We colored two dozen eggs, ate tons of Finnish and Estonian chocolate, and Anna and I spent more than three hours talking non-stop (and found an amazing coffee place!)
Good Friday In Milwaukee
Author: Hettie D.
My name is Henrietta (Hettie) Dombrovskaya. I was born in Saint-Petersburg, Russian (actually, back then – Leningrad, USSR) in 1963, and immigrated to the United States in 1996.
I love Saint Petersburg, the city I was born and raised in, and I think it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world. Similarly (but differently) I love Chicago, and can’t imagine myself moving somewhere else in the observable future.
I have three children, Igor, Vlad and Anna, all adults living on their own, and one (so far) granddaughter Nadia. I also believe that my children are the best thing that happened in my life.
As for my professional life, I am working in the field of Information Technologies. When I was twenty, I’ve declared that the databases are the coolest thing invented and that I want to do them for the rest of my life. Thirty plus years later, I still believe it’s true, and still, believe that the databases are the best. These two statements together imply that I think a person can have it all, and indeed, I think so! Keep reading my journals to find out how I did it.
LUMIÈRE, LE CINÉMA!
I am still unsure whether it was a good idea, but that was my typical full-blown FOMO: I read about this new film, which tells the story of the invention of cinema by the Lumière brothers, featuring over 100 original shorts, and I really-really-really wanted to see it! And there was not a single screening I could attend. Finally, I decided to do this silly thing: I got a ticket for 8:15 PM on Tuesday, hoping I’d be able to come to the Siskel Center after the egg coloring in the ODS. I decided that if the residents wanted me to stay longer, I would not go, but we were done coloring by 7:30, so I left around 7:45, and was at the Siskel Center on time.
The film was very long. The program said it was 106 minutes, but it was still not over at 10:10 PM, when I decided I needed to go, otherwise I won’t be able to get up the next day!
My other laments: in the clip, the comments are in English, but at the screening, the comments were in French, and the subtitles were white, which made it difficult to read over the black and white screen, so often, I would choose to pay attention to the screen rather than the story. I found the most interesting to see how they chose what exactly they were filming, and how exactly.
Here is the Siskel Center description of the film, and the trailer:
In one of those wonderful coincidences of history, lumière, the French word for “light,” was also the last name of brothers Auguste and Louis, whose brilliant invention, the cinematograph, helped to inaugurate the most beloved art form of the last 130 years. Institute Lumière director Thierry Frémaux uses LUMIÈRE, LE CINÉMA! to guide the viewer through over a hundred shorts—some famous, some forgotten, some never before seen—directed by Lumière and company. In the process, Frémaux illuminates how the brothers employed the camera as a creative instrument as they (and their operators) mastered framing, staging, and subject selection for quotidian and exotic microdocumentaries as well as the first ever fictional motion pictures. The result is not only a glorious re(telling) of the genesis of cinema but a profound meditation on the beautiful world captured—and the mysterious world imagined—by the Lumières.
Even though I definitely did not get enough sleep on the third day after I came back from Finland, I think it was totally worth it!
Egg Coloring At ODS
Same as the Christmas cookie decoration, the Easter egg coloring is an activity I do with ODS residents every year, and every year, we have tons of fun.
The most popular decorating kits are the ones with faces and hair, and also, the “golden” eggs appeared to be a hit!
About “Leaving It For Later” And When Not
When somebody has a newborn baby, is working day and night to meet a deadline, or is in another challenging situation, their house might become a mess, or they can forget something important that they would never forget to do under other circumstances. This is all perfectly understandable.
What does it have to do with me? It’s not like I have always been a model of cleanliness, nor are my current standards of having things in order model ones. However, I have this thing where the sight of a mess is aesthetically displeasing to me, to the extent that most times I can’t do anything else when there are things on the floor or dirty dishes in the sink. I tidy things up right away just because it makes me feel better.
Still, the two weeks before I went to Helsinki were really exhausting. I felt like I was doing something all the time, and most of what I was doing was past due. And several times, I caught myself leaving a mess behind. For example, under normal circumstances, I would not leave the house with a pile of things on the floor or dishes not put away in the dishwasher, but I have had it several times that I had to leave immediately so that I am not late.
And each time I realized how quickly the entropy builds! You miss putting things away just twice, and now all of a sudden, you need an extra 30 minutes to get everything back to order.
It was a timely reminder for me why I am going out of my way to do all this small chores right away. Also, similar thinking appies to non-household chores. For example, when several months ago I lost one week worth of updates of my finanicial excel, I was furious, because just three days before I recorded almost two weeks of my Amazon transactions and a week worth of Visa transactions. I was very proud of myself when I was done, and it was all gone. Back then, it was a reminder to be sure I save my work in addiiton to the autosave mode, especialy after working offline, but also, I was questioning my habit of recording Amazon transactions once a week (I know why I do this, and there is a good reason, but still).
The reason I was thinking about it all the other day was that I ws in Helsinki, and wanted to spend as much time with Boris as I could when we are physically in the same location. However, I felt that it was important not to fall behind on recording my expenses, especially since I am using a diffterent CC when abroad. Same with several seemingly small things, like scheduling next A/C tune-up or filling in medical paperwork for the upcoming procedure.
I think I ended up balancing it right, still spending most time together but not feeling bad about coming home and needing to stay up later the first night I am back.
Biking In Helsinki In March
“Biking in Helsinki” is something I do regularly, but biking in March is unheard of. I can’t remember a March ever being so warm and sunny, and with all traces of snow gone. Since my flight was not until the afternoon, Boris and I went on a bike ride.
It was a very short ride by Boris’ standards, but a very nice one. Among other things, Boris showed me a bridge he was very excited about: it is open for every mode of transportation except cars :). Way to go, Helsinki!
No Kings Day
This is for my friends outside of the US – i meant to publish it on Sunday, but lost track of time on the departure day!
Across big cities and small towns on Saturday, millions of Americans poured into the streets in a sweeping, coordinated protest against President Donald Trump, in what organizers of the “No Kings” movement said could become the largest day of demonstrations in the nation’s history.
From New York to California, and from rural Kentucky to the nation’s capital, demonstrators marched, chanted and waved signs denouncing authoritarian overreach, war in Iran, and an aggressive immigration crackdown that has roiled communities and national politics alike. More than 3,000 events were planned nationwide, with turnout expected to surpass the estimated 5 million to 7 million people who participated in earlier rounds of protests over the past year.
Read more: ‘No Kings’ Protests May Draw Biggest—and Most Diverse—Anti-Trump Crowds Ever
By midday, the flagship rally in Minnesota was already underway, with at least 50,000 people gathered at the State Capitol in St. Paul. Organizers had promised a high-profile lineup of speakers and artists, which included Senator Bernie Sanders, Jane Fonda, and Bruce Springsteen, who performed “Streets of Minneapolis,” a song he wrote in the aftermath of fatal shootings by federal immigration agents in the city that drew national outrage and helped fuel the protest movement.
“Your strength and your commitment told us that this is still America, and this reactionary nightmare and these invasions of American cities will not stand,” Springsteen said to the crowd. “You gave us hope. You gave us courage, and for those who gave their lives, Renée Good, mother of three, brutally murdered, and Alex Pretti, a VA nurse executed by ICE, shot in the back and left to die in the street without even the decency of our lawless government investigating their deaths—their bravery, their sacrifice and their names will not be forgotten.”
Sanders warned of an “unprecedented and dangerous moment in American history.”
“We will not allow this country to descend into authoritarianism or oligarchy in America,” he told the crowd. “We, the people, will rule.”
In New York City, tens of thousands of protestors demonstrated across all five boroughs. The biggest event took place on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, featuring actor Robert DeNiro, civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton and Attorney General of New York Letitia James as speakers.
“We still believe in the core American values of justice, equality, decency, and kindness,” de Niro said. “Because we’re going from the streets to the ballot box and because we all deserve a country with no king.”
Mixed grievances
The demonstrations, organized by a loose coalition of activist groups under the “No Kings” banner, reflected a broad constellation of grievances rather than a single demand. Some protesters aimed their criticism at Congress, chanting “do your job” and carrying signs that mocked lawmakers as timid or unwilling to stand up to the Trump Administration. Protesters pointed to the war in Iran, as well as a protracted government funding standoff over immigration enforcement that has left airport security lines snarled and federal workers unpaid. Many also focused on the Administration’s highly visible immigration raids, while others decried proposed changes to voting laws, environmental rollbacks, and what they see as a steady erosion of democratic norms.
“We have a president that is out of control,” Ken Wyben, a New York City protestor and veteran, told TIME. “All the wars that I’ve been in—and I’ve been in two—we planned it a little better.” He held a sign that read “I served with real leaders. The President is no leader.”
In New York, thousands of marchers began at Columbus Circle and Central Park, eventually spilling into Times Square. Two younger protestors, Natalia and Sailor, both 21, were in the city for only a few days but chose to attend the demonstration to protest Trump’s immigration and border policies.
“Being here, and seeing the majority of people of an older generation really fuels me,” Sailor said, adding that she is just “trying to represent our age group.”
Beatrice Moritz, an immigrant from a family of immigrants, said she attended the protest because she loves America.
“The way people are being treated now is so un-American,” she said. The most pressing issue on her mind was the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, currently under consideration in Congress, which would introduce new identification requirements for voting. “They’re trying to take away our right to vote,” she added.
In Washington, D.C., a stream of protesters marched from Arlington, Va., to the National Mall, beating drums and ringing cowbells as they chanted, “No justice, no peace. No ICE in our streets.” Some carried oversized puppet heads of Administration officials. An inflatable effigy depicting Trump defacing the Constitution made its way through the crowd.
In New York, marchers filled Midtown, spilling into Times Square. In Austin, a small ice sculpture inscribed with “ICE MELTS IN TEXAS” was left to liquefy in the sun. In Boston, protesters erected a memorial honoring children killed in a recent missile strike in Iran, which the U.S. was reportedly responsible for, according to The New York Times.
‘Just a start’
The protests appeared to be largely peaceful, even as a few counterprotests appeared.
Ezra Levin, the co-founder of Indivisible, the progressive coalition behind the protests, called for a nationwide economic protest on May 1, urging supporters to skip work, school and shopping. “We’re going to show up and say we’re putting workers over billionaires and kings,” he said.
Some Democrats echoed the sense of momentum. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on social media that the protests were drawing “record turnout,” calling them “a very strong sign of what’s coming in November.”
The White House, however, sought to dismiss the demonstrations. A spokeswoman said that “the only people who care about these Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions are the reporters who are paid to cover them.”
Polling in recent days has found Trump’s approval ratings sinking to their lowest levels since he returned to the White House.
Niguliste
Another discovery, and I am ashamed that for so many years, I was never curious enough to learn more about Niguliste Church in Tallinn. God only knows why I thought it was relatively new and didn’t realize it was one of the oldest churches in Tallinn!
Like many other historical monuments, Niguliste survived for hundreds of years, wars and sieges, all the changes of powers of the city of Tallinn, all to be completely destroyed by the Soviet bombing on March 9, 1944.
Several exhibits inside the church highlight the most important moments of it’s history, and the most significant artworks. The museum website is a great resource.
New Discoveries In Tallinn
I didn’t think Tallinn was on our agenda this time, but about a week before my trip, Boris mentioned that he thought I might enjoy an organ concert at Niguliste, and I immediately jumped on this opportunity. Recently, each time we visit Tallinn, we see something new, so I was almost certain that it would be the case again.
Usually, we take the earliest boat to Tallinn and return about four in the afternoon, but this time, we took the late morning boat and went back at 7:30PM.
We started walking, and Boris was commenting again, that this is a new part of the city because it was off limits at the Soviet occupation time being too close to the Naval base, and then I saw this sign at the corner:
I had no idea what it was, but it turned out that that’s exactly where we were heading. While I was walking there and taking the pictures, I had no idea about the history of that district, just taken away by the 19th century industrial aesthetics. Boris told me that Rotermann was an industrialist who build these factories and the living quarters around them, and that they became completely abandoned during Soviet occupation, and came back to life in the early 2000s.
Only when I was back home, I looked for more information about the Rotermann Quarter. Here is the most detailed description I found, and I think it’s totally worth reading,
Helsinki Music Center
On Friday evening, we went to one more concert. Once again, it was in the Helsinki Music Center, which I first visited last time, and loved it. This time, it was Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert was titled “I Want to Be Alive”, and that was the name of the piece which was performed after the intermission, and was composed by Daníel Bjarnason. OK, I know it sounds confusing, so let me say it again. Daníel Bjarnason was conducting, but the first part featured Wagner and Szymanowski, and in the second part, the orchestra performed the piece composed by Bjarnason, which was called “I Want to Be Alive.” And that’s also how the whole concert was called.
Once again, I love this venue!
Once again, sitting on the side when there is a soloist, is a bad idea. Boris said he remembered I said so, but he got the tickets on the side again, and it was a bad idea again/ The orchestra sounds great. The soloist when there is no orchestra, also sounds great. But not together. You have to face both the orchestra and the soloist to get a good sound.
And one more, completely unexpected! We saw Esa-Pekka Salonen in the foye!!! First I thought: no, it’s impossible; it’s just someone looking like him, because otherwise, there would be a big crowd around, and he is just talking with a couple of people. But later, when we passed by one more time, I realized that Finns were just being polite, because other people were turning their heads back after they passed this group :).
Below is some interesting art on display in the foye, and a sculpture in front of the Music Center.
… and yes, a million years ago, there was such a thing as an ice-cream after going to the movies, right?
VALO Pictures
By now, Jarco, who oversees all the technical side at Valo, is my good friend, and happily greeta me when I arrive. This time, he told me: now we have a proper app, and you can make reservations there, and you can also get your morning porrige for free. Do you like porrige?
Unfortunately, for some reason, I was unalbe to find the app in the App Store, which I reported to him later that day. Next day, when he saw me walking down for breakfast, he asked meL are you eating a proper breakfast today, or just porrige? That was, in fact, the day when I ate fruits and protein at home before heading to Valo, so I said – I was thinking just a porrige today. He said: OK, let’s go! He walked down to the cafeteria with me and told the cashier: she is booked for today, she just doesn’t have the app, can she have porrige?
That was very sweet, and although it looked like I could get the same porrige for free just showing my QR code, I was very thankful to him for taking care of me 🙂
And I can’t miss this opportunity to show VALO Works one more time. I never read the inside of the cards which are placed on the shelves in each room:
Hettie's Reflections 