I'm here now Marta. I had a lazy day today and didn't get up until 8am.

I'm here too! At work and settling in for the day!!

Good morning all. Happy Friday.

I am picking up our moving truck tomorrow! I changed our plans last minute. I really hate Uhaul. So tomorrow a friend here in Toronto is accompanying me to Niagara where I will get a Budget truck and drive it back up to Toronto. Scott will pack in the meantime (he hasn't started yet still!!!). It's added hassle but is going to save us a few hundred bucks.

Moving in 3 days.

Wow rae!! That is so exciting!! And just think, as you drive through Buffalo, you'll be passing right by me!!! Surely, the highlight of your journey!!

I did think about it though! Want to come hang out with us in customs while we wait for the visa to be activated?

I am really wondering if we'll get the EAD stamp or not. I pretty much expect not to. But then, I also fully believe in Murphy's Law. I've spent all this time preparing for the fact that I'm going to be supporting us for 3 months or so, and Scott is talking about things he can accomplish during that time, that it would almost figure if we got it. I think he'd actually be really disappointed, though I'd be pretty happy!

I got up at 4am so I could be here first

Oh I know my east coast friends never saw that coming

Marta - I think StP said it best - you are crazy as a loon!! Something along those lines, anyway!!

That's why we love you so much!!

I do it all for youuu guys

And we are so grateful!

I am here too!! Just one week of work to go!! Omg I am sooo nervous - I keep freaking out and I hate it - I can't wait for the saying goodbye part to be over - I think I'll be ok then

Admittedly, that's one of the hardest parts. Scott is totally avoiding it and I'm worried he'll regret it later.

Avoiding what? Saying goodbye? Or thinking about it!?

I guess I should be used to goodbyes after being with Jeremy for almost three years but somehow this is different because it is not just saying goodbye to friends and family, but life as you know it as well. Not just that but it is for longer and I don't know what to expect... it's very nerve-wracking... Although I think as soon as I get on the train I will have a few tears then perk up a bit and get excited. Then it will hit me again after a day or so being away, or maybe when I call my mum.

That's the horrible thing, I never wanted to feel like I was swapping the goodbyes to Jeremy for goodbyes to my family either - I don't want to go through the emotions I have been while apart from Jeremy all over again but for my family instead

He's been avoiding saying goodbyes to people.

Personally I think saying goodbye to your friends and family is really different from saying goodbye to your partner. I think we feel much more of a pull to see the person we are in love with more often; we feel much more intensely about them. Of course we love our friends and family, and it isn't easy to say goodbye, but I just think it is different.

Whatever way, you will get through it. I think that like you said, you'll be sad to go but then just at that moment have a lot to be excited for as well. Homesickness can hit in bouts, but I think if you can keep somewhat busy and find new things in your new place to look forward to, that will help a lot. And of course, there's always the internet and the phone for when you need to chat with them!

Yeah but I can kinda understand where Scott is coming from as well - you kind of want to distance yourself from people to try and stop yourself missing them. It's like - if you were to just never see them again you would have closure and be able to move on in life, but having them still back home means that every time you call or e-mail or something... I don't know - maybe it sounds crazy but - it's a mixed bag of emotions right now and I just wish it was all over..

Oh it's definitely a mixed bag, I agree! And I also see where Scott is coming from too, I just hope he doesn't regret it later if he doesn't say goodbye to some people. He loves his job, and they always do goodbye parties for people who are leaving, and he made it clear he didn't want one. I'm sure it's easier for him now for it not to happen, as it would definitely be emotional and difficult to face. But also, as a typical guy, he is "dealing" by bottling up and not showing or dealing with emotion. We've had a rather difficult past week. Until he finally opened up a bit and some of the tension was let out. I feel awful too; I'm so excited for him to come live with me yet I see a tremendous amount of sadness in everything he does, and I feel so guilty.

Maybe I am also particularly sensitive to the goodbye thing b/c when I left NYC for Toronto 4 years ago, one of my closest and best friends did not say goodbye to me. I could recognize that it was just too hard for her, but it still really hurt my feelings.

Anyway, you and me both, wish it was over with and done! But to be cheesy: what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Let's just hope for that and good times ahead (mixed in with the bad I'm sure, but good overall).

Definitely - I have become much stronger as a person through this process - the waiting, as horrible as it has been, has made our relationship so much stronger too - I wouldn't change things for the world. I don't do change. I really don't - I freak on the highest level. So this again, is a test for me that will make me stronger - and it doesn't have to be forever - I just have to be open minded enough to give it a chance

And I love Palm Springs so I can't complain too much - I think if we were moving anywhere else, it wouldn't have sweetened the deal quite so much

Guys - have any of you been following the Gay Right Poll? Its pretty crazy the attiotude that some people have.

Sorry to veer away from all the goodbye and homesick discussion, but I thought this might make a nice diversion from everyone feeling sad, worried and/or anxious!

Aly, you should be okay with change from hear on out! This whole thing is such a test and it involves changing your whole life, so!

No worries Julez, about changing the subject. *except that Aly doesn't deal with change well so you'll have to check with her on that*

I haven't been following it; link?

Haven't seen it but can guess... hate people who are intolerant and narrow minded... Am happy to be moving to a city where 35% of the permanent residents are gay


Rae - I know - it really has made me stronger because I have been forced to cope with things outside my comfort zone

And.. OMFG - CHANGING THE SUBJECT - NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo

OMG Aly is completely unhinged!!!!

Oh man... okay I cannot even post over in that other thread. For the record, Julez, I completely agree with you and others who pointed out that calling sexuality a choice is just weird. But people who think it is like that one conservative poster... they just make me so angry that I can't even enter into the conversation b/c I'll lose my sh!t and just start name calling!

Oh and also, this is totally unrelated, but Scott saw me on here the other day and commented that he absolutely loves the picture of your avatar. Then I realized he doesn't even know who Sam the Eagle is, but he just finds the picture brilliant!

I think this is a much safer poll to watch:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=133250

Yes - much safer poll

*gets nervous tic*

I had to add my brief opinion on that poll - I love it - I don't care what other people think and I never visit that forum so I won't even see how many b*tch at me

I usually stay out of the battles, but today I just had no tolerance for it and had to say something! That one girl basicall said, I'm a bigot and make no apologies for it. Ugh. That attitude sickens me.

I love that Scott loves my avatar! Just goes to show you Sam the Eagle is cool whether you grew up with him or not!!

Butter all the way baby!!
Plus, I am *thatclose* to getting my 5th heart!

Oh I think it's good to get in the battles and state opinions, I just personally think I'm a bad arguer and can't keep my cool when I find other people being ridiculously intolerant. I just wanna scream at them, "You are a stupid mofo!!!" when what's really needed are smart, rational comebacks.

Anyhoo, I'm off to see Sex & the City for the second time.

Then maybe we'll start packing.

We're going through some of that same happy/sad emotional stuff here too. We're going to head out as soon as the visa appears (either today or monday we think). We're staying at jeremy's parent's house. His siblings haven't said good-bye as far as I know. I find that weird. I have a feeling when we actually pull out of the driveway his mom is gonna lose it and start crying. That's going to make me cry too. We're both just so excited to be together finally after all this time it sucks to have the sadness component attached to it. I definitely have empathy for him & them because I'm homesick for my kids, dog and cat right now and I know I'm headed back soon. It doesn't help knowing that my part of WI is under water right now due to the flooding, ugh!!
I don't feel like I'm making much sense right now, but that's over-tiredness kicking in from all the driving lately.

*hugs* I don't know because it is hard for me to say - but maybe being in Canada it doesn't feel so real - I can imagine being that "close" it might not feel like you are going too far until you realise you can't go back whenever you want to... I may be wrong, being from the UK I can only guess what it is like to be in other countries.

My mum and I are very similar - we will both get teary and try and hold back and laugh at ourselves for being silly then reassure ourselves that we will see each other soon anyway and then she will go to work and that is it. She is going to call before I fly out though and I kinda wish she wouldn't - will be a bit like saying goodbye once in the morning then again in the afternoon...

As for my dad... well he is a big girl's blouse so he is going to bawl which will make me feel terrible - he is driving us to the station

After so long in the system you would have thought they would get it right...

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry1927152

You're right Jeraly, it's probably not quite the same since he/they can drive to visit. Being overseas i would be a much bigger production to plan a visit. It's funny that your dad is the emo one, lolol. That's cute.

The visa didn't arrive today so we're here for the weekend. I'm bummed.

That's just exactly how I feel.

Don't be too bummed; I know you are anxious to move him already, but 3 more days after all these months will be easy.

Yeah, I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head with that Aly.

It also feels extra weird to be told that they can't go home, just right over the border. His mom KEEPS asking if he can come visit this summer and we KEEP explaining the process over and over again. Then people get it in their heads that it is an exact 3 month countdown and they keep asking stuff like, "Is the 3 months from when you move? From when you get married?" And then I have to explain AOS all over again, and that it's not an exact science and that AP takes *approximately* 3 months, etc.

I don't think anyone is that concerned really because it is so expensive to go home that even with AP I might not be able to

Can tell most of us are Stateside now... even weekends aren't normally *this* quiet

Morning everyone. I got an email from CRIS last night to say that my EAD has been approved and card production ordered. Guess this means I'll have to get a job now.

Yay - good for you Muffin, now who is this Cris person, and how does he know that your card is ordered?

Er..congratulations....but it sounds like you've really gotten accustomed to your life of leisure!!

I have! Everyone else in the AOS forum seems to be in a hurry to get their EAD and yet I wouldn't have minded waiting a little longer at all.

Still, it was bound to happen sometime and we're not rich enough for me to be a lady of leisure forever so I shall start looking soon. Although I have decided that I won't start looking too hard until I actually have the card in hand. Don't want to tempt fate and all that.

yeah, but it is not only about going home, it is about honeymoons and travelling and stuff, too. we live really close to the boarder, so it would be nice if we could go to the beach in mexico for the weekends and stuff. plus, you never know when family emergencies happen. a girl in the germany forum couldn't get her emergency AP fast enough to say goodbye to her deadly ill father - because she didn't apply for AP and it took over a year for her GC to be approved.
so it's only ONE more piece of paper to put your name and SSC on, it's not that big a deal to fill it out, but in case of emergency it might be worth a million.


oh, and congrats to the EAD!
i felt so relieved when i was able to work and had a job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

grazties!! Didn't you get bored waiting!? WHat date shall I put on the spreadsheet?!??!

Hi,
it's been awhile since i've been on here...what's everyone been upt0? I've been moving around due to work..south carolina, pennsylvania..now back in nj.
congrats on the ead..bg's ead also just got approved...last days of vacation for him!

Gratzies Janaus!! I've been packing ready for the big move in two weeks... wow - how far we all are from when we filed at the same time... people getting EAD and GCs and I haven't even moved!!! I feel like such a n00b...

*glares at *Rach* for the inevitable mocking*

LOL
no mocking here, I'm in just about the same boat as you timeline wise!

But I will not forget the second instance of being called Rach.

Oh goodie

Job done

Freaking out now - Spoke to Jeremy the last time before he gets here... next time I see him will be forever... and then I will be leaving...and I am so scared ><

why are you scared? aren't there a million things to look forward to? at least you don't have to fly by yourself!
calm down, take a deep breath and be HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(sais the right person.......)

HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You aren't a n00b P won't be here for another 31 days.....