TBoneTX

ExxonMobil's long-time admin building has been imploded. See video. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Baytown's ExxonMobil 'White House' comes down in implosion BAYTOWN, Texas — A piece of Baytown’s skyline and history are now a thing of the past. ExxonMobil’s Main Office Building, affectionately called the “White House” by locals, was imploded at 6:30 a.m. Saturday. The 10-story structure, located at Decker and Rollingbrook drives, had stood since 1971 and served as a prominent symbol of the company’s long-standing presence in the city. [...] https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/baytowns-exxonmobil-implosion-2025/285-de757558-83d5-4212-8201-ae896b341025

If she lives near or can easily get to the border, see this thread for another possibility: If you take this route, be sure to add to the linked thread.

Surprise Saturday GS report, see man: While on an errand, we accidented by a GS, serendipitous we man. The take: -- NIP portable drawer safe, NIP hands-free cellphone-holder*, L/S Carhartt pocket t-shirt = $Many ($2x2x2 +2+2), deal man Total = $Many ($2x2x2 +2+2) *given to a delighted Mini-B., thrilled wee man

Iran Clarifies Its New 'Jew Smasher 3000' Missile Is Meant Only For Peace TEHRAN — The Islamic Republic of Iran addressed concerns over the recent acquisition of a brand new ballistic missile called the "Jew Smasher 3000" with a spokesman for the regime insisting that the missile is intended to be used for only peaceful purposes. "We don't want people to get the wrong idea about our new intercontinental ballistic missile that is capable of reaching Tel Aviv and vaporizing all Jew dogs within a 50-mile radius," said Muhammad Muhammad al-Muhammad to reporters. "This is [...] https://babylonbee.com/news/iran-clarifies-its-new-jew-smasher-3000-missile-is-meant-only-for-peace

Really good article. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Is Rioting Acceptable? If So, How Much? "We don't have s— under control," a Los Angeles Police Department commander told me on Sunday. "It's a godsend that the National Guard and the Marines are here." Officers on the street felt the same way, though the LAPD forbids them to express that view in public, the commander said. There are two different pictures of what happened in Los Angeles—the official one from California's elected leaders and the media, and the ground-level view from law enforcement. On Saturday—a week after President Trump activated the National Guard and six days after Gov. Gavin Newsom told Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that local law enforcement officers were "sufficient to maintain order"—a crowd broke into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center downtown to liberate the detainees. The vandals overpowered the skeletal crew of National Guard soldiers, using improvised bombs made from M-80 firecrackers, nails and broken glass. Eventually about 100 law-enforcement officers arrived to put down the attempted jailbreak, but not before damage to the facility. The day before, according to the commander I interviewed, a mob [...] https://www.wsj.com/opinion/is-rioting-acceptable-if-so-how-much-06531b5b?st=1sC54x

Trump's Army celebration offers startling split screen with angry Democrats Call me crazy, but dissing our nation's army on its 250th birthday seems like yet another Democrat blunder. What a split-screen Americans witnessed this past Saturday. On the one hand, they saw thousands of patriots cheering our nation's troops, and on the other, "mostly peaceful" protesters screeching that our democracy is under assault. Demonstrators were caught on video waving Hamas flags, jeering our veterans and beating up cops. Angry crowds led by the likes of Randi Weingarten, whose teachers' union does more to promote social injustice than any other organization on earth, as they graduate class after class of minority kids unable to read and condemned to lives without futures. Democrats, who crowned Joe Biden their candidate in 2024 by resetting the primary calendar to guarantee their incumbent's ascension, sued to keep RFK, Jr. off the ballot, banned competitors from running, and tried to lock up Donald Trump, are no friends to democracy. Democrats, who lied to the country about Joe Biden's mental decline and tried to make an incompetent man president for four more years so they could hold onto power, should shut up about tyranny. The left is especially furious that democracy failed them last year, when a solid majority of the country elected Donald Trump and handed the government over to Republicans. [...] https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/liz-peek-trumps-army-celebration-offers-startling-split-screen-angry-democrats

An option other than do-it-yourself or retaining an attorney is to use a service. One of our highly reliable VJ partners is: https://www.visajourney.com/partners/platinum-immigration-services/ I have no conflict of interest in making this recommendation.

Thrilling (sigh) Friday non-ES report, see man: Before bed, we called the hospital and learned that Mama T-B. indeed ate din-din without incident, major relief man. We zzz'd like a rock and didn't want to un-zzz but had to, si man. Breakfast/lunch was PB&J sandwiches, ingest Two Guys man. We had a poopload of things to get done before the weekend, sigh man. We made calls, ran errands, and did stuff for us, Uncle T-B., & Mama T-B., around-race we man. At the Skilled Noosering facility, we found Uncle T-B.'s undershirts but not his pants, si and no man. We were unable to find out why Uncle T-B.'s new CD hasn't gone through yet, frustrating man. We collected more needs from Mama T-B.'s casa, very particular senior she man man. Mama T-B. had caucuses and tests in the hospital, ordered-to-stay-away we man. Part of this order was because she has lost bowel & bladder control, humiliated senior she man. We hung out at Mama T-B.'s casa, cool heels we man. We were urged to read her Long-Term Care policy, read we man. Mama T-B. called us about her cardiac caucus, brief senior she man we man. The doc didn't think that she'd had a heart attack at all, order echocardiogram he man. She told us of her very long caucus with the neurosurgeon, major discussion man. The neurosurgeon then called us, brief neuro man we man. Nerve compression of her LMany-LMany disc spaces is causing her troubles, conclude he man. Surgery is not an option for many distinct reasons, agree we man. Recovery of walking and the above control is unlikely, sigh man. Injections might (or might not) help, nothing to lose by trying man. Regardless, Mama T-B. would probably need Many/Many care, around-the-clock man. This would be either at a new facility or in-casa care, some options man. Quality of life would be negligible in any event, sigh man. Mama T-B. very soberly asked the nooser for a DNR form, do not resuscitate man. The chaplains will bring it probably on Saturday, OK man. We were finally allowed to appear at the hospital, duly appear we man. In short order, see man: -- Mama T-B. was taken for her MRI, internally see senior she man man. -- The echocardiographer showed up, promised to return later man. -- Din-din was served, advance instructions from senior she man to we man man. -- Mama T-B. was returned from the MRI, return senior she man. -- Din-din was served, ingest senior she and share leftovers we man man. -- The noosering shift-change occurred, new noosers man. -- In the presence of both nooser shifts, Mama T-B. very soberly asked for a DNR form, do not resuscitate senior she man man. Mama T-B. caucused with us about lifespans, si man. Everyone at her independent-living place wants a neat, easy, nonburdensome death, believe it we man. We don't like this part of life but it's part of life, si and sigh man. To help her, we are willing to change our life during this last part of hers, sigh but si man. Mama T-B. also divulged why we were an only child, finally man. She nearly bled to death when we were born, we suspected something like this man. She & Papa T-B. agreed that one child with both parents was better than 2 children with no mother, si man. Ex-Mrs.-T-B. brought a sandwich for Mini-B.'s din-din, satiated wee man. Movie night was more Breaking Bad episodes, watch Two Guys man. Many (2+2) bowls of Costco popcorn were consumed, ingest Two Guys man. This tallies to Many (2x2x2x2 +2), impressive man. No party with the rubias tonight, no cavort we man. We aren't sure what will happen on Saturday, no man. And that was/is our thrilling Friday, si and sigh man.

We wouldn't stoop to a human behavior, no man.

Friday ES report, see man: Beyond all hope (see Thrilling [?] Friday non-ES report), we attended one ES, see the take man: -- coffee-filter separator, herb scissors, ~full bottle screen-cleaner, new Turkish bathmat = $Many ($2+2+1), steal man Total = $Many ($2+2+1)

Chimps have inferiors (= human beings), see man.

In the interview, straight from the CO's mouth.

They'll be well aware of this ahead of time, but you should certainly talk about it and learn precisely what the protocol, procedures, and timing will be.

Less-Than-Thrilling Thursday report, see and sigh man: We got to bed at Many (2+2+1) a.m. and got perhaps Many (2+2) hours of zzz, long night man. Indignant miu demanded lunch/din-din upon our arrival, understandable man. Lunch for Mini-B. was rice + tuna, ingest wee man. Lunch for us was Tuna Glop, ingest we man. Uncle T-B. phoned us Many (2+1) -- si man, Many (2+1) -- times to tell us that his phone isn't working, man. He has also resumed complaining about things to everyone after just 2 days home, man. He'll get in real trouble soon enough, tired of making excuses for him man. We spent over Many (2x2x2) hours at the infernal hospital, see below man. Mama T-B.'s high cardiac troponin reading & wacky EKG indicated a heart attack, no symptoms man. It is NSTEMI, Non-ST-segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction, the less-bad kind man. Probably a coronary artery blockage, to be determined and see below man. Mama T-B.'s bed was moved twice within the Emergency Department, "organize our patients" man. An MRI was ordered early, all day to do it man. MRI was never done, no and man. Consults with cardiologist & orthopedist were expected, all day to do it man. Consults never occurred, no and man. Meanwhile, Mama T-B. was on "nothing by mouth" because of potential cardiac cath-lab procedure, man. She had had nothing except sips of water since din-din at her casa, too long man. She didn't get her real room until Many (2+2+1) p.m., full hospital man. The ####### nurses made her scream in pain while transferring her to the room bed, man. No one oriented her to the room, bed, or fixtures in the slightest, not one damned item man. The television was on a news station LOUD the entire time, irritating as hell man. Many (2+1) -- si man, Many (2+1) -- separate personnel insisted on taking her complete medical history, man. Mama T-B. was partially in tears, and we were ready to draw blood, not in the medical sense man. Furthermore, no one could answer whether she was an "observation patient" or "inpatient," big difference man. It was obvious far earlier that the useless cardiologist wasn't coming or even reachable, no man. We lobbied for Mama T-B. to be fed, common decency man. This took some doing, man. Finally, a nooser brought a menu with half an hour to go for ordering din-din, finally man. We just got it in, waited on hold for some time man. The noosers all disappeared, caucus or coffeebreak man. We had to find a styrofoam cup, ice, water, & a straw for Mama T-B., search we man. Mama T-B. began crying from hunger & frustration, zero accomplished man. Her din-din was served, finally man. We tried to adjust the over-bed tray to proper height, wouldn't set & hurt Mama T-B. man. Mama T-B. began crying as unconsolably as when Papa T-B. died, only other time we've heard that man. She said, "I used to be independent and today was a step back and I just want to die, si man," si man. We managed to find the only mature, understandably-speaking nooser in the place, find nooser man we man. Nooser helped with the tray table & in settling down Mama T-B., helpful nooser she man. We helped Mama T-B. spread napkins & open little sealed containers, si man. Mama T-B. was trembling so badly that she nearly spilled her first bites/sips of things, awful to behold man. Mama T-B. sharply refused nooser's offers to help feed her, independence-wishing senior she man man. Mama T-B. chased us out to go feed Mini-B., bye we man. We weakly told her that she would feel better after finally eating, truth man. We hope that Mama T-B. was able to finish her din-din without disaster, shred of self-respect for senior she man man. We are certain that if Friday is as disastrous as Thursday, Mama T-B. will lose the will to live, Many00% man. We did request a consult from loser cardiologist's far better colleague, request we man. Orthopedist is the only one who actually tries to do anything to help, si man. We can only pray, nothing more we can do man. Din-din (after Many [2x2x2] p.m.) was nuked Aldi lasagna, ingest Two Guys man. Movie night was more Breaking Bad episodes, watch Two Guys man. Many (2+2) bowls of Costco popcorn were consumed, ingest Two Guys man. This tallies to Many (2x2x2 +2+2+2) for the week, if we recall man. Blessedly, an ES on Friday is nearby, need some normalcy we man. We have multiple cleanups of Uncle T-B.'s & Mama T-B.'s daily issues, phone calls we man. No party with the rubias tonight, are you kidding us man. And that was/is our decidedly-less-than-thrilling Thursday, report we man.

This, si man.

Petition validity is typically extended automatically by consulates in 4-month increments for up to a year. It never hurts to e-mail the consulate ahead, with A# in Subject line, to request said extension.

Gracias, D ma'am.

Mama T-B. still hanging out in Emergency, no beds man. Expecting cardiac & ortho consults today, caucus man. Shall lunch Mini-B. & ourself, then head over, plan we man.

Bring the original extension letter, rather than a copy. Some states and offices are particular about that.

Thread is shifted from the main "AOS from K Visas" forum to the Case Progress subforum. Woo-hoo!

If you knew jan22's background, you'd view him as a "VJ god" in this area. Good luck, and definitely report back!

Hoping for the best.

Scintillating Wednesday repartee, yawn man. ------- Thrilling Wednesday-on-Thursday report, see man: The day began with our only smile, see man: We man: Wake up, si wee man! It's noon, si man! Mini-B. (sleeping): Oh, ####, zzz man. Lunch was PB&J sandwiches, ingest Two Guys man. Left to take Mama T-B. to Pain doctor, leave we man. Mama T-B. more immobile on walker than ever, excruciating man. Infernal doctor pretty much blew her off, man. Got her back after Many (2+1) hours, completely spent senior she (and we) man man. What a waste, man. Mini-B. was with ex-Mrs.-T-B. during this time, non-Two Guys afternoon man. She fed him a late lunch, 2 p.m. man. At Many (2+2+2 + half-of-half an hour) p.m., we were called by Mama T-B.'s crib person, call he man we man. "Mama T-B. fell and I had to call the EMTs to lift her up, si man. She isn't hurt, no man." (Such calls are informational, si man.) We called Mama T-B., call senior she man we man. She had slid off her computer chair and caught herself before a serious fall, rug-burn only man. However, she was now on her sofa (gracias to EMT) and couldn't stand up, no man. We offered to bring her BK, offer we man. We and Mini-B. set right out, immediacy man. Din-din was BK*, ingest Two Guys and senior she man man. *bought WUOCs, financially savvy we man Mama T-B. tried to stand up on her own, fruitless man. We tried for one solid hour to get her up, many fruitless attempts man. Finally, she said that she ought to go to Emergency, sigh man. It took a solid half-hour to get her packed, meticulous instructions man. Ex-Mrs.-T-B. collected Mini-B., si man. We followed the EMTs to the hospital, si man. By now it was close to midnight, si man. Mama T-B. expressed her orthopedic issues, a great many man. Routine bloodwork indicated cardiac troponin levels of Many00, heart-attack level man. !!? We stayed until nearly Many (2+2) a.m., no reason to stay further man. They will admit her for observation for now, si man. They will of course concentrate on the cardiac issues, big surprise with all that man. We doubt that they will deal substantively with the orthopedic issues, man. We don't know what will happen when/if she gets out, sigh man. Miu was frantically hungry, feed miu we man. We will probably get less than Many hours of sleep, texts/calls sure to pour in man. No party with the rubias tonight, obviously no cavort we man. And that was/is our thrilling Wednesday, report and we man.

Pretending it's Wednesday, we enjoy here our Semiofficial Semiweekly VAWA-Thread Joke: =========================================== OBSERVATIONS FOR THE DAY As a kid, I used to watch "The Wizard of Oz" and wonder how someone could talk if he didn't have a brain. Then I discovered Facebook. My brain says Alaska. My heart says the Caribbean. My wallet says take a walk around the block. Sign in a restaurant: "We do not have WiFi. Talk to each other. Pretend it's 1995." You're not losing your memory. You're simply really good at letting go of the past. I just finished a comprehensive financial-planning program. It looks like I'll be able to retire at 97 years old and live comfortably for about 11 minutes.

The OP's visa was approved in April 2025 (see timeline). Old thread is now locked.