Too Much Pressure

So, apparently I put myself under a bit too much pressure with my promise for more "beef". It's not that I don't have things to write about. In fact, I'm starting a pretty impressive scrap collection with the beginnings of different writing projects. It's just that I don't have time to develop most of those ideas right now. As much as I love writing, it's not my highest priority at the moment (if it were, I'd be making time for it!).


Guess you'll have to settle for more pictures for now. I found quite the random collection on my camera when I downloaded pics earlier tonight.

Which of these things is not like the others? Which of these things just doesn't belong? Flat Stanley joined me on a road trip earlier this month (if you aren't familiar with the Flat Stanley project, look here). Stanley was surrounded by ladies the whole trip since it was a short retreat with all of the women on our team and 3 visiting ladies from Northridge Church in the Detroit area. While they were all shopping (cuz that's what a group of ladies does!), I amused myself by taking pictures of Stanley for my friend Jenny's 3rd grade class in Atlanta.

This is the first decent picture I've gotten of traditionally painted eggs.

Iulia and Hilya at Bible study last Friday evening. We're studying through "Experiencing God" right now. This study is a mixed group of young adults. Earlier in the week I have a study with young women from church (half married, half single); we're planning to begin studying an Elisabeth Elliot book next week (I'm not sure what the English title is).

Last Saturday night I went to the National Theatre here in Targu Mures for the first time, even though it's right in my back yard (if I had a back yard). The occasion was a concert given by the Messengers, a group of Romanian Americans, ie. they were born here but moved to the States 20 years ago. They return to Romania every year for a tour. I appreciate very much the fact that they write almost all of their own music (instead of translating and recycling English music...which doesn't always work so well, since what takes 2 syllables in English might take 5 in Romanian or vice versa). I'm not sure who to compare their sound to in the American Christian contemporary music world...maybe Phillips, Craig & Dean.

The colors are almost gone now, but I saw more beautiful colors this fall than I have in the past. I would say that we still have more variety, more rich colors in Michigan than any that I have seen in Romania. At least on the trees. I spotted these colors on a climbing vine of some sort on the apartment building next to mine.

Last, but not least. This one boggles my mind. Romanians always seem to have a disparaging word to say about Americans' love affair with fast food. But, if you go into an American fast food restaurant here (in Targu Mures, we only have McDonalds, but Bucharest also has KFC and Pizza Hut), they are always packed with people. I don't ever want to hear another Romanian talking about lazy Americans eating at McDonald's instead of cooking for themselves. Why? Because a couple of months ago, the McDonald's in our little town starting offering free DELIVERY!!! Yup, as long as your order is worth 20 lei (approx. $9 - 2 medium size value meals), you can get it delivered to your door. Unbelievable!