A Man and His Dog

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead...He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold.

He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?''This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered... 'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked. Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up.'The man gestured, and the gate began to open. 'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveler asked. 'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets..' The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book. 'Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?' 'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.' 'How about my friend here?' the traveler gestured to the dog. 'There should be a bowl by the pump.'

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree. 'What do you call this place?' the traveler asked. 'This is Heaven,' he answered. 'Well, that's confusing,' the traveler said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.' 'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell.' 'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?'

'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.'

The past weekend

So Friday night, we headed to the Shrine Circus (free tickets of course) and the kids with our friends child got some event books. One fun point for the purchase is that the kids would have each "clown"sign their picture. At one point the kids saw a clown and left to get their prized signature. I went with them and we started talking and I told him how awesome the Shriner's had been with Oksana during her surgery. Then he said come with me! And he escorted the children into the "closed off area" to meet ALL of the clowns! So they all got their books signed and even a special medal that was given by the "top" clown! They were so excited!!! How cool is that!

Then Saturday the boys headed out for the Spring OSU Buckeyes scrimmage and the girls went to the spa. After getting my hair done and seeing the 80 temperatures in Ohio, I looked at Ms. O and said we need to get our toes done! So we did :):)



Blue for Ms O and Tropical red for me (fuzzy pic but who wants to see my 6 EE toes anyway!!)

Here are some boy's day out Pics...

Vitaly and Nik at the Horseshoe way cool!

Typical dad staging picture. A fence and a wall
and two boys!

And the fun of the game! GO Buckeyes!

Pictures from Easter, eggs and Sping break

presentation

For me giving a presentation to a large group of people is worse then cutting off my big toe without anesthesia. Seriously, I might choose the latter.

But...Since option B was not viable, I have completed option A.

Now, the weight has been liftedand it feels so good.
I have finished giving my presentation to all of the bigwigs where I work.
No more nightly studying of my presentation speech.
No more restless nights with dreams of failure.
The presentation is finished.
My boss said good job.


That sums it up for me. As long as she thinks it was good, then time to move forward.

The sun is shining, the weather is warm, and the stress is gone. YEAH, it's a beautiful afternoon.

Choir

On Saturday and Sunday, the kids performed with the church choir, during the Redeemer performance. They did a great job!

On Sunday, I was sitting near the exit in the back. The kids were able to see me, as they came in to sing. Oksana proudly smiled and waved to me, as she passed. Nikolai was a proud choir member staring straight ahead with a smile and following the next in line. Vitaly was embarrassed and shy, as he walked.

After they had finished singing their hearts out, the congregation applauded very loudly.

As they left, Oksana walked by me proud as could be, and loudly asked for the others to hear,

“Mommy, did you clap?”

Rite of Passage

Last night I found Vitaly deep in thought, lying on my bed, looking at a magazine.

In front of him was the JC Penney circular.

He was staring at the women in the… lingerie.

Actually, to be more specific they were all in their bras.

He looked at me and said he thought they were very pretty, and he wished they were his girlfriends.

I told his dad, who seemed a bit embarrassed himself.

I guess it is one small rite of passage for a little boy, admiring the lingerie girls in the catalogs.

It is probably a good thing we don’t have the old National Geographic’s, in the house. You know the one’s. The same Nat Geo’s that seemed to enthrall my brothers for hours, when they were Vitaly’s age!

April Fools

April1:

As we were getting ready to leave Nikolai ran out the door and yells, “Happy Birthday Mommy!”

Then Oksana follows him out and shouts, “Happy Birthday!”

What? I am confused.

So, once we were in the car I say, why did you wish me a happy birthday?
Nikolai says because March is over and it is May, and your birthday is in May.
Oksana agrees with this analysis.

Then I say, no you sillies, it is April first which is April Fool’s Day. I thought you had played an April Fool’s joke on me, when you said Happy Birthday.

Then I hear, “Mom there is a bug in your hair!.....April Fool’s.” Of course these little jokes go on and on.

Well, this morning as I am driving to the sitter’s Oksana says, “Mommy, you have a ballerina on your head…April Fool’s!”

Then Nikolai responds, “It’s not April Fool’s Day that was yesterday. Today is April second, and that doesn’t make any sense for her to have a ballerina on her head!”

Can’t wait to see what jokes next year brings!