Chronicles of Serbia

UnOrthodox Traveling Tuesday, The Pregnancy Journey

2012-02-21T15:47:00.000-05:00

Ironically, I have done a good bit less traveling, working, and blogging during my pregnancy. I have been zapped of energy, desire, and strength. But the pregnancy has been quite a journey. An accidental one.

I have learned a lot that I never wanted to know during this pregnancy. Trust me, you will thank me not to share some of it with you. It is not a Rosie as people make it out to be. I think a lot of Rose colored glasses are passed out to women. I must have missed the hand out.

Along the way, I have experienced the Good, the Bad and the Ugly! No kidding.

The Good:
Getting past the days when you just look like you are getting fatter and the belly rounds out to look pregnant.

The knowing smiles of woman and people letting you jump the bathroom line to pee! Ahh sweet relief!

Seeing how my belly can bring woman together, and cut out some of the regular cattiness between them.

I am shocked that I haven't gotten stretch marks, I was sure I would. So far I have escaped them. Yippee!

I have enjoyed the advice given, I am all about listening for something that may be helpful now or in the future.

Feeling Millie kick most of the time has been cool. But kicking or head butting my bladder has been just the opposite.Now she barely has room to kick, she just moves kinda slowly and stretches. I definitely don't enjoy her hiccups, and I am sure she doesn't either.

Our cat, Kyger, seems to be taking all the housing adjustments in stride. She likes playing with the rocking chair and rocking ottoman, and she has just discovered the joys of sleeping in the bassinet. Milan and I can't help but take pics. How CUTE! I think she will be a good big sister. I have no fears of cat vs. baby. I was an only child for a few years and cats were my best friends. They always were sweet to keep me company.

I am not sure that she understands there will be a baby here soon, but once when she was running across my belly the baby kicked back. :) Kyger never felt it, but I did.

My husband has been an amazing help! He cooks and cleans better than me, and he helps me in so many ways! Sometimes I get stuck on the bed and he helps me up. He has helped me shave my legs, put on my shoes and socks, not to mention, to think about things more rationally when I get overwhelmed with hormones and exhaustion. He has been a phenomenal support. He would do more if I let him, but I am so independent, I hate asking for help, unless it is necessary. I am blessed. He is awesome. I love him so much!

The Bad and the Ugly

Since the beginning of the pregnancy I have had trouble breathing. I had to stop exercising and my muscles have atrophied and turned to mush. I can't wait to get back to my usual more muscular self. Being able to breath will be awesome. It has become increasingly difficult as she grows and more pressure has been put on my lungs. Thank God it will be over soon.

The pressure on my bladder and potty trips round the clock have been sooo annoying. and I know that sleep will elude me for the next couple years as baby wakes for changing and feedings. and I will be breast feeding because it is what's best for both me and Millie, so most of the feeding will be just the two of us. I will pump a bit to share the burden. Milan will have to feed her some when I go back to work.

In the beginning when I could still sleep on my belly, sometimes my breasts would hurt like I was being stabbed when I laid on them.

Now I can only lay on my back propped up or on my right side or I get huge headaches and back aches. Oh JOY! I will be so excited to sleep any way I want when Millie finally arrives.

Breast feeding should go under all three categories, THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY.

It is often extremely difficult for most women and is painful in most cases in the beginning as you learn how to get a good latch. Then when the teeth come in again. ;) There are so many health benefits for both mother and child I would be a fool not to. I am looking forward to it, but I have heard so many horror stories about the pain involved and the problems that can occur that I am a bit nervous, but steadfast in my resolve to do it. I will blog about it once I get some experience under my belt.

It is good that I live in a seasonal town and working in the winter is much more relaxed and it is easier on a pregnant woman. I am lucky that I haven't had to work for a while now, but I actually don't enjoy not working. I wish I could, but my body has been worn down , I am sure it is best I stopped working. The bad is, I am not bringing in any money. :( I hate that.

There are a myriad of other aches and pains that I have not mentioned not to mention the coming labor... yikes! Just have to focus on the little baby I will get to hold soon. :)

To many this may seem like a rant from someone who will soon have the joy of a child. I get that, but as someone who never planned to marry or have children this has been a bit more frustrating. I never romanticized about having a belly or a baby. Rather, I looked forward to a life of independence. And enjoyed the things I could do that my married with children friends could not.

I am trying to enjoy this journey, but I know the work involved for the rest of my life and I am not looking forward to getting someone up to go to school, find socks, shoes, toys, etc etc etc. For a commitment-phobe like me, sometimes I look at it as a life sentence rather than a blessing. In reality, I think it is both. My hope to become a better person for it, less selfish and more loving.

I am off to try some labor inducing tricks, if it doesn't work, I will be going to the Dr. tomorrow. Hoping for some good news.

The Namesake... Millie

2012-02-20T12:42:00.000-05:00

Our little dumpling is taking her time coming. I went to the Dr. last week and she said she wouldn't be surprised if I lasted a week. I have a few more days before I get to a week, but I am thinking positively. Come on Millie!!

Lately, I have been thinking of her namesake, my Grandma Jones. And then I start to cry. I miss her so much still. and I am sure all the hormones for two women in one body don't help the situation. What a dirty trick to play on a girl. Ha ha, You are a big ball of emotions. I have officially become a cry baby. SO annoying for a tom-girl like myself.

Since the beginning when I told people her name lots of people respond: Millie Vanilli. Not a name I anticipated. But not a bad one.

Then yesterday I started thinking of her in Metric measurements... I know I am a total nerd!
Millie litre- The pee pee in her diaper
Millie Gram- who she was named after
Millie meter- her length. though I wish she was a little smaller Millie meter in my belly right now. She hardly has any room! poor little girl.

The Namesake is also great book.

picture care of Wikipedia

It's about a Bengali couple who move to the US and there struggles to live in a different country and culture. and then raise their children there. It goes on to be more about the life of the son, and his intercultural challenges. All totally relevant to my life. if you are interested in reading what wiki has to say about the book, click here. I loved it! Jhumpa is a great writer.

Kiss the cook!

2012-02-12T15:31:00.000-05:00

Breakfast today, Quiche with Broccoli, ham and cheeses with baked tomato and Buttermilk biscuits.

I have been baking bunch lately. But then again, I have so much time on my hands. I am not working, Bored out of my mind waiting for baby to arrive. and Big as a house. There is so much time too kill, lots of time to learn more about cooking and such. I have been stalking Pinterest. Trying out new dishes, and variations of those dishes has been a great pass time. Most recently, it is souffle and quiche like dishes, convenient for cooking one day and eating off of it for a couple days. The advantages are more than just yummy. I am heating the house too. BONUS!

I have grown to love the Pinterest site for all it's great idea sharing. Mostly, I am using it to stock pile recipes for Serbia. There are no box mixes of brownies or cakes to be made there. Everything I want to make has to be from scratch. Most Serbs haven't even heard of brownies, and our cakes are just strange sweet breads to them. And I would love to share these things with my family there, as well as my friends. :)

So far, the pumpkin pies, chocolate chip cookies, guacamole, pancakes, and other various dishes have been devoured by our Serbian friends. I have to branch out with more ideas, and recipes. This is always a challenge and so it finding ingredients. It is not uncommon to find something is unavailable in my little town. If we lived in a city, ingredients would be much easier to find but not so in a small town.

Pinterest is also a great way for me to stock up on ideas for Millie, her room, photography, clothes. and awesome, cheap DIY stuff. Yippee! saving money and being crafty are fun things for me!

My Cat is crazy for bananas. I think I posted about that before but her fruit obsession has grown. She also enjoys fruit smoothies and pears. Oddly enough, she will not touch most meats. Only wants her dry cat food, and occasionally some fish. What kind of cat did we find??? She is a strange one, but she suits our family well. ;)

Bringing up baby~ Internationally: Introducing Expatria, Baby Blog

2012-02-10T00:05:00.000-05:00

Lately I have have been thinking of how difficult it is to raise a child. There are so many rules in each culture and they change from one generation to another. For instance, here in the U.S. breast feeding is making a strong come back after being discouraged for several decades. In some families this is causing conflicts between mothers and daughters within the same culture. Yet children raised on formula and the breast grow up to be healthy well adjusted adults.

Things can become even more complicated when crossing continents and cultural traditions. But I have decided that no matter what. I will do my best and muddle through. My baby will have the benefit of being at least bi-lingual and bi-cultural. Everything else will come out in the wash because she will be loved and cared for by her family.

Then yesterday, I read this wonderful post from a native Canadian living in Asia. She is married to a Swiss gentleman and I believe she has come to the same conclusions. Her most recent post, Pas Possible was refreshingly honest, amusing, and internationally relevant to child rearing. Her parenting experience spans not just her own cultural upbringing in North America, but jumps the Atlantic to France, then to Japan. Imagine all the different ideas these cultures. Not to mention those shared with her by her Swiss husband. Now, that is a lot to throw in the blender!

The bottom line is, if you love your child and are doing your best for them, they will know it. Setting boundaries and sticking to them gives kids the frame work they need and they do need it! It shows that they are loved enough to be kept in check.

Many thanks to Erica over at Expatria, Baby for writing such a lovely blog. Please check it out.

P.S.
Here is a link to one of my other favorite posts of hers... http://www.expatriababy.com/2011/08/public-boobies-i-hate-them.html

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?? Lets Go Giants!!

2012-02-05T12:37:00.000-05:00

So, Are you ready for some Football?
I am, and not the small white kind you just kick around the field. (No offense intended, I love me some Futbal! Go Red Star!) I am talking about the pointy pigskin with laces. I am so happy to be in the US to see the BIG GAME!

When we are in Serbia, the game is a full Six hours later. That means the kickoff is at half past mid-night! AND unless you live in a city it will probably not be shown on TV, and watching it on the computer is just not the same. Plus often the commercials are from other countries... not the typical super bowl commercials we all know and love.

Last year I tried to watch it online and fell asleep. Then googled the commercials the next morning. Buzzkill.

This year, I am watching with friends. Eating some unhealthy food, and Savoring being home! Oh, and I am thankful that Millie, my literal side kick is still "kicking it" in my uterus, so there no feedings accept my own to acknowledge and indulge.

I had been hoping she would come early, and still do hope she makes her appearance soon, but I had one stipulation. She needed to come before the big game or after. I didn't want to be pushing or on pain meds recuperating and trying to enjoy the Final match.

Super Bowl XLVI is between the New England Patriot (AFC champs)s, and the New York Giants (NFC champs). Neither is my team, and honestly, I am just glad it will be an East Coast Team who wins either way. But I am cheering for NY. I used to live there, I miss "The City", the culture and the people and so much more!! I love NY!

Click below for my favorite Madagascar clip! ALL HAIL the New York Giants!
click here!
If you haven't seen Madagascar, you should, it is funny!

New Years Resolutions "Knock yourself UP!" *

2012-01-26T08:48:00.000-05:00

Kudos to those of your who are working hard on keeping their New Years resolutions. I haven't made any,and I barely celebrated for Christmas or New Years. Millie has done a number on me and I haven't had the energy. But, in hind sight, I think I celebrated enough for 2 years last year so I guess it all works out in the wash.

A beautiful Church in Smederevo

This year we were here hanging out in the house for all the holidays, and Slava's. But last year we were making the rounds to friends homes, traveling to Novi Sad to Celebrate my Christmas with dear sweet friends.

For Jan 31st New Years Celebrations we had a small gathering at our house in our South Eastern little Serbian town.

Serbian Christmas was celebrated with family.

FOR THE CHERRY ON TOP...
The Celtic Saints came to town for Serbian New Years, the concert ended in Fire works. What a great celebration with friends! That was probably my most memorable New Years EVA!

My main resolution last year was to loose weight. I made every attempt to do so. I was doing well until I sprained my ankle and ended up in a cast for a month. :(

back in the US I was at it again, walking and biking even after working doubles til dun dun dun! I found out I was pregnant. The first trimester was a TKO for my resolution as the exhaustion set in and and I became a slave to sleep. Millie has been kicking my butt ever since and I am tipping the scales at the highest I have ever seen. Granted, it's not just me in this body. ;)

I guess this years resolution it not just to loose weight as it has been for every other year, it is to be a good MOM.Wish me LUCK!!!

Best of luck for a great New Year and for being successful in keeping your resolutions!
XO

*"Knock yourself up" is one of my favorite mix ups of two English sayings. normally you will hear someone say "knock yourself out" when you are about to tackle a task. That was what my muz was trying to say... but when you are piecing a language together often prepositions often get mixed up. I fell on the bed laughing when the Muz said "knock yourself up" (or get yourself pregnant) about 5 years ago. Now that I am "knocked up" it seemed like as good a time as any to bring back the slip. :)

Me, "Knocked UP!"

Traveling Tuesday...and U.S. Citizenship

2012-01-24T11:27:00.002-05:00

Last Wednesday the honey and I got up early to go to Baltimore. I was up a little after four AM because I couldn't sleep. I was so excited.

We left at 5:20. I didn't drink anything for fear my baby squished bladder would cause us to stop a trillion times. It was a good decision. We got to Baltimore via Google earth directions that were spot on. We had time to find a bathroom and eat before we had to head into the interview waiting room.

Sitting in the waiting room with a bunch of others is a bit unnerving, but the process is pretty painless. People from all over the world were sitting there awaiting their name to be called and to go take the test. Some had lawyers with them and some were solo like us. This time though, Milan was going in alone.

The Muz had been studying for the test for a month or two and I had been quizzing him. Most of the stuff was U.S. History I learned as a kid in elementary school and had forgotten years ago. There were questions about politicians and what year this or that happened. All pretty basic. My man passed with flying colors. HE is a awesome.

When he passed they asked him if he wanted to be sworn in as a citizen that day or be rescheduled. He opted to do it a few hours later. He was thinking, maybe they would make the date for when I was going into labor. Better to get it over with and then we wouldn't have to drive to Baltimore again. That is a hike with a pregnant lady or a baby.

It was not as exciting as I have seen on TV, but it was a thrill to have it done.

As soon as the process was over we skipped the photo op with the Flag to rush back to the car and get out of dodge before Baltimore/Washington rush hour slowed our trip home to a crawl. We made it home 12 hours after we had left and Kitty was waiting for us. :)

My legs were swollen and my poor ankles looked like Kankles, but it didn't matter. I was super Excited. The long process we had been working on for 5 years was over!!! JOY! no more checks to write or hoops to jump through. I am married to a citizen! Wahoo :)

Now we are just waiting for little Millie to Arrive. One big thing down, one to go.

Traveling Tuesday~ Florida Roadtrip

2012-01-03T11:57:00.001-05:00

I am such a slacker. can't seem to keep on track with blogging during this pregnancy. Sorry. My mind is all a muck with so many thoughts and plans... but here is another travel post. :)

This was on one of my many road trips down to Florida. The Flagler Museum is behind me. I am in my favorite and the oldest city in the US. St. Augustine Florida.

When I was younger and single I would go down about every winter to camp in Anastasia state camp ground, walk the trails. Listen to the sound of the waves as I fell asleep in my little one woman tent and venture all over the cool old Spanish town. It was so much fun!

I love the old sprawling trees adorned with Spanish moss.

Then I would drive a few more hours over to Kissimmee, Florida to see my grandparents and a wonderful college friend who lived nearby. Sometimes I would go to Disney world or Epcot too. IT was sooo much fun!

Florida is such a different world than where I live. There are so many beautiful trees blooming with fruits. Oranges grow right outside my Grandpa's house. and here is another fruit... I have no idea what it is??

Then there are the alligators...
They are in just about any body of water you come upon. I wouldn't take a chance swimming anywhere that wasn't a pool or the ocean. ;)

I love Florida. Can't wait to go back in the Spring. Have to take the baby to see her Grandparents and Great Grandpa! That will be interesting. Road trip with baby is a totally different adventure.
Happy travels!

My bump, my bump, my bump, My Bump, My lovely Baby Bump

2011-12-14T15:00:00.000-05:00

Check it out!

I am enjoying my winter, not working as hard and making time for friends is what the season is about. I got to see my best buddy Shannon last weekend. and here is a pic of the two of us or rather 3.

Baby bump ahead.

Thanks Aunt Shanny for the nice pic of us!

The size of my Bump is increasing and the weight is too. Sometimes I feel like I am carrying a bunch of bricks in my belly. I hope she comes early. but mostly I just hope she is a happy healthy baby.

Looking for fun belly pic ideas. If I get some, I will probably post them here.
ciao for now!

Christmas at home

2011-12-14T14:27:00.000-05:00

Getting ready for Christmas is a breeze. We are planning a quiet affair at home, no gifts, no hulabaloo. Just dinner and relaxation. Milan, Millie in the belly and me. I would have been going home for Christmas, but pregnancy is just exhausting. I would love to be spending time with family. But as we are making a family of our own, this is enough.

The tiny tree is decorated in the corner. and anticipate making some yummy goodies to share with neighbors. :) My Big Christmas gift, Millie's Graco Pack and play arrived yesterday. I assembled it and disassembled it. Rearranging and organizing will ensue soon. Gotta make room. A huge Thanks to MN for such a wonderful Gift!!


The walmart site pic

Other adventures
A couple days ago I went for a walk and found a Pecan tree not far away. At first I didn't know what the little nuts in the shells were I had come across till I came home and cracked them open. What a delightful surprise. They are pretty expensive to buy here and I cannot even find them in Serbia. As I sat at the counter cracking them open I discussed with Milan planting a pecan tree or trees back in Serbia. We think it shouldn't be difficult. It will just take a little while to produce nuts.

Last week I introduced Milan to sweet potatoes. He is hooked. and he even did some reseach on them in Serbia. He hadn't ever seen them, but apparently in Vojvodina there is a fella who grows them. Good new for us! We can grow them too. Yippee. Now just to find marshmallows to mix with the sweet potatoes in Serbia... oh and corn syrup to make pecan pies there as well. All in good time I suppose. ;)

Hope you are all taking time to enjoy the season.
God bless!

Belly kicks, Bumbo seats and Balkan Prep

2011-12-12T02:42:00.001-05:00

It is almost three AM and I can't turn off my brain. The comfort of my 7+ mo. pregnant body isn't helping. Thank God for the 2 body pillows I sleep with or I wouldn't sleep at all! How did pregnant woman ever cope without them??

Millie is kicking up a storm and loves to stretch from one end of the womb to the other while resting most of her almost 3 lbs on my bladder... the bathroom and I have a whole new relationship. I love that my cat loves to come visit while I am there. :) I know she is just taking advantage of the cheap pets, but it is still nice.

Lately, all I can think about is what I will need when I go to Serbia. Or rather, what won't I need. The cost of most modern luxuries is so high that the common baby "necessities" of the west are non-existant. I have only seen one high chair in use there for feeding. This is for a few reasons I believe.

the Bumbo seat

First, no child loving mother there wants to risk ruining her child's hips. (As I mentioned in a previous post, it is commonly believed that you should not let your child sit up until after 6 months of age) The Bumbo seat is not making it's way to the Balkans anytime soon! lol

I do have one and plan to use it... fortunately, Millie will grow out of it by the time we are leaving for Serbia, so my sweetMother-in-law won't have a heart attack from worrying about her grandchild's hips being ruined.

The next reason for no high chairs and many other wonderful modern (Say in the last 50 years) inventions is CO$T. The price of a common baby swing is outrageous. and I wouldn't even invest in one if I lived there. There are so many other things like, diapers, diapers, and more diapers one must buy. Most people don't have thousands of extra dinars to spend on things like that.

Rocking chairs are not so common there either, in fact, I haven't seen ONE. Seriously! I am sure I could find one if I looked hard enough, but they are not common. This is one of the non-modern pieces I assumed were everywhere. That is what you get for assuming, right?

Bed in the kitchen... Breakfast in bed would be so easy!

Kitchen Couch is bottom right corner.

There are some really cool trades in convenience. Where I live in South Eastern Serbia, especially in the villages, it is not uncommon to find a fold out couch in the kitchen or even a bed. This is a plus in my book for small children or mothers just home from the hospital. You can take a rest and keep warm in the winter by the wood stove that makes your meals. I can't say how much I love that.

Now, while nesting, I am wondering what things will be helpful to take when we resume our Balkan life, and what of those things will be cultural faux pas. I am sure there will be many, just more fodder for the blog I suppose. :)

Happy Holidays!

Gingerbread Kuce (house)

2011-12-02T14:45:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the warmth of the Holiday Season. This year I am taking full advantage of being home... Well as much as possible. The big belly is taking it's toll. and I missed the big Berlin Christmas parade last night. :( But I am staying festive with my activities! This (above) is my Gingerbread house! Beach style of course.

There are shells and a surf board for Santa and Frosty. And at the entrance...

a cinnamon stick and bay leaf palm tree! with a nutmeg nut for a coconut. That was my team partner Shawn's idea... Nice right? I am pretty proud of our work, and look forward to doing it again next year.. though, I will have make everything from scratch in Serbia. no cheater gingerbread house setups there. ;) I don't even know if they know about gingerbread??? anyone else know?

My partner Shawn and I were on a GB house team. There were 13 teams I think and here are some of the stunning homes that were decorated:


Gingerbread house with a Ferris Wheel

I love this one!

These houses were built with more than creativity and fun in mind. There is a contest that is judged by the amount of money generated by each house. The money goes to a local shelter. what a great idea. decorating little houses to raise money for a real home.

Now to decorate for Christmas at home!

Happy Holidays to one and all :))

Sunset on Herring Creek

2011-11-11T11:00:00.001-05:00

The Salisbury Zoo

2011-11-10T13:50:00.000-05:00

A peacock roosts on the top of a building at the zoo.

This is the third zoo I have written about in my blog. The first one here in the US. The Salisbury Zoo is free to the public, but donations are accepted to pay for the cost of food for the animals.


Canadian Geese and sipak berries

At the entrance, the Muz and I strolled over the the waters edge to check out the Canadian geese and I discovered sipak berries. Sipak, pronounced sheepok, are little red berries that grow on bushes covered in thorns. Here I had never heard of anyone using them to make anything, but back in Serbia, my mother-in-law makes a Jam with them. I was so surprised to see them here. I had to check with the Muz to make sure they were actually sipak.

We rambled on down the path to check out more of the peaceful creatures. We walked by the llama pen, and down a path with a bridge jutting out into the lake to find to white pelicans paddling around below.

And in the distance another lone pelican sat still in the water fishing for his next meal.

The fall colors were magnificent. We had driven to Salisbury just one week prior and since then the colors have exploded. The magnificent hues added to the splendor of the animals.

An unexpected animal found it's way into one of the cages and then hopped out. I think she is a little scavenger.

Next stop was the cage of the regal eagles. The animal that is a symbol of both of my countries.

They are such large birds. Seeing them in the air is just to far to appreciate their size.

This capybara is the size of a large dog, and yet it is a rodent from South America. That is a rat worth screeming about.

I think the muz's favorite is the flamingo. Here he is posing with them.

My favorite is always the monkeys.

After our walk through the zoo we enjoyed a stroll through the park.

At the end of the the walk, we stood on a bridge and watched a turtle swim a while and then find a resting place at the foot of the bridge.
Another wonderful fall day.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-02T09:33:00.000-04:00

This was the first year after so many spent working that I observed Halloween. I didn't dress up, but joined a friend in taking her two little ones out and about in our little town.

The Kids were Dora and Boots. It was a bit ironic that Dora actually wanted to be Boots the monkey and tried wearing his monkey head part of the costume. And Later once they both had candy in their pumpkin baskets, she became the "swiper", swiping he little brothers candy. Eventually he played along and just started filling her basket with his candy, but he got mad when she wouldn't reciprocate.

The town was mobbed with all sorts of creatures. Seeing all the cool costumes was such fun.

The town and yards were decked out with the holiday spirit as well.

Dora and boots had a great time, and so did we. I became the "swiper" later, and the muz got to try a bunch of American candies he had never had before. He really enjoyed that.

Hopefully next year I will get to take Millie. :) Oh the fun I have ahead of me!

Thrifty Thursday

2011-10-27T08:35:00.001-04:00

Lately, I have had nothing but baby on the brain. I have been thinking of nothing but how to reorganize the tiny shoe box apt we live in to accommodate out new edition due in just under 5 months.

Thrift shops and Tag sales are my favorite places to find quality products at bargain prices. AND, I have been doing really well.

I have been looking for ways to re purpose things I have as well as bargain items. Plus, I scored a 100% Kashmir, camel colored coat with a removable Mink collar at a thrift store for just $7.95. It will fit my expanding waistline and look stylish to boot.

Bonus Gifts
I have also been blessed by friends who have been giving me hand-me-downs that are like new, some with tags still on and they will save me a bundle! I cannot list all the things I have received. There are just too many! I am such a lucky girl and so is my Millie.

One of my favorite finds was an old Cd shelf that I have re-purposed. I set a bunch of various baskets on it and made it into a very storage friendly unit that Millie's clothes, toys, etc. will fit beautifully. I am so excited by it.

I have also been busy registering at Walmart, Diapers.com and Target. It takes time, but a friend told me that the stores send you coupons for the things that you don't get. And I will take any break I can get to save more for the future. Babies are expensive!

To accommodate our budget and space I have decided to go solely with a pack and play for a bundle piece of furniture. It includes a bassinet, a changing table, diaper storage and a play pen! all for much cheaper than almost anyone of these items sold separately. Bingo!

I have been researching Diaper pails, and the Diaper champs seems like the way to go... With other diaper disposers, using the select bags for that can look like they would get costly. The Diaper champ uses any old bags and will be more cost efficient. Thumbs UP!

I am going to use both cloth and regular pampers, I looked up the ecological effect of each and internationally the studies came out the same. The amount of washing cloth diapers take the same toll on the earth as the ones that end up in land fills.

I was surprised to find this out. I had planned on using clothe, but with the cost of the diapers and paying to do laundry, it doesn't make cents!

Thrifty advice anyone???
I am all ears for any recommendations, Please feel free to share any knowledge. Thanks!

Last Friday Night

2011-10-26T09:46:00.000-04:00

Red Letter Day! love them :)

Unlike Katy's song mine was a well remembered, drug and alcohol free evening.
There was a threesome involved though. I went out with my girls P and M. We went up to Rehobeth, Delaware for the evening. Delaware is just a stone's throw away, and Rehobeth is just a short 30 minutes north of the border.

The three of us walked around town and then decided on Hobos for dinner.We all split a to die for butternut squash soup and each had an entree. None of us were disappointed with our choices. We had a Buddha Bowl two different quesadillas. Everything was delish!

Here are some pics of the place! Great atmosphere with Asian touches. And did I mention everything was organic, not over priced and they offer a vegan menu too!

Warm relaxing interior.


Featuring a Dog "friendly" porch.

After a little more strolling around we made our way to the Frog Pond to see our friends play. Red Letter day is usually a beautifully harmonious duo, but this time there were three in the harmony and a drummer. As usual they didn't disappoint.

Millie was making herself know at dinner and during the band's playing she was dancing up a storm. She she using her arms and legs hitting on my stomach. I have never experienced such a rush of energy from her. It was amazing.

The entire evening was magical. Just getting to spend a Friday evening out with my girlfriends was priceless. I did invite the husband, but he was not interested. I get that.

This Friday night I would love to "Do it alllll Againn". But I gotta work.

I will leave your with two songs...Red Letter Day's, Chesapeake
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_CW2HXla_I.

And Katy Perry's
Last Friday Night

Happy Hump day Y'all!

Traveling Tuesday Edinburgh, Scotland continued

2011-10-25T09:57:00.001-04:00

Random fun chaps ready for the 6 nations rugby game. I had to have a picture.

After settling in and taking in the sights for a day I settled in to the hostel lounge and made some friends. Lone, the friendly Danish lady who was staying in the same room with me decided she would take me around the city. The next day we ventured out to eat some traditional breakfast that included Sausage and may have been haggis. I just can't recall. (I know I had haggis, stuffed goat stomach while I was there, and I loved it!)

After breakfast we went exploring, and made our way out of town to the Scotland motorcycle show. during our journey we saw the most peculiar tree...


the random shoe Tree in the middle of NOWHERE!

Lone didn't see the tree at first an so we had to turn around to go back to see it. Both of us were shocked at the sight. We never did find out why such a tree existed. There were all kind of shoes hanging from the tree and baby dolls and stuffed animals as well. so odd.

The towns along the way were beautiful, I love the old cobble stone roads. They are narrow, but lovely. Finally we made it to the show.


Future Triumph owner

We browsed about after being let in for free by some fellow hostelers. What a lucky break. The show featured the new makes and models.

As well as a section that showed of the history of motorcycles.

It was a wonderful day that ended with a night out with another exciting twist. I got to go out dancing with a chic from Australia who worked at the Hostel. The place was packed with a fun crowd, most of which were out celebrating after the big six nations rugby game. Lots of guys were walking through the town wearing national flags as if there were superman capes. All jovial, I was shocked I didn't see any fights.

It was a great day! Scotland was such a great time, filled with meeting some lovely folks.
Next stop Ireland!

Some remaining fun pics from Scotland.

A caution sign for tall people to be careful not to hit their heads on the sloping ceiling.


Windows in the castle

Looking over the city of Edinburgh.

5+ months and counting...

2011-10-20T16:41:00.001-04:00

Milan and I found out what we are having. IT'S A GIRL!!!
I cannot tell you how excited I am.

I have been off blogging for a couple of weeks concentrating on getting the house in order, cleaning out closets. Trying to sort out the making of a nursery, pondering the sex and so. much. more.

The girl news is more of a relief than I can tell you. I actually shed a tear when the technician told us. I had been trying not to worry, but not doing a good job of what we would do if it was a boy. Let me explain. Since Milan and I got together I knew he had the name Dušan picked out. it was his Great-Grandfather's name and also the a great Serbian king and Emperor of Serbia and Greece, when the countries were united.

The picture above is courtesy of wikipedia: to check it out click here

I like the name and never thought much of it till I was asked what our baby names were...
I explained our agreement. Milan picks the boys name and I got to pick the girls name. I told my friends, if it was a girl we would call her Millie and if it was a boy it would be Dušan Right after I said it, my friend exclaimed, "NO! they will call him douche bag, immediately, I knew she was right, but what to do? we had an agreement.

If our little one had been a boy, I am sure she would have been Dušan. and we would have dealt with it. I was actually already calling our little bean Douche Bag in a loving way of course.

And then there was the circumcision issue. This is not a topic that comes up much unless you are Jewish and attending a bris, but it is a serious topic for an American married to a Serb. Contrary to popular belief, circumcision is not as commonly practiced as westerners might think. And if you are Serbian, you may believe only Muslims are circumsised. or so the Muz says. I know there are some who are more educated... but who talks about that anyway? I never did, until now.

I am just grateful the subject has been cut short, Pun Intended.

Now I am anxious to get started with our little missy's nursery. Shopping and registering for baby things is taking up my time along with research more doctor's appointments. Oh, and work.

I think I have started to waddle here and there. My back is protesting at the growth of my body. I hear my butt is getting bigger. :( This baby (me) already had "Back" no need for more! I guess it comes with the territory.

I have felt the baby moving a little bit. in the beginning it is hard to discern baby from gastro-intestinal movement. But she is getting stronger and I am able to tell when she is dancing around in there.

I think she has a temper, During the sonogram, I think she was a bit annoyed with with my full bladder and the tech pressing the camera in on my belly. She had mean look on her face and was pushing against my belly from the inside with her forearm and cleched fist! She's a corker!

My favorite sonogram picture looks as though she is waving at us. I adore it!

She might just be sucking her thumb, but I prefer to see it as a wave. Hello world!

She will be named after my Grandmother, Millie, who passed away this spring. But her full first name will be Amelie. The middle name is still undecided.
Suggestions are welcome.

Edinburgh Traveling Tuesday,,,, on Wednesday

2011-10-12T09:57:00.001-04:00

I have been pretty busy lately. I guess pregnancy, lots of work, and a my birthday 2 weeks ago had been keeping me busy. Wednesday has left me little time to tap on the keyboard. Without further ado, here is my next installment.

Edinburgh, Scotland turned out to be my favorite leg of the the GB trip. I don't think it was the city alone. It was the people I met there. I am still in touch with Lone a really cool Danish Chic!

My friend Lone.

Getting to the airport I opted for the cheapest form of transport, the bus. It was late at night, my flight was at 6 AM. It was a drizzly spring evening, but not too cold.

The ride was more eventful than I had hoped. A sloppy, drunk, older rugby player chatted me up and then passed out in the seat beside me. Ugh. I was so grateful when his friend got him up and out of my personal space at their stop soon after.

From London I took a flight from Luton to Edinburgh. The ride was great. I was sitting beside a hot British bloke and we chatted the whole flight.

When I got to Edinburgh, I was excited to see the city from the airport shuttle, but I was completely exhausted, so I made my way to the Globetrotter Inn hostel.


The Globetrooter Inn rear view.

The view from the back side of the Inn.

What a brilliant place! The beds were like berths on a train with privacy curtains. I rested well there. Everything was clean, breakfast was provided and there was a bar/hangout area to lounge in at the end of the day.

I was there during a Six Nations Rugby Tourney and the Scottish Motorcycle show so the hostel and the city were both hopping as a result. Even though the weather was overcast, my trip was a bright adventure with some great company.

I met Emily first, an American room mate who was in Edinburgh to study at the University. We did the castle tour together. Here we are on the castle grounds. I am having some technical difficulties, so I will stop here and resume next Tuesday, hopefully! Have a great day!

Taken just outside Edinburgh Castle overlooking the city

Traveling Tuesday~More fun in London

2011-09-20T17:02:00.000-04:00

The Monument commemorating the great Fire of London in 1666. Just as the people of London were recovering from the Plague, another great tragedy stuck. The fire began in a small bakery early one morning on Pudding Street. This great conflagrations that could have been averted if the Mayor of the city had acted quick enough, but the "great" Mayor was more of a "yes" man than a leader, and couldn't make decisions. His lazy brain brought about not only great destruction in the city, but lynching of foreigners who were blamed as the fire ate it's way through the city. It eventually destroyed 13,000 houses, 430 acres of land, and 89 churches. Reading about this in books in school is less than riveting, but seeing the monument and seeing first hand the area covered by the flames is such a great way to learn about this and other other history.

The London Eye. It's sort of like a ferris wheel that takes 20 minutes to make a full circle. Each pod of the eye holds about 15 people. Pods are a great way to see the city. I didn't take a spin, it was a bit pricey for me.

I did find out that some people opt to get married in a pod with a few close friends and family huddled around to watch the ceremony and get a great view in the meantime. I thought that was pretty cool. That would make for some great wedding photos.

As I strolled along the Thames taking in the sites, shops and looking up at the London Eye I was thrilled to see these Salvador Dali bronze sculptures.

There were a good many of them on display. All along the Thames there is all kinds of art. The National Theater of London is not far from this along with many museums. There is even one Museum that spans the Thames.

I explored the Tower Bridge museum and walked the span of the upper bridge that is lined with windows allowing for great photo opportunities!

This was taken from the top of a double-decker bus.

I love the detail in the windows and just everywhere. It is so beautiful! and I love London blue. It may be one of my favorite hues.

The Tower Bridge takes you right to the The London Tower Castle.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Tower_of_London%2C_April_2006.jpg

I traversed the grounds finding more history than one could imagine. Even the tour guides were a symbol of British History.

According to wikipedia:

The Yeomen Warders of Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign's Body Guard of the Yeoman of the Guard Extraordinary, popularly known as the Beefeaters, are ceremonial guardians of the Tower of London. In principle they are responsible for looking after any prisoners at the Tower and safeguarding the British crown jewels, but in practice they act as tour guides and are a tourist attraction in their own right, a point the Yeoman Warders acknowledge.

The London tower museum holds the crown jewels and I was lucky to get to see them. But, No pictures allowed! sorry.

My favorite of these Yeomen was this Beefeater Bear, what a cutie! He was the tall, strong and silent type. Move over Paddington! there is a new bear in town.

Just a few interesting facts from the tower...
Ravens are practically sacred.

There is a legend that says if the ravens leave the Tower, the crown of London will be lost and the kingdom along with it. This brings me to ponder why the IRA never attacked the ravens... seems like they would be a pretty easy target.

This castle is one of the homes of Henry VIII. There is a suit of armor he wore that is more anatomically correct than a Ken doll.

This used to be set in a place easily accessible. Pregnant women would poke the protruding part with hat pins to wish for a boy. There are tiny pin scratches in the private part to prove the story true. I can't understand the logic behind the thought, his one male heir died before the age of 16. That can't be good luck for pregnant women to cast hopes upon. And I am a pregnant woman.. But I am hoping for a girl. That is fodder for another blog.

This concludes my London Blogs. Edinburgh here we come!

London adventure part dva

2011-09-13T14:26:00.000-04:00

Symbols of the city of London

Nooks and Crannys

Everywhere you turn in London and beyond there are ancient buildings with creatively shaped doors that follow the flow of the buildings architecture.

I find this delightful. I couldn't get enough of the cool doors, especially when the door's knob was placed in the center of the door. Not unlike the doors in the shire of Shire where Froto was from.

I think I found Froto Baggins too...
While walking along the Thames in front of Shakespeare's famous Globe theatre,

The Globe was under construction, tours were very limited.

I spotted a group of School kids on a field trip. Amongst them was a boy with a striking resemblance to the famous halfling. I tried to be inconspicuous as I snapped his photo.

In the background you can see the Top of the famous Gherkin.

The Gherkin
or 30 St. Mary Axe. One of the modern architectural landmarks of London.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:30_St_Mary_Axe_from_Leadenhall_Street.jpg

The Buildings history began when the Provisional IRA bombed the Baltic Exchange building that stood in its sted until April, 10, 1992. This building was built in it's place years later and is said to be the Phallic symbol of London. I thought it looked like an Easter egg. I guess I don't have a dirty enough mind...

Wedding cake church

The Bus tour I took went down Fleet St. past the Wedding cake Church. The top of the church inspired the father of a bride to make a cake with tiers that imitated the churches steeple. Many copied after his new fashioned wedding cakes and today they are still common.

I love the diversity of the city, and the Indian restaurants were to die for. YUMM! Fast food cuisine was a bit different, and I enjoyed the new tastes. I think I had a cranberry and cream cheese sandwich with turkey served on a french baguette. Oh, how I miss the fresh breads of Europe. They know how to eat bread, always fresh, crusty, unsliced loaves!

There is so much more to write about. I think I will have to return to London again next week to share more about the lovely city.

Traveling Tuesday: London, England

2011-09-06T09:46:00.000-04:00

Since this is a personal diary blog that is open to the public, I have decided to write about my life pre-Serbia. I have little diary of my trips for my personal enjoyment, but nothing with pics and stories.... I am making a change to that. Here goes!

Almost four and a half years ago in 2007 I booked a trip to all of GB. I wanted to see the land of my ancestors. England, Ireland and Scotland, and even Wales are the bulk of the lands I hail from. I was delighted to see that the names: Ward, Shields, Jones, Mckee, and Garlic peppered the lists of names in museums. I learned so much about our history that seemed so boring in school. Seeing it first hand is SO MUCH BETTER!

My First stop was England. That is my focus for this blog.
I stayed at a hostel in the middle of London. I arrived late in the evening from Heathrow Airport to a warm drizzly London town. It was actually relaxing, and I was just happy to find my accommodations and hit my bunk.

I shared a room with about eight others on the top bunk of one of 4 bunkbeds. I found out that many of my room mates were not travelers, but actually Englanders living in London working. Hostels afford them that ability as they are cheaper than most flats.

I discovered the toilets with the floating water tanks well about the loo like we have in Serbia. I was glad I did not have to drive on the opposite side of the street like I had done once in Australia, and was pleased to taste "bangers and mash" with a nice draft.

For the first two days, I walked from my hostel, crossed the Thames by one of the many London Bridges, and was overjoyed to see the sights. I took in the Tower castle museum, and Tower Bridge museum, as well as many others including the famous nurse, Florence Nightingale's located inside of the downtown London hospital.

I learned about the great fire, and the plague. The plague is so well documented that I learned of it in about every museum I visited. It touched lives in so many ways and was incredibly widespread. It is unfathomable.

In London, I traveled alone. Often I meet other solo travelers as you may read in the future, but here I was on my own. I didn't mind. It was lovely to quietly take in the sites. marvel at the beautiful cherry blossoms outside of ancient churches, and stand in awe of the crown jewels.

I will have to write about London again next week, this week I am out of time. Gotta get on the road to go see my family in PA!

Have a great day!

Bohemian Mama Monday

2011-09-05T12:32:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow I will introduce my travels in a (hopefully weekly) Traveling Tuesday Blog. All of my travels, nationally and internationally are fair game in no particular order.

Today's blog is a small history of my life travel in the U.S. and the beginnings of my wanderlust.

Last week at coffee with a friend, she commented that I had a very bohemian lifestyle and will have with my child. I take that as a compliment. Having lived all OVER my country, in PA, NY, NJ, CA, GA, and mostly in my Favorite state of Maryland, I can say I am a vagabond even in my own land. and I am better for it. I know so much more about my homeland having had a traveling education. Including four cross country road trips.

I grew up not far from the historic town of Gettysburg where the Civil War was won and got a repeated education on it from field trips. I was born in Erie on the great lake, and as a child watched French Canadian cartoons on TV.

Later, I lived in Georgia, and got to see the beautiful south with it's red dirt, and kudzu strewn country-side. I visited and climbed Stone Mountain, and enjoyed the company of my first college room mate who was from that town. I LOVE Atlanta and Grits are one of my favorite breakfast foods

Living on the west coast was probably the most shocking change. The east coast and west coast cultures are vastly different as the space is between. The Spanish influence as well as the wagon train trips accross the land have made the people a bit more open minded. They think, eat, and live differently, it is a refreshing change of mind. On the west coast Native Americans still have pockets of land and tribal life is still in existance.

This is actually in Washington State just outside of Seattle on the Puget Sound.

I was blessed to meet family immediately upon arrival to California, and now have the strongest of ties with one of my paternal cousins once or twice removed. She was, ironically, a strong motivator in my choice to move to NY state.

Just two of my west coast cousins and I.. The background it Little Italy in NYC.

I LOVE NY
I really do. I lived just outside of Nyack about a half an hour from the city. I enjoyed many weekend trips to NYC, loving the Canal street shopping for the coveted knockoffs! at bargain basement, attic, and backroom prices. :)

Little Itlay located just beside China town was always the next stop for Espresso and cannoli or some other decadent dessert.

One of my favorite trips has been to Florida to visit my grandparents. On the way I would always stop in St. Augustine, FL for a little camping at Anastasia State campground. I love exploring the Floridian style jungles splayed across the dunes and listening to the roar of the waves in my little one woman tent as I drift off to sleep. I also absolutely adore the Spanish architecture the town is made of. The Spanish history is candy for the eyes.

Now, I am enjoying my life in a little Maryland beach town. The seasonal business, and ocean side living affords me opportunities not possible in other locations. I can travel in the winter, and on my days off in the summer, spend a day at the beach or visit the nearby island of Assateague featuring wild horses.

The End

Life is good!

Missing my Serbia

2011-09-04T12:27:00.000-04:00

Today I am resting after two days of hard work. and I am missing my Serbia.
I am missing a more relaxed life that involves lots of coffee with friends and time for family.

I am missing the holidays I have never celebrated there because we are always here in the summer.

But mostly I am missing my friends in Serbia. I have just found out that my two closest friends are due a month before and a month after me. and it would be lovely to share this experience with them. I miss my girls, Mirijana and Tamara. I can't wait to see them again. all of us with babies in hand. :)

Then again, I am so happy to be home and can't wait to celebrate my birthday with my buddy Shannon. Hear about her travels to England, sailing in the great Cowes Week!

Flashback photo of Shannon and I on a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi, from our cross country road trip.

I am equally happy to be home and will be so happy for my family reunion here on Tuesday, and am looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving with all the fixings. That is something I could only dream of in Serbia. But ones life is never the same on one continent or the other, but you are richer for it. More friends, family, and traditions. I love my life.

Bun in the oven....

2011-08-31T14:33:00.001-04:00

1.	bun in the oven
	state of being pregnant

This summer my blog has been unexpectedly Quiet. I have been exhausted from the internal workings. That is my big end of summer surprise. Sorry for my absence. I have been wanting to write, but haven't had the energy.

Date nite shocker
Can't fit my dress pants any more the dough is rising! Last night we had a date night and I was disapointed to find I couldn't button up my pants. Surprise! the fun begins.

I am at 14 weeks and counting, which is deceiving since they start counting before you are even pregnant. Babies take nine months, not 40 weeks as it goes when you count by weeks. The things I am learning now...

A few months ago I announced to my muz that I was preggo, his first response was, "How did this happen?" I thought we were past that. He was a chemistry major. lol

It has taken a while for us both get over the shock. We were planning to wait another year, but the best "laid" plans....

Actually most of the pans I had for life have been a bust. I never planned to get married or have kids so I guess I am 0 for 2. I thought I was on my way to avoiding these "Pitfalls" when in my early thirties Milan came along. Oh well. He is worth it and I am sure this will be too.

I am taking prenatal vitamins, eating as well as I can and drinking mostly decaf. I have a body pillow and and stocking up on some baby essentials. We have been blessed with a glider rocker and I have already gotten some maternity clothes and a few baby things. Thanks to all my generous friends!

I am trying to avoid the granny panties, but I heard that they are inevitable.That is a battle I plan to fight.

I am due February 28th, but it is a leap year and I am crossing my fingers for the 29th. It will save a lot on Birthday presents. JK! I was thinking how cool it would be to be able to pick a birthday each year if the baby didn't have one every year. and wondering how that would work on paper, legally.

We plan to find out what the baby is, and will do so in about a month.
As for names, the Muz gets to name it if it is a boy, and I get to name it if it is a girl. They are locked in the vault and subject to change.

I am open to all advice and comments that may be helpful to a first-time mom. no kidding, just be nice!
Thanks to all of you who respond!

Post Irene post P.S. I stayed

2011-08-28T11:31:00.000-04:00

I woke up this morning feeling refreshed but a bit too warm. We took the AC unit out last night so the "raging" wind and rain would and wouldn't get in through it. I think it would have been ok if we had left it in, but hindsight is 20/20.

Delmarva Power truck out working on the lines.

We lost power last night about 9 PM and it was restored around 6 this morning. I have heard there were worse outages. We were lucky. Also there was no flooding. We took our cars to higher ground as a precautionary measure, but our lot got no more flooded than usual when it rains.

When I went to get my car this morning I took a drive down to "Stinky Beach" to check out the view. Ocean City looks not worse the wear from the other side of the bay, and the beach looked no different. A stray flip flop, and a table top had washed up, but it was otherwise quite the same.

I did have fun chatting up the neighbor yesterday, she got out some Mickey Mouse walkie-talkies in case we lost phone service like we did this past week during the earthquake. We talked a bit on them last night just to see if they worked from her house to ours, but there was never a dire need, and thank God because Mickey's voice got a bit annoying for the short bit we were talking when we finished talking each time, Mikey's voice would come in loud and clear to both sides, "Over".

Thankfully we escaped most of the damage, trees seem to be the most dangerous culprits during this storm. falling branches, and trees killed more people than crashing waves. I am sure they are also the cause of most of the power outages that seem to be plaguing many areas.

A little later I will drive into Ocean City to see what Irene was up the there on our little peninsula. Ocean city opened back up to locals at 9 AM and to all at noon today. People will be flocking back to the beach, tourists and locals alike.

It still looks ominous, but the storm has passed.

International students who were bused out to Baltimore will also be returning soon. There were housed in stadiums, community centers, and and university halls. They will be glad to get back as they have been missing the last few days available for them to make money in the US, and many had to evacuated before they could pick up last weeks paychecks.

We housed one Bosnian Serb here for the past two days and it has been wonderful. Luka is so polite and nice, he has been a pleasure to have here. I am sure it was nice for my husband to, to be able to speak his native tongue at home for a change.

I got a chance to rest my tired barely pregnant self, and I am refreshed to start back to work tomorrow.

Should I stay of should I go???

2011-08-26T21:28:00.001-04:00

Huricane Irene is on its way. We may be batting down the hatches and sticking it our here, or not.
Should I stay or should I go, if I stay there could be trouble.

This is the calm before the storm, and a beautiful sunset.
As some of you may know, I live in Ocean City, Maryland when we are not in Serbia. Right now a massive hurricane larger than Texas (893 miles wide) is spiraling up the east coast of the United States and pretty everyone is a buzz about it. All the barrier islands are being manditorily evacuated, and now they are saying that West Ocean City, the mainland part of OC will be evacuated in the AM. I have heard rumors power will be turned off. BUT Delmarva power is just saying that there will likely be power outages due to the storm. What to do?

This morning, I stocked up on candles, got batteries, we have battery powered lights and radio, lots of food, perishable and non. Now we wait to see what happens down south in the Carolina's to make a decision.

Originally this storm was well over a hundred miles per hour, now it is looking less menacing. I think the rain will be the biggest factor for flooding.

In my opinion, the only reason for the extreme evacuations is the many mistakes made with Katrina. Time will tell and in the morning we will make our decision... Should we stay or should we go.

The "we" is my muz, a Serbian student in town to work for the summer, the cat, and 3 month preggo me.

Someone said today, that this is a story for the baby book. Maybe. I guess I will have to start one.
But that is for another blog.

We are prepared either way, we will pack things up and move out to the north west in PA to stay with family. I just hate leaving when I am so tired and would love to stay at home and just relax. Not having to work for 3 days is priceless and would only be ruined by traveling. Where is the rest in that?

But, at the same time, Going home to see the fam would be wonderful. I keep leaning one way then the other.

For now, I will eat the gibanica and green bean casserole I just made and enjoy the night of with the little Serbia I have going on in my house.
Good night all. And to any in the storms path, Be safe.

Promaja

2011-08-24T11:03:00.000-04:00

Hello friends,

For my non-Serbian friends, promaja is a draft, air flowing from one place to another.

I have a questions for my Serbian friends concerning promaja....
is it a breaze only from the out doors that flow through the house of is it also the same if you have a fan pulling air from one room to another?

We have been using a fan to bring the AC air from the living room into our bedroom all summer long, and now the night air is more friendly. We have started opening the windows to allow the cool natural air in and save on the electric. I proposed to my Serbian muz that we should also use the fan, to aid in circulation and and started flipping out about promaja... something he said he didn't believe in just a month or so ago. but now that the air cooling is coming from out side again... ( mind you, we have been using this method of cooling in the fall and the spring for years. ) What I want to know, is why does it matter if the air comes from out side or the AC unit? The air is cooled either way.

For my non-serb friends:
A fellow blogger has a list of these typical Serbian wives tails.... find them here in his blog They call it promaja . He is a funny blogger, also married to a Serb. :)

I love my Serb. and the cultural differences just spice things up! ;)

Stop and smell the Lotus

2011-08-10T14:01:00.000-04:00

This is my favorite flower. The Water Lilly or the Lotus Blossom are iconic and magical. I love that you can find them all over the world.

I first saw them on my trip to Thailand and Cambodia. I was thrilled, they were every where, even on the menu in restaurants as the fruit of the flower is edible! The flower was everywhere too! in shrines, on coasters, water bottles and just about anywhere you could imagine!

In Asia, it is symbolic of wisdom or enlightenment, and Buddha is often pictured sitting on a Lotus blossom and sometimes crowned with one as well.


this Loutus sitting Buddha is care of: http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha

I am excited to see them in Serbia when we go back, but as we have always been there in winter.... I have not had the chance as of yet.

These Lotus are in a coy pond behind the city hall building in Ocean City, I happened by it one day and admired the fish.

There are two large ones and a school of smaller ones, watching them is so relaxing. I would love to have a coy pond one day, maybe when we find out house in Serbia, we can build one.... Daydreams!
We have been talking about when we will go back, but sadly it won't be this winter. Maybe the following one. Time will tell, work presses on here and when I have time, I enjoy the the lotus on the coy pond.

Don't forget to stop and savor the beautiful things in life that bring you joy! Travel, See the world! It can make your home that more precious! and you will see it in a different light!

Franco's Pizza Ocean City, MD

2011-08-07T13:43:00.001-04:00

Thanks to a fellow blogger Ciao Christy , I have a new way to look at things I love and want to share them with you.
She has inspired me to write about the little things I cherish, and when you are away from them for months at a time, Cherish is something you do with the strangest things.

This and my first "Sweet Life" post are about food. I am completely enjoying eating the foods that I cannot find in my part of Serbia. Those of you who live in cities have more choices.We do have pizza in Serbia, but it is different. That is not to say I do not like it, I love pizza internationally! and trust me, it is different all over the world.

I do love the food in Serbia, Especially my Mother-in-law's cooking, but now that I am "home" I am relishing the flavors I can only find here.
This week, on our day off we got a 1/2 salad pizza and 1/2 peperoni from Franco's Pizzaria located right on the boardwalk. I am not normally a fan of boardwalk food, but there are exceptions to every rule.

I love this place and the view from the outside seating:

is the beach. Franco's has a bunch of yummy dishes, and I need to branch out and try some of the other super tempting treats!

It is good to be home, but I know when I get back to Serbia, I will have to do some writing about the foods I have missed there. Burek and Jogurt I am talking about you!

Commercial for my friends awesome blog: Chocolate for Inspiration

2011-08-01T13:00:00.001-04:00

I know I am slacking in the blogging department, but this summer is full of work and huge surprises that have taken up my time more than you can imagine. In place of writing a blog, this is an advertisement for my friends blog. Christina is an up and coming YA author. I love reading her blog and I think you may as well.

Her current blog is offering a contest/give away! Check it out by clicking here. Don't forget to check out the youtube link for the Nanta show and go see one if you have the chance. It is amazing!

I believe I will be back to writing soon. And update you on my unexpected summer events.

Ciao for now.

La dolce Vita

2011-07-20T13:59:00.000-04:00

As a fellow blogger has recommended, (Ciao Christy) I am writing about the sweet life.
Today my joy has been found in Leftover Chinese food. The curry Chicken from last night was even more flavorful this morning and I am loving being home where I can get food from all over the world!

I do miss my Serbian food, and even more my family and friends! but The joy of having Chinese food for breakfast leftovers is one I cannot have in my little town across the water. I must savor this in my homeland. =) and I am!
Sorry no pictures, I ate it too fast!

Kayaking on Ayers Creek

2011-07-10T13:37:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago I took a kayak tour, I am just now getting around to posting the blog I wrote about it.
Better late than never!

Today was blissfully peaceful, and I continue to be completely at ease through the evening. I believe this is largely due to the paddling around I did today in a kayak. Two friends and I went to celebrate a birthday while having a good time on the water.

Ayers Creek tours did not disappoint. Our Guide, Steven and his wife have a eco-touring business that not only relaxes it's clientele, but educates and provides the kind of mental refreshment that only nature can.

They provide all the needed accessories, life jacket, paddle, kayak, and instruction. The rest is up to you.

I recommend taking a guided tour instead of just renting a kayak. I learned so much about the birds we were seeing and and the plant life as well. The great outdoors is a wonderful classroom. There are over 250 bird species in this area and we saw quite a few of them.
A cormorant that was spooked by us, flapped it's waterlogged wings and ran across the water to she the water weight till it could take flight. Our kayaks and presence scared it as we approached,

In the distance we saw a great big eagles nest just off the marshes nestled in the pines. Steven said these regal birds usually have one to two young a year. It lightened my heart to be so close to these animals.
We also saw snowy egrets, heron, turns and even vultures.

We saw and heard a few eagles and birds who wanted to run them off to save their own nests. Having a guide to explain the behaviors we were seeing was really great! A well as to tell us what birds we were hearing on our peaceful paddle down the creek.

I also found it fun to check out a bridge from another angle. This isn't something you see everyday.

Steven and his lovely wife, Suzy have a special job and opportunity to share with the community. Taking a kayak with them is a wonderful vacation idea for anyone (local or not). Getting back to nature and learning about the wildlife is a bonus.

If you are interested in checking out their site or taking a tour click here.
All the pictures posted are from a previous kayak trip near Assateague Island. Regretfully, I forgot my camera on that day, and wanted to give you more of a visual. Please get out and take advantage the rivers, lakes and streams around you! it is good for you!

Summer time :)

2011-06-21T15:46:00.000-04:00

The rafts at Seacrets Jamaica U.S.A. are the right place to go to feel like you are on vacation, even if you are just enjoying a day off with visiting friends.

A friend of mine came to visit and we made a trip their straight away to enjoy some frozen drinks while catching up on each other's lives. And my friend has some really good stories.

We were both cracking up over our adventures, totally thrilled to have some time together, this doesn't happen often enough.

Over dinner that night I told her the "Babino Mali Pace" story story. She just laughed and our Serbian waiter heard us, and said his Baba called him that too. "All the Baba's do" he said.

After our dinner we walked out on the beach and took pictures of the peach colored moon.

I had to balance the camera on my head to get the shot. The waves were quite big and crashing at our feet as we tried to get the night pics of the unusual moon.

The next day we layed on the beach, walked the boardwalk, and played tourist. I get to do it again this week with another friend who is visiting.
Happy first day of Summer!

The Jones'

2011-06-19T13:14:00.000-04:00

In the United States today is Father's Day. Happy Father's day to My Wonderful Father!

As luck would have it, it is also my Mother's birthday. Happy Birthday Mom!

I love you both and hope you enjoy spending the day together.

Love, me!

Baby Racoons and sunset pics

2011-06-14T15:23:00.001-04:00

After a leisurely coffee break with a single cinnamon pop tart enjoying the beginnings of a new book, "The Secret Scripture", I went out to begin the laundry.
The neighbor cat, Isabella and I visited, then I chatted with my neighbor Millie. This is the start of a beautiful day off!
Out of the corner of my eye I caught some movement in the bushes. THREE baby racoons were taking a walk as we chatted. I ran up to the third floor to get the good camera, but the battery had died. I only found this out after descending the steps and had to ascend them again to get the Iphone, my back up camera.
These are the pics I snapped.

By the time I got back downstairs they were retreating.
I hurried over to get some closer shots.

The were making little clicking noises so I backed off a bit to watch them.

I believe these are the same little siblings that were under our home last week. The parents probably abandoned them, and now they are scavenging for food. The lady next door feeds all the stray cats and probably these little ring-tailed bandits too!

One of the little rascals got caught in a vine, and as he was passed up by the others,

he freed himself without much fuss.

Soon they were on their way again.

The runt tailing behind.

And I got to get one cute shot in before it was over.
The littlest one seemed to be curious about me as well, and came around the little bush as I was peeking from the other side.

He didn't seem to care the others were well on the way to the neighbors,

he only wanted a quick peek.
I wish them all luck.

Here is one more picture for you to enjoy. I took it from work last night as the sun was about to set and casting the most glorious glow on the harbor.

Have a great day y'all!

Credit Cards in Europe

2011-06-11T15:58:00.000-04:00

The use of credit cards in Europe is different than that in America.

While we are in Serbia, we don't use them. We change money to use it while we are there. But, if we did, many places don't even accept credit cards. When I go to the pijatz or the farmers market, they don't accept anything but cash. Grocery stores accept them, but I am not sure if our credit cards would work after reading the article posted here.

In 2007, while on a trip to the UK I used my visa everywhere and I am wondering if things have changed so much that they would not work like they used to. ?

In Thailand in 2003, I simply went to the bank, gave them my Credit card and had they charged money to it and I didn't have to change money, simple and easy!

Any info you have to share on this subject. I would love to hear them. My experiences and are limited and dated. I am curious how time is changing the process. Please reply. :))
Thanks!!

If you are a Serb or a citizen of Montenegro, Bosnia, etc.

2011-06-07T10:30:00.000-04:00

I have been emailed because of my blog a few times, this week by Ariel Zellman. Ariel is a student of Northwestern University in Chicago. I was emailed and asked to post an Anketa regarding Serbian political speeches. If you are interested please click on the link below. It is all in Serbian, and my Srpski is not so good. I cannot understand much of what is said, and apologize for anything that may be offensive.

I am only posting this, as I know how difficult research in University can be, and this is a tough subject to research.

This is a copy of the bulk of the letter he sent to me, it may answer questions you may have about the survey.

My name is Ariel Zellman and I am a Ph.D. student in the Department of Political Science at Northwestern University in Chicago. Much of my research centers around the politics of identity and territory in the Balkans, particularly Serbia. I post much of my research on the Balkans on my personal research blog at http://arielzellman.wordpress.com.

At present, I am running an online research survey (in Serbian) which examines the impact of different kinds of political speech on people's policy preferences. The survey is targeted at Serbs particularly in Serbia but can also include those in Montenegro, Bosnia, etc. You can find it at http://arielzellman.wordpress.com/anketa.

Unfortunately I have had a bit of a difficult time disseminating the survey beyond my immediate friends and colleagues. I realize that yours is an English-content site, but would it be possible (or efficacious) for you to publicize my survey in some form? Or perhaps to tell your Serbian friends and colleagues about it? The work is purely academic, has no corresponding financial or political agenda, and participants can choose to enter a drawing for a free iPod Touch.

Any and all assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Ariel Zellman
You can click on the links about or:
To see his blog please click here

If you wish to go the the Anketa click here

To my Serbian friends and family, thanks for your help and any comment you may have on the anketa. I am interested in what you think.
And best of luck to Ariel on your PHD.

Random Musing with Ecclectic Pics

2011-06-07T08:15:00.000-04:00

This morning my day began before Six AM. On my way to work, as I crossed the route 50, I spotted the most beautiful, huge red sun hovering over the city. I parked when I got into town to get a picture of the wonder over the ocean. The red sun was gone and what looked like a small white moon was in it's place.

Slain swordfish
Last night at work, I happened to see the remains of one of the fasted fish in the ocean, the Sword fish.The Sail fish is the fastest. But we don't ever have that on the menu.
Our manager was just finishing and all that was left was the spine, tail, and dorsal fin.

Fresh off the boat, and onto your plate. Bet that fish wished it was a bit faster!

Creature of the "New World"
Our home has had some interesting visitors lately. Our neighbor caught the baby of a raccoon family that managed to make it's way under the house. Not sure if the rest of the family got caught or they escaped during the night. The little one is on it's way to a raccoon rescue home.

This bitty little thing is the size of a kitten, so small that the cat carrier looks like a cathedral ceiling room.

Drumming up some Business
Today one of my co-workers had to don the Cheeseburger outfit. He was a little less than thrilled, it must have been so hot on this super hot and humid day. He still managed to point out a "Bird".

Today is a brand new day, the sun is shining and our day off! Off to the vet to get Kiger spayed, and the rest of the day is ours.
Have a great one!

Peddling around OC

2011-06-03T15:41:00.000-04:00

I saw a pod of dolphin swimming close to the shore at 15th St. yesterday. I was so excited I forgot to pull out my phone to get a shot til they were almost to far away.
This is the only blurry shot I snapped that captured a dorsal fin.

I am really enjoying my biking. Summer has come and the weather has been brilliant! Peddling into OC is a 10 minute ride that is never dull. I have to cross the Rt. 50 bridge, and I always enjoy the view.

Mostly though, I bike around west OC. I love all the nature and back roads.

Baby geese are everywhere.


Beautiful Magnolias are in Bloom

The fragrance is intoxicating, paradise couldn't smell any better that this.

And wondering around all the cool new neighborhoods that rest beside the bay and other bits of water are so peaceful. Along the tree lined lanes there is always some little critter scurrying around in the brush and leaves on the ground. I can never seem to see them, but I hear them running away from the sound of my bicycle.
Turtles heads poke through the water and dive below the surface as I try to get a better peek.
My favorite sites are the ones that look onto Assateague or Ocean City. Today the air was clear, the sky was blue, and the water was the color that make postcards jealous.

This picture doesn't do it justice.

Enjoy your summer, take advantage of where you live and find the interesting things around you. If you just look you will find oddities and beauty where ever you are! For instance:

Today, on my ride, I saw a Nun in her full habit getting two little boys off to the bus stop, not something I have ever seen before. If you just get out and look you will find amazing things.
Have a great day!

Old wives tales and Baby Traditions and beliefs in Serbia

2011-06-02T12:31:00.000-04:00

While living in Serbia, I have found that many ideas are reminders of the past, the region you live in, and the fact that "old wives tales" are strongly followed world-wide.

In the US we " knock on wood" to ward off a bad thing from happening when mentioned it, or throw a pinch of salt over our left shoulder if a bit is spilled. Here are some of the traditions followed by some Serbians to keep their babies safe from the "evil eye" or the like.

All of these were told to me, by my native Serbian friends, feel free to correct anything that my be different in your region. I love to hear varriations!

A red string is tied around the babies wrist to ward off sickness as well as at least one item of inside out clothing, usually underwear.

Babies are kept inside for a little while because too many people looking cause them to get sick. This idea is not only for babies, but infants seem to be the most vulnerable.

I have been the victim of this kind of thought as well. I got sick after a wedding and my mother in law and her friend wanted to make sure I wasn't under the influence of the evil eye. They thought too many people were looking at me because I was an American. They were inclined to put a hot cole in a cup of water and touch my forehead with the water. My husband put a stop to this when I started freaking out. We had a good time calling her a "witch doctor" for a few weeks after that.

Things believed to help you have healthier babies:
Sitting on the ground, or walking barefoot could ruin your eggs so these things should be avoided. I am guilty of both of these things, I love to walk barefoot, inside and out. and my mother in law has a fit! She loves me and want the best for us, and I love her for it. It is a nuisance sometimes though. I don't want to wear shoes or papuche (slippers) all the time.

It is also believed that babies should not be sat up before they are 6 months old. They think it can ruin the hips, but here it is encouraged. Babies all over Yugoslavia are subject to wearing hip braces for a while to keep there hips from developing problems. When I tell my Serbian friends that we always sit our babies up, from birth, many of my friends were shocked.

The funniest thing I have heard was after a Slava. I was sitting in the kitchen with my two best Serbian girlfriends. We were comparing this kinds of stories. All of of burst into uncontrollable laughter when one of them told us how a distant Baba from her husband's side of the family had asked here what sexual position they had used to produce their new baby boy. I think I have heard that idea here in the US a long time ago. I do not believe this is a Uniquely Serbian idea, just another old wives tale.

I was startled by many of the beliefs, but enjoy learning about them. it is really fascinating. Not long ago I watched a movie call "Babies". Watch the Trailer here. This is more of a documentary movie that follows 4 babies for one year world wide. The babies are from Japan, Mongolia, San Francisco, USA, and Africa. It was interesting to see what is acceptable world wide and refreshing to see how resilient babies are. Ironically, the scariest thing I saw was in San Francisco.

I would love to hear from you on this subject. It is fascinating to me! Well pretty much all customs and beliefs world wide are. It is the Social Scientist in me. :)

A Delmarvalous day!

2011-05-27T12:24:00.000-04:00

This morning I slept in till 8 AM! This was glorious after my 4:25 AM alarm yesterday. I leisurely drank my coffee, mulled over and blogged about my Einstein/Telsa thoughts and then decided to take a bike ride.

I soon came across a Canadian Geese family making a trip to a nearby water hole. they walked single file, headed up by one adult with about 5 fuzzy goslings and trailed by the second adult. Nice family outing. none of the pics I snapped came out clearly, as the parents were heading their babies away from the scary human as quickly as possible.

As I got closer to the water, some of the roads were littered with bits of shells and larger shell remnants. The water birds take advantage of the hard surface when they find creatures that need a little more than a beak to procure.

I got a few pics of the commercial fishing boats docked about a mile from my home.

As I pedalled around, I recalled a similar view in Stavros, Greece. Water men with their boats, just with a different flavor.

My wondering finally took me to a place where I could see the break in the barrier island that once was all of Ocean City, but now is Ocean City to the left, and Assateague Island to the right. Too bad I didn't have a telephoto lens, because there were horses on the beach just visible with the naked eye.

Home again to post the proof of my travels. Thanks to the kindly lady who let me take pics from her backyard dock!

Einstein or Tesla

2011-05-27T11:33:00.001-04:00

If you grow up in the United States when you think of someone smart, you may think of that person as an "Einstein".

If you grew up in Serbia or any part of former Yugoslavia, I am guessing, you will associate the same type of person with Nikola Tesla.

The same is true if you are talking about someone who is sub par in the intelligence department... My husband and I were having a little a good time teasing each other this evening about our strengths and weakness in the mental arena. I called him an "Einstein". He called me "Tesla". This is the cross cultural education that I enjoy.

Since marrying my Milan, I have learned a lot about Tesla, and would not have thought much of his mention in "the Bucket list", of seeing a show about him on the History channel.

Tesla should be as famous as Einstein, but his earliest and most well known discoveries have long been attributed to Thomas Edison, his not so scrupulous employer. If you don't believe me, wiki it!

Needless to say, Tesla's works have not been forgotten by his native people. His most famous picture graces the one hundred dinar bill.

Clicking below on either of the names will take you to the Wikipedia site for each if you are interested.
Tesla
or
Einstein

Notably, neither were born in the US, but their genius' were able to bloom here. Both were remarkable men who did much for this country and science.

Bridges of Maryland

2011-05-17T09:02:00.000-04:00

I went home last week to Pennsylvania. I am always happy to see the many bridges and old farms along the way that stretch over so much land. Living part time in Serbia make me appreciate all the big and little things about my homeland.

I always enjoy the ride and the view along the way. Travel is my drug of choice.

There are many cool bridges between my home in Maryland and my childhood home in Pennsylvania, and I love how they look straddling land or water. This golden bridge stretches across Rt. 70 somewhere in the Appalachian mountains in north western Maryland.

The longest bridge I cross on my trip is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

There are actually 2 bridges, one is for eastbound traffic and the other for those headed west. Before 1952, a ferry was needed to get from one side to the other.

The cost to cross this 4.3 miles or 6.9 km bridge is $2.50 to cross the east bound bridge, but going west is no charge. This is a bargain when comparing the rates to those in NY. So many bridges there and so Many Tolls!

Last June, while crossing, I got to see a cruise ship passing beneath on it's way from Baltimore. I bet the view from the ship was even more amazing.

My favorite picture of this was taken in the fog.

I think the fog distorts the lines of the bridge making it look a little wavy.
Don't forget to enjoythe view where ever you are in the world.
Have a great day folks.

A new Toy!

2011-05-09T15:19:00.000-04:00

I got a "NEW" bike! I am so excited. Some friends of mind gave it to me, when I told them I was about to go buy one. Apparently a friend of theirs had left it at there house 7 years prior and I am the new owner!! I must pinch myself.
I had the most glorious ride today into Ocean City.

I went to the bank, looked out at the ocean as I rode along the boardwalk, and enjoyed the chilly May ocean breezes.

The sky is spotted with just a few clouds here and there and the water, both the ocean and the bay were a magnificent blue. Heaven for my day off.
I've come home to write, and have my adorable new kitten cuddled up next to me as I type. This is a wonderful day!

International Cat Collector

2011-05-04T09:29:00.000-04:00

I am developing a cat collecting habit.

Two days ago I was at Walmart and heard a kitten meowing. There was a kitten hiding under a truck. I believe she had been dropped off. She is super friendly, but a little skiddish.

As people walked to thier cars I asked if the cat belonged to any of them, hoping she had just gotten out of a car window somehow. But no one claimed her. I went in did my shopping and came back out. When I went to my car, she came right to me. I took her home and began search for a good home for her.

That was all two days ago now. And my search for a home, including a facebook plea with pictures has not been answered. We may have ourselves a kitten.
Now for a name....

Kiger, a mixture of Calico and Tiger, is in the running. It is also my first nephews childhood name for lions. A funny memory.

As we told my father in law this story over skype, I felt the need to tell him it is not normal to see stray animals walking around like you do in Serbia. Most animals here have homes, unlike their many international counterparts. Strays are the exception, not the norm.

This situation made me compare my two homes again mentally. Attitudes toward pets are a bit different internationally. They are both loved immeasurably. The name for pets in Serbian is Lubimats, which is a form of the word love that means pet. (Serbs, please for give the spelling. I only write it the way it sounds so that English speakers will know how it is pronounced.)

A contrast, at least in my part of Serbia is the lack of spaying an neutering. When I told my husband and his friends that I wanted to neuter my Tomo, our Serbian cat. Male pitty for the cats lack of a sex life came at me from all directions. The thought of so many more kittens running the street was not a concern.

And at one time, all animals were wild and had to fend for themselves. Having a home with a loving family was not even possible. Domestication of animals has happened over time and become the norm.

The even greater difference is the Socio-Ecconomic standards of living internationally. If one is worrying about the cost of bread rising from 30 Dinars to 80 dinars, chances are, an animals reproductive capabilities are pretty low on the list of considerations in life.

My Cross-cultural education continues. May I be quick to learn, eager to understand, and slow to judge. There are always reasons for the way we think. Sometimes it takes some time to figure out the reasons.

M R Ducks

2011-05-01T09:06:00.000-04:00

While in Serbia, I made a promise to myself to enjoy my own home rather than working so hard that I didn't get to see my friends, family, or enjoy the beauty surrounding me. I am making good on that promise.

Last night I went out to one of the best little dockside bars in town with friends from work. M.R. Ducks is a long time favorite, People come town once a year to get one of their yearly T-shirts. There is a funny little saying on some of them. consisting of mostly letters. When read word for word and then letter for letter it sounds like redneck slang.

M R ducks

M R not

O S A R C D E D B D I's?

O S I C M

L I B

M R ducks.

The place was hopping last night, there was a good band, it was the first spring bike week in OC, and it was Saturday night!

There is one more thing I want to add about this place... Duck shots! They are known for the most unusual drink... the Chug a duck. It is a decoy duck turned up side down, and filled with beer. You then drink the beer from the bill of the duck.

What a hoot!

Enjoying being at home, and seeing friends before work has me so exhausted that I can't enjoy more than my bed. Ready or not, here comes summer!

Doves, saints, and the green house.

2011-04-27T17:51:00.002-04:00

At our condo in Serbia...
This is a forgotten blog... I wrote it and then forgot to post it. Better late than never.
End of February 2011
The Doves

Every evening, when looking out from the terrace you can see two doves sleeping on the birch tree branch. Even when we got about a foot of snow and all the branches were covered, there were the two birds on the only bare spot of the tree. They are a cute couple. Wonder if they will make a nest in the spring for some eggs?
Tonight I saw them come back to the tree from the day of foraging in the snow for food. One dove got back before the other, he or she went to it's spot and waited for it's mate. Dove number two followed shortly after. It hopped around the trees branches a bit before taking it's place right beside the other, making that unsheltered branch look cozy with their companionship.
I wanted to get a photo of them, but it is too dark for a good shot.

The natural but not so romantic part, the branch below is covered in bird droppings.

The Saints
Saturday, February 26 was the second all saints day I have been here for this trip. This time, I was unable to make the hike up to the graveyard. My ankle is too weak to walk up the treacherous dirt road that is now covered in snow. I am a little bummed. Seeing the village neighbors up there is always fun. Going up to such a out of the way place is one of the times I enjoy being a foreigner. I feel like a strange but shiny new toy. People are happy to see me, and I genuinely feel like like I belong in a strange way.

In our town it is a different story. People stare and often I feel more uncomfortable around strangers even when I am just out for coffee. This never happens in the village. I have way to much family and a few friends in my little village, I am always being called over to say hello to someone when on walkabout there.

The village is really the place for me. Even when everyone has their stoves going in the winter months, the skies are not filled with so much smoke that the stars hide behind it. That same lack of smoke, leaves your lungs feeling good. In town I may as well smoke with all the smog given off by the stoves and coal burning furnaces.

The small community of the village just feels friendlier and warm, even in winter.

Return to the island

2011-04-27T09:33:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was my first trip back to my favorite island, Assateague.

I bought my season pass today. Same price as last year $30 bucks. Not bad, but in comparison to prices in Serbia it is a fortune. Never thought of that until now as I an writing. I always seem to compare here with there. I guess that is inevitable.

I took a long walk on the beach, collected some shells, took some blurry bird and wave pictures with my camera phone, and enjoyed being home.
One thing I miss about Serbia is the lack of ocean. I love me some big water! I was born on lake Erie and used to go there all the time,and now I have the Atlantic.

Along the way I collected some trash,

This year, one of the improvements at Assateague is a large recycling container. I disposed of the refuse I found on the beach in this large container.

I will be making many more pilgrimages to this neighboring island. I am so excited to be able to go back and visit the ponies, the red winged blackbirds, the crabs, and hopefully spot some dolphins in the rolling surf! Volim moj conj ostrovo!

These are some pretty crappy pictures, next time I will take the good camera.

My other home

2011-04-26T13:10:00.000-04:00

I am back in the US for a while. We have to come back to work to make our time in Serbia possible. The saying from the old Dunk'in donuts commercial comes to mind. "Time to make the donuts!" Back to work and back to my native homeland is bitter sweet this time. I am so happy to be home with my friends and family, but now I have stronger family ties in Serbia. I have the most wonderful friends and love it there now. It is my second home with an equally wonderful family. I am blessed to have such loving Mothers and Fathers on both continents.

Coming home has been such a whirlwind. My Grandmother died exactly one week after returning to the States and I scrambled to buy tickets for the flight to Florida. The family reunions was wonderful, and very sad.

The hardest part for me was holding hands while praying for the meals. Grandma would always lovingly caress my hand with her thumb or fingers while our hands were clasped. It hurt to know she would never be there to do that again.

Family Rabbit Trail...
I did learn something more about our heritage. While Grandpa was reminiscing. He made a statement about his temper, and that Grandma would scold him saying, "John, Your Scotch is rising." I had never heard reference to the Scottish part of our family, though I knew it existed. I love these inklings of the past that come up in family conversations.
Most of the family references on the Jones side of the family are English, and on the Shields/ Ward side are Irish. I guess the Scottish comes from the Garlic's and the Thomas'. I love family history. Here and in Serbia. I am getting quite an education.

I am enjoying being back on the water... I have my choice of bay or ocean or river all less than 3 miles away.

Spring is like a warm welcome upon our return. The pollen is a bit of a nuisance. It is covering our cars so fast that I am praying for a rain shower to clean them off so I don't have to wash my car...

only to have it covered again in yellow dust tomorrow.

Home is bitter sweet this time. I am missing my Serbian family, and now my Grandma. Such is life. I was blessed to have been in the the US and to be able to attend the funeral. The family union was really a joy. There was fun to be had even in such a difficult time.

My Grandpa got out his Japanese Sword from his trip during the Korean war and my Uncle Bruce purchased a Civil war sword... My dad was in a spot of trouble. lol

I am also blessed to be able to experience such diverse worlds.

God Bless both my homes...

I am off to explore Assateague and get my season pass. I love this island of wild ponies... Pics to come!

Vasher

2011-04-24T20:39:00.000-04:00

March 27 was the first Vasar, pronounced vasher of the season in Knjazevac. It was just before I was going home to see my family back in the States, and I was intent on finding cool gifts to take home.
This little guys was cute, but to big to fit in my suit case.

The Vasher is like a big fair with so many stalls filled with goods for purchase, livestock arrives early and is sold quickly.

Rides are open all day for the children to enjoy.

The Vasher is like Walmart, an Amish market, and a fair all wrapped up in one. You can find everything there! and I do mean everything. Just to name a few...live stock, rakija stills, seeds and seedlings, all your farming needs can be met here. Clothes, and food, Serbian souvenirs, linoleum, curtains, and well, I am sure you get the picture. They have everything. The is the place that all the villages are said to meet. And they do. People come from all around to find good deals and a good day of fun.
There is even a makeshift cafana and rostile!

It seems like it is only men sitting around them. Hubby says that while the women are out shopping, the guys sit down and wait for them and enjoy a coffee or a beer.

Some of my favorite finds...
These are nicely decorated hearts that look like cookies, but they are just decorations.

the 500 Euro belt buckle. Should have gotten one for meself!

And then there is always the Serbian army gear. I got a few hats and gave them to some of the family back home...

I think the hats were a good buy. My Grandpa liked his too. I love it when I find cool gifts. Sometimes it just takes some effort to find them.

The Vasher meets American Gothic

2011-04-19T11:09:00.001-04:00

My next blog will be about the Vasher that descended on my little town on March 27. But first I must share with you this sight.

When I first entered the throngs of people that attended the street fair, I saw this couple who's striking resemblance to a classic American painting was undeniable. Well, at least to me. The American Gothic is a painting came to life with an older Serbian couple. The husband carrying, the traditional, Serbian, wooden pitchfork.

The pitch fork is better pictured here...

Can you see the resemblance?

Grant Wood/Associated Press/Art Institute of Chicago

I think it is the look of hardworking folks who know what a hard days labor in the field means. Tired and unsmiling, going about with things that must be done.

Farm life of the 1930's in he US is not unlike the modern day life of Serbian villagers. When I show my Grandpa Jones pictures of my Serbian village, he sees things he hasn't seen since childhood. Surely it brings back memories of yesteryear. I don't think the good old days were as good as remembered. Work on the the farm is backbraking labor. Life without microwaves, washers and dryers is not as cool as we may believe. Serbia does have these things available. But, many people don't have them like we do in the US.

I find that I am torn between the antiquities of South Eastern Serbia and the modernity of the US. There are so many pros and cons to both worlds.
But the things I love about Serbia are below.

The shepherds tending their sheep,

the line dried, home made socks,

The wonderful home made bread and other goodies,

and shared meals,

And pitchforks in use, creating the kind of haystack any "little boy blue" could fall asleep under.

These are the things I love about Serbia.

Pruning the Cherries

2011-04-14T10:43:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago maybe even a month ago now my family and I went to our village to prune the Cherries.

We tried to get to two of our fields, and they were covered in snow, and melting snow. The melting snow made streams into rivers and puddles the size of Texas. We were defeated and had to turn back and wait to spring to reach the village. As we descended to our town that sits in a lower elevation we were welcomed with green grass a warmer temps.

The trip back is literally down hill. My husband loves to just put the car in neutral and coast all the way home.

We ventured back to the village a week or so later. This time it was a success.

The pruning was "on"! We were checking our trees for diseases and trimming the wayward sprouting branches.

This journey was not without it's stops and starts, at first our tractor was giving us fits, and Milan, Cicin and Deda gave it some love a and few new parts and we were on our way.

Once we arrived at our field we unloaded and the fun began. I say that with complete sarcasm. This is hard labor. The ground gives and makes footing unsteady. While reaching for high branches, short little me has a hard time ducking other branches and keeping balance. At the end of these long days of pruning, we were all exhausted. I was happy when the work was finished. But it was not without fun.

The beginning of each day we started out at Baba a Deda's house. I got some time to love on Mikailo the kitty in the picture above.

And once we got onto the fields, it wasn't all about the cherries. Just up the hill from one of our fields there is a pavilion that covers an old Cross. We made a pilgrimage up the hill to see the ancient symbol.

These crosses are found all over Serbia and often have coins placed on them.
Walking down to the field we saw a corn stalk shelter. It was made to create a cool resting place for field workers on hot sunny days. I am always impressed with the ingenuity of the Serbs in creating something splendid out of the ordinary.

Walking further down to the field we found a weed that makes a splendid soup and adds a nice touch to Mama's corn bread. We began to gather as we pruned and soon had a basketful!

The soup was delicious, and so was the bread Mama made.

I also found out that there are yellow and black Lady Bugs! The Muz calls them Kineski buba Mara, or Chinese lady bugs. Cool stuff, huh?

Millie, A great woman

2011-04-08T09:02:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I got the call she had succumbed to a number of torments, failing kidneys, pneumonia, heart issues... I knew it was coming and cried myself out of emotion the night before. When I got the call, I was just quiet and mechanical. "What needs to be done now", was my thought. I have momentary lapses here and there. I feel most heartbroken for my Grandfathers loss. They were together for 70 years, day in and out, annoying one another and loving at that same time.

I think of how sweet they were together, a few times I saw him pat her bum, and she in her seventies would be a shy and embarrassed as a school, say to him "Oh John".

Millie Jones was a great role model, and a wonderful Grandmother or Baba. She worked hard for her family making dinners and deserts that always included some peanut butter for her husband John. Her strawberry jam was my favorite. I loved to watch her cut of the strawberries and and boil the ingredients with so much sugar.

I remember one time we were camping and I was swinging on swings after the typical Edinboro camp monsoons. I leaned back to far while gliding upward on the swing only to drag my hair through the mud puddle below. My hair was covered in mud and I was a bit scared to go back to our camper. Grandpa and Grandma were so careful about keeping everything so neat and clean, and I might make a mess with my mud strewn hair. But when I arrived at the door Grandma just took me to the sink and washed out my hair. I was the only thing that mattered. Not the mess.

I called to try to talk to her just to hear her voice one last time and she had already fallen into the coma. Her last words were to my Grandpa. He told her he loved her, and she said, "I love you too." Then she closed her eyes and went to sleep. She died after 1 AM the next day. I am glad she will no longer suffer, and be hurt by the dementia that had become such a nuisance.

I was blessed to have her for so long. I am her oldest grandchild. I cherish the days I got to spend with her, and so glad I am home to be with family now.

The American, Breaking down barriers and gates. oops

2011-03-27T17:15:00.001-04:00

The hubby and I took a bus trip to Greece. Crossing the border on a bus seems less harrowing. No international paper work for the car needs to be taken car of a month in advance with all the fees involved, not to mention getting international insurance, etc, etc. Not having to drive, and pay an arm and a leg for gas and a hotel made this trip priceless.

We were the last to get on the bus, and we got the entire back row of seats to ourselves. That was cool. I could look out both windows when we got into the city, but that was not until the next day.

At each border, the patrol officers came onto the bus and collect the passports and took them back to stamp them. This was a Serbian bus tour, my American passport was a bit of a shock to the border patrol guards, after gathering the burgundy Serbian passports, at the last seat collecting my navy blue American one. I can tell you, I got a few surprised looks.

Thesaloniki was the main city we visited as well as touring the mountainous region covered in oranges, lemons, and olive trees. What an awesome getaway!

On the internet Halo tours of Belgrade advertised the tour as a trip to Salon. Salon is what Serbians call Thesaloniki. And when they do say Thesaloniki, they pronounce it Tesaloneekee. The "I" always sounds like an "E", and Serbians don't use the soft "T" or "th". I love it when my honey says "thank you". It is always cute with his accent and difficulty with the "th".

Our tour bus was mostly women on holiday for International Women's day or March 8th. It took a while to get to know them , but I made some new friends.

Aristotle Square, center city

We arrived in Salon just around 9AM. As we approached the outskirts of the city, we were sorely disappointed with the look of the place. The condo buildings were so ugly, the sky was gray, and trash was all over the place. Not the kind of welcome I had envisioned. When we stopped at a big mall for breakfast and potty break things started looking up. I got to have Starbucks for breakfast! The taste of home is good, even in Greece.

Driving around the city, ancient ruins were every where. The government there has been trying to build a subway system, but every time they start digging, they find more buildings, and remnants. It sounds cool, but that must get annoying and extremely expensive.

The gas stations there were really different. All the petrol stops in town were in a building on the street like this. Just pull up to the curb, fill up, and go. I have to say, I don't believe I have seen this any where else in my travels. There is always a first time.

This day was good, but exhausting. We walked around the city and took in tons of ruins, and then hit a mall. Not so interesting.

The view from the food court in the Mall.

Birth place of Aristotle
After a long bus ride up a mountain with serpentine curves and the look of the pacific Northwest we arrived at our next destination. At the birthplace of Aristotle there was a big gate to the "museum". It was suppose to be closed. But they weren't trying hard to keep people out, and it was next to impossible to steel anything. The objects were much to large.

Everyone began to make their way in. They climbed, scaled, and hopped the fence. But, when I say how small the fence was, I decided to get a running start and vault over it just placing my hands on top and throwing my legs over. What I didn't know was the gate was broken and it just fell over bruising the inside of my right thigh.

I don't know how my fellow bus mates kept a straight face. I wouldn't have been able to keep from laughing. I am sure it was like watching a comedy. Even funnier because it was a middle aged foreign lady. But they only seemed concerned. I would say it was well hidden mirth! The Tom-boy in me lives, and so does the accident prone nerd!


Aristotle and I

As I was falling and just after, I felt like I was in a bad travel comedy movie about the ridiculous American... National Lampoons vacation to Greece.

JugoDent

2011-03-22T09:33:00.001-04:00

Jugodent is the name of the company that makes the Light above the dentist chair I sat in today.

I love my dentist here. He is nice, personal and has a great chair-side manner. It doesn't hurt, he has been my husband's dentist since childhood and is friends with the dentist's daughter.

I had a chip in my front tooth and wanted to get the rest checked out. Dr. Smiljanic fixed my chip in no time. After I was finished my husband hopped up on the chair. The good Dr. had a look, pronounced him clean and we we off. Only a thousand Dinars poorer. (That is less than $20 US.)

That would have been probably $300 worth of dentistry in the US. Great deal!

Svetozarevic House in Zubetinac, Serbia

2011-03-20T20:38:00.001-04:00

The Svetozarevic House in Zubetinac, Serbia.
The ultimate place to chill.
I visited my friends resort this past week. It was amazing. I made a video to show off the place. I can not tell you how amazing it was to go there and relax!


Good Morning!

I believe this video is only visible to those of you in the US. I made it, uploaded it to FB and Youtube. Then tried to upload it here, but it was rejected. :(

I will have to add pictures for anyone who might happen upon this outside of the copy write protected US.

I only have one wish that it could have been summer when we visited. Green grass, leaves, and blooming flowers would have only added to the more than pleasant surroundings.

I was so impressed with the degree of relaxation that was achievable in just one afternoon. I can only imagine what a few days of lounging with a glass of wine, hiking to see the sites and ending the evening with a fire in the pit that is soon to come, just below the pavilion.

The house features lodging for up to ten people. The beds are dressed with traditional Serbian bedspreads. The rest of the grounds are chocked full of Serbian antiques. Some of the old pieces are works of art, eye candy.

A mini kitchen, catered meals, a winery, a bar, inside and outside seating, a fire pit coming soon, and so much more!

Wine and Rakija are made on the premises. And there are two summer kitchens, one devoted to grilling, smoking, drying, or even roasting meat on a spit!

Worries and cares melt away here, really.

Again, please note that when the photos were taken, it was still winterish, the grounds would be even more inviting in spring, summer, and fall shrouded with green leaves and flowers. No matter, the place is a haven of rest no matter what time of year.

The trickling fountain makes its way around the paths. The sound is music to the ears.

Excellent staff!
Svetozarevic House is run by people who care for the land they are living on and strive to make the world better by living as green as possible. The founders of this place have worked and studied globally to make this world a better, cleaner place.
I am proud to say they are my friends.
Please come and visit!
http://www.wix.com/svetozarevic/zubetinac

I am Lesotho

2011-03-19T08:40:00.003-04:00

In my foreign land...
I am always writing in my head, I always seem to lose those pages when I get to the computer. I have plenty of time to write as I walk along the road or river in my own English speaking world. I am like Lesotho in South Africa. When I hear Sting singing about being an alien in NY, I totally relate.

I am trying to learn from the place I am living. I do not think less of it because it has not progressed to the place of the US, I admire it for standing up to the Nazi's in WWII and feel sad for the wars it has suffered since and the loss of so much of it's home land.

I ache for the needs of the people and even for the stray animals that walk the streets begging for food, and love. My heart is heavy with these things.

Soon, I will be going back to the "Land of Plenty" where people are complaining of the raising gas prices and the pains they are having with government and the radiation worries coming from Japan. I can only think of how good they have it and they don't even know.

The price of gas all over the world is much higher, and usually the wages are much, MUCH lower. People still make their way through life. A picture of a fat, rich kid who is complaining of how unfair life is, while sitting next to the starving skinny one comes to mind.

Now, when I see someone there who has little in the States, I have less empathy than before. It is not so hard to make it there and live easily. Just stop comparing your life with the Donald Trumps, and be happy to live in such a free country. Cut down on what you spend, and be happy with what you have. Trust me, you have A LOT!

Jobs are available if you are willing to work. And if you are willing to move you will have a bigger choice. There are jobs and there is Freedom. That is a luxury some can only dream of. My heart is heavy today from watching the suffering of a strong proud people.

I urge my fellow Americans to learn Geography, and History. Travel, and love your neighbors internationally. Enjoy your life! Trust me, it is a good one.

And if you want tips for a more frugal life, Check out my fellow blogger, the Meanqueen. She is full of them. She lives frugally and has a great, happy life. I really admire her.
http://meanqueen-lifeaftermoney.blogspot.com

The Market in Thesaloniki

2011-03-17T07:01:00.002-04:00

The market street in central Thesaloniki or Salon was like a Walmart on crack. Seriously! you could probably find anything you want. And much more you don't!

When we first entered the market, we saw this:

Piggies, bunnies, little lambs, and big carnivore. I don't think there was a limit to the kinds of meat products you could buy here. The smells were a big strong, but it was an education to see all these animals hung like this, like China town with a twist.

The seafood section was just as interesting. I got flashbacks to the the Market in Seattle. No Kidding!

I think, at one point I even saw some fish being thrown.
but mostly, just a bunch of Squidworths on ice. SpongeBob was MIA.

the spice store:

The linen and clothing section:

Produce:

The Olives!

Yep, This was one of my highlights! I could taste them all freely to see which ones I wanted. That is my kind of shopping. :)
After we left the market we hit up a cafe. Coffee and sweets, Life is good.

Yummies in Greece!

2011-03-15T06:52:00.000-04:00

Milan and I agreed that while in Greece we should have a Gyros. Which we pronounce two different ways. Serbs pronounce it as a hard "G" like in goat. I pronounce the "G" as a "y" like in you.
I told him that a Greek person had told me that it was pronounced that way, but he still didn't believe me.
I neglected to ask in Greece what the correct pronunciation was, but I looked it up in the dictionary and found two ways to say it... Neither way was with the hard "G". I love being right! But, I know there is a precious lot am wrong about.

The Gyros was good, but a little disappointing. I was looking for the version with no fries or ketchup. This seemed like more of an American version. The ones I am used to seeing have meat, cucumbers, onions, that yummy white sauce, and not sure what else. This was good, and too big to finish, though, it was not what I had expected in my gyro in Greece as were many other things.

Like these cool pretzels being sold on the street. I don't know the name in Greece, but they look like the djevrek in Serbia. (to my Serbian friends: I know I spelled it wrong, but try to make it so English speaker get the gist of how it sounds.)

There were loads of desserts. We had Gelato, Italian Ice cream. It has been a favorite of mine since my first road trip across the US. I found it on my pit stop in Las Vegas at the Bellagio. That teamed with a cappucino is a little slice of heaven.

The gelato in Greece did not disappoint, it was soft and creamy and full of flavor. Try it if you get the chance. It has much less fat than ice cream, with none of the dreaded flavor of lite foods. Yummy!
We ordered all of our foods in English.

In most big places English was the way to go. In Stavros in Chaldiki and in many others the choice of languages is Greek or Serbian. So many Serbs come here to holiday, that the Greeks have learned enough to profit greatly. I think the Greeks and Serbs are like brothers who play well together. And when we are in the States and we meet a Greek, they always have a friendly knowing look about Serbia. They are neighbors who have share good times and bad. History is present here and the people in both countries remember it well.

The similarities between the two countries is strong in the line of food. Both favor lamb, pig, and even the ouzo that is so common in Greece is a more refined version of Serbian Rakija, it is distilled 2x.

I think it is a bit comical that the anatomically correct male bottle of ouzo is next to the Extra Virgin Olive Oil, called Bio Bio. Ironically in Serbian bio means was.

We really enjoyed our culinary experience here, Even the food in our hotel was great. I especially loved the fresh cheese at breakfast.

On our last day in Thesaloniki we stopped at the market for Greece's wonderful olives.

Olive trees were everywhere, but they have to be treated before they are eaten. These olives at the stand were super! We are still enjoying them.

Greece blogs will continue... there is still so much to share!

Cats, Dogs, Doors, and Windows of northern Greece

2011-03-12T19:14:00.001-05:00

There were massive amounts of strays in Greece.

There were so many stray dogs that I am sure they have some problems with dog packs. I was surprised to see they were so many big ones. In Serbia, and in my travels in other countries, most of the dogs were shorter in stature.

This mama doggie was going to take her pups out for a walk, but my camera changed her mind.

I think this is called turning tail.

If there is any kind of animal control here, I would be surprised. In this way and in so many others it is just like Serbia. I really couldn't get over how similar these countries were.

I love all the plants on the terraces and windowsills. I love to get ideas for my own home from them. I especially love the shudders. I want shudders!

In many places in Thesaloniki, I got the San Francisco vibe. The steep, windy streets, and rows of colorful town houses really give the feel of that beautiful west coast city.


These buildings are water front. What a great place to live and what a view! I love the water in Greece.

Even dogs like a stroll down the beach with friends, but this picture doesn't do just to the crystal clear waters. The one below does!

This picture is just a sample of how absolutely stunning, and clear the water is. Oh, how I wish it was swimming weather!

The pictures below are from the town, Ouranoupolis. A beautiful ancient town. Even though it is in the north of Greece on the coast, there are trees baring lemons and oranges in March. Flowers are blooming and there are many more on the way.

Is it just me, or does this kitty look like it has bushy eyebrows? I think he is Serbian, they are masters of the bushy eyebrows. My husband is proud of his.

It is wonderful that these plants survive to adorn the windows of these homes year round.

More to come on Greece. Have a wonderful day!
and Please don't forget to pray for Japan.

Babino patcheh or Grandma's little penis

2011-03-09T20:14:00.001-05:00

I have been going to my husbands village for 2 years now. Every time we go, Baba and Deda greet us at the door. Deda shakes our hands. Baba pulls us in for hugs and lots of kisses that are closer to the neck than the face, so I always get a strange vampirish vibe from them, even though she barely has teeth.

While she is kissing us, she is always muttering sweet nothings of love to us like we are children. It is very sweet and I feel loved. This time while I was there, a cousin translated one of the things she says to my husband.... Babino Patcheh. (I know I am not spelling it right in Serbian, but I am spelling it right for American pronounciation.)

I knew when she was saying Babino she was calling us her's. It's like saying Grandma's baby or something. What I didn't get was the second part. Patcheh is the word for baby duck and this is slang for penis. All along she has been calling my husband, her little penis. And as odd as it sounds, it is a sweet thing to say. I did laugh my dupe off when I heard this!! (Dupe means butt.)

I will have to listen closer to hear what she is calling me next time. ;)

Art and Graffitti in Thesaloniki

2011-03-09T10:43:00.000-05:00

The Church of Saint Demitri has some lovely art all over the walls and beautiful wood carvings all throughout the church. No matter where you are in the building, there is something beautiful nearby.

Even the basement of the church was beautifully created.

Some comical art on the streets. No doubt these windy streets have hidden some of this in real life.

In the top right corner it says, "peace".

Sometimes is it just unattractive scribbling and other times...

A bit of fun, lighthearted work on the side of a dilapidated building.
No matter what the work or the reason for it. Art covers the earth catching eyes globally.

The script beside this pig on a motorcycle reads: Pigs on Speed.I do like this one, but wonder about the author.

The artwork on this dumpster in Stavros is completely utilitarian. It displays a pointed message. If you don't want the place to be dirty, don't litter and or clean it up! Everyone should take heed!

This piece of work was left inside the WWI tomb for a myriad of Serbian Soldiers. I love it.

More to come soon! Enjoy the art around you.

What trip are we taking again?

2011-03-08T04:28:00.000-05:00

The husband/muz and I have been planing to take a trip all winter, but hadn't. When we made plans for a trip to Budapest, I sprained my ankle, ended up in a cast and crutching. Of course, it had to be postponed. When we tried to book it again, it was too late. There we no longer taking reservations for that trip.

We changed gears and looked for other possible trips. There was one for Venice that looked so lovely I was all excited about it in a minute. VENICE!!! Who cares that it is winter, what a romantic city! But of course not enough people were going and it was canceled. Stupid economy!

We set our sights on a future trip to Venice with a backup plan for Vienna if the other didn't work out. We waited til Friday to see which it would be.. Neither! Venice was canceled again, and Vienna was filled.
At this point it is a comedy. maybe we wouldn't go anywhere.

The Muz searched other Serbian tour agencias for possible trips. Hungary was again an option. We called and booked our trip. Milan went to the bank and sent off the payment. Two days later, the agency calls. Only seven people signed up for the trip. Again our trip is canceled.

The lady on the other end of the line and Muz talk for some time, he explains we only have til the end of the month and need to go now. After a long conversations Muz gets off of the phone, breaks the news to me, and then tells me Thesaloniki, Greece is another option for this weekend, and what do I think?

Um, it has been snowing for like a week here, every trip we try to take is canceled and a trip to the coast of Greece has come up, Game ON! I am in. Seriously, I am not stupid, I think I may have just hit the Jackpot!!

There is one hitch, the bus leaves from BG, and we would wait on the side of the hwy to get on the bus in Nis. To any Serb, this is probably normal. But to a worry wort American like me, this is a bit sketchy. I just hope the bus driver remembers us.

It all worked out in the end, we met the bus about thirty minutes from our home. The bus was filled with bunch of ladies and two couples. The adventure begins!! Wahoo off to Greece!

Are you Married to a Serbian Expat? or are you the Expat in Serbia?

2011-03-03T05:55:00.002-05:00

Hello friends,
I have been increasingly looking for others like me so I feel less alone in this home away from home. Recently, I have had some luck finding quite a few blogs and sites that have been helpful in connecting with others like me. It is great to find that kind of connection when you are feeling like an alien. Here are two women like me who blog in BG. Sometimes I feel as if they are writing my own thoughts.

http://realhousewifeofbelgrade.com
http://rosemarybaileybrown.blogspot.com

The one that makes me laugh the most is by an American man that writes the blog, They call it Promaja. My husband and I have a running debate on the promaja subject*, I am guessing we are not the only ones. Pleas check out this site, and read the Serbuki entry.

http://promajaneck.wordpress.com
http://slavicmuse.wordpress.com

Trek for Truth is a well written blog by a woman who has moved here and is loving life here in Serbia! Bravo to her for diving in head first and getting acclimated quickly.

If you are looking for more possible sites, check out what blogs they are following.
I also found a group on facebook called, married to a Serbian Expat.

Other Sights I recommend:
Expat Women, Expat blogger, Internations, and Expat Focus.

Best of luck finding yourself cross-culturally! Embrace this exotic life and grow with it! Savor the good, and learn from the bad. That is my goal. But, I must admit, it doesn't always work.
All the Best!
Lafemmet
* The blog after party....
Promaja is a draft.
Here is Serbia, it is believed that if you have two windows open, that you will have pressure in your home that can create a headache. I thought my muz was joking when I heard this the first time he told me to shut one of the windows so we didn't get a headache. But he wasn't. This belief among many others here in Serbia are always puzzling to me. I tease my husband about them.
I grew up living in an old farm house in rural PA. Open windows all over the house created the draft that cooled us. Our old home had no air conditioning. The promaja was our air conditioning. I loved it night and day, and still do. But now, I have to wait til the muz is away to enjoy it.

The Train, the Ballet and the Brick Layer (Novi Sad Part 3)

2011-02-27T08:28:00.001-05:00

My favorite cafe in Novi Sad is a re-purposed train car. In spite of all the smoke inside of the car, I really enjoyed the experience. I had walked by this unique kafana several times and finally made my way in.


The ceiling of the car still has the original leather straps used to steady yourself during a train ride.

I would love to see this place in the summer, it must be even better with cafe tables scattered outside to expand the seating.

I think the disco ball on the porch roof is a nice touch.

The view from the front looks right down to the most famous view in town.

View of the back of the cafe looking on to the most famous buildings in town.

Besides exploring cafes, Novi Sad was full of all sorts of more than pleasant adventures. Another blissful part of the trip was meeting my new English friend. He works in the city's ballet. As I have always fancied meeting someone in the Ballet, this was a treat for me. I will call him J. for brevity and privacy.

I took this pic outside a studio at the Miami Ballet. Notice the palm tree reflections.

I twisted my ankle just before meeting him and was in a lot of pain. Our plan had been to walk to the fortress and have coffee at a cafe there, but that hardly possible. I was fearful he may be put out or annoyed at the predicament, but thankfully he was merciful about the leg and we went for coffee close by.

The fort at Novi Sad that we did not visit.

We spent the day talking, walked/limped around a little bit. He introduced me to the mall and a great place for real Hot chocolate, and a rooftop restaurant that served a Indian Style Chicken salad with curry in it! Both were heaven for my taste buds and tummy.

I found his story fascinating. Over the coffee, hot cocoa, and while limping across town he told me his story.

He had started ballet late in his high school years on a dare from his footballer friends in high school. I think that backfired. He was good at it, and instead of being embarrassed (for very long), he went PRO! He started modern dance at 15, then played around with ballet at 16, then at 17 he got serious. He went to private ballet school, the KS Dance Ltd. and is now dancing internationally. He was blessed with perfect genetics for ballet a.k.a. his super flexibility and high arches that made all this possible.

At the ballet School the instructors were very strict. Not only did they instill the great discipline of ballet, but they also correct accents of the students until they speak the Queen's English properly. I found it interesting that if you are training to dance professionally in England you would simultaneously be taught to speak properly as well. Quite honestly, I think other training schools should do the same for their employees. It could certainly help many people get jobs.

Like anyone he had wondered where his life's journey would take him, he and his brother had studied martial arts as a child and his flexibility was an asset. I am sure it was the same on the soccer pitch. But his genetic makeup seems to have been best suited for the ballet. The muscles that he built were just re sculpted to create the well tuned dancer that he is and continually improves on. Because he started late and is just budding, I believe he will have many years ahead of him to see his potential and a great career.

I am sure you can imagine that with any professional sport there are those who are hard to dance with because their egos may have surpassed comfortable living conditions. This is also true within the ballet. It has taken some time for a few of the dancers who may have seemed a bit prickly in the beginning, but sometimes even the biggest porcupines shed some quills.

The Builder
For a while after J. discovered his place in the world of ballet, he wondered where he got his natural form from. His feet are so beautifully arched, and his hips turned out. He looked to his mother and father and saw no real similarities in this area. Until one day he saw his grandfather remove his shoes. J. noticed how arched his grandad's feet were. He said to his grandpa, "You could have been a dancer."
His grandfather replied, "I'm a builder."

When J. told me this I could only imagine a ballet about a builder with scaffolding lining a building, beams and bricks. I told J. what I was thinking, and he said it would have to be German. We both laughed. This was just one of the many laughs we had. What a great day and wonderful new friend.

J. dances at the Novi Sad Ballet, I hope one day to get to see him dance.

After finally returning home and making to the hospital, I got my own special dance boot. By the time I got is taken off I didn't think it was so special anymore.

Decorated by Friends, Mama, and ME. :) (I did most of the decorating while listening to a serious family conversation.... kept me from getting too bored!)

One of the many Antique lanterns in Novi Sad.

Waking up in Novi Sad

2011-02-20T11:41:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago I spent a week in Novi Sad with a wonderful friend and her family. It was such a pleasure to wake up with English and go to sleep to it. The entire week was in English. My host family speaks both Serbian and English, but spoke English mostly for me. I cannot tell you how relaxing this was, not to have to try to understand. No stress!

I enjoyed waking up with the kids, watching cartoons, and playing cars and games with them. I also spent time teaching them new games and making beautiful snowflakes with them. Without a language barrier, much more was possible. Imagine trying to teach someone a new game with rules when there is a great wall between you. That is how how it is when you cannot communicate.

You may think it is incredibly lazy that I don't speak Serbian yet, but I do put effort into it. I am learning, slowly. I must also tell you, I have met a few other expats like me who do not even care to try.

At home my husband and I speak English. Once in a while a few Serbian words are sprinkled in. I am understanding more than last time when I was here, and get along O.K. on my own, but miss out on most of the conversation. And it is extremely exhausting. After an hour or so of listening my brain kinda shuts off. Sometimes even sooner. Especially if the conversation in boring. I just quit trying, switch the brain to another channel, and usually feel kind of alone. That is why this week was so magical.

I was only alone, when I was alone! Glorious! and I didn't mind because I was exploring a gorgeous city. In fact, I haven't this kind of wonderful alone time in a while, and I realized I had missed it, a lot. I think some of that kind of alone may be called FREEDOM. such a lovely word. Wow, and I am realizing as I am writing this that I feel caged in my little Serbian town. I feel limited, muzzled, and alone.

The fact is, when I got back to my town, I couldn't wait to leave again. And when people ask me how I like our town, I am honest with them. I do like it. But I cannot be completely honest. It would be rude. But most of the time I am just sad and alone in this town.

Novi Sad gave me Wings, a Tongue, and Free time! I could be me. My heart was light and singing like Maria in the Sound of Music! Cheesy, but true.

I had wonderful discussions with my friend every morning over coffee and great times playing with the kids. I cannot express the joy of having some one who understands the way I think, and not to have to worry weather I may somehow offend him or her with my thoughts. Refreshing.

To help some of you understand, things that are completely natural here are not tolerated or accepted in where I am from, and the opposite is also true. I cannot speak freely, because the way I think and what I believe, is not O.K. To speak freely here would be like saying, "The sun is the center of our universe," to the old Catholic Church. It doesn't go over well. Sometimes I feel like there is an iron curtain over me. It is very heavy.

I believe I am adjusting to living here, but like all adjustment there are hard parts. This is one of them. Anyone who has lived in another country for more than a short vacation can surely empathize. One must give up something for another. It will take time for me to be truly comfortable here, if that is even possible. I am really not sure. Time will tell.

The family and friends that I have here make all the difference in the world. They make my time here so much better and I don't believe I could be here without their love and support. I am really happy to have them.

I am hoping that if we buy a house here, and I have a little space of my own, things will feel a bit different. I will have the freedom to be myself in my own home. I can decorate it and grow a nice garden. Hard work and a nice living space can make all the difference in the world for your psyche.

I would love to hear what you think on this subject of trying to make a home here in my second home. I am open to advice as long as you are kind. I would love your thoughts on the situation, especially if you have first hand experience with this. Thank your for reading and for your kind, helpful comments.

One more blog to come next week on my Novi Sad Trip. Until then, have a great week.

The Old House & The International holidays of February the 14th

2011-02-14T17:38:00.005-05:00

Right now, as I type, Somewhere not far off an traditional Serbian Ompah band is belting out as if there is a wedding. But it is Monday, so I am sure they are practicing. This is slightly enchanting, even though I really hate the music.

This is a worn out little building beside the house we looked at. I like the hearts on the door. The door is so worn, it isn't even on the hinges anymore. The inside is a mess with an old bed and a few forgotten stored items.

The nice little kitchen includes a wood fueled oven and an electric one. Here in Serbia there are often couches in the kitchen, that convert into beds. I think it is a novel idea, even if I am not fond of the way it looks. IT saves on heating the whole house with more than one wood burning stove. The sink and wood stove are just out of view.

We went to look at a house in the village yesterday, It was a lovely old village house. The house is from the 1940's or 50's era. It needs some repairs, but Milan says he could do them. We are undecided, but it is fun to dream about exotic old homes. How we could fix up the yard and make a nice garden behind. This feels like a super bowl commercial in my other wise boring life.

Feminine Sensitive info here. If you are a guy you may want to skip down a bit... You have been warned. Maybe you can tell by the tone of my words, I have been jaded by having to wear a cast for a couple of weeks, hope I can get it off Friday. It is doing numbers on my mind!

I believe my "Friend of the months" is also a culprit of my no so chipper attitude. The word friend is used lightly, sarcastically, and maybe even as an antonym. I may have made two friends into enemies with my monthly Jekyll and Hyde transformation. I was a bit evil at dinner last night, even though I was trying to remain my usual friendly self. All the trying in the world couldn't reign in Mrs. Hyde.

I find the Jekyll and Hyde is an appropriate name for my two selves as I am such a changed person sometimes. And because the historical character, Deacon Brodie, whose life was made into the story was born on the same day as me! just 200 years earlier.

This brings me to a topic that some Expat woman may find helpful. The Diva Cup! I am in love with this product. In many countries all over the world, female sanitary products are not as wide in variety as in the western world. If you are traveling to non-western countries you may want to take your favorite products or even have them shipped to you. I stocked up and brought mine until I found this little silicon cup. There are different names for it... Moon cup is another name. I do recommend it and if you are interested, do some research and find out if it may be a good option for you. There is no need to buy monthly products, and it is so small it fits in a pocket. Two Big thumbs up!

Males may resume reading here...

Happy Valentine's Day! Here is it is Sveti (Saint) Trifun's day. He is the saint of wine. I think these two holidays go well together. The Ompah band is playing to celebrate this Holiday.
The Ompah band is playing just the other side of our building. Milan saw them when we was going out to get our breakfast pastries from the bakery. The band is starting to be annoying to listen to as I try to put words together. They are unwelcome guests pounding away at my thought process. I will take a break and come back to this rambling later.

Some time after dinner the same day

Great little traditional Serbian Restaurant, the rocks along the bottom of the wall foster several bubbling fountains. The falling waters quiet laughter provides a relaxing atmosphere.

We celebrated this holiday with a nice dinner out. Kod Sasha's was the name of the little place. Literally translated, it means "at Sasha's". The owner waited on us, and the food was exquisite. We had salad, two main courses, wine, beer and coffee. All this cost the same as two Combo meals at McDonald's back home. There was home-made bread and cheeses and even home-made horseradish. Oh my, I am still as stuffed as a turkey on Thanksgiving.

If you are ever in Knjazevac this is the place to go! Sasha's has won several awards for its food. The decor of the place is antique Serbian. The service was great and the food was nothing less than amazing. Before we left, the owner said he had a dish made of cows tail. Sounds really interesting and I am anxious to give it a try next time.

I had to share a picture of the wine I had with my meal. Medveda Krv or blood of the bear is the name of the wine. It was very nice. I mixed it with Coke, half and half. This is called Bambus. Don't knock it til you try it.

The downstairs Entrance.

While I listened to the house talk in Serbian, I looked through the window to the little house that now haunts my daydreams.

I can't stop thinking of the little house, it is such a romantic idea, and would be fun to work on for the next month and a half that I have left here in Serbia. It would also be nice for our extended family to have this little plot for gardening while we are gone and the house to stay in for some time away from town in the summer.

Only time well till what is to come. I am happy right now just to dream.

Ciao for now,
Please feel free to comment!

NS: the sprain ~ featuring bus window fotographs

2011-02-07T20:09:00.003-05:00

I know this is a little backwards, but I am posting the end of my trip to NS. This is a reproduction of a letter I sent home upon my return.


The graffiti in red at the bottom of the photograph says, "delije". This is the name of the most passionate Red Star football club fans. I took this through the bus window. Didn't notice the graffiti till later when looking at the photos.

I went to NS to visit a fellow expat, S. and had a wonderful week with her and met another new expat friend J. who works as a Ballet Dancer in the Serbian Ballet.
After my great trip, I had a very exciting adventure on the way home.
I had twisted my ankle on my way to meet J, and was intending to care for it on the way back home on the bus, by stretching my leg across the seats... it didn't work the way I planned.

After my wonderful week in Novi Sad, I hobbled my luggage into the bus station. This was easier than I feared it would be. Thanks to S's map, and a nice, honest cab driver I found my way into the station with no problem.

I asked in Serbian for my ticket and and made my way to the peron or platform where my bus waited. The ride to Beograd was packed no room to put my foot up, and the ride from BG to Knjazevac would have been less so, but we picked up passengers from a bus that broke down on the hwy.

View of Belgrade from the bus window. This is the Sava River.

Then one of the guys on the bus was sick. I am still not sure what was wrong with him. I thought I smelled alcohol on him. But the guy beside me said it might be his heart, who knows? He was sitting right in front of me. I could see everything. Sometimes he was reacting as if he was having a seizure.... we had to stop the bus three times for him to puke. The fourth time we had to stop the bus at a gas station to have an ambulance meet us to care for him. Everyone waited and we were in the parking lot for over 30 Min! it seems crazy to me. Nice that one person is so important in this culture, but, odd to me.

a view of the ambulance through the dirty bus window

The sick fella was an older Roma or a gypsy, and was treating his wife poorly even though she was doing her best for him. I am sure that is the same across the board, Gypsy or not. I mostly disappointed in how women are treated here.

another pic through the bus window. No idea what river this is.

After my long ordeal in the bus coming home, I found Milan waiting for me at the bus station. He had been waiting with Mama for an hour at the hospital with our cousin, The ER doctor. What a nice surprise. Mama's friend is the x-ray tech so he was waiting too.

This hospital visit was amazingly smooth and fast and no even a little expensive! I was shocked! not your typical Serbian experience. (I know firsthand having gone with family members to the hospital here.)

X-rays show no break, just a bit of a sprain. I am not allowed to put weight on my foot. and have a strange kind of cast. It only covers the back and sides of my foot and leg up to my knee. to keep it stable. It has a gauze type of wrap that goes all the way around my leg, and it is all covered up, accept my toes. I have to have the cast for a week, and then we will go from there.

The nurses and doctor were all having a good time with me, and my broken Serbian, but they were pleased I knew as much as I do. Everyone was so funny. I am sure me being a novelty American/ family member made work a bit more interesting.

I know this is not the usual experience. But Milan was like, "see it wasn't bad".... I was thinking, because we are family and Mama knows people! I am not stupid. This is not normal, even for America!

Side note: I think it is good I am so friendly. The cousin doctor was so helpful. I am sure it doesn't hurt that I visit her Mom in the village when I take walks.

On my way out of the hospital I thanked the doctor for not having to dishes for a week. Of course I am joking. I have been washing some. I can not stand the mess.

As I was typing just now the phone rang, and I am so happy I don't have to answer it!! I still hate phone charades in Serbian. There are some advantages to this sprain! :)

Thanks for reading. Feel free to comment! I love to hear what you think. And have a great day.

Pictures from Novi Sad

2011-02-04T15:57:00.000-05:00

I spent a week in Novi Sad with a friend and made a new one. I am working on a lengthy blog about the trip, but want to share a few pics and a bit of mirth before bombarding you with the extensive black and white script.

This is, without a doubt, my favorite place in Serbia. If it is not for the glorious architecture, then for the company of such warm expat friends.

The trees around the statue were placed earlier that day. Theses manicured trees are like a stunning necklace on a beauty queen. The warm colors may lead you to believe the evening's weather was comfortable. But that is a lie, it was freezing even with a warm coat, scarf, gloves, and hat.

There are so many delectable nooks and crannies for one to lay eyes on. Without a doubt, I was filled with joy at the sights of this well preserved antique of a town.

I will relay the most humorous part of my trip, though, the comedy may be diminished by translation... or not.
The Serbian language is learned in Cyrillic first and second in the Latin letters which you are reading now. The Cyrillic of Serbia is similar to that of Russia if that helps your imagination. The letter F is the letter in concern in this story. The Cyrillic equivalent is a circle with a vertical line through the center. The two letters are not mixed in words. As a rule, it is one or the other. The exception is the cause of my embarrassing mistake.

I had gone shopping to find souvenirs of my trip and had a great time talking with with the proprietors of the shop. I made a purchase and went on to a cafe just beside. Soon after the couple I had just spoke with came in and we had a jolly continuation of the conversation.

The trouble arose when the kind man of the couple explained to me how the cafe got it's name. and I said the name... as I read if it were written in all Latin letters. Pickic, most unwittingly I was saying out loud in a cafe with other people all around... the bad word for a ladies private parts. He tried to politely fix my mistake and I said it again. Until he replied, "Stop saying that", still kindly, I had no idea what I had said. Then out of enlightenment and embarrassment I laughed at the ghastly mistake.

Everyone present was congenial, and I am sure they were holding back laughs at the silly foreigner. I went back a few days later to the shop and the mistress of the place was still tickled by the innocent transgression. Thank God, this culture is forgiving!

Serbian New Year with the Orthodox Celts and Sofija, Bulgaria 2011

2011-01-22T16:05:00.002-05:00

Quick shout out to Expat Women. Happy 4th Birthday to a site that shares helpful information on a wide variety of topics. They strive to help expat woman all over the world, more than cope, but cheer them on to thrive!
Bravo to all the people who work on this site, and thank you for caring enough to create a site for woman.
This site covers every topic conceivable for women living all over the world. Please check it out if you are one of these woman.
http://www.expatwomen.com/

The Church above is the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Nikola in Sofija, St. Nikola is the patron saint of Serbia, and my family. Some how when I was taking the photo, the picture was distorted, because it is not as "bendy" as it looks here. Below it is pictured as it really appears.

Serbian New Year is January 14, and it was just as fun as the first!
Our little town of Knjazevac sprang for the Orthodox Celts, and I love them. The Orthodox Celts are a Serbian band who sing REAL Irish Music. And WELL! I heard the lead singer lived in Ireland for 15 years and I believe it, his accent is "spot on".
If you don't believe me, click on the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDTlQ9xgtGk

I first heard this band while I was still dating Milan. On a road trip he played me their CD, and then told me they were Serbian. I couldn't believe it. Then when I heard they were coming to our town here in Serbia, I was so excited.

On this fun eve, we were joined by a bunch of friends at the center of town for the concert. The first band was Borderline, a local group. There weren't half bad, I enjoyed listening (even to the slightly butchered English in a few of the songs). Overall the lead singer did well. I know I couldn't do better in Serbian.

In short order the Orthodox Celts came on and they were Fantastic! I was so happy to hear English, and with such a lovely accent. The scenery wasn't bad either ;).

The funny thing about listening to the Orthodox Celts is when they stop singing and the lead singer speaks, all of a sudden you are jolted back to Serbia. But not the ordinary redneck Serbian to which I have be accustom. His Serbian is more proper. I had to ask to be sure I was right, but shockingly I was. It an interesting change to my ear. Still it was shocking every time he stopped singing.

After the concert I went inside. I wanted to speak to the lead singer, but there were so many adults and even more small children who were waiting. I didn't want to take any more of his time. I just wanted to ask some questions. I talked first to the violinist, but his English was not so good and he was really new to the band. The Guitar player, Vladav Jovkovic's English was much better and he had been with the band awhile so I was able to ask some questions and get some answers. It was a nice chat.

Vladan told me it was the former violinist, a female who started the band and had even written some of their songs. They started in the early nineties, and the lead singer joined soon after they came together.

Thursday, January 13, Serbian New years eve was a glorious evening with friends. There was even a spectacular display of fireworks at midnight! When all of the festivities died down, our crew moved on to a traditional restaurant down the road. While on my way to the WC at the restaurant, I ran into a friend, and then a bunch of her friends who had lived in the US. I am always shocked in this town by the number of people who have worked in the states.It's funny sometimes I am overwhelmed by the feeling of loneliness, segregated by language and other times I am surrounded by other internationals. Life is strange.

Sofija
This was my second trip to Sofija and I was excited to revisit this lepa grad (beautiful city). This trip was much different than my first. This time Milan and were accompanying our friends for a dog show in the capital city.

Of course we all needed passports, even the dog! The dog also had to have a microchip and a doctors note assuring he was healthy. When we crossed the border, our passports were stamped and so was the dogs. and then both times we crossed the inspectors stopped us again to check out the dog. It was pretty painless, just a short bit of a wait. This was the way it was for us on both legs of the trip. On the way back to Serbia, just after crossing through the border, I saw a lineup of maybe twenty buses and trucks waiting to go through to Bulgaria. I am glad I was not at the end of that line.

On our way into Bulgaria it was important to make a quick stop to buy a sticker for the car that showed we paid a ecology tax.

The first time I went to Sofija I was with all English speaking people. If I had a choice, I would opt for that, or to go alone. It is better to be alone than feel alone when you are with others. And, I love traveling alone! I am much more used to that, sometimes it is a tough adjustment traveling with others. I think I am just a bit too selfish most of the time.

The weather was much friendlier this time around. Last time my friends and I had a white blanket of snow to schlep around in, that made walking the city a little less comfortable.

This time the weather was cool, but clear, great for walking the beautiful city.

The streets are all cobble stones or actually Yellow Brick, Wait! It's OZ! lol
Look they really are Yellow. Thank God, I am a strong capable woman, and I don't need a wizard. But if I did, I wouldn't know which way to go, the yellow streets are every where.

When we arrived in Sofija, we checked into our apt for rent, and T. and I went to check in at the dog show. She grabbed a catalog that listed all the dogs while we waited in line to register. There were just a few other dogs from Serbia, loads from Bulgaria, a few from the Ukraine, and lots that came all the way from Russia. There was a large charter bus in the parking lot that was filled with dogs and owners from Russia. That would be an interesting road trip.

As this was my first dog show, I didn't know too much about how things go. I mean, I have seen Eukanuba on TV. But it is a huge international affair. This was up close and personal. The show was held at one of the American University Gymnasiums. The entrance was filled with people lined up with their dogs waiting to register, and random people and dogs just standing around. To the side of the room was an area with ping pong tables, University students were playing there the entire weekend.

At 3:30 the doors to the gymnasium opened. In poured the dogs on leashes, cages with dogs, and their people. In short order there were dogs being lead around in circles in each of the three boxed arenas where they would be judged. Tables were set up at the edge of the bleachers and dogs were groomed as if they were at the salon. Some dogs watched all of this from their spacious cages and most were trying to get a sniff of another's bums. Below are some more politically correct dogs, showing some affection.

I don't think you can tell from the picture, but the floors were not well finished. Those who play handball or basketball on this floor must try no to fall, because the groves between the wood slats would prove to be like a grater to the skin.

Dog shows are most often held in the summer, and this one was not up to the standard the summer show set. T. said this one was kind of unorganized and lower quality show. Only first prize in each class got a trophy, and even some of those didn't. The show was interesting, none the less, and I saw some gorgeous dogs and some even more interesting people.

On Saturday evening, I was overjoyed to be reunited with two girls from Bulgaria who lived in OC and worked with me. Over cappuccino we gabbed about all that was going on and what was new in our lives. It was great to see them again.

The Z00

cotton candy is called slatko vulna or sweet wool.


look ma, no genitals

here kitty kitty

down town

This statue towers over a busy crossroads in the centre of Sofia, on a spot where once stood a statue of Lenin. It was erected in the year 2000 as a millennial symbol of the city. The golden-skinned & black-robed female figure represents wisdom. She holds a laurel wreath and has an owl perched on her arm.

Changing of the guards at the presidents residence

grada

Dedicated to Nicole, Marie Noelle and Xenia, I miss you guys. xoxo Special Thanks to Evelina and Borislava for coming to see me in Bulgaria!! and Happy Birthday Expat Women and many more.
Thank you again for reading and have a great day!