Silence is Bliss

The deed is done! The hair has been cut, colored and highlighted!!! Not a maroon in site!!! Techniques are a bit different here but the shampoo was heavenly and the outcome perfect! The best part??? She did not speak English. I sat and read a magazine without feeling any obligation to chit chat!! The receptionist served as translator - and also offered me a selection of beverages including complimentary wine. I turned it down. I think I made the sylists day. I gave her a 10% tip. She seemed almost ready to kiss me when she saw that. I bet I get a good haircut next time too!

I finally gave up on sweet potatoes. I've been to every grocery store from here to Krakow (just kidding) and have found absolutely nothing half resembling a sweet potato. Today I opted to use squash as a substitute and headed to the Farmer's Market. Next to sweet potatoes I believe squash is the next hardest to find vegetable. Once found, I paid a remarkable 16.85 zlotys!!!! Holy Cow....that is roughly $6.50 - $7.00 American dollars!!! Right now I wish I would have signed up for green bean casserole!!!

Every day as I wander I run into things I want to share and every day I seem to forget them when I sit down to type. I'm going to try the old free form and see if I can hit some of it up...

1) Last week's underwear lady expanded her street offerings to include the good, old-fashioned girdles. I wonder if they will replace Spanx???

2) Yesterday I noticed a Transformer worker emptying trash cans around the square. Not a big deal except the cans aren't lined so he must dig into the garbage with his hands and place the throw-aways into a big bag he carries. I shudder to think what he thinks when he discovers the tidy, little packages of Oliver droppings I pick up everyday??? It's doubtful he gets paid enough!!

3) Speaking of the square. Craig told me they shovel the entire square using shovels in the winter. Each shop owner is responsible for shovelling in front of their business and city workers load the dump truck with - you guessed it - shovels!! Not that I'm wishing for snow but I will definitely try to get a picture of that.

4) I'm bound and determined to buy a new hat! There are some of the greatest looking hats here. There is a little shop where all the hats are made in the back room. I hesitate to go in because it is highly unlikely she speaks English but I want a beret!

5) We have 80 steps from our apartment to the main level. FYI...in Poland the first floor is 0 (as in zero). Since I take the stairs faithfullly (except when hauling groceries) I felt a need to calculate the amount of exercise I get. Here we go:
- Bring Oliver out to do his business: 4 x Day at 160 steps = 640 steps
- Take my solo trip: 1 x Day at 160 steps = 160 steps
- Whatever else I forget: 1 x Day at 160 steps = 160 steps
- Bring Oliver on our daily walk: 1 x Day at 160 steps = 160 steps
GRAND TOTAL: Buns of steel

6) I just got off Skype chatting with Michael. It goes without saying...Skype is the greatest! We got it up and running this weekend. Literally brought tears to my eyes seeing my kids! Other than the fact it is unlikely I'll ever have another pet I would definitely name it Skype!!!

7) Tomorrow is a huge day for our apartment complex! They are having a grand opening celebration. Evidently, many political dignitaries will be here for the celebration! They are setting up a buffet and bar today. They did block my path to the mailbox with buffet tables so I sure hope all the cards and letters from home can wait another day! I will have to plan our daily walk before the festivities since the only place Oliver will pee these days is in the formal patio garden. Probably not a Kodak moment!

8) Did I mention there is no grated cheese here?

9) For those of you who missed "Krippendorf's Tribe" it is on HBO as we speak. I can't wait to see what can top that!!

Enough for today. Check out the new pictures!