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. 

Paige returns

After a week off because of our trip, Paige returned today to continue the exercises with Joan. They were both a little tired when they were over.

I finally had a Spanish lesson with Radek. We have moved on to using the advanced book. The first lesson was easy, just a rehash of Estar and Ser(to be).  

It is warming up again with a high temperature of 89 F.

Meanwhile, Ukraine.

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said Washington has not finalized any deal allowing Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles, even as talks on co-production with Ukrainian and European partners continue. He said the immediate priority is speeding up air defense deliveries before winter.

Trump has wavered on Patriot production pledge

Trump first floated granting Ukraine a license to produce Patriot interceptors during a meeting with Zelensky on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8.

“We’ll give them the right to make Patriots,” Trump said. “We’ll show them how to do it.”

The two leaders met again on Tuesday, July 28 in the Oval Office at the White House, a meeting Zelensky described as productive, fueling expectations that Washington would follow through on the licensing commitment.

However, speaking at a Cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday, July 31, Trump softened his earlier commitment.

“We have not agreed to that. We’re talking about it, but it’s a hard thing to give away that kind of technology,” Trump said, adding that countries receiving the technology “can someday turn on you.”

Source-Kyiv Post 

Opera Fountain

What a beautiful day! I just had to take Joan out to enjoy it. After two conversations between 11:00 and 1:00, I helped her put on a pair of shorts and her sandals, and helped her into her wheelchair. I thought this would be a good day to go and sit in front of the Opera House and enjoy watching the fountain and the people passing by. Of course, the most enjoyable side where the little children playing in the water underneath the water fountain.

We sat there for about one and a half hours watching them, looking at the row of beautiful, old trees and the sky completely free of clouds. The weather was absolutely perfect: 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Since we were so close to Cafe Lokum, I pushed her in the chair to get us to a table in what was once the courtyard of the horse stables. I Can Only Imagine what it was like in the days when the Cobblestone floor was all grass or dirt, and the horses were behind the big doors in The Stables. I imagine in one of the libraries there must be pictures of it, but I haven't taken the time to search for that.

In the cafe, I ordered  Joan a coffee and a blueberry piece of cake with raspberry topping. She said it was excellent and she really enjoyed it.

I didn't have my camera with me, but I did take pictures with my cell phone. We really like the way the flowers are planted all around the border of the pool of water.

Ostromecko Palace.

 Yesterday, the heat was unbearable. I took Joan to the huge park, but it was so hot pushing her around that we didn't stay long. Instead, we visited the Ostromecko Palace.

Between 1759 and 1766, Paweł Michał Mostowski built the Old Palace (also known as the Mostowski Palace) on the foundations of the earlier single-story manor house.  The Ostromecko Palace and Park Complex is a historic estate situated just outside Bydgoszcz along the scenic valley of the Vistula River. The complex is unique because it features two distinct residences, the Old Palace and the New Palace, set within a 38-hectare historic park.

 In the 19th century, under Prussian rule, the estate passed into the hands of the German noble Schönborn family and, later, through marriage, into the hands of the Alvensleben family.

Between 1832 and 1848, Jakub Marcin von Schönborn commissioned a much larger, Neoclassical residence, the New Palace. Towards the late 19th century, the New Palace was expanded with Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Baroque wings, adding a grand ballroom and a hunting lodge. Also, the grounds surrounding both palaces were expanded into a sprawling 38-hectare English-style landscape park.

 Unfortunately, there was no entrance for wheelchairs. I asked Joan if she would mind waiting in the shade while I went in to take pictures. She agreed.

I only looked at the New Palace. It had three floors, but I only visited two. I needed to get back to Joan.

There was an amazing collection of historical pianos dating back to 1978. It is one of the largest collections of antique pianos in Poland. There are over 70 pianos and related instruments.

There is also a collection of accordions produced at the Bydgoszcz Accordion Factory, which operated in the city between 1949 and 1973.

I just wish I could have spent more time there. 

Brzozki

Checking the weather before we left for Bydgoszcz, I knew Tuesday and Wednesday would be good, so I decided we would visit Brzozki on the way to Bydgoszcz instead of on the way back, when it would be way too hot to push Joan around.

We started early. 11:00 and took the A2 motorway east to connect with S5 going north. About an hour later we departed S5 at the Szubin exit. Driving on that road took us to Tur, where we found the road to Brzozki. It went right through a forest to an opening in Brzozki. 

For some reason, I imagined that all the Van Gogh-painted houses would be together. They were not, but the village is so small it wasn't hard to find most of the paintings. I parked the car, put Joan in her chair, and walked around to photograph painted houses.

I like that village. It is small and has a nice atmosphere.

When we finished, we went back to S5 and drove another 30 minutes into Bydgoszcz, where we were staying, the Park Hotel.

Our room was on the first floor and was set up for people with disabilities. The bathroom was especially large for maneuvering a wheelchair; the shower was a walk-in shower with an entrance barrier to overcome, and the toilet had safety handles on both sides. However, the seat itself was too high for Joan to put her feet on the ground. It was still nice.

I unpacked everything, and we had a little rest period. About 6:30, I asked the receptionist for a dinner place recommendation, and she suggested Manekin. It is right across the street from the entrance to Stary Rynek

For dinner, Joan chose pancakes with raspberry cream, whipped cream, and blueberries. My choice was a shrimp salad. 

After dinner, we walked across the bridge to the rynek and were delighted to see Cukernia & Restaurancja Sowa. We sat were you see the waitress in the doorway. Asecond surprise was that they also serve breakfast all day starting at 9 AM. We knew where we would be eating breakfast tomorrow. 

We were back in our room by 8:30 with nothing to do. I forgot to take my external drive with movies on it, and there were only the standard Polish channels on the large-screen TV. Useless for Joan.

Surprise-Brzozki

Tomorrow, we leave for Bydgoszcz, where we will stay for three days. Our friend from there, Alina, alerted me to a place worth visiting on our way back home. It is a small village of only 130 inhabitants, but it has gained much fame because of what they have done to 10 of the houses in the village.

 In the village of Brzózki, art literally surrounds us. This is all thanks to the Van Gogh paintings projected onto the facades of the buildings, which give the village a magical atmosphere. The residents are clearly delighted that it was selected as the “Miracle of Poland 2025” in the Kujavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship.

 Located in the Noteć Valley, Brzózki defeated its rivals and was recognized by voters in the “Wonders of Poland” poll. Readers of *National Geographic Traveler* chose this small village as the most interesting place in the region, and tourists are flocking to see the Van Gogh-inspired murals. Village leader Piotr Kowalski tells us why it’s worth visiting this village.

This picturesque village, with a population of 130, boasts 10 large murals depicting Van Gogh's paintings from various periods of his career. Their creation is thanks to the engaged local community associated with the "Creative Birches" Society.

"We're bursting with pride. This is a great honor for a small village. We faced formidable opponents, but we succeeded. We're thrilled that our village has captivated people across Poland," Piotr Kowalski, the village head of Brzózki, told National Geographic. He added that he's received many congratulations from across the country.

Joan and I are more enthused about our trip now. Not that we weren't enthused before. 

Quiet & Ukraine

A quiet afternoon after two conversations this morning with Michal and Malgorzata.

I talked with Carmelo in Spain, and he told me the temperature was 39 C. That is way too hot for me.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine.

Russian forces utilized approximately 1,700 attack drones, more than 1,630 guided aerial bombs, and 95 missiles against Ukraine over the past week, with ballistic munitions accounting for more than half of the missile strikes. The most recent barrage involved 136 drones and eight missiles, targeting 10 regions. A residential drone strike in Kharkiv resulted in one fatality and nine injuries, while emergency services continued to extinguish a fire at a construction hypermarket in Kryvyi Rih.

A Polish-manufactured FlyEye reconnaissance drone was utilized by Ukraine’s 26th Separate Artillery Brigade to identify and destroy a Russian ammunition storage facility in the Bakhmut sector. The drone guided a HIMARS missile strike, resulting in a secondary detonation that destroyed the weapons stockpile and an adjacent artillery system. The 11-kilogram FlyEye, developed by Poland’s WB Group, has a 50-kilometer range. Source-Kyiv Post

Billy's & Jagodzianka

 We did something we haven't done in years: we went out for breakfast at Billy's restaurant in the Rynek.

The first American restaurant, Billy's, opened in 2009 in the Madison Shopping Center. It was the first creation. It now operates in five locations on the Tricity culinary map: 3 locations in Gdańsk, 1 in Sopot, and 1 in Poznań.

I checked their menu for breakfast, and Joan liked it. She was going to have three American pancakes served with maple syrup. Cost 39 PLN($10.25). My choice was a fluffy, three-egg omelet with bacon, cheese, and tomato. Sprinkled with chives. Cost 3PLN($9.50).

Unfortunately, I neglected to read that they only serve breakfast from 10:00-12:00. We arrived at 12:10, too late for breakfast. However, it has been such a long time since we were in the Rynek that we decided to have a cup of coffee and enjoy the scenery for a little while.

It was such a nice weather day, 75 F, we didn't want to go home, so we went to Cafe Lokum and had a caffe latte with Jagodzianki.

 It’s actually difficult to find the right name for them in English. They are either translated to ‘berries’ or ‘blueberries’, but berries appears to be too general! Basically, in Poland they are called ‘jagodzianki’. Jagody are much smaller than blueberries; they are darker and sweeter. They can be found in forests; they are not commonly grown for sale, unlike blueberries. But let’s call them blueberry buns with Jagodzianki.  

They were excellent and still warm from coming out of the oven. 

Not the healthiest breakfast to have, calorie-wise, but it rarely happens. I guess we're "still crazy after all these years". 

 

Epstein Files Justice Act 3.0

 If there is anyone interested in the new Epstein Files Justice Act 3.0, I hope you will attend this meeting and ask them to support it.  

The Illinois Freedom Alliance is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

 

Topic: Constitution Series: Attorney General Focus

Time: Jul 23, 2026 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87135056104?pwd=kotIQfLON6Z2D4M7PT2RZvwqO2Kd8p.1

Hate.

 A few days ago, in Owińska near Poznań, someone hung anti-Ukrainian banners. The police were informed of the incident. Two men were arrested in the case.

Anti-Ukrainian banners in Owińska

On one of the banners there was a crossed-out flag of Ukraine and a vulgar inscription. Others referred to the actions of the UPA or the Volhynia massacre.

The mayor of Czerwonak – Marcin Wojtkowiak, in which anti-Ukrainian banners hung, condemned these proceedings.

STATEMENT OF THE WOJT OF THE COMMUNICITY OF CHERWONAK

It begins with offensive words. Then come acts of violence. I wanted to write a serious statement condemning anti-Ukrainian banners that were also hung in our municipality, but I don't know if it makes sense in this form.

Instead, I'll write something from the heart.

I believe we are good as a community. We are good people. We found out about this during the annual WOSP campaign, during the flood relief, while we organized during the pandemic. And also during how we were helping our Ukrainian neighbors when the war broke out. Myself, like many of you, have adopted a Ukrainian family under my roof.

And my attitude towards people who suffer during war has not changed. If someone doesn't look at it in a moral way, it's always a pragmatic way - it's our job to support Ukraine as much as we can, so that the war doesn't have to take place in our country. Let it be at least a cold calculation. This will do enough. 

That's why I don't understand and strongly disagree with the urge we've been experiencing recently. With hate-filled banners, insulting Ukrainian children, with "social controls" of Ukrainian companies.

I disagree, although I also feel a bit helpless, with the avalanche of hateful comments that have also appeared on my profile, in public and in private. That was no stupidity. It was an evil that must be defended.

 

"But people of good will are more

And I am a firm believer in this,

That this world,

I will never die because of them". (Cz. Niemen)

 

I believe our world will not die thanks to you. Because there are more good people out there. Because of you, there are more of us.

Let's stick together. Let's not give in to evil. First we are humans, then we are nations.

More problems

 The problem still remains in Ukraine over firing the Defense Minister, Federov. IF you are interested in it, you can read about it here.  https://kyivindependent.com/analysis-why-ukrainians-feel-commander-in-chief-syrskyi-must-go-2.

Of course, it could have an impact on Poland also. I don't think many would disagree that Poland and Ukraine have a common enemy: Putin's Russia.

As for life here in Poznań on this gray, rainy day, after a two-hour meeting with friend Michal, I sat down next to Joan and continued watching the funny TV series, The Alien, on Netflix. It's entertaining.

About 3 PM, I cut up two chicken breasts to prepare them for tonight's dinner, a Cobb salad.

Bilateral relations between Poland and Ukraine have experienced a downturn following Kyiv’s decision to name an elite military unit after a World War II-era Ukrainian resistance movement, which Poland associates with the deaths of approximately 100,000 Polish civilians in Volhynia and eastern Galicia.

The diplomatic dispute resulted in Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripping Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of Poland’s highest state honor.

Concurrently, researchers have identified a surge in anti-Ukrainian content online, warning that these political tensions are being amplified by Russian information operations aimed at destabilizing relations between the two countries.

Research cited by Rzeczpospolita tracked 94,000 anti-Ukrainian posts between April and July 2025 during Poland’s presidential election campaign, generating over 32 million views.

Sociologists suggest that the actual number of harassment incidents may be higher than official statistics indicate, as some victims remain hesitant to contact law enforcement.

Gasoline=7.29 PLN per liter

PLN = Polish money. For those of you complaining about the high cost of gasoline in the Divided States of America, thanks to the moron you elected as President, the cost of 1 liter of gasoline in Poland is 7.29 PLN. 1 gallon of gasoline is approximately equal to 3.785 liters. Unless the calculator is wrong, that is $7.29 per gallon. Kindly notify me once it reaches that amount.

Meanwhile, Ukraine/Poland.

A new Polish-made long-range strike drone capable of reaching targets up to 1,000 km (621 miles) away has completed tests near Kyiv and received positive feedback from Ukrainian operators, according to its manufacturer.

On June 15, defense technology company FlyFocus said its Striker unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was recently evaluated at a testing range outside the Ukrainian capital.

“The drone was tested at a training ground near Kyiv and received positive reviews from Ukrainian operators,” FlyFocus President Igor Skawiński and COO Albert Świerczyński said in an interview with Polish broadcaster Kanał Telewizyjny

 The system enters a rapidly expanding market driven by Ukraine’s extensive use of long-range drones against Russian military and energy infrastructure.

With a maximum takeoff weight of 140 kg (309 pounds), the drone can be equipped with either a piston engine or a jet engine. It can carry high-explosive fragmentation or thermobaric warheads weighing 40 kg (88 pounds) or 60 kg (132 pounds).

According to FlyFocus, the piston-powered version can strike targets at distances of up to 1,000 kilometers while cruising at speeds between 90-180 km per hour (56-112 miles per hour)

The jet-powered variant offers significantly higher speed, reaching up to 325 km per hour (202 miles per hour).

Doc. repeat

I took the antibiotic and probiotic for 5 days and have had no improvement in this persistent cough. It worried me, thinking it might lead to pneumonia. That would be the worst scenario. It would necessitate putting Joan in some facility while I would be hospitalized.

Last night, I scheduled an appointment with the same doctor for 13:00 (1 PM) today. We were on time and went right into her office. I told her I needed a different antibiotic because the one she gave me didn't help at all. She checked my lungs and temperature and prescribed Amosiklav as the new antibiotic. I'm to take it twice a day for 7 days. I hope this one works.

 Meanwhile, in Ukraine--Trouble.

President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a new government without appointing a defense minister after the planned dismissal of reformist Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. As Ukrainians take to the streets, members of parliament resist backing a replacement, and thousands demand greater transparency and continued defense reforms, the political standoff has raised questions about whether Ukraine can avoid a deeper political crisis while fighting a full-scale war.

 

Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has approved a new government, with a new cabinet of ministers headed by former Naftogaz CEO Serhiy Koretsky. However, the government was approved with one major caveat: it was incomplete. It lacked both a foreign minister and, most importantly, a defense minister. These two positions fall under the president of Ukraine’s constitutional quota, meaning the president must personally nominate them to parliament.

President Volodymyr Zelensky did not nominate anyone today. As a result, Ukraine now has a government without its most important minister.

Why does this matter?  

Why have people taken to the streets and what happens next?

Fedorov’s name is the one that matters

As of the afternoon of July 15, the reshuffle appeared straightforward. The plan was to replace Mykhailo Fedorov – the reform-minded minister who had launched transparent procurement, certification, and quality-control reforms at the Ministry of Defense, infuriating the military bureaucracy. Taking his place would be Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, who, while not a military officer himself, at least had experience leading a major ministry.

 Days earlier, rumors of Fedorov’s possible dismissal had already sparked widespread disappointment among Ukraine’s expert community.

The young minister had no obvious failures or major mistakes to his name. On the contrary, Ukraine had dramatically expanded drone procurement, introduced an electronic points system rewarding soldiers for destroying enemy targets, provided unprecedented support to dedicated drone units that were able to clear entire sections of the front, and shifted toward systematic deep-strike and medium-range strike campaigns that inflicted serious damage on Russian forces and helped Ukraine regain the initiative.

These developments gave Ukrainians hope after two difficult years and the harshest winter of the war – that military fortunes were finally beginning to turn in Ukraine’s favor once again.

The potential dismissal of the popular reformist minister felt like a bitter betrayal of that hope. But the longer events unfolded, the clearer it became that Fedorov’s energetic reform efforts within the entrenched ministry bureaucracy appeared to be the most likely reason for his removal.Source-Kyiv Post

Skorzewo

No actual plan for today's 3-hour break. I started driving west and thought I would pass through the village/town of Skorzewo. It's been about ten years since we last passed through. What a surprise to see how much it has changed for the better.

One thing that hasn't changed is the church. Well, it's not a wooden church like in Golina, but it dates back to the early 1300s. Of course, I had to take pictures to show you. Sitting in the pew, it's obvious they are very old.

It is a strange feeling for me sitting in old churches. I have so many negative thoughts about organized religions. Yet, sitting in church, I can't help but pray to GOD. 

Day 3

 The 3rd day on antibiotics and still no relief. If it keeps up, I guess another doctor visit is necessary.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine.

Zelensky: "Tonight our long-range sanctions hit military logistics, oil infrastructure, and air defense - 300 kilometers from the front line."

President Zelensky thanked the SBU, the Unmanned Systems Forces, Defense Intelligence, and Special Operations Forces for what he called a justified response to Russia's attacks on Ukrainian civilians.

Targets were hit on both sides of the Crimean Bridge: maritime oil logistics in Krasnodar region and a fuel depot in occupied Kerch. Also struck: four S-400 radar stations and two Pantsir air defense systems.

His closing line: "Only force is what Russia understands. And our long-range force is working for peace."

Shopping, Ukraine, Cough.

2nd day on the antibiotic and still waiting for the cough to cease. It seems a little better, but last night I woke up coughing too many times. Maybe tonight will be better.

Paige was here and put Joan through the exercises to strengthen her legs. Each visit, we add a few more reps. to each exercise. Joan complains about it, but Paige can achieve it. There is more resistance when I try to do it.

While Paige was here, I managed to do the weekly food shopping. The cost this week was $56. 

Meanwhile, Ukraine.

Russia launched a ballistic missile attack on Kyiv in the early hours of Tuesday, striking warehouse facilities at two locations in the Holosiivskyi district. Falling debris also ignited vehicles in Darnytskyi as air defenses operated over the capital.

 Kyiv Post reporters heard an explosion even before air raid alerts sounded in Kyiv, after which the city’s air defense systems responded to the attack in the capital and other regions.

As many as eight explosions were registered across the city within a matter of minutes. Several reports indicate that Russia fired six to eight modified S-400 ballistic missiles at the capital.

EU ambassadors are racing to finalize the bloc’s 21st sanctions package before a key oil price cap deadline. Failure to reach a deal could automatically raise the cap on Russian oil, boosting Moscow’s export revenues amid ongoing disagreements among member states.

 

Various countries have objected to different parts and sought to water them down.

Bulgaria resisted placing Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill on the blacklist.

Diplomats said Germany objected to a ban on imports of Alaskan Pollock -- a fish widely used in children’s meals -- from Russia.

There was also a push to tone down a plan to impose a sweeping visa ban on any Russians who took part in the war in Ukraine.

Not finshed

On Sunday, I thought I was finished with the cold and coughing, but it came back with a vengeance.

We met with Paige and her husband, and during the visit, it started all over again. By Sunday night, I had had enough, so I scheduled an appointment with the doctor for today at 10:00. 

This morning, I went back to the clinic and asked for an antibiotic to get rid of this thing in my body. She prescribed one and a probiotic. I am hoping that will do the trick. 

Two of the biggest Senate political supporters of the dictator are no longer viable. Lindsey Graham died two days ago at age 71, and Mitch McConnell is so ill he cannot perform his lapdog duties for DONNIIE.  I cannot say I am sorry to see either of them gone. They were both traitors to the U.S. Constitution and America.

Toilet seat

After 10 years of service, our toilet seat finally broke. I plan to go to Castorama and buy a new one to install. Not true! Do you know how many different styles and sizes there are? Dozens.

I had to go back home and measure the broken seat. I wasn't comfortable with it, so I removed it and took it to Castorama. 

Fortunately, when I got there, an employee was helping another person decide which one the customer needed. When he was done, I asked for his assistance. He took the old seat, compared it to a few others, and gave me what I needed.

Back at home, I opened the box and laid out the parts for assembly. There were supposed to be two of each part. However, there was one part missing: the turn-screw to tighten the right side of the seat in place.

Fortunately, when I removed the old seat, I kept those parts. The assembly didn't take more than 10 minutes before the new seat was secured in place. 

Karolina

Today marked our last day with our hygienist, Karolina. Over the past months, it has been a true pleasure to have her visit every Friday to care for Joan. She always made sure Joan was comfortable and well cared for, helping her shower, washing her hair, and taking care of all the little details that helped maintain her hygiene and dignity.

Karolina's kind heart, gentle manner, and ever-present smile made her visits something we genuinely looked forward to at the end of each week. She brought not only professional care but also warmth and compassion into our home, and her presence made a real difference in both Joan's life and mine.

We are deeply grateful for everything she has done and for the kindness she showed throughout her time with us. Her departure also means that these responsibilities now return to my shoulders. I will certainly miss her help, her cheerful personality, and the reassurance of knowing Joan was in such caring hands every Friday.

If you have a disabled family member who needs more care than you can give, I highly recommend calling Jesiennie.pl in Poznan. 603 051 118

Back in time.

In 1977, I purchased 27 Acres in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. My intent was to design and build a house for myself in the middle of the forest. I had no experience at all in how to do it. I read dozens of books about building a foundation, types of houses that were possible to build, different styles, how to insulate it, how to put in windows and doors, and what kind of roof would be adequate for the heavy snowfall that would occur during winter. My final decision on Style was a cordwood house. 

Basically, it was necessary to build a framework for the house. The walls would be 12 inches thick to accommodate the small pieces of logs that would be cut to fill in the framework, leaving room for large windows and a door. As the logs were stacked to fill each wall, in between them, to keep them together, I used a mixture of concrete, lye, and a little coloring so that the exposed outside and inside of the log would match the color of the framework. It would take at least two months to complete the framed walls.

I couldn't see myself living in a small tent while I built a house. The idea I had was to buy a manufactured replica of a Sioux Indian Council Teepee that could sleep at least 8 people inside of it. I found a company in Colorado that made such things, and I bought one to be delivered the next February. It came with 15-26  ft long poles that would hold the outside skin. The problem was that I didn't own a truck to transport it to Upper Michigan.

Since my days as a musician had come to an abrupt end and I had spent all my finances on the property, the teepee, tools, and everything else I would need, I decided to place an ad in the newspapers. The ad said, For TRADE, 1936 Full-bodied Gibson, curly maple body, spruce top, rosewood neck, collector's item. In exchange for a truck in good condition similar to a Ford F-150. Only serious offers considered.

Within one week, I received several responses and scheduled meeting times to review each of our offers. The first three didn't work. Two because their trucks were junk, and the third because I didn't think he was much of a guitarist to do justice to that fine old instrument. I wasn't trading that beauty to just anyone.

The fourth one was a serious player, could play everything I asked him to play, and loved the guitar. He owned a two-year-old Ford F-150, and we had a deal. It was with great sadness that I parted with that guitar.

 Once the deal was made and the papers transferred, I called my cousin Leon, a welder. I told him I needed a custom-made rack to carry my teepee poles above the bed of the truck. He said he would do it on the weekend, and on Monday the truck was ready. That truck served me well for 5 years until the engine finally died because of all of the heavy loads it pulled during that time.

Enter my neighbor, Steve, who lived behind me up the hill about 1/4 of a mile. I told him my problem, and he said it was not a problem because he had an old Mercedes-Benz in his driveway that had a Ford engine in it. We towed my truck up to where the Mercedes was, and he built a tripod to lift out the engine, remove my old engine, and put the new engine into the truck. I was back in business for about a year until I had a problem with shifting gears. Once again, he came to my rescue, stating he could fix the problem but in a very unusual way. He said the first and third gears worked on the steering column, but the second and reverse gears would have to be utilized on the floor. He asked if I wanted to do it, and I said, of course. He brought out a 12-gauge shotgun, blew a hole in the floor, and put in a gearbox for the second and reverse gears. It was a very unusual setup, but once I got used to it, it wasn't a problem. Time took its toll on the gear setup, and eventually I just parked the truck, went into town, and bought a used Honda.

5th day

I'm finally, almost back to normal. The only thing that still remains is the coughing. However, even that has subsided for the most part. I think one more day at home doing nothing, nothing out of my ordinary tasks, and I will have completely recovered.

Unfortunately, Joan's caregiver,  Paige, called today to say she would not be coming because she now has the cold that I had when she was here. Evidently, just wearing the mask in the house while she was here did not stop all of the germs from traveling to her. It's unfortunate, because I was really looking forward to that 3-hour break. 

Today was not one of the good days for Joan and me. She woke up in a grumpy mood, and she started the morning by telling me I was not taking good care of her. That really pissed me off, because I do everything I can to make her life easier and more pleasant. This morning it just got to me, and I struggled to hold my reaction inside. I really need a break from all of this.

I prepared French toast for her breakfast, and instead of eating breakfast with her, I took the garbage down to the collection area and stood outside for about 10 minutes just watching the clouds. By the time I went back upstairs, there was no mention of our earlier conversation. In this instance, the fact that she cannot remember things that happened just 10 minutes ago was a good thing, and it's possible to get her into a better mood.

We sat and watched a travel video about Vienna, and we couldn't remember much about our trip there in the year 2012. The only thing I remembered was the warehouse building where they kept hundreds of items from the past presidential palace, like furniture, clothing, and household items. Some of them they rent out to film Production companies who are making a movie with the palace in it, and they need furniture from that point in time. In some cases, they also allow government personnel to rent some of the furniture for their own personal housing and pay rent on the particular items of furniture they select.

To refresh Joan's memory, I went back into my blog to October of 2012 and found all of the pictures I had taken on the 5 days we spent in Vienna. She didn't remember all of the places, nor did I, but occasionally she recognized a picture, and we talked about it together. It was a good occasion to reconnect with the woman I once knew.

4th day

 Headache and fever are gone. Hard-coughing spells are not.

Meanwhile:

Turkey will now contribute to NATO’s Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced during the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey.

According to the Turkish defense outlet SavunmaSanayiST, Erdoğan said on Wednesday, July 8, that Ankara would continue supplying military aid from its own national stockpiles while also participating in the PURL initiative, a mechanism that allows partner countries to finance weapons purchases for Ukraine. 

“In addition to the military support we have provided to Ukraine from our own national inventory, we will continue our contributions within the framework of PURL,” Erdoğan said, adding that “while supporting Ukraine, we are also using our communication channels in such a way as to guide Russia toward peace.” Source-Kyiv Post

 

3 days gone

 3 Days of being sick and still caring for Joan. It's not easy.

Happy Birthday??

 248 1/2 years America survived dissent within(Civil War)and World Wars.

Not destroyed by foreign enemies. Destroyed by the Heritage Foundation, Trump. and half of its own people. 

Velo doubts.

 Well. Let's start with the good news. It seems that the Federal Benefits Unit in Warsaw did their job correctly. I was happy today when I opened our Velo bank account and checked the money in our US account. Both of our Social Security checks were entered into the system, so the money arrived, and apparently the Swift Code has been changed. That was nice to see.

However, when I tried to transfer an amount from that account to our Polish money account, there was a message that said, " Sorry, there is a problem", and it wouldn't let me transfer the money. 

I went to the main branch of Velo, but the man who I usually deal with was too busy today to accommodate my unannounced appearance. He asked me to come back on Monday. 

Needing to transfer some money today, I went to the branch office at King Cross Shopping Center. They're a young woman tried to help me, but after one and a half hours, and a few phone calls to Warsaw, she told me the IT department in Warsaw was the only one who could fix it. It would take up to 7 days to accomplish that. 

My only alternative to get money into the Polish account was to withdraw the money from our American account, go to a currency exchange, exchange the money into Polish money, return to the bank, and deposit it into our Polish account. Of course, I was not happy with that system, but it was the only way to solve the problem today.

I'm having serious doubts that Velo Bank is the best bank to have our money in.

Meanwhile, Ukraine.

US officials have reportedly warned Poland that Russia could stage an armed provocation on NATO territory within months, possibly using drones, missiles or a border incursion to pressure the West to curb support for Ukraine.

According to Ukrainska Pravda, citing The Telegraph, sources close to Polish President Karol Nawrocki said Washington had warned Warsaw that Russia was weighing scenarios that could include drone attacks on critical infrastructure, such as power plants, or a simulated large-scale air attack designed to force Poland to activate its air defenses.

A more radical scenario could involve a hybrid attack in Poland’s border region, potentially with the participation of Belarusian forces. Russia could attempt to explain away a border violation by claiming its troops had become lost because of GPS disruption or were carrying out a rescue mission after a helicopter emergency.

NATO’s most consequential summit since 1949 opens July 7 in Ankara, as the alliance grapples with Trump’s threats to disengage, European underinvestment in defense, and Russia’s escalating hybrid warfare campaign. Ukraine, though not a member, has become indispensable to Europe’s security architecture, fielding one of the continent’s most capable militaries. The summit is expected to reaffirm NATO unity, push Europe toward greater self-reliance, and cement Ukraine’s role in the alliance’s long-term strategy. Source-Kyiv Post

86

He would have been 86 years old today. He didn't live that long. After being forced off an expressway road into a telephone pole, he died a year later from complications from that. He was 34 years old. He was my only brother.Walter(Wally) was his name.

52 years later, I still think and remember him often. I even have dreams now with him in them. I don't want to wake up from them. He was the most influential man in my life. 

88 F

Yesterday, during my 3-hour break, I thought I would go to the Botanical Gardens across the street from our flat and see how the flowers looked this year. I started out as usual, taking pictures, trying to find a location I hadn't seen before, and just enjoying the walk.

About halfway through the gardens, where the Roses are presented in many different colors, I was hot, tired, and not thinking about going further. I took a few breaks walking back to my car, and when I got into it. I looked at the temperature gauge. 104 F. Unbelievable! Never, in my 82 years on this planet, have I experienced that high of heat. I turned on my car, turned up the air conditioner, and just waited to cool off before I started driving.

Joan was home with Paige. Normally, would be doing the exercises, but I thought it was too hot for Joan today. With only the north-facing windows open, our flat is usually cooler than outside. Today was no exception.

My cousin Amy from Washington state called, and we had a nice conversation. It has been 8 years since she came to meet and stay for two weeks. She is from the Rajewski bloodline.

My left ear has such a blockage of wax that it is causing pain when I move my jaw to eat or speak. I saw the general practitioner doctor today. She tried to remove it with a syringe filled with water, but that did not work. She gave me a referral to see a laryngologist. Using National Health Care doctors, the earliest I could get an appointment is in 47 days. If I choose a private practice laryngologist, the cost is 320 PLN to be seen tomorrow. The GP gave me a prescription for Cerumex, a liquid that might soften the wax enough for removal. She said to apply it twice a day and come back on Friday for another attempt with water. I will try that first.

Better day

Sunday was just like Saturday, too hot to do anything except drink cold water all the time, and sit. No ambition, energy, or thoughts about doing anything else. Thank goodness that it is cooler today.

Yesterday, we watched a rather bizarre series on Netflix called Beef. It's too strange to explain but entertaining.

Meanwhile: Ukraine

On Sunday, June 28, images surfaced confirming damage to a railway bridge in the Russian-occupied village of Sabivka, Luhansk region, following an attack by Ukrainian Defense Forces on June 26. The bridge served as a crucial logistical artery for Russian forces, connecting the temporarily occupied areas of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

The strike on the Sabivka bridge is part of an intensified, systematic campaign by Ukrainian forces to isolate Russian troops by severing their primary supply lines and logistical arteries across occupied territories.

The Luhansk operation follows a string of strikes executed by Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SSO) and other military branches against key infrastructure in southern Ukraine and the occupied Crimean Peninsula earlier in the week. 

Drone footage released by the military showed precise hits that destroyed the railway track and caused a structural span to collapse. A secondary strike later destroyed the Russian repair equipment brought to the site.

The campaign has been relentless across multiple fronts. Before the North Crimean Canal operation, Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed strikes on several other critical chokepoints. Source-Kyiv Post