Lena's Place

Today started out as a very mellow, lazy Sunday. We’ve had a few showers off and on throughout the day. The rain has brought along with it a cool breeze, but the humidity is still a bit high, especially toward the end of the day.

Spent most of the day engrossed in one of my new novels and managed to finish my first one off. Only two more left, as I’ve already read one of the 4 books sent to me. So I better start rationing/spacing them out so they will last me the duration of this trip!

Lena called and invited me over for dinner. She arranged a taxi for me. She calls ahead to the taxi company and they give her the license plate along with the make/color of the car. Then she calls back and gives me that info so I know it’s the right car. Cost me 200 Tenge (less than 2 bucks!). When I arrived at her building Missy was waiting for me below/outside and walked up to her apartment with me.

It was such a nice and pleasant evening. I was thankful for the company and to spend time with other Americans. Lena made us chicken, mashed potatoes and some veggies. Turns out she’s a pretty good cook, but had told me earlier she never cooks. Now she says, well, she really doesn’t have any one to cook for. I know the feeling. Since I’ve been on my own here, my own cooking has dropped off dramatically since Bob/Spencer left.

She’s been working hard to update her place and it shows. She’s redone her kitchen and has new tile, cabinets, and appliances installed. She just finished work on her bathroom; again has new tile, fixtures and a WASHING MACHINE!! Actually when we first arrived she had offered to do my wash for me when I first asked her about the laundry place we spotted. I told her absolutely not! I was not going to have her doing my wash for me and that I would be just fine using the laundry place!! But that’s how she is, if treated well, she reciprocates in kind and I’ve enjoyed spending my time with her and her friends.

At the end of the evening a friend of hers called, asked Lena to run an errand with her. So instead of a taxi home, her friend dropped me off instead. Snapped a pic of Lena cooking and of her friend. Last pic was from this morning -- Think I'll run out of water??