Another Siena Update

Our girl is back in fighting shape! Siena got a clean bill of health from her last urine analysis, hooray!! The vet said she still has to stay on the special expensive food for 4 months. But that's ok; she's worth it. :)

Such a spoiled puppy...

Resting comfortably in an "illegal parking space" on the couch. Totally busted!!

Gymboree Take 2

Happy boy on the parachute (6 mos)

The moms went to Gymboree again and it was a success! Went to the right location and everything. Beau will enjoy it more once he's able to sit up on his own, but it was still fun for him, I think. All those bright colors and new toys. And good for him to see other babies; good for me to see other mommies.

Augusta and Zoe (both around 12 mos) playing with some shakers.

Zoe crawling and oblivious to the bubbles stuck to her head.

I'm an idiot

Boy do I feel stupid. And annoyed.

The moms in my Monday play group made a reservation for a private group at Gymboree yesterday morning. I tried to go and failed.

Backing up for a sec, it's kind of amazing they actually have Gymboree here, and supposedly it's pretty similar to the Gymboree in the US, i.e. classes, climbing structures and playtime. I personally didn't even know that Gymboree had stuff for children < 1 year old, so I was pretty excited and looking forward to it. 

Lobby of Dinamo Gymboree

Play area at Gymboree Dinamo

First, and this is not really that bad but stressful nonetheless, our driver was late. The car was parked by the apartment but the man was no where to be found. Eventually he showed up but we left 30 minutes later than I had planned (and to be totally honest, I was responsible for 10 of those minutes). It is still tough for me to get used to adding travel & driver time into my plans. The idea of a Driver sounds so glamorous, but it also removes some of your independence and requires constant coordination. 

Anyway, the private group session was only 45 min, and we actually made it in record time, arriving only 15 min late. The car was nice and warm so naturally Beau fell asleep...and stayed asleep in his car seat even after we plopped him down in the Gymboree lobby.

Sleeping angel.

After taking off my shoes and hanging up my coat and beginning to wonder if the baby would just sleep through the whole class, I learned that I'd gone to the wrong location!! What?? Yup, big fat FAIL by mommy!

I basically read the email too fast and blew it. Ugh, ugh, ugh!! This could have happened anywhere but of course it happened in Moscow where I already have very little tolerance for things going wrong. And where I already feel limited and just stupid much of the time. And where it is such a deal to get out the door with the baby and all the winter gear during that one little window when he isn't eating or napping.

Anyway. Beau woke up soon after -- it had been his usual 30 minutes -- but it was too late to try and go to the correct location. The next class at the "wrong" Gymboree was for babies 10 months and older so that wasn't an option either. So I put my shoes and coat back on, we got back in the car and went home. Hmph. 

Today's Score
CB: 0
Moscow: 10,003

Cute shot of all the winter boots, big, small and colorful, all lined up in the Gymboree lobby.

Expat Babes

How cute are these little babies? They are all in my Monday afternoon mom-baby play group. Still amazed we got them all to lay still for a photo.

Left to right: Zoe (10 mos, Augusta (13 mos), Ari (8 mos), Beau (6 mos)

Pee on a plate part 3

The things I do for my sweet Siena. Collected her urine again this morning. I'm getting pretty good at the ahem, maneuver, at this point. Not something to put on the resume, unfortunately.

Crossing fingers for a clean report this time. 

"Veterinaria Clinic 'Movet'"

"Buddha" at the Bolshoi Ballet Workshops

I went on a cool behind-the-scenes-tour of the workshops where the sets and shoes are made for the Bolshoi Ballet with the AWO yesterday.

The building where they do all this amazing stuff is totally non-descript and you would really never know from the outside. Not to mention, it's only about 10 or 15 minutes walking from our apartment. Right in the center of Moscow!

Building exterior for the Bolshoi Workshops. Pretty basic and indistinguishable from any other building in the neighborhood.

First stop on the tour was a huge room where they design and paint all the sets / backdrops. Apparently it's unique in that it has windows on 3 sides and allows the artists to get a bird's eye view of things from the "catwalks" as they work.

catwalk

angels and clouds for upcoming premiere of Bolshoi's Cosi fan Tutti Mozart opera

Babushka with strange underbite showing us the to-scale models for the backdrops being worked on (see above).

Another interesting and very odd stop on the tour (probably the most interesting, really :-)) was a visit with the "Buddha" who, for 22 years, has made 4 pairs of pointe shoes per day, by hand. Each pair is custom-made for a specific ballerina using a mold of her feet. See photos below to understand immediately why he's called the "Buddha."

No words. Just LOOK at this guy. See why he's called the "Buddha?"

And why oh why does the shirt need to be open!?

layers of netting and special homemade glue in the toe area

carefully eyeing his work

tap, tap, tapping to smooth it all out

finished product

The dancers are so rough on the shoes that the shoes this guy makes only last for one performance (if that) or for a few days of practice.

BIG pile of dead pointe shoes (photo credit: google images).

On the other hand, we were also told that many of the Russian dancers are now buying American-made high-tech pointe shoes that are lighter, quieter, more comfortable, machine-washable and last for months at a time. Needless to say, the local Russian artisans like the Buddha are not happy about this shift.

That's right, made in U.S.A.!

Gaynor Minden is one of the popular American high-tech brands.

“It is wonderful to dance all day with comfortable feet, and to have that extra ease in balancing. What I especially love about Gaynor Mindens is no noise! I am free to jump with as much power and brilliance as I possibly can because I know my landings will be soft and delicate. - Natalia Osipova, Soloist, Bolshoi Ballet”

We were then shown the costume workshop rooms. These were not very exciting because the Bolshoi is in between premieres and the seamstresses were just sitting around doing nothing.

Babushka seamstress reading.

newspaper and tools of the trade

Last but not least, we saw the printing presses which they use to print all the posters and programs for every ballet and opera at the Bolshoi. So interesting that they still do all this (pointe shoes, costumes, sets, programs) in-house and in such a small, unmarked building! The main press for large-sized posters and programs is from 1905 and is from Germany.

Yuri, the print manager, standing by the big press. Blank paper stock behind him on shelves.

Poster of authentication for the printing press. In the middle there's some German, "Koenig & Bauer," which is the company that made the press.

Reams of blank paper.

Partially printed programs.

Fascinating tour and I'm so glad I went!

I Feel

I feel happy that Siena's tail is wagging and back to normal.

I feel starved for good quality fresh fruits and vegetables.

I feel indignant that no one in Moscow holds the door. 

I feel limited by the lack of counter space in my Russian kitchen. 

I feel lucky to be married to such a patient man.  

I feel guilty for not always being in the present.

I feel proud that I gave birth to a healthy baby with a smile that lights up the room.

I feel confused by Russian customs and communication style. 

I feel sad that there's no doggy daycare.

I feel nervous and excited about starting solid foods.

I feel frustrated that I don't have a garbage disposal in my Russian kitchen. 

I feel anxious that Siena still has a bladder infection. 

I feel surprised by the wonderful women I've met in the American Women's Organization of Moscow. 

I feel disappointed in myself for not being as brave as I thought I was. 

I feel relieved that I've made it this far.