Arrival at LAX Nov 2014

[jone]

My dear friend, I might need to eddikate you a bit.

That is the incline to RAT Beach, if I am not mistaken.  RAT Beach exists in between Palos Verdes Estates and Redondo Beach.  The city is actually Torrance.  So the beach was named by the locals:  Right at Torrance, aka, RAT Beach.

It is on our daily walks, when we are in the country.

[calmissile]

My dear friend, I might need to eddikate you a bit.

That is the incline to RAT Beach, if I am not mistaken.  RAT Beach exists in between Palos Verdes Estates and Redondo Beach.  The city is actually Torrance.  So the beach was named by the locals:  Right at Torrance, aka, RAT Beach.

It is on our daily walks, when we are in the country.

LOL!  Don't know if you are mistaken or not.  At the north end of the beach is Redondo Pier, clearly named on all the signs.

[jone]

Yeah, I roller blade up there for late breakfasts on the weekend.  Fun place to be.

[ML]

Doug, how close are you to the San Bernadino shootings?

[jone]

Doug is pretty close.  I do not wish to disclose the city he lives in, but he's pretty close. 

[calmissile]

Doug, how close are you to the San Bernadino shootings?

The original shootout was about 8 miles from Redlands and the vehicle shootout was maybe 4-5 miles.  Turns out they lived about a mile from our home in Redlands.

[ML]

Turns out they lived about a mile from our home in Redlands.

Were they at any of your picnics?

[calmissile]

Were they at any of your picnics?

Not that I know of .   

I do know a few people that work for the Health Department from our visits to our Karaoke bar.  Anxious to see the list of who died and who survived.

[ML]

Doug, you posted this in the thread about sending money to Crimea.  "My wife talks to her (former) girlfriends in Crimea and they act like everything is wonderful, even though much of their food supplies are cut off,  the prices have skyrocketed, and they only have power for a couple hours a day."

It makes no real sense at all what these gals are telling your wife.  And they can't be of the age where they loved the soviet system.

So can you elaborate and describe more about exactly what these gals are saying and why they are happier now despite the hardships they are encountering. 

Tell some of the good things they say are happening.  Try to be objective.

[calmissile]

I have been remiss in updating this thread because my employment responsibilities are consuming so much time .  There are a number of events I will post when I have a little time.

Tonight I read the post of ML about women in the kitchen.     I could not resist posting today's excitement in the Wilson homestead.  As you probably already know, Larissa lured me into her web with her culinary skills.  Here is a typical FSUW surprise when you get home from work.....

I went shopping with a UA girlfriend today!  I found bird cages and I want a bird.
What kind of bird?
The kind that lay quail eggs.
We have two cats, the will kill the birds.
No, the bird cage will be outside on the patio.  My girlfriend has cats and dogs and the birds are fine.  I want to buy the cage and get a quail bird. They lay eggs we should eat.  They are healthy.  It  will give you a boner every night!

Oh SHIT!

I don't want a bird. I had them before.  They make a mess.  Who cares for it while we are on vacation, etc.?
No problem, the bird cage is on the patio.  When it rains they will stay in the birdhouse you will make.

The conversation ended with NO BIRD CAGE or BIRD!

I suspect that when I get home from work tomorrow,  there will be a frigging bird cage already mounted on the patio.   ARG!!!!

[GuppyCaptain]

Laughing my ass off, Doug. Is this what I'm missing?!

 

[calmissile]

Laughing my ass off, Doug. Is this what I'm missing?!

 

Never a dull moment!     

[calmissile]

Just a couple photos from the last couple of months.

Christmas time
Lisa's birthday party at Chuckee Cheese

[alex330]

Happy girls 

[BorisS]

Congrats CM. You have a nice family there..

[BillyB]

Thanks for sharing Doug. Always nice to see happy families on the forum.

[danieln_2000]

Doug,
I appreciate your sharing your experience with this adventure. I'm a newbie, just looking into this. And, I find your experience too be valuable. I also find your happy ending inspirational.
Dan

[calmissile]

Thanks for the compliment Dan.

A couple of items of advice I usually offer to newbies.....
1.  Spend as much time as possible in your ladies country.  Learn as much as you can about her culture and country's history.  It will show that you are interested in her, not just a warm bed partner.
2.  Take your time finding a mate.  You will find there are as many personalities in her country as there are in your own country.  Make sure you spend enough time together to be certain you are compatible.

There are a number of detailed trip reports describing the adventures of some of our members.  You might spend some time reading them. They can be both educational and humorous.

You can find mine at these links...
http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=15123.0   
http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=18377.0

Good luck in your adventure.

[BillyB]

Doug,
I appreciate your sharing your experience with this adventure. I'm a newbie, just looking into this. And, I find your experience too be valuable. I also find your happy ending inspirational.
Dan

Welcome to the forum Dan. Feel free to ask any questions since you're just looking into this. A wonderful woman from the FSU can be yours if you choose wisely.

[JayH]

Just a couple photos from the last couple of months.

Christmas time
Lisa's birthday party at Chuckee Cheese

Nice !Very nice.

[calmissile]

Have a moment to make a little update.

Lisa is doing great in the first grade.  She is completely fluent in English.  She still talks to mom in Russian and me in English.

Larissa is much slower becoming fluent.  She has been taking ESL classes locally, twice a week for over a year.  In order to get a decent job she needs to become fluent and she is anxious to begin looking.  As a result, we have signed her up for the English Language Program for foreign students at Cal State San Bernardino.  It is supposed to eventually end up with passing the TOEFL exams.  She needs this to take classes to convert her degrees from Ukraine.

We discovered why Americans are so upset with college costs.  The tuition for taking the 10 week class is about $3800. There are 5 levels of classes.  Hopefully, she won't have to start at the first level. 

Seems like every week she comes home with a  new FSU friend she met either through friends, or in some cases someone will overhear her talking to Lisa in Russian and comes up and introduces themselves.  I had no idea we have that many Russian speakers in Redlands and vicinity.

She has also been a bad girl lately.  She got 3 parking tickets, all  in front of Lisa's school.  You can't double park even long enough to drop your kid off.  Her latest one is for parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.  There was a car parked in front of her and the little midget fire hydrant was not visible to her.  Also, the curbs are not marked.    I should kid her about taking the $100 fine out of her allowance. Maybe not, she is good at payback.   

[calmissile]

Mothers Day - 2016

Lisa is doing very well in the first grade.  She is already fluent in English and has started correcting Larissa on her grammar.   

Larissa is taking a full time TOEFL concentrated English program at Cal State San Bernardino.  All day classes, 5 days a week.  Tons of homework, so I am helping with the house and preparing dinners (TV Style)   

Lisa and I went to store alone yesterday and we picked out Mothers Day cards for Larissa.  Lisa woke up at the crack of dawn this morniing and proceeded to wake up mom to give her the cards.

We would like to go to Ukraine for a couple weeks this summer, but not sure we can pull it off.  With my work responsibilities and Larissa's college schedule, it is going to be difficult.  Larissa still has some businesses to tie up loose ends on so has to go there at some point.

We have a great buffet bar in Redlands and Larissa is crazy about the crab legs.  For Mothers day we decided to take Larissa there and let her pig out on crab.   Photos below.

[HoundDaddyLee]

Calmissle,


Such a beautiful family. Glad you all had a wonderful day.


Good luck to Larissa with her English Classes at Cal State.


HDL (Cal State Grad '85)

[calmissile]

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY LARISSA.   3 YEARS JULY 3, 2016

Girls first fishing rods in America.   Practice casting into the swimming pool.

Fishing a small trout stream on July 3.

Life is wonderful.

[LiveFromUkraine]

Congrats on the anniversary.