B&G's Excellent Adventure

Growing up Soviet

Gina — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:58:49 +0000

For no particular reason, I remembered something out of my childhood the other day:

When visiting a friend, I was introduces to the Monopoly game. I was so fascinated by it that I had to have it. Since the US-made game or anything of its kind was not available in USSR, I asked to borrow the game and then…

I proceeded to make a complete copy by hand. Hand-drawn currency, playing cards, the game board, the full works. Sounds completely ridiculous and OCD? Not for our family where mom routinely made my clothes, I crocheted my berets and purses, and once mom was able to take an old leather bag and make me a fabulous little back-pack. In fact, some of the pillow cases that I had sown together years ago (as well as couple of crocheted articles) made their way across the ocean with me and are alive and well right now.

One thing to keep in mind: this seemingly obvious shortage of material possessions didn’t really register with me as a cause of unhappiness. On the opposite, making those things by myself or with my mom are some of the fondest childhood memories.

Prop 8

Gina — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:41:26 +0000

(yay, we’re back despite the WordPress voodoo! Thanks to the hubby who’s a fearless internet master!)

Last week was a good week and a bad week. Yes, we had a historic presidential victory that should have made me happier than it really did. Unfortunately, at the same time as Barack Obama was gaining speed cross the electoral college, Prop 8 was losing in California. A prop that defines a marriage as a union between one man and one woman. A prop that retroactively invalidates 16,000 marriages registered in the state of California since June. A prop that cuts basic human right to the significant minority in our country. A prop that commanded the largest ever donation amount for a state election.

While I am happy for the president elect, he’s yet to prove that his inspiring rethorics is going to translate into specific actions. The passing of Prop 8 had very real, sizable effect on the lives of people in the state. I am sad and angered at the rejoicing of its proponents.

They say they’re protecting traditional marriage. Newsbreak: 200 years ago, slavery was traditional and a lot of otherwise intelligent and kind people believed it was acceptible.

We will not give up.

“In the late 1700s, a shift from left to right took place in countries such as the United States,…”

BK — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:04:03 +0000

“In the late 1700s, a shift from left to right took place in countries such as the United States, when teamsters started using large freight wagons pulled by several pairs of horses. The wagons had no driver’s seat, so a postilion sat on the left rear horse and held his whip in his right hand. Seated on the left, the driver naturally preferred that other wagons pass him on the left so that he could be sure to keep clear of the wheels of oncoming wagons. He did that by driving on the right side of the road.[citation needed] The British, however, kept to the left. They had smaller wagons, and the driver sat on the wagon, usually on the right side of the front seat. From there he could use his long whip in his right hand without entangling it in the cargo behind him. In that position, on the right side of the wagon, the driver could judge the safety margin of overtaking traffic by keeping to the left side of the road.”

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Right- and left-hand traffic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Now we know why. Still having trouble adjusting back to the right side.

Just a few of the elephants we saw in Addo Elephant park.

BK — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 23:47:38 +0000

Just a few of the elephants we saw in Addo Elephant park.

Pictures from ZA 08

BK — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 23:14:03 +0000

Pictures from ZA 08: It only took a week! This is the link for the album of all the pictures from the trip.

Neethlingsof winery

BK — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:28:00 +0000

Much better pinotage, and a nice shiraz too - about the best I’ve had while in ZA

Lunch at Neethlingsof

BK — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:10:00 +0000

A much better pinotage too, Stellenbosch is lovely in general.

Pinotage has been a nice discovery this trip

BK — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:00:00 +0000

Though the 06 from Dornier has failed to impress me.

Enjoying a different flight at Dornier, yum.

BK — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:53:00 +0000

Wine tasting in ZA

BK — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:05:00 +0000

We are having some wine tastings in Stellenbosch before we leave for home. Right now, we’re at Blaauwklippen - $3 for 5 wines - not a bad deal.