A Rainy and Relaxing Thursday in Chernivtsi

This morning I slept in a bit, threw on some clothes, ate a banana, and walked to the gym. I had a great workout and really enjoyed it bc it is the first time I have been able to go to Acer, my gym, since March 30th! This morning was also the first time I have worked out that my tailbone has not hurt at all. Yay, and thank goodness...it's only been hurting for one month.

Before I left to go to the gym I left Mom a note letting her know what I was doing so she wouldn't worry when she woke up. On the way to the gym I threw out our garbage, and came upon this recylcle area! This is the first recycling effort I have seen in Ukraine. I have really gotten into the whole recycling, efficiency, sustainability movement in recent years (credit goes to David Shi, Frank Powell, and Angela Halfacre at FU) and so this made me very happy.

During my workout a woman about my age came in and started to use the treadmill beside me. I was the only one in there, as usual. She asked me about how to operate the treadmill in Ukrainian. I replied, "Ya ne rozie me yu/ I don't undersstand." and then said to her, "English?" She replied, "Yes, I speak some English." Awesome. Her name is Tatiana and she is the tennis instructor at the gym. Meeting someone who speaks English so well doesn't happen often in these parts.

After working out I stopped by the minimarket to buy a banana, wheat crackers, an onion, a bag of frozen blueberries, and some yoghurt. I was excited to see blueberries. Frozen strawberries and cherries are everywhere. I've noticed that the stock at the stores here can be a bit inconsistent...sometimes the market will have something and then sometimes they won't. So, when I see something I haven't had that I want, I get it.

We had a good lunch of yoghurt, a bit of muesli mixed in, topped with some strawberries and blueberries. Great after a hard workout. It rained and drizzled all day today, and I was glad I had a ski jacket with hood on. Walking back though I was soaking wet from my workout and I was cold.

So, Mom had a really bad fall the last night we were in Italy and thus we are laying low at the apt in Chernivtsi. Good thing we don't need a whole lot to keep us entertained. She is doing much better but we have cancelled our trip to Greece this weekend.

So we hung out here, did our nails, and had more cereal, grits (from home) and popcorn for dinner. We also did multiple loads of laundry today and completely unpacked from our Italy trip. I have to be be better at remembering to switch the pipe so water flows to the washing machine and not the shower. Mom loves the white wine I bought yesterday and so we enjoyed some of that after dinner. I had an Emergen-C with some Crystal Light tea (also brought from the US) around 11PM and so I am jacked with Vitamins C and B and am hoping it won't keep me awake, bc Lord know I don't need any help staying awake.

Tonight we figured out that an American movie comes on at 10PM on channel 13 each night. Tonight Kate Hudson and the guy who played Aidan on Sex and the City were in a movie. Last night Mom wondered where the movie went bc the commercial breaks are so long here The movie did return, however. Tonight, the long commercial breaks continued and so we timed them. 7 minute commercial breaks. Unreal. Having the TV is reinforcing my language skills, which is what I had hoped for.

We also talked to my Dad through the webcam tonight and the power went out repeatedly mid-way through the conversation. It is back on now and Mom and I are heading to bed. I am going to read a few chapters of my current book, The Geography of Bliss, which by the way is a great read if you like funny travel literature with a dose of metaphysical contemplation regarding the various paths to happiness.

Britt and Sandy return to the US tonight and we are eager to hear about their Paris adventures!

I am continuing to work on the Italy postings...they are coming.

Dobronich! Good night!