Quiet time for thinking

I've had a quiet few days and a lot of time to think and plan the rest of my time here.  It's going too fast, as always.  Yesterday was a communication day.  I did a lot of emailing and a few important Skype calls.  I have another call to do in about an hour.

The death by suicide of a 14 year old Buffalo boy saddened my heart.  These stories always do.  And his death had ripples.  People here in Kyiv, thanks to Facebook, were also talking about the sadness of it.  What made it doubly sad was that Jamey had made an "it gets better" video that is widely available.  Watching his video and then knowing that for Jamey it didn't get better caused me a lot of tears.  That gets juxtaposed with an it gets better video that was posted today on facebook of a young southern guy in Germany, probably military, who called home on video to tell his dad (he called him Daddy, and Sir) that he's gay.  His dad with no hesitation said, "you're my son.  I'll always love you."  More tears. 

So that was one kind of thinking.  I was also able to arrange for some articles to be written for publication here by a very talented writer who happens to be a Ukrainian Orthodox Bishop in NY.  We spoke about what the need is.  I mentioned the value of an essay he had written for a book.  He asked suggestions for expansion of the article which he will then pay to have self-published and supply me with a bunch to distribute here.

Around 1:30pm Wednesday, I decided I was hungry.  It occurred to me around then that I hadn't eaten.  Or maybe it was my cabbage addiction rearing its ugly head.  I went up to Glossary and had cabbage salad and then I had mlintsi (crepes) filled with a chicken, sweet red pepper mixture and sour cream of course.  delicious.  topped off with cappuccino.  I went back to the apartment and then walked down to the neighborhood supermarket to stock up on a few things.  I stayed up until after 11 chatting with friends on Facebook and Skype.

Reflecting on coffee a lot.  At home, I wouldn't touch instant coffee even in major caffeine withdrawal.  My sister, on the other hand, thinks instant is the only kind of coffee to drink.  I haven't bought regular coffee for my apartment so I've been drinking instant at home for these two weeks.  It's an ok warm drink but I think I don't consider it coffee and that's why I can drink it.  I always have to go out at least once a day to get cappuccino.

I have two more tasks and then a reward.  I have to make a video to send my church on Sunday and I have to make a Skype call.  Then later I'll meet a friend, probably around 7.  This apartment is so comfortable and soothing.  Lots of light, friendly neighborhood noises, close to everything.