Down With Windows!
After our PC crashed last week, and after several mostly failed attempts to get it back up and running, we decided to leave the Microsoft bus and get a Mac. We are the proud new owners of a Macbook Pro, and so far it is sweet!
Now I just have to learn how to do all the cool stuff it can do. Look for a GarageBand recording and a better web page in the near future. Oh yeah, and I’ll be using it for job search as well…
UPDATE: The irony is just too funny. In my second day of owning the Mac, I installed Microsoft Office for Mac. When I went to register the software on MS’s website after installation, and I entered the ID# of the software (taken directly from the info screen on said software), I got an error message saying “Product ID not valid”. I tried 2 more times, and got the same error message, despite the fact that I was keying in the exact numbers and dashes on the screen of the program. Classic. This is why I got a Mac!!
Vacation in Turkey
Seda and I had a very nice two-week vacation in Turkey earlier this month. It was great to see her family, as well as see some new (to me) areas of Turkey.
The first week we spent along the coast of the Black Sea, going east from her hometown (also on the coast) of Eregli to Giresun. This is where both of her parents grew up, so it was neat to see this area. It’s very green and mountainous, and the mountains just sort of drop into the sea – very pretty. The mountainsides are virtually covered in hazelnut trees. Her dad has a house literally next door to the house he grew up in, in a smaller village outside Bulancak.
We spent some time doing touristy things with some other aunts, uncles, and cousins as well. We saw a couple of nice scenic overlooks, the castle at Giresun and the Boztepe in Ordu. These are both up high overlooking the cities and the Black Sea – gorgeous views all around. We also visited the Sulema Monastery, which was amazing – it’s literally a monastery built in the side of a mountain.
After a few days we drove to Ankara, the capital city, and spent two nights at Seda’s aunt & uncle’s house. We also spent one afternoon/evening with a college pal of Seda, Emel, and her husband Hakan. I probably drank a little too much Raki at dinner, but it was all good.
From Ankara we flew to Bodrum, on the coast of the Agean Sea. We’ve been here before on our honeymoon, and it rocks. Gorgeous sea, lots of sun, you name it. We spent 5 days at an all-inclusive resort basically eating, drinking, swimming in the sea, napping, and repeating. As the snowboarder in me would say, Maxin’ and Relaxin’.
It’s amazing to me how many different landscapes are in Turkey. The Black Sea region is all green, yet in Bodrum it’s very arid, almost desert-like, with shorter vegetation on the hillsides that are more yellow-ish or brown versus the deep greens of the Black Sea coast. Lots of scenic variety in a country that just a little bigger than the state of Texas. Oh yeah, the food is great too!
We had a fantastic time and, once again, every one of Seda’s family and friends were awesome to me; super hospitable, super nice, and willing to endure my slow Turkish language skills and help me learn new phrases (but no dirty ones!). If you want to see some pics you can check this link:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=8ja7k9uj.5mitf9m7&x=0&y=kh21t6
Congrats to Derya Aydin!
My youngest sister in law (or baldiz in Turkish) had the Grand Opening of her insurance business in Eregli, Turkey 2 weeks ago. Not bad for a 22-year-old recent university graduate!!
Senin icin cok mutluyum baldiz’cim!!! (I’m very happy for you sis!!!)
