Simply

I'm just simply thankful for today. For simply being alive, for being able to plan my day and to go about my simple day filled with good news and fulfilled expectations. I'm thankful for the simple day that was simply out of the ordinary - just like every day should be.

En Route

On the way to work I was crossing a road and had to turn my head to see if the road was car free... And there was this super cool movie like moment when I turn my head, the sun shines right between the frame of my sunglasses and my left eye with its soft yellow haze, and the music in the song that was playing in my iPhone slowly stops (and starts again as I turn my head back) - it was just a mere seceond maybe, and all of that happened at the same time in one tiny moment... It felt ridiculously cool, and I'm thankful for living it!

Office Equipment

I'm thankful that I can use my office equipment for personal purposes too, any time I need it. This is super handy, and sometimes proves to be super useful and it saves time too!

Color & the Metro

Most trains in the Moscow metro are classic and not too modern, but we have a few types of newer ones too. Some of those newer trains of certain design feature yellow and orange handrails. They're my favorites - I'm thankful for those two pops of unexpected color, those ultimate mood lifters that are sure to provide you with some extra energy on an early working day morning!  

Each time I happen to catch one of the few trains that feature this 'clever' design it puts a smile on my face, and because those trains are rare it's allways a nice surprise.

Commute to Work

My office might not be situated in the most fabulous area of the city, but getting to see something like this every day when leaving work during the colder months of the year is sure enough a good thing to be thankful for! The sunsets are fantastic.

Taking It Easy

I'm thankful I know how to relax, and I'm thankful I know whan it's time to take it easy on myself. It should be pretty obvious to all people, but I've seen many who either don't understand the importance of it or feel it's an unapologetic luxury to take the time to wind down.

Laundry Service

So, as finding the good in the bad is one of my specialties, here I'm bringing to you yet another of my silver linings. I was just wondering yesterday what I'd be missing about living at home once I move out... I have no problem with supporting myself, with cooking, cleaning, being on my own, buying groceries etc.- the kind of things a lot of my friends like to rely on their moms to do. One thing I'm not so used to doing is laundry. Whenever I want to wear something and it needs to be washed I'd just go and wash it with my hands - no probem with it either. But for some reason I never really had to even plan any grand laundry days, this is something mom has always done on her own. Thus, while I still can, I am thankful for not doing the laundry.

If you want to find some good in something bad of your own, come ask me and let's figure it out together!

Mice in the Metro

Yesterday in the metro I saw a guy who was playing with a real living mouse that he held in his hand (or was it a little rat?)... Now I'm thankful I'm not afraid of mice or rats, because I only noticed that sweet couple when I sat down right next to them. I can only imagine how hard I'd scream if I did have a fear of mice (or musophobia, or murophobia, or suriphobia)!

GUM's Art Installations

I'm thankful for GUM Department Store's art installations. The idea is relatively new and it's such a good one - definately provides extra entertainment and artful education to one's shopping or cultural routine both for locals and Moscow's guests!

The photo above is taken during one such art installation dedicated to Moschino fashion brand and the history of its boutiques' best display windows worldwide. And if you know me, you know I just couldn't ignore the chairs!

Summer 2010

I am thankful for this summer, which might as well be the most eventful and meaningful summer out of all the summers I spent not traveling. I had this mini goal to make this summer a mini pursuit of many things active and out of the norm – to do things I don’t usually do in Moscow and do things that can only be done when it’s hot outside, and looking back I am happy to realize I’ve accomplished enough (and the things I planned to do but didn’t get a chance to execute, I'll just keep in mind for summer 2011!)

No Smog-ing Zone

I must admit, all this crazy heavy smoke hovering all over Moscow these days (and especially today when the situation's especially bad) made me really appreciate the clean sweet air we humans are supposed to breathe. I'm so looking forward to having it back here and having it in my lungs again!

Dacha

I might not be the biggest appreciator or a frequent visitor (last time I've been here was 2 years ago), but I am still thankful for my family's dacha - this traditional Russian house in the country side. Although it is very tradional here and so many families own even if just a tiny one, there are still those who don't have a dacha and wish they did. I'm thankful I have a choice and choose not to go because I don't want to as opposed to not having an opportunity... Know what I'm saying?..

Highlight of Yesterday

Just imagine the situation: we're sitting there on one of the Red Square's cafe's summer terrace/patio, having our lovely breakfast, talking, people watching... Yet another group of tourists passes us by, this time Asian tourists (I never found out what country exactly they were from). Then, all of a sudden they stop, and at least 5 of them pull out their cameras and start taking pictures of us from all angles, giving us the thumbs up and screaming "Beautiful!! Beautiful!!" in broken English - and it lasted for at least a minute or two! This was very unexpected and a little weird, but very funny and kind of flattering nonetheless, and I am definately thankful for the laughs! This was the first time I truly felt like a celebrity out on the town, ha ha!

Be Smart & Have the Balls

On my way home from work yesterday I got caught in a pouring rain. And if you've been thankful with me for a while and remember those other funny work related things that happened to me this year (like this one time I ended up being bare legged at work or had my butt covered in chocolate), I'm guessing you anticipate another funny tale. You're not going to be dissapointed, and this time I even have a picture!

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So, I got caught in a pouring rain and I absolutely couldn't bear a thought of my shoes getting wet, so I just bought two plastic grocery bags and put them on my feet and walked home like that... making quite a few passerbies smile, as you can imagine!.. Thanks universe for putting me near a grocery store at the time when it started raining heavily!

Picnic No. 2

Having accomplished our second picnic this summer, I want to say thanks to those of my friends who made it here to my area yesterday allowing me to take Mr. Rhett Butler for a day out with us. My dog is not a fan of the underground traveling so if it wasn't for the gathering nearby my place, he would not be able to join us and would miss all the fun!..

City Boat Trips

Even if boat trips I seem to like so very much usually allow for a more fantastic scenery and more fun activities once it's an open seas trip, I've realized city boat trips can be just as much fun. So if I can't travel to a seaside destination just yet, I'd take the best boat trip the Moscow River has to offer and be thankful for it! P.S. All above links lead to picture posts and if you love water themed photography I suggest you take a look!

Tricks, Tactics & Technics

I'm thankful for a) having a brother and b) for my brother's not so easy personality type. See, I'm not married and I don't have a live-in boyfriend but I still get to learn the essential skill of how to live with a man on a pretty much daily basis. Having tried so many different tricks, tactics and technics already, I know how to get things done my way while still staying on the friendliest of terms. I can truly say I've mastered the skill better than I could have hoped for by this time, and I swear I'm better at it than my mom already. Looks like I'm definately not lying when I say I love to learn all sorts of things, ha!.. Knowledge is power, people.

"There is no knowledge that is not power" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Heat

I'm thankful for the real summer we're having here right now - honestly trying to appreciate it wholeheartedly and fully each single day!

Pleasant Neighbour

Remember the perfect gentleman from a few posts back? Well, I met him again today. Went downstairs to check the mail and there he was - joined me on my ride back up in the elevator. Funny thing is, I didn't recognize him until he chatted me up and was so impossibly nice again. Wow, I'm just really thankful for having a pleasant person like that as a neighbour! This is quite rare and I believe that's the kind of a neighbour everyone should strive to be themselves too. Thanks for lifting my spirits, Mr. Perfect Gentleman!

Newly Opened Malls

I'm not going to express the opinion of the most here, but I don't really like sales. The point being, if you need for something to go on sale to get it, you either don't even like it that much or maybe you shouldn't try to afford it. (You don't have to agree with me!) But anyways, this is just an introduction to the new thankful post - I'm thankful for newly opened malls! Nothing like a huge spacious almost empty building where you can wander not hurrying anywhere, not hearing any noise or screaming, and where you have al the hoice you need and everyone is still polite.