beepbeepnbeepbeep yeah!

sigh.

I miss my car.

now dont get the wrong impression.

Dont go telling Leo I want a car.

I dont.

Not here.

Not even a little bit.

Well, maybe just a little bit. but not really. A car here seems to be a hassle. Not the same as in the US. I love driving. I really miss it. I miss the freedom, the ease of driving in the US, seattle driving is beautiful - you can see the mountains, the water, trees. . . . .

The kids have had the week off of school. They have been EXCELLENT. After their monstrous behavior at Pancho Villa last weekend I laid into them. Gave them the old talkin to. You know the one. I got it in Kindergarten. I remember it clearly. I came home from school, maybe the first day. I waited until dinner to share my great news. I burst with "there is a kid in my class whose last name is snyder!!! hahahahahha isnt that the funniest name EVER!! snyder!! hahahahha" ok. so not really that funny thinking back, but remember, up until that point I was around greeks. with greek names. names 10 to 15 letters long, starting in pappa and ending in annis or iou, etc. Those names were normal to me. Who had a last name like snyder? snicker snicker? I had to share.

Did my family share my amusement? no! My dad gave me the talk. The "you are a Bxxxxxxxxxis, you represent the family, the honor and respect the the entire family is on your shoulders every time you leave the house. Your actions represent not only you, but all of us, all of greece" Holy Crap! "we do not make fun of other people's names! in fact other people will make fun of your name?" (huh? thinks little me? why?!)

Shaped me right up. I was scared. I carried the burden of representing my family forever. I still think of it. So I whipped it out with my kids. They not only represent the Bat family, but all of America!! I even pulled the "others will think poorly of me as a mother" bit. Yes I did. Mother guilt. golden. Then I threatened to never take them out again and I think they got the picture.

Anyway. they have been good this week. Playing with each other for hours and hours, playing outside in the snow for hours and hours, playing with Tushi, helping me. It has been great. They are happy to stay home. They never ask to go out anywhere. I think because P and M are really best friends, and because they have such a long day at school, they really miss playing together, so this week was catch-up week.

I started thinking. I know. trouble. I need to stop doing this, but I started thinking about what would we do if we were in seattle. like I said, trouble. I would probably take the kids and drive to my parents for a couple days. ak, why do I let my mind wander? Then I started thinking I would drive them out on I90 to snoqualmie. Take them sledding. See the mountains. Then we would drive back. Maybe stop and get some cocoa on the way home. We could take the ferry over to Bainbridge to see some old friends, spend the day over there.

Now, to be fair, I could take them ice skating here. the rink isnt far. but snoqualmie has trees, and green, and mountains, and fresh air. And I could dive. Which in and of itself is so nice. I really enjoy driving. Especially in Seattle where it is sooo pretty. Again, i have no desire to drive here. I dont think I would find it relaxing. at all. quite the opposite.

We could get a cab and go out of the city for the day. Nice, but not the point. With a car, in the US, I could go where and when I wanted, in the middle of the week, in the middle of the day. I did not have to rely on anyone else. I probably wouldnt even tell Leo I was going. Maybe call him from the road. The point I guess is not the thing, but what it represents - freedom and independence.

Then I get an email from one of Ps friends. Can he come over for a play date? I would LOVE him to. But I dont know how I would work it out. His friend lives next to the school. They take a bus home. Together. I cant figure how I would work it- I guess wait for M to get home, then take a cab with M and Natasha to pick him up? I just cant work out a reasonable plan. I think I will just invite the family over maybe Sat or the next weekend. Not the same as a play date, but I guess better than nothing.

Did I mention that most of his friends in seattle lived in walking distance? that the school was in walking distance? ugh, see, there I go again.

Moscow is great. dont believe me? look at the pictures in the previous post. It really is beautiful. I do enjoy living here. City life is fun, lots going on, lots to do and see.

I just miss my car.