Aniversarea noastra

Am facut si noi 15 ani de cand ne-am vazut prima oara, asa ca Nick si-a calcat pe fobia de restaurante si public si am fost la un French Wine Seller Restaurant, unde ne-am facut si noi niste poze blurred and dark :)

Nectarie cu Ellie

Juliana

Assignment for Speech Class - "Stefan the Great"

'Hi Stefan,

This is a good outline. You got 15 out of 15 points. On point 2 C, please be sure to tie in how that relates to him being a Christian. 

Your next step is to work on transition statements, and figure out which points you want to cover in more detail in order to hit the 4 to 6 minute window. I'd aim for at least 5 minutes at home since you tend to go faster in class.

The only other thing you need to work on for Thursday is to revise your introduction and conclusion. Put them into paragraph form, and actually write out everything you want to say. Check back in the book for the description. It does not follow true outline format. You will need your transition statements at the end of the introduction, and the beginning of the conclusion. 

Please let me know if you need further guidance. You are doing a great job, and I'm looking forward to your speech!

Mrs Robertson '

Sent from my iPad

On Jan 8, 2016, at 2:56 PM, "sheep13@aol.com" <sheep13@aol.com> wrote:

"Hello, 

Here is my outline, I tried to follow your directions as best as I could.

      

Thanks,

Stefan

1. Intro

     a. If Stefan the Great hadn't existed, Moldavia would have been part of Turkey today..

     b. Stefan the Great was a Christian king of Moldavia in the 15th century, 

        he defended Romania from the Turks many times using his military skill, 

        a humble and righteous king, the people of Moldavia themselves named him Stefan the Great.

     c. Unlike most kings, he was a Christian. He always fought in defense, never attacking, and he always tried to keep death at a minimum.

2. Stefan was a Christian

      

     a. He would build a church after every battle to give thanks to God, he also fasted and prayed continously after a battle for 3 days.

     b. He is considered a saint. But its debatable because he commited adultery.

     c. He won over 40 battles while outnumbered, he was a smart king, and he used a couple of interesting tactics against his enemies.

3. Stefan was a good military tactition.

     a. Stefan won his first battle as king when he was 17 years old, and he kept on fighting till his death at 71, all these years of experience 

        made him a very worthy adversary.

     b. In Moldova at that time, there weren't many people or resources for him to use in his wars, so he used everything he had in a very creative way.

        He once set off a stampede of pigs to scare off the enemy.

     c. He was a humble king and he never forced people to join his army, therefore the people of Moldova gave him the nickname:

        Stefan the Great and Holy.

4. Stefan loved his country and his people, and he fought for their freedom and well being until his last breath.

     a. Stefan didn't do taxes, and thats why he didn't live rich.

     b. Stefan fought for Moldova his whole life, his last moments were spent on the field fighting. 

     c. All of these atributes made him a very good king, although he had some flaws, the people of Moldavia remember him to this day,

        and they honor his memory by building statues of him practically everywhere!

5. Conclusion.

     a. Stefan was a important figure in Moldova's history, Moldova was a prosperous and peaceful country while he reingend, 

        he kept it safe from the enemy, and he showed that we can be Christians, and still ruthlessly defend ourselves in case we are in danger.

     b. He is considered one of the most important kings of Moldova, without him, my country would have been a very different place..

Diferiti

Am doi baieti diferiti. Unul, nu a dat semne prea evidente, dar era destul de baietos intre doua fete mici, incerca din rasputeri sa le domine si sa se impuna (greu in fata incapatanatei sefe). Dar cumva, reusea.

A inceput sa scrie poezii si sa isi faca pe ascuns o creasta in par.

E sensibil si cand era mai mic plangea usor, cred ca si acum ar face-o daca nu s-ar ascunde sub platosa.

Il adora pe Nicu si ar sta cu orele sa il asculte, ii place prezenta lui si ii iubeste povestile pe care deja i le stie pe de rost :).

Celalalt, nu vrea sa faca niciun instrument, nu sta sa il asculte pe taica-su, cred ca nu intelege "limba" pe care vorbeste Nicu, dar are si el sensibilitati... numai fata de mine. Imi aduce floricele si ma apara cand ceilalti vorbesc urat. Ar sta toata ziua in curte, de unul singur, se intretine destul de frumos, se joaca cu scutterul, sapa gropi, isi face hide outs sa nu il vad, se uita prin canion sa vada ceva spectaculos (nu prea gaseste ce vrea), e facut sa stea pe afara, nu in casa, cu penita in mana :)

E frumos cu casa plina.

Nectarie creste

S-au mai adunat perlute de la Nectarie, si mi-e tot mai greu sa le scriu. Nu ma trage ata, dar ma gandesc ca se pierd, o sa le uit.

In magazinul arabesc, de unde cumparam branzeturi si alte chestii minunate, canta muzica.. arabeasca, bineinteles, si il intreb pe un culoar mai retras:

- Nectarie, ce fel de muzica e asta?

El se uita jucaus si incepe sa se mîste adecvat (Nicu spune ca e muzica de imburiceala) si apoi zice cu patos:

-Shake your butt, poop in the toilet!

Nu stiu de ce, are atractie pentru cuvantul asta, cand a fost serbarea de sfarsit de an, s-a urcat pe scena si a spus ca el vrea cadou de Craciun "a toilet". M-a intristat ca vine cu astfel de glume proaste, dar m-au si mirat curajul si dezinvoltura lui. Nici n-a clipit cand a spus prostia.

Apoi, in biserica sta rascracanat, tolanit pe jos, cu fundul in sus, cu spatele la Altar, oricum, numai cum trebuie nu. Parintele vine si ii da cu cadelnita pe langa el, noi ne aplecam, el sta ca lemnul. Dupa ce trece parinte, Nicu il intreaba rastit: - Tu stii ce trebuie sa faci cand vine preotul sa dea cu tamaie?. El, nedumerit, raspunde - Da, stiu. Pai ce trebuie sa faci, hai spune!. - Hapciu! Vine raspunsul copilului :)

Iar de ceva timp are dileme existentiale. Mai deunazi ma intreaba ce o sa faca tati cand creste el mare. Eu nu stiu la ce se refera si incerc sa aflu mai multe. Reiese ca el crede ca atunci cand se face mare devine instantaneu tatic, asa ca trebuie sa ii ia locul lui Daddy si sa conduca familia (si eventual masina). No, stai, ca mai e mult pana acolo, bre! Trebuie sa iti faci familia ta, sa te casatoresti cu o fata, sa aveti copii, heheee, cale lunga.. Mai mult decat calea lunga, pe el il inspaimanta "fata", care fata? Cum care, nevasta-ta, aia pe care o sa o iubesti, cu care o sa te casatoresti... Iiiiihhh, dar trebuie musai sa ma casatoresc? Cum gasesc eu fata aia? Ooof. Greu, la asta nu am raspuns, cum randuieste Dumnezeu!

Am lasat copilul ingandurat, povara casatoriei s-a asezat peste inima lui :D

Dar alta problema, "mami, dar cand o sa ma fac mare, cum stiu eu sa ma duc la job si sa imi fac jobul bine?" . Of, mai e mult pana acolo, trebuie sa incepi sa faci scoala, sa inveti bine, sa rezolvi probleme si asa, iti castigi un loc al tau, o meserie pe care o sa o faci bine, la.. un job..  Greu de inteles. Mai trebuie sa treaca timp sa se poata lamuri cum, si mai ales, sa se linisteasca. Pentru ca e preocupat foarte tare de asta!

The Nativity of Christ has shone to the world the light of wisdom

,Ugh I am glad to have back my Ipad. Nectarie is stealing it every other night to watch ... My Little Pony.. I don't know why such a strong willed, defiant and singular boy would pick such a lame movie to watch.

Anyway, we had a great Christmas the other night, the family that we baptized has come to our house, and I was glad that finally, after 4 years of living here, we weren't alone. The kids paired up and went to their hidings. We ate alot and played with the little baby :). Everybody loves Julianna, even though she is fussy and crunky, but in the same time, so helpless and frail. 

They are a simple family, he is a mechanic, a smart and funny guy, she is warm and patient. They also do homeschooling and they just got baptized this year in January. So they are pretty fresh in this world, everything is mesmerizing and hard, colorful and smelly, full of gifts and hunger, obedience, fast. 

The last month was hard on them, especially for her, after starting to develop pain in her hand. It turns out that she has a degenerative disease, multiple sclerosis. Me and Nick were baffled to find this out. The future looks grim and I cannot stop thinking at Julianna,  and the rest of the kids. How alone they are, how will the future look for them. :(

I love everybody and I would want to keep them safe, to make them disappear in the face of this future. 

My head hurts. The Nativity of Christ has already started. This is the beginning of a long way which will end in the beautiful time of Pascha. 

Some of us are at the beginning, others on the way, the last ones are already climbing on the hill of Golgota. Like the last image of my dear Mioara.

Malagamba :)

De ziua lor

I love them!!

Olguta ne-a amintit in fiecare zi cat mai e pana la ziua ei. Avea atata harnicie si bucurie in ziua mult-asteptata, ca ma uimea. Am intrat in jocul ei si m-am bucurat cu ea, pentru ea, gandindu-ma ca bucuria asta nu o sa dureze vesnic, si sa o las sa savureze copilaria, inocenta, bucuria. Chiar mi se parea putin afazica, in atatea griji si probleme, inauntru si afara, dar ea, dulceata, nu le stie. Parca imi aduc vag aminte ca si mie mi se parea fenomenal ca implineam 12 ani :). I-am luat un inelus de la Manastirea din Arizona, de argint, pe care sunt scrise cateva cuvinte, si o pereche de pantofi, pe care stiu si-gur ca ii descoperise in garaj, dar ea tot s-a bucurat de ei.

E frumos ca inca are resurse sa accepte lucruri simple, alte fete de varsta ei au prieten, brrr. 

Am plutit toata ziua, m-am bucurat foarte tare si am fost recunoscatoare ca am putut sa imi aniversez inca odata iubitii mei. Ca Nicusor e sanatos si ne iubim si Olguta noastra creste.

Bineinteles ca iar ne-am adus aminte cum a fost la nasterea ei, poveste comica pe care o spunem an de an. Nu ne saturam sa radem de ea si parca e la fel de amuzanta. :)

Pentru fiecare:

Brainstorming at the church

Ceva interesant s-a petrecut la noi la biserica saptamana trecuta. Interesant de observat si de luat aminte.

 Impreuna cu parintele, o mana de oameni au lucrat la niste surveys, unde pe baza mai multor intrebari s-a format o lista cu directiile in care biserica noastra ar trebui sa mearga.

Dupa ce fiecare a completat online si anonim survey-ul, s-au pus rezultatele intr-un tabel, si Sambata trecuta s-a adunat cam toata lumea la biserica (mai putin noi) ca sa discute si sa hotarasca care sunt punctele slabe ale bisericii, ce e mai important de urmat si de facut in viitor. 

Nu imi imaginam ca se poate discuta atat de mult, ca se pot umple peretii de foi, cu pro/cons, strenghts/ weaknesses, cu opinii si propuneri atat de diverse. A fost ca un exercitiu de planificare pentru noi, care am privit listele ca pe ceva nemaipomenit, intrebandu-ne retoric, atat eu cat si Nick, daca astfel de planificari se fac si la nivel macro (bineinteles ca da), si unde ne situam noi, care traim asa de haotic, in fata acestor computere umane..(.?)

Toata lumea a fost de acord ca brainstormingul a fost foarte important, minunat, necesar. E adevarat ca l-am avut pe Jeff (sotul unei rusoaice, creierul cenusiu, care se ocupa cu asa ceva la jobul lui), as a mastermind. Wow! Inca nu imi revin citind listele.

Ma gandesc cum am trai daca am face asa ceva cu situatia noastra,mpoate am fi mai calculati? mai rationali? mai productivi? Mai fara Dumnezeu in cele din urma?..

Who knows..

Anyway, pentru comunitatea noastra a fost productiv, cred ca daca reusesti sa tii in balanta granutele de credinta cu  rationalitatea faptelor, inca il mai poti afla pe Dumnezeu in Biserica

Classes at the co-op

Stefan

8:30- 9:30 Physical Science

10:00- 11:00 Grammar

11:30- 12:30 Freestyle Homeschool Literature Class

1:00-2:00 Morse Code

Olga

8:30-9:30 Anatomy

10:00-11:00 Middle School Literature Class

11:20-12:30 Sewing Class

2:15-3:00 Ceramics

Cornelia

9:30- 10:45 Story of the World - Susan Bauer

11:00- 12:15 English Language 

1:00-2:00 Ceramics

2:15-3:00 Bible Seeds ( un fel de dans bebelusesc pe muzici din Biblie)

Nectarie 

8:30-9:45 Kindergarten Class

10:00-11:30 Preschool 

Anatomy class - Olga

So, aici e un model de email trimis de profesoara de anatomie a Olgai. E si ea mama unor fete de la co-op, nimic deosebit.  In fiecare saptamana, copiii prezinta prin rotatie cate o parte a corpului uman. Olga a prezentat saptamana asta Rinichii.

Kidneys

 by  Olga Baciu

The kidneys are important because they keep the composition, or makeup, of the blood stable, which lets the body function. They prevent the buildup of wastes and extra fluid in the body

keep levels of electrolytes stable, such as sodium, potassium, and phosphate

make hormones that help

regulate blood pressure

make red blood cells

bones stay strong

Every day, the two kidneys filter about 120 to 150 quarts of blood to produce about 1 to 2 quarts of urine, composed of wastes and extra fluid.

Each kidney is made up of about a million filtering units called nephrons. The nephron includes a filter, called the glomerulus, and a tubule.

Most people are born with two kidneys, but many people can live on just one. Kidney transplant surgeries with live donors are common medical procedures today.

Drugs and toxins can also cause kidney problems. Using large numbers of over-the-counter pain relievers for a long time may be harmful to the kidneys. Certain other medications, toxins, pesticides and "street" drugs such as heroin and crack can also cause kidney damage

Kidney disease usually affects both kidneys. If the kidneys' ability to filter the blood is seriously damaged by disease, wastes and excess fluid may build up in the body. Although many forms of kidney disease do not produce symptoms until late in the course of the disease, there are six warning signs of kidney disease:

High blood pressure.

Blood and/or protein in the urine.

A creatinine and Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) blood test, outside the normal range. BUN and creatinine are waste that build up in your blood when your kidney function is reduced.

A glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 60. GFR is a measure of kidney function.

More frequent urination, particularly at night; difficult or painful urination.

Puffiness around eyes, swelling of hands and feet.

Treatment for acute kidney failure typically requires a hospital stay. Most people with acute kidney failure are already hospitalized. How long you'll stay in the hospital depends on the reason for your acute kidney failure and how quickly your kidneys recover.

In some cases, you may be able to recover at home. Corn-silk and cherry-stem tea are very good.

"Dear Class, I have really been enjoying all of the excellent Oral Reports that you have been preparing, and have been quite impressed with both your research and your delivery of your presentations. This Week 1.      Finish reading Chapter 5 on ‘Health and Nutrition”.    2.      Continue with your nutrition log daily.  ü  Bring it to class for me to look over on Thursday, and for discussion together about everyone’s eating habits.   3.      Write 1-2 paragraphs about what you are discovering regarding your own eating habits.  For example: ü  Do you tend to eat mostly carbohydrates?   ü  Do you eat natural foods (like apples or oatmeal), or maybe more processed foods (i.e., Cheerios or energy bars)?   ü  Do you eat mostly in the am, or pm, or eve, or are your meals balanced throughout the day.   ü  Any thoughts about why you are eating??  Maybe you are truly hungry, but what about when you are just bored, or perhaps anxious.   ü  Try to include as many of these angles in your paragraphs as possible, plus any other thoughts that you might have. Oral Reports.   This week:  ·         11/12:  Joel - Teeth ·         11/12:  Andrew – Vitamins ·         11/12:  Andrea – Minerals Upcoming:  ·         11/19:  Elisa – The Lungs ·         12/3:  Justin – Cigarette Smoking’s Effect on the Lungs Homework: o   Finish reading Chapter 5  o   Daily Nutrition Log – due Thursday o   1-2 paragraphs about your eating habits – due Thursday Mrs. Ajamian

"

Mosii de Iarna

Copiii sunt bucuria vietii. Dar nu sunt jucariile noastre, au vointa lor proprie si sunt diferiti de noi.

Cea mai mare realizare pentru mine, abia acum la 40 de ani am inteles-o, e sa iti cresti copiii in acelasi spirit, sa iti tii familia unita, sa ne bucuram de prezenta fiecaruia, sa ne regasim dimineata, dupa o noapte de singuratate, cu icnete de bucurie si imbratisari puternice.

 Sa radem over and over la aceleasi glume pe care le-am auzit si saptamana trecuta, luna trecuta, poate chiar anul trecut. 

Sa mergem peste tot impreuna, sa discutam in masina, sa ne scoatem ochii si apoi sa ne para rau, sa ne iubim iarasi cu putere, sa ne tinem unul de altul si unul pe altul.

Copiii sunt bucuria vietii.

Spectacol aviatic

In fiecare an avem unul, si se poate spune ca e chiar in curtea noastra. Copiii cei mici erau fascinati de zgomot si de faptul ca erau atat de aproape de pamant, au trecut aproape deasupra casei, puteai sa intinzi mana sa le atingi. Asa ca si-au construit si ei cateva si ne-au facut noua un spectacol in gradina.

What I think about America

                                     By Stefan Baciu

America is a great country, or so everyone says.. I don't like cliches, so I'm gonna change it up a bit. America used to be a great country. It was a place where people could come and fulfill their dreams, they could start their own business, teach their children the way they wanted to, and live peacfully for the rest of their lives. Many people have belived in this country and have fought  to keep it alive. If one of those heroes rose up out of their grave to see what it has become, I don't think they would like it very much..  America has been spiraling downwards very quickly. Man has been getting furthur and further away from God, it infuriates me that the accepted hypothesis for the creation of the universe is the Big Bang. Schools these days don't even want to introduce the idea of an inteligent creation! In the early days of America everyone went to Church on Sundays, everyone said their prayers at night and morning. They were protected and helped by God, thats why they went on to create the steam engine, light bulb, and other very important inventions. Without his guidence people went on to find out about drugs, and other nasty things. The generation of today is getting its creativity crushed by video games and Iphones. The only thing they'd be able to invent in the future, is different types of better drugs. Many people are depressed when they see the next generation of this country, people have died in horrible wars to uphold America, and most kids of today only care about getting to the next level on a game.

If we keep going like this, America is bound to fall to its grave, just like all the heroes that have died for it, there are some kids that restore the faith in humanity in people, we need more of those kids, and that implies parents as well! Most parents these days just throw their kids into public schools and follow their own career, even though those people think they care, they don't. Caring about a child means that you actually have to stay with him or her, YOU have to teach him how to survive in this world, not some unkown, untrusted teacher. Do you really think teachers care about your kids?

I don't want America to become another North Korea, or Syria, because if we keep going on this path we will eventually reach it. I think the only way to stop this is to go to Church, belive in Christ and let Him guide us. 

Impressions from our trip (very funny ))

Olguta



When I heard that we were going to NY city, I was very excited. But my excitement soon died down quickly after I found out what we were going to do there. For the first week, we would ride around and stare at ordinary buildings around us--which I found very boring since I have already seen plenty of buildings elsewhere--next we went to see the Statue of Liberty, though it had to be at quite a distance since it would cost too much to see it up close (or take too long). Also did I mention we went on a ferry to see it? I guess that was my favorite part. The first week went by pretty quickly, and we finally reached Sunday. I wasn't sure if I was going to see my preschool friend or not, since it has been so long, so I didn't keep my hopes up to high. But to my luck my mother found out she was still here, and I was glad because there were only unfamiliar old people there, that i didn't know, but they seemed to know me so I played along and pretended to recognize them.  After Sunday was over, to my dismay, we had to begin the hard week. My parents would always be so busy and always needed help, so they were giving me and my other siblings lot of work to do. And of course there were whinings and scoldings. After a hard day we would try to sleep, but the beds were so uncomfortable; my legs were hanging off, and  my  little sister has never heard of personal space, and the blankets were so thin. I missed my comfy big bed, with all the space I need, and fluffy blankets and pillows. The week seemed to take forever and I got more and more sick of New York. Too many nasty people, graffiti, narrow roads, traffic noises. But I had to get used to it. Then FINALLY, Saturday arrived. We all packed our stuff, added some finishing touches, then LEFT! The airplane was a pain in the butt, though. Literally. Also my two little siblings were always fighting for the window seat. Cornelia was actually CRYING. The worst was over and we got home quickly as possible. I was so relieved. But then.... A fresh new wave of stress, panic, and worry arrived. Because of the concert in five days.


Cornelia
Our two-week trip to New York City was very interesting. We went on adventures like going on a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, going to Maine, and many others! Our basic idea on going to NYC is to take everything out of our house there, for we sold it and had to clear everything out of the house. The first week was easy-going ( for me ) and the second week it got a bit more harder, and harder 'till Wednsday. The house was still full. We had a lot of work ahead of us! My parents got Rubbish Removers twice, or even three times. We brought some stuff with us and the rest thrown away with the Rubbish Removers. On George St, my dad has an apartment there. The yard is full of weeds and spiders and bugs. Yuck, if you pulled at least one weed out your hand would be all muddy and dirty. I tried it, pal. We had to clean the basement and put a few of our items in our house on Seneca St/Dr/anythingelse in there. Imagine how many spiders could be in there! Everywhere you turn you'll see at least two or three spiderwebs. When my dad and my oldest brother, Stefan/Codrin went to clear the basement a little, they found a raccoon in there! We were bored about NYC, and we'll head onto Maine because it was part of our trip. You see, we didn't go to Maine just to see the beautiful scenery. We are planning to move there, and we looked at a few houses we viewed on Trulia.com, but first before we move to Maine we are going to our beautiful Country Romania for about 6 months to 1 year. I know this is a little off-topic, but i'll add it because it was awesome adventurous and with amazing scenery... About in our second week or before our second week, we traveled up to Maine. It took hours and hours to get there, and we had to wake up at 5:00 AM., but it was awesome. We got some sleep and a butter-roll to eat on our trip. Once we arrived in Maine, we stopped at a hotel called Super-8.
;We had a TV and and comfy beds. We only stayed there for 2 days. But before we had to go, we went to a friend's house we met in Colorado. They moved to Maine, though. They had 5 dogs, 2 horses, 4 cats and ALOT of chickens! I also got to ride on one of the horses, and i gotta tell ya somethin'. If you're feeling nervous to ride a horse, just stay longer. You'll get used to it and you'd want to ride a horse everyday! Anyway, it was time to go back to New York. We went to Connecticut and stopped there at a hotel. It was Motel-6, a bit worse ( a lot worse ) than Super-8. It smelled like someone smoked in there and the bathroom door wouldn't close fully. I was glad to be back in NYC. and I already told about what we did in the second week of our trip to NYC and Maine. That was our trip to NYC, pretty adventurous, huh? Well, im glad to be writing this essay about NYC and im also VERY glad to be back in San Diego, CA

Mihai Nesu

Si cu little man :)

Printre lucruri

New York, I love you, I love you not.

Ultima oara am fost aici in 2009, pentru examenul de cetatenie (pe care nu l-am trecut, pentru ca petrecusem prea mult timp in Romania si m-am dovedit un viitor cetatean dezinteresat de destinul Americii ca sa ma calific pentru pasaportul biometric).

Plecasem din Reno, Nevada si am stat pentru o zi la casuta noastra din Seneca, impreuna cu mama soacra. A fost ultima oara cand am mai vazut-o, m-a petrecut pana la taxi si ne-am luat ramas bun, amandoua gandindu-ne la acelasi lucru...

Cu totii, hotarasem sa plecam in 2008, cu un an inainte; eram satui pana peste cap de problemele din casa, de lipsa de spatiu, de atmosfera neprietenoasa intr-ale homeschoolingului din statul New York.
Asa ca Nick s-a apucat sa caute un job prin America, oriunde, numai sa plecam de aici. Pentru ca imi doream foarte mult sa ajung  la Sfantul Ioan Maximovici, a cautat ceva aproape de California, si iaca-na, tot pe Coasta de Vest si acum, dupa 7 ani.

Dar sa revin la New York. 

Cand am plecat, copiii erau mici, Codrin avea 6 ani, Olguta 5 iar Lia, abia implinise 2. Si totusi, cate amintiri avem de atunci :).
Am ajuns iar in Seneca si, desi casa arata ca dupa bombardamente, cu tavanul cazut, praf cat degetul si gandaci peste tot, ne -am inghesuit toti in cele doua camarute de sus si ne-am apucat sa desfacem lucrurile. Mobila pe care Nicusor a cumparat-o pentru mine, baia pe care a taiat-o din bucatarie, fiecare lucru pe care l-a facut pentru mica noastra familie - le stiu pe toate :), mi le aduc aminte, hainutele roz, mici, de fetita, lucrurile lui Codrin, care acum ii vin lui Nectarie, poze si videos de la Tae kwon do, medaliile lui Codrin pentru fiecare centura :), desenele lor de pe pereti, masuta mica la care mancam, bucataria in care acum nu mai avem loc toti - fiecare stam in picioare si imbucam pe repezeala ceva-, caci nu avem atatea scaune si nici spatiu sa le punem, toate astea ne apropie mai tare, ne iubim si mai cu foc. 

E casuta noastra, in care am petrecut atatea momente frumoase, si tensionate, iar pe care acum, o s-o vindem.

Orasul tot e haotic, cartierul e prost, suntem exact la granita dintre doua comunitati : cea a latinilor galagiosi - portoricani, spanioli, mexicani - plini de culoare si temperamentali, si cea a polonezilor blonzi, linistiti, frumosi si retrasi. Un amestec ciudat, care ma face sa ma departez si mai tare de spiritul "latin".

 Singurul lucru pe care il regretam erau magazinele romanesti cu mancarea traditionala si vanzatoarele care vorbesc romaneste.

Ah! Ce mi-ati lipsit! 

Ne-am aruncat din avion in masina, si apoi ne.am dus direct la Cofetaria lui Nita, despre care se zice ca a fost cofetarul lui Ceausescu -toata lumea il stie si cumpara de la el. Dupa 20 de an si tot e in business. 

Am cumparat repede niste prajituri, ca sa ne alinam ranile: doua amandine, doua savarine, doua diplomat si un pound de pateuri cu branza. Le-am dat copiilor cate unul, au disparut instantaneu in guritele flamande. Parea aproape o profanare sa strivesti acele bunatati intre dinti. Ele trebuiau inhalate cu grija, transformate intr-o pulbere si trase pe nas, ca un drog din cele mai bune, ca sa dureze mult si sa iti umple simturile. Dura prea putin senzatia in gura, ne apucase deja parerea de rau ca nu cumparasem t.o.t. magazinul. Ughh..

Apoi am fost la magazinul de carnuri, noi ii spuneam Porc, pentru ca numai porcarii aveau acolo, care mai de care mai imbietoare - jumari, slaninuta (care merge cu ceapa), mici, muschi de porc rulat cu condimente, pateuri, siruri de cabanosi curgand din tavan, caltabos, piftie, you name it, ei aveau! 

M-am regasit cu vanzatorul inalt, polonez, ma recunoscuse, veneam cu copiii mici agatati de mine si imi dadea mereu ceva in plus. De data asta m-am oprit la mici, am luat un pound de toti banii si am dat sa plec. Mi-a facut iar semn sa stau si a intrat in frigiderul mare, de unde a scos un sirag de cremvusti pe care mi i-a impachetat in hartie maro si mi i- a strecurat in punga. 

L-am intrebat din sprancene ce e cu asta si mi-a zambit, " Take it, take it, and go. Go." Mi-a placut prea tare de toata atmosfera ca sa mai protestez, am acceptat gestul, dar il voi trimite pe Nic sa mai cumpere ceva de acolo si sa ii dea un tip generos. Nu vreau sa accept cadouri.

Azi am fost la magazinul de bourek, un fel de placinta dobrogeana, cu diferite umpluturi - branza, spanac, carne de vaca. Am luat si de acolo cateva bucati de placinte si iaurt- se vand impreuna si imi aduc aminte cum ma plimbam dupa facultate pe la Piata Romana, Universitate, iar undeva intr-un colt, se vindeau astfel de placintute dobrogene cu branza, la o tejghea,  alaturi de un pahar mare si rece de iaurt. Asta cand ma plimbam cu Tota dupa cursuri. Indragostita pana peste urechi. Imi cara geanta plina de carti si vorbeam si radeam pana nu mai puteam.

Apoi am fost lla Papagalul, alt magazin romanesc, unde am ascultat noile manele romanesti, nu pot sa spun ca m-au dat peste cap, mi-au starnit curiozitatea poate. Aici am gasit cas, branza de burduf, ceai de tei, salata bouef si ulei de floarea soarelui. Delicatese! 

Cred ca o sa ma intorc si mai pufoasa in San Diego.

Am uitat de caldura lipicioasa, da..., asta il pune jos pe Nicu, stam cu doua AC-uri sa ne bata direct pe noi, numai sa scapam de senzatia de caldura. Copiii mi-au cerut in continuu sa bea apa, e o vreme asa de diferita de CA. 

Apoi grafitti-urile, peste tot, ca o panza tãrcatã de prost gust. Ma invatasem sa fac abstractie de ele, dar venind dintr-un loc unde nu sunt, acum imi sar si mai tare in ochi, ma impung in retina si imi fac rau. 

Tot ce merita vazut in New York e Manhattan-ul. Cladirile impresionante, cu adevarat foaaarte lungi si stralucitoare, pleiada de oameni ca lucreaza in ele- si ei interesanti si frumosi, musculosi, bine imbracati, cu parfumul dara dupa ei, uneori simt ca as putea merge ore in sir pe strazi doar uitandu-ma la ei si imaginandu-mi povestea lor. Politistii sunt frumosi, cred ca au ore de body building incluse in servici, ca nu am vazut unul sa fie amarat si fara x-cepsi pe el.

 Constructiile sunt majoritatea vechi, din caramida rosie(excluse buildingurile inalte, totusi) si pe unele chiar scrie anul constructiei. Cred ca NY e printre putinele orase din USA care are case din caramida. Asta aminteste putin de primii oameni care au pus piciorul pe aici si de unde veneau, pentru ca seamana cu cladirile din Londra.

Well, nu poti sa ramai insensibil la frumustile orasului :), iar de data asta am deschis ochii mai bine. Ca sa stiu de unde am plecat.

Good night, New York-erilor, time to move forward!

Mic

KCe frumos e sa fii mic. Sa adormi la mama in pat, sa-i mirosi perna, sa-i simti suflul, rasul, sa te simti in siguranta, iubit.

Si in alta zi:

Si dupa ce l-am admirat indelung, am simtit un miros umed. Pipi in paaaaat! Grrrrrr