Tuesday, November 22, 2005
The day was raw and cold, and very windy. When I got up and went downstairs this morning, one of the umbrellas from the umbrella tables on the back patio had blown off and was upside down, just outside the back door. It was creepy. I heard it last night, but it was too dark to see. Nothing to be done about it anyway. Horace came by this afternoon and took both umbrellas off and stored them in the garage. Next year we will know better.
I went to Michael’s on my lunch hour, and found Alesia a calendar [puppies] and a calligraphy set, on sale. That will be for Christmas. Mother and I discussed wreaths. I think she and Alesia should go pick out wreath and swags from Michael’s and decorate them, then we can use them out front. Mother of course wants something sparkly, and I feel differently. It’s useless to argue about it, however. She’s probably right, and it won’t show from the street unless we get something sparkly.
Alesia had her dance class tonight. Afterwards she’s always in a really good mood. She always dances around and shows us the steps she learned. She can moonwalk very nicely, and do something called the “worm.” It’s so cute.
Alesia made the funniest remark at dinner tonight. We were discussing movies, and I mentioned a favorite movie, that’s a love story. She made a face of pure disgust, and said “I don’t want movie about love, I want movie that is fun!” She was startled when Mother and I laughed.
Bruce e-mailed Mother and didn’t say he is not coming home for Thanksgiving, but didn’t say he was. He said he was off work today and will be off Thursday, but I don’t expect to see him. One short sentence at the end of the brief e-mail said it all – “It’s hunting season.” I had thought that once he got to spend some time with Alesia, he would make more of an effort to come home for holidays, but apparently not. He is very self-centered sometimes and it makes me so angry…
Mother and I ran to Kroger while Alesia was in dance class, and it was a madhouse. You could hardly walk through the aisles. I’m glad she didn’t wait and go tomorrow. Alesia is off from school tomorrow. I bet it will be worse then, with everyone doing last minute shopping.
I was so busy at work I hardly had time to catch my breath. Too much going on. I hope tomorrow will be quiet and I can get caught up. I imagine Friday will be really quiet, and I hope to get a lot done then.
Alesia said a couple of times today that she doesn’t want me to speak Russian. Only occasionally do I pop out a Russian word, like “pazhalsta” [you’re welcome] or “cheestya zooby” [brush your teeth]. She said “I don’t want to hear that,” both times. I am not sure why she doesn’t want to hear it. I have a perfectly passable accent. Maybe she just doesn’t want to be reminded of Russia.
Alesia talks about the orphanage much less now. She went through a spell this summer when she spoke about it all the time. She has stopped that. I don’t know why. Maybe she is letting go of the past. We still pray for “all my friends at Topolevo” every night. I wish I could get them all adopted…
