MarkInTx -- UPDATE

[MarkLeftTX]

Hey thanks all!

As for his orders... that depends... His unit ships out next year. But we are told that if he is a sophomore and in an ROTC program (which he should be by then) his ship date will be deferred until after he is an officer...

So... not sure. But we hope to get him ranked up before he ships. Better to go as an officer! (He's an E-3 now).

[Maxx2]

It is so nice to see those photos Mark. Victoria is as beautiful as ever. I am happy for you. Oh and quite a son you have there.

[MarkLeftTX]

Ha... Stas transformation is about complete... He used his Army bonus to buy his first car:

[Turboguy]

Nice set of wheels.  I am sure he is proud of it.  That is great. 

[ML]

Ha... Stas transformation is about complete...

But not quite; he still went for the color black!!  :-)

[MarkLeftTX]

But not quite; he still went for the color black!!  :-)

Yeah... his mom tried to talk him into the red one... you should have seen the look on his face when she suggested it... very funny!

[dbneeley]

Yeah... his mom tried to talk him into the red one... you should have seen the look on his face when she suggested it... very funny!

Let him be stationed in Texas and see how much he likes the black car then!   

David

[ML]

Yeah... his mom tried to talk him into the red one... you should have seen the look on his face when she suggested it... very funny!

A few FSU women said to me that red cars are appropriate for women, but not for men.

One of my cars is red, and it didn't go over very well with them.

Anyone else have similar experience?

[MarkLeftTX]

A few FSU women said to me that red cars are appropriate for women, but not for men.
One of my cars is red, and it didn't go over very well with them.
Anyone else have similar experience?

Depends on the car, I would say...

[MarkLeftTX]

Some More Updates...
Pittsburgh Phipps Conservatory






Near The Waterfront:

Me singing at church:



Viktoriya's new passion... detailing cars. Yep. She still has no license, but she LOVES detailing cars. Here is our wrangler after she was done with it...



And me posing -- as if I did anything...



Stas and his date for the Military Ball this spring...





We got to the beach for one whole day this summer... but it was something, anyway..



Viktoriya taking a deep breath of the salt air -- something she misses



And me -- trying not to fall off of the pier...





That's it for now... I'll try to update from time to time...

[groovlstk]

Viktoriya's new passion... detailing cars. Yep. She still has no license, but she LOVES detailing cars.

Mark, I hope you can appreciate what a lucky man you are. I'll be thinking about this when our next insurance premium arrives

Great photos and I'm glad to see you guys are doing so well.

[Dave13]

Mark, great shots!

[Jazzyclassy]

Great pictures!

[MarkLeftTX]

Thanks all!


(And groovlstk, Of course I know how lucky I am... and should I forget, VIktoriya is right there to remind me!

Her favorite method lately is by making me watch "Russian Dolls" with her on Lifetime... has anyone seen this train wreck of a reality show???

She keeps pointing to the women and saying: "How would you like to be married to her instead?"

Brrrr... some of those women send chills down my spine!

[Turboguy]

Great photos Mark.  We were just at the Phipps Conservatory ourselves a few weeks ago.  My first time since I was a kid and my wifes first time ever. 
 
I loved the photos and happy you posted them.  You make a great couple.

[MarkLeftTX]

Turboguy... how is it that I didn't know you also lived in Pittsburgh? We ought to get together sometime... Are you on facebook? PM me and let's connect...


BTW, after 8 years of waiting, my wife is finally a Steelers fan... and She literally teared when Hines Ward won the Dancing with the Stars trophy... she is pretty happy here in the 'Burgh. Her favorite place that we've lived so far...

[Gator]

Her favorite method lately is by making me watch "Russian Dolls" with her on Lifetime... has anyone seen this train wreck of a reality show???

She keeps pointing to the women and saying: "How would you like to be married to her instead?"

Brrrr... some of those women send chills down my spine!

The subject has its own thread:
 
http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=13798.0

[Gator]

Mark,
 
When you were a more active participant, you always were one of the most upbeat people.   We can see that such an attitude has paid immense dividends. 

[MarkLeftTX]

Thanks Gator... I remain upbeat, which some days inspires Viktoriya, and some days frustrates her -- but usually baffles her, either way. American's constant optimism (and patriotism) is something she just vaguely understands... although she does smile for pictures now, there is still no way she would celebrate a birthday a day early (say if it falls on Monday and we wanted to celebrate over the weekend because more people could come...)


I also have to say that although Viktoriya and I have been together for 9 years now, and I am happily married, I'm not sure I would advise this journey for everyone. For instance, Stas -- being 19 -- is not far off from marrying age, and Vika and I have discussed this subject at length. Do we really want him to go back to Ukraine to get a wife? I'm not sure.


For one thing, things are so very different now. When Vika hears about the new young Ukranians' view on life, it almost seems like he would be better off staying in America to find a wife.


Also, so much of my courting and marriage to Viktoriya was just plain luck (or Providence, if you believe in God.) Which is OK for us, but I don't know that I would advise "And then you wait to get lucky" as a strategy for romance.


I met and spent time with two women from the FSU. Had things worked out slightly differently, I may have married Maria from St. Petersburg... and I think my life and marriage would have not been anywhere near as successful. But I trusted my instincts and ended things with Maria when they started to get a little weird for me. Too soon? Maybe, but I don't think so. The one thing I had going for me was that I had experienced marriage and divorce -- as well as dating maybe thirty different women in Texas. I was pretty experienced and savvy as far as daters go. I was pretty good at getting my emotions out of the picture when I made long term decisions...


I'm not sure a 21 year old kid is ready for it.


When I first met Viktoriya, I used to advise men who I met to go to the FSU for a wife... but I haven't done that in a very long time. It's not that I'm not happy with Viktoriya, it's just I have come to realize just how incredibly lucky I am.


I don't think that what I did is necessarily repeatable. Not that others can't find happiness overseas, its just that I think they'd have to work it out on their own.

[GQBlues]

....I also have to say that although Viktoriya and I have been together for 9 years now, and I am happily married, I'm not sure I would advise this journey for everyone. For instance, Stas -- being 19 -- is not far off from marrying age, and Vika and I have discussed this subject at length. Do we really want him to go back to Ukraine to get a wife? I'm not sure....

We almost share the same sentiment. I, too, am very happily married but where we differ is, I am most definitely sure I won't advise anyone following my trail marrying someone from FSU, or, anyone from a different culture for that matter.

[CanadaMan]

We almost share the same sentiment. I, too, am very happily married but where we differ is, I am most definitely sure I won't advise anyone following my trail marrying someone from FSU, or, anyone from a different culture for that matter.

A very interesting candid comment GQ.

Broadly speaking, when newbies arrive here at this site looking for a FSU woman, they fall into two categories.

Those who haven't got a clue about the whole process/have unrealistic expectations etc. etc., and those who appear to have their head on straight, know it's a long, hard, costly adventure with many pitfalls and potential rewards etc. etc..

The advice for both groups is usually spot on.

If men fall into the first group and don't seem like suitable candidates for the adventure, they are told about it in no uncertain terms. Over and over by the veterans.

BUT, if men fall into the second group, most of the veterans here offer their support in the adventure. Always mentioning the pros and cons, but in the end giving encouragement.

This is why I am surprised by what you said above GQ.

[MarkLeftTX]

We almost share the same sentiment. I, too, am very happily married but where we differ is, I am most definitely sure I won't advise anyone following my trail marrying someone from FSU, or, anyone from a different culture for that matter.

Well, the thing is that if anything were to happen to Viktoriya's and my marriage, it wouldn't be because of culture clash -- after almost a decade, we are pretty much through all of that. Now it is just the normal things that a man and woman fight over (and then make up over).


There are some cultural things, to be sure. The way Russian (and Ukranian) women treat their children for example, is foreign to me. If Stas gets up to go to school at 5:30 in the morning, she'll be up with him to make him breakfast. My mother stopped making me breakfast in the morning somewhere around sixth grade. In fact, my mother -- who worked as a nurse -- never even got up with us in the morning in my later school years. My older brother got up by alarm clock, and then got me up when he left for school...


I drive Viktoriya nuts sometimes when I take a nap during the day  -- especially because then I am up late at night. She thinks that nuts, but as a programmer, I often work best in the wee hours of the morning. Although, to be honest, the whole thing about being tired after a day of working on the computer is something that she has had to adjust to... to her, unless you were working in the fields, there is no excuse for being tired... Some of this is cultural.


But mainly we're just a man and a woman living together and making it work. Other than her oh-so-sexy accent, most days I'd hardly think about her native country.


I wouldn't discourage anyone from looking in Ukraine for a wife, but I would make sure they were going in with their eyes wide open, and not believing a bunch of agency drivel.

[GQBlues]

A very interesting candid comment GQ.....

Candid?!? LOL, hardly. I've been saying that all along. I tell guys (newbies) who start their intro with "..well, I can date anyone I want..." to just go and date/marry women at home, and if their fascination lie with the Slavic persuasion, there's a small nation of Slavic women already living here, LOL. So no, not candid.
 

Well, the thing is that if anything were to happen to Viktoriya's and my marriage, it wouldn't be because of culture clash -- after almost a decade, we are pretty much through all of that. Now it is just the normal things that a man and woman fight over (and then make up over).....

I've always respected and took you as a classy guy, Mark. Nothing has taken me away from that regard. So I won't detract from your thread by swaying it to this direction.
 
Tell Stas that is one 'hot' looking gal prom queen he's with. I hoped they had a great, memorable time (I was previously thinking 'prom'. Must be because when I see young couples all dressed up as Prince and Princess always reminds me of 'prom night'.) Was that still in Texas or Pitt?
 
I'm also elated to know, and see, your love and marriage for/with Viktoriya is still as strong as ever.

[GQBlues]

btw-
 
I didn't know you played guitar. Based on where you have the capo and what looks like a Travis finger-picking style, looks like you're playing Lindsay Buckingham's Landslide? But then, it's in a church, so...

[CanadaMan]

Candid?!? LOL, hardly. I've been saying that all along. I tell guys (newbies) who start their intro with "..well, I can date anyone I want..." to just go and date/marry women at home, and if their fascination lie with the Slavic persuasion, there's a small nation of Slavic women already living here, LOL. So no, not candid.

Candid or not, I still find it surprising. If the majority of the veterans here share your view, they might just as well pull the plug and shut down this site.