Possum Kingdom State Park

This is the train that we took out to Possum Kingdom Lake for our 4 days of camping out in Texas in June just before the official start of summer. It was hot and we sweated our way through the day and listened to the crickets chirp us to sleep at night.
It actually wasn't too bad. When you keep in mind that this area has been inhabited by people for the past 10,000 years, you know that the luxury we had of modern tents to keep out the flying and annoying bugs and the soft air mattress to get us up off the hard ground--it makes it easy to enjoy roughing it. We even had air conditioner to give us some reprieve from the hottest part of the day. The lake was cool and felt wonderful. I actually enjoyed sleeping outside under the blanket of stars and the quiet night. It is funny that it still feels quiet even though there are a million crickets chirping in unison.
Patricia and Jeremy joined us for the first two days. They are babysitting Harley while Stacy is off exploring the Greek Isles. They supplied us with plenty of beer and bratwurst, two necessities when you are camping out! The boys loved that Aunt Trish came to swim with them.
Niki had his first experience with the red waters of the Brazos.
Granny came and camped out with us too. Harley kept her company in her camper during the night. Luka was pretty wary of the boat at first and he stayed put right next to Granny so he wouldn't fall off of the boat.

One of my favorite parts of the trip was just riding on the boat in the lake. It seems so peaceful and the air is so fresh.

Trisha and Alyosha on the tube behind the boat. Luka didn't like it too much, but I think Aleks will be the first on the water every time. I am sure Luka will join him when he is just a couple years older.

Niki had his own life-jacket and stayed in my lap while we were speeding on the boat. He was happy most of the time even though he was in his cocoon of water protection.



It seems like Niki has found his tongue and likes to show the tip of it to anyone who is interested in watching him.
Grandpa let Alyosha drive his first boat. He did a great job and didn't run over any fish or run into any docks.

Even Roma, the man from the cold North, enjoyed the heat. It may not be something he wants to experience every day of his life, but for these 4 days, it was actually a nice change of environment--it is 50 in Portland! I will take a nice crisp 95 and a cool dip in the water anytime over that!


Luka is now king of the world by the end of the boat trip.
Possum Kingdom at sunset is probably one of the most beautiful sights in the world!

Fun time with Friends

We had a get together with some of my former high school classmates and all of our kids. I think that the kids had a blast together playing in the water and hitting the pinata. The adults all chatted together about the past 10 years and where our lives have taken us thus far. Life's paths are so varied-it is amazing that even though we start out from the same spot, basically, we end up traveling in so many different directions and ultimately we end up all back together again. I don't think I have been very good at it, but it has always been important for me to keep up with any friends I have made at different points of my life. I think it is important to have good people around you and to be a good person yourself-the only way to keep good people around you is to keep the good friends you have made along the way. Anyway, it was a fun evening!

Roma dressed up as the "Hula-Monster" to get the kids while they were searching for the pinata. Luka was really afraid and didn't join in the search-although he realized it was papa dressed up he wasn't sure about the game.

The kids made their own ice cream in ziploc bags. It was a great success! It just takes one cup of cream with 2 table spoons of sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla. Put all the ingredients in a small bag and put that in a large bag with ice and salt and viola- after 5-10 minutes of shaking you have ice cream! Add in M&M's and you have happy children!

Our table of food--we had almost 40 hot dogs and about 20 sausages along with cabbage salad and grape salad, watermelon and cantaloupe...EVERYTHING was devoured!

Jacob, Justin's son, helped cook the 'dogs. He did a wonderful job.

The swimming pool turned into a swamp after the kids jumped in and out a million times. But they enjoyed it and it survived.

Slip N' Slide fun again.

Boys and their beer!

Slip N' Slide

We are having a beautiful time in Texas, even though the heat index is 110 degrees. Yes, you read right-with the humidity and storms and heat-- 110, 43 celsius!! BUT, we are having a nice time. Tomorrow, Sunday, we are packing up to go camping for the week at Possum Kingdom State Park-so no pictures or updates for the week. Today we had a wonderful party with many friends, check back for the pictures. For now, enjoy Roma and the kids and their Slip N' Slide adventure.

Israel Called On To Stop Settlements

Alyosha overheard the news this morning about Obama's Cairo Speech and Israel:

June 4, 2009 · President Obama was addressing Muslims Thursday, but his speech in Cairo was closely followed by others. One of his most pointed messages was directed at U.S. ally, Israel. Obama called on Israel to halt all construction in West Bank settlements as a step toward reaching peace with the Palestinians. Obama also addressed Palestinians, saying they need to abandon violence.

Alyosha said "Mama, can you believe it, the Israelites are still walking! Where are they going, to Estonia?"

Взаперти

Последние 2 недели провёл в добровольном заточении у себя дома. Женька с детишками отчалила в Техас, оставив мне продуктов и тишины. Заканчивался семестр и было очень много курсовых работ, требующих чтения всяких книг об устойчивом развитии, бесчисленных многостраничных отчётов ООН, думок и писанины писанины писанины...

Чтобы сэкономить время, решил никуда не выходить, кроме пробежек 2 раза в день вдоль реки.

Замечу сразу, что иметь полный день в распоряжении для занятий нисколько не эффективнее - ко времени, как и к деньгам привыкаешь быстро. Часы пролетают быстро, а выхлоп был такой же, как и от моих регулярных занятий по нескольку часов в день.

Хлеб кончился быстро, перешёл на на чипсы, после чипсов, порывшись в холодильнике, нашёл лепёшки "тортия"- спасибо Женюрке. Еды много, но надо готовить. Из-за упрямства отказываюсь сходить в магазин. Подумаешь кончилось молоко и хлеб, зато осталась красная икра, шампанское, капуста, печень (из которой сделал паштет - правда без хлеба он не очень пошёл), какие-то пельмешки в морозилке, лососик мороженный - жить можно месяц!

Захотелось чего-то сладкого, решил сделать сладкую колбасу, но не оказалось печенья, выпек печенье, поломал его, смешал с орешками. сухофруктами и варёной сгущёнкой - потом свернул в колбасу и заморозил - м-м-м, объедение.

И пишу, пишу, пишу... Неприятно, так как приходится писать о том чего до конца не знаешь, но надо писать так, как будто сам эксперт, хотя, с другой стороны, "эксперты" ООН делают также, только не признаются в этом, в отчётах есть прямые противоречия своим же словам, но так как кроме студентов, как я, эти отчёты вряд ли кто читает целиком и подробно, то они проходят.

Тем не менее, сидячи в 4-х стенах и ни с кем не общаясь, всё вокруг воспринимается немного сюрреалистично. Вдруг пропали люди куда-то, в здании никого не слышно, на улице никого нет, такое впечатление, что один в этом городе... только по мосту бегают машины. И почему-то собак перестали выгуливать. Погоды тоже нет, но это и хорошо, не отвлекает.

Вспомнил про Чеховский рассказ, называется "Пари", там про двух молодых людей, банкира и юриста, которые заключили пари на 2 миллиона о том, что юрист просидит 15 лет взаперти. И он просидел. Много читал, философствовал, выучил 6 языков и множество всяких наук. А когда банкир, к концу срока понял, что не хочет расставаться с деньгами, так как к тому времени совсем разорился, то он пришёл убить юриста. Юрист спал за столом, а на столе была записка. Вот она:

"Завтра в двенадцать часов дня я получаю свободу и право общения с людьми. Но, прежде чем оставить эту комнату и увидеть солнце, я считаю нужным сказать вам несколько слов. По чистой совести и перед богом, который видит меня, заявляю вам, что я презираю и свободу, и жизнь, и здоровье, и все то, что в ваших книгах называется благами мира. Пятнадцать лет я внимательно изучал земную жизнь. Правда, я не видел земли и людей, но в ваших книгах я пил ароматное вино, пел песни, гонялся в лесах за оленями и дикими кабанами, любил женщин... Красавицы, воздушные, как облако, созданные волшебством ваших гениальных поэтов, посещали меня ночью и шептали мне чудные сказки, от которых пьянела моя голова. В ваших книгах я взбирался на вершины Эльбруса и Монблана и видел оттуда, как по утрам восходило солнце и как по вечерам заливало оно небо, океан и горные вершины багряным золотом; я видел оттуда, как надо мной, рассекая тучи, сверкали молнии; я видел зеленые леса, поля, реки, озера, города, слышал пение сирен и игру пастушеских свирелей, осязал крылья прекрасных дьяволов, прилетавших ко мне беседовать о боге... В ваших книгах я бросался в бездонные пропасти, творил чудеса, убивал, сжигал города, проповедовал новые религии, завоевывал целые царства...

Ваши книги дали мне мудрость. Все то, что веками создавала неутомимая человеческая мысль, сдавлено в моем черепе в небольшой ком. Я знаю, что я умнее всех вас. И я презираю ваши книги, презираю все блага мира и мудрость. Все ничтожно, бренно, призрачно и обманчиво, как мираж. Пусть вы горды, мудры и прекрасны, но смерть сотрет вас с лица земли наравне с подпольными мышами, а потомство ваше, история, бессмертие ваших гениев замерзнут или сгорят вместе с земным шаром. Вы обезумели и идете не по той дороге. Ложь принимаете вы за правду и безобразие за красоту. Вы удивились бы, если бы вследствие каких-нибудь обстоятельств на яблонях и апельсинных деревьях вместо плодов вдруг выросли лягушки и ящерицы или розы стали издавать запах вспотевшей лошади; так я удивляюсь вам, променявшим небо на землю. Я не хочу понимать вас. Чтоб показать вам на деле презрение к тому, чем живете вы, я отказываюсь от двух миллионов, о которых я когда-то мечтал, как о рае, и которые теперь презираю. Чтобы лишить себя права на них, я выйду отсюда за пять часов до условленного срока и таким образом нарушу договор..." (А.П. Чехов, отрывок из рассказа "Пари")

Полностью рассказ можно прочитать здесь.

Вот такие мысли.

What Luka likes

This morning, Luka woke up and told me what he likes in this order:

#1 Clippord (Clifford the Big Red Dog) #2. W (D.W. from Arthur)

#3. Papa

#4. Monkey (Curious George)

Texas Flora and Fauna

We spent the today day camping in Ft. Richardson State park in Jacksboro because I heard that there are still plenty of wildflowers around in the gorgeous Texas countryside. As we were pulling up to the State park Grandma (Granny to the kids) said that when she lived in Jacksboro she would take a walk in this park every day and she would run into a road runner. As soon as we pulled in to the park we met Mr. Roadrunner--and in fact, I took a walk with him down the trail a little later. They are really fast and even better-they like to fight rattlesnakes. Did you know that the roadrunner is the American version of the Cuckoo bird? They are in the same family.

Luka is in mid air in this picture--the kids are cooling off in our spot in the shade under the old oak tree. We didn't see any snakes or scorpions but tons of beautiful red birds and ants.

These next pictures are our attempt at getting a portrait of the boys with the Texas wildflowers. Luka wanted to hold Niki every time and pouted when he didn't get to, but Niki was in danger of falling on a cactus so we had to take a quick shot.

Yet another display of brotherly love and Niki is caught in the crossfire.

The cactus were blooming with yellow flowers. The sun went behind clouds when this was taken so they all hid and closed their bloom--but it is still nice.

A day at the Lake!

Oh my! I haven't been to the water in Texas since the summer of 2003 and I have been dreaming about it for years! AND the water is just as good as I remember it! The water is warm and nice and we all just jumped right in. Well, Niki only stuck his toes in but he liked it too. Next week after Roma arrives we are camping on the lake for 4 days-right beside a nice little beach and hiking trails.

The boys are building a sand castle with the most important feature, a moat. We just happened to run into Sara McCall and her boys just as we pulled up to Sandy Beach.

Mama and Luka taking a swim. He is a little hesitant but if you take it nice and slow he likes it.

Auntie Trish is looking on while Luka fills my hair with sand--this is also a warning of the week to come. I just have to get used to being like a piece of sandpaper while we are camping.

That is our boat behind Luka--Joe Hall was great to let us just use it as much as we want while we are visiting. We will use it a lot!!! Niki rides well on it--he doesn't like his life jacket too much, but the motor of the boat puts him to sleep so he forgets about the thing around his body and head. (sorry no pictures, but it is kinda cute--next time maybe). The best thing about this boat is that next week when we have me and the 3 boys and Grandma and Grandpa and Trish like we had today, we will also be adding Jeremy, Roma Granny and maybe even Jeb and we will all fit comfortably!
Niki dipping his toes in to the lake