The Pod

Favorite Trees

2010-11-28T20:12:00.000-08:00

I have almost always had a favorite tree. I am not sure why, but at some point I grew an affinity for a tree (that has since been cut down) right outside my bedroom window. I would take pictures of it as it changed through out the seasons. I would look at it and think about whether I should date the skater boy with the brown hair or the one with the red. I would listen to Love Phones on Z100 and think about what I would do if I were in THAT situation. I would always look at it before shutting my blinds to change out of my towel. I really must have looked at it every day.

I loved that tree and watched it intently. The most exciting day for that tree was when the rain came down so fast one frigid winter evening that it froze right on the branches and weighed them down so they stretched soo far and wide, it looked like they would just crack. But they didn't. I am sure the structure of the tree changed, but it did not crack. Totally impressed. I picked a good tree to like.

I have some new trees that I like. While walking to school, Calvin and I walk past what has been one of my favorite trees in the neighborhood even before we owned this house we are in. We were mere renters. I didn't know this tree would become the one (thinking about it now, it is really more of a bush). But I do really like this tree.

It has been there the whole time (what an exact measurement). I don't think anyone can say the same for much else.

My son has made note of my tree love and remembered that I now have 2 favorite trees to note. There is a small weeping willow a few houses down that we walk past. I did mention one time that it was a favorite (especially in the fall) and he responded with, "Now you have 2 favorite trees!"

My realization: He is keeping track and adding 1+1 correctly. Amazing.

Tough Girl

2010-11-25T01:11:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago, in deciding when my husband would venture to the West for some needed family time, I thought immediately, "Thanksgiving" and told him that was when he should go.

I thought, "Only 2 and a half days of child care," I thought, "He will be able to enjoy everyone since the convening will happen for sure and he can soak in everyone at the same time," I thought, "Maximize the amount of time," and I thought, "We have those travel points, right? Just do it."

I thought differently than I do right now.

It's like when I was younger. I thought soo (that's right, an extra 'o') differently than I do right now.

The older I get, the more emotionally vulnerable I become. I did not think that was part of growing up.

I was able to handle six weeks of husband-lessness at 24. Why is it that 6 years later, 4 days without his prickly beard and I am tapped out?

It is not the fact that I have 2 kids. They have been wonderful.

It's me.

I need my husband.

I have this compulsion to want to build our unit more and to stay so insular. At 3:45a when I woke this Thanksgiving morning and made my way to the commode for that nightly ritual, I thought, "I would have Thanksgiving with just the 4 of us and no one else."

What kind of daughter would say that? I love my mom. I love my sisters and brothers. We all live within and hour of each other. Who am I?

I have become a wife and a mother. My husband and my kids are what everything is for. I have never needed them like this, but they are who I want to serve. They are who matter most.

And my husband is at the top of my list. Thank goodness he left some of his PJs behind.

Re-assimilation Not Complete

2010-09-18T19:41:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I become homesick for Turkey. I have not thought about my feelings long enough to decide whether it is for Turkey or for the "other" life that seems so much cooler now that we left it.

That distinction does not necessarily make it any cooler, but it just seems like it was since we came back to what we left and some days it seems like nothing has changed. And that wasn't what we were going for.

Of course things have changed. Of course. Time has passed, so things must have changed. But the outcome of our lives is right where we left it and in many ways how I would have expected it had we never left. But we did leave.

Sometimes I think, too, that maybe our life would be the same but easier had we never left. I imagine it is the same thought process people go through when they think about the child they had too early or the child they never thought they would have. Was it the right time? Could it have been better planned? Should we have even done it? (I hope most people don't really consider that last one).

I found myself glued to the computer screen, searching for new "footage" of the place we left. I was trying to hold onto something that doesn't exist anymore. And it doesn't exist because we wanted what we have now.

The romanticism of living abroad is so alluring, but it is so not for us. I loved the travel planning and the packing an unpacking of bags and the airplane flying and "other" language speaking and food eating. I loved the strong relationships that come out of such adversity: trying to live somewhere where you don't really fit and will never really understand.

I still love all those things. I still wish they could exist in our lives. But alas we are Americans. Bound to our culture by all that land that Lewis and Clark helped appropriate.

It is hard to just be. But I'm working on it.

A Driver's Driver

2010-07-28T17:27:00.000-07:00

We drive a lot in NJ. I think about it a lot and there are such specific things I look at as I drive to those routine places we always go: to grandma's, to the beach, to and from our home, and of course grocery shopping.

I love looking under the Rte 27 bridge in Highland Park which I wrote about previously here.

But I also have these other things. Like this one sign on Plainfield Ave in Edison is in front of an older looking Victorian house. It is a picture of an old time film camera for talkies and it has a name underneath, but there is nothing that looks like any movie would be shot, produced, edited, or even viewed in the structure it is in front of. I always wonder whether someone has a failed videography business inside. Or maybe it is booming and the owner is just thrifty.

I also look at the pedestrian bridge spanning Rte 18 near St. Thomas the Apostle church. My eyes always follow it and sometimes I get distracted and follow it up so much that I forget I am on the road. I always use this bridge as the bridge I think about when I think of people throwing things off of bridges at cars (horrible thought, but totally the bridge that pops into view when it comes up). I also think about the handful of times I crossed it (or maybe just once), and I can't really remember what the reason was (solidifying that it was probably just one occurrence just to see if I could get across). In NJ these bridges always interest me, because I wonder, since everyone is in cars, who uses these things? I guess, secretly, I am always trying to catch a glimpse of someone pitter pattering across.

House of Love

2010-07-04T18:38:00.000-07:00

Tonight my house is seething with it.

I just put my oldest son to bed, and he was asking questions about whether or not we were staying here, in this house. His room is a bit smaller than our last apartment, and it doesn't have his brother in it and it doesn't have new paint. I think he likes his old house better and maybe even the "different" house too.

When he was asking about whether we were staying here or not, it was a bit difficult explaining that we were going to rent out the other portion of the house to other people and I tried to explain it simply. He decided to tell me where everyone was going to stay, and, sorry Calvin's friends' moms, but you guys are staying in your cars. And Aimee, your friends are staying in the backyard next to my friends.

After saying prayers and thanking Heavenly Father for such a wonderful day today with my son, I walked passed the door that leads to the first floor where "other" people will be living in a few weeks and I heard working. Lots of unrecognizable bangs and bops. It was the sweetest sound two men have ever made. I love hearing people working, but I especially love hearing my husband work with his father.

It is like a long tradition passed down that men do. They work with each other. And to have two men so close in their genetic make-up working in such close proximity. It is just like a hot cup of hot chocolate (so what if I have used that simile before). Like a sweet sweet cup of hot chocolate after being out in the snow all day.

I am so glad I get to hear it a few more weeks.

Me and the Machine

2010-06-29T19:17:00.001-07:00

What kind of woman takes apart a washing machine and replaces a broken Drive Motor Coupler?

This kind, that's who.

Today, I conquered the at home repair. I had a load of laundry that just wouldn't spin and I stared at the machine and stared at my hands and said, "We can do this."

And it's done.

With a little help from google and some input from my dad and a little muscle on a few "clips" from Pete and advice from Pete's dad on how to also change the valve that the washer hose is connected to (that Pete actually changed)...I did it. Me.

I can now return to happily watching my washer twirl and twirl until all the water is sucked out of the clothes. What a charmed life I live.

Sorry -- no pictures of me sweating on the floor, with wood chips stuck to my knees while trying to pry the clip back into position over the motor. And no pictures of me setting and resetting the "shell" (that's what they call the whole of the body of the machine - the white part) back onto the washer.

The House

2010-06-20T20:28:00.000-07:00

The house is developing and changing. It is like a baby, it is like a different house everyday.

Missing

2009-11-25T19:30:00.000-08:00

I thought I would post more about the return to home, but it is so surreal and always changing and re-shifting that it is hard to keep up with the readjusted life. Basically I am making excuses for being a liver instead of a writer these past few months.

Things I remember, but didn't write down(which is always falsified information, because if anyone knows a writer, the reason we write is because we have terrible memories)about what it was like readjusting and the things I love about being home - here it goes:

I love that the grocery cashier helps me bag my groceries and that there are a kabillion yellow, plastic bags at the end of the line for my use if I choose not to be "green." (not that Istanbul didn't have bags, but they were always tossed at you at the end of the line and the expectation was self-bagging and fast - two things that do not translate well with children)

I love the turney-grocery bag thingees at Walmart.

Attending Disney on Ice.

I loved seeing Mexicans working on the landscaping at Chili's. I forgot about even having Mexicans living nearby.

I love hearing languages that I can't even recognize being spoken everywhere I go.

Getting a bagel with cream cheese and hot coccoa at 7-11 in the morning. I try to hold back and only get it once a week.

Getting a book I want in 3 days for 5 dollars.

Making homemade pizza with 3 dollar mozzarella instead of 8 YTL kasarli peynir.

Sitting at a "bar" nearby with friends and one orders a pita with chicken, the other orders salmon, another calamari, and myself a creme brulee. And EVERYTHING was delicious.

Signing my son up for 3 different athletic-based activities instead of one, weekly ballet class.

Driving to church in 15 minutes. Staying for 3 hours. Driving home in 15 minutes.

Being able to go to a pediatrician within walking distance any day of the week.

Realizing that so much of my life revolves around what I eat and what my kids need.

This is not a full list, but because of the delay it will never all come.

Halloween Shopping

2009-11-01T19:11:00.001-08:00

I love that my sister finds a way to shop, even on Halloween. She was such a trooper carrying my son's candy bag, my camera, my son's sword, and even my sister's dog. That's love.

(post-picture - nothing was purchased, but things were tried on and brother's wallets were offered)

Storage

2009-10-20T16:55:00.000-07:00

I loved the day when Pete and I were extracting our things from my mother's home and implanting them into the place we are in now for storage and living for a little while, I came across the following pictured items:

They have been waiting for the exhibition that was promised by my 5th grade art teacher, Ms. Rabinskis, for the past 15+ years and I decided it was time to set these pieces free. Like Calvin's crafts, they have been photoed, digitally documented and then trashed. Now I can produce more art, since there is room.

Ship It

2009-06-25T04:37:00.000-07:00

Calvin played with the movers as they finished boxing/bubble wrapping our stuff. They played with his too. These sweaty, tired men who carried 22 boxes down a flight of stairs and then back up a flight of stairs, tickled Calvin with their markers and put tape on his arm and even gave him some bubble wrap to play with. I am not sure I can expect that kind of treatment from some American movers on the other end. They really really love children.

All we have left is what will be in our suitcases. Almost there.

Plagiarbusters

2009-06-20T12:14:00.000-07:00

Coming soon to a theater near you -- a way to encourageTurkish students to do their own work. The movie that will be the summer viral buster of the century -- Plagiarbusters!

on a blog or youtube or facebook site near you
September 2009

hilarious

Final Sunday

2009-06-19T13:49:00.000-07:00

Pete with Clavin, Ara with Sejama, Nadia with Harrison, and Me

Our last Sunday in Taksim. Calvin has really enjoyed his Sunday routines. He loves going to church because it always meant some interactions with new people and new experiences each week for us. Living on campus can be very isolated at times and the contact we have with people outside of those on campus is quite limited, so going to church has been, in a lot of ways, like stretching our arms in the morning. It gets the juices flowing and reminds us we are alive and part of the bigger world.

Nadia with her "Canım"

The church here is only a branch, but it is quite strong. The people who come in and out of the ward are quite transient since many come with contracts to work and don't always stay past a few years or so. There have been some great families and individuals that we have interacted with while we were here and I don't want to forget them: The Burgess Family - Chris, Lesa, KelliJo, Zoey and Ava(who was born in Turkey after they left and returned) ; McCollums - Johnathan, Christine, Atticus, Sherman, and Cincinattus; The Reed's - Jill, Dave, and Sarah; Eliason's - Aimee, her husband and her 2 beautiful daughters; Palmer's - Jason, Elvira, Sejama, and Zelanda (and one on the way); Dillard's - Joanna, Justin, Kaylee, Justin, and Allison; Margaret; Ara and Nadia; Mine; Amy; Ceker's - Susan, Murat, Leah, Sarah, Ece and the two older boys -- I think that is it. I am not sure I used commas properly, but you know what I mean. There was also David from the Canary Islands last year and Olam from Iran. There is also Cookie from Eritrea and the new girl Sarah as well. Alsp Asli and then the Mexican man whose wife is Turksih and whose son is adorable, but I can't remember their names Brother Yilmaz will always be remembered fondly -- he gave Calvin this awesome hat with a fan in it that we just gave away.

There are other people (not many) whose names I don't know or faces passed so briefly that I can't recall them. When we arrived the Millet's were the Elder Missionaries here and then the Loosli's came and recently went and now the Pasquete's (sp?) are here. It is interesting seeing the Elder missionary couples have such great experiences and how they change from when they arrive to the point when they are ready to leave. I am sure someone is watching us and thinking the same thing.

Justin seeing if Harrison can eat a biscuit.

Our Sundays will be so different from now on - but so much the same. I am so thankful to have that consistency in our lives.

the church building

the front door of church

Tradition

2009-06-18T10:10:00.000-07:00

Our current boss started a new going away tradition this year and had colleagues write poems about each other as a sending off. We read them aloud and laughed at them before each of us opened our gifts. Most of them were humorous and definitely demonstrated a prolific use of rhyme.

But what do you say when someone who has known you for less than a year writes something like this about you?

A Juggling Act

As a mother she is always equipped
with barely-bald baby Harrison
hanging contently in her pouch
And crazy Calvin charming the masses
by impersonating a friendly doggy
while wearing his imaginary headphones
The matriarch of her pack
leading her boys
to their next adventure

As a friend she is considerate
constantly searching for the
excellence embedded in all of us
Giggling in appreciation at our
idiosyncracies
and embracing our individuality
A gatherer of strangers
Befriending all
who pass through her threshold

As a teacher she is on point
Breaking through language barriers
to inspire creativity and innovation
In the tongue-tied Turkish students
who grasp for the nuggets of knowledge
that she openly extends towards their reach
A natural-born teacher
Connecting content and culture
To equally access the students in her class

As a colleague she will be missed
Her chair will remain empty
Irreplaceable
Holding her place
and wishing her well in her future home.

I am thinking I should keep this person around in case I need a pep talk. This poem will keep my self-esteem running for at least 10 more months.

Throwing Pigeons

2009-06-17T13:43:00.000-07:00

This kid is covering his face, so the pigeons can't see him (maybe they have not gotten past the object permanence stage) but he can still see them. I asked he and his friend if they cook the pigeons and they said, "Hayır, atacak," which means, "No, they will be thrown." I guess it could be worse.

Pete and Calvin watched the boy catch the pigeon and then take off like a linebacker who just recovered a fumble. I am not sure where they were throwing it, but it was thrown.

Party in the Cistern

2009-06-16T11:26:00.000-07:00

Leave it to the Turks to dress up a cistern with neon lighting and serve dinner and have echo-microphone singing of Hotel California and a male belly dancer from Lebanon.

If you entered a place like this:

Would you really expect to see something like this?

My colleagues and I (let's be serious, who else do I ever hang out with) went out for a night of dinner and belly dancing. It was nice getting off campus and seeing another area of the city and getting to hang out in a cistern for the night. The food was good (I forget sometimes since the cafeteria serves a bad version of Turkish food) and the dancing even better.

Poor Boy

2009-06-15T11:19:00.000-07:00

Look at the loneliness in this photograph. Usually the tears are a bit of melodrama - like the boy who cried wolf - this time T. Cal had a cut on his hand that probably could have used a band aid.

I must be a "Bad Mother" by Ayelet Waldman.

Room with a View

2009-06-10T05:21:00.000-07:00

The Volleyball party (despite the lack of volleyball this year) was at a wonderful location - a team member's apartment terrace. This is her view:

THAT can't get old.

Towel Hour

2009-06-04T23:25:00.000-07:00

My favorite hour, when the children are clean and supple. I love them from the sudsy tub, to being rinsed and extracted. And then wiping the droplets of water off of their skin with a soft, filled with fabric softener, towel and then smooching where I just wiped.

Ooo- I love it.

This is when I think most intensely about eating my children. Like ripe strawberries just pulled out from under the stream of water from the kitchen sink. After rolling around in the colander, getting perfectly washed for consumption. Yum.

This "hour," donned by my half rhyming, Dickensonian sisters as towel hour, is the most precious hour of the day. We come downstairs and I douse them with hugs and sometimes tickles. Calvin streaks across the living room to jump on Pete's back or to make Harrison laugh. Smiles are tossed across the room, along with bouncy balls sometimes. We finish up with some sweet smelling lotion and then soft, cotton clothing to snuggle them into sweet dreaming.

I love this time.

My First Book

2009-06-03T04:44:00.001-07:00

"Goodnight Moon" was not my first book. The first I remember was something imprinted in my mind. I don't know what it is, but I assume it knows me.

I just downloaded my first book. I am listening to it right now. Does it count for reading if I listen to it? I am having trouble thinking it counts. I don't feel like I am reading. I don't feel like it is the same. It seems like cheating.

I mean, how can I be listening to how Ayelet wanted to live in Israel and then changed her mind and then her husband followed her to Cambridge...how can I listen and write at the same time and still understand what I am listening to? Is this allowed?

I am definitely cheating.

I don't really know when to press pause. I know I put a book down when I have something drawing me away from it (usually the computer). Uph - I just figure it out. Pete walked in. I can't engage in the book, a conversation with Pete and a conversation with myself at the same time.

Served

2009-06-01T11:06:00.000-07:00

The United States of America has decided to celebrate my return home by granting me the lovely gift of Petit Jury Duty on July 7th. Thank you America, thank you.

Anyone want to meet me for lunch? I am thinking Makeda? Around noon?

Sunday Signs

2009-05-30T06:03:00.000-07:00

Aren't the Green Bags totally a sign that they're "Fresh Off the Cruise Ship?"

And at the Aspen Restaurant (Colorado?) you can get some game, but it won't be that great. And I think they have free range FISH! Awesome.

Segovia

2009-05-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

My favorite part of Segovia was the building facades. Most had some sort of interesting pattern on it that popped out at you as you walked by.

The aqueduct is awesome, even though it looks like it was built last week and has some refuse in it when you walk to find the source. The cathedral is beautiful and the Alcazar sweet. We were in the Alcazar with hordes of children which was actually quite enjoyable. They were really cute - taking pictures of each other and running around the place, trying their best to be respectful. I suppose it is like their "Waterloo Village" or something.

There was TONS of pollen here. Aimee is running in it in one of the pics. I think I have European pollen issues - I have terrible allergies over here.

We ate some delicious desserts and slept A LOT. Ah - Segovia. The place of rest.

Baggin' Chicks

2009-05-29T11:43:00.000-07:00

Today at the market a boy of about 10 years walked passed the chick-box (the one that the duck was also in last week) and purchased two. The salesman put the chicks into a bag like a couple of apples and there were 2 little holes on the sides of the bag, for breathing I guess, and the boy scooted along.

Totally normal. Nothing to it.

I can see the text from his mom(all Turks have cell phones - I am convinced):
"Hey Alper! Pick up some chicks from the market on your way home from school today. Don't stop to buy cherries or grapes or strawberries. Just the chicks. And make sure they are the yellow ones. Those white ones are just not right. No ducks this time either."

Okay - maybe that is long for a text message, but it sounds accurate.

2 week pet

2009-05-27T04:54:00.000-07:00

They are selling these at our local market for 5 YTL. I am so tempted to purchase and then set the duckling free before we leave. Anyone know what to feed them?

Ma-drid

2009-05-26T03:42:00.000-07:00

San Miguel Market

Aimee and I had a little Madrilena soiree last weekend and it was so necessary. Getting away from the kiddies and hubby and lojmanlar life in general is such a necessary thing around here. There is so much time spent together and with no one else but ourselves, we have to fly somewhere to socialize with the outside world. I know, sounds terrible.

The people were awesome, knowing Spanish was also awesome. It was sort of surreal being in the country that we always talked about in Spanish class. I had this realization that Spanish is a language that is not just spoken sometimes in the US - it actually has a country all its own.

Did I forget to mention food? We had these churros on the left dipped in a "hot chocolate" substance that I dream about. We had tappas that were insanely good and we had us some chorizo. The best chorizo was the stuff I brought home. Thank goodness a friend asked for some, so I brought some home for myself and it was so tasty.

Because we went during the San Isidro Festival there were stages set up everywhere we went and performances that were going on in the evenings. We just missed whatever show was going in the Plaza Mayor, but we did not miss the ped traffic on the way out. I told Aimee, this is when I feel safe in a city - when there are floods of people all over. It reminds me of NY after all the Broadway Shows let out.

Sol Metro Station

It was late and we were hungry on this very same night and we wanted paella. After sitting down to try to eat some and being denied since the "kitchen was closed" (it was only 10pm), we scooted into this little tapas bar on the Plaza and chowed down without asking price. Three tapas and 60 bucks later, ou bellies were full.

Expensive Tapas on Plaza Mayor

We visited the Botanical Gardens before heading in to the Prado museum (what a massive art museum). The flowers were few and far between in some areas, but where they stood, they were beauteous. It was nice strolling in some nature after being in the city for 48 hours. Us Jerseyans need us some green.

After the museums and an overnight in Segovia with some hiking, we hit the flamenco club to watch a little bit of the saucy moves. It was great. Relaxing, entertaining, more yummy chorizo-ish sausage. Yumminess.

Where to next sisters?

In Business

2009-05-24T22:34:00.000-07:00

This is all a Turkish entrepreneur needs. Put some tea in here and grab a couple disposable cups and some sugar from the pantry and you have yourself a tea business.

On the weekends, hordes of people just chill out in the parks here. They just sit on benches and puff away on cigarettes or sip on tea or coffee while the day wastes away. Sometimes they use a newspaper or a child as an excuse to be in the park, but mostly they just stare at everyone passing by.

Some of the more ambitious people invest in a few of these handy dandy pump-acting thermoses and away they go. This past Sunday there was a youth parade to Taksim square (I swear there is a parade almost every Sunday -- this is the place they say the stay away from big crowds and the like), so the Çay/Kahve guys were out in full force. Literally walking with a thermos in each hand and bag-o-disposable cups wrapped around their wrists. I am thinking about leaving teaching and being one of these guys. I think I might be able to be the first female tea person. I am thinking of breaking that glass ceiling.

Simple Questions

2009-05-05T23:33:00.000-07:00

Why in a secular country is there a religion class in the schools?

I am currently proctoring a Religion exam in my school. Yes, it is a private school. But it is a national school, which means we follow national standards - Religion Class.

One boy is absent from the exam. He is Jewish. No religion class for him.

Interesting definition of secular.

Real Conversations with Real Students

2009-05-05T00:32:00.000-07:00

Student (with something that looks like Tylenol in hand): How do I drink this?

Teacher: The medicine? You don't drink medicine, you take it, and what do you mean?

Student: How should I take it?

Teacher: Are you seriously asking me this? I assume you swallow it.

Student: Can I go to the infirmary and take it with a glass of water? (the infirmary is conveniently down 3 flights of stairs and across the school)

Teacher: No. There is a water fountain in the hallway.

Student: But how do I take it?

Teacher: Have you never used a water fountain?

Student: No, I have. But how do I take the pill?

Teacher: I cannot believe you are asking me this. I imagine you put the water in your mouth and swallow, like you would with a glass of water.

Student: (Walks slowly to the garbage can to discard some scrap paper and never goes to take the medicine).

Teacher (with incredulous smile on face): Really. I cannot believe the conversation we just had.

Popeye's Secret

2009-05-04T08:07:00.000-07:00

Froggie Juice

Make a smoothie with bananas, strawberries, honey, some water, and some juice of your choice and then the secret ingredient - SPINACH. It looks gross, but you call it froggie juice and the kids love it! So when Calvin thinks he is getting dessert, he is really getting his greens. I love it! Thanks to mothers sharing their brilliant ideas.

Another food eating tip that I thought was a joke, but tried because we were bored -- telling Calvin he CAN'T eat something because we want to eat it. He loves this game, and as advertised on my friends' blog, he actually requests that we play it with him.

Tech Buzz

2009-04-26T23:54:00.000-07:00

When it comes to nursing, as babies grow - their attention span shrinks. It is hard keeping H-man on the boob for more than a few minutes. Good thing solids have come on the scene.

But I have devised a technological advancement that will rock the world -- mini, personalized, baby DVD players that fit right under the mother's arm! He totally would stay focused and get the hydration job done if he was watching a little Elmo or "baby TV" during the suckling. It would most definitely do away with the Calvin-induced head turning.

Jinx It

2009-04-25T23:47:00.000-07:00

I think I am going to jinx it, but I may have a wedding photog gig on the way. I am investing in some more equipment (after doing a little research of course) and waiting to hear back about the job. We will see. It would just be a side thing, I would be the "add on" photographer. Not sure if there is a professional name for it, but they are hiring a main dude and then me to take the shots he "misses." Sweet for me. I get to eat, shoot, and leave. The other guy has to consult and set up an album and worry about CDs and retouching.

I don't mind this gig at all. Anyone else have some work for me? (blatant plug) I would love to do births as well! I would do the first 3 births for free before I get into that business a bit more.

Ali - feel like paying me to fly to your wedding (hahaha)?

Getting really digi

2009-04-24T11:47:00.000-07:00

I am more of a purest (usually) when it comes to photography, but look at this stuff I concocted just minutes ago. Freaky.

Emirgan Park

2009-04-20T22:54:00.000-07:00

Colors, colors everywhere.

Sprung

2009-04-19T22:54:00.000-07:00

I love being outside when things look like this.

Istanbul Visit

2009-04-18T05:14:00.000-07:00

With my husband, came my camera. So here are just a few shots of my parents on their last night here. It was nice.

Need Some Recondo

2009-04-15T23:56:00.000-07:00

This is Recondo I changed the setting on my blog so if you want to see it you need to send me your email address so I can invite you. I just got back from Praha, Wein, and Budapest, here are some pics if you want to read and see more send me your email.

Faint Re-imagined

2009-04-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

Should I sue? This is totally the dramatic re-enactment of the day Calvin put me in a sleeper hold. Check it out by clicking here.

Evil Mother

2009-04-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

Grandma brought an adorable set of outfits for the boys to wear on Easter, and even though it was a little chilly out, I couldn't resist. Look at how much cuter they are dressed the same! I love that they will hate me for this.

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T21:24:00.000-07:00

Obama Piggybacks Vacation Plans!

2009-04-02T03:38:00.000-07:00

Unbelievable. It seems that Obama decided to do what the Clarks have planned.

Pete is going to Prague this weekend,
and so is Obama.

My parents are coming to Istanbul and we will be sightseeing next week,
and so is Obama.

Is he for real?

Who does he think he is trying to get in on our family time?

I hope I can find out where he will be so we know where not to go. Poser.

(Happy Travels everyone! ...even Obams)

Culture Club

2009-03-23T14:01:00.000-07:00

Kres had culture week this week and they asked parents to come and share their culture. As if these kids don't get enough American culture, I decided I would go to Kres and share some more. I googled some stuff (of course) and came up with the story of the Jersey Devil (for 4 yr olds) and NY's finest - the Black and White Cookie. I would have never made my own B and W's at home had it not been for this activity -- thank goodness, cause I will never be without B and W's again.

Moths to a Flame

2009-03-22T12:35:00.000-07:00

The other day Pete and I had a meeting with a shipping company to talk about moving our stuff home. We got there early for the meeting so we chilled out in a Turkish colleague from HR's office for a bit.

While we were innocently sitting there with child strapped to my chest in the Bjorn (shout out to Dave and Catherine for gifting it to us), our colleague decided to just go tell one other person. She explained (and I already knew) that this is how Turks do it, she being a Turk herself. She went and told another colleague from HR about the presence of a young soul, and then that colleague also came into the room and the two women unleashed the high pitched tones only related to babies and Mariah Carey songs. All it took was Indiana Jones letting out a gleeful squeal before more than half a dozen women and one man poked their head in to get a look.

MofD

2009-03-19T10:51:00.000-07:00

Since I will be able to do it myself next year and probably will not have this blog anyways...here is my one last chance to encourage you all to go outside and do something nice: GO HERE and march on.

Roland's Loot

2009-03-15T22:45:00.001-07:00

I was given instructions to find maroons in an 8x10 sized carpet and a runner with the colors of the rainbow and a grain sack with blues in it. How did it go?

Carpets Bagged

2009-03-15T22:16:00.000-07:00

We had such a great day of carpet purchasing yesterday. Ughh...I will miss it. Here are the spoils:

CSI or CNN

2009-03-11T13:41:00.000-07:00

With the rain comes TV watching. I have been watching too much TV. It wouldn't be so bad if I could watch something funny or interesting, but we get the heavily loaded smash and grab media unfiltered through our free cable here. I mostly watch the Crime Scene Investigation channel (yes - an entire channel) and sometimes dove tail it with CNN. For a week BBC Prime was showing a makeover show much like "What Not to Wear" on TLC, except everyone had British accents and Clinton is a girl. BBC Prime also had some great show where they recreated historic events but did them with modern people with the old time technology. That was cool. For whatever reason they are now showing "The Weakest Link" on repeat all week.

Now I get murder and catastrophe in short video clips played in a loop.

I get creepy court case voice over the images of a small town and pictures from the random murder that took place there. I get to watch detectives hunt down a murdered during the first 48 hours. I get to watch stories about planes crashing into things and to watch the arrows next to numbers turn up and down each day. Occasionally I get to see Obam's face and people worrying that his lips won't make the right words come out. (I think he is physically going to be in my part of the universe in a few).

Intermittently I watch snowboarders, skateboarders, kite boarders, and sailors battle it out for some cup or chunk change prize on the eXtreme channel. There is always the option of watching Hannah Montanna (are you freakin' kidding me with that people).

May the rain stop and the running outside start.

Sleeper Hold

2009-02-23T12:03:00.000-08:00

My son must be learning WWF moves at Kres.

After he came home today, I gave him his daily dose of tickles and then asked him if he wanted to make some Jello for dessert (his favorite treat). I told him to jump on my back and I would bring him into the kitchen so we could make it.

He jumped, I walked, and then the next minute was a blur and I ended up on the floor next to our kitchen doorway. I kind of remember making it up the two steps from our living area to the kitchen, and I kind of remember trying to reach into the kitchen to turn the light on, but then I remember my hand sliding desperately down the wall and ending up on the floor.

Calv let go of my neck when I was on the floor and I regained my sight and some of my brain functions. It was crazy. My son used the sleeper hold on me. My mind just kept telling me, "I can make it into the kitchen." But it was wrong.

All Kinds

2009-02-20T22:29:00.001-08:00

How many different ways can weather.com describe cold, rainy weather? The same number of consecutive days of cold, rainy weather we will have - 5:

rain, light rain, wind/rain, few showers, mostly cloudy

In honor of alliteration, let's just call this a wet winter.

Permissions

2009-02-18T00:15:00.000-08:00

T. Cal will have his first field trip tomorrow. I got the notice on Monday when he came home from school. It is toy week at Kreş, so they are going to the Toy Museum.

I looked at the permission slip and signed it, but as I was signing it, it felt strange. Who am I to decide it is safe for him to go? Was I supposed to forge my mom's signature or ask someone if it was okay that he go?

I guess not. I guess I am that person now. I guess I should expect him to learn to forge my signature now.

I am still not sure, so I am going as a chaperon.

Venitian Twizzlers

2009-02-16T00:49:00.000-08:00

So there is also no licorice in Istanbul. We have yet to figure out why, but we can only find gummy things, not licorice-y ones.

In Venice we were happy to find these huge (everything is huge) licorice desserts. It was like a licorice tube stuffed with some sort of creamy, candy stuffing. To say they were delicious is not good enough. We got 4 different flavors and they were scrumptious.

We were also able to purchase a branded kind of the same thing at the grocery store made by Haribo -- a brand Turkey has, but not a product they possess. Bizarre.

Meat and Cheese

2009-02-15T00:36:00.000-08:00

Warning: Vegans and Vegetarians may be upset by the content of this post.

In Milan, we were walking from our hotel to the nearest subway station, Pete and I passed a ridiculously crowded butcher shop with some of the most beautiful meat we have ever seen. Just loads of different, gorgeous cuts of beef and pork and even some chicken, we could not help but stare in awe of its beauty.

We stopped on the sidewalk and stared in. Too nervous to enter since we would stick out as tourists with our 2 kids and big backpack and camera in addition to our inability to speak the language.

We didn't enter the first time, nor the second, but we vowed that on our return to Milan we would enter that store and show them our money and purchase some meat and cheese. When we got back to Milan, our first pass was a bust since it was siesta time, they were closed, but on the second pass it was like 1849. We entered and we purchased.

A hunk of cheese big enough to feed a mastiff sized mouse and 2 huge chunks of meat equaling the pig's rump. To taste Parmesan and prosciutto together in Istanbul is worth the extra carry-on weight. Extra yum.

Home of the Happy Hippo

2009-02-13T00:18:00.000-08:00

I did not know I was visiting the HHH when we first made plans to visit Italy, but was happily surprised to find my favorite chocolate (and hazelnut) friend in the grocery stores there.

With the Happy Hippo, anyone's travel nightmare can turn into a dream. It cures fevers, homesickness, and achy backs.

Amazon ships them to the US for 5 USD/package, but it seems more economical to fly to Italy. At least you can also see where they are born.

Too Small.

2009-02-11T03:09:00.000-08:00

Florence was great since everyone was starting to feel a bit better. Pete had a bad day at the beginning of our stay, but by the end we were enjoying really good food (since we could all stand to sit in a restaurant together instead of ordering crappy to go pizza) and there was a merry-go-round for Calvin's enjoyment and of course delicioso gelato.

Florence is too small for all the art it has there. The churches have this beautiful green and white and almost pink facade that makes them really defined against any other buildings that surround them. We hit the Uffizzi and the Vecchio Palace and of course walked across Ponte Vecchio.

We had an awesome meal at this place called Garibaldi (thanks to our pension owner's husband who sweetly asked me to repeat my question when I asked him for a good place to eat -- thankfully he understood my hand motions and we struck gold - if food could be made out of gold - at this place). Pete had rabbit. He was like a mountain man tearing it apart. We ate there two nights. One where we ruined an Australian couple's romantic 6pm meal by having Calvin eat fussily and feeding Harrison 2 inches away from the coat hanger. And another where we successfully entertained Calvin with his gamut of toys but it didn't matter since we were the only ones in the place.

Too Big.

2009-02-10T00:27:00.000-08:00

There is lots to see in Rome. I am thinking we will visit some museums the next time we go.

We kept trying to not go to the hospital with Calvin, but after his 3rd day with a fever we thought we should hit up some antibiotics and a trip to the hospital was the only way to go. They gave us the scrip, and they also gave us this awesome medication that made his fever disappear in minutes for as long as 10 hours. It was insane. The downside to the meds was that I had to insert it somewhere I did not really want to. My poor boy. Gelato every night helped a bunch.

Milan to Venice

2009-02-08T23:09:00.000-08:00

This is where the sickness hit. Calvin was super sweet all morning and was very easy to manage. We thought he was just tired and wanted to nap on the train ride to Venice. Instead throw up was spewed all over my right arm and then a second time all over the train seat. Not so yummy.

What was yummy was my sweet boy snuggling with me for the entire ride and then him snuggling in bed in the hotel while Pete and I ventured out to see things like this.

Milan - the Duomo

2009-02-07T11:37:00.000-08:00

Calvin and Pete are in the lower left of the photo below. We had the roof to ourselves mostly. It was great.

When I think of Milan I think fashion. I didn't see many models running around where we went, but this little church is certainly the most fashionable one we saw. (Calvin is looking at the "yucky" pigeon poo on the statue in the square - hence the squinty face). That flower looks so yummy. Mmmm...I can just taste it.

Yummy

2009-02-06T13:22:00.000-08:00

The Last Supper lives here.

It is in a small side room. You can look at the painting for a few fleeting minutes, or seconds, depending on whether you have a 3 yr old on your shoulders (and there is another not so noteworthy painting on the back wall).

It moved me to think about the intense amount of art that was created in one country. I can not organize it all in my brain. I need a good curator. I do not know whether to organize it according to artist, years, or regions.

I also wish I was my sister. She loves this art much more than I do. I liked the building it was housed in though.

the return

2009-02-05T13:53:00.000-08:00

Is it possible to eat an entire country, with the family included? I will feed you daily doses so you don't gain too much weight.

got the sickness

2009-02-01T05:22:00.001-08:00

Italy is beautiful, we are not. I will tell you all about it when we get home on Thursday.

IS Beauty

2009-01-21T11:23:00.000-08:00

The beauty of International Schools is the great travel advice right at our fingertips.

I went to a neighbor's house tonight and we stared at a huge google maps-like aerial photograph of Rome on his wall and he told me stories about walking his dog to the Trevi Fountain at 5 in the morning and walking to work past the Colloseum each day. He told me about the Trastevere neighborhood and that it is very quiet and tame during the day, but at night all the restaurants just open up and the best part of Italy is its people eating. He told me he thinks the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are overrated and that he would not go to them (don't worry, we are still going). He told me about thin crusted pizza that we might not like. I asked him if it was the kind you fold, he said yes, and I said -- we know that kind and we will fold it and consume it.

He lived in Italy for 8 yrs.

You cannot get better advice about travel than this. Thanks to great friends who have lived all over the world and who love to travel every break they get.

Day One: Kreş

2009-01-19T00:31:00.000-08:00

I made it to sleep in time to wake up to walk T. Cal to Kres this morning.

He dressed himself (as always). He did one sock, I did one. He tried one shoe, I put both on after he told me, "Too strong" (meaning too hard).

We played a round of Meyve Bahçesi (Hi Ho Cherry Oh) and read two pages of Road Dahl's "The Enormous Crocodile." Then Cal put on his coat (flipped over the head) and his backpack. We went outside and her banged on the back balcony with a few rocks while I strapped Hobbes in and off we went.

He transitioned well. Put on his "inside shoes" (slippers) and ate some honey on bread for breakfast. (Carrots and cheese were also on the plate, but Calv just hoarded them).

Upon returning to the house, I nursed Hobbes and laid him down and then realized that was it. I had some time to myself again. My staring contest with the laundry has ended. The dishes realized I wasn't standing them up. The floor was excited it could be seen by the public again. And I will no longer smell. I miss my boy.

Sleepless in Istanbul

2009-01-18T13:25:00.000-08:00

Did I never think I would see the day my son started pre-school? Have I been in denial that time passes all this time?

Hobbes is growing at a rapid pace and it seems to mean more than when T. Cal did. I think it is because I learned that they never get smaller after watching T. Cal. And I barely got to look at Harrison the past few weeks since he has been attached to the boob or being smothered by his "loving" brother.

9am tomorrow my little baby will be a big boy (as close to a man as any male gets). We have a few more hours. Can't I just stay up and savor them?

I wonder if my dad will have that shrink-back-machine up and running by the time we get back in June. I have been trying the one I made here, but it doesn't seem to work right. T. Cal just keeps getting bigger.

The Goodest Show in Istanbul

2009-01-15T04:17:00.000-08:00

Last night we hit the Big Top. There was a juggler, a little dog "show," some acrobatics, a few tigers, and some guys walking in this thing:

But my two favorite things of all were this:

(a guy running around putting a lion in people's laps and taking pictures)

and this: (the fact that my son will want to try this out himself one day)

I am Going on a Bear Hunt

2009-01-13T11:20:00.000-08:00

My dad used to say this phrase all the time. I could never remember why I remembered him saying this phrase a lot, but then I walked into the Lower School's library today and I found out.

There is a great children's story about going on a bear hunt with the same title. It is the first book I have read to Calvin that has the entire family experiencing the storyline of the book. There is no main character, there isn't even an ensemble cast. The family is the main character.

The general storyline is that the family goes "through" all of these difficult things to find the bear and then once they find the bear they return back through all of the difficult things and back into the house and under the covers. (The sweet misunderstood bear is shown returning sadly to his cave at the end). I like being under those covers.

I think there should be more stories with the family as the main character. Not Berenstein Bear's (good stuff, but that's not what I mean) -- like the whole family as one.

I guess this post doesn't say much, but this is my blog isn't it.

Looking Forward to Pizza

2009-01-11T08:45:00.000-08:00

Calvin has acquired a love of pizza. He calls most things he likes to eat "pizza" and even if he knows he's wrong, it is as if he uses it to show affection to only his most favorite meals.

There are only 3 kinds of pizza here in Turkey: Domino's, Papa John's, and Pide (which is not really pizza at all). We ate some pide when we first got here, but haven't had it in a while. We used to eat Domino's before and after vacations. But now we eat Papa John's (mmm...Papa John's).

Just the other day Calvin looked at the fridge and pulled down the Domino's magnet and said, "Pizza Mommy?" - as in, "Can we get some?"

And we are totally getting some. Not Domino's, not Papa John's, and definitely not Pide. We are going to the birthplace of modern pizza (okay - maybe not Naples, but just nearby). We are heading to Italy next Friday and all of us cannot wait to get our hands on some pizza. Some real, good, what Brother's used to serve, PIZZA.

Red Hots

2009-01-05T12:57:00.000-08:00

One Saturday I ventured off campus with babe attached to me and a sweet girl next to me. We were picked up by a third friend and whisked across the Bosphorous by ferry and up into the hills of Istanbul by cab to an arena.

In that arena there were volleyball players, some of the best this country has to offer. But, even better than that was the Ukrainian dance team that performed between games. The Red Hots! With a costume change for each number (more than Harrison), they were certainly hot, but not always red.

The volleyball was great and fun to watch with good friends. I also got a little serving in during one of the pre-game competitions (although my competition couldn't serve the ball over the net) - I think the announcer wasn't sure he chose the right person since I had to pass the baby off before coming down to the court. Both of us came away with some key chains and a calendar from the sponsor. I guess I should get myself some more keys.

To be continued...(hoping to get some video of the dancers).

Hot Chocolate

2008-12-31T02:27:00.000-08:00

This reminds me of a good cup of Hot Cocoa with some marshmallows and a chocolate mint stick in it:

Merry Christmas Coachmen!

2008-12-30T04:54:00.001-08:00

The greatest thing to happen to campus has been a live band made up of musically talented colleagues . They have elevated social gatherings from table tennis to a football match. We have really talented singers and guitar players and a few novice and some experienced bongo players (percussionists) that are awesome.

This Christmas they accompanied some of the off-key carol singing and it really brought the spirit in. The music consisted of some traditional tunes (with T.Cal rockin' out to "Silent Night") and ended with the good old "Twelve Days of Christmas" - my part was the 8 maids of milking. It is nice to have a good laugh (the kind you have with good friends) once in a while. We definitely get it less here and it is not because we aren't trying, it is just different.

Santa (our friend Dave Tarbell from CO) came to lojmanlar and all the kids got presents. It was so sweet seeing all of their faces light up.

3 things I loved about Santa: first - T.Cal was in awe and barely moved when his was given his gift, second - Ella and Campbell (two of the last children to get their gifts) were so patient and had priceless looks on their faces when they got their gifts:
and third - Dave is one of the most fit guys on campus but a beard and a red outfit is all you need to be Santa.

Here I Am

2008-12-30T04:50:00.000-08:00

You found me.