Yesterday morning, Ray, Vanessa, Janna and I went to a political protest in Oconee County. The Captain did not. He wasn't feeling very good, maybe from eating at Carrabbas the night before (including rare steak and fried calamari). He also seemed pretty depressed. I was very depressed after attending a rally organized by some Republicans to protest the health care reform plan. The Oconee County Democrats had organized the counter-protest. I will say that the speakers generally agreed that reform is needed. It seems they think that the free market will bring it about if we lift the government restrictions. We had yellow signs that said "Not True" that we held up when someone said something we thought was wrong. The upsetting thing is that they really believe that is what the bill says. They chanted, "Read the Bill" over and over. I don't see how we can come to an agreement and make this happen. One of the speakers talked about how nothing the government ever does works. One person in the crowd asked "who pays for your health insurance?" (meaning the government) I do not know how I can make contact with anyone and convince them to change their mind. And so, we will not get any meaningful reform and they will use it to say, "see, government programs don't work." They talked about the cost, which is definitely a concern. But we're paying now! And they talked about limits and rationing, but we have those now! I came home very discouraged and I feel it hanging over me still. Contact my elected officials? That's a joke. Can I write a letter to the editor that has any effect on anyone? The rally started with half an hour of prayer and patriotism--saying the pledge of allegiance, singing the national anthem (and I'm Proud to be an American). The minister said some people hate their country...and that our president should never apologize because we are the greatest nation on Earth, etc. It's hard for people to stand quiet when those things are being said and just one outburst ruins our attempt to show that we are reasonable and polite unlike the other side. God, I don't want there to be another side. I want us to all talk and listen.

In the evening, Ray and Vanessa and I went to ALPS' production of Brigadoon. It was very well done; there were some incredible singers and dancers. But I thought, "what a stupid play." I did see Gloria S. and tell her that I will not be able to act as Treasurer for the time being. So that is a relief.

Hello,

I woke up about 2, thinking about work-related stuff. I read a whole book and it still wasn't 5 o'clock yet. The book was about a young woman in India whose arranged marriage ended when her husband died, leaving her a widow. She did beautiful embroidery, though, and the story had a happy ending. I just lay there thinking about how I have never in my life had to go without food. My "problem" is deciding what to choose from my many options, and what to buy when I go to the store. I need to live a little more lightly, so I can give some to others.

The Board of Directors has agreed to give me a temporary increase in salary, the difference between what I am making now and the low-end starting salary for Executive Director! This morning, when I arrived, Mike was there to buff the floors. He stripped and polished them 2 weeks ago and called me earlier this week about coming back. I called Barron's about renting a buffer and arranged for someone with a truck to pick it up, but I couldn't reach him Thursday afternoon to confirm the timing with him. So I had to tell him I couldn't make the arrangements. I was a little flustered and then I could not figure what I had done with my keys. I eventually found them later when I emptied everything out of my purse. I need to put that on my list too--clearing out the stuff I carry around with me! Someone called from one of our granting agencies wanting the reports from May. I couldn't find them on Alison's computer (although July was there), but when Kerri got in, she had them. I looked through all the paper files in the office, but they mostly seemed very old. At lunch time, I went and picked up my notary seal--I am a notary public if you need anything notarized! Kerri and I talked about a family with mental health problems that we will ask to leave on Monday. She has a lot of trouble telling people "no," so appreciates having me there to back her up. She said, "where will they go?" I said, "that's not our problem. We have a program and if it works for them, great. If they need different services, they can't stay..." The interns are taking on some of the jobs that need doing, like the volunteer database.

I managed to leave about 3:30, picked up Ray for racquetball (yes he beat me twice). Then we went by the library, where I got books about Spain, as well as reading books. Then we went out to dinner--thanks Amalia, Molli and Adrian! Then we went to Janna's, where Becky and Kent joined us after a while.

Everything is great--if I can just figure out how not to be stressed. With exercise and relaxation and fun and friends, I should be able to deal.

I had a little trouble sleeping last night and my back hurts. I don't know how to fit in any exercise. Today I will go to yoga at 4, and Ray has the Democratic Committee meeting at 6, so we won't get home until almost 7;30. So, what to have for supper?

Yesterday, I was supposed to meet the board pres. for lunch to discuss personnel issues. She cancelled lunch, but we met at the bank to get her approved to sign checks. After about half an hour, we left and said we would come back to sign later when the cards were ready. It was the same woman I had last time. Possibly some of the problem is with the computer system, but she is incredibly slow! Beth signed a letter giving me authority as Acting Executive Director so I can sign the reimbursement requests. She said board members would be stepping up to meet with the staff individually and I should not worry about it. The next board meeting is Sept. 8; I doubt anything will happen before then. Then I went to the Housing Counseling committee meeting, which was pretty fun.

I picked Ray up a little before 5. We came home and made a salad with cherry tomatoes and peppers, went to choir and potluck.

My toes are cold again this morning, yay! and it seems a little less humid. It was pretty hot during the day, but maybe not over 90.

I took Vanessa to yoga and Ray to work (see how we save gas?), then went to Kroger to get groceries for the Shelter. When I got there, the pest control man was working--not a good combination, pest control and groceries. He said he did not treat in the living area because there was a small child. Lavender Pest Control donates their services every month, so that is very generous.

We had a staff meeting at 9 and it seemed to go pretty well. The treasurer was to come by at 11 and sign checks for me, but it was after 12 when she got there. She was very nice and apologized and we talked about when she would come back. I met Lisa L. for lunch and we talked about her house plans. The hour sped by. When I got back, I had an email from Beth that the Treasurer had resigned! They're dropping like flies...

At 4:30, I left and went to pick up Ray. His meeting ran almost an hour longer than expected. They were talking about furloughs. Everyone at UGA is being forced to take six unpaid days off. They are scheduled for days when there are no classes. You can imagine the discussion. In particular, people who are running labs and getting funding from grants are pretty upset.

The Captain and Vanessa had roasted one of our Nature's Harmony chickens--in the gas grill. Plus we had mashed potatoes, green beans and beets from the garden. It was very good.

Well, it happened. I am now Interim Director of the Athens Area Homeless Shelter. I am happy about that, but trying not to let excitement slip into stress. Yesterday morning I got an email from the Board President, Beth, asking to meet with me. She came about 1:15 and we talked about some of the things that need to happen while there is no director. She assured me that I was welcome to apply for the permanent position, but they are hriing a recruiter from Atlanta to find someone, since they have had so much trouble. The treasurer will sign checks in the meantime, starting tomorrow. Beth and I are meeting again on Wednesday to talk about personnel issues. I told her I was not willing to work full-time, I thought a lunch break was important, and I was planning to be gone for a week in October. I also said I needed a raise. We did not discuss the amount.

I left about 4, played racquetball, and was home by 6ish to make dinner.

It's cool here again this morning and dark at 6:00, when I woke up.

Yesterday, Vanessa went with us to the service at UUFA, when the choir sang for the first time this year, a lovely a capella song. As usual, we have an overflow crowd wanting to sing at the beginning of the year, which will dwindle down to about half by next spring. We sang some great hymns too: Let it be a Dance. There were lots of new faces in the pews, which is fun, and many young children. We have a new pianist, too: Thomas, who is an extreme knitter. Yesterday I saw two different projects. Of course, he plays beautifully too. I also credit Amber with introducing another kindred spirit to Unitarian Universalism.

It was the Fourth Sunday, so we had lunch as well. The Captain drove over to join us for lunch, and there was some musicianship in the back yard afterward. People brought their guitars and played and sang; it was a little humid for it, but fun to see all the kids--some growing up that we have known and others new to us.

We went home for a couple of hours. Vanessa made cookies and started supper. She called up to me to help chop some vegetables and the Captain said, "I'll do it." She and I were trying to get to a 4:00 movie, which we enjoyed very much. It's pretty unusual for us to pay full price for a movie (we did go to the matinee, so it was only $6.50). We split popcorn and a Coke. We laughed and cried. It was great.

After supper, the Captain said, "Why don't we ever play cards?" I said some people like to watch things on TV. He said there was pretty much nothing he'd rather do than play cards. I suggested he be more assertive in asking people to play. So he suggested right then. I said it was fine, Vanessa agreed; Ray was a little lukewarm--he said sure. So we played cards and the Captain won by a lot. I had a dismal score, but Vanessa's was worse. Ray got grumpier and grumpier toward the end.

I actually was too cold when I woke up this morning! The windows are open and the computer says it's 64 out; I had to find a bathrobe and slippers.

Yesterday morning Vanessa and I went to Tai Chi--a free class at the hospital. It was fun, with about 100 people on the lawn. It's not strenuous, but is good exercise. It was a little hot and humid by the time we finished at 10:30. Then we went to the Farmers' market to pick up some bread. We said hello to Lisa Lewis there. She is exhausted because this is the time of year there is still a lot to do on the farm, but her husband has started back to work teaching. When I got home, it was too hot for me to do anything outside, but I looked at some recipes to think about cooking for the week to come and had some lunch.

At 3, Dave brought Jeff to the house in his stroller. Jeff just turned 1 on Wednesday. He is a big baby with curly blond hair and blue eyes and a round face. He was almost asleep, but perked up enough to sit on my lap. I gave him a little ball to play with, but he preferred chewing it and I had to take it away again, since little bits of plastic are probably not good for him and his teeth seemed to work really well. He seemed subdued; he didn't cry, but just kind of stared around him. He did have some interest in our bird. After about an hour, we walked him over to Nancy H.'s house, where there was a party for three couples in KR who are celebrating their fiftieth anniversaries: Ray and Nancy, OC and Manita, and Dave and Suzie. Pretty amazing! Jeff was sound asleep and we parked him in a corner and checked on him regularly. His Dad joined us after a bit and before he woke up. The food was very good--excellent shrimp from EarthFare and a wonderful cake from Publix. The Captain and Vanessa came too and after awhile someone thought to ask how long they had been married--61 years! Ray and I--32 years!

Then we went to Janna's for dinner. Amanda was in town briefly. Becky had flown up to DC, they had driven to Athens with a horse and left it here and right now they are driving back up with a different horse and then Becky will fly home again. Crazy! They seemed pretty tired too. Amanda had some good stories, like when she was randomly selected for a lie-detector test because of her government-related job. Her hands were really cold and didn't sweat, which is apparently important for the test, so she had to take it over and over. Dinner was four different salads, kind of like Matt's wedding, which was a few weeks ago. The night before the rehearsal dinner, Janna cooked for everyone, which involved 8 salads. Last night, we had bulgur and white bean, arugula and cannellini, peaches and tomatoes, and strawberries and tomatoes. Unfortunately, it turns out Amanda does not like tomatoes. They were good, but I had a little trouble with the fruit and tomatoe combinations, with onion and dressing. Better to put the fruit together. Anyway it was fun and good.

Yesterday Ray stayed here, since he doesn't teach on Fridays. The office was busy/crowded with interns and JobTREC staff. Alison called, but didn't come in, even though she had said she would be there to tell me everything I needed to know. I still did not hear from any board members, although one of the staff members told me the word on the street was that I was the interim director. Interns organized the gazillion keys and answered the phone and door, so that was helpful. I worked on the audit some more, and realized that a lot of the bookkeeping needs to be set up differently.

In the evening, we went to the Geology Department's welcome party at Mike's house. I chatted with some people, ate some good food, and played dominoes with some children. It was enjoyable.

I slept long and hard last night and feel sleepy but not tired. As soon as I am really awake, I'll let you know. There was more rain, alhtough I am not sure it was a lot. Now it is overcast and wet looking.

There were 3 interns yesterday and they got the newsletters in the mail for us. The auditor was there all day and we are hoping to finish up the audit soon. the hardest thing I was working on we have to redo today. It is a cost allocation chart. How much of every expense (salaries, utilites, etc.) is for each program--Job TREC, the shelter, Funr-raising or general management? I tried to get some guidance, but I don't really see how you can do much more than guess. I spent hours on it, but she said it was wrong. And I need to redo the bookkeeping to make it easier to do in the future! but the good part is that I had thought Jane was the expert--she did the job for many years--and so I was doing everything, to the best of my ability, the way she did it, even though some of it didn't seem to make sense. Now I can trust my own ideas about how to do things.

I had been expecting the president of the Board to come by, but she didn't and she didn't call. Yesterday was to be Alison's last day, but she will be in today for sure and maybe some next week.

I went to lunch by myself and got a nice break. About 4;30 I picked Ray up. Janna called to see if we wanted to go out to dinner--a fund-raiser for Communities in Schools, so we did and had a great time. I felt bad calling home at the last minute, when I had said I would make eggplant pasta, and telling them we wouldn't be home. I did bring Vanessa dessert.

I finally got a pretty good night's sleep last night and woke up about 6:30. I finished two days of ServSafe training and took a 90-question multiple choice test. Assuming I passed, I'll get a certificate in the mail in a few weeks. I learned a lot about safe food handling, enough to make me give up any thought of eating raw oysters for sure, and most other foods. A lot of it is not really relevant to the Shelter. Most of our food is prepared by volunteer groups, and we pretty much have to hope they use good hygiene, for instance, and buy ingredients that are safe. Probably I can do more to educate them. I can also work on educating the night staff, who are here when the food is served, about supervising residents putting away leftovers, etc.

Today the president of the Board is coming to meet with me. I don't know exactly what she will say, but it could be to offer me the job of Director, either permanently or temporarily. In any case, we will surely talk about what will happen in the near future. Either today or tomorrow is Alison's last day. Who will sign checks and approve payroll? Anyway, I need to get going to be on time and look profession. Also, I have to mail the newsletters today and work with the auditor. There are a bunch of interns starting as well. Hopefully, they will be helpful and not more work.

I have apparently forgotten how to sleep. I was awake until 1 or so last night, woke up at 6, managed to go back to sleep for about an hour. When I got up, Ray was heading off for a walk. I was so mad--he needed to be eating and getting ready to go, since we try to leave at 7:30. It wasn't until he came back about 7:30 that I remembered we didn't have to leave that early today. I am taking a class in food safety at the Food Bank. He is going to catch a bus out there at 8:20. Of course, we need to get going by now!

Yesterday was busy, even though it was Saturday. We just had time to walk out to get the paper, eat some breakfast (the usual-yogurt with fruit and toast with peanut butter. This time it was peaches from Watkinsville--mmm). We left the house about 9:20, five minutes after I had said we needed to. But I knew we would be at least 5 minutes late, so that is why I had said 9;15. Ray is always about 5 minutes late, no matter what. He is a smart person, but nothing I say can help him be on time. Mostly I can work with it, but every once in a while, it makes me crazy. Of course, some people would deal with it by going everywhere in two cars, but I can't bring myself to do that.

Ray dropped me off at the Goodwill Career Center, where I had volunteered to help Cathi with a credit workshop for would-be homebuyers. The Power Point slide presentation was from Freddie Mac, but Cathi had suggested I skip many of them. As people arrived, they were asked to fill out some paperwork and let us copy their drivers licenses. She and her son Will went online and printed out credit reports for each of them, while I started the presentation in another room. There were about 20 people in all, most quite knowledgeable and asking good questions. Obviously, if you want a good credit history, you need to pay your bills. On time. Duh. But, did you know, if you are less than 30 days late with a payment, it doesn't go on your credit report? You still have to pay interest and late fees, but it doesn't affect your credit history.

When all the reports were prepared, Cathi talked about how to read them and what you can do about your credit. Obviously, you should pay off what you owe, specifically the things that show up on the report. Some debts do not. She gave out sample letters you can use to send to creditors and credit reporting agencies. Any record that you are not sure about should be validated. You send a letter to the agencies asking them to confirm the debt. Sometimes this is enough to make it go away. If you paid it off and it shows that you owe it, you can dispute it by sending the documentation you have. It was a very informative workshop.

Then Ray picked me back up. He had been giving platelets at the Red Cross. We went home and had some lunch (leftover rice pilaf for me). I made some couccous and put it in the fridge and then went to wake him up. We drove to Atlanta to pick up Art, a Thai exchange student for AFS. It was fun to see the other volunteers, whom we have known for several years, and the students from all over, who had become close friends in the two days they had been together. Ray and I enjoyed talking to Art on the way back to Athens about his home and family and our country. His father sells motorcycles in a city in northern Thailand we had never heard of, a city about the size of Atlanta. He wants to sell motorcycles when he grows up. His older brother spent the year in Houston with AFS last year. He commented on all the forest we drove through--in Thailand all available land is farmed, he said. At our house, he talked politely with the Captain. In a few minutes, his host Mom, Mitzi, arrived with her son Devon and his friend Brian, who is hearing impaired. Mitzi and the Captain and sometimes others of us talked for a while about travel, while Art tried to follow the conversation. At one point, Ray asked him a question to give him a chance to participate. They headed off, with melons and peppers the Captain gave them, to have dinner at an American restaurant--maybe Longhorn or Outback. I will check on how he is doing in the next few days, as the liaison.

Then we took the couscous and a bottle of white wine and headed up to Harriet's birthday party. She is 50 and lives in the country, in Madison County, in an old house they have been working on for a few years. We saw a lot of Town & Gown people we knew, as well as a few from Clarke Central, most notably the Rileys, who we talked to a lot. Their son Matt was a good friend of Sushanth's. He is studying costume design--at Milledgeville. I talked some to Allen, whom I have know for a long time. He just got laid off as a project designer with a lumber company. He has a lot of IT experience, but is really interested in any kind of project design. I was talking about being out of work for two years and giving him advice. He was saying how he never really meant to stay in Athens, but he kept getting good jobs and not having any reason to leave. Now it would be hard for him to move. He and Janet just took a two-week trip (since he wasn't working) and stopped at some of the places we used to visit: Monticello and Luray Caverns.

We came home at 10 and my parents were asleep. I woke up early, thinking about looking for work and the ideal job, and trying to figure out how I can make this job last.

Hi,

Yesterday we had two men stripping and refinishing the floors at the Shelter. It really needed doing and looks so much better. But we couldn't use the hallways and the fans were really noisy and it smelled bad and was pretty warm. I went out for about an hour and a half at lunchtime and bought some pink yarn to make a hat for Lidet (as well as having a cold drink and reading the Guernsey Potato Peel and Literary Society). In addition to my regular tasks, I began working on something for the audit: allocating every expense from 2008 to one of several categories: the Shelter, the JobTREC program, the Nancy Travis House, fundraising or General. Needless to say, I wasn't here in 2008--neither was Alison, but she will have to make the decisions, I guess. She was working at home on some year-end reports and I didn't see her. She has given notice and this next week is her last. The Board has not taken any action yet about filling her position. A couple of the staff members have asked me if I will apply and I have told them no; I prefer working part-time and not having the stress of being responsible 24/7. I am planning on working more hours until they resolve it and making a few changes to improve efficiency. The newsletter is at the printer and will be mailed Monday or Tuesday.

It is a little cooler here this morning and last night we had the windows open--under 70 anyway. Ray and I played one game of racquetball. Ramsey is starting to get more crowded again, as is Athens in general--students everywhere and articles in the paper about them.

I've been sleeping in since I got back from Seattle, but this morning I finally got up before 6. It's nice and cool too, and not too humid. On Wednesday, we had bunches of rain, so the Captain is in a good mood, although we are still having lots of giant grasshoppers eat a lot of our plants.

Work is going pretty well. My boss has given notice and will leave at the end of next week. The Board has not taken any action yet, that I know of, to find a replacement. I am extending my hours for the foreseeable future.

Ray and I went swimming yesterday, the last day this year for Legion Pool. The day before we played racquetball for the first time in a while.

On Tuesday, he had a colonoscopy. Everything is fine; he can wait 5 years for the next one. I also went to the doctor for my physical. I have a prescription for cholesterol meds. He and I talked some about lifestyle and he said it sounded pretty good and it's mostly genetics. Neither of my parents takes cholesterol meds...and they eat lots of eggs, meat and cheese! But he said at my age, I had already developed plaques and in addition to heart attack and stroke, they can contribute to dementia. So I guess I'll start taking it. Because my last 3 Pap smears were normal, I didn't have that done this year. But I do have a mammogram scheduled.

Classes at UGA start Monday and Ray is gearing up. We will try to play racquetball several afternoons a week--it is too dark in the mornings for much of a walk, if I am going to be at my office at 8 every morning. Alison said I didn't need to come in that early on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, but I can get more done when there isn't anyone else around. Yesterday I was there at 3:30 when kids came home from school and turned on the TV (loud). I pretty much couldn't think at all then.

One of our residents had to move out because her husband got custody of the kids--he had a lawyer and she didn't. Another one is getting mental health treatment all day every day, while her husband tries to take care of the kids and earn some money driving a taxi.

Home Sweet Home!

Last night, there was a cool breeze and low humidity, so we had a pleasant night. I am still a little confused on my sleeping, but actually napped a little yesterday and should be back to "normal" by tomorrow morning, so I can put in a full day at work! We did very little yesterday except go to a UUFA pool party and David J's. The water was so pleasant and it was fun to see people. Reverend Dave is back from his summer break and will be preaching again today. We have a new DRE who started yesterday. Ray went to the meeting for teachers and will be working with little ones again this year (first Sunday of the month).

Lots of cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and peppers to eat. G&G went to pick up our meat at the farmers' market. One more month after this.

Today we leave Seattle. Although I will be sad in many ways, it is nice to be going home. Too bad it's going to be in the 90s every day for the foreseeable future.

Yesterday, Polly took Lidet in the bike trailer and rode with Nate up the hill to his camp. It's a tough ride and he hadn't been up long, so he was a little reluctant, but he finally got into it. I walked a few blocks with them and Ray walked up to and around the park. Polly and Lidet continued to the grocery store. I had my shower and got dressed and started making some oatmeal bread. When Lidet got back, she helped me. At noon, they rode back up the hill to get Nate. We had a little lunch and then we walked up to the bus and rode to downtown.

At the aquarium

The best way to see Seattle

Yesterday morning we walked Nate to his camp at the zoo. He rode his bike up 60th Street, a pretty steep one, 3 blocks, and then about 4 blocks along the park to the end where the zoo entrance is. I got a head start, because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep up. Ray had to push some on the hill. He locked his bike up and went in, giving his name to a counselor. Then Ray and I walked around the park and back home. Polly and Lidet were just leaving for dance class. It appears that Lidet is happiest when busy and physically active. She seems to be very coordinated and athletic.

Ray and I had some time at the house to relax and read and I was supposed to start making something for the block party that night. It's always strange trying to cook in someone else's house. I didn't have my favorite recipes. The recipe I found for brownies seemed too outrageous--5 eggs! Another recipe called for a pound of brown sugar, but all the brown sugar was in a canister--I couldn't measure out a pound (Ray said it was 2 cups, but I wasn't sure enough). Oatmeal-raisin cookies: where does she keep the oats? Eventually I found them when I was looking for something else. Lidet came home (in her little pink leotard) and helped me. She likes to help cook and is a very good and careful helper. At the moment, she talks a little like someone younger: Lidet cook? Lidet try. Polly was thrashing around getting ready to pick up Nate. The plan was to drive to get him, then go downtown and get on the ferry for Bainbridge Island for the afternoon. She was packing up things to eat. The cookies got mostly mixed up, but not baked. Ray drove, because Polly got to ride in the back seat between the two car seats--fun! We got Nate, putting his little bike in the back of the car easily and followed Polly's directions (and the signs) to the ferry dock. We were in time for the 12:40--it was a little late! Taking a ferry does involve some waiting. Once we were in our lane, we had to wait for the boat to dock and unload and then for all the other cars to go. Lidet said, "car go, Mommy car go." We explained to her that we can't go until the cars ahead of us go! Polly broke out some of the snacks/lunch. When we got on, we went up the stairs to the passenger deck and ate a picnic lunch at one of the tables, grabbing some napkins and salt and pepper from the cafeteria there. It's a big ferry with lots of cars and people. Some people cross on foot or with their bikes. It's only about 30 minutes until we have to go back down to the car. Ray and I went out on deck briefly and enjoyed the view and the breeze. Of course, it's not a novelty to Nate or even Lidet to be on a ferry boat and their lunch was more important than the view. We had 3 hard-boiled eggs--Nate wanted to eat 2 of them, but he was only allowed one, especially since he only eats the yolks and Polly eats the white for him. We had 4 pieces of bread to share and some salame and cheese. There was leftover sweet potato salad. I ate a lot of that, with Polly and Ray helping. There were cherries and some sesame snack sticks. Yum! Ray sneaked a hot dog as Polly herded the kids back to the car and I packed up the lunch.

We got off the ferry, waiting our turn again, and drove to the children's museum. I was amused and I'm sure Ray was too, because this was not much of a museum. It mainly featured stuffed animals to play with--large alligators, a tiger, a gorilla, lots of snakes, birds and other things. It was roughly a rain forest. There was a craft area for coloring and making puppets. Outside, there was sand and water play, little stilts and some other games, but not a lot of education going on. I have been to a couple wonderful children's museums, and this was not in that category. However, it was a great place for them to play and they enjoyed it.

Then we went to the bookstore. Polly had somehow imagined that we would all browse their happily for a while. Each of the children was allowed one small book. Of course, it was hard for her to watch both kids at the same time, so I helped out. Although she wanted to encourage them to pick good books, she also wanted them to be able to choose what they wanted. They gravitated toward things that were more toys than books--Nate eventually got a kit (including a book) of magic card tricks. Lidet chose several books by the cover, one after the other. She said "Lidet love this," and resisted my efforts to look inside the book and actually read it. I was mildly frustrated--so many wonderful books and they ended up buying something less interesting. Although, I do remember my interest in magic tricks at about Nate's age or a little older.

After that, it was ice cream! We had originally planned to go to the bakery, but ice cream won out. There was a very expensive ice cream place not far away. It was peculiar in that you pay as you enter--well, how do you know what you want at that point? We bought five small cones, they were almost $4 each. The ads said, "organic mint," etc. Lidet had mango, Polly dulce de leche, Ray blueberry and I had blackberry. They were very good, but I was not sold. I have eaten a lot of great ice cream and I did not think this was quite as good as the price. However, it was very much enjoyed. Oh, Nate had mint chocolate chip--it was not bright green, needless to say. They had frozen yogurt as well and I asked about the flavors. They had one: plain (not vanilla).

Then the group wandered down to a really nice playground. I looked at some of the really nice shops, but did not buy anything. I knew I couldn't get it home and couldn't afford it anyway. A lovely bath shop with bathrobes I thought of buying for my mother and a scrub brush for my Dad--he really goes through them, and has been known to appropriate the vegetable scrubbers. In another store, they had beautiful 1000 piece art puzzles--Hopper, Audubon, Diego Rivera. Mom loves those, but we usually buy cheaper ones.

As I joined the group at the playground, they were just heading off in search of a bathroom. While they were gone, another little girl began a full-fledged tantrum. I was tempted to go ask her to be quieter and see what effect that had on her, but I didn't. Polly would have been interested to watch, but it was over by the time they got back. Then we headed back to the car, back to the line for the ferry. Lidet fell asleep in the car, so Nate and Ray and I went up to the passenger deck. Nate was interested in spending time playing with the game machine (even though he didn't actually play it, due to lack of money). Eventually, Ray interested him in the large map of the Seattle area. Then we went back down to the car, waited to get off the ferry, drove through the 5:00 traffic and home. Lidet began to wake up while I finished the cookies and Polly unpacked things. Jim was already home working outside. There are men painting the rental house next door.

Nate and Jim rode their bikes back up to the park for chess club, while we baked cookies. Soon the phone rang. Apparently, there was no chess club that night.

We have been here 3 days now. The weather is wonderful. People here complain about how unbearable the heat is; how can I possibly wear jeans? I am cold most of the day, but it feels great. My sister keeps her windows open round the clock and told us where the extra blankets were last night.

Jim went off to work yesterday. Nate went to camp from 9-12. Polly took him and Ray and I took care of Lidet. She did not seem to miss her Mom or be worried about her at all, although she was happy to see her when she came home. First we put some stickers on pieces of paper. Then we practiced drawing with a neat book that comes with a marker, so you can trace the pictures of animals. Ray switched places with me and I went and changed out of my pj's and into some clothes. When I came back, Lidet said, "walking?" So the three of us went for a long and lovely walk, admiring the flowers (and fruits and vegetables) of the neighbors, as well as a couple of cats and a nice dog, whose owner encouraged her to pat it. We talked about the colors of things. At one point, she identified a square (there was a flower blooming behind a square opening in the wall). We had a lovely time. We ate some. We read stories. I started making peach muffins.

Polly and Nate came home about 12:30 and we all ate some lunch. Food is one of the many issues Lidet has. Probably because of her early life, and also because of the language, she often asks for things and doesn't eat them. Polly has a lot of trouble with this, although she doesn't want to go so far as to say you have to eat it, no matter how long it takes. And she worries about balanced nutrition. Lidet eats a lot of fruit, especially mango, and she likes bread and pasta. She eats less protein and Polly naturally worries about how to keep her healthy. Nate is also fond of pasta and white bread. Although I understand her concern, carbohydrates are what kids need most of, and many of us grew up eating white bread and pasta.

Lidet spent most of the afternoon pouting, crying and having tantrums. Perhaps she used up all her good behavior in the morning with us. Perhaps having choices to make is exhausting. I suppose the orphanage did not ask her what she wanted to eat or wear. Polly tried to head it off, and she always tries to talk her through it. "We love you, but we don't like you to behave like this. Can you stop crying?" In the end, she went upstairs and eventually fell asleep. Unfortunately, she was just as unhappy when Polly woke her after about an hour, to avoid having her be up too late. She did manage to pull herself together to eat some macaroni and cheese (organic from a box). One of the challenges is her relationship with her brother. Like all siblings, they love each other but can't seem to keep from annoying each other. She takes things that belong to him and runs off. He is forbidden from grabbing it back, but uses his words. "Please give it back, Lidet." She has learned the power of words, "No." Nate appeals to his mother, who also asks her to give it back, with similar results, leading to an ongoing struggle. Meanwhile, Mom tries to convince Nate that it is best not to act like you care when she deliberately goads you...

We are having a delightful time, but it is good to be reminded that having young children is not all fun and games.

Hi,

Here we are in Seattle, where the windows are open and it is downright chilly this early in the morning. It's 5:40 local time, which makes it 8:40 in Athens, so my body thinks it's high time to get up. By the end of the week, I may have adjusted some. Ray and I are sleeping on a fold-out couch in my sister's front room. This is a beautiful house and I love Seattle. There are hardwood floors and built-in bookcases, lots of windows with views of Seattle and the water. Yesterday, there was fog (neblina in Spanish!).

My sister and her husband, Jim, have adopted Lidet, a 3-year-old from Ethiopia. Lidet has been here 8 weeks. Before she arrived, she had not spoken any English and had been living in an orphanage with other children. Needless to say, her world has changed a great deal. I learned a couple of words of Amharic yesterday, my first day here. Dinach (don't know how it's spelled, but rhymes with spinach as far as I can tell) is potato. Baka (again, don't know how it's spelled) means enough or I don't want any more. She has a dazzling smile when she's happy, which is often, and seems to be quite smart and independent. Sometimes she cannot make herself understood, which is frustrating. Most of the time, she is a typical 3-year-old. Frequently, she will start to pout, which may or may not develop into a full-blown temper tantrum within 5 seconds. Polly will usually carry her up to her room or away from the action, after trying to give her a choice about her behavior. "Lidet, if you use your words to ask for what you want, we can talk about it..." As time goes by, she is more likely to be able to stop herself from the full-blown tantrum. Polly says the major meltdowns are less frequent now and don't last as long as they used to. It's pretty exhausting for her, even when there's not a tantrum. "Mom, Mom, watch." Part of my reason for being here is to give her some relief. I offered yesterday to weed the garden and Polly said, "No, you take care of my kids and I'll weed the garden." Sounds like a good plan to me.

Of course, Nate, who is almost 7, remembers me. I am the queen of games. Yesterday after breakfast, we started with go fish (after ascertaining that I had not brought any new games with me). Nate requested Double Go Fish, which involves 2 decks of cards and collecting 8 of any number. It lasted quite a while. At least then, Polly has only one child hanging on her every minute!

Nate and Lidet have, in some ways, typical sibling issues, which was part of the point of adopting Lidet, to provide a sibling for Nate. Lidet is a very good mimic. If Nate is playing with his stuffed animals, organizing them and talking to them, Lidet is too. If Nate has some candy, even if Lidet already ate hers up, she will try to grab his. Nate has been taught to be gentle and share, but his sister is pretty agressive, probably in part from growing up with lots of other children. Nate is told, "use your words, tell her what you want." He finds it hard to make her understand and pretty frustrating.

In the afternoon, we play another game. "Let's choose something Lidet can play," I say. He is scornful. "She doesn't understand what we tell her." "Let's try," I say. "Maybe Candyland." He is amazed. "My parents don't like to play games like Candyland and Uncle Wiggly." I can't really tell him that I am delighted to play anything at all with him, it is not a question of intellectual stimulation, but the joy of his company and enthusiasm that gives me so much pleasure." Lidet knows her colors, so Candyland is a good choice. She has clearly been exposed to the game. "I love this," she says, moving her playing piece into the field of lollypops. She clearly understands the basic idea. She can count in English, but doesn't appear to associate the numbers with the squares on the board. "One, two, three,..." she taps her piece on the board a random number of times. But she wins, although she loses interest before then. Nate and I play on, until she drags out another game--Sorry.

Although Nate loves to play, he won't play with Lidet and me because he knows she can't play. I say, "I'm doing your job, Nate, I'm teaching her to play so she can play with you for hours and years." And, indeed, we enjoy it, although I have to tell her what card she has drawn and what action to take. When she loses interest, Nate takes over from her. He is the expert, reminding me that 4 is backwards and 11 allows you to switch places with someone. Without my reading glasses, I haven't been able to read the fine print on the cards.

Later in the day, we walk down the streed a few houses to have dinner with good friends of Polly's--Sherry and Matt and their children Sam and Sally. I feel like I am in a novel. The house is a lovely old Seattle house, on the side of the hill, with a view. It has what Amelia would call "good bones." But inside, it is a mishmash of old random furniture, with children's projects everywhere. Matt is a middle school science teacher, and this is clearly a kid-centered home. Some people make sure to childproof their houses; this is the opposite, this house is nearly adult-proof! There is a cardboard diorama of the Grand Canyon, with a California condor suspended in the middle. Sam is probably ten and Sally eight. They know Nate, and now Lidet, very well, and have played together a lot. Lidet produces paintings for our admiration and after supper, the children dress in costumes and parade for us. They are giggling and happy. Lidet sports a tie and Nate a mask and brown furry costume--a bear? It is wonderful to see children allowed and encouraged to be themselves and explore their creativity--and take care of each other.

Polly is allowed to be a grownup and talk with her friends about the challenges of being Lidet's Mom. She has taken her to a Montessori preschool for a visit and feels like she will be happy there. The teacher, who has lots of experience with 3-year-olds, assures her that Lidet is fine. She seems to be developmentally on track and is able to separate from her Mom and go explore some of the activities. Polly is clearly relieved. She relishes the expert confirmation that her child is fine and it will be okay if Polly is allowed to have a small space in her life for herself.

At 9:00, we force ourselves to leave. The children are reluctant, but the adults are tired. We arrived at 2 in the morning and Polly met us at the airport, so we did not really have enough sleep.

Now, I am waiting for the little feet to come donw the stairs. I have told Nate that he can come find me when he wakes up, as long as it is light out. Hmm. I wonder what the first game of the day will be. But I better put on some warm clothes before then...it's Seattle!