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Alla's Blogs

You know how sometimes, something funny or interesting or shocking or even terrible happens, and a little voice in your head says, “Oh, I really should write this down!” or “Ooh, this would make a great story!” of even just “I wonder if other people will think this is interesting, too.” No? Just me? That little voice in my head (don’t worry, it’s not an actual, audible voice) is constantly telling me to write. Write to remember. Write to entertain. Write to communicate. Just write already! For a very long time, I ignored that little voice, concentrated on raising my kids, building my career, doing all the things we do in our busy, busy lives. But a few years ago, something changed. No, that’s not right. Many things changed. And suddenly, I found myself writing. I hope you read and enjoy!

175 Bottles

In 2023, I gifted my husband a wine club membership as a fun way for two non-experts to explore new wines. We enjoyed the first twelve-bottle case, liked some wines more than others, and then promptly forgot all about the membership. The wine club, however, did not forget about us.


For the next three years, monthly charges quietly accumulated on our credit card. When we finally revisited the account, we discovered nearly $3,000 in credit. So we did the only sensible thing: we ordered $3,000 worth of wine, 175 bottles in total.

Join us as we uncork this unexpected adventure!

Songs and Remembrances

Born in the Soviet Union, I immigrated to the United States with my parents and younger brother in 1976, when I was eleven years old. Songs and Remembrances is my way of capturing the memories, experiences, and defining moments of my early life overseas, our family’s leap across the world to begin anew in America, and my experiences as an immigrant teenager adjusting to all the changes along the way.