Can it be April already? 2022
Just a short update on the world in 2022: a birthday, the war in Ukraine, Covid.
Travelogue of a Birthday Trip: In the Time of Covid 2021
Because I am not much of a planner, and everything is closed, I wanted to do something different for Rita’s birthday this year. So I rented a car and said, “Let’s go wherever you want to go!” Because she is a planner, and always has good ideas, Rita found some really cool spots that I …
Little Baby Lockdown: Covid Diaries
For those of you who do not know, I live in Riga, Latvia and a few weeks ago, the government announced emergency measures were returning because Covid is on the rise. I have been shocked to see how quickly we went from almost 0 cases this summer to over a thousand cases a day with …
Returning to America Part 1: Vitauts Grinvalds’ Memorial Service
I have been trying to write something about my trip back to the states after 4 years in Latvia. Rita and I did return for a short visit 3 years ago, but this was my first time back in what felt like a long, long time. I wasn’t sure what to write or how to …
4 May: Day of the Restoration of Indepence of the Republic of Latvija
4 May I did a quick search on my site, and it seems that I have not written a post about the 4th of May, which is a cool, relatively new, holiday in Latvija. If I have written about it, and this feels like old news to you, I am so sorry. As most of …
March: to Ainaži and Beyond
March 2021 March has always been my favorite month because it is my birth month along with the birth month of some of the best people I know. This year, it also coincides with my first year anniversary at my new job, and we are supposed to use our vacation days each year, but because …
February Already?
I am writing this just to prove that I am still here and I exist despite all the nasty rumors out there. It is officially the end of February here in Latvia, and there really is no end in sight to the Covid Crisis. We have been on somewhat of a lockdown for months. Winter …
2020 Retrospective: Merry Christmas!
I saw a tweet this morning from my nephew, Chris, about how this will be the first Christmas without his grampa, my father, Vitauts. That struck me and inspired me to write a holiday note. I didn’t want to send an email and spam people on Christmas. I wanted more than a Facebook post, so …
Living in the Center
How many different places have you lived in your life? 21 Tērbatas Iela I have just moved into my 21st dwelling during my time here on earth. Four more, and I get a prize, preferably a silver chalice with commemorative leaves. Yes, we have officially left the beautiful Miera neighborhood and become city center dwellers …
Update: Covid in Riga December 2020
Draugi, nav labi! That is what our Latvian Primeminister, Kariņš, said in his last speech about Covid. It translates as “Friends, it isn’t good.” Now they make t-shirts with the saying on it. It has quickly become his catchphrase. Earlier this year, I think I wrote about how Covid was pretty much under …