Last day...Oh LORDY.

Bear with my feeble attempt to chear myself up...

10 Reasons why Leaving Russia Doesn't Bite, in no particular order

1. Pedestrian Right of Way. Its a red light, mother fucker. That means stop jack ass.
2. Cabbage. This is a garnish, not a vegetable. I don't care how many vitamins it supposedly has.
3. Beets. See point 2.
4. Morning rush hour on transit. No, I am not retarded. Yes, I will take my damn time counting out my money, and No my ass is not public domain, thank you.
5. Water pressure. And temperature. Both of which should not be controlled by the meanderings of a 2 inch high propane flame.
6. Mayonaisse. Not a spice. Not a sauce. And definitly not a substitute for corn starch. At most should be spread on bread. Not used in quantities large enough to feed the entire population of Armenia
7. Excercise. Not equalling running from stray dogs, speeding cars, skinheads, drunks, drugaddicts, or any other such shady characters.
8. Girly booze. As much as russian moonshine and I get along, christ there is something to be said about the mindless bliss of some colorful tequilla concoction. Particularly if there is some happy umbrella floating on top.
9. Street cleanup. So I'm sure my quads thank you, but really. Sidewalks are for walking, not some unexpected ballet or neardeath experiences with cement. Its called salt, not a particular commodity in this century.
10. Crack bliney. The cheesy chocolatey goodness has got to be stopped. 'Cause thats just not healthy. Chemical dependence= BAD

Out of time for the good list...and not really appealling anyway. Leaving Russia tommorow morning. YEs. YEs I am.

Well that just about sums it up...

" Hey Peggy! You should go hit on that guy over there. His name is Alexander. He works here. Hey! Maybe he can hook us up with some free crack bliney!!!"

Said to me Sunday at visit number 2098934 to Teremok, the despenser of Bliney goodness. Yes. I have a bliney habit.

In other news, ONE MORE EXAM and like 4 MORE DAYS. And I shall be back in civilization and showers and vegetables and oh lord.

Breath. Take 393781. Roll Camera.

Ok. Yes. I am breathing. Trying. Last choir concert last night, had loads of fun, of course started talking to people that I've seen, like, daily, had all these crazy intense conversations, and was in such a great mood walking home that night. Then everything hit me, and I'm like, oh yea.

10 days.

Fuck me.

But for the most part the funk has lifted, thanks to lots of wine and actually being with russians. Thankfully, for now anyway. Sorry to any and all who have had the infinite pleasure of having to deal with me in the last few weeks. I'm fine, don't worry, and ignore most of all that was "said" to you. Project of the moment is trying to figure out how to keep my spirits up next semester, to avoid the funk, and not end up like last spring did. Problem is, I forget how I get that bad, it just kind of happens...and then there is nothing to do to get myself out of the pit. I think I very well might get cozy with the councelling center when I get back to Pland, and even typing that kind of frightens me. But I frighten myself when I'm like that, last week scared me, that desperation reaaaally scares me.

How can I be so happy here and abhor it? All at the same friggin' time??

But yea. Breathing. I should make myself a good list, but problem is, everything that would be on it would be simaltaneously fantastic and sad. And no one would get anything on it, but me. High up there though, very definitly getting back into AKIN for next semester...(Who can tell me anything about this Caitlin chick?? Who am I booting? Upper or lower Akin? Amy I love you!!)

Slightly more solid plans for the next 2 months ish:

This weekend- Helsinki
Next week- finals
Dec 18-25- Czech with the 'rents (Sarah: trying to see Prague, Krumlov, Terezin, and Kostelec in like 6 days. Nuts? I think so)
Dec 25-Jan 4- Israel with the remote relatives, both the israeli and the french flavored
Jan 4-10- Ukraine with Masha's people/bumming around Europe (London?)
Jan 10-14- Home sweet home (Lets see how crazy I can go in under 4 days?)
Jan 14th- PLAND, perhaps at Ri's.

Stay tuned. Anyone who wants anything from Russia had best let me know soon, and please keep in mind, I'm a COLLEGE STUDENT. WHO TECHNICALLY CAN"T BRING BOOZE ACROSS NATIONAL BORDERS.

Love.

I'm afraid of my mind. If I can't handle myself here, what the hell is going to happen when I'm back in the states and have to deal with being in the same place...

Someone please, turn me off.