Quit toying with Me

Ok...enough all ready. Don't tantalize me with 60 degree weather only to follow it up with cold, rain and hail! Yes, ark making was close to the top of our list this week after a deluge of rain and hail. Quite amazing actually. Of course the storm hit as we were grocery shopping (our thrice a week adventure) with Oliver left in the car. I'm sure my anxiety-prone pup needed a higher dose of doggy downers when the hail started. After waiting for the rain to subside for about 10 minutes I sacrificed life and limb to run to the car before Oliver could commit some form of doggy suicide - or defecated in the back seat as he has been known to do. It was apparent the rain wasn't slowing down anytime soon so I drove the car to the front of the store so Craig could make a mad dash with four bags of groceries in tow. I guess I won't be getting my cart-rental zloty back but pushing a cart in a thunder storm didn't seem prudent.

Not sure if I mentioned this but Craig and I quit our Polish lessons. I was actually unable to sleep after our lessons because I had Polish dancing through my head (taking the words from a somewhat famous Christmas poem). I was frustrated and Craig was finding it harder to get his homework done because of his job demands. Funny, once I quit lessons I actually started understanding more conversations and was able to participate (sparingly) in dialogue. So what did I do????? I am starting Polish lessons again! I'm taking lessons three times a week (to coincide with our grocery shopping), in the morning (I'm told you learn languages better when you are fresh) and by myself (maybe having Craig there to laugh at me was adding pressure)??! I swear I will be somewhat conversational just in time to move back home to Oakdale where there is likely no one fluent in the language anyway!

After getting stopped by a Polish TV crew for an interview yesterday on the Rynek I am believing I must really look like I fit in. Needless to say they didn't want to interview me in English so my fame was fleeting at best! Last night we had drinks with some folks from Poland who told me I definitely don't look American. Not sure what that means and not sure why I was flattered but it might explain why I seem to get stopped all the time by people looking for directions. I was actually able to help someone this week. See, I learn the language and I can become a Polish greeter - or something equally as exciting!

We are going to another dinner party this evening to celebrate a 35th birthday. He is from the UK and his wife is Polish. We are excited because they've hired a chef who is making Indian food (one of our all-time favorites)! It will be nice to get out and meet other non-3M'ers. We are taking a trial drive to their house today so we are confident we can be there in time for dinner at 8:00! Put yourselves in our shoes....no street name is easy to remember here. Example, try remembering Zyndrama z Maszkowic (our street) which intersects with Jaggielly which is very near to Odrzanska. By the time the street name clicks in you've driven past it!! All streets in Wrocław are named after famous Poles. Because there seems to be more famous people than there are streets they will change the name of the street multiple times within 5 miles. arghhhh

Craig is off to the UK next week and there is a long weekend following. May 1 is Swięto Pracy Day and May 3 is Swięto Konstytucji Day. Not sure if there will be any fancy celebrations but we are told everyone escapes for a holiday somewhere. We had planned to go to Prague that weekend but the hotels were extremely expensive (likely because all the Poles go to the Czech Republic for their short holiday)! Right now we are leaning toward a trip to Berlin. Upon our return I will pack up for home! I'm bringing an extra bag home with clothes and shoes initially packed without concern for practicality. I'm sure Erica will be glad to have her wardrobe expanded!

FYI: My dad turns 80 April 24th! Happy Birthday, Dad. Love you...