Dear Adri,

I made it to Tbilisi. No biggie. Actually the trip was fine and relatively peaceful. There was a strange situation on the Paris-Tbilisi flight with a very upset gentleman hand-cuffed in the back of the plane with several "security guards" with him, plus a "translator" and a few other big serious looking guys. The French guy I was sitting next to said he was probably being deported from France for being illegal. But it seemed a bit strange that there was so much security for such a person...

Anyway, things here in Georgia are fine. I'm working hard and now that it's almost 7:30 pm, I guess I can leave the office.

More soon.

Kissy kissy

Dear Adri,

Well my camera and computer are evidently over their little tiff and speaking again.
I've put in pictures from the move as well as a few from Istanbul. I hope you enjoy them...

In the meantime, all is well here. Dad and the dogs are settling in, and even April seems to be house trained! I knew that would happen. They are ready to go out in the morning and keep Dad busy with four dogs going in and out all day.

He's doing pretty well. We love having him here. It's all been so easy. And such a relief, not to be worried about him rambling around in the big house.

I've got an early appoint ment in the morning. My baseline mammogram. I guess I am getting to that age. I'm not worried about it. Really I am more concerned about getting a decent travel iron at Sears afterwards.

I leave on Sunday afternoon. I'll miss being here, but I need to go. There is a lot to do in the next 4 weeks and INSHALLAH!! We'll make some good progress. And then I'm home for the rest of the year (I hope).

So much to do, and more and more. But for tonight, I'm off to bed.

I miss you a lot Adri. This all would be much more fun if you were here to share it.... okay, except for the move, because I know I just heard you say RRRRRRRIGHT!!!

Love you.

Kissy kissy!!

 

One of my house wrens - actually a Carolina wren that lives in the roof of the potting shed off of my bedroom/office. These tiny things can make as much noise as an airhorn when they are inspired... and they are SOOO sweet!!! 

Adri, the new home for a large part of your bunny collection!!
Amanda was an amazing, inspiring worker and I can't think of a better home for these!

Somehow I think you'd be happy with that too!!

And this is the child making a prom dress out of Duct Tape!!! INCREDIBLE!! 

Hi A!

Before Tom agreed to come help (And may he know I am FOREVER indebted to him for his help!) he demanded that we have snow shovels and a dumpster. Now I know why. That boy of yours has some sense in his head after all!!

Love you Tom!!

Thanks to everyone who helped fill it!!

The loaded van... all 26 ft of it... Don't worry, we didn't make James ride the little garden cart ALL the way to Georgia! and KUDOS to Bill for getting it loaded, to Amanda and James for being great workers all day and Dad for surviving it! (and to Brian and his crew for getting the house clean and ready to sell!!)

 

A,
An exhausted NM polishing off the Graeter's after the moving van was ALMOST loaded...
 

Hi A,

Here's James the second day of the sale... or maybe after the first... anyway, he sure put in some hard days working. And I'm so proud of my baby!! 

 

Yeah, but I know you would have loved this place anyway!! 

A, I swear I nearly died laughing when I saw this!!
it does look delicious though, doesn't it? 

 

In a restaurant/banquet hall in Istanbul - with Renat, Madeline, Bill Parr, Steve Menzies, me, Martin, Iozefina, and the others! GREAT french fries at this place and I could order off the menu - IN TURKISH!!! 

View from Iozefina's flat in Istanbul
 

These guys at the fish market - hey, it goes well with salad, were very sweet and wanted their pictures taken!! 

Kid at the fish market... hard to tell how old he is... but looks much older than I think he is... 

Fish Market in Istanbul
 

The fish market - surrounded by Sea Food Restaurants... YUMMY STUFF 

This is the street full of shops selling pots and pans. It's next to the street selling small barbques.
Go figure....? 

 

Bauble, bangles and bright shiny beads?
Nice guy running this shop. Felt very safe from the evil eye - these blue charms with the eye are to protect from the evil eye. It is one of the only symbol shared between Islam and Judiasm... still couldn't find the charm to replace the one I wore that you bought me in Israel... bummer.
Oh well, I'll keep looking... 

Hi A,
And you thought the mall at Beachwood would get crowded....this is between the Grande Bazarre and the Egyptian spice market....

 

A,
this store was on the street full of stores selling umbrella's, but this sign was my FAVORITE!!! 

Dear Adri,
Okay, so obviously the camera is working...

Inside the Grand Bazarre in Istanbul - a lovely place if ever there was one... 

fishermen on the Black Sea between Europe and Asia 

Hi A!

Someone once said to me that as much as I travel the airplane must be my office. Can't complain when the view looks like this!!