Are You A Lady?

You Are 84% Lady

No doubt about it, you are a lady with impeccable etiquette You know how to put others at ease, even if their manners aren't the greatest.

Are You A Lady?

Relieved

I finally heard from my dear friend who lives in Russia. (Who I mentioned a couple of posts ago.) She is still in Moscow, safe, and doing alright. I got an email from her this morning. I am so relieved. I was starting to get really worried about her.

I also drank alcohol last night. It was the first time I had a drink after about a month of purposefully not drinking. I was able to have a couple of drinks, and stop there, before I got drunk. I'm relieved and pleased about this. I was a little scared that I was starting to develop a drinking problem. THis doesn't mean I'm going to start allowing myself to drink frequently anytime soonI still intend to stay away from alcohol pretty much until March. I'm happy that I was able to stop at a reasonable point last night though.

What Do Your Bathroom Habits Say About You?

What Your Bathroom Habits Say About You

You are very independent and self-centered. You don't solve other people's problems - and you don't expect them to solve yours. Your look is put together, classic, and stylish. You always look fashionable without trying. You are a very outgoing person. You are true to yourself, and you never hold back. In relationships, you tend to be very romantic and demanding. You'll treat your partner like gold, but you expect a lot in return.

What Do Your Bathroom Habits Say About You?


Okay, I don't think that they could be much more wrong on this one! *L*

Thursday Art Post

Just one thing to post this week, and that's Picture History. It is certainly cool enough to warrent a post of it's own.

"We have compiled a collection of thousands of the most important photographs of the last 150 years; pictures of our struggles, trials, and triumphs. We can only fully understand our history by gazing into the eyes of the people that made that history. Their eyes will tell a story that no words can. Browse the images by Theme, or use the search tool to find a picture or period of interest."

What Season Are You?

You Belong in Fall

Intelligent, introspective, and quite expressive at times... You appreciate the changes in color, climate, and mood that fall brings Whether you're carving wacky pumpkins or taking long drives, autumn is a favorite time of year for you

What Season Are You?

I'm re-employed, kind of

Our lead salesman and a couple of other people are going to try to start a new company, with the best of workers from our old company. We'll still have a few of our clients, since they of course got no notice either. So hopefully, things will work out better than I thought they would.

I'm unemployed

I just found out from a friend who I work with. They are shutting down the Minneapolis office. This sucks.

I'm starting to get worried or The Georgian/ Russian spy dispute keeps esculating

Okay, so I know that I told you all about this grand idea I had to group together similarly themed articles and post them on particular days of the week. I also know that I haven't done it at all.

At this point you are all thinking "What the hell Aeryn? You're not posting anything but silly blogthing quizzes!" aren't you? Yup, I thought so.

Well here's why, short answer. I've been very worried about a dear, dear friend all weekend. One who I can't get a hold of, and may be stuff in the middle of a very sticky political mess because of her ethnicity. She is a Georgian citizen living in Moscow. (Georgia the country, not the state.) Or at least, she was living in Moscow as of Thursday, which was the last time Xombii or I heard from her. I've been busy hunting down Russian and Georgian news sites in English, and following the story all weekend.

Ready for the full story yet? Here it is-

I have a very dear friend, Xpyredmind, who was born in Georgia and lives in Moscow. She was a foreign exchange student with Xombii's family in high school, and he introduced us through the internet last winter. We immediately connected. In the sort of way that makes me believe in re-incarnation, because there is no other way to explain the way we both instantly warmed to each other. It felt like I had known her all of my life, or perhapes since the beginning of time.

It's not just that I found her to be sweet, and funny, and easy to love. (Although I did.) Or what she had also liked me instantly too. (Although she did.) It wasn't like meeting a stranger that you know you will become friends with. It was more like feeling of a being reunited with a long lost, and much loved friend. We understand each other in the sort of way that only long time friends can. Despite the fact that we don't have that history of shared experiences, and in fact have hugely different pasts. I'm struggling to try to explain my feeling to you here, maybe because I have difficulty explaining them to myself. I suppose that if you have a friendship like this, you will understand. It's not a romantic feeling, nor is it purely just friendship. It goes beyond both. I don't think that there are words for what I want to say. At least not in the English language.

It's probably about time that I start detailing the current situation anyway. I'm going to reference the BBC a lot in here, so please trust me that I've done my homework on this one, because I have. I'll note the other sources I used too. The BBC simply has the most concise articles I've seen. Plus, the articles are written by some one for whom English is their native language, so it's a bit easier to read. If you would like a little background info on the two countries, here is the BBC's profiles for Georgia, and profile for Russia. Here is a good Q&A on Russian-Georgian Ties & Relations.

Here is a pretty good, but very general, article summarizing the events of the past week from Georgia Today.
I'm going to do this in a timeline. I think it will make it easier all around. I'll include links to relevant articles for those who want to a more in depth view of the situation.

Fri, Oct. 27 -

• Georgians arrest four Russian military officers in Tblisi, the capital, and charged them with spying.
• Moscow immediately demanded their release. Russian president Vladimir Putin says that they if the officers are not returned, Russia will get them back by what ever means necessary.
• Russia's migration service suspends the issuing of all visas to Georgians, and says that 180-day visas held by Georgians already in Russia would be cut to 90 days.
  
• Georgian citizens on watch growing developments with unease, and pride.
• Georgia's stance sparks pride and fear- BBC Article

Sun. Oct. 1-

• Russian President Vladmir Putin accused Georgia on Sunday of "state terrorism with hostage-taking."

Mon. Oct. 2-

• Georgia releases the four Russian officers. They are not doing it because of threats from Russia, or international pressure they say, but as a gesture of goodwill.
  
• Russia suspends all transportation, post, and money transfers between Russia & Georgia.

Tues. Oct. 3-

• Despite the release of four Russian officers, Russia refuses to lift sanctions.
• Moscow maintains Georgia blockade - BBC
  
• EU urges Russia to end blockade -BBC
• Unease grips Georgians in Russia - BBC

Thurs. Oct. 5-

• Russia's parliament backs President Putin tough sanctions against Georgia.
• Georgian restaurants and businesses are raided.
• Russia's migration service says that the suspension of visas to Georgians would be extended, and that 180-day visas held by Georgians already in Russia would be cut to 90 days.
• Xombii talks to Xpyredmind briefly on IM. This is the last time that she is on line that I know of.
  
• Russia turns screw on Georgians - BBC

Fri. Oct. 6-

• Between 130 - 150 Georgian citizens are deported to Tbilsi on supposed visa violations. The Georgians were rounded up in police raids over the previous week. Some deportees say that their documents are in order. Some are married to Russian citizens, have children who are Russian citizens, and have been living in Russia for 20 years or more.
  
• The Russian plane takes 178 Russians out of Georgia, which Moscow claims is now for its citizens.
• Georgian officials are at the airport to hand each one a basket of grapes and two bottles of wine - one white, one red - before they climbed on board. They were also given red roses, the symbol of a 2003 "Rose Revolution," which propelled Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to power.
• None of the Russians who spoke to Reuters said they were leaving because they feared staying in Georgia.
• Moscow police ask schools to draw up lists of pupils with Georgian surnames as part of their search for illegal immigrants. Raids on Georgian businesses and citizens continue.
  
• Georgians deported as row deepens - BBC
  
• Georgia deportees describe ordeal - BBC
  

Sat. Oct. 7-

• Georgia's Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili calls Russia's actions a "mild form of ethnic cleansing."
• Georgia chides Russia 'cleansing' - BBC
  
• Russia tightens screws by starting to deport Georgian 'illegals' - The Independent
• Georgia deportees fly in, Russians leave with wine - Reuters

Sun. Oct. 8-

• Georgia's President Saakashvili prohibits the landing at the Tbilisi airport of Russian emergencies ministry's cargo planes carrying Georgian citizens, saying it was unacceptable to use cargo planes to transport people.
• Russia has no plans to annex Georgian territories - Ivanov - RIA Novosti

Mon. Oct. 9-

• At least 200 additional Georgians living in Moscow await deportation. Some accounts put that number at over 300.
  
• Even if all their paperwork was in order, Georgian citizens will not be able to go back to Russia for the next five years because of the large stamps in their passports that say DEPORTED.
• Georgians all over Moscow are increasingly afraid because of police round-ups, raids, and civilian violence and hate crimes against Georgians. Many do not want leave their homes. Many no longer have jobs to go to even if they did leave.
  
• Still no word from my friend. I'm trying to tell myself that she's just laying low for a few days, or spent the weekend at a friends house. I really, really hope that is what is going on.
  
• Georgian Deportations are "Soft Ethnic Cleansing" - The Messenger
• Georgia delays Russian expulsions - BBC
• Russia asks Georgia to admit 2 evacuating planes in next 2 days - RIA Novosti
• Fearful Georgians Shut Down Stalls and Eateries - The Moscow Times.
  
• Georgia punished over spy arrests - The Australian
  

If you would rather get your news by video & pictures, here you go-

• How the 'Spy Row' as it is being called, started to escalate (BBC Oct. 03, 2006 1min 34sec)
  
• Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili speaks out (BBC Oct. 02, 2006 3min 10sec)
• In pictures: Russia-Georgia crisis (BBC Oct. 02, 2006)
  
• In pictures: Russia-Georgia row (BBC Oct. 06, 2006)

Sources:

• The Australian
  
• BBC News
• CNN
  
• Georgia Today
• The Independent
• The Messenger
• The Moscow Times
  
• Reuters
• RIA Novosti (Russian News and Information Agency)
  

How Scary Are You?

You Are a Little Scary

You've got a nice edge to you. Use it.

How Scary Are You?

Are You Romantic or Realistic?

You Are A Realist

When it comes to romance, you tend to take a realistic approach. You believe that love takes time, and it's something you have to work hard for. A bit cynical, over the top romance tends to get under your skin. Your heart is difficult to win ... but it's totally worth it.

Are You Romantic or Realistic?

Yeah, that's pretty much true. I do have a soft spot for grand displays of love though!