home again home again jiggity jig

"To market, to market to buy a fat pig.
Home again, home again, jiggity jig."
-Mother Goose

So, another year in Russia is almost over.  I can't really believe it.  Is this what happens when you get older?  The years fly by and you can't even remember what happened?  I am very much looking forward to being home.  I will be flying into Duluth very soon.  It will be a bit strange.  I've never flown out of or into Moscow alone.  It going to be really weird.  Although, I've just found out that my friend, Jeff's mom will be on the same flight as me.  She is here visiting for the week.  Last night she made fried steak, mashed potatoes with gravy.  It was SO good.  I'm excited to be home and having home cooking all the time.  I'm planning on cooking a lot, too this summer.  I feel like I am adult-enough to start cooking dinners for everyone. :)
This summer I plan on visiting my sister in Colorado.  I'm also thinking about going to Oklahoma for a week or so.  Then somehow I have to see some other friends in Missouri, Arkansas, and other states. AH!  I hope I can make my rounds.  Other than that, I plan on fishing, reading, going to Target, going to Caribou, going to

Here are a few pictures of summer so far.
Summer, Chapter 1: Moscow.  Coming soon, Chapter 2: Minnesota.

Delicious cakes made by a friend.

Boys during summer school.  too cute i think.

Experiments with bubbles for science camp.

 

Our weeping willow

   

what lulls you to sleep?

So, I was just offered to sit in a meeting.  This meeting will be about the planning of art classes for the next school year.  They will discuss music, dance, drama, and visual art.  Normally I would be all over that but when the meeting is in Russian it's a little harder to participate.
I've gotten to the point where I can follow the conversation in the meeting and know the general topic.  I can even understand maybe 60% of it, depending on what they are talking about.  But I've found that the sound of Russian just simply makes me sleepy.  I would have NEVER thought that Russian could be a calming and soothing sound but it certainly is.  I will be sitting in the meetings and following along as best as I can, and then my mind will drift off and I hear constant sound of Russian.  Then I start to nod off.  I find myself thinking, "I could just lay on the floor right here and listen to them talking and I could have a great nap."  I've even gotten to the point of pinching myself just to stay awake.  And then my boss will say, "Kristin, are you following this?  What do you think?"  My eyes are half open and I have no idea what they are talking about. 
One of the worst feelings in the world is when all you want to do is sleep but you can't.  So, what lulls you to sleep?  I love the sound of rain, thunderstorms, and a shower.  If I had the money and it wouldn't so wasteful, I would have a running shower in my bedroom all night. :)  I would sleep SO good.  Or a dryer.  That also would be nice.