Tuesday, August 07, 2001

This is a demonstration of how well my new Pars/U translation system works.
[ posted by mom @ 10:48 PM | link me ]

Monday, August 06, 2001

Really the reason I procrastinate is because I am working on a new project now. Let me tell you about it! Most of you are probably not impressed with every bit of new technology that comes along, but Me--I am knocked breathless by some of the stuff. I just bought software that translates English into Ukrainian and Ukrainian into English. Well, I've seen the Spanish or French systems for ages--but now to find it for Ukrainian, obscure language that it is! I am floored! Now I am busy writing letters to all my Ukrainian relatives who speak no English--and I am writing in Ukrainian!! (and I can not speak a word of the language.) The danger, of course is...as my husband is quick to point out...what if what I say is tranlated into something I don't intend to say? We all know how computer programs are.
[ posted by mom @ 10:03 PM | link me ]

Friday, July 13, 2001

Friday, July 06, 2001

To the Editor of The Day:

The issue whether students may refuse to participate in the flag salute was resolved by the Supreme Court in 1943 in West Virginia State Board of Education vs Barnette. The Court made clear that a compulsory flag salute would violate students' right to freedom of expression.

One of the principles the flag symbolizes is the freedom not to salute it. The Bill of Rights was designed to ensure that the government could not overstep its proper bounds by eroding the inalienable liberty of individuals. The First Amendment was particularly intended to protect those who criticized the government. How could anyone suggest a mandatory oath of fealty with a nation founded on the principle of personal liberty?

The revealing irony here is that the Pledge of Allegiance, which many say represent their sentiments about the proper relationship of Americans with their country, was written by a 19th century totalitarian-socialist named Francis Bellamy.

Mark Olynciw
Waterford
[ posted by mom @ 7:59 PM | link me ]

Monday, June 25, 2001

I borrowed this link from Mark.
[ posted by mom @ 11:23 AM | link me ]

Saturday, June 23, 2001

Tuesday, June 19, 2001

Wednesday, May 30, 2001

Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2001 09:24:10 -0700 (PDT)

Hi,

I hope you all got the photo of Barbara’s daughter we sent yesterday. We had some trouble sending it so we are trying to send another one now. Barbara has decided to name her Summer Anastacyia Tatiana Gula.

By the way her real name was Tatiana Olynick--the same last name as Ted's grandmother's maiden name. Barbara was so happy that Tatiana had a Ukrainian last name that she decided to give her Ted's grandmother's first name as a middle name--Anastacyia.

She plans to call her Summer Tatiana. The orphanage calls her Tanya.

This morning the funniest thing happened. We brought the polariod to the orphanage for a photo of Tanya that we could scan in and email to you. There are always many older women sweeping the streets or painting the curbs or weeding the grassy areas in the city. On the way in I decided to take a photo of an old women who was sweeping the sidewalks with the funniest homemade broom. The woman was so happy when she saw me take her photo so I ask her to pose again while I got out the polaroid. She was SOOOO happy to get the photo. She kissed and hugged me repeatedly and called me her daughter!! (The translator told me.) She said that when she is old and sitting on a sofa unable to work she will hold up the photo and remember how I took her picture! I had read that polaroid photos make a great hit with the people you meet--but I was totally unprepared for such a response!

Bye for now

Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2001 08:37:54 -0700 (PDT)

Dear Everybody,

We are having a wonderful time here in Mariupol. (pronounced Mary-o-pull), We had wanted to go into the western region of Ukraine which is considered mostly Ukrainian and the east is mostly Russian. But we have found the Russians here to be very warm and caring. Everyone speaks Russian. There is no possibility of being understood by anyone without our translator.

Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 05:49:34 -0700 (PDT)

Hi Everybody,

It was so good to read your mail to me today. I get homesick very easily and it helps so much to hear from you guys! Everything is working out very well, even better than we hoped. But we are still exhausted. I'll try to fill you in about what has happened since I last wrote on Sunday. Monday was a very important day, but it started out miserably. When Barbara visited the orphanage in the morning the director informed her the carpet she (Barbara) had bought for the gym was the wrong color and of inferior quality. (She wanted wool!) She also wanted six more bottles of champagne and 5 more boxes of candy. Barbara took care of that (except for the rug) and then went to court for the formal proceedings. All went well there but took a long time. We were about an hour plus late for the party at the orphanage. The local tv sent cameras there and will broadcast a special about the adoption. All the kids were dressed up and presented rehearsed performances for us. Because we were so late we saw only one or two of them. They were excellent!! And we took videos of everything possible. We felt so badly about being late...we have been rushing this entire trip. Finding Tatiana and processing the paperwork and then the court date in a week is incredibly fast. Many couples who come here, we are told, take at least two weeks to get to this point. We have had almost no "down" time. Everything is moving fast. After the court still not all the paperwork is not complete.

Tuesday morning we picked up Tatiana at 6:30 from the orphanage and drove to Donetsk, a two hour drive. Donetsk is the capitol of its region and much larger and more prosperous that Mariupol. We saw only a little of it because we had to go to so many offices for notaries, other signatures and Tatiana's passport, finally. We had planned to take the overnight train to Kiev but it was sold out so we finally got an overnight bus to Kiev. It was a lovely, large bus, made by Mercedes, and very comfortable. It had a tv in front playing Russians movies. Barbara said they were very loud and not sleep inducing but I didn't notice. I was asleep before we left Donetsk! There were no bathrooms on the bus. Marie and I got off at the first rest stop but when we saw the local lavatory conditions we laughed so hard and didn't bother to get off again. In general, the bathrooms have been fine...not worse than some in the US.

The one problem with the bus ride was the lack of heat. Although I slept most of the way I was aware of freezing. By time the bus pulled into Kiev and 6:30 am I was sneezing and had a runny nose.

One of the funniest things happened at the bus station. Marcia and I got off the bus while Barbara stayed on with Summer (not Tatiana...I keep forgetting her new name) I went to locate and watch the luggage--we have about ten bags and Marcia went to find our driver. She had rented a van to haul all our stuff. Well, everything took so long. Finally our luggage was put on the curb and just then Marcia came up to me. At that very moment the bus started to pull away. "Where's Barbara?" yelled Marcia. Oh NO! There she goes!! Marcia had to run after the bus and finally caught up with it. Some of our stuff was still on the bus so we waited for a half hour for the bus to return. (This was its home port and it had a few more stops to make in Kiev before returning.)

We drove to one of our facilitator's to give him the whole package of documents which he will have translated into English. Tomorrow we will bring the documents to the American Embassy (Hooray—someone who speaks English!) Summer needs a physical exam which can be done here or in Warsaw. Then we are free to leave for Lviv. We plan to leave by van for Lviv on Friday morning. Marcia found a driver who will drive us the 350 miles. It seems so much better than trying to lug all our stuff, a baby and a stroller, food, toys, etc. onto the train. He will drive us straight to the hotel which I think will be the George hotel in Lviv.

Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 06:39:22 -0700 (PDT)

Hi again,

We are staying with Olga in her apartment again. She will stay with friends while we are there. It is just like being at home with a grandmother to take care of us. She made breakfast for us when we arrived. Eggs and mashed potatoes. All the bread is the same—Like the kind you find at stop and Shop--a hearty loaf. No sliced white bread here. Then we took showers and slept until one thirty. Then lunch--hot dogs, rice, and cabbage--very good. It was sort of like sauerkraut and very tasty. She fried up some fish for Barbara since she doesn't eat meat.

Lots of things can not be found here. Our translator has never had peanut butter, or cereal--the kind sweet, already cooked stuff. No low diet drinks or decaffeinated coffee. Lots of cigarettes and vodka. They can sell liquor on the streets. Lots of people have set up stands that look like a mini liquor stores along the sidewalks. It is common to see older women who set up a stand that looks like a tv stand to sell trinkets and other things. Have seen only a few beggars. They seem to be an exception. The markets are very interesting. There are huge parking lots around the markets that look like giant flea markets. This is where most people shop for their goods. I've described the markets in Mariupol already. It seems that everyone who has a car keeps in a garage, not necessarily near the apartment in which they live. The garages are rows of rusty old metal sheds. There are hundreds of them around. The traffic in the cities can be horrendous. Just like NYC. Near the larger cities, the highway are modern and look a lot like the US, but most of the roads we have seen are full of potholes and extremely bumpy. Side streets in the city are dirt and have been terrible muddy. So far we haven't had to drive down one because they are in the residential areas. The other city streets are all paved, but in disrepair. It has been so wonderful being here and I would definitely love to come back again. This trip has been full of adoption related stuff and I would love to do more sight seeing. I've taken tons of photos and videos.

The best part of the trip is yet to come. We can't wait to visit our relatives and see the village where our grandparents are from. Every village we've seen so far has been identical so I have a picture in my mind of what it will be like. Have you seen photos of thatched roofed cottages in old books. Well, every village we've seen so far has that type of cottage, but the thatched roof has been replace with tin. The yard is muddy-0-where the vegetable garden will be planted in a few weeks. Already we've seen lots of tulips in the yards. In fact, lots of people seem to buy flowers frequently from the market Barbara said she would write all about the cultural things in Ukraine that are similar or different than the US, such as tv shows so I won't steal her thunder. Monday night we ate in a very nice disco-restaurant with Dima (pronounced Deema) and Greecia (pronounced Greece-shea), our driver. It was a celebration for "getting Tatiana". A few things about Ukraine. Paper products are in short supply so the napkins in restaurants are tiny slips of paper--some barely fit on the palm of your hand!! They also have not gotten the knack of serving the whole meal at once. Usually one person gets their meal and the rest of the dinners come out staggered for the next twenty minutes. You are not guaranteed to get your entree before your dessert--which you are supposed to order up front.

The other funny thing I have already told you about is that most of the food on the menu is not available. Also, only one menu per table. This has been consistent in every single restaurant we've been in.

Yesterday we did squeeze in some shopping at an "art show". One of the most beautiful things about the cities I have seen is the number of trees and parks, along almost all the streets. Usually there are trees lining every street, then a large grassy strip, then a row of trees, then a wide pedestrian sidewalk, then trees, and another large grassy strip before the buildings. Anyway, there was an art show in the pedestrian walkway. We bought some small paintings and some laquerware bowls that were beautiful. This was the bag we almost lost on the bus.

Have to end soon. I think I will be able to write again tomorrow.
Love,
Eileen
[ posted by mom @ 8:54 PM | link me ]

Monday, May 21, 2001

Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2001 09:28:56 -0700 (PDT)

Hi everybody,

Quick run-down of our schedule:

Monday is Barbara's court when Tatiana becomes officially her child. Afterwards the orphanage has a huge farewell party to celebrate Tatiana's adoption. The kids have been preparing a skit and song routine. We plan to bring a huge cake, drinks, and candy for the party. (I don't know how many kids will be there, but we have met many of them at the orphanage.) We have been told that after the party the Orphanage director, the doctor, some workers, and us go to the director's office with two bottles of champagne where we have our celebration! The translator says that this is the quickest adoption she has seen. Most of the times the wait for the paperwork is long.

On Tuesday we apply for a passport in Donetsk (another city nearby). We won't go there but our facilitator will go for us. Then we will be free to leave. We must return to Kiev for more paperwork and a obligatory physical exam for Tatiana. (or it may be done in Warsaw)

The train ride back to Kiev will take 22 hours! Can you imagine squashed into a tiny compartment--Barbara, Tatiana, Marcia, and me. 22 hours with a baby who is taken away from the only home she has ever known! We have been meeting and playing with her for the past few days but does she really know us????

We plan to go back to Olga's apartment. Olga is the woman whose apartment we rented last week. Olga agreed to help us with the baby. After our business in Kiev--which will probably take 2 days--we hope to do some serious shopping for Ukrainian items. So far, we have found nothing because tourists rarely travel to Mariupol. We also hope to see several important sites in Kiev--the Monastery of the Caves and St. Sophia's Cathedral.

Then we plan to take the train to Lviv to see our relatives. Marcia has agreed to travel with us. We really need her for translating and for help with knowing where to go and for handling all our luggage and a baby!!

Very important in Lviv is to see the village--Horodayslavich. On the way here we passed hundreds of tiny villages which I imagine look pretty much like I imagine that Horodayslavich looks like.

We spent a lot of time looking for toys to buy for the orphanage. The markets have very inexpensive toys that will break within a few minutes. We think that Fisher Price or Little Tykes or Tonka would be good brands for a place where so many children would be playing with them but those brands are impossible to find. The best toy store in Mariupol

Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2001 09:12:08 -0700 (PDT)

Subject: Saturday in Mariople #2

Hi again, I had to log out but now I am back.

Our translator is from a city here in the eastern side f Ukraine. She is beautiful and very friendly. Her name is Marcia but we call her Mary because she looks very much like Cameron Dias. At first we thought it as the real Cameron studying for a role as a Russian translator! LOL She is 24 and has a three year old daughter. Her husband and her mother are taking care of her daughter while she is away. She is with us day and night and I don't know what we would do without her. We need her to order food in a store or in a restaurant. I don't think many Americans ever come to Mariople. There are tourists in Kyiv and Lviv, but not here even although it is a "resort area." It is on the Sea of Azov--which is connected to the Black Sea. Many Russians and Ukrainians come here for the summer. So far we haven't been to the ocean area but we do plan to go there. All we have seen is the city because we have been busy with the adoption. This morning (and yesterday) we went to the Orphanage at 9:30 to visit with Summer Tatiana for 2 1/2 hours. Then we went for lunch. (more about that later!) Then we went to the market to shop for some baby clothes.

The market deserves a whole paragraph and lots of photos. It is a large, semi-permanent area in the city consisting of individual booths manned by various people. Each person seems to run their own business. It opens early in the morning and the vendors start to pack up and leave around 2 or 3 pm. Each booth has a sort of canopy tent around it to protect it from rain and sun. There are all sorts of items there. Clothing, shoes, make-up, perfume, CD's, radios, toys. The prices of most things are very similar to US prices. I really cannot understand how Ukrainians can afford the things.

We are constantly amazed at how well the Ukrainians dress. So many leather jackets (just about every young guy), and other nice clothing. All fads are common here such as very short skirts. Almost all the young women have their hair colored and styled. I've seen very few heavy young women. But then, most of the older women are overweight. There are lots of Babushka-women on the streets, sitting on the side of streets or selling things on little stands. I have seen very few beggars but lots of people selling items on little homemade stands.

There are lots of parks in both Mariople and in Kiev. The cities seemed to have been very well planned with lots of green space and thousands of trees. Wide boulevards, wide sidewalks, lots of public transportation such as buses or trolleys. Most of the people in the cities live in the same sort of apartment buildings. About 5-6 stories high with parks and playgrounds surrounding them.

But it is so obvious that something is terribly wrong. Virtually every single building has not been maintained since it was built. Bricks and mortar are missing, the siding--mostly concrete is in immediate need of repair. Sidewalks are terribly cracked and broken up, streets are full of pot holes.

But the whole concept of the cities is great--lots of recreation areas for people. Most apartment complexes seem to have day care buildings built in the center with playgrounds all around. Very few American cities I've seen are planned so well with the people in mind.

Will send this now and more later.

Eileen
[ posted by mom @ 11:40 PM | link me ]

Sunday, May 20, 2001

Subj: Friday at 8 pm
Date: 4/20/2001 1:25:26 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Hi everybody,

We just finished dinner here at the internet cafe. There is a nice small restaurant in the same building. Barbara, our translator Marcia, and I invited the two girls we met to eat with us. One, Anna, is beautiful studying too be a model. The other, also studying to be a model is younger. Both seem to love talking to Americans. They are studying English and like the practice. I don't think they see many Americans here in Mariupol. We had a good time. The food is good but the restaurant experience is very funny. First of all, the menu--it is several pages long but most everything is not really available. It seems that only a few things are actually available. We think the menu is a wish list or is a list of all the things the cook knows how to cook if he should happen to have the ingredients. Now we just ask "What do you have? And we get a selection of one or two things.

Secondly the peculiar thing is that the waitresses all seem to take their job very seriously. Rarely do you see one smile or make any small talk. (not that WE could make small talk!) Fortunately we have a translator.

Third, I am making a collection of napkins I find in restaurants. They are some of the world's smallest slips of paper.

Will write again
Eileen

Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2001 09:00:59 -0700 (PDT)

Hi Everybody,

Had another very busy day. When we got home last night we found that the owner of our apartment was there and had cooked us a delicious dinner of fried fresh fish! She bought a fresh fish that had been caught in the Sea of Azov which is where this city is located. It is pike, a white flaky fish that is so good. She served it with shots of vodka. I sipped it down and then she filled it again. After that I hid the glass. Actually although I don''t like straight liquor usually, it was good and not too hard to drink. The woman is very friendly and is the head of a day care center run by the city. She has over 200 children in the center. Years ago she worked at a day care in Damascus, Syria with her husband. It is so strange to learn about life of Russians who are former Soviet Union citizens. She rents out her apartment for extra money, like many Ukrainians. The adoption group pays here about $20 a night. And it is so much more comfortable than a hotel. They say that all Ukrainians do many extra things to earn money because their salaries are so low. Marcia says that as a teacher she earned $25 per month. (And that is with a college degree.)

This morning we went to a Ukrainian Orthodox Service. It was held in a brick church with several blue onion domes. The inside was gorgeous--with lots of gold and colorful paintings on the walls and ceilings. It reminded me of Our Lady of Perpetual Help--the old church. There were lots of paintings of saints all over the walls tinted gold--like icons. It was brand new, according to the translator.

There were so many people there that we could barely get in. We stood on the steps and then the vestibule for a long time. People would come out and then others would push forward. Because there are no pews, everyone stands for the service so there is constant movement, in and then out. The service lasted from 8 to 11 am. Then there was another service in the late afternoon. We finally got in, but there were so many people, the temperature inside went up about 20 degrees. There were many older people there but also many younger too. The choir was absolutely beautiful. It was hard to see much because of all the people.

It is amazing that church attendance is so high when the people were not allowed to attend during the past 70 years. Marcia says that people did not attend church but were always aware that there is a religion and that they were aware of Easter and Christmas etc. even though they did not celebrate.

Actually one reason the attendance was extremely high today is because today is a holiday for people to remember all their relatives who have died. (We don't know the name of the holiday.) After church the people visit the cemeteries of their relatives.

I almost forgot the most exciting news. Marcia called Galina in Lviv yesterday and told her where we are and when we plan to arrive in Lviv. I got to speak to her too. Although I couldn't understand what she said I could hear how happy and excited she was! She said they were preparing for us and that all the relatives would get together to meet us. (I sure hope they don't do through a lot of trouble for us!!) Galina sounds very "bouncy" and lots of fun.

Will send this now and then more....
Love,
Eileen
[ posted by mom @ 11:07 PM | link me ]

Friday, May 18, 2001

The trip was all that I had hoped it would be and much more. I spent nearly four weeks in several cities, Kiev, Mariupol on the eastern border, and Lviv near the western border. I kept my family informed about my trip with frequent emails about my experiences. I plan to reprint my email here for your enjoyment. (My fmaily said they enjoyed them...)

Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 07:00:23 -0700 (PDT
Subject: Hello from Ukraine

Dear Everybody,

I have been so anxious to call home but the phone situation is difficult. The easiest way is to find a certain type of phone and buy a Ukrainian phone card. We found a phone at the post office in Kiev and I managed to call Ted once but my card ran out after a few minutes and I had to go to another counter to buy another card but then the line at the phone was too long and we didn't have the time to wait. (Actually I would have taken the time but the others with me didn't have the time!! LOL) Eight dollars for about three minutes. It was worth it!!!

Our time here has been wonderful. We have met wonderful, friendly people who couldn't be nicer. The country is beautiful and very much like the states and on the other hand very different. I could talk about our experiences forever but right now I am so excited and tired to be very coherent! I will try though.

A brief synopsis of what this week has been like, first. After arrival in Kiev (pronounced "Keev") we went an apartment for the night. First thing in the morning we went to the Adoption Center--a very tense morning. There we talked to the director and were told about children available for adoption. Barbara wanted a little girl but we found there are very few girls available at this time. We decided to go see a beautiful little girl in the city of Mariople in the southeast of Ukraine--12 hours away. After a trip back to the apartment and a quick nap we drove through the night to Mariople, arrived at noon and went straight to the Orphanage. We had one stop for 5 minutes midway through the trip and walked straight in, rumpled, hungry, and exhausted. It was love at first sight for Barbara. Within an hour Barbara started the adoption paperwork. It was five pm before Barbara had a "bathroom break"--14 1/2 hours!! Tatiana is a beautiful, blond baby age 2 1/2. She smiles easily and loves to eat Teddy grahams that Barbara brought for her!.

One of the orphanage workers volunteered to let us stay in her apartment while she moved in with her son. It is very homey and comfortable. It is large by Ukrainian standards--2 good sized bedrooms, large living room/dining room combination, and kitchen. I've taken lots of photos. She brought us a bouquet of flowers, great Ukrainian champagne, and a huge box of chocolates to celebrate the adoption. We will stay at her apartment until we leave Mariople which will probably be Tuesday. The court date is Monday, when Tatiana will officially be Barbara’s child. Of course Barbara had to pay bribes to everyone to get things to move so quickly. It is the way of doing businesses here--otherwise we will be here for another 2-3 weeks. We didn’t want to but the alternative is not good. Even so, to complete everything this quickly is incredible.

Barbara's first choice to find a child was the Lviv region so that we could visit relatives but there were no girls anywhere near that region--in fact, few children available. So we plan to take a train to Lviv when we finish the adoption process. Tuesday we plan to drive back to Kiev. Then it will take a few more days to finish the paperwork there. A day or so for sight seeing and shopping, and then we will take a train to Lviv.

will write more soon.

Eileen
[ posted by mom @ 11:06 PM | link me ]

Wednesday, April 11, 2001

A great hope we both have in traveling to Ukraine is the opportunity to meet some long lost relatives. It has been 100 years since our grandparents as teenagers left their homes and families and made the incredible vovage to America. Four brothers and a sister came to NYC at the turn of the century. Only once --- seventy years ago, has any of my family members traveled back to their homeland. Would you believe that even the younger relatives in Ukraine remember stories of that visit. Most of our large family in this country is close and we are, of course, interested in the rest of our family. I plan to relate more about my experiences from Ukraine...if I can find an internet cafe.

That brings me to what I have been doing... Collecting information on my family and on my husband's family who also came from the same tiny village as my grandparents. Trying to learn some basic Ukrainian (and Russian) since I speak neither. My Ukrainian cousin, Maria, is very optimistic. She says: "You don't speak Uklrainian and I don't speak English, but don't worry. I know we will understand each other!" Packing everything I could possibly need during the next 2-3 weeks since every travel site I read says "don't expect to find shat you need there." Compiling photo albums to bring relatives up-to-date on the last 70 years! (well, the last few years, anyway.) Buying gifts for adoption workers and relatives since every travel site I read say that Ukrainian made an art out of gift giving.
[ posted by mom @ 10:01 PM | link me ]

Saturday, March 31, 2001

It is one thing to travel to a western country like France or Italy, but to travel to an out-of-the-way place like Ukraine seems pretty remarkable for a stay-at-home- person like me. Although I am very interested in foreign cultures and people, I am usually satisfied with a second hand experience. I love hearing about friends foreign travel adventures. I love learning about other ways of life with films or books, but have been motivated to travel myself only a few times in the past. A few trips to tourist spots in Europe and Mexico, but never to an out-of-the-way place like Ukraine! Now, traveling to Ukraine is not like climbing Mount Everest or backpacking in the Andes, but for me, it is as exciting as those faraway places.

First an explanation: Two of my grandparents and two of my husband’s grandparents immigrated from a small village near the city of L’viv around the turn of the century. At that time their area of the world was part of the Austrian Hungarian Empire, then part of Poland, then Germany, then the Soviet Union. During its entire eight hundred year history, the city L’viv has changed hands many times. In fact there had never been, before 1991, a separate country of Ukrainian; however Ukrainians are a separate and distinct people who share a unique language and rich cultural history. Ten years ago with the disintegration of the Soviet Union the independent nation of Ukraine was formed. After centuries of colonialism and 70 years of totalitarianism Ukrainians now have their own country.

Several years ago, thanks to Martin’s detective work, I began corresponding with several of my Ukrainian cousins. Galina, who is a school teacher, lives in Lviv with her husband, Vladimir, a civil engineer like my husband, and two children. Maria also lives in Lviv with her daughter and eighteen year old grand daughter, Maryana, who is a University student studying Slavonic languages. Maryana speaks fluid English and translates my letters to her grandmother.

Last fall when my cousin, Barbara, mentioned she was planning a trip to Ukraine to adopt a child, things started to fall into place for the big trip. Accompanying Barbara on her trip sounded like a wonderful way to become acquainted with Ukraine.

We plan to fly out of JFK on April 16 to Zurich to Kiev. On the 18th we have an appointment with the Adoption Center in Kiev to begin the wonderful process of bringing home Barbara’s son or daughter.

Now I am in the midst of furiously preparing for my glorious trip. Ukrainian adoption is another heart warming as well as interesting story that I will save for another time. Right now I am waiting for my visa to arrive and worrying about what to bring and more important what not to bring—that luggage gets heavy! My inoculations are done (and my arm isn’t sore.) My sisters are helping to select appropriate gifts for relatives and I am deciding on whether to lug along my video camera. Most importantly I am cramming to learn handy phrases in Ukrainian and Russian—just in case, although we will have an adoption facilitator to translate for us and a driver.

Chapter one ends here. Expect more about this adventure.

Monday, February 12, 2001

Snooper Bowl As fans poured through the turnstyles at the latest Super Bowl video cameras scanned faces matching them up to those of known criminals or terrorists. This kind of surveillance is done often according to law enforcement officials at places such as casinos to identify known cheats and some places of employment to identify disgruntled former employees. It is now being tested at airports to improve security.

It's latest uses has highlighted a debate about the balance between individual privacy and public safety. The problem, it is said is that public officials have shown no interest in limiting how police use their increasingly powerful tools.

In Tampa, the city council turned down an ACLU request for a public hearing on the use of Facefinder.

“When you have a nation that says 'We don't care, just go ahead and do it,' you're going to have that all over the country.” Civil liberties activists are using the Super Bowl surveillance as a sign that more attention is needed.

“If the public doesn't object to what happened at the 'Snooper Bowl,' then the authorities will certainly feel emboldened to move us down the road to total surveillance,” said Howard Simon, executive director of American Civil Liberties Union in Florida.

“I don't minimize the threat of criminal activity when you have large crowds. Of course, there is a need for security,” he said. “There is a way to enforce the law consistent with fundamental American principles and there is a way to enforce the law consistent with totalitarian societies.”

Are we willing to give up our right to privacy for increased security?
[ posted by mom @ 4:31 PM | link me ]

Sunday, February 11, 2001

Last night my husband and I attended a Valentine Dinner/Dance sponsored by a local Lion's Club. Many of our friends and family attended. As part of a fund raiser the club hosted a raffle so we bought $20 worth of tickets. The first number was drawn and it turned out to be one of our's. The numbers continued to be drawn and two more of our numbers were called. Throughout the evening periodically numbers were drawn and steadily our numbers continued to be called!

In all there were probably 50 prizes and a total of ten of them became ours. They ranged from a Victorian musicbox, a set of Correlle dinnerware for four, to decks of playing cards. We needed a U-Haul to get home! Now, when there are a total of about 100 people in attendance, what are the chances of that happening? And is it fair?

Ted and I were stunned and delighted last night but today we want to donate our loot to Catholic Charities.
[ posted by mom @ 11:28 AM | link me ]

Friday, February 02, 2001

Attended a funeral of the father of a close friend of my husband's this morning and had quite a remarkable experience. The experience reaffirmed a belief I have held for a long time: that the purpose of funerals is to inspire in the family and friends of the deceased a renewed joy in living. Life is a gift, but many of us at times behave as if life is something to endure. The sorrows and pain of life sometimes tend to overshadow the beauty and glory of a life lived well.

The son of the deceased who happens to be a Roman Catholic priest conducted the service. The mass began with a hymn, Joyful Joyful and ended with Lord of the Dance, another uplifting song. His son recounted happy memories the family recalled. Although there were plenty of tears in that group this morning, the grace and love with which that father and friend had lived was demonstrated and celebrated.
[ posted by mom @ 3:56 PM | link me ]

Thursday, February 01, 2001

Don't get me wrong, I are alot about animals.... That's why I'm doing my best to help them out by eating meat everyday!
[ posted by mom @ 11:48 PM | link me ]

Wednesday, January 31, 2001

State of allegiance in the State of Virginia
Taking the pledge of Allegiance is now mandatory. for students in the State of Virginia. Students who keep quiet during the pledge can face suspension, according to a bill just signed by the Virginia Senate. Doesn't requiring the pledge go against everything the flag stand for?
[ posted by mom @ 6:09 PM | link me ]

Monday, January 29, 2001

Sunday, January 28, 2001

I thought that I would start anew today, get personal, and boldly tell you all...but nahhhh...not a chance.
[ posted by mom @ 3:55 PM | link me ]

Saturday, January 27, 2001

Thursday, January 25, 2001

It is so nice that someone, besides Tim, reads my site. By the way, her site is quite entertaining.
[ posted by mom @ 8:56 AM | link me ]

Saturday, January 20, 2001

To those high school students worried about their upcoming report cards!!! (Perhaps you can show the following to your parents.)

Albert Einstein's parents feared their son was retarded because he spoke haltingly until the age of nine and thereafter would respond to questions only after a long period of deliberation. He performed so badly in all high school courses except mathematics that a teacher asked him to drop out, telling him, "You will never amount to anything, Einstein." His enrollment at Zurich's Polytechnic Institute was delayed a year because he failed his entrance exams. Even after graduating from the institute, he had trouble finding and holding a job. Meanwhile, he was formulating his first ideas about the theory of relativity.
from Irving Wallace
[ posted by mom @ 11:15 AM | link me ]

Wednesday, January 17, 2001

16. Visit your local butcher and pay $30 to sit in the walk-in freezer for a half an hour. Afterwards, burn two $50 dollar bills to warm up.
15. Soak your gloves and store them in the freezer after every use.
14. Fasten a small, wide rubber band around the top half of your head before you go to bed each night.
13. If you wear glasses, begin wearing them with glue smeared on the lenses.
12. Throw away a hundred dollar bill-now.
11. Find the nearest ice rink and walk across the ice 20 times in your ski boots carrying two pairs of skis, accessory bag and poles. Pretend you are looking for your car. Sporadically drop things.
10. Place a small but angular pebble in your shoes, line them with crushed ice, and then tighten a C-clamp around your toes.
9. Buy a new pair of gloves and immediately throw one away.
8. Secure one of your ankles to a bedpost and ask a friend to run into you at high speed.
7. Go to McDonald's and insist on paying $8.50 for a hamburger. Be sure you are in the longest line.
6. Clip a lift ticket to the zipper of your jacket and ride a motorcycle fast enough to make the ticket lacerate your face.
5. Drive slowly for five hours - anywhere - as long as it's in a snowstorm and you're following an 18-wheeler.
4. Fill a blender with ice, hit the pulse button and let the spray blast your face. Leave the ice on your face until it melts. Let it drip into your clothes.
3. Dress up in as many clothes as you can and then proceed to take them off because you have to go to the bathroom.
2. Slam your thumb in a car door. Don't go see a doctor.
1. Repeat all of the above every Saturday and Sunday until it's time for the real thing!
[ posted by mom @ 5:07 PM | link me ]

Friday, January 12, 2001

Rumors have been circulating that a brillant and eccentric scientist, well known to locals in my home town in southeastern Connecticut, has created an invention that will change our lives as drastically as the internet and computer combined. No one seems to know what it is, or at least no one is talking. Rumors say that the inventor is able to asssemble the device in 10 minutes using a screwdriver, wrenches, and components fit into only a few duffle bags and cardboard boxes.

The rumors are taken seriously by many because financial investors of the device are said to include IBM magnate Steve Jobs, Netscape and Amazon.com backer Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Bryers, and banking giant Credit Suisse First Boston.
[ posted by mom @ 9:29 PM | link me ]

Wednesday, January 10, 2001

In an attempt to appeal to the indiviualism and independence of today's youth, the US Army will scrap it's memorable advertising slogan,"Be all you can be," and replace it with "An Army of one". Its new advertising slogan tries to counter what Army officials said was the widespread perception among young men and women that soldiers were faceless, nameless cogs in an impersonal military machine.
[ posted by mom @ 6:32 PM | link me ]

Roger and Tim

When I first saw him stroll into the restaurant I didn't recognize him and I thought "What an odd looking character!" Long black, stringy hair. Expressionless face with a ghostly white complexion. A wild multi colored clownish outfit. He (or she) was strolling purposely through the crowd pushing towards our table. Although vaguely familiar looking, the face started to alarm me for it's disturbing lack of expression. When the creature stopped at our table my alarm switched to amazement when I realized the "creature" was none other than my sister Janis in her old "Roger" get-up playing a birthday joke on my son Tim. I remembered the strange character from her joke years before.

The "creature" handed Tim a bouquet of blue flowers, whipped a camera out of its jacket pocket, handed it to Ted, and posed with Tim. Three seconds later she turned on her heel and quickly slipped away through the crowd. I caught a glimpse of her through the window dancing to her car.

Not everyone in our group realized who the creature was and the startled expression on their faces kept us all laughing for the rest of the evening. I am not sure what the rest of the restaurant crowd thought of the strange patron but for us it was the highlight of Tim's birthday dinner.
[ posted by mom @ 2:15 PM | link me ]

Tuesday, January 09, 2001

A: Hand him a shovel.
[ posted by mom @ 11:34 PM | link me ]