Ain't It Purdy !!

I have just recived a new toy via the Big Brown Truck. Now if I only figure out how to use it I would be in good shape. Dell had a sale last week that I could not pass up. I will invite Scott in later and let him deal with it. I figured that if our pals Limey, Pea and Jenny got a new one I could too. Ya'll have a good day now, ye hear..

My Family and Pal's......

These are some of the photos that were made of the good times and good people. I have many more some I will post later. For some reason I can't get site to load some of the photos and it has me pissed off. Later Ya'll
Photo # 1. Kate and Andre. These are two beautiful people.They are both educated to the max with PHD's on the wall. For fun they ride bikes 75 to 100 miles a weekend.
Photo # 2. My pal & Maryna's uncle. He is a farmer and a builder. He makes things with his hands. I mean he makes real good things. I am proud to call him family.
Photo # 3. Family and friends. They don't come any better. When god made them he broke the mold. I am a very lucky man and prayers are said for them everyday.
Photo # 4. Me and my brother Sergey. This is one of the best bars that I have ever been in. Great food and great drinks. At this time we were holding each other up after many vodka shots and a few beers. Damn what a life.
More to come.........

More Of The Trip.......

When we arrived at Norek and Natasha's house a real meal and a very upset and worried Natasha was waiting. After 10 hours of driving and being lost it was a real pleasure to see our town and family. Not 10 minutes after we got in the house Maryna called and wanted to know why I was late and had everyone worried. I told her about the wait at the border, the drunk customs officer and the lost bag. What ? Who bag is lost? The bag that had all of the gifts and most of my clothes in it.. Oh no honey, how you did loose it ? I not loose it , the airline did. Not good , not good at all. Have any of you ever had to explain how and why a bag was lost and the paper work you had to do to trace it back to where you were. No problem sweet, when the bag gets to Budapest they will bring it to me. It did arrive 2 days later with all but two things in it.The bag was torn and beat up, however it did arrive, tape and all.
Babushka is fine and looking great. For a woman who can't speak or hear and a man that can't speak the language we had no problems at all. As a matter of fact the only problem that I had was trying to get some dental work done. Not enough time I was told, not by 1 dentist but by 2. One said he could do it however it would cost double or triple because of the time it took to make the bridge. I have had a lot of work done in Ukraine and it is great. This time was not to be.
These people love to eat and drink. I mean big meals and big drinking. One night I had to set and drink through 18 toast. Now one might think no problem, just take a sip at each toast. Nope !! Not a chance. You drink a shot of vodka.This vodka is made by the vodka gods of the world. This is not the nasty assed stuff you buy in the states and other places in a pretty bottle. Smooth as silk and goes down real easy. Not to drink a shot is very bad taste and just not done. On shot number 12 I started to get light headed and wanted to set down. Shot number 15 , I was getting 6 eyed drunk. I do remember the last toast, I sat down and just kind of slobbered something to the person next to me who happened to be a factory owner that makes leg garments for export all over the world. I do have 3 new pair of pants that look great . They were a present from our cousin that is a big boss in the UK owned factory in Uzhgorod. The factory owner is now one of my new best friends and I have been invited to the UK to see how a real country works and people of means live. I told him about our pal Limey and he said come on over and we would find him and have a few drinks. All and all a very good night from what I remember. I do have photos and will share with all my pals. You can see for yourself some of the party..
More to come, this was a very long trip...
The photos will not load. I will post later..

Oh What A Trip...

I am half way recovered . This was the longest period of time I have been away from Maryna and the kids in a long time. It was a very long and I will not go alone again if I can help it.
The trip over was fine until I hit Budapest. One bag was lost and it had to be the bag with the gifts and most of my clothes in it. I was sure I would never see it again. The flight arrived on time , my driver and pal were waiting on me and I was stuck in the baggage claim filling out paper work . I was given a token lost baggage payment and a promise that my bag if found would be brought to my flat. I am very lucky in that I have always had my bags arrive and no problems with losing them. I guess it just goes to show you that it can and will happen when you least need it to.
I had no idea that it would take 10 hours of crazy driving and a even crazier customs border Officer to make it home to Uzhgorod. The trip from the airport started with a very long trip through down town Budapest. This is a new way I thought. Nope my pal was lost. For the past few years when we leave the airport we have always turned left. Always, every time left turn and away we go to our favorite pub to have a real meal and a few drinks . Not this time. We went straight and then right. The fun had just started. I can't describe what happened in the next few hours because I was as lost as a person can be and still be on earth. Well guess what ? So was Norek. When we had crossed the river for the third time, I had thoughts of walking and beating him home. It is a strange feeling when you know the area better that your driver does. After he stopped in the middle of the road for the 8th time to ask anyone that would speak to him directions, I ask him if I could drive. No! I drive!! Ya'll ever had to pee so bad that it hurt ? This is a bad feeling that gets worse as time passes. My pal speaks , Russian, Ukrainian, Slovik and no English, well he can say" big problem" and did many times during the trip. When he stopped for the 9th time I just got out and peed on the side of the road.

To make a long trip short , after a 10 hour drive 1 crazy drunk customs officer we arrived home to a very worried Natasha and a calling every hour Maryna

More of this trip later. The fun just gets better and better.

I Am Back.

And very tired. All is fine in Ukraina and everyone is ok. Mammy in-law is fine and doing very well. Cousins are ok and we all had a grand time. I can't get rested from the trip back. I will never understand why it takes 7 hours to get there and 9 hours to get back. Hell this time we made it in under 7 hours. I guess time flys when you are having fun. I will have to write more later. I have work to do and my ass is beat. Later Ya'll