Release the hounds!

Well, not much exciting going on here. I had a bit of a episode of grumps, but you know it passes, and things are on the up. I weaned Natasha - woo hoo! she is 14 months, so it was time. She did ok, some crying and diving down my shirt, but nothing we couldnt handle. Most difficult part I think is that I had 2 migraines in 2 weeks - I think it must be hormonal. Either that or something to do with barometric pressure/weather changes. We have been alternating between the extreme cold ( -minus 10F), with nice blue clear skies, and sort of cold but cloudy (20s F).

I did do something drastic and ended my Russian lessons. I know. pretty bad huh. Part of it was I just needed to change something, I wasnt taking the time to study that I knew I should, was feeling bad about it. I wanted to do well, and feel like I was progressing, but hard to make progress when you dont study. ha! I know, lame. I never said I wasnt lame. I sort of feel like a loser, but whatever. Decided I need to get my feet on the ground and feeling like I belong here, then I will take it back up.

So I have Lena, our nanny from the summer coming for a few hours tues and thurs. I hope to get out to the gym, be able to meet up with friends for a coffee, maybe go to the monthly pot luck lunch once in a while. Not stress about russian. Maybe listen to some tapes (ok, mp3) of conversation, maybe rosetta stone - to just get a better feel, get some more vocab, and then get back on the grammar horse in a few months.

Sat was beautiful and a friend called and invited us to Starbucks. While there we made dinner plans and ended up going to a pretty cool restaurant. мари vanna. Yeah - first part is in cyrillic second latin. The site also has their new york location so you can get an idea of the type of place. It was really neat. Our friend picked it. It is considered a "Soviet" restaurant. Although not what I pictured. I thought by Soviet it would be like a cafeteria. It was anything but! Very nice decor, excellent menu, very cute touches (the menu was attached to clip boards, english option available, ok here are pics of the interior. I cant do it justice. Very homey I guess. the food was excellent! We started the meal with borsht which was served in a big tureen set on the table and an assortment of salted/brined veggies (cucumbers, tomatoes, garlic, etc). I had chicken cutlets, P had the fish ones, and our friend had rabbit - they all were delish - I would say the fish were the best of the 3 - the menu lists them as "hamburger" but they are meatballs. I had mine with grilled veggies which were also good. M had the salmon (what she always gets) and it was quite tasty too, served with grilled oranges. Kids had water and we all shared some home infused vodka (we got the horseradish kind). mmm. For dessert we ordered tea and all shared a piece of Napoleon cake (white pastry between layers of cream - - - -mmmm), carrot cake (very much like american style carrot cake - very good), P had apple muffin served warm and M had pistachio ice cream which, she was disappointed in. She thought it would be like the street vendor variety which serves a green ice cream with very little pistachio taste (in face we had to ask them what it was because we couldnt place the flavor), but instead this had lots of nuts in it and was definitely pistachio - the rest of us loved it. Anywho, we recommend it. It is right next to Mamina Pasta on Спиридоньевский переулок (also good by the way). OK, Americans, one thing I should tell you is that they have a very large cat in the restaurant, as well as a chihuahua and a bird (the bird is in a cage). The cat and dog just sort of roam freely. Not a big deal but we did see the cat sit on unoccupied tables. I know that would bother my dad (we always had cats growing up, but they were never allowed in the house, because they were animals). So if cats sitting on the dining table bothers you, consider yourself warned.

Yesterday was another beautiful day to so we ventured out to Izmailovski market. I have written about it before so I wont repeat, but I did get an Uzbek teapot which I really like. Here is the guys site so you can see what Uzbek style looks like. I bought a mid sized tea pot - it was 350 rubles.,

On the kid front things are good - Natasha is just getting bigger and bigger - uses 5 or 6 signs now. She still makes me laugh a thousand times a day, she is pretty funny - giggles when she burps, likes to play chase, smiles when she is caught touching something she shouldnt, dances when she eats, yells leeeeooo when he walks in the door .. . M is good too. She is excited for Fri as the first grade is doing a special musical performance. She has a special singing part she had to try out for, plans on wearing a dress and everything. She was working on her valentines last night and here is a snippet of convorsation-

mom, I like him, but I dont LOVE him, can I write "I like you"

yeah, M, that is fine, if you like him, go ahead and write "I like you"

well, the other boys might get jealous, so I will write "you make me smile" is that ok?

that is perfect.

P is good too. you know, he is 9. what can I say.He has pretty much taken over my kindle which is ok because I havent had much of a chance to read. Cops an attitude once in a while, but he is maturing though - I can tell.

Whelp that is the update.

oh. here are 2 good russian words to know - a little lesson for you:

кошмар - nightmare, terrible.

отлично - excellent

-Mr Burns, Homer Simpson is here to see you.

-кошмар! (koshmar - kosh rhymes with gosh)

-Dont worry, I've released the hounds.

- отлично! (drumming finger tips together)* (otleechna - ot like I "ought to")

*ok, I took some liberties. Apparently when translated to russian, Mr Burns does not say "отлично" - he says something else entirley. But, I Iike to imagine Mr Burns saying "Otleeeechna"

Louisiana Purchase

So we were off on one of our Urban Hiking adventures and wound up on the south side of the river. A really nice area, lots of churches, wide sidewalks, beautiful buildings, one of those areas where you say - I wouldn't mind living here . . .. see below for pictures.

We walk around for a while and the kids get hungry for dinner (I strategically plan that we leave around 5ish knowing we will stop for dinner somewhere). We start looking for a restaurant. We see the typical Tarus Bulba (cheap, good food, very kid friendly) but Leo was there a few days prior, Shesh Vesh - tasty, Yolki Palki - all three on the less expensive side, good food, etc. Do we go to an ld standard? No! not us!

We spy a little place called "Louisiana" and American steakhouse. hmmm. kids like the idea of a good burger. So we check it out. First of all, it is decorated in a Western theme - complete with waitstaff in cowboy hats, boots, and guns. The walls are covered with license plates from different states (and a few from Canada). Portraits of Native American Indian Chiefs - Chief Seattle, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Geronimo - Wanted posters for Jesse James - Wild Bill pictures, saloon doors- can you picture it? hmmm, in Louisiana? As I said, the decor was very Wild West. I guess no one told them Louisiana wasnt really that far west. . . .

So we are sitting in this themed restaurant, which always makes me feel a little like I am in Disneyland, and I notice the music. Typically, the music in restaurants here is pretty much Euro pop dance music. Not here. Lounge remakes including such hits as "smoke on the water", "macarena" , and "rainy days and mondays" by the Carpenters. sad thing was I knew the words to all the songs.

So, the "off" theme (sort of expect Mardi Gras, or New Orleans theme at a place called Louisiana), surreal music, coupled with sllllooooww service, overpriced mediocre food, we dont recommend it.

But like everything here, an experience is an experience - something to talk about later.

We do plan on going back next weekend and checking out some of the churches, and the tretyekov gallery.

Here are some pics from our hike - not many turned out as it was getting dark and my little point and shoot doesnt handle night well. . ..and it was out of focus . . maybe a new camera for my bday? an SLR with lenses - - ooooh.

Frozen Moscow River:

Pedestrian Bridge with trees made of locks (so the story is when you get married you put your names on a lock, lock it to one of the trees and toss the key into the river - how romantic!)

tretyekov gallery

Here is a link to a map - we crossed the Moscow river on the west side of the Kremlin, walked east along Bolotnaya Square (that is there we saw the pedestrian bridge with trees covered in locks), then crossed the bridge to Kadashevskaya, walked south to the gallery, then headed east, North on Bolshaya Ordinka, the restaurant we went to was on Pyatnitskaya, then north toward St Basils and crossed the river on the east side of red square.

If I Had a Million Dollars . ..

When we decided to move, we explained to the kids as best we could. Leo's firm closed, he looked for jobs in Seattle, but the best job he found was in Moscow so we are moving there - in a nutshell. We talked about it, we went through the good things, the bad things, what we would miss, what we would look forward to. I thought we had it hashed out. At least the basics.

The other day we were walking and I hear M ask "so how long are we going to live in Moscow?" before I could even answer, P pipes up "well, M, Leo is looking for a job in Vancouver (that would be Washington, where my parents live) and as soon as he gets one we are moving there."

!

OK. I did not realize this was Ps impression. I am not sure where he came up with it, but seems to be a whole lot of wishful thinking going on.

Let me tell you a little about my P. He is a homebody family guy. If you ask him what he wants to do he wants to hang out at home with the family. He plans on living with us the rest of his life, he has already told us. His career plan used to be that he will work part time as a lawyer so he can spend time with his dad, and part time as a preschool teacher so he can be with me (in my former life I worked at a preschool). He has since "matured" into being an astronaut and will live with us when he is not in space. M, on the other hand, plans on rescuing animals in the South American Rain Forest. She will call once in a while, and we are invited to visit her, as long as we help rescue animals. My dad will build her rescue center. Once a boy asked her if she would marry him and she replied "only if you will work in South America with me" - he said he would think about it. This has thrown P into a loop. How will the family live together forever and ever if M is in South America? Maybe he will help her part time too . . . .

Anyway - P has a dream that my whole family, and Leo's mom will all live together in a compound somewhere. he asked me once what I would do if I had a million dollars. After I threw around things like, well, pay off the mortgage and maybe buy a nice area rug, he changed to a 100 million dollars and I think I told him first I would buy everyone in the family a house close together somewhere cool, on the water, or at the beach (I was thinking in terms of vacation property). This may have seeded his living on a compound dream.

So. He thinks we are only in Moscow while Leo looks for a job in Vancouver (which, lets face it, is a suburb of Portland, at best). Okay. I dont want to burst any bubbles, but reality is reality. So I tell them both. Leo isnt looking for a job in Vancouver. I explain that the type of work Leo does just isnt done there (not much finance law left in Portland, or Seattle for that matter). That we live in Moscow now. How long? who knows! 2 years ago we didnt even think it was possible we would be moving here. We are here now, so we live as if we are staying. I like to have a solid plan. I can't live as if we might leave.

When we bought our first house, leo told me not to hang any pictures (put holes in the walls) because we might move someday. yeah. We lived in that house for nearly 8 years. We still own it as a rental. I told him I cant live like that- we live there so we will live there - know what I mean?

We are, I think, in a somewhat unique position as expats here in Moscow. Although I have been meeting, and hearing about other families similar to ours. One American Spouse, one Russian Spouse. Means he is a "repat" as opposed to expat I guess.

Some expats come with a contract - say 3 years - then they either leave or renew. Some come to work as long as there is work - with no ties to Russia other than the job. Then there are the ones like us. We too are here for the job. But my husband is Russian. It is his homeland (although he says he often feels more american than russian). He has a unique set of skills that are specific to living here (language, cultural understanding, just being russian and not an "outsider", or foreigner when doing business is huge). We have ties here.

This is not to say we would not move to another country - just that the chances are slimmer than those of other expats.

so, like I said, I was honest with the kids, we will live here as long as it makes sense for us to live here. Not too specific, I know, but in this economy, and the "shrinking" globe, ist that true for most people? Regardless, we are not planning on leaving, we are living here so we live here.

If P wants to hold on to his dream, I wont kill it. It is in the slight, most unlikely, realm of possibility that someday Leo would get a job he could do from anywhere (from "home") in which case we would move to Vancouver (well, portland).

I guess stranger things have happened.

Holy Snotcicles, Batman!

OK, I know - I live in Russia, it is cold here, get over it.

I do have to mention that it was MINUS 11 Fahrenheit this morning.

According to Weatherunderground, the "feels like" temp was MINUS 30 F.

Yeah, Farhenheit - not Celsius people.

Cold.

Did I mention I am from Seattle?

When it is 30 (that would be PLUS 30) we think it is cold.

Even the Russians think this winter is cold.

I wonder what the unfrozen puddles are that I occasionally see.

What doesn't freeze at minus 11F?

Ain't your mama's Walgreens.

I recently read another moscow expat blog about pharmacies - now I can't find the link. It was a gentleman with a russian wife - if you are reading this - let me know and I will post your link. Anyway he commented on Russian pharmacies.

We have similar stories.

While in the US, Natasha needed antiobiotics.

The clinic we went to faxed the prescription to the pharmacy of our choice.

My mom and I went to pick it up.

As it was our first time at that pharmacy, I had to give natashas birth date, phone number, was asked if she had allergies, asked if she had taken this antiobiotic before. Everything was entered into a computer. She hadnt been on that one before, I was asked to step to the little booth to speak to a pharmacist. This trained professional gave me dosage information, when to give it to her, asked if she was taking any other prescriptions, gave me the signs of an allergic reaction, side effects, how to store the prescription. Then, the pharmacist mixed it for me. The bottle had her name, dosage, instructions, etc. They included a piece of paper with all the information written out.

Ok. pretty standard.

Zip over to Moscow. Local apteka.

We need a prescription filled here.

We go in, show our piece of paper (which is a joke because the dr didnt even sign it). The "pharmacist" who is really a sales clerk hands us a box packaged by the manufacturer - the kind where the pills are pushed through a piece of foil. We pay. No questions. No instructions. They dont ask who it is for. They dont care. No record is kept of the transaction. OK, we say - it is for a baby- we need liquid. They give us a bottle of powder. No instructions on how to mix, I have Leo read the directions on the bottle and we figure it out. We picked some up for P a while back and it was an unflavored. It was terrible. No questions about allergies, about interactions, dosage, storage, age/weight of person taking it. AND - you get to keep the paper the prescription is written on. So, in essence, if you need it again, you can just use the same prescription again.

It is all about personal responsibility. I look up every prescription to see what it is, what the dose it, how to give it, what is in it (P and I both have allergies to certain antibiotics), side effects, etc. It is my responsibility to make sure we are taking the prescription correctly.

Kind of like the dentist I described earlier. A cleaning is a cleaning, no discussion about my teeth grinding, measurment of gumline, counting, marking of charts, etc. I mentioned this to Leo and he said - "oh - if you want that, you need to make a special appointment with the dentist." Go figure.

On another note - I saw alady the other day, I wont say "old" - I will say retiree - she had a big fur coat and, I kid you not, one of those knitted rasta hats with the braids sewn in. You know the ones I mean - a la Bob Marley. Only her braids were blond of course. I wish I had my camera ready!

Occam's Razor applied to Tushie's Tushie.

simplest explanation or strategy tends to be the best one

OK - may be too much info - so consider yourself warned.

So Natasha was on antibiotocs for 10 days the first week of Janr for her ear infection. As typical this caused a yeast type diaper rash. I didnt realize at first, of course, and kept putting diaper cream on her, which made it worse. I tried everything to get rid of her rash. I changed diaper brands, wipes brands, let her go diaperless, etc.

So finally (duh) it dawned on me what it was. Bright red rash, wont go away, was on antiobiotics (this is what, only my third baby?) Anyway, I called Leo and said

"hi, I know what Natha has, it is a yeast rash, she needs something like Lamasil. Can you stop at the pharmacy on your way home and get some? kids just got off the bus and I am not dragging the whole kit and kaboodle to the pharmacy"

he says "ok. dont know anything about yeast. what do I say?"

me "just tell them she was on antiobiotics and now had a rash that wont go away and we think it is yeast. they will know what I need. ask if they have an anti-fungal cream, like for athletes foot.

he calls from the pharmacy and translates the above to the pharmacist. Pharmacist, says here is some rash cream, I ask, is it for yeast? is it anti fungal because a regular rash cream will make it worse. no - for yeast you need a prescription. really? for a yeast infection you need a prescription? I had leo ask for a simple anti-fungal - pharmacist said firmly - no, you said it was yeast, you must have a prescription! he came home empty handed.

ok.

this was yesterday. So today I walked into a different pharmacy and said in Russian "excuse me please, do you have Lamasil?" "yes, of course, right this way." and I bought it.

the end. (pardon the pun)

Fear Factor

It is an absolutely BEAUTIFUL day in Moscow. Cold, Crisp, Sunny, Blue Sky. And yet, Danger lurks.

I am already skittish about dogs, clowns and all things having to do with the eyeball and belly button.

Now I have a new fear. Fear of Impalement, or alternately, Fear of Death by Icicle.

Check these out, taken today on my walk with Natasha, 2pm-ish.

watch out purple beret lady!

aaaaaugh! Did you see the one hanging on a wire! Yikes!

I have visuals of huge pointy icicles speeding down, with their pointy tips aimed at one of my sweet and adorables head (or worse, eyeball! or belly button!). I then whip out a super ninja chop or kick, smashing the said icicle to mere cubes , saving them from certain death (or at least disfigurement, or even a bruise)- a girl can dream, right?

Apparently people are killed every year by falling icicles. The city is trying to address the issue by fines etc. Worker bees work into the night knocking them down, taping off danger areas and putting up warning signs.

But still, I had no trouble finding frozen spears of death this afternoon. Today was quite sunny too. Water was dripping from a few of the icicles. . . . . . rendering them weak and losing their icy grip on their building. . . .

Will this fear stop me from getting out and enjoying my beautiful city. Of course not. But I for one walk with one eye skywayd. Ready to bust out some serious ninja chopping.