Wow! Listen to me, sounding just like my dear, sweet, Ukrainian grandmother. But to tell the truth, there are days — like today — when I feel the way she must have felt . . . only she never complained, except for the occasional muttered “Oy!” and a little grunt when she stood up. But I was just a kid then, so what did I know? Nothing. I knew nothing.

Even as an adult — when I was living in Prague that wonderful summer of 1991 — I remember walking to work one morning and seeing an older lady walking ahead of me, having obvious difficulty making it up the hill. I could see that her legs were bowed and gnarled, and I remember thinking how grateful I was for my good health and mobility. But I was a much younger woman then, so what did I know? Nothing. I still knew nothing.

So do you want to hear about my back or not? All right, you’ll listen and I’ll tell you.

Sometime during the night last night, someone obviously sneaked into my bedroom and lit me on fire with a torch, then ran over me with a steamroller, because when I got up this morning I could barely move.

I figure it’s either a pinched nerve or just more of the old degenerative disc disease I’ve been dealing with for years. I don’t care which it is . . . I’m not having any more surgery.

Anyway, the burning extends from just above the coccyx (that’s your tailbone, so don’t bother looking it up), around to the left hip, and up the left side to above the waist.

That’s where it runs into the pain from the vise on my left shoulder and neck, obviously placed there by the same evil night-crawling visitor that torched my back. This happens periodically — though not usually at the same time as the back thing, and I can’t figure out whether it runs from the neck to the shoulder or vice-versa. Again, it doesn’t matter; it just hurts like hell. It’s probably from all the hours of sitting here in one position, typing away on this blog like someone possessed because I think that what I have to say to the world really matters.

Delusional, possibly. But not a hypochondriac . . . the pain is real.

Next: my right thumb. Actually, there’s a not-unexpected touch of arthritis in both hands . . . I am at that age, you know. But sometimes that thumb — just the right one because, of course, I’m right-handed so it would be that one in order to inflict maximum inconvenience — hurts like a mother****er, and I find myself envying all of those so-called “lesser” animals who don’t have opposable thumbs and still manage to function very nicely without them. For us humans, though, it’s damned annoying.

As for the other two extremities — the feet — well, they were destroyed years ago by those beautiful four-inch Ferragamo heels I wore back in the days of panty hose and dressing for success. So no need to go into detail there.

And heading north, all the way to the top, we run into those four mysterious things called the sinus cavities. They’re a mystery simply because . . . well . . . they don’t really exist, do they? I mean, they’re cavities. Holes. Spaces. Not things at all. So how in hell do they have the power to make your face feel as though you’d volunteered your head for duty as Muhammad Ali’s punching bag? They used to act up just during the spring and fall pollen seasons, but now they make their presence felt pretty much year-round. Blame it on climate change.

And so we wind up our tour of Brendochka’s battered body somewhere in the middle. Do we really want to go into detail about my digestive system? I didn’t think so. Suffice it to say, then, that it’s shot. Ruined. Useless. Between the GERD and the hiatal hernia, it can’t digest anything any longer.

So while I was tossing and turning last night, trying to ease my back into some sort of almost-comfortable position, I found myself swearing at my mid-section because it was reacting to that dish of ice cream I’d had after dinner. Ice cream, for heaven’s sake! We’re not talking about pizza, or five-alarm chili, or a hot Polish sausage with onions and peppers like I used to eat with great gusto. Just plain, bland, freakin’ ice cream.

*. *. *

And do you want to know what bothered me most during those torturous hours between 2:00 and 8:00 a.m.? It was that, while I was talking to my stomach, I swear I heard it answer.

So I’m probably going bonkers as well.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/12/24

On this date in 1936, a man made a decision that not only changed the course of his own life and his family’s, but altered the history of his country — and, indeed, the world — for the next 88 years, and beyond.

That man was King Edward VIII of Great Britain; the decision he announced that day was his abdication of the throne in favor of the love of his life, American divorcee Wallis Warfield Simpson.

When the people of Great Britain, the British government, and the Church of England all condemned his decision to marry the woman they considered unsuitable to sit on the throne next to their monarch, Edward — who had been carrying on a very public affair with the notorious Mrs. Simpson for some time — chose love over duty, and became the first British monarch to voluntarily relinquish the Crown.

On December 10, 1936, after only eleven months on the throne and not yet having celebrated his coronation, Edward VIII signed the two-page document that memorialized his decision. And the next evening, December 11th, he made the following radio announcement to the people of his nation:

“I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties of king, as I would wish to do, without the help and support of the woman I love.” [HISTORY.com, December 11, 2024.]

And in so doing, he left his indelible mark on history.

Edward VIII had never been married, and left no children. According to the British order of succession, the next heir to the throne was Edward’s younger brother, the Duke of York. Known to family and friends as Bertie, he was shy, spoke with a pronounced stutter, and was totally unprepared for the burden that would fall upon his shoulders. But on December 12, 1936, just two days before his 41st birthday, he was proclaimed King George VI of the United Kingdom.

George VI served his country well, guiding Britain through the dark days of World War II. He and his wife, the former Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, had two daughters: Elizabeth (nicknamed Lilibet) and Margaret.

A heavy smoker, George died at the age of 56 on February 6, 1952, of lung cancer.

And on that day — while in Africa with her husband Philip — 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth received word that she had become Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

And she sat firmly on that throne for the next 70 years.

All because of the love of a king for a foreign, divorced commoner. One decision, made for his sake and his sake alone. And if he had chosen differently, the world might never have known . . .

. . . or . . .

. . . or . . .

So, for those of you who say you don’t give a rat’s ass about the personal lives of the British monarchy, give it a thought. And then — even more importantly — think very carefully before making any life-altering decisions of your own.

Most of us will never inherit a throne. But we’re all connected; and somewhere down the line — perhaps many generations from now — what we do today will affect others.

Now, there’s a scary thought!

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/11/24

Meet Arseny Turbin, a 16-year-old from the Oryol region of Russia, some 300 miles south of Moscow. But instead of attending school each day, he has spent the last six months in pre-trial detention near Moscow, following conviction in June of “terror offenses.” He is soon to be moved to a juvenile correctional colony, where he will serve out a five-year sentence. [Anna Chernova, Madalena Araujo and Alex Marquardt, CNN, December 5, 2024.]

Arseny is one of at least 35 minors who have been the victims of politically-motivated criminal charges since 2009, of which 23 cases have arisen since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. His “crime”: allegedly joining the Freedom of Russia Legion, a paramilitary unit of Russian volunteers fighting for Ukraine. He admits having contacted the group at some point, but says he never joined. His appeal of the five-year sentence was, of course, denied. [Id.]

His mother, Irina Turbina, describes Arseny as “. . . just a kid, he has been different since early childhood.” She says he has “a love for books and studying . . . [and likes to] delve into everything.” [Id.]

Never afraid to speak his mind, in April of 2023 he called in to a live show on TV Rain — an independent network operating outside of Russia — and voiced his disappointment in President Vladimir Putin, saying that “Human rights are being violated.”

His mother said that on June 12, 2023, he staged a solo protest, handing out leaflets reading “I am against Putin” and “freedom for political prisoners.” When she tried to discourage him, he told her not to worry as he was not violating any laws.

But on August 29, 2023, they were visited by officers of the FSB, who searched the apartment and confiscated a tablet, a laptop, and cell phones. In September he was placed under house arrest, but was allowed to attend school. And in the fall of 2023, he was designated as a “terrorist and extremist” on the rolls of the Russian financial monitoring agency . . . thus sealing his fate.

This year — on June 20, 2024, he was officially sentenced. [Id.]

Since being held in detention, he informs his mother that he has lost 33 pounds because he cannot eat. He was moved to a different cell after becoming the victim of violence from fellow inmates. He describes the situation to his mother as “very difficult, critical” [id.], and writes the following:

Irina Turbina tells CNN that when she received this letter, “I cried because I understand that I am already doing the best I can. But I know it’s not enough, and that I can’t change the system.” [Id.]

*. *. *

This is how Russia treats its dissidents, regardless of age, intent, or any consideration of the possibility of innocence. This boy — who was just 14 years old when he made the statements that brought him to the attention of the authorities — has not killed or injured anyone, stolen anything, or even damaged property. He has done nothing but voice an opinion. But he has spoken out against Vladimir Putin’s war of attrition against Ukraine.

And in today’s Russia — Putin’s Russia — that is a cardinal sin.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/11/24

Well, it’s been a quiet day today, so I decided to drop in on the Feenstras again . . . via YouTube, of course . . . and found them having a sort of pre-Christmas gift-opening, complete with a plate of Anneesa’s homemade cookies, in their work-in-progress new house.

Arend Feenstra, the dad, had had a busy day. He had been to the doctor for his four-week post-surgical checkup, and began the video by waxing poetic about health care in Russia: how caring everyone is, and particularly the excellent follow-up care, which included an ultrasound to be sure he was healing properly where his gall bladder had once resided. He also repeated a former claim that health care in Canada . . . well, frankly . . . sucks. (My word, not his, but definitely his meaning.)

He said he also had been having shoulder pain, which was first thought to be a fracture, and is now said to be referred pain from a pinched nerve in his neck. They’re treating that conservatively, hoping to avoid the necessity of further surgery that would put him out of commission for an unknown length of time.

He also had a meeting with more potential immigrants, which he says they do “from time to time,” happily offering advice and assistance as needed. In fact, he invited any viewers considering making the move to email him.

This most recent lunch meeting included a man who had been born in Russia, left for Canada 30 years ago, and is now back . . . as, Arend says, are more and more people who left in the ‘90s.

I’m sorry, but I just find that one hard to believe. Don’t those people follow the news??!!!

Anyway, he had stopped to pick up another large package from the post office, which contained yet more gifts from viewers who have obviously become very fond of this pioneering family. Though they never indicate where the packages originate, this one clearly arrived in a box with Russian printing on the sides (see top photo, in which I can make out “Armenia” and “Kazakhstan,” though the rest of the words are incomplete or covered by tape). And the contents themselves, as well as the wrappings, appear to have been made in or near Russia — definitely not Western-style at all.

As with everything the Feenstras do, this was a family affair. And I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed observing the obvious closeness of the parents with the children, and the children with each other . . . right down to the baby, who is now walking and talking. Seeing her growing so quickly, it occurred to me that they’ve been in Russia for nearly a year.

This receipt of gifts appears to be a fairly regular occurrence for them, and they say they share the windfalls with others. There were warm socks, slippers, mittens, boots, and — rather oddly, I thought — a good deal of candy.

And I’m sure it is all appreciated, as Arend Feenstra has made reference in the past to the fact that they do not yet have a source of income and are continuing to live off of the money they brought with them from that evil place known as Canada.

So evil, the money they were able to accumulate there is still supporting them.

*. *. *

Sorry, but — while I do like the Feenstras as people — I still fault them for having made the worst possible decision for their children’s futures. And, as time passes, I’m seeing less and less enthusiasm in these videos, and a bit more of what appears to be a sort of weary acceptance. Could I be imagining it? Sure. Or perhaps I just tuned in on a bad day.

But one thing is not imaginary: the fact that life in Russia for ordinary working people is not easy; it never has been. Was it worth it, simply to escape the relatively small percentage of ultra-liberal people in today’s Canada? Only the Feenstras themselves can decide that, and it’s not likely to happen overnight.

Meanwhile, I still wish them the best of luck. Being foolish doesn’t make you unworthy.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/10/24

In the Bible, young David slew the mighty Philistine giant, Goliath, with a slingshot and stones.

Perhaps it’s a dim, distant memory of that parable that strikes fear in the heart of today’s Goliath — Russia’s Vladimir Putin — at the thought of the much smaller nations surrounding his country . . . most of whom are members of NATO and/or the European Union (EU) . . . adding yet another adjoining country to their alliances.

Why else would he continue to insist that, in addition to his proposed land grab, Ukraine must give up the idea of ever becoming a member of NATO or the EU if it wishes this war to end, and must also agree to a limitation of its military forces?

As recently as Sunday, Kremlin celebrity spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated the often-heard mantra that peace negotiations must be based on an agreement he says was reached in Istanbul in April of 2022 — an “agreement” that remains a subject of significant debate — and on what he called “current battlefield realities.” Once again placing the blame on Ukraine, he stated:

“Our position on Ukraine is well known; the conditions for an immediate stop of hostilities were set out by President Putin in his speech to the Russian Foreign Ministry in June of this year. It is important to recall that it was Ukraine that refused and continues to refuse negotiations.” [Dmitry Antonov, Reuters, December 8, 2024.]

Yet it is Putin who dogmatically refuses to give an inch . . . and, in fact, who has added still another condition: that Russia be awarded Ukrainian land to which it claims a right, and not only the territory it currently occupies.

But to return to this Russian fear of NATO — which, as they consistently overlook mentioning, is strictly a defensive alliance — what is the reason for it? Putin will tell you it is a security issue, necessary to prevent Russia’s being invaded by one or more NATO countries.

Sorry . . . I had to get that out of my system.

Now let me ask: When was the last time anyone invaded Russia or its predecessor, the Soviet Union, and who was foolish enough to do that? And the answer is:

1941; Nazi Germany. It was called World War II, and we all know how that ended.

Putin will, of course, tell you that Ukraine invaded the Russian territory of Kursk this year, conveniently ignoring the fact that it was Ukraine’s first counterinsurgency after nearly three years of being decimated by Russia’s troops and advanced weaponry. Can’t really call that an invasion, now . . . can you?

On the other hand, Russia’s record is not so clean. Just since the end of World War II, they have — to some extent, at least, and for various reasons — stuck their noses . . . and their military . . . into other nations’ business. For example: **

1950 – Korea
1955 – Vietnam
1956 – Hungary
1968 – Czechoslovakia
1970 – Israel
1974 – Eritrea
1975 – Angola
1977 – Somalia
1979 – Afghanistan
1981 – Nicaragua
1991 – Georgia
1991 – Abkhazia
1992 – Transnistria/Moldova
1992 – Ossetia
1992 – Tajikistan
1994 – Chechnya
1999 – Dagestan
1999 – Chechnya (second war)
2008 – Georgia/Ossetia (again)
2009 – Caucasus/Dagestan/Chechnya
2014 – Ukraine (Crimea)
2015 – Syria
2018 – Central African Republic
2022 – Ukraine (again)

** [Source: quora.com]

That’s positively exhausting: 24 invasions begun over the course of 72 years, many of them lasting for multiple years of warfare and subsequent occupation. One might more easily ask when they haven’t been at war.

And they’re afraid of . . . what? Or whom? A peaceable boy with a pocketful of pebbles?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/10/24

And a dreary Monday at that. My plan for the day:

*. *. *

First: Go back to sleep for a couple of hours.

*. *. *

Second: A bowl of oatmeal sounds perfect for breakfast on a gray Monday morning . . . oops, nearly afternoon by now.

*. *. *

Third: Maybe get out of the cozy pajamas and crawl into some actual clothes, just in case someone rings the doorbell later.

*. *. *

Fourth: Get out the credit card and try to finish the online Christmas shopping before it’s too late to receive things in time for wrapping.

*. *. *

Fifth: Probably time to eat again. Soup . . . yes, definitely soup.

*. *. *

Sixth: Still plenty of time for a chair nap before dinner.

*. *. *

Seventh: Dinner. Not sure what. Maybe just ice cream, since lunch was so late.

*. *. *

Eighth: Write a blog chapter for tomorrow, which will require doing the one thing I’ve been avoiding all day: reading the day’s news reports. Oy!

*. *. *

Ninth: Back into cozy jammies and — hopefully, after reading the news — off to dreamland once more.

*. *. *

Yup — a perfect Monday. I should do this more often.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/9/24

It’s been a hell of a week and weekend for news. Briefly:

South Korea: President Yoon Suk Yeol declares martial law, orders the arrest of his own party’s leader . . . and backs off when the entire country goes batshit crazy. As of this writing, Yoon is still in office, but . . .

France: The government collapses following a vote of no-confidence in the Prime Minister. President Macron, like President Yoon, also remains in office; but that’s two U.S.-allied countries whose leaders are facing uncertain futures.

Romania: Another NATO ally in turmoil when a Russia-friendly, ultra-nationalist candidate, Calin Georgescu, shockingly wins the first round of the presidential election, and the country’s constitutional court immediately annuls that round upon a finding of “aggressive hybrid Russian attacks.” The whole election process now remains in limbo, while the current president promises to stay put until the whole mess is settled.

Syria: The Russian-backed, barbaric regime of Bashar al-Assad is finally toppled by Syrian rebels. Assad and his immediate family wind up in Moscow, where they have been granted asylum by Vladimir Putin. (Ed. Note: Don’t they make a lovely couple?) All of Syria is celebrating . . . until they wake up tomorrow, realize that the happy occasion has left a serious vacuum in place of the Assad regime, and begin asking what’s next.

Russia: Putin is presumed to be hunkered down with Assad while both lick their wounds and begin trying to propagandize their way out of an embarrassing — to say the least — situation.

Turkey: President Erdogan is seen drooling and licking his chops over the developments in Syria.

Israel: Momentarily turning aside from Hamas in Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu orders the Israeli military to seize the Syria-Israel buffer zone. Boy, that was quick!

Ukraine: President Zelensky, in Paris for the re-opening of Notre Dame Cathedral, meets with French President Macron and not-yet-U.S.-President Donald Trump. We don’t know what was discussed, and can only hope that Trump remembers our U.S. Constitution provides for only one President at a time . . . and he’s not it. Not for another 42 days (but who’s counting?).

United States: On the home front, the weather has been unseasonably cold here in the southeastern U.S.; there was a 7.0 earthquake off a sparsely-populated area of the northern coast of California yesterday, followed by a tsunami warning that (happily) never materialized; and . . . as seems to happen every year around this time, despite anything else that may be going on . . . it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.

So I recommend doing what I’m trying to do: push the bad stuff to the back of your mind, have another hot toddy, and concentrate on the joys of the season. Ho! Ho! Ho!

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/9/24

On April 28th, I reported on four journalists working for RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty (RFE/RL), who were being held as political hostages in prisons in Russia, Belarus and Russian-occupied Crimea.

One of the four — Alsu Kurmasheva — happily was freed in the prisoner exchange of August 1st. But the other three remain prisoners of the corrupt Russian and Belarusian regimes. They are:

They are just three of some 150 Belarusian prisoners being held — on various specious charges — as part of Moscow’s continuing roundup of journalists and other political dissidents.

Andrey Kuznechyk recently “celebrated” his third anniversary in prison. He was initially arrested on November 25, 2021, on a charge of hooliganism . . . a favorite excuse of Russian and Belarusian authorities seeking to hold a target while manufacturing other, more serious charges. He denied the accusation, but served the ten days, expecting to be released thereafter. But he was instead charged further with “creating an extremist group,” tried, found guilty, and sentenced on June 8, 2022, to six years in prison. [RFE/RL, November 25, 2024.]

Ihar Losik, a blogger and contributor to RFE/RL’s Belarus Service, was convicted — also three years ago — in December 2021, on multiple charges including the “organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order” — whatever that’s supposed to mean. His sentence was 15 years in prison. [Id.]

And Vladyslav Yesypenko is a dual Ukrainian-Russian citizen who contributed to RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service. He was convicted of “possession and transport of explosives” — a charge he categorically denied — and sentenced to six years in prison by a Russian judge in occupied Crimea following a closed-door trial. [Id.]

*. *. *

And while the Russian hierarchy continues its paranoid purge of alleged dissidents, the American and other hostages remaining in prison on specious political charges continue to await their turn to be released. Now numbering sixteen, they are:

David Barnes
Staff Sergeant Gordon Black
Marc Fogel
Robert Gilman
Stephen James Hubbard
Ksenia Karelina
Andrey Kuznechyk (in Belarus)
Michael Travis Leake
Ihar Losik (in Belarus)
Daniel Martindale
Farid Mehralizada (in Azerbaijan)
Robert Shonov
Eugene Spector
Laurent Vinatier
Robert Romanov Woodland
Vladislav Yesypenko (in Crimea)

We must ensure that the new administration being inaugurated in Washington in January continues, without interruption, the work that has been underway up to this time. These hostages, and all the others whose names have not yet made it onto the list, must be brought home.

No excuses.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/8/24

That was a news alert received just moments ago. The rebel forces claimed that Bashar al-Assad had fled the capital, stating in a post on Telegram from the Military Operations Command:

“We declare the city of Damascus free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad. To the displaced all over the world, a free Syria awaits you.” [CNN Breaking News, December 7, 2024.]

And my immediate response was:

“Now what?”

If the reports are accurate, then — as always — we wait and see, while the world’s political giants jockey for position. Meanwhile, we hope for the best.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/8/24

Oh, happy day! I’ve started my Christmas/Chanukah shopping, and found the perfect gifts for seven of the thirteen people on my list.

Yes, I do shop online. But those catalogs that fill up our mailboxes at this time of year are not merely a waste of trees — they really are helpful in finding just the right gift for the right person, something you might never have thought of yourself.

And now that I’m in the right mood, it’s onward to find the other six.

Happy Chanumas prepping to all,

Brendochka
12/7/24