Journal, May 16, 2026 (North Carolina)
I am sitting at a bar in Black Mountain, slightly drunk — though not the same way as yesterday. Yesterday I was completely exhausted after a red-eye flight and from sleeping badly night after night. This time, instead of turning the trip into just another conference visit, I planned ahead and gave myself an entire […]
Journal, March 31, 2026
It is the last day of March, and I can’t quite believe that spring is already in full swing. The warmth feels almost misplaced—so much so that, heading into my second ski trip of the year, the running joke is that we might as well be water skiing. And in truth, Mammoth Mountain looks as […]
Journal, March 2, 2026
I cannot believe how much can happen in 10–11 days since my last blog post. Ski weekend came and went. I was sore for days and still not entirely sure whether I mildly injured myself or just aggressively rediscovered muscles I forgot I had. Nevertheless, I skied all the way to the end — just […]
Journal, February 21, 2026
I am finally on the slopes. The weather is wonderful after a series of storms; it is bright and sunny, the air is crisp, and it is not too cold. I am happy. The wind is whistling in my ears, and the snow is rustling under my skis, and I feel I am living to […]
Journal, February 15, 2026
Valentine’s Day arrived on a Saturday this year, and even though I was thoroughly under siege by a stubborn cold, I somehow found myself awake before 7 a.m., determined to evict winter from the room. Out went the heavy, wintry everything; in came spring — lighter colors, Valentine’s decorations, and the general illusion that sneezing […]
Journal, October 12, 2025
Yesss! After long deliberations and doubts, I am in Chicago. My daughter’s birthday came and went with our combined family attempts to fulfill 15 wishes. And even though I still drink salty coffee and constantly feel something stuck in my throat I am walking magnificent streets and soaking in the vibrancy and magic of Chicago. […]
Journal 05/13/2025
This is one of the typical posters of the early Soviet Era – woman worker. And that’s how I felt today. Surprisingly, just like in the old Beatles song “Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away” for me today all the complaints of yesterday are pushed back. I am back to work – 26 […]