My Cat Watches TV

This might only appeal to cat lovers, but I just find it hilarious. It's hard to get a video of Bumbi watching TV because he will sit there and watch it for a pretty long time as long as nothing much more interesting distracts him...but, getting up to get the camera, or the beep of the camera turning on might be enough to distract him.

Anyway, I took my chances this time, and got up to get the camera, because he was really involved in this show, "The Zoo" because it was showing a segment on some endangered Indonesian cat.

So, as you will see in the video, he watches me come back into the room, and sit down, but then he goes back to watching. Believe it or not, he sat and watched for another 5 minutes after this video ended.

He just makes me laugh!

A day with my goddaughter

Yesterday Joel and I drove up to Ainazi to visit with my family, and especially my goddaughter. She is 1 and a half, and very cute. She's not talking yet, but makes a LOT of "Oooohhh" noises all the time.

Yesterday her favorite thing to do was to point at Joel and "Ooooh". :) She was also making eye contact with him a lot, but then lowering her face but keeping her eyes on him. It was funny. She took to me a bit easier than to him (although, actually, in the last year, she's only seen both of us twice).

Here are some family pictures too...



(Sorry this last one is so blurry...we didn't realize...)

It was a very nice day spent with family yesterday... Hopefully I'll get to see my goddaughter again soon! :)

And for the grand finale...here are some videos! :)

Happy Holidays!

What would the word be if you mashed together Solstice and Christmas? Christice? Solmas? Hee hee...I kind of like Solmas...it sounds like a delicious Greek dish... :)

Anyway, round these parts we more or less celebrated Ziemassvetki (Winter holiday) than anything else. Some combination of old Latvian traditions, mixed with the undeniable Christian influence is definitely what we end up with.

Either way, it was a very nice time. It's been two years since I was with my family for a holiday, and I felt that acutely this year. On the morning of the 24th as Joel and I prepped to get out the door I found myself in tears about being with a makeshift family again. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE Joel's family. They are all very cool people, whom I admire and appreciate greatly...but you can't replace your own family. There is something about being with "your own people" that just cannot be substituted no matter how much your own people might annoy the piss out of you when you're together! :)

Anyway, so, Joel and I headed out to Kugures, Joel's sister-in-law's family country house. It was icy on the roads, but no snow. It would have been nice had the sun made an appearance, but the thick layer of clouds took care of that.

When we got to the house, Joel's brother and nephews were just getting ready to go cut down a tree. Did you know that actually Latvian law says that every Latvian family has a right to cut down any one tree from any Latvian forest for Christmas? Yeah, I just learned that this year. Interesting huh? Anyway...so the boys went and got the tree, and Marianna and I stayed home and chatted.

Decorating the tree and cooking food was pretty much what the rest of the day was about. Here's a picture of me, Marianna's mom and Marianna in the kitchen deep in conversation during food prep.

Here is a picture of the oldest nephew Tiss, in front of the tree.
And there is the tree in all its glory. It was a big one, but it fit perfectly. It did not have any electric lights, but instead had one real candle on it for each person that was there celebrating together. It was really very lovely.

And here, just because I like photos of kids, is a picture of the youngest nephew Mikus, taking a picture of Joel taking a picture. :) He took lots of pictures that day. He went around and made sure he got one of everyone. Most of us made sure to kneel down for his pictures, so he could get us in the frame, but sometimes someone wasn't fast enough or something, and from what I understand, there were quite a few crotch shots taken as well. :) Hee hee.


You may ask, but where is the picture of you and Joel? Well, this is an issue that Joel and I seem to be having lately. No pictures of us. I'm not a big photo taker anyway. Actually, I don't even know where my camera is. So I usually rely on Joel to take the photos, and that usually works out just fine. For some reason it hasn't worked out well for pictures of us at any recent event (Solmas -oh yes, I'm going to start using the term now!, Istanbul...I'm sure there are others...). Anyway...so I have no more to show.

But, I can report that the gift giving was great this year. I think that last year Joel and I were still too close to the beginning of our relationship to REALLY know what to get each other (well, except my happy light, Joel did good on that!). Anyway, this year we talked enough about it, and I suppose know each other well enough to come up with some good pressies. I made out like a bandit with a new cast iron skillet, some ramekins, a new sweatshirt and a beautiful pair of earrings - all from my very attentive and wonderful boyfriend. There was also a very cool little chest of drawers, some nice candles, a great book, a dvd and more from others. Joel didn't do too bad either I would say...I got him a subscription to an Australian sports magazine, a book he's wanted for a long time, some very nice new socks (which he both wanted and needed!) and a nice manly face lotion, so that he can stop using mine. :) He was most excited about his Geelong Cats dvd set from the previous winning season. Ah well. There was no way I could top that. :)

Christmas day was spent in pajamas...on the couch...stoking the fire...playing games (both with kids and just the adults)... it was good. Very relaxing. I tell you the only thing that makes me not want to stay in the country longer is the lack of clean running water and the opportunity to take a shower! :)

Now we're back in town, just chilling... savoring the rest of our break...we still have a while! :)

That's it for now...

A letter to the Sun

Dear Sun,

I miss you. I miss you very, very much.

I know that technically, you'll be showing more of yourself very soon, but I have to tell you it's getting very hard to wait. I'm having trouble being nice to people, period. I'm having trouble getting out of bed, or not falling asleep mid-day. I'm having trouble doing much of anything to tell the truth, and it's all because I miss the shit out of you!!!

Letters from other people might be coming through right now asking Snow to show up instead of Sun...do not be fooled... they really mean you, Sun. Everyone will be happier if you show up. I swear.

Thanks for taking notice.

Hope to see you soon.

Your devoted worshipper,

Mara

Confusing times I live in...

Now I know that there are lots of women out there who have written about this before me...and they probably had more education and research and goodness knows what else behind them. For me, I can only write about my personal experience... so here goes...

My biological clock is doing me in. DOING. ME. IN.

I am a relatively sane person. I function in the world mostly with ease. I have a job. I can pay my bills. And I can do all of this by honest means...I don't have to lie or trick or evade or avoid. I mean, I'm doing ok, right?

Except, there comes this time every month when something else inside takes over. A powerful part indeed that makes me want to do things that are not so honest, that are more than a bit sneaky...things that involve feeding someone in particular alcohol, and poking holes in certain somethings, all to get the job done. This is not me. I swear.

But it gets worse when, up until and including now, none of my trickery (ok, I haven't actually gone very far on anything- no holes poked yet) works...and there comes another time of the month.

A few days ago I went into a restaurant bathroom post meal. While I was there I discovered that much to my disappointment, this month would be no different than any others. I came out of the bathroom nearly in tears. DS literally put her arm around me and said something along the lines of, "Don't cry. Just because it's not this month, doesn't mean that it's never."

I'm not sure...but feeling this way makes me feel like a bit of a freak...and God knows Joel thinks so. Is it normal that in my position (unmarried, although committed, only somewhat financially stable- however deeply sure about Joel) I would get so upset about something that would have only happened by "accident" anyway?

It only makes it worse that there are plenty of people out there who know me, who tell me what feels like all the time that I should just go ahead and have a baby. Or even worse, ANYONE who sees me with a baby just throws out these comments like, "Wow, you look so natural that way." or "That really suits you!" I KNOW PEOPLE. It also feels like the most natural thing in the world for me...and I swear, I feel like I am going to turn into a baby-snatcher soon. Some of our friends here just had a baby, and I missed the chance to see her last week, but maybe that's for the best, because maybe I would have turned psycho and tried to run away with her.

Ah, I sound crazy. I'm sure I do. And you can make fun of me if you want, say that I'm getting clucky, or nesting or whatever...but the jokes on you, cause I've been this way for YEARS. This is nothing new. It's just getting worse.

So I continue to wait...wait for the right time...or for when a little soul determines it is the right time... And my biological clock continues to TICK, TICK, TICK so very loudly in my head...

But that then brings me to the next point...and it's about waiting. It's about following old, old traditions that I am not sure still fit today.

I'm talking about marriage people, and how we get there. I'm talking about a couple (um, us?) mutually agreeing that they "know" about each other...and then the woman (me!) getting left in the dark waiting anyway. I know that it used to be very different, and the rituals that surround proposals and engagements all had practical purpose before (I mean, if my dad was giving away a daughter, then he would need at least what, 10 cows to replace her?). These days however, my dad has nothing to do with my engagement (other than that I hope I would have his blessing of course). But mostly, it's not going to affect "the work that gets done on the farm" or his financial stability (unless I expected him to pay for a wedding, which I don't). Anyway, the point is that long ago, marriages and such actually literally affected more than just the couple getting married in a very real way. These days, I'm not sure they do. Yes, it still affects family and stuff, but, it's not life and death for anyone.

I think, if I remember correctly, my sister-in-law, awesome woman that she is, proposed to my brother. A few weeks ago Joel's mum actually mentioned to me that February 29th is the day when it is ok for a woman to propose to a man, AND that February 29th will occur in just a few short months for the first time in 4 years.

Ah, but I've also talked to Joel about all of this. It seems that maybe, he has some sort of plan. He definitely wants me to shut up about it. And it seems he doesn't want me to propose to him (sorry Maria, as I was starting to hatch my own plan...).

Anyway, the whole point, the issue that I have with all of this, is that I feel like I am really ready for all of this, and that I am suspending it happening just to fit into these old, old traditions, that like I said, I'm not sure are right for today's world.

So....it's confusing times I live in. I'm happy enough. I have a great relationship, I have a job that I mostly love (this year might be a little exception), I have friends, and activities and ways I like to spend my time...

As for goals in life, I'm pursuing higher education, I'm furthering my career which I am really proud of. I'll certainly be the first person in my family unit to get a master's degree, and I think that is awesome. I enjoy my work, and I look forward to making a difference in the lives of all the little random children who come through my classroom...but what I really feel like doing is getting a little barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen. I just want to have babies, and raise them, and be at home and then, when they're all grown up, or in school at least, go back to teaching, at least subbing.

This is I guess the new age-old question for women... family or career... how do you balance them, or choose one over the other, or one before the other? I guess for now, the choice is being made for me...in light of there being no family, or marriage or anything else, I'm doing the career thing now. I guess I don't mind....but you just watch me drop it ALL like a hot potato the minute I find out I'm expecting. Just watch!

So much to say...

And so little time to say it...

I'm in a bit of a rush today...gotta get some things done, but I have to say this:

The pink scarf for my goddaughter is unraveled, re-knit and done. I still think it's a tad too wide and a bit too short, but, like I said before...oh well.

My own multi-colored scarf is also done. It is great. :) I might just have to wear it today! :)

I have started a new project now, and it's also made of baby yarn...but I can't say too much because I know a few pregnant people right now, and it's for one of them. I'm working on it though. And it should be done in time for baby's arrival to this big world.

On a very positive knitting note, yesterday I was able to start my new project all by myself (means I have offficially learned how to do it without help), my knitting teacher reminded me how to finish a scarf with my multi-colored one, and then I was able to finish the pink one all by myself, and the best news of all, is that even after all that knitting last night, my hands didn't hurt! I guess I have finally gotten them used to it! :) Whoohoo!!!

Ok...really gotta run, but the other thing I have to say is:

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR WINTER BREAK!!!! WWHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) (I'm just a little bit excited about that. :))

Fallen

I've fallen... (read on to find out how...)

...prey to local fashion.

I have lived in Latvia for about two and a half years. A couple weeks ago I bought a pair of shoes in Latvia for the first time ever. Why? Because I had no winter-y heels, and I needed some for the holiday season. The pair I bought were cute and probably on par with what you might find in a shoe shop elsewhere in the world and classified as "cool" right now.

Today though, after what feels like years of searching, I fell prey to the pointy-toe boot. Latvian girls don't wear any other kind of toe, unless you count the rounded pointy toe that has now become popular in the cowboy boot style of high heeled black boots. There are no high heeled black boots with square toes in Latvia (except that ONE pair that I found in my first spring here...but I swear that was a fluke, because I have NEVER seen another pair remotely like it). Anyway...that pair I bought two years ago is well worn out... and I have been madly searching for a new pair all autumn/winter. Well today, I saw this pair that has a pointy square toe (close?)...it was in my size, made of materials other than leather, and only 13Ls ($26 USD), and the last pair of its kind. I snatched em up, and then died a little on the inside. I was sad that I couldn't hold on to my morals and principles until March when I get to the States and could buy another pair of square toed black high heeled boots. I have fallen prey.

...into the Christmas spirit.

I made Joel buy me this little tiny potted Christmas tree a few weeks ago. It's decorated as always with ladybugs, silver balls and white lights. :) I'm just sad that I don't have any presents to put under it yet. Just as well, because the cat would probably bat them around and off the windowsill if they were there! If you look closely, you can see that instead of a tree skirt I have wrapped the bottom of our tree in aluminum foil, because it's the only thing that will keep Bumbi out of the soil. Ah well...it kind of matches the silver balls. :) I can't wait until Thursday when we will have our class holiday party at school, and then call it quits for 2 1/2 weeks. I'm very much looking forward to sleeping in, days without kids, going out to the country with Joel's family for Christmas, spending Boxing day with friends from school, and before all of that, finishing up the Christmas shopping. :)

...into a severe addiction.

Knitting has become a serious new hobby of mine. Above is pictures the scarf I knit for my goddaughter for Christmas. It might be a little wide, and possibly just a tad too short...but since it's only my third attempt at knitting ever, (and since she's two) I think she (and her parents) will forgive me. I started this scarf on Thursday. I finished this scarf on Saturday. This scarf used three skeins of special baby yarn. That's a lot of knitting for my hands in three days. I am improving leaps and bounds in my knitting... this one stayed at 25 loops the whole way. I did drop two stitches along the way...but this coming Thursday my young and hip knitting teacher will help me unravel to get rid of those holes and re-do it. Next, I will also learn another stitch (because I am still only doing one.) Oh but, why does it matter about this addiction? Well, only because I am pretty sure I might actually be giving myself arthritis with every pearl I do... I tried to pick up my needles this morning while Joel and I were watching a show, and it hurt so much I just had to put them back down again. The multi-colored scarf that I posted about in my last post is almost done...but it looks like getting to the end might take a while. I will keep trying though, oh yes I will. :)


...in love with an amazing man. (and that is what I look like when I'm in love... :) Actually, I want to change my profile picture, and I need to post the new picture before I can change it, but it gives me a good reason to praise Joel.)

I can be a crazy, crazy bat sometimes. REALLY. Something (winter, darkness, overwhelm, PMS...who knows) has gotten into me lately, and I have been picking fights, being unreasonable, and being immensely over-critical of myself in a drag him down kind of way a lot. Through all of this, however, Joel has been cool. Yeah, I've pushed him, even over the edge, and he's lost it...but he always comes back...ready and willing to smooth over whatever is going on. Ready to hold my hand, hug me, offer words of support or whatever I really need, instead of a fight.

Tonight in one of those highly conscious moments that you have sometimes, I realized just how happy I am to have found him. I never did think I would find him...even if I didn't know who he was, when I felt that way. I'm a lucky girl to have this guy in my life. And I can only hope that he feels the same way the next time I go off the deep end with him. :)

So there you go... fallen, in four different ways... some bad, some good. Each an experience. :)

It can only get better...

Last night I learned to finish off a scarf. And then I drank a lot of wine which I am regretting now. But that is another story. The point is, my very first, made with my own hands scarf is now around someone's neck. I'm only going to show it to you around his neck too because it is my first scarf after all, and it's far from perfect. I started the scarf with 40 loops...very soon I was up to 45. Half way through the scarf, I thought, "that's too big" and inquirer and thinker that I am, I figured out on my own how to get it back down to 40. My "knitting teacher" told me I am very smart, because I figured out the right way to do it. I did it way too fast though. So what ended up happening was that the scarf got obviously narrower pretty quickly... so, one end of the scarf is fat and very loosely knit (I was learning!) and the other end is skinnier, and nicer.

But look, in this picture, it just looks warm and nice! :)

And here is a close up. It didn't turn out as long as Joel had said he wanted, but my knitting teacher said it'll stretch, especially considering how loosely it's knit.


And this is my new project, which I already started right away last night! (It'll be for me, and it'll be much narrower to begin with.) I fell in love with the yarn. AND, I was peeing my pants because I found a yarn store in Old Riga, and it is literally just this good sized store that has walls and shelves lined with yarn, yarn and more yarn!!! :) I am such a dork now, but I love it!