To Kirill

I've never really gotten an opportunity to thank Kirill in person, but in my mind I have been thanking him constantly since year 2005. It was just 4 years ago but it feels like it happened in another lifetime - that's how much I've changed since then.

I'm thankful he made me a better woman to myself... Actually, I think he's the first man who actually made me feel like a woman, just by being in the same room. Somehow he made me simpler too. I used to spend hours getting ready to go buy a single carton of milk - that's how self-conscious and insecure I used to be. He opened my eyes to the fact that people could still like each other just for the way they are, something I long forgot before meeting him. Heck, I'm even thankful to him for inspiring my habit of daily green tea drinking!.. I did like green tea, but it's when you like someone, you want to like everything they like and adopt their habits and get interested in their interests... I picked up some of the best from you, you'd be proud.

So, Kirill, thank you for being in my life, even if just for a short while.

Little Things

I got a bonus at work! Well, everyone in the office did, but it still feels really good, and especially so since it was very unexpected and I got more than I expected when they mentioned the bonus thing... Yay, thank you!

Then I came back home from work and had a little something waiting for me... A friend of mine sent me a cd with photos he promised to send (and I was starting to think he forgot about it)! Thank you, Savo!

There are a few more little things that happened today that I'm thankful for, and I am definitely thankful for such a nice end of the hectic working week!

Change of Environment

I really don't like doing other people's job (just like I hate it when someone starts doing mine without asking) and this working week's been very tiresome and hectic for me since I have to do lots of work that has nothing to do with my actual job here, but still, I realize that this change of professional environment is for good. It can't be too bad to shake up the usual familiar routine every once in a while, can it? So I'm thankful for the opportunity to try something else work-wise!

Make It Work

Having to help out at another department at work and basically replace a colleague at her desk while she's away on her leave, I can't help but be thankful for my own beautiful desk and working space. It's very me, it's much nicer, it has a personality of its own and it's so dear to me. I kinda miss it, but I'll be back next week!..

Lolita

I'm glad, relieved and thankful to have finally finished reading Vladimir Nabokov's "Lolita". Oh what it cost me!.. First opened the book in Egypt on 25th of April in 2008 and put it down just now, about 5 minutes ago, - on October 27th, 2009, one and a half years later.

I never liked it, this is why. Just somehow always had this feeling that this is one of those books that I don't enjoy but have to read (really not sure where I got that from), so I kept forcing myself to read. It was hard as I didn't like the style in which it's written, the subject itself was much more appealing to me than the intricacy of the plot too.

But oh my, what it cost me to finish reading this book!.. It had me shaking with disgust and disdain for the Lolita character and it even made me cry, for if there's one thing I truly hate it's betrayal, and it's exactly what Lolita did to Humbert. Her portrayed disloyalty brought back some painful memories from my own past, and I even had trouble sleeping a few days ago because of all the emotions haunting me - one night I woke up a few times just to find myself forgetting to breathe, I've noticed this is what happens to me when I'm highly stressed.

I feel so accomplished though, good to be done reading it as I was really looking forward to this day!

P.S. The above review is my personal opinion and in no way am I forcing it on anyone - you have your right to disagree.

USSR

Coming to think of it, I'm really thankful I was born in the USSR. How cool is that to be born in a country that doesn't exist any more? How weird is that? How unusual is the fact that no one's ever going to be born in the same country that I was? Ha!

For Being a Tourist in My Own City

I'm thankful to my friend Savo and his friend Fabio for visiting me here in Moscow that past August and for making me feel like a tourist in my own city! It's so much fun: you get to do things you don't usually do, go to places you don't usually go to and see stuff you might never come across otherwise. It's like you see your own city from a whole new point of view and expereince it in a very different way... So worth it.

/photo courtesy of a friend of mine

Japanese

I'm thankful to my friend Alena for introducing me to sushi some 6 years ago (Or is it more now? I'm not even sure). I remember I didn't like it that much at first, but with each new meal my love for it kept growing, and presently the Japanese cuisine is my ultimate favorite. Believe it or not, I eat much more of sushi and Japanese and much more often than Russian food, which I don't even like that much. Life is a funny thing, ha. (And I am yet to travel to Japan... ah!)

Boost Iron

No matter how much I try to modify my diet I still can't get enough of some particular nutrients someone my size needs, so I'm taking food supplements. The lack of some of the minerals or vitamins in my system is not noticeable to an average man and I don't feel it that much, but there's this certain element the lack of which drives me crazy... Not so much during the warmer seasons, but the minute the cold strikes I start getting lots of annoying allergic and irritating reactions, both looks and health-wise. I'm talking about iron here! And I'm genuinely thankful to my iron supplement for helping me survive last year's winter and so looking forward to it helping me deal with the cold this year too!..

City Lights

Not sure to who exactly I should be thankful for the city lights... To humankind? Anyway, I love city lights. They're beautiful, they're inspirational, they're thought-provoking... I can get totaly lost inside of my own mind when riding through the city at night and looking at all the lights around me.

/photo courtesy of a friend of mine, it happened to be a randomly taken shot

Writing

I loooove to write, and I'm veeery thankful for being able to express myself through writing.

Fish Eggs

What I like about living in Russia is that you can eat enough of caviar - it's much cheaper here than in most other world countries. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

My Height

I'm not too tall, but I've never had any issues with my height. On the contrary, I always loved it and was always thankful for being just a tiny bit taller than 5'3. I honestly think it's perfect for a woman - I'm not too short, and I can wear absolutely any type of high heels any time of the day and to anywhere and not worry about being taller than 90% of the men I meet on my way. My height works perfectly for me!

Lonely Loner

I'm thankful that I can be all on my own when needed. I remember it used to be a huge problem before. Like, I'd need to go grocery shopping and I would totally trip out if none of my friends could join me. With it being such a problem and messing with my plans, I always wanted to change that about me...

And here I am now: taking planes alone like it's nothing; walking unfamiliar cities all by myself like I can never get lost; getting lost in those cities and making my way back to where I started of; heading out for a cheesecake all alone and enjoying every minute of this lonely meal like I'm out on a date with a super hottie... Life is good when you can live it by your own rules!

Waking Up

I'm thankful for the opportunity to be waking up in a nice heated apartment every morning. A lot of people out there don't have it as good as I do. And, regarding the video, isn't it just such an insightful and inspiring one? My answer would be 'home'. I'd like to wake up and feel home. I don't know where this place is for me yet, because I tend to think of 'home' as a feeling, not a place... Where would you wish to wake up tomorrow?

Fifty People, One Question: Brooklyn from Fifty People, One Question on Vimeo.

Warm October

This October is such an unusually warm one. On my way back from work today noticed the sky was so blue, it was sunny too. Some days are rainy, some are chilly, some are gloomy, but all in all, October 2009 is warm in Moscow, thankfully.

They Wish the Best for Me

I'm thankful that my parents wish the best for me. Although they really don't know what's best for me most of the time, especially so in an everyday aspect, but even though I might not always show it or give them credit for it, I know they wish the best in the long term and I appreciate it.

Palm Trees

I just like palm trees. They remind me of the sun, the sea, the sand, the good times, warmth, vacations, far lands... I take a lot of palm tree pictures and looking at them always make me feel good. Thanks, mother nature, for the palm trees!

/photo courtesy of a friend of mine, editing - yours truly

Mistakes

Just like all of us, I make mistakes. But unlike a lot of people, I'm thankful to and for those mistakes that I make. I never repeat them though... I learn from them. They make me better, stronger, wiser.

I Don't Need a Man

Okay, I don't really mean it... But what I do mean is that I'm thankful for my naturally strong hands (and proud of making them even stronger with weight lifting and strength training exercises). It just feels good to know that you don't need a man to change that huge bottle in an office water cooler, or carry some heavy bags from a grocery store... It just feels good to know that you can be physically weak by choice and not by circumstances, ha.

Mr. Rhett Butler

I have such a stressed out dog, but I really can't blame him... The poor thing had to go through some depressing life situations with me, and sometimes I just wish I could've been a better owner to my little Rhett. Still, it's so heartwarming to see how pets love us so unconditionally and are always so loyal, and I'm very thankful to my Rhett for always being so loving.

What a Coincidence

My life is routinely full of weird, sometimes creepy, always awesomely crazy, totally random and mostly inexplicable coincidences, and god, do I love it! They're leading me in life and I'm thankful that I never lose when I choose to follow.

Still on Egypt

Thinking of it now, I realize I'm really thankful to Jenia, who I met during my Egyptian vacation in the spring of 2008, for making me go on that Tiran Island boat trip. I remember I really didn't feel like going, mostly because I so wasn't looking forward to spending the whole day with him... But he needed company for the trip and wanted to go so badly, and was so good to me all the time that I just decided to return the favor and be nice back, and well, guess what, I never regreted going! The place was truly amazing! I don't think I've seen water of such astonishing colors and all in one place before! I still remember those sights in all their glory and highly recommend it to everyone.

Bad Coffee & Morning Tea

I want to say thank you for the very bad coffee at the Ritz-Carlton in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt. No really. It was so bad it gave a good start for a great new habit of mine: I could barely make myself drink it during my vacation there in the spring of 2008, so after a few days of the morning struggles I just found myself sipping on their super fine black teas instead (their green teas are super awesome too, btw) and I sticked to the habit ever since! I still get enough caffeine from coffee during the day, but the morning black tea habit definately helps maintain those amounts at healthy level, plus I actually started drinking black tea again (it used to be all about green kind). Not sure I'd have been able to give up my usual morning coffee that easily if it wasn't for this experience!

Moscow

There are a lot of things I don't like about Moscow, A LOT OF, and far less of the things that I do like about it. But still I am thankful I was born here in Moscow and have had the opportunity to live in this beautiful city. An opportunity that is so desirable by many others throughout all of Russia, but only given to the luckiest.

The metro is crazy crowded and full of rude and disrespectful people, but the stations are museum-like beautiful. The city is huge and it takes a lot of your personal time to get from point A to point B, but living here opens up a lot of opportunities and offers lots of attractions - you name it, we have it. The "it" spots are pretentious and all about showing off and the public is mostly fake, but the venues are state of the art gorgeous... I do consider myself lucky.

/photo courtesy of a friend of mine

You Get What You Ask For

One should be careful what they wish for, 'cause wishes have a tendency to come true, and one then gets exactly what was begged for (sometimes regardless if one still wants it or not).

Now don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for how this thing works! I'm thankful for the way how something you truly want will always find you in the end. I just keep reminding myself to be careful, because when I declare my wishes to the universe I tend to forget to be more specific... Like, I got it, thanks, but why didn't I ask for it to last longer or stay?

Next time I'll know a little better. But if this thing didn't work, there would be one less reason to better oneself ;-)

My Face

I'm thankful for my facial features.

I'm thankful for having the eyes that are just the perfect size - there's no need to make them appear bigger or smaller when I apply make up. I'm thankful for having the lips that are full enough for me not to worry how to apply lip shade to make them look better. I'm thankful my nose is not big, nor small, but instead is of the perfect size for my face. I'm thankful for the shape of my face and for my eye color.

I wore no make up yesterday and felt perfectly content.

The Power of Gratitude

I really like collecting quotes that inspire me, they're so useful when you or a close friend of yours need a quick pick me up or a reminder that all's goign to be fine. I'm thankful to my friend for sharing the following quote by Melody Beattie, that I wholeheartedly agree with, and I'm thankful for the power of gratitude itself:

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, and confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."

Night Out

Last night a DJ didn't necessarily save my life but he made me feel good. Thankful for the night out yesterday to the people I went with and thankful for the good music to the DJ.

Lindt Chocolate

I'm thankful to the people behind the Lindt chocolates... Delish!!! Have tried so many other brands but barely any comes close!

For Didi

Hello, miserability. The day when it's harder to be thankful has come. And still I am thankful!

I'm thankful for having this beautiful person, Didi, in my life. Amazing how we're making this long-distance friendship thing work so well, and even more amazing how we don't even talk that much but seem to always know what's on the other one's mind. I don't have many close friends and especially female friends, but having Didi gives me hope, as I know she understands even without me having to explain much. Just like yesterday, when the miserability crept in, she was right there with the right words. Thank you, Didi.