Here's one of mine: I never say, "I am traveling to the Florida.", or "My friend lives in the Pennsylvania."
Why then do most news commentators speak of the Ukraine? They don't refer to the Russia.
It's not "the Ukraine", it's "Ukraine".
I have visited Ukraine. I have never been able to find the Ukraine.
Now that I have read what I have written, I conclude it may not be important.
Let me know if you represent. Did I use that word correctly?