to_hope

I deeply apologize if this topic is floating around somewhere, but I couldn't find what I was looking for.

My dog is a medium sized, so I know she'd have to go into cargo. Also, I'll be moving to SC, so driving is out. I'm hoping that maybe someone else flew with a larger dog, and how that went. I need to know which airlines take them, and the rules and regulations after we arrive. I've heard she'd need to go into quarantine for a month. I'd also make sure her shots were up to date, and I know she's healthy enough for flying. It probably won't be until summer, so I thought that if I could find a red eye, and non stop it would help with her confusion. I would be coming from Vancouver Island and at this point, I'm not sure if I'll fly off the Island and transfer or take the Clipper ferry from Victoria to Seattle and fly from there...

Thanks!

Hi there- I don't have personal experience with this, but I did work at a Vet. Hospital for a couple years and remember people re-locating with their pets. I'm not 100% sure on my information, but don't think he'll need to be in quarantine if he is up-to-date on all his vaccines and has not had a recent illness. The only time I remember an animal patient needing to be quarantined was when they were moving to the UK- not the USA.

Also, I think you will need to have a vet check the same week as your trip, bringing a letter from the vet to the airline stating that your animal is in good health. Many vets will give you a dose of a calming medicine for your animal so that they will not be so stressed with the trip (and will prevent them from puking in their crates).

My best advice would be to call the airline much in advance so you can make sure you have time to prepare and follow their procedures. I expect that every airline will be a bit different.

Its nice to hear about these reviews! Thanks!

So what all do they do at the physical? Just xrays, take blood, check chloresterol and ask questions?

Do children have to have the medical too? And pay the same fee?

Hi there - check out http://www.panelphysicians.com All the answers to these questions are on that site. Hope that helps!

I know the courier fee is so expensive! And that was the "in Ontario" cost... outside of ON it is even more $$.

Thanks again TM.

I actually called again and got a different operator and she said we were good to go. I told her about my previous call and she said Travis was new... so hopefully things are on the right track.

Hopefully I will get an email response next week with good news.

Rena

Phew! What a scare. I hope things move well and within your hoped-for timeline!

I went to Dr. Seiden and Associates for me medical this morning. I thought I'd write a review because I appreciated reading others' before I went.

I had to be there by 6am because their X-ray technician had to leave early that day. My dad drove with me and we parked in a public lot about 2 small blocks away. It was a $9 flat fee. We were waiting outside of the office by 5:55am, first in line followed by 6 or 7 others. At 6am the receptionist opened the door and let us in.

At the front desk she took our interview letters and directed us to the main waiting room, which was empty. I sat for maybe 5 minutes and then was called by the receptionist; I followed her into a small office. I had a seat and she took my passport, immunization records, and 3 photos. She typed some stuff up, had me sign a consent for the medical, had me pay ($275 plus $50 courier fee) and gave me my receipts and a packet of papers for the medical exam with my passport and immunization records. Then she directed me to sit down in a row of chairs in the hallway by the X-ray room.

There were already 6 people sitting there! I asked and they said they had gotten to the office at 5:30am. Yikes! We waited about 10 minutes and then the first patients were called into the X-ray room. Another 10 minutes later and it was my turn. Everything was very quick- I went into the X-ray room (which was small and had an archaic X-ray machine!), gave the technician my packet, undressed from the waist up, put the paper gown on, and had my x-ray. The technician goes into a little room (I assume a developing room) and told me to get dressed again. By the time I was dressed, she was out again. She gave me my packet back and directed me to another set of chairs in a different hallway.

I waited here for a good 20 minutes until I was finally called into an exam room. Then more waiting. Finally I was called out of the room for blood work. The "lab" is about twice the size of a half-bathroom and packet full of papers and vials etc. Not exactly a modern looking place! The nurse there was quiet but friendly- she had a hard time finding my vein so it hurt a bit, but it was over soon. Then back to the exam room.

I had my height and weight taken and then my blood pressure and pulse- which were high due to my nerves, but that didn't seem to be a concern. The man who did this then left and I waited some more. Finally the nurse told me to undress and then two female doctors or a doctor and a nurse (?) came in. The older lady asked me questions about my health and the younger lady did the physical exam. She did a breast exam, pressed on my stomach, and looked at some scars I have from previous surgeries. Then she felt my feet and looked at my eyes and I was done! The woman who did my physical assured me that everything looked good. I handed in this little form they gave me to the front desk and off I went!

Overall the staff were very friendly even though they were rushing around everywhere. The office is small and sort of run-down or warn, but it seemed clean and was warm. I went in at 6am and was out at 7:50am- under two hours! I think it helped that I was first in line for the group that came at 6am.

Hope this review helps ease someone else's nerves! I was nervous for my appointment, but I think most people are to some extent. I expect my blood results will be fine and then I just have my interview left! Almost there....

I got my DATE!!!

APRIL 16th!!!!!

they scheduled it today

Yay!!!!! Congratulations!!!

And welcome to the others!

Yeah, I can't figure out how to post mine at all. It says the file is too big!

I just upload mine on photobucket.com and then it gives me an IMG code right next to the photo.... just copy and paste it into the message text here and voila!

Sombercat- I love the one of the three of you! They both look like they have arms around you- you are one cherished woman! Our photo was taken at a Lake Ontario waterfront park. It was kind of far from our reception site, but the backdrop was just so great we made it work. Thanks for the complement.

Sprailenes- So gorgeous! I love the drama of the chandeliers. Were those one of the reasons for your choosing that venue?

to hope, would that happen to be in Burlington? That looks similar to the Burlington waterfront that I have walked a zillion times!

Yep! Spencer Smith. Good eye!

Haha! I was just gonna ask about that! That's so neat! It's a great picture. You were kinda right by the path that starts at Brant St. and Lakeshore Rd., right? Like kinda near the gazebo (where I spent many many hours of my mis-spent youth! There's not much else to do when growing up in Burlington...) Is that right?

Anyway, these are great pictures everyone! Keep 'em coming! My husband and I are chatting on MSN and going through the wedding photos that we have so far to compile a bunch to put on DVDs to send out with our 'thank you' cards. When we're done, maybe I'll post a few.

This gazebo?

I don't have any photos yet obviously, but we're actually splurging on our photographer so I'm VERY excited for them. This is who we are using: http://www.claudiahungweddings.com

I can't WAIT and just had to share my love for her work.

She is so talented! I bet you are just going to LOVE the results!

ETA: I read her "about" section. I want to be her friend.

we didn't hire a professional photographer either.. but looking back I kind of wish we did.. we had a family friend take our pictures and he did an adequate job and he did give us the pictures as a wedding gift...

these are a couple of my favourites..

I really like the first one- all the green is striking, especially with the contrast between it and your white dress.

We actually couldn't afford a good photographer either, but ended up with an amazing one because he was just starting out in the wedding industry and was building his portfolio. He does a lot of art stuff and when I saw it I just ask by chance if he did weddings and lucky me he was starting to think about it! That was a year before our wedding. A couple months after I asked he came back and asked if I was still interested... so we got an amazing deal on an incredible photographer! It was a huge blessing b/c we were on a tight budget.

Sombercat- I love the one of the three of you! They both look like they have arms around you- you are one cherished woman! Our photo was taken at a Lake Ontario waterfront park. It was kind of far from our reception site, but the backdrop was just so great we made it work. Thanks for the complement.

Sprailenes- So gorgeous! I love the drama of the chandeliers. Were those one of the reasons for your choosing that venue?

to hope, would that happen to be in Burlington? That looks similar to the Burlington waterfront that I have walked a zillion times!

Yep! Spencer Smith. Good eye!

Sombercat- I love the one of the three of you! They both look like they have arms around you- you are one cherished woman! Our photo was taken at a Lake Ontario waterfront park. It was kind of far from our reception site, but the backdrop was just so great we made it work. Thanks for the complement.

Sprailenes- So gorgeous! I love the drama of the chandeliers. Were those one of the reasons for your choosing that venue?

Well we got married in a JOP's living room as I mentioned in the other thread, we asked him to take our picture:

Your smile is so bright!! I can imagine your joy that day.

Thanks!! The funny thing is, after I looked at the photo I told Glen, damn you need new clothes that fit! LOL he lost quite a bit of weight before I moved here, but didn't get new clothes. So his trousers, jacket and shirts are all oversized now! I didn't notice it in person, but you notice things more in photos!

Well good for him loosing weight! If there was ever a good reason to go on a shopping spree that would be it! Lucky him

I was so nervous too! On our "first" wedding day I even forgot to put on my jewelry haha. Our legal marriage happened in a hospital with only 15 guests, because my mom was recovering from a serious illness. She had been in the hospital for a little over 4 months, mostly in a coma suffering from "Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome." We were called to her bedside twice when her doctors thought she would die, but miraculously she is alive and well today!

Our second wedding was in June 2008 and was a lot bigger! We had around 200 guests, so it was quite different from the first. Both were amazing experiences though. (And I was a lot less nervous the second time around!)

Here is a

for our first wedding.

Oh wow that is such a sweet and lovely video! Thanks for sharing, it made me wanna cry!! That is wonderful to hear your Mom is recovered.

You should give USCIS the link to that video, that's all you need for proof of a bonafide marriage!!

lol- It was in our small local newspaper too so I'm bringing that in!

Well we got married in a JOP's living room as I mentioned in the other thread, we asked him to take our picture:

Your smile is so bright!! I can imagine your joy that day.

I have a lot of favourites, but this is one of my "posed" favourites. The way we are all posed here was my sister's idea (BM) and I just love the way it turned out!

The posts below about wedding stories got me looking at my wedding photos again! I love to hear other people's stories and I love too see their photos even more. What's your favourite wedding photo (or favourites)?

I was so nervous too! On our "first" wedding day I even forgot to put on my jewelry haha. Our legal marriage happened in a hospital with only 15 guests, because my mom was recovering from a serious illness. She had been in the hospital for a little over 4 months, mostly in a coma suffering from "Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome." We were called to her bedside twice when her doctors thought she would die, but miraculously she is alive and well today!

Our second wedding was in June 2008 and was a lot bigger! We had around 200 guests, so it was quite different from the first. Both were amazing experiences though. (And I was a lot less nervous the second time around!)

Here is a

My brother won a $100 gift card today. He's trying to sell it to my dad for an equal amount of cash.... rather have $100 than eat that many Tim's products!

Hey to_hope!

We are currently going through the process of buying health insurance for me, I'll let you know what we end up doing

I found this website to be really helpful: www.ehealthinsurance.com . I'm looking for short-term insurance, but you can use it for long-term coverage too. It shows all the basics of the plan up front so you can compare (deductibles, co-pays, monthly cost etc). It makes it really easy to browse and then look further into a plan that fits our situation. HTH!

Thanks everyone for the information. I did some looking into the health insurance through our grad school and I can actually have coverage starting June 1. So I really only need coverage for April and May. I received a list of sites that list temporary health care providers... I'll just have to find something there for those two months. Thankfully both my husband and I are healthy and we don't have any regular prescriptions, so our biggest need is coverage for an accident or a sudden serious illness.

Hey to_hope!

We are currently going through the process of buying health insurance for me, I'll let you know what we end up doing

That would be great- thanks! If I find something good I'll let you know too.

We have Federal Blue Cross/Blue shield! No clue on what it costs! Wife handles the bills,but I know her employer picks up most of the tab!. I'm a RN student,and other RN's have told me to stay away from kaiser Permanente, but I have heard others say it was fine!1

Ug that is what I find so hard- there are so many mixed reviews of what is good and what I should stay away from. I'm really hoping I just stay nice and healthy until DH gets a job with good coverage.

Since we are both students, my husband and I have to buy our health insurance (ie: we can't get it through his job since it is only part time). My husband is on a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan right now, but it is pretty expensive for us (I think about $2,500 per person per year). And I just spoke with my in-laws insurance company and there is no option to pay a little more and get me on his insurance as a spouse... I have to get it separately as an individual.

Anyways, in the fall we will both buy health insurance through our grad school- which is $912 a person for the year, Much more affordable! However I need something to cover me from April-August. The company my in-laws use is going to put together some quotes for me, but I thought I'd ask on here too. Anyone else have to buy health insurance?

Anyways, it made me realize that I have a strongly held belief/hope that anyone can change.

Agree that people can indeed change BUT ..

You can not change (and there is nothing you can do about it) someone who do not want to change. No matter how hard you try, no matter what you do, if that person is not willing to change or is not ready to change, it won't happen.

Isn't that the truth! No wonder relationships (of all kinds) are so complicated.

I was more referring to just general unhappiness or dissatisfaction in a marriage---I don't think that is a good reason to leave a marriage.

Fair enough and I respect your opinion but I think it is. I guess the conclusion of pretty much all my posts in this thread is that I would never put time and effort into something if I was miserable. I often wonder why certain people at work are rude and generally treat others like ####### for no reason. There are people I work with that I have to "baby talk" to in order to get them to do what I need them to do or else they might not do it and are generally cold. Then I sort of peg it down to their home life. I refuse to my a miserable SOB in my life because once you are unhappy in your marriage, it affects every area of your life.

Usually when people are unhappy, they don't magically become happy again with a click of a button and I'm not waiting to spend 5 years trying to figure out if I will turn around to being happy again if it happens to me.

Difference of opinions, that is all.

You're right about it being a difference of opinion. Maybe it has to do with how much we believe a person can change? I don't know if anyone here watches the TV show "Private Practice"-- I do (sort of sheepishly admit it haha) but this week it was really though provoking about the subject of relationships whether people can change to make them better when they go sour....

Anyways, it made me realize that I have a strongly held belief/hope that anyone can change. But it also made me see how if I didn't hold that belief, my whole outlook on relationships and marriage would be different. (And my friends think that show has nothing good to offer.... )