It begins

First off I want to welcome everyone to our blog. I realize you all may not have a lot of time but I am writing our stories in case you ever have a spare few minutes and would like to catch up on our adventures.

Right now I admit I am not feeling my most articulate. Though we slept for over 11 hours I am still feeling the affects of jet lag and a day of travel. I just changed my computer's time so as to not remind myself that, though I just ate breakfast and had coffee, my body thinks it is after 11 at night.

The last couple of weeks in San Francisco are a bit of a blur. I continued working six nights a week and Zach worked a long week up until the 6th at which point he continued to "work" an unpaid and unpleasant job called packing and moving. We intended to get everything done on Sunday the 12th, but you all know how moving is. It feels endless. Monday night we arrived in Santa Cruz with the last of our belongings not excited to unload our entire moving truck and somehow fit it all in the 8*10 space my sister and brother-in-law marked off for us in their garage. Ellie, my six-year-old niece happily offered to help.

I admit we were skeptical that Ellie could do much to help us and in our grumpiness we were felt certain the process would take us hours. Much to our surprise the truck was unloaded and packed away within an hour. Mike, my brother-in-law, helped Zach with the big stuff while Ellie and I unloaded all the smaller items. What she couldn't carry she slid over to me. She never ceases to amaze me. She was more focused and helpful than I was.


My nieces Ellie and Emma with my sister, Sasha

The next day we finished all the odds and ends of preparation while spending some quality time with the family and my best friend, Jennie. At 2 a.m. Wednesday morning we woke my sister up to hit the road to the airport. Just before our scheduled departure time she remembered the car was out of gas. It is a diesel so we had a fun little adventure trying to find fuel and then witnessed a 6 cop car police chase on the freeway. After all that we did, however, make to the airport in plenty of time and safely flew off to New York.

Our flights were uneventful. We tried our best to sleep and avoid airline food - they still offer it on international flights. Both flights arrived early. By the time we'd arrived in Moscow we made a few friends around us including, not surprisingly, a couple of their way to complete their adoption of a little boy who they were naming Shawn Alan. As much as I am used to these people on my flights to and from Moscow it always warms my heart to see their excitement to finally get to take home their new children.

My dad greeted us and we took the new high speed train into the city. I remember the drive from Sheremetovo Airport into the city taking around an hour, but with Moscow traffic continuing to worsen my dad says it can take up to four hours now. Ugh! I am so glad he chose the train. It took 35 minutes.


Zach watching from the train into the city

The scenery has both changed a lot and yet some of it not at all. I find it is a completely different experience for me bringing Zach. I have been coming to Moscow since before communism fell. I watched the city change returning every couple of years to fancier cars, newer and fancier malls, and varying types of corruption and development. To try and imagine what the current Moscow is like for eyes who have never ventured much away from the west coast of the U.S. is difficult to say the least.


The train station

Zach is perfect for it though. His eyes are constantly wandering trying to sort out all that is happening around him. Since arriving we did a short driving tour of the city, had a dinner with relatives, looked at the view of downtown from the awe-inspiring Moscow State University and spent some time at my dad's office. Today we relax at home before heading to St. Petersburg to see my family - my aunts, uncle, and only cousin I have. After already watching Zach begin to absorb bits of culture and learn a few key words I can't wait to take him to what I and many others consider one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We will visit the Hermitage, which is the second largest museum in the world and also a palace, Leningrad Museum, hopefully see the gulf of Finland as well as other sites from my father's childhood.


Moscow State University


My dad and I at the University.

Within all of this we are trying to let go of all the stress built up in our lives. Though we've been happy and San Francisco gave us so much we also pushed ourselves beyond a healthy stress limit. I am focusing on trying to let go of the build-up as best I can while Zach is remembering what life is like when you can pick up a book for a little while with a perfect cup of coffee and no other obligations. We both are marveling at the notion that we can wear outfits each day rather than just dressing for work. I am so not used to it I get confused each morning.

Well, love to you all. There is much more to write however also much more to do. I will not bring my computer to St. Petersburg so I am sure there will be a lot to say next post. Hope all is well for everyone one of you.

Please view my facebook pictures for a full albums of our adventure.