Today was my last day of work as full time nanny to my niece. Whew, I'm trying hard not to dwell on feeling sad. We spent our last day together running errands and visiting friends. We said goodbye to our favorite librarian at the local library, Ms. Miki, picked up a free lollipop at the bank and visited the local toy store.
Just a week to go and I travel halfway across the world. I really want to thank everyone again for all the support and encouragement toward this trip to Russia. I've raised almost all the support I think I need for the week long trip and hopefully will have the funds to stay longer if I decide to go that route.
Over the weekend I'll be visiting my brother and his family at the beach in N.C. I'm looking forward to seeing their new baby girl.
There is much to do before next Friday but will try to post again before leaving.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Happy News!
I learned this week that my brother and his wife are having a baby boy in January. He will be the first boy grandchild amongst my 2 nieces. Also, my brother got another job in Alaska after only being out of work for the summer. What an answer to prayer. It looks like I'll be going to Alaska sometime in the future after all.
My niece and I painted our toenails today while enjoying the sunshine and low humidity outside. Her friend next door came over to play and I joined in on a game of Sum Swamp. I think this is a fun and educational game for kids that are learning addition and subtraction.
On the knitting scene, I finished the Braided Cable Hat but am going to block it as it was a wee bit tight on me. If it still doesn't fit. I might put a pom pom on it and give it to one of the kids in Russia. I'm using a balloon to try blocking it. With some other yarn I picked up at a thrift store, I decided to try a roll brim hat.
My niece and I painted our toenails today while enjoying the sunshine and low humidity outside. Her friend next door came over to play and I joined in on a game of Sum Swamp. I think this is a fun and educational game for kids that are learning addition and subtraction.
On the knitting scene, I finished the Braided Cable Hat but am going to block it as it was a wee bit tight on me. If it still doesn't fit. I might put a pom pom on it and give it to one of the kids in Russia. I'm using a balloon to try blocking it. With some other yarn I picked up at a thrift store, I decided to try a roll brim hat.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Boo-hoo day
I know this day has been coming but it doesn't make it any easier for me to not feel sad. My little niece is finally leaving me for all day kindergarten. Being her nanny has been the best job I've ever had, really! Today I took her for the open house and was able to meet some of her teachers and see the school will she will attend for the next 6 years. She was really excited and saw one of her friends from preschool. The past 5 years seemed to have just whizzed by for me. I noticed that her school is giving a boo-hoo breakfast for parents the first week to help them with the transition of their kids going off to school. Can aunts come too?
Monday, August 18, 2008
Less than 3 weeks to go...
and I'm off to St. Petersburg. I just want to thank everyone again who is supporting me financially and with prayer in this venture. I am already learning lots of new things like plug adapters, voltage differences, airline regulations, money conversion, etc. These are not the most exciting issues but being prepared takes planning and planning, and more planning. I never knew that a plug adapter could have a fuse in it or could be grounded vs. non-grounded. Did you?
This past weekend I picked up my typhoid vaccination and a water purifier that kills 99.9% of bacterias out there lurking in water supplies.(: I also found a dual voltage hair dryer at the drug store for under $20(hopefully it will work well). I picked up my new pair of eyeglasses(it is good to have 2 pair when traveling overseas) and my Russian phrase book & travel dictionary. Plus, two bottles of Pepto Bismol. I learned from the travel doctor that when one contracts travelers diarrhea it is good to start right away with Pepto Bismol, Immodium AD, and the antibiotic Cipro. So I got 2 bottles just in case. I hope I can get everything in my bag and still stay under 50 pounds.
While I'm learning new Russian words there are a few that stand out that I like the way they sound.
For example: This one is my favorite so far** on the corner - No glow;
a cup of tea please - chez cuche pazhlusta;
this is my friend - Etta muy droog;
United States - Sasha
This past week I've been trying to construct a good winter hat just in case I stay through December. I crocheted the Divine hat pattern but not sure I like the way it looks on me. Now, I'm knitting the Braided Cable Hat and like how it looks on the needles. Unfortunately, I left it on the couch last nite and my dog decided to taste it. Grrr...I was very unhappy with him this morning but thankfully my grandmother was able to save it.
This past weekend I picked up my typhoid vaccination and a water purifier that kills 99.9% of bacterias out there lurking in water supplies.(: I also found a dual voltage hair dryer at the drug store for under $20(hopefully it will work well). I picked up my new pair of eyeglasses(it is good to have 2 pair when traveling overseas) and my Russian phrase book & travel dictionary. Plus, two bottles of Pepto Bismol. I learned from the travel doctor that when one contracts travelers diarrhea it is good to start right away with Pepto Bismol, Immodium AD, and the antibiotic Cipro. So I got 2 bottles just in case. I hope I can get everything in my bag and still stay under 50 pounds.
While I'm learning new Russian words there are a few that stand out that I like the way they sound.
For example: This one is my favorite so far** on the corner - No glow;
a cup of tea please - chez cuche pazhlusta;
this is my friend - Etta muy droog;
United States - Sasha
This past week I've been trying to construct a good winter hat just in case I stay through December. I crocheted the Divine hat pattern but not sure I like the way it looks on me. Now, I'm knitting the Braided Cable Hat and like how it looks on the needles. Unfortunately, I left it on the couch last nite and my dog decided to taste it. Grrr...I was very unhappy with him this morning but thankfully my grandmother was able to save it.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Every Little Thing
That song has been on my mind lately so I finally pulled it out and listened to it the other morning when I couldn't sleep. Maybe it's because of all this change happening in my life at the same time. It was written by Martin Smith and Stu Garrard of Delirious. Can I indulge you for a minute with the lyrics?
Everything must change
There's a mirror showing me the ugly truth
These bones they ache with holy fire
But I've got nothing to give, just a life to live
If your world is without color
I will carry you, if you carry me
Every little thing's gonna be alright
Every little thing's gonna be alright
There's no-one else to blame
I live my life between the fire and the flame
I've built my house where the ocean meets the land
It's time to live again, pull my dreams out of the sand
Let your world be full of color
I will carry you, if you carry me
Every little thing's gonna be alright
Every little thing's gonna be alright
When it's all falling down on you
You're crying out but you're breaking in two
When it's all crashing down on you
When there's nothing you can do
There is someone who can carry you
Everything must change
There's a mirror showing me the ugly truth
These bones they ache with holy fire
But I've got nothing to give, just a life to live
If your world is without color
I will carry you, if you carry me
Every little thing's gonna be alright
Every little thing's gonna be alright
There's no-one else to blame
I live my life between the fire and the flame
I've built my house where the ocean meets the land
It's time to live again, pull my dreams out of the sand
Let your world be full of color
I will carry you, if you carry me
Every little thing's gonna be alright
Every little thing's gonna be alright
When it's all falling down on you
You're crying out but you're breaking in two
When it's all crashing down on you
When there's nothing you can do
There is someone who can carry you
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Getting ready
I've got less than a month now to get ready for the trip to Russia. I don't remember there being so many things to do for my trip to Ecuador in 1996. The world has changed a lot. All the rules you have to be aware of for flying, etc. gets a little overwhelming at times. I even called to see if I could bring my knitting needles in my carry-on to find out that each airline and country has their own rules. I hope I can fit everything that I want to take for the kids while still being prepared in case I stay for 3 months. To find travel sizes of toiletries of 100mL or less has been a hunt. Then, you have to make sure there isn't more than 1 liter of liquids/gels total. Whew!
I was excited to find a pair of waterproof hiking shoes on clearance at LL Bean for $22! They were originally $70 so it was a great find! I hear that it can rain a lot over in St. Petersburg and Stockholm in the fall. Plus, sometimes it has even snowed. Snow is September would be a first for me.
I'm now knitting sock #2 but to finish it before September is probably not going to happen. On the plane, I think I'm going to work on a hat/scarf project.
This past week, it was great to visit with my brother and sister-in-law from Alaska. We had some great fun playing Phase One card game and a nice walk down to the creek. It always goes by too fast.
I was excited to find a pair of waterproof hiking shoes on clearance at LL Bean for $22! They were originally $70 so it was a great find! I hear that it can rain a lot over in St. Petersburg and Stockholm in the fall. Plus, sometimes it has even snowed. Snow is September would be a first for me.
I'm now knitting sock #2 but to finish it before September is probably not going to happen. On the plane, I think I'm going to work on a hat/scarf project.
This past week, it was great to visit with my brother and sister-in-law from Alaska. We had some great fun playing Phase One card game and a nice walk down to the creek. It always goes by too fast.
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