Terminology search case study...

The object of today's hunt is: ОЭС.

The context has to do with hydroelectric generating plants. There are references to ОЭС Центра, ОЭС Средней Волги, ОЭС Юга и ОЭС Урала.

The expansion of the abbreviation is Объединенная энергетическая система. A straightforward translation might be United Power System.

My first "hit" online for the abbreviation gives me "Bulk Electricity System." This is not exactly impossible, but the "surprise" factor is a bit too high. After a little more poking, I find "United" might be "Unified," and "System" might be "Grid."

I proceed to transliterate some of the facility names and then compose a compound Google query as follows:

Yug Volga Tsenter Ural "(united|unified|interconnected) power (system|grid)"

I get a lot of variations on a theme, but my original gut feeling—United Power System—occurs quite frequently.

Done.

Party of the first part...

Galina and I hosted a get-together for all her/our Russian friends.

Things got off to a good start when it became evident that we had planned on two fewer people than actually showed up.

In the end, things went well. Wine was spilled on the tablecloth, everyone enjoyed the turkey, and I enjoyed the mother of all "cheat" days (diet-wise).

Even though things did not go perfectly, I want to have more evenings like this. I need to have more evenings like this.

Here's hoping y'all had a great Saturday-before-Mother's Day.

Cheers...