I told Hubby the one thing that I wanted for Christmas was this song — and he found it! *giddy* I’ve looked the past few years, and couldn’t get it online. I get so sentimental. It just doesn’t feel like the holidays without the Leprikonsi.
Ну, Дед Мороз! Ну, Дед Мороз!
Ну, Дед Мороз, погоди!
Another reason I’m infatuated with Google is Google Labs newest search engine toy, In Quotes.
Try it. . . Find out what McCain, Obama, or any one of many major politicians have said on any issue recently. I can see so many bloggers and pundits having fun with this one!
(via LifeHacker)
GIBSON: Would you favor putting Georgia and Ukraine in NATO?
PALIN: Ukraine, definitely, yes. Yes, and Georgia.
GIBSON: Because Putin has said he would not tolerate NATO incursion into the Caucasus.
PALIN: Well, you know, the Rose Revolution, the Orange Revolution, those actions have showed us that those democratic nations, I believe, deserve to be in NATO.
Putin thinks otherwise. Obviously, he thinks otherwise, but…
GIBSON: And under the NATO treaty, wouldn’t we then have to go to war if Russia went into Georgia?
PALIN: Perhaps so. I mean, that is the agreement when you are a NATO ally, is if another country is attacked, you’re going to be expected to be called upon and help.
But NATO, I think, should include Ukraine, definitely, at this point and I think that we need to — especially with new leadership coming in on January 20, being sworn on, on either ticket, we have got to make sure that we strengthen our allies, our ties with each one of those NATO members.
We have got to make sure that that is the group that can be counted upon to defend one another in a very dangerous world today.
“Let’s die, my brothers, or on high
Maintain the flag of liberty
To perish
“The Girls” were my boys’ best friends in Ukraine. They are visiting the States for a little while and were recently at Heather’s church. I hope they come to Florida! One of the hardest things about the choices we’ve made in our lives is how far away so many people are, people who are very dear to us. Email and internet help, but aren’t the same.
I was surfing around some UkrBlogs and then YouTube, and when watching this version of Razom Nas Bahato, thought I saw Hubby. Look closely around seconds 23-25. See the grey hat guy with a goatee? The quality isn’t that great, and Hubby didn’t do much chanting. . .so I’m not certain. But Hubby wore that grey knit hat all winter, and in Ukraine, only Americans and Ukrainian pastors had goatees. . .
Гагарин, я Вас любила
Он обернулся простой такой
И белозубый, незнакомый,
Пригладил волосы рукой,
Пока еще не сведен оскомой
Добрый-добрый рот его,
Нежной-нежной щетиной рыжей
Касался, пусть бы был никто,
Прощай, прощай, родной, бесстыжий.Жизнь била, била, да.
Жизнь крыла спалила
Гагарин, я Вас любила.Не знал он после, как долго я
Плыла осколком его медали,
И в спину била его струя,
И жал он молча свои педали.Больно-больно потом упал,
Расшибился. Из-под обломков
Извлек себя и начертал
По фюзеляжу златой иголкой.Жизнь била, била, да.
Жизнь крыла спалила
Гагарин, я Вас любилаКак будто правда, что Млечный Путь
Господь спустил ему на лампасы
Его погоны горят, как ртуть,
Он так прекрасен, что нас колбасит.
Белым светом наполнен он,
Добрый, славный себе смеется,
Душа его, как полигон,
Ему светло и ей поетсяЖизнь била, била, да.
Жизнь крыла спалила
Гагарин, я Вас любила
This is one of my favorite pop songs from when we lived in Ukraine. Jen reminded me of it recently, and now I have the words and tune going through my head. The main line is Gagarin, I loved you, referring to cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. I found the words, but so far I haven’t been able to find an online clip of the song. If anyone finds it, will you give me the link?
Listen to “Gagarin” by Underwood here.
I don’t really know what is going on. . . one of the difficult things about living on this side of the pond.
However, my friend in Kherson e-mailed me to alert me about the political unrest, especially in Kyiv.
It makes me cry. I know that some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. And though the Lord worked mightily in the winter of ‘04-’05, still much of that was political and not spiritual–so why am I surprised at the recent events?
More info:
From Neeka
From our friend Dan
From Homeward Bound
These are some images from my teammate in Ukraine, Little Mrs. Reformed, showing the pysanky and paska that were so common in the this time of year in Ukraine.
R7 (when he had just turned 6) is standing on the radiator and looking out of the boys’ bedroom window in Kyiv. That flat was on the 15th floor, and provided a great view of the construction of the yellow/triangular-roofed building.
(Kyiv, March 2005)
I’ve been feeling so sentimental about Ukraine the past month. Maybe because one year ago we were in the midst of the Orange Revolution. Maybe because I’m feeling more settled now, and “safer” to start missing Ukraine.
The holiday season has seemed so different. I really got used to preparing our family / American friend Christmas for December 25th. Then celebrating New Year’s with our Ukrainian friends. And then a religious observance of Ukrainian Christmas. This year everything seems so. . . rushed.
My dear friend Laura has just returned from serving over three years in Ukraine. We are hoping to have her join us for New Year’s. Have some familiarity, continuity, for us both.
One of the things I’m missing is the Christmas music I got used to in Ukraine. This song (though another version, which I can’t find to play online) has been going through my head all week. I keep trying to change the radio station to find one playing it, but they are all playing American traditional music. It’s a song from a children’s cartoon series about a wolf and rabbit (and it may be an older folk song, I don’t know.) The version I heard on the radio all the time in Kyiv was a pop one done by the groups “The Leperchauns”. The music video for it was fun, too.
НОВОГОДНЯЯ ПЕСЕНКА. из мультфильма “Ну, погоди!”
Расскажи, Снегурочка, где была?
Расскажи-ка, милая, как дела?
За тобою бегала, Дед Мороз,
Пролила немало я горьких слёз!Припев:
А ну-ка, давай-ка плясать выходи!
Нет, Дед Мороз! Нет, Дед Мороз!
Нет, Дед Мороз, погоди!
Ждёт моих подарочков ребятня,
И тебе достанется от меня!
Наконец сбываются все мечты,
Лучший мой подарочек, это – ты!Припев:
А ну-ка, давай-ка плясать выходи!
Нет, Дед Мороз! Нет, Дед Мороз!
Нет, Дед Мороз, погоди!Проигрыш.
Ну, Дед Мороз! Ну, Дед Мороз!
Ну, Дед Мороз, погоди!
I’m missing Ukraine.
The boys got a book on Ukraine from the library. I got an e-mail from a teammate in Kyiv with greeting from Babushka. I haven’t done well in e-mailing our Ukrainian friends.
I’m feeling sad and sentimental and missing Ukraine.
That’s our Yulia! And yes, the women in Ukraine are tall, gorgeous and well-dressed.
(Via Google News)
After a meeting yesterday, Hubby and I went to one of our favorite coffee hangouts, the Fashion Cafe. The decor is great, they broadcast fashion shows all day long, they have two walls of English language books for sale, and they have some of the best cappuccino in town.
I was browsing through the business section of the Kyiv Post, when I came across this article,
American firm claims ‘key role’ in revolution
Rock Creek Cooperative says they helped coordinate online media for Orange Revolution, but gov’t begs to differ
A guy who regularly comments on Hubby’s blog e-mailed this week about tonight’s Speeding Lisa concert at Art Club 44. It was great. There is just something about good rock’n'roll that is balm to the soul.
They started the set with a rousing rendition of Razom Nas Bagato, but leaving out Ми не бидло, Ми не козли. A bit of whimsy came across in Back in the USSR. The Ukrainian girls behind us went wild for Basket Case and I’m a Believer (during which I couldn’t help but think about Joe’s recent post and wondering if any seeker-types out there had already fiddled with the lyrics and included it in a church service.)
The rest of the show rocked, and I must say my fave is still Anarchy in the Ukraine. The only thing that could have improved the music would be adding Bullet with Butterfly Wings. *hint, hint*
We saw a few people we knew there, and had a chance to visit with Castor after the show. It was a great night and I don’t remember the last time I got home from a date at 3:30 am. Check out Hubby’s blog for some pics.
Yes, our dear Yulia Tymoshenko was appointed Prime Minister today. She’ll be confirmed by parliament in mid February.
(Via Kyiv Post)
Victor Yushchenko was inaugurated today.
What a victory for the people of Ukraine! A triumph over corruption!
My Mom wrote to me from Chicago, Today I watched the inauguration of Yuschenko and felt joy for the Ukranians as they sang with their orange scarves bundling hopeful hearts….and felt close to you. . . I am glad you will take home a greater part of history. . .
Both the inauguration and that note made me smile and cry.
More inaugaration photos at Le Sabot, Orange Ukraine, Blog de Connard, and Neeka’s Backlog.
In some corners, people still refuse to accept the validity of the Orange Revolution. They do not want to see that it sprang up from the Ukrainian people themselves. They find comfort, or political advantage, in positing elaborate political conspiracies in an attempt to minimize the truly momentous, peaceful revolution it was.
Those of us who live in Ukraine or intimately understand the region clearly see that the Orange Revolution did come from the hearts of the people of Ukraine.
Over at Le Sabot, Hubby is dialoging with Justin Raimondo of antiwar.com. He’s well known for his attacks on basically anything America does. Raimondo’s anti-Yushchenko (and anti-Ukraine?) rants are simply grasping at air. Why is it some people seem so set upon seeing machinations and conspiracies instead of appreciating this movement for democracy and true freedom?
If you’ve heard any of the American money bought the election screeds, you need to go over and read Le Sabot. Be sure to also read Hubby’s commentary on Jake Rudnitsky’s slapdown of the pro-Yanukovich crowd.
Update: Instapundit gets in on the action: A fly, SWATTED.
Also joining in are BloggledyGook, Fire Ant Gazette, The Senescent Man, The Argus here AND here, and in the comments were Orange Ukraine, Aris Katsaris, Ivan Lenin and Mr. Tom G. Palmer. If I were Justin Raimondo, I think I’d go crawl under a rock. . .
Dan and Lesya over at Orange Ukraine have taken on the unenviable task of trying to supply Orange Revolution stuff for those outside of Ukraine. They’re working out the details.
Get yours while it lasts. Or do the Ukrainian thing, and apply orange liberally and creatively wherever you go, whatever you wear.
More New Year’s photos from Maidan, courtesy of Hubby.
These aren’t my boys, but my boys would certainly join them in accessorizing with orange ribbons.
Photo from obdymok, thanks to Hello.
“I met Kathy during the Cold War days, doing rallies and events in support of freedom and democracy for the Soviet bloc. (She loved Ukraine deeply — to this day most of what I know about Ukrainian culture is what she taught me — but she cheerfully worked to free all the Captive Nations.) At the time, most people thought the Cold War would go on for decades. Only true believers did the work Kathy did. There was no glory in it; certainly no money (one usually had to supply one’s own money) nor prestige. . . . But Kathy wanted Ukraine to be free and she was in the cause because of that love. I can’t say I am surprised to see that she is still on the job, because I never met anyone more dedicated to the freedom of her homeland than Kathy.
Amy Ridenour has a great post about when she knew and worked with Kateryna Chumachenko Yushchenko.
Quite a vivid difference from Lyudmilla “And their hands reach out for another orange” Yanukovich.
(Via FeebleKnees)
55.21% Yushchenko!
44.01% Yanukovich
From the Central Election Committee
99.09% of the votes tabulated
Reported at 3:38 p.m.
Watch the celebrations here and here. The boys are going around the flat singing, Yushchenko! Tak! Yushchenko! Tak! Nash president, tak, tak! They’re even more excited about Yushchenko’s election than they were about Bush’s. . . And that’s saying something.
If you are just starting to follow what is going on in Ukraine, let me help you find the heart of the matter. As our friend Lena wrote,
“. . .2 month ago I guessed that I live in the worst country in the world. I was oppressed when I could not see a dignity in my fellow citizens, willingness to freedom and happiness. . . . November, 22 I started to be really proud of my co-citizens. Now I can see that they are not passive mammals who want just to dig comfortable burrow, to generate they own posterity and to finish life in poverty, pretending that there is no another way. Since November, 22 there are not a crowd on the main square of my country. This is the PEOPLE. . . . And now I know for sure that there are a lot of us. But we are not only the force who able to be the opposition to criminals and cads. It can’t be enough for me, I think. We are the people in the most exalted and humane sense of this word. And not only number turns us to be the force, but exactly these LOVE, FAITH and HOPE which live in everyone now. . .”
Serhii Rakhmanin writes in the Mirror-Weekly,
“Ukraine has been awaiting this day since 1991, when independence fell to the people’s feet as an overripe fruit from a dried tree. At that time we were not ready to digest it. . . .The number of sincere dreamers was too small. There were too few new heroes to form a new type of elite. The same old people kept their offices, having only modified their rhetoric a bit.We got a new state. . . . Yet it proved insufficient to become a nation.
. . .
We have stood this test to be rewarded with a new generation of people.
We do not want to be disillusioned again. Yet even if it happens, today’s events will be remembered by generations to come.”
And please take the time to read Oksana Zabushko’s essay on Ukrainian Solidarity.
From Ovozrevatel:
Observers shot at in Zaporizhzhya
At polling station №83 of constituency № 215 in Zaporizhzhya an hour ago, observers found a violation of the law, which centered on dozens of applications to vote at home written in the same handwriting. As soon as the observers began to draw a judicial act about the violation, the members of the election commission began to expel them from the polling station by beating them.
The observers, with a video-tape of the violations, tried to leave the constituency. At that time they were shot at. As a result, the driver was wounded near the heart, and was hospitalized.
I hope this early report is an exaggeration of what happened, and I pray the driver and all involved will sustain only minor injuries.
the Center for Social Monitoring: YUSCHENKO - 58.1%, YANUKOVYCH - 38.4%
The Razumkov Center: YUSCHENKO - 56.5%, YANUKOVYCH - 41.3%,
The Interfax-Ukraine Exit Poll: YUSCHENKO - 53%, YANUKOVYCH - 41.3%
The Luntz Research Company at the request of ICTV: Yuschenko - 56%, Yanukovych - 41%
Poll numbers courtesy of InterFax.
Note: The polls have been closed for over an hour now. These polling results, to my knowledge, reflect the results from the whole day, not just part of the day (as the misleading Kerry-leading-polling was.)
(Via OrangeUkraine)
Dan and Hubby are at Maidan, in the center of Kyiv tonight. Both are live-blogging, posting as regularly as they can in the midst of participating. Keep checking on them throughout the day to see what’s really going on here in Ukraine.
Obdymok and Veronica are also updating pretty regularly.
Today is the election day in Ukraine–the third election in less than two months. And this time, with over 12000 international observers, we all hope that this vote will be held and counted as fairly and accurately as possible.
To keep updated, check out these blogs and news sources:
UkrBlogs, in and out of Kyiv:
Hubby, at Le Sabot
Neeka’s Backlog
Orange Ukraine
Foreign Notes
obdymok
Ukraine, Oh My!
LoboWalk
The Argus
Fistful of Euros
Daniel Drezner
The Periscope
SCSU Scholars
A Step at a Time
EuroPhobia
UkrNews in English:
Kyiv Post high integrity
PORA News
Maidan News
Ukraine Now
Ukraine Observer
ObozRevaTel
Mirror Weekly
Google News - Ukraine
EinNews - Ukraine
Hotline News
And, a big thanks to Instapundit, for keeping the Orange Revolution on the minds of his readers. *grin*