Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
2 Days!!!
Tomorrow night it will be hard for me to sleep. Hubby is leaving for the embassy very early because he needs to travel to a neighboring country for his interview, which will be about 1 am my time. I think I will be up until he calls or sends a message. APPROVED APPROVED APPROVED is what I want to hear!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Interview in 4 days!!!!
I was so nervous, but in the past 2 days I have felt at peace. I am not so naive as to think my hubby's visa approval is a shoe-in, but still, I feel at peace, and excited to begin our life together.
Last night we were discussing how we can go about fixing the garage. It involves renting a dumpster, scraping off all the old shingles, maybe replacing some decking, taking the opportunity to empty the junk out of the garage (throw into the dumpster), finish the roof, then on to other repairs. And I need a new garage door
Then we talked about where we might want to move. Hubby was asking about all different states, the climate, etc. I hate humid. Him too. I love the west. I grew up out there. But move there? I don't know. I hate despise and fear friggin tornadoes. We never had them out west. We had earthquakes. It's funny that Dave hated, despised and feared earthquakes. Yet the few (very few) times we had a tornado warning here, while I was tossing stuff out of the closet so I could hide, he was standing on the porch looking for it!
Last night we were discussing how we can go about fixing the garage. It involves renting a dumpster, scraping off all the old shingles, maybe replacing some decking, taking the opportunity to empty the junk out of the garage (throw into the dumpster), finish the roof, then on to other repairs. And I need a new garage door
Then we talked about where we might want to move. Hubby was asking about all different states, the climate, etc. I hate humid. Him too. I love the west. I grew up out there. But move there? I don't know. I hate despise and fear friggin tornadoes. We never had them out west. We had earthquakes. It's funny that Dave hated, despised and feared earthquakes. Yet the few (very few) times we had a tornado warning here, while I was tossing stuff out of the closet so I could hide, he was standing on the porch looking for it!
Friday, February 22, 2013
Thursday, February 21, 2013
7 Days!!
Seven days till interview! Hubby is ready. He thought he could take a bus to the embassy but he just found out it wouldn't get him there in time. So he and his brother will drive to the Macedonia border, park, WALK across the border and take a taxi to the embassy. I don't know why they can't drive all the way there. I will ask the next time we talk.
The weather here is still cold. I seem to only write late at night lately, when I'm sleepy. I've been thinking a lot about how my life will change once hubby is here. Life will change for hubby, too. We talk about it a lot.
The weather here is still cold. I seem to only write late at night lately, when I'm sleepy. I've been thinking a lot about how my life will change once hubby is here. Life will change for hubby, too. We talk about it a lot.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Cold night tonight
I can feel the chill in the house. I drank a cup of warm milk. Now I'm going to bed because I want to be under a cozy pile of blankets with a toasty warm rice bag heating pad at my feet. Yes, I heat up the foot of my bed with a microwavable rice bag. It works! Before I started using it I COULD NOT warm up my feet. Even socks didn't help. I would hold my feet in my hands (didn't work very well). Or I would alternately tuck them into the back of my knee (not so effective). Then I remembered the rice bag that belonged to my mom. Wow! What a foot saver! Just Google "rice bag heating pad". You will get lots of results. I'm thinking to make one, for hubby's side of the bed.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Monday, February 11, 2013
Interview in 16 days hubby's time
I was so good to wake up to his voice on the phone this morning :)
In other news, I'm baking homemade pizzas for my neighbor across the street on Wednesday.
Work on the house is moving slowly. The things I wanted done won't be completely done before hubby is here. I know he would much rather do the work himself anyway.
Doesn't it seem mouse wheels collect dust and fuzzies? If I could figure out how to open this mouse I'm sure I could clean it. Or ruin it. LOL
In other news, I'm baking homemade pizzas for my neighbor across the street on Wednesday.
Work on the house is moving slowly. The things I wanted done won't be completely done before hubby is here. I know he would much rather do the work himself anyway.
Doesn't it seem mouse wheels collect dust and fuzzies? If I could figure out how to open this mouse I'm sure I could clean it. Or ruin it. LOL
Sunday, February 10, 2013
18 days till interview!
Exciting! And we have so many plans. My boss is holding a company conference this year! First one since 2009 at the Natchez State Park in Tennessee. Still don't know the location of this year's conference. Hubby is a good driver, I mean really good, and he LOVES to drive. They drive on the same side of the road and sit in the same side of the car as we do. So the transition will be easy.
The main difference, here we have more stop lights, stop signs and police. We have fewer people walking everywhere, crossing streets whenever and wherever they please. In Kosovo there are few street lights, many round-abouts and mostly just a lot of speed bumps on the MAIN ROADS for cryin' out loud instead of police! I think I only saw one stop sign in all of Prishtina. Most intersections have nothing other than a slightly busier street intersecting with a less busy street. Everyone just drives AT IT from 4 directions and slows down, courteously allowing the heavier traffic to pass while nosing their car in until the other guy stops and lets them proceed. It's all like a courteous traffic jam---no road rage.
This would not work in America! But we have the lights and stop signs to control the traffic. I was explaining this to hubby and he said, "American drivers are better drivers." I replied, "No, we just have more laws and lights and signs...like herding cattle." He laughed. Honestly, the traffic in Prishtina is similar to downtown Chicago or downtown New York. Hubby drives a stick shift! In this crazy traffic! Traffic moves there like a school of fish, artfully dodging and darting in all directions but never hitting one another (well 99% of the time).
It's amazing that Albanians can all drive among each other like this and no one gets angry, and that nosing into traffic causes others to yield politely. When we were in a round-about in Prishtina I saw a vehicle sitting there, the mystified driver wondering how in the heck to enter. Must have been a foreigner. I would have done the same.
The main difference, here we have more stop lights, stop signs and police. We have fewer people walking everywhere, crossing streets whenever and wherever they please. In Kosovo there are few street lights, many round-abouts and mostly just a lot of speed bumps on the MAIN ROADS for cryin' out loud instead of police! I think I only saw one stop sign in all of Prishtina. Most intersections have nothing other than a slightly busier street intersecting with a less busy street. Everyone just drives AT IT from 4 directions and slows down, courteously allowing the heavier traffic to pass while nosing their car in until the other guy stops and lets them proceed. It's all like a courteous traffic jam---no road rage.
This would not work in America! But we have the lights and stop signs to control the traffic. I was explaining this to hubby and he said, "American drivers are better drivers." I replied, "No, we just have more laws and lights and signs...like herding cattle." He laughed. Honestly, the traffic in Prishtina is similar to downtown Chicago or downtown New York. Hubby drives a stick shift! In this crazy traffic! Traffic moves there like a school of fish, artfully dodging and darting in all directions but never hitting one another (well 99% of the time).
It's amazing that Albanians can all drive among each other like this and no one gets angry, and that nosing into traffic causes others to yield politely. When we were in a round-about in Prishtina I saw a vehicle sitting there, the mystified driver wondering how in the heck to enter. Must have been a foreigner. I would have done the same.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Interview in 19 days!
Hubby's medical exam is scheduled for the 19th. Thankfully his doctor reconstructed his immunizations based on when and where he went to school. Everyone's medical records were destroyed when the hospitals were sacked and burned in the war. Thankfully the embassies know that, and allow reconstruction of records.
I can't wait till hubby is here!!! He sent me this link to some Kosovo Recipes. I know how to make the beans (but I don't use veal), the veggies and the salad but not the Flija. Hubby says we will cook together he will show me how :) he is such a sweetie. He also knows how to make baklava the Albanian way which is WAY better then the too-sweet Greek way. His mom made it for me and found out I love it so guess what, next day she sent a whole plateful lol!!!!
I can't wait till hubby is here!!! He sent me this link to some Kosovo Recipes. I know how to make the beans (but I don't use veal), the veggies and the salad but not the Flija. Hubby says we will cook together he will show me how :) he is such a sweetie. He also knows how to make baklava the Albanian way which is WAY better then the too-sweet Greek way. His mom made it for me and found out I love it so guess what, next day she sent a whole plateful lol!!!!
Thursday, February 7, 2013
The Immigration Journey
The immigration journey requires
And money. I have no sympathy for the 11 million people who are here illegally.
And money. I have no sympathy for the 11 million people who are here illegally.
Soon!
Medical exam scheduled for the 19th
21 days until interview! The interview will take place 465 days from the date I filed the I-130. Who knew it would take over a year.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Fishing Story
When I was married to my first hubby his parents had a waterfront cottage near Briggsville, Wisconsin, on a sleepy body of water called a slough, which is, as I remember it, a long, narrow lake with a slight current. Actually it was part of Neenah Creek that had been dammed by the Native Americans for growing wild rice. The western bank was ringed by cottages. The opposite side was swampy woods populated by deer and hoot owls.
It was morning, the mist was still rising from the water. The sun was warm and there was no breeze. It was quiet. You could hear a pin drop. My husband and his dad had taken the boat out to do some early morning fishing. I'm not sure the actual name, skiff, v-hull aluminum something? It had a small motor, and oars. They had rowed and drifted some distance away to the Big Bend when my mother-in-law and I wandered down to the pier with our coffee.
Suddenly the silence was split with GET YOUR LINE OUTTA THE WAY!!! #@@$%$#@ PULL IN THAT @#$$# ANCHOR!!! @$$%##$ DON'T TOUCH THAT!!!! GET THAT OAR OUTTA THE WAY!!! $%#%$%#$
%%$#@#$
My MIL and I are watching in amusement as my FIL is playing a fish that is literally pulling the boat back toward us! My husband was dutifully trying to get all objects out of the way of the line while trying not to rock the boat too much all the while his agitated, red-faced father was cussing loud enough for everyone to hear him a mile away!
We held our breath the moment when dad was shouting at son to net the fish! My poor hubby was dammed if he made one slip and lost his dad's prize. Judging by the cussing he was certainly between the net and a hard place. All ended well with a sigh of relief when the fish was landed. The boat had been pulled about the distance of a couple football fields at least, all the way back to the pier. FIL was out of breath, smiling from ear to ear and hubby held up his catch. It was a blue channel catfish. I don't remember the exact weight but 29 pounds comes to mind.
So that's my best fishing story.
It was morning, the mist was still rising from the water. The sun was warm and there was no breeze. It was quiet. You could hear a pin drop. My husband and his dad had taken the boat out to do some early morning fishing. I'm not sure the actual name, skiff, v-hull aluminum something? It had a small motor, and oars. They had rowed and drifted some distance away to the Big Bend when my mother-in-law and I wandered down to the pier with our coffee.
Suddenly the silence was split with GET YOUR LINE OUTTA THE WAY!!! #@@$%$#@ PULL IN THAT @#$$# ANCHOR!!! @$$%##$ DON'T TOUCH THAT!!!! GET THAT OAR OUTTA THE WAY!!! $%#%$%#$
%%$#@#$My MIL and I are watching in amusement as my FIL is playing a fish that is literally pulling the boat back toward us! My husband was dutifully trying to get all objects out of the way of the line while trying not to rock the boat too much all the while his agitated, red-faced father was cussing loud enough for everyone to hear him a mile away!
We held our breath the moment when dad was shouting at son to net the fish! My poor hubby was dammed if he made one slip and lost his dad's prize. Judging by the cussing he was certainly between the net and a hard place. All ended well with a sigh of relief when the fish was landed. The boat had been pulled about the distance of a couple football fields at least, all the way back to the pier. FIL was out of breath, smiling from ear to ear and hubby held up his catch. It was a blue channel catfish. I don't remember the exact weight but 29 pounds comes to mind.
So that's my best fishing story.
Just a little immigration humor
Someone on the immigration forum posted this, said this is how they picture the immigration service centers. I thought it was funny. No disrespect to the government workers who process thousands of visas every year. But for us who are waiting and waiting to immigrate our beloved LEGALLY this is how it feels:
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Countdown to My Hubby's Visa Interview
INTERVIEW DATE FEBRUARY 28!!!!!!! We are excited. Hubby can't wait to get it over with (little bit of stress---everyone has it). If your first reaction is yay, he can get on a plane right after the interview, right? The answer is NOOOO. When he is approved (I'm not even saying "if") the visa will be issued about 3 business days later. I say "about" because nothing is promised. The embassy may decide to make him wait longer while they double-check our papers. They say never buy a ticket until you have the visa in your hand.
The abbreviations:
USCIS - U. S. Citizenship & Immigration Service
I-130 - form to apply to bring an alien spouse to the USA
NVC - National Visa Center
AOS - Affidavit of Support
DS-230 - the visa application
Our timeline:
17-Aug-2011 Our Wedding Day in Kosovo
07-Nov-2011 filed I-130, paid fee at lawyer's office
21-Nov-2011 I-130 received by USCIS this is our "priority date"
28-Nov-2011 case updated (noted on website)
21-Apr-2011 Expected Approval date (5 months)
10-Jun-2012 contacted USCIS via email about delay
22-Jun-2012 email from USCIS - security checks pending
23-Aug-2012 APPROVAL! Finally after 9 months
05-Sep-2012 NVC case created
17-Sep-2012 NVC case number arrived by email
21-Sep-2012 paid AOS and DS-230 fees to lawyer
22-Sep-2012 I leave for my second trip to Kosovo
24-Sep-2012 AOS and Visa fees show as paid online
02-Oct-2012 returned from visit to hubby with signed DS-230
08-Oct-2012 brought papers to lawyer
31-Oct-2012 signed AOS
02-Nov-2012 police cert lost, hubby mails new one
16-Nov-2012 received new police cert in the mail
21-Nov-2012 papers sent to NVC
13-Dec-2012 NVC requests passport photos - resent
10-Jan-2013 CASE COMPLETE!! via email
15-Jan-2013 case leaves NVC (notified by email)
18-Jan-2013 Skopje embassy receives (DHL tracking)
28-Feb-2013 interview - Result_________
xx-xxx-2013 visa issued
xx-xxx-2013 Port of Entry - Chicago O'Hare
The abbreviations:
USCIS - U. S. Citizenship & Immigration Service
I-130 - form to apply to bring an alien spouse to the USA
NVC - National Visa Center
AOS - Affidavit of Support
DS-230 - the visa application
Our timeline:
17-Aug-2011 Our Wedding Day in Kosovo
07-Nov-2011 filed I-130, paid fee at lawyer's office
21-Nov-2011 I-130 received by USCIS this is our "priority date"
28-Nov-2011 case updated (noted on website)
21-Apr-2011 Expected Approval date (5 months)
10-Jun-2012 contacted USCIS via email about delay
22-Jun-2012 email from USCIS - security checks pending
23-Aug-2012 APPROVAL! Finally after 9 months
05-Sep-2012 NVC case created
17-Sep-2012 NVC case number arrived by email
21-Sep-2012 paid AOS and DS-230 fees to lawyer
22-Sep-2012 I leave for my second trip to Kosovo
24-Sep-2012 AOS and Visa fees show as paid online
02-Oct-2012 returned from visit to hubby with signed DS-230
08-Oct-2012 brought papers to lawyer
31-Oct-2012 signed AOS
02-Nov-2012 police cert lost, hubby mails new one
16-Nov-2012 received new police cert in the mail
21-Nov-2012 papers sent to NVC
13-Dec-2012 NVC requests passport photos - resent
10-Jan-2013 CASE COMPLETE!! via email
15-Jan-2013 case leaves NVC (notified by email)
18-Jan-2013 Skopje embassy receives (DHL tracking)
28-Feb-2013 interview - Result_________
xx-xxx-2013 visa issued
xx-xxx-2013 Port of Entry - Chicago O'Hare
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