09 January 2008

Ok, just one more picture post and I promise I'll shut up about the cold and my cold apartment and all that other boring stuff. I just had to show you the latest addition to my arsenal:



It's a partition! My living/bed/all-purpose room is sort of L-shaped, with a nook extending from one edge of a big rectangle. That nook is where my computer desk and couch (the one that's not a sofa-bed) are, but since it's directly opposite the windows and door to the balcony, it gets a lot of draft. No more! Now when the wind comes back, I can hole up there with my little electric heater and be toasty warm.
My friend Amara dubbed it "adult" and "Martha Stewart-like," especially since I actually had the curtain tailor-made. (Of course, she points out, Martha would have made the curtain herself.) Admittedly, its classiness sort of clashes with my hillbilly Draft Dodger and '70s decor, but on the bright side, if feng shui is all about balance, my apartment must score a perfect 10.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's not so cold here in San Francisco, but putting a partition into my apartment (formerly a hotel room) would be equivalent to creating two largish closets (one with kitchen).

What are your grad school plans?

skiboxl said...

leslie love your blogs - am preparing a trip in july can use some advice ? help.

Leslie said...

skiboxl - depends. Where are you going? Who are you going with? For how long? For what purpose? And do you speak any Russian? I am willing to help, but I need more information.

skiboxl said...

we are planning a trip to do some construction on a kids camp (orphans) outside of partizansk. waiting on letters of invitation from directors then on to visas. there is someone there now working on things. no fluent speakers - have some in group working on it. will need some translators/guides/drivers.

Leslie said...

Wow, for something that detailed, I can't really help you. I've never been to Partizansk, and I don't live in the Far East anymore. I have some contacts in Vladivostok, so I might be able to put you in contact with some English/Russian translators (although to be honest, I don't even know how far Partizansk is from Vladivostok, so it might depend on whether you can pay them etc.). I also have friends at the Catholic church in Vlad and could try to put you in touch with them – they might be able to help in terms of people willing to work for free. There's also an organization called Living Hope in Vlad (also religious, evangelical something-or-other) that's run by an Aussie or New Zealander, if I remember correctly. They do stuff to help street kids and might have ideas for you. I have basically no contact with them, though, so if you want to try to network with them, googling might be the best way.

skiboxl said...

thanks for your help-would like to be in touch with church in vlad. tom can check into it while there. thanks again sharon.

Nana said...

(posting here in case you, like me, often miss comments responding to earlier posts)

The former Squid Goddess in me wants you to somehow work lawn tarp into this draft-dodging arrangement.

Also, masking tape sucks. Is duct tape unavailable in Russia, or are you choosing not to use it for residue reasons? If the latter, may I suggest electrician's tape as a compromise? Much stickier and more resilient than masking tape or painter's tape, but peels off better than duct tape.

Celine said...

I love your inovative war on draft! Now we know what McGiver and Martha Stewart's lovechild would look like... I hope you will have/are having a great time up north!

skiboxl said...

you might also try to find a "shrink it kit". you might find it in a hardware. you tape up the window film with double sided tape and then use a hair dryer or ? to shrink the film. it makes an airtight barrier. like having double windows.
my friend tom is becoming somewhat of a celebrity. they have asked him to help at the univ. with some conversational english. go tom.