In Russia, it’s the election

Lyovka woke up early today – which was my excuse to set to work early and interview people. I’ve discovered that being a journalist/parent to an adorable, bug-eyed infant is highly convenient. People suddenly want to talk to you.

I spoke to an impoverished pensioner who said she voted for billionaire Prokhorov, and to a young law enforcement official who expressed solidarity with the Communists and Sergei Udaltsov, whom he referred to as a “righteous dude.” Those were the comments that really stood out for me. All of the people I know, including those who are voting for Vladimir Putin, are highly uncertain of the future. An old friend of mine who’s a Putin supporter told me that he’s being “realistic” about having Putin in office for the third term, and expressed disdain for the ruling United Russia party, which Putin is “ultimately too good for.” Strange times are upon us, either way you look at it.

My raging pharyngitis finally got the best of me, and I had to retreat homeward and call a doctor. A hot young doctor showed up and was horrified to discover that I was not in bed, but tending to Lyovka. “You need your rest!” He exclaimed dramatically. “You look like a corpse!”

Sigh. There was a time when hot guys didn’t say such things to me.

Snow is falling lightly on Novogireyevo now. My husband drove out to film polling stations in villages – and waved to me from a webcam. And proceeded to yell health advice from said webcam. The nanny has shown up, hearing I was in distress, and has taken Lyovka off my hands for a bit.

The lights are coming on in the khrushchyovkas. The world is changing. It’s just another day.