Galateia

Galateia she can file I-751 waiver if she has a divorce decree or she can file form I-751 based in extreme cruelty, and she does not need a divorce for that

Eeek, that means that she's screwed then, since she's not divorced and he'll probably drag his feet on that too. So unless he starts beating her to the point where she can file police reports, VAWA can't help her?

She already has a (conditional) green card, so she won't be filing for VAWA but can instead file to remove conditions on her green card using an I-751, but with a waiver of the joint filing requirement.

There is an option for filing with a waiver on the I-751 that indicates your spouse has abused you, but like VAWA you cannot just claim it, you need to have substantial amounts of proof that it happened (police reports, psychologists reports, photographs of injuries sustained, etc.)

Alternatively, if they divorce, there is a different waiver that does not indicate abuse but that she entered a marriage in good faith that was later terminated through divorce (or annulment). This waiver is said to have a lower burden of proof (because you don't need to document abuse, just a good faith marriage).

Galateia your friend to file I-751 waiver she must submit the divorce decree and she needs to prove a bonafide marriage.To file I-751 based in extreme cruelty she doesn't need to show the divorce decree but she has to prove bonafide marriage and extreme cruelty.To prove extreme cruelty is very hard and she needs a pshychological evaluation stating she is suffering major depression or pos traumatics disorder otherwise they won't approve her waiver based in mental abuse.

They are not divorced, her family is pushing her to stay quiet and put up with everything until she gets her ROC done, but as of right now, it's never going to *get* done because her husband is dangling it in front of her like a carrot.

Can she submit the waiver for the reason that he is refusing to participate and file the I-751 on her own? I believe she has proof of bona fide marriage.

Hi all,

Today I found out a co-worker is on a conditional GC that expires in July, and her psychologically abusive husband is doing some seriously uncool controlling garbage under the threat of not filing her ROC. He has her convinced that if he doesn't file it, she will be deported, etc etc etc. He has physically attacked her once, but it's more daily mental/emotional/psychological abuse, cutting her off from the money she earns, controlling her access to the car, threatening her with deportation if she doesn't act a certain way, etc. It's a sad story that has been told many times on VJ.

I told her to get herself onto this site ASAP and start asking questions, so hopefully she will get a chance to do so but she'll have to do it when he is not home, for obvious reasons.

It's just weighing on my mind so heavily and I feel so badly for her. Can anyone tell me what her options would be? Can she file on her own if he refuses to cooperate? Can she go through VAWA if he hasn't been battering her/police reports filed? I would like to give her more guidance as she's very emotional and I am sure she's going to find all the info on here really overwhelming.

Thanks.

Hi all,

A friend of mine is stationed with her husband overseas. When she went in to have her fingerprints done for the 10 year GC, they came back with an RFE due to "unclassifiable fingerprints" which apparently means she needs to write an affidavit certifying she has not committed any criminal activity during the duration they have been stationed there.

She is in a bit of a panic because she's already almost 2 weeks over her GC expiry date, she doesn't know what to put in the affidavit, can't find any examples anywhere, AND she spent 11 days during her 2 year stay stateside.

So, can anyone help with the following:

-Does she need a report from the 11 days she was stateside

-What does she put in the affidavit?

Also, considering that she got an RFE, is she still in Status considering that she's got an acknowledged and pending petition for a 10 year GC rolling?

Thanks!

HECK YES card arrived today!! It would have been nice to get some freakin' NOTICE, since it was dated 3/11/11.

Oh well, I am just happy it came at all.

California Service Center (16 applicants, 16 approved, 100%)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

WAWA01.............10/01/10..........10/04/10.......11/04/10........01/11/11....

TEA AND HONEY......10/01/10..........10/04/10.......11/12/10........01/12/11.... (GC received 01/20/11)

DARREN&LAURA.......10/04/10..........10/06/10.......11/29/10........02/03/11.... (GC received 02/14/11)

SERENITYNOW........10/05/10..........10/07/10.......11/22/10........01/24/11....

MANUFRED...........10/05/10..........10/12/10.......11/08/10........12/29/10.... (GC received 01/07/11)

MO_MATI............10/05/10..........--/--/10.......11/22/10........01/26/11.... (No NOA received. GC received 01/30/11.)

S_AL_..............10/06/10..........10/12/10.......11/24/10........01/28/11.... (GC received 02/03/11)

SHADOWYU...........10/07/10..........10/15/10.......11/22/10........01/26/11....

MIYABI-BELLEZA.....10/08/10..........10/12/10.......11/22/10........01/21/11....

NAQZ_MRN...........10/12/10..........10/14/10.......11/15/10........01/21/11.... (GC received 02/29/11)

NAD................10/12/10..........10/14/10.......11/22/10........01/18/11....

NICKY&LINDSAY......10/14/10..........10/22/10.......12/02/10........01/31/11....

DR MIRAGE..........10/20/10..........10/21/10.......12/01/10........02/08/11.... (GC received 2/15/11)

MUSTANG-SALLY......10/22/10..........10/28/10.......11/30/10........12/10/10....

HAPPYMARRIEDGIRL...10/26/10..........10/28/10.......11/19/10........01/25/11.... (GC received 1/30/11)

IMSE82.............10/29/10..........11/01/10.......12/01/10........03/12/11.... (RFE received 2/14, responded 3/08)

Vermont Service Center (25 applicants, 12 approved, 48%)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

KHALEDA............10/02/10..........10/05/10.......11/18/10........--/--/--....

FOREVERIDO.........10/06/10..........10/16/10.......12/02/10........02/07/11....

SLY_WOLF...........10/09/10..........10/13/10.......11/12/10........02/04/11.... (GC Received 2/11/11)

JON&LINDSEY........10/09/10..........10/13/10.......11/19/10........--/--/--.... (RFE Received 2/22/11)

GREENEYEDGIRLFL....10/09/10..........10/14/10.......11/22/10........02/04/11....

T_AND_A............10/11/10..........10/19/10.......11/15/10........01/28/11.... (GC Received 2/2/11)

COCO KITTY.........10/12/10..........10/22/10.......11/19/10........02/05/11.... (GC Received 2/18/11)

CUTEPRINCE.........10/14/10..........10/??/10.......11/30/10........02/23/11.... (GC Received 3/1/11)

TOPLAW.............10/15/10..........10/19/10.......12/09/10........03/03/11.... (GC Received 3/7/11)

MSNOOB.............10/16/10..........10/19/10.......01/12/11........03/03/11.... (GC Received 3/10/11)

STONELOVE4EVER.....10/16/10..........10/20/10.......11/22/10........--/--/--....

LUCY4..............10/18/10..........10/21/10.......11/19/10........02/14/11.... (GC Received 2/18/11)

GALATEIA...........10/18/10..........10/27/10.......12/03/10........--/--/--.... (GC Received 3/17/11 without approval notice)

AKEL...............10/18/10..........10/21/10.......11/24/10........--/--/--....

MAROB..............10/21/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/--....

AN1234.............10/21/10..........10/25/10.......--/--/10........--/--/--....

INKYPINKY..........10/25/10..........10/28/10.......01/06/11........03/11/11....

ANDYL526...........10/25/10..........10/29/10.......02/03/11........--/--/--.... (Bio rescheduled for 3/15: winter storms)

SASHALEE...........10/25/10..........10/29/10.......12/21/10........03/15/11.... (Early Bio 12/16)

OLIBECCA1..........10/27/10..........11/01/10.......12/10/10........--/--/--....

DESILU.............10/27/10..........11/01/10.......01/10/11........--/--/--....

GIGI673............10/27/10..........11/02/10.......12/13/10........--/--/--....

STEPH0814..........10/27/10..........11/02/10.......12/14/10........--/--/--....

MIKEY_A............10/28/10..........11/01/10.......12/02/10........--/--/--....

PAULINESPENS.......10/28/10..........11/02/10.......12/21/10........--/--/--....

IMPORTANT!

* Make sure that your VJ Text Editor setting is set to Rich Text Editor.

* Go to the MOST RECENTLY POSTED VERSION of this list (go to the last post and scroll UP) and "Reply" to it, deleting the "quote" tags in your reply.

* Please DO NOT change the font, font size, add colors, stuff like that.

* Please PREVIEW before posting to make sure it is properly formatted.

* Please check that you have not deleted anyone's NAME & DATA OR THESE INSTRUCTIONS.

Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your application

NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter

Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment

Approved = The Date your case was approved

* Please Capitalize your VJ Name when adding it to the list.

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OMFG I just tried to get onto the website and it says my receipt number doesn't exist AND when I tried calling the number it also couldn't find it. It said the number (incl letters) back to me to confirm and it definitely matches.

OMFG please tell me this doesn't mean it was denied or something and I didn't get notice!!! AAAAH! What does this mean?! What do I do? So much for getting any freaking sleep tonight.

Just for timeline sake: filed 10/26/2010.. notice 11/25/10.. biometrics 12/20/10... notice that card in production 02/14/2011

Vermont Service Center

(resident of Texas)

Yikes, I am also a resident of Texas and both filing and biometrics were earlier than yours, but nothing. Now I am worried I got an RFE and my husband threw it out with the junk mail

Hah! For those who can't understand why women would need to go to the washroom more often during your period: imagine you are sitting at your desk. You lean over to get something from the desk drawer, and the twist in your torso causes a sudden FLOOD which you can *feel* is already over the edges of your super-duper-whopper-heavy-duty pad, and you either A- paint the chair seat with a red streak and ruin it, or B- hightail it to the washroom at an awkward waddle as you try to avoid jostling the pad, resulting in the coming of the red sea, and hope that you manage to get pants and pad-ed panties down WHILE you are hovered over the toilet so you don't end up spattering the floor of the washroom.

Provided you are successful, you pray you will get a good two hours out of the new one before you risk leakage to shift as you grab your coffee.

Hi Galateia,

You need put "scheduled" Bio date

Correcting Galateia's Bio date

Thanks!

Is it true we can do walk-in Bios before the scheduled date? And do we send those off to USCIS or does the office that does them send it off for us?

I am so worried about getting an RFE that I'd rather just have an interview than deal with trying to scrounge up extra proof we don't have. I had to prep the package in a matter of HOURS because we screwed up the dates and realized, the day he was flying out of state for a week, that my GC expired 2 weeks earlier than we thought, so it was sent out 2 weeks before expiry instead of 4 weeks.

There was a lot of hysterical running around that morning before his flight getting things together, so I am pretty much resigning myself to nasty RFEs.

We sent the copies of our 2008 tax filing from our accountant and our 2009 confirmation of filing from turbo tax. He threw out the original receipt for the 2008 and we had to re-request the tax return, and the 2009 filing we never got a receipt, just had the money show up in our bank account.

We also submitted our joint bank account showing both our paychecks are direct deposited, our joint credit card, my dental insurance showing that he is under me as my spouse, our flight confirmations for all the trips we have taken together, which was 3 or 4 to see his family and 1 for vacation to Toronto last year with our hotel reservations, etc, as well as my mother coming down to see us.

We also had some cards from his family, including ones referring to meeting me at his brother's wedding this summer. We sent in copies of our lease for 3 years (last 2 + upcoming year) and I think that's about it.

Other than that, we could get affidavits, pictures of us together, joint gym membership, joint blockbuster account, and I opened a second account to link to my paypal that we are about to add him to, but I read that anything that seems too recent is viewed as suspicious.

We tried adding me to our utility, internet, and phone bills, but they would only put me on as an authorized user so the bills don't have my name on them, only his.

At least with an interview they can see us together and know that we are legit. I'm praying for no RFE + no interview, but if I can't have that I would rather have no RFE + an interview, because I've got nuthin' in terms of extra evidence.

Do they go easy on us Canadians? Please tell me they do!

California Service Center (13 applicants)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

WAWA01.............10/01/10..........10/04/10.......11/04/10........--/--/--....

TEA AND HONEY......10/01/10..........10/04/10.......11/12/10........--/--/--....

DARREN&LAURA.......10/04/10..........10/06/10.......11/29/10........--/--/--....

SERENITYNOW........10/05/10..........10/07/10.......11/22/10........--/--/--....

MANUFRED...........10/05/10..........10/12/10.......11/08/10........--/--/--.... (RFE is on the way?)

MO_MATI............10/05/10..........--/--/10.......11/22/10........--/--/--.... (Never received NOA)

S_AL_..............10/06/10..........10/12/10.......11/24/10........--/--/--....

SHADOWYU...........10/07/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/--....

NAQZ_MRN...........10/12/10..........10/14/10.......11/15/10........--/--/--....

NICKY&LINDSAY......10/14/10..........10/22/10.......--/--/10........--/--/--....

DR MIRAGE..........10/20/10..........10/21/10.......12/01/10........--/--/--....

HAPPYMARRIEDGIRL...10/26/10..........10/28/10.......11/19/10........--/--/--....

IMSE82.............10/29/10..........11/01/10.......--/--/10........--/--/--....

Vermont Service Center (20 applicants)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

KHALEDA............10/02/10..........10/05/10.......11/18/10........--/--/--....

FOREVERIDO.........10/06/10..........10/16/10.......12/02/10........--/--/--....

SLY_WOLF...........10/09/10..........10/13/10.......11/12/10........--/--/--....

JON&LINDSEY........10/09/10..........10/13/10.......11/19/10........--/--/--....

GREENEYEDGIRLFL....10/09/10..........10/14/10.......11/22/10........--/--/--....

T_AND_A............10/11/10..........10/19/10.......11/15/10........--/--/--....

COCO KITTY.........10/12/10..........10/22/10.......11/19/10........--/--/--....

TOPLAW.............10/15/10..........10/19/10.......12/09/10........--/--/--....

MSNOOB.............10/16/10..........10/19/10.......--/--/10........--/--/--....

STONELOVE4EVER.....10/16/10..........10/20/10.......11/22/10........--/--/--....

LUCY4..............10/18/10..........10/21/10.......11/19/10........--/--/--....

GALATEIA...........10/18/10..........10/27/10.......11/19/10........--/--/--....

AKEL...............10/18/10..........10/21/10.......11/24/10........--/--/--....

MAROB..............10/21/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/--....

ANDYL526...........10/25/10..........10/29/10.......--/--/10........--/--/--....

SASHALEE...........10/25/10..........10/29/10.......--/--/10........--/--/--....

OLIBECCA1..........10/27/10..........11/01/10.......--/--/10........--/--/--....

DESILU.............10/27/10..........11/01/10.......--/--/10........--/--/--....

STEPH0814..........10/27/10..........11/02/10.......--/--/10........--/--/--....

PAULINESPENS.......10/28/10..........11/02/10.......--/--/10........--/--/--....

IMPORTANT!

* Make sure that your VJ Text Editor setting is set to Rich Text Editor.

* Go to the MOST RECENTLY POSTED VERSION of this list (go to the last post and scroll UP) and "Reply" to it, deleting the "quote" tags in your reply.

* Please DO NOT change the font, font size, add colors, stuff like that.

* Please PREVIEW before posting to make sure it is properly formatted.

* Please check that you have not deleted anyone's NAME & DATA OR THESE INSTRUCTIONS.

Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your application

NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter

Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment

Approved = The Date your case was approved

* Please Capitalize your VJ Name when adding it to the list.

* When you're on this list, please come back to update your information accordingly

* If you cannot add your information yourself, please ask another VJ member to help you do so.

---

Question, do I put the date I received the Biometrics letter (11/19/10), or the date the Biometrics was scheduled for (12/03/10)? I hope I did this correctly- FireFox isn't showing me a Rich Text option. I put myself in chronological order instead of putting myself at the bottom. Feel free to repost my info if I did it wrong.

We didn't have anywhere near as much evidence as I would have liked, but the main pieces we had were tax returns, lease, and joint banking, along with some odds and ends like him being under my dental insurance and cards addresses to the two of us.

We just got the Biometrics letter, so does this mean that we will not get an RFE or does it have nothing to do with the status of the case? Is the Biometrics notice just sent out X number of days after the package is received?

Any insight would be much appreciated.

Dang, it looks like they want the Biometrics stuff before they start reviewing the case for possible RFEs. I was hoping it would mean that we don't need additional evidence, but everything is still up in the air.

We didn't have anywhere near as much evidence as I would have liked, but the main pieces we had were tax returns, lease, and joint banking, along with some odds and ends like him being under my dental insurance and cards addresses to the two of us.

We just got the Biometrics letter, so does this mean that we will not get an RFE or does it have nothing to do with the status of the case? Is the Biometrics notice just sent out X number of days after the package is received?

Any insight would be much appreciated.

Comedy update:

I had a doctor's appt this afternoon, and for the first time in my life, my blood pressure reading was bad. I explained I spent this morning hysterical over the prospect of getting deported, ripping our apartment apart looking for documents, and having screaming matches with my husband over things like "WHERE IS MY PASSPORT?!!" and "I CAN'T REMEMBER OUR TURBO TAX PASSWORD!" so yeah, I imagine my blood pressure is a bit off.

Okay, it's in the mail with signature confirmation for no later than 3pm. Fingers crossed!

Edit: We had to print the I-751 from the apartment office and the printer faded out a big stripe down the left side, obscuring the printed text, so I had to write some of the digits in with pen- in BLUE and then I realized it said BLACK INK, is that going to be a problem?

Relax. Even if you sent it a day before it expires you'll be fine. In 2 weeks time you'll have your Notice of Action - receipt of your package and with that you can travel and work.

For work, use your driver's license and SSN (hope you already got the unrestricted card) - no one but you can decide what proof of employment you show to the employer and DL and SSN is sufficient.

Thank you for replying so quickly! It's a relief to know I won't have to worry about deportation!

However, I don't have a DL (I don't drive), and my SSN is the restricted type- I didn't realize I could get a new one? Should I tell my employer that I'm in the process of renewing my work authorization?

Having finally cornered my husband on prepping our ROC package after nagging him for 2.5 months (our printer has been broken and he's been putting off the hassle of going elsewhere to print) before he flies off to a funeral out of state, I am looking at my greencard so he can photocopy it and it says it expires Nov 5th 2010.

Not Nov 18th, 2010 like I previously thought.

That means that even if we sent it today expedited, there is no way in h*ll it is going to get processed before my greencard expires.

Am I going to get deported? Am I going to lose my work authorization?

Illegals, Id like to say that they dont affect me, but really, they do, the visa process is long, needlessly expensive, and fraught with errors and problems because of them primarily.

I strongly feel that if they want to be in the US, they too should have to go through the legal process and immigrate, to me, its no better than cutting in line because you dont want to wait your turn.

If the authorities were to ask me during a traffic stop or whatever for proof that Im here legally, I have no problems at all with proving it, my rights arent being infringed, its a red herring to complain that it is.

This boils my blood ALL THE TIME. Oh noes, they might ask people for the proof of ID that the USCIS says I am LEGALLY REQUIRED TO HAVE ON ME AT ALL TIMES for the sake of proof of status!

My whitey-white self got pulled into secondary processing at the airport because my greencard expires later this year. Woop dee doodley doo. I was calm and confident, it was fast, and when all was done, the woman complimented me on my nail polish and sent me on my way.

This BS about how people are going to be racially profiled (clearly I was racially profiled at the airport for being a non-US citizen ) is totally ignoring the fact that you have to BREAK THE LAW FIRST. Sorry, but if I am speeding and get caught, the cop is well within reason to ask me for ID, and since I'm REQUIRED to have my greencard with me at all times ANYWAY, I certainly can supply him with my 'papers'.

I used to be a lot more sympathetic to illegal immigration before I had to go through legal immigration. It was such hell that I'd like to chase down and shoot all those people who tried to weasel out of going through it and thus made it harder for me.

That is a stereotype, and a patently false one at that.

Yes. My mother is a complementary health care provider, and agrees with me and my doctor that it's time for me to try this. Don't assume that I am following conventional medicine like a lemming.

I agree. I had to make the big move and change countries twice in my life. I was born in Bosnia and when I was a teenager my family emigrated to Canada. That move was so easy, I instantly fell in love with Canada and living there for 16 years, it feels like home. Moving here was much harder, and somehow just doesn't feel like home. Something's off!

Ditto. Not only that, but I live as far away from Canada as possible without being in Mexico, and it's not financially possible to 'fly back home' which makes me feel like I am living in exile. In the 2+ years I have been here, I have been home (briefly) once.

A big hug to Gemmie and Magentahaze. I hear you.

Agreed, please take the defensiveness elsewhere.

I started this thread because I am miserable here, not to get into a debate about whether or not the US is really as bad as I think it is. I understand why people get upset when their home is criticized, but a thread about whether coming here was a "HUGE MISTAKE" is *not* a thread for those who take said criticism personally.

In the OP, I said I hate it here, and I do. It is not homesickness for me, it is an acute dislike of where I am. Quoting crime stats is not going to change my FEELINGS, and this what this thread is about, FEELINGS. Therefore, we should be fee to express our feelings without having to DEFEND them. If I need to vent about the negative aspects of this country that causing me distress, I should be free to do so without getting censured by offended Americans.

I have "AMURKIA *bleep* YEAH!" shoved down my throat every day living here in Texas, and other than my spouse, there are few shoulders I can cry on because everyone here is rabidly pro-America on everything, even things I consider abhorrent. What's is there to cry about when you live in the AWESOMEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD! *shoots gun into the air*

I don't think stereotypes or judgments of any kind belong in this conversation.

I agree. I'd rather not see what has been a wonderful thread devolve into this again.

I guess, I was banking on the similarities of the two countries rather than looking at the differences. Just look at the thousands upon thousands of complaints (and whining) about chips and ketchup and things that I would consider insignificant.

Today as I sobbed uncontrollably in my doctor's office, I was so grateful that she's also a Canadian trapped here (it's her kids keeping her here) so I didn't have to articulate the fundamental difference in cultures that is so subtle it's hard to fully describe. If anything, it's harder than a complete alien environment as it's similar enough to provoke constant unease and low-grade distress every day, without giving us a target to pinpoint as the cause. I thought it would lessen over time, but it seems to be accumulative instead. We can pinpoint ketchup and Tim Horton's because they're easy to identify, but they're a snowflake on the tip of the iceberg.

It is really disheartening and hard to see the person that you love the most so miserable. My wife became depresssed and homesick, however was really didn't want to tell me this. She really didn't want to hurt my feelings.

So I guess the morale of my story is, Seriously, don't think that you are sparing your spouses feelings by not telling them how you feel about moving here. It is deceptive and leads to misconceptions and warped views of life. Here I thought my wife was just a bit homesick, that is what she told me. I only find out, when it is almost too late to salvage our marriage that she is miserable and depressed in the U.S.. And now, we are stuck in the position of having to pay off some hefty debts while working out communication problems and separated, again. Just be honest with your spouse, holding back because you don't want to hurt their feelings will blow up in the end, it always does.

This is an important warning. It is hard to be open about how bad it is to him, because it hurts him so much, but you are absolutely right that concealing it may be far, far worse in the long run. I am afraid of what it will be like for him when we settle in Canada. Will he have that same sense of constant wrongness wearing on his nerves day after day?

I don't have time to read everything right now, or make a helpful comment, because I am rushing out the door to my job which is a fraction as good as anything I ever did at home, but there are tears running down my face and I can hardly see what I am typing - this resonates with me too. The situations may be slightly different, but the feelings you are all describing are not. I understand exactly. xo

Hugs to you.

The wonderful thing about this thread, if there can be something wonderful about this topic, is finding that so many of us feel the same. We're all facing somewhat similar feelings and struggles. It feels very uniting.

*hugs all around*

What she said ^

Galateia...I hope you don't feel your thread being hijacked!! I really do feel for you and my heart breaks. As it does for everyone else. Thank you though for starting this. I think it's needed....

No hijacking here- this is exactly what this thread is for. The fact is, most people can't relate and it helps so much to be able to hear someone say they understand and know that they really do.

Sorry to suggest somethign small, I didn;t want to insult anyone and you might scoff at it, but it's an option.

I'm absolutely in support of local theatre, so it's not a bad suggestion. When I first got here, I became friends with a professor in the drama department (since moved away) and investigated the local scene, thinking I could at least keep a toe in to keep myself sane. Unfortunately, local tastes don't afford much to work with ... "It's like Seinfeld set to music!" uh, no. Even the university sticks to pedestrian fare (design-wise) and I can't blame them for sticking with what sells. I didn't exactly run screaming, but that was mostly because I was still shellshocked with everything else I was learning about my new home.

I would love to paint full time, but that certainly wouldn't pay the bills. I know many people would love to do what they love to do full time, and that rarely happens.

There are ways to feel fulfilled and it doesn't always have to involve your passion. Start something, do something. You're mind isn't wasting, you're just telling yourself that. You can only go as far as you push yourself.

If you are able to dabble in painting while juggling the rest of your life, I admire you. I mean that quite sincerely. I don't have the energy to make it past dinner some nights, let alone get anything done, and having 2 random days off during the week which are never together makes me feel like I never have a true break from work to recharge and have time for myself. Getting laundry done is a huge accomplishment.

An update: My doctor's office managed to squeeze me into a 10:45 short appointment today, so I will have a chance to talk to her about the depression and anxiety issues. Cross your fingers that she can do something!