see. Probably the only two that have seen that soft side have been Kate & Juliet. I never liked Juliet, but it threw me for a loop when she and Sawyer hooked up last season.

So I'm in the last 8 episodes of LOST over here in Romania, on this side flash or whatever it is, Sawyer is a cop who's chasing down the real Sawyer, and whaddya know, he just ran into "running from the law Kate", again! I've read a few spoilers which leads me to believe she's gonna stomp his heart out at the end of it all.

But back to Sawyer. I love the complexity of his character, the back and forth, the robbing Peter to pay Paul mentality. Even though he does some low down despicable things you still love him, because the reason he does it makes sense, there's a noble motive behind it all.

Can't wait to see how this series finally ends, then of course I want the complete series on DVD so I can watch it all over again from start to finish!

Not in Kansas anymore Toto…

2010-05-20T12:38:00.001+03:00

So last night I had this very strange dream, I kept buy tons of shoes, most of them red. It was strange, because I was in my 20’s in my dream, working in some store, and my trailer park looking mom (not my real mom in the dream, not sure who she was) comes in with “my little brother” , who is some fat nerd boy who looks like he’s 10, but is going off to college, so trailer trash lady is buying him like a Touch Pad, etc. I tell “mom” if you buy that Jason’s gonna die. Jason was my boss – dressed like Larry the Cable guy, but much cuter. She asked why he would die, and I said because if sells you that, I'll kill him, because my brother is a pushover, some jerk is going to either beat the crap out of him and take it, or trick him into giving it to him.

Anyway in my dream my hair is long, and sorta blond, I’m pretty solid. In reality I’m NOT a fat person, I’ve popped out 3 kids, and can still wear size 2 pants! In the dream I’m wearing Daisy Dukes. I DO NOT like showing my body, especially my pasty white legs. So anyway, my friend (who is face & nameless; I have no friends here) comes in with all these bags of shoes that I had bought and left with her. I become overjoyed suddenly, where I as before I was lethargic, and depressed. The thing is though there were like 10 pair of shoes, mainly heels, and probably 7 pair of them were red!!!
I like the color red, but I don’t normally wear it because I’m fair skinned with freckles, auburn hair (that is rapidly turning gray) and blue eyes.

When I woke up, and sat down to drink my coffee, I started thinking about the dream. I was so depressed to the point of tears in the dream, till I had all these red shoes. There was one pair that was my favorite, not to flashy, more like a ballet slipper in patent red leather. No bling or anything, but I LOVED them.

So I thought about what it could mean and I immediately thought about “The Wizard of Oz”, and Dorothy’s red slippers that when she clicked the heels together she was instantly transported home. So I’m wondering if subconsciously I’m wanting to go home. I think so, I mean I’m in a foreign country where nothing makes sense to me. My husband had to go work in Italy, cause there’s no work here in Romania, I have no friends, can’t talk to anyone, and my oldest had an appendicitis scare the other day, where “Dr. Armenia” threw me for a loop. You can read about that episode by going to post entitles “Hospital Politics”, it’s much funnier than this one.

So I guess that’s what the Red Shoes symbolized, my wanting to be Dorothy, and magically transport to back to my ‘Kansas’! Of course the red shoes could symbolize how much I miss my husband! ;p

Living in Darkness, Dying in the Light.

2010-05-20T02:40:00.001+03:00

The title of this post is a line spoken by Ben Kingsley’s character in the 2008 movie “Transiberrian”. He spoke this in response to Woody Harelson’s character’s question of if he misses the dark, evil days of Communism. Living in one of the old Eastern Bloc countries, makes this statement ring true, very loud, and long.

Democracy and capitalism doesn’t seem to work here. Honestly, what they run in Europe isn’t really Democracy, which never worked any, which is why the founders of the U.S. instituted a Republic, cause history had shown repeatedly that Democracy is nothing more than mob rule. What they have in Europe is Socialized Democracy, sure you have freedom of speech, religion, etc. but not the freedom to pursue happiness, because the people are overworked, severely underpaid, and OVERLY taxed. I mean we have a 19% VAT – that Value Added Tax added to every purchase, that’s on top of other taxes as well.

My husband, his friends, and the older people have told me what it was like when Nicolae Ceacescu was in power here. Yes there was food rationing, electricity wasn’t switched on till the sun went down, and of course there was no freedom of the press, you only got a few hours of Television in a day. People today would DIE without TV! Books of course were censored, etc.

However there was positive, none of the land went to waste – every square inch of this country was plowed, seeded and harvested. EVERYONE worked! During Harvest the school aged kids would be sent out to the fields for a week or two to help harvest. They were given sleeping quarters and 3 full meals a day. At the end of the harvest, the kids were given some of the harvest to bring home to their mothers, who would then freeze it, or make juices, wines, or jams. The company you worked for bought you an apartment when you married, as your family grew, the company bought a bigger apartment. When the revolution happened, you had to buy the apartment from the company, which was pretty cheap, but with the value of the Romanian Leu falling, it was expensive. My mother and father in law had a pretty hefty sum of money saved up for their retirement, after the revolution is was pretty much worthless. they bought a new and some other things for the house.

If you didn’t work, you went to jail, in jail you learned a skill, when you came out (it wasn’t a lengthy stay), if you couldn’t find a job, the state found one for you! When you had a baby, you stayed home for a year, with pay, with your child. Your job was held for you. Kids played outside!

Yes, in Communism there is no God, but the people, especially the older people who were alive pre-Communism, taught their children about God. The Orthodox church was still allowed to run, out of tradition, and of course the state used the priests as spies to inform on their parishioners who attended regularly, who questioned the state in confessionals, etc. Yes, there were some truly despicable things that were done in the name of Communism, the late Richard Wurmbrand suffered cruelly at the hands of the Communist regime in Romania because of his faith in Christ. He wrote a great book called “Tortured For Christ” the goes into detail about how Communism targeted the underground church.

Despite the bad, there are people here, mainly the people my age and older who actually miss Communism, not for the oppression, but because things seemed to be better then economically, etc. My husband has told me about when he was young he remembers when Ceasescu was coming to visit, suddenly the markets were FULL of fresh fruits, vegetables, household goods, etc., stuff that normally wasn’t found in the market. Not because it wasn’t there, but because the farmers, or people running the markets, wouldn’t sell it normally, they hoarded it or sold it for higher prices on the black market. Ceasescu wanted to know that the people he was governing were well, that they were living well. In the construction industry, the large trucks, and machines were given a quota of so many gallons of diesel to use every month, if they didn’t use it all, they were in HUGE trouble. Marius said BARRELS of Diesel were being dumped, because the workers weren’t using it all, mainly because they were loafing. Yeah bank accounts were monitored, if you suddenly had a huge amount of money in the bank, you were investigated.

Communism/Socialism, it’s all great in theory, but in practice, it’s disaster for the most part. Why??? Well because the heart of man is wicked. Communists and Karl Marx yelled about the evils of Capitalism. But the same thing happens in Communism, because there will always be people making those power grabs. They get dirt, blackmail, lie, cheat, steal and even murder to get more ahead, usually financially, and when you have the financial resources, you can gain power, after all money is what makes the world go round! Yeah it would be nice if we were all equal, that there were no social classes, but even at the height of Communism, there were still the rich, middle class, and the poor.

I don’t think Communism is the right answer for any country, not as long as evil runs free in the hearts and minds of men. I believe that is why God didn’t institute a formal type government in Israel. It was only after the cry of the Israelites begging to be like other nations that he instituted the Judges, then the Kings, and we see what happened. Look at history, ALWAYS the wars are started over a power grab! Money=Power, and visa versa!

Silly Boys..

2010-05-18T22:02:00.000+03:00

What is it about my son that melts me like buttah (that's how 'Linda Richman' says it)??? Is it because he's my baby, or my only boy, possibly both?!?

Seriously, though, Paul is the funniest little boy. He comes and sits next to me and watches the news with me, then will put his cheek up to my mouth, and say "pup" - that's Romanian for kiss, pronounced like the word "poop" - yeah I know, the irony!!! LOL!! But anyway, like this evening he wanted a glass of water, ad he was standing in the doorway to the balcony. I fixed his cup, and told him to come get it. He replies to me: "no, u come here". Okay, I correct him, but it's ineffective since I'm trying very hard (and failing) to surpress my grin.

He's cutest when it's just me and him, and his sisters aren't around. His big sister, the middle child, will be sitting in my lap, and he will come in the room out of no where, and push her off, crawl in lap, and stay there, when Isabel leaves the room, he leaves my lap! When I'm checking email, he'll crawl up in my lap, and smack his cheek against my face, so I can kiss it each time it makes contact with my mouth. Sometimes when he's sitting nice and still, and gibbering about what he sees on the computer screen, which is generally emails or news sites, I'll kinda "bite" his earlobe. Basically, I pull my lips over my teeth, then "bite" his earlobe - he thinks it's funny, and sometimes he'll point to his ear, and say "Mommy!"

He has only in the last couple of days started telling me he loves me on his own! Awwww!!!! All my kids are very loving and affectionate. But this "little" boy just, I don't know how to describe it, he cracks me up!

Hospital Politics???

2010-05-18T17:26:00.000+03:00

Okay, so oldest daughter aged 7 years, was sent home yesterday with note from school nurse stating that they thought she might have case of acute appendicitis. Evidently, she had stomach pains, and feeling like she needed to hurl!

So off to the hospital I went this morning to get her checked out. I brought my MIL, since my Romanian is still very limited! The take her to triage to examin her, I wait in the hall with MIL and other 2 offspring. Nurse comes out and asks me to come in. The doctor examining her looks up at me, and asks:
Dr.: "You are American, yes?"
Me: "yes."
Dr.: "I am Armenian"
Me: "Cool!"
Dr.: " We don't worry about our countries politics."
Me: " Who cares about politics?!?"

Okay, obviously I keep up with politics, but honestly, I have absolutely NO clue what the diplomatic relations are between the U.S. and Armenia. But seriously, why did he even say that? Maybe he has issues with America, or maybe he thought I had issues with Armenia??? It really threw me for a loop, and I found that comment completely disarming, and completely unnecessary!

They didn't think anything was wrong, as Kelly got quiet and suddenly had no more stomach pain. I think she got scared. So anyway Dr. Armenia gives me his phone number in case I have questions, or she has problems. Then after I take the number, he tells me.....Wait for it:

"I am a plastic surgeon"

I'm thinking oooooookay.....why did a plastic surgeon examin my child for appendicitis? Was it because he was the only English Speaking Dr. in the hospital, or what? Secondly, why in the world does the hospital in Tulcea even have a plastic surgeon???

Strange, strange, strange!

Romanian weddings

2010-05-15T17:32:00.001+03:00

So someone who lives above us is getting married today, and here in Romania, weddings are a HUGE event! They party for like a week, starting a few days before the actual wedding straight through till after the wedding.

So the wedding party, family, friends have all arrived, whooping, yelling, playing music from the car all the way up the stairs. Lots of drinking, etc.

So needless to say, I won't be getting much sleep tonight!

The wedding party

Shots these from my balcony, sorry it's blurry - screen doesn't move!
You can view a short clip of the NOISE factor HERE!

Earth God?

2010-05-14T21:37:00.001+03:00

Okay so I just heard the most ridiculous thing on L.A. Ink, yes, I like watching people get tatooed, not sure why, but I do, guilty pleasure #153.

Anyway, so this one woman got a tatoo of the earth, with the recycling symbol wrapping around it. She said, and I quote: “The earth is my god.”. Okay, I can deal with that, people have been worshipping the earth, sun, moon, stars, etc. since, well Forever.

Well she is also a vegan, and she said “We have all the pigs and cows, and other animals on these farms, and they release all this methane, then it rains, and the methane drains into the ground and our water”… O.K.!?!

So my thing is this – so what there have been animals roaming this planet since the dawn of time pretty much. The animal population is DRASTICALLY smaller than what it was even 150 years ago. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for taking care of our land and waters, etc., finding alternate energy sources, and all, but I think some people take thing a little too far!

Cookin’ Romanian Style

2010-05-14T15:09:00.001+03:00

So, there are some really AWESOME, mouth-watering traditional dishes here in Romania, all of which, I have mastered. So today I made Sarmale, pronounced: Saar-mall-ay. Had a little meat left over, so I stuffed some bell peppers. Here’s the 411 on how to make both!

Ingredients:

1 KG. Ground Beef
1 KG Ground Pok
1 Large Onion, chopped
Salt – to taste
Pepper (I prefer White) – to taste
2 bunches fresh Dill - chopped
1/2 Kilo uncooked white rice
Grape Leaves*
Steamed Cabbage leaves*
Tony’s (if you like)
Sausage, or some sort of meat on the bone – you’re choice
Large Pot
Bell Peppers
3-4 Tomatoes
Tomato Sauce
Sour Cream – for when you eat
French Bread - for when you eat

*Okay, the Grape Leaves can usually be purchased from a store that deals specifically in items from the other side of the world. In Baton Rouge, there is a little Arabic store off of Sherwood Forest, near the Harrell’s Ferry intersection, that sells the grape leaves. They are in a jar. Basically they’re soaking in some sort of salt-water solution. They might carry the cabbage leaves like this as well, you’ll have to check. If not, the buy fresh cabbage, and steam or boil until the leaves are tender.

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Okay, get your pot, ad place the sausage in the bottom:

Note – use your hands to mix

Mix meats together thoroughly
Add onions, rice, dill to meat and mix well
Add salt, & pepper to taste, for a little extra something, I add a little Tony’s.
Add about 2 Spoonfuls of Tomato Sauce
Mix well.

Now your meat is ready to be rolled up. What you want to do is place the cabbage or grape leaf in your hand like so:

Now pinch off some meat with the other hand, and make it into a small roll:

Now, start rolling it up, then tuck the ends into the roll:

Place in the pot, keep rolling and placing in the pot:

I used some cabbage as well as grape leaves. I used the cabbage first, so they are in the bottom of the pot, pictured above.

Once you have exhausted either all the meat or all the leaves, chop 2 tomatoes and place on top of the rolls, spoon some more tomato sauce on top. I sprinkle a little more Tony’s as well. Cover with water, and place over medium low heat, and allow to boil for approx. 30 min. to 1 hour, or until the meat and rice are thoroughly cooked.

NOW, I had a bit of meat left, and lots of bell peppers, so I stuffed a few.

Wash the peppers thoroughly, and cut the tops off. To do this, insert the point of the knife in the pepper around the edge of the stem, and cut around the stem, once all the way around, pull the stem up and out:

Turn the pepper upside down and knock out as much of the seeds as you can. Then start stuffing:

Once you’ve stuffed all your peppers, slice a tomato, and place over the opening Then add some water and a spoon of tomato sauce, cover and let boil till meat and rice are cooked. Approx. 30 min.-1hour:

Now fix your plate, spoon some sour cream over your sarmale (or pepper), grab some french bread, spoon a little of the water the sarmale cooked in over your sarmale, and Bon Apetit, or as they say in Romania, Pofta Buna!

To Write or not??

2010-05-13T21:26:00.001+03:00

So a lot of people have told me I should write a book based on mine and my husband’s life experiences. Honestly, the thought has crossed my mind before, the only problem is I don’t exactly know where to start, how the story should flow, how much should be fact, and how much should be fiction. Should I even attempt to write about my hubby’s immigration nightmare in the U.S.? I mean in the wild, dream scenario that the book did get published and garnered international attention, there could be drastic repercussions that we really would not want to deal with.

I’ve thought about just focusing on living in another country, but then you kinda have to have a reason for WHY you are living abroad, and honestly, the facts are a lot more intriguing than anything I could make up. I’ve thought about maybe asking my cousin who has written 2 novels, one being a complete series, and the other just one, back to back, and is now waiting to hear back from agents, so she can get herself published. But she’s got her plate full already, what with editing a local parenting magazine in Mobile, plus her writing novels, wife of busy attorney, and mom of 2 elementary aged girls! Jeez, like she really needs more, especially from the other side of the world! Seriously, though, you should check out her blog, she’s very funny and witty. Here blog, “That’s Write” can be found Here.

Maybe I should just blog the book???

What If….

2010-05-04T01:30:00.001+03:00

So I was thinking about past events, and wondered ‘what if’? Everyone I’m sure at one point or another has wondered the exact same thing. There are some events that stand out in my mind more than others. I had chosen that path instead of this one, would I be happier?? Would I still have some of the same things I have now. The answer is unknown, but still I can’t help but wonder, “what if?”

Parents just don’t understand, errr…speak the same language…..

2010-05-01T04:19:00.001+03:00

So, the major disadvantage to living in a place where you don’t speak the language is my kids. My kids, the oldest two at least are fluent in Romanian, and I’m not. This has become a major obstacle for me, and an easy escape for my oldest, who quickly figured out that in this case mom really doesn’t understand. In fact, I’m quite clueless.

She can tell me that my mother in law said one thing, when she really didn’t say anything of the kind. Her teacher said she needs money for this, when really she doesn’t need any. I get it, kids are sneaky, but factor in a language barrier on my part, and it’s a whole new ballgame. I don’t know anyone who can relate to me, as everyone I know is either back home in the U.S. or they are here and speak both English and Romanian, not to mention probably one to three more languages on top of these two!

I’m slowly getting the hang of the language. I mean I’m getting to where I can understand it more when I hear it spoken. Speaking it back is a horse of a different color. The thing is though, I still am not good enough that my kids know that they can pull the wool over my eyes in a lot of cases.

My oldest daughter is a sweet heart, but she’s 7, and since we’ve been here she’s been give a lot of independence, and maybe that is what missing link to her behavior lately. I won’t go into details, but it isn't good! Back home I would never have let her walk to the top of our neighborhood to go to the store there to buy some milk or loaf of bread. Cause it just wasn’t safe, she could get kidnapped, hit by a car, attacked by a dog, etc. Here though, nobody messes with the kids, dogs are everywhere, and the only people they seem to attack are they gypsies, which although politically incorrect, is quite amusing! Anyway, I can give her a few bucks and send her down the stairs, across a fairly busy street and into the store to buy me some bread or milk, or whatever I might need to finish what I’m cooking. At her grandmother’s she can walk up the hill and across another street and go to the park. She walks herself to and from school every day. It takes about 5 minutes to walk there, if that gives you any ideas as to distance.

So is it the language barrier coupled with gotten too soon independence that is wrecking havoc in my domestic felicity, or just growing pains – part of growing up? I think it’s the former. In the States she was sheltered, didn’t go anywhere on her own, never out of my eye sight, We didn’t live in a good school district, and the school she would have had to attend was a bad school, so we homeschooled. Here she can come and go pretty much as she pleases [within reason], she goes to public school, seems to make friends easily, and makes good grades.

So why is this parent just not understanding???