Monday, April 17, 2006

Happy Passover, Easter, Beltane - everything!

and some reasons they are so happy:
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We had a great egg hunt in our garden with a bunch of kids, music, a bonfire and marshmellows and even some gardening!

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Congratulations Bogdan for election victory!

Bogdan has been elected president of the Chamber of Deputees - way to go!
We are all very proud of you!

Monday, March 13, 2006

Two more babies on the way!

Sandra and Cristina coordinated yet again to have babies at the same time!
It will be another boy for sandra and Adrian - so much we know.
Congratulations to the parents and the proud grandma!

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Happy Birthday Maya!

I did post earlier as yesterday we started the string of celebrations: party at her school! We came with cookies, Victor with his guitar - and we sang with all the kids.
Tomorrow - gron-up party at the grandparents house and on Sunday - kiddie party here (keep your fingers crossed for good weather so we can take them outside!)

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Happy martisor!

This year I satarted making my own - for my girls and me!
Victor decided to start our own tradition - got some red and white foods - coconuts and strawberry , red and white potatoes.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Eva wrote back!

After years and years of stupid misunderstandings - we're talking again!
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Tania's work is recognized!


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This was published in Polymer Cafe Magazine!
her work! I knew her back when! (when she was one of the little people.

Monday, January 30, 2006

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Bucharest Family Reunion - 3 generations

Tania, Cati, Jacky & Alex and Toma
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and
Jacky , Toma and Alex
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Saturday, January 21, 2006

Friday, January 20, 2006

HAPPY HOMECOMING DAY FOR ME! 25th anniversary!
January 20, 1981 Coming to America!

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Monday, January 16, 2006

Saturday, January 14, 2006

Saturday, December 31, 2005

Happy New Year everyone!
Sorry for not being able to call!

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Friday, November 25, 2005

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Monday, November 21, 2005

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Monday, November 14, 2005

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Monday, November 07, 2005

Monday, October 10, 2005

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Finished Book 6! In 37 hours!


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Poza de la Midnight Madness la librarie

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Monday, July 11, 2005

Good Bye Country House - by Maya


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Friday, July 01, 2005

Happy Birthday to mois!

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Maya & friend on the Circle Line trip

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Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Merry Midsummer One and All!:-)

May you be blessed by the summer breezes,
warmth of the sun and the shade of the treezes;-},

May abundance and prosperity and health shine on you,
May the Earth wrap you in green and all the other colors too!

May you be blessed by joy, laughter and happiness and be free,
To all a Merry Midsummer, to all Blessed Be!:-D

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Happy Birthday, Dorina!

Thursday, April 28, 2005

Happy Birthday, Danut!

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Happy Birthday, Sandra!

Saturday, March 26, 2005

Mama died
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I need to deal with regrets and I will miss her. But I am also in awe of a trully extraordinary life.

Monday, March 21, 2005

And here are the happy cousins:
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Happy Birthday Eden!
may you be very happy with your new little sister and all those who love you!
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Sunday, March 20, 2005

happy Spring Equinox!
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Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Class trip last month: the official gates counter - just got this from her teacher
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Tuesday, March 01, 2005

Happy Martisor everybody!
It snowed here today - and everything was so pretty, I took a lot of pictures. Until the film is done, one of the older ones made in Central Park - around the Gates installation (which should be dismantled by now and made into profitable shower curtains):

(Click the "gates" link for details)

Sunday, February 27, 2005

Happy Birthday Jack and Alex!

Saturday, February 26, 2005

WHAT I DID ON MY WINTER VACATION
by Maya
I skated

I danced

and partied in the garden

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Happy Birthday Victor!

Tuesday, February 08, 2005

For the new parents, grandparents to hum while changing diapers:
link

Wednesday, February 02, 2005

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day prediction:
Punxsutawney Phil did see his shadow - it's a sunny day all over - so we are in for 6 weeks of winter.
But wait! Once again, Staten Island Chuck - the NYC groundhog has a dissenting opinion. Of course, Chuck needs to go to an eye doctor or else to come out during day time - as there wasn't a cloud in the sky today, but you know what? he pulled the same stunt last year - and HE WAS RIGHT!

Groundhog prediction

Groundhog Day prediction:
Punxsutawney Phil did see his shadow - it's a sunny day all over - so we are in for 6 weeks of winter.
But wait! Once again, Staten Island Chuck - the NYC groundhog has a dissenting opinion. Of course, Chuck needs to go to an eye dictor or else to come out during day time - as there wasn't a cloud in the sky today, but you know what? he pulled the same stunt last year - and HE WAS RIGHT!
Happy Groundhog Day!
(click the link)

Saturday, January 29, 2005

Saturday, January 22, 2005

It snowed last night and this time it stuck. So Maya ana I took our spinner (an oversized frisbee she fits in) and went across the street on a little hill. Maya went down until she had enough.

Then we stopped by the supermarket, bought whipped cream and made hot chocolate - which is a cold days must here. I told Maya how I remember this to be my birthday party treat - so, it's a summer thing with me. But then, chocolate is chocolate!

Friday, January 21, 2005

Happy Birthday, Saul (Pipa)!

Thursday, January 20, 2005

Democracy - rest in peace!

(Jazz Funeral for democracy)


Also, happy Homecoming to me - 24 years since I left a dictatorship for a future one. yeay, me!

Thursday, January 13, 2005

MLK Celebration

Maya performed in the Martin Luther King celebration at her school.
That's a pompous way of saying she had one sentence in a number performed by her class. But we were all there applauding - she is so hyped up she can't sleep. "You are happy" we said. "Why shouldn't I be? Every kid in school is happy - because they are proud"
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Maya finished her first 450 pages book - very proud!
And, the youngest, happiest grandma

Wednesday, January 12, 2005

There are new pictures at Mishpuha!
Also, experimenting with this tag

Friday, January 07, 2005

Tuesday, January 04, 2005

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOPHIE & FIMA

Friday, December 31, 2004

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!

Monday, December 27, 2004

Congratulations Romania for proving that. like Ukraine, you do have a functioning democracy.
And congratulations Bogdan, for having had a candidate with the courage to fight for democracy and for being part of the democratically elected cabinet!
In a democracy, if fraud is suspected in an election, a re-vote happens (as opposed to timidly begged/media ignored recounts).
I feel like the butt of a cosmic joke.

Thursday, December 23, 2004

Check the family group website for new pics of Eden and Noa. Ho to photos link, page 2. Clicking on the photos (twice) will give you larger versions.

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

From Cati to all the family:

We wish you all Happy, happy hollidays and a New Year overfulfiling your best expectations!

And from us too!

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Subject: Twas The Night Before Yuletide

'Twas the Night before Yuletide by C.C. Williford

'Twas the night before
Yuletide and all through the glen
Not a creature was stirring, not a fox, not a hen.
A mantle of snow shone brightly that night
As it lay on the ground, reflecting moonlight.

The faeries were nestled all snug in their trees,
Unmindful of flurries and a chilly north breeze.
The elves and the gnomes were down in their burrows,
Sleeping like babes in their soft earthen furrows.

When low! the earth moved with a thunderous quake,
Causing chairs to fall over and dishes to break.
The Little Folk scrambled to get on their feet
Then raced to the river where they usually meet.

"What happened?" they wondered, they questioned, they probed,
As they shivered in night clothes, some bare-armed, some robed.
"What caused the earth's shudder? What caused her to shiver?"
They all spoke at once as they stood by the river.

Then what to their wondering eyes should appear
But a shining gold light in the shape of a sphere.
It blinked and it twinkled, it winked like an eye,
Then it flew straight up and was lost in the sky.

Before they could murmur, before they could bustle,
There emerged from the crowd, with a swish and a rustle,
A stately old crone with her hand on a cane,
Resplendent in green with a flowing white mane.

As she passed by them the old crone's perfume,
Smelling of meadows and flowers abloom,
Made each of the fey folk think of the spring
When the earth wakes from slumber and the birds start to sing.

"My name is Gaia," the old crone proclaimed
in a voice that at once was both wild and tamed,
"I've come to remind you, for you seem to forget,
that Yule is the time of re-birth, and yet . . ."
"I see no hearth fires, hear no music, no bells,
The air isn't filled with fragrant smells
Of baking and roasting, and simmering stews,
Of cider that's mulled or other hot brews."

"There aren't any children at play in the snow,
Or houses lit up by candles' glow.
Have you forgotten, my children, the fun
Of celebrating the rebirth of the sun?"

She looked at the fey folk, her eyes going round,
As they shuffled their feet and stared at the ground.
Then she smiled the smile that brings light to the day,
"Come, my children," she said, "Let's play."

They gathered the mistletoe, gathered the holly,
Threw off the drab and drew on the jolly.
They lit a big bonfire, and they danced and they sang.
They brought out the bells and clapped when they rang.

They strung lights on the trees, and bows, oh so merry,
In colors of cranberry, bayberry, cherry.
They built giant snowmen and adorned them with hats,
Then surrounded them with snow birds, and snow cats and bats.

Then just before dawn, at the end of their fest,
Before they went homeward to seek out their rest,
The fey folk they gathered 'round their favorite oak tree
And welcomed the sun 'neath the tree's finery.

They were just reaching home when suddenly it came,
The gold light returned like an arrow-shot flame.
It lit on the tree top where they could see from afar
The golden-like sphere turned into a star.

The old crone just smiled at the beautiful sight,
"Happy Yuletide, my children," she whispered. "Good night."

Monday, December 20, 2004

HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE!

Tonight we continued the celebration of the longest night - ate "black foods", opened presents. Tomorrow morning, the sun returns - we'll have yellow foods and go on the roof to sing to the sun.
We've been celebrating the Halcyin Days for a week now - by trimming treees, making wishes and a whole bonfire/carol singing in the garden last night.
Happy hollidays to you all!

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TANIA!

Thursday, November 25, 2004

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CATI!
Not a bad year - becoming double grandma in a week! may you enjoy them all, the new ones and the not so new!

and also

HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Thanks to my family for providing me with reasons to celebrate.

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

NOA IS THE NAME OF ILINCA'S NEW BABY
and we have pictures here -plus more at the photos link on that page

Sunday, November 21, 2004

More baby details from the proud grandma Dorina:

S-a nascut la ora11 a.m.bruneta cu ochi albastri a lu` Pupy, cu pielea alba ( deocamdata), 3,350 greutate. Amindoua se simt bine, noi sintem f. emotionati. Revenim cu amanunte de nume.
ILINCA'S BABY GIRL WAS BORN TODAY!

here's the message from the proud great-aunt (Tania):

"A sosit si bubuluca noastra (adica a lui Ilinca) acu vreo ora."
Waiting for name confirmation and pictures.

Saturday, November 20, 2004

Toma's pictures are here

If you go to the photo link on the left, you can see thea and 2 pics of Toma . remember, clicking one more time on the pic enlarges them.
ILINCA'S SECOND BABY - DUE TOMORROW MORNING
That's Israel time - so it's tonight here!

also:
TOMA is Sandra's and Adrian's baby boy name
As they live these days with Cati she gets to enjoy him up close and personal.
She is also enjoying Thea ans both sets of parents who are enthusiastic, dedicated, and very, very happy!

Tuesday, November 16, 2004

HAPPY FOURTH TOOTH MAYA!

The lower left front tooth was dislodged tonight. great exhilaration ensues, we performed the toothie dance, put the sticker on the mouth poster, recorded the event...Later on, Maya became sad and cried: "I still want to be a kid...."
The tooth fairy just put a quarter under the pillow after removing the tooth - not easy job as she was holding the pillow tightly.

Sunday, November 14, 2004

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SANDRA & ADRIAN"S BABY BOY!

Still waiting for a name - and a picture. Here's Cati's message:




Inca fara nume, baietelul Sandrei s-a nascut dumunica seara (va fi petrecaret ?), tot prin cezariana.
Probabil miercuri vor veni acasa, pana atunci si eu sunt mai mult la spital cu ei.
cu drag, Cati
Sarutari de la toti

and
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DORON!

Wednesday, November 10, 2004

HAPPY BIRTH DAY THEA IULIA!

Cristina and Bogdan had their baby today. Here's the message from the happy grandma:


A nascut Cristina azi dimineata. Cu o zi inainte de programarea la cezariana a vrut monstrocica sa iasa si atunci s-au dus la spital. Are 3kg350 si 51 de cm si e foarte caraghioasa si draguta. Probabil ca o cheama Thea Iulia.
Pup

A picture can be found at the Mishpuha yahoo group - here

Tuesday, November 09, 2004

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADINA!

Sunday, October 31, 2004

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

You are all invited to celebrate with us today at 4 PM at Dias y Flores Community Garden (13 street between A and B). We'll have treats, a fire, assorted ghouls and Victor and the Weiss Guys will perform.

Thursday, September 23, 2004

Swimming in the deep, Showtime!

Congratulations, Maya for her first deep water swim! She is very proud!
After the pool we walked to the Stuyvesant Cove where we saw Circus Amok again.
It was the same show I described here, but next to east River, with the sunset and a moon above and a delighted Maya and friends.
By the time it was over, Maya had the jumpies - she kept dancing on the big rock she and her friends were perched on. The band kept playing, soon one of the performers got all the dancing kids in the ring and lead them into a frenzy of tumbling, jumping, dancing - a second show was born.
P.S. In my recount of the Circus Amok from my NY Minute blog I mistakenly called the shitting, farting elephant Howard when his real name was Harold. I deeply apologize to anyone who was misled by this information.
CHANGING STORIES, TOOTH LOSER CERTIFICATE

As Maya and I are in the reading of the fifth Harry Potter volume, she made an interesting confession: "Sometimes I go back and change the story a little" It took me a while to get an example. In the end she accepted to write it rather than say it. The text is something like this:

"THE WAY I CHANGD THE STORE WAS INSTEAD OF HARRE TAKE IN THE SECOND DETENSHIN HE JUST WALKED OUT AND THER WAS A HOL ARGUMENT"

More fun to start now with book discussions.
As for the Tooth Fairy: Maya was very reluctant to part with her teeth (the whole "put it under your pillow and get a quarter for it". She decided that she'd stick with the teeth. So, the Tooth Fairy got creative and left on her pillow a NUMBER ONE TOOTH LOSER certificate that made her very happy.

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Good Bye Summer! Happy Autumn!

May only rotten things fall and good things be harvested by us.

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Second Tooth found in Cheerios

Maya's second tooth is out - no more extras flapping in the wind.

Monday, September 20, 2004

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AVA
She is 19 today.

Thursday, September 16, 2004

HAPPY NEW YEAR
Also, Congratulations Maya for losing your first tooth! It was hanging there since forever along with his brother as the new teeth were almost fully grown.

Sunday, August 29, 2004

My Correspondence with Jk Rowlings (Harry Potter author)

JK Rowlins posted on a fan site (Lexicon Forum):

Classicsquid592 - Aug 27, 2004 1:53 pm (#1459 of 1471)

Something will happen on Sept. 14th otherwise she wouldn't have shown it too us on her extra stuff page. I suppose that she will tell us what she has done at the studio afterward. I think that she has tecnically "written" all of the books but she shares my writing style and rewrites over and over until she is happy with it. I think that when she says that she is currently writing her book, she means that she has started with her first typed drafts. When I have written something, I don't even say that I have started until I have started typing. We have all seen JKR's prewriting and it would seem that she writes and rewrites until a point where she feels she is ready to start typing it out. This would mean that she has to type her first draft, edit it, type another draft and start editing it for publication. I think that she is currently about half way through or even almost finished with her first typed draft and has therefore not yet gotten around to editing her work. When she starts posing frustrated messages in her extra stuff page, we will know that she is trying to write her revised draft. I don't think she has any idea when she will be finished, we have seen no set pattern to the release of the books so far.
(question) Has anyone discussed the meaning of the moon-shaped tea leaves at the bottom of her teacup? And when will she clean that cup its disgusting!

to which I replied:

Boris the Bewildered - Aug 28, 2004 7:04 am (#1461 of 1471)

Classic, you are not being that Squidward we've been warned to look for in chat rooms, aren't ya? ;-) And, forget the cup, keep writing!

She wrote back:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Classicsquid592 - Aug 28, 2004 11:32 am (#1462 of 1471)

I'm working on it Boris and thanks for the advice. I've gotten a bit behind these past two weeks due to posting in this forum. I might even cut down on my visits to the Lexicon in order to get another chunk in. Thats the way I tend to work, big chunk here, big chunk there. I may even try the writing-in-cafe method. Love your icon by the way.

I replied:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boris the Bewildered - Aug 28, 2004 10:28 pm (#1471 of 1471)

Classic, this Sponge Bob fan would be heart broken if you left, although the Harry Potter fan doesn't know what to say...As Squidward wrote on the bomb pie he offered Sponge Bob, "Well, here you go"

It all starts
this page - click "more" to continue

Thursday, July 01, 2004

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME !
My computer returns tomorrow - I'll have moore.

Tuesday, June 01, 2004

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DORINA!
You and all the international children!
We'll think of you when you celebrate!

Sunday, May 09, 2004

Since I first posted, Victor and maya got me a SpongeBob in the shower bathroom radio.
SpongeBob is a cartoon we all love and the radio is my new favorite pastime since Air America is broadcasting.
Mother's Day Proclamation, penned in Boston by Julia Ward Howe in 1870:

Arise, then, women of this day!
Arise all women who have hearts,
Whether your baptism be that of water or of tears
Say firmly:
"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands shall not come to us reeking of carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy
and patience.
We women of one country
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.
From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says, "Disarm, Disarm!"
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice!
Blood does not wipe out dishonor
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plow and the anvil at the
summons of war.
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the
dead.
Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to
the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace,
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of
Caesar,
But of God.
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of
nationality
May be appointed and held at some place deemed most
convenient
And at the earliest period consistent with its objects
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions.
The great and general interests of peace.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL THE MOTHERS IN THE FAMILY

My own little family treated me with chocolate brownies aith sour cherry and a balloon that says Happy Mother's Day. Yesterday, maya's school had a science fair where i got a button with a pic of Maya and i and maya made a kite on which she wrote "Happy Mother's Day".
We are now going on the roog to fly it.
Tonight, we join Bobbie, Pipa and Erica for a Mother's day
dinner in China town.

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