OT: I'm in Sofia, Bulgaria now!

Just wanted to say - we're in Sofia, Bulgaria, now.  We left Jakarta on 12/20,and unbeknownst to us, while we were enroute to Bulgaria (via Singapore and Frankfurt) a huge blizzard dumped all over Europe, closing airports all over the place.  We finally arrived on 12/21 to the after affects of the blizzard...meaning three pieces of our luggage took a hike for a few days...and they  happened to be the ones w/the new catbox and coats, my son's clothes and my clothes.  Fortunately my husband's bag came in, because my boots were in his bag...and I had on flip flops from Jakarta!  It was about 17 degrees (versus 90 degrees in Jakarta), so that was a big shock in and of itself...having no coats just added to the experience!

The missing luggage showed up over the next few days - in tact to my surprise - so theoretically...I'm not freezing my ass right now because I have a coat/sweaters/boots.  On the other hand...this is the first 'winter' I've experienced since my WLS (I had surgery in July in Belgium and moved to Jakarta in November)...so theoretically be damned - IT'S FREAKING COLD HERE!!!!  Beautiful when it snows...but COLD!

Our house is very nice - but when the temperature drops outside, it also drops inside, no matter that the heaters (radiators) are on full blast.  On the colder days, I have to turn the ACs on and turn the temperature up so it's heating rather than cooling.  My Ukrainian water buffalo (cat...he's a little 'plump' and has very thick fur w/almost like down underneath) loves it...my Indonesian Stinker Pot (MY cat), who has very thin fur because she comes from a hot climate, huddles under the blankets with me and we keep each other warm.  My American cat also has longer, fluffier fur, and she just lays on the rug in front of the radiator in my son's room (she's his cat and doesn't associate w/the rest of us riff-raff), guarding him.

When we look out the windows of the front of the house, we have a beaitful view of the Vitosha Mountain (google it)...and when we look out the windows of the back of the house, we overlook the city.  Our house is part way up the mountain, a little in the sticks but not a bad commute to 'civilization.'  We never know what we're going to get in a house...and the intial pictures I was sent left a lot to be desired (ie...when they sent a picture of the master bedroom, they had a picture of the head board of the bed...not the rest of the room w/a sitting area, dressing room and master bathroom)...so overall...I was pleasantly surprised.

The Bulgarian language is very similar to Russian - which is what they speak in Ukraine - and my husband (and son) has a talent for languages and learned a lot of Russian while there, so he's trying to recall that...and it's helping a lot getting around here.  I can remember the alphabet (Cyrillic), so at least I can slowly sound out workds...not that I know what they mean...but it's a step in the right direction.  My son has been doing good learning the alphabet (he was too youngin Ukraine to bother with it) and is now trying to pronounce words himself (he did NOT get that from me...I'm linguistically challenged other than being able to curse like a sailor in German and Arabic!).

Anyways...I just wanted to update and say 'I'm back!' I'm going to go peak around and see what's up and what I've missed.  The cable that hooks my camera to the computer to download pictures is on a boat somewhere between Jakarta and Sofia...but when I get my 'stuff' in February-ish, I'll upload some and put them in my profile (because I'm technologically incompetent and unable to put them in a post!).

Congrats to any newly pg ladies, to those who have given birth in the last few weeks...and I hope everyone has a happy and safe new year!

It sounds like you are really enjoying your new home and settling in very well. I still remember moving all the time as a child. We would arrive to our new post and then our stuff would come around a month after we were there. It was kind of boring as a child but we would meet other American kids or locals (wherever we were stationed) and at least had them to hang around with.

Traci

I do like the house - if I found one similar to it, I'd even consider buying one in the States with this layout (though I'd have to remodel a bit and expand the kitchen...I need to be able to move around a bit!).  I also have a big yard with plenty of room for my husband and son and/or son's (future) friends to play soccer/football in...and the botanical gardens is on the backside of the wall behind the house.  It doesn't look much like a garden right now since all the plants are 'dead' for the winter...but I can imagine that once spring comes, there'll be all sorts of flowers out there....a nice place to go for a walk. 

Where all did you live growing up? I assume you had siblings moving with you?  So you always had someone you knew to hang out with?  It's funny...my son's been overseas for 2/3 of his life...he doesn't even remember living in the States, so a trip to the States is like playing 'tourist' in another country to him.  When we went back two years ago (only his 2nd trip back since we left 9 1/2 years ago), his comment was that he loved NY...that he could eat his way from one end of the city to the other (he likes food...about the only thing he won't eat is raw tomatoes - besides nasty things like brains, liver and stuff that a lot of people won't eat).

 

I googled your mountain and it is beautiful! Can't wait to hear about the flowers covering it in the spring instead of the ice now!!!

Glad that you are settled in - even if it is freezing.

Welcome back!

Liz

I've never been hiking before, but I think I'm going to have to 'learn' how here.  There are supposed to be some beautiful hiking trails here.  There's the cable car that'll take you up the mountain, as well as a 'lift,' which isn't too far from my house - 5-10 minutes by bus to catch the next bus (or to the point where it's 3 kilometers/2 miles to the lift)...then you take the lift up and picnic and hike around.  I'm going to find me some 'walking sticks,' and find me some hiking boots - even in summer, I can't imagine flip flops or sneakers would do when hiking in the mountain.  I can't wait.  Since I'm partially up (barely up) the mountain, I'm on a hill, and on the back side of my house, beyond my yard (literally on the other side of the wall of my back yard) is the botanical garden...if you throw something over the wall...you'll be throwing it into the garden.  I can't wait for spring to 'green it up' out there so I can see what it looks like there too.

Sounds wonderful!! Hope to see you on more often!!

Man..what a whirlwind but glad you made it safely and you got your luggage too. Hope the rest arrives soon and safely. Yes, the cold can be a bugger when you are 100+ lbs less! LOL
I was wondering what you had been up to. Any news to share on the TTC front?

LOL...yeah, I never realized how much 'insulation' I had before....or at least how much it was insulating me!  When I moved from Oregon to New York City 17 1/2 years ago, in winter time, I'd wear walking shorts - the ones that come to your knees - with hiking boots and a jacket - unzipped - in the snow and on the Staten Island Ferry.  As long as I kept moving, I was fine.  People thought I had a few screws loose (I probably did...but not the ones they were thinking of) for it...even kids would ask me why I didn't have my coat zipped.  Now I'd be a frozen statue if I went out in those clothes.

I did go ahead and take my drugs (the estrogen...just started the progesterone) in the off chance I get lucky this month...but I'm not holding much hope that it'll happen this month.  Now that I have internet, I have to email the dr in Jakarta and have him write a brief report of what all drug combos he has me on so I can take it to a dr here and see if they have the same drugs and/or any other suggestions on what to try.  I hope not to need them (the dr here)...but am realistic enough to know I may. 

How about you?  Any encouraging news on your end?  Have they gotten your cycle regulated yet?  How is Emad doing?  I assume  he's talking up a storm - even if some of it is unintelligible - now?  And making his opinion and preferences well known?

Hi Holly glad your travels are over and you have settled in your new home! happy to hear from you!! Stay warm !!
Beth

Thanks Beth. My air freight - with MY blankets and pillows (not the 'welcome kit' ones) should arrive on Monday-ish...then they have to clear customs.  I'm hoping I'll have them by next weekend.  The ones they've loaned us are very thin.  Doable warm if you put the top sheet and thin bedspread with it...but not as warm as I'd like.  Then my crazy husband wants to have fresh air at night (the radiator heat dries your sinuses big time) - so tilts the window open at night, even when it's snowing!  He deserves the cold toes he gets stuck on him...and the fact I steal the blanket from him!