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.

Stolen Focus: A Short Review

I really liked the first half of Stolen Focus. I liked how the author described his initial frustration with his nephew’s inability to focus on real life and his own declining ability to focus, and how he originally attributed this to a lack of willpower (like most of us do). Then, he shifts from the idea that restoring focus depends on individuals to the understanding that there are certain societal forces and techniques used by social media and other online platforms that reward this behavior. After meeting and talking to people who claimed they could successfully break from these dependencies, he seems to be back to his original thought, and I like how he shows his thought process, going back and forth.

What I liked most was the concept of “cruel optimism”, which can be described as “you can overcome negative influence if you deploy certain techniques, and anyone can do this if they try.” I am guilty of doing a similar thing for many years, telling people that “if I could do it, they could do it as well.” It took me many years to learn to stop giving advice and explaining to people what and how they should do. I still fall into this behavior from time to time, but at least I recognize it and try to stop 🙂

The second half was less interesting because it mostly repeated well-known facts about the environment and general recommendations on how to minimize its impact, as well as rather generic self-help recommendations, so in the end, I was more disappointed than excited about this book, but I will definitely use the “cruel optimism” concept in my future discussions.

Firsthand Democracy

Yesterday, I was at the WTTW studio for a kickoff broadcast and stream event for FIRSTHAND: DEMOCRACY. The event description said:

We’ll preview the documentaries, hold a panel discussion about democracy in Chicago and Illinois, and field questions from local residents. Brandis Friedman, Chicago Tonight Alexandra and John Nichols Chief Correspondent and Anchor, will host this live studio audience event. 

Reading this description, I was under the impression that we would see the documentary, which didn’t happen – we saw only small excerpts of it. However, some of the people featured in the documentary were present either on the panel or in the audience and shared their thoughts.

WTTW will run this initiative for the whole year, documenting how individuals and local organizations are responding proactively in their own communities. FIRSTHAND: DEMOCRACYwill present documentary films, investigative reporting, and a series of public events and conversations focused on civic participation, accountability, and the role of everyday people in democratic life.

To be honest, I feel very sad as the 250 annivesary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is approaching. I was anticipating this year, this date, for at least twenty years! I was imagining how awesome it will be to be here, and celebrate with the rest of the country. And now Trump ruined it all, and I am contemplating being out of the country on July 4.

This is probably a coward tactic, and probably the right thing to do is to be here and not let Tump ruin this day. It’s our day, not his. But I am unsure how I will feel. Yesterday’s event participants talked about the strategies one can deploy while talking with someone with opposed political views. They were giving really good advices about listening, finding out what drives this person’s views, what are their values, where they are coming from. It’s true that many people just do not have enough information, or do not have time or mental capacity to research information, or their information sources are very homogeneous, and as soon as thye are exposed to a variety of informaiton, their views might start shifting.

All is true. However, today, I wen to search for the photo which people reference as a “Rockwell Kent St-Paul photo,” and ran into the whole series of MN photos again. And started to cry again. I wll never get over it. The announcement that ICE is leaving Minnesota came out yesterday, confirmed and approved. Not just the 700 presiously announced, but basically everyone – the whole operation is shutting down. But I will never get over over it. I will never get over the fact that it had to be blood to make it happen. Death is irreversable.

The photo everyone is talking about

How The Long Weekend Was Spent

I can’t say I didn’t have fun this weekend. I had a pottery class with Nadia, I saw Salome, and I biked. Still, most of my time was my non-work work.

I finally finished my presentation slides for SCaLE and got an idea of how I will be presenting this new topic. Besides that, there was a lot of emailing on different aspects of PG DATA. We got one more Community Sponsor, and a Lanyard Sponsor, and for the first time ever, we are seriously talking about an Academic Partnership with one of the Universities.

On Friday, when I was walking to the Union Station after work, I looked up at the sunset and thought that, despite all complications, setbacks, and time-consuming discussions, things are going the right way! I invested so much of my soul intot his conference, and it is turning out great (knock on wood :)).

A Couple Of Sunny Days, And Morning Biking

I know it’s not spring yet, just a couple of warm days in the middle of winter, but I am so thankful for them!

I got on the bike both Sunday and Monday, and saw the sunrise over the lake!

Pottery Class

I gave a Pottery Class Christmas gift to Nadia and Kira, but Kira got sick the morning of the day I was going to pick both of them up in Milwaukee. After discussion with Anna, we decided that I will still take Nadia for that class, and figure out something else for Kira.

Looks like it was for the better, since the class turned out to be way more advanced than advertised. Although no previous experience was needed, there were a lot of instructions, which Kira probably wouldn’t like :).

Nadia and I had a great time, though!


Nadia’s bowl
My orchid pot

After the class, we went to Ryo Sushi, then to Amorino gelato, and spent some time at the Art Institute Ryan Center on some crafts. As Nadia put it, “it gives her an inspiration.”

Time well spent :). Also, Nadia made a Valentine for me:

Salome

I don’t know what happened with me, how I could be such an idiot! I already missed “Salome” once, when I had some urgent work right after I returned from Helsinki. When I realized I would miss another opera while I am in Helsinki next time, I decided to exchange my ticket for the last performance of Salome, especially because my neighbor was raving about it!

I can’t explain why I was so strongly under the impression that it would take me an hour to get from my home to the Lyric Opera on Saturday night. I mean, yes, it’s an hour door-to-door, excluding wait time and any delays, but one shouldn’t rush into the Opera House just as the show is about to start. I had no objective reasons not to leave earlier, but somehow, in the very moment I was walking out the door at 6:32, I realized what a big mistake I had made!

The train slowly pulled in, then stopped right before Jarvis, and the lights went off, and I tried not to think about the worst possible delays I might face. I knew that Salome runs with no intermission, so if I were late, that would be it.

The show start time was 7:30, and at 7:21, I was still on the train, departing Grand, which meant one more stop, an escalator up, and running for several blocks, and I thought – no chances, but miraculously, at 7:31, I was entering the Opera House, and the ushers were waving me in saying that the doors will be closing soon.

I could not believe my luck! My seat was in the second row, all the way on the right, so I didn’t have to ask people to get up. However, a gentleman who placed his coat on a free seat by him was not happy :). He started to explain to me how strictly the Lyric observes the start time, and how I should know…

Anyway, I made it! And the show was breathtaking … It is staged in the pre-WWII fascist Italy, so all libretto references of “arguing Jews” take all new meaning, as well as the story itself… Only when I was on my way home did I realize that no one in the audience clapped during the performance itself – that’s how everyone was captivated with what was going on stage.

A Thomas Club Dinner

I rarely post pictures of food these days; for a change, these are the pcictures of the dinner my neighbor and I had before the Thursday concert. She turned 75 earlier this month, and we wanted to have a nice dinner together. The Thomas Club on the 9th floor of the CSO building is always a good idea, and there we went.

In addition to the occasion itself, there were two things I wanted to mention. First, I could never imagine the stuffed shells being an exquisit dish, but here they were! Unbelivably delicios! And second – just a thought – why all of sudden a tiramisu has bunny ears:)? Let it stay a mystery!

The CSO Concert

The CSO Concert on Thursday was one of the best I ever attended! It started with the composition “To See the Sky: an exegesis for orchestra,” by Joel Thompson.

Composer Joel Thompson credits the inspiration for his orchestral work To See the Sky to a single line from the song “Thunderclouds,” written by jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant: “Sometimes you have to look into a well to see the sky.” 

To See the Sky, which had its world premiere in March 2024 by the New York Philharmonic, under Jaap van Zweden, is Thompson’s longest orchestral work to date. “It gives an indication of his future music,” said Patrick Summers, artistic and music director of the Houston Grand Opera, where Thompson is composer-in-residence through 2027. “With no hyperbole, To See the Sky is music of extraordinary beauty and deep content. To hear an orchestra of such dazzling quality as the New York Philharmonic bring Joel’s imagination to full life was a very moving thrill.”

Commissioned by the American Composers Forum, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Aspen Music Festival and Bravo! Vail Music Festival, To See the Sky will be performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, under Jaap van Zweden, in concerts Feb. 12-15. 

Thompson has said of his work: “The movements outline a non-linear journey toward healing.” “He has achieved this in every possible way,” said Summers in a video interview posted by Houston Grand Opera. “The listener’s emotional journey of To See the Sky is more than simply satisfying; it is cathartic and self-realization. Quite an achievement. 

“Primary among his many gifts is an ability to juxtapose several musical styles simultaneously, forming a melodic and colorful musical narrative that anyone can understand, but which also challenges virtuoso musicians like these,” Summers said. “To See the Sky was 20 minutes in length, and the musical material could easily have been twice that. One wanted it to last longer. Large-scale structures like opera are clearly in his DNA, based on a work like this. 

The composer himself was in the audience and came up on stage!

And next was an absolutely stunning performance of Himari, a fourteen-year-old prodigy, and I don’t know what to say, because no words can describe her! Fortunately, I just found on YouTube the Max Bruch concert she was performing on Thursday, an

I completely agree with one of the comments on YouTube: There are violin prodigies then there is Himari.

I can’t believe I was there, in the first row, experiencing her magic!

The Outsiders

This week was full of amazing cultural discoveries, and each time I felt like everyone except for me knew about it!

On Wednesday, I saw the musical The Outsiders, and I went there not knowing anything about the book. Meanwhile, the story of this book is remarkable – Susan Hinton wrote it when she was only 19, and The Outsiders is considered to be the Number One in Young Adult literature. Well, I didn;t go to school in the US! There are movies and theatrical performances based on this book – and the musical. It’a one of these shows which make you think: how come people wrote this amazing literature many years ago, and the world is still violent?!

I added the book to my reading list!

***

Recently, I had two conversations that I keep thinking about. Folks with whom I talked were right: it is becoming increasingly difficult to express your opinion in public settings, especially at work. I understand why many people would rather avoid charged political conversations; in the days when just saying “DEI” sounds rebellious, those in good jobs want to keep their jobs and do not want to give their bosses any reason to reprimand them.

I get it. But here I am, in a privileged position of being able to retire any time, and pretty much fearless, and wanting to step up. I told those with whom I was talking that the change can only come through people. I saw it so many times canvassing, and I heard even more of those stories from Anna. If not now, then when? If we are not speaking up, then who will? And if nobody speaks up, how can the change happen?

In both conversations, the people I spoke with said that the only safe space these days is with family. Others said it takes time to build trust with people, and that one should speak only on neutral topics until that trust is established. And once again, it’s hard to disagree with that statement, but I can’t stop wondering why people with racist views do not hesitate to share them publicly, and do not care about making other people uncomfortable.

It’s very sad to see how fast fear can become dominant in people’s thoughts, and how we are always just one step away form succumbing to this fear. And I can also see it in Russia that when the whole country is afraid, a dictator can do whatever they want. I hope that we won’t let it happen!