Completely Random Thoughts

Photo from performance that Scott & Jean saw

I should be grading exams, but I have given up on that for today. Don't tell my students.

We are about 1 1/2 days away from the end of the 15 day appeal period. I am not sure when the final papers are signed - maybe Monday?

I have been having a hard time with Scott and Alia being gone. When I think of them, my heart literally aches. It doesn't matter when or where I am. They pop into my head and I just long for them. I was at Kohl's yesterday and I picked up an outfit for her. I am still kind of reticent about buying stuff for her, but her arrival home is becoming more and more real to me. I just got all choked up when I was looking at all those clothes and trying to decide what would look best on her (everything!).

All the while I am really enjoying my time with Luca! He is on a big Sid the Science Kid kick. It is a new show on PBS that he LOVES. Yesterday, the big event was looking at rolly polly bugs and centipedes with a magnifying glass. This morning he told me that was the best thing he ever did. Wow!

Things are still clicking along in Kokshetau. Our first set of roommates picked up their son last week and left on Tuesday, so Scott, Alia & Jean are on their own again. The other couple's interpreter took Scott and Jean out last night. Scott said it was pretty amazing - 1 1/2 hours of mostly Kazakh musical performances for 500 tenge. Can you imagine all the costumes and musical instruments? Luba, cleaning lady and babysitter extraordinaire, took care of Alia. Apparently Alia missed them. She was still awake when they got home an hour past her bedtime.

Here come the random thoughts . . .

I lost about 15 pounds since August. I got out some pants that had gotten too small and - viola - they fit. I am calling it the jet lag diet. I was never hungry because my body was not used to eating at 1 a.m. Heck, I think I burned extra calories because my body wasn't used to being AWAKE at 1 a.m.

Dealing with jet lag was the biggest surprise to me. Noone could have prepared me for how hard it was.

I know it is the 21st century, but I am still amazed that a person can get on multiple planes and wind up on the other side of the planet in a completely different world. It still seems like magic to me.

Tuesday was Scott and my 13th wedding anniversary! What a way to spend it . . . Luca and I had Chef Boyardee pizza to celebrate on Tuesday night. Scott loves Chef Boyardee (even took one to Kazakhstan - I bet they are saving it for a special night), so it is pretty fitting. Who would have thought that we would adopt a little girl from Kazakhstan 13 years ago. Wow! We are hoping that we can do something to celebrate together before the end of the year.

Last night we Skyped with Scott and Alia. It was time for her morning bottle, so she started to squirm and fuss. We hung up with them and Luca said, "Is Alia frustrated because her mom can't take care of her? I think she is." I said I don't know, but right at that moment she was probably frustrated because she was hungry. Then he said, "I think she is happy now because we can take care of her."

I cannot wait to see Luca with his little sister!