When you and Jen visited over a year ago, did we tell you about the Russians below us? They have this three year-old kid with flaming red fuzzy hair named Yakov who likes to throw loud temper-tantrums at all times of day (and night). Also, whenever they get home, he sits on the steps right by his door (the same steps that we have to go up to get to our apartment) to take off his shoes. But he doesn’t sit on the side of the step so people going up or down can get by. Oh no. He sits right in the middle. And his parents never do anything to move him. The only thing that I can figure is that he annoys them as much as us and they’re hoping one of us will trip and fall on him so they won’t have to deal with him anymore.

Then it got really bad when Jen’s parents were here visiting. The day they were leaving, as we were packing up, she just stands there in our way on the front porch while we move the luggage and a bunch of boxes and a bedframe they were taking back with them. And then, as we were all saying goodbye, and Jen and her mom were both crying, she comes up and says, “Can I pet the kitties?”

NO!!!!

We’ve just said “no!” ever since.