Countdown Begins

It would appear we are in the final countdown and things are moving at a rapid pace.  Lots of little things to do, mostly paperwork, but it is all getting done and we are still on track to be out of here at the end of the month.  We postponed turning in our passports and diplomatic cards until I return from Germany next week, so that gives us a bit of breathing time.

Cindy has wanted to invite a couple here that had her over for dinner once when I was gone. They had the movers come for their stuff yesterday so they have nothing to really cook with and it was either have them come tonight or bag it.  I can’t believe that we have almost no free nights before we depart.  I had to go shopping since there really wasn’t anything in the house.  I have never seen such gridlock on the streets of Moscow as I did today. There is a one-way street that Ts near our market. It normally has three lanes, two to turn left and one to turn right. Today it had SEVEN and it caused shear chaos; the solution of course was to blare your horn, which I can still hear in the apartment.  Walking home with two heavy bags provoked a great deal of sweat since it is a lovely 78° today.

In case you missed it, today is NO TOBACCO DAY here in Russia and perhaps all over the world. It surely is not observed here.  Even when you go into a café that has a no smoking area, you are condemned to contaminating your lungs.  What is observed in Moscow is authoritarian rule.  You are free to protest if you are protesting something supported by the central government.  Do not however, try to protest for Gay Rights or against the authoritarian rule of the dynamic duo.

I had gone to the embassy for a few things yesterday, but most of the shelves were bare, which means a new shipment is coming soon.  I did find a box of frozen scallops so I made a scallop and edamame stir fry with garlic rice.  I served it with a small salad of shaved carrots, garlic, raisins and arugula with a spicy sesame dressing.

Just got the call from the embassy that I’m needed to unload the new shipment tomorrow and inventory it on Friday. That means I’ll most likely not post anything for the next several days.  Tomorrow night we have tickets for Swan Lake at the Bolshoi and the next night we are busy celebrating Cindy’s birthday.  I’ll fill you in on all of this on Saturday.

This is what happens when you park illegally under our bedroom window.

Best to all, Cindy and Wm.