better the devil you know

So we did something I swore we wouldnt do for at least another 5 years. Yes we caved and bought the kids a cell phone. I know! I hate the kids and their phones. They didnt even ask for one. I did. They have such a long bus ride home, and now they are each starting an after school activity so will be coming on the later bus twice a week and me and my paranoid parenting need to feel they can reach me, and I them in case, oh I dont know, they miss the bus, or traffic gets snarled because some hackers posted porn videos on a video billboard, or traffic gets snarled because a cache of over 900 WWII undetonated bombs are found during water utility maintenance work, you know, things like that.

Anyway we got them one for emergencies only, to be kept in P's backpack only, not to be taken out unless an emergency, get the idea? i think it will be a good way for P to feel responsible too. And, if he shows it off at school or calls random people, then M gets to carry it. Nothing like your little sister getting to do something cool like carry a cell phone to keep you on the straight and narrow, right?

In other news, we decided to sign on for another year in our apartment. First, we hate the idea of moving. And all things considered it is a good place. Cant beat the gated yard. nice playground. good floor plan. Lots of sq footage. And, you never know what you get in another apartment. I know this one and can live with it. So Leo signed the documents, went to work the next morning and the entire plumbing in our previously operational bathroom (not the one with water leaking from the ceiling) went to hell. Water from the shower draining from under the toilet? yikes! Plumbers come, remove the toilet! craw up and down the manhole outside the apartment, then tromp in and out through the kitchen, through the bathroom. Good thing I just cleaned the floors - ha ha!

So after the first day they leave - I peek in the bathroom. I wish I hadn't. There was a hole in the floor. I saw water gurgle up, flooding the floor soaking the bathmats and towels on the floor, then gurgle down.

Next day them come back, work some more. No one even makes eye contact with me. I think our landlord is with them, does he introduce himself. not so much. Anyway, they work hard, so no big deal. 1 approaches and I need to deliver something to Leos office by 1:30. What to do? I dont want to leave them in the apt while I go out. So I approach who I think is the landlord supervising things (did I mention there are no fewer that 5 men working on this little project?). Anyway, I sheepishly say - excuse me Извините пожалуйста. He looks at me shocked I can speak, I proceed I need to go, but will be home in 20 minutes- нада идти, ну быдy дома 20 миныт. Ok, so there are like a million ways to use the verb to go - go by foot is different than go by car, so I use the by foot one, I think. So he blinks. crap - he doesnt understand me. He announces to the men standing there "она хочет идти гулять" she wants to go for a stroll. uhm, well not exactly. I actually need to go somewhere. I got things to do mister besides go for a stroll. (actually I needed to get JJJs poster to the DHL guy, but whatev). OK, I think about saying, not that verb - to go for a stroll, the verb to go by foot. but, ok, I pass, let it go. so what. He thinks I am some crazy american woman who needs to stroll around in the afternoon. So they talk, they say 5 minutes и бсе (and finished). OK. So 5 minutes later they leave. I am not sure if they are бсе бсе or just бсе for the day....... that was friday. today is monday. maybe they will come, maybe not. I will have Leo call. I did spend a good hour cleaning the bathroom, me and Mr Proper (Mr Cleans russian twin). I ended up tossing the bathmats and towels that they used to sop up the water. I just cant find water hot enough to kill whatever septic water they were soaking in.

well, it is an excuse to go to Ikea and get some new towels!