Banned

So, Turkey has banned blogspot (and may i just say i hate the auto correct on this thing, it tried to change blogspot into bloodspot). I'm in London at the moment, so I'm gonna take some time to catch up on my old posts. But until they lift the ban, I won't be back on here after Wednesday.

Submarines!!!

Kate started yelling from the play room and when I got in there she was franticly pointing out the window and yelling submarine. I ran over to the window, hopped up on the couch and pressed my face to the glass. Now, this isn't the first sub I've seen in the Bosphorus. I saw a few while living with Kate & Jon in Etiler, but we were way to far away to get a picture. And once, I saw one while I was on a boat tour of the Bosphorus...the thing just popped right up next to the boat. It was awesome, except for the fact that my camera was dead. Well, the new house's location is perfect, not only for submarine spotting, but also for taking submarine pictures!!! Isn't it beautiful!?!?

And no, it will never stop being exciting when I see them!!!

How are you supposed to keep a straight face?

I hate boys, but I love men. -Derin



Kristin, what is to become of you? -Ruby



Be careful Elsa. If you drink too much wine it gives you a sore head. -Ruby



I'm lucky I have small boobs. Not like you Kristin, you're not so lucky. -Derin



(While discussing what boys like vs what girls like) I know...boys definitely don't like boobs, do they Kristin? Only girls like them. -Derin

Beauty Saloon

These signs are everywhere and I LOVE it!!! Sadly, I've never been brave enough to get my hair done at a saloon...it was actually over a year before I was brave enough to get my hair done anywhere here.


But anyways...this story is about my thursday night with Derin and one of her friends. They decided they wanted to play 'Beauty Salon' and that I should be their customer. I love playing beauty salon with them, becuase they play with my hair and use pretend makeup. Well, unbeknownst to me Derin's mom had just gotten her some real makeup. And by real makeup, I mean that child friendly stuff in colors that saw their hayday in the late 80's. So, with brushes in hand, they made me up...like an 80's popstar. Then proceed to make each other up. We looked good!

All dressed up and no where to go...

You want what?

The other day I was running up to the groccery store to buy a couple things and the Mom asked me if I pick up a few things for her. But the last item threw me for a loop...
Mom- "Oh, and can you get some cookinbears?"
Me - "Ummm...some what?"
Mom - "Some cookinbears."
Me (with a very confused look on my face) - "Nope. Still don't know what those are."
Mom - "They're...oh what do you call them...cookinbears. You know, those long green things we eat for breakfast."
Me - "OH...cucumbers!"

With the mystery of the cookinbears solved, I went on my way.

But this episode reminded me of awhile ago when I was at a friends house and a similar conversation occured...
Me - "We brought the wine!"
Fresh - "Cool. But we don't have a cucumber"
Me - "Why would we need a cucumber?"
Fresh - "How do you drink wine without having a cucumber?"
Me - Blank stare as if to imply, you're out of your mind.
Fresh - "You know...a cucumber to get the cork out."
Me - "OH...you mean a corkscrew!!! I was really worried about you for a minute."
Fresh - "Corkscrew...cucumber. What's the difference?"
Me - "For future reference, there's a BIG difference between those two things. Now hand me a knife so I can open this wine."

But that's a story for another time...

Happy Valentines Day!

On Wednesday night, the girls came home laden with crafty goodies, so we sat down to make Valentines cards for their parents. It was a lovely evening. We sat around the table amongst our markers, colored paper and glitter glue and had a grand old time. And the best part was at the end, when we realized we had gotten glitter EVERYWHERE! It was all over the table, floor, hands, hair, faces, clothes, etc. Twas a beautiful thing.

This is from 'The Prophet' by Kahlil Gibran...

When love beckons to you follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.
For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.
Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.
All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.
But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.
When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, I am in the heart of God."
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!

Where everbody knows your name...

I realized the other day that I mention going to Cats, a lot, and have never really explained what it is. Cats is our local haunt down in Bebek. It's this great little bar that feels like home (probably because I'm there all the time). I first went there with my friend Stephanie to listen to her friend who is a DJ. It was also through her that I met Alper, the owner of the bar. Over the next 6 months, I went there with Steph & NannyKate and then when they left, I introduced Anna and Rebby to the place. It was the perfect meeting spot for us as it was in the center of where we all lived, so we ended up spending many a weekend there. And although the beer is kinda expensive, we usually ended up getting a couple free ones from Alper. We made friends with the different DJs that played there, the bartenders and some other patrons of the bar. It has now become our Cheers, because everyone there really does know our names. And I don't mind going there so frequently, as I feel that I'm helping to support my friends. So, as I took Victoria there for the first time, I felt like I was continuing a great nanny tradition...alcoholism...just kidding!!

Me & Alper

Rebby practicing her DJ skills

Rebby & company with our favorite bartender