Chapt. 293 - 2,969 words
Is capitalism dying? Does Obama know? Am I going to Spain?
MOSCOW, May 9, 2009 -- 3393 hits

Easter, Mayday, Victory Day
Money continues to fly away
Will I?
How is Russia faring?
Dissident predicts Russia's demise – again
New student says Kosygin planned change
Does Obama face same fate as Gorbuchev?

Chapt. 292 - 3,710 words
Russia: “Best Place to Live? - “Bullshit”
MOSCOW, March 30, 2009 -- 2530 hits

Alone-except for Missy and the snow
Progress toward Spain slow against the bureaucracies
Capitalism dying? What will the world look like in 10 years?
What does the economic crisis look like in Russia?
"Russia best place to live in 10 years" - "bullshit"
says student
Kremlin fears revolution – and they may be right, says researcher

Chapt. 290 - 2,102 words
The red queen is back!
MOSCOW, December 23, 2008 -- 2559 hits

Return of the Red Queen
Moving to Spain gets easier – or does it?
Living in a cauldron
Predictions for 2008 came true –
Except I'm still alive
To warn you of bad times ahead!

Chapt. 288 - 3,345 words
Solzhenitsyn Bites the Dust; was he great?
Autust 8, 2008 -- 3142 hits

08/08/08 passes into history
...as does Solzhenitsyn
My take on him
A dissident's take on him
Other students' views
Zhorik has been here a month
And other things have happened
Igor is in Moldova
A rosy future with Zhorik?
Doubtful
He's jealous of Igor
My inclination toward Spain grows

Chapt. 287 – 2,233 words
Zhorik here to celebrate my 75th
MOSCOW, July 7, 2008 -- 2437 hits

My 75th birthday – with Zhorik!
Another ministroke (?)
...makes me consider American alternatives
U.S. landscape a homemade bomb ready to blow?
Swedish research gives "God made me..." a boost

Chapt. 286 – 3,085 wordsbeen spending every
Corruption victims: Keep what we’ve got
MOSCOW, June 22, 2008 -- 2564 hits

Zhorik's evasive answers raise suspicions
Despite costs, Russians prefer existing corruption
Yeltsin era photographer's videos confiscated
Dire warnings of "peak food," famines
Russia’s ag potential greater, but great obstacles
The eXile dies

Chapt. 285 – 1,662 words
Plans for Spain threatened in quadruple whammy
MOSCOW, June 16, 2008 -- 2333 hits

Sasha crushes my fantasy
"Day of Russia" gives four-day rest
Reunion with Zhorik still in abeyance
Plans for escape to Spain in jeopardy
Igor knocks up another one!
American bank account blocked
Finally, a little good news!

Chapt. 284 – 2,507 words
Apprehensions mount as reunion with Zhorik nears
MOSCOW, June 7, 2008 – 2295 hits

Zhorik is out of the army
Nizhny Novgorod Vanya surfaces - abjectly
Zhorik risks discharge, goes AWOL again,
As Sasha grows dearer – and leaves
Tabloid "eXile" threatened by authorities
Academy of Sciences again defies Kremlin
The impossible comes true: Obama is nominee

Chapt. 283 – 2,307 words
Gaining Zhorik, but losing Sasha? Igor?
MOSCOW, May 29, 2008 -- 2294 hits

I'm losing Sasha
And Igor?
But regaining Zhorik
Sasha "will love me forever"
Gas prices hurting Russians
Medvedev vows corruption fight
And independent courts
Russian, American Army suicides

Chapt. 282 – 2,839 words
Tanks again rumble on Victory Day
MOSCOW, May 11, 2008 -- 2228 hits

May Day, rumbling tanks, pass uneventfully
$ 40 million to repair damage from tanks?
Victory night with Sasha
Zhorik and I begin plans as reunion draws closer
Sergei promises no more violence after shove
Chances for sex with Igor diminish
Golden domes adorn Kiev
Unaffordable American SUVs come to Russia

Chapt. 281 – 3,061 words
Why women cover their heads in the Russian Church
MOSCOW, April 28, 2008 -- 2123 hits

Why Russian Orthodox women cover their heads
...and women don't become priests in Russia
Sasha again agrees to sex
...and wants to help Zhorik take care of me
Igor’s and my trip to Kiev
...Nearly aborted by deceitful antics
The Red Queen gets a literary agent
...and loses him!

Chapt. 280 – 2,266 words
With Sasha and Igor, life takes a satisfying turn
MOSCOW, April 6, 2008 -- 2232 hits

Sex with Sasha: Is my "cover" blown?
Cousin Katya arrives; Sergei will live with her :-)
Igor stresses permanence of our relationship
Sasha and I go Round Three
With Zhorik's arrival: A different one every night?
Zhorik acknowledges booze problem; swears off
Racism batters one of my students
"Caution! Religion!" artist disappears

Chapt. 279 – 2,354 words
Women’s Day leaves Red Queen a happy girl!
MOSCOW, March 29, 2008 -- 2201 hits

Don't wish macho teenager Happy Women's Day
But it was a happy one for me :-)
I find my limit in orgasms
Future with Zhorik a little clearer - maybe
Ivan rekindles dream of Spain
Potemkin U Students have Russian media pegged
Kennan: Let Russians be Russians

Chapt. 278 – 2018 words
New incentive to reach 80!
MOSCOW, March 4, 2008 -- 2271 hits

Volodya dangles his cock again
Sergei worried about life without me
Missing camera and depleted phone
Medvedev’s election may hold pleasant surprises

Chapt. 277 - 2869 words
Remodels: The apartment and Sasha
MOSCOW, February 14, 2008 -- 2232 hits

Nice to be missed
Apartment is getting remodeled
Sasha reappears
And revitalizes my life
With Igor a step behind
Zhorik may have serious problems
I vote for Obama

Chapt. 276 – 2,623 words
Putin succession battle brings uncertainty to Russia too
MOSCOW, January 24, 2008 -- 2508 hits

Russia's billion hangover
Perils in store for Putin/Medvedev?
Too many pesetas puts crunch on rent
No birthday for Zhorik
Still no Igor

Chapt. 275 – 3,552 words
Spain offers new future – if I have one
MOSCOW, January 9, 2008 -- 2250 hits

Spanish hospitality alive and well
Coming home to Sergei
Spain's biggest offer – a future!
Spanish soap opera continues: gay marriage or not?
American sub-prime crisis hits Spain
Obama win in Iowa: rebirth of hope
Winner will face "clusterfuck": Kunstler
2008 could be especially bad for me: fortune teller
What happened in Russia? Nothing

Chapt. 274 – 1826 words
New Year’s: Spain for me, Skids for U.S.?
MOSCOW, December 30, 2007 -- 2087 hits

Russian elections not supposed to be fair
New Year's: Spain for me, collapse for US economy?
Zhorik is jealous; is that good or bad?
Discovering what being a clophus feels like
HAPPY NEW YEAR – May we all survive it!

Chapt. 272 - 2,493 words
Contrived vote paves way for endless Putin rule
MOSCOW, December 8, 2007 -- 2411 hits

Election goes by script
Few of my students voted
New resolve to scuttle twins
But I need them for the move
18-yr.-old untouchable frustrates life
Going back to English Exchange a possibility?

Chapt. 271 – 884 words
Life without Igor restful but empty
MOSCOW, November 19, 2007 -- 2154 hits

No end in sight to Life without Igor
Election circus continues