A New Myers-Giraldo!

For those who already know it won't come as a surprise. Natalia is pregnant with our newest family member! No, we don't know if it's a boy or a girl. No Irini doesn't quite know yet that she will have to fight a little more for attention in a short while. But she happily puts her hand on Natalia's tummy as we tell her that there is a little brother or sister in there. We are delighted, of course. The official due date is May 5th, to coincide with our wedding anniversary (#8) and Irini's name day in Greece. The stars are all aligned. We are happy as can be.

Eating at Sundown.

The time was right. Irini insistent on eating by herself. Any attempts to help by mom or dad were met by assertive "no, no, no, no, no" until both mother and father got the message and allowed her some freedom to develop her dinner eating skills. So what if the fork was four inches longer than the width of her mouth? Rice was smeared and scattered all over the left side of her face and hair. Details. She ate happily. In the end, daddy asked for her to smile, and mommy whispered it in her ear. She lifted her head, looked over: "cheese". In the background, the sun quietly went on it's way, heading westward to share it's warmth to our families and friends.

Weekend Away!

It's been a very very long time since we've had time to ourselves. Between Laurence's last-minute trip to Thailand for school and basketball and all that routine "stuff" it was hard to find some time to enjoy the little things. So, this weekend we decided to just pick up some stuff, jump in the car and head to Port Dickson (about an hour and a half away) to enjoy some time on the beach (and the pool). We stayed for just one night, having snuck out of KL after a double-header basketball schedule with the girls basketball team. We got there at around 6 pm, and left by the next day at 1 pm, but in between there was time to enjoy a lazy sunset, to reintroduce Irini to to the wonders of waves and sand and just deurbanize our life for a while.

Irini's open demeanor also made us short-term friends with a local family that was, like us, out and about moseying the sands of Port Dickson. As we walked on the beach a rather large air-filled ball came rolling along, being taken by a gust of wind. We stopped it and Irini walked it back toward where it came. For a moment or two we thought no one would take responsibility for it until, out of the water, a woman and three children walked out of the water. Irini marched over and handed her the ball, which she appreciatively accepted, and then they offered for her to play with their set of spades and buckets and the like. She did, happily, for over half hour. In all our time in Malaysia we have never had such an impromptu get-togethere but, if there's someone who can open doors beyond culture and tradition, it's Irini!

Like the Good Old Days... Only New!

It came as quietly as one would expect. An email in among about 23 others in Laurence's email inbox. Only it was from Aki. Aki never writes! Usually Autumn is the one to keep us abreast of the comings and goings of this particular bunch. But this one really was from Aki. The subject brought back memories of the good old days, when Aki would see Laurence and say "Giasou Larry!". And so it began, with a click of the mouse, to find that Aki's work plans would bring him here, to KL, for a few days. Could we see each other? Would it work out? Might it be possible? OF COURSE!

When we did see each other it was, truly, like old times. It took just about a few seconds to get over the hugs and hellos, and 17 years since our last encounter seemed to just dissolve into the here and now. Time seemed to fly and stop all at once. Memories were shared, calls were made to Autumn and the kids, and smiles were broad on both sides. The second Aki gave Laurence his hug hello he turned to Irini and nonchalantly took her out of Laurence's arms. Natalia and Laurence waited for the response. It took just a second or two: A big broad smile as if Irini too knew that he was an old friend with a friendly face. The attraction was instantaneous and, from there on, they played on the bed, in the pool, at the dinner table. It really was great, albeit short. But sometimes, when short is all you got, it certainly is an opportunity to recognize just how important some people are in your life, despite being separated by distance and time.

Aki left us at a restaurant at KLCC waiting for a meal that we had hoped would be "quick" so he could enjoy it before his departure. As it was, it took too long and he gave us our hugs goodbye and took a taxi to the airport to make his flight that night. We got an sms the following morning that he spendt the night at the airport, his flight being over 12 hours delayed from the sounds of it. On to China. Then onward further back home to a loving family. Let's hope the next time it won't be 17 years gone by. We miss you already.

Irini's First Glimpse of Sporting Greatness

After a long deliberation close to six months ago, Laurence decided to give up coaching his beloved varsity girls volleyball team and work, instead, with the junior varsity program. He went back and forth on the matter but, ultimately, decided to spend a little more quality time with his family. In August, when try-outs were underway he would think long and hard to determine if the decision was the right one. Over the past week and a half he found it certainly was. You see? It turns out, it's not the level of competition that determines success, but the effort and the determination that is put into it. Add a little sprinkle of team cohesion, and some absolutely positive attitudes, and you've got a winning combination. Saturday brought with it the end-of-season JV girls volleyball tournament, hosted at ISKL. Coming off a last-place finish the week before in Penang, you would think the girls would be on a low, but Saturday morning brought with it a completely winning attitude. It was as if they were destined for greatness and, despite many close calls and dips and roller-coaster rides, they made the final where they played a fiesty Japanese School.

Irini made her grand appearance to the tournament (her second in the season) just before the final, and the girls all rushed over to see her, to hug her and just to look at her smile. They gave her a volleyball which she marched around the gym for the next hour or so. The game itself had the typical mental ups and downs, but in the end a come-from-behind victory was in the making. With the last point hitting the floor the girls were wrapped around each other in jubilation, tears falling freely down their cheeks. Irini was somewhat oblivious to the emotional overtones, but was certainly part of the cheering and the clapping and waving.

Laurence hadn't coached a team to a championship since the last time he was coaching JV about six years ago. It felt good. But not as good as the feeling that everything went so perfectly well. All the decisions, from the girls and from himself, were perfect. The season's objective were to play a level of volleyball where the team would deserve every point, and the opponent's points would likewise be deserved. That way the girls would know they were playing well and come what may. It sure is nice to play so well and also end up on top. Irini loved it!