Spring Forward...

[peacetraveler22]

In America, we have an expression - "spring forward, fall back." The phrase is used in connection with Daylight Savings Time, when Americans move their clocks one hour forward at the start of the spring season and one hour back in autumn. However, the saying also is a metaphor for life. At times, problems, frustrations and stresses pile to the point that we stumble and fall backward. The challenge is to not get beaten down to the point that you give up and refuse to lift yourself from the ground. People who fail to do so account for a large portion of the miserable, bitter adults roaming the planet. For me, the main frustration recently has been my job, which has become overbearing and life consuming. This leads to almost no time for the blog or anything else in life, and it's the reason for my long absence from writing here the past few weeks. Yet, we are always in control of our own lives and destiny to some extent, so I formulated a plan for change.

A few weeks ago, I started writing a proposal to reduce my work schedule as a lawyer. The goal was to convince my law firm that I am valuable, even if I'm in the office less. As lawyers, we are trained to be persuasive, to argue and advocate for the interests of our clients and, ultimately, for ourselves. I wrote here that being single with no children provides me with a lot freedom in life - ultimately, I'm financially responsible for and answer only to myself. And, for me, the most important thing in life is to keep moving forward and exploring, not having a huge bank account.

My proposal was approved on Friday and will be implemented at the beginning of April. What does this mean? Less time in the office and more time to travel! Also, a large reduction in salary so I'll probably have fewer trips overseas, although I'll somehow find a way to return to Russia in the near future. :) Two international trips already are planned, and I'll announce the details soon.

Many of you contacted me in comments and personal messages during my absence to make sure I was okay. I'm grateful to have so many dedicated and kind readers. Together, we spring forward - both on the blog and with the change of season. The cherry blossoms, pictured in the cover photo from 2013, will soon be in full bloom in Washington, DC. It's the most beautiful time in the city, and I'll show you more in future reports.

A reminder that you can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Comments

[phd-paul-lector.livejournal.com]

Once I was a guest to a Georgian family (with my sister who was 16 then), in a town of Bolnisi - 60 km from Tbilisi. That was the "Gorbachev's Prohibition" time and everybody in Bolnisi, including kids and old grannies. Now, I was not drinking then - a glass of sperkling wine for the New year, and sometimes a bit of Altay or Riga balm into my tea or coffee.

A guest is a very, very special person in a Georgian family, a VVIP. Above all, a guest should NEVER do any work, but I was ashamed - everybody was working the whole day so I started begging to give me any work; so at long lsat, Grandpa Chichiko (his name was Pavel but everybody used that nickname meaning "Sparrow") took me into the cellar so that I could help him to bottle the wine. Remember, that was the Prohibition (not as strict as the famous American one but still, producing alcohol of any kind was considered a crime... but any reasonable policeman in Georgia would never use that law!). The cellar had giant mugs sug into the ground floor, and we started bottling. I estimated the amount and calculated that each day every member of the family including the kids - Gogito (the boy was three) and Veriko (she was five) could drink ovver one litre of wine. In fact, the children did get some wine at every dinner, about 100 ml of it.

I asked Grandpa Chichiko and he said, "Wah, of course we do not drink all of teh wine ourselves! The neighbours are always ready to help us with it!"

So I asked, "Don't they make their own wine?"
"But of course they do! We are all peasants here and everybody has a wineyard!"
"And who helps the neighbours to drink their wine?"
"Of course WE do!"

Next, he took me out to the flat roof covered with grape vines and said taht after work, men should eat and drink; his wife, Granny Nino, produced a big jar of wine, some bread, cheese and greens. As I have already mentioned, I wasn't drinking much then, so I was cautious and decided to mix wine with water, as they used to do in ancient times. Rgandpa Chichiko noticed that and scolded me, his accent becoming especially thick:

"Wah, you do not under-stand! This iz, you know, vine! So, see, vine iz for drin-king! And chacha, it iz for get-ting a lit-tle drunk! And water, it iz for washing your ha-ands, washing your fe-eet..."

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Nice story and adventure! :)) I've never been to Georgia, but want to visit. I need to find a travel companion in the region and host family who speaks English.

[phd-paul-lector.livejournal.com]

Alas, now I do not think I have anybody there. Lost all contacts... :(

[phd-paul-lector.livejournal.com]

they are very mice people there, and I heard that many young people speak English (and older people have good Russian). Food is great, places are picturesque and there are many places of interest...

all thumbs...

[phd-paul-lector.livejournal.com]

oh shirt, how many misprints. Shame on me.

Re: all thumbs...

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It's okay, I understand all that you wrote. :)

Re: all thumbs...

[phd-paul-lector.livejournal.com]

:)))
some consolation :)

including kids and old grannies

[phd-paul-lector.livejournal.com]

"everybody in Bolnisi, including kids and old grannies цwas wearing pins of the Sobriety Society" - forgot to finish the sentence, silly me!