Repeating ourselves aka Day #52

It's funny, but when you do lots of things during the day it's easier to remember what you did than when you don't do as much! Today completes the 7^th week we've been here and is our 8^th Friday in Irkutsk!

This morning Genya and I ate the new breakfast cereal we bought yesterday – chocolate filled "pillows" (from Great Britain). Probably not the healthiest but hey, too bad! We enjoyed them! The morning was just the usual, including a load of laundry, but I also figured we better start planning a little for packing to leave! We might not get a lot of notice (hopefully!) So I started looking at what we all have to pack and which suitcases we have and started planning strategy. On the trip over one of our suitcases lost a wheel (huh?) so I'm trying to figure out if we have to use that one or if we'll be able to use the one Kathy F. left here after her January trip…I'm not sure yet what will happen! I also ran up the street to do some souvenir shopping at the liquor store (what do you think I got?) This was bad timing on my part! See this Sunday, March 8^th, is "Women's Day". So there were LOTS and LOTS of people in the store buying liquor and chocolates for the women in their life. Normally if I have to wait about 2-minutes to check out it's a long wait – and there isn't more than a few people in the store – but today I waited to check out over 5-minutes and there was a line behind me! And the store was full of people! So my errand took a little longer than expected.

Lunch was simple – hot dogs for Genya, egg salad sandwiches for Brian and I and other assorted items – including lots of pickles for Genya! Brian thinks he and Rachel C will have to have a pickle eating contest! Genya continues to slow down on his consumption of food – I now plan at least half of what I was giving him the first week and sometimes it's hard to get him to finish that even.

Last night's movie "The War of the Roses" ran perfectly and then Brian stayed up for a double feature and watched "Jurassic Park" – that one had given us problems before but now ran fine. So we're wondering if maybe the VCR was just not used to working and needed to get back into practice?! We're going to try one of the problem ones again and find out.

Today's afternoon entertainment was a long walk. It is beautiful here today – sunny and at least 40F we estimate. When Genya had his hat on his hair became soaking wet from sweat and even with just his hood he was hot but we made him keep the hood on – the Russians do like to bundle up their children and we didn't want to get scolded! First we were able to see garbage collection by a restaurant – oh boy was it a slow procedure but finally they got the container on the truck. We walked along the river and over to the nature preserve (or whatever it is) that we had done a few weeks ago. There was some very deep snow there so Genya and I walked through that to tire him out some – and it was fun! We crossed the river on the walking bridge and threw coins into the water to make a wish. Genya said he did it too – any guesses what I wished for?? Boy the river area stunk today – just before and after we crossed the bridge. Not sure what it was but it was only in that area!

We sat in the monument area for awhile – gave Genya a little piece of chocolate today for the snack – and then we let him fly a glider again. This was #2 out of 3 so still have one left as needed. It held up pretty well landing on the bricks. Finally though the wings broke so we had to head back to get it taped up. Brian and Genya came right back and I stopped at the deli for dinner makings – having pizza tonight (got the last one there). So once the plane was fixed he and Brian went out to toss it around some and I started writing today's journal.

Just for fun (and because I didn't remember what we did) I went back to last week Friday's blog – almost a repeat of today except it was cooler last week. We ate almost the same lunch, will have almost the same dinner and our entertainment was a long walk then also… Now that is monotony!

It's staying light later in the evenings now and since Genya still had way too much energy we went for a walk after supper – about 45-minutes. The weather is temperate and not a lot of people out this time of day. Genya and Brian did a lot of their races so that helped get him a little tired. A very short bath when we were back but then lots of book reading – all Genya's idea. If I would have wanted to read to him he would have resisted but instead he kept bringing the books, one at a time. He knows which ones are which also which is impressive!

We didn't hear anything to day about the passport so guess we have to wait until Monday to hear when we can possibly leave. I wouldn't even care (I mean I would but…) if the answer is "the passport will be in on the 16th (or whatever)" just so we'd KNOW what the timeframe is! And I guess I better start figuring out some meal plans for the coming days also…