Random points of interest

Okay this is really cool. Almost every parking lot associated with a neighborhood of apartments has one of these cars in the parking lot. You will notice that the snow has never been shoveled around it. Since the snow has melted you can see more of the car then usual, but you still get the idea. This little baby is the office for the "parking lot guy". He stays there at night and watches out for the parked cars. He also hops out to park cars to maximize the number of cars in the lot. You can't see it in this picture but there is a wire that comes off the big apartment building then anchored to the tree and then to the car. This gives the parking guy a little heat during the cold winter nights.

This is Bombay 1 in Vladivostok. We have eaten here a couple of times and it is authentic Indian food. It is a fun place and good food.

This one is for Timmy. This is the largest pinewood derby car I have ever seen. Is the track in Elkhorn big enough for this unlimited class entry? You should see it take off when they light that firecracker on its back. It is actually a Red Bull mini cooper. You should the guy who drives this take off after he is a little light up!

We passed 32 degrees!!!!

This is our neighborhood on Saturday afternoon. It was above 32 degrees and quite nice out.

It is a little hazy because it is snowing out. Just a fine little snow not a big accumulation. Most buildings are of the Soviet era. Prefabricated concrete construction. The concrete is not the best so you notice areas on the sides of buildings that fall apart or crack. Here they have sealed up the cracks with some tar like material.

This building is a little further away from ours. You can kinda see the snow and how it is just coating the trees.

Maybe a better shot of the trees and little snow. The buildings are quite close to each other here. You look out your window and another building is right there.

Not much room for car parking. But it does work. Our little parking area is managed by a man that comes out about the time people come home from work. He directs the parking to maximize the number of cars we can get parked. He also serves as security guy. We have had no problems in this area where we live. Again, light snow because you can see the pavement. I know it sounds ridiculous to be excited about seeing the pavement but it is absolutely great. We walk to and from work so it is fantastic to walk on something other than snow or ice. We have done our fair share of acrobatic slips on the way to the office or home. We wish we had a movie of the number of times we have done some crazy...throw your back out...kinda move to keep from going down.

We thought winter was over - Let it Snow!!!

Here is a still shot of the bus area by the mission office. This is about 9:30 am, notice not much happening. This city of 1,000,000 just shuts down when it snows.

This is a very handsome young man that we come across every now and then. He reminds me of someone but I just can't place the name. But it does show how much snow we got by the time we got back to our apartment tonight.

This is a little video of what we saw once we got to the office this morning. There were so many accidents we walked to the office. Buses and cars were slamming into each other all day. It is a big mess. Hence, the walk to work. We took a bus home and we were sliding sideways and all over the road but we made it home safely. Unlike back home where it is usually cleaned up quickly this will be with us for weeks.

Family Home Evening in Russia

Family Home Evening at the Magill's in Vladivostok. On Monday nights we have a Gospel based lesson, a game and a treat. This is last weeks FHE (family home evening). We had Elder Hall and Elder Fife give the lesson. Elder Klemetson and Elder Allen attended (because they heard about Allie's fantastic treats).

They two young men in the middle are not members of the church. However, they are meeting with the missionaries and have expressed a desire to learn more. It has been a bright spot for us to have so many people in our home. I think we like more than anyone. Note the super Chocolate cake made by the magic chef Allie.

This is a close up of Elder Allen and Deema. Two great young men. Elder Allen is from San Clemente California and Deema is from Vladivostok. You can't see me because I took the picture. I do the basic cleanup after the festivities (floor vacuuming, dishes, you name it).

Clear sidewalks....Yahoo!!!

Hot dog....the chippers have been out again. This is the sidewalk we walk on as we go to the office everyday.

This is the same area with a little broader view. The sidewalk is clear and that is so exciting. You still have to look out for some icy spots but not like in the winter.

This is one of the stairs we go up on the way to the office too. It doesn't look to good but you should have seen it in winter. Just double click this picture and you can see in greater detail that there is actually a clear spot over on the left side.

Spring is Here!!!!

When it warms up a little they chip at the ice that has been on the road since November.

This is a little road that we walk to work on everyday. The ice has been as thick as 3 feet in some spots. It is so good to see parts of the pavement again. I know....it's a small thing. But Allie and I are still grateful.

Here is my little snow queen in the warm weather. We have been hitting the upper teens since we got back and it has been a welcome relief from winter. Yes that is Allie in her Spring coat along side the piles of chipped ice from the roadbed. We are sure that Spring flowers are just around the corner. We just don't know how big that corner is!

A Time To Relax

This is me with my good buddy Elder Allen. He has taught me this new relaxation technique.

We listen to the Moonlight Sonata and just drift off. As you can probably tell I was a quick study!! Thank goodness for Alice she shut it off and brought us both back.