Maria in Alaska

It's been a while since I've posted here. Maria, her mother Matushka Joanie, and I are currently in Homer, AK so my parents can meet Maria and her mom. They are all getting along very well, so I'm stoked. I've taken a few pictures and I'll post some when I get back home.

Look how far I've Come

A little over a year ago, I started tackling my weight problem, and shedding pounds. I'm not loosing weight nearly as fast as when I started, but they are still coming off. As of this morning I weigh 241 pounds, and I have lost 57 pounds. These pictures, taken on July 4, 2008 and March 21, 2010 vividly show the difference.

I still have a long weigh to go, but I am really getting there.

Maria and I

In 5 days

and

will meet.

Christ is Risen!

Well, Pascha has come. I thought I'd give a bit of an update on everything.

Pascha itself went well. I was in charge of smoking meat. This year I did lamb and pork loin. The loin was the same as last year, and came out really well again. Nice an moist, with good flavor. Everyone who tried the lamb raved about it. It was a really simple recipe that a friend of mine, Holly Jean Grow, gave me. Salt and pepper (I added a touch of cayenne for kick) and slathered in yellow mustard. That's it. but each slice was a bit of heaven.

I made the mistake of volunteering to cook the ham for the Pascha breakfast overnight. The smell of it, after not eating all day, kept me up most of the night. And when I did sleep, I had weird dreams of me, Maria, and a giant ham. But the ham turned out wonderfully, and the cherry-grapefruit glaze I made for it took it to a whole new level.

As of right now, I have only 12 days till I go to meet Maria. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm not exactly sure what we will do while I'm there, but I know that I'll be having some long talks with her parents. It will be good to finally see with my own eyes someone who in so short a time has become so special to me.

Work is going OK, there's been some stress associated with working so early, and me not getting to bed early enough. But I've got some solutions to it and it should turn around soon.

All in all, life is treating me pretty well at this point. No complaints here.

Aaron

Mid-Lenten Report

Yesterday was the Sunday of the Cross, the midpoint of Lent. (for the non-Orthodox, Holy Week is separate from Lent; Lent ends on Palm Sunday. Holy Week makes Lent look like a stroll in the park) This Lent has been pretty easy for me, mostly because I have other things I'm fixated on.

So far, I've gone to all the services except for the ones on Saturday mornings, because I have to work. I have yet to really cheat on the fast, though I still eat too much. And I have been relatively good at my prayer goals this Lent. I still need to be better at evening prayers though.

I've lost 6 pounds so far, and the pants I bought a few months ago are starting to become uncomfortably loose. Today, I took my drill and drilled a new hole in my belt so I could cinch it tight enough.

We still have a long way to go, and the hardest part of Lent is still ahead of us, when we have the non-Lenten foods in our house again, but can't eat them yet. But the end is in sight, the goal is much closer. God willing, the second half will go as well as the first.

Full Time Employment

Last week was the first time in over two years that I've been employed full time. Because the government has decided in its wisdom that they didn't need to have a whole bunch of full time people at a livable wage providing airport security, I've been working only 32 hours a week. Fortunately, I've been able to live on the amount I've been making, if only barely.

In order to give me full time, I had to agree to work split shifts so that on paper I am two part time officers in one body. Go figure. So I am at work for 10 hours a day, but only working 8. I do get a small premium for doing so, and I have taken up walking during my two hour break. I will also do schoolwork then once I start college. So all in all it is a good thing.

It will still take some adjusting to my new schedule. I get to wake up at 2:30 in the morning in order to get to work on time. I'm drinking a lot more coffee to cope. Still the extra pay will very much come in handy.

I am one of the lucky ones in the economy right now. I am gainfully employed, and even getting the chance to find more work. I have friends who are not so lucky, and are finding it more and more difficult to pay their bills.

This is one of the many good things that have happened to me lately.

Maria

OK, Both of you who read my blog know that I was introduced online to a wonderful girl in California named Maria Rhodes. We are pretty interested in each other. Anyway, I'll be flying down to meet her and her family on April 17.

Thought I'd post a few pictures of her so you can see what she looks like, Mom.

Hide the Decline. . .

Just found this, I think most of you will like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEiLgbBGKVk

Our Lady of Pochiev

Several months ago (August? September?) an icon of the Theotokos called Our Lady of Pochiev was brought to Canada, the first time in about 400 years it had come out of Ukraine. One of the stops was in Vancouver, BC and some friends of mine decided to go to venerate it, and I tagged along.

This is the church it was brougt to, Holy Trinity Cathedral

This is how packed it was, absolutly no way for one to move in and out of the church. There were people packed into the church, the nave, even out into the street! And many were young people, under 35 or 40, with their kids.

They had a balcony where the choir usually sat. I managed to force my way up and get this snapshot. Again, hardly even enough room in there for the priest to swing a censor.

Finally, some Christmas pictures

OK, so after almost a month of inactivity, I've finally decided to post some pictures of my Christmas Vacation to Alaska. And yes, I've finally figured out how to post pics.

Joachim, playing with his Star Wars toys.

Macrina, and the answer is no.

Mom, a little shocked about the extra kid that showed up at her door.

Just one pic from the drive up to Anchorage. Would have had tons more, but my camera ran out of batteries.

It's a good thing we stopped in Girdwood for batteries, because we ran into these at Potter's Marsh.

The Family Christmas Picture. I'm the good looking guy in the gray T.

I have to say, I had an absolute blast, from beginning to end. At the begining, Joe and Macrina didn't really know what to make of me, but they warmed up real quick. I got to beat Mom several times at scrabble, have some good talks with everyone, and got to eat Mom's cooking again. Also saw a bunch of friends I hadn't seen in years. The only bad thing about the trip was that it had to end so quickly.

I'll have to do it again sometime.