Category Archives: US

Road Trip: The Big One

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After our vacation, Bülent and I decided to buy a car in Texas, where the cars have less rust damage from salt and snow.  We would then drive out to New Hampshire in time for Bülent to start his teaching job at the university.  Our plan was to drive from Leave Texas, stop overnight in Memphis, Louisville, northern West Virginia, somewhere in Jersey and end up in New Hampshire.  ScreenHunter_04 Aug. 21 15.32

However, right from the beginning we had some scheduling issues.  Bülent found the car he wanted to buy the night before we leaving for the trip, but it was too late to buy it and take it to get checked out. So early in the morning he went to the dealership, bought the car and took it to the garage.  However, the work it needed, brakes tuned and new tires, took longer than expected.  Instead of getting on the road by 12 and getting to Memphis by 8ish that night, we couldn’t leave until 4.   We were tired, so we stopped in Little Rock, Arkansas around 10 p.m.   We figured we would stop in Memphis to and have an early lunch and visit with my friend from college (hence required stop in Memphis), and have an early lunch.

And that is the day Arkansas became dead to me.  If we had time I would have like to look around the city and check out some Civil Rights museums, but we wanted to get on the road right away.  Bad decision.  The trip to Memphis is normally only 2 and a haf hours, but once we got on the road, we stayed on the road. And stayed on the road.  And stayed. on. the. road.

There had been a traffic accident that morning at 4 a.m. and the eastbound and westbound lanes of the highway were blocked all day. (I can complain about because no one was hurt.)  After several hours f being parked on the highway, we were detoured onto a two lane country highway.  It took eight hours to drive to Memphis.  By the time we got there, we were ready to tear our hair out.  We were trapped all day, had lost an entire day of travel and messed up our schedule.  We decided rather than try to make up time and drive to Nashville, we would stay with our friends in Memphis.   Honestly the thought of getting back into the car made us nauseous.

Good Decision.  We ended up having a great time.  We had a great Tennessee BBQ, and then hung out by the lake with the dogs.  The three dogs, that all have first, middle and last names.  Hee Hee.  It is so funny when my friend Katie calls out their full names with when the puppies are being rowdy.  I would post some adorable photos, but there were some technological issues and our camera ate the pictures.  The next day we woke, rested, with the goal of getting to Louisville for a late lunch and then continuing on to make up lost time.   We had to be in NH by a certain date so Bülent could start teaching his classes.    Next Installment: Day 3 of the Road Trip.  The road to awesomeness…I mean Louisville.

Ode to a Man

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My brother Elliot is a MAN.  Clearly he is a man, but now he is super macho.

EllHe is in his early 20’s, so he’s no boy.  He has always worked and studied hard. He has always dealt with difficult situations well, and has taken care of any shit that has come his way.   On Saturday he did both of those things, literally.   Friday night our septic system failed, and we were reduced to pre-indoor plumbing circumstances, or as my husband would say “sub-optimal.”

So on Friday –I went down to the basement where I discovered the extent of the “situation”—which was all over the floor.  After that, Elliot and I promptly uncovered the septic tank, we thought it looked kind of full.  We thought maybe that was why when the toilets flushed, it dumped in the basement instead of the septic tank. However, it was not the tank, it turns out the pipe leading from the house to the tank was pinched.

So, Saturday while my mother and I had an early Mothers’ Day visit with my Nana—Elliot took care of the “situation.”  What I mean by that is that he spent all day digging up the broken pipe, which also included shoveling out a hole filled with human waste.   Anybody who can do that is an adult, so for him,  he is a MAN. For Mother’s day he gave my mother her indoor plumbing back, kind of hard to top that one.   Also, I was pleased to have it back myself.  Yay for flushing!

Camping in Maine

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A few weekends ago I went camping in York, ME.  As a kid we always used to go camping on the Maine Coast or up in Canada.  Many of my best childhood memories are tied up with swimming in the icy cold water, sitting around campfires and hunkering down in the pop-up with my family.

2011 Summer 069

So when my family had a chance to go a few weekends ago, despite my father’s illness and chemotherapy regimen, we all jumped at he chance.  We drank beer, played scrabble, listened to the ocean and hunkered down in the camper while a magnificent thunder storm rumbled and dumped rain on us.  2011 Summer 060

When you grow up some things change, or become more complicated.   Heartbreak can no longer be cured with a kiss and a cookie.  But then again, some things never change.  Icy water+Camper+ Family = Always a blast!

2011 Summer 068

Tired and Excited

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This morning, at scary early hour I will be heading to the States on my semester break. I cannot wait!

This week has been incredibly busy.  The end of the semester grading period just finished.  Along with the fun came lots of grading and paperwork.

On top of that my cousin and her husband came to visit Ankara.  They were in Germany and decided to pop over. It was a blast.  We had foodapalooza, hit up kebab houses, bakeries and cafes. We literally stuffed our faces, and it was great.  From Ankara they are touring Istanbul and sound like they are having a great time.

I am really excited to be going home, though pretty tired, and it is not going to get better soon as I have about 20 hours of travel ahead of me.

In less than a day, I will be seeing my family!  Wheee!  Updates on food and family will be coming are forthcoming.

Some days…

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I miss things.  Like 4th of July.  I really wanted to be at a BBQ eating messy ribs or burned hamburgers, drinking beer and watching fireworks.  Normally I would have just thrown my own BBQ, however, circumstances prevented that.  But, I think I am going to have one next week.  There will be burgers,beer, deviled eggs, potato salad, watermelon,  beer, ice cream, beer and maybe some vegetables.

I have been a little nostalgic about the US lately.  Last night I went out and did something about it.  I watched “Angels and Demons,” there is nothing like Tom Hanks and Ewan McGregor to make you feel at home.  Especially when they are saving Vatican City, or destroying it.  Or simply standing still so I can look at them.

I have also been craving certain types of food that are more difficult to get here.  Like martini olives.  I am in mourning over martini olives, I can’t find them anywhere, it is really tragic.  Though I did find vermouth, which was exciting.

I have been craving Mexican food and sushi.  I miss the Mexican food from San Diego, you know the kind where the restaurant only takes cash, looks like a hole in the wall and has Abuela in the back cooking.  You know what I mean, that place people used to think it was a sex shop because of the loud moans, and if it was on fire the patrons would put it out with their bodies lest they could not get an orgasmic burrito in the Burn Ward.

So before Angels and Demons we went out for Mexican food.  It was actually “El Toritos” a California Mexican restaurant chain.   Not authentic, but close enough to appease the hunger.

The other food I have been yearning for is sushi. I want it pretty hardcore.  I am afraid to go snorkeling in Marmaris–if I see a fish—I just might just take a bite.  So if you know any good places to go for sushi in either Ankara or Marmaris, let me know.   I really prefer wasabi with my raw sea creatures instead of a la snorkel.

ALONG 101 WITH VOLKAN 10-2008 (1)

Transcontinental “Meet the Parents”

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When my parents came to Turkey, we visited all types of beautiful and historic sights, however the main reason was to meet Bülent’s parents.

Quick back-story: Bülent is Turkish (as you might have guessed.)  We met in Cambridge (Massachusetts) my junior year of college, I was attending nun-school (All-Women’s college—I loved every minute of my feminism injection.)  And he was getting his Masters from a school that he would prefer I not mention because he hates to name drop. (Hint: They hate Yale) We hit it off despite some minor issues.

Him–Why won’t you come to the bar with me? 

Me–Well, hmmm, maybe later. 

Him–When then? 

Me–A few months sound good?

We have been dating for over four years, and got engaged this February.  So we thought it was time that the parents should meet.  We weren’t too worried as our parents are all well behaved.  However, there was a lot of planning and coordination for the trip.  Also, my family does not speak Turkish and Bülent’s mother is not fluent in English.  While you might think this would be awkward (it was a little) it was also helpful. When strangers meet and engage in small talk it can always be awkward.  But, there was a valid excuse for gaps in conversation which allowed everyone some respite.

The meeting of the parents went well, but I had developed a pretty severe stomachache that would not go away. Here is the gang, assembled for brunch.  It was great that they got to meet each other, as living in separate continents it was not likely that they would bump into each other at the grocery store.

TR Family Vacay 266

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