Yes, it has come to this. Since I really don't know when I will be going back to Armenia, it all depends on this which depends on that, etc, etc, I am moving over to the diaspora log proper. Just as Madlene writes about how we should all be going in that direction. It is good to see that everyone else who has ever logged in the Diaspora living in Armenia log is still there, even the lazy bums who just quit logging (Ashod, Aram from the old days, and lately Alex and Rhoda). Since I may very well be back in Armenia in a few months or maybe more, I will not comment on reexpatriating :-) But at this point it makes more sense for me to log here.

The DSL has been so very nice. I was able to clean up files on the web server, clean up my favorites folders which were cluttered with tons of link to sites I needed to see if I was still interested in or if they even existed anymore, etc. I really do hope OTE sells Armentel to an Armenian who will do the patriotic thing and either dump the monopoly clause or provide decent, well priced telecommunications and internet services to the country.

This weekend I am moving downstairs two floors, to a much nicer apt. I am very happy about this since I spend so much of my time at home. I have been making a little progress with my book, but narrowing down the pictures has become painful and I need Zabel's help in deciding these last ones. Unfortunately her artistic eye is in Boston this weekend without me, so I am left to my own devices. I got back in touch with Khajag, another American Armenian who lived in Armenia for 5 years and we never met until last year on a flight from Armenia to the US. It was the first time he left in 5 years! He is living in NY now and I look forward to getting to know him better and hearing his stories of Armenia, and plus hearing about the Armenian community in NYC.

Ah yes, with the DSL I somehow got diverted into looking into family tree software (I have become the family tree guy of my whole extended clan and it is a bit hard without decent software). I found a great program I am enjoying called GenoPro which does a nice flow chart family tree, is easy to use, and best of all is free. I am about halfway done entering what I have, but when I am done I will send copies to my family all over the world and ask them to fill in many details. Birthdates, short bios, medical information, etc. I am also convinced if I keep adding people, I will eventually have every single Armenian in the world on there :-) I have so many last names there already and keep going in any direction I can get info for. I would especially like to know what happened to Haroutioun Dayan's family that moved to Argentina a few generations ago, and some of those lost during the genocide.