Almost ready to hit the road

Yes, Project Clean Fridge is done! I tossed some condiments with passed expiration dates. I should be more diligent about this. So proud of myself because I did a good job even better than I expected from myself! Haha... I added more items on my future shopping list. I think, I will have to have a delivery and a personal shopping when I come back since the list is pretty long. Or may be not because, I am thinking of spending a few weekd in November at my sister's. We'll see.

I also cleaned up my kitchen, changed my sheets and put a thin duvet on the bed. I am sure, it will be pretty cool when I get back home. It has significantly cooled down in Istanbul and Ankara but, I know, we shall have pretty good beach days down South. Today I felt the nice, crisp and fresh Fall weather. I do not think, I will be able to sit at home with all the windows open from now on. With Fall being my favorite season, no complaints though. 

Since I have cleaned up everything, dinner will be a cheese and bologna sandwich and two nectarines. I haven't eaten bologne in ages. Trying and doing a good job staying away from stuff like that.

Just had a cup of coffee. Need to get back to packing. Now I am packing toiletries and medicines which to me is the worst bit. I almost always forget something and end up having to buy it. I think, I shall be done in about half an hour. 

There is a volleybal game I would like to watch at 6 p.m. While I watch it, I will give myself a mani and pedi. Then I will have my dinner and just realx before going to bed. I will hit the road when I wake up without the help of an alarm clock. It is a 4 hour drive all on highway to Ankara. I do not even stop most of the time.

On Monday I will have dinner with the friend I am going on vacation with plus another childhood friend and her sister in law. On Tuesday, I may take my BIL for a late birthday dinner. His birthday was on the 2nd. Wednesday is the start of our vacation/road trip. 

Wish us luck and lots of good weather please.

I do not think I will be able to blog during my vacation but, I promise to take tons of picture to share later on. I am not dragging my laptop with me for the first time in many years. I am not even taking my tablet PC. 

Wishing everyone a great weekend! Stay safe and be well. 

For HELOISE!

I hope, Heloise sees this post. She has been very kind to reach out to me to see what she could do for the people who were affected by the fires in Turkey earlier in August. She was as sorry as I were and I believe she has a heart of gold. Since she does not have a blog and I do not have her e-mail address, the only way I can reach out to her is here through my blog.

Today, I saw a wonderful news on Facebook. A group of British nationals living in the area decided to get together and purchased a number of sheep and goats to gift the villagers who lost their livestock in the fires. I am so touched by this. I thank them with all my heart on behalf of my people. 

See the pictures that were shared. Such a heart warming gesture! 

Busy busy busy....

I am almost done packing. Now it is the small but, important stuff that needs to be packed.

The best news is that I have received my passport from the US Consulate for my 4th 10 year visa. My last visa had expired in April. People were saying that it was taking a long time for new visas due to the pandemic working hours so, I had decided to wait. 

I checked the US Consulate Web site early August and found out that if the last visa had expired within the last 4 years, an appointment would not be necessary and that the whole process could be completed online. So, without thinking it through, I applied for it. They haven't asked for any additional paperwork other than my new passport and the old one on which the expired visa was stamped. Great! Easy peasy! Then I noticed that I would be leaving for Ankara soon and I panicked. I thought the administrative process might take a long time and that I would not be here when my passport was returned to me.

Well, to make a long story short; I have my passport and my new visa. Yay! Not that I will be going to the US anytime soon but, who knows? Right?

Tomorrow I will be completing my packing and will clean the fridge. I think, I will leave on Saturday. My BIL is in Ankara. He has arranged for a medical visit at home for his mom, took his father for a much neglected health check, got the medical reports extended, filed the paperwork for the Georgian caregiver of his folks and some other things that required attention. It is already a productive week for him. His medical leave will be ending on September 9th so, my friend, my BIL and I will be leaving for Izmir on the 8th.

Trying to eat up the last of fresh stuff and whatever is on hand generates weird combinations. Today's dinner is decent though. I will use the last two eggs I have to make Menemen. To make it you need to finely slice peppers, dice tomatoes and sautee them in a bit of butter or olive oil and crack the eggs on it. Cover and let it cook a little bit depending on you how you like your eggs. I will leave them a bit soft so, I can dip some bread in it. I normally mix the eggs and pour on top of the sauteed veggies. Easy and healthy. 

OK it's time to go and hang the last bit of laundry. My friend told me that evenings are cool in Ankara and it will also be cool at the first place we shall be going. I decided to pack my fleece jacket and a pair of jeans.