Gimme shelter from the swelter

Greetings from Istanbul, which feels like its own large-scale Turkish bath right now. August heat is bad enough, but we've also been socked with a couple of days of absolutely nauseating humidity, the kind that feels like a warm, wet, very unwanted blanket wrapped around you every time you venture outside. Thank heavens we splurged for an air conditioner a couple of years ago; we have spent the last couple of evenings cowering under its protection.

In addition to the discomfort afforded by the weather, we're laboring under the hassle of not being able to find a nanny. We had one all lined up, one with all the experience and recommendations you could ask for, but she first postponed and then cancelled her employment with us – the latter via a cell-phone text message (!!). Well, we both thought she was a little weird anyway. Be that as it may, we're still short a nanny, and have begun a not-quite-yet-panicky-but-getting-there search for one. We have some leads, but the market is tough; generally they work limited hours, live far away and ask for a whole lotta money. But we're gamely trying. Heck, maybe I'll just take Ozan to work.

For all the headache of the nanny situation, we're actually pretty chipper. Who can be too down on life when there's a cute, smiling, secure little boy at home to lift your spirits? ... And here I was going to post a video of Ozan playing in his gym, but Blogger doesn't seem to want to process the video. Feh! I'll try again later. Meantime, y'all take care now.