IronMike's 2023 log: Fewer means better, right? (EO & RUS)

[IronMike]

Russian progresses. The full-time class I was to take at the end of this month got corona'd. But that's ok. I got my 2+'s last year on my own, I'll just have to study harder and harder. I also might try that iTalki thing or try and find a local Russian speaker and trade for coffee or something.

Today also started the next Esperanto Sumoo and I'm reading La Nokta Patrolo (Night Watch), by Sergei Lukyanenko. I'd read it in English about 10 years ago. Loved it; one of the most original vampire stories ever. Good translation so far. Perhaps I'll read it or L-R it in Russian later.

[IronMike]

Survivor's getting good! They doffed their buffs and grabbed others, only to find out they were still the same colors of the current tribes, but they got all mixed up. One poor guy (Zhenya) remained with his tribe and got 4 new tribe members. Now all the others are talking and he's worried!

I love all the code-switching! These Russian-speakers are throwing in "help!" "welcome" and other English words in their conversations. Interesting, linguistics-wise.

[IronMike]

We got a puppy on Tuesday. It had been 15 months since we lost Merry, our 15-year old basenji. His breeder had another litter a while back and she knew how much we missed him, so offered us this guy. So meet Louie:



If you've ever house-broken a puppy, you know how much work that is. Thankfully, I've got some time off. I am managing to get Russian and Esperanto in, mostly tv. Castle in Russian is fun. Survivor also. Did some grammar today continuing on the theme from the verb помнить. And reading my Esperanto book. But lots of walking outside in the rain with Louie.

So much being cancelled. A swim I had in May just got cancelled. The gyms and pools around here are all closed except the gym at work. So I can still lift, but will have to go to the beach for swimming. The ocean and Walden Pond are in the mid-40s, which is a bit low for me. Hope it warms up to the 50s soon.

Hope you all stay healthy out there! Get your studying on!

[IronMike]

On Орел и решка (Heads and tails) today they're in Tahiti. Holy crap, expensive. The woman who lost is trying to survive on $100 and everything is too expensive. She wants a polynesian tattoo so she finds a box and writes on it in French that she's singing for her tattoo. 48 minutes later she gives up with no money. She's getting lots of walking in.

The woman who won immediately left Tahiti and flew to Bora Bora. She's staying on one of those island bungalows, over $1800 for two nights.

Aw, and the poor loser-woman just climbed a palm to get a coconut. She ate a piece and didn't like it, but now she's drinking the coconut water. Don't wanna be her in an hour or so.

This Corona-crap sure is helping my language, at least my TV-watching. Can't get much reading done with a puppy running around.

[IronMike]

And just like that, my plans for continuing my weight-lifting have gone kaput. The gym at work is now closed. Don't Coasties need to stay in shape? I'll have to ask my Coast Guardsman son.

I'm going in to work on M/T to man the phones, so will get lots of language study done, which is a huge positive. Plus it'll be dead, so the internet'll be faster. Maybe I can even watch some Russian tv at work?!

[lingua]

Your puppy is adorable.

[IronMike]

Your puppy is adorable.

Thanks! We love him.

[IronMike]

Tons of awesome Russian tv. Found На ножах, which is like a Gordon Ramsey show where he goes to a restaurant and slams it, then fixes it. Really good Russian language practice.

I also found out I might be able to do some Russian class with DLI instructors, one-on-one. I've filled out the paperwork, asking for 2 hours a week. We'll see.

[IronMike]

Just finished I, Robot in Russian. Very nicely done, excellent dubbing with no English in the background. One of the channels has Doctor House, but unfortunately you can hear the English in the background. Booooo! And will watch the latest episode of Russian Survivor a bit later.

Thinking about what book to L-R next. I have a bunch ready and I just got a bunch of audio from the National Emergency Library I mentioned in the Resources section a few days ago. So many choices!

[Expugnator]

Getting used to and learning to ignore secondary dubbing is an important strategy in language-learning mindfulness...