Author Topic: MarkInTx -- UPDATE (Read 30828 times)

MarkLeftTX · « **Reply #50 on:** February 23, 2009, 07:37:21 AM »

Hey Zebra... the naturalization process is the second tot he last step... then you have to get that passport :-)

MarkLeftTX · « **Reply #51 on:** April 14, 2009, 05:54:39 AM »

Speaking of Passports...

We just got Stas his. He needs it because he is joining the Army as soon as he graduates -- in fact, he is joining this year and is heading to Basic training this summer.

FWIW, I want to clear up something that we debated here.

When Viktoriya became a citizen, Stas did also. He wasn't at the ceremony. He didn't take the test. But since he was her son, and under 18 years of age, he got citizenship the day she did.

She gets an official document, but he does not. The Immigration Desk directed us to a form that we could fill out and get a document for Stas like Viktoriya had... but it costs $485. I remembered the person at the ceremony telling us that the citizenship was official for any minors, so I wondered if we really needed to do that.

So... we went to the post office and tried to get the passport WITHOUT buying the $485 fancy certificate. We had to give them ORIGINALS of Stas Birth certificate, his green card (useless now anyway) and Vicktoriya's document. But... it worked fine!

Now he has proof of citizenship, and it only cost $100 or so, and we needed the passport anyway, so it really costs nothing.

As I said... FWIW...

Faux Pas · « **Reply #52 on:** April 14, 2009, 12:33:08 PM »

Quote from: MarkLeftTX on April 14, 2009, 05:54:39 AM

Speaking of Passports...

We just got Stas his. He needs it because he is joining the Army as soon as he graduates -- in fact, he is joining this year and is heading to Basic training this summer.

FWIW, I want to clear up something that we debated here.

When Viktoriya became a citizen, Stas did also. He wasn't at the ceremony. He didn't take the test. But since he was her son, and under 18 years of age, he got citizenship the day she did.

She gets an official document, but he does not. The Immigration Desk directed us to a form that we could fill out and get a document for Stas like Viktoriya had... but it costs $485. I remembered the person at the ceremony telling us that the citizenship was official for any minors, so I wondered if we really needed to do that.

So... we went to the post office and tried to get the passport WITHOUT buying the $485 fancy certificate. We had to give them ORIGINALS of Stas Birth certificate, his green card (useless now anyway) and Vicktoriya's document. But... it worked fine!

Now he has proof of citizenship, and it only cost $100 or so, and we needed the passport anyway, so it really costs nothing.

As I said... FWIW...

Good information. I had no idea.

Cold Warrior · « **Reply #53 on:** April 29, 2009, 02:19:56 PM »

Quote from: MarkLeftTX on April 14, 2009, 05:54:39 AM

Speaking of Passports...

We just got Stas his. He needs it because he is joining the Army as soon as he graduates -- in fact, he is joining this year and is heading to Basic training this summer.

Help...a Ruskie in the US army.

Well we need some Russian speakers to listen in on Putin. Good Luck to Stas.

Phil dAmore · « **Reply #54 on:** April 30, 2009, 07:02:28 AM »

Hey Mark!

Good to hear from you again and also to hear that you and Vika are still going strong!!

Dave13 · « **Reply #55 on:** April 30, 2009, 04:56:24 PM »

Hi Mark, It's great about you and Viktoriya, it shows that these relationship do workout..

It's amazing how the years fly by, when your having fun!

.

Dave & Anna ( Sunny)

MarkLeftTX · « **Reply #56 on:** May 07, 2009, 05:37:40 PM »

Quote from: Cold Warrior on April 29, 2009, 02:19:56 PM

Help...a Ruskie in the US army. Well we need some Russian speakers to listen in on Putin. Good Luck to Stas.

Hehehe... how are you doing Cold Warrior... Still spreading "Weapons of Mass Seduction?"

Phil: Thanks. Yep, still going strong. I have no choice... Viktoriya tells me that I am stuck with her forever

Sunny! Nice to hear from you... Some relationships do, and some don't. I think those that do... work out because they are relationships between a man and a woman -- instead of an American and a Russian. Yes, there are cultural differences, but they neither make our marriage stronger, or more challenging, really. Maybe at first, but now it is all just part of "our culture."

(And, Vika... who is reading this over my shoulder, wants me to add that it is because Viktoriya is such a great person who "shuts eyes on many things" --- oh my!)

Dave13 · « **Reply #57 on:** May 07, 2009, 05:58:50 PM »

" shuts eyes on many things" Sounds just like my wife!

MarkLeftTX · « **Reply #58 on:** May 09, 2009, 08:30:23 AM »

Quote from: Dave13 on May 07, 2009, 05:58:50 PM

" shuts eyes on many things" Sounds just like my wife!

Secret of a happy marriage

Maxx2 · « **Reply #59 on:** May 09, 2009, 09:29:32 PM »

Quote from: MarkLeftTX on May 09, 2009, 08:30:23 AM

Secret of a happy marriage

Unless if it happens through out the sex, then it's a red flag.... I'm joking here

MarkLeftTX · « **Reply #60 on:** September 23, 2009, 09:31:13 AM »

Well, I don't guess there is any point on starting a new thread... so, here we are, a year later. Settled in now in our new home (in PA) and getting into a new routine.

One old routine seems to be our annual trip to a "Renaissance Faire -- yes they have those everywhere.

I liked the Maryland Faire better though, because they had better food. Still... smoked Turkey legs, beer... sitting with my HRB and listening to Irish FOlk music ain't a bad way to spend an afternoon, all told...

My Wench :-)

Us:

Stas (doing what he does best -- texting):

Emily gets in the act:

Hope all are doing well...

KenC · « **Reply #61 on:** September 23, 2009, 09:50:04 AM »

Mark,
Glad to hear all is well. (Nice "wench")
KenC

Shadow · « **Reply #62 on:** September 23, 2009, 10:02:30 AM »

MarkinPA

Great update.

groovlstk · « **Reply #63 on:** September 23, 2009, 10:21:16 AM »

Glad to hear all is well with you and your wife, Mark.

BTW, have you guys ever been to a Medieval Times restaurant? I took my wife there a year ago and she had a blast. It's slightly cheesy, as you'd expect, but the horse trainers are fantastic.

Ulysses · « **Reply #64 on:** September 23, 2009, 11:03:23 AM »

Although I'm not a long term member, it's been great to have a "visit" from all in this thread......more importantly for all of the GOOD news.....marriages working out, the level of communication, etc......helps me to continue on my journey and increase understanding......Thanks all

MarkLeftTX · « **Reply #65 on:** September 24, 2009, 12:53:32 PM »

Hey guys... thanks...

@Ken: hehehe... yeah. And she's proud of it. She even has a T-Shirt that says "Wench" on it... She seems to revel in it. It's like the video here: http://www.yourdailymedia.com/media/1163244079/Funny_Skirt_Pranks This video amazed me. When the woman gets pissed, he shows her a camera -- and everything is all right. I'm thinking... wow, I wonder where this was taken that the women were so easy going about that... and then I notice the Cyrillic writing, and think a ha! Makes sense. There it gets a laugh. Here, it would get a lawsuit...

@Shadow: thanks... I am not around much any more.. but I will try to stop in every now and then and say hi...

@groovlstk: yes, we've been there. It is something I can do maybe once every two years. It's a lot like the RenFaire... but a lot more expensive!

@Ulysses: You know, marriage to a Ukranian woman is not much different from marriage to any other woman... After 7 years, our marriage is a lot less about the differences between Russian and American culture as it is between the differences between a woman and a man! Viva la Difference!

Gator · « **Reply #66 on:** September 24, 2009, 01:07:37 PM »

Mark,

Is this place near York? If so, been there. Authentic jousting.

One cute wench wanted to show me her "mouse" for $5.

The actors chose from the crowd one of my ex-wife's friends to blow the horn to start the festivities. She was a porn star, named Kelly Nichols. She gladly blew their horn.

Actors can spot such personalities in the crowds.

MarkLeftTX · « **Reply #67 on:** September 24, 2009, 04:27:11 PM »

Hey Gator...

No, this is on the Western side of PA (I live in the Pittsburgh area... again. I am from here originally, and moved back recently. After the Super Bowl and Stanley Cup, it seemed like a good time for it :-) )

Funny thing about being picked out of crowds... Viktoriya hates it. When we were newly married, we went to Vegas for a sort of delayed honeymoon. We went to the Blue Man group and had great seats (since we were staying at Luxor.) There came a time to pick a volunteer, and they started coming out into the audience. I mean -- LITERALLY -- out into the audience. The guy was walking on the backs of the theater seats one row at a time... and he was heading right for Viktoriya. She grabbed my hand and started squeezing it, and tried to warn the guy off with a look. Finally, one row in front of her, he gave up, and turned to the right and picked another more willing woman.

I don't know what it is about Vegas, but I get picked all of the time. I've been on stage for Lance Burton's show and about three others. Viktoriya tells me she hates the thought of it, and just wants to watch the show in peace.

Anyway... a few years ago, at the RennFaire in Texas, Stas wants to see a knife throwing show. They ask for a volunteer who has both parents in the audience, and Stas raises his hand...thinking he will get to go on stage. No, he ends up getting Vika and me picked! We stand back to back while they throw knives at us.

The next year, we are at a different RennFaire, and Viktoriya decides it would be cool to create her own costume. So, she creates this sexy gypsy outfit that has a sort of "dance of 7 veils" going on below instead of a skirt. Really nice! But every time the wind blows, the scarves play peek a boo with her thong...

Naturally she gets picked again! There she is -- on stage, praying for no wind. (A prayer not fully answered... probably because every other guy in the crowd was praying for gusts...)

So, long story short... she dresses down when we go now. (As you can see form the last two pictures. She dressed down. Just skin tight black leather!

Vaughn · « **Reply #68 on:** September 24, 2009, 05:25:14 PM »

Mark,

That Texas Fair..... Montgomery County, north of Houston? I've attended that one
several times and it's one of the best I've seen.

Congratulations to both of you, on your move, the progress, and your marriage.

Vaughn

MarkLeftTX · « **Reply #69 on:** September 24, 2009, 09:02:46 PM »

Quote from: Vaughn on September 24, 2009, 05:25:14 PM

That Texas Fair..... Montgomery County, north of Houston? I've attended that one
several times and it's one of the best I've seen.

The Houston Faire is amazing, no doubt... but the one we attended most was Scarborough Faire near Dallas, since we lived in the DFW area... I had been to the Houston Faire, but I believe it was before Viktoriya came over...

Gator · « **Reply #70 on:** September 25, 2009, 05:07:52 AM »

Quote from: MarkLeftTX on September 24, 2009, 04:27:11 PM

No, he ends up getting Vika and me picked! We stand back to back while they throw knives at us..... But every time the wind blows, the scarves play peek a boo with her thong...

You are still having a lot of fun in your marriage. That is a wonderful sign that all is well with the family of Mark, Vicka and Stas.

Quote

I don't know what it is about Vegas, but I get picked all of the time.

Just my wallet gets "picked" at Vegas, one "hand" at a time.

Sailor291 · « **Reply #71 on:** September 26, 2009, 10:39:43 AM »

I dont know you, where you from in Texas? We live in DFW area, been married for over 10 years. She is from Ukraine.

MarkLeftTX · « **Reply #72 on:** September 26, 2009, 09:08:20 PM »

@Sailor291: I'm not in Texas any more. I lived in the DFW area when I was there, though. I was Texas almost 20 years in all... Our house was in Keller.

We moved to DC three years ago, and then recently moved again to Western PA.

My wife jokes that she would have moved around less if she had married an Army guy...

MarkLeftTX · « **Reply #73 on:** November 11, 2009, 08:26:48 AM »

Speaking of Army guys....

Stas, my step-son, has completed his transformation... he came here as a skinny little high voiced pip-squeak from Ukraine, and is now a fully mature young man wh ohas just taken his oath to defend his new country.

His mother and I are really proud of him (although a little nervous, at the same time...) We insisted to be there when he chose his vocation, and took his oath. The Army seemed pleased and were very accommodating, though we were told hardly any parents do that these days... I can't imagine that.

It was a really sobering ceremony, and we wouldn't have missed it for the world...

The pre-ceremony vigil... they stood in silence for a good twenty minutes, reflecting and waiting...

Viktoriya waits.. she teared up, but didn't cry... Bravery was on full display this day...

Ronnie · « **Reply #74 on:** November 30, 2009, 02:54:46 PM »

Mark and Vika,

My congratulations to you both and especially to Stas. He's made the best choice he could have made in deciding to wear the uniform to the United States Army. My stepson is preparing to join the Navy.

BTW someone needs to tell ColdWarrior that Ukraine is not Russia...oh, I guess I just did.

Congrats too on the becoming naturalized citizens.

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Author Topic: MarkInTx -- UPDATE (Read 30828 times)

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