What does the future hold?

What do you consider 1300 + pages of written correspondence between Anna and I? 

Every word we ever spoke to one another is written in this 1300 page document. It includes 25 pages of poetry that Anna has compared to William Shakespeare.

While I will never compare my poetry to one of the greats, I believe that in the end this will become a book. It has a great possibility of even becoming a movie. Our story will be broadcast on BBC 4 Radio in London over the next month. What do you think is going to come of all this?

Please feel free to comment. Both Anna and I really enjoy reading your comments.

On the street where you live!

Today I sent some video links to Anna that were on youtube. They were actual videos that were taken on the street that she live on in Russia.

She confirmed them to be in her neighborhood. They revealed the school her children attend, a hardware store that she frequently shops at and an apartment building just down the street from where she lives. It was actually nice to actually see things that she sees every day.

It will not be long before I can walk hand in hand with her down the street and look at it and point out the places I have already seen on youtube. 

If you have not read our story yet Click here to read it.

We read to each other

Today Anna sent an audio recording of her and the children reading a book to me in Russian so that I can hear the words as I learn to speak Russian. I have to say that I love to hear her and the children read to me.
She also asked me to record a script that she sent so that she could also practice the words to help her study her English. Click here to listen to my audio recording to her.
Here is a link to the audio file she sent me so you can hear her and the children read to me. Due to the format it was recorded in you will either need Apple Quicktime to listen to it or you can download VLC Media player to listen to it.

If you have not read our story yet Click here to read it.

Our first picture together

Yesterday Anna sent me a picture that she took of me through Skype. It was completely unexpected but I thought it would be an interesting addition to the blog.

This is how Anna see's me Through Skype.

This is our very first photo together. You will see her up in the upper left hand corner of the image. Hopefully soon we will have our pictures taken together in person.

I will try to get a picture of her through Skype later today.

The End is in sight!

Today Anna made a second trip to the state office to submit the application for the official invitation that is required for my visit to Russia.

It is not an easy process by any means to do this. She had to ride a bus for over 100 miles each way to file the papers. She had to do it a second time today because she didn't have all the information she needed from me.

Needless to say, I was apologetic to say the least but at least now we have an end in sight.

Every story needs an ending and the truth is our story will not end until Anna and I are together, this is the first step towards our future together because when the time comes to file for the visa for her to come here it will require photos of us together. This is why I must take the trip.

The other good news is that our story is number one on Google, even before it is finished. "Hello Anna!" is on the first page of Google search results!

Artwork for Anna

As many of you are already aware, I am an amateur photographer and I have some Photo-Shop experience. In fact one day I hope to publish a calendar that contains many of my photo-shopped pictures of flowers.

Today I was able to take some nice pictures of some flowers at a friend's house. While Anna is asleep I was able to use my photo-shop skills to say "I love you" on a picture of a flower.

I hope you all enjoy it. If you are interested in viewing more of my photos you can always view my public flickr photostream at www.flickr.com. Feel Free to comment.

Hello World! Our story is going global!

Today I was interviewed by Alan Dein with BBC Radio in London and our story will be broadcast next week on his new show called "Don't Log off".

I spent an hour with him talking through Skype while he was on his laptop and I was on my I-phone. We had a great conversation and I hope you all will be able to hear it soon on th BBC podcast. Here is a link to Alan's Show Don't Log Off.

Anna also has a busy day today as she files papers with the government in Russia to get the official letter of invitation for me to apply for my Visa. She has to take a bus approximately 130 miles each way to drop off the paperwork for the application.

As I write this entry she is on her way.

Hello Anna! From London

Today I received a message from a radio journalist with the BBC Network out of London, England. He has been following this blog and is very interested in our story. He invited me for a phone interview to talk about the story about Anna and I.

The interview will either take place tomorrow or on Friday. We are still working out details, but I am sure it will be great. I must say that Anna and I are both excited for the invitation. It will be my very first interview on a radio program.

I can assure you that I will share the details of the interview with everyone after it has taken place. Perhaps you will even read about it here before it is put on the air next week in the United Kingdom.

Our story is being written

What if every word you spoke with each other was written in one big document. From the first hello to the latest I love you. Every word recorded in a single document.

This is exactly how it is for Anna and I. Every word we have ever spoken to each other is recorded in a single document that now exceeds 1200 pages in length and includes almost a half of a million words. Our book is being written with every conversation we have.
I expect that this document will be over 2000 pages long before we can even begin to have a conversation over the telephone.
But i must say it is nice to be able to read our previous conversations over again from time to time. I even find things in our conversation history that I misunderstood at the time but now I understand.

Memorial Day in Russia

Today was a particularly rough day for Anna and we were unable to talk very long.

May 2nd would mark 2 years from the day her husband passed away.

Anna and the children decided to visit his grave in the cemetery today because she had to work on May 2nd and was unable to visit on that day.

As if the grieving would not be enough, upon returning home her daughter began to run a fever and Anna herself felt ill. She thinks it may be her allergies acting up with the new blooms that come after the arrival of spring.

I hope they all feel much better tomorrow.