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Alia

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Blog Entries posted by Alia

  1. Alia
    Today is my birthday. I'm too exhausted to write out anythin' 'bout my crazy life here. I don't feel happy this day; my 26th birthday- it means I've got a year closer to my death. But I believe, the things will change someday and I'll learn how to smile again. I shan't give up.
     


  2. Alia
    I’m gonna sell ’em at Brony Christmas Fair, which will be held in Moscow tomorrow.
     
     
     
    P.S. Sorry for such extremely large photos, I have no idea how to resize ’em using Mac OS.
  3. Alia
    Hey, y’all! I need some help. Is there anypony from US, who’re mature enough and could get me a little consultation about mindset of American people? I doubt I should ask my questions openly, so I’d like to talk in PM.
  4. Alia
    I was a subscriber since I joined this forum. I love this forum and I’m glad to help and support it any way I can. But now $10/mo is too expensive for me. Say thanks for it to our president Vladimir Putin, whose constant lies and aggressive politics toward Ukraine, and the sanctions from civilized countries caused by it, reduced rate of ruble for about 40% and devastated our national budget for at least 4%. I event won’t say ’bout ruined families, lost friends, and the hordes of pro-government patriotic “zombies” everywhere here, who are ready if not to kill, but at least attack everyone, who doesn’t support politics of our führer and ain’t too timid to express it anyway.
     
    To pay my monthly instalment I needed only 300 rubles in the past. But now it’s about 500 rubles and this price is only gettin’ higher. All the prices in USD got freakin’ expensive now, so I’m forced to seriously save money on any purchases with prices in dollars. I won’t prolong registration of my domains lia-ram.com and save-lions.com as well as I won’t order books and other stuff from Amazon.com. Last thing is a serious problem for me, since I like to read, but I read books only in English, and it is mostly only one legal way to get an interesting book here is to order it on Kindle. If I’d sold my car before it all, I would have $5k, but now I have only $3k only because of politics.
     
    Sorry y’all for I can’t support this forum anymore, but I lost too much money because of all this hay.
  5. Alia
    I dreamed about Africa. I wished to live among the lions. It was a dream following me since my childhood, when I associated myself with a lion. Fortunately or not, this dream went down in flames years ago (and now I know lions eat ponies like me ) But Africa still seems so native to me, as if I’d been there. Maybe it was in my previous life. Well... Some years ago I’ve found a game with pretty African setting- Far Cry 2. I reckon y’all know this one. Firstly I should say, everythin’ in the crushing reviews ’bout this game is true. Its gameplay is really monotonous, boring, not realistic, and the game has bad defined plot. But only look at these screens:
     

     

     

     

     

     
    Against the odds, it’s still real Africa, with its dark nights, sounds of wilderness, recognizable nature, and open-world sandbox. I have 4 needless copies of this game in my Steam inventory and I wanna give ’em to ya for free. Wanna get one? Please write ’bout it in comments.
     
    UPD: No copies left.
  6. Alia
    Today I was just like Rarity, tryin’ to sew the badges I’ve got on Nightmare Night to my laptop bag. Haven’t sew anythin’ since I was a child. But I’ve made it! Yeehaw!
     

  7. Alia
    Like I was said, I’ve bought some stuff on Nightmare Night in Moscow, and it’s time for photos.
     

    The large laminated poster in format A3 with the drawing “Legends of Equestria” by Ziom.
     

    The mousepad with reproduction of painting “Novus ordo seclorum” by Australian painter, FoxInShadow. This painting went under the hammer for $120.
     

    The mug with Applejack.
     

    And this one I’ve bought as a gift for my friend. Princess Mi Amora Cadenza. Who in the hoof is that?!
     

    The glass with cutie mark of our true princess.
     

    And the bunch of pins and two apple-related badges for my laptop bag.
  8. Alia
    Tomorrow I’m goin’ to Nightmare Night- brony event in Moscow, timed to Halloween. Even though I’m in Kostroma now, I’m going to Moscow for one day just to visit this event, to buy sumethn pony-related and to bring you some photos, of course.
  9. Alia
    I reckon I shall repost this to my blog.
     
    ==========================================
     
    While the ponies from the show eat cupcakes and throw parties, life of real horses and ponies ain’t as cheerful and optimistic. And here’s a book ’bout it, written in style of autobiography of a horse, I reckon y’all know this one.
     
    Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
     

     
    Its author was bedridden for her entire life due to childhood trauma, and it was her only one and last book. Moreover, she suffered from another disease during her work on this book. I wonder how much strengths and will does it take, to keep writing even in such situation. It took about 7 years and she died soon after this book was finally published. It seems like she was temporary immortal just like me.
     
    This is the story of a titled horse named Black Beauty, told by himself. For first he was happy with his first owner, among his friends- mare Ginger, pony Merrylegs, and some people. But several years later he was sold, and then sold again, and again, and again. Some owners treated him well and some ones were bad. He made several friends and lost them all one by one; until, after all the trials, he finally found his last home.
     
    The book also brings up the topic of ethical treatment to horses. Perhaps there is no domestic animal as helpful to humans as horses, but people treat them bad more often than dogs or cats. There is still many people who think that dogs and cats are friends while horses are no more than livestock. Since publishing of this book many things have been changed, including humans’ treatment to the horses. But there is still a lot of cruelty and unfairness towards horses so this book doesn’t lose its topicality today.
     
    This book is very special to me since the story of this horse is rather similar to mine. Maybe someday I will write ’bout it at greater length. Now I must say, this story was written in XIX century so it’s free to downloading. You can get it on OpenLibrary and even get it to your Kindle there. It also has at least 5 screenings, I think most awesome of them is this one.
  10. Alia
    Funny parody on “A Boy Named Sue” by Johnny Cash, written by Destrier.
     
     
    When I was ten my father left home;
    Dad was a wizard and inclined to roam,
    But before he left he put me under a spell.
    Now I don’t know what Dad was thinkin’:
    My best guess is he’d prob’ly been drinkin’,
    But he turned my life into a living Hell.
     
    When I turned twelve, things started to grow,
    And I don’t mean facial hair, you know:
    I dropped to all fours and I started to whinny and neigh.
    I grew a mane and a long, flowing tail,
    And four sturdy hooves to tread the trail,
    And all I wanted to eat was grass and hay.
     
    I ducked my head and to my surprise,
    The wrong set of plumbing met my eyes:
    I whinnied, “No, Dad! That just isn’t fair!”
    Now it’s quite a shock to become a horse,
    But my curse was worse than that, of course:
    That Son of a Bitch had turned me into a MARE!
     
    Now life as a stallion might have been kind of cool,
    But all I felt like right now was a fool,
    And I swore to myself that Dad had better take care:
    I set out on the road that day,
    Determined to make that damned fool pay,
    ‘Cos I tell you, life ain’t easy for a boy turned mare!
     
    Well, life quickly went from bad to worse,
    As I struggled to survive under that curse:
    It was almost more than I could stand to bear.
    I soon learned to kick like an angry mule,
    And I schooled my teeth to be quick and cruel:
    Dad, you’ll rue the day you made me a mare!
     
    At first men tried to capture me,
    But soon learned; better to set me free:
    I bucked and I reared and I launched men through the air.
    As I made my way across the land,
    I dodged every rope and bit every hand,
    And I laughed at their efforts and taught them to Fear The Mare!
     
    Stallions eyed me to no avail:
    Pity the stud that chased my tail!
    They soon gave up and ran from me in despair.
    News ran ahead from herd to herd:
    This is one filly that won’t be deterred.
    They soon learned not to mess with a boy turned mare!
     
    Well, months passed by, then without forewarning,
    I chanced on a wizard one stormy morning:
    It was my own Dad, just lazing without a care.
    I shattered his staff with a hoof shod in steel,
    And challenged him with a furious squeal;
    “YOU MADE ME A MARE! HOW COULD YOU DARE?!?”
     
    Well, I have to hand it to my Dad:
    He went from full sleep to fighting mad,
    And before I knew it he was calling fire from the sky!
    A bridle of lightning circled my face,
    And a saddle of flame I couldn’t displace,
    And he jumped on my back with a mighty yodelling cry.
     
    I’d tossed men from my back before,
    But this one just wouldn’t hit the floor:
    Magic held him glued onto my back.
    So I dashed his legs against a wall,
    Then rolled on him when he still wouldn’t fall,
    And he cried out in pain as I heard a nasty crack.
     
    Well, I jumped to my feet and turned around,
    And I stood over him and pawed the ground,
    And he clutched his leg and moaned, “Do I know you?”
    Well I ask you, what sort of question was that?
    And I snarled at him in his wizard’s hat,
    And I said, “Yeah, Dad, I really think you do!”
     
    His eyes opened wide and he looked kind of dazed,
    And his mouth fell open as at me he gazed,
    And he said, “Who did this to you? I’ll get them, I swear!”
    Well, I slammed a hoof just an inch from his head,
    As he stared up at me in fear and dread,
    And I squealed, “It was you! YOU turned me into a mare!”
     
    Well, he went so pale I thought him dead,
    Then he slowly began to blush bright red.
    He tried to speak but he just couldn’t find the air.
    At last he raised his head to me,
    As he lay there grasping his busted knee,
    And he said...
     
    “Ah. Oops. Curse this dyslexia. I meant to make you town mayor.”
     
    ===============
     
    I’ve found it on unicorn-dream.co.uk (WARNING! The site may have some content inappropriate for foals/colts/fillies.)
  11. Alia
    I’m forced to leave my town and my home again. I lived in Moscow for 20 years, 1.5 years ago I left it and moved to Kostroma. I lived in many places in Kostroma and I really like its measured tempo of life. But it’s hard to sell such car as mine in place like this, it is no work here, and I’m running out of money. So I have to leave this town and get back to Moscow again. Otherwise I can never sell my car, earn some money, and fulfill my dearest dream- join the American college.
     
    I know, after leaving this town I will never be able to live there again and tough times just waiting for me up ahead, in Moscow. I will never forget my friend Alex, who held me in my time of need and this small shabby house, that gave me the refuge by long cold Russian winter:
     

     
     
    P.S. I’m fixin’ to write a bit ’bout my road to Moscow and post some photos. I wonder, will somepony be interested in it?
  12. Alia
    I saw several lists of loved/hated things. Some days ago I’d set myself the task of drawing up the same one, but I’m stuck with the second part. There are plenty of things I love. My playlist has songs in dozens languages and genres, I like to read about cultures of different nations and countries, and really dig dishes of Mexican, Japanese, American, Italian, and many other cuisines. Some things I love more, some things less, some things I’m not into, and some things I don’t like. But I can’t recall any thing I hate. Being hate-free means being reasonable, cause hatred is always emotional and therefore irrational. For e.g., if y’all hate sumthin’, just come to think of what’s the reason to hating it and, I’m sure, you won’t find any objective grounds for that.
     
    But it’s only one thing that makes me feel uneasy- why it’s so much hatred around me? Especially since I live in such country as Russia, where everyone hates something. Perhaps, nowhere I’ve seen so much negative information as in Russian Internet. People hate other cultures, people hate other people, seems like people hate everything, without any rational reason. They hate something just because it is so, not cause it did somethin’ bad to ’em personally. And I just can’t get it. If I would be the same, it wasn’t big deal for me: you hate this, I hate that- we’re all haters of somethin’, ok. But I’m not like them and watching ’em, dreaming ’bout somethin’ like striking New York with nuclear bomb, laying on my shoulders like the weight of the world.
     
    Some people may object that love is irrational too. I’d agree with it, but... Love to programming forces me to study it, lovely music supports me and keeps me in the right mood, and love to other cultures impels me to learn more about them and respect people of different nations, even when I don’t understand their habits. Love’s constructive and gives you somethin’ when hatred gives you nothing but self-abasement. Let’s love, not hate; and believe that good always wins over evil. Or at least more often than it seems.
  13. Alia
    Since beginnin' of the previous year it's got pretty obvious that my plans 'bout joinin' an American college have been totally ruined by lowering of rouble/dollar rate and insane Russian politics. It also has gotten obvious that I'd better to leave Russia as soon as possible, even if I won't to and never be able to see two of my only friends here.
     
    For some period of time I wanted only to settle down in some village and get my own horses, for I discovered my equine therian personality and I feel strong connection to 'em that in some ways adjoins madness. I wanted to live like an earth pony, whom I'mn't, and the dreams about workin' on virtual reality systems (including virtual Equestria) won't leave me alone.
     
    So I've made a new plan- I want to emigrate to Ukraine this summer and get education there, to seek for a job in US or Canada afterwards. Even if I fail, at least I would be able to settle down in a village there and get horses then, as a spare dream. I choose Ukraine because I'm half Ukrainian, I have some friends and relatives there, it's cheap for livin' and easy to emigrate; after all, I like this country and its language.
     
    But I badly need money for that and to compensate for increased livin' expenses, caused by fall of rouble and sanctions; some prices for food have got three times higher that they were a year ago and politicians in mass-media just advice us to eat (!) less, instead of doin' sumthin' to fix this situation up. As ya know, I totally don't eat meat and it's hard for me to organize my diet and keep expenses low.
     
    So I found a job at small warehouse in Moscow, where I'm forced to work without rest-days to earn as much money as I can. It's only for 3 or 4 months, but now it looks like my personal hell. So I'm workin' and dreamin' 'bout how nice it will be- to gallop across a sunny Ukrainian meadow, pasture, and take sunbath. Maybe even other horses would like to keep me company.
     
    Soon this bad period will pass away, but actually I will never be free. If you have read books like "War Horse" or "Black Beauty," ya know what it's, but my "owner" is my dreams and circumstances, once in a while they change and force me to do what I won't to do. And I have bitter feeling that I'm "sold" again, but that's OK, it's the way of an average domestic horse.
     
    I have a little spare time, so I can't post much on forums, but bein' social creature I still need some communication. Ya know, such "trials" get even harder when it's nopony around you to tell ya, "don't despair, you can do this." The best thing y'all can do to help me is just to talk to me. I may be not very social, but I really-really need this.
     
    My ICQ: 205087515 and Skype is "liapardus" (I know, that's creepy nick for a horse, but I can't change it like a leopard can't change its spots, hehe.)
  14. Alia
    Feel kinda guilty, but have to confess: I don't like pegasi. Of course I don't hate 'em and don't think they shall be put in cupcakes, but... well, I just don't like them (except only Fluttershy and Derpy.)
     
    I wonder, is it normal not to like pegasi? I don't know why exactly I don't like 'em, but every time when I read somethin' 'bout 'em I catch myself on this thought. Of course it has no connection with Rainbow Factory, as some of y'all may think, but in pegasi I find somethin' unfamiliar or even repulsive. Maybe that's because I'm not a pegasus myself; I have no propensity for the sky and flyin', I don't get their wishes and desires, they only make me boring. I don't like fanfics about pegasi as well, but I adore the ones 'bout unicorns for I'm mostly unicorn myself.
     
    As far as I can tell, all the people may be classified as earth ponies, unicorns, or pegasi. I'll write later, how to find out- who is who, but now I wanna say, my real parents were "unicorn" (father) and "earth pony" (mother.) My foster mother was an "earth pony" too and I have no pegasi in my pedigree. I hope my future very special somepony wouldn't be a pegasus. And my foals won't too.
  15. Alia
    (photo © Horse Junkies United)
     
    ...or, like one of my friends said, “listen to me- old, ill horse.” Here’re some ramblings that, I’m sure, nobody will ever read (I’m not even dreamin’ of gettin’ any comments!), but I have some spare time now and willing to write ’em down, so I will. Oh, and sorry for posting here such outrageously not pony-related stuff.
     
    In my naivety, I thought I know the essences of things; now I see, I’m only starting to realize how the world eventually works. I thought we live in one-dimensional world, where one can go up or down; from the bottom is only one way upward and no others. Now I see, our space is two-dimensional, where one can go with or against the stream, but still being at the same level. If someone could ever know how exactly to move on from the very bottom to the top, many human problems may be solved at once. But, no, it’s no universal formula. As for me, I see the means, but can’t find my ways. That’s the main riddle I have to reveal.
     
    In the middle ages the life was simpler- I won’t say “easier,” I mean easier to understand. If you’re born in high society- then you will be noble. If you’re born amongst commoners, then you will be plebeian. That’s pretty simple; the cards are dealt in the very beginnin’. If you weren’t born as a nobleman, you will never become one. Later, France with its “noblesse de robe” has changed this existed order. But has anythin’ changed for common man? Ah don’t think so, cause “to have [any hypothetical] opportunity” and “to have the possibility to seize this opportunity”- ain’t the same thangs; they indeed are very different.
     
    We want to believe that nowadays we live in another society, where anyone from lower social class could get as high as he’d ever like to. But I personally don’t reckon somethin’ has seriously changed- if someone was born on the bottom, he most likely will stay near this level for whole his life, when high cotton ones still have all trump cards to become whoever they want.
     
    It’s one more thing I want to mention- the transience of time. We all have our plans and dreams, we all live for some goals and achievements. But we have very limited time to reach ’em up. In the very beginnin’ human being is like a blank list of paper, or, I’d rather say, like a set of blank pages, like a writing-book. Different men have different number of the pages, but the one thing is immutable- finiteness of ’em. And every task takes some pages to complete. If somebody wants to become a great engineer, he won’t become the one here and now; it takes years of education and hard work, and of course it takes out some “pages.” Year by year the number of these pages decreases and some goals becomes inaccessible.
     
    It’s hard to believe, but the older you get the less the less freedom you have. With age we get not only experience, but social obligations, health issues, and our unique traits too, that confine us in our freedom of choosing our way. I’m sincerely glad for those who have found their gooder’n-grits way and fine with it (and, to be honest, I envy ’em,) but... If ya’re 40 and drinker, you most likely won’t become an astronaut. If your appearance is as scary as death of a diver, you won’t become a model. If you’re shy like hay, you won’t become a great journalist or actor. You may become a mere journalist, maybe even average journalist, but the great one- most probably not.
     
    If y’all are disagree with these thangs I’ve wrote out, I betcha you’re young. And I’m glad (no, really) for ya and your blissful light-mindedness. But remember- the clocks are tickin’ for you too. I reckon ya’ll get it when you’re older, but would it makes you happier? I doubt that.
     
    Maybe someday I will come to understanding our world is actually three-dimensional. But when it comes, I will be a hoary old mare, who ain’t interested in anythin’ but chewin’ another portion of hay. Yet I’m not, but I’m slowly gettin’ closer. Day by day.
  16. Alia
    Having no English-speakin’ interlocutors I started to speak to my ‪‎iPad‬. Siri ain’t talkative, but at least it gets me and does what I want.
     

  17. Alia
    Since I can’t post more than 10 images per one entry, I’ve divided my entry into two pieces.
     
    ==========================================================================
     

    And though I didn’t get anythin’, I totally enjoyed its atmosphere.
     

    Some plushies with their happy owners.
     

    After the auction and a little break it was a cosplay contest. I’m not really into cosplay, so I didn’t pay attention on it.
     

    The beautiful’ and witty posters were hanged up everywhere.
     

     

    And, of course, chess tournament! I lose in semi-finale but I’ve got a consolation prize.
     

    Meanwhile on the second floor (where was auction) they showed fan videos on quite large screen.
     

     

    In the end of the convent the time had come to big clearance sale. Many traders sold their merchandise with great discounts and sometimes even hung it out for free.
     
    So the event has ended. It gave me a lot of fun, nice emotions, memories... and stuff. Unfort, I couldn’t buy everythin’ I wanted and the next convent will be only next spring. For me it may be my first and last convent in Russia, even though it surely wasn’t last such event for me in general. But after all I’m infinitely thankful to its organizers and if I’d made it to next convent, Ah reckon I’ll be there as a participant or sponsor or organizer (or all of them at once.) It just so much to do there for me. So let’s wait and preparin’ for next convent, and don’t forget that, even though the festival has ended, the ponies are eternal.
  18. Alia
    Several hundreds of bronies gathered in Moscow yesterday on Nightmare Night festival timed to celebrating Halloween. It wasn’t as large as RuBronyCon, but it was the first brony convent I’ve ever visited. And Ah didn’t come back empty-hoofed, I’ve got some beautiful thangs and brought y’all some photos. Here we go!
     

    Bronies started to come in more than a hour before opening, it sure was a crowd of ’em.
     

    Many of ’em were in cosplay costumes. This youngun literally attacked everyone with cuteness of his Fluffy plush toy.
     

    In front of the doors worked the blacksmith; he made the horseshoes and gave ’em to the watchers. I was more interested in his portable forging furnace working on simple propane.
     

    The entrance of the hall was adorned by pasteboard figures of Twilight and Rainbow. And, of course, between ’em was this table with traditional Halloween pumpkins.
     

    In left of it was placed the large relax-zone where guests could play various games, from computer fighting ’bout ponies to chess or ponified version of monopoly.
     

    The coffee and tea were dispensed there for almost free, along with cookies and granny-slappin’ tasty chocolate and apple muffins.
     

    There also were several zones where people could draw ponies both on the paper and on computers.
     

    And, of course, merchandise. The crafters from all over the country came here to show their own stuff and sell it. It was everythin’- art, key rings, pins, paintings, statuettes, posters, mugs, audio CD’s of Russian rock band “Przewalski’s Ponies.” There were some fanfiction books in Russian, printed by fans specially for Russian brony community. Among them were official books in English- “Diary of the Two Sisters” and “Elements of Harmony.” Ah already have only the first one, so I’ve tried to buy EoH for $25, and then I found I have not enough cash. I decided to find ATM, but they haven’t it in this building (oh, some Russian specific infuriates me.) I went outdoors and when I finally found one and got back to the festival, they sold all the books. Literally in 15 mins!
     

    The young sell their art with title- “Buy Art- Feed a Student.”
     

    The one of most important parts of this convent surely was auction. Only most unique and amazing pieces of art were selling there. The bids were desperate and the prices were getting dizzy heights!
     
    To be continued...
  19. Alia
    Hello. I reckon y’all’re wondering where have I been for last 3 months. So here I am with some news. I was in Moscow, capital of Russia, our local Canterlot. I worked hard and sometimes I pushed myself to the limit. I worked on TV channel, advertisement firm, and in restaurant beside Red Square. I almost hadn’t days off, that’s why I didn’t write anythin’ in this blog or somewhere else in the web; I just hadn’t enough time for this and, when I got some, I found I couldn’t write due to my writer’s block caused by my despirited mood. Of course, Moscow is a city of great opportunities and money, but as for me it’s unbearable hard to live in such big city, full of concrete, steel, and populated with tons of snobby high-cotton people.
     
    I had many scrapes there: some sons of a gun broke a window of my car to steal some things, I was in hospital with pneumonia, I was nearly thrown out of my rented room, I was fired from one of my work due to conflict with my boss, was in car accident. But after all I finally got back to my feet. I sold my car, it was not easy I say, and earned some money. So, I’ve got back to Kostroma again, I’m still in the same summer house, and it’s time for me to make a hard decision- where shall I spend this winter: in Moscow or here, in this dull, depressive, but so lovely region- Kostroma. Afraid to make wrong decision since so many things depend on it.
     
    Sadly, all this stuff adversely affected my health. I have diseased legs and back, and now I shouldn’t lift loads or even wear my lovely back pack. It literally means I can’t work physically anymore. During last days of my work I had several times when my feet just temporary failed under me. I remember 3 years ago I carried loads ’bout 25lbs for days and it wasn’t big deal for me, but now... And it’s sad to understand ya’re not the one you used to be, and your youth is flowin’ by, along with your health. I feel like a horse, broken by excessive toil and ignorance of its owner. Maybe it’s time to write my own memoirs...
  20. Alia
    I’ve left Kostroma and got back to Moscow. It seems weird that, even after 20 years of living in Moscow, this city still remains alien to me. Meanwhile Kostroma has become almost my home town after only one year I spent there. And here are some photos-
     

    Before departure.
     

    The M8 interstate was not as bad as roads of Kostroma.
     

    The road in 250 miles between two towns took more than 5 hours, and was unbearable long.
     

    And finally I made it there. As always, Moscow meets me with its endless traffic jams.
     
    I feel sad cause I left that quiet town and what’s worse- my friends. So I made a new decision- I will get back to Kostroma again, but only when I do my business here. I reckon it won’t take more than a month or two. And the rest of my time, before leaving Russia, I will spend there, in my “stall.” Only by living apart from the friends one can really understand how valuable they are.
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