Great new installment in the story. I have to say, I loved how she headed off Baranov! Though, I admit, a comically-clumsy wardrobe-hindered sex scene would've been pretty fun too!
“I straightened up, put on my most committed fanatical expression on my face, looked him in the eye and said: “I'd like to kiss ya, but I just washed my hair.” So funny! Great story, Portia!
Unfortunately not. I just went there 3 times in different years, always in Summer, when daylight seems to last forever, and just for a month every time, but I fell desperately in love with her. If you happen to know and love Russian literature, every street reminds you of a verse in a poem, a sentence in a novel, a place full of beloved characters and, sometimes, scary ghosts.
You fell desperately in love with her… What a nice way to put it. I don't know Russian literature that well. I read a lot of Dostoevsky and Chekhov, but I'm no expert. Anyway, it'll be my next trip :)
Dostoevsky and Petersburg are indissolubly tied. I'm so jealous, but I wish you an unforgettable trip. If you go during the White Nights in May, June, July, bring a sleep mask, because the sun never fully sets in those months, but it's glorious.
I'm a fan of Bette Davis too. Loved her performance in her classic—All About Eve. Let's take a moment to remember her and another remarkable lady—Dame Maggie Smith. By watching the two gentlewomen dissing each other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFzgddTZqmQ.
Oops, two em dashes and one 'by + -ing' start, I hope no one would credit this comment of mine to bloody AI.
You move us right along here, Portia. I hope this is a longer piece you are writing, based in memoir and tied to wings of fancy. (I just accidentally typed "wigs of fancy" which might be funnier.)
Really professional prose - I hope you find a wider audience. And yes please send up the Kremlin, rhymes with Gremlin, more more more!
“But the motherfuckers, I mean, the distinguished comrades, have decided at the last minute to call a meeting here, where we are to going to discuss the how-to for an exploratory study regarding the blueprint behind the implementation of a plan for the organisation of something big in Leningrad that could possibly involve your presence in the near future, although right now you don't have to know what that is, since we ourselves don't have a fucking clue. Forget I ever mentioned Leningrad, by the way.” Deliciously funny writing, Portia!
Great new installment in the story. I have to say, I loved how she headed off Baranov! Though, I admit, a comically-clumsy wardrobe-hindered sex scene would've been pretty fun too!
You're right, Cary, the whole "logistics" of it. Thanks for your funny comment!
“I straightened up, put on my most committed fanatical expression on my face, looked him in the eye and said: “I'd like to kiss ya, but I just washed my hair.” So funny! Great story, Portia!
Thank you, dear Margo! Well, that was the great Bette Davis who inspired me.
Haha, yes, she was! ❤️
Love her!
She was called "Margo" in "All about Eve", wasn't she?
I hope for your wealth of humor throughout your spy story. Your language is irreproachable. Love it.
Spasibo, dear Larisa, I'm so glad of it!
Spasibo tebe za ydovol'stvie chitat'.( Prosti za ty, hechiayanno)
Ne nado izviniatsia, Larisa, davaite pereidem na ty!
I've never been to Leningrad, but I'd really like to visit it. Nice read, Portia.
Grazie, Michael. Leningrad – now Saint Petersburg again – is my favorite city in the world.
Really? Did you live there for a long time?
Unfortunately not. I just went there 3 times in different years, always in Summer, when daylight seems to last forever, and just for a month every time, but I fell desperately in love with her. If you happen to know and love Russian literature, every street reminds you of a verse in a poem, a sentence in a novel, a place full of beloved characters and, sometimes, scary ghosts.
You fell desperately in love with her… What a nice way to put it. I don't know Russian literature that well. I read a lot of Dostoevsky and Chekhov, but I'm no expert. Anyway, it'll be my next trip :)
Dostoevsky and Petersburg are indissolubly tied. I'm so jealous, but I wish you an unforgettable trip. If you go during the White Nights in May, June, July, bring a sleep mask, because the sun never fully sets in those months, but it's glorious.
Yeah, I got to experience the sun never setting in Northern Norway. There were four of us: young, crazy, and uninhibited. Unforgettable days!
I'm a fan of Bette Davis too. Loved her performance in her classic—All About Eve. Let's take a moment to remember her and another remarkable lady—Dame Maggie Smith. By watching the two gentlewomen dissing each other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFzgddTZqmQ.
Oops, two em dashes and one 'by + -ing' start, I hope no one would credit this comment of mine to bloody AI.
Bette and Maggie are a formidable duo, thanks for that little gem.
Listen to me, Zibaby, they can take our em dashes and gerunds from our cold, dead hands! Let 'em try, I dare 'em. 😉
You move us right along here, Portia. I hope this is a longer piece you are writing, based in memoir and tied to wings of fancy. (I just accidentally typed "wigs of fancy" which might be funnier.)
Really professional prose - I hope you find a wider audience. And yes please send up the Kremlin, rhymes with Gremlin, more more more!
The Gremlins from the Kremlin – great title, but already in use. OTH, "Wigs of fancy" would make a hell of a spy novel title too!
Grazie, cara Monica, I'm flattered. ☺️
“But the motherfuckers, I mean, the distinguished comrades, have decided at the last minute to call a meeting here, where we are to going to discuss the how-to for an exploratory study regarding the blueprint behind the implementation of a plan for the organisation of something big in Leningrad that could possibly involve your presence in the near future, although right now you don't have to know what that is, since we ourselves don't have a fucking clue. Forget I ever mentioned Leningrad, by the way.” Deliciously funny writing, Portia!
Awww thank you, Jeffrey, what a lovely thing to say, I'm flattered! 🦚
You're welcome, Portia! No flattery involved; I really enjoyed this episode.
" ... but I just washed my hair." ???? I love it. Perfect parry and thrust.
That was by the fabulous Bette Davis, I was dying to quote that sentence. Thanks, Sue!
Oh, I didn't know that. My favorite Bette Davis line is "buckle your seatbelts, everyone, it's going to be a bumpy night."
I love that one too! Bette Davis was such a class act.
I've heard that line from Cabin in the Cotton a hundred times, but it still made me laugh. So unexpected coming out of the mouth of our comrade here!
She was taken aback by her own presence of mind.