"Feminism is like any other 'ism,' communism, capitalism, fundamentalism.......In theory, they sound great, but in practice, they just don't work well. Better to go out and buy a new pair of shoes...."

--Quote from my Aunt Miraslava

Subtle Blog Shoving

CarpetBlogger is ready to give up blogging on devoushki. Is she intimidated? Is it a devoushka blog showdown or simply a case of subtle devoushki blog shoving?

Darling you are not a devoushka if you give up this easily!

Devoushka Dictionary

COOL DEVOUSHKA MORAL CODE: Cool devoushki have morals. It is up to them to keep the flag of good raised high in this hard world.

SUBTLE COMPETITION: Normal, healthy devoushki competition that happens on the playing field when the man, territory or situation is fair grounds for the taking.

EVIL DEVOUSHKA ATTACK: This is an all out overt attack on you by an evil devoushka. It is ugly. Only one walks away.

SUBTLE SHOVING: This is the shoving that goes on when an evil devoushka wants to come between you and someone or something you have. (This is not to be confused with the Power Boob Shove of a Babushka but this is probably how the boob shove started out.)

Devoushka Power

I have been tagged by Little Miss Moi to list the eight most random things devoushki do to exert their devoushka power on the street.

Here's my random list. Remember this is random, like a train wreck with phosphorus spilling out, traveling to heated areas and bursting into random flames........

I can wear my crocheted lime green dress with daisy centers and large loop holes between the flowers so that you can see the two smallish obviously washed too many times and now gray triangles that almost cover my breasts and not even bother to cover my also washed too many times grayish underwear and you can't wear this dress power......(I apologize to my readers for not having my camera with me. This was an amazing act of devoushka power.)

I am wearing a thong and have three inches of assets to prove it power

I am wearing stilettos and am stomping my way to power

I don't see you, you don't exist because I am all so more cool than you power

Drop the purple, rhinestone glove and wait expectantly for the three nearest men in my vicinity to pick it up and hand it back to me power.

The power boob shove. Usually used by babushki on the metro. They are ex-devoushki who still want to use their devoushki power from the old days.

I have power to stop Kyiv traffic when I cross the street power.

Please turn all eyes on me power. (This power is usually used by devoushki while wearing their most flamboyant and stylish clothes and walking on the arm of their man of the moment down the center of Kreshatik.)

Devoushka Controversy

There is quite the devoushka controversy going on over at Carpetblogger's blog site. There are rumors of nipples and tampon strings showing when they aren't supposed to. I do understand a Western woman's shock and confusion when bumping into the rat race of devoushki, but we must understand that it takes all kinds of devoushki to make up the slavic world and there are as many different kinds of devoushki as there are styles. We must endeavor not to just wear a skimpy skirt, but to do it with panache and class, and for God's sakes girls be sure the string is tucked in before you hit Kreshatik! Go for the gold girls!

Dear Padrooga,

Darling this blog is going to be a lot of work! I miss you and am grateful for the time you took in mentoring me so that I would become a REAL devoushka and not some wanna be devoushka. I am trying to share this knowledge to the world so that they understand who we are.

Zhenya is off to Crimea for a vacation. I know he works hard all year and deserves this time of fun and sun but I am very jealous and sad that he left me here in the sweltering city. It is nearly 40C here and the pavement is melting. I have to be careful my stilettos don't stick in the pavement when it gets this hot. I called him and he told me that if I want to go swimming, I have the Dnieper! He is going to be sorry when I take my vacation in Yalta next month! I will not call him except to tell him about the marvelous time I will be having. I will tell him to go swim in the Dnieper.

I am miserable without him and I am afraid I am lovesick. Not even the thought of seeing Misha cheers me up.

Kisses,
Elena

Devoushka Apparel Questions

Mind the Gap has asked us about stilettos and short skirts and if these items are appropriate throughout the entire year. Of course they are! Stilettos are very useful to spike into the ice on the steep cobblestone streets of Kyiv. But be careful! It is an art to walk in these spiked heels on the ice and should not be tried by those who are not true devoushki! It takes years and years of work to apply the precise amount of pressure to keep one's self from slipping!

Short skirts are entirely appropriate in the winter time! Just make sure that you layer your clothes on top for extra warmth. Think like a figure skater! You are a champion and the cold blood flowing through your legs will warm up once it hits the upper body which should be wrapped up in an nice fur coat! A little cold wind on the legs is worth it if you get a chance to show them off! Why wait for spring?