A very dear friend of mine became a mormor (Sweedish for g-ma) today. At 10:00a.m. Campbell’s birthday began. Her mormor and mommy are in my bookclub. It’s a group of exceptional women who have taught me a lot about love. We all have so much warmth and sweetness briming over to give to this wee one-we’ve been waiting to meet her for what seems like an eternity. Welcome to the World, Campbell.
It’s been a while, I know. I missed you too. Life’s been spank’n me sore-I must like it, cause I keep coming back for more. I was on a run a few months ago around Town Lake. Just as I was about to finish shuffling (I don’t run, I shuffle) over the walking bridge, I noticed a bit of grafhiti on a cement drainage conduit at the river level. It was not terribly obvious. But the words seemed to jump out at me. All it said was “Be More”. I don’t know why but the picture of that phrase has stuck with me ever since. Two days later, Noel called and told me he had the all clear for me to go work in Russia with him…in the middle of winter. Have a I mentioned that the extent of my travels gets as exotic as Matemoros and Juarez? I’ve never really left the country, ever. I know this will shock and surprise many-as I seem the world traveler:-) Have I also mentioned that I’ve seen snow 4 times in my life. Only one of those times was it accumulated over 6 inches…winter is coming…
So, today I mailed off for my tourist visa to the Russian Consulat. It feels real now. If only this pesky Ph.D. program wasn’t getting in the way of my excitement and planning. I’ve been reading up on the Russian history via the state department web page. It’s wild to me that their current goverment is only 14 or so years old. I have also been trying to increase my Russian and picked the best site possible- Russiancyberbrides.com
I can’t wait to share my new found language skills;-) I’ve been telling everyone about my trip in order to get as much advice as possible-ironic that I was told to copy everything in my wallet an passport in case stuff got stolen. My wallet was stolen last week-fuckers. But I’m not bitter, really. Kharma will catch up with them.
Did I mention that I’m going to Russia?
For those of you who know me, you’ll realize how interesting it is that I’m not freaking out with my lack of details regarding the trip-control freak am I. I know that we’ll be spending 5 days in Moscow then traveling to a “resort” (Motel 6 style) just outside of town. I already had all types of story lines involving international intrigue and such when I got my “invitation” from our Russian counterpart (apparently you have to be invited to Russia-you don’t get to just show up). The travel agency that is “inviting” us is in Kaliningrad. So, not knowing where that is, thinking it might be on the outskirts of Moscow, I look it up. I get a link that starts out with the following paragraph, no lies:
“Sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland, it’s fair to say no other part of Eastern Europe manages to court as much negative press as Kaliningrad: dubbed a ‘corridor of crime,’ it’s perhaps better known for AIDS epidemics, drugs plagues, pollution and bleak tower blocks. Amazingly, though, there is a life beyond the horror stories.” Here’s the link.
Fuck.
Too funny.
Fuck.
I have since been told that we are not spending our time in Kaliningrad, but the possibility that we will be working with the children of the Russian mafia was not ruled out.
Be More.
Adventure.