Catching up... and some pics

So did you ever have one of those couple of days where you think - "Oh good grief - what else?" While nothing bad has happened, little things keep happening that make me think "If one more thing happens, I'm going to go insane!"

On Saturday, I put a bowl of soup in the microwave, turned around and heard a not-so-good noise coming from behind me. I turn around and wow - what pretty fireworks are taking place in and around my microwave! So, we quickly pull the plug (which so happens to be on the other side of the kitchen) and just kind of stand there thinking... "OK, well then, that was exciting!"

So for 48 hours I had heat up food on the stove. Totally not complaining, it's just... different. I can't just take the plastic bowl out of the freezer and make it hot. There are just more steps involved with out a microwave.

So then let's back up 24 hours. Monday night I was so excited. The last episode of Survivor (I know - totally pathetic, but I can't stop watching it) downloaded and I had a busy yet quite productive day so I planned to heat a frozen pizza, hunker down under lots of covers on the bed, and enjoy the Survivor finale. I turned the oven on to pre-heat and jumped in the shower. Thirty minuites later, I'm so excited... in my pajamas, gonna have hot pizza and watch Survivor. I open the oven to put the pizza in - the oven is stone cold. AAARRGGHHHH! The light is in on like normal, but no heat. It's as cold as my refridgerator. I want to cry. No microwave and no oven = no pizza.

I was going to have that pizza if it killed me. So... I decided to pan fry it! I wish I took a picture. My two little baguette pizzas just a frying away in the pan. OK, honestly, it didn't work all that well. The bottom was very nice - hot and crispy, but the top, well, it was a bit cold. Although when I chewed it, it kind of turned a nice temperature in my mouth... My crappy appliances were not going to beat me!

So Anita took me to buy a new microwave today - it's a lot better then my old one - it really heats things up fast! My landlord called a repairman to come in the morning for the oven - kind of strange to ask for prayer for an oven, but with Christmas coming, I committed to baking a million cookies for presents and other things, and well, ya can't really do that without an oven! I'm really hoping it's just the element and can be fixed quickly. And I know when I hope about those kind of things, it usually turns in to a huge drama... please, no oven drama!!

Here are some pictures because I decided blogs without pictures are a bit boring...

Anita took the two pictures below in town the other evening.




Below is my Christmas grass... When I was out with Anita today, she put one in the cart. I eyed her suspiciously and said - "Why are you buying a pot of grass?" She said it was a traditional Croatian Christmas custom. So of course I bought one. I want to be traditional - when in Croatia... and then she said I had to tie and ribbon around it. So now I think I'm really traditional, but I have no idea the significance of it all. I'll get back to you on that!

Here's a picture of me by my Christmas tree.

And here is the puppy, kind of depressed that she has all these cool gifts under the tree but she can't open them till Christmas :) i found a store with cheap dog toys! i was so excited as she really needed some new ones, so I got her three for about $6 - very cool!


So, on Thursday I'm heading to Zagreb to visist my friend Ljubica - remember her? We used to walk together in the park every morning. And then I am meeting my friend Janice - she' s coming from Sarajevo to spend a week with me here for Christmas - yea! I'lm very happy to have company, especially someone for Christmas. Pray for safe travels, and a fun time with Ljubica and with Janice. Also please be praying for our Christmas outreach this coming Sunday evening.

OK, thanks for stopping by - Talk to you again soon!