As I was typing my last blog, Jerry and Sergey interrupted to load us up again to go and get settled into an apartment here in Zap. Let me tell ya, this is not what I expected. Mama, Jerry says you will have to call the people from the Bum Air and apologize! That is a family joke. Now back to our regular broadcast. Poor Jerry had to go to see the apartment late at night and we were so tired from the train ride and, well, it is bigger, but it came with a few surprises. There are 2 bedrooms, a kitchen, large living room with DVD player, and the bathroom has a tub. Unfortunately things are not as sparkling clean as I would prefer because as we were looking at the apartment someone was moving out and they didn’t clean up before they left. We did quite a bit of cleaning today. Also the fridge has three compartments, not all of which work. The washing machine will hold a MAXIMUM of two towels, that’s it, two towels. It washes great, but when you want to open the door you have to call a guy to come an do it for you because the door is broken and the DVD player, well it is basically a room decoration because it will not play ANYTHING because it doesn’t work. Upon further investigation in the apartment we have uncovered a porcelain device in the bathroom that we have not fully identified.
UPO
We will be taking suggestions as to its function and name. Jerry, AKA the family genius, suggested, and I quote, “I think it is something that you use to just wash things out in.” Oooohhhhh really. I agree—I am SURE you wash SOMETHING out in it. Having the unmistakable shape of a toilet bowl I think I know EXACTLY what you wash out in it, however the hose seems ENTIRELY TOO LARGE for what I think you wash out in it. Jon just looks at it an giggles. What really worries me is that it is hooked DIRECTLY to the hot water heater. Boy, you better get the temperature just right before you hit any knobs on that baby or you are in a for a RUDE awakening! Combine this bad boy with scented toilet paper and WOW, what a house party! Again we have gone for the multi-patterned look as you can see from the pictures on the picture site. Oh, the beds, you gotta see the pics of the beds. On each of the two beds there are sheets, not just any sheets—Groovy Kind of Love sheets!
Anna Kate, would you like a set like this for your new bedroom? Yes, oh yes indeed. Jerry is excited; Jon is confused. Jon has just uncovered a pair of socks owned by the previous tenants—maybe he will stop gagging within the hour. Yes Mother, I brought the Chlorox wipes! No Mother, I don’t intend on letting my child catch anything. We have two balconies that overlook what else, other peoples balconies. We have called home to see where some other families have stayed and we will have the names of some apartments to look at tomorrow to see some other options. Poor Sergey, he has been so very good to us and we are so impressed with him. We hated to call and ask to check our some other places. He has been such a help and he takes his job so seriously. He was so worried about us and Jerry told him that things were fine tonight, but because of the amount of time we would be staying, we really needed the washer and fridge to work. We have really been impressed with Sergey. I want to suggest that he go into politics. He is so very good with people and negotiating. Please pray for him being away from his family. My heart is thankful for having him, but I do hurt for him because you can tell he misses his family. Lift up a few extra for Jon. The homesickness is really difficult tonight. All this moving and changing places and Jon is a true homebody!!! When most kids want to go, go, go Jon wants to stay at his house. I must brag on him for a moment. He has been such a trooper and also so very mannerly. It is difficult when you are 11 and you are being observed by inspectors from another country. Yesterday he was so very mannerly and well behaved. Today, they treated him like a king. He got a box of candy, a tour of the tractors and got to see some of the coolest guns. I am so very appreciative of their kindness toward him. Well the boys have turned on the TV, nothing like a good Russian sit-com. I am going to call it a night. Oh, by the way, Sergey has had me get up before 9 am for TWO mornings. Law, my beauty sleep is suffering! Thank goodness the weekend is coming!! Petya is still not allowed to stay with us. We won’t get to have him with us until after the court hearing and the 10 day wait period. So say a special prayer for him because it is really hard to have us so close and yet not get to be with us. Oh, and if anybody guesses correctly the name and function of the UPO (unidentified porcelain object) you get a free video of Jerry using the UPO! Thought that might be a bonus!
