Friday, April 3, 2009

Only Six More Weeks of Winter!

So yesterday, I'm walking with the girls past Lubyanka, on our way home from school, and my phone rings.

Yeah, I do get a sort of thrill out of saying, "I was walking past Lubyanka . . ." (It's the tallest building in Russia, you know. You can see Siberia from the basement . . . . pa-DUM-dum.)

It was one of those weird conversations where all I got out of it was " . . . I'm a friend of . . . recording . . . need American female voice . . . Can you help us?"

Um, yeah. I guess. If you don't mind a flat Midwestern accent.

As is the case with all things 1. Moscow and 2. Creative, this was Sort of a Rush. But I agree to help her Friday (today).

Now, unlike most days, today was flat out crazy. Usually I stand at my apartment door in my pajamas and wave goodbye at 7:30 a.m. as The Spouse and The Children go off to school/work.

Today I went out the door with them.

First, we delivered the children to school. (By the way, it was quite sunny then.)

Then we had a coffee while waiting to

Meet with Skittles' teacher. . . A fellow we suspected of being an anal-retentive asshole. But we left the meeting thinking he was a rather nice guy who was having a very difficult time here in Moscow and who perhaps was deserving of both hugs and maybe even a coveted (because I would have to clean AND cook) Sunday lunch invite . . .

Here we split off. The Spouse went to work and I went to the

US Embassy

to have Skittles' old passport canceled. (For some reason this had to be done . . . I don't understand why, but anyhow . . .)

This took, with the security checks, all of FIVE minutes and at 10:05 EXACTLY I was out the door and heading back to the Metro.

Which I took up to Belorusskaya to meet the woman who called me yesterday. Seems she is part of a television production company making a reality show, and, as they are marketing the show abroad, she needed to dub the whole thing in English.

So we did the promotional episode.

One hour (and $100 cash in my pocket) later it was a wrap. If the show gets picked up, she'll give me a call back, she says. Because "it went so quickly" with me. Like I have ANY experience with this at all. I felt like a character in an Almodóvar film. Aren't they always dubbing movies?

(Hey . . . now it's snowing! What's up with that?)

Back in the Metro and down to Lenin Library where I dropped off the canceled passport at The Spouse's office. Before scampering back over by Lubyanka to have a little lunch and a chat with a Polish filmmaker I met who wants to do a project involving expat women. I'm not sure where this is going to go, although we discussed the ubiquitous Central Asians all the sushi chains seem to deem vital to their Eastern ambiance. She's got some ideas here.

After that it was all downhill: home by 4:00 p.m. Then cello lesson for Baboo. A quick run to the grocery store (in the rain) for vodka for The Spouse. Followed by a nutritious dinner of frozen pizza and potato chips.

THAT's good parentin'.

Good thing tomorrow is Saturday. I can sleep in.

After all, there's only six more weeks of winter.

10 comments:

Susan said...

Katherine has been down at our house for less than a week and we've had frozen pizza twice.
Thats not bad parenting, thats good logic!!!

Tami said...

Whew! That made me tired just reading about it. We're having frozen pizza tonight. Its not bad parenting, its great Friday Night, Movie night, food. At least that's my excuse. ;>)

Jen said...

You are becoming quite the media star :)
Look out Oprah!

valentina said...

Oh what fun it is to read about your daily life there! And I am so delighted that you are getting these gigs! I think you would be great on tv like on one of those magazine type news programs...like the interview with the guy in the snow...That was fabulous! You seem utterly unselfconscious!

And as for pizza on Friday nights...What could be more fun? Your girls will remember those Friday nights with pizza in Moscow! aka "making memories" to use the old Rosenthal expression...

I hope it warms up there. It definitely is a drag to have all that snow. Today was grey all day and rainy and so even though the tulips are blooming and the daffs are brilliant it was not a lovely spring day, alas. But it is the weekend and that is great!

So enjoy sleeping in tomorrow!
xov

Annie said...

I'm so envious! I have sometimes done voice overs myself....but not lately.

It is fun to hear about your day! I had always imagined that, if we lived in Russia, we'd eat better.....maybe not. I'm afraid that if frozen pizza is available, I'm there (despite longings to the contrary).

Tina in CT said...

Do they have regular pizzaria's there?

It was rainy and gray here today but we need it as March was very dry.

The Expatresse said...

Yes, there are decent pizza places here, but they can be expensive. My favorite place is in the $15/pizza range. And that's for a pepperoni pizza. But they are big enough for two people, I guess. We just don't usually share (but graze on the leftovers).

That involves calling, however. In Russian. Or going out in the rain. Although I did master ordering sushi for delivery via the Internet.

JuliaDeVillers said...

Hi! Would love to touch base with you... enjoying your blog! could you please email me at juliadv@aol.com? Thanks!! Julia in Ohio....

Tina in CT said...

I wonder what still goes on in the bowels of the Lubyanka!

Anonymous said...

Louis Vuitton,LV Luggage,LV Wallets,LV Agendas,LV Belts,LV Shoes,LV Accessories,Gucci,Gucci Wallets,Gucci Shoes,Marc Jacobs handbags,Marni handbags,Miu Miu handbags,Mulberry handbags,Prada handbags,Thomaswylde handbags,TOD handbags,Bottega Veneta handbags,D&G handbags,Dior handbags,YSL handbags,Coach handbags