Help me get motivated for my Ukraine trip in mid September.

[GreginGa]

For the first time ever, I'm really not looking forward to the trip. My inlaws have been here for 3 months so it's not like its a big deal to see them. It's football season therefore I'll be missing some games for example Notre Dame vs Meatchicken. I dont think we'll go to Crimea. The inlaws really dont want to go there. Once you've had Florida sand between your toes the rocks of a Black Sea beach fall a little short. Maybe we'll go to the mountains for a few days. That might be nice to actually feel some cool weather for a change. I'm certainly not looking forward to hanging out with the family and listening to a room full of Ukrainians babble on and on. I'm going to be bored as hell for 12 days.

[Doll]

Then don't go

[GreginGa]

Then don't go

Obviously you've never used free miles and you aint married with a kid or you would know that aint an option. Is "then dont go" as good as you can come up with on such short notice?

[Ben Armen]

Hey Buddy,

Time to go and make the best of it.  I know it is challenging, everything you went to Ukraine for is now in America.  Now that she is here, and you saw your in-laws already, what else is there? 

#1 Meatchicken Sucks, so you have nothing to worry about, the Irish will be having Wishbone for dinner.  I have been known for going to the local Internet Cafe and downloading an audio feed to a game.

#2 I'm sure there are things you like to do there, go to the city, have fun, give 5 Grivna to the little old lady asking for Koppecks, watch her smile, take your baby, show baby some nice things.  Go to your favorite cafe.  Get that sweater out of the cobwebs and enjoy yourself.

#3  Bring a long term project you have always dreamed of doing?  Like writing a book, or a course or that book you never had to read.  Remember 10 hrs each way, plus connection from Kiev, You can really take that hobby you never did b/c of job and family and take it to the next level and it is a great opportunity.  That is how I capitalize on my non-quality time.

I hope this helps you, you need something to forget about those Braves

Ben

[GreginGa]

Thanks Ben

This will be our first trip flying straight through from JFK. Atlanta to JFK will be so easy. Hopefully we can keep the baby awake all day. Man I hope you're right about Michigan and you can bet I'll be in front of an internet feed. Maybe I'll take this opportunity to get back on my running. The big hill in front of the Dnyper Hotel is great for running. It's always fun to sit in Obriens and knock down a few pints with the Englishmen but the smoke just kills me in that place. I really wish we couldve stayed a few days in NYC. I was there for the first time last August. I did love the place. Nothing like sitting in Little Italy  outside cafe drinking an espresso and eating a canoli and feeling like Don Corelone. I guess Ambach123 will be there at the same time so maybe I'll run into him on the street and say hello. I'm going on the cheap this go around so I'm going to be careful about eating out so much. I have an opportunity to fly back to Germany and see some our exchange students. We might do this for a few days if the tickets arent sky high.

[Gator]

Go because you love your wife.  

Nevertheless, this is why alcohol was invented.  Get bombed, then struggle a day through a hangover.  Repeat the cylce the third day.  

Next year you are asked to remain in Georgia.

[wxman]

If where you will be in Ukraine has high speed internet, then ask a friend back in the US to hook up a web cam on their computer, point that camera at a tv when your football games are on, and then sit back and watch it on a pc in Ukraine. I know that sounds corny, but it does work if your camera has fairly high resolution. Or just purchase the internet radio package from xm radio or sirius, and listen to the games on the internet.

[wxman]

Go because you love your wife.  

Nevertheless, this is why alcohol was invented.  Get bombed, then struggle a day through a hangover.  Repeat the cylce the third day.  

Next year you are asked to remain in Georgia.

Don't get too drunk, or you will end up in Georgia, not the state.

[Ben Armen]

Slingbox Greg!  slingbox! 

[Faux Pas]

For the first time ever, I'm really not looking forward to the trip. My inlaws have been here for 3 months so it's not like its a big deal to see them. It's football season therefore I'll be missing some games for example Notre Dame vs Meatchicken. I dont think we'll go to Crimea. The inlaws really dont want to go there. Once you've had Florida sand between your toes the rocks of a Black Sea beach fall a little short. Maybe we'll go to the mountains for a few days. That might be nice to actually feel some cool weather for a change. I'm certainly not looking forward to hanging out with the family and listening to a room full of Ukrainians babble on and on. I'm going to be bored as hell for 12 days.

Why would any self respecting southerner from the palmetto thickets of South Georgia care about a ND/ Mich game when the Dawgs are playing? Sacrilege. 

Yahoo Sports has a service that will allow you to hear most games if the team has a radio broadcast, over the internet. It's about $6-7 bucks a month.

[KenC]

Go because you love your wife.  

Nevertheless, this is why alcohol was invented.  Get bombed, then struggle a day through a hangover.  Repeat the cylce the third day.  

Next year you are asked to remain in Georgia.

TFF! Gator!  Greg is gonna need some stiff drinks when U of M takes it to the Irish.  Of course beating the Irish has never been as easy as it has been lately.  My thinking is Michigan is going to surprise a lot of people this year.
KenC

[Ben Armen]

Hey Ken,

Take some baby steps, try beating App State first...

The Ben Armen

[KenC]

Hey Ken,

Take some baby steps, try beating App State first...

The Ben Armen

Fortunately, thay are not on the schedule this year!   

[I/O]

I know it is challenging, everything you went to Ukraine for is now in America.  Now that she is here, and you saw your in-laws already, what else is there?

Perhaps I am a little idealistic, but I cannot agree with this sentiment. I actually think it is rude and shortsighted. Everything you went for is NOT now in America. A very big part of your wife is still in her home country and I suspect always will be. I've always thought that guys who go soley on a wife hunting mission are likely to run up against this "Motivation to travel" thing at some time or another. Greg, frankly, I think you are being a little selfish here. If your wife is as much a a part of you as she should be, then I see every motivation for spending more time in her home country, just for her.

If all else fails, adopt Gator's suggestion.

I/O

[Shadow]

With your inlaws having had to listen to English babbling the least you can do it return the favour.
But try to remember that the best way to appreciate your home is to leave it every now and then and change it for other circumstances.

[GreginGa]

With your inlaws having had to listen to English babbling the least you can do it return the favour.
But try to remember that the best way to appreciate your home is to leave it every now and then and change it for other circumstances.

Obviously you've never spent an extended or short amount of time with my mother-in-law or your sentiments would be different. Now my father-in-law is gold. My M-I-L has been to the states 6 times the past few years. I think I have more than amply paid the price of a good son-in-law although she still thinks I'm the antiChrist.  She is one of those kind that thinks everything is better in Ukraine. She's a great nanny though and thats all I can say positive about her. My F-I-L says she sits and cries and talks about missing it here in the states once she returns to the paradise of her village outside of Kharkov. He really enjoyed his trip here. It was his first. The man hasnt met a power tool he doesnt love and he's been a great hand around the house. He keeps the grass cut, walked the dog everyday,he's built me 2 decks, he's kept the cars washed and he's worked his little job that I got him hooked up with. He's a very kind and humble man and he hasnt drank a drop since he arrived. I just know when he gets back to Ukraine he'll be having shots of Nemeroff for breakfast to help him get through the day with this beast he has been married to for 27 years. I have really enjoyed him being here.

It's been equally great having an ally around the house. It had been 2 or 2 and a half against 1 for too long. They leave on Thursday. I really dont need to hear from anyone about making sacrifices until they have pulled the tour I've pulled with the M-I-L for the past few years. I certainly have a right to be a little selfish. I have the feathers,stripes,scars and medals that I've earned along the way. I personally think there should be a focking monument erected for me somewhere in Ukraine for the sacrifices I've paid and I'm being serious. Anybody can write a few books or be a good dictator. Living with a sour azz M-I-L is a different story entirely. I'll continue to soldier on.

[Doll]

Obviously you've never used free miles and you aint married with a kid or you would know that aint an option. Is "then dont go" as good as you can come up with on such short notice?

I AM married

[GreginGa]

I AM married

Ever tried to cash in Delta miles? You basically go when they tell you to go. Not going is not an option.

[I/O]

So the real issue here is not the trip or Ukraine but rather, the Dragon-in-law. Hmmmm good luck with that one if she is now as out of control as you suggest. Based on experience with two, one suspect and the other good, lines have to be drawn in the sand very clearly IMO.

I/O

[Shadow]

Does your wife get her character from her father or from her mother ? 

[KenC]

Obviously you've never spent an extended or short amount of time with my mother-in-law or your sentiments would be different. Now my father-in-law is gold. My M-I-L has been to the states 6 times the past few years. I think I have more than amply paid the price of a good son-in-law although she still thinks I'm the antiChrist.  She is one of those kind that thinks everything is better in Ukraine. She's a great nanny though and thats all I can say positive about her. My F-I-L says she sits and cries and talks about missing it here in the states once she returns to the paradise of her village outside of Kharkov. He really enjoyed his trip here. It was his first. The man hasnt met a power tool he doesnt love and he's been a great hand around the house. He keeps the grass cut, walked the dog everyday,he's built me 2 decks, he's kept the cars washed and he's worked his little job that I got him hooked up with. He's a very kind and humble man and he hasnt drank a drop since he arrived. I just know when he gets back to Ukraine he'll be having shots of Nemeroff for breakfast to help him get through the day with this beast he has been married to for 27 years. I have really enjoyed him being here.

It's been equally great having an ally around the house. It had been 2 or 2 and a half against 1 for too long. They leave on Thursday. I really dont need to hear from anyone about making sacrifices until they have pulled the tour I've pulled with the M-I-L for the past few years. I certainly have a right to be a little selfish. I have the feathers,stripes,scars and medals that I've earned along the way. I personally think there should be a focking monument erected for me somewhere in Ukraine for the sacrifices I've paid and I'm being serious. Anybody can write a few books or be a good dictator. Living with a sour azz M-I-L is a different story entirely. I'll continue to soldier on.

Greg,
I hear ya loud and clear.  My situation with my In Laws are similar to yours, just not quite as severe.  My MIL is a total control freak and says some pretty outrageous stuff on occasion.  As I have said before, there is some solice in not being able to speak Russian to her!    When she is here visiting, I can just ignore her and do whatever I want.  Funny that my FIL is so similar to yours too.  He keeps himself occupied when visiting doing odds and ends around the house here too.

My wife just returned from a month visit in Russia.  It will take her a some time to decompress from spending time with her Mom.  As much as my wife complains to me on the phone about her Mom's controlling and bitchy behavior while she is there, she comes home acting very similar.   Even after 10 years together, my MIL still tries to convince my wife to return to Russia!  My poor wife gets it with both barrels on every visit back to Russia.  I have never met such a negative person in my life as my MIL.  My wife always returns feeling like a total failure in life.  Good thing I am such an optimistic person.  It helps my wife snap back into the groove she was in before her visit home.
KenC

[Ben Armen]

So the real issue here is not the trip or Ukraine but rather, the Dragon-in-law. Hmmmm good luck with that one if she is now as out of control as you suggest. Based on experience with two, one suspect and the other good, lines have to be drawn in the sand very clearly IMO.

I/O

So I/O, I am not as rude as you think I am.

[GreginGa]

Does your wife get her character from her father or from her mother ? 

I would have to say it can be a combination of both. My dragon-in-law(thanks for that one I/O) is a tough nut to crack. Ken I would say mine is almost identical to yours. She would love for Katy to return to Ukraine. My father-in-law is the best. My M-I-L is a huge pain in the ass when she is here as far as I am concerned. Forget about the fact that we've hauled her negative ass to Vegas,NYC,Orlando,The Greek Isles and other smaller places in between. Nothing is ever good enough for her. My wife has a hard time going against her mother. She says if she goes against her mother that her mother will have no one on her side. Now my wife is the sweetest thing at times. She most certainly has the best sense of humor of any woman I've ever met or dated. I've never made her mom laugh in 6 years. I dont think I will ever please that woman and guess what I really dont give a damn these days. I've tried. I think I'm going to let her cool her ass in Ukraine and get pictures of her grand daughter grow old for a year or so and then she might have a different attitude.

[groovlstk]

Greg, if you figure out how to get motivated, please share the trick as I'm facing a similar issue next time my wife and I travel to Moscow sometime in '09. I haven't seen my wife's family since Dec. '06 and sort of dread the next trip. For the most part I adore her family but all it takes is one PITA to ruin the feelgood. Like most guys here I admire how close the family unit is in Russia and Ukraine, and I'm sorry if I piss anyone off but in my opinion the rate of untreated psychological conditions and alcoholism are much higher than in the West. These are not easy things to deal with.

My wife knows she can visit any time she wishes so this is not a matter of putting a wedge between her and her family, but this is a very personal matter and right now I'm thinking Gator's advice is the sagest 

[vwrw]

Puppet-alike-people are pathetic!

Why staying home is not a option? What would be the resultant consequences if you stayed home? …if you did not go to the village, would you be sentenced  to death  because of  a dare to do what you  wish?…or maybe your wife would die because of  a 12 days solitude?…or maybe her love  to you would vanish because of she abhors people who can think for themselves?

If the above mentioned consequences are unlike to take place, then again, why staying home is not a option?