Please…. July 24, 2008
Please, please let this be true and not some cruel joke…..My baby, my Danesh, might be arriving on Monday July 28th.
I daren’t say too much. I’m so afraid his dad is playing a sick game.
Denver airport…Monday…
Yesterday July 23, 2008
Yesterday, my second-born, Vanessa turned 21. She continues to blossom and is now on her way to begin a new chapter in her life, hopefully gaining employment and doing that which she loves to do. She’s a certified masseuse, beautician, alternative therapist I believe (if I understood it all properly!)
I can still remember her pudgy little cheeks as a baby. Her fair fair skin and dark jet black hair. She was the fairest of the 4 I had with her father. She had a little bit of metatarsus varus as a baby which, luckily, was casted by a Belgian Orthopedic surgeon each week to straighten her feet out. I remember that those clunky plaster casts didn’t slow her down one bit! She stood up in her Moses basket at 5 months old as we were preparing to go out. My heart nearly stopped as the basket was on the dining room table and she could’ve toppled over and fallen! This just a week into wearing heavy plaster of Paris up to her knees (both feet).
She was a strong-willed child. To this day that hasn’t changed.
As a 2 year old she pulled a scalding cup of tea off the coffee table onto herself. So bad it was that the skin was sloughing off as I doused her down with cold water in the shower immediately following that. Apparently, unknowingly, it was the best thing I could’ve done. Today she has absolutely no scarring at all of her armpit, shoulder and arm.
I know she struggled with school work. I’ve never got to the bottom of her issues with reading. It was perhaps dyslexia or something no one really found out….or if they did, I wasn’t informed. Her father read and wrote Farsi, but unlike his Iranian business partner he never learned how to write French. I never ever saw him reading. He would of course read letters received from family in Iran and New Zealand, Australia. Maybe he had some form of learning disability and Vanessa inherited it? I don’t know. She always was good at manual work - at 2, I recall she undid the clasp on my bracelet and stuffed it in her panties at the local fair while I was chatting to a friend! He he! Little pickpocket she was.
Today we still have a strained relationship. One day she loves me, the next she hates me.
I love her with all my heart. Happy 21st my beautiful Vanessa.
Realization July 22, 2008
Sometimes the more one tries to do the right thing, the harder one tries to sift out the worthy from the worthless, the more you find your head disappearing up your arse*
*And yep, it’s dark and gloomy up there and you can’t see a damn thing!
Craft day Saturday July 20, 2008
We had another craft day! This time we painted martini & wine glasses….It was great fun!
Just love these two women….
CSS July 20, 2008
I am going to teach myself CSS….I have to. I am so unsatisfied with the themes / templates here. I purchased my credits, valid for one year, and will modify this template/layout/theme one day here soon to personalize it as much as I can.
I realize that Rome wasn’t built in a day so this might take a wee while folks! 
Psst! 20 pages done…..70 to go.
BoReD! July 19, 2008
I’m feeling really restless and bored today.
Although I should be working right this minute, I’m not.
I feel guilty.
I feel tired.
My eyes hurt.
I can do it tomorrow…
I have a plethora of excuses up my sleeve ready to pull out.
J is at work…on a Saturday! I really hope this doesn’t become a habit.
Jaspurr? July 18, 2008
Hmmmmm! I hope this is quickly nipped in the bud. “Jasper” or Jaspurr peed on Natasha’s bean bag down in the storage area of the basement. Pretty sure it was him. Mojo never misses BUT he might be the culprit if jealousy is an issue. Stress, change, newcomer…who knows? It seemed like a heck of an amount of urine for such a small kitten.
Well, we’ll just have to be vigilant and see what happens….UPDATE: This morning 7/19, Jaspurr promptly jumped on our bed, with us in it, and peed on it!! We’ll have to see about this neutering op very very soon.
Athena July 17, 2008
Your result for The Ohmigod Test…
Athena - Goddess of War and Wisdom
67% Goodness, 44% Vengeful, 56% Lawful and 56% benevolence!
The favorite child of Zeus, Athena sprung fully grown out of her father’s head. There’s some confusion about how all this came about but the short version and accepted story is that when Zeus first wife became pregnant Zeus swallowed her. In her captured state she began to make a robe and helmet for her soon to be born daughter. The hammering of the helmet caused Zeus great pain in the form of a migraine headache. His son Hephaestus ran to his father and cracked open his skull and from it emerged Athena, fully grown and wearing her new armor. Having been born of gods and infused with Zeus’s power a second time made Athena one of the most powerful gods on Earth proving that it’s not just a mans place on the battlefield. In acts of war, women are equal if not more cruel and it’s thanks to her that we all recognize this. (Or did for a while) Her followers built the city of Athens for her and she’s been receiving nods of recognition ever since. Her following has dwindled in recent centuries because people don’t often bring wisdom into battle with them. Preferring instead the more “in your face” approach of Mars. However those who want to actually win a war and bring back some living troops might want to start sending a few prayers her way and build a temple or two. Her followers believe in Wisdom, War and Equality
Interview et al July 17, 2008
Yesterday, as mentioned, I had an interview at 10 at Fort Carson for the position of French Instructor for Special Forces.
After much faffing around and getting lost i.e. arriving at the wrong gate and having to find my way to the “right” one, I finally got there. My interviewer, B, was kind enough to postpone it for 30 mins and guide me to the actual building on my cell phone! HOW EMBARRASSING! Fort Carson is a huge base….that’s my only excuse…plus I’m directionally challenged.
A 2 and a half hour interview - a group one at that as there was a potential German Instructor there with me too.
If all the requirements are met (background check, drug test etc.) and if I pass the Advanced English test as well as the Superior French test (which - gulp - even natives have failed I’m told), then they will hire me with a start date of September 29th. No excuses on the French test, if I don’t get 100%, I don’t get hired. That’s that.
4 days a week for 6 hours + lunch break. Excellent pay!
Anyway, we shall see what happens. No need to count my chickens before they’ve hatched, right?
And, we adopted a free kitten from a family down the road. A very light, creamy sand colored, short-haired tabby. We think we’ve decided to name him Jasper …or Jester. Not sure yet. Natasha likes “Pili Pili” which is a hot red pepper used in African cooking. 
I’d wanted to use a Swahili name but none that I proposed really sounded appealing to J or Natasha other than the latter, which I can’t say I’m too enthused about…
It was either a dog or another cat. I suppose J would probably call a cat the lesser of ‘two evils’ as dogs are so expensive. In about a week, I’ll get his shots and so on…right now, I have so much to do (finish that project for one!)
Anyway, name suggestions are welcome. He’s a little male, about 2 months old, confident, feisty and very sweet. He takes on our other cat Mojo like a seasoned pro already! It’s quite amazing and so fun to watch. Here he is:
Don’t ask me to explain this “obsession” I had to get another pet….I don’t understand it myself.
MERCI! July 15, 2008
Phew!
After a lull in the workflow, I finally got a nice project yesterday - a good one to sink my teeth into - due next Friday. I can’t say what it’s about, however none other than Condy’s signature is on it…ahem! Yep, as in Rice.
Important one…. *gulp*
Oh, the “lion” story was nothing…it was a large dog. There was of course a possibility it could’ve been true as there is a big cat sanctuary less than 5 miles from the supposed sighting of large “lion” DOG!
Had a wonderful ride on Sunday, followed by a nice cold beer afterwards. The weather was stupendous as was the scenery of course! My horse’s name was Dreamer, part Appaloosa. A pic was taken of us as we passed a particular rock and ready for us when we returned…I looked odd riding “western”. It was the first time for me as I have only ever ridden “English”. Fun.
Danesh is coming…HE IS! HE REALLY IS. The latest news is that they are awaiting prices on tickets and will pick up his new passport at the end of next week. I’ve written to mum to request a donation to help us buy him a bedroom set, clothes, school supplies etc. It felt horrid to have to beg and say that it won’t be reimbursed…but they accepted. I am hoping J can persuade his parents to match the amount. It is sorely needed and would be a Godsend for us. I’m pretty sure that once he gets here, his father won’t lift a finger to help us financially. It’s a source of much stress as things are still tight.
Ok, no more moaning. Things have a way of sorting themselves out! Just to know that one of my dreams is beginning to become reality is amazing in itself!
Back to work!
Is it declawed? July 14, 2008
Yep! Believe it or not, an African lion is on the loose in the area we used to live in! It was last seen close to Peyton, chasing a dog…..still awaiting the photo that was captured of it to be posted online.
Where on earth did it escape from? I don’t suppose you can just go buy one at the local pet store!
There IS a big cat sanctuary nearby, but they have reportedly counted their animals 4 times and none are missing….
Back in the saddle July 13, 2008
Breakfast is being prepared by none other than my lovely J who makes brunch every Sunday…
Today I meet up with 2 friends to get back in the saddle and go for a pleasant little walk around Garden of the Gods. No matter how slow we go, I know that I’ll feel the inevitable sore bum and thighs afterwards as it’s been so long! All those muscles are dormant and/or flabby! Ha! Looking forward to it though! Woohoo!
And on Wednesday I have a 10 o’clock interview to possibly tutor French at Fort Carson. That’d be a nice addition to my schedule depending on how many hours / week they’d need a tutor. If they like what I have to offer, I hope this will be worth my time seeing as the commute will be approximately 45 minutes (one way). We certainly need to rake in some more $$$ if Danesh is going to come live with us!! *gulp*
Yesterday Natasha’s friend Jacob came over to hang out…poor guy pooped his pants at the park….literally ran down his legs into his trainers. His sister is sick with some intestinal upset and seems to have passed it on to him. He was so embarrassed and upset, but I managed to calm him down quickly and clean it up away from prying eyes. (J had to dash back home to get some Wet Ones and a toilet paper and a plastic bag). We walked him back to ours barefoot and I washed him off in the tub…His mum arrived with a fresh set of clothes. Until that moment, we’d been having fun flying Natasha’s kite. I felt so sorry for him.
We also went to look at beds for Danesh yesterday. Realizing that we don’t have much space, I’d originally thought about a loft style bed with office space underneath. A double size…but even that seemed perhaps a little short. After all he’s over 6 ft tall…Perhaps it would be best to let him come and choose his own bed. I just truly wanted to set his bedroom all up so he had his own private space all ready upon arrival.
Natasha is now enrolled at school! August 18th is the day it all begins….I think she’s excited!
Wisdom July 12, 2008
“The only way to get a difficult feeling to go away is simply to love yourself for it,” says author Christiane Northrup. “If you think you’re stupid, then love yourself for feeling that way. It’s a paradox, but it works. To heal, you must . . . shine the light of compassion on any areas within you that you feel are unacceptable.” While I personally believe this is a crafty strategy, I suggest adding a twist in order to double its effectiveness: As you’re loving yourself for your difficult feeling, literally laugh out loud at how crazily worried and wound up you are about it.
Celtic Horoscope July 10, 2008
You Are A Chestnut Tree |
 You are a born diplomat with a well developed sense of justice. And even though you’re impressive and intimidating, you’re also fun to be around. You can be irritated easily, and you sometimes act superior. Nevertheless, you are sensitive of others feelings and very loyal. Sometimes you feel misunderstood and are fiercely close to those who know you best. |
Afraid to hope… July 10, 2008
J just called me to let me know that he received a fax from Botswana regarding my son’s high school transcript, a document required in order to enroll him in school here among others. Yesterday I was asked to supply the airport code(s)…. I am sitting here almost hyperventilating and not allowing myself to believe my SON MAY WELL AND TRULY BE COMING HERE!!! Oh my God….Please don’t let this go pear-shaped.
In the past, my ex has cancelled trips as little as 2 days prior to the scheduled flight dates, so his track record is not conducive to my trusting his sadistic, unreliable self.
There’d be so much to prepare and so much to worry about. I can’t even let myself go down that path. We don’t even have a bedroom set for him…and certainly no spare cash in order to purchase it. I guess we’ll have to resort to trusty old craigs list again. He’s well over 6′ tall so a full-size bed would be the best we could do hoping that his feet don’t hang off the edge!
***
On another note, I went ahead and emailed to request more information about …..
…..applying for She’s Got The Look, season 2! I was laughing my head off at the time thinking how much fun it would be to at least TRY! Wishful thinking but…well…..it doesn’t hurt to dream! Tanya won, she is 45 and a mother of five. Amazing! I did like her. She and Bahia were my faves.
Miscellaneous July 8, 2008
I cannot get enough of this lovely picture of my daughter Vanessa! Just had to share. …
- vanessa
She’s got this one on her facebook profile now and rightly so; it’s very flattering. I think it was taken by my daughter-in-law Stacey…Perhaps she should get into photography?! I don’t know why it’s a little fuzzy, could’ve been going for the ’soft’ look, who knows?
Lately it appears she’s given up on the idea of trying to work in Vancouver. Issues with the visa process or something…I don’t like to pry as she gets so defensive. Now I think she’s going to stay with my daughter-in-law where her and my son, Yashar, are stationed i.e. Germany (although Y is on his second tour in “that” country and not actually IN Germany at the present moment). Keep her company a bit as I’m sure it’s very lonely being an Army wife, a newly wed at that! I hope they have a fun time together. If I could help either of them in any way, I would…I wish I could just fork out the $$ and have them come over here for a holiday….wishful thinking….and impossible. Maybe I should be buying lottery tickets every week?
J just went back to work this morning after a 5 day holiday over the 4th of July week-end. It went by way too fast as it always does. I don’t recall the last time we went on vacation. I recall it being March 2004! 4 years without a holiday together?! Ack! Mon Dieu! Such is life…the American way of life dare I say. In Europe, people plan vacations ahead of time and just GO! It seems that that way of life hasn’t caught on that much over here. Summer seems to be a very slow time for us Europeans, a time to relax, enjoy the downtime, take a well-deserved break from everything and come back to work, batteries recharged and raring to go (so to speak).
As a kid, and a new mother, I recall that I would look forward to Summer knowing it would mean HOLIDAY! I miss that feeling sometimes…
Living in Colorado is quite like being on holiday I guess. A lot of people I know would like to live here. I should consider myself lucky…(zip it Joe, no comments about L.V. ok? ;-))
Danesh is getting his passport renewed seeing as it’s due to expire in August. I’ve been asked a few key questions in order to help complete his passport application….I feel like responding in kind sometimes when I think back to how scathing they were about my asking for their fax number or their actual address. *sigh* They’ve asked me countless times for the same info…yet I don’t respond in kind telling them to bloody well file it somewhere safe! No use stooping to their level…
I daren’t hope that this means Danesh will be coming here…my stomach’s doing flip flops.
Nice and tidy…. July 6, 2008
….almost! The house is looking spick and span in many of the areas I still hadn’t got to since we moved….aaaahhhhh! Feels nice.
We moved our bed too. Positioned it under the bay window now and it doesn’t seem to be bothersome or weird there. I’ll keep it there for a wee while and see how we like it. Also changed the light fixture in our “orange” room. Instead of a dangly, outdated, ugly chandelier, we put in a light fixture that is flush with the ceiling. We have enough light in there thanks to the table lamps, so it looks fine. Still have to make my cornices for the windows in there….Lots to do even though it’s just a rental home. I dislike not being able to add a few personal touches. Luckily for us, we can paint a little as long as we repaint it to the original color once the lease is up.
Enjoying a little gin and bitter lemon/lime at the moment….then I get to go and hang up Natasha’s clothes. I used to color coordinate them all - was I crazy or what? Now I don’t bother. As long as they are all neat in the closet that’s good enough.
G, Cj and I were thinking about organizing a garage sale at the end of July. I think that’d be good! G has a STORE full of knick knacks, TVs, king size bed etc. in her basement, it’s basically all new stuff! Amazing! I’m no shopaholic! I don’t even stock up on stuff, except maybe T.P. [toilet paper]. I’d be the first to die in a famine or generalized longterm power outage hehehe!
Trying out these Acuvue contact lenses…my eyes just really dry out…I think I may have to resign myself to the fact that I must wear glasses or opt for Lasik surgery some day. *Sigh* I tried them a few years ago in Minnesota. Eyes too dry. Colorado being even drier than Minnesota, I don’t know what came over me when I decided to try again! DOH! I should’ve known….
I really hate wearing glasses though. Hats and glasses make me feel almost claustrophobic - or closed in somehow.
What’s for dinner is the question I’m being asked now….Better go and see about that. Ta ta for now!
