translation help

[Sasha Spektor]

Dear Seelangs' users,
My friend and I are in the process of translating Anatoly Gavrilov and we
came upon some Soviet realia, which appear difficult to translate.  I'd like
to ask your help on these two:

"человек..., опухшее, разбитое лицо которого похоже на блюдо с винегретом".

"железнодорожник в огромных кирзовых сапогах"

In the first the Russian beet salad (both in color and consistency) becomes
crucial for the metaphoric effect, and the unfortunate absence of this salad
in American cuisine makes its translation difficult.  So far we have
"beetroot hodgepodge."

In the second it's the troublesome material of the boots.  "Tarpaulin
boots?" "Canvas-topped boots?"  This wear is wide spread in Russia and one
wants to give that impression.  So far we have "giant rubber boots."

Finally, there's word "invalid," which in Russian means a handicapped
person, or a war veteran (if associated with "invalid voiny").  "A cripple"
has negative characteristics, but "a veteran" doesn't necessarily encompass
all kinds of "invalids" possible in today's Russia.

Much obliged for the help.  Please respond either on the list, or off the
list at xrenovo at gmail.com.

Thank you,
Sasha.

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