My First Tagging...

I've been tagged by Germaine on her blog. I don't really know what that means, but I will follow the directions and comply only because it's G.

this is what I was informed that I needed to do…

Once you have been tagged, you have to write a blog with 10 random things, facts, goals, or habits about yourself. At the end, choose anyone you think may answer - to be tagged, listing their names & why you chose them. You can’t tag a person who has tagged you.

1. Sadly, I like reality shows like Survivor and Top Chef... It's so pathetic, I'm ashamed to even write it. I even go to the websites to get all the Survivor gossip and watch "after the show is over" video. It borders on addiction.

2. I hate do-it-yourself shows... most people just watch and never really do-it-themselves.

3. For those of you who don't know, I have a dog and I love her very much. I have come to realize though I am not the pack the leader and I have much to learn from The Dog Whisperer. Skoobi must learn she is not the boss of me. I like the Dog Whisperer.

4. I'm in a very strange place in my life now, being pulled in many directions and not knowing which way to go. And I have no clue which way I want to go. I have no clue which way God wants me to go.

5. One of my favorite things to eat is white bread dipped in vinegar.

6. I'd like to travel to the southernmost point in Chile. I'd also like to go to Iceland and Poland. I didn't travel enough when I lived in Europe - another regret to add to my growing list.

7. I hate walnuts.

8. I bought a $100 Liz Claiborne purse at the Salvation Army for $10. I usually wouldn't even spend $10 on a purse, but I needed a nice one to take with me on job interviews. The salvation army rocks.

9. I can't believe I have to go on job interviews. I never thought at 36 I'd be looking to start a second career... I'm having a hard time with that - should I go back to school, should I go right into teaching, should I take a year off and just work a 'mindless' job while I transition back to life here? I have no idea...

10. I used to be a morning person, but now I'm a night person - if I fall asleep, that is. Now it just seems I'm a perpetually groggy grumpy person.

Ok, so now I have to pick people to tag... I suppose they need to have a blog and read my blog... slim pickens...

ok, so, um, in no particular order...

Jana W
Janelle B
Belinda

I can't think of anyone else who wouldn't be annoyed with me for picking them, so I'll leave it at these three for now... :)

Happy Birthday Tomislav and Petra!

OK, so it's cool to have a birthday on St Patrick's day, and it's really cool that Tomislav and Petra have the same birthday. Too bad they didn't get married on St Patrick's day as well because seriously, how often would that happen?

So in honor of their birthday, I'm posting the pictures I mentioned on my birthday blog (see two entries below)

So, above you see Petra smiling, and Tomislav kind of just looking blankly...

Now Tomislav is smiling and Petra is kind of just looking blankly

And now they are both smiling thinking of their kids in college :)

See, I don't make this stuff up - it just happens and I am the grateful blog recipient! Do have a very happy birthday, and I'll see you latter!

Christmas in Varaždin

Christmas was nice... Below are some pictures and just some comments as the day went along.

The Christmas tree on Christmas morning after Santa came :)

Skoobi getting very excited about her presents

When no kids are involved, it's really fun to have a dog - she really got into opening presents!

This isn't the adorably cute video... I still can't believe I lost that one... but this one is the second cutest, but so far from the really good one where Skoobi was literally ripping into the gifts and throwing wrapping paper everywhere... sigh.

Skoobi waiting for more presents... can you say spoiled?

A very happy (and spoiled rotten) dog

Janice and I actually exchange gifts as well... but being in our pajamas and wild hair, I opted not to post pictures of myself - after all, it's my blog :) But we did have fun exchanging gifts and being in pajamas most of the day.

After presents we had special coffee from Dunkin Donuts and Christmas bread - it's SO good!

Later in the afternoon we walked to Anita's for some tea. Lots of kids seem to have received sleds for Christmas, and so it was fun to watch them slide down the steep hills of the moat by the castle. Not something I would do!

The castle in winter - very pretty

One of the trees decorating the town.

Me and Anita after tea

Anita, Janice, me in front of Anita's tree.

It started to snow as janice and I left Anita's apartment, and so we walked home with flakes falling. It was a nice, quiet, white Christmas - hope you enjoyed your Christmas!

Christmas Outreach

So, where were you a year ago today? I distinctly remember where I was a year ago - being turned around at the border during my first attempt at the move to Croatia. But, while I can roll my eyes at it now, I decided not to dwell on it and post the cutest video ever of Skoobi opening her Christmas presents. I lost the video. I was so bummed. It was adorable. I guess I shouldn't attempt to do anything I consider important on December 27th. I think I'm officially declaring December 27 "Stay in bed, snuggle with the dog, read books, and take a nap" day. And since that is what I basically did today, I'm off to a good start :)

Below are some pictures of our Christmas outreach this past weekend. It was a nice time and very well attended by about 35 people. Lots of food, fun, and fellowship as we celebrated Christmas together. (Captions are under the photos)

Group shot

Ana, two of her kids, and Anita around the food table - so much food!

Dragica talking to Beba and one of Beba's friends

Ana's close up with Anita's son (Marko), her dad, and a surprised Anita

Zlatko's wife, Ivanka

Marko again

Luka (Anita's older son) and Nancy preparing some Christmas songs

My friend Janice, pictured with me above at the outreach, came from Sarajevo to spend Christmas with me and the mutt. She just left today after spending a fun week here playing games, walking in the snow, watching some movies, and hanging out. I'm glad she was able to come as it was nice to have company, especially for Christmas. She's part of the reason I stayed in bed most of the day - her being a night person, I was up so late some nights, but still up early the next day. I was exhausted! But it was the good kind of tired, because it really was fun having her here!

Ok, well, even though I don't have that cute video, I'll post Christmas in Varaždin pictures tomorrow. I'm off to start a new book - I already finished one of the ones I got from my mom just last week! I always say I'm going to read slowly, but once I get started, I just get so into it!

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!

I'm no vampire...

I'm having a hard time coming up with something clever for this blog title. Maybe the block is because I should be cleaning, but blogging is so much more fun. :)

On Tuesdays we have our Bible study at Varaždinske Toplice. Usually we met at Ana's house, but Kristina wanted us to come to her place so she could make us a meal. Apparently they slaughtered the pig over the weekend, and below is the pig feast she prepared for us.


The dish in the background is kind of like deep fried fat, except I think it's baked. Think pork rinds except these are soft with fat in the middle. They weren't bad, but I could have used a little salt on mine. The big plate upfront is holding some of the best pork I have ever had in my life. The outside ring of meat was amazing. I just can't say enough about how so unbelievably good it was - holy cow, or pig... whatever. It was amazing.

The sausage on the inside was... good. It was interesting. Sometimes you just need to eat the food without being curious as to what you're eating. I'm up for most things at least once. I mean, the worst thing is that you eat it and it kills you - and then I'm basically a martyr, right?

But anyways, it's basically blood sausage. Pig blood sausage. Anita told me ahead of time that Kristina prepared it, so at least I was prepared as well. So I told Kristina I never had it before but that I would absolutely try some. So then she started to tell me what was in it. Paraphrasing - "We don't use a lot of blood... there's rice... we use the meat from the head and of course the lungs..." I decided to stop listening at the lungs... Lung was not an organ I had eaten yet - I've done eye and kidney and face meat before, but not lung. My decision to stop listening was based upon my personal rule of only knowingly eating one organ per meal (yeah, I made up that rule yesterday).

But honestly, I actually liked it. It wasn't my favorite, but it certainly wasn't horrible. I won't be making it anytime soon, but it's one more food and one more organ conquered!

Below are a few other pictures from our time together (Oh, and it didn't go unnoticed by me that no one else ate the blood sausage!)

Dragica and Ana (please continue praying for Ana's healing from back pain)

Anita and Kristina the Chef!

Dragica and Ana again

Dragica, Ana, Me, Kristina

Ana, Anita, Kristina, Dragica (with her little bag of pig fat)

And since I live in a country that actually celebrates Christmas, I bought my first Christmas tree - yeah it's fake, but it was on sale for half price (only $13 for a 5-foot tree!) and I can use it every year now, so I thought it was a good investment. So below, I introduce you to my Christmas tree - I named her Maggie...

Happy Thanksgiving - finally

I took this picture this evening - the sky was so beautiful after an ugly, overcast, rainy day. I was very happy the picture came out so nicely.

So today I finally had a Thanksgiving dinner with some friends. Sanja, Anita, and Petra came over for turkey, stuffing, potatoes, candied yams, green beans, gravy, and apple pie. It was fun to cook a huge meal and entertain some friends. You all "know" Sanja and Anita, pictured here below.


Petra, pictured below with Anita, just moved to Varaždin last week with her husband Tomislav and her two sons ages 2 and 4. They have known Anita for a few years now, and I'm looking forward to getting to know them more as they have come to be a part of our little church outreach. I met them a few months ago as they were deciding on where God was calling them to move, and so I'm glad they decided to move here and to become part of the fellowship.




I really need to get a tripod or something so I can start being in the group shots! I think we all had a good time of food and fellowship this evening. I had a great time - I love to entertain! but now, I must go to bed. There was a horrible wind storm last night, and my shutter kept banging into the windows and waking me up. I'm exhausted, and I must get up early tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by!

Country Roads... take me home...

Anita and I went to Zagreb on Wednesday to the new mall. Now I'm not so much a mall person, but it's a real mall and it's really nice. It's funny because it is only about a five minute walk from my old apartment in Zagreb but it only opened a couple weeks ago. So we parked there and walked to avoid paying to park in the garage. It was really fun to get out of town for a day and look at all the things we couldn't afford :) We did find some fairly decent bargains... Anita got a sweater, I got some slippers (the floors in my house have no rugs - my feet have never been so cold!), and we just had a fun, mostly worry-free day.


This picture of Anita and I was taken a few weeks back. We forgot to take pictures at the mall and the ones I self-took of us in the car sitting at the red lights were, well, less than stellar. Yeah, not so good. But the memory for me of mall day was when we were just back in town off the highway, listening to Croatian radio when John Denver came on with "Country Road" Next thing I knew, Anita was turning up the volume full blast, singing at the top of her lungs. What was I to do but to join in at the top of my lungs?? We'll definitely be keeping our day jobs, but it was just really fun. Anita actually sounded really cute with her Croatian accent - I just couldn't believe she knew all the words!

The weather finally has transitioned fully to fall. It was 31 degrees when I woke up this morning, with a fine display of frost on the ground.



The first picture above is a bottle with frost on it. Skoobi plays with them in the yard, and I eventually recycle them. The second picture is of the frost covered lawn. The third is my ice covered patio table... I scratched something in it, but it didn't come out in the picture. So there you go - first frost. i hope it's a long while yet before I post pictures of first snow :)

Tomorrow (Tuesday) I'm going to Anita's for lunch, and the on Wednesday I'm meeting a girl to see if she will be a good match for a language teacher for me. I'm really hoping we will hit it off and she will be a good teacher as I really need to start language lessons (like two months ago). Please be praying about our meeting. Her name is Sanja.

Below is just a cute picture of Skoob. I love my digital camera. It's just such a fun thing to have, and such a huge blessing. I'm sure it make my blog a lot more interesting!

Just six days late...

Sorry... I know I said I'd post these pictures on Monday, but Jana Brink was here, and I had two deadlines I had to meet this past week. But all is basically finished, and I have time to blog a little bit now. Fun Fun!

And here she is back in the Balkans - Jana Brink! We had just finished an excellent lunch and were chatting with Anita over tea. It's funny because Jana and I have very few pictures together since we're always taking pictures, so we made sure Anita got one of us.



Jana did a great job on getting her information and pictures for her thesis. She also did the dishes while she was here, which made me a very thrilled and grateful hostess. And I was glad to hear Skoobi is still her favorite dog :) It really was fun having her here, and she and members of her family are hoping to come back next summer to make her gypsy building project a reality - I can't wait to have the whole Brink clan here! If Jana washes the dishes and makes pizza, I can get her mom to cook everything else, her dad and brother to do the yard work, and her sister to wash the windows... works for me! :) And praise God that none of my neighbors lost any chickens while she was here!

Below are Some pictures from the ladies tea last Saturday. The lighting wasn't so good, so my pictures aren't that great - sorry. We had 16 women come, including several new ones, so that was very exciting for us. Everyone seemed to have a great time, and we're looking forward to our next one at the end of this month.






Below I am pictured with my two new friends, Ana and Kristina. I've heard about them throughout the summer, and I'm so glad to have finally met them a few weeks back. It's a little bit hard to spend time with them as they live in the next town over, but on Thursday Anita and I went to Ana's house for coffee. It was a fun time of fellowship with them and with Ana's sister from Switzerland. I'll tell you more about Ana and Kristina in upcoming email updates.




Zdenka is pictured above (along with Anita's mom, Dragica). Zdenka is just such a precious woman. There are four generations living in her home, and it is a very difficult situation for her physically, emotionally, and spiritually . Anita and I went to visit her on Wednesday. I just love being around Zdenka. She's one of those people that no matter if she is laughing or crying, she just oozes the love and joy of Christ. I need to spend more time with her - I know she can teach me a lot.

Thanks once again for stopping by the blog. It's a good place to keep caught up with the day to day adventures of LeAnne and Skoobi! Much love and many blessings!