irish44

If any one can steer me towards that thread with Irish's website, I would like to check it out (if he left it up).

Hey Brad.. I took it down.

Hi all. It's been a few weeks and I thought I would check in. I read the thread from Bruc and although it sucks, I see I am not alone here.

I do sit on my deck in the morning and sometimes think what a shame.. but mostly I think what a stupid girl.. could have been a good life.

One of my Russian friends had talked to my ex-fiancee on the phone a couple of months back and NOW she tells me that she thought something wasn't right! Thanks for telling me

I do agree that it worked out for the best.. and I'm back on the bicycle!

Since this happened, my Russian/Ukranian friends have set me up on a couple of dates with their friends. I appreciate their efforts very much and although blind dates don't bother me, the gals (my friends) are kinda pushy.. (What do you think?), (Do you like her?), (She is very lonely.), etc.

It looks as if I am going to go to Kiev/Kherson in a couple of months.. hopefully more patient and wise. I am using an Agency that is on everyones trustworthy list and it has been a good experience.

Good to be back and who knows, maybe I'll have to go through this entire process again!

Joe

I don't think this was a scam. What probably happened is that she got tired of waiting, met someone else and decided to stay. You got off too light if it was a scam. Commodity prices in Russia are the same as they are in the US (and I'm not talking about just Moscow or StP) so $600 buys you almost nothing.

As for political correctness police...so you don't like that someone said what they thought? So Satelite is not a sensitive person, there's no laws against that. Do you people honestly believe random strangers / coworkers / someone you barely know care about your day or what's up? At least his was an honest, although insensitive, remark. Don't get all bent out of shape.

A couple of things. First of all Sat's comments were just Sat being Sat, and did not bother me as much as you think..Yes it was inappropriate and foul to me, but it's part of being on the internet.

Secondly, when I asked her for the money back she said no as she considered it a "Birthday Present" (which was two months ago and I had already sent her a present.) She wanted $3,500 to go to Moscow for the first interview date and I said no. As has been discussed, this is an absolutely outrageous amount and shocked the hell out of me. The red flags went up big time as you can imagine so I took control of the bookings myself.

She said that the rescheduling was fine with her as she was very nervous. At the end when she blew me off she said I was "mean" for not giving her all of that money!

So with that information, let's have a vote. Is she:

1) Misunderstood?

2) Slightly High Maintenance?

3) Extremely High Maintenance?

4) Scammer?

Thank you all again for you notes and support. Believe me that I am very happy that it did not go farther for whatever reason.

As someone said on this thread.. S*it happens.

I do feel bad about her 13yo daughter Alina, who would sit on her suitcase and ask "When are we going?".

Cheers.

Irish...did you see it coming? Any lessons you care to share with us?

I can see the K-1 visa route has its risks. While it's the quickest and simplest visa to get, I can see it may, at times, result in last minute "cold feet" or unplanned "scams of opportunity."

I won't add more "I'm sorries" but let me commend you for your courage and heart to get out there and take some chances and risks. Take a few months to let the wounds heal...then go out and find the lady that's waiting, this very minute, for you to appear in her life.

Hey Visa. I would be glad to share. It will be in a few days though as I'm a little upset and want to think about it a bit more.

Thank you and everyone else for the kind and encouraging comments!

Irish44,

Sorry to hear for the scam and for your time being wasted.

From the first time I saw your profile with Tanya's picture in here something was telling me that she's not genuine. I could tell how she was not turned towards you on picture and etc. Then I read that you guys changed the interview date and once again it was another reason for me to believe that something is fishy. ( i am not saying that all the people that change their interview date are scammers but something particularly about her was giving me the negative vibe) Something about her was telling me that she's a scam. Reading your posts and looking at the pictures and etc I had a feeling that she wasn't serious and now reading this post of yours. Once again, I feel bad and sorry for you so please take care of yourself and be more careful next time. And it's a shame that those scammer make lots of Russian women look like a scam when someone could be real and honest.

Joe, do you remember your April 1st Joke in this forum?

Well you could say it was a self-fulfilling prophesy.. but whether I did it or not the result would be the same.

#######?

Ok.. I just talked to the woman who was our translator, who just talked to my ex-fiancee. The fact is that this was a scam. She took the $600.00 I sent her for the Moscow tickets and, no surprise, won't return it. She said that it was a birthday present!

Well.. better $600 now (+ all the money I already spent), than the $2,000 to get her and her daughter here.. then it would have gotten worse.

My feelings are that of shame. I consider myself a fairly intelligent person but got caught in it while I was emotionally vulnerable. Live and learn as they say.

On the other hand, I do feel a sense of relief both emotionally and financially. I am envious of you all and how well it has worked out, but also happy for you.

Take care and thanks for the notes.

Joe

Oh well.. it looks like my marriage isn't going to happen unfortunately.

She told me today that she does not want to come to America, and to not call.

I suppose after 9 months of this process I am a bit worn out.

I don't really know the reason; I don't make enough, she met someone else, or some other reason.

Good luck to the rest of you and I'll check in with you from time to time. And thanks to all of those folks who have been so helpful: Bobalouie, Kazan, Slim, and others. Maybe this is for the best.. who knows?

Congratulations Jeffrey! Man.. they seem to make it a grind till the end!!!

Here is my contribution. This is an authentic one. Also, a little background of the dish's origin.. enjoy!

The name of this dish comes from Russian Count Grigory Stroganove (1770-1857) who was one of the richest noblemen and held the highest diplomatic posts. A great gourmet, he loved delicious dishes and always had the best cooks. One of them invented an original dish from scrap meat and it was to the Count's taste. The dish took the name Stroganoff, but, as to the cook, his name was unfairly forgotten ;-(

But some people told ("bitter tongues") that the dish was made especially for the Count when he, being old, lost all his teeth and couldn't chew a simple beef steak!

2.2 lbs. beef - boneless.

4 tb flour.

4 tb tomato paste.

150 g sour cream.

2 c broth.

1 tb flour pounded with butter.

1 ea onion.

salt to taste.

pepper.

Slice beef across grains into very thin strips and toss the strips a little.

Combine flour and salt and pepper to taste.

Add beef strips and combine to coat evenly.

Stew chopped onion in the pan until tender, and then add the beef to it.

Fry on high heat until the meat is lightly browned.

Sauce:

Fry 1 tb flour in butter for few minutes;

Add sour cream, tomato paste, and salt.

Dissolve it in broth and cook for a while.

Pour the sauce over the beef and stew on low heat for 15-20 minutes.

Don't bring the sauce to a boil; otherwise the meat will be resistant to bite.

Beef Stroganoff is usually served with fried potatoes.

Alla asked me the same thing when I rescheduled hers. I would think, since the Embassy knows you rescheduled, they would send a new invitation if it were required. I told Alla, to state her case number and show them a copy of the e-mail they sent me showing the new interview date.

Thanks Jeffrey. It's a bummer.. they put me on the bottom of the list. I emailed them yesterday and asked if there is a possibility of something earlier. I know they get lots of re-schedules, so who knows.. maybe they can accomodate but I am not too hopeful.

Well.. we had to reschedule our interview due to various reasons. Still, it will work out in the end. It gives me more time to paint, clean, etc.

My question is, does Tanya need another invitation or is the one she has sufficient?

Thanks all!

Congratulations!!!

Good luck to all the K-1 folks soon to be done the dreaded Moscow interview during May!

Thank you.. yes we are both getting nervous! Only two weeks left. Bobalouie and his gal Lena, are visiting my Tanya today. I hope this helps calm us down

Men Are Just Happier People-- What do you expect from such simple creatures? Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can be President. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. Car mechanics tell you the truth. The world is your urinal. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100. People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time.

Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.

Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. You almost never have strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. Everything on your face stays its original color. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. You only have to shave your face and neck.

You can play with toys all your life. One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.

You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier.

Не получилось

Don't trust automatic online translators!

Is it me...or is this the dumbest thread we've had in awhile? Maybe someone could translate "Old McDonald had a farm" in Russian.

We all must be getting VERY bored and restless waiting for interviews.

Yes.. I'm bored.. What the hell.. it's Sunday. By the way, since you asked... "Старое McDonald имело ферму"

Thanks Irish!

I agree eekee. By the way,does anyone here want to practice thier translation skills? I have written our wedding vows, but her English isn't up to it as yet. Right now I just want to see if she is ok with the content.. Thanks!

Hey folks. I know this is really strange but Star Wars is on TV now, and it features Jabba The Hutt as many of you know.

I also had recently downloaded many Russian Posters of the Revolutionary days in Russia. The picture below is from 1921 and the best I can translate it is, "Ruler peace- capital the gold idol". But of course, the strange thing is the idol itself. Is it my imagination or did George Lucas and his gang rip off the form of Jabba the Hutt from this picture?

Maybe seanconnery is right in another post today, when he asked if we are all getting bored waiting for our K1's to go through!!

Is it me...or is this the dumbest thread we've had in awhile? Maybe someone could translate "Old McDonald had a farm" in Russian.

We all must be getting VERY bored and restless waiting for interviews.

Yes.. I'm bored.. What the hell.. it's Sunday. By the way, since you asked... "Старое McDonald имело ферму"

LOL!

Well so far my pull-string toy only has 3 animals. And since all the eligibles are party-poopers:

Pig: хрю! хрю!

Frog: ква! ква!

Duck: крак! крак!

Anyone know any more?

Here's a few for ya.

Dog: ав-ав

Sheep: бе-бе

Goose: га-га-га

Bee or Fly: ж-ж-ж

Horse: и-го-го

Cat: мяу

May 12 here (30 days today). Hey, I'm in 2nd place so far!! Do I win a bun? B)

I know people in Russia who bought iphones for $1200+. Everyone told me I should have brought some to sell last time I went.

Yes, I sent the 840$ "high roller" basket.

Have you tried clicking on the banner at the top of the page?

Great! I ordered a couple of the $880.00 I-Phones myself.

Not a bad idea eekee! I tell you what I would bring.. pens! I couldn't believe how difficult it was to find a pen and some good writing paper.

I went to 5 stores till I found some and it was the full experience.. long lines, different lines for ordering and paying. I actually kind of enjoyed it only because I knew it wasn't a permanent thing, being the spoiled American that I am. I was just surprised, what with a thousand pens in my house, my car, at work..

Yes, I sent the 840$ "high roller" basket.

Have you tried clicking on the banner at the top of the page?

Great! I ordered a couple of the $880.00 I-Phones myself.

I agree that although annoying, I'll put up with it due to the value of the advice I have received here. I'm still using IE on the site as at least, I have not been seeing any pop-ups. If that starts, I'll start using Firefox. I didn't even notice the banners, Google or otherwise, until all this started yesterday. Of course I sure did notice the spamming posts and reported those immediately. I find that kind of thing much more offensive. Pretending to be in the Visa process and "feeling our pain.. here's a discount for VJ users" pissed me off.

Let's hope that our email addresses aren't harvested and we start getting spam email! That's why I use Yahoo mail for most things and only give my real email to friends and family.

I reported him as well. Posts are gone, but I think that the whole threads are gone as well? Does the Mod have the ability to delete individual posts from a specific user?

Прекрасно!

Because it's my mission in life to drag every thread off-topic, I have to ask: Is this a synonym for отлично? Seems like I've run across it before, but my dictionary doesn't have it.

Whether it is really correct or no.. my dictionary defines Прекрасно! as "It is Wonderful", and отлично as "It is Excellent".

I'm very happy for you both!!!

You probably won't be sleeping much tonight!