Tuesday
Got up at 4am and crawled to Hotel Riga to get the airport shuttle at 5am. It was only two blocks away and it was nice to walk the quiet dark streets at that hour. As I waited, I watched the half moon slowly emerge from the clouds and tried to start preparing myself for the transition.
The shuttle driver was nice, and we chatted a bit in Latvian. Everything at the airport went smoothly, and we took of for Stockholm at 7am. Napped in the Stockholm airport. Watched the new Harry Potter movie and The Time-Traveller's Wife on the plane. Got into NYC at 1pm and took the AirTrain to the NJ Transit train to the Subway, where I transfered from the Blue Line to the Grey Line, and finally emerged at Graham Ave., in Brooklyn, where Lia met me and we walked to her flat. She lives in an awesome loft apartment - spacious... and cold. Lia went to work, and I was asleep by 7pm.
Word: Uz drīz redzēšanos!= See you soon!
Dish: rice risotto with broccoli (on the flight) along with mom's raisin bread and my pumpkin pie leftovers
Highlight: watched the two movies (especially without the dubbed Latvian!)
Lowlight: leaving.
Random Observation: I've always loved airports, where you really see such a diverse cross-section of people, who are often either excited or sad or in some other emotional state that comes along with travel. I cried when I left, and again when we were landing and I saw the ugly industrial mess in New Jersey.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
December 7th
Monday
Packed up and left Jurkalne fairly early with mom and Marija. First stop was for me - the beach. It was too windy and cold for the two old biddies, so I walked alone for only 5 minutes, taking in the sea air and listening to the surf. Leaving always makes me melancholic.
Then we visited Sasha for an hour or so. He looked the same as always to me, and the three of them argued politics for a while.
Then, the bus stop, near the Rimi Supermarket. I hate goodbyes, but not enough to avoid them. I gave them both huge hugs and kisses and told them how much I love them. I only cried a little bit.
In Riga, I met up with my friend Gunta and she gave me an awesome tee-shirt - with lyrics in Latvian from a Latvian rock band called Prāta Vētra which means Brainstorm... I'll post the lyrics later. I gave her one of my favorite tees - my black one with a scorpion on it.
She took the 11:30pm train home... and yet another good-bye.
Then trying to sleep by midnight, but without much luck. Too much transition.
Word: alus kauss = beer mug/stein
Dish: mushroom pizza and fries for dinner
Highlight: all of it
Lowlight: saying goodbye to mom
Packed up and left Jurkalne fairly early with mom and Marija. First stop was for me - the beach. It was too windy and cold for the two old biddies, so I walked alone for only 5 minutes, taking in the sea air and listening to the surf. Leaving always makes me melancholic.
Then we visited Sasha for an hour or so. He looked the same as always to me, and the three of them argued politics for a while.
In Riga, I met up with my friend Gunta and she gave me an awesome tee-shirt - with lyrics in Latvian from a Latvian rock band called Prāta Vētra which means Brainstorm... I'll post the lyrics later. I gave her one of my favorite tees - my black one with a scorpion on it.
She took the 11:30pm train home... and yet another good-bye.
Then trying to sleep by midnight, but without much luck. Too much transition.
Word: alus kauss = beer mug/stein
Dish: mushroom pizza and fries for dinner
Highlight: all of it
Lowlight: saying goodbye to mom
December 6th
Sunday
Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus! We had a big party today. So all morning, we were getting things ready - mom mixed up everything for her potato salad, we got the tablecloth out, and everything.
I was going to hang a few spruce boughs on the door for Christmas, in lieu of a wreath, but Marija had a fit and said that spruce boughs on the door means that someone died in the house. Of course, mom had no idea, and wanted to hang them anyway, but that would be horrible, and so I convinced her we shouldn't.
Valija came over first, and said that Alberts didn't want to come (I had offered to help her with his chair). Then came Nagite and Kristine - and Kristine was dressed in full Santa Claus costume! It was excellent. They had also made little trinket gifts of a mini-card, pen, and konfekte. A bit later, Mara shows up, with a friend, Erika, who plays the accordian! We had music and singing, and at on point, when she played Tutalin, Tagatin.... mom even suggested we go into the other room to dance! As usual, mom enjoyed her raspberry liquour with juice and got very silly.
That night, I had them open their gifts. I gave mom a fleecy pair of socks for the house, a regular thin wool pair of socks, eyeglass retainers for her reading glasses, and a toaster. She loved it. I gave Marija a small weaved cloth and a calendar with information about blossoms and teas and other healthy things. I had wrapped it in an old map from one of those airline magazines and she loved the map more than the calendar!
Word: apdāvināt = to give a gift
Dish: the potato salad, desa, and speka rausi were the biggest hits.
Highlight: santa and all the dancing and laughing
Lowlight: packing my bags later that night
Random Observation: We are such a matriarchal family.
Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus! We had a big party today. So all morning, we were getting things ready - mom mixed up everything for her potato salad, we got the tablecloth out, and everything.
I was going to hang a few spruce boughs on the door for Christmas, in lieu of a wreath, but Marija had a fit and said that spruce boughs on the door means that someone died in the house. Of course, mom had no idea, and wanted to hang them anyway, but that would be horrible, and so I convinced her we shouldn't.
Valija came over first, and said that Alberts didn't want to come (I had offered to help her with his chair). Then came Nagite and Kristine - and Kristine was dressed in full Santa Claus costume! It was excellent. They had also made little trinket gifts of a mini-card, pen, and konfekte. A bit later, Mara shows up, with a friend, Erika, who plays the accordian! We had music and singing, and at on point, when she played Tutalin, Tagatin.... mom even suggested we go into the other room to dance! As usual, mom enjoyed her raspberry liquour with juice and got very silly.
That night, I had them open their gifts. I gave mom a fleecy pair of socks for the house, a regular thin wool pair of socks, eyeglass retainers for her reading glasses, and a toaster. She loved it. I gave Marija a small weaved cloth and a calendar with information about blossoms and teas and other healthy things. I had wrapped it in an old map from one of those airline magazines and she loved the map more than the calendar!
Word: apdāvināt = to give a gift
Dish: the potato salad, desa, and speka rausi were the biggest hits.
Highlight: santa and all the dancing and laughing
Lowlight: packing my bags later that night
Random Observation: We are such a matriarchal family.
December 5th
Saturday
Day before the party.
I had left-over pastry dough and didn't feel like making yet another dessert, so I experimented with a pot-pie. I put in it potatoes, spinach, brussel sprouts, onions, and garlic and gave it a bit of curry seasoning. It wasn't amazing but it wasn't bad either.
Can't remember much else.
Word: recepte = recipe
Dish: above
Day before the party.
I had left-over pastry dough and didn't feel like making yet another dessert, so I experimented with a pot-pie. I put in it potatoes, spinach, brussel sprouts, onions, and garlic and gave it a bit of curry seasoning. It wasn't amazing but it wasn't bad either.
Can't remember much else.
Word: recepte = recipe
Dish: above
December 4th
Friday
Mom was desperate to find Hellman's mayonaise so we drove to Alsunga to look for it. No luck. She then dropped me off at the library and I was going to check email for a bit and then run/walk home from there. It was a beautiful crisp winter day - blue skies and the meadows were covered in a white frost and sparkling in the sun. I ran for an hour, then walked for a half hour, and was home. Mom called me twice, wanting to come pick me up (and thinking I was crazy), but I told her to stay home, and I'd call her if I couldn't do it. Ha.
Word: pastmarka = stamp
Highlight: the run! and making it home!
Lowlight: couldn't play scrabble on the Alsunga library computer
Random Observation: running and walking is so much nicer than driving. I saw so many beautiful details on my run/walk home that I'd never seen on all my drives along the same road. (including 5 deer, just in the woods a bit)
Mom was desperate to find Hellman's mayonaise so we drove to Alsunga to look for it. No luck. She then dropped me off at the library and I was going to check email for a bit and then run/walk home from there. It was a beautiful crisp winter day - blue skies and the meadows were covered in a white frost and sparkling in the sun. I ran for an hour, then walked for a half hour, and was home. Mom called me twice, wanting to come pick me up (and thinking I was crazy), but I told her to stay home, and I'd call her if I couldn't do it. Ha.
Word: pastmarka = stamp
Highlight: the run! and making it home!
Lowlight: couldn't play scrabble on the Alsunga library computer
Random Observation: running and walking is so much nicer than driving. I saw so many beautiful details on my run/walk home that I'd never seen on all my drives along the same road. (including 5 deer, just in the woods a bit)
November 29th
Sunday
At 5am, I walked with Lia to the Airport Shuttle and saw her off. I then crawled back to the hostel and tried to sleep some more, but couldn't because the stupid idiot was still snoring and had the nerve to sleep in past 9am. Around that time, I started making a lot of noise in the room, dropping things, slamming things, etc. He woke up and cheerily said Good Morning. I glared at him and said nothing.
The rest of the day continued in the same vein. I was exhausted and wanted to go Christmas shopping, but so many stores were closed and I couldn't find anything.
At 4pm, I took the bus back to Jurkalne.
Word: krākšana = snore; krākt = to snore
Dish: I went back to the bakery and had yummy rhubarb bread/cake again
Highlight: getting back to Jurkalne
Lowlight: snorer and shopping
Random Observation: I hate shopping.
At 5am, I walked with Lia to the Airport Shuttle and saw her off. I then crawled back to the hostel and tried to sleep some more, but couldn't because the stupid idiot was still snoring and had the nerve to sleep in past 9am. Around that time, I started making a lot of noise in the room, dropping things, slamming things, etc. He woke up and cheerily said Good Morning. I glared at him and said nothing.
The rest of the day continued in the same vein. I was exhausted and wanted to go Christmas shopping, but so many stores were closed and I couldn't find anything.
At 4pm, I took the bus back to Jurkalne.
Word: krākšana = snore; krākt = to snore
Dish: I went back to the bakery and had yummy rhubarb bread/cake again
Highlight: getting back to Jurkalne
Lowlight: snorer and shopping
Random Observation: I hate shopping.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
November 28th
Slept in a bit, then got ready to head into Riga. Lia had speķa rauši for breakfast and couldn't stop eating them. Then she had mednieku desa at a cute Kafenica in Renda and loved it too. We stopped at the weird people thing in Sabile and got into Riga just after dark.
Checked into our hostel, then went back out to explore Riga a bit - Lia found the bakeries and bought a bunch of pastries, then we went out for dinner, then walked around looking at the buildings, then almost 2 hours in the sauna, then crawled back to the hostel, only to not get any sleep because of a ridiculously loud snorer! One of those types that didn't just snore, but grunted and snorted and even tooted out the other end along with all the oral sounds. It was horrible.
Word.................................salmi = straw (that's what those little people are made out of)
Dish..................................Lia loved the rhubarb crumb cake.
Highlight..........................all of it except....
Lowlight...........................SNORING!
Random Observation.....................Lia's motto it to eat her way around the world!
November 27th
Friday
Lia and I woke up a bit after nine, had a leisurely breakfast, and headed out to explore Jurkalne. There was only a light mist and quite a bit of wind, so we didn't bring an umbrella. We strolled around the town, looking at the houses, and then headed to the beach. Lia loved all the cute outhouses. By the time we were headed down the steep stairs, the rain was falling hard and the wind was blowing very hard. We got soaked as we laughed and tried to run against the wind and felt the crazy power of a storm on a beach.
Drenched, we quickly made for Pilsbergu Krogs where we warmed up by the fire and added yet another Pironis entry into the guest book.
Then we hustled home, changed out of our slapjš jeans and settled down with Alise and Marija for a game of Cūkas. Lia lost, but respectfully held her own, considering it was her first time ever playing.
Then, Lia and I went to Zaķu Krogs for dinner and then watched a movie and went to bed.
Word.............................can't find it in the dictionary = hog? (what you get in Cūkas when you lose to with the trump ace)
Dish...............................cūkgaļa ar gailenu merce - Lia loves all the food here! especially the mushroom sauces.
Highlight........................all of it!
Lowlight........................not enough hours of daylight to see all we wanted to see.
Random Observation...................Latvia is a lot more fun when shared.
Lia and I woke up a bit after nine, had a leisurely breakfast, and headed out to explore Jurkalne. There was only a light mist and quite a bit of wind, so we didn't bring an umbrella. We strolled around the town, looking at the houses, and then headed to the beach. Lia loved all the cute outhouses. By the time we were headed down the steep stairs, the rain was falling hard and the wind was blowing very hard. We got soaked as we laughed and tried to run against the wind and felt the crazy power of a storm on a beach.
Drenched, we quickly made for Pilsbergu Krogs where we warmed up by the fire and added yet another Pironis entry into the guest book. Then we hustled home, changed out of our slapjš jeans and settled down with Alise and Marija for a game of Cūkas. Lia lost, but respectfully held her own, considering it was her first time ever playing.
Then, Lia and I went to Zaķu Krogs for dinner and then watched a movie and went to bed.
Word.............................can't find it in the dictionary = hog? (what you get in Cūkas when you lose to with the trump ace)
Dish...............................cūkgaļa ar gailenu merce - Lia loves all the food here! especially the mushroom sauces.
Highlight........................all of it!
Lowlight........................not enough hours of daylight to see all we wanted to see.
Random Observation...................Latvia is a lot more fun when shared.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
November 26th
Thursday
Yay! Woke up early to finish cleaning my room and getting ready to go to Riga. Checked the car's oil, and then, it seemed kinda nice out, so mom and I went to the beach for our walk-run. But when we got there, the wind was howling and I kept my run very short and mom walked up by the parking lot, where it was more protected, and then waited for me in the car. There was one moment when I was running that I saw a black lump on the beach and I couldn't tell if it was a log or rock or if mom had fallen over in the wind and couldn't get up. I tried to run faster and was a bit panicking, but the wind was too strong, and I couldn't see that well because the wind was making my eyes water.... of course, it was just a log.
I left Jurkalne around 2pm. Picked Lia up in Riga (with a tulip in hand to greet her in the true Latvian style) and on our way to mom's, stopped at a nice little Kafenica for dinner.
We got home around 9ish and we were greeted with the smell of sweets... mom and Marija had a baking contest while we were gone. Mom baked a flatbread cake (with cake-mix instead of her usual dough) and a strawberry-krejum topping. Marija baked a triple layer chocolate cake with a raspberry-bruklene layer, a chocolate-whipped cream, and a plain whipped cream layer. Both were yummy but I actually liked the chocolate cake best and Lia liked the strawberry bread best. (of course, we just told them that both were fantastic!) Mom even said she wanted to make a welcome banner but couldn't find a piece of paper big enough... what the hell!
We ate our sweets then off to bed.
Word..................tulip = tulpe
Dish..................mom's experimental strawberry-cream bread! crazy that she tried something new like that!
Highlight.............everything... seeing Lia. seeing that mom and Marija baked all day to welcome Lia.
Lowlight..............6 hours driving in the dark, with light rain (better than with heavy rain or snow!)
Random observation....... mom is soooo cute!
Yay! Woke up early to finish cleaning my room and getting ready to go to Riga. Checked the car's oil, and then, it seemed kinda nice out, so mom and I went to the beach for our walk-run. But when we got there, the wind was howling and I kept my run very short and mom walked up by the parking lot, where it was more protected, and then waited for me in the car. There was one moment when I was running that I saw a black lump on the beach and I couldn't tell if it was a log or rock or if mom had fallen over in the wind and couldn't get up. I tried to run faster and was a bit panicking, but the wind was too strong, and I couldn't see that well because the wind was making my eyes water.... of course, it was just a log.
I left Jurkalne around 2pm. Picked Lia up in Riga (with a tulip in hand to greet her in the true Latvian style) and on our way to mom's, stopped at a nice little Kafenica for dinner.
We got home around 9ish and we were greeted with the smell of sweets... mom and Marija had a baking contest while we were gone. Mom baked a flatbread cake (with cake-mix instead of her usual dough) and a strawberry-krejum topping. Marija baked a triple layer chocolate cake with a raspberry-bruklene layer, a chocolate-whipped cream, and a plain whipped cream layer. Both were yummy but I actually liked the chocolate cake best and Lia liked the strawberry bread best. (of course, we just told them that both were fantastic!) Mom even said she wanted to make a welcome banner but couldn't find a piece of paper big enough... what the hell!
We ate our sweets then off to bed.
Word..................tulip = tulpe
Dish..................mom's experimental strawberry-cream bread! crazy that she tried something new like that!
Highlight.............everything... seeing Lia. seeing that mom and Marija baked all day to welcome Lia.
Lowlight..............6 hours driving in the dark, with light rain (better than with heavy rain or snow!)
Random observation....... mom is soooo cute!
November 25th
Wednesday
So sad that Lia wasn't really coming to see me. Mom was almost happy when I told her because then I didn't have to drive so far. Didn't really do much. Rained most of the day so I didn't feel like running. Lessons with mom.
At midnight, I got a phone call that Lia was through security and coming to Latvia afterall... only a day late! Yay!
Word...............apmeram = approximately
Dish...............
Highlight..........getting the phone call.
So sad that Lia wasn't really coming to see me. Mom was almost happy when I told her because then I didn't have to drive so far. Didn't really do much. Rained most of the day so I didn't feel like running. Lessons with mom.
At midnight, I got a phone call that Lia was through security and coming to Latvia afterall... only a day late! Yay!
Word...............apmeram = approximately
Dish...............
Highlight..........getting the phone call.
November 24th
Tuesday
Getting ready for Lia. Cleaned up a little. Found out that the Jurkalne library is closed until December 17th!!! No internet now, except in Alsunga. So, today I drove to Alsunga and spent 3 hours online buying my ticket home. I was freaking out about leaving mom, but finally, with Baiba's encouragement, bought a ticket to New York for December 8th.
Did some shopping in Alsunga and then drove home.
Word..................man tevis pietrūkst = I miss you and man tevis pietrūks = I will miss you
Dish....................mom made skaben zupa and I wrote down the recipe in Latvian and English
Highlight............making the soup with mom (or I should say, watching mom make the skaben zupa)
Lowlight.............Jurkalne library closed.
Getting ready for Lia. Cleaned up a little. Found out that the Jurkalne library is closed until December 17th!!! No internet now, except in Alsunga. So, today I drove to Alsunga and spent 3 hours online buying my ticket home. I was freaking out about leaving mom, but finally, with Baiba's encouragement, bought a ticket to New York for December 8th.
Did some shopping in Alsunga and then drove home.
Word..................man tevis pietrūkst = I miss you and man tevis pietrūks = I will miss you
Dish....................mom made skaben zupa and I wrote down the recipe in Latvian and English
Highlight............making the soup with mom (or I should say, watching mom make the skaben zupa)
Lowlight.............Jurkalne library closed.
November 23rd
Monday
Another exciting day... can't really remember a thing.
Word..........................ķirbis = pumpkin
Dish...........................I really want to make pumpkin pie and have all the ingredients except one ~~> pumpkin!
Highlight....................no idea
Lowlight.....................no idea
Random observation......................Blogs don't work as well when you don't have daily access to the internet.
Another exciting day... can't really remember a thing.
Word..........................ķirbis = pumpkin
Dish...........................I really want to make pumpkin pie and have all the ingredients except one ~~> pumpkin!
Highlight....................no idea
Lowlight.....................no idea
Random observation......................Blogs don't work as well when you don't have daily access to the internet.
November 22nd
Sunday
Quiet day in Jurkalne. Coffee, chatting, knitting. Watched a movie. Mom and I were completely back to normal again, laughing and being silly again. Marija came back today.
Word......................žēls = pitiful or pathetic (came up in my kid's book, and then again, when mom was talking to Marija about her family situation in Kuldiga)
Dish.......................the milk went bad in the fridge (mom knows it's bad when Simona won't drink it) and so, mom pours it into a bowl and sets it on the counter, to make rūgušpiens (curdled milk)
Highlight...............having things back to normal!
Random Observation.............................Marija's family sucks.
Quiet day in Jurkalne. Coffee, chatting, knitting. Watched a movie. Mom and I were completely back to normal again, laughing and being silly again. Marija came back today.
Word......................žēls = pitiful or pathetic (came up in my kid's book, and then again, when mom was talking to Marija about her family situation in Kuldiga)
Dish.......................the milk went bad in the fridge (mom knows it's bad when Simona won't drink it) and so, mom pours it into a bowl and sets it on the counter, to make rūgušpiens (curdled milk)
Highlight...............having things back to normal!
Random Observation.............................Marija's family sucks.
November 21st
Saturday
Quiet day. Mom and I still weren't completely back to normal, but no one was mad any more. I just felt horrible for losing my calm and having the stupid fight in the first place. I should be better than that. Knitted, read, slept.
Went on a run, in a light misty rain.
Word.............................skumjš = sad
Quiet day. Mom and I still weren't completely back to normal, but no one was mad any more. I just felt horrible for losing my calm and having the stupid fight in the first place. I should be better than that. Knitted, read, slept.
Went on a run, in a light misty rain.
Word.............................skumjš = sad
November 20th
Friday
Went to Kuldiga with mom. Everything was great until we were heading home and she wanted to stop at the pharmacy in Alsunga, for some cough medicine, and I said, ok, but let's be quick because I want to make it to the library before they close. And suddenly, she said she didn't want to go to the pharmacy anymore, and I said, of course you do, I can do internet anytime, and she got mad at me when I drove to the pharmacy anyway. It lasted all evening. Long story short, when Pironis' get stubborn and upset, they start yelling and going on and on about nothing.
Word..........................dusmīgs = angry
Random Observation....................fighting always starts over the stupidest of things and always gets so blown out of proportion. And then, everyone feels horrible afterwards.
Went to Kuldiga with mom. Everything was great until we were heading home and she wanted to stop at the pharmacy in Alsunga, for some cough medicine, and I said, ok, but let's be quick because I want to make it to the library before they close. And suddenly, she said she didn't want to go to the pharmacy anymore, and I said, of course you do, I can do internet anytime, and she got mad at me when I drove to the pharmacy anyway. It lasted all evening. Long story short, when Pironis' get stubborn and upset, they start yelling and going on and on about nothing.
Word..........................dusmīgs = angry
Random Observation....................fighting always starts over the stupidest of things and always gets so blown out of proportion. And then, everyone feels horrible afterwards.
November 19th
Thursday
No idea. It's been way too long since this day happened - what with no internet, and trying to buy the plane ticket, I have horribly lagged with this blogging thing.
I know I went for a run.
Word.....................................atcerēties = to remember (as in... es nevaru atcerēties neko.)
Dish.......................................es nevaru atcerēties
Highlight...............................es nevaru atcerēties.... probably my run.
Lowlight................................es nevaru atcerēties
Random Observation.......................my memory is only slightly better than mom's.
No idea. It's been way too long since this day happened - what with no internet, and trying to buy the plane ticket, I have horribly lagged with this blogging thing.
I know I went for a run.
Word.....................................atcerēties = to remember (as in... es nevaru atcerēties neko.)
Dish.......................................es nevaru atcerēties
Highlight...............................es nevaru atcerēties.... probably my run.
Lowlight................................es nevaru atcerēties
Random Observation.......................my memory is only slightly better than mom's.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
November 18th
Wednesday
1918.gada 18.novembris – Neatkarīgas Latvijas proklamēšana!!!!
Latvia's independence day... I woke up sneezing more than I usually do and a bit under the weather. By the evening, I was fully congested and miserable. Mom and I baked today - mom made her apple bread with a crumb top and I used the leftover apple pieces and made cranberry-apple bread. Of course, my bread wasn't sweet enough. "pa daudz skabs!" is all I ever hear them say.
In the evening, we watch on TV as the president gave a speech in front of the Freedom Monument and then everyone sang the nation hymn - I had the words written down in a little book and sang along, completely off key as usual. Mom's throat was sore and she couldn't hit the high notes so she didn't sing at all.
Then, I took some cold medicine and went to bed.
Word...............................neatkārigas = independence
Dish.................................mom's yummy apple crumb bread - and it wasn't burnt at all!! perfect!
Highlight..........................cooking with mom and singing the anthem with mom.
Lowlight...........................violent sneezes and a drippy nose
1918.gada 18.novembris – Neatkarīgas Latvijas proklamēšana!!!!
Latvia's independence day... I woke up sneezing more than I usually do and a bit under the weather. By the evening, I was fully congested and miserable. Mom and I baked today - mom made her apple bread with a crumb top and I used the leftover apple pieces and made cranberry-apple bread. Of course, my bread wasn't sweet enough. "pa daudz skabs!" is all I ever hear them say.
In the evening, we watch on TV as the president gave a speech in front of the Freedom Monument and then everyone sang the nation hymn - I had the words written down in a little book and sang along, completely off key as usual. Mom's throat was sore and she couldn't hit the high notes so she didn't sing at all.
Then, I took some cold medicine and went to bed.
Word...............................neatkārigas = independence
Dish.................................mom's yummy apple crumb bread - and it wasn't burnt at all!! perfect!
Highlight..........................cooking with mom and singing the anthem with mom.
Lowlight...........................violent sneezes and a drippy nose
November 17th
Tuesday.
Sort of in an "off" mood all day. Finally, motivated to go to the library, and then a run. Got to the library and it was Closed! I knew it was going to also be closed the next day since the 18th is a holiday, and I was desperate to use the internet and look at flights, jobs, etc. Skipped my run, went home, and mom and I drove to Alsunga. Mom went shopping and I went to the library there.
Word...........................................svētku diena = public holiday
Dish.............................................beans and rice for me - I think I've been here too long - it didn't taste good until I put a big dollop of sour cream on it!!
Highlight.......................................getting on the computer and the lady at the Alsunga library is very nice
Lowlight.......................................not getting to run
Sort of in an "off" mood all day. Finally, motivated to go to the library, and then a run. Got to the library and it was Closed! I knew it was going to also be closed the next day since the 18th is a holiday, and I was desperate to use the internet and look at flights, jobs, etc. Skipped my run, went home, and mom and I drove to Alsunga. Mom went shopping and I went to the library there.
Word...........................................svētku diena = public holiday
Dish.............................................beans and rice for me - I think I've been here too long - it didn't taste good until I put a big dollop of sour cream on it!!
Highlight.......................................getting on the computer and the lady at the Alsunga library is very nice
Lowlight.......................................not getting to run
November 16th
Monday
Just mom and I - Marija is still in Kuldiga. Library is closed, so not much to do. Went for a run, in a light misty rain - very refreshing and helps to clear the mind. Trying to figure out when to go home - early Dec. or after Christmas.
Word...............................aizvērts = closed; atvērts = open
Dish.................................made a grocery list to bake apple flat bread and mom wants to make her raisin bread
Highlight...........................running in the mist
Lowlight...........................no internet, especially as I'm trying to decide what to do and to organize my life
Just mom and I - Marija is still in Kuldiga. Library is closed, so not much to do. Went for a run, in a light misty rain - very refreshing and helps to clear the mind. Trying to figure out when to go home - early Dec. or after Christmas.
Word...............................aizvērts = closed; atvērts = open
Dish.................................made a grocery list to bake apple flat bread and mom wants to make her raisin bread
Highlight...........................running in the mist
Lowlight...........................no internet, especially as I'm trying to decide what to do and to organize my life
November 15th
Sunday
Hung out at the hostel and caught up on all my internet stuff - emails, scrabble, blog, etc.
Then caught the 4pm bus back to Jurkalne. Got home, ate dinner, and went to bed.
Word.......................................pietura = bus stop
Dish.........................................skaben zupa
Highlight...................................relaxing day - nice to be by myself after a super social weekend
Lowlight...................................memory card full on my camera so I couldn't take anymore photos.
Hung out at the hostel and caught up on all my internet stuff - emails, scrabble, blog, etc.
Then caught the 4pm bus back to Jurkalne. Got home, ate dinner, and went to bed.
Word.......................................pietura = bus stop
Dish.........................................skaben zupa
Highlight...................................relaxing day - nice to be by myself after a super social weekend
Lowlight...................................memory card full on my camera so I couldn't take anymore photos.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
November 14, 2009
Saturday
Slept in, then spent the day with Gunta, walking around town. Today was a light festival, and all the parks and squares had light shows and art installations. Very pretty and fun photography. We went to a tea/coffee place that served Mate, a tea from Patagonia. The Mate made me nostalgic for Chile, but also quite happy as it's highly caffeinated. Buzzed out of there and strolled around town again, looking for more light shows. Ended up at the hostel bar, where I had a Siltums Balzums which is Black Balzams with hot water and upene sula (black current juice). Gunta wanted a snack and we ended up going to McDonald's! I was mortified but went along with it and got a blueberry pie (they call it melleņu pīrāgs). Walked Gunta to the train station and then went back to the hostel, and here I am, catching up on this blog.
Word.............................basas kājas... as in a pantiņš that Marija taught me a while ago, and I just taught it to Gunta:
Man bus, man bus oliņ' dēt
Ar basam kājam pastaigāt
When Marija said it, she flapped her arms up and down like a hen and then she said the last syllable of each line ("dēt" and "..gāt") in a squawk like a hen laying an egg. Hilarious.
Dish................................pizza and fries
Highlight..........................looking at all the pretty lights
Lowlight.........................annoying and rude pedestrians
Random Observation......................over coffee this morning: how can there be only one word for "I love coffee" and "I love to hike" and "I love my grandmother" and "I love my spouse"? Same goes for hate.
Slept in, then spent the day with Gunta, walking around town. Today was a light festival, and all the parks and squares had light shows and art installations. Very pretty and fun photography. We went to a tea/coffee place that served Mate, a tea from Patagonia. The Mate made me nostalgic for Chile, but also quite happy as it's highly caffeinated. Buzzed out of there and strolled around town again, looking for more light shows. Ended up at the hostel bar, where I had a Siltums Balzums which is Black Balzams with hot water and upene sula (black current juice). Gunta wanted a snack and we ended up going to McDonald's! I was mortified but went along with it and got a blueberry pie (they call it melleņu pīrāgs). Walked Gunta to the train station and then went back to the hostel, and here I am, catching up on this blog.
Word.............................basas kājas... as in a pantiņš that Marija taught me a while ago, and I just taught it to Gunta:
Man bus, man bus oliņ' dēt
Ar basam kājam pastaigāt
When Marija said it, she flapped her arms up and down like a hen and then she said the last syllable of each line ("dēt" and "..gāt") in a squawk like a hen laying an egg. Hilarious.
Dish................................pizza and fries
Highlight..........................looking at all the pretty lights
Lowlight.........................annoying and rude pedestrians
Random Observation......................over coffee this morning: how can there be only one word for "I love coffee" and "I love to hike" and "I love my grandmother" and "I love my spouse"? Same goes for hate.
November 13, 2009
Friday the 13th.
Caught up on internet stuff during the day, and then met up with Gunta at 6ish. Pelmeni, shopping, grocery store, kitchen, and then, out for the evening. Things don't get started til late in Riga, so we started going out around midnight. Went to several bars, some better than others... everywhere we went, people were fighting and falling over, and acting stupid - worse than I'd ever seen it - and I decided to blame it on the 13th.
Gunta met her older brother at one of the bars, and he was very nice but kind of a stick in the mud - we danced, he sat in the corner. Around 4am, we left, and the two of them starting rehashing family issues and decided they needed a long talk. I went home to the hostel.
Word.............................šim galdiņam vairs neliet = don't pour anymore on this little table! (ie, no more drinks for me)
Dish...............................pelmeņi = russian raviolis. cheap and pretty tasty.
Highlight.........................cute local band playing at one of the venues
Lowlight........................too many drunks out and about, looking for trouble
Random Observation.................everything in moderation (except moderation) is a good motto to live by.
Caught up on internet stuff during the day, and then met up with Gunta at 6ish. Pelmeni, shopping, grocery store, kitchen, and then, out for the evening. Things don't get started til late in Riga, so we started going out around midnight. Went to several bars, some better than others... everywhere we went, people were fighting and falling over, and acting stupid - worse than I'd ever seen it - and I decided to blame it on the 13th.
Gunta met her older brother at one of the bars, and he was very nice but kind of a stick in the mud - we danced, he sat in the corner. Around 4am, we left, and the two of them starting rehashing family issues and decided they needed a long talk. I went home to the hostel.
Word.............................šim galdiņam vairs neliet = don't pour anymore on this little table! (ie, no more drinks for me)
Dish...............................pelmeņi = russian raviolis. cheap and pretty tasty.
Highlight.........................cute local band playing at one of the venues
Lowlight........................too many drunks out and about, looking for trouble
Random Observation.................everything in moderation (except moderation) is a good motto to live by.
November 12, 2009
Thursday
Instead of taking the 4am bus to Riga, I drove mom, Marija, and Nagite to Kuldiga and caught a 10am bus from there. Marija left us without saying good-bye and mom was very annoyed. Trakas sievietes! The bus stank like drunk people who hadn't showered in a month and I was nauseous by the time I got to Riga.
I checked into the hostel and went to my West Coast Swing class... and decided I'm not going back, because all the teacher knows how to do is criticize. After feeling like I had not only two left feet, but two left arms and no ears, I went to the bar at the hostel, where I knew people, and wanted a drink before heading home. Ha. Got home at 5am and didn't pay for a single drink. Nice evening.
Word.............................Lupitas = trashed (as in, very very drunk)
Dish...............................onion bread with cheese
Highlight.........................watching mom blow me kisses as she waved good-bye to me at the bus station.
Lowlight.........................dance class
Instead of taking the 4am bus to Riga, I drove mom, Marija, and Nagite to Kuldiga and caught a 10am bus from there. Marija left us without saying good-bye and mom was very annoyed. Trakas sievietes! The bus stank like drunk people who hadn't showered in a month and I was nauseous by the time I got to Riga.
I checked into the hostel and went to my West Coast Swing class... and decided I'm not going back, because all the teacher knows how to do is criticize. After feeling like I had not only two left feet, but two left arms and no ears, I went to the bar at the hostel, where I knew people, and wanted a drink before heading home. Ha. Got home at 5am and didn't pay for a single drink. Nice evening.
Word.............................Lupitas = trashed (as in, very very drunk)
Dish...............................onion bread with cheese
Highlight.........................watching mom blow me kisses as she waved good-bye to me at the bus station.
Lowlight.........................dance class
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Lāčplēsis Story...
The poem recounts the life of the legendary hero Lāčplēsis, chosen by the gods to become a hero of his people. His name means "Bear-slayer", because as a young man, living as the adopted son of the Lord of Lielvārde, he kills a bear by ripping its jaws apart with his hands. At the castle of Lord Aizkrauklis, he spies on the activities of the witch Spīdola (Spīdala), who is under the control of the Devil, and the holy man Kangars, who is in reality a traitor plotting to replace the old gods with Christianity. Spīdola tries to drown Lāčplēsis by throwing him into the whirlpool of Staburags in the Daugava, but he is rescued by the goddess Staburadze and taken to her underwater crystal castle. There Lāčplēsis meets and falls in love with the maiden Laimdota. Shortly afterwards, Lāčplēsis becomes friends with another hero, Koknesis ("Wood-bearer"), and they study together at the Castle of Burtnieks, Laimdota's father.
Kangars provokes a war with the Estonians, and Lāčplēsis sets out to fight the giant Kalapuisis (Estonian: Kalevipoeg (the "Kalapuisis" name is derived from kalapoiss), probably refers to the hero of the Estonian epic poem Kalevipoeg), to win the hand of Laimdota. He defeats the giant, and the two make peace and decide to join forces to fight their common enemy, the German missionaries, led by the priest Dietrich (Dītrihs). Lāčplēsis performs another heroic deed by spending the night in a sunken castle, breaking the curse and allowing the castle to rise into the air again. Laimdota and Lāčplēsis are engaged. In the following episodes, Laimdota reads from the old books about the Creation and ancient Latvian teachings.
Laimdota and Koknesis are kidnapped and imprisoned in Germany. Spīdola convinces Lāčplēsis that Laimdota and Koknesis are lovers. Lāčplēsis returns home to Lielvārde, then sets sail for Germany. His ship becomes lost in the Northern Sea, and he is welcomed by the daughter of the North Wind. In the meantime, Dietrich and the Livonian prince Caupo of Turaida meet with the Pope in Rome to plan the Christianization of Latvia. Lāčplēsis begins his dangerous journey home from the Northern Sea. He fights monsters with three, six, and nine heads on the Enchanted Island. Finally, he encounters Spīdola on the island, and frees her from her contract with the Devil. Lāčplēsis is reunited with Laimdota and Koknesis, who escaped from Germany but were then trapped on the Enchanted Island. Koknesis declares his love for Spīdola, and the four friends return to Latvia.
A double wedding is celebrated during the Jāņi (Midsummer festivities), but the heroes soon set off to fight the German crusaders. After several battles, the Germans are pushed back, and their leader, Bishop Albert, brings reinforcements from Germany, including the Black Knight. At Dietrich's bidding, Kangars finds out the secret of Lāčplēsis' strength and treacherously reveals it to the Germans: Lāčplēsis' mother was a she-bear, and his superhuman strength resides in his bear ears. The German knights come to Lielvārde offering to make peace. Lāčplēsis organizes a friendly tournament, during which he is goaded into fighting the Black Knight. The knight cuts off Lāčplēsis' ears. Lāčplēsis, still, having not yet completely lost his strength, explodes in anger and lifts the Knight, to throw him in the river from a cliff. But the two combatants fall into Daugava river, because the Knight, when thrown, grabs Lāčplēsis, and they both disappear into the water. In the same moment Laimdota's life ends.
November 11, 2009
Wednesday... and... Lāčplēsis Diena
Marija, mom, and I went for a walk around Jurkalne and to the old chicken farm. It was quite chilly, but mom and I had fun kicking rocks and being silly while Marija walked ahead of us, wondering why we were so slow. Afterwards, I went to the computer and they walked home (and had to come back to the library because I'd forgotten to give them the keys to the house!)
Got annoyed at mom, as I asked her who was Lačplesis and she went on and on about 1919, when the Latvian soldiers kicked out the Germans (which is what Lačplešis Diena commemorate, but isn't the story I wanted to know). I asked her who he was again, and she had no idea what I was talking about.
Word................varonis = hero
Dish..................baked eggplant with a creamy tomato, onion, horseradish sauce... I was experimenting and it was actually pretty good.
Highlight.............as always, going on a walk with mom
Lowlight.............yet again, not getting my questions answered..
Random observation....... love wikipedia... here's the link about Lačplesis....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/lāčplēsis
It was an epic poem written in the late 1800s about the Bear Slayer...I'm going to try and find an English version in Riga.
Marija, mom, and I went for a walk around Jurkalne and to the old chicken farm. It was quite chilly, but mom and I had fun kicking rocks and being silly while Marija walked ahead of us, wondering why we were so slow. Afterwards, I went to the computer and they walked home (and had to come back to the library because I'd forgotten to give them the keys to the house!)
Got annoyed at mom, as I asked her who was Lačplesis and she went on and on about 1919, when the Latvian soldiers kicked out the Germans (which is what Lačplešis Diena commemorate, but isn't the story I wanted to know). I asked her who he was again, and she had no idea what I was talking about.
Word................varonis = hero
Dish..................baked eggplant with a creamy tomato, onion, horseradish sauce... I was experimenting and it was actually pretty good.
Highlight.............as always, going on a walk with mom
Lowlight.............yet again, not getting my questions answered..
Random observation....... love wikipedia... here's the link about Lačplesis....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/lāčplēsis
It was an epic poem written in the late 1800s about the Bear Slayer...I'm going to try and find an English version in Riga.
November 10, 2009
Tuesday.
Went for a run, and went to the library.
Can't remember much else!
Word.......................sauss = dry and sasalis = frozen (they sound sooo similar when mom says them!)
Dish.........................ābolu ķiļķeni = apple dumplings! mom made them.. not bad, sort of like yet another biezputra, but I put avenu ievarijums on it and it was even tastier!
Random observation.................It's hard to learn things from people who don't dissect words the same way I do... I wanted to know what was the word for saltwater and freshwater in Latvian, and mom said, that's silly, those words don't exist, it's water from the sea and water from the river.
Nope... it's sālsūdens and saldūdens...wish I had internet at the house to answer all my questions!!!
Went for a run, and went to the library.
Can't remember much else!
Word.......................sauss = dry and sasalis = frozen (they sound sooo similar when mom says them!)
Dish.........................ābolu ķiļķeni = apple dumplings! mom made them.. not bad, sort of like yet another biezputra, but I put avenu ievarijums on it and it was even tastier!
Random observation.................It's hard to learn things from people who don't dissect words the same way I do... I wanted to know what was the word for saltwater and freshwater in Latvian, and mom said, that's silly, those words don't exist, it's water from the sea and water from the river.
Nope... it's sālsūdens and saldūdens...wish I had internet at the house to answer all my questions!!!
November 9, 2009
Monday
Went to Ventspils with mom to go to her eye doctor. The doctor said her right eye (? I think?) is getting worse, as far as her vision goes, but looked into both eyes and didn't see anything alarming. She prescribed blueberries (!!) and something else, another herbal I think. She asked mom how stressed she was! Mom thinks the right eye might be worse because she can't feel the eye drops hit her eye in that eye ever since she had cataract surgery on it.... Then, I spent an hour at the library in Ventspils while mom read a Cat Magazine.
Word.......................rinda = line
Highlight...................not having to wait 3 hours to see the doctor
Went to Ventspils with mom to go to her eye doctor. The doctor said her right eye (? I think?) is getting worse, as far as her vision goes, but looked into both eyes and didn't see anything alarming. She prescribed blueberries (!!) and something else, another herbal I think. She asked mom how stressed she was! Mom thinks the right eye might be worse because she can't feel the eye drops hit her eye in that eye ever since she had cataract surgery on it.... Then, I spent an hour at the library in Ventspils while mom read a Cat Magazine.
Word.......................rinda = line
Highlight...................not having to wait 3 hours to see the doctor
Monday, November 9, 2009
November 8, 2009
Sunday
Slept in. Did Latvian lessons with mom. My new book from the library is called "The Wonderful Kindergarden of Bees".
In the afternoon, mom's lawyer visited and I went on a nice long walk in the woods with Marija. In the evening, knitted a lot of my new mittens, but then realized they were too small, and now I have to take it all out.
Watched Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious.
Word................................brīnišķīgs = wonderful
Dish..................................mom made plans pankukas from a box. so disappointing.
Highlight............................walk
Lowlight.............................realizing my mitten was too small
Random Observation.........................it's a lot easier to talk to mom and Marija in Latvian than it is to strangers.
Slept in. Did Latvian lessons with mom. My new book from the library is called "The Wonderful Kindergarden of Bees".
In the afternoon, mom's lawyer visited and I went on a nice long walk in the woods with Marija. In the evening, knitted a lot of my new mittens, but then realized they were too small, and now I have to take it all out.
Watched Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious.
Word................................brīnišķīgs = wonderful
Dish..................................mom made plans pankukas from a box. so disappointing.
Highlight............................walk
Lowlight.............................realizing my mitten was too small
Random Observation.........................it's a lot easier to talk to mom and Marija in Latvian than it is to strangers.
November 7, 2009
Saturday
Nice day - overcast but not that cold, and no wind. Mom, Marija, and I went to the beach. I ran while the two of them walked. Another fisherman took my picture as I was running and I went up to him and asked him why! He said he was from Lithuania and couldn't understand me - and he showed me his pictures - he was taking pictures of everyone and everything, so I figured it was ok and he wasn't another slimy freak.
The rest of the day was pleasantly quiet. I went to the library and knitted.
Word.....................................atcerēties = to remember
Dish.......................................white bean, noodle, and vegetable soup - I made it, and even mom liked it! Marija said it needed more salt and mom added sourcream to it, of course.
Highlight.................................being at the beach with mom
Lowlight.................................thinking every man here in Latvia is a slimeball
Random Observation............................it's always more interesting, and perhaps better, to go up to people and talk to them instead of just assuming the worse.
Nice day - overcast but not that cold, and no wind. Mom, Marija, and I went to the beach. I ran while the two of them walked. Another fisherman took my picture as I was running and I went up to him and asked him why! He said he was from Lithuania and couldn't understand me - and he showed me his pictures - he was taking pictures of everyone and everything, so I figured it was ok and he wasn't another slimy freak.
The rest of the day was pleasantly quiet. I went to the library and knitted.
Word.....................................atcerēties = to remember
Dish.......................................white bean, noodle, and vegetable soup - I made it, and even mom liked it! Marija said it needed more salt and mom added sourcream to it, of course.
Highlight.................................being at the beach with mom
Lowlight.................................thinking every man here in Latvia is a slimeball
Random Observation............................it's always more interesting, and perhaps better, to go up to people and talk to them instead of just assuming the worse.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
November 6, 2009
Friday
Went to the library, then a run, then back to the library. Nice day today... soooo much better than yesterday. In the evening, I worked on my mittens some more and then watched Lord of the Rings, dubbed in Latvian with Russian subtitles, and then South Park, in English with Latvian subtitles.
Word.........................can't print some of the words I learned on South Park! zobens = sword
Dish...........................boiled potatoes with lentils
Highlight.....................making some progress with the mittens. I keep changing the design so now it feels a bit more original vs. straight from a pattern
Lowlight.....................still feel completely lost in Latvian.
Random Observation......................I need a real teacher and real classes or I'm never going to get anywhere with this language. Oh well, it is still awesome to be here with mom.
Went to the library, then a run, then back to the library. Nice day today... soooo much better than yesterday. In the evening, I worked on my mittens some more and then watched Lord of the Rings, dubbed in Latvian with Russian subtitles, and then South Park, in English with Latvian subtitles.
Word.........................can't print some of the words I learned on South Park! zobens = sword
Dish...........................boiled potatoes with lentils
Highlight.....................making some progress with the mittens. I keep changing the design so now it feels a bit more original vs. straight from a pattern
Lowlight.....................still feel completely lost in Latvian.
Random Observation......................I need a real teacher and real classes or I'm never going to get anywhere with this language. Oh well, it is still awesome to be here with mom.
Friday, November 6, 2009
November 5, 2009
Thursday
Wish I'd never even bothered to get up. I actually got up early but was in a sour mood all day. I shouldn't have been, because I woke up to a beautiful white world - first snow!!! all over the yard. But it didn't change my mood. :( Coffee didn't help. Didn't go on a run because I couldn't be bothered. Sat around and moped. Mom got the sewing machine working but I didn't feel like sewing. Finally, mom dragged me to Alsunga and I went online for a bit. I started my new mittens - but had to start 3 or 4 times because I kept messing up! Then I went to bed. Blughh.
Word............................šut = to sew
Dish..............................frozen raspberries
Highlight........................first snow... very sad that I was in no mood to go play in it
Lowlight........................me
Random observation......................funny how these days happen and there really isn't much you can do expect wait for it to be done.
Wish I'd never even bothered to get up. I actually got up early but was in a sour mood all day. I shouldn't have been, because I woke up to a beautiful white world - first snow!!! all over the yard. But it didn't change my mood. :( Coffee didn't help. Didn't go on a run because I couldn't be bothered. Sat around and moped. Mom got the sewing machine working but I didn't feel like sewing. Finally, mom dragged me to Alsunga and I went online for a bit. I started my new mittens - but had to start 3 or 4 times because I kept messing up! Then I went to bed. Blughh.
Word............................šut = to sew
Dish..............................frozen raspberries
Highlight........................first snow... very sad that I was in no mood to go play in it
Lowlight........................me
Random observation......................funny how these days happen and there really isn't much you can do expect wait for it to be done.
November 4, 2009
Wednesday
Woke up late. Didn't really do much even though I was supposed to go on a run. Finally, at 1:30pm, I had to get out of the house, and went to the library. Mom called me when it was time to go to Valija's and I went back home, grabbed my gift, and headed over.
Sweet wine, balsams, yummy grapefruit juice, sauerkraut, lots of sausage, smoked salmon, cheese, lots of mayo salads with peas and bacon in them, tomatoes and cukes in sour cream.
We sang and toasted, and I think Valija was a bit piedzeruši!
Then, there was a drunk neighbor who started acting like a slimeball with me - wouldn't stop talking about the two of us going to his sauna. I told him to go there now and wait for me! ha. And we left, because he really wouldn't shut up. Nagite understood exactly what I meant when I called him a slimeball.
Word................................gļotains virs = not really said here, but means "slimy man". I also called him a cuka!
Dish..................................see above list!
Highlight............................listening to the old ladies sing!!!
Lowlight............................mr. slimebag
Woke up late. Didn't really do much even though I was supposed to go on a run. Finally, at 1:30pm, I had to get out of the house, and went to the library. Mom called me when it was time to go to Valija's and I went back home, grabbed my gift, and headed over.
Sweet wine, balsams, yummy grapefruit juice, sauerkraut, lots of sausage, smoked salmon, cheese, lots of mayo salads with peas and bacon in them, tomatoes and cukes in sour cream.
We sang and toasted, and I think Valija was a bit piedzeruši!
Then, there was a drunk neighbor who started acting like a slimeball with me - wouldn't stop talking about the two of us going to his sauna. I told him to go there now and wait for me! ha. And we left, because he really wouldn't shut up. Nagite understood exactly what I meant when I called him a slimeball.
Word................................gļotains virs = not really said here, but means "slimy man". I also called him a cuka!
Dish..................................see above list!
Highlight............................listening to the old ladies sing!!!
Lowlight............................mr. slimebag
November 3, 2009
Tuesday
Had coffee, went for a run, then we went to Kuldiga - mom, Marija, and Nagite wanted to buy more apples - another 200 or so! and I wanted to get a gift for Valija. It's her birthday today but we are going over to her place tomorrow to celebrate.
I also bought a gift for me! It's a game called Lexico and is in English and Latvian - you have to try and translate the words. Marija, mom, and I played it tonight - guess who won!!!
Word............................metamo kauliņu = roll the dice
Dish..............................raugu pankukas, again.
Highlight......................playing the game!
Random Observation........................I hate the word "čoferis"
Had coffee, went for a run, then we went to Kuldiga - mom, Marija, and Nagite wanted to buy more apples - another 200 or so! and I wanted to get a gift for Valija. It's her birthday today but we are going over to her place tomorrow to celebrate.
I also bought a gift for me! It's a game called Lexico and is in English and Latvian - you have to try and translate the words. Marija, mom, and I played it tonight - guess who won!!!
Word............................metamo kauliņu = roll the dice
Dish..............................raugu pankukas, again.
Highlight......................playing the game!
Random Observation........................I hate the word "čoferis"
November 2, 2009
Monday.
Got up early, and packed up to go home. Left my things at the hostel and went thrift store shopping with a guy who lives in Riga - Alez is his name, he is half Moldolvian and half Russian-Latvian. I bought a pretty green shirt and then we went to eat lunch at a dive joint. We met a young Russian girl and had a very interesting conversation.
We got so carried away with our conversation, I almost missed my bus at 4pm. I ran back for my things, said goodbye to everyone at the hostel, and ran to the bus station, just in time to get on the bus.
Four hours later, walked home under a full moon and hung out with mom for a bit before she went to bed. I was sleepy too and went to bed early for a change.
Word...............................kompleksās pusdienas = lunch special - as in one cheap price includes soup, meal, drink.
Dish.................................veggie soup with mashed potatoes and an unidentified minced meat in cream sauce, with cabbage and tomatoes on the side (that was the Kompleksās at the dive joint)
Highlight............................conversation
Lowlight............................sitting on a bus for four hours
Random Observation.................................people like to stick to their own... but I also think it's the young people who are there to break away and explore.
Got up early, and packed up to go home. Left my things at the hostel and went thrift store shopping with a guy who lives in Riga - Alez is his name, he is half Moldolvian and half Russian-Latvian. I bought a pretty green shirt and then we went to eat lunch at a dive joint. We met a young Russian girl and had a very interesting conversation.
We got so carried away with our conversation, I almost missed my bus at 4pm. I ran back for my things, said goodbye to everyone at the hostel, and ran to the bus station, just in time to get on the bus.
Four hours later, walked home under a full moon and hung out with mom for a bit before she went to bed. I was sleepy too and went to bed early for a change.
Word...............................kompleksās pusdienas = lunch special - as in one cheap price includes soup, meal, drink.
Dish.................................veggie soup with mashed potatoes and an unidentified minced meat in cream sauce, with cabbage and tomatoes on the side (that was the Kompleksās at the dive joint)
Highlight............................conversation
Lowlight............................sitting on a bus for four hours
Random Observation.................................people like to stick to their own... but I also think it's the young people who are there to break away and explore.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
November 1, 2009
All Saints' Day...
I was planning to go to the cemetaries today to take pictures but... in order to leave the hostel, I have to pass through a bar, and... the bartender asked me to stay for a drink, so he fixed me a white russian and we watched silly videos on you-tube.
Then, I was ready to leave and walking out the door when... my two Norweigan friends walked in and "insisted" I stay and have a drink with them!! So... two irish coffees later, it's already getting dark out, and I never even made it out the door.
We then went to dinner at a Medieval Restaurant, which was pretty yummy. I had a delicious (and non-alchoholic) drink made of apples, honey, and mint. Of course, before heading up to my room, we had another drink at the bar... and talked about religion. Hope to be in bed by midnight tonight.
Word.....................................spridzināt = to explode (an electrical cord exploded in the hostel)
Dish......................................kukurūza putra ar tomati un sieru = corn grits with tomatoes and cheese - it didn't sound good, but the waiter recommended it and it was delicious!
Highlight..............................having "friends"
Lowlight................................didn't leave the hostel til after nightfall
Random Observation.............................I really like talking to random people about random things.
I was planning to go to the cemetaries today to take pictures but... in order to leave the hostel, I have to pass through a bar, and... the bartender asked me to stay for a drink, so he fixed me a white russian and we watched silly videos on you-tube.
Then, I was ready to leave and walking out the door when... my two Norweigan friends walked in and "insisted" I stay and have a drink with them!! So... two irish coffees later, it's already getting dark out, and I never even made it out the door.
We then went to dinner at a Medieval Restaurant, which was pretty yummy. I had a delicious (and non-alchoholic) drink made of apples, honey, and mint. Of course, before heading up to my room, we had another drink at the bar... and talked about religion. Hope to be in bed by midnight tonight.
Word.....................................spridzināt = to explode (an electrical cord exploded in the hostel)
Dish......................................kukurūza putra ar tomati un sieru = corn grits with tomatoes and cheese - it didn't sound good, but the waiter recommended it and it was delicious!
Highlight..............................having "friends"
Lowlight................................didn't leave the hostel til after nightfall
Random Observation.............................I really like talking to random people about random things.
October 31, 2009
Got up just in time to make a 1pm dance class - a bit surreal learning west coast swing in Riga. Then had lunch at an Italian restaurant with the two Norwegians. They were in there early fifties and very interesting. Then, quick nap, and time to get ready for our Halloween party! I went as a little old lady with all of mom's and Marija's clothing. I went to the party with Gunta, my Latvian friend from last week, and John, the Australian from last night. They wore the knife-through-your-head headband which is lame, but was actually quite a hit with everyone.Party was interesting with some good costumes and lots of women dressed as sexy cats and devils. Then, we went out dancing (on the tables again) and then Gunta caught the 5am train back home.
Word............................... lakatiņš = old lady scarf
Dish..................................cream tomato and basil soup with spinach and mushroom raviolis. the soup was very good. the raviolis were not.
October 30, 2009
Caught the 4am bus into Riga. Beautiful crisp night with loads of stars. Miss seeing the big dipper and orion.
This time I'm staying at Old Town Hostel in Vecriga. It's cheaper and just as good. Today was a trip down memory lane... First, went to the Ocupacija Musej and cried - kept looking for mom and pop's faces in all of the photos. Then, in the early evening, I went to the Hotel Latvija to see how it had changed from when I was there in 1986. Wow. Capitalism. Had a beer in the bar on the top floor, with an amazing view of Riga. Last time I was there, it was a dumpy cafeteria-style bar with no one in it. Now, it was the hottest place to be on a Friday night. Crazy.
At the hostel, met one Australian, two Belgians, two Norwegians, and one Latvian. One beer, two beers, round of shots, another beer, a shot of balsams, and then we all headed downstairs to the sauna. Crazy day... up at 4am, to bed at 4am.
Word...............................dzert sauss = drink it dry (or bottoms up!)
Dish.................................cheese and pretzels for dinner.
Highlight..........................memory lane
Lowlight...........................burnt my dibens on the sauna stove
Thursday, October 29, 2009
October 29, 2009
thursday.
beautiful sunny day today, although by the time I got outside, the clouds started moving in and the wind had picked up. Hung out with mom in the kitchen - she helps correct my workbook exercises! My run was chilly but very good (perhaps better than yesterday since there wasn't chili in my tummy). Then, walked with mom to the pagasts (town hall) to chat with the lady there, I have no idea about what - I think mom tried to pay a bill that they said she had already paid...
Now, I am in Alsunga, because the Jurkalne library is closed today. Plus, I was out of water and have to stop by the spring.
Word............................................lielisks! = excellent!
Dish...............................................mom ate putra ar skabs krejum - porridge with sour cream
Highlight.........................................blue sky!
Lowlight.........................................none!
beautiful sunny day today, although by the time I got outside, the clouds started moving in and the wind had picked up. Hung out with mom in the kitchen - she helps correct my workbook exercises! My run was chilly but very good (perhaps better than yesterday since there wasn't chili in my tummy). Then, walked with mom to the pagasts (town hall) to chat with the lady there, I have no idea about what - I think mom tried to pay a bill that they said she had already paid...
Now, I am in Alsunga, because the Jurkalne library is closed today. Plus, I was out of water and have to stop by the spring.
Word............................................lielisks! = excellent!
Dish...............................................mom ate putra ar skabs krejum - porridge with sour cream
Highlight.........................................blue sky!
Lowlight.........................................none!
Random observation......................................yesterday, I saw two frogs hopping on the beach, heading towards the ocean. I don't think there is such a thing as a sea-frog, so I think they were on a suicide mission. I picked them both up and put them up on the shore where plants were growing.
These are two random photos from my Riga trip..
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
October 28, 2009
šodien!
I slept in, and while I was still having coffee, mom had a visitor. Apparently she leases out her father's land (the 8 hectacres) so that it is farmed, and the company's owner came by to renew the contract. His name was Arvis. Even though it was a business visit, he brought mom 5 huge and pretty yellow flowers. I knew that was the custom for visiting guests but thought in interesting that it was for business visits too.
After he left, mom and I went to the beach. It was really way to cold and windy for mom, so we just did a short walk and then she waited for me while I did a short run. On my way back, Anaļe's dog attacked me again!! He ran up behind me and bit by thigh (although it didn't break my skin, thank god.) I screamed and froze and he sniffed around me, growling, and eventually walked away, and I slowly left. We stopped at Anaļe's house on the way home and told her husband.
It's 4pm, and I'm at the library. Probably nothing else exciting for today.
Word................................līgums = contract
Dish..................................more chilli! with fresh bread and butter
Highlight............................getting a new visitor was exciting (pitiful, no?)
Lowlight............................dog attack on a public beach
Random Observation.........................mom keeps telling me to not run there, but I refuse, because it's a public beach and they cannot act like they own it, and let their crazy dog run loose. That's how bullies get their way - if you are too afraid and just give in and avoid them. Sometimes, maybe I am too afraid, but not this time.
I slept in, and while I was still having coffee, mom had a visitor. Apparently she leases out her father's land (the 8 hectacres) so that it is farmed, and the company's owner came by to renew the contract. His name was Arvis. Even though it was a business visit, he brought mom 5 huge and pretty yellow flowers. I knew that was the custom for visiting guests but thought in interesting that it was for business visits too.
After he left, mom and I went to the beach. It was really way to cold and windy for mom, so we just did a short walk and then she waited for me while I did a short run. On my way back, Anaļe's dog attacked me again!! He ran up behind me and bit by thigh (although it didn't break my skin, thank god.) I screamed and froze and he sniffed around me, growling, and eventually walked away, and I slowly left. We stopped at Anaļe's house on the way home and told her husband.
It's 4pm, and I'm at the library. Probably nothing else exciting for today.
Word................................līgums = contract
Dish..................................more chilli! with fresh bread and butter
Highlight............................getting a new visitor was exciting (pitiful, no?)
Lowlight............................dog attack on a public beach
Random Observation.........................mom keeps telling me to not run there, but I refuse, because it's a public beach and they cannot act like they own it, and let their crazy dog run loose. That's how bullies get their way - if you are too afraid and just give in and avoid them. Sometimes, maybe I am too afraid, but not this time.
October 27, 2009
Tuesday
Mom and I went to Kuldiga today. Nagite was supposed to come along but didn't. Things seem to go much smoother when it's just mom and I. We walked all over town! I just wanted to go to the knitting store, but then mom said, let's walk some more, and we did a big loop all through the town. I bought a new little jacket from the thrift store (actually, mom bought it for me, but it was only 3 USD so I was ok with that), and I got some new yarn for my cimdiņi. Mom bought all kinds of cleaning chemicals, and then groceries. It was a very nice day and we laughed a lot. We drove home in the dark, even though it was only 5pm.
In the news, everyone was talking about the meteorite that fell in Latvian. Except, they aren't sure if it is real or a big joke.
Word.......................lietoti apģerbi = used clothes
Dish.........................yum! I made chilli with textured vegetable protein, kidney beans, tomatos, red peppers, onions, garlic, and chili powder. I was quite happy with how it turned out, and, of course, mom thought it was too spicy. She ate aknu desa on baltmaize. (that is braunshweiger on white bread)
Highlight...................spending the day with mom
Lowlight...................driving home in the rain and dark
Random observation...........................today, everyone in the stores seemed very friendly... one lady even chatted with us for 10 minutes and asked for my email! It was noteworthy because it's unusual here - they are usually big grump-pots!
Mom and I went to Kuldiga today. Nagite was supposed to come along but didn't. Things seem to go much smoother when it's just mom and I. We walked all over town! I just wanted to go to the knitting store, but then mom said, let's walk some more, and we did a big loop all through the town. I bought a new little jacket from the thrift store (actually, mom bought it for me, but it was only 3 USD so I was ok with that), and I got some new yarn for my cimdiņi. Mom bought all kinds of cleaning chemicals, and then groceries. It was a very nice day and we laughed a lot. We drove home in the dark, even though it was only 5pm.
In the news, everyone was talking about the meteorite that fell in Latvian. Except, they aren't sure if it is real or a big joke.
Word.......................lietoti apģerbi = used clothes
Dish.........................yum! I made chilli with textured vegetable protein, kidney beans, tomatos, red peppers, onions, garlic, and chili powder. I was quite happy with how it turned out, and, of course, mom thought it was too spicy. She ate aknu desa on baltmaize. (that is braunshweiger on white bread)
Highlight...................spending the day with mom
Lowlight...................driving home in the rain and dark
Random observation...........................today, everyone in the stores seemed very friendly... one lady even chatted with us for 10 minutes and asked for my email! It was noteworthy because it's unusual here - they are usually big grump-pots!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
October 26, 2009
Monday.
Library closed today, so no internet. It was smidzina all day today, so it was hard to motivate to go outside, but in the afternoon I went on my run, and of course, it felt great. Other than that, mom and I just hung out in the kitchen or living room all day - chatting. In the evening, Nagite came over for a little bit, and the two of them talked about how difficult life is. I knitted and listened, and kept my mouth shut. Later, I decided that I should either watch TV or listen to the radio more, so I can hear more Latvian - so I watched Ugunsgrēks (Housefire), a Latvian nighttime soap, and mom's favorite.
Word...................................aizver muti! = shut your mouth! (apparently, it's the "new" thing to say in Rīga!
Dish......................................raugu pankukas (pancake batter made with yeast). mom had the dough ready for me when I got back the night before. I added tomatoes and onions and ate savory pancakes for dinner.
Highlight.................................getting outside
Lowlight.................................none really. quiet day was nice after the weekend in Rīga.
Random observation..............................the weather always looks worse from inside a warm house.
Library closed today, so no internet. It was smidzina all day today, so it was hard to motivate to go outside, but in the afternoon I went on my run, and of course, it felt great. Other than that, mom and I just hung out in the kitchen or living room all day - chatting. In the evening, Nagite came over for a little bit, and the two of them talked about how difficult life is. I knitted and listened, and kept my mouth shut. Later, I decided that I should either watch TV or listen to the radio more, so I can hear more Latvian - so I watched Ugunsgrēks (Housefire), a Latvian nighttime soap, and mom's favorite.
Word...................................aizver muti! = shut your mouth! (apparently, it's the "new" thing to say in Rīga!
Dish......................................raugu pankukas (pancake batter made with yeast). mom had the dough ready for me when I got back the night before. I added tomatoes and onions and ate savory pancakes for dinner.
Highlight.................................getting outside
Lowlight.................................none really. quiet day was nice after the weekend in Rīga.
Random observation..............................the weather always looks worse from inside a warm house.
October 25th, 2009
Sunday.
Slept in again, even though I had a very quiet Saturday night. Enjoyed a cup of coffee and went walking. There was a slight drizzle outside - the kind where it seems silly to use an umbrella, but if you walk long enough, you end up getting wet. Ate at the Hare Krishna center again - more veggie stuff! and then wandered around the city and the central market. Caught the 4pm bus back to Jūrkalne and read my book the whole way. Mom seemed happy to see me.
The time changed happened last night and it was dark at 5pm today!!!! Walking back to mom's in the pitch dark was interesting. I used my phone as a flashlight.
Word......................................smidzināt = to drizzle (light rain)
Dish........................................meat and rice? wrapped up in a cabbage leaf - not sure what it is called - Pildīti Kāposti? Mom, do you know? A friend of mine served it to me while I was in Rīga. Not bad, although I only ate a little since it had meat in it.
Highlight..................................walking around town with no purpose.
Lowlight...................................four hours on a bus.
Random Observation..............................In Rīga, I met a Latvian girl who was so fed up with how the Russian language was taking over, that she was planning to leave and live elsewhere as soon as she could. In the same room, I met another Latvian citizen whose Latvian was worse than mine because she only spoke Russian. (I didn't tell mom about this!)
Slept in again, even though I had a very quiet Saturday night. Enjoyed a cup of coffee and went walking. There was a slight drizzle outside - the kind where it seems silly to use an umbrella, but if you walk long enough, you end up getting wet. Ate at the Hare Krishna center again - more veggie stuff! and then wandered around the city and the central market. Caught the 4pm bus back to Jūrkalne and read my book the whole way. Mom seemed happy to see me.
The time changed happened last night and it was dark at 5pm today!!!! Walking back to mom's in the pitch dark was interesting. I used my phone as a flashlight.
Word......................................smidzināt = to drizzle (light rain)
Dish........................................meat and rice? wrapped up in a cabbage leaf - not sure what it is called - Pildīti Kāposti? Mom, do you know? A friend of mine served it to me while I was in Rīga. Not bad, although I only ate a little since it had meat in it.
Highlight..................................walking around town with no purpose.
Lowlight...................................four hours on a bus.
Random Observation..............................In Rīga, I met a Latvian girl who was so fed up with how the Russian language was taking over, that she was planning to leave and live elsewhere as soon as she could. In the same room, I met another Latvian citizen whose Latvian was worse than mine because she only spoke Russian. (I didn't tell mom about this!)
Saturday, October 24, 2009
October 24, 2009
Saturday.
Slept in, only til 10 or so, and was a bit wobbly when I first got up (hee hee). Very quiet morning and then I went on a free Rīga City Tour at noon. It was very long - 3 hours - but interesting. We visited the markets, saw the arty warehouse district, only one church, and some history and architecture thrown in too. Very nice. Afterwards, we were starving, and went to the Hare Krishna Vegetarian Restaurant - some of the food was very good, some not so much.
Now, I'm chilling a bit before going to the Tango show... will update that later.
Word................................leļļu teātra izrāde = puppet show
Dish...................................soy strips in tomato sauce with barley and curried vegetables.
Highlight.............................so far... learning more about some of the architecture
Lowlight..............................waking up
Random observation.............................a factual tidbit about Riga... they have a tradition of constructing wooden buildings instead of stone so that when they get invaded again, they can just burn all of the buildings and the invaders have to rebuild the city from scratch. Notice how it is "WHEN" they get invaded again, not IF.
Slept in, only til 10 or so, and was a bit wobbly when I first got up (hee hee). Very quiet morning and then I went on a free Rīga City Tour at noon. It was very long - 3 hours - but interesting. We visited the markets, saw the arty warehouse district, only one church, and some history and architecture thrown in too. Very nice. Afterwards, we were starving, and went to the Hare Krishna Vegetarian Restaurant - some of the food was very good, some not so much.
Now, I'm chilling a bit before going to the Tango show... will update that later.
Word................................leļļu teātra izrāde = puppet show
Dish...................................soy strips in tomato sauce with barley and curried vegetables.
Highlight.............................so far... learning more about some of the architecture
Lowlight..............................waking up
Random observation.............................a factual tidbit about Riga... they have a tradition of constructing wooden buildings instead of stone so that when they get invaded again, they can just burn all of the buildings and the invaders have to rebuild the city from scratch. Notice how it is "WHEN" they get invaded again, not IF.
October 23, 2009
Friday!
Got up early and mom walked me to the busstop. Mom is getting a bit sappy in her old age, and even though I'm only going to be gone for the weekend, she told me she was going to miss me!
The bus ride went smoothly, and I got into Riga by early afternoon. I got a hostel and picked up my ticket for the Tango performance on Saturday. I sort of just met this guy, Igars, at the box office, he gave me a ticket and took my money and left. It was a little weird, so hopefully the ticket is valid. I'll find out in a couple hours!
That night, the hostel threw a party. We watched 100 cigarettes, then went out to the bars. I got just a bit tipsy and knew I shouldn't have bought that second round of tequila shots. Very fun. Most of the group was Latvian and most of them were part of an organization called couchsurfers.com that connects people all over the world to crash on eachother's couches for free... check it out... www.couchsurfers.com
Word..................................piedzeruši = drunk
Dish....................................seeded bread with cheese and ābolu maizite (apple sweet bread)
Highlight..............................being in a city and seeing all the pretty people
Lowlight..............................leaving Alise all alone
Random Observation...........................I am always drawn to the extremes....... the hustle and the bustle of the city and the quiet of the countryside... too much of either one, and I'm longing for the opposite.
Got up early and mom walked me to the busstop. Mom is getting a bit sappy in her old age, and even though I'm only going to be gone for the weekend, she told me she was going to miss me!
The bus ride went smoothly, and I got into Riga by early afternoon. I got a hostel and picked up my ticket for the Tango performance on Saturday. I sort of just met this guy, Igars, at the box office, he gave me a ticket and took my money and left. It was a little weird, so hopefully the ticket is valid. I'll find out in a couple hours!
That night, the hostel threw a party. We watched 100 cigarettes, then went out to the bars. I got just a bit tipsy and knew I shouldn't have bought that second round of tequila shots. Very fun. Most of the group was Latvian and most of them were part of an organization called couchsurfers.com that connects people all over the world to crash on eachother's couches for free... check it out... www.couchsurfers.com
Word..................................piedzeruši = drunk
Dish....................................seeded bread with cheese and ābolu maizite (apple sweet bread)
Highlight..............................being in a city and seeing all the pretty people
Lowlight..............................leaving Alise all alone
Random Observation...........................I am always drawn to the extremes....... the hustle and the bustle of the city and the quiet of the countryside... too much of either one, and I'm longing for the opposite.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
October 22, 2009
today! Thursday.
Spent the morning at the library, looking up information for Riga. Planning on spending the weekend there and going to a Tango performance. So excited!
Then, drove to Kuldiga to buy more yarn for me and cat food for mom.
Word.................................dzija = yarn
Dish..................................skabens zupa again. yum
Highlight...........................planning a fun weekend!
Lowlight............................at first, online, it said that the Tango show was sold out. I was very sad, but called and the guy said there were still tickets available at the studio... so it was a short-lived lowlight.
Spent the morning at the library, looking up information for Riga. Planning on spending the weekend there and going to a Tango performance. So excited!
Then, drove to Kuldiga to buy more yarn for me and cat food for mom.
Word.................................dzija = yarn
Dish..................................skabens zupa again. yum
Highlight...........................planning a fun weekend!
Lowlight............................at first, online, it said that the Tango show was sold out. I was very sad, but called and the guy said there were still tickets available at the studio... so it was a short-lived lowlight.
October 21, 2009
Wednesday
Nice day out. Did some knitting and was getting ready to go run when Ana and Wally came over. Mom really enjoyed herself with the guests. I think even she was getting bored these past few days. She and Ana were yelling at each other so loud that Wally couldn't get a word in edgewise. She and I just looked at each other and laughed. Then, Nagite came in and took one look at who was there, and left again. I left with her to go on my run.
Word..............................blēdīgs = crooked (as in mom's neighbor, Marija's grandchild, and all Russians) Except, mom says it like... blēž and really draws out the žžžž at the end. It's funny.
Dish...............................Ana made a fatty ham sandwich with raw garlic and rye bread. Then, she shoved more raw garlic into the pierogs (mom calls them vareņiki)
Highlight........................watching mom get all worked up.
Lowlight.........................evilly staring at the Monster Neighbor as I was walking home from my run and cut through the back to get to mom's house.
Random Observation.................I think our hints are sinking in. The past two days, mom mentioned getting her foot looked at, and this morning asked Domino if he wanted to live in the US again. It still might take her another 8 years to make up her mind, but she sure as hell will be making it up on her own!
Nice day out. Did some knitting and was getting ready to go run when Ana and Wally came over. Mom really enjoyed herself with the guests. I think even she was getting bored these past few days. She and Ana were yelling at each other so loud that Wally couldn't get a word in edgewise. She and I just looked at each other and laughed. Then, Nagite came in and took one look at who was there, and left again. I left with her to go on my run.
Word..............................blēdīgs = crooked (as in mom's neighbor, Marija's grandchild, and all Russians) Except, mom says it like... blēž and really draws out the žžžž at the end. It's funny.
Dish...............................Ana made a fatty ham sandwich with raw garlic and rye bread. Then, she shoved more raw garlic into the pierogs (mom calls them vareņiki)
Highlight........................watching mom get all worked up.
Lowlight.........................evilly staring at the Monster Neighbor as I was walking home from my run and cut through the back to get to mom's house.
Random Observation.................I think our hints are sinking in. The past two days, mom mentioned getting her foot looked at, and this morning asked Domino if he wanted to live in the US again. It still might take her another 8 years to make up her mind, but she sure as hell will be making it up on her own!
October 20, 2009
Tuesday...
Thinking... now I remember... I couldn't sleep the night before and so I slept until noon and then woke up with a headache and backache. It rained most of the day, so I knitted, read my book, and took a bath. When Nagite came over in the evening, I snuck some vodka in my tea, hoping it would make me sleepy - and it did!
Word.......................menstruācijas = mentrual period (don't ask me why, but Marija has tea that is supposed to be good for "female problems".
Highlight.................not much
Lowlight..................the whole day, more or less.
Thinking... now I remember... I couldn't sleep the night before and so I slept until noon and then woke up with a headache and backache. It rained most of the day, so I knitted, read my book, and took a bath. When Nagite came over in the evening, I snuck some vodka in my tea, hoping it would make me sleepy - and it did!
Word.......................menstruācijas = mentrual period (don't ask me why, but Marija has tea that is supposed to be good for "female problems".
Highlight.................not much
Lowlight..................the whole day, more or less.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
October 19, 2009
Monday.
Rained most of the day, and mostly I worked on my second mitten. In the afternoon, I was going stir crazy and grabbed my new umbrella, my new rubber boots, and headed outside for a walk. Lucky for me, it stopped raining just around that time and I walked in the woods for over 2 hours. Beautiful, with lots of puddles to jump in, and a few mushrooms to pick for tomorrow's breakfast.
Nagite came over... her daughter Kristine is sick with a cough and her son Jānis is sick with some kind of GI illness. Learned some medical terminology today!
Word...................vēders = belly.... but.... kuņģis = stomach
Dish......................I made a potato, veggie, and soy protein soup. mom actually liked the soy protein chunks!
Highlight................long walk in the woods.
Lowlight................listening to mom and Nagite yet again commenting on how hard life is. Of course, it's hard, but you might as well have fun and not focus on the hard parts, vai ne?
Rained most of the day, and mostly I worked on my second mitten. In the afternoon, I was going stir crazy and grabbed my new umbrella, my new rubber boots, and headed outside for a walk. Lucky for me, it stopped raining just around that time and I walked in the woods for over 2 hours. Beautiful, with lots of puddles to jump in, and a few mushrooms to pick for tomorrow's breakfast.
Nagite came over... her daughter Kristine is sick with a cough and her son Jānis is sick with some kind of GI illness. Learned some medical terminology today!
Word...................vēders = belly.... but.... kuņģis = stomach
Dish......................I made a potato, veggie, and soy protein soup. mom actually liked the soy protein chunks!
Highlight................long walk in the woods.
Lowlight................listening to mom and Nagite yet again commenting on how hard life is. Of course, it's hard, but you might as well have fun and not focus on the hard parts, vai ne?
October 18th, 2009
Sunday.
Rain, afternoon run. maybe a bit o' knitting.
Boring....
Word...................................drukāt = to print (since my computer may lose it's battery soon, I'm looking for a place to print some of my Latvian verb lessons.)
Dish.....................................tunis kutlets = tuna salad burgers
Rain, afternoon run. maybe a bit o' knitting.
Boring....
Word...................................drukāt = to print (since my computer may lose it's battery soon, I'm looking for a place to print some of my Latvian verb lessons.)
Dish.....................................tunis kutlets = tuna salad burgers
Saturday, October 17, 2009
October 17, 2009
Saturday.
Another exciting weekend in Jurkalne. Today, mom and I walked to the store to get more lard, but they didn't have any so we walked back home emptyhanded. (The lady at the store said, we don't carry lard here because it's not healthy!!!). Then, Alise baked her cherry pie and I made tortillas. Both turned out yummy. The afternoon was sunny and not too cold so I weeded the strawberry patch.
Word.........................tauka = lard
Dish...........................mom's cherry pie!
Highlight.....................being ouside in the garden
Random observation.................What the hell! It feels like I'm in a Happy Homemaker Workshop with canning, knitting, gardening, and cooking. I'll be all set to homestead once my cabin in Alaska is built - just need to find a lucky somebody to share it with. HA.
Another exciting weekend in Jurkalne. Today, mom and I walked to the store to get more lard, but they didn't have any so we walked back home emptyhanded. (The lady at the store said, we don't carry lard here because it's not healthy!!!). Then, Alise baked her cherry pie and I made tortillas. Both turned out yummy. The afternoon was sunny and not too cold so I weeded the strawberry patch.
Word.........................tauka = lard
Dish...........................mom's cherry pie!
Highlight.....................being ouside in the garden
Random observation.................What the hell! It feels like I'm in a Happy Homemaker Workshop with canning, knitting, gardening, and cooking. I'll be all set to homestead once my cabin in Alaska is built - just need to find a lucky somebody to share it with. HA.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Aita teic beeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrni un kaza teic....
I can't upload videos to this blog, but here is the link to an amusing video of Jennifer explaining the different local Latvian accents.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpjuniper/4016888615/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpjuniper/4016888615/
October 16, 2009
Friday.
Mom called the clinic and then organized with Nagite that Friday would be the best time to go see her eye doctor. So we left this morning at 7:30am to get there by 8ish. Mom waited til last minute to call, so there were no appointments available til November and we were going to the walk-in service between 8am-12pm.
Sounds good, except when we get there, they tell us that Fridays are appt. only days, and today the doctor is in Riga. Oh well. At least, we got a renewed prescription for her medicine.
We went to a billion stores to go food shopping, and then to a dingy corner store for stale cakes and coffee.
Now, it's around 3pm and I'm either going for a bike ride, or if it's too windy, for a run. Uz redzēšanos!
Word...........................acu ārsts = eye doctor
Dish.............................mom had stale lemon cake, I had a very greasy cheese fried dough thing - mīklā cepts siers, Nāgite had pizza (pica) and stale chocolate cake.
Highlight.......................sunrise was pretty and the whole day was nice and sunny
Lowlight........................wrong day!
Random observations.........................mom is a big pain in the BEE-HIND sometimes but I love her so very much.
Mom called the clinic and then organized with Nagite that Friday would be the best time to go see her eye doctor. So we left this morning at 7:30am to get there by 8ish. Mom waited til last minute to call, so there were no appointments available til November and we were going to the walk-in service between 8am-12pm.
Sounds good, except when we get there, they tell us that Fridays are appt. only days, and today the doctor is in Riga. Oh well. At least, we got a renewed prescription for her medicine.
We went to a billion stores to go food shopping, and then to a dingy corner store for stale cakes and coffee.
Now, it's around 3pm and I'm either going for a bike ride, or if it's too windy, for a run. Uz redzēšanos!
Word...........................acu ārsts = eye doctor
Dish.............................mom had stale lemon cake, I had a very greasy cheese fried dough thing - mīklā cepts siers, Nāgite had pizza (pica) and stale chocolate cake.
Highlight.......................sunrise was pretty and the whole day was nice and sunny
Lowlight........................wrong day!
Random observations.........................mom is a big pain in the BEE-HIND sometimes but I love her so very much.
October 15, 2009
Fairly nice day out today. Overcast but no rain, and not as cold as it has been. I was still a bit grumpy and got into a discussion with mom about the word "nepilsonis" which means non-citizen. How can you be angry about a word like non-citizen? oh well, I always thought the word was "nepersons" and she was angry about being considered a non-person, but I guess it's not for me to understand how Alise's mind works.
In the afternoon, we went to the beach and had a nice walk. It was colder than the first time we went, so no hockey playing, but mom walked as far as she did the first day, and this time did it with no breaks.
Word.....................nepilsonis = non-citizen (please don't take offense)
Dish.......................darzenu zupa = vegetable soup with potatoes, carrots, celery, cabbage, egg, and bits of chicken (mom took out the big hunks)
Highlight.................as always, the beach.
Lowlight.................seeing mom get so upset about the word nepilsonis.
Random Observation.................I love how the word "wave" is both the waves in the sea and to wave hello. It's like the sea is waving hello to me. In Latvian, the word wave is "vilnis" which is similar to "vilna" which is wool. I like to imagine there are little wooly sheep riding the waves and making them all white and foamy.
In the afternoon, we went to the beach and had a nice walk. It was colder than the first time we went, so no hockey playing, but mom walked as far as she did the first day, and this time did it with no breaks.
Word.....................nepilsonis = non-citizen (please don't take offense)
Dish.......................darzenu zupa = vegetable soup with potatoes, carrots, celery, cabbage, egg, and bits of chicken (mom took out the big hunks)
Highlight.................as always, the beach.
Lowlight.................seeing mom get so upset about the word nepilsonis.
Random Observation.................I love how the word "wave" is both the waves in the sea and to wave hello. It's like the sea is waving hello to me. In Latvian, the word wave is "vilnis" which is similar to "vilna" which is wool. I like to imagine there are little wooly sheep riding the waves and making them all white and foamy.
October 14, 2009
Wednesday
Rainy, cold weather. Didn't do much today. Baked an apple pie and my crust came out much better this time. Oh... and felt pent up and super bored, so in the late afternoon, I took off and went to Kuldiga on my own for a while. Bought a broom, pie pans, and an umbrella since mom doesn't have any of those things and I bought a very cute pair of insulated rubber boots, getting ready for the slushy cold snow!
Word...................zābaki = boots
Dish......................my apple pie has a butter crust, fresh apples, cinnamon and sugar. mom's pie has a lard crust, canned cherries, gelatin, and a lot more sugar! (Her's will probably taste better)
Highlight................getting the hell out of Dodge.
Lowlight................being grumpy all day
Rainy, cold weather. Didn't do much today. Baked an apple pie and my crust came out much better this time. Oh... and felt pent up and super bored, so in the late afternoon, I took off and went to Kuldiga on my own for a while. Bought a broom, pie pans, and an umbrella since mom doesn't have any of those things and I bought a very cute pair of insulated rubber boots, getting ready for the slushy cold snow!
Word...................zābaki = boots
Dish......................my apple pie has a butter crust, fresh apples, cinnamon and sugar. mom's pie has a lard crust, canned cherries, gelatin, and a lot more sugar! (Her's will probably taste better)
Highlight................getting the hell out of Dodge.
Lowlight................being grumpy all day
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
October 13, 2009
Tuesday.
Mom and I went for a short walk in the afternoon and it (briefly) snowed on us!! It was a sort of icy snow and only lasted a few minutes but exciting! Sviecinati, Ziemā! All day, it was sunny, then rainy, then sunny, then snow, then sun again. Later that afternoon, I went running and there was a huge mean-looking storm brewing out in the ocean.
Word...............................sniegs = snowDish.................................baked breaded chicken and rice for mom, and rice, beans, tomato, onions, and mushrooms for me.
Highlight...........................yay! first snow of the season!
Lowlight...........................the snow cut our walk short, because mom was cold, and as soon as we got back inside the house, the sun came out.
Random observation..........................I love living in places which have the motto.."If you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes."
October 12, 2009
Monday.
Library is closed on Mondays so no internet. I discovered that my computer might have a faulty AC connection and no AC connection means no battery which means no commuter. Whaaaa!
Went to Kūldiga today. I don't really enjoy driving all that way just to run into the back, run into the grocery store, and then run back home. But that's what mom wanted so that's what we did. No coffee, no walking around town, no relaxing. She can't wait to get back to her kitchen and sit down there, where she sits all day.
I was sitting in the car, bored, waiting. This is one of many brilliant hair colors to be found on the young and old. I'm going to go for more of a fire-engine red myself....
Word...............................saldēti spīnati = frozen spinach. I was craving dark greens and could only find frozen spinach cubes.
Dish.................................braunshweiger and rye bread sandwichHighlight...........................running in the morning
Lowlight...........................driving
Random observation..........................I could find more things in the remotest parts of Patagonia than I can find here. Is that Soviet influence/block or just plain ol' Latvian culture?
Sunday, October 11, 2009
October 11, 2009
Sunday... Today!
Another lazy rainy day in Jūrkalne. I did do a lot of studying though... went over a bunch of verbs, especially worked on the reflexive verbs today (I wash myself for example). Nagite came over for a visit. Mom cleaned the house. Veltie called and chatted for a bit.
Word........................mācīt = to teach and the reflexive form is mācīties = to learn (aka to teach yourself)
Dish...........................plans pankukas ar dzervene un crejum = crepes with cranberry sauce and cream
Highlight....................a neighbor lent us a few books and one of them is an awesome Latvian fairy tale book. I'm reading one about the fox who tricked the wolf.
Lowlight.....................boring day
Random observation....................... it definitely seems that my days alternate - one day interesting, where I actually go do something and the next day, nothing.
Another lazy rainy day in Jūrkalne. I did do a lot of studying though... went over a bunch of verbs, especially worked on the reflexive verbs today (I wash myself for example). Nagite came over for a visit. Mom cleaned the house. Veltie called and chatted for a bit.
Word........................mācīt = to teach and the reflexive form is mācīties = to learn (aka to teach yourself)
Dish...........................plans pankukas ar dzervene un crejum = crepes with cranberry sauce and cream
Highlight....................a neighbor lent us a few books and one of them is an awesome Latvian fairy tale book. I'm reading one about the fox who tricked the wolf.
Lowlight.....................boring day
Random observation....................... it definitely seems that my days alternate - one day interesting, where I actually go do something and the next day, nothing.
October 10, 2009
Saturday
A beautiful gorgeous day.. sunny, no wind, not too cold. Mom was actually inspired enough to suggest a trip to the beach. Since I've been trying to get her to go for the whole month, I jumped at the chance. It was a blast. We threw rocks into the ocean and played football (I mean, soccer) and then hockey with the rocks - we used mom's cane as a hockey stick. She even started jogging at one point! Marija walked along with us, but wouldn't participate in any of our foolish games. She collected pebbles and shells and drew pretty pictures in the sand with her stick.
Afterwards, I ran home and the two old bitties drove home. On my run, I went past a dirt bike pit and there were a bunch of people there racing around on their dirt bikes.
Word............................nūja = cane
Dish..............................Marija offered me some canned berries but one whiff of them and I could tell they had gone bad. She ate them.
Highlight.......................being at the beach with mom!!!!
Lowlight......................none!
Random observation................I don't think Marija is that good at canning.... she keeps offering me things that are bad and when I tell her they taste rotten, she denies it and eats it herself.
A beautiful gorgeous day.. sunny, no wind, not too cold. Mom was actually inspired enough to suggest a trip to the beach. Since I've been trying to get her to go for the whole month, I jumped at the chance. It was a blast. We threw rocks into the ocean and played football (I mean, soccer) and then hockey with the rocks - we used mom's cane as a hockey stick. She even started jogging at one point! Marija walked along with us, but wouldn't participate in any of our foolish games. She collected pebbles and shells and drew pretty pictures in the sand with her stick.
Afterwards, I ran home and the two old bitties drove home. On my run, I went past a dirt bike pit and there were a bunch of people there racing around on their dirt bikes.Word............................nūja = cane
Dish..............................Marija offered me some canned berries but one whiff of them and I could tell they had gone bad. She ate them.
Highlight.......................being at the beach with mom!!!!
Lowlight......................none!
Random observation................I don't think Marija is that good at canning.... she keeps offering me things that are bad and when I tell her they taste rotten, she denies it and eats it herself.
October 9, 2009
Friday...
Highlight..........................walking off trail! the ferns were beautiful.
Lowlight..........................staying inside all day
Random observations...............I actually don't mind staying inside all day as long as it's only 1 or 2 consecutive days. After that, I go stir crazy!
..................................................Here's the result of hours in the woods and hours in the kitchen. The applesauce is mom's, the rest is my blueberry, mixed berry, or cranberry jam and two bottles of cranberry juice.........................................
It was stormy most of the day, so I stayed home and hung out with Marija and Alise. Knitted, made my cranberry sauce.
In the late afternoon, the weather cleared for a bit and Marija and I went for our walk in the woods. Marija got off the dirt road for a bit and thought she was lost. She was happy when a few minutes later we could here the sound of the cars again. I wasn't too worried... these woods are pretty small.
Word..............................pazaudeties = to be lost
Dish.................................?Highlight..........................walking off trail! the ferns were beautiful.
Lowlight..........................staying inside all day
Random observations...............I actually don't mind staying inside all day as long as it's only 1 or 2 consecutive days. After that, I go stir crazy!
..................................................Here's the result of hours in the woods and hours in the kitchen. The applesauce is mom's, the rest is my blueberry, mixed berry, or cranberry jam and two bottles of cranberry juice.........................................
October 8, 2009
hmmm.. that was Thursday. What did I do? I have no idea.
Right... I went for my run which was excellent. Two fisherman took a picture of me as I ran by – I know there are runners in Latvia (mom's legal person runs in races and she's 60 something) but I guess there aren't too many in Jurkalne. It's always funny to me to be the tourist attraction.
The run felt so good, I stripped down to my tank top and undies and jumped in the Baltic! It was cold, but I was still steamy afterwards and felt super refreshed.
Highlight.......................definitely the swim
Lowlight.......................right now, not being able to remember anything
Right... I went for my run which was excellent. Two fisherman took a picture of me as I ran by – I know there are runners in Latvia (mom's legal person runs in races and she's 60 something) but I guess there aren't too many in Jurkalne. It's always funny to me to be the tourist attraction.
The run felt so good, I stripped down to my tank top and undies and jumped in the Baltic! It was cold, but I was still steamy afterwards and felt super refreshed.
Then the library and internet. Then I think I spent the rest of the day working on my mittens.
Word............................izpeldēšanās jūrā = a dip in the sea
Dish.............................?Highlight.......................definitely the swim
Lowlight.......................right now, not being able to remember anything
Thursday, October 8, 2009
October 6th and 7th
this is from the day at the beach with the movie camera, but i didn't really have anything else to put for this day... and it was fun - it's a zip-line swing!
October 7th
Quietish day. I needed some alone time and spent most of the day in my room... organizing photos, reading, and knitting. I started my first pair of Latvian mittens and I must admit, I'm having to knit them twice - once wrong, taking it out, and the second time I seem to get it right. Slow progress but interesting to learn new techniques.
Word..............slota = broom (I spilt some things out of the fridge and was appalled to find out that mom doesn't really own a broom; just two small things that make you get down on your hands and knees to clean up anything. Next time in Kuldiga, I'm buying one.)
Dish.................I made plain old pasta with sauteed mushrooms and onions, butter, salt, and pepper. Yum.
Highlight..........starting my mittens
Lowlight..........didn't go on my run today - rained most of the day and then I just got lazy.
October 6th
Went to Stikls again to go pick cranberries in the bog. I wasn't really in the mood to go, but I brought a book and the sun was shining and it was a very beautiful day. It was just Nagitte and I this time and she picked a whole bucket full while I just pick a few.
Word...............dzerve = crane .........dzervene = cranberry (never realized that cranberry came from the word crane!)
Dish..................popcorn for dinner!
Highlight............I saw cranes!!!! They are the Eurasian Crane (aka Common Crane or Grus grus). I heard them first, of course, and then there they were, flying in a vee high above me. Beautiful!!!
Lowlight............Nagite following me around in the grocery store and suggesting I buy things and commenting on everything I bought. 
Random Observation...............I think part of the reason I didn't feel like picking cranberries is that I'm starting to wonder about how easy it is to overharvest these berries, and/or destroy the marshland where they grow.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Wow! October 1st through 5th - work in progress
October 5th
Went to the beach with Ainar and 3 of his friends from Riga - Janis, Eva, and Ingus. They came to Jurkalne to film themselves playing in the storm. Ingus was the main film guy and we just walked around, playing in the sand and wind.
Word..............vētra = storm
Dish................sour pear juiceHighlight..........when Ingus picked up his cigarette butt instead of leaving it on the beach
Random Observation..........I really like the combo of art and nature - it's like taking the best from the city and bringing it to the woods.
October 4th Sunday
The electricity was out in the morning so I couldn't even have coffee. Quite tragic. No electricity means no heat, no hot water, no stove, no garage, no phone, and of course, no lights. Lights came on around noon. Finally made my cranberry sauce. And in the afternon, went on a long walk with Marija in the woods - not too many mushrooms. It's been stormy and the wind was blowing super hard. Very invigorating. Marija walked home and I ran for 40 minutes, getting home just before dark.
Word...................karš = war (I asked my grandmother if she had a dowry and she laughed and said no, it was war-time.)
Dish.....................tomatos, cucumbers, onions, and piecesof rye bread floating in a mixture of heavy fresh cream and water.
Highlight................having coffee when the electricity came back on
Lowlight................not being able to have coffee immediately upon waking up!
That's my new hat I finished knitting. It's cute but a bit too small.Random observation............I don't like the idea of being completely dependent on electricity. Yet another supportive rationale for me living completely off the grid.
October 3rd Saturday
Went to Kuldiga with Alise and Nagitte. First went to pick apples - we got four huge bags full for only 4 USD - so many different varieties! Then, Elvi for groceries - got some beer to help me chill when the two of them are pestering me too much. Should have drank one in the store since afterwards we had a bit of a breakdown in communication and mom couldn't decide where she wanted to go next while I did a few errands on my own. She kept trying to get me to go do my errands with the car and I kept insisting I wanted to walk and I guess she just couldn't understand why. It drives me nuts here that Marija, Alise, and Nagite all insist that they know what I need/want more than I do... aren't you hungry? here, eat this. now, eat that. aren't you cold? no? i got you this heavy robe anyway, wear it. put socks on. aren't your feet cold? etc. etc. etc. Arggghhhh!!!! (ok, I also got my period today which probably explains my impatience!)
Finally, got an hour on my own and walked around town. Bought 4 beautiful skeins of yarn for my first latvian mittens I'm going to knit. Finished knitting a hat.
Dish.....................dzerven zupa = we bought celery root and mom used it to make a vegetable soup with carrots, potatoes, onions, and cabbage. Mom cooked it with the meat but then kindly removed all the meat pieces to make it more "vegetarian" for me.
Highlight................buying the beautiful skeins of yarn in the yarn store
Lowlight................losing my patience with people trying to be too nice.JPG)
Random observation...........I've lived alone way too many years of my life and am too independent to have two old ladies and a neighbor be pampering me so much.
October 2nd Friday
Rest day. Can't even remember if I did anything. I think I stayed in bed and knitted a lot. I didn't even touch my big basket of cranberries. In the afternoon, I crawled to the beach and ran. The beach was stormy and beautiful.
Word.....................miers = peace
Highlight.................relaxing in my room
October 1st Thursday
Drove 1.5 hours south, past Ventspils, to the small town of Stikls, where we went into a bog looking for bog cranberries - they are the big ones you're used to seeing in the grocery store. "We" consisted of Nagitte, her daughter Kristine, Nagitte's husband, and a friend of their's, Rudi. I'm not supposed to tell mom that the car was full for some reason. It wasn't raining when we first got there but then it started to, and we shlopped around ankle deep in the bog, picking beautiful huge cranberries until our fingers were numb. I think I had leached bites on my ankle even though I was wearing rubber boots.
Dish......................pankukas = pancakes. mom had warm greasy little pancakes waiting for us when we got back. Ļoti garšigs with homemade blueberry jam and/or apple sauce on it.
Highlight ...............schlopping through the marsh was ridiculously fun. plus, I thought I heard cranes!
Lowlight................driving home in the rain was no fun.
Random observation..............the less I drive, the less I like driving.
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