Part IA, Part UP

UP: The countdown has started for my spouse visa approval! 


IA: Feeling sick to my stomach with nerves, hoping that I had done everything properly, finishing up the payment for the visa, then wanting to throw up even more as I get an email that my card was denied, then having to call up the bank because they denied it for security/fraud, which is good, but still! Then having to do the payment process all over again, then having to wrestle with my printer to get the spouse visa app to print out properly and then wrestle with it again to get the appendix 2 to print out properly! Whew!
Then my sister in law then stopped by as I am watching my nephew for the day, explained this all to her and she was like   
So I had to write it here because nobody else understands what this process is like   

Good luck, Stephanie!  I know the feeling of waiting.    It's not fun, but it's only for a short while and then you'll be sooooo happy when it's over! 

My UP is after yelling at the cat all day (she was constantly getting underfoot or climbing into boxes as I was packing) she climbed into my lap, which she never does, gave me a cry and curled up and went to sleep.  My IA, in addition to her getting in the way, is the fact I have to ship her to the UK Monday....not so much an annoyance as a heartbreak I suppose.  This pile of fur has been with me longer than DH has.....but thankfully I will arrive 5 days after her.

My UP is after yelling at the cat all day (she was constantly getting underfoot or climbing into boxes as I was packing) she climbed into my lap, which she never does, gave me a cry and curled up and went to sleep.  My IA, in addition to her getting in the way, is the fact I have to ship her to the UK Monday....not so much an annoyance as a heartbreak I suppose.  This pile of fur has been with me longer than DH has.....but thankfully I will arrive 5 days after her.

Hope she has a good trip.  You too!

Hope she has a good trip.  You too!

Thanks Boston!!

Up and down, up and down...

IA: Both our phones have been acting up, so we decided to get new ones.

UP: We made the leap to contract, so we are getting far better phones than we would normally get.

IA: Ordered what we wanted, and they shipped something else.

UP: We can take them to trade at an AT&T store.

IA:The one in town doesn't stock phones. It is only a payment point and they do some minor things. The closest one is 50 miles away.

UP: Road trip to Evansville! Lunch at one of our fave places while we are there.

In the meantime...

UP: They sent a text saying the were shipped, and gave a tracking number, but..

IA: They were really backordered.

UP: Hubby talked to them and they were going to send the correct ones instead, since they hadn't sent them yet.

IA: They shipped the wrong ones anyway, so we are back to the 50 mile trip.

IA: Acquired peroneal tendonitis in the US. Not only painful but means I can't really exercise the way I like to. 

UP: Started physio and the guy treating me is HOT!! 

UP: got the physio referral for my shoulder. Hope mine will be hot like Courtney's, but it's a six week wait. 

IA: will be shelling out loads a cash for weekly sports massages until said appointment, as the pain has now radiated to my neck. 8 blinking months of this. Stupid, stupid shoulder.   

UP: got the physio referral for my shoulder. Hope mine will be hot like Courtney's, but it's a six week wait. 

So you've got six weeks to find a cute outfit just in case he does turn out to be hot.     Best to be prepared.   

So you've got six weeks to find a cute outfit just in case he does turn out to be hot.     Best to be prepared.   

I am hoping my winning smile will be enough! 

UP- Found really nice box of Christmas cards last night (waaaaay early for an American!).  Subtly Londony/UKy.... really nice.    

IA- Got home and realised the cards are covered in glitter.... which I don't mind and I don't mind sending, but my brother detests glitter.... I'd debating whether to get them a new card or just make a note of the envelope to have SIL open it.  

Second UP- Excited to get a huge head start on Christmas and get cards ready and mailed out by early December!

Second IA- We've been sending parcels and cards out to family in the US for holidays and birthdays the past year and we've had to chase them up for confirmation months later.... people feel bad when they realise they never got back to us so I feel bad about asking, but I don't like thinking the parcel contents, time and postage were wasted and sitting somewhere between the UK and US....    There are a few people who are good at letting us know they arrived and thank us.... I think those people will stay on the parcel list.  

...people feel bad when they realise they never got back to us...

Good!    As well they should. If you spent the time, money & effort to send someone something - especially a parcel(!!!) - the least they can do is acknowledge receipt, and call me old fashioned - but a thank you never goes amiss either. How rude can people be?! (Unless they truly didn't receive it & didn't know you sent it either.) 

the least they can do is acknowledge receipt, and call me old fashioned - but a thank you never goes amiss either

This.

IA: Mine is I booked a sports massage for when we are away, so need to cancel.

UP: Have a relax massage on our return.

Good!    As well they should. If you spent the time, money & effort to send someone something - especially a parcel(!!!) - the least they can do is acknowledge receipt, and call me old fashioned - but a thank you never goes amiss either. How rude can people be?! (Unless they truly didn't receive it & didn't know you sent it either.) 

One didn't let us know they got a Christmas parcel.... I had to chase them up a few weeks ago!  Uhhh.... hello.... it's October!

One said (suspiciously) they didn't get a note from their apartment manager that their parcel arrived last month so it had been sitting in the office for three weeks once I asked about it and they went down to check (it was a birthday gift and I told them the day I sent it that it was on the way- and apologised it would be late for their actual birthday!). 

I spent too much time last year making handmade gifts only to not be acknowledge or reciprocated.    And I got like 2-3 cards for my birthday this year... seems when you're out of the country or not related by blood, your birthday doesn't exist.     no... I'm not bitter....    I think I got more birthday wishes on UK Yankee than in person this year

Anyway, most people are just getting cards this year.    Except my parents and grandmothers.    They're on the good list but we're still cutting back a bit on those packages (soooo expensive).    People can only earn they're way back on the parcel list by reciprocating.   

IA: Cat has decided to become an opera singer every morning between 4 and 630.  E.V.E.R.Y. M.O.R.N.I.N.G.  She won't come upstairs anymore at night, so when she starts howling I will go down and lay on the couch.  At this point, she climbs the stairs and gets into bed with DH.  Little rat.

UP: Got an email yesterday saying that customs is satisfied with our shipment.  And are now comforted by the fact that the umbrellas are just umbrellas and not hiding knives in the handles. (Yes they did say that).

The movers say 7-10 business days for the delivery!!!!  YAY!!!  I will be reunited with my kitchen knives and spices!!!!  I couldn't be happier at this very minute.