If it is free, take two.

Just a few random odds and ends.

Yesterday I was out for a walk and saw a 2 year old boy with a tee shirt which said "I want to make love with you" hmmm. Kinda weird dontcha think? I think if I bought a shirt for my child with writing in another language I would want to know what it says. Reminds of the time we were here in 1999 and saw a guy wearing a tee shirt which said "Gay by nature, out by choice" I told Leo - Wow! good for that guy! Leo replied - I bet he doesnt know what it says. I REALLY wanted to ask him, but Leo wouldnt let me. When I met Leo he had a sweater with the words Team Boys embroidered across the front in light blue. I wish I kept it.

I was out on Arbat today. It is a pedestrian street, but has a few cross streets which cars drive on. At each cross street there is a guard - OXPAHA - security - in full camo gear making sure only delivery trucks and really important people actually drive onto Arbat. So today I saw one, in the uniform, leaning on a barricade smoking. It was raining. He had a pink umbrella. Gads I wish I had a camera.

Mine broke. And my phone broke. So I did what any good mom would do and swiped my sons cell phone. Only a week left of school, so he doesnt need one. Man I wish I would have spent a little more than the 700 rbls ($21) on his and bought him one with a camera. oh well.

I was at the gym last Thurs - I only go Thurs afternoons now because that is the only time my nanny can come. That is why I keep packing on the kilos. kinda hard to run when I only go once a week I never feel any improvement. But I have plans for the fall people. Anyway . .. . I digress. . .. I did my little run and was in a little "training room" stretching. I was the only person in there. - The room is pretty small so it is not like you would not notice someone else. So this guy walks in. He looks like this:

This is a very famous comedy actor Evgheni Leonov. Leo says Russian Vinni Pukh was drawn for him. See the resemblance?

Anyway - Vinnie walks into the room I am in. Approaches the wall of mirrors, looks himself square in the eye and starts making the "you talkin to me?" a la Robert DeNiro Taxi Driver faces. He doesnt say anything. Just cocks his head to the side, raises an eyebrow, frowns a little. Looks menacingly at himself. Backs away, does it again. It was weird, but I just turned up my ipod and kept on doing my thing.

Ok - last thing. Today I went to Starbucks with Natasha. I picked up a few more moscow travel mugs - the super cute ones with matryushka on the front, for souveniers. I was paying and the guy said in broken english that if I got a gift card, then I would get an hour of wifi free. I said in russian. No thanks, I dont need wifi. he backs up a little, shocked, says again - it is free. I say in english - I really dont need a gift card and I dont carry a laptop with me so I dont need wifi. He is clearly shocked - explains - but you can use the gift card to pay - and the 1 hour of wifi is free! I say - I can pay with cash or my credit card and I really dont need the wifi. His female coworker comes over, says in russian "she doesnt understand - just give it to her" Why would this crazy woman turn down something free?! So he rings my purchases, which I pay cash for, then gives me a separate receipt with a special password for the wifi - clearly and loudly saying in english while pointing to it "FREE WiFi! 1 HOUR!" then hands me a gift card. The same ones they have in the states. Like you would buy if you were getting someone a gift card. So I say - what is this for? He says "you can put money on it to pay!" OK - uhm why would I do that? For some reason, Russians LOVE cards - discount cards, gift cards, membership cards, VIP cards. They love them, cherish them, collect them. No wonder the men carry purses. They have so many cards to carry around. So I ask the guy - is there money already on this card (like maybe he charged me with my knowledge, or it was part of some promotion) - he shakes his nead "no, it is 0. but to CAN put money on it!" yeah, no thanks. After natasha and I sat down at a table, I leaned over to the table near us - a guy was reading a kindle and had the english language newspaper - Hey - excuse me - you want this? slipping him my "free wifi" ticket. He laughed as he took it and said thanks.