...but I decided to take an unannounced break for Thanksgiving. So, now I'm home again and will catch you up.
Wednesday, Nov. 21 - The drive to Bucharest
Guess what happens when you are on a 2-lane "highway" thru the mountains and there is an accident? Traffic stops. And, since there is no where to go, everyone just sits. And sits. And sits. Until finally the accident is cleared away and traffic starts moving, ever so slowly, again. Five kilometers in 45 minutes isn't exactly what I had planned for the day. Until then, I had made good time and was looking forward to being through the mountains and almost to Bucharest before dark (5 pm, these days). Post-accident, there was no hope. Combined with unusually crazy city traffic...the 6 hour trip became 8 1/2.
But I arrived safely, and that's all that really matters. I stopped at the grocery store for the last couple of things, spent a little bit of time with the Postemas, and then baked my pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dinner.
Thursday, Nov. 22 - Happy Thanksgiving!
I enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner, relaxing, and playing games with the Postema family, the Staab family, Terre Ritchie (Leah's mom, here visiting) and Donna Messenger (visiting on the journey from Singapore to the States). Lots of good food. Even more great fellowship with friends! Donna and I spent a long time talking tonight. Good times!
And I had my very fist Starbuck's, too! Hot chocolate of course. Cuz coffee still doesn't taste anywhere near as good as it smells.
Friday, Nov. 23 - Happy birthday, Allen!
Today was my "little" brother Allen's birthday. I tried to call to wish him a happy birthday, but he was gallivanting around Washington D.C. and didn't answer his phone. I haven't talked to him since June or July :(
I walked a lot today and played the bum for the rest of the day. It was great!
Saturday, Nov. 24 - Christmas already?
Leah cooked breakfast for us today...yum! I don't eat hot breakfast very often (and when I do, it's usually breakfast foods for dinner!) because I don't feel like cooking just for myself in the morning. So, that was a nice treat.
Postemas bought their Christmas tree and put it up today. While they were gone, I went with Donna to the pharmacy to pick up some antibiotics; she picked up some kind of respiratory infection, we think. Gotta' love the fact that I can just walk into the pharmacy and tell the pharmacist what I want, and she gives it to me without a prescription (doesn't work with everything...but with antibiotics, it's no big deal). After dinner, we all went to Staabs and played an out-of-control game of Pictionary. Rummeys were there, too, so it was a good size group. Note to self: Pictionary with this group of people is not suitable for apartment living, at least not during quiet hours. Man, were we loud! In fact, there were MANY times when I was shouting at the top of my lungs and couldn't be heard by the person drawing.
We ended the day back at Postemas' apartment where they opened Christmas gifts from Grandma Ritchie while she's here. Holidays are so much more fun with kids!
Sunday, Nov. 25 - Happy birthday, Dad!
Today my dad would have been 55. He died about 3 weeks after his 51st birthday, almost 4 years ago. In some ways, it seems like yesterday. In other ways, it seems like a lifetime ago. I know I'm not a little girl anymore, but I still miss my daddy.
Today was a beautiful day for the drive back to Targu Mures. Two of my friends from Tg.M. came to Bucharest on Friday and rode home with me. It was nice to have company, even if they slept most of the way home :). I made it back in time for the 1st choir rehearsal at 4, then the choir sang in the evening service. During the 2nd (normal) choir rehearsal after church, I had a tough time staying awake. I love to travel and had a fantastic weekend away, but I'm glad to be home!
Monday, Nov. 26 - It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
I have about 20 bazillion things to do in the next 2 weeks, and I have no idea how I'm going to get it all done. So, what did I do with my evening? Keep working on the book I need to finish? No. File expense reports? No. Respond to e-mail? No. Nope. None of it. I decided, for one evening, to be completely irresponsible and ignore all of that.
I cleaned my living room, moved furniture (I've been wanting to do that for 2 months!), and started decorating for Christmas. I don't go all out. Few people other than me will see it, anyway. But I did put up my tree and my nativity sets. They make me smile :)
Whew...thanks for sticking with me to the end. I won't let another week go by until I post again!
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