16-VIII-2025.
Nina called last night, so we recounted the news - that the frajer croaked, that we have a tuška bina* (but Đole didn't bring the accordion, i.e. the door), that Aleksa has come etc. The news from her side, long awaited, happened some time last week, maybe two weeks ago: Raja is now taller than her, a whole centimeter. But that's old news already, it may be 2cm by now. He inherited my legs and father's spine, all the longest that we had. The first album and yet it's a debestov. And Sanda is a centimeter taller than Linda.
This morning I went for that medical [checkup] to Green wave, as per Borče's recommendation. Educated by his experience, I readied my best edition, the merry talkative and ever ready for light mockery, to avoig getting to bad terms with the shrink lady, who then said his mouth was awry, and he went into fierce defence mode, and got only three years' extension, from the third doc, the GP, the shrink's verdict was no more than two.
The only thing I was weary of was parking, but it was a saturday morning, Nemanjina practically empty, I parked right across of their door, half in shade. I even had the time for half a cigarette, when the lady waved me to come in, my torun now. Good news, I don't need to make new driving spectacles, I'm good, i.e. as good as I was five years ago. And with the shrinkie, all in that same ajnfor with three long desks sideways - front desk the paper pusher, middle the shrink, rear the eye technician. She was just finished with some oldster (possibly younger than me), and
- ... well, so it goes, males are prone to vanishing. (turning to me) Am I right that the males are prone to vanishing?
- Like that bus which vanishes on Slavija? If I knew how to, I'd be having affairs by now.
(the note in the bus said „ovaj autobus nestaje na Slaviji“, should have been, gramatically proper, „ne staje“ - doesn't stop)
This broke the ice and we had a nice chat, first around the matter of existence of retired programmers. We both heard stories of how it took ten years tops to go bonkers. But that was long ago, now the tools got better, first of all the chairs. And there she goes asking whether it's an urban legend that the programmers are measured for chair size. True, it has to be done right, I was offered a Herman Miller chair of 1500$, but I already had a better one, leather (at 200$, though).
And then at the geepee, my pressure was 155/108, which I rarely take and then it's in the evening, never took it in the morning. But okay, I was done, come monday pick my certificate.
On the way back, a surprise: roadwork at the other end of our street, where once Dragiša's pigpen was, behind the tavern Bečkerek. Seems some paving is going on, finally, there I passed a roller while coming home. Can't be that we'll, after forty years, finally be able to go straight into our street, without needling our way through neighboring streets...
When I got home it was 8:50. And my slot there was at 8:30. That's how it's done, not the five hours in zzzzz, ending up half dead by the end of it. Didn't take a blood sample, though they did warn me to skip breakfast (which I regularly do), allegedly because of blood, and then nothing. Borče said they do that to professionals only, diabetes is a showstopper.
On sunday, 17th, we talked with Go and hers, all okay, kids merry and growing nicely. They found a house to buy, practically a farm, in West Virginia, 400.000$, all ship shape, loads of land, seven hectares, in a valley by a river, has its own tributary creek, a beauty. She sent us a link to the ad, we took a look, lovely. Now how much is that inbred area safe... there was the crystal meth epidemic, the unemployment is endemic since the coal mines were closed. Stanley thinks he could open his own junkyard, maybe hire a few guys to disasemble the clunkers.
Monday morning, I got up somewhat early again, slept perhaps four hours, it's such a month. I took to the maps to check that place out, um, it'd be a seven hour drive to Nina. Before I made the second cigarette she got up as well, so we took a look together. And then Go told us the news, Stanley's dad died. And it was just the day before when he barely scratched a signature to give him a power of attorney, to regulate his rent and storage debts. Now these would be written off, nothing to do there.
Then we swung by that Green wave to pick my medical [certificate] (and pay, 3500 dindžies), then to Klincaid. Took a pljeska at Bob the brzožder, didn't do that in a while. It's way good, and didn't get much more expensive, 360 - was 330 last time. Dropped by Svetofor as well, it's on the way. Didn't stay long at the garden, she picked some squash and four apples, that's the extent of it. And the power bills. We saw the rear door was unlocked again, can be locked from inside only. Took a look at that medical, and look at the devil, I got three years. There was no remark, maybe for hitting my nose with my left index tinger exactly, but went up some 15mm with the right one. Serves me well for going back to barbells, did that in winter then stopped and resumed just a few days ago, so the muscles were in some in-between state. Well okay, the only loss is the bragging rights, wanted to show off to Borče, he also got three.
On tuesday I seemed to have waited endlessly at the cops, took me three cig breaks until the girl came out and picked the licences from the box. Must be I arrived during their break. But once she picked them, it went fast. Not bad that my licence renewal is now always at the time of my birthday, the law says so, so at least there's girls in summer dresses everywhere, for discrete ogling. There's also those who are americanly obese, truth be told. At least passed the time faster. Just when I thought to maybe postpone this for tomorrow, because it was close to my lunchtime (but I know myself, that stroke of hunger passes in two minutes), I was called in and then finished in twenty minutes. Got home at noon.
I thought I'd go after lunch and pay em bills, but we did that when we went to Borče. Along the way I also fed my phone, it went below 200 dindžies, having paid the parking this saturday. We didn't hurry much this time either, she visited the serekeš in Roda, we had a smoke break, sat in front of the building for two minutes while I caught up with breathing, then took breaks after two and three floors, the fourth (am. fifth) floor was never so high. Luckily, this is the last time, Borče found two houses, will go the next day to take a look. They're both in Čurda, the near part of it - one spitting distance to the bridge, perhaps a kilometer from current place as the crow flies, the other on the other end of the lower Čurda, almost on Putnikovo, so if luck serves, next time we may sit in the yard. And the luck mostly depends on the state, as the notar(oš)ies still don't work, because cadaster is stuck, system is down again, two months now. Eh, I know, I saw what it looked like.
The drink was the tutifruti 20.2 (the one which smelled like hens was 20.1, gone now), nibbled some pogačice with čvarci, and then he brought out something, ahem, meat and some vegetables on the bottom, then mushrooms with whatever in the middle, grated cheese on top, fried in a grne (clay pot), he stuck to the recipe he found on yoochoob, came out excellent.
Then the ladies started complaining how it's stuffy, so went to the living room to stand in front of the air conditioner for a while, but screw that, can't go dry yourself every few minutes, so we decided to go out on the terrace. He had to take out an extra chair, because Dragana needed to lift her leg again. Well, it is mighty swell. Said she's not wearing any skirts because of that for many years now, see how that looks. Um, yes, this way we can still see that ankle, and what's looking good, you hide.
Borče had yet another theory to promote, how in youth we aren't mature enough to make important decisions, we don't have the experience, can't fathom the size of the problems we need to solve... And can't remember what was the point he wanted to make, what was he trying to prove... because he started from the wrong premises. We did know, maybe not in detail but did in rather clear outlines, and „I knew exactly that I didn't want to go that way (hand to the right) but rather that way (half left), with an error of maybe, say, ten fifteen degrees, regardless I knew exactly where I wanted and where I didn't want to go, and over time I turned out to have been right“. „Ah okay that's you, but in general case...“. Um, maybe he does still imagine himself as that straw in a hurricane, and took that as a guideline from the moment he understood the idea of guideline.
We mentioned a bit of Milka's husband having been a drummer in some band. Um... there was just one band in the village that I know of, led by that kid who was a first Yugoslav with transplanted heart... Then later at home I checked him up, and yes the dates match. And then I saw that the guy died in 1974, which I found on the serbocroatian wikipedia, among other important events of the year. I then went on adding those events, first for that year, then for 1971, then the surrounding years, just a sentence or two, only in cases when those events had any bearing to my events. Entertainment found.
And then it crossed my dear's mind to check the time. The clock was on the same wall by which she was sitting, so she had to get up and take a look in through the window, leaning on my shoulders while doing that. My face came embedded in her breasts, which caused good comments, so she had to repeat the scene half an hour later. I didn't mind at all.
Then he brought out some interesting cakes, four balls, chocolate glazed, some filling inside, pretty much like what's put in oblatne**, but nope, we remembered later, that's something for petty cakes. They were big and heavy, the four must have weighed a kilo, so we two split one in halves. The wine was poured exactly above Dragana's lap, and she wore those white trousers again, and if any of it drops, it'll be near impossible to wash, so she had to spread her legs, which caused, of course, more comments.
Split was as early as around one. The cabbie was our ispisnik ('a writeoutnik', same age), roughly, bragged with having five grandkids. Seven, I said. From how many kids? From three daughters. And I from two. But we aren't finished yet.
Wednesday. During my catnap Đole came and finally finished the tuška bina, paid him off (260€), now we're fine even if there's no gas. And we need to buy some tile glue to complete that, finally.
Vučić organizes spontaneous gathering of his [guys] in fifty cities, and in all 49 he managed to gather 33000, as per Dačić's (minister of police) count. Even if we allow for them being more than 15000, that's less than there were on Slavija alone on Vidovdan. So, the people had a day off.
Thursday, got up somewhat early (but slept in the afternoon, yet another Udvadela), so we went downtown. Drove by the beginning of our street, to see what were they doing there and what do they mean to pave... it seems they're making a rear entrance and parking for that rođendaonica, and plan to leave some ten meters unconnected. Our forecast is the street will beat its own path.
(Ivan Klajn, a linguist who translated many episodes of Asterix, put Udvadela was a name of an african tribe chief in one episode; „u dva dela“ - in two parts)
We didn't even cross the bridge, we shopped at the Chineses in former Zita, and she also went somewhere to buy some jeans and a tee shirt, all within 50m around Žitni. She bought some larger frames, 50x60 or near that, to insert some of Go's embroidery and grandchildren's pictures - they were all tasked with providing the photos, and I'll print them on laser here. We want to try sticking a thin cloth on paper and print on that, she saw it done somewhere.
Friday, Vučić offers a duel to students... and comes out laughingstock. Who'd ever talk with him, he opens mouth once, lies thrice.
In the evening we made a doček of birthday :). The middle apricot, from 2023. Because we usually pour the one from nineteen, there's lot of it, or the last year's, and somehow forget the middle one. We didn't do ourselves much, just three and a half shots, and it smells like pekmez.
Saturday, Go congratulated first with „Lovely day, colleague 🥂🍰“. I also congratulated all who celebrate (family tradition), specially her. She replayed, „thanks, likewise“ :). And then a congratulation from Dragana, „welcome to 70+ club“. Well you did a nice job redecorating the space, all kudos. After lunch (stiff beans, third day, with half of a finely chopped fresh bolivian, perfect), Bajlo calls, about the september parastos, says Baki want's to come but he's got some sport[ing event] in Banj'luuka, so if it'd be possible to move the event to fifth, as on saturday he needs to be gone already. Well no, you will poll the company and see which prevails, fifth or thirteenth. I don't mind, either will be fine, but one can't outweigh the majority. Then I called Žuca to get Čarga's number, to agree with him on the dates so we don't tread on each others' toes. Nope, she said, we'll do october, and then went on listing those who're away in september, each weekend two or three are absent, and there ain't too many of them left, so october it will be. Problem solved, unless the mathematicians happen to meet on the same day, then we may have a bit of a problem.
We went to Mere for groceries, and I had nothing, no cash no cards, but never me mind, she did. Dropped by the LC to buy meat and cigarette shells, said „now that we're here, try to raise some cash“. How do you think... Ah, yes. For lunch, themagnificent beans, fourth day. And then I went on trying to fit a slot for a catnap and eventually found none. Incredible. In the evening, Nina called and we went on talking for two hours. Raja is considering what to learn - music, writing (by hand!), he'd write stories but doesn't know how, ah that's because you haven't thought of how it's done and what does it take, so better read and see how the others do it... and so they went to the library and took some Harry Potter. Well, as a narrative technique for a beginner it's not a bad pick, better than something demanding. Of her accidental boyfriends the most likely candidate, the guy from Richmond, who also has hens and who even took to play what Raja plays, to get his wheels spinning and have something in common... Well, it lasted until she asked what about further on, will we just see each other monthly or less, or... He vanished right there. Just the last winter's guy, who decided adamantly that he won't change a thing, he liked having two-three girls in contact, and whenever one of them fucks him off he can try the next one to complain to, to circle so. Eh, „I'd rather avoid binding“, as Kunta Kinte would say.
Sunday, cooking indian to take along. Bajlo called, polling done, decided in unison on thirteenth, even Baki rescheduled his plans. There.
We took off on time, arrived ahead of time, the drive was easy as usual. I tailed a slowpoke until after Ečka or Stajićevo, scraped him, then another one around Perlez, and that was all, our side of the road being practically empty. Tanja, habitually, woke up fifteen minutes after our arrival, so we played with her for a while, this time with a couple of green balls and one hanoi tower, she's already quite skilled in putting those disks on a stick, keeps practicing, and her step is firm now. She still starts crawling first until she spots a goal at some distance, then gets up and walks.
For lunch we brought pork steak curry and basmati rice. Basmati always reminds me of 'pas mati' i.e. '[jebo ti] pas mater“, aka the warm human story about love, dog and mother. We also brought chutney but Lena didn't feel like opening it, also eggs and some figs that I quickly picked. They liked it, Tanja also did, though she got it somewhat thinned with cream, as it was a bit picante. After lunch, of course, went for a walk, the sky was beautiful and it wasn't too hot. Just when I was getting into twilight state, Lena asked „you will take a nap?“ and I undermined myself, said „after“, just to commit myself to the walk and to delay the sleep. So we three went for a walk, and Milan and she had a liedown. We walked a wide round, crossed the boulevard and took the sidewalk to SIV, all the way to that fake bistro where we lunched once, with at least two smoke breaks. And a good series of shots, that sky.
By the bistro we spotted a bench, second smoke break, took Tanja from the stroller and just let her be. She immediately took to pulling stuff out of the trunk. Shoes we brought last time were included, so baba shod her and she kept unshoeing. Then she took a sock from the trunk. Aha, okay, socks first and then she stopped unshoeing, just walked around. We tired her well, as usual, and Lena was impressed by the length of the walk.
Eventually then I lied down, and just when I almost went under, Tanja came to pat my legs, her fingers cold, felt soo good... And I did speep some, perhaps ten minutes, just enough. Upon leaving, few shots on the stairs, Milan holding her on [his] shoulders and she rummages over his head, excellent. That was at 17:13. Next shot was rays of sunshine hitting below my desk, 18:28. That's one hour fifteen, minus the trip from 14th floor to the car, then from the car, estimate 65 minutes' drive, what with some strangler after Čenta, who slowed down to veer around a dozen spots where the softer asphalt rose from a hole. Eh, and I remember when these patches were brand new, a couple of years ago... whoa, I drove saxo then, so it's untouched for five years.
Just when we sat down, neighbor rang. She said the pears arrive next weekend, 70 dinars kilo, excellent, we were ready to go to 100. Will we have enough vessels for all of that? So we started to prepare. On tuesday we cleaned up the garage, kicked all the bikes into the backyard, kids' and ours, I even swept the cobwebs from the walls and wires. We need to bring one more barrel from the garden, and may end putting some into that vat, it holds 230 liters, half would fit in there. There I forgot to go pick the driver's [license], let [that be] tomorrow. And then I had a case of FT1P (fali ti jedan papir - you're one paper short), didn't bring the receipt, so had to go twice. So was it, now I'm done for three years.
In other news, ruža is dug out, they're connecting the new building to heating ducts. Hundreds of professors in high schools are not getting contract extensions because they took part in protest or strike or at least supported them. The standard scenario now is that the turtles (ie cops in armor) push the mass, specially since the dean invited them into the Philosophy faculty in Novi, and then pick a random dozen from the crowd, beat them up and arrest them for attacking the cops. There are already hundreds arrested so. Then the people protest in front of the police HQ, or court or slammer, then these are either released right away or in 48 hours or get an anklet and house arrest. Random select few are held for a month or two.
Afer the masturpiss of Days of beer, the Guitariad in Zaječar came out even worse, there were 76 people in the audience, and the belgrade Beer fest barely exists, almost every act canceled. The state televisions don't even try to show the audience on the two, or the emptines would be obvious. Several film or theatrical festivals weren't even held. On Zlatibor they tried to make some new film-television festival where it seems the only participants are those from Žeks's production, everybody else declined to take part. Vučić is in tote campaigh, trying to limit the big chains' margins. Yeah, right, I must see that.
----
* tuš kabina, shower cabin, but tuška sounds like an adjective, and bina is a stage
** thin dough sheets, pretty much the same dough as for icecream cones, with a crosshatch pattern to give it strength. It's made with filler made of ground walnuts, sugar etc, in at least four layers. Sheets are artisanal or industrial, rarely homemade.
Mentions: Aleksa Pajkov, Bečkerek, Branislav Rade (Baki), Čurda, čvarci, doček, Dragana Vitas (Dragana), frajer, Gorana Sredljević (Go), Jelena Sredljević (Lena), Klincaid, Linda Sredljevich Aquilla (Linda), Mališa Borkovski (Borče), maturski parastos (parastos), Milan Nastić, Milka Petrov, Nenad Bajlo (Bajlo), Nevena Sredljević (Nina), Novi Sad, pekmez, pljeska, pogačice, rođendaonica, ruža, Ryu (Raja), Sanda Sredljević Aquilla (Sanda), saxo, serekeš, Stanley Berger, Tanja Nastić, tutifruti, Velemir Prokin (Čarga), zzzzz, Žitni, Živana Armatović (Žuca), in serbian
16-VIII-2025 - 16-VII-2026