Haven't been around, as life keeps me way too busy. Sorry about that.
Marina and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary on Friday. It's been a long, strange trip (to paraphrase an old rock band). Our relationship gets better and better each year that passes.
Marina heads off for her annual trip home to Ukraine in a couple of weeks. She'll be over there for 3 months. I will come over a little after Christmas and head back with her on January 4th. The missus really isn't looking forward to this trip, but it keeps her parents happy. She's thinking about other places to go besides Ukraine, so I suspect a new vacation destination will finally be on the agenda in the next couple of years.
We are in the process of acquiring a house again. Found a nice place in a nice neighborhood at a price we could afford. Marina starts packing tomorrow, and hopes to have it all packed before she leaves for Ukraine. All I'll have to do then is move the stuff in. When the missus comes home, she'll unpack and set up the household the way she wants it.
Once Marina comes back, we'll spend a few months trying to start a family. We've been draggin our feet the last few years, but we'll be in a good position, come spring, to take on the next step to our constantly evolving married life. We've talked to some doctors and ran some tests, and the chances are good for us. The new house is large enough to grow into, but I have a feeling we'll be sweating over our expensive new furniture in a year or two... :-)
Gotta go. Work waits for no man who isn't independently wealthy.