Thanks!! I will have to try that one!! Where do I get real actual ginger root in the states is my next question???

I'm on the west coast so I can find it in the grocery store produce section. It's possible that you can find it there, too, without having to go to a specialty store. Just ask a produce person to point you in the right direction. If you haven't bought it before it's sometimes strange to find. It just looks like a brown root of some kind. Wonderful for grating up in stir-fry too!

Sean you've been pretty quiet recently...what's going on with you?

Hi all,

Quick question...is it possible to get the US Embassy in Australia to send me the Packet 3 in Singapore? Or do I have to have an Australian mailing address? Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!

My advice is to ask them. EVeryone who e-mails them during the business day gets a reply right away.

Ask them.

Yeah what Karo said. I bet you have to be in Oz, it would cost some money to have it sent to Singapore. Maybe if you paid at delivery?



Busy busy busy! I let things pile up on my desk at times, and they catch up eventually. Right now I'm just swamped with stuff, in addition to that I'm changing some jobs and that means more work.

Other things going on:

Last night here in St. Louis it was 70 degrees and we went on a picnic complete with wine, candlelight, music, and honey bbq chicken. It was great.

My dog still has a limp, I'm starting to worry, but it is gradually getting better. Her name is Aspen and if you wanna see her click on my pictures. She's a good girl most of the time.

Natalia and I are planning a trip to Colorado Springs to see the original Aussie in my family. My sister married one (that's how I met my wife) and they live out there now. So we might go there Memorial Day. Weather would be nice I reckon!

Um, anything else? Ummmmm....Cardinals spring training down there in St. Petersburg...getting excited. The new Busch Stadium is going up slow, it'll be interesting to see if they get it done in time.

Mardi Gras parade was last weekend....St. Louis has the 2nd biggest parade in the States, behind the obvious New Orleans. It's a good time and a customer of my bank provided me with free booze and food. That was fun, but Natalia didn't like it, due to it being a bunch of drunks in a big crowd. So I took her to Central WEst End two nights ago to make up for it. That's her favorite place in St. Louis right now. Small shops, tea bar, good restaurants, pretty setting. Good stuff.

Alright that's it. Back to work!

awww what a good husband you are Sean. Sounds so fun!! You have been busy.

I do nothing but go to work, go to class, talk to stewart, watch reality TV. I'm lame. We did go out after class last night to the Cheesecake Factory. It was fun but our waitress sucks. We started out thinking 7 would go, and only 6 did....and she auto grat'ed our ticket (meaning she automatically added a 18% tip...) THe menu states it will be done for parties of 7 or more...I thought that was pretty shady.

oh well.

tipping here sux. they don't care about the service they provide because a tip is expected.

in australia, if they do a good job of serving and the food is good then they get a tip. if it's not, they don't. i wish it was that easy here but i suppose that's what you get for a low minimum wage.

matt

how's your golf game coming along Matt?

i went to the driving range yesterday and was worse than before...but i expected that. i have my next lesson in a week and a half so i'll see how i go then.

matt

Urgent news: I've gone mad. I think this time away from Stewart has made me insane because I AGREED TO TRAIN WITH HIM TO RUN A HALF MARATHON.

He was a cross country runner in HS, I was only a soccer player, a bad ### soccer player, but just a soccer player. Caroline does not like to run unless a soccer ball is at her feet or someone is chasing her...

But I agreed to do this with him.

I must be mad.

Or in love! Mozzies and Marathons . . . what we do for love.

haha no joke

Yep. Definitely nuts.

Silly girl. Exercising is so 1990s.

Mellie congrats again for your exciting news!

Thanks much!!!

Funny... my father in law said when its born, we are supposed to flip it over and make sure it has "Made in Australia" stamped on its arse.

LMAO - that's funny. You need an avatar of that

Done testing - now I have to waste the rest of the day to get to tomorrow

i had to get this bumped up =- it was almost off the page. Sad.

Mellie! Congratulations!! That's wonderful. My thoughts will be with you, your husband, and your little one! May you have the most joyous of pregnancies!

Giant hugs to the expectant Mom!!

LMAO now that's funny

YAY congrats Mellie and Scott! I sure hope that baby wasn't conceived on the flight home??? lol I'm due a week or so before you... are you *barfing* yet?

Old post I know, but yeah, my wife hasn't changed hers yet cos of that. My parents actually changed my surname spelling yeeeears ago but only did it on half my records so it was a royal pain in the arse and it took me til recently to have everything the same spelling. Well except my Medicare card is still the old spelling. Darn. And my library card.

And CONGRATS on the bebe.

Karo when do you leave?? Excited for ya!

I didn't think you had forgotten about me Thursday at 1:45 my journey begins. I've pretty much got everything in order. JUST went to the bank TODAY to get my letter from them, which Iw asn't sure if I needed it or not, so i'm playing it safe and getting it. Other than that I HOPE everything else is in order. I'm super nervous...

I'm worried he hasn't kept the letter to tell us what order to take everything in - he's forgettful sometimes. will definitely keep you posted

Good Luck Caroline!!! I cant wait to hear your good news!!

And to whomever asked... barfing, no.... feeling like it??? YES!!!!

have I mentioned I love you guys?
So it's my last full day at work and time is CRAWLING by.
I finally realized I DO have to have a bank letter I guess? I went monday and tehy SWEAR i'll have it to pick up on Thurs but I'm not optimisitic. Dad said if it's not ready he'd go pick it up and fax it to us in Oz so it's ok.

we're ready. I'm packing tonight. I'm ready to GO GO GO

caroline,

have a great time. every thing will go well.

matt

My thoughts are with you!!!!! You will have a wonderful time and all will be well! Get back and give us details!

Oh -- and what's the bank letter? Is that a copy of your account statement?

Enough with the questions -- celebrate, you're on your way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4 days til Karo's interview! WOo.

Safe in Geelong now - leave for Sydney tomorow All forms are in order, photocopied, and ready to go - right now we are sorting through evidence...

His parents have gotten a kick out of some of our pics from five years ago - we both look sooo much yonger hehehe.

Anyway will let ya know as soon as anything happens

Mine started out like that, all innocent nausea... And currently I cannot keep a thing down!

Well, my innocent nausea is gone and has been replaced with.... not keeping anything down!!

IIcccckkkk.....

IIcccccckk is an understatement! I want a refund! IBS and this makes me feel like I have the plague


Good luck at your interview tomorrow Karo!

bumping

matt

Its almost time for the interview

I was going to try and make it in there but I picked up some casual work that I cant afford to knock back with my sons wedding coming up in a month so I cant get in there an back in time

Am calling them later to get the news. Im not telling though thats Karo's job

I'd hate to not fulfill my job obligations then.


WE GOT IT Stewart is going back to pick it up on Monday - and that's THAT!

Ya'll were right - easy peasy!

I got your text msg YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY darlin' WONDERFUL news CONGRATULATIONS Am really happy for you both YEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Am gonna call you a lil later.

Lorelle

congratulations caroline and stewart.

matt

YAYYYYY!!!! What great news!! Im so happy for you both!! Now you can bring that man home!!!

Wow I can't beleive we let this thread slip to the 2nd page - either we are not on anymore or the DCF thread has gotten very active.

Stewart is here and we had our first weekend together with him here - very nice but exhausting - it feels like there is so much to do!

Other than that - no news. He is going to start applying for jobs this week....i'm nervous

Oh it'll be fine, no worries. Job hunting can be strenous, but if you keep an open mind it will hopefully be fine. If nothing else, get him a job at a hardware store so you can get discounts for a few months on things for your home. Or perhaps a decent clothing retail store, so he can get you a discount on your new summer wardrobe. That's what Natalia did for a few months....discount at JCPenny. Then she eventually got a 'real' job.

We went to the bank yesterday and it turns out, Stewart qualified for a partially secured credit card - YAY for building credit. We paid 99 dollars (which we get back in a year) and he has a five hundred dollar credit limit. I was so excited. hopefully building credit won't be as hard as I thought? Also added him to my bank accounts and credit cards - so we'll see how it goes.

We applied for jobs yesterday - but if nothing comes of it - we'll do the retail thing for a bit while he goes to school. Good plans!

How is everything Sean? No news I take it.

Nothing too exciting, had huge storms over the weekend, and of course I put up a nice gazebo the day before....so it's trashed now. That's how the cookie crumbles I guess. All is well otherwise, my aussie spouse can't believe that we don't get good friday off here at my bank, it's kinda funny. I wish the USA had time off like the rest of the world. OH well. Only 4 or so more years til I defect. Ha.

yeah four day weekend - Stewart and I are chaperoning prom on Friday - you could have MY job

We started our marathon training today - ran 1.75 miles. Well on our way.

Hey all = posted this in Aussie thread BUT Stewart just got a call back from a job! HE applied to be a pharmacy technician at a great hospital here. I have an "in" there who says they are very interested in him...

MOJO GUYS for not only an interview, but a job

I got my visa two days ago!

I'm REALLY curious to know what is in that A4 sized envelope they give you to take on board with you to be opened only by US Customs officials? I guess it's just copies of your documentation you submitted?

Congrats!!! We wanted to know too - but DONT OPEN IT They sure tell you THAT enough do'nt they?

vvil,
Congratulations!!!

You can google "Mysterious Brown Envelope" for an idea of what's in there---MBE used to be the name of the fiance FAQ page
It contains all the docs and applications that you've submitted for the petition + visa application and will be your Permanent Record once you get to the US. It will be sent to Missouris for storage until you file something that they'll need it for (I-751, N-400).

congrats again, and travel safely!

Thanks all!

Hehe yeah I figured it was just that. I've been so nervy with everything it's almost annoying to have yet another thing to hold onto. BE OVER ALREADY!

I fly out on the 8th May (I did "defy" them and booked a cheaper fare before I got the visa). Just 2 and a bit more weeks of work... and one dentist appointment But probably a few drinkies too.

I'm Will by the way, hence the vvill

Damm I missed it when I lost this thread somehow........

Congratulations vvill Hope you had a safe fight yesterday..you would be on US soil by now. All the best to you.