Tim spent his childhood in Kiev and now his Mom lives here. So, we visit at least twice a year. It is a lovely city (much better than Moscow!): very friedly, beautiful, green, and relaxing. Coming here is always a nice escape (especially in the summer).

These trans-Atlantic flights will be the death of me yet. Gruesome in their length and merciless in their close confinement -- in the window seat, no less. Hours in limbo somewhat mitigated by finishing Bulgakov's "White Guard" and intermittent free-ranging conversation with my seatmate, a lovely Finnish physicist returning from a conference in ...