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.

TIME Magazine: Buying Groceries And Other Economic Questions

I am back from my best vacation in many years, and the first morning started as usual, with listening to WBEZ while I was showering and getting ready to go. The commentator discussed the US economy during Trump’s four years and Biden’s four years. I am glad when people make a fair comparison, especially when they don’t forget to point out that presidents have a very moderate influence on the economy during their respective terms.

Here are two articles from Time Magazine on economic issues. The first one is about the prices of groceries which is how most people perceive the state of the economy. And the second one is about inflation from the macroeconomic’s perspective.

How to Buy Groceries Right Now Without Breaking the Bank

Continue reading “TIME Magazine: Buying Groceries And Other Economic Questions” →

TIME Magazine: You’re Vacationing All Wrong!

And in connection to the article about having a proper rest, here is one more TIme Magazine article, this one is about vacationing. The part I would disagree is the statement that it’s more fun to plan than to go on vacation. Maybe it works this way for somebody, and probably it worked that way for me many years ago, but not anymore 🙂

Anyway, here is the link, and the article!

You’re Vacationing All Wrong. Here’s How to Have a Truly Restful Break

Continue reading “TIME Magazine: You’re Vacationing All Wrong!” →

Helsinki Botanic Garden

On Monday, I met with my friend Natasha to discuss the details of their upcoming visit to Chicago. She suggested visiting the Helsinki Botanic Garden. Since I didn’t get a chance to see enough roses this time, I fully supported that idea.

A Long Bike Trip

We went on a long (3-hour) bike trip on Sunday. The weather continued to be perfect, and the sightseeing was gorgeous as usual. I couldn’t take any pictures during the ride because we kept going :), so you just have to trust me! These ones were at made at our turning point.

Sailing In The Finnish Gulf

Friends took us on a short sailing trip, and it was the best sailing trip of my life! Nothing like motion sickness, enjoyable weather, amazing views and a dog on my lap 🙂 Thank you, Zoe!

TIME Magazin: It’s Time to Take a Break

I am approaching the end of one of the best vacations I ever had, and a much -needed one! Thinking about what made is so awesome, I couldn’t ignore this article in Time Magazine: 4 Signs Your Body Is Telling You It’s Time to Take a Break. I agree with most of the observations, especially about being prone to colds. As for the short breaks, I am not so sure, it does not really work for me. And when life is really stressful, as it was for almost a month before my vacation, short breaks do not matter.

As always, see the complete article below.

Continue reading “TIME Magazin: It’s Time to Take a Break” →

Back to Helsinki

That’s me on a ferry on the way back to Helsinki. I can’t even describe how happy I felt after these three days in Estonia!

Back To Tallinn

We returned to Tallinn at 8 PM and had a very late dinner at Pepper Sack:

I took the outside photo the next day, at daylight
Moose meatballs
Apple and raisin cinnamon crepes
Sorbet boat
The Holland-style Townhall photo
Continue reading “Back To Tallinn” →

Narva

Narva is a border city, and nowadays, this border does not look peaceful. People who compare Tallinn and Narva might consider the latter one “depressed,” but that’s only if they never saw Ivangorod, a Russian city on the other side of the bridge. Boris saw both because he crossed this border a couple of times, and he says the contrast is striking.

You can see people on the bridge crossing by feet, or rather standing waiting in line at that point.

I took this picture when we visited the Narva Fortress. We had some time before the train back to Tallinn, and we went there. it turned out that there was some special occasion: they were reopening the city museum after some remodeling, so there was a ribbon cutting, official speeches, and TW news, We didn’t have enough time to see the museum, so we just walked around and saw the outdoor exhibit.

The exhibit showing the devastating effect of the Soviet “liberation” of Narva

I want to see more of that fortress, and I want to visit this museum and dine in their restaurant. I will come back!

Meanwhile In Chicago

I am still on my vacation (for two more days), but today, I am recalling my escorting shift on June 15. It was early morning, and only our shift lead and I were there. Our shift lead brought some food for those who didn’t have time to have breakfast at home, as she always does, and as always, the food was inside the lobby.

We just got outside when a young Latinex man approached us and started to ask about something. It took us a couple of minutes until we realized that he was asking whether we had any food. B. (our shift lead) asked: do you want a banana? He nodded, and she rushed inside. I saw her putting together a parcel with bananas and bagels, adding some cream -cheese to bagels and adding more bagels. When she finally emerged and handed the parcel to a young man, he burst into “thank you” and “god bless you.”

B. and I started to talk about Venezuelans who had been kicked out of the shelters just before that. She talked about their wounded dignity and how men can’t stand the situation when women find work, and they don’t. I keep wondering what happened with the promise to issue work permits for Venezuelans. We have enough open positions in the Department of Streets and Sanitation or on CTA. Why not let people work, make money, and make the city cleaner? That’s what I thought when Biden announced the path to citizenship. I mean, it’s all great, but that will be “sometime,” and what about now? Why are they not allowed to work?! I can’t understand that…