Go Blue!

Library & Ukraine.

A warm September day with sun necessitated that I take Joan out after my 3-hourbreak.

During my break, I went to the Raczynski library to see if they had a book with old pictures of the zamek(castle) we sit behind in Cafe Lokum. I'm curious what the stable area actually looked like when there were horses in it.

I climbed the four flights of stairs to get to the information desk. To my surprise, the young lady behind the counter could not speak English. It was a wasted trip. There are so many rows of books that it would have served no purpose for me to find a book I wanted.

Meanwhile: Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued another warning to Europe on Friday, threatening that any deployment of European troops to Ukraine would amount to direct war with Russia.

“Now they are talking about how they might send troops onto Ukrainian territory. That means war with Russia,” Putin said, referring to discussions among European governments over possible security guarantees for Ukraine. Source: Kyiv Post

But it's OK for 50,000 North Korean soldiers to be fighting alongside Russian troops against Ukraine. Call his bluff; send troops to help Ukraine.

EU ambassadors failed to agree on extending sanctions against Russia for a second time on Friday, after France joined Slovakia in demanding the delisting of Russian-Uzbek oligarch Alisher Usmanov.

Four EU diplomats told Euronews on Friday, Sept. 11, that the two countries are seeking to remove Russian-Uzbek businessman Alisher Usmanov, causing “huge frustration” among other members of the bloc. Besides Usmanov, Slovakia has pushed for Mikhail Fridman, a cofounder of Alfa Bank – Russia’s largest non-state bank – to be removed from the sanctions list.

Both individuals are linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the military-industrial complex sustaining Moscow’s war efforts. Source: Kyiv Post

Slovakia is friendly towards Russia, so that is no surprise. France, knowing the word "surrender" very well, is playing the two-faced government, supporting Ukraine but looking out for France first. 

A walk.

My nephew Jeff and his wife, Annmarie, did a 3K walk in support of childhood brain cancer. They also walked in memory of his dad/my brother, Wally. He has been gone for 52 years, but he is never out of my daily thoughts. He would be 86 years old if he had lived. Physically, he is dead, but as long as we remember him, he will never be "dead".

I wasn't planning on taking Joan outside today, but the weather was warm and their are not going to be many more like this, so I took her to the park. It was nice with few people there because it's a workday for most.

Ukraine: Unbelievable. 

Trump urged Zelensky to stop striking Russian diesel facilities and blamed Ukraine for global fuel shortages. The US leader’s demand followed record August attacks and almost daily drone strikes against Russia, with Ukraine hitting refineries and igniting fires visible from space.

The US president, speaking to reporters on Sunday during a visit to the 2026 Amgen Irish Open golf tournament, said that Ukraine’s long-range drone raids against Russian oil refineries were the main reason world diesel prices had spiked, and called on Zelensky to call off the attacks.

“Mr. Zelensky has to do one thing: He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia. Let him go after targets – but not diesel fuel, because he’s causing a shortage of diesel. This isn’t done by the Middle East. This is done by what’s happening with Russia and Ukraine. So we spoke to Mr. Zelensky about it. There are plenty of other targets. Don’t hit diesel fuel because that’s hurting the world,” Trump told a gaggle of Irish and international reporters.

 A US-Israeli war with Iran leading to the near total shut down of tanker exports via the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, along with worsening Red Sea tanker export volumes following Houthi capture of the Sea’s southern exit, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, are the main cause for rocketing crude oil and refined fuel prices – currently between $106-$120/bbl – most energy industry analysts say. Source: Kyiv Post

That is the way of the U.S. President, as always. He doesn't admit responsibility for starting the "war" with Iran. It is totally his fault. I hope his followers finally understand that fact and the many other lies he has told them. They could curtail his power this November by voting against his supported candidates. Will they? Probably not. It would be to embarrassing to admit they voted him in as President.

The Bully Speaks.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev has claimed that Russia would wipe Lithuania "off the map" if nuclear weapons were deployed on its territory and that its NATO allies would not dare invoke Article 5 on collective defense.

Russia has threatened Lithuania with nuclear weapons as the Baltic nation is eyeing a lift of its nuclear weapons ban.

Lithuania’s parliamentary parties provisionally agreed to the constitutional amendments in July, and the parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs voted 7-2 on the proposal on Wednesday, Sept. 9, paving the way for a final decision in early 2027.

The lifting of the ban would allow NATO, of which Lithuania has been a member of since 2004, to deploy nuclear forces in Lithuania.

 Canada’s and the United Kingdom’s engagement in the Baltics is also extensive: Canada is the battlegroup framework nation in Latvia, the UK in Estonia. Canada plans to deploy two battalions of a brigade to Latvia by 2025. The United Kingdom will, in addition to its participation to the eFP Battlegroup in Estonia, earmark a brigade for rapid deployment to the Baltic region.

Medicine.

Today, I have to go back to the Apteka to pick up two of Joan's prescriptions that they didn't have in stock. When I arrived, they brought out one prescription, but then told me they couldn't order the other. They said there was a problem with the wholesaler, and so the order was rejected. I asked if there was an alternative medication, but they said there was none with the same ingredients. She suggested I try a different Apteka. In fact, she gave me the addresses of two of them, which she said had the medicine now, but they only had one box in each store. I buy prescriptions for 3 months. One box would not be sufficient. I looked up a few other Aptekas close to where we live, and I drove to the nearest one. I told him what I needed, asked him to check their stock, and he said they didn't have any; they could order it and have it tomorrow. So tomorrow, I will take you home with me, go to that Apteka, and hope that they were able to place the order successfully. It could be that they just told me they would have it tomorrow and didn't know they couldn't order it. We'll see what happens. tomorrow.

Meanwhile:

Dmitry Medvedev, former president and current deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, said Lithuania would “disappear from the map of the world” if it lifts its longstanding nuclear weapons ban.
Medvedev made the remarks on Friday, Sept. 11, after Russia had already threatened Vilnius earlier that same day.

The country’s parliamentary parties had agreed to the constitutional amendments in July, while the parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs voted 7-2 on the proposal on Wednesday, paving the way for a final decision early next year.

The lifting of the ban would allow NATO, of which Lithuania has been a member since 2004, to deploy nuclear forces on its territory.

On Friday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov threatened Vilnius over the plan by saying the Baltic nation – once under Soviet occupation – will be “in the sights of our nuclear weapons.”

“And if there are nuclear weapons on the territory that are aimed at us, then the territory of this country will also be in the sights of our nuclear weapons,” Peskov told Russia’s Channel One on Friday, as reported by state media Ria Novosti.

September 11th

 September 11, 2001-We were attacked by foreign terrorists from Saudi Arabia. 2,996 innocent people lost their lives, but the nation survived.

January 20, 2024-We were attacked again, but this time it was domestic terrorists from our own government. Have the strength to help us survive again.

NFL

Okay, so we did make it to 67 Fahrenheit today, so the weatherman has gotten it right the last 3 days. What a miracle!

Paige came over and sat with Joan today doing her physical exercises, and then both of them watched the NFL football highlights for the rest of her time here. When I left at 11:00, they had just started watching the games, and when I came home, they were still watching them. It surprised me. I know John likes football, but I didn't know thatPaige liked it also.

I spent a good part of my time between the Apteka and the doctor's clinic. Last Monday I sent a request to have some prescriptions refilled, and usually the next day I have the codes to take to the Apteka and fill the prescriptions. On Tuesday, there was no reply to my message. Wednesday, I sent another request, and by Thursday at noon I still had no response. I made an appointment to see the doctor, only to get my prescription refill codes in hand. I also wanted to ask the doctor why two of my prescriptions had to be paid for. They are the same ones I've been taking for years, and they've always been free after I turned 70 years old. The doctor looked them up and said there was a mistake made, and she wrote me out a new prescription for them, specifying that they were free. It's these little bureaucratic things that continue that really piss me off. You have to be persistent when dealing with bureaucracy, and I am.

The picture above is the newest addition to our Rajewski relatives who live in British Columbia, Canada. His name is Nikko.

85 to 65

85°F yesterday, 75°F today, 65°F tomorrow. There's no doubt we are heading towards the gray winter in Poland. Sunshine is rather rare here during that time, and if you let it, it can be depressing. Although if you watch the news, that can be even more depressing. Of course, it would be easy to not pay attention to the news, but with the situation in the United States, everyone should be aware of what's going on and how important it is that they vote in the midterm election.

I stayed up way too late last night and didn't wake up until 12:00 this afternoon. Working with two resistance groups in the United States, and the only time I have to do it, because of the time difference, is late at night. I try hard to get to bed by midnight, but more often than not it ends up being 1:00 or 2:00 before I go to sleep. Being involved with the groups has curtailed studying Spanish very much these last four or five months.

Meanwhile Ukraine:

Good news--The EU's Court of Justice on Sept. 9 dismissed a legal challenge filed by former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban intended to prevent money linked to frozen Russian assets from being spent on the EU's military aid to Ukraine.

EU countries agreed in EU 2024 to bankroll some military assistance for Ukraine using the interest generated on Russian government assets that have been "frozen" within the EU since Moscow launched its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The current Hungarian prime minister, Peter Magyar, has not spoken about the case but has adopted a more constructive approach to relations with the EU since taking office in May.

While Magyar has repeatedly ruled out his country providing direct military assistance to Ukraine, he has affirmed Kyiv's right to defend itself and signaled Budapest would not obstruct assistance from other EU members. Source: Kyiv Independent

NOT o good news. Former CIA Chief of Station Sean Wiswesser says NATO’s deterrence is too weak and warns that the Baltic states could be Russia’s next target. “I believe the Baltics are next, unfortunately,” he tells Kyiv Post special correspondent Jason Jay Smart. He points to the Suwalki Gap as one place where Moscow could attempt a limited move that forces NATO to decide whether Article 5 will actually be enforced, without first launching another full-scale invasion.

Wiswesser says the danger is growing because Russia is already testing the West while rebuilding its military faster than many analysts expected. Moscow still regards the United States as its main adversary, while sabotage, cyberattacks, drone incidents and covert operations are already reaching European countries. The next challenge to NATO could be intentionally limited and difficult to classify, giving governments less time to agree on what happened and how far they are prepared to go in response.

That is why Wiswesser keeps coming back to deterrence. “Real deterrence is, unfortunately, risking war to prevent war,” he says. He calls for long-range weapons for Ukraine, including German Taurus missiles and F-16 ERAMs, greater pressure on Russia’s oil and gas sector, and the seizure of frozen Russian state assets in Europe. Warnings matter only if Moscow believes ignoring them will incur a concrete cost. Source: Kyiv Post

Interesting Day.

Yes, it was an interesting day for us. We had a new visitor at 1:00 p.m.; his name was Bruno.

Because we've been frequenting Cafe Lokum more than Sowas or Kandulski cafes, I have gotten to know one of the people behind the bar who takes our order. This has been going on for the last three or four months. During that time, I've had more than a few brief conversations with Bruno, and last week I invited him to visit us. He lives in the next, I guess you would call it, suburb or maybe region very close to us, within walking distance from his flat to ours. Is not originally from Poznan, but he's been living here for 6 years.

He arrived at 1:00, and we had ciasto, coffee, tea, and water sitting at the kitchen table. When we were done, we moved to the living room for more comfortable seating. I told him about our life in Poland, our life in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, about building my house in the forest, and several other stories about our travels in different European countries. Of course, it was all new to him, so he was very interested in it.

Around 4:15 p.m., it was time for him to leave and return to his own flat. I'm sure we will see him again this week when we make our visit to the cafe.

Meanwhile, Ukraine.

Ukraine war latest: Drone and missile alerts sound in Kyiv amid temporary attack pause on capitals

Amid a temporary attack pause between Kyiv and Moscow, Russian drones are flying above the Ukrainian capital 

*Russia has enough resources to wage war through 2028, Ukraine's military intelligence says 

*Ukraine claims strikes on railway bridge and Russian aircraft in Russian-occupied Crimea *Kyiv shortens curfew to 1-5 am 

*Pro-Ukrainian partisans sabotaged communication tower ahead of oil refinery strike, Atesh group claims.

*Ukrainian drone blitz hits 3 Russian oil refineries, Zelensky confirms. Source: Kyiv Independent

Ukraine

1st and 3rd Corps have been assigned the mission of holding Slovyansk and Kramatorsk against the expected Russian offensive. Both commanders are self-made generals – Denys Prokopenko (1st Azov Corps) and Andriy Biletsky (3rd Army Corps) – who rose through Azov’s ranks; in other words, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) put its first team and best players into the Donetsk region.

These are two of the AFU’s hardest-fighting corps – although, to be fair, probably the 30th Marine and 7th and 8th Airborne Assault Corps are to that level. The presence of USF brass at the outset of the planning makes crystal clear the Ukrainian intent: when Russia launches its big offensive, probably after the fall wet season, the most effective Drone Wall buzz saw will be in place to meet it. Three months is a long time to let Ukrainians prepare…

 Ukrainian drones attacked targets across Russia overnight, hitting residential buildings near Moscow and a seaport in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russian officials and monitoring channels reported.

In Kubinka, about 60 kilometers west of Moscow, a drone attack caused a fire on the eighth and ninth floors of an apartment building, Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov said. Ten people were evacuated. He said there were no casualties.

Kubinka is home to a major Russian military airfield used by the country’s Russian Knights and Swifts military aerobatic teams. The town is also located near Patriot Park, a large Russian military-themed complex.

The Zamek.

A large building of the Imperial Castle in Poznań, built for the last German emperor and King of Prussia, Wilhelm II, who personally established a detailed plan for his residence.

The Imperial Castle in Poznań is one of the youngest castles in Europe; it is the last and youngest residence of the monarch on the continent.

The castle did not escape war stories. From the uprisings to the actions during the Second World War, it changed its destiny many times. It served as Hitler's headquarters, although the commander himself probably never stayed there. For this purpose, the layout and functions of the lock interiors have been completely changed. The most important rooms are decorated in the totalitarian style of architecture of the Third Reich. In the place of the chapel, Hitler's office was arranged, with an electrically heated balcony (floor). From the balcony, the Führer would receive parades. The office was decorated identically to the Reich Chancellery in Berlin, and its decor has been unchanged to this day and often serves as a film set.

After the surrender of the citadel on February 23, 1945, the castle was part of the camp for German prisoners of war (transitional camp). 

The castle was to be demolished after the war, due to associations with the German occupant, but due to a lack of finances, only Nazi symbols were removed, and the damaged story of the clock tower was demolished.

Subsequently, the castle served as the Town Hall and the Municipal National Council in 1948, and in 1962 as the Palace of Culture. In 1979, the Imperial Castle was entered in the register of monuments as a cultural good.

Today, the Imperial Castle is a meeting place for culture and art, as well as history! In the summer, we can go to concerts, film screenings, or exhibitions. The castle and its interiors can be visited in a version with an audio guide, an application, or without. On the official website of the Imperial Castle, you can learn more and even choose a virtual walk. Source-Zamieszkali.pl

Now, they are renovating behind the Zamek where the entrance to the old stables is. 

Autumn Goldenrod.

Nothing brings Autumn to mind like seeing goldenrod everywhere. It is a similar feeling in Spring when the dandelions are in bloom. Now, blue is our favorite color, but something about yellow makes us a little happier.

Goldenrod refers to a group of around 100 to 120 species of flowering plants in the aster family. Most species are native to North America, though a few are native to Europe and Asia. They produce clusters of bright yellow flower heads atop tall stems in late summer and autumn. Goldenrod relies on insects like bees and butterflies for pollination. Because its pollen is heavy and sticky, it is transported by insects rather than blown by the wind.

Goldenrod serves as a vital late-season source of nectar and pollen for pollinators preparing for winter. It's leaves and flowers have historically been used in herbal teas for their mild diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties.

The plant produces vibrant natural yellow, gold, and green dyes for textiles. Many species are cultivated as ornamental plants, praised for their resilience and bright autumn color.

1939

The invasion of Poland, 1 (September – 6 October 1939), was a joint attack on the Republic of Poland by Nazi Germany, the Slovak Republic, and the Soviet Union, which marked the beginning of World War II. The invasion began on 1 September 1939 when Germany marched into Poland, preceded by the Danzig crisis and by the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact between Germany and the Soviet Union, which was signed one week before and approved by the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union one day before the invasion. On 17 September the Soviet Union invaded as well, acting on a secret protocol of the pact, which assigned parts of Poland to them. The campaign ended on 6 October with Germany and the Soviet Union dividing the whole of Poland under the terms of the German–Soviet Frontier Treaty.

The aim of the invasion was to disestablish Poland as a sovereign country, with its citizens destined for extermination. German and Slovak forces invaded Poland from the north, south, and west the morning after the Gleiwitz incident. 

As the Wehrmacht advanced, Polish forces withdrew from their forward bases of operation close to the Germany–Poland border to more established defense lines to the east. After the mid-September Polish defeat in the Battle of the Bzura, the Germans gained an undisputed advantage. Polish forces then withdrew to the southeast where they prepared for a long defence of the Romanian Bridgehead and awaited expected support and relief from France and the United Kingdom.

On 3 September, based on their alliance agreements with Poland, the United Kingdom and France declared war on Germany; in the end, their aid to Poland was very limited. France invaded a small part of Germany in the Saar Offensive, and the Polish army was effectively defeated even before the British Expeditionary Force could be transported to continental Europe.

On 17 September, the Soviet Red Army invaded Eastern Poland, the territory beyond the Curzon Line that fell into the Soviet "sphere of influence" according to the secret protocol of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact; this rendered the Polish plan of defence obsolete.^[20] Facing a second front, the Polish government concluded the defence of the Romanian Bridgehead was no longer feasible and ordered an emergency evacuation of all troops to neutral Romania.^[21] On 6 October, following the Polish defeat at the Battle of Kock, German and Soviet forces gained full control over Poland. The success of the invasion marked the end of the Second Polish Republic, though Poland never formally surrendered. Source-Wikipedia

Remembrance Day!

Tomorrow marks one of the darkest days in the history of Poland: the invasion by Nazi Germany. There is no need to relate the horror stories, even though two of my great-uncles were murdered in Auschwitz. I was too young to even know them or about them until I met their descendants on one of our many trips in Poland.

Poland is no longer the poor country you may think about. Sign up for a free 7-day account; skip the screens that offer a paid subscription and read this. It will surprise you.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/21/europe-future-looking-increasingly-polish

24/7

I have to admit I am getting a little burned out being a 24 /7 caregiver. I know I cannot stop and will not stop doing it because I have no option. One day seems just like another, sometimes boring, sometimes with way too many things to do or small problems to solve. I need a vacation from this, but I also realize that it is impossible. Even during my 3-hour breaks, my mind is still constantly on Joan. There is no relief.

Today, for about 5 minutes, she thought I was her mother. Looking straight at my face and my body structure, she still just saw her mother. It took me a little while to convince her of what I was and what I am to her. Those are hard moments for me. I know it's only going to get worse, and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it. I don't believe hate is a strong enough word to describe how I feel about this disease called dementia.

Meanwhile, Ukraine.

More than 113,000 Russian citizens crossed into Georgia via the Verkhny Lars checkpoint in a single week, driven by rumors of a new military mobilization. On Aug. 20 alone, over 20,000 people crossed the border.

 Armenia has also indicated it will welcome Russians fleeing the draft. The exodus follows reports of intensified Kremlin recruitment efforts and Ukrainian intelligence assessments predicting a 600,000-person mobilization wave across 2026 and 2027.

Armenia is also preparing for a potential influx of draft evaders. Alen Simonyan, Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, told TV Rain that Yerevan will not hinder those seeking to avoid being sent to the Ukrainian front.

The European countries bordering the Baltic Sea are now seeking to ramp up their security coordination due to increasing hybrid warfare activity in their territory.

On Friday, Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt gathered his colleagues from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, Norway and Ireland in northern Germany to discuss the current threat perception in and around the Baltic Sea. Source-Kyiv Post

President Volodymyr Zelensky called for Ukraine to increase the frequency of its long-range drone strikes against Russia on Aug. 28, setting a goal of launching 1,000 drones a day.

Zelensky said in his daily evening address that Ukraine currently launches more than 300 long-range drones on average each day, but needs to significantly increase that number as Russia intensifies its aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities.

"The main priority is to strengthen our defense against jet-powered Shaheds and to step up the frequency of our deep strikes against Russia," Zelensky said. "The task is a thousand drones for long-range strikes against Russia every day. Right now, the average is over 300 of our long-range strikes, there must be more. We have a very specific goal, and we will achieve it." Source-Kyiv Independent

Sept. 1st.

Two significant observances occur on September 1 in Poland:

Anniversary of the Outbreak of World War II

September 1 marks the national day of remembrance for the start of World War II, which began on September 1, 1939, with the invasion of Poland. Official memorial services, wreath-laying ceremonies, and the sounding of sirens are held at historical sites such as Westerplatte to honor the defenders and victims of the war.

First Day of the School Year

It is also the official start of the primary and secondary school year. Known as Rozpoczęcie Roku Szkolnego, students attend formal inaugural ceremonies at their schools to welcome the new academic term.

September 1 is a day of national observance and remembrance rather than an official statutory day off work.

A regret.

If you've been a reader of this blog, I'm sure you've noticed I'm not writing it daily like I used to. Joan occupies so much of my time that, before I can reach the midnight deadline each night, I just don't get to it in time. Because she's not as mobile as she used to be, we just don't travel to too many places or do anything outside of the house. I really miss traveling to different cities or towns or countries, but I think those days are over.

Today was a nice day, so I did take her again to our favorite cafe, where I discovered they are redoing the entrance from the castle into what used to be the stable area where the cafe is located. Now they're in the process of taking all the covering off the original red brick structure in the passageway. I don't know what they're going to do with it, except maybe clean it up and make the bricks look new again.

She had a nice conversation today via Zoom with her son and daughter. It lasted for about an hour, and her daughter did most of the talking. There isn't really much of a conversation going on between the two of them. I can't remember the last time she was able to talk with her adult grandson and granddaughter.

Perserverence.

All of my adult life, I have heard that one or two people don't make a difference. You can't tell that to my nephew Jeff and his wife Annemarie. They live in Griffith, Indiana.

Last week, a storm or tornado went through their town, causing severe damage to power lines, downing many trees, and leaving hundreds of people without electricity.

About one-third of the town remains without power, or roughly 5,500 customers, according to town leaders, who are urging NIPSCO to speed up restoration efforts.

Jeff and his wife decided that they were going to help the elderly and disabled people in their neighborhood. Their decision was to provide a hot meal for any elderly or disabled person who needed it. They had in mind to feed at least 50 residents, and they had a plan laid out for how they were going to be able to accomplish it. The idea was to ask for volunteers to make deliveries of the meals that they would prepare. They asked for volunteers to help them accomplish this, and when it was all over, they had fed 60 people. That's quite an accomplishment on their part and the volunteers'. So, one or two people can make a difference if they want to. I have to congratulate them both on their Community involvement and perseverance in carrying out their plan.

Good weather.

The sky was blue, small fluffy clouds floating by, and the Sun was shining brightly. With a temperature of 71 degrees Fahrenheit, I thought it was time to finally take Joan out of the apartment. The only destination I had in mind was Cafe Lokum, in the center of the city. It has become our favorite destination for coffee and ciasto. One of the reasons was that they only charge 11zlotys for a caffe latte. Most other cafes or sweet shops charge anywhere between 15 to 18 zlotys. Today we were in luck; they had our favorite ciasto, cinnamon buns. I ordered two of them, two caffe lattes, and the cost was only $11.

They have added some additional tables to the seating area, which makes it easier for me to get Joan in her wheelchair close to the table. We sat and talked for about one and a half hours before leaving.

Back at home, I decided tonight's dinner would be a tuna, quinoa, tomato salad. It was easy to prepare, and Joan liked it very much.

Earlier in the morning, I did the food shopping for the week. Cost-$51.

I finally figured out how to use the new recycling machines for Plastics and had four bags full of plastic bottles to insert into it. When I was all done, I received a ticket for 21 zltys, which I took to the information desk and exchanged for money. I've seen them in the store for a couple of months but never took the time to figure out how to use them. Now I know!

Complacency & Ukraine

The weather is heading toward winter. For the last three days, it has been in the high 60s, gray, and rainy. Not the best weather to take Joan outside, so we have been cooped up in our flat.

I pulled back from making daily posts to the different social media groups I'm in. There is as much complacency about taking any concrete action against the vile administration in them. Most are satisfied just clicking an icon if they like a post but not answering the call to action.  In the last presidential election, over 108 million Americans didn't even vote. If just 2% had voted for Harris, this world wouldn't be in as much turmoil as it is now with Donnie in charge of the U.S.

Meanwhile, Ukraine.

 Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the state-owned Kombinat Kamensky plant in Russia's Rostov region overnight on Aug. 23-24, sparking a fire, Ukraine's General Staff reported. The facility produces solid rocket propellant for Uragan, Smerch and Tornado-S multiple rocket launcher systems, as well as other missile and air-launched weapons. The extent of the damage is being assessed. The strike follows an Aug. 22 attack on a Russian oil loading complex in Krasnodar Krai.

Fifteen people, including two children, were injured after a Russian drone crashed in Chernihiv, Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported.

The European Union released €6.1 billion ($7.1 billion) in military aid for Ukraine on Monday to strengthen its air defenses, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced ahead of talks between Ukraine and its allies. The funding will go toward air and missile defense systems, missiles, ammunition and radars, as Russia carried out 376 missile strikes in July alone. The aid is part of a broader €90 billion EU loan package for Ukraine.

Conor Kennedy joined Ukraine’s International Legion in 2022, at the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, and is believed to have departed in October the same year after a brief stint. A Moscow court has accused him of mercenarism and placed him on its wanted list in August, with a seven- to 10-year sentence.

Velo Bank

Once again, I'm having trouble with the new Velo Bank website. The problem started last weekend. I had two bills to pay, and of course, I went to pay them online. I signed in to my bank account, placed the order to pay the bills, and when I clicked to confirm the transfer, it told me to go back to the homepage and start again. I did that three times. Each time, the result was the same: go back to the homepage. I was frustrated. And decided to go to the bank to see if Mariusz could straighten out this problem.

I was told Mariusz was on vacation and wouldn't be back for a week. I asked if there was another person who could speak to me in English so I could explain the problem, and the receptionist asked me to sit and wait. I did. I waited, and I waited, and I waited. After waiting 45 minutes. I was getting so pissed off that I decided to leave. Of course, I still wasn't able to make the payments.

One of the payments was for the bill of electricity for the last 2 months, and it was overdue. I called Renata, our landlady/friend, and told her about my problem paying the electricity bill. I told her I had taken out the money from the bank, and that I would drive to her house tomorrow to give it to her. Instead, she told me she would pay the bill and that I could give her the money next month when she comes to pick up the rent money. Okay, that one problem is solved, but the other still remains. This new bank has given me more problems than in all the years that I was with City Handlowy.

I also do banking with the former Santander Bank, now sold to the Erste Bank. Speaking with Renata again, she told me she has been with Santander also, now Erste, and that she has had no problems with their website. So I'm contemplating taking our money out of Velo Bank and using Erste. I will still leave our Social Security checks deposited to Velo Bank because I just had to go through the process of changing paperwork in the Federal Benefits Unit in the United States to get the deposit made in Velo. When the checks do come in, I will just transfer the money to the Erste Bank account.

Terrified!

On Friday, I had a blood test to check my PSA level. It is used to detect prostate cancer. 10 years ago, I had it, and it was treated with radiotherapy. Since then, I have had it checked every three months. The normal range is between 0 and 4. My last test result was 0.33, which is still very good.

Thinking it was time to check it again, I did it. Monday morning, I received the result. It was shocking. 4.4. I couldn't believe it had gotten so high in three months, so I looked at the date on the last one. Another shock. The date said September 12, 2025. I don't know why I missed those quarterly blood tests, but I did.

Panicked, I called to make an appointment with my private urologist, knowing it could be months before I would be able to see him. Thankfully, to my surprise, he had an opening the next day at 5:10.

We arrived on time. I went into his office, and he said it had been three years since my last visit. I explained that I had been keeping a close watch on my PSA until the last test last year. As a result of that mishap, I now had a PSA of 4.4. He examined me with sonograms in different places and told me not to worry; everything looked good. Also, that 4.4 was acceptable and to come back in 6 months.

I can't express the relief I felt. My only thought before was that I could not leave this planet before Joan. I have to be able to always take care of her.

U Przyjaciol

 Another day of gray skies, but at least the temperature was 72.

Joan hadn't been outside for three days, so at 1:15, I took her to Cafe Lokum. After parking the car and wheeling her there, I discovered it was closed.

We were close to Plac Wolnoscii, a place we haven't been to since last year, so I decided to take her for coffee at the place in front of the Plac. To our surprise, it had completely changed. Gone were the comfortable wicker tables and chairs and the couches they brought in two years ago. Before, about 40 people could be seated. Now, it is more like twenty. Worst of all, the old furniture was replaced with plastic, very uncomfortable chairs. This is not a place we will return to.

Cafe U Przyjaciol, nearby, was my final attempt for the day, and by that point, my options were running dangerously thin. What makes the place such a refuge is how entirely removed it feels from the noise and commotion of the city center. Even during peak hours, it remains surprisingly tranquil, offering a quiet, unhurried pace that is becoming harder to find.

I have brought Joan here on previous occasions, though the memory of those visits has slipped away, leaving the cafe as a completely new experience for her each time. From a practical standpoint, the location is ideal: accessible handicapped parking sits directly in front, saving us from a long or difficult walk. Once we settled in, Joan enjoyed a slice of rich chocolate cake with her coffee, while I opted for just a plain black coffee to keep things simple.

The location itself is discreet. Tucked away on a side street that no tourist map would ever highlight, the entrance requires walking through a passageway. That narrow corridor opens up into a hidden inner courtyard, completely sheltered from street traffic. Green plants line the patio, interspersed with a mix of vintage curiosities and artful objects that give the courtyard a distinctly bohemian character.

Inside, rather than standard open seating, every booth is individually framed by fabric hangings suspended from the ceiling. These partitions drape down to create private alcoves, offering a quiet, shielded space where you can sit comfortably and enjoy a long conversation without feeling exposed to the rest of the room.

Hot & Ukraine.

 It was too hot today to take Joan outside.

Renata came over in the evening to pick up the rent money and recommended we watch the SPY series on Netflix. We thought we would watch one episode to see if we liked it. It was based on a true story. We ended up watching all 6 episodes today for entertainment.

She also brought us homemade tomato soup, beef roulades, and lunch meat. For dinner, we had the soup. I was going to have the roulades and a salad, but after the soup, Joan said she had enough. 

Meanwhile in Ukraine,

Lithuania’s Ministry of Economy and Innovation has signed an agreement with the Ukrainian defense company DEMZ to establish a new ammunition plant. The project will include a new facility in the Prienai district and an existing site in Alytus. Construction is scheduled to begin in autumn 2026, with production meeting NATO standards expected by late 2027. The ammunition will initially supply the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with plans to export to allied nations.

A Russian drone struck a residential high-rise in Marhanets, killing a three-month-old baby and injuring 11 others.

Elon Musk is refusing to allow Ukraine to use the Starlink satellite network to target Russian missile batteries inside Russian territory, urging Kyiv to negotiate a deal to end the war.

Good exercise day.

Joan had a good day of exercise with Paige today. She still has a long way to go before she is walking again, but there is a little progress. I will take that.

I spent my three-hour break at the Apteka, going for a blood test, shopping for frozen fruit at Auchan, and at our cell phone provider, Orange.

The woman at Orange said I didn't need a new SIM card; she would just enter a new PUK number, and that was all I needed. Luckily, no customer was waiting, and I was in and out in 10 minutes. The same thing happened at the Apteka.

Unfortunately, the blood test didn't happen. I was there 5 minutes after their 12:00 closing, so I will have to go back tomorrow. 

 At Auchan, I bought 2 bags of frozen strawberries, 1 bag each of mangoes and pineapple. Cost $8

Frustrating day.

Even with the sun being out in blue skies, it was a frustrating day. I woke up and found my cell phone battery was at its end, so I plugged it in to recharge. After about 20 minutes, it was recharged, but when I turned it on, it said I had to enter the PUK number of the SIM card and my personal PIN number. I entered both of them correctly, but the message came back as failed. I tried it again, and it failed again, saying I had eight more tries before the SIM card would be blocked. 

I tried a different SIM number with a new PIN. It failed. Seven more tries left before blockage. I decided to ask AI what to do to enter and be able to use the phone. It suggested taking out the SIM card, and that should make it possible to use the phone. Then it said I needed to go back to my service provider and tell them I needed a new SIM card. That kind of pacified me, but it also presented a different problem that occurred when I went to the clinic to get a prescription filled for a medication I take.

I knew last Monday that I would run out of the medication by Tuesday morning, so Sunday night I sent a message to the clinic that I needed a prescription refill. Monday morning, their reply was that I did not have that medication in my history. That was impossible! We have been using the same Clinic for the last 17 years, and my prescriptions have not changed since then. I called the clinic, and in my feeble Polish, I explained to them about my history, and they said they could not find it. I asked if they would check their computer once again, and, lo and behold, they found it.

I told them I needed five packages of it, but they said I needed to see the doctor first. So I made a reply to get an appointment, and they gave me an appointment for Wednesday at 2:15.

We arrived on time; I told the doctor my problem, and she wrote out the prescription. Now, from past experience, I should have checked what she wrote, but instead I just folded it up and put it in my pocket.

I stopped at the pharmacy, gave them my prescription, and when they brought it to the counter, there was a problem. I told the doctor, initially, that I needed five packages. The prescription was only for one package. A little pissed off, I went back to the clinic, told the problem to the receptionist and said I needed to speak to the doctor. She replied that it was impossible, and that she would send me the new prescription Via SMS later. That's where the real problem was. Because my phone didn't work, I could not receive the SMS.

My only recourse was to send an email to the clinic and tell them my phone didn't work, so please send the code I needed to my email address. That was at for p.m. I waited and waited, and finally at 7:00 p. M. The code was in my email.

So tomorrow, when Paige is here, I will first go to my service provider to get the new SIM card, and then go to the Apteka to pick up the extra four packages of Medicine. All of this consumed my morning and afternoon and did not leave me in good humor.

I also had to send emails to people telling them that my phone was non-functional and to contact me through email. I hope by tomorrow evening this will all be solved.

51

51 years together.

Pro-Ukrainian.

Demonstrators took to the streets across Poland to protest against violence and hostility toward Ukrainians, vowing to stand by the community amid rising anti-Ukrainian sentiment.  

The rallies were held on Sunday in 22 cities, including the capital Warsaw, the southern city of Krakow and the Baltic port city of Gdańsk. 

The nationwide action was organized by the Committee for the Defense of Democracy (KOD), a Polish civic movement, under the slogan “Don’t be indifferent.” 

Organizers said the demonstrations were intended as a response to increasingly frequent verbal and physical attacks against people targeted because of their origin, language or appearance. 

They also aimed to show solidarity with Ukrainians and other minorities facing violence and discrimination. 

KOD chairman Jakub Karyś said Ukrainians had become an important part of Polish society, adding that violence against them was unacceptable. 

Participants were handed stickers bearing the slogan “Don’t be indifferent,” which organizers encouraged them to place on shop doors, businesses and cars. 

KOD said the stickers were intended as a sign to Ukrainians that they could “count on help, feel safe and have support” in those places.

Poland has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest supporters since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, providing military and humanitarian aid and hosting nearly one million people who fled the war. 

However, ties between the two nations have faced growing strains in recent months, particularly over their differing interpretations of World War II history. 

A major source of tension remains the Volhynia massacres, in which Ukrainian nationalists killed tens of thousands of ethnic Poles during World War II. 

Anti-Ukrainian sentiment has also risen, with Polish police receiving 180 reports of suspected hate crimes against Ukrainians in the first half of 2026, more than 30% higher than during the same period last year, according to a recent report.  

Sunday’s rallies were the latest in a series of public initiatives against anti-Ukrainian hostility.

Source-TVP World 

Our flat.

Our flat is part of a U-shaped block of flats. In Poland, this word, block, is not a measurement. It describes the type of building. The one we live in has 7 levels. The ground level is usually occupied by small offices like a doctor's office, a Beauty Salon, or even a Zaka(7-11 type store. So, what you call the first floor in the United States, here it is the 0 floor. Our flat is in the U portion of the building. 

Therefore, when I sit on our balcony, to the left and to the right I see the extended wings of the building. 

However, looking straight ahead on the balcony, I have a nice view of three large trees, grass on the ground, and in the third half on the right, there is another building blocking the rest of the view. This is kind of my refuge place during a normal day when I need a 5-minute break, and Joan is sitting in her chair or lying in bed asleep. For us, it is a very good location because it is only a 10-minute drive to visit Radek or other friends we have. It takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes to get to the town of Golina. We have underground parking, so that makes it easy for me to get Joan in and out of our car to the elevator. 

It's a two-bedroom flat, although one bedroom is used as my computer room, but it does have a couch in it that I utilize to sleep when Joan is making too much noise at night. It's not very often that it happens, but the second bedroom does come in handy.

Like the previous apartment we lived in for 14 years, this flat has windows on the north and south sides, so we do have the advantage of a crosswind when the temperatures go above 80 Fahrenheit. On those days, I close the windows facing south and close the drapes to keep out the sun. The north windows are always open.

Another advantage is that we have a major food store only two blocks away from our flat.

88 F

It was way too hot to take Joan outside today. We stayed inside after I returned from my 3-hour break and watched the musical "Rent" once again. Amazingly, they found so many talented people to play the different characters.

The rest of the day we were just "slugs". 

Meanwhile, in Ukraine.

Russian missiles are raining down on Kyiv while Ukraine is striking targets in Russia and on the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. In recent days, refineries and logistics centres belonging to online retailer Wildberries have again come under attack and been set on fire by Ukrainian drones.

Russian authorities said debris from a Ukrainian drone damaged a Wildberries logistics warehouse in Russia's Tver region, with no casualties reported. The claims came after Moscow said it intercepted 605 drones overnight, while regional reports also described a fire near a refinery in Yaroslavl.

Russia is gaining ground in Ukraine while losing the soldiers, money, industrial capacity, and political leverage needed to win. During June 2026, Moscow captured roughly 30 km² (12 mi²) at the cost of approximately 39,500 casualties and nearly $19 billion in war spending and strike-related losses. John Mearsheimer predicts an “ugly Russian victory,” but map movement cannot erase Putin’s failure to force Ukraine into submission.

On July 27th, in a speech, Putin remarkably said, Ukrainians are merely part of the Russian people and therefore have no right to their own language or culture. This is precisely why Putin considers the very existence of Ukrainians – rather than Russians – as Ukraine’s largest national community to be “complete absurdity.”

 Source-Kyiv Post

A nice offer.

A little warmer today, 82 F, but good enough to take Joan outside. I had no place specific in mind, so we started with a sit ina small park in the center and ended it with a trip to Cafe Lokum.

I wasn't there for sweets, but they had a blueberry cake I knew Joan would enjoy. I ordered two Caffe Lattees and one piece of the cake. The cost was $11. I was right, Joan very much liked it.

Back at home in the elevator, a young woman entered with a beautiful white dog. I had seen her before, but it was the first time with Joan. Joan told her how pretty the dog was. She asked if we spoke Polish or English. I said both. 

Then, in English, she told us where she lived in the building, and that if we ever needed help with something, to please come and get her. Both Joan and I thought that was very nice of her to offer.

She was the second stranger to offer assistance. Our first was Pawel & Julia Dalecki. They bought a flat across town and moved earlier this year.

Several friends of ours have helped us in the past 5 years, but none of my "relatives" who live in or near Poznan have.