That isn't true for everyone. Some people do get divorced shortly after getting their Green Card but it doesn't mean that they scammed anyone. Especially when it's the USC who initiates the divorce proceeding. My husband decided to leave me just 18 days after I received my Green Card. Not only did not scam him for the Green Card, I was completely devastated. Don't assume that everyone has the same intentions.

I don't think she's assuming anything, or making generalisations... just saying that SOME people do scam, and they do; in many more situations than visa-related ones... however, I think your point is also well worth making - things aren't always the way they may look to outsiders

*hugs everyone*

*supplies SPECIAL flapjack*

(recipe available for anyone who might like it )

I know StP and I didn't mean to have a go at Agnes, it's just a very touchy subject for me right now.

I guess I'm just getting a touch paranoid about the whole thing and every time I read something like that I wonder if fingers are being pointed at me. Deep down I know that people have better things to do than talk about me, but it just gets to me sometimes.

No offence meant Agnes.

Exactly. That is why some people's posting about it every day annoys the hell outta me. I mean, I understand that people vent on this forum and that's part of what it's for, but ... I guess I only have so much patience for other people's stupidity.

Aly, it sounds like you guys got really lucky finding your planner. But 25%! Wow, that's more than I thought it might be. Well, I guess we will just have to wait and see what we find when we're able to go back up to Canada and start looking into it. Thanks for your info. And as for the fittings, no worries, my dress won't be ready for it till December! And seeing as how we don't have a wedding date yet, well...

Hi Marta! Are you back or just poking in temporarily?

I can see how you would be, but I don't think you need to worry
the people who matter will understand... a few people may be gossiping, but then they would be anyway; that sort of person would probably gossip about you if you'd stayed married; they can't help themselves

I think you have dealt with everything SO well... I take my hat off to you

Marta!! Are you back in Europe now?!


*hugs Gillian*

I think what Agnes was also trying to say was that there are people who are anxious to get their GC so they can move on with their "other plans" - I never once heard you complain or whine about the AOS process so that completely negates you from her statement anyway You do have to wonder though about those people you see saying "Ohhh but it's been like a day and my check hasn't been cashed yet" or "I am soooooo anxious to get my GC - I've been waiting a month already and it is driving me INSANE" - I mean those people just need to get a grip

Don't be so down on yourself either - we all love you - you're doing a wonderful job *and* you have a rather sexy new apartment to look forward to moving into Is it furnished or not?


That's what we thought at first as well - it seemed so expensive, but because they knew what they were doing, where to go for vendors and things, they managed to save us money! We prolly spent in fees what we would have paid extra by doing it all ourselves so it was well worth it But like I said - we didn't shop around so you might find cheaper places too

Thanks for the kind words and reassurance everybody. I'm feeling a bit less paranoid now.



It's unfurnished apart from the cooker, microwave and dishwasher. Apart from my washer and dryer I'm only taking my bed, my couch and my desk so I'm really looking forward to getting everything new for it.

It's back to Massachusetts for me tomorrow. I've really enjoyed my week in Charlotte and I'm looking forward to moving down here for good.

Scott and I have done a lot of talking this week (I think he missed me) and we're getting on really well right now. I'm still hoping we can work things out in the future but he'll need to get his depression sorted out first. For now though I'm still moving here and we'll keep in touch and see what happens.

If our relationship is meant to be things will work out for us.

Your apartment looks fantastic!! And great value too. I am so excited for you and I strongly believe that, as you say, if things are meant to they will work out.

I think adjustment is hard for both people in these kinds of relationships. I know J and I have had our ups and downs already. If depression is added to the mix then it just makes things so much harder because it just muddies the water somewhat. I really think you are handling things so well and I think that you've shown great pride and courage in moving away from Scott - I think it's a smart move and will really help you both discover what you want from all of this. Good luck Gillian :X

I think the move will help us too. Right now Scott can't deal with the 'pressure' of being married and living with someone so I think that being so far away will take a lot of that pressure off him. We were planning on moving to Charlotte together anyway so if there's a chance for things to work between us in the future Scott can move down here to join me. But right now I'm concentrating on myself and looking forward to my new start.

Except that I'll have to finally get a job now!

You'll love it!! I have a very good friend who is desperate to move back to NC. Not Charlotte though, Greensboro. She tells me so many wonderful things about NC I am certain that it is a great place to make a new start.

Well said Jeremy and I had our differences, broke up, lost contact etc and we kinda ended up in this situation I think what you are doing is great - but you *have* to make it to the Halloween party I am just making an invitation now

I promise I will be there.

YAY!!!! I am going through facebook now to make sure I get everyone that I don't have in my e-mail address book

Hey guys!!

I haven't been around in ages, I know. My apologies.

I hope everyone is well and that things are moving along smoothly.

School has started and I am soooooo happy to be back in the classroom. I love my school and have been able to make some friends (my first ones here in Indiana) since classes have begun.

Adriano still hasn't found work, but is coping much better than he was before. He has even agreed to go to the free ESL class which begins a week from Monday. I am so excited for him, as he has come so far with his English already. I cannot imagine how much he will learn in the class. I really hope he makes a friend or two there as well. The class will meet Monday through Thursday from 9-11:30 am. I like that it's almost everyday, because I feel he will learn more than just once or twice a week for longer periods.

That's all for now I guess. I will try to pop in more often, but it is hard with school, working in the lab, and all of the other obligations that come along with grad school (ie: meetings, study groups, department gatherings, etc).

Speak to everyone soon!

Hello Susie.

Hey Susie - glad to hear things are going ok for you!! I would *love* to go to school to make some friends but we just can't afford it right now I am keeping my eyes peeled for Spanish classes...

So good to hear from you Susie! I was a little worried about you two since you'd said Adriano was having a hard time coping and you hadn't posted in awhile -- glad to hear you are just busy and that things are better for him.


Ha, that's just so you can yell at the Mexican kids in your pool!

Dang - you got me

They still go in the pool every day and the sign is still up saying No Entry... I am desperate to go and have a swim!!! I promise to never complain about the plethora of bugs in there first thing in the morning... Ok... maybe the last part isn't true...

well - a short defense on my part. if you read my post again, it sais that some people get worked up about it because they are so used to worrying about their status.
i didn't mean to offend anybody.
i was just reading in the "effects of major family changes" section and it's rather scary.
i never meant to offend you.

Yeah - that section is enough to make anyone's mind boggle - call me naive, but I fail to see how someone can be sucked in so bad in the scam marriages - not having been in that situation though I guess it is unfair for me to say that - I mean if someone is being nice to you and you love them then you forgive their small faults... I just couldn't imagine putting anyone through that myself

I know you didn't Agnes and I'm sorry for my 'rant'.

*raps Gillian on the knuckles*

Naughty Gillian!!!

I got my NOAs in the mail today!! Yippee!!!

Can I just say that I love Agnes?!

yes

made it home safely, but the highway was closed for close to an hour because of a bad accident.
had tons of fun at your house!

Glad you got back ok - sucks about the accident... was that on the I-10? You should be used to highways being closed though living in Tucson!!

Now I can't wait for fancy dress goodness at Hallowe'en!! I am thinking we need to start picking up things from the dollar store soon!! Yippee!!! Can't wait to see Gillian's huntsman spider costume as well

I JUST RECEIVED MY GC TODAY!!!!
and the damn thing isn't even green. white front, green and black-silver back.


anyway, a good feeling!

Oh cool!! Now I am gutted that you didn't get it in time to bring with you on Saturday!

I'm at the yucky keep-checking-all-three-receipt-numbers-to-see-if-my-case-status-is-online stage

Figure I'm not going to see much action as it is the holiday weekend

my status hasn't been updated since 3-17 if it helps

dang, hate having to go back to work tomorrow.

Yes I´m in Europe now. Enjoying the European way of life very much. It´s cool. Also changing my last name at all the institutions where I have stuff at which I´m almost done with so that´s great. It´s also very nice to go out for long walks. The weather is very pleasant, sunny and warm and all the trees and grass and all that is still green Everyone says my belly isn´t too big (which I think it is ) so I have to explain to them that I don´t know what they are expecting when I still have a few months to go I´m sorry I couldn´t go to the housewarming party but hopefully we can get there for the halloween one We haven´t had any action concerning GC since 04-04 and it´s not like we are expecting an action anytime soon cuz of the experience with EAD and AP. But we are pretty relaxed about that since the EAD and AP are good enough substitutions for what we need to do. Although being done with paperwork for a while would be nice too I talked to my friend who is living in Australia with her Australian boyfriend and they aren´t even planning to get married yet. They just get a partner visa cuz they live together and in a year they go for an interview again and if they are still together then she can get Australian citizenship. And she is all freaked out about how long that takes haha and that it feels like they are always waiting for something So I told her to be happy cuz that sounds very easy. I guess Australia still needs more people.
So it looks like everyone is doing great but I haven´t noticed anything about Julez being done with moving her house

Hi Marta! Glad you are enjoying your European vacation!! Hopefully your greencard will be arriving for you soon, but in the meantime, keep up your wonderful attitude about it! You are an inspiration to all those waiting!

As for the move, we have been living in the new house full time for 3 weeks and our old house is sold - just waiting for the sale to close, hopefully some time soon. We still have some bits and pieces at the old house to bring over, but since we're still unpacking boxes, we're not in such a hurry to bring them over. Plus, we're really trying to get used to having so much more green space to care for! Cutting the grass and weeding the gardens is a major undertaking, but we enjoy it a lot. And on Sunday we had our first official party at the new house. I am pleased to report that a good time was had by all!!

Now, if only we had a bit of extra time one of these weekend mornings to make StP's pancake recipe, we'd be really happy! Life needs to settle down a bit!

Marta!! You'll have to come up with some genius costume for Halloween!! I am sooo glad you are having a good time in Europe

Wow about Oz I was looking at getting a partner visa for Jeremy to come to the UK but we decided that as we were going to end up getting married anyway, we may as well file less paperwork and go for the whole wedding thing

On another note, Jeremy has a meeting with his boss today about the way the business is run (basically his co-manager is an absolute waste of space and Jeremy has been trying so hard to keep it all together). I'm really nervous about it and moreso because I know Jeremy is nervous about it as well

Aly, wish I could come to your halloween party but just can't afford to get there and back. I think I'm going to have one here with the in laws as it's around my youngest sister in laws 10th birthday. I love getting all dressed up.

Aww - well rsvp anyway so I can keep track and I'll invite you to the New Years one I figure eventually you'll get fed up with me inviting you and ust come along to shut me up, even if you have to walk

We do intend to come visit you at some point when we have time/money - flights from PSP to Omaha are about $170 each right now so I am just keeping my eyes peeled

I am debating with myself if I should ask my boss for more money / to get my bonus earlier than they want to start paying it..... not quite sure of the outcome of such a question though....

@aly: how did it go with jeremy and his boss?

we have to clean the car tonite and start to get the house ready for our guests. man, i wish they would'nt come at all....

Agnes - tell them you have developed the bubonic plague and are unable to accommodate them OR even see them at this time as you are highly contagious

Jeremy's boss double booked himself so we have to wait until tomorrow afternoon now We are currently playing video games and drinking beer in a bid to forget that Jeremy's "interim assistant manager" position rides on tomorrow's meeting... maybe

i keep my fingers crossed for you!!!

just FYI in case people don't know why i want to move away from tucson, az:
when we came home, we found in front of our door on the doormat:
1) a BIG tarantula of the size of an pear
2) three of the tiny, really mean poisonous scorpions underneath the doormat
3) a walking stick on the door
4) 5 praying manthesis on the window next to the door

while we were debating on how to get into the house without neither the tarantula nor the scorpions attacking us, we heard the cojotes and the wild bores in the backyard grunting and howling.

any questions??????????????

that sounds sort of cool to me
I mean, they're not IN the house, are they?

*note to self*

Never go to AZ...

I'm most concerned about the wild bores. Who knows what trouble those contradictory fellows might be up to?

Though seriously, Agnes, one of my closest childhood friends lived in Tuscon for 6 years and has been back home for 5 years now. If I could tell you how often she tells me that she wishes she never moved back, it would be a really long, boring story. Which it may be anyway. Funnily, when she was out in Tuscon, she always wanted to come home.

I bet once your out of town guests arrive on your doormat, you'll be wishing they were actually tarantulas or scorpions as they're much easier to be rid of and don't demand to be entertained!

Hmmm - I don't mind the mantises although have become less impressed with them now I know they fly...

I'm guessing the doormat was lifted to try and remove the spider hence finding the scorpions?? We were going to get a doormat and now I am not so sure...


Oh Julez you're so bad



Maybe they could be left on the doorstep to deter aforementioned guests I am sure they might think twice about wanting to stay with you then Maybe you could coax a couple of bugs into their rooms

Scott's EAD was approved today! Yay!!

Finally we can be a 2-income household.

I hope AP follows shortly on its heels.

my Australian shipment just arrived!

I don't want to open anything in case it's all broken

IN THE NAME OF THE WEE MAN....I'm never going to AZ. Worst thing I have to deal with are non poisonous but very ugly garter snakes nesting outside my living room (had to fish one out of the pool a few weeks ago), A couple of weeks ago I met my first rattle snake (SCARY!!) and 1 month after getting here I was bitten by a nasty spider that made my arm swell up and bruise. Been warned to look out for brown recluses and black widows.

CONGRATULATIONS!



Everything will be fine. Go on, take a peek.

Oh that's great news!! Well done


Aww I am sure it will all be fine!!! I forgot you had things coming from Oz and the UK!!! We are still yet to have any furniture suitable to house my things when they arrive...

I am having a lonely day. Jeremy doesn't have many friends - just people he works with and people who won't drive out to Palm Springs because it is "too far". So I don't even have the company of those people from time to time. He's never been a very social person and I am going mad. I've been looking into doing evening classes but can't get hold of the people I am trying to find things out about it all

I'm just feeling miserable right now

Great news!! Congrats!!!!




How exciting!! Go ahead and open it up! It will be like seeing old friends!

**hugs**

Boy, do I know how you feel. Scott isn't exactly a sociable kind of person and that's made it difficult for me to meet people over here. Not working doesn't help either. I'm looking forward to living in an apartment complex because they have social evenings and such like so I should get to know a few people.

I hope you feel better soon.

Hey girl, I know its tough adjusting. *hugs* Just get out there and try to find some friends of your own. I know you did one volunteer gig, but have you looked into anything a bit more long term, like the SPCA or something? Just keep at it and try not to let things get you down.

Yeah - think I am just having a bad day and it irks me when Jeremy tells me to "get out there and make friends" like it's the easiest thing in the world and he barely has any after living here all his life!!!

I'm still looking into doing evening classes or something. Although we are in a small set of apartments, I barely see any neighbours aside from the Mexicans, and while I am sure they are very lovely people (they seem really sweet and friendly) as they communicate solely in Spanish, broken English and signing I am restricted somewhat in terms of communication

Another reason for me to learn Spanish but am getting nowhere in finding affordable classes... Maybe I should just learn online... of course, that doesn't solve the social aspect of things... Hrmph... I think me I need to do some investimagating...