Six weeks and two days from our departure, I’m finally beginning to make some progress on the huge to-do list that has been staring me in the face for the past few months. Of course, it seems like each time I cross something off, another two or three things are added. Which explains my fragile mental state this week. I know it will all get done. I just wish I wasn’t the one that was responsible for taking care of it.
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The presents are all wrapped and nestled around the Christmas tree/bush thingy…
![](http://greatdiversions.com/patchworkplanet/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/image-036.jpg "Christmas \\"tree\\"")
I feel like I spent most of the Fall trying to psych myself up for the Winter. This is the last one that we’ll have to deal with for a while, so I just have to get through a few months, right? However, when the temperature started falling last week (and then stayed - right in the low 20s F), I had two major realizations:
As you can see (assuming you’re not reading this through bloglines), I decided to change up my header. The old one was too boring and I think this one gives you a glimpse into the types of things I see on a daily basis. I’ve been trying to really focus on the pleasant parts of Kyiv lately. I do this every time I get close to leaving a place. It might be silly, but I think it’s a good exercise in slowing down and focusing.
I’m afraid I’ve been a bad blogger lately. As I’ve noticed that the days are getting quite shorter, I think the pre-winter blues have set in. There was even a forecast for snow today (although it hasn’t happened yet). And Shawn was diagnosed with pneumonia this week. Nothing says winter like sickness spreading through the Embassy community like wildfire.
Sorry for the blog silence. My head’s been all over the place lately, causing me to be unable to focus on one thing for more than a short while. Not sure if it’s the summer heat that’s finally made it to Kyiv, or what. Maybe it could just be a few too many days of general craziness. Take last Wednesday for example: I went from a Ukrainian dentist appointment to a burst pipe in the kitchen to having the cable guy come and wire up our apartment. All in a matter of 6 hours. It was a little overwhelming.
So last week offered some hope that spring had finally arrived. Laika spent one afternoon basking in the warm(ish) sun on the balcony. Short skirts reappeared on the ladies. There were couples making out in the parks. Kiosks started setting up their outdoor seating. I even saw workers painting the bottoms of several trees white.
So last summer, I learned that there is someone out there in the world who has a name very similar to mine. In fact, only one letter separates our names. Therefore, only one letter separates our e-mail addresses. And this is how I learned of her existence - when I started receiving her e-mails. Specifically, I started receiving e-mails pertaining to the planning of her wedding.
I’m not usually one that’s into making New Year’s resolutions. Mostly because I know I won’t keep them and then will just feel guilty about it. And I honestly don’t need anything else to feel guilty about. However, this year is a little different for me. I wouldn’t say that I’ve made resolutions, exactly. It’s more that I’m trying to start with a clean slate in 2008. (And I seem to have inadvertently made a catchy slogan for myself.)
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