Getting excited.

[HiTech]

28 Days and counting to Alyona's arrival on Oct 6 assuming the Interview goes well on Sept 22.

Yesterday she had food poisoning from fish. She is feeling better today, but today she broke a tooth. We always joke about Alyona's luck.

HiTech

[BC]

well before you nibble your fingernails to the bone:

Good Luck!

Not that you will need it for the interview.. but instead for the work that lies ahead.

[HiTech]

24 Days and counting. Is it getting close to the time to start doing all the house cleaning?

[Shadow]

24 Days and counting. Is it getting close to the time to start doing all the house cleaning?

Will you need 23 days for that ?  :hairraising:

[AnastassiaAsh]

Looks like you already bought a ticket for her before she got her visa, right? Risky. 

yeah, it's about time to start cleaning big things like garage, windows, and then usual things right before her arrival. 

[HiTech]

Was just thinking, beside flowers, any other interesting ideas for when I meet Alyona at the airport?

Dale

[docetae]

Was just thinking, beside flowers, any other interesting ideas for when I meet Alyona at the airport?

Dale

It will be more at home... Prepare everything for an hot bath with candles in bathroom. She will have to relax after flight...

[ScottinCrimea]

Understand that she will be very tired after her flight and don't put too many high expectations on your first day/night together.  Once she's here you have all the time in the world.  I remember I had to curb my desire to show her and share with her everything about my world all at once.  As others have said, her first priority will be getting settled into her new "nest" and making it her own.

As far as the airport, just be sure you are there on time and she can see you as soon as she walks through the door.  Pretend you're in Ukraine and fight the crowds for the best position.

[groovlstk]

From my experience I'd recommend doing everything possible to get her home and rested asap. Not only will she be exhausted from the long flight (and has probably never experienced such a long flight along w/the attendant jetlag), when she exits customs she'll be on sensory overload.

My wife's first night here was a near disaster, she was too exhausted, too emotional, and too scared for the lineup of romantic and fun things I'd planned. After a good night's rest she had fresh perspective.

[HiTech]

Gents: She will be arriving at 10:00 Pm, I have taken the same flight many times, so yes she will be tired.  The bath is a good Idea, and lucky I am only about 5 min drive from DFW so we will be home very quickly.

But I am looking for things to make her have fun at the airport. She has flown long flights before to Dominican Republic so this will not be her first long flight.

[HiTech]

Alyonas interview was approved today. 14 Days to arrival.

[KenC]

Alyonas interview was approved today. 14 Days to arrival.

Congradulations!  Best of luck to you both.
KenC

[Shadow]

Congratulations HiTech, I hope it will be a smooth arrival. Now it IS time to straighten out your house.

[groovlstk]

Congrats, HT.

As for what to bring to the airport, I can't imagine anything besides flowers, bottled water, and (if possible) hot tea.

[Diplomacy]

Congrats!  Please let me know her opinion of the Metromess if you live in it.  I am on the North Side myself.  Any insight would be greatly appreciated.  I was debating selling my house and buying a new one to get out of cleaning lol.

[ScottinCrimea]

Dale, after thinking about it, one idea I came up with is to have a small wrapped gift and a card expressing your feelings about having her here sitting on the passenger seat of your car.  the flowers at the airport are pretty much obligatory.  This little something extra will mean more because it isn't expected.

[HiTech]

5 Days and counting.

Alyonas father applied for a tourist visa today for our wedding, no luck for him.

I like that Idea Scott. I had been planning on buying a GPS for Alyona to navigate the DFW area. Might be good timing.

[Diplomacy]

Well the stars will be even brighter this week in the lone Star State.  One early welcome to the DFW area.  Anything I can do, just PM me.  You are probably way ahead of me at this point.  Is there any Russian bakery or stores you know of?  I was going to start looking, I only know one AM and RW in the metroplex and a few dozen adopted children here. 

One poor boy, was hording food all over the house.  That was quite the deprogramming job to be part of.  He would eat anything put in front of him and then hide anything left out in case there was no food later.  Poor boy had a rough first few years on this earth, but is with a great family now.  The effects of how the orphans are treated worse than dogs there.

Of course there are some bad smells from time to time, when they discover something he hid a few weeks ago.  I just am glad it is over for him, and a new start to all of you.

[HiTech]

Diplomacy: I have not found any Russian food markets in the area. Also JACK lives in Louisville and has a BBQ for couples every spring. 

Dale

[Diplomacy]

Cool, well we are looking at a spring time frame.  I have been known to throw a dinner party or two myself.  Sounds like a good time.  Thanks for letting me know, thank god for the internet.  We should be able to order some native stuff for them.  I have a bread maker and working on a meat grinder.  Hard to find shredded pork and such.

I can catch and smoke fish,  so let me know if you need any.  The smoked and salted "bacon"  scares me.  There are a few Ukrainians around the Metromess but it is a 4 degree of separation deal for me.   

I wonder how 100 F is going to go over with them.  I warned my fiancee it is over 40c a lot here, but real mild winter.  Oops not here, I am in Raleigh right now.

Udachi! 

[kievstar]

There is a ton of Russians things in Dallas including numerous restaurants, markets, pharmacies, etc.

What part of Dallas do you live in?  I used to live in North Dallas near Plano. 

Do a google search and you will find a lot.  Than when you visit one place ask about another of the people working there.  Many of the Russian markets are not listed on the internet. 

[Diplomacy]

Thanks Kievstar:

Too bad you are not still in Plano, I live in the town north of Frisco between Denton and McKinney.  It is called Aubrey, but things have changed a lot in the last few years.  I do not spend much time in Dallas, most of my free time is on Lake Texoma.  This way it is only an 45 minute trip from my house.

It is only a short 45 minute drive now with the new tollway going all the way from 380 to Dallas.  So I will do as you said, and then get to practice my Russian at the same time.  I have gone from a Parrot to I think now a 2 yo in my Russian skills.  busted out a whole sentence which was indeed understood a couple days ago.  Phew!  It is a tough language for me.

Travel safe kievstar!

[kievstar]

I lived there back in 1980's for only 2 years but visit about every 3 years still.  I played football at Plano and we won the highschool version of the national title when I was there.  So go back often for parties that alumni are always throwing for us.  They love there football there.

Texoma was great fishing 20 years ago.  Used to go there often.  Girls were very pretty in Plano back than.  Was a problem when I moved back to Detroit. 

Denton was famous for the Von Erich wrestiling family when I was there. 

[HiTech]

Tomorrow is the big day. Alyona was planning on taking her cat with her, but it is now sick and can not travel. This puts a little sadness into her departing Kharkov today.

Plans are flowers at the airport along with my friend Sudz taking pictures.
Gps along with keys to House and my heart on seat in car.

Annanas (pineapple) and Mellon, her favorites stocked in the refrigerator.

Bubble bath and candles ready for her to relax.

[ScottinCrimea]

But is the house spotless and all your clothes wrinkle free?   

It's been a long and interesting road to get you to this point.  Thank God you ignored all of the naysayers and used your abundance of common sense.

Congratulations!