I woke up at four in the morning to fly to Astrakhan and open the campaign headquarters. I discovered that my eye had swollen completely shut, and if I pried it open with my hands (sorry for the graphic detail), it was clear that it was no longer green, but a pleasant dark red color instead. Like the eyes of rabid bulls in cartoons.
The ophthalmologist told me not to go anywhere, to avoid light, and to use eye drops.
So, to my great regret, I won’t be at the headquarters opening today. But the opening will, of course, still take place, and campaign manager Leonid Volkov will speak there, so please do come.
I really wanted to make it to Astrakhan—it’s a great place, it’s warm, and I have lots of good friends there from my 2012 trip.
And on top of that, I let the whole family down—we had planned to fly there together and, after the opening, go fishing for a couple of days. It’s vobla season now (a local Caspian roach fish, traditionally dried or caught in spring).
I’ve had no luck with this: no matter how many times I’ve planned a fishing trip to Astrakhan, I’ve never actually made it.
Oh well, maybe someday it’ll work out.
My apologies to all the volunteers in Astrakhan and the surrounding region. We will definitely come during the campaign’s canvassing stage.