Dinner Moscow Style

Last night I met up with some friends for dinner. We sat on the patio of a Georgian place on the Arbat - all very charming until that (inevitable) Russian moment of drunken youth vomiting en passant. He never slowed so left a trail 15 feet long for all to enjoy mid dinner. Ah Moscow. We then got to watch the passing hordes squeal and avoid or tromp obliviously through the man's last supper.
Liz gets back this afternoon from her mountaineering expedition. She called last night to say that she had fainted from altitude sickness and had to be carried off the mountain. Looking forward to all the stories over a nice dinner this evening.

Jet lag

Am suffering extremely delayed jet lag. After a swimmingly easy adjustment in England I am now back on Salt Lake time. Finally fall asleep between 3 and 4am and fight to get out of bed before noon. Probably doesn't help that dusk lasts until midnight and by 4 it is already dawning.
Relieved to have Alison's clarification about from whence she is not losing hair. Enjoyed the pics of mum on her blowup pal.
I am about to head out on a photography project I have dreamed up.

MOSCOW

It is pouring with rain. It rains in Russia like everything else Russian - with huge excess-- A cloudburst that results in immediate street flooding. I left the flat to come read my email and immediately regretted my choice of footwear. There was, just outside the gate, a sea of water. Helpfully someone had arranged some broken bits of brick into stepping stones and I joined the queue of people waiting to demonstrate their sense of balance. I spent most of today just lounging around the flat. Towards late afternoon I was drawn to the windows on one side of the apartment where I saw a sea of kneeling men at prayer. There appears to be a makeshift mosque down there - I shall go and investigate tomorrow. A little later out the other windows there was something transpiring in an embassy compound - It looked like a wedding or maybe a theatrical performance. THe bride wasn't wearing white but something huge and golden and at one point a man in a suit picked her up and twirled about with her. Then it started to rain and everyone ran inside.
I intend to post regularly because this place continues to be as weird as always. You just venture outside and are amazed.

More pictures

Back by popular demand...

Ok, so here is the before and after picture of the "accent" wall in the family room. Most members of the family loathe the new color, but I don't see any of them wielding a brush.

pics

Here are some recent pictures - Catherine suffering through my idea of a birthday cake (key lime cheese cake) and Ryan with friends. God, is pregnancy in the water?

At last an update

I don't have the hang of posting regularly yet and fear that I shall lose my miniscule audience! So here is a little update. The children are out of school for the summer and it is the time of year when I get wiggy according to Craig. I can't bear to see them splayed sloth like in front of the TV, xbox or computer, but seem to lack the wherewithal to keep a constant assault on this slothdom. Miraculously, the past few days have been like a dream come true for me. In fact, as I write this I can hear C, S and a friend downstairs playing a furious game of monopoly. This has been going on for hours, interrupted only by a trip to the bowling alley. It is pouring with rain so have roasted vegetables for dinner which seems hugely unseasonable for June in Utah.
I have, of course, been following the baby updates. Arrival of new niece in California -- finally someone bearing the Hacking last name for the next generation. And of course we have all been avidly been following Alison's blog (or was that boobs?). I am enjoying these pregnancies vicariously. Daniel is over the moon about Olivia and I don't have to contemplate a sleepless night!