Summer Journal 2012, August 10

Yes, I skipped a day in my journal yesterday.  It was very busy here.  We had to have three new batteries installed to run the solar voltaic.  That's done now, so everything is humming.  Paris accidentally typed the wrong code password which meant we couldn't get into the internet until Stell got a new password.  We have that now.  Also, we were somewhat distracted by helicopters flying over most of the day because of terrible fires at the end of the peninsula at Ouranopolis.  Several homes were destroyed.  I don't have telephoto lens on my camera, but here is a picture of one of the helicopters with the rescue equipment:

Alexander and Jaiden had a wonderful day yesterday.  Of course, Jaiden wants to be nowhere but the beach, and she loves her little cousins who are equally enjoying her.  The day started when a person coming down the driveway on foot turned out to be the 83 year old, Nicos, who had come to pick oregano.  Of course he had to tell several dirty jokes and drink some tsiparo after he quickly gathered about four bunches of oregano.  This was nice for Carrie and Paris to see:

One very hilarious happening is related to the fact that Paris always makes fun of me because he thinks I worry way too much that my luggage might not make it to Thessaloniki this year.  This is because at the Atlanta Airport the ticketing people don't know where it is or how to spell it.  However, everything was fine for me.  When Kostas called to tell us in Atlanta that Paris, Carrie and the kids had arrived on Monday afternoon he said that Paris' bag was lost.  At first we thought this was a joke, but it turns out that it was lost and it actually didn't get here until late yesterday afternoon.  Paris said he knew he was never going to hear the end of it from  me.  I made him submit to this photo:

A picture I insisted had to be taken for my blog.

We had ouzos at Sultana's.  This is Demetrius and his son Pavlos.  Demetrios has done lots of work at the house over the years (with the marble and tiling especially).  He was one of the persons who worked on the Parent's Temple this year.

Alexander at the Beach

Paris and Carrie had "date night" last night, which means they went to the village.  Alexander was worn out from his long day at the beach, so he slept the entire time, and Jaiden told me stories about her friends at school.  She's so grown up. 

Stell has been brought to tears of joy with the children being here, and yesterday I made a movie of him walking down the drive with Alexander. 

It's very cool and perhaps will rain today. Stell has suggested we might go to see Aristotle's Park and then visit in Olympiada with his sister, Ireni. 

Stell is just starting to think "fall" and talk football.  He observed this morning that we will be back in Georgia in less than a month.