Day 280: Video, "Mom Drives Like a Serbian"

Day 274: Branching Out

So, here we are at the end of a much needed four day weekend, coinciding with Orthodox Easter. You would think that our decision not to travel for the weekend would have meant a nice relaxing do nothing weekend... not at all... because evidently... we are Rock Stars. We started our epic weekend at home with a small get together at our place. Grayson’s best friend/girlfriend, Heather, from preschool came over with her parents for a very nice early afternoon cook-out. They are also an expat family, but British. This was the first time since arriving in Serbia that we’ve broken away from the American contingent and enjoyed a nice afternoon lounging in the garden. Little did we know that this little get together would lead to a much larger outing the next day... for we got along famously with Iain and Su, Heather’s parents.

Serena, of course had met Su a number of times through Grayson’s preschool. And I had the privilege of meeting them a couple weeks ago at Heather’s third birthday party. They had intended on a small family only celebration, but Heather insisted that Grayson be in attendance... so a much bigger party came to be. Serena was out of town for the party, so we were still unable to get the whole crew together. So, Friday afternoon was the first time.

On Saturday morning, we received a text message from Su, inviting us over for a dinner time bar-bq at their place. Apparently, Iain had been inspired. So, we spent the day toiling around in the yard and finally headed to their place in the early evening... and had a blast. They had taken the time to invite about three other couples from the British expat community. Although, we hadn’t expressed the facts the previous day, they must have noticed our need for socializing “outside our circle”. Although I love my American counterparts here, I do work and live and socialize with the same people every day. It was nice to break away. And I have to say... the Brits no how to throw a bar-bq... we were there for almost six hours.
On Sunday, we jumped back into the garden once again and prepared for our third bar-bq of the weekend. Serena had met another American couple (non-Embassy community) who has a son about a year younger than Gray... so it was time to foster that relationship... and yet again... we all got along famously. I see many double dates without the kids in our future.

Wow, it is amazing that we have been here for over five months already. Anyway, everyday is still an adventure... and it never slows down... except for the three hour nap I took this afternoon... now that was glorious. I will probably be up until 2 in the morning... but the nap was glorious while it lasted... and I am feeling much more human right now.

BTW: Grayson and I have discovered “The Penguins if Madagascar” TV show... it rocks!

Day 259: A Love Song for Orange Juice

So... quite often I am asked... is there anything that I miss from the States? “Not really” is my normal reply. Frankly, between the local market and the commissary, I can get anything that I want... minus particular American brands (like Yuengling) and the fact that most produce is available seasonally. Anyway, my point is that I'm not really missing anything... well... wasn't... and then it all hit me like a pillowcase full of bricks. Orange Juice. I love orange juice... but I am an orange juice SNOB!
In the States I would only purchase Minute Maid or Tropicana... there was just something odd about store brand orange juice that I still to this day can't put my figure on... except for the fact that Kroger (for example) orange juice tastes AWFUL. Why does it taste awful? I have no clue. To me... it has this weird unfresh taste and smell... I have always claimed it is the result of preservatives... but Krogers, much like other super market chains claim that she don't use preservatives in their orange juice. Well... let me tell you this... they use something. And in Serbia... they use the same thing... times 100%!!! It is gross. Just smelling the juice makes me want to... (I will spare you the details)... I just can't handle it. I wish someone could point out what I am smelling and tasting... because for years people, like my wife, think that I am crazy. But I swear... there is something unnatural in the orange juice... something that Minute Maid and Tropicana (although from concentration) do not use.

Anyway, I haven't had any orange juice in four months... until today! And it was glorious! I finally broke down and bought oranges... and squeezed my own... for the first time... a task that seemed much more daunting before actually doing it.

So... my friends... next time you have a glass of truly great prepackaged orange juice think of me... and how envious I am.

Day 242: "We're not going to Australia" - Salute to February

Day 241: Ask and You Shall Receive

Whelp... our video is too large to post on blogspot...

BUT, it is on my facebook page!

BTW: Today Grayson told me that his mama drives like a Serbian. I am not joking... he really said it. I’m not sure what that means... but it made me giggle.

Day 235: Rock Out, The Saga Continues

So, as per my previous post, “Rocking Out” has become a Schutz Happening... on a regular basis. But, Cake is no longer. For some reason Grayson now finds “The Distance” scary. Now, I do understand... the band Cake does have a bit of a creepy sound if you don’t understand their lyrics... but alas, “Rocking Out” has not ended... but evolved. Grayson now has two favorite bands... “Barenaked Ladies” and “Big Bad Voodoo Daddy”. And for the latter... for those of you who know me well... I couldn’t be prouder. Grayson likes swing music!

Now, the point of this story is the cutest conversation that we had over dinner tonight. Whenever i play a song for Gray, he is now very interested in knowing “who is signing this song”. And of course, I tell him the names of the person or the band. If he likes them... he will request them by name. Tonight we eat dinner to “Big Bad Voodoo Daddy”.

Oh, and one other distinction I give these bands is whether I have seen them in concert.

Me: “Oh, Dada really likes ‘Big Bad Voodoo Daddy,’ I have seen the in concert.”
Gray: “You’ve seen them?”
Me: “Yes.”
Gray: “Oh.”

Now, although Gray understands the concept of a band as friends getting together to play a song... he has yet to grasp the concept of a concert... not that he should at 3 years old... but this level of confusion tonight at dinner achieved a whole new level of cuteness.

Gray: “Daddy, you’ve seen them?”
Me: “Who?”
Gray: “Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.”
Me: “Yeah, I’ve been them.”
Gray: “How did you see them?”
Me: “What do you mean?”
Gray: “How did you see Big Bad Voodoo Daddy? Did you stand next to them?”

And thus... cuteness achieved!

Day 231: He's Going the Distance

Have I taken the opportunity to declare how proud I am of my son? Definitely not often enough. So, can I just take a minute to brag and tell you how proud of that 3’3” tall 3 year-old I am? Not only is he a big boy and new going to school 3 days a week... but he is adjusting amazingly to this new adventure of our... he can count and knows his letters... he’s making friends easily... and he has amazing taste in music. Right now he is obsessed with the song “The Distance” by Cake... which is one of my favorite bands.

I know what you are probably thinking... one of your favourite bands... of course he is going to attach himself to a song if he hears it all the time. Not true. Those of you who know me we know that I have a very eclectic music taste and I have no problem putting my entire music collection of shuffle and simple enjoy what I hear.
So, how did this obsession begin? Well Grayson and I really enjoy “Rocking Out”. And cute as it is... that is what we call it, “Daddy? Can we rock out?” It’s awesome. And frankly, rocking out is pretty much what it sounds like: loud music and lots of dancing.

I can’t remember how it all started, but I am pretty sure I was trying to distract Gray from bugging Serena while she was making dinner... and I wasn’t interested in turning the TV on... I think I was in the mood for listening to music. Anyway, I don’t like silence, so I wanted music and whenever I would ask Gray if he wanted to listen to music he would say “no”. So, this one evening, instead of asking if he wanted to “listen to music” I asked if he wanted to “rock out”... this new phase instantly intrigued him. “What’s rock out”. Me: “I’ll show you”. So, we ‘rocked out’.

Really, all I do is scroll through my iPod and play fast upbeat music... it is also a great way to tire him out at the end of the day. Most of the time when we ‘rock out’ we don’t finish any of the songs... when I start to see him getting bored I change songs... and sometimes he doesn’t like songs and he requests a change. A couple weeks ago we were doing this and I played “The Distance”. Now, you need to understand that I did not tell him the name of the song... he figured it out on him own. We danced and listened to the whole song... and when it was over, he asked for it again. I think we danced to it about 4 times. And that was it... so I thought. The next day Gray kept asking for something... and finally I realized that he was asking for “a distance”... and then quickly realized that he was referring to the song. I have to admit it is a very catchy song... but I didn’t realize how attached to it he had become until this afternoon, we were out running some errands and on our way home I heard Gray singing in his car seat, and the following quote is not an exaggeration, Gray was singing “he’s going the distance, he’s going for speed, he’s all alone, all alone, in a time of need.” Once Serena and I realized what he was saying the car erupted into the rest of the song. It was awesome. And I love the fact that Gray even included the “all alone” echo from the back-up vocals. It is really great and terribly cute. I will have to shoot some video of it.

-JP