Yesterday was my last big shopping day for the remodeling. It is not easy to choose seven light fixtures I like even in America, so having picked seven fixtures I like in an hour or so, I would have to say it went quite well. I also got some cool chairs for the balcony, which can handle rain and strong winds... which is perfect, and a kitchen sink. I am pretty much done and think this is the week of completion (yes, I am a perrenial optimist!). Yesterday was another scorcher, and there is no end in sight... here is the 5 day forecast and as you can see, we don't even get a chance to cool off at night :-(

5-DAY FORECAST for July 30, 2001

Hi 100� F, 37� C
Lo 75� F, 23� C

Hi 100� F, 37� C
Lo 73� F, 22� C

Hi 102� F, 38� C
Lo 71� F, 21� C

Hi 104� F, 40� C
Lo 69� F, 20� C

Hi 107� F, 41� C
Lo 69� F, 20� C

Last night we went to this crazy restaurant with the Land and Culture volunteers to see the July group off. We ate at a place called "Ashtaraki Dzor", which is about half an hour outside of Yerevan. The only other time I ate there was with LCO 2 years ago. There is a huge stage with live singing and musicians, and I mean huge! It is gold, with many steps leading up to it. Then they have dancers who even dance go-go. The music is mixed, from traditional "Jan, Garen, Garen" to Mariah Carey. The seating is outdoors under little gazebo-like thingys... The setting is in a nice canyon with a river and pond, a huge boat shell in the water with lights all over, and a little paddle boat as well. On top of this they have lots of animals in cages, and a novelty black waiter for those locals who have never seen a "neger" before. Neger (pronounce nEHg'r) is Russian for black and does not have the same connotation here as the similiar word would in America, but it is still catches you off guard to hear it. Anyways, the volunteers we were with had the usual experiences and stories, from the great villagers to the horrible cook, from the runs to the amazing trips. Next months volunteers arrive in a few days. Having done LCO myself, I enjoy meeting the volunteers before and after their month in the village...