Jul 11, 2022·edited Jul 11, 2022Liked by Edward Slavsquat
Riley, I think you have proven to us all that you deserve something better than your humbly chosen squatting gopnik nickname! Perhaps something literary, but connected to Russia. Your writing style reminds me a lot of Ilf and Petrov (tandem writers) that wrote satirical novels about the life in early USSR in the late 1920s and early 1930s, "The Golden Calf" and "Twelve Chairs", you must have at least heard about them as a lot of memes living to this day come out of these two novels. So perhaps we could call you Edward Ilf? ))) Btw, it is widely rumored that it was Michail Bulgakov himself who wrote these masterpieces as he was in need of money at that time, but wasn't much printed by Soviet publishers, so he became a ghostwriter for these two journalists that never before or again wrote nothing even close to these two popular novels in the magnitude of talent. But, if Hemingway is your shtick (I like his writing too!), perhaps we can call you Edward Hemingwayson? I hope my mild jokes don't upset you in any way ))), I honestly think you are a very talented writer and your collection of short stories about your adventures in Russia and elsewhere would do very well!
Jul 11, 2022·edited Jul 11, 2022Liked by Edward Slavsquat
Bukowski meets Kerouac in Tbilisi with hints of bacchanalia and female rejection. You've revealed a universal truth: "[T]hey both understood, intuitively, that I would gladly drink their disgusting girly cocktails." We've all been there. Alone with the drink but with the girl long gone. In my case, I was the young fool buying them drinks and leaving the with number for "Telephone Information" scrawled on a napkin.
Parenthetically what's the answer to this question: "After all—aren’t we all the same, at least on Instagram?" Is the answer that, ultimately, we're all legends in our own social media fiction?
Thanks, Riley, for providing a very entertaining and informative account about a place i have heard about but not much directly from someone who is there currently. Had an aunt who was born there, but never talked to her about that part of her life. Best wishes on getting back to your abode at some point.
So, how long does it take to establish a "residency" in Georgia in order to be allowed to file for another private visa to Russia? ....Asking for a friend...
Here is an anecdote about Tbilisi. For "cultural enrishment," I guess. :)
Sometime in the mid- or late-1980s, someone I knew went to Tbilisi for a scholarhip (or was it a conference? I forget). She was invited to a party and decided to take a cab back to the hotel in the wee hours of the morning.
The cab driver stopped in the middle of a little forest and tried to rape her. She was lucky; managed to run away and survived the incident unscathed.
In Tbilisi, an unescorted woman after dark was considered a whore, someone who offered herself up for free sex. Well, that's only Sharia law. Welcome to multiculturalism! :)
Mister Edward, how fast do you have to run up The Hill to get a Sputnik V exemption, and did you try the green drank sizzurp yet? I hear it does wonders for the adrenals.
Riley, I think you have proven to us all that you deserve something better than your humbly chosen squatting gopnik nickname! Perhaps something literary, but connected to Russia. Your writing style reminds me a lot of Ilf and Petrov (tandem writers) that wrote satirical novels about the life in early USSR in the late 1920s and early 1930s, "The Golden Calf" and "Twelve Chairs", you must have at least heard about them as a lot of memes living to this day come out of these two novels. So perhaps we could call you Edward Ilf? ))) Btw, it is widely rumored that it was Michail Bulgakov himself who wrote these masterpieces as he was in need of money at that time, but wasn't much printed by Soviet publishers, so he became a ghostwriter for these two journalists that never before or again wrote nothing even close to these two popular novels in the magnitude of talent. But, if Hemingway is your shtick (I like his writing too!), perhaps we can call you Edward Hemingwayson? I hope my mild jokes don't upset you in any way ))), I honestly think you are a very talented writer and your collection of short stories about your adventures in Russia and elsewhere would do very well!
My comment: Gamarjoba!
Bukowski meets Kerouac in Tbilisi with hints of bacchanalia and female rejection. You've revealed a universal truth: "[T]hey both understood, intuitively, that I would gladly drink their disgusting girly cocktails." We've all been there. Alone with the drink but with the girl long gone. In my case, I was the young fool buying them drinks and leaving the with number for "Telephone Information" scrawled on a napkin.
Parenthetically what's the answer to this question: "After all—aren’t we all the same, at least on Instagram?" Is the answer that, ultimately, we're all legends in our own social media fiction?
Great blog! So interesting. Thanks!
Looking forward to the duel with daggers from the flea market!
Loved it!! Thanks for making me smile!
too funni..
I think he needs help there.
Thanks, Riley, for providing a very entertaining and informative account about a place i have heard about but not much directly from someone who is there currently. Had an aunt who was born there, but never talked to her about that part of her life. Best wishes on getting back to your abode at some point.
So, how long does it take to establish a "residency" in Georgia in order to be allowed to file for another private visa to Russia? ....Asking for a friend...
How exciting! My inner mountain savage insists I must see this hill.
Wow! This is good stuff! Imagine finding a shebeen on a random rooftop in Tbilisi.
Sounds like you've arrived!
Here is an anecdote about Tbilisi. For "cultural enrishment," I guess. :)
Sometime in the mid- or late-1980s, someone I knew went to Tbilisi for a scholarhip (or was it a conference? I forget). She was invited to a party and decided to take a cab back to the hotel in the wee hours of the morning.
The cab driver stopped in the middle of a little forest and tried to rape her. She was lucky; managed to run away and survived the incident unscathed.
In Tbilisi, an unescorted woman after dark was considered a whore, someone who offered herself up for free sex. Well, that's only Sharia law. Welcome to multiculturalism! :)
Has anything changed?
Mister Edward, how fast do you have to run up The Hill to get a Sputnik V exemption, and did you try the green drank sizzurp yet? I hear it does wonders for the adrenals.