Max's "End of School" Party

Max's "End of School" party was a big success this year with large turn out - 7 kids and 3 parents. First, they went to see "Toy Story 3" and after the movie they had water fight on and off the trampoline (fourth, in the backyard history, all assembled by Leon this time) and played ball. Comparing to last year, all kids got much better in the game. It was actually fun to watch. Of course, kids wasted first 10 minutes yelling at each other over who's playing on whose team until Leon decisively divided them into two teams. He is great with kids and they love him too. We had a good time too, sitting and chatting with parents for a while. This is it for Max at Columbus School - Tuesday is the last day. No more late long school buses and lazy late mornings...

More pictures from the party...

Dana the Gymnast

Check this out - likely the first gymnast in the long and proud Lyakhovetskiy-Lakowsky-Batlin athletic history...



It's all awesome, but the true fun begins at 0'35".

Leon Wins Cat 4 Criterium in New London, CT

For the 1st place, he got $80 and flowers(???).

Misha and Irina Vladimirovna

Misha and Ira were visiting with us for a week. ... It went by too fast and we had so much fun that they were late to the plane. Of major accomplishments - criss-crossing Manhattan, tour of the Intrepid, Mia's party at Andrey's, trip to Mystic and having NKK paperwork done for Olya.

See more pictures here

Leon Inducted into Honors Society

We're not sure how it happened, but here it is...

Nikita's Visit

Nikita was visiting with us on the way to and from a conference in Monterrey. The highlight of the visit was a trip to the city. We toured NYU grounds, saw the "Dance Parade" and walked for a while in SoHo. On the way to and from the city, we took the train. Normally, a pleasant experience, this time it was anything but... On the way there, a homeless man smelling of urine sat next to Irene all the way through. On the way back, at Grand Central, at the last minute, they announced that the train has mechanical issues and asked everyone to switch to another train. The train was packed and it was nasty hot down there...

See more pictures here...

Leon's Junior Prom

Really, Dad?...

More pictures here

Robbery

Continuing with the crime theme... See the previous post "Grand Theft Auto"? Apparently, our neighbors were robbed after all... I am now a "star witness" to multitude of insurance companies and police.

Police Blotter

This post is written by Max

Lately, there was a little firearm "outburst" outside of my school last week. Kids were scared, and adults were horrified. The outcome of the problem was even worse. Everyday at recess, there is a cop car behind my school property. Yep, no fun for kids knowing the fact that theres a cop RIGHT NEXT to them.

Grand Theft Auto

Remember that van that my MIA neighbor's "friends" left stuck in my lawn? We talked to one of the delinquents - asked them to remove the van or have my neighbor call me - but to no avail. Then we talked to police  - nice officer Kellogg said since it's not a criminal matter, it's my own problem. We then called the towing company but they said they wouldn't touch someone's abandoned van without a police order. So, after two weeks of failed diplomacy, we took the matter in our hands. With an Internet page in one hand and a power drill in another, the lock on the van was compromised ("laparoscopically", via the cheap plastic cover of the door handle - shame on you, General Motors) and the door was open. Unfortunately, it didn't help much because the transmission was still locked. But at that moment, serendipitously, like in a Hollywood movie, the Marines had arrived. The Marines took form of my other neighbor driving his very own back-hoe-bulldozer. Without much doubt, we hooked the back of the van with the bulldozer knife and pushed it off my property. We entertained the evil idea of pushing the van all the way to the street (if it is on the public property, police takes it from there), but decided that we've done enough breaking&entering for the day.

Happy Dance

Max's A.T. program at school studies how to invent things. As part of the program, the kids need to keep a "Invention Journal", where they write their creative thoughts and ideas. At the end, they need to present some invention. With Max, we decided to present as his invention the hilarious narrated dance sequence that he calls "Happy Dance".

(We are still in talks with the inventor for making a short movie demonstration of the invention. Hopefully it will come soon)

April's Fool

For April's Fool, Dad played an elaborate prank on Max, spending good hour on making a copy of Norwalk Public School web site complete with the announcement that the school will be in session on Good Friday (April 2nd) and changing the routing on all home computers to lead to the fake. Max totally bought it, got mad and start calling his friend Dennis. This turn of events was not anticipated and since Dennis was not "in" on the joke, we had to tell Max the truth. Max appreciated the prank (though still nervously confirming that the school was indeed off). Not even 15 minutes later, Max exacted the revenge by telling Dad that he hacked into his emails. Max's computer screen was indeed showing some Dad's emails. Turns out, Max with Dennis' help, via YouTube quickly learned how to make a web page editable and simply faked some emails right in the browser... No phony web sites, no routing changes... Simple and elegant... Quoting Leon, who is the Durak now...

Escape to the Paradise

Last week, Irene and I went on a short unplanned power break to Dominican Republic where we joined our dear friends Krause recuperating after the depressing Petersburg's winter.

Dominican Republic was everything it promised to be and some more - generous sun, blue sky, clear warm water, sand beaches, palm trees, seafood, free drinks, lazy service, and, surprisingly, broadband wi-fi and a rock solid cell coverage.

(click for more pictures)

We spent all of the waking hours talking to our friends and we could easily go for more and more. So, everything was perfect and even flights were easy and quick and the only thing we came to regret was how quick it all went by. That, and, of course, the fact that we went alone, without kids - for Leon it was first week after his break and he couldn't miss it and Max, without Leon, decided against the trip (he said, 'you are going to talk in Russian about adult stuff and I'll be bored').

Since most of the troubles come in threes, in three days while we were away, the three unpleasant things had occured.

1. On Wednesday, Leon, coming back from his first group ride of the season somehow lost his beloved brand new custom designed Oakleys.
2. On Thursday, Max had an early dismissal at school. Unable to reach any of us on the phone from school, he took the school bus home, and, having almost two hours to kill while waiting for grandpa (kids stayed at grandparents), he jumped on the bike and rode to Dennis' house (a two-mile trip across a couple of big roads that he never made alone before). At Dennis' house, he circled around and instead of coming over, he decided to head back. He didn't have his helmet on and he could be easily stopped by any passing cop. When I asked him about it, he said - yeah, I thought about it, but come on, Dad, how often do you see a cop in our neighborhood anyway? So, the criminal act was premeditated and carefully planned. Max - a juvenile delinquent in making...
3. On Friday, my neighbor's moronic friends managed to get a huge van stuck up to its axles in my lawn. It is still helplessly sitting there. I'm calling cops. Ha-ha, Max.

Invisible Fence

Narrowly escaping death by electrocution earlier in the week, Dad almost got himself into another voltage related trouble. While jogging around the town, observing the destruction and devastation brought by the storm to some neighbors houses, Dad noticed, not without some healthy Schadenfreude, that the power was still out on some of the properties. The neighbors dogs, already unnerved by the non-stop high-pitch buzz of the chain saws of tree removal crews were barking louder than usual. The sight of Dad happily jogging, made them only madder and they charged full speed towards him. Nonplussed, Dad continued the run while it slowly dawned on him that if the power is down then the 'invisible fence' is down, and if the 'invisible fence' is down, then the only thing keeping dogs from attacking is, well, some reflexes. And shall the reflexes (same as the pump insulation earlier) prove to be less than perfect, Dad's disfigured arms and legs would be an ungainly attraction at the beaches of Dominican Republic, where he was heading in a few days.

Chess Comeback

Thrown by lack of Internet connectivity (due to the storm) practically all the way to the Stone Age, kids turned to chess. This second in a year comeback of chess made us think - what next ... reading ...? But, oh, shucks, the 'net is back, hopes of having them read anything longer than a Facebook post - shuttered.

Great Flood(s)

Last week brought two epic floods of different scale.

First, following how many years of abuse, we finally managed to clog the kitchen drain for good. After some meaningless exercises with the plunger, Dad said it's time to do it "right", opened up the drain and tried to clean it with the power-drill mounted snake. Max was duped into believing that Dad was drilling for oil and was quite disappointed when all 25 feet of snake came back empty. It was time to call professionals. Carlos, his helper and Dad, opened up the pipe full of atherosclerotical built-up and performed a garden-hose colonoscopy, thoroughly showering themselves in the process with bucketfulls of disgusting foul smelling slime... This yet another cleansing experience in a month, made Dad seriously considering going vegan (or, perhaps, investing in a proper garbage disposal device).

On the macro-scale, the event replayed just few days later, when strong wind toppled enough trees to knock off power lines throughout the town. The pouring rain finished the job, flooding what was not blocked by the felled trees. Meanwhile, coming back home late night after having a merry time with friends and family in Brooklyn, we discovered basement flooded and more water loudly dripping in at a steady clip. After finding the power generator in a sorry state of neglect, Dad set off into rain and dark looking for some fresh gasoline and motor oil. By 4 in the morning, the generator came to life, waking up, without doubt, most of the neighborhood. Dad, extension cord in hand, waded through basement waters and plugged the submersible pump into the outlet. It was only after the electrical whining of the pump and the sound of water pouring out brought Dad a moment of reflection (attaboy!), did he realize how close he was to being electrocuted in his own basement, shall the insulation on the pump turned to be anything less than perfect.

P.S. The third plumbing emergency happened a few days later - while trying to clean a clogged drain the bathroom, Dad broke the pipe for good and spent his Sunday afternoon cursing the lack of standardization in plumbing industry up and down the supply isle in Home Dept and re-learning the dark art of teflon taping the joints.

NKK

... and so that Leon doesn't feel bad from not getting his cookie just yet, we sketched one up for him.

A $300K cookie

Max got accepted to SLS. We got a welcoming package, including this giant cookie. 

Happy Birthday Leon

Leon was sick, on and off school for the past few weeks, coughing non stop for hours, until a good doctor figured (we hope) what's wrong and put him on a bunch of meds. This, however, didn't stop us from poking fun on him on his birthday, plastering the house with posters with classic "Leonisms". Here is one.

Artwork by David Nicholson

 

Александра Мироновна Крейнина, б. Саня

1912-2010

A bit of Fry and Laurie

A few months ago, Irene stumbled upon this excellent BBC comedy series with Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. It is an absolute categorical best, true comedic and artistic genius. Highly recommend.

Such a stark contrast to SNL, each show hitting new low the season.

Snowed in

We didn't get as much snow as it was advertised, but still, it was too tempting, and before all of this melted away, the cross-country skies were brought up from the basement, dusted off, strapped on and paraded for four proud circles around the house.  Winter Olympics, here he goes.

Cleansing Experience

Last week, all four of us, one after another, fell victim of some violent 24-hour stomach bug. After a day of cleansing experience, we swear never to put in our bodies anything which is unholy and impure...  It did not last long, of course, and we are back in full force, consuming in even larger quantities same junk as before. Because yes, we can!

Avatar

The family outing to see "Avatar" turns disappointing, as the movie, in our 3D-equipped eyes, didn't hold to its praise. The special effects were no better than Harry Potter's or Star Wars'; 3D we've seen before; and the whole idea of innocent and spiritual indigenous culture killing scores of Marines seems out-of-place particular these days, when one innocent and spiritual country is desperately awaiting Marines and supplies in the earthquake-stricken Port-au-Prince.

Warm and Warmer

Last weekend, Max (with generous helping from Dad and project idea from Mom) completed this year Science Project. Among other things, the experiment involved heating up a considerable amount of vegetable oil in a plastic bottle under a very hot halogen lamp, which made Dad somewhat nervous. The concerns were unfounded - thanks to cold January weather and a rather drafty house insulation, the oil temperature never made it above 85F degrees. Still, the experiment was a success - the budding scientist proved that the sand surface is indeed getting hotter faster than deep sand or water. Yes!...

P.S. The project didn't win anything.

Rock Band

Thanks to cousin Kostya (and evil geniuses from Microsoft), we now have a full drum set and other noise making equipment. Kids of all ages were enjoying the set non-stop for the past week. Nothing uplifts the holiday spirit as listening to the rendition of "Final Countdown" for the n-th time.

Click here for more pictures.

Killington 2009

This year traditional (10th!) ski trip to Killington - was the shortest (only two days), the coldest (-3F/-19C) and the "manliest" on record (no ladies). But despite all of that, we managed to make the best of it skiing non stop until the last lift.



More pictures are here.

Russian Vodka Room

Alik and the family is here for the holidays. Which means lots of food and drinking and bonding of cousins from 3 to 16.

On Saturday, we went to the city and while Andra and Irene were getting some culture at the play "Wishful Drinking" - a one-woman show by a recovering alcoholic Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Alik and I were inspecting various flavored vodka at the nearby establishment with the promising name "Russian Vodka Room" (click on the picture on the left). My body was delivered home in the morning in my absence. How ironic.

The next day, while Daddy was still "under the weather", the surrealism continued with Irene and Max going to Brooklyn to see Kuklachev Cat Theater and with more bonding with more cousins from 2 to 22.

Кому рукава мешают...

Here is Max's performance of Brahm's Hungarian Dance No 5 at Steinway Hall in Westport.

Apparently, it was the long sleeves that interfered with Max's playing and made him stumble a couple of times. In his defense, I must say that he played nearly flawlessly during the rehearsals. But of course, the boy had to wear a fancy shirt, right?...

14,975

A surprise gift waits those who can figure out the meaning of this post title.
Another surprise gift (a 2-hour math lesson with Dad) awaits those who cannot.
You have to be younger than 18 to participate.