The generator is making the windows rattle. Some nights we get by on town power but not always; still, it is a vast improvement over the conditions I remember from 2002: mostly generator power and only from 5 till 8 AM and then from sunset till 10 PM. It made us all go to bed early. Now Axel can keep on messing around with his computer until the wee hours of the morning.
Axel told me to change my blog header picture, it’s winter now, after all, both in Massachusetts and in Kabul, and Roger told me it was time to change my tagline. I am pleased to say all this was done.
Today I was supposed to meet with the ex minister at his private residence as he no longer has access to his office and entourage at the ministry although his assistant is continuing to assist him in making appointments and the canceling them. I learned that the Dari word for ‘to cancel’ is ‘kensel kardam’ (make kensel). This allowed me to have my first Dari lesson that are now booked into the future on Saturdays and Mondays from 3 to 5.
I went to the physical therapy center to drop off part of the goodies that have been collected by my PT in Manchester, more to come in the container that we packed and that should arrive in a few weeks.
In between PT and language classes I decided to try out our new hand-cranked pasta maker. I have never in my life owned such a machine and who would have imagined I’d have one in Kabul.
I was particularly intrigued by the pictures that came with the machine and wondered what the cook thought the machine was about when he opened the box and found the instructions. 
The pasta was easy and fun to make but, once we cooked it, clearly too thick and who knows whether the flour I got from the store, in an unmarked package, was the right flour. But with a lot of pesto and red sauce it tasted OK; it’s just that we have enough for a few more meals.
Our new housemate Susan arrived and is settling into the pink room, getting her bearings, her computer settings adjusted and used to the fumes of the heater.
I was told that a woman has been proposed as minister and we are keeping our fingers crossed. It looks promising.
Sylvia's Journal 
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