Interesting article about Poland from BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8066680.stm

I have found this to be true- labor costs in Poland are quite low. For example, we had brought with us an old, worn love seat and new fabric with which I was going to make slipcovers. When I priced hiring a Polish upholsterer to do the work instead, it was so inexpensive that it was easy to to make the decision to have the work done. And instead of slipcovers, I was able to have the love seat completely re-upholstered.

While labor is cheaper, imported products are not. The fabric to redo the couch would have been quite pricey and we'll never buy a pair of Levis here. Groceries are less expensive. I spend less than $100 per week to feed a family of five, when I shop at the Polish stores. When I shop at the small commissary at the embassy, the cost is much higher because prices are marked up 30%+ so we shop there as little as possible (have to have peanut butter!).

Train travel is inexpensive, too and with the current exchange rate, eating out is much more affordable than it was last year. But don't ask me how much we pay for gas!


*major bummer- Berlin Marathon sold out two days before I logged on to register online

One of the perks of running

One of the perks of running is exploring new routes and stumbling onto unexpected sights like this 1000 year old oak tree we found between a small forest area and a compound of new condominiums yet still within Warsaw city limits. There are steel braces propping it up but it's sprouting new, spring growth.

Our running is progressing smoothly as we continue to build a base before we begin our official marathon training. We are undecided about which race to run- Berlin or Warsaw. Both are scheduled for the end of September but I'm toying with the idea of making another try at qualifying for Boston. If I do, it needs to be Berlin because I'm nearly certain that it's a certified qualifying course while Warsaw is not. Training and injuries are unpredictable so who knows.
Amazing to think what this tree has seen.

And you thought the Poles were boringly Catholic!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8049853.stm

See what you are missing by not visiting us (my PR campaign for Poland continues)! Even if you don't read Polish, I bet there are illustrations!
I don't think this is the same Catholic representative that tried to outlaw Teletubbies last year because he thought the purple one was leading kids into the gay lifestyle!

Trish Collins Invades Poland!

Trish, who worked with Tim the first year we were in Greece, visited us in Warsaw for the weekend. We gave her a whirlwind tour of the sights, spent many hours relaxing in various cafes and restaurants, and then put her in the "Anne Frank" room in our attic (she labeled it thus after climbing all the stairs to the guest room!). The weather was perfect and we had a wonderful visit despite Tim's futile search for ice for the margarita machine. Trish was shocked to learn that she was only our second visitor so she highly recommends Warsaw (this recommendation has nothing to due with the fact that she lives in the garden spot known as Oklahoma).

Shame on You, Manny

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/05/07/manny/index.html?cnn=yes

Now I guess I don't mind so much that he abandoned the Red Sox.