P.S. Honey can technically get divorced almost immediately after she gets the initial, temporary green card; to remain eligible for the permanent green card down the line, she just has to be able to convince Homeland Security when she applies for the permanent green card that the marriage was legtimate to begin with, even if they are divorced by then.
Of course, in the mail-order bride scenario, that could be somewhat of an uphill battle.
Eva Luna, Immigration Paralegal
It’s my understanding that Grandpa came over to the U.S.A. before the soviets took over, around 1906 if family history can be trusted. Hmmm… that’s right after the 1905 Revolution.
Well, Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire long before the Revolution anyway, so similar ethnic relations issues would apply.
Oh, he definitely doesn’t, but my friend’s ex husband certainly did.
As I mentioned before, I don’t spend as much time on the internet as I used to. I think there may have been another site that was more like a bbs, but this link has some very pertinant information.
I don’t know what is wrong with doc steens disclaimer page. Last night it linked to some stories from people that had gone through this. I’ll keep trying to find the subsequent links.
JCOM the picture of Bubba in the hat is absolutely priceless.
This woman, god, now that there is a face attached to her, it is just a crying shame (and suddenly losing its funniness) and I do not blame her a bit for doing what she is doing to better her life.
She probably ‘picked’ him in order to make it easier to walk away from when the time comes. Bubba will be crushed, but he can always perk himself up with a few bee stings.
Part of me wants to start mailing her my old clothes and stuff just to make her life easier to to save her from …well…Bubba.
What Eva Luna said. The Ukraine was merely part of the Russian Empire back in 1906.
Other than that, it’s a scary situation. In one way, I guess, I can’t help but feel sorry for honey, even though she’s basically using Bubba. I mean, what other choices does she have?
Like I said-I can’t imagine my life being so bad that my best choice would be a marriage with a complete stranger-especially one I’m not remotely attracted to who is kind of a loser. (Sorry, John, but the picture you’re painting of Bubba ain’t too rosy)
Am I the only one who feels worse for Bubba than for Honey? I mean, Honey’s got a rough situation right now and I don’t blame her at all for what she’s doing. But it’s like watching a train wreck, but you know one person is going to come out unscathed and one person is going to be horribly mangled.
Assuming this turns out the way most of us believe it will, I’m really worried about Bubba. Honey will have a probably not pleasant time with Bubba, but if she dumps him and he really thinks there’s something there, it may just tip him over the edge in terms of depression. He doesn’t seem like the most emotionally mature guy out there already.
I mean, Bubba seems like an honestly good guy, and I feel bad that he’s about to get hit by an anvil, whereas Honey will likely come out of this better than before.
Don’t hoot me down, now, I am serious.
If it is true that Russian men are horrible and abusive people, as has been indicated by people in this thread (who appear to have the credentials to be believed,) maybe Honey knows that marrying Bubba will get her out of a bad situation and into a good one. Bubba could actually be an attractive person, if he shed some poundage. Don’t get me wrong, if I actually KNEW the man, I might consider him attractive just as he IS…because he was a wonderful man and so forth. I don’t know him, so I think that, from a purely esthetic point of view, he needs to shed some pounds in order to be considered a hunk. I do think he has the potential to BE a hunk. From what I can see, he has the basic ingredients…Never EVER discount the affect that a good and gorgeous woman might have on a man’s life. Six months from the date of their marriage, you might very well be looking at a much hunkier Bubba. AND…she might actually LIKE him, you know? Which can lead to love.
As far as the slogging around in the water looking for gold, or shrimp, or whatever it was you think he was going to ask her to do…this is just my guess, but I’m willing to bet you that she has things well in hand within a month after her arrival.
She’ll have organized the books and figured out how to hire some help for this enterprise…OR, she will have convinced Bubba that it wasn’t worth doing…OR she will have come up with a better way to make some money.
I’ll bet you some Chukka Cherries, Michael my love.
“I’ll bet you some Chukka Cherries, Michael my love.”
Oh, mon Cheri: How is it that you alone can melt my heart and yet bring forth feelings of wild expectations with a mere few words and mention of Chukka Cherries? It’s one of life’s great mysteries!
No it isn’t…you just hope I’m wrong so you can get MORE Chukka Cherries!
SHAME upon you, vile man! You should instead be wishing for the BEST for Bubba and Honey…that they should live in bliss for the rest of their natural lives!
[sub]After all, you could get your OWN Chukka Cherries if you get addicted. They DO have a website, you know? 
)[/sub]
She’ll put him on a diet, you just mark my words. And six months after their marriage, women in your town will be wondering why they never saw the potential.
I know this because…I’m psychic. 
Once in the distant, misty past, a female companion of Bubba’s made Christmas themed table centerpieces. She made them from beeswax, pine cones, candles, washed honeycomb and other sundry things that were available around the honey processing shed. She split before Christmas, leaving hundreds of her creations behind.
Bubba sold them all to shops in malls near and far, and made quite a profit on this venture. However, he had neither the patience nor the artistic vision to make these items himself in subsequent years. Maybe Honey will have a bit of artsy-craftsy talent, and can do something similar.
I hope they both get what they wanted out of this odd situation, but there is certainly the potential for tragedy.
Thinkin’ about this, it came to me that they must both be really brave to proceed with this. But tonight I was reading a book by Harry Crews and there was a sentence in there: “It ain’t hard to do somethin’ when you’ve got no choice.” I believe that in both of their cases, the bravery is borne of desperation.
Guin: I think I’ve painted accurately. The picture of Bubba ain’t rosy. He’s hard to like. You may intend to be laughing with him, but you find yourself laughing at him instead. Opinionated, he only sees two ways to do something: His way and the wrong way.
Still, there’s a chance that Scotticher is correct, and the company of a good-hearted woman will brighten his life. Let’s all hope Honey is a good hearted woman!
Oh yeah Scotti: I know very well that there’s a website for the cherries. What fun would that be? I find it more satisfying to shmooze them from a Cool Doper Chick**[sup]TM**[/sup]
Yeah, it’s like, I want to sympathize, but he reminds me of all those hanger-oners who always end up driving one nuts.
Much easier than trying to take his “class.”
Tell Bubba something for his own good from a child of retirement community Florida, almost nobody that overweight lives to 60. It’s like smoking. You don’t see many old people smoking either.
You’re making me weep, hon. I thought you’d rather get them from ME!
For the rest of you, who wonder what the Sam Hill we are talking about, here is the website for these wonderful TO DIE FOR chocolate cherries. I have no financial stake in this company, except for the fact that I am finding it VERY hard not to open the tin I got for Michael for Christmas…thus having to get ANOTHER tin for HIM…before I get it in the mail. And I don’t even LIKE chocolate covered cherries, usually. SO…I trust it is okay for me to post the URL? If not, my apologies to the mods and feel free to delete this post.
PS…I got the name wrong, I ALWAYS do. It is CHUKAR cherries.
I went out with a hippy-dippy woman that was into herbs, and she continually fed me a tincture of thistle and saw palmetto.
I think there may be something in it.
Heh, heh. I guess giving them a copy of Birthday Girl would be a truly evil wedding present.
Seriously, I have all the best wishes for them. But I really think the odds are stacked against them having a happy, long marriage.
Has Bubba banged Honey yet? Or has he not divulged that information yet?