September 28th
Busy Monday. First, Alise and I went to Pavilosta to go to the bank, grocery, and pharmacy. The bank refused Alise's 100 dollar bill because it was written on. At the pharmacy, Alise got her denture cleaning pills, and at the grocery, I tried Lithuanian brand Coke - not very good. The rest of the day was spent canning my jam and my cranberry juice. Then in the evening I went on a run on the beach. It was windy and stormy and dusky and so beautiful. Then suddenly, there was a huge dog running towards me and he tried to attack me. Ana, his owner, had absolutely no control of him and he repeated lunged after me and I was really scared.

Word........................iet projām = go away!
Dish...........................izvāritu cuku ribiņas = boiled pig ribs. They looked to be about 50% fat. I declined.
Highlight....................seeing the Baltic sea storm and rage with the storm. The waves were huge and the power was awesome.
Lowlight......................being attacked by a huge dog and seeing that the owner had no control over him. really sad what kind of life that dog must have.

Random observation.............how the raw power of nature is so beautiful, but when any power (like the dog's) is turned against someone, it's no longer beautiful at all.

September 27th
Went berry picking with Nagite and her 15 year old daughter, Kristine. This time, I mostly picked blueberries.

Word...........................lāsit = means both "to read" and "to pick or gather" (as in berries!)
Dish........................... I made potato leek soup and mom actually like it!!! (must of been all the cream I added to it!)
Highlight....................berry picking, again
Lowlight......................there were so many things I wanted to ask/chat with Kristine about, and I couldn't because of my inept Latvian.

Random observation.............berries and mushrooms have different personalities, like people. Mushrooms are shy and like to hide. Brūkenes (low bush cranberries) are bright and shiny and gregarious and shout out to you - pick me! pick me! Mellenes (blueberries) are delicate and quietly wait for you and you have to gently pick them one by one or they get crushed.

September 26th
can't even remember what I did. Went to the library, went on a run on the beach, cooked my jam. That's about it.

Word........................vilnis = ocean wave
Dish...........................white bread, cheese, and homemade jam (mom would have used butter instead of cheese but as thick of a slice)
Highlight....................being by the ocean
Lowlight......................i have no social life here.

Random observation.............here's a little verse mom taught me:
Kad es biju jauna priša
Man bi(ja) Peters, man bi(ja) Kriša
Tagad vēca sakaltusi
Visi mani atstāijuši!

When I was a young priss
I had Peter and I had Chris
Now that I am old and dry
They all went away and left me to cry.