Cat Cuteness!!

August 31


I'm always taking photos of our kittens, they are so dang cute and I could blog everday about their antics but don't want to bore any blog followers with my cat lady madness.


Anyway, it has been a while since I posted cat photos, so I think it is okay ... Chai and Shirin crack us up on a daily basis, so hope all who follow my blog enjoy a little bit of the 'cute overload' which takes place in our house!


Study Buddies

As you may know, I am currently working towards my MBA. A LONG journey I started this past March. Lucky for me, I have great help (not!) ...



Chai & Shirin make themselves comfy at my 'study spot'
How does a girl get anything done around here!!! Note: if I try to move this sleeping kitten I receive nasty looks and she just moves right back to that spot. Once she is firmly in place, I am hosed, better find another spot to work.

Kitchen Supervisor

For Scott's birthday earlier this month we made an apple cobbler (this was a Clotho inspired birthday dessert, she always shows up with a great cobbler). Shirin helped us out by acting as chief supervisor.

P.S. this is always the scene when there is cooking going on. Shirin really isn't interested in eating any scraps that my come her way (unless it is baked chicken or tuna), she just likes to supervise.

News Updates

Shirin loves to settle her stump and full front leg on magazines, she is partial to The Economist and Yoga Journal. This is her on a lazy Sunday afternoon with her weekly issue of The Economist. Perhaps I should send this in to the magazine, I don't think they realize they have a niche following of 3 legged cats.


Packing for Vacation and Upcoming Move


Most of you know that we are about to move from Baku to Anchorage. In preparation for this big event in our household I did some reading on how to help get your cat ready for long haul flights in their carrier. I found it is good to get them used to it by putting a piece of your clothing in the carrier and keeping it out in the open for the cat to get used to it. So for the past 3-4 weeks the carriers have been out in the open and we rotate Scott's t-shirts that he has worn as bait to get them into the carrier.

In this photo Chai is test driving her carrier ... I think she is satisfied, this is now one of her fave nap spots.

Shirin is on the outside looking in, she hasn't quite embraced the whole cat carrier thing. Hers is sitting just opposite of Chai's, she just doesn't want anything to do with it.

Chai also likes to help pack, I don't think we will have any problems with her in our transition from Baku to Anchorage. She is always up for an adventure! (or maybe she just likes the small enclosed space of luggage.)
Here is Chai again helping me to pack boxes with MBA papers.

Chase Our Bad Dreams Away

The cats sleep with us at night. I got up to go to the bathroom one night and caught them sleeping like this and couldn't resist stumbling around the apt looking for the camera.

They love each other so much and they are usually found intertwined cuddling with each other, I just had to capture and share their absolute sweetness.

Elevator Operators


Last but not least, this isn't one of our cats. It is the cat of the owner of our building, her name is Tikka. She walks around the place like she owns it! She is often found wandering the halls and lounging on the couches in the hallway. She knows exactly where her apartment is when she has to eat or go to the bathroom.


One day I walked in the building and she was patiently waiting to hop into the elevator to go up to her apartment. It took me a while but I scrambled for the camera, its not everyday you are escorted through the building with the resident cat!


Check her out patiently waiting for the door to open up on her floor.

Beach Camping at Shirvan Nature Reserve

July 25 - 26


A group of us took off for the weekend, we went beach camping at Shirvan Nature Reserve. The beach is a 2 hour drive south of Baku. I never before would have thought that I would swim in the Caspian, but in the area we had camped the water is protected and (somewhat) clean.

We saw this mama pup on our drive into the park. She had just had a litter of babies and she was absolutely starving. We were able to give her some food and love on our way in and out of the park. At least she had 2 days of food to support her and her babies. I think of her everyday, I wish I could save her... but can't put the healthy kittens at home at risk...

The caravan

The beach

Scott, deep in thought

Sara G directing traffic

Ahhhh, time to relax

Dan getting pummeled by the waves

Rory posing... 'where's the beach'

Awwww... Dan and Oksana

Me, Chris and baby Lavery !!!

Nice, Dan...

A nice drive, dip in the water, now time to soak up the sun at the campsite.

Sara and Andy

The guys stoking up the bbq

Check out this cool evening sky... the clouds rolling in which was nice because it was so stinkin' hot that day! No rain luckily -- just some nice cloud cover to cool things down.

Clotho and I

Clotho and Brant

Rory and Chris

Gazelle's roaming the park

An Out of This World 4th of July!!!

4 July 2009

I have to say that this year's 4th of July celebration was more interesting and different than the last few years.

Since we have been in Baku, the celebration of America's independence usually goes by without much thought. Typically, there is some kind of bar-b-que or get together but it never compares to the usual American celebration of going to the nearest body of water to play and soak up rays followed up by a picnic and bonfire.

This year stands out, it actually measures up to the 4th weekends at the cottage in Michigan or in Seward, AK.

Clotho and Brant's parents were visiting from the US. So Clotho had the brilliant idea to go to the mud volcanoes late in the evening for a picnic dinner in the surreal (other world) scenery of the MVs. (see mountain biking trip blog below... this was the reconnaissance trip to check it out and do some prelim planning!)

Good Times, Good Food, Good Friends, Good Location...

Scott, Patsy and Erich
Clotho's Dad and Brant mixing up Martinis!!!! No one is roughing it on this picnic!
Group lounging near the MVs ... look more like we are lounging on the moon. Check out this spread, a yummy dinner with all the Azerbaijani summertime vegetable and fruit. I bet they don't have nice produce like this on the moon.
I've got my plates ready, bring on the food!
View of the Caspian
Ernie and Tad entertained us with their stories all evening long. I woke up on Sunday morning still laughing at the stories and 'Tad-gents'

Sun setting over the volcanoes

The crew ... me, Tad, Brant, Clotho, Clotho's Mom, Ernie, Patsy & Erich -- Scott was the photographer of this great photo.

Below is video of Brant and Scott lighting a mud volcanoe on fire... couldn't quite figure out how to rotate the view... so you have to tilt your head to the right to get the full picture...

The Mud Volcanoes Never Get Old!!!!

Sunday June 14

One of the most popular attractions in Azerbaijan is a visit to the mud volcanoes. Now, after being in Azerbaijan for 3.5 years I have been out many times both by car for a short trip and as a stop on a mountain biking trip in Gobustan.

This time I had the opportunity to go out with some good friends, Brant and Clotho. It was a great break for me to get away from work and school. Also a chance to get on my mountain bike. I had been too long!!!

The mud volcanoes are awesome -- they are sputtering, gurlgling mounds of mud. They are constantly blowing bubbles and popping. The best part of it that the fart jokes (because of the sounds the volcanoes make) never get old!!!!

I was actually quick enough to get this one spitting out chunks of mud

We ran into some friends from work... their family was having fun slipping and sliding in the mud.