Thursday, October 25, 2007
uday65.oct25.bug bug homebug
So all my time lately is trying to squash bugs occurring between Sudoku and the Xbox360. It's a pain. But I now know when I'm coming home, the 6th midnightish, so we're almost done. I'll make a post this weekend about the last 10 days. Here are some highlights in pictures:
Monday, October 15, 2007
uday55.oct15. don't worry, I've been eating well
This post is about various foods I haven't posted about yet. Picture and then caption.
These are the 5 kachapuri , the oh so delicous georgian bread (ხაჭაპური) that is made with leavened bread and distinct fresh and aged cheeses. Sometimes they are topped with eggs, like the one in the second picture that just came out of my oven. Despite being 40 degrees f out, you'll see that the window is open because my oven door smokes something fierce and I don't want the alarms going off, well, that is if they actually work. I love them much and will have to find a way to get them when I'm home.
This is a tasty Russian fairy creature that is usually sad. This one is happy to be of use filling my belly.
*&(*&*( Pozatahata or something I can't remeber well is the name of this place. It's one of the only Ukrainian "fastfood" places, but it's more similar to K&W, you select food, put it on a tray, and then pay at the end. This one was in the mall, so we were smart and grabbed a seat before the food. Definitely the right choice as I later watched people wandering with their hands full of food they couldn't yet eat (is there a worse torture?).
First time to the "Nobu" here (I really doubt they pay chef Nobu Matsuhisa for his name here). Jeff and I got this, 2 more rolls, 2 types of dumplings, tempura, miso, and a pin-noodle salad.
I ate that whole thing after the aforementioned soup and salad. The dumplings and tempura came next - that was hard to fit, but I did likely much to the amusement of the staff. The next time I dined, the sushi chefs pointed to me and were talking to a chef who wasn't there before. It might have been because I thanked them in japanese and said it was delicious too.
This was a beef tenderloin salad d'or bleu that was fantastic, pictured before I poured 1/2 that boat of blue dressing on. Also pictured is a ukrainian champagne that Alla ordered and was surprisingly, to me, deelish.
I whipped out a little easter spirit egg hunt style and hid food for the cats to find
This was beef wrapped in rice paper, similar to a vietmanese spring roll with beef tenderloin. Very tasty (sorry the picture is poor).
The waiter recommended I try a salad they had that day using marinated beef tongue. I don't believe I've had beef tongue before, or it wasn't memorable enough, so I agreed and found it better than agreeable. yay!
This is the same restaurant I got the khachapuri from, suliko (it's a classic georgian girl's name). As you can see, there is a khachapuri , a sweet white georgian wine (also very good), and tender pork ribs sauteed with sweet onions.
.jpg)
After finding the chinese restaurant and having 20+ dumplings, I decided to go back for another night. One was great wall of china pork and it came out flaming. The host (and waiter) flipped it around and opened it to reveal this:.jpg)
The carrot was shaped into a section of the great wall very well, but wasn't captured on film. I did capture half of it with my belly though. The parsley made up the trees around the wall - very cool. Oh, the pork was soft and savory.
.jpg)
So I had rice, red tea, a thick tofu and ham soup, a squid, mushroom, and noodle soup, cucumber and rice noodle "rain" salad, salty fried buns, cold sliced duck, fried dumplings, and lychee fruit for dessert.
closeup clockwise starting with the fried bun, then the rain salad, next lychee, and finally tofu soup. I really like the chinese here, but it's farther to walk to the restaurant and more expensive than in the US so I haven't gone a lot. I look forward to going again though.
These are the 5 kachapuri , the oh so delicous georgian bread (ხაჭაპური) that is made with leavened bread and distinct fresh and aged cheeses. Sometimes they are topped with eggs, like the one in the second picture that just came out of my oven. Despite being 40 degrees f out, you'll see that the window is open because my oven door smokes something fierce and I don't want the alarms going off, well, that is if they actually work. I love them much and will have to find a way to get them when I'm home.
This is a tasty Russian fairy creature that is usually sad. This one is happy to be of use filling my belly.
*&(*&*( Pozatahata or something I can't remeber well is the name of this place. It's one of the only Ukrainian "fastfood" places, but it's more similar to K&W, you select food, put it on a tray, and then pay at the end. This one was in the mall, so we were smart and grabbed a seat before the food. Definitely the right choice as I later watched people wandering with their hands full of food they couldn't yet eat (is there a worse torture?).
First time to the "Nobu" here (I really doubt they pay chef Nobu Matsuhisa for his name here). Jeff and I got this, 2 more rolls, 2 types of dumplings, tempura, miso, and a pin-noodle salad.
I ate that whole thing after the aforementioned soup and salad. The dumplings and tempura came next - that was hard to fit, but I did likely much to the amusement of the staff. The next time I dined, the sushi chefs pointed to me and were talking to a chef who wasn't there before. It might have been because I thanked them in japanese and said it was delicious too.
This was a beef tenderloin salad d'or bleu that was fantastic, pictured before I poured 1/2 that boat of blue dressing on. Also pictured is a ukrainian champagne that Alla ordered and was surprisingly, to me, deelish.
I whipped out a little easter spirit egg hunt style and hid food for the cats to find
This was beef wrapped in rice paper, similar to a vietmanese spring roll with beef tenderloin. Very tasty (sorry the picture is poor).
The waiter recommended I try a salad they had that day using marinated beef tongue. I don't believe I've had beef tongue before, or it wasn't memorable enough, so I agreed and found it better than agreeable. yay!
This is the same restaurant I got the khachapuri from, suliko (it's a classic georgian girl's name). As you can see, there is a khachapuri , a sweet white georgian wine (also very good), and tender pork ribs sauteed with sweet onions.
.jpg)
After finding the chinese restaurant and having 20+ dumplings, I decided to go back for another night. One was great wall of china pork and it came out flaming. The host (and waiter) flipped it around and opened it to reveal this:.jpg)
The carrot was shaped into a section of the great wall very well, but wasn't captured on film. I did capture half of it with my belly though. The parsley made up the trees around the wall - very cool. Oh, the pork was soft and savory..jpg)
So I had rice, red tea, a thick tofu and ham soup, a squid, mushroom, and noodle soup, cucumber and rice noodle "rain" salad, salty fried buns, cold sliced duck, fried dumplings, and lychee fruit for dessert.
closeup clockwise starting with the fried bun, then the rain salad, next lychee, and finally tofu soup. I really like the chinese here, but it's farther to walk to the restaurant and more expensive than in the US so I haven't gone a lot. I look forward to going again though.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
uday53 pics, work. sushi for dinner
It's a rainy saturday, so I only took a few pictures today. The first picture is how to get wires from the inside of the building to the outside, or vice versa, ukr style:
Then I decided that at the 53rd day, it was about time I bought an umbrella. I walked to the stall mall (made up of small stalls and almost no real walls, but inside a big multistory building). On the way I couldn't help but hear kids type music through my koss noise muffling ear phones. Mickey Mouse was dancing with a hairball and a santora (sp?)(not pictured) juice box, a brand I like, while fuzzy people danced on a big stage.
Close to work I took a picture of trees and vines, and then another shot of the haphazard wall building methods:
Now here are random pics from other days, captions beneath:
Zombie stockings. ugggggh.
TGIFWTF
McDonalds. One of the nicest I've ever seen. In the picture you might be able to count 10 women. There were 20 ahead of me, including the 13 working there. They were all in good health and looked clean/happy. This seemed so contrary to US fastfood I had to pinch myself. Then you look at the board and see steak fries on the board next to the drink. You get to choose which kind you want and they're both delicious. I only tried fries, fries, and a vanilla sunday with strawberry. I wanted nuts on that too, but they said that only comes with the frosty or whatever. gah, lies. every american knows that their mcdonalds has nuts for sundays. grow a pair. I'll try a burger or something later, but I've been too in love with georgian cuisine so far.
The juice here rules. Some things cost more than the US, these however only cost about a dollar and in each they capture the essence of the fruit by cramming damn near the whole thing into a blender as far as I can tell. The medleys with pear are especially tasty.
View from my apt during lunch. Cars and honking galore.
Security is kicking me out. I'm going to go have Japanese soup and some sushi. I'll take pics. Cheers.
Then I decided that at the 53rd day, it was about time I bought an umbrella. I walked to the stall mall (made up of small stalls and almost no real walls, but inside a big multistory building). On the way I couldn't help but hear kids type music through my koss noise muffling ear phones. Mickey Mouse was dancing with a hairball and a santora (sp?)(not pictured) juice box, a brand I like, while fuzzy people danced on a big stage.
Close to work I took a picture of trees and vines, and then another shot of the haphazard wall building methods:
Now here are random pics from other days, captions beneath:
Zombie stockings. ugggggh.
TGIFWTF
McDonalds. One of the nicest I've ever seen. In the picture you might be able to count 10 women. There were 20 ahead of me, including the 13 working there. They were all in good health and looked clean/happy. This seemed so contrary to US fastfood I had to pinch myself. Then you look at the board and see steak fries on the board next to the drink. You get to choose which kind you want and they're both delicious. I only tried fries, fries, and a vanilla sunday with strawberry. I wanted nuts on that too, but they said that only comes with the frosty or whatever. gah, lies. every american knows that their mcdonalds has nuts for sundays. grow a pair. I'll try a burger or something later, but I've been too in love with georgian cuisine so far.
The juice here rules. Some things cost more than the US, these however only cost about a dollar and in each they capture the essence of the fruit by cramming damn near the whole thing into a blender as far as I can tell. The medleys with pear are especially tasty.
View from my apt during lunch. Cars and honking galore.Security is kicking me out. I'm going to go have Japanese soup and some sushi. I'll take pics. Cheers.
Customer Service: sony, microsoft, and nintendo
Ok, this post is about games, not the ukraine. games and customer service. I won't feel bad if you skip it.
so I recently received an email from Nintendo saying they'd send me some protective sleeves for my wiimotes and wanted to know how many I needed. This made me think of the other big 2, sony and MS.
In all my experience with sony (as a consumer) since the PS1 they've constantly fought the consumer. When my PlayStation decided it liked to be upside down and refused to play games until I acquiesced (and the CD is a flip lid, so it was extremely annoying), sony said I would have to pay to get this fixed, even though vocal gamers made it sound common (I think it was). Fine, so the sony logo and PS1 get to eat carpet upside down instead of resting on a nice table (on flat surfaces the top spins and slides, so you're likely to pull it off/around with the corded controllers). with the PS2 or PS3, the issues were word of mouth or in the media, but I didn't hear positive CS stories (more about charges for general use issues).
As for Microsoft, I bought the xbox and received a package one day with a new AC cable because a few, out of millions, had burst into flames or something. That was pretty nice, except for the flames part. After that I bought the 360 and it broke 2 times. Both times it was replaced for free by MS, shipping paid both ways. It was annoying, but at least they didn't charge me. Now they've extended a 3yr warranty to the systems and for those who had to pay, MS paid them back regardless of whether their repair was MS or that customer's fault.
Back to the Nintendo, when the Wii was released and users started letting go of the remote erroneously, Nintendo realized they had neglected to see this new behavior from new gamers and sent new wii-stronger wrist straps to make sure people weren't launching their remotes into objects and organisms. Now, once again, they're sending out clear rubber controller protectors for people who don't use the wrist straps to protect those users' property. Protecting people doubly from their mistakes and actions, that's the best CS I've seen from a console maker ever.
Nintendo really gets customer service, Microsoft does well on listening to what users want and then updating or adjusting, and sony, they tell people what they need and fail. I look at the UMD and sony's dead music formats and wonder when they'll understand that the customer is sony's reason for living, not the opposite.
so I recently received an email from Nintendo saying they'd send me some protective sleeves for my wiimotes and wanted to know how many I needed. This made me think of the other big 2, sony and MS.
In all my experience with sony (as a consumer) since the PS1 they've constantly fought the consumer. When my PlayStation decided it liked to be upside down and refused to play games until I acquiesced (and the CD is a flip lid, so it was extremely annoying), sony said I would have to pay to get this fixed, even though vocal gamers made it sound common (I think it was). Fine, so the sony logo and PS1 get to eat carpet upside down instead of resting on a nice table (on flat surfaces the top spins and slides, so you're likely to pull it off/around with the corded controllers). with the PS2 or PS3, the issues were word of mouth or in the media, but I didn't hear positive CS stories (more about charges for general use issues).
As for Microsoft, I bought the xbox and received a package one day with a new AC cable because a few, out of millions, had burst into flames or something. That was pretty nice, except for the flames part. After that I bought the 360 and it broke 2 times. Both times it was replaced for free by MS, shipping paid both ways. It was annoying, but at least they didn't charge me. Now they've extended a 3yr warranty to the systems and for those who had to pay, MS paid them back regardless of whether their repair was MS or that customer's fault.
Back to the Nintendo, when the Wii was released and users started letting go of the remote erroneously, Nintendo realized they had neglected to see this new behavior from new gamers and sent new wii-stronger wrist straps to make sure people weren't launching their remotes into objects and organisms. Now, once again, they're sending out clear rubber controller protectors for people who don't use the wrist straps to protect those users' property. Protecting people doubly from their mistakes and actions, that's the best CS I've seen from a console maker ever.
Nintendo really gets customer service, Microsoft does well on listening to what users want and then updating or adjusting, and sony, they tell people what they need and fail. I look at the UMD and sony's dead music formats and wonder when they'll understand that the customer is sony's reason for living, not the opposite.
Friday, October 12, 2007
uday52.thecatsreturn
So now the kitties recognize me before I pull out the food or make food noise and come running when I come out of the building in the morning. 
Then they circle me like sharks, but i'm left with hair on my pants instead of sandpaper-like abrasions. 
After this one, one of the parent kitties came late to the party so I took the food back out and fed them. I fed more on the way to work, but I'll update about that tomorrow (i'll try). It's 11:16PM and time to go home and reheat a khachapuri in my oven. i guess i have to post about those too..gah.
Then they circle me like sharks, but i'm left with hair on my pants instead of sandpaper-like abrasions. 
After this one, one of the parent kitties came late to the party so I took the food back out and fed them. I fed more on the way to work, but I'll update about that tomorrow (i'll try). It's 11:16PM and time to go home and reheat a khachapuri in my oven. i guess i have to post about those too..gah.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
uday49.oct09. some pics n comments
Tuesday.
Last night I read a whole book, the first Hugo Award winner (1953) "The Demolished Man" by Alfred Bester. It's great for a short sci-fi read, 5 hours. It tackles some large topics even though Sci-Fi was just budding, similar to Heinlein. Large corporations, the death penalty, and the responsibility of power in a future with psychics that make premeditated murder difficult (like the more recent Minority Report). I definitely recommend The Demolished Man.
Totally unrelated: pictures (and reference below pic).
The door to my place is directly in front of that white car. I was pretty scared after seeing the state of the other buildings when I first arrived, but once I got into my flat I saw things were fine.
This is the other side of the building from the pic above. I walk by here every day. Usually at night, there are young guys hanging out and drinking on the benches.
This picture shows the wide range of economic conditions from one foot to the next. This is directly in front of the courtyard entrance (not pic'd) and is in view of my porch.
I walk by here most days on the way to work and people live inside. I'll take pictures of a garden to the immediate right that is nicely maintained by the inhabitants of this dilapidated block.
Condemned hospital. I love taking pictures of it. Recently someone bashed the concrete and lock on the front door. Maybe all the ghosts I see at have been now loosed upon the city.
Abandoned military installation I walk by each day, near the condemned hospital. They're building the UEFA (soccer) stadium 1/4 mi away from here so all this will become ~prime real estate.
See those strips hanging down? They're all over cars here. I finally found one I could read and they're anti-static strips, so I guess you don't get shocked when you egress, or improves radio reception.. Mike needs to start selling a ricer version for Fords that have TRD stickers on them.
The first omelet I made here (and more cans of the fish that went in. wee)
Hot cranberry schwepps soda! and nasty bitter lemon. The difference is that the cranberry was pretty good.
I wanted to be taken seriously, so I bought professional gum.
Last night I read a whole book, the first Hugo Award winner (1953) "The Demolished Man" by Alfred Bester. It's great for a short sci-fi read, 5 hours. It tackles some large topics even though Sci-Fi was just budding, similar to Heinlein. Large corporations, the death penalty, and the responsibility of power in a future with psychics that make premeditated murder difficult (like the more recent Minority Report). I definitely recommend The Demolished Man.
Totally unrelated: pictures (and reference below pic).
The door to my place is directly in front of that white car. I was pretty scared after seeing the state of the other buildings when I first arrived, but once I got into my flat I saw things were fine.
This is the other side of the building from the pic above. I walk by here every day. Usually at night, there are young guys hanging out and drinking on the benches.
This picture shows the wide range of economic conditions from one foot to the next. This is directly in front of the courtyard entrance (not pic'd) and is in view of my porch.
I walk by here most days on the way to work and people live inside. I'll take pictures of a garden to the immediate right that is nicely maintained by the inhabitants of this dilapidated block.
Condemned hospital. I love taking pictures of it. Recently someone bashed the concrete and lock on the front door. Maybe all the ghosts I see at have been now loosed upon the city.
Abandoned military installation I walk by each day, near the condemned hospital. They're building the UEFA (soccer) stadium 1/4 mi away from here so all this will become ~prime real estate.
See those strips hanging down? They're all over cars here. I finally found one I could read and they're anti-static strips, so I guess you don't get shocked when you egress, or improves radio reception.. Mike needs to start selling a ricer version for Fords that have TRD stickers on them.
The first omelet I made here (and more cans of the fish that went in. wee)
Hot cranberry schwepps soda! and nasty bitter lemon. The difference is that the cranberry was pretty good.
I wanted to be taken seriously, so I bought professional gum.
posted a draft and it showed up when i started it, 3 posts down
so read 3 posts down.
as for today, thanks to James, I discovered the best animated video game reviews ever. They're hilariously scathing: < link >
as for today, thanks to James, I discovered the best animated video game reviews ever. They're hilariously scathing: < link >
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Aberdeen F.C. thinks I'm Ukrainian
So we went to the mediterranean cafe, Yaffo (sp Jaffo), that I really like and the guys from Aberdeen F.C. (scottish footy club) heard us speaking english and came over. This likeable big fellow, Mike, asked if Luke and I were from the Ukraine and Dnepropetrovsk (laugh). He said our english was pretty good. We were sad to admit we were american. He professed a dislike for Microsoft when we said we were in software, which is funny cause Luke worked there and I currently deal with them daily. I wished them luck in their game today against Dnipro today (in 20min). Hopefully, I'll get to see soccer kitted up hooligans when I leave work, but it might be too late then.
other notables, I tried horsemeat for the first time too. So now I've had horsemeat and sour horsemilk, fun! The meat was done in a style that goes along with drinking vodka I think, so I wasn't a big fan. It's most like when I over-marinate steak in sugar and soysauce and then cook it to a red candied state (like a week marinating). It wasn't bad, but I require horse steak for a true comparison. we watched happy gilmore while eating as an homage to my lonely home theater.
other notables, I tried horsemeat for the first time too. So now I've had horsemeat and sour horsemilk, fun! The meat was done in a style that goes along with drinking vodka I think, so I wasn't a big fan. It's most like when I over-marinate steak in sugar and soysauce and then cook it to a red candied state (like a week marinating). It wasn't bad, but I require horse steak for a true comparison. we watched happy gilmore while eating as an homage to my lonely home theater.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
laugh at me
uday43 oct3rd wednesday
So I went grocery shopping the other day for shampoo, lotion, juice and water, all at the little shop near my place. I tried my best to pick out normal products, not really being able to read much other than the name or the words "shampoo" and "lotion." Well, after moisturizing my feet, lets, and arms I noticed my hands sparkled. Apparently Dove Silk is a shimmery lotion and I likely look more ridiculous than usual. I sparkle. I sparkle.
So I went grocery shopping the other day for shampoo, lotion, juice and water, all at the little shop near my place. I tried my best to pick out normal products, not really being able to read much other than the name or the words "shampoo" and "lotion." Well, after moisturizing my feet, lets, and arms I noticed my hands sparkled. Apparently Dove Silk is a shimmery lotion and I likely look more ridiculous than usual. I sparkle. I sparkle.
Monday, October 1, 2007
uday41.Oct01 - Food has been wonderful
So the 1920s place I ate in the basement of when I first got here (the 3rd picture in the column on the right) has a really nice restaurant on top, above/below the stairs style. With Jeff visiting, we hit the upstairs part after he arrived and freshened up. I enjoyed a Tuna Carpaccio with a sweet raspberry sauce and Delicate Sea Bass with asparagus and a veloute sauce. Jeff had one of the top steaks of his life he said. 
No wonder, it was a Chateaubriand, the best cut of beef tenderloin. The head chef was french and it really showed with the food. We had to go again later in the week, before Jeff left, and this time I ordered a side of sautéed spinach in a cream "souce," OMG, it was the best spinach I've ever had. It was topped with almond slices and crushed almonds, toasted. Suffice to say I had to go back again just for the spinach..and a Chateaubriand of my own. Also, their Mojito's were surprisingly delicious, satisfying the craving I had for a Brazilian steakhouse experience of the caipirinha (brazilian mojito) and lots of steak (chateau..is like a double cut of tenderloin basically). 
No wonder, it was a Chateaubriand, the best cut of beef tenderloin. The head chef was french and it really showed with the food. We had to go again later in the week, before Jeff left, and this time I ordered a side of sautéed spinach in a cream "souce," OMG, it was the best spinach I've ever had. It was topped with almond slices and crushed almonds, toasted. Suffice to say I had to go back again just for the spinach..and a Chateaubriand of my own. Also, their Mojito's were surprisingly delicious, satisfying the craving I had for a Brazilian steakhouse experience of the caipirinha (brazilian mojito) and lots of steak (chateau..is like a double cut of tenderloin basically). 
Thursday, September 27, 2007
uday37.sept27. - facebook
Facebook has a much faster photo solution than including them in my post (for bulk albums) so I'll be linking to those as I upload them. Here's the first random bunch, including my new hair cut and cats.Random Album 1
Monday, September 24, 2007
Ukr.Day33-Sun the 23rd: more kitties
So Saturday night, when I got home the other family of cats came out to see me, so I had to go to the little 24 hour mart and buy the some food. Then the kittens chased my bracelet/hands and tried to scale my legs. Then on Sunday I left without any cat food and the original cat family was out in force and meowed at me. I'm such a sucker for kittens, so I ran upstairs and got food and a empty plastic leftovers tray. I went back down and started shaking food into the tray and the other cat family showed up, so I had 8 cats surrounding me. I wish I hadn't left my camera as well. I was in a rush to get to the office, so I left them happily munching away on Kit-e-kat food. Right before the turn to the office I hear a little "mew mew mew mew" from across the street. I look over and there's the cutest little fluffy gray kitten. I crossed the street and it immediately started following me and was friendly(most cats and all the other kittens were shy at first). This one was alone and sweet, so I gave it some food too. Another cat from down the street noticed and came over. It swatted at the kitten so I swatted it back and it behaved itself after that. I noticed it stood with one hind leg up or gingerly stood on it. Poor little kitten. After kitten had its fill, it stood in my shadow, at my feet. I wanted to just stick it in my laptop bag. It tried to follow me for about 10ft as I continued to work, but it was too slow. If I see it again on the way home, I might have to store it in my bathtub.
So yeah, I fed 10 cats on the way to work Sunday.
So yeah, I fed 10 cats on the way to work Sunday.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Ukr.day29&30:Wed&Thursday
Wednesday
So Wednesday was mostly uneventful. I brought the peach drink I bought from the store to work and it was delicious. One of my favorite things here are the juices, the right brands taste like they just threw a fresh XYZ into the blender and there you go. I shared it with many, but mainly Luke and I drank most of it. After lunch, to get some sugar, we walked to the local grocery to get more juice and candy bars (i've tried 3 of the juices so far).
Some of the chocolate here, Milka, is delicious. I tried to get one with hazlenuts but ended up with a plain one, oh well. Then it was work, and I worked until I got kicked out by security so and walked home, passing through the square where the Dnepropetrovsk celebration was on the way. 
They had all sorts of street sweepers (trucks and people) cleaning up the 1000s of glass bottles from the multiple nights of drinking. Apparently, glass bottles are not allowed in public during holidays but you couldn't tell that from observation (cause of course, it's not enforced). I almost went to the McDonalds (it's just off camera to the left) but wasn't feeling like eating that much. I'll save it till I want one of the vanilla sundays with strawberries and nuts I remember from childhood. So for dinner, it was another canned fishies, bread, and soft cheese dinner (actually tasty) and bed.
Thursday
Thursday was more liver for lunch. Most of us didn't eat it. The previous day's liver looked charred to the max. Todays was breaded and fried. Neither were doing it for me. I've always enjoyed the daily soup for lunch, nice and hot (normally it's warm, but they nuke it hot for me). A Ukr. custom I like. I think liver has been vetoed from the menu officially. All the lunches are bought and then brought back for everyone. 90% of the time it is a mayonnaise based salad, soup, bread, and a grain or pasta plate with a meat or fish on top. It's been liver 4 times and 2 of those I've eaten it all - gosh, I feel like I'm trying to justify leaving food. Guess there's something i don't really eat, beef liver? geese and ducks on the other hand... After lunch Luke and I made our daily trip for juice and a sweet. Alla wanted a rolled chocolate and sugar wafer (kinda like a profiterole?) so we had to stop at a store that was in the neighboring building. While waiting for the treats, a lady came in and got all excited and pointed to my hair and said "yaponya" or something. I figured it was ukrainian for Japanese and said "yaponski" as luke tried to figure out what she was saying (he's been studying Russian for a year). Then I think she said he should do his hair like mine cause she liked it, and then wanted to know my lineage. We didn't know Chinese or American Canadian Scottish/Irish so I was Japanese. She continued to be excited for the 8 minutes or so it took us to leave. It was really funny. Then we went to the other store and I got Pomegranate juice (with a bulk of grape juice) and a hazlenut milka bar. This time I got the bar I wanted but the corner was torn, and Luke was like "it's fine" and I said after food poisoning once, I don't want to risk rancid chocolate, so I showed the lady and she replaced it. Spicybo I said in thanks and went back to work. weee.
I went to a georgian restaurant for dinner while the latest build uploaded. Alla and Luke were with me and the waitress didn't even offer the menu to Luke or me - hilarious. I got a traditional georgian shashlik, seasoned and marinated pork grilled on a shishkabob and then placed on bread with onions. The meat was fantastic, and the onions were great too. I'd go back just for those tender morsels of pork. The appetizer was sort of like deep dish pizza without sauce, and the other entrees were a lightly seasoned chicken wings and a through and through garlic simmered chicken wings pan. Both the chicken dishes were done well, but I would've voted for more seasoning on the lightly dusted one. After dinner, we waited for 10min to take a taxi through the rain and drop me at the office and then Alla and Luke continued on their way home.
And here's me returned to the office and using my trusty blue ethernet cable from home to connect to the network in the old creaky building and finish the build:
Here's how I took a 2hr nap while watching the upload:
I scrounged up 4 irregularly shaped scraps of cloth into bedding and slept on the carpet, the raised door sill, and my handy gamefest bag as a pillow. My jacket was used to cover my chest and chin too. I woke up refreshed and ready to work some more. Go go power ranger..nap.
So Wednesday was mostly uneventful. I brought the peach drink I bought from the store to work and it was delicious. One of my favorite things here are the juices, the right brands taste like they just threw a fresh XYZ into the blender and there you go. I shared it with many, but mainly Luke and I drank most of it. After lunch, to get some sugar, we walked to the local grocery to get more juice and candy bars (i've tried 3 of the juices so far).
Some of the chocolate here, Milka, is delicious. I tried to get one with hazlenuts but ended up with a plain one, oh well. Then it was work, and I worked until I got kicked out by security so and walked home, passing through the square where the Dnepropetrovsk celebration was on the way. 
They had all sorts of street sweepers (trucks and people) cleaning up the 1000s of glass bottles from the multiple nights of drinking. Apparently, glass bottles are not allowed in public during holidays but you couldn't tell that from observation (cause of course, it's not enforced). I almost went to the McDonalds (it's just off camera to the left) but wasn't feeling like eating that much. I'll save it till I want one of the vanilla sundays with strawberries and nuts I remember from childhood. So for dinner, it was another canned fishies, bread, and soft cheese dinner (actually tasty) and bed.Thursday
Thursday was more liver for lunch. Most of us didn't eat it. The previous day's liver looked charred to the max. Todays was breaded and fried. Neither were doing it for me. I've always enjoyed the daily soup for lunch, nice and hot (normally it's warm, but they nuke it hot for me). A Ukr. custom I like. I think liver has been vetoed from the menu officially. All the lunches are bought and then brought back for everyone. 90% of the time it is a mayonnaise based salad, soup, bread, and a grain or pasta plate with a meat or fish on top. It's been liver 4 times and 2 of those I've eaten it all - gosh, I feel like I'm trying to justify leaving food. Guess there's something i don't really eat, beef liver? geese and ducks on the other hand... After lunch Luke and I made our daily trip for juice and a sweet. Alla wanted a rolled chocolate and sugar wafer (kinda like a profiterole?) so we had to stop at a store that was in the neighboring building. While waiting for the treats, a lady came in and got all excited and pointed to my hair and said "yaponya" or something. I figured it was ukrainian for Japanese and said "yaponski" as luke tried to figure out what she was saying (he's been studying Russian for a year). Then I think she said he should do his hair like mine cause she liked it, and then wanted to know my lineage. We didn't know Chinese or American Canadian Scottish/Irish so I was Japanese. She continued to be excited for the 8 minutes or so it took us to leave. It was really funny. Then we went to the other store and I got Pomegranate juice (with a bulk of grape juice) and a hazlenut milka bar. This time I got the bar I wanted but the corner was torn, and Luke was like "it's fine" and I said after food poisoning once, I don't want to risk rancid chocolate, so I showed the lady and she replaced it. Spicybo I said in thanks and went back to work. weee.
I went to a georgian restaurant for dinner while the latest build uploaded. Alla and Luke were with me and the waitress didn't even offer the menu to Luke or me - hilarious. I got a traditional georgian shashlik, seasoned and marinated pork grilled on a shishkabob and then placed on bread with onions. The meat was fantastic, and the onions were great too. I'd go back just for those tender morsels of pork. The appetizer was sort of like deep dish pizza without sauce, and the other entrees were a lightly seasoned chicken wings and a through and through garlic simmered chicken wings pan. Both the chicken dishes were done well, but I would've voted for more seasoning on the lightly dusted one. After dinner, we waited for 10min to take a taxi through the rain and drop me at the office and then Alla and Luke continued on their way home.
And here's me returned to the office and using my trusty blue ethernet cable from home to connect to the network in the old creaky building and finish the build:
Here's how I took a 2hr nap while watching the upload:
I scrounged up 4 irregularly shaped scraps of cloth into bedding and slept on the carpet, the raised door sill, and my handy gamefest bag as a pillow. My jacket was used to cover my chest and chin too. I woke up refreshed and ready to work some more. Go go power ranger..nap.Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Ukr.day27: Hunt for the Chinese. Part 2
So we left off at Chinese restaurant #2 closed. We get back in the cab and start going to the next one..well, Regina starts talking to the guy and she stars saying "nipponski" and I ask if we're going to Japanese. She says that the next restaurant sounds Japanese and we start going through names and I'm like "japanese...japanese..." Apparently they don't have obvious names here like China Wok, Panda buffet, and Jade/Golden Dragon. After I said we didn't want to go to {backwards R}mato which is pronounced Yamoto, which I've seen and is gimicky Japanese by the river, the driver assures us we're going to a different place by the river and we get there and it's Yamoto...thanks dude. We say maybe we're destined for Japanese instead and head towards Yamoto anyway - Regina has never had Japanese/sushi and it seemed a possible start (I'd taste it first). The bright sign displaying all the rolls and nigiri looks good enough, so we go through the red faux temple gate.As we started to go down the steps and a waiter hollered up (it's 8:45PM) we're closed. The lights outside and inside turn off and I say "if that's not a sign that we're meant to eat something else.." So we go to a Mediterranean cafe near my place that Regina had been to before. It turned out both open and good:
I'll do part 3 and describe the food later. I have to leave the office before the alarm turns out. The other security old guy today communicated that at desyat (10) the ceiling goes whrrrrr whrrrr and made circling motions with his arms. Awesome. gnight.
I'll do part 3 and describe the food later. I have to leave the office before the alarm turns out. The other security old guy today communicated that at desyat (10) the ceiling goes whrrrrr whrrrr and made circling motions with his arms. Awesome. gnight.
ukr.day28-first time shopping
So working late has a bad downside, everyone that speaks the language leaves and you're left by yourself to forage for cats, or food, or whatever. So last night after work I dropped my stuff at home, walked around for a couple blocks to learn the area better, and then dropped by the local mart. Inside there was white t-shirted security guy, frustrated and lost looking teller lady in a chair too short, and a line of punk and random teens getting drunk, waiting to pay for their drinks in progress. I made sure my headphones were securely fastened and proceeded into the store through a little gate system to divide the small doorway for traffic in vs traffic to the sweet sweet register land. Inside were 5 isles of old canned stuff, cereal, water, and old juice. Well, the juice I was buying was old (but the expiration date is 1/2 a year away, no worries).
I hit up the cooler first and picked out grapefruit juice. Apparently no one drinks it, so it was all dusty. Other items in the cooler were varying levels of mostly clean->dusty. Then I started the big game hunt - large water bottles. There were plenty of kiddie 1liter size, but I wanted the 6liter king size cause I guzzle water like an elephant or something. It took me a couple rounds cause they were crammed haphazardly on the bottom shelf of the juice isle, with no 2 matching. I searched for one I recognized as not having salt or carbonation and crossed my fingers that it tasted plain. I wanted bread, but the isles held nothing. There was a quasi deli/pastry counter that ran a length, but the lady looked bored and I didnt want to risk waking her up enough to start trying to converse with me. There wasn't any bread around her either. I picked up a liter of peach juice from the shelf and proceeded to the checkout. Ahhh I thought as I noticed a small wood shelf near checkout, just before the fields of cigarette options, that held breads. There were 2 or 3 white ones left so I snagged one. The foods dont have preservatives here so the placement makes sense, likely new bread every day.
The line hadn't changed so I was a little concerned as kids sat on the counter and drank while the register lady stared at the open drawer in puzzlement. From what i gathered of the next couple transactions, the price stickers were missing from a lot of the kids items and much running back and forth was needed from everyone involved. These were the first lot I saw with piercings and I almost wanted to say hi, but I was tired from work and didn't want to deal with anyone - hence the headphones. (although I've only talked with 1 person randomly - the potato house - I'm tired from work a lot and the Ukr. customs book says they like to talk forever, thats my excuse). I finally made it to the register, thank god the line proceeded as normal. I was afraid they were hanging out or, silly me, waiting for the police to get them for underage drinking. Now I know that will never happen. I made it to the register and the kid behind me put his stuff down too. the lady started checking him out and he said something like "that dude is first" so she rang my stuff up instead. She asked "paketa" as I fumbled for my money inside my way too small jacket pocket (there are 3 and apparently that one is too small for my wallet and I hadnt noticed before). Paketa is them asking me if I need to buy a plastic bag for like 5cents or something, I say "nyet" and thats all she needs, so I hand her about 4$ worth and get bread, 2 liters of juice and 6 liters of water. "Spicyba" I say as I leave, or "dyakyuyu", i can't remember. The first is thanks in Russian, the 2nd is Ukrainian. Mostly everyone speaks more Russian if they're my age or older.
I made it home and had canned fish with bread, and soft buttery cheese, weeee.
Then I fell asleep with my clothes on, laptop next to me with work open, and the lights on. Oops.
I hit up the cooler first and picked out grapefruit juice. Apparently no one drinks it, so it was all dusty. Other items in the cooler were varying levels of mostly clean->dusty. Then I started the big game hunt - large water bottles. There were plenty of kiddie 1liter size, but I wanted the 6liter king size cause I guzzle water like an elephant or something. It took me a couple rounds cause they were crammed haphazardly on the bottom shelf of the juice isle, with no 2 matching. I searched for one I recognized as not having salt or carbonation and crossed my fingers that it tasted plain. I wanted bread, but the isles held nothing. There was a quasi deli/pastry counter that ran a length, but the lady looked bored and I didnt want to risk waking her up enough to start trying to converse with me. There wasn't any bread around her either. I picked up a liter of peach juice from the shelf and proceeded to the checkout. Ahhh I thought as I noticed a small wood shelf near checkout, just before the fields of cigarette options, that held breads. There were 2 or 3 white ones left so I snagged one. The foods dont have preservatives here so the placement makes sense, likely new bread every day.
The line hadn't changed so I was a little concerned as kids sat on the counter and drank while the register lady stared at the open drawer in puzzlement. From what i gathered of the next couple transactions, the price stickers were missing from a lot of the kids items and much running back and forth was needed from everyone involved. These were the first lot I saw with piercings and I almost wanted to say hi, but I was tired from work and didn't want to deal with anyone - hence the headphones. (although I've only talked with 1 person randomly - the potato house - I'm tired from work a lot and the Ukr. customs book says they like to talk forever, thats my excuse). I finally made it to the register, thank god the line proceeded as normal. I was afraid they were hanging out or, silly me, waiting for the police to get them for underage drinking. Now I know that will never happen. I made it to the register and the kid behind me put his stuff down too. the lady started checking him out and he said something like "that dude is first" so she rang my stuff up instead. She asked "paketa" as I fumbled for my money inside my way too small jacket pocket (there are 3 and apparently that one is too small for my wallet and I hadnt noticed before). Paketa is them asking me if I need to buy a plastic bag for like 5cents or something, I say "nyet" and thats all she needs, so I hand her about 4$ worth and get bread, 2 liters of juice and 6 liters of water. "Spicyba" I say as I leave, or "dyakyuyu", i can't remember. The first is thanks in Russian, the 2nd is Ukrainian. Mostly everyone speaks more Russian if they're my age or older.
I made it home and had canned fish with bread, and soft buttery cheese, weeee.
Then I fell asleep with my clothes on, laptop next to me with work open, and the lights on. Oops.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Ukr.day27: Hunt for the Chinese
sept17.
So after a joyous day of battling the worldy internets to submit a game build, I decided it was time I had chinese food (I miss Monday Ming's Garden from work). Regina looked on a food forum and found 5 candidates and wrote down one that was on our street that was recommended. We get there and its dark, closed. It looked decent on the outside, other than being closed. So we call a cab and figure the cabbie+dispatch will be able to find others. We only had the name/address of this one as we thought it was surely open. I took some pictures of a cool hotel while we waited for the cab.
After braving the jutting train tracks and bumps that would destroy the unprepared drivers' cars, we arrive at a chinese restaurant with nice lighting and architecture only to find the parking lot empty. I ask if it is closed. Regina runs out to check...closed. Argh!
I'll update after work (update:someday).
So after a joyous day of battling the worldy internets to submit a game build, I decided it was time I had chinese food (I miss Monday Ming's Garden from work). Regina looked on a food forum and found 5 candidates and wrote down one that was on our street that was recommended. We get there and its dark, closed. It looked decent on the outside, other than being closed. So we call a cab and figure the cabbie+dispatch will be able to find others. We only had the name/address of this one as we thought it was surely open. I took some pictures of a cool hotel while we waited for the cab.
After braving the jutting train tracks and bumps that would destroy the unprepared drivers' cars, we arrive at a chinese restaurant with nice lighting and architecture only to find the parking lot empty. I ask if it is closed. Regina runs out to check...closed. Argh!I'll update after work (update:someday).
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