Snotty Feller's Blog

Barf into the Display Port

Snotty — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 22:19:54 +0000

So the title says it all… but let me start from the beginning (Friday evening). Mikey went to sleep like normal. I don’t think we had any incling of the impending ~24 hr flu, or stomach virus, or the repercussions that may have come as a result of food (or non-food) poisoning. Regardless, Friday seemed [...]

Four years long

Snotty — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:50:35 +0000

Yep, I’ve now officially lived in Ukraine for 4 years. As of yesterday. My experience here is nearing its end. I’ve done my time, I’ve taken a needed break from the bench, I’ve officially left academia, I’ve done my time (oops, I said that twice), I’ve had two children, I’ve gone to business school, I’ve [...]

Mutant M&M’s Get Deported To Less Prestigious Countries

Snotty — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 21:30:36 +0000

About a year ago I noticed that M&M’s were in our local supermarket. Craving many things American, I of course bought a bag. Truly delicious. I put a bag in the fridge – but it ended up altering the taste a bit. For whatever reason (moisture ?) they weren’t quite the same when they warmed [...]

Jimmy – 7 months and happy as a little hedgehog (ежик)!

Snotty — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 19:04:14 +0000

Jimmy is 7 months old today - check out some of his pictures - chronologically organized about a month at a time.

Fish or Soy, Soy or Fish

Snotty — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 15:43:28 +0000

“I have to laugh…” as Bill Murray famously said… To set the stage… a few weeks ago my MIL was over at our house, and was hungry (as usual). I wasn’t here, so this comes to me via my wife – but because I keep thinking about it, and I chuckle each and every time [...]

James, Jimmy, Jim, Jimbo, JAG, J-dawg… Angel. Take your pick.

Snotty — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 20:05:34 +0000

Well time flies, doesn’t it? Haven’t posted in a while, and so I thought Jimmy’s 4 month “birthday” (today) would be a good time to share some pictures. This covers a couple of months – I hope you enjoy as much as we do! Snoozing away! what do you know… still snoozing. So Sweet. And [...]

New Mikey Tricks

Snotty — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 23:07:26 +0000

It has been a while, so I thought I’d write a post about some of Mikey’s new “tricks.” 1) Tantrums. Yes, the wonderful “terrible” twos have arrived – and a bit early, if you catch my drift. Indeed, I suppose it’s a misnomer. Two doesn’t necessarily mean AT 2 years old. But somehow I was [...]

I Call it “Confused Hair” – Hair with a Mind of its Own

Snotty — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 12:16:52 +0000

I had something strange happen to me a couple of years ago now, and I’m wondering if it has happened to others. I woke up one morning and my hair (on my head) decided, all on its own, to part on the opposite side. I showered, cleaned myself up for work, and still – the [...]

He’s a week old, and doing well

Snotty — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 01:29:17 +0000

So all is well. Mom is doing great, the baby is resting comfortably in his new crib, and we’ve only had one or two incidents with Mikey getting two close to the baby – and approaching with too much momentum. So the name - James Alexander Geller Why? Because we like it. I think we [...]

Happy Birthday – and Welcome to the Family!

Snotty — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 20:53:13 +0000

It is with utmost joy, glory, satisfaction, and profound elation that I (we) announce the birth of our second son. We are unbelievably grateful for this gift, and we are genuinely moved by his grace and tranquility (so far). It occurred today, in Kiev, Ukraine, at 10:12am – just a few days before the presumed [...]

Please take notice of the two new Countdown Timers!

Snotty — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 10:43:48 +0000

Neither are 100% accurate, but both are inevitable. Gonna hunker down for another winter, and do our best to raise a healthy sibling for Mikey. Obviously more news to come in the nearest future All the best, Snotty

“Stop… I wanna go home”

Snotty — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 20:08:56 +0000

… is what my Assistant said at the end of the day, as I was mentioning to her some of the items on tomorrow’s agenda. Before she could say any more, I interrupted her with: “take off this uniform and leave the show” I waited a few seconds while scanning her expressionless face for a [...]

Pictures of Mikey (son of Snotty)

Snotty — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:21:57 +0000

OK, I admit… I’ve been lagging on the pictures I guess there’s a desire from family and friends to see more pictures of Mikey. So, here you go… They are more or less in order, from January (~9 months) until July (just over 16 months). All seems to be going well. Enjoy. Hi There! My [...]

Watch Your Finger

Snotty — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:59:48 +0000

It’s a holiday weekend in Ukraine. Constitution day today. That means a long weekend. Nice. We went to the dacha, as has been the norm ever since early May, on the weekends. We usually spend the night, and last night was no exception. It was particularly fun because it was just the immediate family (my [...]

CCCP or SSSR

Snotty — Sun, 16 May 2010 19:17:30 +0000

I’ve been traveling a bit, and I’ve seen a restaurant (chain) in Ukraine. There aren’t a lot of them, but I’ve seen a couple. They are called: CCCP Now, I’ve always known this as “C” “C” “C” “P”. Yet, the funniest thing happened the other day, and I had an epiphany regarding the spelling (born [...]

‘We sleep alone… yeaaaah, with nobody else…

Snotty — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 07:57:03 +0000

… Cuz you know when we sleep aloooone, [it means] Mikey is sleeping all by himself.’ It’s the first time. We moved Mikey into his own room. 13 months, 10 days, 10 hours, 2 minutes (or so). The first real significant phase in our child’s life is complete. He has grown, he has matured, and [...]

Total Tomato

Snotty — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 20:24:47 +0000

We just opened a jar of tomato juice, and I just wanted to share the flavor… Rich, aromatic, full-bodied, chunky, sweet, pulpy, ruthlessly red with off-yellow seeds, and very-very healthy. I could taste it. Anyone could taste it. It is undeniable. So fresh and alive, it’s easy to tell that it leads to good life. [...]

What a year! What a Loooooooong, long year!

Snotty — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 07:51:35 +0000

I’m back! Wow… I think I aged 5 years in this one year. What a long, strange trip it has been. Most importantly, my son is now [just over] 1 year old. What a transformation this has been. He is both happy and healthy – touch wood (no, not your wood). Anyhow, I’m now a [...]

No Haircut for a Baby Boy (мальчик)

Snotty — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:44:18 +0000

According to Soviet tradition (though perhaps originating elsewhere, historically – probably religiously oriented), children do not get their hair cut until 1 year of age. Similar to orthodox Jewish tradition where it is 3 years, I believe. Thus, and to the chagrin of my wife, I have been insisting that we do not cut his [...]

Like Lionel Richie says… ALL NIGHT LONG!

Snotty — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 08:58:01 +0000

Even though I have a bit of a head cold, I still woke up with this song in my head. Lionel Richie’s All Night Long. I love this song. It just makes me want to dance and sing along. OK, don’t think about me doing it… here are some original visuals (and sound) while you [...]

Hand on the Loose!

Snotty — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:32:03 +0000

Recently my son has been eating real food. We give him blended mixes of all kinds of stuff: meats/vegetables, fruits, etc… (consequently, things have really begun to smell – but that’s for another day). Unfortunately he doesn’t always want to eat. Well… even when he does, there comes a point where he simply, without warning [...]

The Kiev Report – Vodka For Breakfast

Snotty — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:49:42 +0000

So it’s a beautiful day in Kyiv. Well, maybe I can say that because I like the snow. But the trees aren’t very happy. On my short walk into work, around and between the brick an mortar domiciles which represent older Kyiv (as opposed to the new fancy storefronts that line many of the streets [...]

Global Warming, but not This Morning!

Snotty — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:32:51 +0000

Woke up today and Dr. Winter definitely prescribed some cold. Approaching the solstice, we have our low temperature for the season thus far, for sure. The thermometer said approximately -11 to -12 °C. And for you math wizards out there, that’s approximately the same temperature in Fahrenheit, without the minus sign (somewhere around -11.428°C = [...]

At 7.5 months, I’m too cute for my own good!

Snotty — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:08:03 +0000

It seems as though I’m beginning to lose my baby-face, and I’m starting to look more like a big person. * * * More like Mom? More like Dad? Hard to tell… but either way, you know I’m cuter than… ! also… HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE!!!

Happy Halloween!

Snotty — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:29:55 +0000

I would be hard pressed to not give them a toxic sweet. Courtesy: americanprogress.org

6 Months today!

Snotty — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:14:04 +0000

Yep, really! I’m 6 Months old today! I’m sure you know that my Dad has been real busy with work, school, and me. But I convinced him that everyone deserves to see a few pictures of me spanning my first 6 months of life. Bear in mind, this is not all of my photos. If [...]

The Ukrainian National Library

Snotty — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:03:43 +0000

Can you all tell I’ve been busy? Haven’t posted in over a month… Ugh. Anyhow, I thought I’d show you a bit of architecture. I passed by the Ukrainian National Library on my way back from Odessa a couple of weeks ago. I snapped this photo from inside the van… but it turned out OK. [...]

No such thing as a 6-pack

Snotty — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:35:26 +0000

I’ve been meaning to write this for a while, but just never got around to saying it. Short and sweet… Here I go. THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A SIX-PACK (6-PACK, 12-PACK, CASE, or otherwise…) OF BEER IN UKRAINE. It’s the strangest thing. I mean, I would think that it would foster higher beer consumption [...]

House Call

Snotty — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:01:54 +0000

No, not like the TV show. We had a real house call. Strange, but true. Kinda like the “olden” days… It was time for Mikey’s HepB innoculation, and so we called the clinic. What do you know, they provide “house calls!” The doctor (pediatrician) showed up with his “black bag,” and a still-cold HepB vaccine, [...]

Cat Saliva

Snotty — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:59:44 +0000

So I was in my room, in my new apartment, with both my wife and my baby. It was time to feed Mikey, and we were laying on the bed. All of a sudden, we hear our new fancy-shmancy stove beep at us. But wait, we are all in the room – what the ? [...]

One of these days…

Snotty — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:25:51 +0000

Yes, I absolutely love Pink Floyd. Dare I say it, they are my favorite. Am I stuck in a time warp? Maybe. But something strikes a chord (pun intended) with my inner being. But this post is not about Pink. It’s about what happens when one has a crazy busy day. Sure, sure… we all [...]

And the heat goes off…

Snotty — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 05:15:20 +0000

Break out the sweaters again, plug in the electric/oil radiators, stoke those wood burning stoves (not really). The heat is off. It happens around Easter each year. There’s governmental control, if you didn’t know, over a vast majority of the heating supply to the city. Gas powers boilers, which heat water, which run through radiators [...]

Chicks who Spit

Snotty — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 11:15:26 +0000

I’ve determined that Soviet culture either doesn’t mind, and maybe even encourages, spitting. Yep –> whoever, wherever, whenever, whyever. Why is whyever not a word? It’s quite surprising to me because I was brought up in a culture where spitting was shunned – frowned upon. Only disgusting animals spit – like monkeys, camels, and snakes, [...]

Welcome –> Michael Anthony Geller

Snotty — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:45:08 +0000

Hello World! My name is Michael Anthony Geller. I was born on March 18, 2009, which means I’m a Pisces, like my Dad. Though my parents desperately wanted me to turn upside down, I was insisting to sitting like a little Buddha in the cozy little womb I called home… and consequently, my birthday was [...]

Let There Be Life!

Snotty — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:45:13 +0000

It is pure joy to announce the birth of our son, Baby. We have not named him yet, as Russian tradition does not demand such. We have some solid choices, but we will wait to make sure the name fits The funniest thing about this is that there are, more or less, like only 10 [...]

So You’re a Spy?

Snotty — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:14:31 +0000

We were on our way to the hospital this morning, and I was sitting in the back seat of my BIL’s car. My MIL was next to me. We were having the usual chit-chat, exacerbated by the anxiety-provoking fact that we were all on our way to drop my wife off at the birthing center [...]

Reinventing Oneself

Snotty — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 22:33:51 +0000

I’ve been around for a while now. I’ve had my share of changes: opportunities, adventures, lifestyle fluctuations, monetary challenges, academic pursuits, travels, residences (in different cities, states, countries), etc… I’m changing again: and this time it’s the most radical transformation of my life so far — and I thought I’d share it. I feel as [...]

19.5% Interest Rate, Guaranteed!

Snotty — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 11:11:24 +0000

I was on the metro yesterday and I noticed a big yellow sign (advertisement) on the inside wall of the train car (actually, several different train cars). It said “earn 19.5% interest, guaranteed” at XXX bank. Hard to believe, eh? First of all, almost nobody here puts their money into the bank. Only people that [...]

Salmon Over Pasta

Snotty — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 21:13:14 +0000

Tonight’s post, all about dinner. Not too exciting, but it turned out pretty tasty. A big thank you goes out to Francia for her assistance! Pretty simple, pretty fast, and very tasty I had to take a video too… [flashvideo file=videos/dinner.flv /] Oh, and one more pic while eating. With a nice cold beer and [...]

When Pregnant, Make Drapes

Snotty — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:51:37 +0000

I was laughing the other day when I was talking to my brother in the States. He asked how everything was going with the expecting to be, and I said “just fine.” He asked what we were up to, and I said that the wife is making some drapes. He stopped. He laughed. He doubted [...]

Living in a toilet for a Living

Snotty — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:44:16 +0000

I’m sorry, but you couldn’t pay me enough to take this job. Sure, I understand that some people are so “down and out” that any job is a good job. Butt really, spending your days in a toilet? Even if it’s the beginning of your life and you are saving money to buy that new [...]

Plastic Bags are Essential

Snotty — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:05:49 +0000

I’ve heard that the plastic bag is the bane of some scenic landscapes in this part of the world. I’m sure it must be really bad in some places. Here in Kiev, everyone uses plastic bags, every day, in every way. Of course they are used for garbage, and for containing leaking fluids, among the [...]

Dreaming in a different language – Dreaming in Russian!

Snotty — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:59 +0000

Well, it finally happened… I experienced my first dream in which I can remember – me – speaking in Russian! Yes, I’m studying Russian. Not all the time, as my focus changes from week to week, and month to month. But, I have consistently been trying to actively improve my Russian language skills over time, [...]

Smoking in Elevators makes me sick

Snotty — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:33:44 +0000

I think the best way to convey my feelings about this is to call the people “white trash.” No, I don’t like calling people names, and of course, identifying people by their racial characteristics is a definite faux pas, and only makes the speaker sound like the real ass. Nevertheless, in this case it fits. [...]

She just can’t stop eating…

Snotty — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 19:42:01 +0000

I don’t know what to say, but she just doesn’t stop… She’s not gaining any weight (above and beyond what is natural for a pregnant woman), but it is starting to make me kind of sick watching my wife eat, and eat, and eat… and eat. Fine, fine… I’m exaggerating, but it’s my blog. The [...]

Sweet Little “Whitey”

Snotty — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:33:05 +0000

So, some of you have said that you’d like to hear more about our cat. Well, because I respond to my readers’ requests, here you go. Whitey (or Беляк), is a fantastic kitty. Some info about our little “Varmint”: Color: White and grey Origin: Our Dacha (Summer house) Age: ~5+ months, born early August, 2008 [...]

Automatic Notification Enabled

Snotty — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:45:57 +0000

Hey there, I’ve added automatic notifications of new posts for all subscribed users of my blog. There’s only a handful of you out there, and I have subscribed all of you to ALL new posts. Thus, you are receiving this message. Please tell me if you experience any problems. You may manage your subscription options [...]

Orthodox Snowy Christmas

Snotty — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 02:29:57 +0000

It has been a very snowy Holiday Season! We went for a walk on Orthodox Christmas Eve, and there was high pressure in the air. It was cold and crisp, and we enjoyed the briskness of it all. Unfortunately, not all of the creatures like the cold so much. On our walk from the Metro [...]

Talk About Getting Screwed!

Snotty — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 02:32:34 +0000

So I have to confess something. My BIL (brother in law) is a very sweet guy. Considerate and caring, simple and genuine, and he possesses many endearing qualities. However, note that BRAINPOWER is NOT one of his strong-points alluded to in the aforementioned list. Nor is vision, insight, understanding, logic, comprehension, aptitude, intelligence, cleverness, awareness, [...]

I kid you not… more fireworks than I’ve ever seen

Snotty — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:33:52 +0000

These people celebrate in a way that is completely foreign to the USA. Forget about the vodka and hot chicks wearing next to nothing in the after hours dance clubs…. This is unregulated, unsupervised, unrestricted, unaccompanied, unwieldy, untamed, unconditional… celebration of the new year. with fireworks, that is… It is currently approximately 2:30am (Jan 1, [...]

Between Christmas and New Years (Western Calendar 2008)

Snotty — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:47:02 +0000

So I still haven’t put together all of the images I’d like to show you regarding my trip to the USA. So, for the time being, I thought I’d just catch you up on my life in the last week. We pretty much go out every day to the market. Do the usual — buy [...]

There’s no hiding it anymore…

Snotty — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 08:38:01 +0000

She’s pregnant, and everyone knows it. Shockingly, people are even offering their seat to my wife on the subway. I never thought anyone here would be so kind. Alas, I was wrong. I’ve seen it several times just in the last couple of days. Nice people… that obviously know what it’s like to bear children. [...]

Happy Holidays to all

Snotty — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 20:58:17 +0000

A very Happy New Year to Everyone!

Hello again

Snotty — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:22:47 +0000

Well, I’m back home. It’s been a week now, and I’m enjoying the new apartment. It started snowing a bit yesterday, and more is expected. Hopefully it’ll be a white Christmas when we wake up tomorrow. Kiev Snow Our cat is growing and causing trouble. Helen is growing and causing trouble too Anyhow, I have [...]

So many things have changed recently…

Snotty — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:43:27 +0000

I feel as if life has offered me a breath of fresh air… It started about a month ago (which is the reason I haven’t been writing so much) — I’ve just been too busy. So…… 1) I’m having a baby. Well, not me, but obviously – my wife is having it (thankfully) 1a) Yep. [...]

Metro Increase

Snotty — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:26:08 +0000

So here’s a shocker for y’all. Similar to the forced change to digital cable, when we had to pay more for our cable service, forced to rent a cable box, and the analog was switched off…… Two days ago there was a major change in price for the Kiev Metro system. It used to cost [...]

Go Obama

Snotty — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:10:23 +0000

I cannot really say any more… He’s da man!

No, it’s OUR Money!

Snotty — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:33:05 +0000

I thought you folks in civilized countries might like this. Due to the financial crisis that is impacting the world right now, the banks in Ukraine told everyone that they can’t take their money out. Yep! ALL BANKS – who have your money, have been told by the Ukrainian Ministry of Finance (or something like [...]

Timing is Everything

Snotty — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:58:39 +0000

What a day. Today was one of those days that needs to be documented. Highs, lows, and everything in between. We start off early, waking up at 7am. A bit earlier than I like, but hey, we had things to accomplish today. The first of which was to make sure my wife was, satisfied. Needless [...]

Current Turmoil in the Ukrainian Government

Snotty — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:50:55 +0000

First and foremost, I want to say that I know virtually nothing about what is actually going on here. My Russian is sophomoric, AT BEST, and it’s basically impossible to understand the media when speaking Russian (or Ukrainian). Let me reiterate, I’m just a little man, with an even smaller… opinion. So, if any government [...]

Snot in the Sink

Snotty — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:12:15 +0000

Mmmm, Mmmmm…. that slimey goodness. I should have posted this a long time ago. But I just did something without even thinking about it, and it made me realize that I’ve become feral. Feral: 1. existing in a natural state, as animals or plants; not domesticated or cultivated; wild. 2. having reverted to the wild [...]

Back to Summer

Snotty — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 10:22:56 +0000

OK, Fall is unofficial again. It’s back to Summer-Fall. It is supposed to rain a bit today, but it has been beautiful recently. Beautiful enough for some FANTASTIC Mushroom hunting –> keep an eye out for a post coming to a nearby blog sometime soon. But today I wanted to touch on a fact of [...]

In Need of a Great Retinal Surgeon

Snotty — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:11:11 +0000

OMG! I can’t see. I am not sure what happened. Actually, I DO remember the last thing I saw… and I’m hoping it won’t leave permanent damage. **** If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you will know that I’ve been blinded once before: by the sight of my horrified mother in law running [...]

Wooden Fork

Snotty — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:23:22 +0000

So, I’ve heard of wooden spoons. Particularly popular in midieval times… but wooden forks? Yeah, yeah… sure, sure… of course there are wooden forks, and wooden knives (I think). But have you ever used a wooden fork? No, not the big kind for mixing a large salad… and not the pseudo-fork that you use or [...]

I Love the Smell of Chlorine in the Morning

Snotty — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:57:22 +0000

“You smell that? Do you smell that? Napalm, son. Nothing else in the world smells like that. I love the smell of napalm in the morning.” I kinda felt the same way when I woke up: I was particularly cheery, excited to start my day. No, I wasn’t getting ready to lay fire to Viet [...]

Potholes are Standard

Snotty — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:42:19 +0000

Indeed, holes happen everywhere. Exactly why roads erode in specific places could be argued by scholars with degrees in Transportation Engineering for millennia to come. Me… I just ridicule those numb-nut road builders, and take lots of pictures. I don’t think it’s due to sink holes, but I suppose it could be. Maybe a small [...]

Beer at fast food restaurants

Snotty — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:22:01 +0000

Yep, they serve it everywhere. It’s called Pivo. And they drink it like it’s water. I snapped this picture at a little varenikey joint, but they also sell it at McDonalds. I couldn’t agree more!

Come On Baby Light My Fire

Snotty — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:17:58 +0000

OK, so fires this week probably won’t catch. The fall weather has reared it’s rainy face. All week. Ugh! The picture below was taken last week, but it makes the point, regardless of our current weather situation. Fires are everywhere during the summer. The picture is taken FROM our balcony. The charred area was undoubtedly [...]

It’s Fall, and it’s Official.

Snotty — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:13:00 +0000

Damn… Last weekend it was 30°C. This weekend, 10°C. Here were the first clouds, yielding the first rain (although not much) since the Spring, rolling in from the West/Northwest. The cold front behind it chilled everyone to the bones. People were caught off-guard for the first couple of days… but now (5 days later) everyone [...]

Remembrance

Snotty — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:22:13 +0000

To all those that have lost their lives to the cold hands of tyrannical men… everywhere Let us reflect – consider the loss, the pain, the sorrow that ensued following that September day 7 years ago. Please, let’s consider what brought us to that point in our history, and how we can try to make [...]

Side O’ Beef

Snotty — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 05:29:57 +0000

I was taken back by what I saw at the market today. Sure, continuing commerce is obviously a necessary part of “market life,” but seeing the massive hunk of meat was a bit surprising. I guess I’m more used to seeing it all chopped up. A single man, obviously under strain, was carrying an entire [...]

Tale of the Snakes

Snotty — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:23:33 +0000

We live in the city. But in the summer months we spend quite a bit of time at our summer house. It’s about 45 km from our apartment, and serves many purposes, not the least of which is sanity and a sense of grounding with mother Earth.Needless to say, the summer house is a virtual [...]

Cheney in Ukraine

Snotty — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:50:56 +0000

I flew into Kiev a couple of days ago. We took an unusual approach, and flew right over Kiev. Our home is not visible in the picture (more to the left), but this is a picture taken when the plane was almost exactly over downtown, looking south, along with the flow of the great Dnepr [...]

Funeral for a Friend

Snotty — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:50:42 +0000

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT. It was a neighbor that passed away… No, I didn’t know him. In fact I don’t really “know” any neighbors, though I do recognize some. Anyhow, this post isn’t about me, it’s about the man that passed away — and how interesting and different Russians (Ukrainians) approach the passing and burial [...]

Holy Cow…

Snotty — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:03:45 +0000

We rode the motorcycle out to the field the other day. Unfortunately the cows were on their way back home. Download When Cows Attack Thankfully the cows recognized us, and let us go about our business…

MiGs Overhead! Actually, it’s an Su-27

Snotty — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:49:33 +0000

So yeah, I’m stuck in the cold war mentality. Clearly. Because I got chills up my spine when I saw these fighter jets flying overhead, outside our Kiev home. What happened was… I’m doing some work on my computer, sitting in my well-broken in chair, and I hear a jet echoing through the open balcony [...]

Cats, Kittens, and Cuteness

Snotty — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:52:05 +0000

We (sorta) have a cat named Yoda; after the famous Jedi Master (of course) that helps to maintain the positive energy in the Universe. I hope you can see the resemblance. Here she is chillin’ on Craig’s lap during his visit. I can’t tell which one was enjoying it more, can you? Here she was [...]

Friendly Babushka

Snotty — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:43:30 +0000

I saw something on the Marshrutka (the little yellow city shuttles) today that I have never seen in the USA, though I’m sure it still happens in small towns and such. It was without question, a very introspective moment for me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it on a public bus in America. I [...]

Smokes and Beers

Snotty — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:01:16 +0000

I saw some kids buying cigarettes and beer yesterday. I swear, they couldn’t have been more than 15 years old – tops. There’s no reluctance by any salesperson to sell to “minors.” But then again, I’m not sure if there even is such a thing as a “minor.” I asked my wife, and she said [...]

The Metro

Snotty — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:30:38 +0000

Markets are always by Metro stops. Housing is always by Metro stops. Hot chicks are always by Metro stops. Everyone likes the Metro. They have become, as in many cities, cornerstones of commerce, communication, sales, and of course travel. Our Metro is something to be admired. The smells, the sites, the diversity, the sweat. You [...]

Gettin’ Sideways with a Sidecar

Snotty — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:32:25 +0000

Holy cow, man… I knew it was possible, but I didn’t think it would really happen. I mean, I had felt the bike lean before, but… So we head out from our friends’ house where we had dinner, and cruise towards the “ring road” that semi-encircles Kiev. It’s a beautiful summer evening, probably around 22°C [...]

Cutlery

Snotty — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:25:31 +0000

It was a shocker when I first arrived, but I’ve since become accustomed to it. However, I was doing the dishes today and I once again was dumbfounded by our home’s cutlery options: We have 6 metal forks. We have 1 metal butter knife. ONE. We have ~15-20 spoons (both small and large). Most food [...]

July 4 at the Ambassador’s house

Snotty — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:08:36 +0000

Yep, hard to believe, but I was there. His house is on the right, and a church is in the background. My wife got an invite, and I was allowed to attend as her guest. Man, did I get a look at the table from the secretary checking off names. I even “dressed up” for [...]

Crazy Russian Drivers

Snotty — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:44:51 +0000

Seriously…. That’s 2 for 2. Two days in a row, right out in front of my apartment building, there were 2 dumb-ass accidents. It’s a very typical 3 second incident. 1) We hear cars accellerating more than they should be. 2) We hear tires screeching for about 1 second (maybe even a horn). 3) We [...]

Kiev’s Flowers in Springtime

Snotty — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:51:55 +0000

I have to say, Russians love their flowers. Sure, sure… every culture (that I’ve experienced) around the world appreciates the simple beauty of Spring flowers. They represent the essence of life in the plant kingdom and beyond. All around Kiev they are planted, nurtured, and cared for in places that you wouldn’t (per se) expect [...]

Cold showers AND no electricity, time to ride.

Snotty — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:45:57 +0000

Oh Joy, I woke up this morning around 6am for some strange reason. Especially strange because I was helping my wife with a report until almost 3am. I looked at the clock – and it was off. I looked at my cable box – and it was off. Needless to say, all the electricity was [...]

Cold Showers in June

Snotty — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:12:11 +0000

Well… they turned off the hot water. Yep. OFF. Like none, non-existent, nothing comes out, nada. And in typical Russian (Ukrainian) style, there was NO NOTICE. Where we live, there are no hot water heaters. It is all centralized, and gets pumped into the buildings. Sure, a few people may have heaters (electric, on-demand water [...]

Big Cat Camouflage

Snotty — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:58:46 +0000

Whoa… where’d she go? I lost Mom. Baby, where did Mom go??? Oh… there she is… it was so hard to spot her with her big cat camouflage on. but seriously, this is one of her favorite outfits. She wears it all over the place. Here’s a pic from last night, in the kitchen. And [...]

Dog on a Leash, American on Parade

Snotty — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:29:09 +0000

So recently I’ve been saying this to my wife. I don’t think she likes it, but it’s true, and I know it strikes a nerve – so I keep doing it to reiterate my feelings. I feel like a DOG ON A LEASH. I’m trying to learn Russian, and I’m getting better. However, I’m often [...]

I’ve had a Japanese, a German, and now a Russian

Snotty — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:40:03 +0000

Motorcycle. A few weeks ago I bought the Dnepr. An 1991 MT-11. She is beautiful, and fun — and definitely fosters a feeling of adventure in a far-away land. As I mentioned in my previous post, I had ridden a couple of bikes when we began our motorcycle search. Though I was tempted to purchase [...]

Vodka is for 3

Snotty — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 07:55:35 +0000

There’s a common number required for drinking vodka in Ukraine: 3 The rationale is fairly straightforward, but I still thought it was funny. First of all, this is something you don’t usually see in the States, but is commonplace here. Three grown men sitting (or standing) around a small picnic basket type something-or-other, placed carefully [...]

Russian Delight

Snotty — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:19:11 +0000

I’ve realized that it’s kinda tough to write after you’ve taken a little break. Why, I’ve asked myself? I think it’s because with every passing day I think of more and more things that I should write, and I get bogged down. And then I think that the next post has to be “a good [...]

Corvus cornix, Hooded Crow, Grey Crow –> Predator and Rat Nemesis

Snotty — Thu, 15 May 2008 09:40:31 +0000

I was hanging out on my balcony last evening. It was a beautiful evening, with a clear view of the orange setting sun in the distance. We are on the 5th floor, and I’m watching the life outside. I spot a couple of very large Grey Crows hanging out on the ground, looking for worms [...]

Beautiful, isn’t she?

Snotty — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:37:41 +0000

We’re in Paris now…

Snotty — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:51:45 +0000

So, please excuse the slowness in posting again. (not that anyone is really reading this… I think it’s just my cerebral sounding-board) Anyway, we were in Prague for a few days — Then Marianske-Lazne, and now Paris. Here are a few pics. Red Roofs over Prague Horses pulling a Carriage Old Town, Praha And a [...]

first ever Tollhouse Cookies… in Troeschina

Snotty — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:51:03 +0000

When returning from the States recently, I had a request for ethnic foods. Food items that we can’t readily get (or afford) here in Kiev, but which make us feel like we were still back home in the USA (sorta). I brought back all kinds of stuff. I should have taken a picture. Suffice it [...]

A Dnepr would be nice for the Summer

Snotty — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:00:32 +0000

I met a dead man today (actually, yesterday). Well, he’s not dead yet, but judging by the way he drives, it’s truly only a matter of time (as they say). I already feel sooo sorry for the family(ies) of the other victims… hopefully there won’t be any others hurt when this Russian idiot takes his [...]

Apologies…

Snotty — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:21:25 +0000

Hello reader(s), I have to apologize for not writing in a while. The real reason is that this is my blog about life and times in Ukraine — and I was visiting the States for about 6 weeks. But fear not! I’m back, and riding my one-legged horse.

Finally some snow

Snotty — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:37:03 +0000

It took a while, but finally the snow is falling. It has been quite a bit colder, and has snowed on and off for about a week now. At least for now, the snow is staying on the ground. It’s starting to feel like winter. There’s a serene beauty to it. Cold, crisp, fresh. And [...]

Sala and Eggs

Snotty — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:26:58 +0000

Mmmmm, mmmmm, goooooood! This morning was a treat, of sorts. I threw caution to the wind, and began heating the pan. It was already used for something fatty and nice sometime last week — and has been sitting there ever since. I thought the BIL’s girlfriend was just being lazy and didn’t wash it — [...]