The Force is with us

So ready for “Star Wars” to come out. We get movies in English, but they apparently don’t stay long and it’s sort of a guess what will be available. “Midway” was here for a bit, but it ever came in English. “Ford v. Ferrari” did, for a week or so, and that last “Terminator” was here in English for at least three weeks. I came close to caving and watching that one.

“Ford v. Ferrari” was totally worth the hassle of tracking it down and seeing it. We have a couple of theaters that will show movies in English (with Russian subtitles) and I have a hard time figuring out which is the theater near me and which is the one across the little city in the building with the Marriott.

But “Star Wars” is coming, in English, on Thursday. I’m just not sure where and when I will see it. I’ve told people that’s what I’d like to do on Christmas; for some reason people seem to think I’m joking but it’s absolutely an option. Since Belarusians celebrate Orthodox Christmas the following week, there shouldn’t be a crowd.

This weekend I babysat Shelby again and also had a second pup, Warrior. Warrior’s family went on leave and Shelby’s mom will be keeping him for most of the time, but she got called out of town for a night so I got them both. It was a good weekend to re-watch the original “Star Wars” trilogy. I’ve just finished those and have “The Force Awakens,” but I don’t own “The Last Jedi,” so, whenever I see the movie, I hope I remember where we all left off. Dang, it better be good.

After giving the pups back, I went out to yet another Georgian restaurant last night. In maybe six weeks here that’s three different Georgian restaurants and three times I’ve had My Thai. Sensing some patterns forming early on, all involving dumplings. Like others, this place was within walking distance, and on the way back, I was walking part of the way with a Fellow Foodie and she wanted to duck into another place for dessert. I’d seen a placed called, as God is my witness, “Honky Tonk,” and on the way in, I heard Montgomery Gentry blaring “My Town” and figured it was Belarus’s version of a country bar. We went in, and it looked that way, although at that point, the music was more jazz. And under “Honky Tonk,” the sign read, “Piano Bar.” Because those two things go together in Belarus.

We went in and I had tea and piece of cheesecake and Fellow Foodie had some kind of drink and a brownie. The live music started at 9 a.m., and the trio set up – a guitarist, a drummer (electronic kit) and a cello, which was also electric. This didn’t exactly scream Waylon so we figured we’d have to stay and see some of it jut to figure out what it was. I mean, the theme of the bar really was country-ish, with little cowboy hats and baby beer barrels. I never saw a piano in the piano honky tonk and when the music started, it was absolutely … jazz. Not bad, but definitely not country. However, how American is that? A country and western piano bar with live jazz?

 

While we were in there, it started snowing again – really, really fat flakes. I never took weather so I’ve no idea how fat flakes form, but these were March-ish flakes, not November. But today, Sunday, it was fairly warm – 36 degrees – and the existing snow melted. Since we probably won’t see the sun until May, though, it’s not drying up; it’s just pooling everywhere. That doesn’t bode well for staying away from slip and fall accidents.

My LL Bean order isn’t in yet, so the nonskid things I got for my shoes are still en route and I just hope I don’t wipe out before they arrive. I am becoming babushka-like in my walk to work. I walk slow and grip every handrail possible.

But I finally feel better. In addition to all the Thai food, we also have a Thai massage place on my way home from work. I popped in there and made an appointment for a massage and feel much better now. It was my first massage there, but probably not my last. I filled out the first-visit questionnaire and was highly amused by the questions:

• ·        Where does it hurt?
• ·        Do you have any allergies?
• ·        How do you take your tea?

 Love it.

So far, the tour is just great. This week, I did my second outreach. Previously, I’d gone to a school and discussed Thanksgiving, and this week I did a “My Hometown” presentation. I love PowerPoint and had a great time talking up Tallahassee, even wearing my FSU baseball jersey.