I always knew you were a great negotiator! lol Glad to hear you're able to get around on the metro easier. I always wanted to ride one and once in Chicago I tried to ride the EL but the people I was with were too scared so we ended up in a cab - and that scared the heck out of me as it was. But maybe the next chance I have I will for sure. Take Care.
I can see why you've fallen in love with this church, it is absolutely gorgeous! Sorry I won't be in Georgia when you return, would love to see you. Maybe next time as I'm planning a trip probably sometime through the holidays. Take care.
Looks like fun to me Hey man the summer games looked like fun. and how did you win the beer? by being the most over dressed? or by gainning the most kilo's in a day? lol well at less the Audit is over now you know what they like to look for so you will be ready for the next go around. and if I know you I bet the whole plant is on Vince alert. and thats a good thing this time go get em. just 4 more weeks and you will get to come home... and relax. take care Mark
Good Questions This is their first audit in several years so I really do not know what we did in the past, but I am guessing paid off the auditor. YUM is the auditing firm for Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell and we produce product for KFC.
As we say, "It is Russia!"
Just wondering...since I'm not in the chicken business So what happened in the past when an audit occurred? Is YUM a company you produce for? And the company does this horrible yet they continue to purchase from you? Just trying to understand the business.
Nail It was just regular cotton type string. I am not sure how to describe it, but what you could find at the hardware that you may use to "chaulk" a line. The nail was about 2" - 3" nail with a head on it big enough to hold the string to it. You could use bigger mouth jars but to be honest, it will be more fun to watch (and laugh) using the beer/cola bottle. An inside tip from someone "experienced at it...lol", a short string means you have to really squat down low, making it a lot harder.
Shoes I do not think the men look at shoes as much, but the men still worry about it because the women look at, and comment, on your shoes. Also, if you are ever at an international airport or walking around an international area and you see what I will call "elf" looking shoes, that person is Russian. I am not joking. I want a pair just to try them, but the toe on most of their shoes can be anywhere from an inch to three or more inches longer than their toes. It is a real narrow tip that you could never get your toes past, but some of them, it is rare, but some are so long they do curle up and over and look like elf shoes.
I am not sure how long they have been doing the Olympics, but I know at least four years. It was a lot of fun!
nail on string well I think I will have to try the nail on string game with the donkey and mule people at our party. Was it a big spike nail and does any size string work? Was it a beer bottle neck to put it in or bigger mouth to jar. You know we are older people and maybe need a bigger aim. Ha
Thanks for all the laughs today.
It looks like everyone had a great time. How many years have they been doing this? At least you had alcohol to warm you, that's one thing I don't think WF would allow - lol. Glad you won something though. I'd never fit in over there, I'm not a shoe fanatic as I'm sure you know but that's an interesting thing. How are the men about their shoes?
No English TV There are no English speaking channels on my cable. I think I could pay extra for the BBC because I know some people have it, but I use the TV mostly for movies and a little music on their version of MTV, but mostly radio here. I did buy a cd for only $3 so I am sure it is pirated.
It sounds like so much hard work just to do normal things like cooking. I'm sure you'll find another translator that will do much better for you soon. I can't imagine going through the hardships you face daily. What are the TV programs like there, can you get any that speak English?
The Human Ecologist We did this expirment in college on pie crusts. The crust using only butter will not be as flakey as using shortening. In order to get the best crust you MUST have butter COLD and water COLD. Work fast, since the melting temperature is so much lower than with shortening. All those times mom said don't play with the dough and work fast, this is when you need to really listen to that advise. Also, since butter is only like 85% fat and rest water, you will probably need a little less water than using shortening. It will give the crust better flavor! I usually use half butter and half shortening.
recipe Zucchini Jack Casserole -(not Jack Daniels, sorry)
1 lb. zucchini, about 4 small
2 eggs
1/4 c milk
1/2 t salt
1 t baking powder
1 1/2 T flour
1/8 c chopped parsley
1/2 clove garlic, minced
1/2 small finely chopped onion
3 oz can diced California green chili
1/2 lb. Jack cheese shredded (2c)
1/2 c seasoned croutons
1 1/2 T melted margarine
Slice zucchini crosswise 1/4” thick, should have about 3 1/2 c. In large bowl beat together eggs, milk, salt, baking powder and flour until smooth. Stir in parsley, garlic, onion, chilies, cheese and zucchini. Spoon into greased 9 x 9” pan. Toss croutons with melted butter and put on top. Bake uncovered at 350° 30-40 minutes or until set and tender. Let stand 10 minutes.
She Has One Week I asked her to think long and hard about it tonight and get back with me tomorrow as to if this is the right place/position for her. My boss told me to offer her temporary work as we need it, but we are not going to put up with the poor performance; it is taking way too much energy to coach and train her. If she says she can do the job, she will have one week to show me she is capable. We also found out today from HR she was terminated from her last job because she was not "mentally stable" so we are not sure what exactly that means, but seeing some of her actions, I could understand.
Weird people - chicken related CHESHIRE, Ore. - An Oregon woman was arraigned Tuesday, accused of shooting her husband after he shot her pet chicken.
The Eugene Register-Guard reported that Mary Kay Gray, 58, was jailed Monday on felony assault charges.
Her husband, Stanley Gray, is recovering from a gunshot wound to the shoulder. The chicken died at the scene.
Lane County sheriff's Sgt. Clint Riley said the couple had been working around their yard and drinking on Labor Day. They got into an argument after Stanley Gray shot the chicken with a .44-caliber handgun.
Police don't know if the shooting was intentional or an accident. "It depends on who you ask," Riley said.
But sheriff's deputies said Gray shot her husband with a .22-caliber rifle in an apparent act of retaliation.
"It looked like `CSI,'" said neighbor Cheyenne Dickenson, who arrived home Monday night to find police cars parked at the end of the driveway she shares with the Grays the Register-Guard reported. "There were dead chickens lying all over the place."
You're usually more intuitive than this but I'm sure that you have a million and one issues going on at the same time along with being in a foreign place and dealing with a foreign language so I'll let you get by this time, lol. If she's not working out though don't let it jeopardize your hard work. I'm sure you'll know soon enough though. Take care.
No, Dad Wouldn't Like It I can assure you Dad would not like this type market. You can not talk so it is a lot of pointing and writing down numbers, while you get run over by the vendor carts if you are lucky enough not to get run over by one of the cargo carts.
I am being told there are gifts there as well, but I never found them. I will go shopping on Arbat Street and pay some higher prices, but I can get everything I want for people there. I also hope your sweat shirt lasts longer than my tee shirt did. After the first wash, it faded and now on the second one, you can not even read the words "Obninsk" on the front.
loved info You really got to know Moscow in a real way. Doesn't sound like a place your dad would like to go. The way he likes shopping Ha think I could like if I could keep up with all.
The pictures are beautiful. We in Mendon are all learning about Russia, when I get one of these blogs I go tell about it. People are even asking if I have heard any info from you.
take care
Cold Looking Place The grey skies and clouds only add to what is a very "cold" and solitude country (or least what I have seen so far). Even on the sunny days, which believe it or not, we had one today, it still looks cold and jurie (sp?). The people do not like to talk about their past, but most still only know it and still live by it. You can tell newer buildings in that they have a little design and color to them, but still very militaristic looking.
I don't know how you do it, I would've been absolutely petrified if I had gotten lost in a foreign country. As interesting as the buildings there look to be they still have an ominous look to them. It may be the grey skies and clouds above them but the gloom and doom effect is definitely there from this side of the pictures. I'm glad you found the Embassy comforting, at least you have somewhere to go should you ever feel you need it, even though I'm sure you won't. It's a good thing to make friends with other American Buckeye fans there though, at least you have someone to root your team on with and speak English with. Take care and keep writing, nothing is boring! You are missed.
Updating the Blog Today There will be a long blog coming later today from this weekend. Sorry about the trouble when you tried redialing...lol You know you may be trading confidential information with the Russians...lol
Nice haircut! Sorry I missed your call. Tried to redial and I thought the Feds were going to come out of the woodwork--explain later. You alive?? no word since the 3rd?
we are here to listen Vince Vince you go ahead and vent all you need to man we all know you and if you dont vent you might cause a new cold war over their if you dont vent every now and then. I know you wont but let them push you aside get in their and get their attention. Thanks Jetta I know how to gage distance by a country mile well a US country mile LOL Torque is doing great and yes he slips under the covers every now and then. but he is doing great he still leaves his toys all over the house. I have found the small one in my shoe the other day.LOL so he is doing ok with toys for now.
I changed my portrait from my lastest picture from Tokyo where I saw ZED by Cirque du Soleil and even go to meet ZED.
Summer has pasted and now it is winter here in cold dark (short days with little sunshine) Russia. For those that did not hear, I signed on for another year so I will be living here in Obninsk until January 2009.
It is finally summer here in Russian so thought I would change the picture. Enjoy the stories, adventures, blunders, etc. as I live and work in Russia.
I do not want to loose any of my emails and stories, so I am just going to add to this existing one. ... full info
Gale
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I always knew you were a great negotiator! lol Glad to hear you're able to get around on the metro easier. I always wanted to ride one and once in Chicago I tried to ride the EL but the people I was with were too scared so we ended up in a cab - and that scared the heck out of me as it was. But maybe the next chance I have I will for sure. Take Care.