AichaKandisha

What do you guys think?

Action Alert

Call your members of Congress today!

Department of Peace bill re-introduction

On February 5th, 2007, legislation to establish a U. S. Department of Peace was re-introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives (The new bill number is HR 808). This landmark measure will augment our current problem-solving options, providing practical, nonviolent solutions to the problems of domestic and international conflict.

We need your support to help make this bill law. Call, fax and/or email your Representative and also spread the word to everyone you know (you can copy this alert and forward to your email address book.)

Nothing you can do will have as much impact as contacting your member of Congress today. Further instructions are given below.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

*** CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ***

Contact your Representative at the U.S. Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121. To find your Representative, visit http://www.congress.org. Tell the staff member who answers your call that you want your Representative to sign on as a co-sponsor of the Department of Peace legislation (HR 808). Request a written response explaining your member's position and the reasoning behind it. (You can call your local office as well.) It is most effective if you call the D.C. office first, then follow-up with a fax or email.

*** WRITE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ***

To write your Representative, click below to get started. This will allow you to send a fax and email to your congressperson.

http://www.thepeacealliance.org/action

***CONTACT SENATORS***

Please contact your Senators as well. There is no bill number as legislation has yet to be re-introduced into the Senate. Urge your Senator to be an initial sponsor in the Senate (reference bill number S.1756 from the last Congress).

Join us now. Create a Department of Peace. Together, we can do this.

MORE ABOUT THE LEGISLATION

Domestically, the Department of Peace will develop policies and allocate resources to effectively reduce the levels of domestic and gang violence, child abuse, and various other forms of societal discord. Internationally, the Department will advise the President and Congress on the most sophisticated ideas and techniques regarding peace-creation among nations.

Additional Highlights

-- Provide much-needed assistance to efforts by city, county, and state governments in coordinating existing programs; as well as develop new programs based on best practices nationally

-- Teach violence prevention and mediation to America's school children

-- Effectively treat and dismantle gang psychology

-- Rehabilitate the prison population

-- Build peace-making efforts among conflicting cultures both here and abroad

-- Support our military with complementary approaches to peace-building

-- Create and administer a U.S. Peace Academy, acting as a sister organization to the U.S. Military Academy.

-- And more…

Learn more at The Peace Alliance website: http://www.ThePeaceAlliance.org

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please check Marianne's website at Marianne.com

Also for a complete listing of upcoming Lectures and Events click here.

I'll let you guys know when I have money and success.

I'll take back all that I said in my earlier post and agree with Jenn!

He very well could be doing all that he is doing for other reasons; he sees that I will never be successful or make enough money so he is wanting to work ASAP and I am a much worse housekeeper and cook than I thought I was so he feels that he might as well do it himself. That puts a whole new perspective on what I'm seeing.

I may very well get home tonight and find him still in bed and he did all of the above for the first 3 weeks because he wanted to make a great first impression.

I can only speak from my experience for the past 3 weeks since my fiance has been here so I don't know if my opinion counts or not!

I don't see that he has been intimidated or not willing to help with the household. In fact, I see just the opposite. He is dying waiting for his SS number (which should arrive today or tomorrow) so that he can be employed shortly. He has gone to restaurants, gas stations, computer stores, etc. asking them if they need help. So far, none of them will take his application or consider him without his SS card. Two places have said he can start working once he has his SS number.

All he talks about is about the day he will be able to provide for everything we need.

In the meantime, he has turned my house upside down in the best way possible! He has reorganized everything in cupboards, cleaned and arranged things in my garage so I can actually fit my car into it, has fixed every major and minor thing possible in the house, has cleaned the house, did laundry all day yesterday, washes the dishes, takes out the trash, fixed my computer, fixed my door, and I'm sure I'm forgetting other things he has done when I am at work! Oh, AND HE COOKS! Delicious food I might add!

I might just have to keep him at home.

So far, my experience has shown that he wants to do everything he can and is willing to 'work' at home while he is waiting to work outside the home.

I'm late in responding but I want to say CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Every feeling you are describing are the exact same things I was feeling except I'm sure they are much more intense than mine were because of the grueling wait that you endured. Give yourself a BIG pat on the back and mark the past few months as a major accomplishment.

Keep yourself busy (way to go on getting your house cleaned in one night!) for the next 2 days with something so that the time will go faster. I couldn't sit still for a second when I was waiting and definitely couldn't sleep until he was here.

Very very soon you will be holding him in your arms at the airport!

me&mymoroccan were reunited 3 weeks ago and we will be getting married January 26th!

congrats on the both of u uniting. Your question has stirred up questions in my mind. I was under the impression that you pick your POE. Also, I live in North Carolina and whenever I go to Morocco, I have to fly from NC to JFK and then take Royal Air Moroc to Morocco. So if JFK is the only airport that gives a temp. EAD, can he use that temp in NC.

You do, for the most part, choose your POE. It was our intention to book thru JFK - push came to shove on booking his ticket and the only affordable, available flight ended up coming thru Chicago. He booked it, I found out after the fact. Good new is: He'll be here this week and at this point I could give a sh!t abt temp EAD....

First of all, major congrats to you noura!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This has been a long time coming.

I am posting very late to this thread so I apologize for bringing up a mute topic since I saw that Said is now going through D.C. However, I wanted to add that my fiance went through ORD very recently and was off the plane and through customs in about 2 minutes. It went very quick and smooth.

Now, the main reason I wanted to post is that when we went to the social security office, they told us that he is allowed to work even without the temp EAD because K-1's are allowed to work once they arrive. The application they sent said that he is authorized for a social security number and authorized to work. Once the K-1 is no longer valid, after marriage, he will have to apply for the EAD. I looked up on the government website about it and it does state that K-1's are authorized to work with or without a temp EAD.

Please tell me if I interpreted something wrong!

I couldn't believe the pile of sandals they had for everyone at the door. Then I'd see them wearing each other's. I saw my fiance walking around in some of his sister's pretty sandals sometimes too. Then when I saw someone put mine on, I had to contain myself! I just couldn't get over the fact that someone else's feet were in my shoes.

I came downstairs one morning to find all of the rugs off the floors, soaking wet outside and his sisters using the garden hose in the house. The water was running all over the floors. I must have had a really horrified look on my face because his sisters, aunts and his mom started laughing when they saw me.

My fiance always tells me if he can hear that I have a sniffle or a cold that I must have gone outside with my hair wet. The last time he told me this, I must have heard the thought that went through my head as always (yeah right, you've got to be kidding me) because before I could say anything he added, "I don't know. That's what my mother always tells me."

I know the temperature is going to be a big problem for us when he gets here. The rental car we had in Morocco was always too cold for him with the a/c on. He always had to have the window open. One of us will always be either too cold or too hot I'm sure.

The whole sharing the glass thing. My face tells all what I'm thinking about and feeling so I really had to really fight hard to be sure not to let my eyes bug out of my head whenever someone would use my glass at his family's house. I loved it when they would bring a bottle of water and then one glass for the dozen or so people sitting around the table. That and I love to drink a lot of water when I'm eating. So compared to them, I felt like I was guzzling the water so I would try not to hog the one water glass form everyone else. But then I'd find all of the bread (which I am soooo not used to eating) getting caught in my throat because my throat was so dry from the bread. They always wondered why I was eating so slow. I didn't want to say that I was practically choking trying to get the bread down. I told my fiance that I had eaten more bread with him in two weeks than I had in 2 years. Then he proceded to tell his mother that for me...

Humor! Whew! It's not just me then! I have had those lectures too. We can laugh about so many things but once in a while, there will be something that I said and he will go on and on so serious about why it isn't funny.

I tried to get all the quotes for all of these things. I need to practice figuring that out some more.

When your SO's did get here, how much stuff did they bring with them? How much room will I really have to make in my closet and dressers?

I want a pony!

Sarah's new pony. Let's help Sarah name her new pony, shall we?

Can I have some of that pizza? I *love* pizza for breakfast! mmmmmmmmmmm

The Pastime has your order ready for pickup. Tomorrow it will be pizza for breakfast!

in =

you buying?

What would you like? I'm buying.

D'Bronx at 3904 Bell St 2450 Grand Ave. -- Crown Center

Pick it up in 15 minutes! Enjoy!

Is this in KCMO? I swear that's like the same address as D'Bronx in KCMO. They have the best pizza and hoagies! I miss it! We went there for one of my high school homecomings. Yummy!

ETA: oops! I forgot the most important thing! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes it's KCMO!

Finally my fiance got his ticket and he will be flying home to me on Sunday!!!! I have been procrastinating making room for him in my closet and dresser. Now I will actually have to do that tomorrow. He can't be bringing that many clothes, can he? Anyone else care to share their experience with how much their SO's brought with them? He says he's bringing 3 big suitcases.

Congratulations Jean! I am so happy for you. You have waited so so long. I kept wondering all along if Casa really meant to come for the visa so I think it's quite normal to wonder. I can't wait to hear that he has his visa in his hands! He will be here next Friday!

Congratulations and have a sweet reunion!

What would you like? I'm buying.

D'Bronx at 3904 Bell St 2450 Grand Ave. -- Crown Center

Pick it up in 15 minutes! Enjoy!

with the roads like they are

I arranged a delivery for ya.

(I don't know why the quotes aren't working)

congratulations!!! No more nights of waiting!! When will he be here?

No more nights in fear of Casa! His brother is still working on arranging the flight for Saturday or Sunday. I hope he arranges it quickly!

Ok i'm totally losin it. I had no idea what this thread was about. I thought you wanted to have like a virtual party makin' pretend we were chargin stuff.

I really have to stop workin' so hard 'cause not only that but immediately I started thinking what is allowable/unallowable expenses per our travel regulations. rofl.

congratulations!!!!! When does he fly in???

No alcohol on the company visa, keep all receipts.

in =

you buying?

What would you like? I'm buying.

D'Bronx at 3904 Bell St 2450 Grand Ave. -- Crown Center

Pick it up in 15 minutes! Enjoy!

in =

you buying?

What would you like? I'm buying.

On topic for a brief moment:

Qur'an 30:21

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ~ِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجا ً لِتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُمْ مَوَدَّة ً وَرَحْمَة ً إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَات ٍ لِقَوْم ٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

Wa Min 'Āyātihi 'An Khalaqa Lakum Min 'Anfusikum 'Azwājāan Litaskunū 'Ilayhā Wa Ja`ala Baynakum Mawaddatan Wa Raĥmatan 'Inna Fī Dhālika La'āyātin Liqawmin Yatafakkarūna

And one of His signs is that He created mates for you from yourselves that you may find rest in them, and He put between you love and compassion; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect.

A good exercise - reflect on the meanings of the words mawada and rahma - roughly translated as love/affection and mercy/compassion. What actions in a marriage would show mawada and rahma? What would you like your partner to do, to demonstrate love and compassion? What do you do for your partner, to show mawada and rahma?

I love this rahma.

I'm so excited I had to post again!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just got the call too right after posting this in the Wednesday thread (LOL):

Please phone ring. PLEASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSE

My fiance is booking his flight for Saturday or Sunday but with 2 hours to go today to here yet from Casa for him to pick up the visa. That leaves two days and 2 hours left to get his visa before his flight.

...please Casa forgive me for all of the bad things that I've said about you and thought about you and as soon as you give us the visa, I promise to never say or think anything bad about you again...I love you Casa...

He will be picking up his visa tomorrow so it's not in hand now. sonicliz and I must have heard from our sweeties at the same time!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mine just got a call to pick his up tomorrow (another night of waiting)!

I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe it's Wednesday already. It seems like this week is flying by for some reason!

Yes so the rest of us can our phone calls sooner!!!

Please phone ring. PLEASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSE

My fiance is booking his flight for Saturday or Sunday but with 2 hours to go today to here yet from Casa for him to pick up the visa. That leaves two days and 2 hours left to get his visa before his flight.

...please Casa forgive me for all of the bad things that I've said about you and thought about you and as soon as you give us the visa, I promise to never say or think anything bad about you again...I love you Casa...

Big Congratulations to you and Youseff!!!!! I am giddy with anticipation to see pictures of your new addition to the family come January!

I thank all of you for all of your kind messages!

I am STILL waiting to hear something. He turned in his passport yesterday and we still have yet to get their call to pick up the visa.

Every step feels like a huge victory! Congrats and may your journey be short and sweet!

This is the reason so many of the wonderful people who used to share here have stopped posting much, if at all.

All of these wonderful people that you speak of can post whenever they want. We can respond however we want. That's VJ- a public forum.

boohoo.

It might be a public forum but it has a TOS so people cannot respond however they want without consequence.

Consequences are nonexistent in this forum, IMO. If/when it would happen, honestly, I wouldn't mind seeing the results.

To tell one person that their relationship is wrong or bad; you might as well tell them that their DNA is all wrong. It is who they are and no relationship is without it's power struggle. And only the two people in the relationship are the only ones that can work this out among themselves.

So there are 2 options: Either work on yourself before getting into a relationship until you are completely healed from the pain in your past (and everyone has pain-even the most perfect parents and most well-intentioned parents end up hurting their children to some extent); or find a partner who has the capability and wants to grow and is willing to help you grow as well.

I don't see any of this as putting on rose-colored glasses. It speaks truth to me.

That's just my two cents.

You had a very beautiful post! I wanted to comment on these 2 things...THEY ARE EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY THE WHOLE TIME so THANK YOU so much for "nutshelling" it so well. This is the breakdown of all my posts .. I just couldn't get it to come out right in the short way so I tried to use examples to get the point accross. I just had very poor word choices. THANKS AGAIN

amal

Thank you! But for the record, I got what you were saying and what Jackie was saying. IMO, I see no reason as to why you should be apologizing! It's interesting to me to see the people that do apologize and much more interesting to see the people that don't apologize.

Welcome to Casa: Wait for our call. How can we not help you?

there, much better

LMAO!!!!!!!!! Exactly!

Strange. Hamid told me the woman he spoke with today was very specific about the need to be there early tomorrow.

I will never figure out Casa, and at this point, I don't want to! I just want to be done with them!!!

You and me both!