that being said . . .

Do you watch Curb Your Enthusiasm? Good show. Watch it. Anyway they do a bit on "that being said". How you can make a sweeping statement, then just say "that being said" and say the opposite.

I like living in Moscow. I really do. Aside from being far, hard to get to, hard to get out of, traffic, etc. I feel like I could live here for years and years and still not see all there is to see of this city.

you do need a sense of humor to live here. I still like it. I am not sure I can pinpoint why - it is different, strange, funny, beautiful, ugly. Maybe I like all the contrasts. You never know what is going to happen day to day.

That being said,

I am getting the bug to get out. I dont know what it is about the city (maybe just that it is a big city) but it gets tiring. I have never lived anywhere where I felt like I needed to get out. Ok, well, I havent lived too many places - portland, walla walla (leo and I both went to whitman - I think someone asked once in a comment), seattle, now moscow.

It is not an easy city to live in and it wears you down.

I think part of it is so many of my facebook friends are posting things like "just purchased my tickets for . . ." (insert dream destination). I am happy for them. really.

I have resigned myself to the fact that we are not vacation goers. Yeah, come back to the US for christmas and summer. Aside from that, not so much. We would like to be vacation goers. We talk about going places. But it never happens. something (life?) always gets in the way. I think if leo came home and had tickets to some vacation destination (anywhere!) - mind you not just talk about it, or email me a link to some great place like he often does (this kills me - look at this fabulous place! look into going there! but no, dont buy tickets!)- but actually have tickets, and the time off work - I think I would faint! it is what it is.

AND I havent firmed up plans for the summer. We plan on going to portland to stay with my parents, but I am still waiting to get Ms summer surgery scheduled (I am sure I have mentioned - she was born with cleft lip and palate and this summer they are FINALLY closing the hole in the roof of her mouth!!) I sent an email yesterday -(I have been sending emails since Dec trying to get it scheduled) and am anxious to get it scheduled so I can make our summer plans. At least if I know - ok this date we are leaving, I can cling to that.

Of course we are talking about going somewhere- doing something as a family this summer-maybe mexico? hawaii? yes yes Kat, look into it! (but I know, and you know, we wont!)

AND Leo came home the other day, bless his heart, and said- oh I may have to go to St Petes next thurs, why dont we all go for a long weekend. JOY! nice. except when I reminded him that he bought tickets months ago for Metallica. Performing that weekend. see what I mean? vacations just never actually work out - life gets in the way I guess.

Curses Metallica for ruining my long weekend in St Petersburg!!! (shaking my fist)

How petty and spoiled am I complaining about not going on vacation? shame on me! grow up!

That being said,

I am looking forward to the concert. I can pretend I am in America (I do this when we do not- russiany things, like go to a chinese restaurant, or or Starbucks - pretend I am in the US, and oh look, someone at the next table is speaking russian!) . I am not a HUGE metallica fan, like leo who earned his 10 year member pin of the fan club - a few years ago - yes, leo and every other 16 year old boy. But I do like them and they put on an excellent show.

AND there are some good concerts coming up in May, I saw a billboard for Cranberries. I like them. I am a sucker for accents and she sings with a lovely irish accent. Chris Isaak is also coming. no accent, but a crooner, and cute.

AND the weather is getting nicer.

AND I have been making some really nice friends.

Bulbs are coming up!

Moscow is in the midst of the clean up - everything gets a fresh coat of pain, everything is cleaned, etc.

I feel like, having been here a year now, I can anticipate a bit - I know May the heat will go off and fountains will go on, June is pukh and no hot water season! July and August are lovely, warm, not crowded months.

Like I said, things here are good.

We are a bit anxious about Ms surgery. It is a 2 parter. Surgery #1, then 3 weeks later #2. And it sounds gross. Luckily it is not too intense. I think both will be pretty quick. Not like her 9 hr lip repair, or 6 hour first palate repair. i am hoping they wont need to put her under for part 2.

She is pretty nervous, poor girl.

That being said (tired of the phrase yet?)

she is also looking forward to it. I think it will help her speech AND a nice side effect of having a hole between your mouth and nose is that food particles end up irritating her nasal passage and giving her a permanent crusty nose. Not fun for a first grade girl to constantly have to clean gunk out of her nose.

I am so proud of her. (even though she is in the midst of the 7 year old eye rolling, sighing, too cool phase)

Just for my record as I am not a good mama and dont have a baby book for natasha:

natasha is saying some words! yeah! we have so far - mama, leo, pab-le, babia, yiayia, papoo, lena - ok all names. but she also says (I only count if she says it on her own - not repeating me - more than once) bubble, pop, ball, tickle, baby, and burp (really! say says it after she burps, or has gas - a result of having older siblings!). she can answer what does monkey say? lion say? and pig say? but only if she is in the mood, of course. I have a feeling this summer she is going to get chatty! I am excited!