I watch too many romantic movies!

Becca..I am from Jersey so been to the city quite often it is still nice once in awhile to just putz around even walk thru the park...
Ohh one day I will get back there for at least a weekend...

Sarah...I love love love the Melting Pot and a place he has never been - check

Camping was a thing a bunch of friends threw together..There are like 20 of us with 2 boats that pull right up to the lake where we are camping so technically we will be on the boat all day and the grilling and sleeping out there one night...As I told him just keep the bugs out! It will for sure be an adventure but toobin will be a blast as well to just relax on a toob and float for 4 hours awwww the life...

We are also going to see Transformer 2 at the IMAX and grabbing lunch at Alamo Drafthouse, they have waiters where you can order food and beer while watching the movie - what else do we need ;-)

Can't wait to see how all ya'll are doing - its so nice to see people happy and excited!
Take care!

Tim arrives in time for Harry Potter 6!  

(yes, I'm a big dork)

I forgot HP 6 was coming out in theaters this summer...yay!

Today was a frustrating day...I felt not-very-productive at work, and have been stressing out over selling my horse.  On the one hand, I want to do so ASAP since his price tag will help fun the UK move.  On the other hand, I don't want to give him up, and I don't want him to go to a bad home.  And then there's the "I can't actually do anything to make people want to buy him" thing, except the stuff I'm doing now (training him, getting him more experience, etc).  Finally, I spoke to someone who still owes me money (I sold her a computer) and she said she doesn't have the money and basically never will, but if I give her back the $ she's already paid me for it, I can have the computer back.  'Cause that does me a ton of good, especially now that she's had it a year and it's depreciated in value that much...

And then I keep being silly and looking at job sites for the UK and seeing tons of jobs that sound cool.  But I can't apply for them since I'm not a citizen...or rather, I could, but it'd be wasting my time, pretty much.

I think I'm still stressed over my stepmother being extremely evil to me on my vacation last week, and the heat doesn't help, so all these little things are bugging me that usually wouldn't.  It's still extremely frustrating, though!  (Especially since then I listen to NPR about people getting killed or losing their jobs/house/etc and I feel stupid/guilty for being stressed over these little things...)

Anyway...that's my hump day.  I hope everyone else's is going well!

EQ nerd- I'd probably tell her you'll give her 20% of the money back since she had the computer for a year. This isn't a charity! Maybe even NONE of the money, depending on how much she'd already paid.... Also, I check job listings all the time! In fact, I've got it set up so Monster.co.uk emails me job listings that fit my keywords! I think it helps keep me focused and thinking about my ultimate goal.

So.. hiya folks! I'm having a great time here! We went to Blackpool and Liverpool (hired a car) last week, then came home, repacked and went to Alicante, Spain to visit a friend there at the beach for a few days. Got back last night. I didn't want to leave the beach!! The Mediterranean is so beautiful. I can't believe my friend lives there year round. Coming back from Spain, I had to go through passport control (I didn't when I came originally through Dublin!) They had all sorts of questions. Luckily, the lady was nice. She wanted to know what I teach and what I'm doing here, etc. I think it was obvious I am a tourist. Since we'd just gone for 3 days, though, it didn't even occur to me to bring my "ties to the US" paperwork I'd brought along to get in originally. She was making notes on my landing card, though.

Patty- good to hear from you! Lucky you get to go to Josy's party. We tried and tried to make the times work, but by the time the race is over, we get back and showered/changed, then get to the train station.. take the train down, it will be late. Fingers crossed, this time next year I will be here for good and can make it to the party.

Josy- I'm getting so excited for you! I can't believe the wedding is only 2 months away!!!!! It will fly by, I bet. It's also nice that you get to be here (UK) while you wait for the wedding day!

Carey- any updates on the visa?

Well, I'm going to work on my blogs this morning (wayyyyy behind) and slowly get ready to head into London. Hope you all have a fantastic Thursday!

Eq, keep your chin up!  It'll all work out in the long run.  I know I've been stressed about having to work next semester (not possible as a Theatre Arts student) and it turned out yesterday I found out I got a much larger grant than expected.  So, I worried myself for a few weeks for naught.  I'm sure you'll find the best place for your horse. 

Beffers!  I'm glad you had a lovely time, and DEFINITELY looking forward to your blog updates.   Need to message you on FB, btw....see what we can do to meet up.

EQ nerd- I'd probably tell her you'll give her 20% of the money back since she had the computer for a year. This isn't a charity! Maybe even NONE of the money, depending on how much she'd already paid.... Also, I check job listings all the time! In fact, I've got it set up so Monster.co.uk emails me job listings that fit my keywords! I think it helps keep me focused and thinking about my ultimate goal.

Yeah, I'm still undecided about the computer.  She's paid me $200, and owes me $150, so really, it's not really worth it to hassle her about it.  Just on the principle of the thing, though, she agreed to pay me $350 for it, and it'd be kinda nice if she'd honor that agreement...Given that I'm trying to increase money in my savings and get rid of stuff, I would really rather not take the computer back, let alone pay her money for it.

As for the jobs, it's not the hunting of them that bugs me, more the "oooh, perfect sounding job!  But they want to hire someone right away, and will likely never consider a non-resident non-citizen, so it's pointless to apply" frustration.  At least there are perfect-sounding jobs out there to whine about not being able to apply for, though? 

I'm sure you'll find the best place for your horse. 

Congrats on the grant, and thanks for the kind words.   I know I'll find a good place for him, though it may take me a while, which costs me more money.

If only I didn't want/need 6 months of savings in my bank account before I moved, then I'd have much less stress!  (Right now, anyway, I'd be panicking once I got there about finding a job NOW and ohmygod I need to buy food somehow.)

Beth - your trip sounds like so much fun!  I've enjoyed seeing all the pictures on your blog.

Again, I've been a lurker as of late, but I've been a bit busy But welcome to the new faces on here, and I'm glad everyone seems to be doing well enough

What have I been up to lately? I've been putting the finishing touches on my visa application, and while I feel it'll never truly be complete enough (in my eyes), I'm mailing it off tomorrow after my biometrics appointment. I've never been this nervous, and scared and anxious before, where 6 months of research and dumb questions and 3+ years of being apart from my husband comes together. Actually I feel like I could puke half the time >.<

It should get down to the courier by 10.30am my time on Monday (I'm in Oregon, so I'm in the same time zone as the courier/consulate); she'll take half a day or a day to process it in her office, then hand it off to the consulate in LA to deal with. I think our application is pretty darn straightforward--accommodation is accounted for, there's evidence presented of a legitimate relationship, and I have way too many bank statements/payslips/P60s and a budget to count. The timing of one of my husband's bank account statement's a bit off since he has three accounts that all close at different times. But the savings is a bit cushy due to the sale of his old house, so I'm hoping that 5-6 months of original bank statements will be sufficient especially since I have outlined a budget showing we wouldn't need to dip into it to make the monthly bills and weekly expenses. I've heard before that with spousal visas the major thing is showing consistency and sustainability in the finances, and I believe we have that, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed

Sorry for the wall of text, btw, but y'all know what this feels like kinda so I'm just venting to get everything out of my head with people that have been in this position before 

Good luck with your app, Kittenfish!  I looked over my app about 15 times before I sent it in (and even printed it off twice and filled it in twice, just so I could have a draft/mistake copy).  And all I had to send in was a pair of birth certificates and passports.

I'm sure your application will be fine...and just think, assuming the consulate isn't slow, you could have your visa by the holiday weekend!

Good luck with your app, Kittenfish!  I looked over my app about 15 times before I sent it in (and even printed it off twice and filled it in twice, just so I could have a draft/mistake copy).  And all I had to send in was a pair of birth certificates and passports.

I'm sure your application will be fine...and just think, assuming the consulate isn't slow, you could have your visa by the holiday weekend!

Thanks Yeah, I've checked over everything, it's like when you go on holiday and you keep trying to think if you left the coffee pot on, or a window open or somesuch.

I'm hoping to get a decent turn-around through LA since I'm using a courier and getting it in at the beginning of the week, I'd love to hear something by next weekend. Especially since my husband is going on a pub night next Saturday, so it'd give him something extra to celebrate and have a few more beers over

Thanks Yeah, I've checked over everything, it's like when you go on holiday and you keep trying to think if you left the coffee pot on, or a window open or somesuch.

I'm hoping to get a decent turn-around through LA since I'm using a courier and getting it in at the beginning of the week, I'd love to hear something by next weekend. Especially since my husband is going on a pub night next Saturday, so it'd give him something extra to celebrate and have a few more beers over

We'll have a few drinks for you too Really, we don't mind

So excited that your app is being sent off today! Soon you will be herrrrrrrrrre and we'll be drinking TOGETHER.

Oohh....congrats and good luck, KF.  

It's nerve wrecking, but if you're like me, when you get the call that you've gotten your approval, you'll cry.

Oohh....congrats and good luck, KF.  

It's nerve wrecking, but if you're like me, when you get the call that you've gotten your approval, you'll cry.

I didn't cry. I was notified by email, and I proceeded to scream at the top of my lungs, and run in circles around my house... Still screaming. My old roommate/one of my best friends was in town that day. We ended up going to the supermarket where I worked to put in my 2 weeks. Then we went out and celebrated with drinks and dessert. and all the while I was just grinning and dancing in my seat and thinking "This can't really be happening, can it??"

Thanks guys I'm sure I'll do the crying bit, I have a tendency not to show my excitement as much as my relief. Just because I don't pull a princesslemons and start screaming (you know I <3 you really hun), doesn't mean I don't have a little party going on in my head. But the crying will probably be more likely, since it'll be such a relief.

And yeah, I'm sure you guys don't mind having drinks on my behalf...really

And yeah, I'm sure you guys don't mind having drinks on my behalf...really

I'm going to have one now.