i wish i was! but at least im sending my package off at 9am sharp! a great start to a day i thought was going to be horrible without my fiance..................

happy valentines day to all of those with their loved ones!

and now.........it's wednesday. happy wednesday all and happy valentine's day.

Happy hump day - another day I can possible get an approval and halfway through another week of pulling my hair out lolol.

Have a great day everyone.

Good morning all. Hope all is doing well. Looking forward to this day being over. I hate the days when I work both of my jobs. They are such long days. Hope everyone has a great day!

Happy Wednesday and Happy Valentine's Day to everyone.

I don't wanna work today.

Have a great day everyone!

I'm here. My husband is sick in bed and can't come to the phone but I got a happy v day from his sisters. lol.

Workin' from home today since it's disgusting outside. Our town is the only one around us that did NOT cancel school. figures.

Have a good one.

I'm at work. I'm awake. That's just about all that I can ask for today.

Im at work against my wishes, slow to get started also light snow starting here again. One more month and the avg temps will be back in the 60s. (hurry)

Good morning everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am feeling soooooooo much better! Went to the doctor on Monday. Turns out that if I would have waited on ir two more days I would have developed phnemonia. They said that I had a viral infection that started a few weeks ago when I caught the "flu" and every night it got worse because of all the drainage. So, they gave me an antibiotic and a light sleeping pill for my trip on Friday, told me that I was the only real sick person they saw all day, and sent me home for a day of rest. So I stayed home yesterday. Got a call at 8am from someone asking for my mom. Turns out it's my real aunt, my mother's real sister, who I haven't seen in about 9 years! It was so awesome! Come to find out she had a third child and lives about 20 min away from me. So she came over and brought her 4 year old with her. We spent the whole day together. I also got to see my two other cousins and spend time with them. It was so awesome! I think my cousin Dana is going to come over tonight and help me out with straightening my house and packing. I can't wait to catch up with her. She was like the sister I always wanted, and now we can catch up. Yay!

But the biggest news, I'm leaving for Morocco in 2 days and I still haven't started packing and I only have tonight and tomrrow night to pack because we are leaving the house bright and early on Friday morning to head up to NYC. oh boy! I'm in trouble. Looks like we are going to be up all night on Thursday.

Well I have to get going. My boss just gave us this huge list of people to make addressed envelopes too. Yay! So I'll talk to you all later!

Have a great wintery Valentine's Day!

Woo Woo Tomorrow is my Friday and a four-day weekend, double Woo Woo

You must be so excited!!!!! What is the weather like in Morocco now? Hopefully it's warmer than it is here!!!

Janine, I was just wondering where & how you were - so glad you're feeling better! Happy V-day everyone and happy Wednesday too. I scurried off to work to find that my first appt cancelled , so here I am w/ a little extra time! I want to share w/ you the cutest thing ever - puppy love!!! I took this last nite as we were going to bed. Sooo sweet, my little valentines! - and..... I got a lovely surprise of roses and a beautiful card after dinner from my habibi and then he got a giant cookie & card from me! Enjoy everyone!!!

Happy Valentines Day!

I don't think I'll be hugging any children today since I don't really have any little friends- my friends are too young to have kids yet so I don't know many. I might get into trouble if give hugs to kids that I don't know.


MBP- how are ya? Did you get my email? I know you're busy!

Bosco- How are you? I miss you!

Peezey- I miss you too! What have you been up to?

Jenn- how's work and studying going?

JP- I miss you too! How are ya?

Good morning, everyone! Happy Valentine's Day!

Hi Sarah! Work and studying are going well, thanks!

Not much time for MENA anymore....

How are your knife diagrams coming?

Hi Sarah, nice to see you too.... happy vd!

Hi everyone, i went to sleep last night bummed and woke up happy!!!! Our petition is approved and should reach Amman in the next 2 1/2 weeks!!!!! Yeah.......

HAPPY VDAY

yes
will reply soon...

wow! fast!!! congrats!!!!!!!

thanks Jen!!!

I hate stuffing envelopes! Just when I thought I was done my manager brought me another list of people! I think I am done now though. This truck with the plow on the front keeps driving around the parking lot plowing all the snow and ice. He had to have passed my window at least 15 times now. I would hate to be stuck driving around a parking lot clearing snow and ice all day. Anyway, the bank is slow, I should have called out sick again, but then that would be one more day I couldn't take off later when I really needed it. So... that's all.

I got a Pirates of the Caribbean V-day card from one of the attys at work. It has a pic of Orlando Bloom...I Orlando Bloom

We have lots o' snow here today.

Hi everyone. Well for Valentine's Day my hubby and I got a gym membership to the YMCA and went for our first workout today! I really feel great and have a lot less stress but I need to update my IPod tonight to put some faster music on it. I have one song from Bellydance Superstars that is awesome I was running my little/big butt off!! Youssef almost died when he came out of the locker room - he yelled down the hall "OMG do you know they are naked?? Naked naked???" LOL Too much. We didn't really have a lot of money right now to get each other anything but that's ok. Hope everyone has a great day!

We had a bit of ice here this morning but the snow just missed us. My darlin was worried about me driving the freeway on the ice, so he got up at 5 am with me and rode into the city, talking to me all the way to keep me from getting rattled. Black ice terrifies me. He's been bumming around down here and will take a bus to his job this afternoon. He dropped a few applications down here today for a few better opportunities then the job he currently has. That way we can car pool every day. Anyway, Happy V Day.

We have a Y membership too Maybe if you guys come to visit, you can come to the Y here, or if we visit you, we can go to the Y together I like the podrunner podcasts. It's techno-y, and he has a ton of different mixes at different beats per minute. Download a variety, and then shuffle through until you find one at the speed you like. It really keeps me going at a consistant speed when I'm running.

I also have a bunch of jock jams that I play when I need a little burst of energy.

And, hold you V day tomorrow. Everything is half priced

Oh my gosh you filed not to much before I did!!! Go Vermont!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Valentines Day everyone !

Oh ... and welcome to the Wednesday thread ...

Hey doodle,

yeah we're pretty close... I was so worried because we had to file a waiver. I spent days on gathering our documents and about 6 hours arranging before I mailed out the next day. Just remember when God plans something for us - it works out.

you should get your noa1 this week for the k3 filing inshaAllah.

I seriously think you must hold a record though since from NOA1 to NOA2 you only had 12 days!!!!!!! 12 days!!!!!! lol. Don't tell the California folks 'cause they'll be po'd!!!

hey Doodle lolol...I was very senstive when I posted in the K1 forum, but I don't hold the record.

I had been checking timelines for VSC. There was someone with NOA1 on 2/2 - same as me and they got their NOA2 last friday 2/9. That's 7 days....and I was nervous when I didn't get any touches, thought maybe I'd fallen into RFE he11 but alhumdulilah that wasn't the case.

Do you have any advice on how to begin working out? I have never been to a gym in my life and would like to start exercising (preferably, running).

I want to be health and in shape before i go to Morocco this summer.

Do you have a YMCA near your house? If so, definately check it out. Here in the twin cities, we have a free program called fit start that everyone who joins the Y can sign up for for free. You meet with a personal trainer 4 times over a 12 week period, and they show you how to properly use all the equipment and do weight training.

And, for running, you've asked the right person! I'm a baby runner. I started with the couch to 5k program about a year and half ago. You should make sure you can walk at a fast pace for 30 minutes before you start on it. Also, see if there is a specialty running store near your house and have yourself fitted for running shoes. Depending on how your feet are, tending to bend in or out, etc, there are different running shoes that will support you so you don't hurt yourself. I'm going this weekend to get a new pair

Yeah it was quite frustrating to wait 3.5 months for the K3 to be approved Count your blessings, Vermont ladies.

I think we waited 2.5 months going through vermont. OMG, that was 2 years ago How time flies!

I'll have to look into the running shoes. I didn't know you would need a fit depending on your feet. I am going to use the gym at my University. It is free and easily accessed while I am at school.
Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

I wish I had a gym buddy. I'm so nervous to go by myself!

I think K-1's are quicker for some reason. also they get to get that EAD stamp on arrival in NYC whereas us married folk have to hang out for three months before we get ours.

My luck Vermont will take 6 months for the NOA2, then another 6 months to get to NVC and Egypt and then another 3 for the interview and then on AP for oh let's give it a good ten months. Maybe by the time he gets here I'll have about one egg left to be fertilized.

Don't be nervous! People of all shapes and sizes go to the gym Heck, I'm pretty sure I'm considered medically obese but I get out there and run. I like to run 5ks, and even if I'm at the back of the pack, I have fun! Just make sure you start off slowly.

If you'd like to learn a little more about shoe and feet mechanics for running this link has some good simple articles for beginners.

My feet supinate pretty badly. Even when I'm just wearing normal work shoes, my right foot especially will just roll out and twist. Good running shoes help me balance my feet out, so I don't twist my ankle when running.

I bought my own flowers and candy this morning when I made a quick stop at the store!!! If I can't see the hubster, then I guess I'll have to make do, lol!! But I will be seeing him in ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh one week and a few days . . . . INSHA"ALLAH!! . . . took the pix below and sent them to him on my mobile, hehehehe!!

browneyez- I know at my university there were students in the sports ed or physical therapy programs who worked as personal trainers for the school gym. This might be something to look into. Also I know it's really hard to go alone - do you have any friends that would go with you. I think if you can find someone it will definetely motivate you to go. I'm lucky because my husband and I can nag each other to death and dont' have to worry about the other one "not being my friend" anymore. He hates running and I hate lifting weights so we just motivate each other to do the things we don't like. Start slow, even if it's just walking and doing a few crunches. Now I'm looking to find a new diet - gotta get rid of these baby pounds. Anyone heard of or tried the Mediterranean diet? It looks like it would really fit into the way we eat already.

Anyone looking to monitor their food and exerise, check out www.sparkpeople.com Put my name in as referrer - janaaan

I *heart* sparkpeople (thanks moody), because you do feasible things to moderate your food intake and monitor your exercise. Totally doable.

Also, they have excellent recipes. The chicken curry recipe I put in the sultan's kitchen is from there.

Another question if you don't mind... I am also worried about losing too much weight. After I got married in Oct 2005, I lost 20 pounds and in March of 2006 I lost another 10 putting me down to 110-ish (I had been 140 in October). During the summer my weight went up and down a lot, now I'm at a steady weight but I want to exercise to be healthy. Should I just eat more protein or carbs?

Hmm, I've never had that problem, lol! I don't really know what to tell you. Definately look into sparkpeople. They have a lot of excellent articles and a good board with knowledgable people to give food advice.

I don't stress eat. When I'm stressed I don't eat at all - completely losing my appetite. With all the Visa issues, and school isssues, I just wasn't eating much. And then I got pneumonia and the medicine they gave me made me sick to my stomach.


I'll get out the sparkpeople.

i'd only eat extra protein if you were going to be working out. our bodies (especially women) don't need a lot of protein. i'm talking a regular balanced diet here...not atkins. hehe

My patients told me to stay home today - I have 3 patients and none of them wants to see me getting out there on the icy road!!! YEY, my patients! SNOW DAY ROCKS!!! But I'll have to go see all of them on other days, so probably, no Sunday off for me!

This day would rock even more if my kids were at school or at least would be doing something productive. Instead, they argue with each other and me, not wanting to help out. I don't know what I'm even doing here, they're so bad, they don't deserve me suffering here without my husband! I'd rather go to Morocco then hear one more argument today!
I'll end up doing what I can and shoveling all the snow by myself and mad at them even more!

Having kids is so over-rated!!! Kids suck!!! Even the good and smart ones!!!

having a bad day, eh?

D'oh! My oldest can be one bad dude sometimes but I'd never say he *sucks*.