Tuesday, January 31, 2006
change happens
We found out at school today that more changes are coming. The tuition is changing again. The location is changing. The classes and times may change as well. I like change. I think it can be healthy. We have a family that just kind of rolls with the punches. If we have to go to a different location, we will. If we have to changes class times, we will. If they choose to make the classes start at 8 am... well, one of us will get there on time... bless Spencer's heart!
The reasons for the impending changes are due to the new laws here in regards to Social and Charitable organizations. Our school is an NGO. Here is a link to a definition of an NGO:
http://docs.lib.duke.edu/igo/guides/ngo/define.htm
Today we learned how to find Bible verses. We are trying to learn ordinal numbers. We learned the word for chapter-- glava and the word for verse is-- steekh.
Our class talked about superstitions today. Here people do not sit on the floor. There used to be the belief that drafts were evil spirits. And if you sat on the floor you were putting yourself in the path of an evil spirit. Women are especially vulnerable to sitting on the floor. Female organs should not be exposed to the cold drafts. I brought up the old belief that Southern Americans "used to" have about talking on the phone during a thunderstorm... one of my classmates told us that it's not a superstition it's TRUE! She says that you might get hit by lightning if you even talk on a cordless phone during a storm. I like the cultural discussions we have at school. Sometimes we Californians feel like we are not from the same country as the rest of the students. Even changing states in the US is a cultural experience!
The reasons for the impending changes are due to the new laws here in regards to Social and Charitable organizations. Our school is an NGO. Here is a link to a definition of an NGO:
http://docs.lib.duke.edu/igo/guides/ngo/define.htm
Today we learned how to find Bible verses. We are trying to learn ordinal numbers. We learned the word for chapter-- glava and the word for verse is-- steekh.
Our class talked about superstitions today. Here people do not sit on the floor. There used to be the belief that drafts were evil spirits. And if you sat on the floor you were putting yourself in the path of an evil spirit. Women are especially vulnerable to sitting on the floor. Female organs should not be exposed to the cold drafts. I brought up the old belief that Southern Americans "used to" have about talking on the phone during a thunderstorm... one of my classmates told us that it's not a superstition it's TRUE! She says that you might get hit by lightning if you even talk on a cordless phone during a storm. I like the cultural discussions we have at school. Sometimes we Californians feel like we are not from the same country as the rest of the students. Even changing states in the US is a cultural experience!
Monday, January 30, 2006
Another Monday
Tom is at the post office. Nathan and Spencer are playing video games. I found some sweet potatoes last time I was at Metro so when I am done here I am going to make a sweet potato pie.
It is snowing again but it is warmer. Alexei says that we will get used to this weather. He says that Krasnodar is not California, but that Krasnodar is not Salihardt either. Salihardt can get to -50. At -40 C & F are the same so that is cold no matter where you are from.
Tom is up and feeling better. Tania welcomed him back to school today! She was teasing him about missing so much school. He was home all last week. And of course he missed alot when his foot was recovering from surgery.
We watched "The Count of Monte Cristo" last night and everyone enjoyed it. "The Recruit" and "ZigZag" are also good movies. If you are easily offended by language then you might not like ZigZag. It is about the life of an autistic boy with an abusive dad. The language is rough but it is a good movie overall.
I mended Iris's glove. It was not as hard as I expected. It looked like new when I was done. God helped me to get it right I got paid in Peach flavored tea & sour cream and onion potato chips! YUM...
It is snowing again but it is warmer. Alexei says that we will get used to this weather. He says that Krasnodar is not California, but that Krasnodar is not Salihardt either. Salihardt can get to -50. At -40 C & F are the same so that is cold no matter where you are from.
Tom is up and feeling better. Tania welcomed him back to school today! She was teasing him about missing so much school. He was home all last week. And of course he missed alot when his foot was recovering from surgery.
We watched "The Count of Monte Cristo" last night and everyone enjoyed it. "The Recruit" and "ZigZag" are also good movies. If you are easily offended by language then you might not like ZigZag. It is about the life of an autistic boy with an abusive dad. The language is rough but it is a good movie overall.
I mended Iris's glove. It was not as hard as I expected. It looked like new when I was done. God helped me to get it right I got paid in Peach flavored tea & sour cream and onion potato chips! YUM...
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Russian, English and Swedish
Valodya spoke at church today. I sat next to Maj-lis because Tom didn't make it to church this morning. I never noticed before that Maj-lis's bible is not in Russian. Maj-lis first language is Swedish. So her Bible is in Swedish. I brought my English bible today instead of my Russian one. So as we were listening to the sermon in Russian, Maj-lis was reading in Swedish and I was reading in English. Joyce didn't hear the verse number so she turned around to ask me which verse. She asked in English but I answered in Russian. It is not easy to switch gears that fast with numbers!
Spencer did a good job of taking Tom's place at church. We sat behind Alexei and Lena. Spencer kept poking Alexei and Alexei pretended he didn't know who did it!
Sveta and Valentin were back at church this morning. Sveta is expecting and she is almost at the three month mark. Valentin announced their news a few weeks ago at church. We have known for a while but weren't allowed to say anything. She has been very sick. She spent most of this first three months in the hospital. There is a belief in the medical community that morning sickness is bad for the baby. So women are hospitalized for it.
Our teacher from school, Mila has a healthy baby girl her husband dima made an anoouncment this morning....that they were home from the hospital already. Sasha from the Rehab Center is now a grandfather of a little boy named Timothy. His daughter just gave birth to her first child.
We got a ride home from Lena's house today. Her brother drove us home in his BMW. It is a beautiful car. He got stopped by the police. Why? Because of his car... there was also an Audi, a Honda and a very nice truck that was stopped at the same time. Too bad as he was stopping the Honda he let the Lexus sneak by! I asked Slavic why Constantine was stopped. He said because the policeman wanted some work to do. The policeman told Constantine that there was ice on the road and it was dangerous for him to be driving so fast.
1) he was not driving fast!
2) the road was clear. Constantine asked to be shown the ice!
As it turned out Lena and her brother Alexei got to our building at the same time we did. They took the trolleybus and we were in the car!
Nathan is studying and Spencer is blasting his Maroon5 CD. He finally bought Songs about Jane. It took him two years he said, but he finally bought it. I guess he was looking in the wrong places before!
Spencer did a good job of taking Tom's place at church. We sat behind Alexei and Lena. Spencer kept poking Alexei and Alexei pretended he didn't know who did it!
Sveta and Valentin were back at church this morning. Sveta is expecting and she is almost at the three month mark. Valentin announced their news a few weeks ago at church. We have known for a while but weren't allowed to say anything. She has been very sick. She spent most of this first three months in the hospital. There is a belief in the medical community that morning sickness is bad for the baby. So women are hospitalized for it.
Our teacher from school, Mila has a healthy baby girl her husband dima made an anoouncment this morning....that they were home from the hospital already. Sasha from the Rehab Center is now a grandfather of a little boy named Timothy. His daughter just gave birth to her first child.
We got a ride home from Lena's house today. Her brother drove us home in his BMW. It is a beautiful car. He got stopped by the police. Why? Because of his car... there was also an Audi, a Honda and a very nice truck that was stopped at the same time. Too bad as he was stopping the Honda he let the Lexus sneak by! I asked Slavic why Constantine was stopped. He said because the policeman wanted some work to do. The policeman told Constantine that there was ice on the road and it was dangerous for him to be driving so fast.
1) he was not driving fast!
2) the road was clear. Constantine asked to be shown the ice!
As it turned out Lena and her brother Alexei got to our building at the same time we did. They took the trolleybus and we were in the car!
Nathan is studying and Spencer is blasting his Maroon5 CD. He finally bought Songs about Jane. It took him two years he said, but he finally bought it. I guess he was looking in the wrong places before!
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Heatwave?
-10 degree Celsius = 14 degree Fahrenheit
We are finally warming up here! Each day seems to be getting warmer. Tom is not convinced it is warm.... the snow is still on the ground and it is still cold out there.
Our dog is not convinced either. She does not want to go for a walk. She will potty and go right back inside! Right now she is in our bedroom laying on the floor in the sunshine. She likes to get close to the radiator and snuggle up in a ball and sleep. She is 9 years old so her arthritis could be acting up!
Nathan and Tom are still sick. Nathan has been in bed all week and whatever he has he must have given it to Tom. Spencer just had a little stomach flu and was back up the next day. I am grateful to be healthy. My wrist is much better and I am able to get out and purchase food and come home to cook!
I have to go through my recipes today and see if I can find Mom's recipe for M&M cookies. I bought some M&M's and thought it would be a good treat. I used the chocolate chips I got from Janet to make blonde brownies. Tom let Olya have some and she was surprised... first of all she confirmed that our dog was still alive. Tom told her they were brownies and our dog's name is Brownie! She said every American who had given her brownies before made them dark. Tom had to explain that these are called "Blonde Brownies" and they are lighter in color.
I found split peas here and was able to make Split Pea and ham soup. We can also get cream of mushroom soup here now! Think of how many reicipes you might have that call for Cream of Mushroom soup... it is a hard ingredient to replace!
We were supposed to go bowling today but the bowling alley triples the price on the weekend so we will try next Friday.
Tom had some jewelry sales this month so we are using that money to buy an electric radiator for a family in need of heat. They live on the first floor of their building and close to the entrance where the door keeps opening and closing. They have to wear their coats inside to stay warm!
We are finally warming up here! Each day seems to be getting warmer. Tom is not convinced it is warm.... the snow is still on the ground and it is still cold out there.
Our dog is not convinced either. She does not want to go for a walk. She will potty and go right back inside! Right now she is in our bedroom laying on the floor in the sunshine. She likes to get close to the radiator and snuggle up in a ball and sleep. She is 9 years old so her arthritis could be acting up!
Nathan and Tom are still sick. Nathan has been in bed all week and whatever he has he must have given it to Tom. Spencer just had a little stomach flu and was back up the next day. I am grateful to be healthy. My wrist is much better and I am able to get out and purchase food and come home to cook!
I have to go through my recipes today and see if I can find Mom's recipe for M&M cookies. I bought some M&M's and thought it would be a good treat. I used the chocolate chips I got from Janet to make blonde brownies. Tom let Olya have some and she was surprised... first of all she confirmed that our dog was still alive. Tom told her they were brownies and our dog's name is Brownie! She said every American who had given her brownies before made them dark. Tom had to explain that these are called "Blonde Brownies" and they are lighter in color.
I found split peas here and was able to make Split Pea and ham soup. We can also get cream of mushroom soup here now! Think of how many reicipes you might have that call for Cream of Mushroom soup... it is a hard ingredient to replace!
We were supposed to go bowling today but the bowling alley triples the price on the weekend so we will try next Friday.
Tom had some jewelry sales this month so we are using that money to buy an electric radiator for a family in need of heat. They live on the first floor of their building and close to the entrance where the door keeps opening and closing. They have to wear their coats inside to stay warm!
Friday, January 27, 2006
Hazing Incident
Hazing costs soldier his genitals and legs
Russian army recruit brutally beatenMilitary promises full investigation
Jan. 27, 2006. 01:00 AM
MICHAEL MAINVILLE
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
MOSCOW—On New Year's Eve, as Russians across the country celebrated their most important holiday of the year, 19-year-old Pte. Andrei Sychev of the Chelyabinsk Tank Academy was tied to a chair by his fellow soldiers. For the next four hours Sychev's colleagues, including some of his superiors, took turns beating and kicking him repeatedly in the legs and groin.
There was nothing unusual about what happened to Sychev — the demoralized Russian armed forces have long been plagued by bullying and brutal hazing. Seven other conscripts were beaten the same night. But for some reason, Sychev was unable to get medical attention for three days, and gangrene set in.
To keep Sychev alive, doctors were forced to amputate his legs and genitals.
The Russian Prosecutors' Office revealed details of the case this week, and yesterday military investigators arrived in the Ural Mountains city Chelyabinsk, 1,900 kilometres east of Moscow, to begin a large-scale investigation into hazing at the academy. News agencies said eight servicemen — including officers — were detained.
Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov initially played down the incident, telling Ekho Moskvy radio "there is nothing serious there," but later vowed a full investigation. "We won't cover anything up," he promised.
The incident set off a fresh wave of criticism of a brutal military system that promotes intense hazing and abuse and often leads to killings, suicides and desertions.
"In over 20 years of service as a prosecutor, I haven't seen a more cynical crime ... and more heartless treatment of servicemen by commanding officers," Chief Military Prosecutor Alexander Savenkov told the Interfax news agency.
Authorities also failed to notify Sychev's mother, Galina, until after his first amputation. "Why didn't anyone tell me: `Come here, your son is in grave condition'?" she asked.
Sychev, unable to speak, scribbled the name of his most cruel tormentor on a piece of paper, his mother said.
Prosecutors said one of the detained servicemen, Sgt. Alexander Siyakov, had been charged with abuse of power. The chief of the military's General Staff, Col.-Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky, said he was outraged by the crime and promised to punish officers in charge of the academy.
But military experts and activists for soldiers' rights doubt this latest incident will lead to any real changes.
"The military is falling apart and every year it gets worse and worse," says Valentina Melnikova, from the Committee of Soldiers' Mothers. "But the people in charge don't want changes, they don't want to create a normal military because they benefit from the way things are."
According to official statistics, 16 soldiers died of hazing last year, and the defence ministry says 276 servicemen killed themselves.
But Veronika Marchenko, head of the Mothers' Rights Foundation, an army victim support group, estimates 3,000 soldiers die every year from non-combat-related injuries, with more than half of them killed during hazing or driven to suicide to avoid it.
At the system's heart is the brutal code of dedovshchina, or "the rule of the grandfathers." New recruits are routinely beaten and abused by older soldiers, called grandfathers (dedy).
"Our army is like a gulag, where a person is treated like a slave and the life of a soldier doesn't mean anything," Marchenko says.Russia's top brass has for years been vowing to reform the military by shifting the balance between conscripts and contract troops. But Marchenko says few in the upper ranks are truly interested in switching to a professional army. Most, she says, retain the Soviet-era mentality that military strength can be measured in the number of soldiers. And ending conscription — all Russian men between 18 and 27 must serve two years in the armed forces — would also deprive many officers of a lucrative source of income, she contends.
"It's common for conscripts to be hired out as cheap labour," she says. "The officers don't want changes ... it would take money out of their pockets."
Russian army recruit brutally beatenMilitary promises full investigation
Jan. 27, 2006. 01:00 AM
MICHAEL MAINVILLE
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
MOSCOW—On New Year's Eve, as Russians across the country celebrated their most important holiday of the year, 19-year-old Pte. Andrei Sychev of the Chelyabinsk Tank Academy was tied to a chair by his fellow soldiers. For the next four hours Sychev's colleagues, including some of his superiors, took turns beating and kicking him repeatedly in the legs and groin.
There was nothing unusual about what happened to Sychev — the demoralized Russian armed forces have long been plagued by bullying and brutal hazing. Seven other conscripts were beaten the same night. But for some reason, Sychev was unable to get medical attention for three days, and gangrene set in.
To keep Sychev alive, doctors were forced to amputate his legs and genitals.
The Russian Prosecutors' Office revealed details of the case this week, and yesterday military investigators arrived in the Ural Mountains city Chelyabinsk, 1,900 kilometres east of Moscow, to begin a large-scale investigation into hazing at the academy. News agencies said eight servicemen — including officers — were detained.
Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov initially played down the incident, telling Ekho Moskvy radio "there is nothing serious there," but later vowed a full investigation. "We won't cover anything up," he promised.
The incident set off a fresh wave of criticism of a brutal military system that promotes intense hazing and abuse and often leads to killings, suicides and desertions.
"In over 20 years of service as a prosecutor, I haven't seen a more cynical crime ... and more heartless treatment of servicemen by commanding officers," Chief Military Prosecutor Alexander Savenkov told the Interfax news agency.
Authorities also failed to notify Sychev's mother, Galina, until after his first amputation. "Why didn't anyone tell me: `Come here, your son is in grave condition'?" she asked.
Sychev, unable to speak, scribbled the name of his most cruel tormentor on a piece of paper, his mother said.
Prosecutors said one of the detained servicemen, Sgt. Alexander Siyakov, had been charged with abuse of power. The chief of the military's General Staff, Col.-Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky, said he was outraged by the crime and promised to punish officers in charge of the academy.
But military experts and activists for soldiers' rights doubt this latest incident will lead to any real changes.
"The military is falling apart and every year it gets worse and worse," says Valentina Melnikova, from the Committee of Soldiers' Mothers. "But the people in charge don't want changes, they don't want to create a normal military because they benefit from the way things are."
According to official statistics, 16 soldiers died of hazing last year, and the defence ministry says 276 servicemen killed themselves.
But Veronika Marchenko, head of the Mothers' Rights Foundation, an army victim support group, estimates 3,000 soldiers die every year from non-combat-related injuries, with more than half of them killed during hazing or driven to suicide to avoid it.
At the system's heart is the brutal code of dedovshchina, or "the rule of the grandfathers." New recruits are routinely beaten and abused by older soldiers, called grandfathers (dedy).
"Our army is like a gulag, where a person is treated like a slave and the life of a soldier doesn't mean anything," Marchenko says.Russia's top brass has for years been vowing to reform the military by shifting the balance between conscripts and contract troops. But Marchenko says few in the upper ranks are truly interested in switching to a professional army. Most, she says, retain the Soviet-era mentality that military strength can be measured in the number of soldiers. And ending conscription — all Russian men between 18 and 27 must serve two years in the armed forces — would also deprive many officers of a lucrative source of income, she contends.
"It's common for conscripts to be hired out as cheap labour," she says. "The officers don't want changes ... it would take money out of their pockets."
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Searching for hidden Crosses
I took this photo back when we were living at the BLTC. When we go out for walks Tom and I notice the hidden crosses now and then. This cross was found as we were just looking at a gate.
Spencer, Nathan and I just reached Lesson 27. It is another spiritual lesson. Today as we were going over the vocabulary for the lesson Madina had us saying names of God and speaking about Christ,his death on the cross and salvation.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Tom reading with Ira
Ira came over this morning to help her mommy clean our home. Uncle Tom got to read and hold all the toys that Ira wanted around her! Since I was at school Spencer grabbed my camera and took this photo.I managed to get out of the house and make it out to school today. It was very cold again. -16 Farenheit. Nathan made a valiant attempt to get to school. He made it to the bus stop & starting coughing really badly and decided to go back home. Tom had a sore throat and Spencer said his stomach was not so hot!
My bus ride had an interesting passenger this morning. A dog got on the bus. The conductor asked "whose dog is this?" No one answered. She just pet the dog on the head and let him ride! First he was sitting across from and then he changed seats and sat behind me. He was still riding when I got off 7 stops later. Not sure where he was headed.... perhaps he was going to visit a friend!
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
what is going on in Oregon?
Just to be fair that Russia is not the only place with weird news stories I thought I would share this one with you all today!
Oh and we are warming up here... we are at -24 up from -32!
===========================================
Man arrested for throwing own prosthetic legs
Mon Jan 23, 10:18 PM ET
An Oregon man hurled both of his prosthetic legs at a state trooper, striking him with one, after his son was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, police said on Monday.
The incident on Friday began when the trooper stopped a sport utility vehicle going the wrong way on a highway in southern Oregon.
The trooper at first detained only the driver, Adam Kackstetter, 26, after he became aggressive. But then his father, Joel Kackstetter, 53, a passenger in the vehicle, grew hostile, a police spokesman said.
The senior Kackstetter charged at the arresting officer several times before the trooper knocked him to the ground, according to the police report.
"Passenger removed a prosthetic leg and threw it at trooper, hitting trooper in chest. Passenger removed second leg, threw it at trooper but missed," the report said.
The father and son face multiple charges including assault on a public safety officer.
"It got to be quite a dangerous situation. I think the officer used a lot of discretion and restraint in the amount of force that he used in this situation," said Ed Caleb, Klamath County district attorney.
A lawyer for the Kackstetters could not be immediately reached for comment.
Oh and we are warming up here... we are at -24 up from -32!
===========================================
Man arrested for throwing own prosthetic legs
Mon Jan 23, 10:18 PM ET
An Oregon man hurled both of his prosthetic legs at a state trooper, striking him with one, after his son was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, police said on Monday.
The incident on Friday began when the trooper stopped a sport utility vehicle going the wrong way on a highway in southern Oregon.
The trooper at first detained only the driver, Adam Kackstetter, 26, after he became aggressive. But then his father, Joel Kackstetter, 53, a passenger in the vehicle, grew hostile, a police spokesman said.
The senior Kackstetter charged at the arresting officer several times before the trooper knocked him to the ground, according to the police report.
"Passenger removed a prosthetic leg and threw it at trooper, hitting trooper in chest. Passenger removed second leg, threw it at trooper but missed," the report said.
The father and son face multiple charges including assault on a public safety officer.
"It got to be quite a dangerous situation. I think the officer used a lot of discretion and restraint in the amount of force that he used in this situation," said Ed Caleb, Klamath County district attorney.
A lawyer for the Kackstetters could not be immediately reached for comment.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Snow Day
About half of the students went to school today. As I post this everyone is in bed. Michelle just left about a half hour ago and it is 3AM. This is our current temperature:
-32 degree Celsius = -25.6 degree Fahrenheit.
Michelle came over to stay warm. Our apartment is very toasty. We have double paned glass windows from Germany. They are the best!
Tomorrow is officially a snow day! We have the movie Cool Hand Luke that we borrowed from Janet and Patrick. We finished the first four episodes of the second season of LOST. Janet and Patrick had those also! they also loaned us CSI to watch and some episodes of Invasion. We watched all of the commercials when we were watching LOST. It was actually fun to see American commercials again. Here we see many alcohol commercials. We notice in the 4hours of LOST there was only one beer ad. It seemed weird.
Tomorrow is Tom's birthday. His folks called him tonight and it was great to hear their voices. Spencer was telling people at school that Tom is 403. He is really only 43! I will be making pizza and blonde brownies. I have soup leftover and a pan of cornbread so tomorrow's lunch is already done.
We are 940 miles south of Moscow... and yes it is a record cold here too!
-32 degree Celsius = -25.6 degree Fahrenheit.
Michelle came over to stay warm. Our apartment is very toasty. We have double paned glass windows from Germany. They are the best!
Tomorrow is officially a snow day! We have the movie Cool Hand Luke that we borrowed from Janet and Patrick. We finished the first four episodes of the second season of LOST. Janet and Patrick had those also! they also loaned us CSI to watch and some episodes of Invasion. We watched all of the commercials when we were watching LOST. It was actually fun to see American commercials again. Here we see many alcohol commercials. We notice in the 4hours of LOST there was only one beer ad. It seemed weird.
Tomorrow is Tom's birthday. His folks called him tonight and it was great to hear their voices. Spencer was telling people at school that Tom is 403. He is really only 43! I will be making pizza and blonde brownies. I have soup leftover and a pan of cornbread so tomorrow's lunch is already done.
We are 940 miles south of Moscow... and yes it is a record cold here too!
Sunday, January 22, 2006
снег идёт
Snow, snow and more snow! Tom spoke at church today on Trust and did a great job. A few of our classmates from school came to hear him speak. Ann, Robert, Bill and Andrew. Tom said that even he would not come out in this weather to hear him speak. He thanked the crazy Americans for coming to hear him... as we walked home Ann said "I cannot believe we are out here in this weather, Tom is not that good a speaker!" I said "I only came because I am married to him." Tom knows we love him but, it sure is cold out there!We are wondering if this snow will give us a snow day from school. It has been snowing since late last night and there is no sign of it stopping. I think there is about 6 inches of accumulation out there!
What Do You Do With a Drunken Elephant?
Drunk Elephant Wreaks Havoc in Chilly Russian Circus
Created: 20.01.2006 11:59 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 11:59 MSK
MosNews
A Russian circus resorted to giant vodka cocktails in an attempt to protect performing elephants from extreme cold. One of the animals got so drunk it nearly destroyed the circus, the AFP reported Friday.
The clear liquor was added to the animals’ water buckets as they began to feel the chill of temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit), trainer Andrei Kornilov said.
“This is crisis weather for our animals. It is a climactic shock. We are warming them up with alcohol,” he said at the Around the World circus in the city of Yaroslavl, 250 kilometres (155 miles) northeast of Moscow.
The tipple comprising a bottle of Russia’s national drink stirred into a bucket of iced water had a rapid and sometimes unpredictable effect, he said.
“Yesterday we gave one of the elephants a bucket and the circus lost its heater —- the elephant just tore it off.”
Zookeepers took a similar approach in the town of Lipetsk, south of Moscow, keeping macaque monkeys warm with sweet wine taken three times per day.
Created: 20.01.2006 11:59 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 11:59 MSK
MosNews
A Russian circus resorted to giant vodka cocktails in an attempt to protect performing elephants from extreme cold. One of the animals got so drunk it nearly destroyed the circus, the AFP reported Friday.
The clear liquor was added to the animals’ water buckets as they began to feel the chill of temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit), trainer Andrei Kornilov said.
“This is crisis weather for our animals. It is a climactic shock. We are warming them up with alcohol,” he said at the Around the World circus in the city of Yaroslavl, 250 kilometres (155 miles) northeast of Moscow.
The tipple comprising a bottle of Russia’s national drink stirred into a bucket of iced water had a rapid and sometimes unpredictable effect, he said.
“Yesterday we gave one of the elephants a bucket and the circus lost its heater —- the elephant just tore it off.”
Zookeepers took a similar approach in the town of Lipetsk, south of Moscow, keeping macaque monkeys warm with sweet wine taken three times per day.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Tea Party
Lisa prepared a beautiful table for us and we had a great time at her house. When we were on the way home Mike (Kathy's husband) asked us what we did. We told him we drew pictures, ate, talked and laughed over girl things. He said "okay, don't tell me then!" We really did do all those things, HONEST!
Marathon ended!
Last night was the final night of another LOST marathon. Michelle came over around noon and then went home shortly after 1am. Now we need to get the second season from Janet and Patrick. I think they have the first five episodes on video.
The boys joked about giving Michelle a prize for successfully spending 12 consecutive hours with us! It would be like a certificate of achievement.
Today Tom is finishing up his message for tomorrow.
Nathan is still asleep.
Spencer is reminiscing through old photos.
And I have a tea party to attend at 3pm.
What a lazy day!
The boys joked about giving Michelle a prize for successfully spending 12 consecutive hours with us! It would be like a certificate of achievement.
Today Tom is finishing up his message for tomorrow.
Nathan is still asleep.
Spencer is reminiscing through old photos.
And I have a tea party to attend at 3pm.
What a lazy day!
Friday, January 20, 2006
O Christmas trees!
Here is a babushka burning old Christmas. She kept throwing them on the pile and the flames would get higher and higher. Trash is still burned here on the streets. I remember when I was growing up and my grandmother had an old metal barrel that all the trash was burned in. Then the environmental movement started and people no longer burned their own trash anymore. I remember not being allowed to go near that trash barrel. But, here it is out in the open where anyone can walk by.
This is the field that the trees were being burned in. We watch children play soccer or (now) hockey on this field.
It is very cold here now. And these boys are out there having a good time... while we watch from the warmth of our apartment.
Today's temperature had Olya and Lena complaining about how cold it is. Remember this is the warm part of Russia. Normally, it snows and does not stick. We have had snow on the ground for about two weeks now. Today the wind kicked up and it was "a nightmare"(kazh-MAR). None of us went to work today. Spencer got a call from Judi H. to tell him not to come in for the Children's Home. She had been out with Mikey and it took them over an hour to walk home. We have to walk slowly and deliberately here to avoid falling on the icy sidewalks and roads.
Olya said that Vova had a hard time driving on the ice today. He said it was "OO-zhas" (Horrible). I am sure our friends and family in California are enjoying the weather there. The only person I know who is loving the Krasnodar weather right now is Michelle. It reminds her of her home in Canada!
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Dinner out with Dave and Sherri
The photo shows more of us than of them. It was taken by the host at the restaurant on Old New Year. The people in costume are all MEN! And they all have their drinks in hand. They walked around the restaurant toasting at every table. The guy in the middle looks like he has had waaaay too much to drink... look how big and red his nose is!
Thanks Dave & Sherri for sending the photo so we could show it off to our family and friends.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
HA-konets (finally!)
Last night we finally got our long awaited bookshelves! The guys delivered them and then set them up. This is a piece designed by Tom. It was custom built for around 700$. If we had purchased this in a store it would have been around 2000$. We are grateful for friends who watch out for us. The man who built them also did the Olya's mother's kitchen! Lena and Olya assured me of how the quality of his work so we had him over to measure and give us an estimate. He is also going to do shelves for Nathan and Spencer's rooms. And built Tom and I new closet. We are going slow with the furnishings. Only purchasing things by priority and as we can afford it.Today at school we spent the whole break time laughing. Tom and Joyce B. kept us all in stitches. They went from quoting movie lines to Satuday Night Live sketches. Some of the younger students just listened and laughed. We have been watching Saturday Night live since the days of John Belushi. Tom and Joyce came up with an idea for a sketch involving sidekicks from various TV shows. They came up with a long list of names like Festus from Gunsmoke and Barney Fife from Mayberry RFD.
Spencer had a hard time keeping a straight face in class. Towards the end of the school day Judi H. waved at Spencer through the glass doors and made faces at him. After Judi it was Tania the director's turn. She waved her arms back and forth really big. You know, like "look over here!" Spencer could barely contain himself. Goar, our teacher noticed Spencer was looking at someone and tried to see who was out there!
We got a package from Andover, Kansas. "BIG THANKS" to John P. for the new 501 Verbs book!
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Common Bonds
I fell today. My wrist is wrapped up. Kathy, a nurse, told me I must have jammed it when I put out my hand to break my fall. My whole body is sore. But, since Kathy is sure it's not broken and it's not quite a sprain I am happy!
All of us have taken a spill now. Last night I thought it was going to be my turn... my neighbor, from downstairs, warned me to be careful as he was on his way home. Then I had Maj-Lis and Joyce H. holding my arms as we walked to the bus stop. I slipped but didn't go down. It was interesting having these women hold me up. I had just left a meeting with the women of BLTC. Joyce had prayed for me and I had prayed for Maj-lis. We were instructed to pray for the woman on our left. We walked to the bus stop the same way we were sitting!
The meeting went well. I had expected the meeting to be in English since all of the women I knew of that were going were English speakers. But, when I got there and saw Lena Rajabov and Larissa I realised that the meeting would be in Russian. I did well. I spent two hours listening and speaking. I gave my first prayer request in Russian.
I asked for myself and my family to speak and understand more and more.
1) A Woman's library has been started at the school. They are open to donations of cash or books for the library. If you purchase books they need to be in Russian.
2) Women will be coming to school in the fall from all over Russia. Christina is going to be researching the cultural background of each woman so that we will be better able to serve each woman.
3) The Christian Preschool is going forward. We don't know at this point how many women are coming with children but there is a two room house that will serve as the building. I will let everyone know what items are needed as we get further along.
4) Most of the women had prayer requests about husbands traveling to teach in various cities throughout Russia. I realized that when language school is over I will be making the same requests about Tom.
Please pray about the new students and families that will be coming to the BLTC in the fall. Pray that the school has made wise choices in who to admit. One of the ladies said that sometimes churches like to nominate people who have been a problem in their home church to "straighten" them out. We pray that everyone who is coming is ready to actually be there and is not just running away from a bad situation!
Valodya is traveling to speak at another church and Klaus is alone. Alexei has been away in Moscow and Jim H. is there too. So Tom has been asked to speak again to give Klaus a break. Tom is preparing a message for Sunday so keep him in your prayers as well.
Tom is speaking about Trust. A much needed topic here! It is hard for people to trust one another and God.
All of us have taken a spill now. Last night I thought it was going to be my turn... my neighbor, from downstairs, warned me to be careful as he was on his way home. Then I had Maj-Lis and Joyce H. holding my arms as we walked to the bus stop. I slipped but didn't go down. It was interesting having these women hold me up. I had just left a meeting with the women of BLTC. Joyce had prayed for me and I had prayed for Maj-lis. We were instructed to pray for the woman on our left. We walked to the bus stop the same way we were sitting!
The meeting went well. I had expected the meeting to be in English since all of the women I knew of that were going were English speakers. But, when I got there and saw Lena Rajabov and Larissa I realised that the meeting would be in Russian. I did well. I spent two hours listening and speaking. I gave my first prayer request in Russian.
I asked for myself and my family to speak and understand more and more.
1) A Woman's library has been started at the school. They are open to donations of cash or books for the library. If you purchase books they need to be in Russian.
2) Women will be coming to school in the fall from all over Russia. Christina is going to be researching the cultural background of each woman so that we will be better able to serve each woman.
3) The Christian Preschool is going forward. We don't know at this point how many women are coming with children but there is a two room house that will serve as the building. I will let everyone know what items are needed as we get further along.
4) Most of the women had prayer requests about husbands traveling to teach in various cities throughout Russia. I realized that when language school is over I will be making the same requests about Tom.
Please pray about the new students and families that will be coming to the BLTC in the fall. Pray that the school has made wise choices in who to admit. One of the ladies said that sometimes churches like to nominate people who have been a problem in their home church to "straighten" them out. We pray that everyone who is coming is ready to actually be there and is not just running away from a bad situation!
Valodya is traveling to speak at another church and Klaus is alone. Alexei has been away in Moscow and Jim H. is there too. So Tom has been asked to speak again to give Klaus a break. Tom is preparing a message for Sunday so keep him in your prayers as well.
Tom is speaking about Trust. A much needed topic here! It is hard for people to trust one another and God.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Lost Weekend!
Mich also known as Michelle came over and watched the first half of the Lost series. She left here at one am last night! Today we all managed to make it to school on time despite having gotten little sleep.
Janet says that they have the first 5 shows of the second season and we can hardly wait to get our hands on them. We wouldn't even mind watching commercials in English. It has been 9 months since we have seen any!
I found a copy of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in English so we are watching that today. Lena came as we were about an hour in so we had to pause it and will start it back up again this evening!
I am going to attend a meeting tonight with the women who are connected with the BLTC. I am excited to be invited to help with whatever project they are working on. I think they are trying to start a Christian Preschool. It will be a great service to the community if we can get this off the ground!
Janet says that they have the first 5 shows of the second season and we can hardly wait to get our hands on them. We wouldn't even mind watching commercials in English. It has been 9 months since we have seen any!
I found a copy of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in English so we are watching that today. Lena came as we were about an hour in so we had to pause it and will start it back up again this evening!
I am going to attend a meeting tonight with the women who are connected with the BLTC. I am excited to be invited to help with whatever project they are working on. I think they are trying to start a Christian Preschool. It will be a great service to the community if we can get this off the ground!
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Holiday Cheer!
Tom read this article to me yesterday and I thought you all might get a chuckle or two out of it! I totally enjoyed the Kwaanza reference!
===============================================
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2006/01/13/006.html Friday, January 13, 2006. Page 8.
A Land of Never-Ending Holidays
By Mark H. Teeter
At this point you're almost numb: You've been celebrating holidays for something like a month and a half and you're asking yourself (or your liver is asking you) Haven't we had enough fun yet?
No, you haven't. Obviously. The table was barely cleared after Saturday's Russian Christmas feast when your friends announced that yet another holiday, this one bafflingly called Old New Year, was looming nigh, Jan. 14. Now you're wondering aloud to anyone within earshot: Is there no end to this revelry? Am I stuck in college forever?
Let us help. The first thing you need are facts: The reason January is overwhelmed with holidays goes back to a historical difference between the Eastern and Western church calendars (Julian vs. Gregorian) that created a 14-day "lag time" in the observance of certain holidays here -- so unlike the familiar U.S. version, Russian Orthodox Kwanzaa is celebrated on Jan. 8. Similarly, the always colorful Chinese New Year is marked differently in some parts of Russia, particularly in Khabarovsk, where this December most of the city's population "gathered by the river" to welcome the Year of the Toxic Fire Dog with toasts of bottled water as they waved traditional "fists of friendship" at their Asian neighbors upriver.
Fun is fun, but it's time to prepare your most treasured internal organs for the ordeal of the rest of January. Circle the following events on your calendar so they don't sneak up and mug your intestinal tract in a dark podezd:
United Russia Day (Jan. 15): This is traditionally observed either by small groups of intimate friends wearing bear suits (brown or white) or by large groups of youths wearing matching hats and t-shirts as they spontaneously demonstrate for or against something their leaders evidently like or don't.
Rodina Day (Jan. 19): To an outsider this may look like a simple watermelon eating contest, but to the native eye there is much more: People in imitation bear suits (white only) get together in small groups while large groups of youthful wannabes wearing matching hats and t-shirts spontaneously demonstrate for ... Oh, there is also a traditional game of throwing watermelon rinds at pictures of people darker than you and then denying you did it.
LDPR Day (Jan. 21): We know what you're thinking: Upside Down Day! And you're right, this is the festive day for people who call themselves Liberal and Democratic but hate liberals and democrats; who are ardent racists but accuse others of racism; and who can tie their own neckties but haven't learned to button up their shirts yet. Most participants claim they are intelligent and good looking. Guess what.
Yabloko-SPS Unity Day (Jan. 23): This is one of the few Russian holidays that proudly boasts a tradition of not being observed, as the high-dome celebrants can never agree on when, where, how or even if they should get together for the occasion. If that sounds like about the stupidest holiday for smart people you've ever heard of, you're getting the picture.
Mayor's Day (Jan. 26): A pull-out-the-stops celebration of Hizzoner, featuring everything from academic seminars on patronage distribution and machine politics (the social science known as luzhkovovedeniye) to elaborately uninspiring street festivals that somehow get unlimited air time on Moscow's TV Center (the channel known as luzhkovovideniye). The message is Cheer up or get outta town, ya bums -- Sincerely yours, Richard J., er, Yury M. Luzhkov.
Old Believer Groundhog Day (Feb. 2): Bringing the holiday parade to a merciful end is this one-day semi-religious festival in which a small but persistent Russian sect continues to mark Groundhog Day as they believe it was meant to be observed -- before the Americans, and especially Bill Murray, turned this traditional Siberian shaman ritual into a cheesy Hollywood parody of all that pagan animists hold dear. A great deal of independently produced alcohol is consumed (some by groundhogs) after which holidays in general and strong drink in particular are sworn off by the participants until either Felix Dzerzhinsky Truth or Consequences Day or the next Reformed Shi'ite Kwanzaa, whichever comes first.
Mark H. Teeter is opinion page editor of The Moscow Times
© Copyright 2006 The Moscow Times. All rights reserved.
===============================================
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2006/01/13/006.html Friday, January 13, 2006. Page 8.
A Land of Never-Ending Holidays
By Mark H. Teeter
At this point you're almost numb: You've been celebrating holidays for something like a month and a half and you're asking yourself (or your liver is asking you) Haven't we had enough fun yet?
No, you haven't. Obviously. The table was barely cleared after Saturday's Russian Christmas feast when your friends announced that yet another holiday, this one bafflingly called Old New Year, was looming nigh, Jan. 14. Now you're wondering aloud to anyone within earshot: Is there no end to this revelry? Am I stuck in college forever?
Let us help. The first thing you need are facts: The reason January is overwhelmed with holidays goes back to a historical difference between the Eastern and Western church calendars (Julian vs. Gregorian) that created a 14-day "lag time" in the observance of certain holidays here -- so unlike the familiar U.S. version, Russian Orthodox Kwanzaa is celebrated on Jan. 8. Similarly, the always colorful Chinese New Year is marked differently in some parts of Russia, particularly in Khabarovsk, where this December most of the city's population "gathered by the river" to welcome the Year of the Toxic Fire Dog with toasts of bottled water as they waved traditional "fists of friendship" at their Asian neighbors upriver.
Fun is fun, but it's time to prepare your most treasured internal organs for the ordeal of the rest of January. Circle the following events on your calendar so they don't sneak up and mug your intestinal tract in a dark podezd:
United Russia Day (Jan. 15): This is traditionally observed either by small groups of intimate friends wearing bear suits (brown or white) or by large groups of youths wearing matching hats and t-shirts as they spontaneously demonstrate for or against something their leaders evidently like or don't.
Rodina Day (Jan. 19): To an outsider this may look like a simple watermelon eating contest, but to the native eye there is much more: People in imitation bear suits (white only) get together in small groups while large groups of youthful wannabes wearing matching hats and t-shirts spontaneously demonstrate for ... Oh, there is also a traditional game of throwing watermelon rinds at pictures of people darker than you and then denying you did it.
LDPR Day (Jan. 21): We know what you're thinking: Upside Down Day! And you're right, this is the festive day for people who call themselves Liberal and Democratic but hate liberals and democrats; who are ardent racists but accuse others of racism; and who can tie their own neckties but haven't learned to button up their shirts yet. Most participants claim they are intelligent and good looking. Guess what.
Yabloko-SPS Unity Day (Jan. 23): This is one of the few Russian holidays that proudly boasts a tradition of not being observed, as the high-dome celebrants can never agree on when, where, how or even if they should get together for the occasion. If that sounds like about the stupidest holiday for smart people you've ever heard of, you're getting the picture.
Mayor's Day (Jan. 26): A pull-out-the-stops celebration of Hizzoner, featuring everything from academic seminars on patronage distribution and machine politics (the social science known as luzhkovovedeniye) to elaborately uninspiring street festivals that somehow get unlimited air time on Moscow's TV Center (the channel known as luzhkovovideniye). The message is Cheer up or get outta town, ya bums -- Sincerely yours, Richard J., er, Yury M. Luzhkov.
Old Believer Groundhog Day (Feb. 2): Bringing the holiday parade to a merciful end is this one-day semi-religious festival in which a small but persistent Russian sect continues to mark Groundhog Day as they believe it was meant to be observed -- before the Americans, and especially Bill Murray, turned this traditional Siberian shaman ritual into a cheesy Hollywood parody of all that pagan animists hold dear. A great deal of independently produced alcohol is consumed (some by groundhogs) after which holidays in general and strong drink in particular are sworn off by the participants until either Felix Dzerzhinsky Truth or Consequences Day or the next Reformed Shi'ite Kwanzaa, whichever comes first.
Mark H. Teeter is opinion page editor of The Moscow Times
© Copyright 2006 The Moscow Times. All rights reserved.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)