No russian parent would name a girl Sasha since that is the short form of Alexander (a boys name!). I guess it's probably an american thing to give girls a boy names since nobody else does that.
A note on the story Loosening Up: Yes, it has many many characters. A PDF is available upon request listing the characters and placing them in some kind of perspective for the reader. Just email me (see below). Well over 18 ... even 30, hell 40 is way back there, oh hell, o...