HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAMA!
Be healthy and happy with all those you love - present and future!
I am unable to call Romania - my phone wouldn't - but I sent an e-mail to Cati - if she would only check her mail.
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Sunday, April 18, 2004
Wonderful, important news
Before this year will be over, there will be 3 new members of the family:
Sandra and Adrian are expecting
Bogdan and Cristina are expecting
Ilinca and Uzi are expecting - Eden will become a big sister.
Of course, the grandparents, mami and tati (Dorina & Costel) are expecting for their new grandkid even more! ;-)
Hooray for all the moms (and grandparents, and cousins) - be well, enjoy - and we are waiting for news.
Before this year will be over, there will be 3 new members of the family:
Sandra and Adrian are expecting
Bogdan and Cristina are expecting
Ilinca and Uzi are expecting - Eden will become a big sister.
Of course, the grandparents, mami and tati (Dorina & Costel) are expecting for their new grandkid even more! ;-)
Hooray for all the moms (and grandparents, and cousins) - be well, enjoy - and we are waiting for news.
Sunday, April 04, 2004
Thursday, April 01, 2004
First branch in flower, snow drops
Maya and I were going to hang our martisor threads to the first branch in bloom as ever. In the past, it used to be a cherry tree on our street. Today, it was one of those yellow flowered bush (forsythia? what's the name? galbenele?) which we saw coming out of our garden. Sure enough, we have one on our lot. So, when we went to make our wish, I discovered one more sweet surprise: 2 snowdrops (ghiocei) just in bloom! I had planed to put some - but didn't get around to it. But the garden, once again, gave me a wish!
Maya and I were going to hang our martisor threads to the first branch in bloom as ever. In the past, it used to be a cherry tree on our street. Today, it was one of those yellow flowered bush (forsythia? what's the name? galbenele?) which we saw coming out of our garden. Sure enough, we have one on our lot. So, when we went to make our wish, I discovered one more sweet surprise: 2 snowdrops (ghiocei) just in bloom! I had planed to put some - but didn't get around to it. But the garden, once again, gave me a wish!
Saturday, March 20, 2004
Happy Spring everyone!
maya and I balanced some eggs on the bathroom floor - not easily, since the real equinox happened here before 3 AM. Then we sang 2 songs - one we made up and "Vine , vine Primavara"
It feels nice - since yesterday morning was still snowing - it snowed all last week! It's nice now, and the entire mishpuha is heading for the peace demonstration.
maya and I balanced some eggs on the bathroom floor - not easily, since the real equinox happened here before 3 AM. Then we sang 2 songs - one we made up and "Vine , vine Primavara"
It feels nice - since yesterday morning was still snowing - it snowed all last week! It's nice now, and the entire mishpuha is heading for the peace demonstration.
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Saturday, March 13, 2004
Maya's birthday paty - part II
The preparations went like clockwork until about 1/2 h before the appointed time.
Tania called and had a nice conversation with Maya. My computer - which we thought repaired, started ticking again...I decided to ignore it, spoke with Tania as Maya happily bounced her balloons. Suddenly, one popped and Maya started crying ("what will we do now? We won't have them for all the kids) Victor went out so I couldn't leave to get another, the computer was ticking and freezing...
I decided I didn't care, Victor came and started working on the computer for the nth time, I got another balloon...
From that point on, everything went perfectly. Kids showed up, ate , sang , played all Maya's instruments along with Victor...We played "pin the tail on the donkey"
After that we went on the roof and installed the pinata.
The kids took several turns whacking it, but no luck. I went inside and got my two Bush chickenhawk patches and scotch taped them to the pinata. And then I declared the grown ups turn
It wasn't a perfect arrangement - Bush's face fell off with each whack. Or maybe it was, come to think of it.
Wendy, Priscilla's mother ( a Clarkie) was like a force of nature: "This is for the Iraq war!" Whack!
This is for the gay marriages! "Whack! "This is for 9.11" Whammo!
Soon the candy was pouring and the kids were picking them in their goody bags.
We had some amazing birthday cake, the kids ran around some more on the roof, then everyone went home.
Unlike the previous years, this time I allowed myself to just enjoy the party with everyone else and I had as much fun as Maya did.
The preparations went like clockwork until about 1/2 h before the appointed time.
Tania called and had a nice conversation with Maya. My computer - which we thought repaired, started ticking again...I decided to ignore it, spoke with Tania as Maya happily bounced her balloons. Suddenly, one popped and Maya started crying ("what will we do now? We won't have them for all the kids) Victor went out so I couldn't leave to get another, the computer was ticking and freezing...
I decided I didn't care, Victor came and started working on the computer for the nth time, I got another balloon...
From that point on, everything went perfectly. Kids showed up, ate , sang , played all Maya's instruments along with Victor...We played "pin the tail on the donkey"
After that we went on the roof and installed the pinata.
The kids took several turns whacking it, but no luck. I went inside and got my two Bush chickenhawk patches and scotch taped them to the pinata. And then I declared the grown ups turn
It wasn't a perfect arrangement - Bush's face fell off with each whack. Or maybe it was, come to think of it.
Wendy, Priscilla's mother ( a Clarkie) was like a force of nature: "This is for the Iraq war!" Whack!
This is for the gay marriages! "Whack! "This is for 9.11" Whammo!
Soon the candy was pouring and the kids were picking them in their goody bags.
We had some amazing birthday cake, the kids ran around some more on the roof, then everyone went home.
Unlike the previous years, this time I allowed myself to just enjoy the party with everyone else and I had as much fun as Maya did.
Friday, March 12, 2004
Maya's birthday party - part one
A Birthday and a funeral
As the class was about to go to the park, they discovered that the class's hamster died. So, off we go, birthday cookies and hamster in the box for a party and a burial.
I told her teacher that it's actually a good thing - Maya had been having fears of death lately - and this is a good way to deal with it.
So we gave cookies, Victor played his guitar with all the kids around it as the teacher took a shovel in another corner of the park where she dug a hole.
The weather had turned colder with clouds and sunshine alternating fast - but the wind kept its promise to Maya.
So, at one point, kids, teacher, box, guitar moved to the park of the park where the funeral was going to start.
Victor kept it cheerful with some nice songs - "I'm gonna miss you when you're gone" with the kids singing along. Then the kids spoke - mostly saying : "You were a nice hamster" - with one long memory girl adding: "But I didn't like when you bit me"
At the end I reminded Maya her Halloween ghost song so she soloed in "I'll fly away, hate to say good bye but I'll fly away"
We left for home - not a minute to soon - since I noticed that some kids were crying....
We came home where Maya is excitedly waiting for the opening of their roller blades box (Victor had to go get wire cutters for that !)
As for the weather - as the party ended - turned shitty. Cold, cloudy - I can see the snowing prediction happening now.
A Birthday and a funeral
As the class was about to go to the park, they discovered that the class's hamster died. So, off we go, birthday cookies and hamster in the box for a party and a burial.
I told her teacher that it's actually a good thing - Maya had been having fears of death lately - and this is a good way to deal with it.
So we gave cookies, Victor played his guitar with all the kids around it as the teacher took a shovel in another corner of the park where she dug a hole.
The weather had turned colder with clouds and sunshine alternating fast - but the wind kept its promise to Maya.
So, at one point, kids, teacher, box, guitar moved to the park of the park where the funeral was going to start.
Victor kept it cheerful with some nice songs - "I'm gonna miss you when you're gone" with the kids singing along. Then the kids spoke - mostly saying : "You were a nice hamster" - with one long memory girl adding: "But I didn't like when you bit me"
At the end I reminded Maya her Halloween ghost song so she soloed in "I'll fly away, hate to say good bye but I'll fly away"
We left for home - not a minute to soon - since I noticed that some kids were crying....
We came home where Maya is excitedly waiting for the opening of their roller blades box (Victor had to go get wire cutters for that !)
As for the weather - as the party ended - turned shitty. Cold, cloudy - I can see the snowing prediction happening now.
Sunday, March 07, 2004
Monday, March 01, 2004
Happy Martisor Day Ladies
Thanks to Cati, maya and I are wearing ours. I am hoping Maya will get questioned and will tell the story at school.
Today I started a Family discussion group at Yahoo.
It is at this link Please go there and join (registering with yahoo may be involved - no big deal)
Thanks to Cati, maya and I are wearing ours. I am hoping Maya will get questioned and will tell the story at school.
Today I started a Family discussion group at Yahoo.
It is at this link Please go there and join (registering with yahoo may be involved - no big deal)
Friday, February 27, 2004
Saturday, February 21, 2004
Monday, February 16, 2004
Thursday, January 29, 2004
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
Back from Central Park
It was a wonderful ride for Maya and only a few toes lost to frost bite for us.
Glad we went, happier to be home.
First thing Maya said this morning: "I looked out the window! The snow is short! I think we can go to school!"
Well, I had to disappoint her, so the trip to Central Park was to make up for it.
It was a wonderful ride for Maya and only a few toes lost to frost bite for us.
Glad we went, happier to be home.
First thing Maya said this morning: "I looked out the window! The snow is short! I think we can go to school!"
Well, I had to disappoint her, so the trip to Central Park was to make up for it.
It's snowing. We are on our way to Central park where the City will provide sleds and hot chocolate for all kids who cannot go to school (closed today).
Maya is kvetching about the hair combing: "Every morning the same thing"
Me:"I have two alternatives for you: we can do it in the evening or cut your hair"
"But then it would hurt me in the evening. And I don't want my hair cut"
Victor: "You are lucky. In my time, they didn't have conditioners"
Me: "In my times, they didn't ask me if I wanted my hair cut"
Maya: "I am glad I was born at the right time"
Now, on to Central Park!
Maya is kvetching about the hair combing: "Every morning the same thing"
Me:"I have two alternatives for you: we can do it in the evening or cut your hair"
"But then it would hurt me in the evening. And I don't want my hair cut"
Victor: "You are lucky. In my time, they didn't have conditioners"
Me: "In my times, they didn't ask me if I wanted my hair cut"
Maya: "I am glad I was born at the right time"
Now, on to Central Park!
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
HAPPY HOMECOMING DAY TO ME!
22 years ago I arrived in NYC on a cold sunny day. The moment I set foot on the sidewalk, I knew I belonged here. I must have lived here in another life - or I watched enough movies filmed here - because every little detail seemed familiar.
And I had never lost that enthusiasm for my city. No matter where I go, when I return and see the skylone I have the same sense of joy washing over me as I say to myself: "Er she goes"
May the next annyversary be spent in Washington DC in general celebration!
22 years ago I arrived in NYC on a cold sunny day. The moment I set foot on the sidewalk, I knew I belonged here. I must have lived here in another life - or I watched enough movies filmed here - because every little detail seemed familiar.
And I had never lost that enthusiasm for my city. No matter where I go, when I return and see the skylone I have the same sense of joy washing over me as I say to myself: "Er she goes"
May the next annyversary be spent in Washington DC in general celebration!
Thursday, January 15, 2004
First snow and sleighing
We had snow before, but this one stuck and maya had asked for a sleigh before. So Victor went through the storm today and got her a "spinner" . It's like a frisbee - big enough for a kid to sit in. So, a very exited Maya and I went to find a hill - and did, not far from home. Maya had a blast! Told everyone around that it was her first time and she learned 3 lessons:
1. That the little kids doing this the very first time need to give themselves a little warning: it is a little bit scary in the begining" The second lesson was about being harder climbing uphill and I am afraid I forgot the third one.
She told me she found one dollar in the snow. "Did you pick it?" "No"
Another kid goes down, picks it and hands it to Maya. "I don't care that much about money" she answers. I thank the kid and tell him that it's his find now and everyone, including his parents is very happy.
We end the day with a hot chocolate with whipped cream.
We had snow before, but this one stuck and maya had asked for a sleigh before. So Victor went through the storm today and got her a "spinner" . It's like a frisbee - big enough for a kid to sit in. So, a very exited Maya and I went to find a hill - and did, not far from home. Maya had a blast! Told everyone around that it was her first time and she learned 3 lessons:
1. That the little kids doing this the very first time need to give themselves a little warning: it is a little bit scary in the begining" The second lesson was about being harder climbing uphill and I am afraid I forgot the third one.
She told me she found one dollar in the snow. "Did you pick it?" "No"
Another kid goes down, picks it and hands it to Maya. "I don't care that much about money" she answers. I thank the kid and tell him that it's his find now and everyone, including his parents is very happy.
We end the day with a hot chocolate with whipped cream.
