Done!

[Slumba]

The self-styled Batman! as GQ refers to himself,  cannot be confused by your use of logic, silly Canadian ...

[Boethius]

You guys were the ones putting the fear of God into me about the roads  

I never posted anything about the state of the roads.  I did agree with other posters, however, that a 10 hour drive after a long plane trip would be quite exhausting, particularly when it is unnecessary.

I really didn't care other than it would add a lot of drive time if it did storm.  And I don't see what's wrong with a bus, hell I've ridden in them and they are quite comfortable, the seats are more comfortable than an airplane, unless things have changed since I've last been in one.  Plus it's a Greyhound Express which supposedly is better, with bigger seats and wifi.  But I'm not going that route, I'm doing the hotel and flight the next day.  She's okay with it.  All is good with the world.  So we can stop arguing now.

It is the speed of a flight, rather than comfort, that would be the selling point for me.  But, I'm happy it all worked out for the best.  Good luck!

[fathertime]

Oh, I was planning on taking my Volvo wagon, it's really comfortable for long drives.  I also have a BMW and it's got comfortable seats, but just not much leg room.  Yeah you might be right about the Greyhound thing, kind of surprising though considering it's not all that much cheaper than flying.  I had heard good things about the Express service when it first came out, but who knows, I haven't taken any kind of a bus in 10 years.

When I drove my wife home from the airport *30 minutes* i was so freakin distracted and happy that I missed my turn off and wound up in a real sketchy part of town....I played if off like nothing was amiss...I had done the drive dozens of times, but having the ultimate babe in the front seat after such a long wait was such a distraction, i lost my head...be ready old boy.


Fathertime! 

[GQBlues]

...Aren't all of us supposed to be typical MOB'ers except for you?

The last time I was asked to define an MOBer...a huge blast of methane gas went up in unison! What a sight that was!

So, the only thing I can tell you is if the shoe fits, wear it. My MOBer definition thread can still be found in the archive.

 

[Ade]

An atheist, using "Jesus wept" irrelevantly and completely out of context  ... 

And here's me thinking you had me on ignore...


"Jesus wept" is used as an expletive in that context. I use it in a similar way that I use "Jesus Christ!". You might think that there's some hypocrisy in an atheist using religious based profanity, and that's okay, you can think what you like even if you're usually wrong. There's also no etiquette as far as I'm aware of forbidding an atheist from using religious profanity and blaspheming, but even if there were, I'd ignore it anyway.


I'm also not entirely sure why you think my expletive was out of context. If you, as you so often seem to, need help, check out the wiki for "Jesus Wept" when used as an expletive and perhaps that will help you understand.

[calmissile]

And here's me thinking you had me on ignore...
There's also no etiquette as far as I'm aware of forbidding an atheist from using religious profanity and blaspheming, but even if there were, I'd ignore it anyway.

Surprise, surprise!!   No respect for anyone other than yourself.

[calmissile]

When I drove my wife home from the airport *30 minutes* i was so freakin distracted and happy that I missed my turn off and wound up in a real sketchy part of town....I played if off like nothing was amiss...I had done the drive dozens of times, but having the ultimate babe in the front seat after such a long wait was such a distraction, i lost my head...be ready old boy.


Fathertime!

Your comment made me chuckle.  Same thing happened to me a couple weeks ago.   

[Ade]

Surprise, surprise!!   No respect for anyone other than yourself.

Oh, I have plenty of respect for many, many people. Of course, I have no respect for sexists, misogynists, users, abusers, and those that exploit.

[jmana]

I've got a question for you guys.  What kind of things should I have here in the way of food for when Alina and her daughter arrive?  I asked her and her reply was "black tea with lemon"    This is coming from the same girl who wanted peanut oil as a gift when I came to see her    I know to buy a value size container of mayo, I remember that from my first wife, but I really hope Alina doesn't douse everything she cooks with mayo like my ex did.  But what else?  She makes it seem like she will be fine with whatever I have, but it would be nice to at least have the usual stuff, unfortunately I don't remember what all they typically eat.  I suppose we can just go shopping when she gets here and I am worrying too much about it right now....

[Boethius]

Just buy a variety of fruits and vegetables, some eggs, fish, and meat.


One thing I always see Russians buying here is pineapple, often, as many as six at a time.  It is very common, which is why I notice it.  It seems to be a luxury in certain regions of Russia, though I doubt that is the case in big cities.

[Gator]

Jmana.

-   Good bread (go to a bakery, not a grocery store).

-   Sour cream

-   Buckwheat and oatmeal (not instant) for the child

-   Organic whole milk

-   Selection of good cheese (both soft and hard)

-   Variety of sliced luncheon meat from the deli

-   Potatoes (golden), cabbage,  cucumbers, lettuce, onions,

-  Apples (gala or honey crisp), clementines, blueberries

-   Salad dressing (creamy)

-   Fresh salmon or good chicken (skinless chicken breasts)

This will keep her happy until you take her to the store. 

[Gator]

Jamana,

Today you wrote:

I remember that from my first wife, but I really hope Alina doesn't douse everything she cooks with mayo like my ex did.

I see that you wrote the following on March 7, 2007:   

I have been writing to a girl in Russia (yeah, I never learn my lesson), and she is really odd.

I do not want to pry, but there is much we can read between the lines.  You have custody of a school-aged son so you were married before.  Was your wife also a RW (seemingly "yes" given the the mayo comment).

I do not want to pry into your private life, but it seems you married a RW and the marriage failed.  Do you have a plan for having a happier marriage this time?

I will give you some unsolicited advice.  Alina will be under much stress and  angst.  She needs to feel that you understand her and accept her completely.  So  avoid any criticisms now, such as her cooking.  There will be time to make adjustments after she has both feet on the ground.  Also, never mention anything about your ex-wife, especially if she is RW. 

I make these suggestions because in reading your posts you seem insensitive to other peoples' feelings, essentially self-absorbed (egotistical in RW jargon).   

Please do not react to my comments.  Just file it away.   You may need it.   

[Daveman]

I know to buy a value size container of mayo

Mayo? really?  And I thought they are all smetana happy.  Sour cream has its own category on the food pyramid around here.

[lonedrake]

I suppose we can just go shopping when she gets here and I am worrying too much about it right now....

 Good idea.

 Reverse the roles. What do Americans like to eat?

[Faux Pas]

Jmana.

-   Good bread (go to a bakery, not a grocery store).

-   Sour cream

-   Buckwheat and oatmeal (not instant) for the child

-   Organic whole milk

-   Selection of good cheese (both soft and hard)

-   Variety of sliced luncheon meat from the deli

-   Potatoes (golden), cabbage,  cucumbers, lettuce, onions,

-  Apples (gala or honey crisp), clementines, blueberries

-   Salad dressing (creamy)

-   Fresh salmon or good chicken (skinless chicken breasts)

This will keep her happy until you take her to the store.

An excellent list. I would add beets and coffee

[jmana]

Jamana,

Today you wrote:

I see that you wrote the following on March 7, 2007:   

I do not want to pry, but there is much we can read between the lines.  You have custody of a school-aged son so you were married before.  Was your wife also a RW (seemingly "yes" given the the mayo comment).

I do not want to pry into your private life, but it seems you married a RW and the marriage failed.  Do you have a plan for having a happier marriage this time?

I will give you some unsolicited advice.  Alina will be under much stress and  angst.  She needs to feel that you understand her and accept her completely.  So  avoid any criticisms now, such as her cooking.  There will be time to make adjustments after she has both feet on the ground.  Also, never mention anything about your ex-wife, especially if she is RW. 

I make these suggestions because in reading your posts you seem insensitive to other peoples' feelings, essentially self-absorbed (egotistical in RW jargon).   

Please do not react to my comments.  Just file it away.   You may need it.   

Yeah I was married to a Ukrainian for 6 years.  It was good until she decided she wanted to be a model and that was more important than raising our son.  So I gave her a choice, either be a mom or a model.  She chose the latter.  Unfortunately that didn't work out so well for her either, models have to be a certain height to make any money, I guess she missed that detail    And yeah, in 2007 I toyed with the idea of the whole Russian thing again.  I met a girl from Moscow, and she was really sweet, but super clingy.  She arranged for her visa and travel, and paid for everything to come here for a month, and I wish I would have felt something for her, I am sure she would have been a great wife, but I just didn't    I think I really wasn't as ready for a long term relationship as I thought I was.  She's married now and has a kid, I still hear from her occasionally and I'm glad she's happy    And yeah, I've learned over the years of dating to not talk about my ex, every girl I've dated gets really jealous of her and it always causes problems.  But Alina seems cool with her so far, and my ex seems happy about Alina, so hopefully this time around there won't be as many issues as there have been.

[fathertime]

Yeah I was married to a Ukrainian for 6 years.  It was good until she decided she wanted to be a model and that was more important than raising our son.  So I gave her a choice, either be a mom or a model.  She chose the latter.  Unfortunately that didn't work out so well for her either, models have to be a certain height to make any money, I guess she missed that detail    And yeah, in 2007 I toyed with the idea of the whole Russian thing again.  I met a girl from Moscow, and she was really sweet, but super clingy.  She arranged for her visa and travel, and paid for everything to come here for a month, and I wish I would have felt something for her, I am sure she would have been a great wife, but I just didn't    I think I really wasn't as ready for a long term relationship as I thought I was.  She's married now and has a kid, I still hear from her occasionally and I'm glad she's happy    And yeah, I've learned over the years of dating to not talk about my ex, every girl I've dated gets really jealous of her and it always causes problems.  But Alina seems cool with her so far, and my ex seems happy about Alina, so hopefully this time around there won't be as many issues as there have been.

That is an interesting story Jmana,


That is great that the ex wife and the new lady are not on bad terms before this new chapter begins.  Hopefully you can continue to facilitate a good relationship, IF it becomes necessary.  Some ex-wives don't take kindly to their children having a new lady that is part of raising their child, although it sounds like your boy is fairly far along already, so maybe it won't create an issue.  If you don't mind my asking, do you have your son full-time, or part time? 


Good luck,


Fathertime!   

[southernX]

Jamana,

Today you wrote:

I see that you wrote the following on March 7, 2007:   

I do not want to pry, but there is much we can read between the lines.  You have custody of a school-aged son so you were married before.  Was your wife also a RW (seemingly "yes" given the the mayo comment).

I do not want to pry into your private life, but it seems you married a RW and the marriage failed.  Do you have a plan for having a happier marriage this time?

I will give you some unsolicited advice.  Alina will be under much stress and  angst.  She needs to feel that you understand her and accept her completely.  So  avoid any criticisms now, such as her cooking.  There will be time to make adjustments after she has both feet on the ground.  Also, never mention anything about your ex-wife, especially if she is RW. 

I make these suggestions because in reading your posts you seem insensitive to other peoples' feelings, essentially self-absorbed (egotistical in RW jargon).   
Please do not react to my comments.  Just file it away.   You may need it.   

gator , my thoughts exactly on having read this last 4 pages

jmana it seems from all you have written here that you did not learn enough from your last experience to make the correct changes to yourself

you need to meet your lady and her child at the airport definitly,
 i met my wife and her child half way on their first leg to australia , it is very important to escort them into their new home & country , support them through customs, etc , be there to make the decisions needed as they arise

anyway , you are going to do what you will , from your posts you have your mind made up on things
i truly hope you have a better outcome than your last experience, but i doubt it

Good bread (go to a bakery, not a grocery store).

-   Sour cream

-   Buckwheat and oatmeal (not instant) for the child

-   Organic whole milk

-   Selection of good cheese (both soft and hard)

-   Variety of sliced luncheon meat from the deli

-   Potatoes (golden), cabbage,  cucumbers, lettuce, onions,

-  Apples (gala or honey crisp), clementines, blueberries

-   Salad dressing (creamy)

-   Fresh salmon or good chicken (skinless chicken breasts)

This will keep her happy until you take her to the store.

gator the shopping list is good , id add tomatoes ,cherries /grapes bananas ,  chocolates of some sort, and cake /torte to the list as well

hopefully all will go well for you jmana

SX

[jmana]

 If you don't mind my asking, do you have your son full-time, or part time? 
 

Full time.

[Gator]

Yeah I was married to a Ukrainian for 6 years......

Thank you for sharing.  It reveals a more thoughtful side than I perceived when reading your other posts.

Full time custody too.  That shows you love your son very much and have more than embraced your responsibilities as a father.  Well done!   

Part of what we could be seeing is the time management stress of being a single parent.    It affects single  dads as   well as single moms. 

I was married  briefly to another RW from Moscow.  She lives nearby.  My wife has erected an Iron Curtain between her and the ex-.  Yet my wife embraces my friends, my sons, the mother of my sons,  and anything else from my huge and long past. 

[Daveman]

anyway , you are going to do what you will , from your posts you have your mind made up on things

In the spirit of fairness, and unless I missed something, he did change his mind about the 20hr road trip and chose the option of hotel/next day flight. 

I agree that it would be better if he could meet her at JFK, but even so, the remaining premise is somewhat flawed. He would not be able to assist her as she passes through customs (even via phone) unless he meets her at that flight's origin city and would not be allowed into the passenger area at all until the following day when he carries a valid boarding pass.  But yeah, if he could work it out to meet them as they exit the passenger area, welcome them to the USA, and escort them to the hotel that would be best case scenario. If that's not possible, I think she'll very much appreciate the rest (for herself and child) and short next-day flight the rest of the way.

[southernX]

dave,

if like me he met his wife at a halfway point  on her travel outside the US ,they then flew into JFK together on the same flight , landed etc etc  why could he not travel through customs with her as her fiancee   ?

here they will allow family with foreign passports to accompany residents/citizens through customs together on your return from overseas , is it not the same in the US ?


SX

[jmana]

dave,

if like me he met his wife at a halfway point  on her travel outside the US ,they then flew into JFK together on the same flight , landed etc etc  why could he not travel through customs with her as her fiancee   ?

here they will allow family with foreign passports to accompany residents/citizens through customs together on your return from overseas , is it not the same in the US ?


SX

I thought if you were a US citizen you had to go through a separate exit from non citizens when you go through the airport once you get off the plane?  At least that's what I vaguely remember from when I came through JFK from Moscow in June, it seemed to me that the people who weren't citizens had to go a different way.  That said, I obviously don't have the time (or money for that matter) to fly to Moscow to meet her there and fly back with her.  Really that seems a little silly to me, I trust she can handle a 10 hour flight on her own without someone holding her hand the whole way, LOL!  Besides, there will be plenty of time for that once she gets here.

[southernX]

Moscow to meet her there and fly back with her.  Really that seems a little silly to me, I trust she can handle a 10 hour flight on her own without someone holding her hand the whole way, LOL!   Besides, there will be plenty of time for that once she gets here.

yep its that kind of silliness    ,   thoughfullness and caring that emotional support and understanding of shared love  that surprises and bonds your wife & child  to you
bottom line such actions  demonstrate their importance to you , not the words you type or speak


your prioritys seem quite clear from what you write

SX

[jone]

My port of entry is typically Los Angeles.  I have come in many times, sometimes in the company of foreigners.  While there are separate lines for visitors from foreign countries, I always ask the person guiding if they can go through with me.  Only one time was there any hesitancy and that was with a new clerical person in that position.  Typically, though, I would have a bunch of students with me, not a prospective wife.  Haven't brought one of those in yet.

Customs people are pretty sharp and know who they should be looking for in a port of entry.