Beach Hogging at Two

My name is Mikael, did my Mama tell you how much she loves me?? Lol. What a cheesy entry. Boo. Since when were you ever scared of the waves?

Your bangs are long now, and the plan is to keep them chin length so that you could just keep them behind your ears. Sorry I am not that creative at putting together a manly look for you - the clips and rubber bands tilt you off the scale at the female end. Don't worry, Mama for sure knows you have not confused yourself with a girl. Well, #1 - you don't know gender bias ; that blue is for boys and fuschia and pink are for girls, #2 - you don't know the difference between a boy and a girl to begin with.

After turning two, you have a better memory of things and you pick up more on the surroundings. The sound of the waves overwhelm you - the beach sands please you - and the wind, well the wind is the secret behind the flying kites you so adore. 

One too many farewells

Six years later and my roots have grown pretty deep in the work that I am doing.. Today, two of the most important person in my career are leaving and like a bird in an empty nest, I feel abandoned and helpless.

I did not give him the farewell I had planned out days before. To thank and appreciate him for his support and faith in me. All of it left, by the clock striking 6.

That evening I shook hands with him and I knew he was aware of each of my thoughts and how I felt. 

Don't get frustrated.

Don't get too excited.

Don't lose hope.

Don't become a stranger.

It was like the list of things I'd leave before parting ways with F or my younger relatives. We both knew the last one was just so that it wasn't obvious what one thing you were talking about.

I pounded the pavement hard on my way to the train - confiused if it was extra hard from my riding boots or it was my brain wishing to explode and the feeling of lost hope swallowed me as the sun left the sky.

Don't cry. 

That was probably all he meant to say to me just now. 

Let me at 25

Ice ice baby

I adjust myself in the chair, lazily I put my legs out onto his, and under my son's ignorant eyes - I weave my legs below his. I appreciate that about him - F - I mean, allowing me to put my legs up on the car's dashboard and use him to prop myself into comfort. I usually stuff my feet under his butt for warmth and comfort - you should try this with your partner for fun.

Outside the sight of snowy peaks and haggard terrain fills up the frame. This is Almaty. Located on the opposite side of the infamous Annapurna peaks and the Himalayas, Almaty bears a bit more to its geographical surface. A sudden hush of oohs and aaahs fill the air - or was that just me? As mainly the other passengers looked local.

We don our winter gear in the luggage collection area - bribing Mika with the ipad (please forgive me) and bundleling up real nice and cozy I can feel butterflies in my stomach from excitement!! Aside from the beach, I love love LOVE winter and snow!!!!!!!! Exclamated much?

I sat next to a tall Kazakstani woman who carried her baby through the gate doors like it was a christmas hamper. Gosh she was so tall and the ladies here are a beautiful cross of chinese features with siberian charm and fairness. Gawk alert. I am unaware/don't care that they are staring at my unruly and foreign presence either. The lady had a newborn with her of about 3 months. She had no reservations about openly breastfeeding her offspring while sitting in the aisle seat.

We touched down Astana and again my excitement bubble was so so so majorly ready to pop. Astana, Kazakhstan. The weather was a nice -11degC that night.

Welcome to ice-land and subzero weather!!!