It’s known around that Spring is the usual time to start off romantic relationships and ish like that. Kind of, plant the seed, see how it grows over the Summer.

But the thing is though, what you plant in Spring, is gonna be dead by Fall. You can then dry it and save it for your herbarium or something.

I’m bout to take this love thing to a whole ‘nother level right about now. Sit tight. I’m like Sphere. Getting you the good stuff.

What I’m saying is, love is not a plant! Relationships are not meant to be dead one day! And ain’t no plant out there can claim eternal life, even those bristlecone pines, don’t tell me I’m not right.

That’s why it’s way better to fall in love around this time of the year. Late Fall, early Winter.. Cold, colder, freezing.. Get a picture? Things are preserved better when frozen.

That’s more of a joke though, but as they say.. In every joke there is a grain of.. um.. joke =)

And definitely, definitely, you and I know there must be something (well, a special *somebody*, actually) to make me write such a post. And yes, there is a new feeling in my world currently. And who else but a girl born on Valentine’s Day can spark that, you feel me? ;)

I ain’t saying it’s love.. But it surely gets frozen for a long, long shelf life. Believe it.

Over the last few months I’ve been implementing the Getting Things Done system in my life. I’ve read the book by David Allen and all, tryna see where it takes me.

A couple words about it though - that’s a personal and business productivity management tool, sorta what I used to call time management. Only that it manages actions, not time. I know it sounds kinda scary when I come up with this type of post while the blog had not been updated in a damn while. Don’t even try to front, I got the blogging thing up in the GTD too.

While slowly falling in love and becoming a fan of David Allen’s technology, I also managed to land me a new job which I been craving for some time now. And it looks like there will be a whole bunch of way more theories to dig in the nearest future, as I’m teaming up with Vain & Partners, the gurus of this type of ish.

And like I said, don’t front. RigaTalk’s around.

Today, while shopping at SKY, I thought that I’m not gonna take those plastic bags. Don’t know, how did I come up with the idea, looks like it just becomes stylish.

It all began way before the sunset, when I decided to take a walk around Mezhciems and breathe some fresh air. The weather was really wonderful - calm, no wind, not even a cloud,  a typical early Spring. Seems like Mother Nature itslef has sent me a message.. Well, who knows though, maybe that Parex ad?

On my way back, I called at SKY supermarket on Hippocrates street to grab some food. Quick to throw in the cart all needed items, I stood in a short queue and at the cashiers I started to look for some “environment friendly” opportunities this store had to offer. As I didn’t have many goods, I chose one paper bag which looked pretty big and spacious enough to handle all of my Sunday shopping.

And then, a nice surprise was waiting for me - a girl at the cashiers smiled and announced that today, see, is the environment friendly day and big paper bags with a Zaļā Josta (Green Belt) sticker are free. 10 cents saved and I, feeling so happy for the harmony I got with nature, SKY store and the Green Belt campaign, was on my way home.

It became colder in the evening and I thought that I would need the gloves. That’s a small thing of course, because my mood is just perfect + clear skies, full of stars makes it even better. I saw the Orion’s Belt and smiled - life is beautiful after all!

What is left to add is, people often underestimate the abilities of paper (and cotton) bags. Those can lift not just all the 50 lbs, but also your mood! Here’s my truest wish: choose the environment friendly package! Yolkin, how are ya? =)

It’s known around that NO alcoholic beverages of any kind can be purchased in Latvia after 10 PM. Yeah, so what.

If you plan a house party or any kind of event that needs some alcohol shopping, you’ll be at the liquor store way before the party’s about to start. Let me guess usually it’s no problem to be there before 10 and grab you some more brew, brown water or whatever you’re up to. And more I mean MORE. Since you know you won’t get it later, you would probably buy like twice more, right? Plus some.

Now think about it. Perhaps you ain’t even gonna drink all of that! From what I know, there’s never too much of things like that though and all of that will be gone with ease. Well.

Second, I’m really lovin’ those announcements at the shopping centers: “Dear visitors! Please bear in mind that there are 15 minutes left till you can purchase your alcohol beverages”. A genius marketing move! Wondering who’s behind it, State Alcohol Sellers Society or something. I mean, with all the laws and bans, they can allow an announcement like this?

Look around - people are quick to forget about their sausages, breads and whatever department they were at the moment and run to the liquor department. Even if they DIDN’T need to buy no liquor. You know, just in case. Brilliant.

Go check the cashiers at, say, like 9:56. Everybody’s nervous whether they’re gonna make it before 10 because cashiers automatically shut down alcohol sales. “Excuse me, can you let us pass please, so me and my girlfriend can get this Martini through?” “Yo, don’t you see this Heineken right here I got man, it’s 3 minutes left”. Funny as hell, ain’t it? Well, until you get in the same situation yourself.

And last, but not least. Not to name any sources but, there’s plenty of illegal spots to get your liquor shopping at night. The quality of purchased liquid is discussable though but looks like it doesn’t stop those in need of becoming customers of such sellers.

Plus, you can hit the local pub, club, no prob’ - the barmen of the city will be just glad to serve you.

Better yet though, stay sober.

To all Orthodox Christians, Merry Christmas, have a bright holiday and enjoy this day! Smile, understand and love each other, always!

I am touched by the speech of Alexy II, which I watched yesterday on 1st Baltic. Patriarch especially emphasized the importance of relationships and love in the modern society. It’s just as timely for me, as of late.

I want us to trust and live, and be happy!

Я вернулся с моим первым постом на русском. Привет, мир!

Как достойный моряк, хоть и привязан к стенке мой галеон вот уж несколько лет, не могу быть не обеспокоен происходящими в последнее время авариями на море.

Керченский пролив - халатность капитанов в штормовых условиях и критических обстоятельствах. Неопытность? Нарушения при оценке технического состояния судов судовладельцами и судоверфями? В любом случае, за один день - четыре судна затонули, шесть сели на мель, получили повреждения два танкера. В море - 2 тысячи тонн мазута, 7 тысяч тонн серы.

C Exxon Valdez’ом, конечно, не сравнится, но всё равно - неприятно.

Участь последнего постигла и круизный лайнер Explorer, натолкнувшийся на этой неделе на айсберг у берегов Аргентины. Все 150 человек эвакуированы, спасательная операция, насколько я видел по телику, проведена на славу.

И, что радует, наших однополчан, земляков-латвийцев-доблестных моряков в списках пострадавших в упомянутых авариях нет, но вот, что произошло сегодня, заставило меня задуматься - CNN сообщает о пожаре на нефтяной вышке в Северном море.

Не без помощи семи вертолётов, а также соседних нефтяных вышек, около полусотни человек были эвакуированы, так что спокуха, никто не пострадал.

А я бывал в тех краях не раз и избороздил побережье как Шотландии / Великобритании, так и Норвегии. Мимо вышек частенько ходить доводилось, конечно, благо в Северном море их уйма, и, разглядывая в бинокль с крыла, всё время думалось: “Ведь и кто-то из наших же там есть”.

Работа опасная и тяжёлая. Хорошо оплачиваемая, безусловно, что и является главной причиной миграции из Латвии, которую я упоминал в одном из постов. Но стоит ли подвергать семя огромнейшей опасности, да ещё и жертвовать стабильностью семьи, общением с друзьями, нахождением подолгу вдали от дома - и всё ради болотного цвета изображения мёртвых американских президентов..

Думаю, нет.

Pēdējā laikā saasinājies šis jautājums, šķiet, lielākai sabiedrības daļai.. Un tieši tai, kas ir jauna, aktīva, hm.. maksātspējīga - vārdu sakot, progresīvākai un perspektīvākai mūsu mazās valstiņas daļai.

Palikt vai nepalikt? Latvija vai Īrija? Lielbritānija? Var būt Spānija? Tur vismaz siltāk..

Šādas domas rodas nepārprotami, apdomājot gan politisko krīzi, jezgu valdībā, inflāciju, gan arī pēdējās ziņas par to, ka turpmāk visus astoņpadsmitgadīgos, redz, bez viņu piekrišanas ieskaitīšot bruņoto spēku rezervē.

Kādas vērtības var sniegt man šī valsts? Jau tā daudzi ir aizbraukuši, var būt arī man pievienoties viņiem? Pavisam noteikti šis jautājums ir apciemojis teju vai katra jauna cilvēka, kas uzsāk savas gaitas skarbajā Latvijas realitātē, prātu.

Bet ja tā visu noliek uz svariem, ja tā visu riktīgi apdomā, tad nemaz nav tik traki. Ir bijuši grūti laiki mūsu senčiem pirms daudziem gadsimtiem, nav bijis viegli pirms dažiem gadu desmitiem, grūti un smagi laiki ir cilvēkiem daudzviet pasaulē arī šodien - jāpateicas Dievam par to, ko Viņš dod, tas jau ir daudz! Un, galu galā, dzīve taču turpinās!

Pēc vakar Turībā notikušās Jāko Lehtonena lekcijas par Latviju kā brendu, par valsts imidža nozīmi nācijas mārketingā, gribās tikai ar optimismu raudzīties nākotnē un ticēt, ka tikai mēs - visi kopā - spēsim padarīt mūsu dzīvi labāku, gan sev pašiem, gan mūsu bērnu mazbērniem. Un bēgšana prom lai paliek viena no gļēvuļu opcijām.