It has been very nice having this week off. Yesterday Barb and I went to the American Medical Center; I got my flu shot and she saw the doctor. We then went downtown to shop for boots. We both found pairs. It is was very hard to find them big enough to fit me. We had lunch and looked for an English book store we read about. It was very hard to find. We each bought two novels. We went to TGI Fridays for a coffee and then to the market for vegies. We also did lots of window shopping. We each found a two wheeled cart which was great! I'm getting tennis elbow in my left elbow from carrying too many packages. I may look like an old lady using it but I don't care. We then to Barb's for supper and a movie. We watched "The Painted Veil." It was very good. When I got home I started making chicken soup.

Barb bought me a pretty little coin pouch in Turkey. Her and her daughter went there for 4 days.

This morning the Lewis's are having people over for brunch at 10:30.

Wednesday I went to the commissary with another teacher and stocked up on food. I'm really glad I found out he was going there. I have some familiar food again.

Hi everyone!!! I had a great weekend! We had conferences on Thursday and Friday. On Friday we got out at one and 6 of us went exploring. We went to eat first at the food court at the underground mall. We then to St. Sophia's Church complex. The inside of the church is very interesting. The mosiacs are being restored; most of the church is open to the public. Other parts are in the process of being restored. That areas you can walk around in have the mosiacs partial restored in many areas so you can see how dirty and damaged the mosiacs are. There are a few areas in the floor where they have the original floor exposed (and covered with glass cases) so you can view some of the remnants of the mosiacs that were on the floor. There are many other areas that are exposed to show the foundation, brick laying, and arched door ways that were filled in in thepast centuries. Now the floors are covered in large metal tiles which are interesting in themselves. The ceilings in the stairway to the upstairs and some of the doors are very low. Even I had to watch my head in some of them. I'm not sure if that is due to other flooring being put on top of old floorings.
After we were done there we went to Andreski (not sure that is spelled right) street where artists and other venders set up. I bought great presents for my two boys! We found an art supply store I have to return to. There were many galleries but it was getting dark and we headed off to eat. It started raining on us; we walked all over trying to find a restaraunt and finally decided on a buffet. Then we headed home. It was a great afternoon and evening!
More later about Sautrday and Sunday.

I received mail today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I received a letter from my Mom and the two books I ordered. One is a how to art book and the other is the novel Brisinger; the third in a series.I'm excited to get new reading material!
We have conferences until 7 tonight and from 8:30 til 1 tomorrow. A group of us are going to St. Sophia's Cyurch after work.

Hi! I had a good weekend! I actually had a good time at the lock in onFriday. We took the kids to Mac and Don's to eat. The students actually behaved themselves (other than being silly). They had Star Wars toys in the kids meals so I got a kids meal with along with two boys I have in art. We got light sabers and had a few light saber fights. Also, things are really bad here for me; I ate the hamburger and fries and they tasted good!!! When we got back to the school I was supervising the movie room; I thought I'd be breaking up lots of inappropriate behavior but none happened. I got caught up in watching the movie and didn't get home till 12:20 (my shift was over at 11) and then I couldn't sleep! I hate that!
On Saturday I got up at 7 to go on the shopping trip; I still haven't gotten a DVD player. I got clay pots for my new house plants and some groceries. On the way home there was an accident on the free way and we were stuck in traffic on an on ramp. There was a Holstein cow staked out in grassy area of the on ramp! It was hilarious! Here is all these cars creeping along and this cow happily munching away in the middle of it all. Of course I had left my camera at home. It was very funny.
When I got home I cleaned up for my party then took a nap. I baked the bread and it turned out very well. It came out of the oven in time for my guests and it was a big hit. We had a great time, the food was good and Barbara brought dessert. Around 8 we went to another teachers house for his birthday party. That was fun also. Some local people were there and we talk about Ukrainian politics and local life. I went to bed at midnight that night.
On Sunday Isabel and I spent 7 hours exploring downtown and another area. The weather was beautiful. We were looking for art museums but couldn't figure out the addresses. I knew of a gallery downtown so we headed over there. I'm glad I thought of it. They had some very interesting exhibits. We were probably there for two hours. Afterwards we went to TGI Friday's for a snack and browsed some shops. We then took the subway down a few stops and went to look for this English book store. We couldn't find it so we walked thru the botanical garden. It was a nice area but was more of a park. Coming out of the park we were a little lost so we wandered some, found a beautiful park we walked thru, bought some chocolate, and found a subway to get us back to where wwe needed to be. When we got off at our stop and were walking out a large group of punk dressed kids walked by and about a dozen of them had mohawks! I wish Steven could have seen their hair! It was great!

It's foggy today as was yesterday. Tonight I am working 8 to 11 as a supervisor for the secondary lock in tonight. I picked the movie room; hopefully that won't be as bad as the gym or other things. Tomorrow we have a shopping trip. Last Saturday it was cancelled so hopefully I will be able to get a DVD player. Saturday night I am having people over for supper. Sunday 3 of us hope to go downtown and to St.Sophia's Church Museum and an artist's fair.
My sister, Kala, sent me a recipe for no knead bread and I figured out yeast at the market. I mixed up the bread last night and will bake it tonight.
All the teachers are looking forward to fall break. I am not going to Egypt; it cost to much and the resorts were going to be very busy that week. I want to get away not back into more chaos.

One more week and the heat gets turned on!!!!!!! Some mornings I shut the kitchen door and use the oven to heat up the kitchen so I can have a warm room to get dressed in. It is drizzling here this morning. We already have to get our classroom orders in for next school year. The items are ordered from the states and have to go thru the American Embassy. Every thing takes for ever here.

I had a good weekend. The weather was beautiful here on Friday and Saturday. There were soccer tournaments at the school on Friday and Saturday so Friday I took my 7th hour class out to watch. Friday night Isobel, Sam and I went to the Mega Market. It is in a huge shopping mall that is filled with overpriced designer shops and overpriced eating places. We stopped in one nick nack store as a joke and we all ended up buying something. I bought a shallow chicken bowl; it is very funny. Also a candle holder that is about 24 inches tall of an African women. We had a snack at the deli in the grocery store then shopped (till we dropped) for groceries. We took a taxi home instead of lugging all our packages on the subway. On Saturday Isobel and I went for a leisurely walk.
On Sunday I went downtown to look around and do some shopping. It was overcast and drizzeled part of the day. I like going downtown cuz it is clean there. They also block off the (4 lane) street from traffic and people are strolling around and there is usually someone playing music and other things going on. I also like to get a lemon ice cream when the stand is open. It is fabulous.
I bought three more plants last week.