Spending Time with Friends

A guy strolls up to me and starts creating this charcoal sketch. He tells me he is a famous artist that paints in the Arbot district. This is a high end shopping district in Moscow. He tells me that he does these sketches for about 1800 roubles. He tells me a little more about his life and offers me a deal that I can't refuse...only 1200 roubles. Then he continues with his well rehearsed approach and says he doesn't know who he is sketching...maybe this sketch is worth a lot more...maybe some day it will be worth a million! I just smile and he smiles...He knows I am on to his little scheme. Then he asks me what I would be willing to pay. I just shake my head no. I tell him my wife is spending all of my money. OK, he says, 800r. I just shake my head no and start to walk away. This goes on until I we reach an agreement of 200 r. or about $8. This is about half of what a sketch like this might cost at Fisherman's Wharf in SF, with no better likeness. Why did he pick me out of the crowd? I am sure it was my hat!!

So today we were back to Ismyloftski to pick up a few things for the grandchildren. We have just over 13 months left on our mission, but you mother is concerned that they might run out of stuff!!

We were with the Prices and they were performing similar duties. We ate dinner with them last night. We were supposed to eat turkey, but Barbara decided to cook it in crock pot and it was not done in time, so being the resourceful person that she is, she whipped up some chicken and gravy, corn, bread and fruit salad. We topped that off with Baskin and Robbins Ice Cream, after a few games of Rummikub. This is fun game. It is like playing rummy with domino like pieces.

After Ismyloftski, we went back to the Prices for the Turkey!! We had great turkey sandwiches on the best french bread. Earlier we went to Palace of Catherine the Great, but it was closed for construction. It was closed for construction the last time the Prices were here on their mission!

Tomorrow (Sunday) we are going to church with the Prices, who travel to a very small branch that meets in one of the Moscow mission offices. They will then follow us back to our apartment for dinner and maybe a little more Rummikub.

That makes three days in a row with our great friends. They are a great example for us. As we have shared in the past they have been on many missions. They have a great spirit. They are always up, always positive and always spontaneous. We love to hear about their adventures.