Morning weather report: 32, feels like 32. Projected high: a whopping 42 and sunny
Meanwhile back in Memphis: Overnight low of 51, heading back to 73 (we haven’t seen those temps in Petro for several weeks. Welcome home Cathe!)
We’re finally into the single digits of remaining waiting period! Back to that Kazakh quote about Chasing and Waiting: Visits fly by but this waiting seems like it will never end!
After trekking through Almaty and Amsterdam and doing battle with Customs in Memphis, Cathe finally arrived at home shortly after 7 pm (local) last night (Tuesday morning in Kazakhstan), following a very looooog two day adventure.
At first I didn’t think there would be much to write since the day started off so quietly. Then I reviewed today’s pictures and though back over the events of the last 24 hours and realized there really was a LOT going on today.
Last night was not a good sleeping night since there was so much on my mind and I was wondering how Cathe was doing along the way. No frantic phone calls or e-mails, so I had to assume all was well. Gotta love being in the Information Age though! Waking up several times through the night, I just had to do a quick update on FlightView to see where the plane was and get an update on the latest ETA in Memphis. Cathe’s friend Erica was all lined up to meet her at the airport, so that was not a worry (Thanks again Erica, and everyone else who volunteered to meet Cathe!). Finally, unable to stay in bed any longer, I logged back on a little after 6 am but there was still no word.
Around 7 am Scott, our great house sitter, sent an IM saying that Cathe had arrived home just after 7 pm. Relief from worries! We had a quick chat during which Cathe announced she could only stay on a minute because they were heading to Macaroni Grill to celebrate her return. I’m actually surprised she didn’t just go for something like McDonald’s, which is NOT in Petropavlovsk (anyone looking for a great franchise location???).
I have to insert a special thanks to Scott. He has been taking care of Bob (our over-exuberent and relentless ball-chasing golden retriever), and our home while we have been off on our adventure. Wednesday he will be heading home for a short vacation before deploying to Iraq for a year. Please keep him in your prayers. Thank you Scott!
Next order of business was to sort through the hundreds of photos taken during our farewell party at the RBS. The staff and Family Group were kind enough to line that up early so Cathe could be there too. Both of our digital cameras were nearly filled and both batteries were pretty close to red line! If the party had gone just a little longer, we wouldn’t have been able to capture the moment! The kids had asked for prints to share with their friends, so I felt obligated to comply with their request. Finally, 75 pictures were selected and it was time to head to the Iceberg store to get them printed.
There’s a new store being built adjacent to the Iceberg, but no telling exactly what it will be. Despite being under construction, there is an enclosed market area on the first floor which is up and operating. Lights, but no heat! By the way, fruit prices have really gone up in the last week due to colder weather. Hopefully the Fresh Market will stay open for a few more weeks or maybe move inside the under-construction building. Even at the higher prices, fresh produce is still a pretty good value and has a lot more flavor and aroma than what we get back home. (Cathe: Dinara says, “Hi”)
Before I knew it, 2:30 arrived and it was time to go get the kids. Today was Passport Photo day and they needed a quick shower and wardrobe swap to look their best (we also had to go mini-portraits which will go in their file with the Ministry of Education). Kate nearly went into meltdown when I sent her back upstairs to get her new jacket and the clothes we bought for her which needed to be washed. She swapped beds and lockers the other day and had to sort through her locker to dig out the clothes we bought for her. Not a happy camper for a few minutes, then all was well again. She thought her “cute pout” routine would convince dad that we should skip that part and GO! Both were excited about showers at the apartment since mom left some really good smelling shampoo and Kate loves the big fluffy robes and using the blow dryer (not sure which she loves more!).
First we went to the Dept of Vital Statistics for passport photos (that’s also where their new birth certificates will be issued). I was amazed at how close it is to the apartment, Iceberg, and even the Baby House. Next we went to a small photo studio close to the Donner Café. Masha had a laugh when I misunderstood how much the pictures were. When she whispered the price, I figured we were paying portrait studio prices and would be getting something substantial (could have sworn she said 5,000 Tenge which is about $45). The photographer thanked me for my generosity, but only needed 500 Tenge for the two pictures (glad there are a lot of honest people here!).
We were back at the apartment before 4 pm, so we got to spend a little time with Suzanne and Hilton who are adopting a baby. They wanted to meet the kids, so we got together and had a little fun. On court day, they brought us flowers which came in a crepe paper cone. The flowers have now withered away, but we kept the cone and had fun with it today.
Kate tried it on for size (much too large!) then David changed things up a bit and ended up looking like something out of Dr. Seuss.Before long, 5 pm arrived and we had to take the kids back before they turned into pumpkins.
Dinner was a gastronomical delight. Suzanne, Hilton and I walked over to see if Sasha the Kabob Guy was still open for business. Although he was wrapping up for the day and his fire was dying out, he gladly fanned it back to life and tossed on three kabobs for us (he had to send one of his buddies back to his truck for more, but was glad to do so since we’re regulars). Those, some fresh bread, and a bottle of Pepsi Light completed the feast. (And Cathe thought I would be jealous about her trip to Macaroni Grill! Who’s jealous now? 8-D )
Another day down, and one day closer to coming home!
P.S. The trees along Constitution Avenue are now pretty bare, but the Leaf Sweepers are still in action. They sure could use Leaf Blowers here! (Another franchise opportunity?)
1 comment:
The building next to the iceburg is incredible! They were only breaking ground on it when we arrived there this time last year. Well November 10th we left for KZ. We never got to really see what was going on behind those green walls but wow they've got a lot done. There is a building that opens up in that fresh air market that houses fruits and veggies in the winter. It's on the far end from the iceburg. There is a yellow cell phone building on the end and if you come down the main row from there towards the iceburg about 4 huts down on the left there is a little walkway back into a building and that is where the fruits and veggies are. The girl in the back left hand corner was our favorite girl, but I don't know if she'd still be there or not of course. :)
I'm definitely jealous you're having kabobs! :) Yum!!
Sarah
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