Month: September 2023

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Last week, Boris was in Barcelona for his conference, and sure, there were many conversations about the war, about Russia, the world, aid for Ukraine, and all related. Since this conference was very European and initially Eastern European, the conversations were deep and serious, not like the casual conversation with “preset” opinions we (unfortunately) often have here in the US.

One thing that surprised me was that people asked him, “Why does Putin keep fighting despite massive manpower losses?” Naturally, Boris answered, “Because, at least for the past thousand years, Russia never counted men’s losses when fighting.” I was still surprised that those who asked didn’t know the answer as if Russia ever gave any reason to doubt it. Still, they asked why people in Russia do not protest when the losses are so massive and why they don’t protest in general.

Again, I could at least partially understand such questions at the beginning of the war, but I am surprised people are still asking them.

Also, when replying to somebody about a “peaceful solution,” Boris cited our friend with whom we had this discussion in Berlin last fall: If not for Ukraine, Russian tanks would already be in Berlin. Not in Estonia. In Berlin.

The positive thing is that in Europe, the war didn’t move to the background…

More Updates

I tried to stop by my mom today, explaining here in advance that I am just stopping by for five minutes (she is on day three of isolation). I have no idea whether reinfection may or may not happen, and I have no desire to experiment. She previously asked for Russian Rye bread, which meant that I had to wait until today to be able to go to the actual store. I didn’t find any Russian Rye, but I found a German Rye and some marmalade. When I came to her, I realized that she didn’t get the concept of “for a couple of minutes” and wanted me to look at what was not working on her phone and at the blood pressure monitor, and change the printer cartridge, and whatever else.

I yelled at her that this could wait until she was out of isolation, and she started to ask whether she would need a mask if she decided to go for a walk tomorrow morning. And she asked me at least twenty times whether she could use a KN95 mask more than once…

Also, it’s close to impossible to make her track her symptoms, and I am going to stop now because my rants won’t change anything.

The good part of today: I biked to the Mill and back. And there are going to be a couple more warm days. And I finished Chapter 13 🙂

Updates

Mom is still asymptomatic. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will continue that way – it would be close to a miracle!

I am finally symptom-free entirely, including not being completely exhausted by 8 PM every evening. Moreover, I did a massive cooking (I made some progress in cleaning up my freezer in the course of the previous couple of days, which was also good!). The tests are still positive, though, so I am not making any specific plans for the next couple of days, except that I can now officially go out wearing a mask. I didn’t lose any work time (almost), but the backlog on the book continues to grow, which really concerns me. I know that, objectively, there is very little left, because all of the remaining chapters were worked on, and some are “almost” done, but I also know how misleading this “almost” can be.

Life goes on 🙂

And While I Am On That Topic…

I recently read Steven King’s 11-22-63. Steven King is not “my” author (and not out of any snobbishness, just not mine). I took on this reading because it was recommended by a friend whom I usually trust in book recommendations. While it’s still not “my” book and not a book “about me,” I really liked it and enjoyed reading from the very first to the very last page.

Firstly, I really enjoyed it as an excellent piece of literature ( And now, I won’t be able to read ok-ish books for a while :)) Second, (and that’s why I decided to write about it today) – I find the whole sci-fi part of it very realistic. The theme of “the past does not want to be changed” resonates with me on many levels.

Never in my life have I wished that “something didn’t happen” or “if only I could go back and correct something.” I know that everything that happened before today made me the person I am now, and it is often impossible to tell what won’t happen if I do things “properly” at some point in my life. I am so sure that correcting the past can’t work that I never had even a temptation to think about it.

On the other hand, as much as I am always in control of my life and know that things won’t happen by themselves if I don’t make them happen, I also recognize when the Universe does not want something to happen.  

My London trip cancellation was a perfect example. I didn’t have COVID before, even when I was in the presence of clearly infected people, so having it from an unknown source right before my trip was a sign :). And then, when I started to calculate the dates and try to figure out whether I could still make it, came a loud and clear “no.” As much as I dreaded clicking the “Cancel the Entire Trip” button, that’s what it meant to be. 

My Trip To London…

It is not going to happen after all, and that’s one of these situations when the universe tells me loud and clear that I should not. I feel fine, and I didn’t have any fever today, but my test was still positive (which was expected, to be honest).

I was thinking about whether I would still be able to go, having all the dates and guidelines, when I need to test, and so on, but today, my mom tested positive (which is in perfect alignment with when I think was my first day sick).

Having this, and having that she does not understand what the symptoms could be and she does not understand what isolation means, I am afraid to leave.

Oh, well. I hope that things will not be that bad with her.

So, I Had Grand Plans…

And the funny story is that I accomplished a huge portion of what I planned for this long weekend, except for – I tested positive today. The only reason I decided to test myself was that I had a fever, and I usually do not get it.

Now, I am wondering whether I have already had it on Sunday. I know it would be super weird if I did Bike the Dive with COVID, but I had a little bit of a runny nose for two days before that, and I felt a little bit not myself when I woke up for Bike the Drive, but then everything was perfect.

Now the biggest question is whether I am flying to London on Saturday. It would be five days since, but I am going to keep testing myself and see whether I will get any more symptoms.

Also, it’s my first anniversary at my company, so I was hoping to be at work, and it’s super sad that I won’t be there.

Well, it could definitely be worse!

Bike The Drive

My second Bike the Drive, and this year, I signed up for the 30-mile challenge, knowing that it would mean 36 miles for me (adding 3 miles each way to the closest entrance).

I am very happy with my results. I didn’t have to push myself; the whole ride was “within my abilities.” I was a little bit worried about the heat, but I was able to finish before it became really hot.

Excluding the wait at the start and two stops, my active biking time was 3 hours, which means 12 mph on average, including the city biking, and I hit 14 mph and even 15.2 mph on some 1-mile splits.

I didn’t like the main rest stop and the activities which were offered there. I liked the breakfast even less than last time. And I liked the MSI rest stop a lot: with plenty of boxed water, fruit and healthy snacks freely available, with the music, and with the sense of unity that was somehow missing at the main event. I think that next year, I am not going to pay for breakfast, and I am not even going to stop at the main event, and I will have a longer stop at the MSI.

I still didn’t find my photo on the event site, but I will keep trying :).

Five minutes before start
At MSI rest stop
Continue reading “Bike The Drive” →

Labor Day Parade Pictures

(As usual, I am waiting for more from Igor). I think it was a good idea to move this parade to Pullman, but the parade organizers have a lot of work to do to make this event better attended next year. I do not have pictures from the Eddie Fest because, once again, it was a suboptimal planning. We will do better next year!

Continue reading “Labor Day Parade Pictures” →

Pullman Visitors Center And Musem

Each time Igor and I come to Pullman (and especially since it acquired the status of the National Monument), we see some new improvements. This time, we wanted to check out the new visitor’s center and its exhibits.

Continue reading “Pullman Visitors Center And Musem” →

Pullman Labor Day Parade

I am not going to pretend that I know everything about the Labor History of Chicago, so I will simply copy-paste the information from the Pullman website about today’s event. I want to mention that the event was poorly advertised, and the participation was not so great. Igor and I went thee and took a decent amount of pictures, which I will ty to post tomorrow. But for now – just the information:

Official records vary, but one can be certain that Chicago’s first Labor Day Parade took place in the 1880s. Labor Day parades in Chicago before the turn of the 20th century regularly involved upwards of 30,000 working men and women and drew thousands more onlookers. Roughly 75,000 workers turned out to march in the 1903 parade.​

Early parades were massive and aimed to show the solidarity and sheer size of the labor movement. Parades were often followed by picnics where workers could enjoy a relaxing day off with their families after marching with their union. However, support for the parade waned in the 1940s and would eventually be discontinued in the 1950s.

In 1959, the East Side Labor Day Parade was established. Chicago’s Southeast Side has always had a strong connection to labor, and with the steel mills in operation and working families employed at U.S, Wisconsin, Republic, and Pressed Steel, the booming economy of the neighborhood gave rise to the celebration of union and labor achievements. The parade ran strong for over 30 years until its retirement in 1993.

The Chicago Federation of Labor revived the Labor Day Parade that traditionally marched through downtown Chicago in the 1980s. Iterations of the parade through the 80s and 90s often included a festival and picnic component, held in Grant Park. The 1982 parade and festival was held over several days and included musical performances by Count Basie and Glen Campbell. But the “downtown parade” once again went by the wayside in the 2000s.​

Years later the tradition was revived by former 10th Ward Alderwoman Susan Sadlowski Garza in September 2015 with the support of local businesses, unions, and community members. The new parade ran down Ewing Avenue on the Southeast Side and was followed by Eddie Fest, featuring live music, food and fun for the whole family. Eddie Fest was named after Sadlowski Garza’s father, the legendary United Steelworkers activist Edward ‘Oilcan’ Sadlowski.

The 2023 Chicago Labor Day Parade and Eddie Fest is moving from the East Side, but not far. After Sadlowski Garza’s retirement in 2023, the parade and festival will move to the Pullman Historic District, which has been developing and highlighting its ties to the Chicago labor movement and labor history over the past few years.

Labor Day is an American holiday that celebrates and honors the contributions of working-class people. Organized and run by the Chicago Federation of Labor, the parade seeks to celebrate union pride, solidarity, and community togetherness. We look forward to hosting another successful event that families can enjoy for years to come.

Since 1896, the CFL has fought for economic, social, and racial justice for all working people. The CFL proudly represents 300 unions, who in turn represent approximately 500,000 working people in Chicago and Cook County.