Hi A!
Back from one trip - Tbilisi, and Istanbul, geering up for another - South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey again and again, maybe the Caucasus, back down to South Africa, possibly to Cheltenham, probably back to Turkey and then home eventually - looks like a late May early June return... more or less kind of sort of.
Will base out of Verona Italy for 3 weeks while teaching. Bill and James will join me there for a week for a much needed vacation. Then I'll probabably base out of Istanbul, sharing a flat with my friend Iozefina, while doing a zillion other projects.
Suffice to say, work is busy as hell at the moment. I'd complain, but damn, I don't even have time for that.
Dad signed papers on the house yesterday. We'll know how much he got for it once the check arrives next week. He's not too thrilled but that's probably because even after selling the house he'll be so poor he can't afford to pay attention.
At least no one can be after him for his money, 'cause he ain't got none.
He's always been uncomfortable having money. I suspect that is one reason he's always given it away to every grasping hand he can. Now he'll be appreciated for just who he is, not for the cash flow he can provide.
Bless his heart, he deserves to be loved for being a good person. Because he really is. I just hope he stays healthy, because if he doesn't things will become very difficult.
Bill, James, dogs, etc. all doing well. I'm holding up.
And so it goes...
Take care, ya'll
Kissy kissy,
Mary
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Dear Adri,
Well, it's been a year today since you took off. What is the protocol? Do they throw wild parties there to celebrate? Send cards? Have cake and blow out candles?
I just have to wonder if you were the reason that Dad flooded the toilet, just as Boston Legal was starting and just I found this picture...?
A new hole was found in the roof, and the buyers are pushing the price lower.
Dad just wants to sell the house. I can't blame him. Nothing final yet. Just holding our collective breath.
Anyway, A, I miss you lots. There are so many times I wish I could pick up the phone and dial, and know you'd be there. I miss your wicked laugh and your "what in the hell will you do now?" fretting, that I always reassured you, and myself, that it would be okay, I'd figure it out. Your worrying made me realize how strong I could be. I wonder if you ever realized that?
And you know, I still feel like I'll figure it out. You don't see many dead cats in trees, eventual you figure it out.
I head to Tbilisi this Friday. I'll get there Saturday night. Be there a week, and come back home.
Then I'm home for a few days and gone again. I'll go to South Africa, Namibia, probably Lesotho and Namibia, before going to Italy to teach for 3 weeks. Then I'll be in Istanbul, and then I've got a project on the Tisza river, so I'll go to Romania, Hungary, Ukraine, Serbia, and Slovakia. Probably to Azerbaijan after that. Maybe up to Russia. I'll probably be back mid-May.
Mid-May. The boys will figure it out.
The fun part is now you can travel with me.
Of course right now, as the Yankee Yartzite candle makes my house reek of the Macintosh Apples, I'd just ask you to watch over Dad. He needs it.
He's in relatively good frame of mind lately, but will be better once the house sells. So please, stop whatever it is that is putting new holes in the roof and blowing out the pilot light in the furnace. Please?
I miss you A.
Very much love,
Kissy Kissy
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Hi A,
Just came across this. Somehow, I think it may be better that you went before Dad... especially around SuperBowl time...
The perfect Super Bowl seat
Rod received a free ticket to Super Bowl XL from his company. Unfortunately, when Rod arrived at the stadium, he discovered that the seat was in the very last row in the corner of the stadium. He was closer to the Goodyear Blimp than the field!
About halfway through the first quarter, Rod noticed that there was an empty seat just ten rows off the field, right on the 50-yard line. He decided to take a chance and made his way through the stadium and around the security guards to the empty seat.
As he sat down, he asked the gentleman sitting next to him, "Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?" The man said, "No."Very excited to be in such a great seat for the game, Rod exclaimed, "This is incredible! Who in their right mind would have a seat like this at the Super Bowl and not use it?
"The man replied, "Well, actually, the seat belongs to me. I was supposed to come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Super Bowl we have not been to together since we got married in 1967."
"That is really sad," said Rod. "But still, couldn't you find someone to take the seat? A relative or a close friend?"
"No," replied the man. "They are all at the funeral."
Just came across this. Somehow, I think it may be better that you went before Dad... especially around SuperBowl time...
The perfect Super Bowl seat
Rod received a free ticket to Super Bowl XL from his company. Unfortunately, when Rod arrived at the stadium, he discovered that the seat was in the very last row in the corner of the stadium. He was closer to the Goodyear Blimp than the field!
About halfway through the first quarter, Rod noticed that there was an empty seat just ten rows off the field, right on the 50-yard line. He decided to take a chance and made his way through the stadium and around the security guards to the empty seat.
As he sat down, he asked the gentleman sitting next to him, "Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?" The man said, "No."Very excited to be in such a great seat for the game, Rod exclaimed, "This is incredible! Who in their right mind would have a seat like this at the Super Bowl and not use it?
"The man replied, "Well, actually, the seat belongs to me. I was supposed to come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Super Bowl we have not been to together since we got married in 1967."
"That is really sad," said Rod. "But still, couldn't you find someone to take the seat? A relative or a close friend?"
"No," replied the man. "They are all at the funeral."
Hi Adri!
Well, we are sitting here watching the Super Bowl. Bill and James wanted to watch it for the commercials. Dad wanted to watch it in your memory. And so we are.
It's sort of a typical situation. Dad is pretending to read his new phone manual*, but staring at the TV consumed with the flashing lights and big muscley people tossing each other around. Bill and James are both watching the commercials but also playing various computer games on their computers. And I'm here too.
It was a year ago tonight that I spoke to you last. Sort of strange to remember. You were weary. That I remember. You sounded so tired then. I hope you've been getting a lot of peaceful rest. That's what you are supposed to be doing.
So anyway, went to run errands with Dad, Bill and James today. James drove which was funny if only because all of us were telling him what to do. We went to Bed Bath and Beyond, to get my goya Yankee Yartzite candle for you. It Macintosh Apple, since you liked those a lot. Dad has the kosher ones too, but I just couldn't resist...
We went to Best Buy, and picked up a few more things, and then by the time James and Bill started fencing with some decorative rods at Pier One, I knew it was time to go home.
And of course, we get home to the Realtor freaking out because the furnace at the house has gone out again. This is the second time in 3 days the pilot light has blown out. Are you behind this?
Fortunately, the very nice next door neighbor went to turn the faucets on and to put a space heater in the kitchen, or something. The very nice heater repair man is going over to fix it tomorrow.
Dad has agreed to a price on the house, and even though it's a good deal lower than he's hoped, but his mood is drastically improved since the sale seems to be going through (fingers crossed, Inshallah, knock on wood). I think we'll know if a few more weeks. He's going to be pretty deep in debt still, but it will give him a chance to realize that people love him for who he is and now the money he has. I think that will be a wonderful gift for him.
Yesterday, was Bill's birthday, and my mother came in to town. She was on very good behavior, as she has been for a while. Bill had to work, so Mom, Dad and I went to see "Dream Girls". Now that I am finally getting over being very spooked about them being in the same room together, I'm coming to appreciate that they actually get along well, share a common childhood and youth, and really are both pretty good people. They also know one another so well, that after 35 years of being divorced, and the animosity has dissipated, they can be good to each other.
Now of course, I am not even at the verge of beginning to think anything could come of it, except that I think as people get older, having someone who remembers them when they were young. And they shared that, and still do.
And so it goes Big A.
We miss you.
And even though I didn't say it the last time we spoke, I love you too.
Kissy Kissy
Well, we are sitting here watching the Super Bowl. Bill and James wanted to watch it for the commercials. Dad wanted to watch it in your memory. And so we are.
It's sort of a typical situation. Dad is pretending to read his new phone manual*, but staring at the TV consumed with the flashing lights and big muscley people tossing each other around. Bill and James are both watching the commercials but also playing various computer games on their computers. And I'm here too.
It was a year ago tonight that I spoke to you last. Sort of strange to remember. You were weary. That I remember. You sounded so tired then. I hope you've been getting a lot of peaceful rest. That's what you are supposed to be doing.
So anyway, went to run errands with Dad, Bill and James today. James drove which was funny if only because all of us were telling him what to do. We went to Bed Bath and Beyond, to get my goya Yankee Yartzite candle for you. It Macintosh Apple, since you liked those a lot. Dad has the kosher ones too, but I just couldn't resist...
We went to Best Buy, and picked up a few more things, and then by the time James and Bill started fencing with some decorative rods at Pier One, I knew it was time to go home.
And of course, we get home to the Realtor freaking out because the furnace at the house has gone out again. This is the second time in 3 days the pilot light has blown out. Are you behind this?
Fortunately, the very nice next door neighbor went to turn the faucets on and to put a space heater in the kitchen, or something. The very nice heater repair man is going over to fix it tomorrow.
Dad has agreed to a price on the house, and even though it's a good deal lower than he's hoped, but his mood is drastically improved since the sale seems to be going through (fingers crossed, Inshallah, knock on wood). I think we'll know if a few more weeks. He's going to be pretty deep in debt still, but it will give him a chance to realize that people love him for who he is and now the money he has. I think that will be a wonderful gift for him.
Yesterday, was Bill's birthday, and my mother came in to town. She was on very good behavior, as she has been for a while. Bill had to work, so Mom, Dad and I went to see "Dream Girls". Now that I am finally getting over being very spooked about them being in the same room together, I'm coming to appreciate that they actually get along well, share a common childhood and youth, and really are both pretty good people. They also know one another so well, that after 35 years of being divorced, and the animosity has dissipated, they can be good to each other.
Now of course, I am not even at the verge of beginning to think anything could come of it, except that I think as people get older, having someone who remembers them when they were young. And they shared that, and still do.
And so it goes Big A.
We miss you.
And even though I didn't say it the last time we spoke, I love you too.
Kissy Kissy
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