voting

just like y'all in the states, its also voting time here in bucharest. cause am all knowledgeable - all i can make out are that there are some parties - they are yellow, orange, green, and red. they must have names but am far too knowledgeable to figure that out (there are a lot of acronyms and that's hard work!). bucharest is divided into 6 sectors, each with its own mayor, and there is one for the whole city. so theres a lot of this campaigning and leaflet giving and such.

the campaign style here is a bit different. was subjected to a commercial for a yellow dude at the movies as part of the preview for Iron Man. you will also find flatbed trucks with mounted speakers driving down some of the major residential roads, blaring music and the names of their people. but the kicker is the truck also has cheerleader type people on it in short shorts and tight shirts. you know, to get the issues across so you can make an informed decision when voting.

now the only ones who approach me are members of the green party. i figure they must be desperate because, one look at me lets you know that i cant vote. but still they will give me leaflets and a gift. the leaflet, in addition to letting me know this party will free us from the communists who have been running the country despite the revolution, has on the back the football playing schedule - something useful. i also received matches, again useful stuff.
i cant help but realize though that the other colors give out lighters.

hooray for NATO!!!

now you might think this is going to be a high brow entry about security, interdependence, globalization, etc., but you might also be wrong.

all i can say is that at this point in time, i am seriously loving NATO and all the work they do. you may scratch your head and say, "dece (why)?"

this week, NATO is having a conference here in bucharest. this is a wonderful opportunity for Romania, reinforcing her participation in the EU, NATO, and being an important (really) actor on the world stage. but whatever. the mayor of the whole city (there are actually 7 in total) has, in order to ensure blah blah blah, has closed down major parts of the city.

since we're an international school and kids come from all over (mostly posh areas) they cannot get to school because of road closings. this means (sadly) school is closed for the rest of the week?

it's horrible i tell you, truly horrible!

happy spring, happy easter

yeah, spring is here! officially and otherwise. a few weeks ago it started here in earnest. but first we had to have a snow storm. now its absolutely freaking gorgeous. when i walk outside i feel all joyful (my lump of coal heart actually beats a time or two). the fruit trees are in bloom, everything is that new leaf green (my favorite), and the air smells lovely (flowers overwhelm the smell of exhaust). of course i take loads and loads of pics of flowers. as nauseating as that may be in retrospect, i can't help it.

today i went to easter service at the biserica italiana, a small church full of incense and with a more intimate feel. other than the anglican church, i know not of any place that does service in english, and in keeping with previous tradition of not understaning a thing, i went to one in italian (i was too late for the romanian and too early for the polish). i understood random words but not enough to mean anything. luckily all catholic easter services are essentially the same.

the alter girls were adorable, the priest looked old and fatherly (i find it disconcerting when the priest is young and hot), and the music was lovely. there was one of those old wood and brass organs so the music totally filled up the church. there was also a dude playing some stuff on guitar (half the service seemed to be music of some kind). because underneath it all am not that civilized, i had to restrain myself from clapping every time the guitarist finished a song (no junie, it is not a rock concert!). oh and there was a high nun per capita presence. one held the mike for the guitarist while he sang. i kept on waiting for her to rock out but um . . . i guess nuns dont do that. others hung out being all nun-like

then i broke my fast with some chinese food (egg fried rice) with a side of coke. funny how after 6+ weeks coke is not so tasty anymore (chemically buttocks). afterwards, i sat in a park area and read.

in a few weeks i will celebrate it again with orthodox easter. i hear the country really lets loose (in a celebratory religious way, of course).

lots of love (boy, does easter do funny things to my lump of coal heart!)

ugh. . . .

havent posted in a week. this of course is nothing new. been a bit busy lately. this week we had two . . . .that's right!! two parents evenings. so i get to stay at school for close to 12 hours meeting and talking to parents. so lots of marking to be done and all that good stuff.

i hate grocery shopping

let me lay on you what happened to me today.

its that time of year where i make attempts at eating healthily (before I realize its too much work and give up). this means cooking and going to the grocery store on a fairly regular basis. i often go to the little one but sometimes there is need to hit the big store for cheaper or hard to find items.

today, after work, i went to Auchan (a hypermarket like wal-mart) which is closest to me and hopefully less pain inducing. boy was i wrong!

i do the shopping. my cart looked empty but its amazing how much it all is in the end. i carried with me my ginormous ikea bag (one of those bags they give you to shop with, but here you can also buy them) to carry my stuff in (saving the environment and landfills and all that jazz). i cant even tell you how massively heavy the thing was in the end.

by the time i finished, it was that time of the evening where everyone is getting off work and/or coming to shop. i would have had to sell my first born child (who has already been promised for some important thing or another i desperately wanted/needed) to get a taxi and the trams and buses were resembling sardine tins. so i opt to take the free bus service provided by Auchan.

i hop on a bus and ask the driver if he stops near me. he says yes, but the closest he gets is still a 30 minute walk away. i am then treated to a ride through some truly unattractive parts of Bucharest. i arrive back at Auchan and ask the driver for the correct bus being more specific about the location needed. he responds by almost deafening me. i know my Romanian grammar's bad and all, but ain't no need to be so loud.

the right bus comes along, and wouldn't you know it? everyone and their mother (literally) hop on my bus and push me out of the way so am pretty close to last (the 50+ pounds of groceries really slowed me down). i climb on, with an apologetic smile on my face since my bag is so gi. suddenly, i hear myself being cursed out buy some woman, i look up to respond and all i can say is "okaaay" cause the vitriol is coming from the mouth of an old (scarily wizened and resembling a raisin) woman. unfortunately, i was taught to be nice to the elderly.

luckily it was the right bus, but its still a 5 minute walk (with every one feeling like an eternity) as i break my back getting the stuff home.

i really really don't ever want to do this again.

dreams abandoned

sounds serious eh?

tonite, i went to the Antheneum for a concert which included some classical music stuff, a famous russian pianist, and Stravinsky (guess which one i liked best). the music was pretty good though the pianist did 2 (WTF? this aint no rock concert!) encores.

classical concerts are like great meditative times for me. i kinda just listen to the music and my mind wanders across a spectrum of things e.g. buying shoes, drawing, doing my hair, writing some stuff, the books am currently reading, the music, etc. i wish i had remembered my journal cause am sure the was some brilliance amid the chaff.

but the best and worst part about the show was the triangulist(?). at some point, i had forgotten until i saw this dude, i wanted to be a triangle player. i thought that i could definitely rock it and let's face it, the triangle player is the highlight of any performance. kinda like lead guitarist in a rock band. sadly, fate and my short attention span cut my dream down before it had a chance to flower. its all very heart breaking. but i still wonder if this is a full time job for this dude? do the violinists make fun of him? is there a back up for when he gets sick? i think i could be his understudy. is there a training program for triangle players?

the ceiling of the antheneum. its totally rococo and there's also i diaroma of romanian history circling the dome.











your's truly in front of the antheneum last year

Ziggy: Sexy Kitty

okay not really since we went to the vet yesterday and got the sexy taken right out of her. she was kinda pathetic yesterday, dragging and falling all over the place as the drugs took a looooong time to wear off.

today we had to go to the vet for antibiotics (these people are high maintenance, i have to go again tomorrow). yesterday the vet told me to bring an old t-shirt, and he would make a shirt for ziggy to prevent her from licking and dissolving the stitches. so i did and he made ziggy the most rockingest outfit ever. she's so funny in it cause she cant move properly (she isnt the most graceful kitty at the best of times). she kinda gets to where she wants to go and flops over. she's fallen on her head a few times trying to get off her chair (am a bit worried cause she is pretty much brilliant - i lie - and dont want that dimmed). right now shes just sleeping it off in my arms. she cant make the jump to the desk anymore so she cried at me to pick her up . sensitive soul that i am, i find her new look and stumbles source of great amusement.

whispers in my ear

okay that kinda absolutely means nothing. just wanted something hokey.

today was the last day of school for a while. we are on holiday. Yay!!! see the addiction to teaching jobs. this week will be hanging in romania (thought of going to florence or vienna but decided to stay home) visiting some sights, relaxing, and catching up on stuff (not holding my breath on that one) like super late posts and other goodness.

today was ziggy's day to get fixed. just when i was about to go, it started snowing furiously. this sucked on two levels. 1). i ordered a taxi, i waited outside, it never came - leaving me turning into a snowman and ziggy cursing me for bringing her outside to be tortured.

2). i hope this crappy weather continues not. i've got plans to visit dracula's grave among other things.

kinda makes me wonder if the fates are trying to tell me something. am a bit worried that the vets are crackheads.

high drama at the circle M

for you plebs out there, the title is a reference to one of the greatest movies ever made. that's right Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.

anywho. my friend ceceilia came over today to teach me how to make sarmale - stuffed grape or cabbage leaves. its freaking tasty! and there is totally a veggie version.

our little friend Ziggy cried and cried to go on the balcony. i opened the door so she could go and talk to the birds. sadly, my memory is not so good.

Cecelia and i went to go get ingredients, came back, and began the cooking. i'm happily rolling grape leaves, when i realize that i hadnt heard ziggy in a while. she is a crazily vocal cat, especially lately.

i go to the balcony, calling her name. she doesnt come but i hear a far away meow. two girls walking beneath my balcony call up and tell me that she is hiding under the building.

i go downstairs to retrieve my wayward kitty. am guessing she was frightened but she didnt come out when i called her name. i had to crawl under, pants falling down, becoming extremely crack-a-licious (hope the passerby enjoyed the view) to get her.

the lady that i always talk to cause she is always (in the morning when i leave and in the evenings when i return from work) walking her 3-legged dog, cursed me out about letting her on the balcony.

my real worry - ziggy has been in heat (the vet said she was too young to be fixed was gonna fix her last weekend, then she went in heat) i got medication to stop it and gave the whole course. i seriously seriously hope it worked and ziggy hasnt been lifting her tail for the whole neighborhood

home cold home

am back home now and its bad news. apparently, its been snowing most of the time i've been gone. walking around is hazardous to my bottom. when the plane touched down, i thought that i had gotten the time wrong, but it turns out it was only the fog and clouds blocking out all light.

went to work and was crazy tired. i had gotten used to taking a nap when necessary. turns out you cant do that on the job. what is this world coming to? woke up early to go to work, was all set and couldnt find my keys. i think i may have left my brain in the uae

holiday was great. relaxed, talked, hung out, and ate. i gained like 6 pounds in my time there. i will place credit or blame on linda's seriously good home cooking. hadnt had that since last time i went to the mom's house where i also gained lots of weight in a short amount of time.

will be posting for the next . . . pics from the vaycay until i run out or lose focus

left behind

this is what I left behind in Romania to go to the bootishously warm UAE. this is the view outside my window. pretty but a bit cold.

christmas market

last weekend i went to Christmas market at the museum of the Romanian Peasant ( i know they could come up with a better name) there were people there from all over Romania with their traditional handicrafts and stuff from their ethnic groups. my little avaricious heart beat a steady tattoo. there were even people there with these gigantor copper stills - you know to make that plum brandy that'll put hair on your chest. there was some music and dance and food. crazy good stuff. here some pics. my dorkiness is much in evidence as i had to take pics with people. afterwards we went to enjoy some nice hot drinks.

so so wrong

while we were on the fieldtrip . ..

the mall is gaily decorated for the xmas season. and lo and behold he comes santa walking around the food court. we see him take a picture with someone and thought "awesome, he can take one with me too!!"

when he comes near us, one of the students called him over. Santa shakes his head no and turns back the way he came.

i was shocked. shocked to be dissed by santa. what kind of goodwill is this? i tried to call the santa's union but the number is disconnected.

it was appalling. especially since it was me who wanted to take a pic with him. we never believed in santa growing sup, so i never got to take a picture with santa. looks like it aint gonna happen soon.

field trip

this is my job. dont think anyone really cares but took the year 11's on a field trip today. it was pretty good. sometimes am amazed at how nice they can actually be. they were considerate, offering to pay for their own public transport fares when they thought i was paying for it. from my pocket

we've been studying towns and one of the purposes of the trip was to contrast different areas of the city. through data collection (am not gonna bore you with the details) and observation, explain all manner of things. one of the interesting things is how sheltered they are. they are pretty wealthy and really have no idea how the majority of people live and were a little shocked by what they saw in the part of town away from the embassies, gov't buildings, and wealthy houses.

also included was a trip to the mall to study blah blah blah . . . they seemed to enjoy that part.

. . . been somewhere too long when . . .

today i went to ikea (like my favorite place on earth) on my way back had a not very nice accident. tripped, fell into a puddle on my brand new picture frame, broke it, felt like i broke my knee. its been raining and the temps have been hovering around freezing. a nice lady came along and helped me up. so i continued my walk home with my freezing wet self.

so i decided i needed some comfort warming up food. coupled with having not gone to the grocery store today cause was all being studious and stuff, my choices were a bit limited. so i decided on garlic soup. YAY!!!! i had some tortellini in the freezer, garlic, veggie broth. so am on my way. but alas, no peppers, and coriander leaves. what's a girl to do. well. . .

today i realized that i had been in romania too long. not only did i have cabbage in my fridge but i realized that maybe it can go with anything. so now i have garlic cabbage soup.

pofta buna (bon appetite in romanian.)

one down . . .

just spent my entire freaking day at school. tonite we had a parents evening. most of the parents are very nice and as always you see the parents of the kids you dont need to. parents of the spawns of satan stay home.

i once had one woman tell me that her husband didnt want to come because he knew all the bad stuff he was gonna hear about their kid.

but i had set my watch this morning and dont you know i did it wrong. i thought it was an hour earlier so i stayed an extra half hour talking to people. then i thought that this seemed very long and i went and asked someone the time. most of the other teachers had already gone.

geez

language profilin'

okay not for real but sorta kinda. i ride public transport here and as far as i can tell, its pretty good. except for the constant changing of routes due to construction. but hey, this will all be worth it.

i also get stopped by the controllers alot. these european countries like to have public transport work on something like the honor system. for the most part to get on and you have to validate a ticket. or you could not. the conductor has nothing to do with it.

every so often someone comes on the bus/tram and randomly checks whether people have tickets. but its really not so random (as it feels to me) these dudes are always picking on me. they get on the bus all secretive like - you know wearing plain clothes like this is some bond film.

this weekend, i was riding the tram on my way to meet a friend. phone rings, i start speaking. immediately i get tap, shown the official ID, and i have to dig around my bag ( very scary place) then work the stupid monthly card out of my wallet. after all that work, he doesnt even check to see if its valid. after me, i dont see him asking to see other peoples.

i got caught once last year and didnt have my card. the dude showed me some papers. talked at me some and then asked for money. am pretty sure, and my romanian friends said it was likely, that he just pocketed the money. see i think the english = pay dirt.

winters on

winter's finally here. not that am celebrating. its been int the 30s and 40s which sounds all warm cause their big numbers but not really.

they finally turned the heat on and thats been great. i did a jig of happiness when i realized it was on.

warm radiators. Bliss!!!!

addendum to lab story

forgot to add

they made me spend some time with hands past wrist in hot water, i guess to bring blood to the surface.

they didnt put bandaids on the other holes. i guess i wouldnt have been good advertising for their skill. and the red stuff kept on oozing.

that scary-a** lab

went back to the doctor today. i wonder why they didnt draw all the blood from my body when i was last there cause i had to give more today. after all they could have done these tests at the same time. so then i have to go to the lab for another fun blood experience

again, at the reception desk was that tray of scariness. last time i stayed kinda close to protect my bodily stuff from the eyes of others. this time i tried to keep away, but damn peripheral vision. lots of scariness include poo and numerous vials of varying shades of scary yellow. alls i gots to say is that many people are dehydrated.

then it came my turn to give up my precious blood. and let me tell you my body wasnt having it. this and every time i've come i let them know that its very difficult to get blood out of the my arm and that it may be better to get it from stuff close to the surface like my wrist. as always, they dont believe me and proceed with the torture. they spent 40 minutes trying to get a vial out of me. in the process they stuck a needle in and jiggled it around 3 times. each time they thought they got a nice fat vein. but my body likes to fool them and cause me pain cause the go in hiding as soon as the needle goes in. last time they had so much fun that i have a keloid scar - one of those nice shiny raised ones that never go away. thanks!