“Best Western Congress Hotel modern Fitness Centre equipped with sauna is available during the whole year. It is situated on the basement and is a complimentary facility for our living guests.”
I’m starting to have second thoughts about my upcoming trip to Armenia.
Oh my, nothing like having something to look forward to! I got approval for my vacation plans today and didn’t waste any time booking our plane tickets. Three weeks in the US west, including a “life list” visit to the Grand Canyon. Just gotta survive a few more months…. Oh, sweet anticipation!
Igor told me last night (bless his heart) that I need some time off, some down right. He’s absolutely right, I don’t disagree. WE need some down time together. I’m making dumb mistakes (like leaving my backpack on the train and not even realizing it until FIVE hours later). But I work for an American organization now, which means a decadent (by American standards) but miserly (by European standards) three weeks of vacation annually. I’m saving it up for a kick-a** trip. Oh, just a few more months….
I’m back home in Kyiv, wondering when that magic moment occurred and Kyiv became “home.” It is home because my husband is here, first and foremost. My work and friends are here, too. I love being in Columbus, too, my other home, where my family and friends are. And I’m always amazed at how quickly and easily it is to reconnect with those close friends I see once a year, if I’m lucky.
I slept for something like 14 hours Tuesday night, and enjoyed a quiet day with Igor on Wednesday. He took me to the fitness club he joined recently, and signed me up as well. It felt great to have a good workout, and I’m looking forward to us getting in shape together. There are saunas in both the men’s and women’s locker rooms, which of course was the big selling point for Igor. I was kind of bummed we couldn’t use the sauna together, but as I was in mine I heard sounds on the other side of the wall and started to wonder… “Igor, is that you?” Sure enough! So we sat in our respective saunas and chatted through the wall, being the only people in either one. It was cute.
I’m back to the office today, which will be great. I miss my colleagues!
I’m traveling back to Kyiv today, having left a not-so-insignificant economic stimulus package in both Washington DC and Columbus OH. We’ll see how the Germans are doing during my layover in Frankfurt, I might need to help them out, too.
Two weeks is definitely too long a period to be away from Igor. I think this is the longest we’ve been apart in nearly two years. It’s not been easy.
During my travels, though, he’s found a fitness club near us and been a couple times already. I’m looking forward to joining as well and working together on the flab we’ve both developed. (Nothing like trying on clothes with your best friends who aren’t in the least bit shy to let you know you’re porking out.)
I’m in Columbus. It’s always great to be here, but overwhelming, as well. So many people I’d like to see, things I’d like to do, and even less time than usual. I’ll be here 48 hours, and since I’m physically and mentally exhausted after 9 intense days in DC, I just can’t do it all this time. I’m also missing my husband like crazy.
I’m in Washington DC – well, actually in Virginia for a couple days visiting friends then moving to a hotel in DC where I’ll be for our annual week-long meeting. I was a shopping fool today, possibly burned a hole right through my AmEx. Man, I love it.
Weird US observation – there’s a lot of water in the toilet bowl. Also, I felt a little freaked out to be surrounded by English everywhere I went today. And I had to laugh out loud in Target when there were 2-3 people in each of 3 check-out lanes and it was like a major emergency – they were calling people back from their freakin’ breaks to deal with the “rush”. I didn’t stand in a line for more than 5 minutes anywhere today. It’s like hours added to my life, all of which can be happily spent buying more stuff. What a great country.
Anka in Kyiv 