It's been a long month, workwise. Last year, it became apparent that I needed a laptop if I was going to keep working at the seminary. For months, Eric had been letting me use his computer several mornings a week, but that was starting to get in the way of his ability to work efficiently. We asked several people to carry a Macbook over for me, but none were able. So, I decided to send it using Meest two-week air shipping.
Meest is an amazing shipping company that somehow manages to get boxes full of valuables through customs without the recipient needing to pay. Boxes shipped via Meest consistently arrive, on time, with everything still in them. I love me the Meest.
But, in this case, my computer got stuck in customs. So, while it was supposed to arrive the second week of December, it showed up the second week of January. But it showed up! And I didn't have to pay! However, I had hoped to spend the quiet holidays figuring out the new operating system, setting up the computer, transferring everything from my old computer, and working on a brochure for the Talbot program that needs to be done on the new computer because of its updated software. Instead, I spent the holiday doing useful things like sorting through the thousands of pictures on the Kyiv Theological Seminary server and making a file of the best of them for future use. It was a good thing to do, but not a pressing need.
While my new Mac is far from contributing efficiently to my life, it's in good enough shape that yesterday I was able to deliver a general KTS brochure to the printer. And just in the nick of time, because they hope to give out copies at an exhibition next week.
Sadly, I'm not really enjoying the Macbook yet. It has a ton of cool features, and I'd love to spend days playing around with it. Before Dietrich, I would have. But trying to figure everything out in the 15-minute chunks (the approximate length of time that Dietrich will play on his own before he's back in my arms, or wrapped around my leg) that currently mark the passage of my days has not been nearly as fun.
Do I sound cranky? I am a little cranky. But I bet in a month, I'll be best friends with my new Mac and she and I will look back on this post and reminisce about a time before we really knew each other.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Too bad I don't have a camera phone ...
... for today I saw two sights that would have illustrated the cold, cold, cold that we're experiencing.
First: You can buy a liter of milk packaged in plastic bags here. On our path to church today, someone had dropped a bag of milk, and it burst. But the milk froze so quickly that it formed a fairly compact, ameoba-shaped puddle.
Second: When you go into a store in Ukraine, you have to check your bags. Today, at the bag-check counter at the new grocery store across the street from our house, I noticed a row of 15 forlorn-looking single gloves waiting for their owners to come back and collect them.
First: You can buy a liter of milk packaged in plastic bags here. On our path to church today, someone had dropped a bag of milk, and it burst. But the milk froze so quickly that it formed a fairly compact, ameoba-shaped puddle.
Second: When you go into a store in Ukraine, you have to check your bags. Today, at the bag-check counter at the new grocery store across the street from our house, I noticed a row of 15 forlorn-looking single gloves waiting for their owners to come back and collect them.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
It really 'tis better to give
A highlight of my 15 months as a mom was last night, when we set Dietrich's presents (four guppies, a shape-sorting bench, two puzzles, colored pencils and a lion-shaped chair) under the tree. I couldn't wait for this morning, when he'd come in and see them there, waiting to delight him.
We had a late start to our mellow day, sleeping in late because we'd gone for a walk around midnight to watch the fireworks. As we woke up, made coffee and started putting together brunch, my anticipation just grew. And his reaction didn't disappoint. Here he is with Alex the lion and just reveling in the joy of new toys and lots of time spent together as a family.
We had a late start to our mellow day, sleeping in late because we'd gone for a walk around midnight to watch the fireworks. As we woke up, made coffee and started putting together brunch, my anticipation just grew. And his reaction didn't disappoint. Here he is with Alex the lion and just reveling in the joy of new toys and lots of time spent together as a family.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
In search of Christmas traditions
Merry Christmas!
This year, we didn't manage to procure a tree until the 24th, and we didn't get her decorated until after dinner on Christmas Day. Placing all the shiny balls on the tree was a fun way to spend Christmas evening. Perhaps that will become a new tradition? Our family is so new, we're still in the tradition-forming stage. Another thing we're trying this year: We only opened stockings Christmas morning. We're saving gifts for New Year's (the traditional gift-giving holiday in Ukraine).
This Christmas was the most unlike any other Christmas in my life. With so little lead-up to the Big Day (no Advent wreath at church, no weekly carols, lots of distracting, work-related stress), I feel almost like it was the start of Advent. I seem more fixated on the Incarnation now than I did just before the holiday. I hope next year that we will find ways, as a family, to create an Advent season in our home.
On to the pictures ... here are some of Dietrich's reactions to seeing a Real Tree in our living room:
And, for comparison's sake, this year's family photo in front of the tree, and last year's.
This year, we didn't manage to procure a tree until the 24th, and we didn't get her decorated until after dinner on Christmas Day. Placing all the shiny balls on the tree was a fun way to spend Christmas evening. Perhaps that will become a new tradition? Our family is so new, we're still in the tradition-forming stage. Another thing we're trying this year: We only opened stockings Christmas morning. We're saving gifts for New Year's (the traditional gift-giving holiday in Ukraine).
This Christmas was the most unlike any other Christmas in my life. With so little lead-up to the Big Day (no Advent wreath at church, no weekly carols, lots of distracting, work-related stress), I feel almost like it was the start of Advent. I seem more fixated on the Incarnation now than I did just before the holiday. I hope next year that we will find ways, as a family, to create an Advent season in our home.
On to the pictures ... here are some of Dietrich's reactions to seeing a Real Tree in our living room:
And, for comparison's sake, this year's family photo in front of the tree, and last year's.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
It snowed today
We bundled up and went outside to play in the fluffy white stuff, before it turns into dirty gray slush.
Dietrich looks like he's a steady walker here ...
but he actually spent a lot of time like this ...
... and like this. In fact, he spent so much time on the ground that we were only able to spend about 10 minutes (i.e. the same amount of time it takes us to get ready to go outside) playing before snow started to creep down his back.
Someday he'll be big enough to play on the jungle gym outside our house, but for now he can just hang out underneath it.
Dietrich looks like he's a steady walker here ...
but he actually spent a lot of time like this ...
... and like this. In fact, he spent so much time on the ground that we were only able to spend about 10 minutes (i.e. the same amount of time it takes us to get ready to go outside) playing before snow started to creep down his back.
Someday he'll be big enough to play on the jungle gym outside our house, but for now he can just hang out underneath it.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
A new way to procure produce
Last night, we took the baby to a big toy store near the center of Kyiv. To get there, we took the bus to the metro. Along the way, the bus stopped at a nearby outdoor market, and after waiting a few moments, it started to pull away, until an elderly lady yelled through the still-open doors for it to stop.
She has been selling her produce in the market, and had two big bags and a heavy cart worth of unsold carrots, beets and potatoes to lug home. She got the bags on, then tackled the cart, but it was huge and unwieldy, and it flopped over onto its side. She asked a man standing near the door for help, but he refused. Several other young guys sat back and observed this poor woman's efforts. One of them clearly was on a date, and to his companion, who kindly gave her seat to the elderly lady, I say, "Run away!"
Anyway, Eric had the baby in the Bjorn, so I helped her drag the cart up the stairs. She and I picked up the produce that fell out in the process and settled back down for the ride. When the bus arrived at the metro station, we helped carry her things off the bus.
Of course we didn't expect anything in return. In fact, we didn't WANT anything in return. We were happy to help. But she insisted on rewarding us. With carrots!
She has been selling her produce in the market, and had two big bags and a heavy cart worth of unsold carrots, beets and potatoes to lug home. She got the bags on, then tackled the cart, but it was huge and unwieldy, and it flopped over onto its side. She asked a man standing near the door for help, but he refused. Several other young guys sat back and observed this poor woman's efforts. One of them clearly was on a date, and to his companion, who kindly gave her seat to the elderly lady, I say, "Run away!"
Anyway, Eric had the baby in the Bjorn, so I helped her drag the cart up the stairs. She and I picked up the produce that fell out in the process and settled back down for the ride. When the bus arrived at the metro station, we helped carry her things off the bus.
Of course we didn't expect anything in return. In fact, we didn't WANT anything in return. We were happy to help. But she insisted on rewarding us. With carrots!
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Gearing up
The next Talbot session starts tomorrow. One of the teachers arrived last night, and we enjoyed getting to know him over a pot of chili and a chocolate-cinnamon cake. It will be a really busy two weeks, so I'm quite thankful that Christmas lies on the other side.
I sent the most-recent edition of SEND's Harvest Heartbeat to the printer on Friday. That always feels good. And tomorrow we're having a "celebration and evaluation" brunch with all the ladies who helped put on the women's conference. We'll read the evaluations that the attendees filled out to help us improve the next conference. So, after that brunch, two of the big things that occupied my fall will lie squarely in the past. Ah, accomplishment, I love you so. Especially when so many other things (two seminary brochures, convincing Dietrich that food is his friend) remain distinctly un-accomplished.
It's cold outside! But our new apartment is so much warmer than the old one. No hats and gloves inside, unless we're getting ready to go outside, as in this picture:
I sent the most-recent edition of SEND's Harvest Heartbeat to the printer on Friday. That always feels good. And tomorrow we're having a "celebration and evaluation" brunch with all the ladies who helped put on the women's conference. We'll read the evaluations that the attendees filled out to help us improve the next conference. So, after that brunch, two of the big things that occupied my fall will lie squarely in the past. Ah, accomplishment, I love you so. Especially when so many other things (two seminary brochures, convincing Dietrich that food is his friend) remain distinctly un-accomplished.
It's cold outside! But our new apartment is so much warmer than the old one. No hats and gloves inside, unless we're getting ready to go outside, as in this picture:
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