A childhood friend from our neighborhood passed away today due to a sudden heart attack. My parents were very close to his parents and our dads worked together. He was 5 years my senior.
The worst thing? His parents are alive, 81 and 88. I juts cannot imagine what they are going through.
His funeral is tomorrow in Ankara but I am in Istanbul so, I will not be able to go. Uncle will take mom to visit his folks in a few days.
I just do not feel like doing anything. Still in my nightgown.
May he rest in Peace...
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Relaxing Day
Today, I am both relaxing at home and taking care of small stuff. I did some laundry.
Yesterday, I had a grocery delivery since I had a coupon so, I ordered the immediate needs.
I checked cleaning supplies, pantry and fridge. Here is what else I need:
Walnuts (I eat two whole walnuts everyday to keep my cholesterol in check)
Milk
Meat
Parsley
Celery
Eggs (Will be delivered on Friday from a farm owned by an old colleague)
Meds (need to see the practitioner for this)
Fruit
Water
Tomorrow I am going to meet my friend to talk about the new business opportunity.
The next day, I will get together with some former colleagues from a job between 2000-2006. The people I will be seeing may have an impact on this upcoming business.
I am also making other plans to see more friends.
Yesterday, I had a grocery delivery since I had a coupon so, I ordered the immediate needs.
I checked cleaning supplies, pantry and fridge. Here is what else I need:
Walnuts (I eat two whole walnuts everyday to keep my cholesterol in check)
Milk
Meat
Parsley
Celery
Eggs (Will be delivered on Friday from a farm owned by an old colleague)
Meds (need to see the practitioner for this)
Fruit
Water
Tomorrow I am going to meet my friend to talk about the new business opportunity.
The next day, I will get together with some former colleagues from a job between 2000-2006. The people I will be seeing may have an impact on this upcoming business.
I am also making other plans to see more friends.
Monday, March 2, 2020
Home Sweet Home!
I am back in my apartment in Istanbul. Just arrived an hour ago.
For a few days, I will just enjoy my "me time". I need that so much.
Hope, this will be a nice week for all.
For a few days, I will just enjoy my "me time". I need that so much.
Hope, this will be a nice week for all.
Friday, February 21, 2020
2020 Vacation Plans
Yesterday I was talking to my friends in the US and one of them asked me my vacation plans for 2020. I told him that I did not know yet.
Then I started thinking about it. My country is being dragged into war in Syria by our incompetent government and allegedly it's allies. The incompetent government keeps pressuring the Central Bank of Turkey to lower the interest rates and nowadays the interest rate for TL is negative. This makes foreign currencies leap so, it is a de-facto devaluation. The Central Bank of Turkey is no longer an independent organization which is not only wrong but very scary. The economy is in real bad shape and I do not see any major steps taken to improve it. I think, the current president is a very bad person and intentionally dragging the country towards doom. I see no way to stop him. He has control over everything.
I believe my country is headed towards more hardship and very dark days. This means we should do our best to protect ourselves and our belongings as best as we can.
So, I have no vacation plans this year. My sister and BIL live in Izmir which is a beach city. My uncle spends most of his time in Antalya which is another beach city. So, I can get my swimming and beach fix utilizing places we already own. If I plan my visits to these places carefully and spend enough time, I can optimize my gas consumption which is a major expense.
My BFF may want to visit me in Turkey but, she does not think she can make it more than 10 days. If she comes for a visit, then I will modify my current plan. After all, it will be her 2nd visit in 30 years.
Staycation is not a bad idea either.
Then I started thinking about it. My country is being dragged into war in Syria by our incompetent government and allegedly it's allies. The incompetent government keeps pressuring the Central Bank of Turkey to lower the interest rates and nowadays the interest rate for TL is negative. This makes foreign currencies leap so, it is a de-facto devaluation. The Central Bank of Turkey is no longer an independent organization which is not only wrong but very scary. The economy is in real bad shape and I do not see any major steps taken to improve it. I think, the current president is a very bad person and intentionally dragging the country towards doom. I see no way to stop him. He has control over everything.
I believe my country is headed towards more hardship and very dark days. This means we should do our best to protect ourselves and our belongings as best as we can.
So, I have no vacation plans this year. My sister and BIL live in Izmir which is a beach city. My uncle spends most of his time in Antalya which is another beach city. So, I can get my swimming and beach fix utilizing places we already own. If I plan my visits to these places carefully and spend enough time, I can optimize my gas consumption which is a major expense.
My BFF may want to visit me in Turkey but, she does not think she can make it more than 10 days. If she comes for a visit, then I will modify my current plan. After all, it will be her 2nd visit in 30 years.
Staycation is not a bad idea either.
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Dad
Today is a sad day. My dad passed away today in 1994. I was 27 and SIS was only 20, still at College. It was due to an unexpected aortic aneurism so, it could not be avoided.
He would be turning 80 this year. My heart still aches and my eyes still well up after 26 years.
However, as a family we almost always remember him with smiles. He had a great sense of humor.
Dad, we love you and miss you very much.
He would be turning 80 this year. My heart still aches and my eyes still well up after 26 years.
However, as a family we almost always remember him with smiles. He had a great sense of humor.
Dad, we love you and miss you very much.
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Missing my Home
I left my apartment on October 22nd for my vacation and came back home on January 8th. I unpacked, did tons of laundry, packed again and came to Ankara on January 13th. The first two weeks, I had been taking mom to the hospital mostly. After she recovered, we had been organizing her new apartment.
So far, I have helped mom organize the kitchen cabinets, her closet and drawers, the bathroom drawers, the closet at the entrance and the closet in the room that I stay. I donated all that she wanted to get rid of. She wanted new ottomans and some other smallish things. I found them online and upon her approval, I have ordered them. There are two closets/cupboards in the balcony to be organized but since, it is too cold, she wants to organize them when it warms up possibly in early April.
I am thinking of organizing all hand tools because, there are multiples of some of them and the extras can be set aside for my SIS and BIL for the new apartment they intend to buy over here.
So, since January 12th, I have been here and I am very homesick.
Uncle is coming tomorrow and my mom's control appointment is on February 28th. Depending on the test results etc., I am hoping to go back home right after that. Uncle can take her to the doctor's too but, I go in with her and talk to her doctors myself. So, I will wait.
Mom thinks and expects me to be back quickly but, I think I will stay in Istanbul for at least a month. There is so much to do at home and many friends to see. Needless to say, having lived on my own for all my life, I need my space and time. I was alone only for about 10-12 days when I was on my road trip in November.
Don't get me wrong, I love my family and my friends and I feel truly blessed by having so many who do care about me. On the other hand, I need my "me" time doing things I want to do and not having to think about things for others at least for a while.
I also need to talk to my friend about the new business prospect and that requires at least 2-3 meetings.
We were preparing to sell mom's apartment and buy my SIS and BIL a new one closer to where she now lives which is their apartment. However, it looks like the apartment will not be sold for the amount we were hoping for so, I suggested that we could replace the kitchen and other things to their liking and they can use that apartment till they retire and come back to Ankara which is at least 7,5 years away. We will see which course of action we will take.
My sister says if the apartment is sold, half of it should be mine. My lovely stupid little baby sister! When will she get that she is the world to me and what I have is hers? I love her to the moon and back!
So far, I have helped mom organize the kitchen cabinets, her closet and drawers, the bathroom drawers, the closet at the entrance and the closet in the room that I stay. I donated all that she wanted to get rid of. She wanted new ottomans and some other smallish things. I found them online and upon her approval, I have ordered them. There are two closets/cupboards in the balcony to be organized but since, it is too cold, she wants to organize them when it warms up possibly in early April.
I am thinking of organizing all hand tools because, there are multiples of some of them and the extras can be set aside for my SIS and BIL for the new apartment they intend to buy over here.
So, since January 12th, I have been here and I am very homesick.
Uncle is coming tomorrow and my mom's control appointment is on February 28th. Depending on the test results etc., I am hoping to go back home right after that. Uncle can take her to the doctor's too but, I go in with her and talk to her doctors myself. So, I will wait.
Mom thinks and expects me to be back quickly but, I think I will stay in Istanbul for at least a month. There is so much to do at home and many friends to see. Needless to say, having lived on my own for all my life, I need my space and time. I was alone only for about 10-12 days when I was on my road trip in November.
Don't get me wrong, I love my family and my friends and I feel truly blessed by having so many who do care about me. On the other hand, I need my "me" time doing things I want to do and not having to think about things for others at least for a while.
I also need to talk to my friend about the new business prospect and that requires at least 2-3 meetings.
We were preparing to sell mom's apartment and buy my SIS and BIL a new one closer to where she now lives which is their apartment. However, it looks like the apartment will not be sold for the amount we were hoping for so, I suggested that we could replace the kitchen and other things to their liking and they can use that apartment till they retire and come back to Ankara which is at least 7,5 years away. We will see which course of action we will take.
My sister says if the apartment is sold, half of it should be mine. My lovely stupid little baby sister! When will she get that she is the world to me and what I have is hers? I love her to the moon and back!
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Love of Fish
Mom and I had grilled seabream for dinner tonight from the fishmonger downstairs. Commercial fishing season will be over by the start of April till September. So, it is time to eat lots of fresh fish and stock up.
I am going out for dinner with babyhood friends tomorrow night. Guess what we are having? Fish! I do not mind eating fish two days in a row. Depending on what the restaurant has, I will probably go for smaller fish like grilled anchovies or sardines. They are very fishy and I love fishy fish.
While traveling abroad, I have seen that mostly the fish is served as a filet or in pieces. In my country seabram, seabass, bluefish, and such are served whole with the head and tail. They clean the insides of the fish and throw it on charcoal grill or in hot oil. It is a bit tricky to eat at a restaurant using your fork and knife trying to get rid of the bones and still being a civilized person. Lol! At home, I do use my hands, just do not tell anyone, OK? They will filet the fish if you like but, the norm is to serve it as a whole.
I also love smoked fish. Nothing beats a a piece of toast, cream cheese, few slices of an avocado and smoked salmon for breakfast. Avocados are pricey so, I only buy them when they are on sale.
I am going out for dinner with babyhood friends tomorrow night. Guess what we are having? Fish! I do not mind eating fish two days in a row. Depending on what the restaurant has, I will probably go for smaller fish like grilled anchovies or sardines. They are very fishy and I love fishy fish.
While traveling abroad, I have seen that mostly the fish is served as a filet or in pieces. In my country seabram, seabass, bluefish, and such are served whole with the head and tail. They clean the insides of the fish and throw it on charcoal grill or in hot oil. It is a bit tricky to eat at a restaurant using your fork and knife trying to get rid of the bones and still being a civilized person. Lol! At home, I do use my hands, just do not tell anyone, OK? They will filet the fish if you like but, the norm is to serve it as a whole.
I also love smoked fish. Nothing beats a a piece of toast, cream cheese, few slices of an avocado and smoked salmon for breakfast. Avocados are pricey so, I only buy them when they are on sale.
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