Category: Russia

When my sweet pea is giggling and laughing, then my life is perfect. We watched the new movie called “Johnny English Strikes Again” and Sveta just loved it. I made sure we had subtitles to the movie. That helps a bunch when it comes to English for her and especially British English humor…

I have loved British humor since the Monte Python / Pink Panther days have found that Johnny English makes me happy to watch. I like spoof movies on other main line movies…

But the crowning enjoyment was when I found Sveta giggling time and time again. She loved the humor and enjoyed herself tremendously…

Now…

That is what life is about and this Big Bear had to smile as his girl giggled at Rowan Atkinson and his exceedingly feeble, yet always working out, attempts on saving the world…

For all that above. I give “Johnny English Strikes Again” a 10 out of 10…

My girl was happy!

WtR

It is snowing and snowing and snowing…

I walked Svetochka to the train station this morning and when I walked home the long ways, I went by my doctors office. It is a good clinic…

I also passed a big florist shop and they had beautiful New Year Trees sitting outside as it snowed. The trees in pots were laden down with snow on every limb. They were so beautiful…

I just love snow and this is why I love Russia. Well, one of a million reasons why I love Russia…

WtR

Updated:

President Trump shocked Washington this morning when he Tweeted confirmation of rumors that he would order the removal of US troops from Syria. According to his spokesperson, the order has already been given. The neocons are not happy, with Sen. Lindsey Graham Tweeting that removing troops is an “Obama-like” move. Will Trump’s own staff rebel? What about the fine print? Are we really leaving?

Source: The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity : Trump Shocker: ‘We’re Leaving Syria!’ Does He Mean It?

Tweet Tweet Trump:

We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2018

They are stinking coming unglued in the USA!

Trump Criticized For Breaking With Longstanding American Tradition Of Remaining In Middle Eastern Countries Indefinitelyhttps://t.co/kI7n27dCTC pic.twitter.com/BRq0XhBxpd

— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) December 19, 2018

Try a million million tweets about how terrible Trump is!

Heaven forbid, I could careless if he lies about that the USA defeated the ISIS. Just get out of Syria. Yet we have half a country in the US that wants to destroy and destroy and destroy…

When did the Democrat of Love Party, become the Democrat of War Party? Repubs have always been listed as, “The War Party!”

Now if it really happens that we pull out of Syria?

That will be a miracle and it is the proper thing to do. We are wrong to have tried to destroy Syria and yes, we did try and almost succeeded. Just stare at the abyss we created, that is called Libya…

We will see…

WtR

Russian Fruit Cake recipe: Mazurka fruit cake…

That dreaded fruit cake. Made by everyone’s favorite and or not so favorite aunt….I have seen fruit cakes last for twenty years and get passed around as if they are deadly treats and no one wants them and then I have seen people eat fruit cake like it is the cat’s meow…

Regardless of your standing on the subject of fruit cakes. Russians are no different than everyone else and they have the famous Christmas/Holiday/whatever-day Fruit Cake; Called Mazurka fruit cake…

Lets make a fruit cake and give it to someone and or better yet. Just eat the freshly made cake. They really are not bad when you eat them warm especially…. Yummy…

Ingredients to set overnight:

1 c raisins, rinsed and chopped
1 c dried apricots, rinsed and chopped
1 c mixed candied fruits, chopped
1 c sherry (Real? or whatever, okay cooking sherry. Not as much fun to sip on…. “Cooking sherry is low-quality sherry with salt added. There is no reason to buy cooking sherry. Just purchase any inexpensive sherry and this will give you better everything, including sips to taste the product for quality control…”)

Ingredients to make cake with:

1 c sugar
1 c brown sugar
1 c butter
2 egg, beaten
1 c sourdough starter
1 c flour
1 ts baking soda
salt (pinch of salt with do you)
cinnamon (Just a pinch as needed. No bigger pinch than that. Yes four/five pinches are okay… )
nutmeg (A pinch at a time. Well actually two, three, okay four pinches will do…)
sliced almonds (1/2 cup)
diced walnuts (1/4 cup)

** 6 tbs sherry for later… (Set it aside now, for in case you sip that sherry to much! 😉 )

Lets make day one:

Combine all fruits with real sherry and let stand overnight in a covered bowl… (No, do not pour over ice cream or any other dessert. Let the stuff sit for one day! Also leave the “set aside 6 tbs sherry for later”, there is enough real sherry to sip on in the bottle that you bought…)

Lets make day two:

1. Hand whip sugars, butter and spices together until fluffy… (Okay use your blender!)
2. Beat in two eggs and then stir/blend in sourdough starter….
3. Blend in fruit mixture (that sat overnight) and almonds and walnuts…
4. Sift the flour, add baking soda and a pinch of salt into the batter and mix thoroughly, but do not whip it hard. Just blend it thoroughly…
5. Split batter in half and put into two prepared loaf pans (cut baking paper for loaf pan and grease it with oil).
6. Bake in a preheated oven center (about 275 degree F) until done. Check with toothpick inserted and comes out clean, technique…
7. Remove from a pan and cool well before removing baking paper…

Then:

Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of real sherry over a cooled loaf before serving… (I prefer to use an extra touch added to the end, powdered sugar after the sherry is sprinkled on. That makes the sugar stay put…) Plus use rum in place of sherry and it makes a fine rum cake…

Enjoy…

WtR

Tests done, now see the doctors… Russian Health Care…

I came to Russia and being from the USA, I never thought much about why it was wrong to pay such exuberant medical costs and fees, just to try to stay healthy…

I always heard about European healthcare and healthcare from Mexico and Canada. Cost is either dirt cheap and or free….I simply struggled to have insurance in the US and paid ungodly expensive fees to have it. With sometimes huge deductibles that meant I had to pay out of pocket for many things anyway…

Then I saw healthcare first hand in Russia…

It stunned me to see what Russians could get done and no charge for the services. Maybe the services lacked in some aspects compared to the ones in America, but the basics where free and when you add things like excellent doctors, no prescription cheap drugs and other tidbits….

The strange to me, things, such as supply your own sheets for hospital beds and other idiosyncrasies are okay in the end results. Family members work hard to help someone who is hospitalized and brings the stuff that is demanded. Being hospitalized is not something done lightly and people plan for such events…

But I did not have to use a hospital to finish any tests and I finally am done…

This last Monday I had a colonoscopy and gastroscopy done. My clinic is very professional and very good. These last two tests are the end of the tests that I paid for to have done to check up to see if Grouchy Old Bears are going to live another day…

The tests I had done are in this post below…

Started my health examinations…

This series of tests cost 50,000 rubles and right now as of today $745.50 is the exact cost. I paid an extra 5,000 rubles ($74.5) to have some extra work done (MRI with contrast for my prostate) and found out prostrate is okay….the cost includes all lab work, tests, doctors consultations, supplies, equipment and whatnot…

I still have to spend a few days and talk to all the main doctors and find out what I need to do for healthcare moving forward as the years go by. Doctor consultations are included in fee charged already…

I also need to find a new cardiologist and get on track with that issue, I live with daily…

I am not saying that Russian healthcare is better than what you get in America. It is not better, but it is comparable and it is free for the most part. It is even literally free for this American. I pay, but I pay such small amounts that it makes me wonder how badly we are being ripped off in the USA? We are being ripped off for our healthcare in America, yet we accept it as normal. normal for us, not the rest of the world…

I look at cost as a major issue to getting proper care done. If you cannot afford the care, you may not get it done. If medicine is too expensive, you may not get the proper care. …

Another thing that is nice in Russia, the doctors will take the time to talk with you and all results are given to you when rendered as services. You have an x-ray? The x-ray goes home with you for you to keep to use as necessary….MRI results are put on a flash drive and or a CD disc and it is yours to have…

Today I have finally gotten back stabilized again. My blood pressure went out of wack, my blood sugar went out of wack, for I had to stop certain medicines and could not eat properly for three day before these last tests. Yesterday, I finally was able to start stabilizing and last night I finally slept okay… (Monday night was terrible!)

I work 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year trying to keep myself healthy enough to have a good life with Svetochka…

She happens to want me around!

That is kinda nice… 😉

WtR

TOKYO The current leader in 2019 calendar sales at a popular chain store in Japan is not a fresh-faced young idol, nor is it a sexy heart-throb actor. Rather, Vladimir Putin, the 66-year-old president of Russia, takes the cake in that category. That’s right, the very same exercise buff that also has claim to a fragrance in his home country and a manga in Japan is currently contributing to an unprecedented number of calendar sales in a foreign country. The Putin-dedicated calendars are being sold by Loft,

Source: Putin calendar sales surpassing those of Japanese stars in Japan – Japan Today

and…

However, Japanese news outlet Livedoor claims that a recent explosion of young women who are self-proclaimed “Putin fans” are actually responsible for the hike in sales.

Source: Japan’s best-selling calendar star revealed… as Putin (PHOTOS) — RT World News

Interesting…. What can you say? The Japanese girls love him…

WtR

Okay Children….repeat after me…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

Iran…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

North Korea…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,
China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

Iran…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

North Korea…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

Iran…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

North Korea…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

Iran…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

North Korea…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

Iran…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

North Korea…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,
China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

Iran…

Okay America….is it clear to you yet?

Now Repeat!

WtR

All the Russian jokes on the internet are tactical, The strategic jokes are in the ICBMs like fortune cookies…

WtR

Tomorrow I will write a post on this last round of tests…

I do not feel good enough to write much today and that is that…

WtR

Something that I was disappointed by when I first came to Russia was the lack of peanut butter….seriously, I missed my peanut butter and when we found it….it was expensive…

I remember 900 plus rubles and that was when the exchange was 25 to 1 with dollars. Now it 65 to 1 it is 134 rubles. Just look at the image above…

We have everything now in our stores. I mean just literally everything and the prices are fantastic. You can buy a huge loaf of bread for 7 or 8 rubles. That means a loaf of white and or black bread will run me about 12 cents…

Okay, I will take it…

WtR

PS: Yummy, creamy peanut butter spread on toasted black bread. Take a bite as the peanut butter starts to melt into the bread…