Liankacreations

   The 29th of December, cloudy and raw, not festive looking weather at all. Not holiday’s feelings either.  The Ukrainian military said Russia launched the biggest air attack on Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Drones and missiles fired at targets across the country — from Kyiv to Lviv and Odessa to Kharkiv — killing at least 31 people and injuring more than 150 others, according to officials. I think Putin's goal was to make Ukrainians feel miserable before the New Year celebration. He didn't reach his goal last year, he will not get it this year either. It’s not like he really cares about Russians.  The same I can tell about Russians themselves.  Many of them don’t care about Putin and his war. They simply don’t watch the news and recommend that I do the same. Right now all their thoughts are about New Years parties (work and home), making salads and getting gifts (if they can afford to buy them). But I do watch the new...

  We talked with my husband at dinner. He asked if the groceries had become cheaper (in America)?  -No. At least I haven’t noticed a difference. I did read the news in Tomsk. You know, I do it often. Ria Tomsk says, In October, inflation in Tomsk oblast was 1.1%. Prices of tomatoes, bananas, eggs, imported used passenger cars, and economy class flights to Moscow rose the most. I kept reading: In November, inflation was 1.2%. Cucumbers, tomatoes, eggs, gas engine fuel, and travel in a “platskart” to Moscow have risen in price. Not plane tickets, but “platskart tickets”. Do you know what a“platskart” is?  I went to the Amtrak website to figure out the wording.  Platskart - second-class, couchette carriage, Roomette, accessible bedroom with no toilet?.. Imagine a compartment without doors. In the old overnight trains , there were also sleeping places (berths) in the corridors. I found photos on the website. It's an old carriage. Perhaps there are more comfortable carr...

  “Laziness is the engine of progress”.  Have you heard such an expression? Does it work for you? As for me, it worked on Saturday (Dec 2) morning. I had a day off last Saturday unlike my husband. I had planned to go to the pharmacy to buy some cosmetic stuff for myself. Usually I walk to the “Rite Aid” pharmacy downtown. Usually I walk. I prefer to walk downtown - I don't need to park and I should walk for a health reason anyway.  I used to walk, but not this time. Saturday morning I got up early and over my coffee I was planning the day. It was 7 am. I wanted to start as soon as possible to be able to manage as much as possible. LOL I checked online: the “Rite Aid” opens at 8 AM, Walgreens - at 6 AM. To “Rite Aid” I would walk in an hour, to Walgreens - drive NOW. The time factor made up my mind. When I want something  I want it yesterday.  What does it have to do with laziness? Maybe nothing.  But I was glad to notice that after my sessions with the coun...

  On November 14th I had the third and last meeting with my counselor. I started this post after my first meeting with her, but I have never published it… not enough time to write and polish the post.  The meeting was possible thanks to my employer. Unfortunately I got to understand about this benefit late. But it’s better late than never.  Honestly, I still don't understand the difference between counselors, psychologists, and therapists.  Katie called herself a counselor. So, the counselor she was. The theme of the session was the fear of driving. Did you know this fact about me? I truly believe that people should learn to drive as early as possible (16-18 yo). I had to learn it in my 40s. I did well, got my license, and a few months later got in a car accident.  Here I picture Macaulay Calkin in the movie “Home alone”: “It bothered me for years” 😁 (The accident) Yes, I have been driving all these (8) years but it was not pleasant.  I actually like to dr...

  November 30th, the last  day of autumn, my friend’s birthday and 645th day of war.  Every morning I watch news on YouTube, and learn the exact # of the days of the war. YouTube channels and bloggers  (the ones that are not shown on the government tv) provide lots of info.  Today I learned of the explosion on BAM ( the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM). Train, probably in Kazan. I didn't have another picture, LOL.  In Buryatia, a train carriage caught fire during movement in the tunnel, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply , citing the Transport Bulletin. As reported by Censor.NET (website I found online),  SBU operatives were responsible for an explosion.  The tunnel where it happened was 15 km long, the longest between the others in BAM.  But what is BAM anyway? The Baikal–Amur Mainline ( Байкало-Амурская магистраль, БАМ, Baikalo-Amurskaya magistral' , BAM ) is a railway line in Russia that traversing Eastern Sibe...