Long Time No Write....

  So it's been about a year since my last post.  Not because I haven't wanted to write, but the lack of internet at my home makes it impossible.  The only company that has run the cables fro hi-speed internet in our little village won't run it up to  my house, because they'd have to run and additional 80+ meters of cable, plus install one or two more boxes to ensure good connection and speed, and for just one customer, even though I offered to pay for the materials, they won't do it. However I talked to another neighbor, she also wants internet, so maybe in the spring, we'll make the requests together and hopefully they'll get off their lazy buts and do it.

  So, we went to the states, had a good time, ate well, etc., etc. then got back to the daily grind.  This was a bad year for the vineyards in my area.  We all made very little wine this year.  I only got 120 liters instead of 400 liters.  BUT, it is VERY good this year, even if it is only a little bit.

  Marius found new job, he's no longer in Italy, but in Malta.  I'm with him now, using his internet, which is how I'm posting this blog.  I haven't seen much of Malta, but so far, i'm no impressed.  He's more in-land.  All the pretty stuff is on the coasts.  Tomorrow we're going to go do some sight seeing.  He's taking a day off.  He took off Saturday, to meet me at airport, I landed at 3 p.m.  Not much to see or do when your dead tired from having to take a five and half hour bus trip at 2 a.m. to get you from your house to the airport.  Then sit around the airport for 4 hours waiting for plane to leave, only to have said plane delayed 20 minutes.  Neither of us slept the night before so we were tired.  He took off Sunday, but everything is closed on Sunday's.  We spent about 80 Euro on a nice steak dinner Sunday night.  It was nice, but not great. Steak was cooked well, just not seasoned properly.  I've been siting in the apartment watching Downton Abbey and Grey's Anatomy online!  Catching up on shows I love and miss.  Today, though I'm going to venture out to the grocery store on my own.  I'm generally not apprehensive about going out on my own, cause I can generally find my way, easily.  But EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERY THING looks the same here.  Kind of hard to find a landmark, when there is no differential in any of the buildings or streets.  Oh and did I mention they drive on the wrong side of the road here.  Makes crossing the street confusing too.

  Hopefully I'll have some pics to post of our tomorrow or Friday of our tour of St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valleta, which is supposed to be really pretty. 

U.S. vs. Romania

  So I was lucky enough to get to take a trip home this summer, thanks to my dad and step-mom who doled out the cash for 4 round trip tickets for me and the kids.  Reason, being,  is that my brother has gotten married and had a baby in the 4 1/2 years we've been in Romania.  Bubba was missing me pretty bad, plus they all wanted me to see my niece as a baby.  It was great seeing my family and old friends.  I ate and ate and ate some more.  Put on close to 10 pounds, so did the kids!

  However after being away for so long here are few things that struck me that I had forgotten about. The first being the state of the roads.  America has great roads, even with the occasional pot holes.  The roads here in Romania are a complete nightmare.They build new roads and within 6 months to a year they are a disaster, with pot holes so big your car can get lost.  Which brings me to another difference.  The size of the cars.  Cars in U.S. are MONSTROUS compared to Romania, well all of Europe really.    Gas prices are cheaper there too.  For example we pay about $2.50 a liter here.  There are 4 liters in a gallon. So next time you are griping at the pump for paying $4-$5/gallon, just think you could be paying $10 a gallon like me.

  Speaking of size difference.  The cars aren't the only thing bigger in the U.S., the people are bigger too, and I ain't talking height either.  People there are massive.  I think it has to do with several things, the first being the food.  While tasty, it's full of chemicals, and hormones, or grown with GMO seeds, etc.  Second people don't walk there like they do here.  In U.S. you HAVE to drive everywhere, because everything is spread out that walking is not an option.  Here everything is close together making it easier to walk from point A to point B.  Thereby people here stay slim because of all the walking, plus the food is chemical and hormone free.  GMO's are banned im Europe.

  I do miss the size of the grocery stores, where you have enough space for people to move down without bumping into each other.  THAT was awesome, combined with the fact that people in the U.S. respected each others personal space and din't invade it!  I heard a choir of angels sighing HALLELUJAH for me!  ;)

  I missed the night sky here in RO, especially up here by my house.  It's so clear and clean.  I can see all the stars in the sky.  I love that.  I also love that there is very little humidity here.  It's the same temperature as in S.Louisiana, but without the humidity!  Whoo-Hoo!  I don't suffocate outside here!

  I will miss my brother's hamburgers, he has perfected his recipe to such a degree its sinful!  However he told me how to make them, and got me the seasoning I'll need!  :)  so I'll be grilling burgers when my hubby comes home next month!

Going Home.

  So about this time next week I'll be loading up my car and heading to Bucharest to catch a flight to Baton Rouge, LA. to visit my family and friends.  I haven't set foot on American soil since Jan.19, 2009.  Bush was technically still president when I left.  When I landed in Romania 4 1/2 years ago Obama was en route to be sworn in as Commander-In-Chief.

  I'm excited to go home and see my family, especially my brother, who has since I left the U.S. gotten married and had a daughter.  My niece just turned 1 year old in May.  I can't wait to see them.  Also to see my best friend since the age 12 who also got married.  Another best friend who was in the birthing room with me when my oldest daughter was born has had 2 kids since I left, so I get to meet them.  A lot has changed since I left.  I've missed a LOT.  And missing some of those things has really pissed me off, especially missing my baby brothers wedding.  I missed that milestone of seeing him step up into being a man and husband.  I kind of helped raised him, so in a sense it was like missing my own child's wedding.  Not sure if any of you can understand that, but that's how it felt.

  I'm REALLY looking forward to eating!  Especially a medium rare filet mignon.  Catfish Po-Boy's, Boudin balls, fried okra, hamburgers, Pizza, Fried Chicken, etc., etc.  I make fried chicken here, but it just ain't the same as Popeye's or KFC!  Steaks don't exist here.  Beef is not a meat that is consumed a lot here.  Pork however is.    I'm a little more excited about the food than anything else; does that make me crazy???

  I think it will be interesting to see my kids reactions to the U.S.  my oldest daughter remembers it better than my younger two, especially my baby, Paul, who was only 18 months old when we left.   He has no clue about McDonald's, Wal-Mart, Pizza Hut, etc.  This should be a trip.  I think it will be a bit of a culture shock for me as well.  I've become used to seeing horse drawn carts on the highways, etc.   Bad road construction, not being able to find what you want or need.  I'll definitely be posting while there.

  One thing I'm not looking forward to is talking with one family member who has basically called me terrorist because of how I judge the U.S. government, both this and the past administration.  To me there are just one to many things that do NOT add up.  Evidently questioning your government, and expressing the view to never live there again makes one a terrorist.  This should be a *fun* July 4th for me!

  So I will keep you posted on our trip there and back.  Until then enjoy the warm weather!