Miscellaneous topics all in one!

[Brad and Vika 129]

My parents went back to Russia yesterday and they really missed home all the time they've been here. The hardest thing for them was not being able to talk to anybody, they always needed my help. They also missed Russian food a lot, one day we all went to a Russian store, but still... They've seen lots of beautiful places though, that's good. They had fun at the wedding, which is also good (yep, I'm a wife now ).

Congrats to you and Mr. ONA.... da man!

[TBoneTX 44,679]

Kip would go stark raving mad!

He's not already? (Sorry, K-Bone, si man.)

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

He's not already? (Sorry, K-Bone, si man.)

It is great to see all our friends. The economy is not so good and a couple of our friends have some serious troubles, one got in way over his head in contruction and lost a of of money on a project. The others are doing pretty weel and one couple who I like very much is doing great since he got his PhD and a raise (double what he had made) They are both school teachers. He (Dimar) is the one who probably ruined my chances of ever being president by taking photos of me in a Cossack uniform. I figure those would probably come out just before the election and cause the liberal to get elected instead so I will probably never try.

I met Sergey's girlfriend, nice girl. She is going to apply for a visitor visa for this winter. I hope she can come for a visit when they have their winter break from classes

Alla says she likes her home in the USA much better than here ( !!!!!!!!!!!!) But she is stocking up on all her favorite things she likes to buy here, got new heeel tips on many of her shoes, brought all our knives to sharpen (she says I cannot sharpen knives like these Ukrainian boys) and I am fixing ceramic tiles in the bathroom. She also brought a purse to have fixed. One thing America no longer has are people that repair things for reasonable prices. It is cheaper to buy new and throw out the old. It is part of society I think we lost. She also got a new pair of glasses, an eye exam and a year's supply of lenses.

It is becoming clear that Momma will consider mving to the USA. She has talked with both the boys, both the boys say they will probably live in the US (but marry Ukrainian or Russian girls ) and I think she understands that it would probably be better in the future to be near her family. She is doing OK now but I do not think she can continue to live alone on the 5th floor forever. The stairs get steeper every year, she says.

We will apply for a CR-5 for her when Alla is a citizen and she can decide when she wants to use it, if she wants to use it. So looks like I get a couple more years with USCIS...what would I do without them?

I Ukraine!

[TBoneTX 44,679]

got new heeel tips on many of her shoes, brought all our knives to sharpen (she says I cannot sharpen knives like these Ukrainian boys) and I am fixing ceramic tiles in the bathroom. She also brought a purse to have fixed. One thing America no longer has are people that repair things for reasonable prices. It is cheaper to buy new and throw out the old.

A USC buddy of mine brings as many trousers as possible to Ecuador for professional hemming at $2/trouser, si man. When I make it to Mexico, I bring my shoes for absolutely mind-blowing polishing for $2/pair, whee man (I tip the poor guys generously). It's worth more than $2 just to view such proficiency and care in real time, wow man.

She also got a new pair of glasses, an eye exam and a year's supply of lenses.

Unless I'm completely jammed up, I'll never again pay for this stuff in the U.S., no man. I also like having my bloodwork done in Mexico, because I pay a fair price and get the readings with the reference ranges (normal high & low levels) in 60 to 90 minutes. At my favorite lab, I walk in and announce "sangre de Gringo" (Gringo blood), and they know exactly who it is, mi man.

[slim 1,514]

I also like having my bloodwork done in Mexico,

Reminds me of a time a buddy and I were in TJ. A few young ladies came over, asked us to dance, and when we asked why they were in Mexico, they said, "because the doctors are so much better here."

[TBoneTX 44,679]

they were in Mexico, they said, "because the doctors are so much better here."

I like it that one can be seen immediately on a walk-in basis, or after only a brief wait, and that results of tests are ready on the same day without any hassle.

[1HappyGuy 45]

Alla says she likes her home in the USA much better than here ( !!!!!!!!!!!!) But she is stocking up on all her favorite things she likes to buy here, got new heeel tips on many of her shoes, brought all our knives to sharpen (she says I cannot sharpen knives like these Ukrainian boys) and I am fixing ceramic tiles in the bathroom. She also brought a purse to have fixed. One thing America no longer has are people that repair things for reasonable prices. It is cheaper to buy new and throw out the old. It is part of society I think we lost. She also got a new pair of glasses, an eye exam and a year's supply of lenses.

That has a very similar ring. My wife stocks up on her pharmaceuticals when she's there. As of now she hasn't taken anything back for repair. I better not mention it.

It is becoming clear that Momma will consider mving to the USA. She has talked with both the boys, both the boys say they will probably live in the US (but marry Ukrainian or Russian girls ) and I think she understands that it would probably be better in the future to be near her family. She is doing OK now but I do not think she can continue to live alone on the 5th floor forever. The stairs get steeper every year, she says.

Gary, I thought you said your MIL was hot. Why not find a lonely guy to do the K-1 thing with her. Then you will have the MIL here but someone else will have her for themselves.

I Ukraine!

Ukraine does have it's benefits. I hope you are enjoying the click, click as you walk down the streets.

[Ban Hammer 13,110]

Reminds me of a time a buddy and I were in TJ. A few young ladies came over, asked us to dance, and when we asked why they were in Mexico, they said, "because the doctors are so much better here."

i'd be more concerned about why they were seeing the doctors so much......

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Ukraine does have it's benefits. I hope you are enjoying the click, click as you walk down the streets.

That "click, click, click, click of high heels on the pavement is the sound of the Gods letting us know that there is still something to live for in this world.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

i'd be more concerned about why they were seeing the doctors so much......

Probably cuz you can't get a sex change in just one visit.

[TBoneTX 44,679]

i'd be more concerned about why they were seeing the doctors so much......

If they're applauding the doctors, maybe it's a case of the Clap, syph man.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Ukraine does have it's benefits. I hope you are enjoying the click, click as you walk down the streets.

I think you are confusing me with Kip. I am not sure yet if that is a good thing.

My MIL (and I dearly love my MIL) is way the other side of "hot". When she was Alla's age she was hot. She is now a dignified woman in her late 70's who loves nothing more than to care for her daughter, son-in-law and grandsons. She is the classic Ukrainian Bahbushka. I feel bad that she has seen things no one should ever have to see.

She never had any use for men, she was a district engineer and proud of it. She did her duty to repopulate the USSR by going out and getting knocked up...Soviet "artificial" insemination. But my MIL is GOLD and Alla says she is the only one that does not talk badly about her son-in-law when she is gossiping with her friends. Because I always bring my hand tools with me and fix stuff in her flat.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

That "click, click, click, click of high heels on the pavement is the sound of the Gods letting us know that there is still something to live for in this world.

Definitely! Funny how some things stay with you and that sound is one of them. I also used to love the aroma of perfume at the sidewalk cafes in Odessa. There were so many sexy women walking by that they just perfumed the air (provided you were upwind of the beach) If the wind is blowing the right way so the steel mill fumes go east, the major promenade here in Donetsk has the same aroma.

[ONA 133]

Congrats to you and Mr. ONA.... da man!

Thanks I'm going to tell Mr. ONA that he got a new nickname

[slim 1,514]

i'd be more concerned about why they were seeing the doctors so much......

Two of the girls jumped up to dance with me and my buddy. The other sat and watched because she had "a procedure" done. A procedure?

Planned Parenthood would be proud.