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Project RuSu 365

Not always so successful or interesting, & not always daily, though certainly a reflection of our daily lives - more like pick of the day. Our goal - to share our world and improve our skills. Thanks to all the members of the SmugMug Daily Community for your support and input. Feel free to leave feedback by clicking on 'Add Comment' below. We look forward to hearing your thoughts. The photo of the day will always be in first position. Thank you for looking. - Rustem Safronov & Susan Gilman a.k.a. RuSu. This gallery was started on October 26, 2010.

Henri Cartier-Bresson said, "Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.", so bear with us...
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Toilet paper blues - the things we take for granted. (2.18.2012)<br /> <br /> MIA again because I was in the hospital for emergency gallbladder surgery. I ended up in one of the better hospitals thanks to one of my clients who just happens to be an abdominal surgeon. The hospital is reserved for members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, but through him, I was admitted on a commercial basis. By Russian standards, it was very expensive, but I was in a room with only one other patient and a bathroom - atypical for Russia. As they were taking me down for an ultrasound, I mentioned to my neighbor that our room needed toilet paper. Was I ever shocked to learn toilet paper isn't provided. Rustem asked one of the nurses & the reply was, "Who wants it". I did get toilet paper probably because we were paying such huge money. When I was finally back on my feet post-surgery, I learned they don't provide soap either - never got any of that. <br /> <br /> Approximately 20% of Russian hospitals don't have hot water. Well, at least I had a competent surgeon. Russia is not a good place to get sick.
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Toilet paper blues - the things we take for granted. (2.18.2012)

MIA again because I was in the hospital for emergency gallbladder surgery. I ended up in one of the better hospitals thanks to one of my clients who just happens to be an abdominal surgeon. The hospital is reserved for members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, but through him, I was admitted on a commercial basis. By Russian standards, it was very expensive, but I was in a room with only one other patient and a bathroom - atypical for Russia. As they were taking me down for an ultrasound, I mentioned to my neighbor that our room needed toilet paper. Was I ever shocked to learn toilet paper isn't provided. Rustem asked one of the nurses & the reply was, "Who wants it". I did get toilet paper probably because we were paying such huge money. When I was finally back on my feet post-surgery, I learned they don't provide soap either - never got any of that.

Approximately 20% of Russian hospitals don't have hot water. Well, at least I had a competent surgeon. Russia is not a good place to get sick.

toilet paperroll of toilet paperrusurusu photography

  • Connections. (3.9.2012)<br /> <br /> Thanks for the challenge, Billie - seems it will be a most interesting day photographically. And, thanks to all for giving yesterday's shot the top spot - difficult to resist a beautiful woman...
  • To all my women friends, Happy International Women's Day ~ may the substance of your lives be richly woven with the patterns of love & happiness and a touch of wealth thrown in for good measure. (3.8.2012)<br /> <br /> Yes, another holiday here - International Women's Day, which was actually started by the American Socialist Party in NYC in 1909. Somehow it never caught on in the States, but became a holiday here after the Russia Revolution and was subsequently celebrated throughout the Communist world. People here are always very surprised to learn it wasn't celebrated in the West and therefore, wasn't really an international holiday. I believe it was last year that Hillary Clinton congratulated women on March 8th and the U.N. seems to have adopted it, so it might truly be international someday.<br /> <br /> Here it's a day off & something of a cross between Valentine's Day & Mother's Day with flowers & chocolates de rigueur for all women. No matter what you're doing today, stop to appreciate the women in your lives!
  • Time for a Spring bag? Ferragamo for sale on Rome's Via Condotti. (3.7.2012)<br /> <br /> A big thanks for making yesterday's puppets the top shot. It's always an honor amongst so many talented photographers & equally worthy shots
  • Puppets for sale at the La Befana festival in Rome's Piazza Navona in January. (3.6.2012)<br /> <br /> Thought it best to go with something a bit more light-hearted & less provacative today so finally opened our Rome file. Thanks for all your comments yesterday - was quite surprised by your input as I really thought that shot would end up at the bottom of the barrel.
  • Chesterfield, Winston & Kent - Smoking kills. (3.5.2012)<br /> <br /> OK, I know it's gross, but didn't have anything else. This was taken while I was in the hospital - yes, smoking's allowed in certain places. By the end of the day, the ashtrays were overflowing & there were butts & ashes all over the floor.... Not a pretty picture.<br /> <br /> Thanks Billie Jean, Janet & Linda for the dinner invites. You never know, we may just show up on your doorstep one day :) <br /> <br /> It's true my North American compatriots think I've had a most interesting life - sure, two coup d'états during one of which Rustem almost lost his life, the collapse of the country, food shortages & rationing - I could go on, but suffice to say, sometimes one just longs for the ordinary....
  • Family heading towards a polling station on today's Presidential election day in Russia. (3.4.2012)<br /> <br /> This school behind our apartment building is a polling station for today's election. I couldn't help but be struck by the sign on the school saying, "We're answerable for their future", the family heading in to cast their votes, and the foregone conclusion of today's election.
  • New York State of Mind. (3.2.2012)<br /> <br /> Thanks everyone for all your comments yesterday. I'm so behind in sorting & processing & have just now started on Rustem's NYC shots from November. This one reflects my mood today.
  • Snow angel. (3.1.2012)
  • Suzdal in blue. (2.29.2012)
  • Subway entrance. (2.28.2012)
  • Baked apple pancake. (2.27.2012)<br /> <br /> I've never made traditional Russian pancakes (blini), which are thin like crepes & made with yeast. Although we'd eaten quite a few blini for last week's Maslenista (pancake week) - made, brought or bought by friends, I decided to end the holiday yesterday with this baked apple pancake.
  • Burning Mother Winter ~ the last day of Maslenitsa. (2.26.2012)<br /> <br /> The past week has been Russian Maslenitsa a.k.a. Pancake Week. The week culminates in the burning of an effigy of winter & is the start of Lent. Funny, it always seems to snow on Maslenitsa & it's by no means the end of winter. The photos aren't new & aren't great as we're somewhat housebound, me post-surgery & Rustem with pneumonia, but thought I'd put this together. We did, however, eat quite a few pancakes :) <br /> <br /> Enjoy your Sunday!
  • A typical Russian village home with traditional hand carved window frames. This one's in good condition. Many of them are totally cock-eyed as they're built without foundations & shift when the earth freezes. Insulation between those unfinished wooden planks? Horse hair! (2.25.2012)<br /> <br /> Edit: Rustem tells me they use flax, not horse hair... all about the same to me. <br /> <br /> Thanks for all your wonderful comments yesterday! Have a good weekend.
  • Uglich's Cathedral of the Transfiguration along the Volga River.
  • Today's a federal holiday here in Russia. During the Soviet era it was known as Soviet Army Day; it's now known as Defender's of the Fatherland Day. Although this day honors all those who serve and have served in the military & isn't specific to WWII, I thought I'd post this shot of a monument and eternal flame honoring those who lost their lives in WWII - the Soviet Army's greatest victory [along with a little help from the Allies]. More than 20,000,000 Soviets lost their lives during WWII, split almost equally between military & civilians. <br /> <br /> Conscription is still mandatory in Russia. Rustem was a lieutenant in the Soviet Air Force, so it's a day we celebrate. This photo was taken on the grounds of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. (2.23.2012)
  • Elders drinking tea in honor of Sagaalgan, the White Month, which starts today & celebrates the Buryat New Year. From our archives. (2.22.2012)
  • Banya kitchenette. A place to drink herbal tea after your steam bath. (2.21.2012)
  • Make shift bridge across a river in Kyrgyzstan. (2.20.2012)
  • Shadows on the wall. (2.19.2012)<br /> <br /> Was going to use this for Paula's shadow challenge, but wasn't around for it, so here it is today.
  • Toilet paper blues - the things we take for granted. (2.18.2012)<br /> <br /> MIA again because I was in the hospital for emergency gallbladder surgery. I ended up in one of the better hospitals thanks to one of my clients who just happens to be an abdominal surgeon. The hospital is reserved for members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, but through him, I was admitted on a commercial basis. By Russian standards, it was very expensive, but I was in a room with only one other patient and a bathroom - atypical for Russia. As they were taking me down for an ultrasound, I mentioned to my neighbor that our room needed toilet paper. Was I ever shocked to learn toilet paper isn't provided. Rustem asked one of the nurses & the reply was, "Who wants it". I did get toilet paper probably because we were paying such huge money. When I was finally back on my feet post-surgery, I learned they don't provide soap either - never got any of that. <br /> <br /> Approximately 20% of Russian hospitals don't have hot water. Well, at least I had a competent surgeon. Russia is not a good place to get sick.

  • Ed Murray

    on February 29, 2012

    That's an insane story....No TP and soap???? Wow. I hope you're on the mend! (Terrific PP)

  • nelli

    on February 20, 2012

    Most amazing story! Hope you are well and are now enjoying soap and toilet paper!

  • Ωi

    on February 20, 2012

    Sorry to hear you've been poorly Susan, fascinating insight into Russia's hospital system. We really do take our national health service for granted.

  • John Bennett

    on February 20, 2012

    I missed this one, hope you're OK Susan. Definitely not a good place to be sick, or need the toilet :)

  • Hershy

    on February 20, 2012

    Great details in the shot. Really surprised about Russian hospitals.

  • Art Hill

    on February 19, 2012

    Astonishing, to me, story about the hospitals, especially the toliet paper and soaps. Hope you're doing great.

  • Gene Hyder

    on February 19, 2012

    Excellent shot.

  • webstersway

    on February 19, 2012

    Very imaginative!!!

  • Lavanya

    on February 19, 2012

    Nice perspective and pp

  • Scianghetti

    on February 19, 2012

    Wow, glad you're ok - didn't realize how rough the care was over there, guess I won't complain when it takes hours waiting in the emergency room, at least we have toilet paper and soap in addition to good care. Neat shot :)

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