OK, so I’ve had an excellent trip so far in Russia - St. Petersburg was lovely, thanks to Mikhail Flame for showing me the city and all the people at the gig. Chelyabinsk has been a great time, I’m getting a little bit more used to Russian customs, and I gotta say, Jebar and Zhenya are probably the most hospitable people I’ve ever stayed with. Thanks to them big time. Shardrinsk was a bit of a blow out cos I was sick from drinking in the week (damn American alcohol tank is kinda low) but I still managed to enjoy myself, and rock the house the next night at Garage in my surprise appearance (thanks to Denis and everyone in the Garage)

and then, today, it just goes to show you the little things are what really affects you, not so much the big parties or interviews or girls with 80s hair

I had the most surreal experience in a russian pharmacy buying medicine. This guy behind me heard me speaking english with Zhenya, because I was giving some details about my medicine (atenolol for blood pressure). This fellow, who smells like week old cigarette smoke and cheap beer turns to us and stands very close to me and says "I understand what you saying" and he shakes my hand. and then he gets a little strange and makes hand signals with me, all while standing far too close to me. And eventually he says I have to take my glove off while shaking hands when I meet a Russian person. So I do this. Then he informs me that he was a Mongolian border guard. And then he says the most cryptic thing - a little more than vaguely threatening, but somewhat open: "before fire I was against other people".

I got out with my medicine, but that will stay with me for the rest of my life while I try to figure out what he meant...

BEFORE FIRE I WAS AGAINST OTHER PEOPLE