Hotel Damasius has their first reservation!

We are very excited that Janae and her family (Greg and Whitney) have booked their trip to see us July 13th-19th. This will be their last hurrah in Europe before moving from Paris back to Kokomo, IN. We are looking very forward to seeing them and showing them our new city!

Grocery Store Logistics Hell

Okay, I was pretty pumped today that Darron's boss is letting me use his driver once a week to go to the grocery store. Not only will be park up close and wait for me, he'll help carry all the groceries to the elevator! Half of that was correct. He did NOT park close. I'll try and explain in US mall terms. The grocery store is in a large mall. We'll call the grocery store Sears. He parked at JC Penny's (not close). I tried to explain to him that he needed to park closer to the hypermarket in order for me to get my grocery cart back to him. He doesn't speak a lick of English. So he parks at "JC Penny's" in the parking garage. I think "okay, maybe he knows that I can push my "Sears"cart all the way through the mall to get back to him". PRAISE the LORD I remembered what color and number he parked near. I shop for 1.5 hours. I go to leave and the guard won't let me past the store with my cart full of grocery's. I decide to exit by the store and go right into the parking garage (where he should have parked). I do that and find an elevator. It's my lucky day! I pick up one end of the cart since in order to get to the elevator I have to get the cart over a concrete square curb. Why God Why? I can deal with this. I can take it one level down and find my driver. Elevator is broke. Have to get it back over the square concrete curb. I find a security guard and say "mashina" (car) and point one level down. He points to the elevator. I show him it's broken and he motions for me to take the cart to the other side of the garage and down the ramp. YAY. Not so much. I take the cart down the ramp and to my horror the door is shut and locked. I have to pull my cart back up the ramp myself. (For a nice visual, lets remember I have a weeks worth of groceries including 3 TEN lb. bottled waters). I find another security guard who turns out to be my grocery store hero. He points to another ramp and we go and find it's also locked. In the midst of this, one of the wheels gets bent so it doesn't roll like it should. Hero security guard then decides we are going to carry the cart down two flights of stairs. Lovely. We carry the cart and wind our way through the parking garage until we find my driver. All my frozen goodies were completely thawed. After I got home (and the driver did bring everything up!) I just had to laugh at the absurdity of it!

Next time I'm definitely taking a map!

Got Skype?

Hello All! Finally we've downloaded skype and bought a Highland, IN phone number. It works like a charm! Not only can we call any US landline or cell number, anyone can call us and only be charged as if they are calling Highland, IN. For those of you who live in NWI--the call will be free! I don't mind wearing the McDonalds drive-thru like headset while talking. Although I may ask you if you want to Biggie size your fries...

We are 9 hours ahead of Highland. If you forget and call us at 4am our time, it's okay! We turn our computer off when we go to sleep and have voicemail set up. We'll just call you back!
Looking forward to talking to you!

P.S. Big THANKS to Jim Leighty for his suggestion for our blog name!

Our shipment has arrived!

Our stuff arrived yesterday. All 156 boxes. Mind you, our entire dresser counted as 1 box. Thank Goodness Darron took the day off so I wasn't here by myself. Six Ivan Drago look-a-likes arrived and seemed to be very organized. They worked a few hours, went to lunch, then came back for about an hour and they were done! It seems we received everything and now it's time to unpack and figure out where to put everything. Probably won't hear from me for some time, I'll be buried under boxes...

Keeping Busy

The past two days I have been busy with new gals from the AWO group. Friday I went to Mary's apartment for "Friday Stitch". Several gals bring their handiwork and some just come to visit and eat the yummy's that Mary bakes. I have full intentions of learning how to crochet (and Mary even offered to teach me!) but let's be real here...I got a D in sewing in high school! Yesterday I went with Megan, Jamie, and Jenny to the Izmaylovo Market. Basically it's your one-stop souvenir venue in Moscow. For us English speaking expats, they also sell bootlegged DVD's for 100 rubles (that's about $3.00) each. It was really fun and I know it's a place we will take all our visitors.

We've been here just over a week and no internet at home yet. I've been coming to the Coffee Bean by our apartment to use their WiFi. Most of the people that work here speak decent English so that's made things a bit easier.

First American Woman's Organization Meeting

Today I went to my first coffee for the AWO. I took the metro and am happy to say didn't have any issues finding my way. Aside from daily activities (like lunches, scrabble, bunko, knitting group, book clubs, walking groups, tennis, etc.) they have coffee meetings three times a month at the Hard Rock Cafe on Old Arbat. Old Arbat is a great pedestrian street with tons of shops, grocery stores, restaurants, and two Starbucks! Twice a month at these coffee's they have speakers and the other coffee is an informal chat for new members. I've met some great gals and can see myself staying very busy! The group seems to be very close knit and everyone was so helpful and welcoming. Several of the gals stay for lunch afterwards which was fun and I got a lot of "new to Moscow advice". I guess it's true when they say the harder the place to live, the better the expat groups!

We've got the keys!

We officially have keys to our apartment! We met our landlord today and he showed us how to use the fancy oven, tv and cable, crazy masterbath shower (still can't figure it out), and our front door. The front door looks like a door to the money vault in the bank. It's a bit intimdating. We were given several sets of keys (read cleaning lady and VISITORS) and signed lots of paperwork. We then experienced what could only be described as a shopping day from hell. Since the landlord had purchased a new king size bedroom set, we had to buy a European comforter, sheets, etc...to fit it. Along with a few other necessities since our shipment won't arrive for about 2 weeks. We went to a Bed, Bath, and Beyond type store and let's just say it was stressful-we couldn't explain what we wanted to the Russian speaking sales staff. We could say yes and no, that was about it. Thank Goodness we've got charades skills and were able to communicate a bit. We managed to buy some kitchen things and new bedding. Tomorrow Darron is dropping me off at the apartment before he heads off to work. I'll spend the day cleaning and organizing everything we brought in our suitcases. Darron will pick me up on his way home from work as we are staying at the Marriott for the first few nights. Good Night!

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened" Dr. Seuss

Our last night in Paris. Can't believe how fast these 2.5 years have gone. The past few days have been a rushed frenzy of cancelling utilities, stopping automatic payments from the bank, change of address forms, and three smelly French guys packing up our entire apartment. I was so thankful that Elise and Christina both stopped by to bid Au Revoir. I am sure going to miss them and our weekly tea/lunches. Elise was my first friend I met in Paris and I will forever be grateful to her for (as she claims) "eavesdropping" on a conversation I was in at a Bloom Seminar. We were instant friends! Elise and I met Christina at the first American Woman's Group coffee we attended and from there on we were the "Three Paristeers"! Thank you both for keeping me sane, making me laugh, and lending a shoulder when I needed to cry. Janae stopped by too to do some "shopping" from the food they wouldn't pack. I also met Janae at the first American Woman's Coffee (she's from Indiana too)! A few walks and lunches turned into girls nights out, slumber parties, and a trip to Switzerland! My life in Paris would have been much different without my "Sister Indiana" and I can definitely say much more boring!

Darron and I managed to hit our favorite brasserie (La Terrace) for lunch before we left and he had his usual French Onion Soup and Steak Tartar. (um...yuck) I had my last authentic Croque Monsieur AND then Creme Brulee for dessert. Last night Abbott had a farewell dinner for Darron which we enjoyed.

Tonight we are at the Marriott again and Janae is meeting D and I for dinner here at the hotel. I am so glad to be able to see her one more time!

For all the adjusting and resentment I felt for being taken out of my "life"--I am going to miss you Paris. I wouldn't give up ths experience for anything. I know Darron would say the same.

Here we come Moscow...ready or not!