What might Have Been

[tbelknap]

Bruno,
Check your 'tude at the door please.  I thought I was very nonjudgemental about your choice in lifestyle in my post and yet you write line after line justifying it and putting down people (like me) that seek a better financial life.Did you forget that I am suppose to be the pr1ck here and not you?
KenC

I would be offended if you called me a simple man which in my opinion has nothing to do with financial status. To me that statement was very judgemental.

I would be interested to know if you werent as successful and your so called status wasn't where it was if your wife would be your wife currently?  How much do you think status plays in a relationship? Interesting topic.

The whole meal deal is just bad manners.  Something I would not tolerate whether she was a shop girl nor a business owner. 

[jb]

The whole meal deal is just bad manners.  Something I would not tolerate whether she was a shop girl nor a business owner. 

Miss. Manners and Emily Post's Book of Etiquette were not well studied, or even read in the USSR.  I think guys should be prepared to see some unusual table manners when they venture east of the Danube.  I've personally observed behavior at the table that would have had me banished from the family dinner table for life if I'd handled my utensils that way. 

When people are raised in households where they often do not have complete sets of silverware (or stainless flatwear), or there may not even be 2 matching plates in the cupboard, it's not uncommon to see people using the wrong fork to shovel pelmimi into their mouth.  It's not bad, it's just different. 

The fingers thing would have grossed me out though.

[Admin]

Miss. Manners and Emily Post's Book of Etiquette were not well studied, or even read in the USSR.  I think guys should be prepared to see some unusual table manners when they venture east of the Danube.  I've personally observed behavior at the table that would have had me banished from the family dinner table for life if I'd handled my utensils that way. 

When people are raised in households where they often do not have complete sets of silverware (or stainless flatwear), or there may not even be 2 matching plates in the cupboard, it's not uncommon to see people using the wrong fork to shovel pelmimi into their mouth.  It's not bad, it's just different. 

The fingers thing would have grossed me out though.

Your comments reminded me of one girl I met in Odesa. She was quite accomplished in her career field, was a doctor (medical doctor) at the hospital, and supplemented her meager (sometime non-existent) pay with working privately for people. IIRC, her specialty was pediatrics.

Anyway, we went to dinner one evening, and since it was Odesa and being on the Black Sea and all - I thought to order shrimp. At first, I thought it was just Russian custom to eat the unpeeled tails from the shrimp. It slowly dawned on me that she had never eaten shrimp before, and did not know to NOT eat the tails.

I still remember the look on her face the first couple of times she bit into the tail - and then she was too polite to do anything about it, so she crunched it up and swallowed it.

Poor girl.

- Dan

[BC]

One thing to remember is that table manners are relative to the area you live in.  Here your fork stays in the left hand and knife in the right.  Fish and shrimp are served with heads still attached.  Ever sucked out the head of a shrimp?  Yummy.  Heck some folks down here fight over rights to the fishhead. 

Gotta love that inverted whistle noise when folks suck the juices off their fingers.

Believe it or not most Italians eat pizza with a fork and knife.  In France it's not a sin for men to bring their own knives to the table (nice folding knives BTW).

Different folks, different strokes..

I always enjoy gnawing at the remains of a good T-bone.  In principle what's the difference?

Of course realizing and adjusting manners to the local norms is key when dining out but with all that I've seen throughout my years it would be kinda tough to really gross me out.

My only real 'pet peeve' is slurping soup..

btw.. Dan some shrimp can be eaten whole especially thin skinned ones that are fried.

[Turboguy]

Bruno,
Check your 'tude at the door please.  I thought I was very nonjudgemental about your choice in lifestyle in my post and yet you write line after line justifying it and putting down people (like me) that seek a better financial life.Did you forget that I am suppose to be the pr1ck here and not you?
KenC

I know you addressed that at Bruno, but since I have already said Bruno and I might like the same kind of gal I think he and I think alike about some subjects.

I personally think everone is entitled to set their own priorites and to decide what is important in their lives.   I had mentioned that I am happy to not have to do the things that you enjoy doing.  I am glad that you enjoy it and I for one sure would not think badly of you because you want that lifestyle.  Humm you are in California and I am in PA, and California is famous for the laid back lifestyle.    

jb, glad to hear your sense of humor is fine,  Hopefully someday there will be at least one instance of seeing it an action.

Dan, funny story, but sad too.  I enjoyed that.

BC, I have seen people over here pick up their bowl of soup, put it to their lips and drink it the way you would coffee.  Yuck.

[BC]

BC, I have seen people over here pick up their bowl of soup, put it to their lips and drink it the way you would coffee.  Yuck.

Turbo,

As long as it wasn't slurped and/or in a fancy dining out environment I wouldn't bat an eye.

btw.. where is 'over here'?

[Turboguy]

Pennsylvania BC.  I think there was a little bit of slurping going on as well.  I have not seen it often but the time I am thinking of was in a restaurant.  I might think about it myself if I was home, alone and in a hurry.

Sorta like turning the radio in your car and singing along.  I might do it without thinking if I was alone but would not subject anyone with me to such severe torture.

[KenC]

I would be offended if you called me a simple man which in my opinion has nothing to do with financial status. To me that statement was very judgemental.

I would be interested to know if you werent as successful and your so called status wasn't where it was if your wife would be your wife currently?  How much do you think status plays in a relationship? Interesting topic.

The whole meal deal is just bad manners.  Something I would not tolerate whether she was a shop girl nor a business owner. 

Gee, when I wrote: "God bless Bruno for being a nice guy, but he is a rather simple man.  This doesn't mean he is stupid or lazy or anything negative." I would think that that is about as nice to communicate the thought as possible.  In Bruno's own words he prefers the simple life, so I was quite on the mark with my comments.

Would my wife be as interested in me if my status was different?  Probably not would be my guess because your status is part of who you are.  You will never ever get me to apologize for being successful and being proud of that success.  If you prefer the simple life, as Bruno does, God bless you, but don't criticize me for wanting something different.
KenC

[Bruno]

I would be offended if you called me a simple man which in my opinion has nothing to do with financial status. To me that statement was very judgemental.

I was not offended !!! It will be other if KenC have wrote "simple minded man"... I have understand "simple man" like someone who don't seek complication...

You will never ever get me to apologize for being successful and being proud of that success.  If you prefer the simple life, as Bruno does, God bless you, but don't criticize me for wanting something different.

What is being successful ? Too much people relate success to financial success... In my own case, i feel successful too and i am happy with my life... Every men who reach his own goals is a successful men... Goals can be different for one or the other but what count really is the realisation of the goals... so, KenC is very right when he wrote "don't criticize me for wanting something different"... maybe we can apply these "rule" for people who date RW in a different way that ourself, this will spare a lot of fight on these forum 

[tbelknap]

Gee, when I wrote: "God bless Bruno for being a nice guy, but he is a rather simple man.  This doesn't mean he is stupid or lazy or anything negative." I would think that that is about as nice to communicate the thought as possible.  In Bruno's own words he prefers the simple life, so I was quite on the mark with my comments.

Would my wife be as interested in me if my status was different?  Probably not would be my guess because your status is part of who you are.  You will never ever get me to apologize for being successful and being proud of that success.  If you prefer the simple life, as Bruno does, God bless you, but don't criticize me for wanting something different.
KenC

Gee, I never criticized you for what you believe is success.  I bet Bruno believes he is successful as well.  I don't believe success is related to financial gain.  But it sounds like you do.  BTW, I would love to hear what the simple life is?  

I don't buy that status is part of who you are.  It is something you choose.

I am pretty successful myself and could retire at the age of 36. I don't know what status that is but I would choose a shop girl over a woman that is only interested in status or money.  But then again I normally don't care what other people think about me or whom I am dating.

[PeeWee]

Peewee,
Leave it you to make the parallel reference between picking a horse to picking a RW.  I also find it amusing that you become indignant with Andrew's comments because it is you that has made some of the most callus comments here regarding RW and women in general.  If you want to get a clue as to how the social status of the RW does matter, read my post up thread.  BTW, Andrew is not married and he lives in Estonia.
KenC

I hear the same complaints from my friends who own horses about their horses as I do from my married friends about their wives. It is an easy parallel to draw. The point was not to compare the two but to demonstrate that what you see on the surface has nothing to do with the potential contained in the package. Her job should have no bearing on who she is as a person. You are judging a book by its cover.

Peewee

[KenC]

I would choose a shop girl over a woman that is only interested in status or money.

theknap,
Please show me where I said my wife was only interested in money or status.  You guys crack me up.  Everyone has a "status." High, low or medium.  What that status is based upon is whoever is perceiving it.  But it is a part of who you are, or choose to be (as you say).  The places you frequent, your lifestyle and even your chosen profession is all a part of your personal make up.  And yes, income is also a consideration.  All those things are a considerations when choosing a mate.  Of course there are many other attributes to be considered too (personal appearance, personality, morals, sexuality to name just a few)

 If you want the inside track on the simple life, you're asking the wrong guy, PM Bruno.  But my comments were never meant to start a schwantz comparison contest.
KenC

[KenC]

I hear the same complaints from my friends who own horses about their horses as I do from my married friends about their wives. It is an easy parallel to draw. The point was not to compare the two but to demonstrate that what you see on the surface has nothing to do with the potential contained in the package. Her job should have no bearing on who she is as a person. You are judging a book by its cover.

Peewee

Maybe you should marry a horse, Peewee.
KenC

[Turboguy]

Yes, but can you picture that when he tries to enroll his filly in ESL classes

[tbelknap]

theknap,
Please show me where I said my wife was only interested in money or status.  You guys crack me up.  Everyone has a "status." High, low or medium.  What that status is based upon is whoever is perceiving it.  But it is a part of who you are, or choose to be (as you say).  The places you frequent, your lifestyle and even your chosen profession is all a part of your personal make up.  And yes, income is also a consideration.  All those things are a considerations when choosing a mate.  Of course there are many other attributes to be considered too (personal appearance, personality, morals, sexuality to name just a few)

 If you want the inside track on the simple life, you're asking the wrong guy, PM Bruno.  But my comments were never meant to start a schwantz comparison contest.
KenC

Your TFF Ken.  Thanks for you opinion on the status but I still disagree that is a part of you.  Especially since in your own words is based on perception and we all know from this forum perceptions can be vastly different depending on the person.  I do enjoy the topic though.

I thought you knew what the simple life was since you stated Bruno was simple.

Also, I never said your wife was only interested in status and money.  I don't know your wife to make a comment like that.

[tbelknap]

Maybe you should marry a horse, Peewee.
KenC

Not a bad idea.  He could save money on gas by riding his wife to work.   

[Turboguy]

TBelknap, you have made some nice posts in this thread.  I like the way you think.

I think trying to define success is about like trying to decide which came first the chicken or the egg.  It is too individual to have an answer.  I think the closest anyone could get is your own success is having the life you want to have.   The closest anyone could get to describing success in others is for them to have the life you wish you had.

I don't see it as money, or status myself.  You know what they say, you can't take it with you as well as you can't by love, of course you can buy lots of loving.   I am not even sure how right the guy was who said you can't buy love.  Perhaps he just never persued an FSU woman.  Then again, perhaps he was right.

[tbelknap]

I will have nothing to do with horses. Last year a local man died when a horse, who was riding him, perferated his colon. His name was Ken but it was apparently our Ken because, like I said, this guy died.

Peewee 

Now I am afraid of horses, thanks peewee.

[tbelknap]

TBelknap, you have made some nice posts in this thread.  I like the way you think.

Thanks Turbo.  I enjoy these types of topics.

[PeeWee]

Now I am afraid of horses, thanks peewee.

In this situation are both the man and his rider considered gay?

Peewee

[Turboguy]

Too bad your state has outlawed sex with animals.  I think some of the girlfriends of the guys here think they are animals so now they have to worry about arrest.

[andrewfi]

So, Corp, what did you do?

[corp]

So, Corp, what did you do?

And Andrew pulls us back on topic 

Well I have been away for a few days but now I am trying to locate someone who speaks Ruski who can call the number I have to find out if Natalia is still around and what her response might be to my interest.
Anyone have suggestions on who might help me?
If I hire someone from "over there" .... it can get mighty expensive since there is no easy way to transfer a few bucks to make a phone call.

[Vaughn]

Corp - call me this evening, you have my number but
I've misplaced yours. I can help you with that call...
Can you set up a three-way?

And since we live - what? 10 miles apart, we really should
gather a few dollars and meet at Denny's or someplace...

Vaughn

[andrewfi]

Corp ~ From the little I know of chatting up women in an environment where they do not expect to be chatted up I would suggest this:

If you are back home then don't bother doing anything - unless this woman cast an arrow through your heart and you NEED her to tell you she is not interested in a long distance romance with a perfect stranger. If you were still there, I'd say just go pay visit.

If she were truly interested you would have been able to call her own mobile - she has one!

Using a business email is no great way to contact a shopgirl. The person reading the emails probably does not even know, or care, who the woman is and may have simply bounced your message.

What are you going to do to, if she is willing to receive your translated telephone calls, to further the relationship? Remember this is a woman you have never had a conversation with, she is simply a woman who you interacted with following a series of disappointments. Even if she were a woman from your peer group it would hardly be a match made in heaven - more rebound than a rubber ball!

Make a mental picture abd file it away. Weeks have passed and by now, if she is moderately atractive, other foreign guys will have passed through and chanced their arms. The chances that she would genuinely be able to claim to remember you are tiny. And remember she did not give youher phone number!