Ali & Suz flew in from Richmond and Cinci respectively for a little reunion in Minneapolis.
Things I learned: No matter how much they prod you - your friends don't really want to know about the potential parasites you might contract in the PC; Ali is an exceptional shopper for tchotchkes for my host family and assorted children/neighbors/babushkas/government officials that may need to be bribed with MINNESOTA dishtowels or Old Navy hats; Episcopalians wear banded collars like Catholics (the national convention was downtown Minneapolis on Saturday night - and there were clergy EVERYWHERE!); and never tell Suzanne you peed in the Apple river while tubing next to her (let her think you can just drink wine in a bag (not Franzia) for hours and not have to get out of your inner tube).
New PC Acquisitions: travel pants (yes they're linen - but they're black!), orange cord lock thing (in lieu of bringing chain and a padlock as suggested by one guidebook), silk money pouch - which is frighteningly close to the color of my untanned belly, a pocket Russian dictionary (in case I'm in the presence of Russians I can say, "Do you play poker?", "What's your sign?", "Do you respect me?" and "I don't want a blood transfusion."), the Lonely Planet Guide to Romania & Moldova (98% about Romania - but the only thing I've found w/Moldovan phrases in it - less colorful than my Russian book though), and serious, Eco-Challenge-esque set of long underwear (top & pants). Another surprise - Suzanne is an adept shopper in any environment - including REI where she scored the belly-colored money pouch (note: they had black but we both agreed that would be unseemly if it showed through clothes).
(Bummer section: My dad is still refering to this as "a huge mistake" but is looking forward to seeing me. ? . And Carolyn actually referred to Wusty as, "Dead Dog Walking". Yikes!)
1. Submitted my resignation to GMI last Thursday - making my last day August 21 (I NEED A BREAK - and we didn't think about the health insurance until it was too late). The truncated goodbye has freaked out my boss who is now madly scrambling to get my replacement (Charles Fan) trained and in my desk. I'm also doing the "final lunch" tango - fitting in all the people important to me before I go (and Slater the following week). And lastly - I'm hitting Bennihana for my final meal - and I hear they've put in a sushi bar.(Corporate Credit Card =$= Sweet!)
2. Church held a Cookies & Punch w/Seanne Spectacular on Sunday August 10. Stories and general homage, gag gifts (faux-leg hair hairy pantyhose & a huge fur Ms. Moldova coat were only trumped by getting a pack of business cards with "the criteria for my future husband" translated into Moldovan printed on them), and roses and mumbled thanks from each of the kids made for a very cool afternoon.
3. I'm really going to miss team Ringhofer. Chuck dedicated most of his Saturday to cleaning Gigi ('99 Honda Civic in Vogue Silver) with me. Caro made me Taco Hotdish last night - v. domestic of her. Wusty assumes I ALWAYS have treats on me and doesn't like to go to bed until I do. And I got to put flexible, snuggly, silly, purple-obsessed (just the color and nothing to do with sports) Annie to bed - complete with kissing Baby ABCD, Mary & Jessica (dolls ages 2, 1, and 6) and reading 2 books. And although I'm a strategic "Pretty Pretty Princess" player - I still got skunked by Annie Ringhofer (Age 5).
4. Respect Health Insurance Coverage. Six months of my meds - sans insurance (my insurance insisted they'd already hooked me up once this month) cost me about $550. I had calico kittens in Target. I literally was squawking. Parrot-like. And then handed over my card. AAAGGGHHH!!! (Although it brought me perverse joy to think that the US Government who may/may not be responsible for the unregulatedly expensive drug industry -- will be buying my stuff for 2 years.)
Emotional temperature - Breezy in the 60's. I'm really not all that emotional yet - I'm vaguely worried, but so far so good.
Bye Bye GMI
I said goodbye to General Mills on August 21st - leaving my ID at HR was so weird. For all the generalized whining - I really loved my time at Mills and will miss the people, the company and the work. Although it screwed poor Charles Fan (again, I am so sorry), moving up my departure date has proved to be very wise. I've been running errands non-stop since last week (clothes to the tailor, getting Gigi's windshield replaced, dropping stuff at church, distributing the last bits of Habitat stuff to area congregations, changing addresses, etc) and it feels like every night when I go over my list - I've added a bunch more items on the bottom to tackle the next day. Grrr. But Gigi should be on CarSoup by the weekend (after the hood gets fixed - hit by a golf ball on 94 coming home from my dad's.)
Preparations:
The last few bits of my "weird things for Moldova" list have been trickling in - but other than that, I haven't hit Target again. Caro is looking forward to helping me organize (or in her words, "Pitch & Purge"). Let's just say she's not the safest candidate to unleash on your junk drawer if you ever want to see that stuff again.
Goodbye Family
Saw my dad last weekend and spent a nice day Saturday just hanging out. He's still not keen on the PC and we'll leave it at that. Also, saw the Gilpins (sometimes refered to as "the overly Catholic friends of the family"), made lumpia (Guam's answer to the eggroll) & cookies and got a to-go bottle of Holy Water for the trip. Mary Gilpin has taken care of me forever (she was my baby sitter every day afterschool until 7ish when my mom got home from work) and it was great to hang out and talk to her- even if we don't agree on politics. Or me converting to Catholicism. I'll always consider her Mom #2 and I'm her daughter #4.
Time Check
We're at 11 days now - and I've started corresponding with past volunteers & connections through Eileen (GMI finance/ex Ukrainian dweller). Keep watching for the final travel installment.