The first Russian word I taught my husband was the word “жопа”=ass.
One day he came home from work and said that his boss was “жопа” (ass). I corrected him: ass is the situation, and his boss is a козел=goat*.
When my friends and relatives (actually Daniel’s relatives) ask me about my sons, the best way to answer would be the word “ass”.
If you read me you know what I think about Putin’s war.
My main concern was mobilization. Many Russians thought they were not interested in politics, the government was doing what must be done to take care of its citizens.
And now politics has come to almost everyone’s home. And mobilization has become not only my concern.
On September 21, president Putin announced a partial mobilization. Where the word “partial” means nothing.
The capital of Mississippi is facing numerous water problems — there’s been too much on the ground after heavy rainfall in the past week, and not enough clean water coming through the pipes for people to use.
And there is not even a Tomskvodokanal* there.
Since the pipelines are very old and worn out, pipe breaks occur constantly. In the summer, Tomskvodokanal is trying to perform at least some repairs. Therefore, the water in Tomsk is turned off often and for a long time and not always in accordance with the shutdown schedule. Tomskvodokanal publishes information about where and when cold water will be turned off.
В столице Штата Миссисипи городе Джексон вот уже несколько дней очевидные проблемы с водой. После сильных дождей на прошлой неделе на земле воды слишком много воды, но по трубам поступает мало, плюс ее надо кипятить, чтобы было не опасно пользоваться.
А ведь там даже нет Томскводоканала.
Их местная организация называется “O B Curtis Water Plant”. Официальные лица говорят, что основные насосы предприятия были серьезно повреждены, и завод начал работать на небольших резервных насосах.
There are three things you can look at forever: fire, water and women’s parking. If you see me parking, you can even laugh, and I don’t mind. People say that laughter prolongs life.
Maps International designed by Lovell Johns Limited
However, I have something to add to this list – a map, and preferably a large map.
I’ve been honest with you, I’ve said a few times that I don’t know geography. I don’t know what it was: a way it was taught to us, or i didn’t see an opportunity to use the knowledge. I had a good grade, but didn’t know much.
Now the world has changed. I’ve met people from different countries. We are getting news from different places. I became curious about geography.
I mentioned to my husband a few times that I wanted to have a big, no, huge map and … Daniel bought it! I have to tell you, both my husband and the map are so cool!
But you have to be careful, well, I have to be careful – viewing the map can be time consuming.
Another day I saw Tomsk on the map (when I was just passing by)), then my gaze shifted to Novosibirsk, and then… I ended up in the Aleutian Islands.
The woman and her dog went outside, crossed the road, turned left and merged with traffic.
The intersection, the traffic light, the commands “wait”, then “let’s go”. I hope that the dog already understands the meaning of these words.
The next intersection, without a traffic light. And again the commands “wait!” and “let’s go!”.
Twilight is gathering fast. The streets are poorly lit. Drivers practically do not see either a woman or a dog. And those who see, do not pay attention to them. In loose trousers and her husband’s plaid shirt, the woman looks very “local”.
The woman has already stopped being surprised at her own simplicity in clothes. In Russia, she would not have left the house in this outfit. And now, in a plaid shirt and with a dog, she looks like a typical American. at least, she feels like one.
Another intersection, the commands “wait!”and “let’s go!”.
The smell of tires, hot asphalt, sometimes cigarette smoke from the windows of passing cars, headlights, and sounds – the noise of the city.
Женщина и ее собака вышли на улицу, перешли через дорогу, повернули налево и слились с трафиком.
Перекресток, светофор, команда wait, потом lets go. Надеюсь, что собака уже понимает значение этих слов.
Следующий перекресток, без светофора. И опять команда “wait!” и “let’s go!”.
Сумерки сгущаются быстро. Улицы освещены по русским меркам слабо. Водители практически не видят ни женщину, ни собаку. А те кто видят, не обращают на них внимание. В бесформенных штанах и мужниной клетчатой рубашки женщина выглядит очень “local” (местный, здешний).
-I don’t like to tell people that I am from Russia – I.
-Tell them that you’re from Moldova – said Elena – Hardly anybody knows where it is.
There are three categories of reaction to the answer: Moldova – she continued:
Moldova? – they honestly don’t know where it is. 🤷♀️
A-a, Moldova – they pretend that they DO know.
Oh, yes, yes – Maldivi!
The world is made of paradoxes*.
At the time when I don’t even want to sound Russian, Steven Seagal says he is Russian, Russia is his home. He got Russian citizenship in 2016. The same year when Serbia too granted its citizenship to him.
Well, to each his own.
The Moscow Times reports that more than 3.8 million Russians have left the country in the first three months of 2022, according to data from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).
4184 people left the Tomsk region – Tomsk telegram channel “Tomsk 1604” says.
Unfortunately all my family is still there. They are not as rich and popular as Steven Seagal. And I worry about them every day.
I just hope everything will be fine and soon.
.
* Paradox is a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.
Yesterday’s Apple news started off with a post about The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station.
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in southeastern Ukraine is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and among the 10 largest in the world. It was built by the Soviet Union near the city of Enerhodar, on the southern shore of the Kakhovka Reservoir on the Dnieper river.
I didn’t know that. Really I cannot know everything about everything. I even don’t know geography well. I’m learning it with my life.
Gasoline has become cheaper, water (water bill) has become more expensive, creative projects hardly help not to get bogged down in the swamp of everyday life and not to go crazy from the horror of the news.
I’ll start with a pleasant one: gasoline has become cheaper. On Sunday, I paid $4.19 for a gallon (at BJ’s). Sweet.
But the water bill went up a lot. It’s all about the long heat and lack of precipitation. We have to water everything: vegetable’s gardens, lawn, trees. Daniel bought a sprinkler. He moves it around the garden every 15-20 minutes. This way we save time but spend money. I do not know how these water bills are compiled. But for some reason, sewage in the bill costs twice as much as water supply. Hopefully it will rain soon.
While we have a drought in New Bedford for how long… last two-three weeks?.. There is a lot of rain in Tomsk. My friend complained that she could not (or did not want to) walk through the rainy forest to her dacha. My sister complained about huge water paddles everywhere in the city. This made her journey to work long and unpleasant. Here in the USA, we often complain about the roads. Well, Russian roads and sidewalks are often much worse.
By now, the rain has stopped in Tomsk. But another regan is under Emergency mode due to floods.
Flood waters flooded 1,747 residential and country houses in Chita and five districts of the Trans-Baikal Territory, rescuers evacuated 285 adults and 38 children. This was reported on August 1 in the press service of the regional Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Chita is a city in the south of Eastern Siberia, located on the Trans-Siberian Railway route.
I will leave a link to the article under the post. The article is in Russian but there are a couple of photos.
I am glad that there are no such big and serious problems in Tomsk. It’s a little different there. In some areas of the city, there is no hot water in apartment buildings. In some (about 500 buildings) there will not even be cold water during the day in mid-August. But who knows… this one day can turn into two days or longer.
The infrastructure in Russia is very old. Tomskvodokanal* repairs it every year, but it seems there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
COVID-19 is still with us, although people talk less about it.
The number of new COVID-19 cases in the city of New Bedford is growing, and in the week from July 21 to 27, the state Health Department reported 267 cases.
In the Tomsk region, 52 residents contracted the infection during the day on August 1.
Russians have stopped wearing masks almost everywhere.. Rospotrebnadzor** recommended that citizens from risk groups wear masks in crowded places and on public transport.
And The New Bedford Light published a promising article about Dartmouth’s Toxic facility. The link is here.
Briefly, The Tonix Dartmouth plant is developing live viral vaccines against COVID-19 and monkeypox and is increasing its production. A human trial is scheduled for 2023. It will probably be convenient to have such a plant locally.
