Things, I miss

As a child, we lived in a place which was surrounded by a bog from two sides and by the fileds from the other sides. There wasn't any real forests near to wander in. But the last 5 years which I spent in South Estonia made me quite a nature child. Now I need to walk in the woods.

We spend quite a lot of time here in the nature too, but still I felt that there was something missing, that it wasn't this... it wasn't the same.... Finally I understood that the thing I was longing was a smell - smell of pine woods. The smell of needles, smell of moss and sand. There isn't evergreen woods here, the main tree in the woods seem to be oaks. But not the strong big oaks like in Estonia but thinner ones. Of course, it's prairie here.

And then I thought what might be the other things which I miss here (I'm not talking about people nor communication here, only things). The other thing which all the Estonians, living in the foreign countries, seem to miss is the Estonian rye bread. Like at most of the world, people prefer wheat bread here. Although we've found two kinds of rye bread too from the grocery store, it doesn't taste like an Estonian one, the flour is too refined. I understand now my family friend from Sweden who had lived in Sweden for more than 50 years still always took many loaves of Estonian bread with him when going back to Sweden. By the way, Pete is now into rye bread too. I consider this along with the fact that he eats breakfast now (porridge!) a good Estonian (and mine) influence.

The other thing which I really miss at this time of year, is cold water from the well. I've been lucky, I've always lived in the areas with good water. It's not the way at every place in Estonia either. Although the wather in our town isn't too bad, you can still taste the chloride.

And of course there are moments when I would like to take some beautifully written Estonian book from the shelves. Good enough, there are two good libraries in the town, one of them is collage library where one can found lot of good nonfiction books.

And the final thing, I'd like to take my laundry out to dry. There is nothing better than freshly smelling linen. But on the other hand it would mean that I should begin to iron them too and it would take away my free time which I can use for example... for blogging (hmmm.... perhaps I should start to iron my linen though...?)

I guess that lot of Estonia also miss sauna, but it's not an issue for me. I'm very pleased with the American comforts regarding plumbing. Perhaps it's related to the years when the only good washing place really was sauna besides a big bowl at the corner of the kitchen.

Yes, still one more thing - natural lakes to swim in. But to be honest, there is a very good pool and water-park in our small town here. It's superb. But sometimes I do miss these little lakes of Estonia - private and clean.

Of course there are things which I would miss while back in Estonia. For example:

• children playgrounds (there are lot of of them here)
• the possibility of not owning an ironing machine
• two-line good roads

Nice weekend again

The last days we've been busy with watching films and spending time outside. On Saturday we went to pick blackberries from the countryside. Most of the berries weren't ripe yet but we still managed to make two jars of jam. Actually, Pete made of course. In the evening we had a nice fishing tour again, didn't caught nothing but it was really enjoyable though. Priit has a lot to do by the river and as Pete enjoys fishing hugely, I'm for it every time too.
Yesterday we went by the Skunk river and triving back headed to small gravel roads. It was like driving in Southern Estonia - little farm houses, dusty trees and perceivably fresh air. I like this countryside. There are hills like in Haanja, only the perspective is much broader. And there doesn't seem to be natural small lakes in the area. I also miss pine trees, the smell of evergreen trees, my walkes in Rõuge woods. Here there are lot of oaks, but as they grow in the woods, they are much smaller that Estonian oaks which grow in the fields. It is prairie here, of course.

We watched two good movies this weekend too: "Eternal Sunshine of Spotless Mind" with Jim Carrey and Kate Winslate and "Spanglish". Both were categorized as comedies, but the former was far from being it. It was rather psychodelic, delusional, also warning - don't mess with memory. I guess, at some point we would like to erase some memories, some embarrasing, painful or just annoying ones... but would we be ourselves after that? The latter film was very nice comedy, soulful with pretty people. I had also taken "American Beauty" from the library but Pete didn't feel like watching it again, saying that it's too sad.

About This and That

Priit has been a very good boy the whole week. He has actually been able to play by himself. He's growing!

Yesterday I met Cindra V in the library and we'll begin our ESL classes in September. There will be lot of immigrants.

Yesterday's film - "The Pursuit of Happyness" with Will Smith was good. I like to watch the films with happy ending. It's just me. There is enough concerns without depressive films.

I also started a blog in Estonian and of course ended up with complaining and whining and discussing bourgeoisness in someone's blog. In the end it made me feel sick in my stomach. I mean, this Estonian like whining and trying to be wise. But it's me. At least I hope that this way Pete doesn't have to listen to my constant talk while coming home from work.

On films

It's still intolerably hot.... and August is yet ahead. I'd have never thought that climate could be a problem for me. I think the main problem is that it's too humid here. These temperatures (90 - 100 F) would be ok by the sea, I guess.

We caught our first real fish on Friday. A big catfish from Des Moines river. I like it there - nice breeze, sound of water, even the smell of (dead) fish has become more tolerable.

Otherwise tha weekend was a movie marathon. We watched "The Isaland" (with Scalett Johannsen and Ewan McGregor) - Pete liked it a lot, I'd say - a good film; "The Departed" (with Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson) - in the beginning didn't like it and went to bed, tried again next day and found it quite enjoyable despite I don't like to see violance; "Crash" (got 3 Academy Awards) - interesting, reminds me of "Magnolia", makes you think and argue and conclude that there are two mistakes which people make - they don't listen to and they talk too much; "Under the Sun of Tuscany" (with Diane Lane) - nonpretentious, calm and enjoyable watching; "The FamilyStones" (with Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Keaton) - good enough comedy.
The other interesting movies I've seen lately: "The House of Sand and Fog" - really unpredictable, changed even Pete's view on Iranians... agitated lot of thoughts; "Prestige" - interesting, a bit mystical, balancing on the line between reality and irreality; "Long Way Round" (Ewan McGreror and his friend travelling around the world with motobikes) - very interesting and enjoyable, especially the parts regarding Mongolia and Siberia; "Lake House" (with Sandra Bullock and Keenu Reeves) - story is cool and romance is cool, bases on an Asian film; "Little Children" - again interesting, unpredictable, but left me oddly nausetic; "A girl in the cafe" - different, I enjoyed... there are many others, but I have to go and prepare dinner now, nothing fancy, just leftovers, I'm afraid.

Guests from Texas

We had Pete's daughter with her family here for 2 days. And it was a great time we spent together. Hanna has a wonferful family. Their son is a little gentleman, cam and thoughtful - a good boy. He is 6 right now, turns 7 on September. Priit was like a wild child compared to him. But Peter comforted me saying that after 4 years he could be quite different too. They came on Wednesday, we met them at the Royal Amsterdam Hotel and headed to have a lunch in Intveld. Oh, these sandwiches were really tasty. It was Hanna's idea to go there. She had quite a concrete plan ready what she wanted to do and see in her old hometown. Afte that we came home, rested a bit and in the evening had a barbecue in the backyard. Yesterday we had a whole day together, strolled in the town in the morning, later spent some hours by the river. Boys and men were fishing (Peter got a little fish) and we had a lunch there. And in the evening we had a little barbecue party with Hanna's family, our neighbours and Peter's friends. It was the best party I've been for quite a while. And it seemed that all people enjoyed it. Priit behaved very well too, he had fun. Today they headed to Nebraska to Chuck's family reunion.

This morning a tree was torn down from our backyard. The one which gave us a nice shade at noon and kept us hidden from people walking on the alley. It's a pity. But it was troo dangerous to keep it. Two days ago one brach fell on the shoup's wall. Fortunately, it didn't damage it at all. It's gone now, the yard seems so bare. We have to plant a new tree soon.

Yetserday my mother called and told that they had had a strong thunderstorm in Ulila, over 100 trees were broken. Fortunately not much damage was done at their household. Only carrots and potatoes were damaged by hale. I thought what an irony, that they have a little tornado there right now.... yes, all these dangerous things can happen there too, bnot only here.

Great weekend

We had a great weekend. On Saturday Pete worked half day, but after he came home we went fishing by a small bond in the countryside. I even caught 2 fish, both so tiny that we let them back in the water. Priit chased the Canada geese and I was quite afraid. I thought that it's good for Priit to really have a father in his life, because his mother would restrist him too many things just because of her own fear.

On Sunday we helped in the church to look after children in the Waumba Land. I worked out well. Andy and her husband were there too. And after the church we bought some tacos from Taco John's and headed by the river. It was my idea to go to the river, I had quite missed the stream of water. In the beginning the smell was quite noticeable - dead fish, I guess, but later we didn't notice iy at all. Pete found some hooks and line and had almost cought a fish, but he didn't notice when the stone where the line was tired began to move and so it was gone suddenly. Anyway, we enjoyed it a lot.

Priit's foot - the joint is fine, but now when the necrotic skin fell off, he has an ulcer 2,5 x 0,5/1 cm. He is quite stoic himself. I think his young and healthy body should manage it well and that it would heal soon.

Cindra W called me today. She is an ESL teacher here. I arranged a meeting on the 26th to find out what option I have to study English.

Ah, it's 6:08, Pete's home soon.... we'll have a pizza today. I've been so out of ideas considering food lately.
Yes, and I told Pete that I'd like to buy some medical books, bargain books instead of buying new clothes which he had an intention. They can wait. So I'm back on the track of thinking about FP training again.

A Hot Saturday Musings

It's very hot, about 95 degrees F. The summer really is different here, longer and warmer.
Hurray - Priit finally stepped on his foot yesterday! And although he walks on his toes, it's seems to be a good sign.
We met with B and Zanna and their kids yesterday at park. She is a very nice person, came here from Turkmenistan 9 years ago. She is a physician also, working as a sonographist right now. We seem to be quite in the same situation and both a bit mixed up, don't know which way to turn. Anyway, it was good to talk to someone in the same situation, to tell my mind about these issues.
Pete went to Des Moines to sell hot-dogs in a baseball game. Yeah! The fathers of PA-s football team do ity to rais money for their team. Priit is asleep and I finished my 3rd French track.

On learning languages

For the last few weeks I've spent most of my free time studying. In the beginning Peter thought that I could learn to programm. So I picked up HTML. It was quite amazing feeling how you are really capable of building some basic pages of only after an hour. I'm still a bit excited about it, although apparently nothing will come out of it. And I've also picked up French again. From the very beginning and it's fun. Pimsleur listening method is really terrific, makes you hear the language differently, more correctly, I hope.
Today we went to the collage library with Priit as I wanted to take some English books and met a lady in the campus. She gave me an email of a woman who teaches ESL classes in the town and introduced us also to a man whos wife is from Ukraine and also a doctor. We arranged to meet up at 7.30 on the playground today. I hope Priit will enjoy other children's company although he can't really walk yet. The man told that they have learned quite a lot about getting a doctor's licence here, perhaps it would help me to make up my mind too.
Fortunately, Priit's foot is much better today, almost not swollen at all anymore. And yesterday he used it pretty well while playing with Brooke and Sydney in the backyard. But it's evidently still really sore to walk on it. We had a row with Pete about Priit's foot and the necessity of the X-ray yesterday. I totally freaked out thinking that it might have been still broken. Ah, I wish I could have managed to hold myself back better.

My learning English

• on a spree - pummeldamas, lõbusalt aega veetmas
• to get thorough - üle elama, taluma, vastu pidama
• to make out - to do, to manage, to to handle affairs, to be successful
• to move ahead - edasi liikuma, edukas olema
• mixed up - segaduses
• to count on / eeldama, millelegi lootma

The 4th of July

We had a nice Indipendance Day. In the afternoon Pete's friends came over and we grilled stake. And at night we went to watch a fireworks at another's friends house. It was quite a firework, really. The night before we watched a "private" fireworks at the third friends house. Asd it was quite near to us, Priit was scared. He sat most of the time at my arms, his head on my lap.
Priit hurt his left foot badly on Saturday. He sat at the back of Peter's bicycle and his foot got between the weel. It seemed quite horrible in the beginning. Fortunately, it's improving right now. The doctor said that nothing was broken. Although I'm not sure that anybody could tell it just looking at the foot for a minute without even touching it. Or it's just a question of experience which I lack.... Well, I hope that all will be all right.