Went into a local store, saw this curious - and hideous - item:


Dekoratyvna mysha, 360 hryvnias

The verbatim translation (from Ukrainian) is "decorative mouse" - letuchaya mysh (flying mouse) in Russian, kazhan or letucha mysha in Ukrainian.

360 hryvnias is more than $70, someone's monthly salary.

***

I haven't been to the lake today, but mama tells me the garbage is still there. Haven't heard back from the newspaper; was too busy to call any of the bureaucrats.