SKI TRIP, Part 4 - As you can see, Gagik is a very fun person. Taken on the streets of Tsaghakador.

As it turned out this was a company weekend. Gagik and Smbat both work at an out-sourcing firm to make ends meet as young mathematicians in Armenia. They do back-office style coding work for canadian firms, at the level of HP and Nortel.

The employees got to invite guests. Smbat invited his sister, a physics grad student, who divides her time between Yerevan and Dijon France. Gagik invited me. Everyone was 20-something, and generally very bright. See below for one anecdote about this.

Smbat's sister is in a joint degree program between France and Armenia. Both countries recognize the PhD. Interesting situation, but she doesn't have much of a contact with the French side, except through her advisor.

SKI TRIP, part 3 - Inside a One-Thousand Year Old Church

The Armenian Apostolic Church (Armenian: Հայաստանեայց Առաքելական Եկեղեցի, Hayasdaneaytz Arakelagan Yegeghetzi) is the world's oldest national church^[1][2] and one of the most ancient Christian communities.^[3]

The official name of the church is the One Holy Universal Apostolic Orthodox Armenian Church ^[4]. It is sometimes referred to as the Armenian Apostolic Church, but the latter name is not preferred by the church, as it views the Apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus as the founders, and St. Gregory the Illuminator as merely the first official head of the church.

From Wikipedia: more info here.

Inside the Tsaghkadzor church, originally uploaded by _ML.

SKI TRIP, Part 2 - In front of the Tsaghkadzor church

"I was invited by Gagik Amirkhanyan to spend the weekend at the local ski resort of Tsaghkadzor, 60 km outside of Yerevan. This is a nice place, a few hundred meters "above Yerevan, at the base of a 4500 meter mountain. I have been there in September, but never had seen the snow."

In front of the Tsaghkadzor church, originally uploaded by _ML.

SKI TRIP part 1 - Tsaghkadzor Church in the snow

Tsaghkadzor Church in the snow, originally uploaded by _ML.

In the mountains, above Yerevan, Armenia. Click on this photo; Michael has posted several mor

Armenian necklaces: 2 crosses and a pomegranate

Can you hear me now? (Part 1 of a continuing series)

Act I

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trr002.html

March 10, 1876
Alexander Graham Bell
"Mr Watson, come here, I want to see you."
(from Bell's journal)

Thomas A. Watson
"Amazing, it's sounds like you are right in the next room!"
(unattributed)

*****

February 19, 2009
Laura Grace Bordeaux (in Decatur, via Internet/Skype)
"Honey, your voice keeps breaking up."

Michael Lacey (in Armenia)
"Well, dear, I'm really really far away."

End of Act I

The hard birthing of new habits.

The old ones, die hard, true.

And right now, I have two thoroughly conflicting goals:

1. Reduce the amount of time I spend on the computer.

2. Get in the habit of posting every day, so that when I have something interesting to report, I do it.

Wish me luck.

Mt Ararat over Yerevan, Aremenia

Scroll down to see a full-size version of this gorgeous photo.
Mt Ararat over Yerevan, originally uploaded by _ML.

Michael had promised me a photo of Mt. Ararat as a present today; and what a gorgeous photograph!

Note the Armenian cross in the foreground.

Very Early Spring, 2009

Peter gave me this vase for Christmas, and this is my first arrangement: daffodils from out by the mailbox, white quince from under the pine trees and behind the azaleas in the backyard and... cool red berry carrying branches. They have a name. I just don't have it.

Sunday Feb 15 2008: Homey Jomey

Homey Jomey. That just came into my head; something my mom & dad used to say. I wonder where that came from, and if anyone else has used that expression.

It means (at the moment) that I'm comfy at home, without a lot of plans. Because it's Sunday, and I normally "keep" the Sabbath by going to church, being with family and not feeling guilty for being relaxed and lazy. I've got six other days for that...

I love my church, the people and even the feeling of being in the Sanctuary; it's light and airy, and simple. Today, some of the music was provided by a trio of harpists, which added to my contented feelings. A local harp teacher exchanges use of our space for teaching and recitals; in exchange, she plays occasionally during worship, and today two of her students played as well. We definitely have the better part of the bargain, I'd say.

Ah, and then potluck... everybody's favorite (3rd Sunday of every month, if you happen to be in the Atlanta area: cpcdecatur.org) Columbia Presbyterian Church.

I'm blessed that we belong to a church which is less than a mile away; especially on a very early spring day like today. Birds of all kinds singing in the woods (I walk past Columbia Theological Seminary on my way) and daffodils and forsythia are in bloom. Right now I'm ensconced on our southfacing window seat, and there are cool breezes coming through the french doors that lead on to the screen porch.

My only dilemma? Should: walk to the YMCA. Would like to: go take a nap on the glider out on the screen porch...

Stay tuned....