Snow, basketball and Easter

We have been having snow here in Ukraine recently, several times in the last two weeks, we have had an inch of more of snow. Sunday morning we drove into the city for church. There had been blowing snow when Garry went out to feed the cows that morning, but it was looking better in the village, with maybe an inch hanging about, and clearing weather. By the time we got to the police check, where we got pulled over for whatever reason, I guess it was a document check; there was a stiff wind coming into the open window as the policeman asked his questions with big snowflakes to go with them. The closer we got to Dnepro, the more snow beside and in the highway, about 6 inches piled up in some spots where it was drifting.

 We planned to stay in the city as Garry had bought tickets to the opera and 6 pm that evening. After church, with an interesting sermon about love and bitterness- we have been having sermons on Corinthians 13 for ... since sometime in February, I guess. We went to lunch with a friend and ended up on a spur of the moment decision to see a concert at the organ hall. We were a few minutes late, and missed the opening number on the big pipe organ, but enjoyed the pianist and violin classical music that followed. The finale was "phantom of the opera" music on the pipe organ. It was really a treat.

Afterwards we had coffee/ tea and a snack at Mc Donalds before arriving at the opera, it was Carmen, the rotating stage was interesting, it had both opera and a bit of ballet, we enjoyed it but after the third act, I noticed it was 8:30 and we decided to make a break for the exit as it would be quite late when we got home (about an hour drive in the dark and snow flurries.) We had a lecture about talking from one of the lady ushers, Garry just said sure, sure, to her...it wasn't us talking during the last act, so she may have been disappointed during the final act. Someone had been talking rather loudly at one point, maybe they thought it was in English...

We had a safe drive home, and enjoyed watching the Temple- Indiana NCAA basketball game that had just started when we got home. The sports channel is great, we get lots of college sports and some baseball games. Too bad Temple couldn't pull off the upset, it was a great game to watch.

Garry enjoyed it so much he checked if the pro team from Zaporosia was playing and we ended up going to games on both Monday and Wednesday evenings. Monday night we met the father of one of the American players, who is visiting from NJ. Warner is one of Garry's favorite players because he hustles out on the floor. Randy Culpepper  was back from his injuries, although he hurt himself trying to block a dunk last night.The playoffs start next week, we might see some games.

Not warm, but the snow melted in the sun Monday

Ferro is winning Monday against the Monkeys

The cheerleaders have some shiny new outfits this year

So you may be thinking that we are getting ready to celebrate Easter here, but Lent just started the Sunday before last on the Orthodox calendar. Garry had sold a pile of milk the Thursday before Lent started (Pancake day was on Saturday) when Victor was busy, but sales were way down last Thursday, some people said because of fasting for Lent. We didn't bring Victor much to sell today- right now Garry is playing pickup basketball while I use some free wifi at the mall. We are trying to upgrade our internet at home, but it has been out for the last couple days.

Garry brought tall Max, one of the students, with him to play today for the third week. Max bought basketball shoes with the money he made milking one weekend when Yana was gone earlier this month. Garry took him to help sell milk the last two weeks and then basketball, but had trouble convincing Max not the shoot the ball as soon as it lands in his hands. Max promised to do better this week, he loves basketball, but has not had any training in the orphanage, so he is not very good at it.