Stain-glass Eyes

What Better Photo Than of Children Playing? (Countryside of  Taraklı ) I've often said, "There's so much to write about".  But what?  What could I write about that would interest readers?   I have to admit, if I think too much about my readers' interests and curiosity, I'm not able to write.  I'm as frozen as a fisherman in January, out on a drifting ice flow, watching the shore get further and further away.  I guess that's why I love to write.  I have to write for myself.  From myself.   I spend a good amount of time alone.  It helps me write.  I can be laying on the floor, finished with my yoga and don't always feel compelled to get up.  I might look out the window, look at the ceiling, and even get distracted by a black bug crawling on the wall.  I'm thinking.  Pondering the many "Whys" as they creep into my mind.  Before I know it,  I'm off into another world. This morning, ...

My Passport and Turkish Tea I have so much to write about and it has caused the "Anti-Author Goblins" to play tricks with my patience.  Each time I think I'll be able to write, and post something, they get their little hands and minds together and mess things up. First it was the internet.  They made sure I couldn't get good reception for the internet from the moment I landed in Turkey.  I'd like to meet their master-minded leader.  She's probably tired of making her little goblins do the standard type of mischief. Maybe That's Why Cats Are Taken Care of So Well in Turkey (to keep away the Goblins) Man Feeding a Stray Cat (While Waiting for Customers to Buy Lotto Tickets) Like waiting for a human to almost finish a project and then scoop it up and lose it in cyberspace.  Or the common practice they have of  copying pictures multiple times instead of just once.  I hate when they decide to...

Elizabeth Walking in Galata Cihanger Traveling in Turkey has kept me from being able to access the internet.  I have SO many things to show and write about, too many for this short blog entry today.  The internet I have today is only in the hotel lobby.  I can't even access it in the evening in my room.  If I close down the computer, I have to put all the info in again to log on.  It's a pain, but it is what it is, here. Elizabeth Working on Her Calendar in a Small Cafe I spent three days with my daughter, Elizabeth, in Galata and Cihanger.  Elizabeth booked us in a beautiful hotel.  The beds, the pillows, the shower, everything was luxurious. Our Fancy Hotel Wall and Bed Small Demonstration on Istaklal I was happy to go on an interview, one day with her in another part of Istanbul.  I had planned to look over the area and sit in a cafe, while she was with th...

Happy to Be Back in Istanbul Coming into the Ataturk Airport, I thought I was on the last part of my journey.  How soon I forgot the long lines and detours customs hands you, before you walk out of the airport with your luggage. I forgot to go through the "Visa" line, before I went to the "Passport" line.  So, I waited at least an hour in the "Passport" line before I was told I needed to go to the "Visa" line first.  I thought, "What?  I'm not staying long.  I'm only staying for 3 weeks!"  But, I forgot.  It doesn't matter, they just want to charge you money before you enter.  It's not a big deal, just a necessary step before the "Passport" line. Then, the line I got into to finish the process was very slow.  There was a young man they wouldn't let through and it held up my line for about a half hour.  When I was about to get called up, they closed the line and I had to move the line t...

First of MANY Puzzles to Piece Together (Which country, which flight, which time, which gate, which terminal) I've made it to Frankfurt.  I've been up many hours, setting the alarm early to get my body acclimated as best I can for Istanbul-Time.  See the Bayer Sign? (It's about 40 ft. tall hanging in from 2nd floor to the first) Lounging Travelers (I was about to join them!) I love to travel on Lufthansa.  The service is exceptional (and the food).  I had red wine after we departed Detroit. Elizabeth talked me into ordering ahead, on-line, which makes it even nicer, if you order the special "vegetarian".  You're the first one to get served, because it's a special order.  It's delicious, fresh and just enough food to feel satisfied.  I had a mushroom noodle dish with zucchini and eggplant, sprinkled with grated parmesan cheese.  It came with a small serving of apples, a strawberry...

Brendan, Knee-Deep (he's gently pushing the boat into the dock) I hope my readers like the new "look" to my blog page.  I thought the HUGE picture was annoying when I open up the post.  My nephew, Brendan, helped me re-configure the "look" so the reader doesn't have to scroll forever to find my writing.   Brendan will turn 15 years old, on the 9th of this month.  He's one of the very few rare people, younger than 30, who has the patience and kindness to take the time to help me with computer things.  He's never grabbed the laptop out of my hands, he's never said, "I'll do it, it'll be faster!", and he's never laughed at my inability to reason in computer language. Even more incredible?  He admits when he doesn't know how to do something and talks through what he's doing and why. Not only is that phenomenal, it makes me think he'll be a master teacher by the time he turns 21.  If you have lived...