Living room Makeover

Years ago first hubby and I put up some really dark paneling. Then years later we had a bad roof leak and part of the ceiling caved in. First hubby's solution was to nail the wrecked ceiling back in place and cover the nightmare with ceiling tiles. Unfortunately the tiles in the corner began to sag some years ago, so to prevent them from caving in, I had to brace them in place. Since hubby #1 didn't seem to care to fix it, everything stayed. The ceiling ties were shabby and not even straight. The old, dark paneling was a mess. Fast forward to present.
BEFORE:

The east end

 The west end with a computer desk and falling tiles

THE DEMOLITION BEGINS:

The east end, or front of the house

The west end showing the ceiling and the damage. Removing the paneling also uncovered mold, which I am cleaning. I have always had allergy problems when sitting at that corner desk. Is it any wonder?

Close-up of the damaged ceiling

I am so thankful my new hubby is so pro-active and non-judgmental regarding my living situation. We are going to hang new wallboard (sheetrock) over the existing walls. We are thinking the damaged ceiling needs to be replaced. We aren't sure how to proceed because we can't decide....should we remove all the boards or put new tiles up? The boards are not going to support heavy sheetrock.

24 days

My hubby has been here 24 days. He has his green card. I have shown him someplace new (to him) nearly every day. We have taken walks, shopped together and cooked together. Today we went to the social security office because he still didn't have his card. The visa application has a check box with which you can choose to have your social security number generated and sent once entering the USA. It should have arrived in about 2 weeks. So I called, and was told he needs to come in to apply, that it is not issued automatically. The wait wasn't bad, maybe 20 minutes. Then documents were presented and hubby was interviewed...."where were you born....when were you born....what are your parents names....is this your current address". Then papers were printed and verified and we were told his card would arrive in 2 to 4 weeks.

I baked corn bread in my bread machine. It works perfectly! Cornbread in Kosovo in hard, heavy and not sweet. Sort of like a round brick. I was thinking he wouldn't like mine. He loves it! "It's so fluffy and soft and sweet! he said. His request...make more and add more sugar! LOL my hubby has a sweet tooth. Albanians eat a lot of bread. I love my bread machine! I bake bread every other day.

He's home....life is good!

I guess I have some catching up to do. Hubby flew into Chicago on April 30. I was at the airport by 11:45 am. His plane was supposed to land at 12:30 but it was delayed until 1 pm. I heard customs could take anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours to process a new immigrant. After waiting seemingly forever I asked the guard. He said customs was taking up to 3 hours. Finally, just shy of the 3 hour mark, I found my very tired hubby. We caught the 3:10 pm bus home and began our life together.

2 days!!!

The curtains worked out. They are lace, cheap lace, but at least both windows match. I needed to put 4 panels on one window and then buy 3 more for the other window to make them look right. I'm happy. Unfortunately when I washed the bedroom curtains they frayed. I knew they were fragile, so I took utmost care. So at this point I don't know if I'm throwing in the towel or buying more curtains on Monday. I am happy to no longer have pets in the house. As much as I love cats, I could never have lace curtains with cats.

Soon to be 3 days!

It won't be long, and I've been busy shopping, buying snacks and other things I never buy for myself, like chips, peanuts and pop, and making the house ready for my hubby. I have been planning to replace the living room curtains for some time. I bought some but once I got them home I realized I didn't like them. Took them back, bought different ones, and I'm still not sure.....I'm running out of time (and money lol) so I guess it's time to just say to heck with it.

Stumbled on this today...from BBC News

I was thinking the same thing....just when the country was healing and it looked like people were getting along....here we go again.
Boston Muslims on the marathon attack suspects

Interesting....worth reading:
Is Islam the Enemy of Christianity?

And this article addresses another question:
It is Politics, Not Religion, that Teaches Hate

I just wish the fear, misunderstanding and hate would stop. I wish the attacks would stop. They do nothing to change America's opinions about wars or whatever those people are protesting. They just create more hate and fear and mistrust and misunderstanding.

One week!!

One week until my hubby arrives. One journey near completion (immigration) and another one beginning, our life together in America. All the fees have been paid (filing fee, visa fee, affidavit of support fee, green card fee, lawyer fees). In two years we have the I-751 fee (Removal of Conditions), and then in 3 years, if he wants to file to become a naturalized citizen, there is the N-400 fee. If my hubby becomes a naturalized citizen and then decides to move back to Kosovo, he must still file taxes as long as he is a citizen! If he gives up US citizenship he can never, ever come back. Welcome to America, land of the fee and home of the brave. LOL I just thought of that this morning.

On a more serious note, the day we have been waiting for is near. We are so happy, but on the other hand we know this is a journey that is different than just two people meeting and falling in love. My husband is coming to a country he has never set foot in before. Foreigners tend to have unusual ideas about America, formed through watching movies and YouTube. I know, I have been asked the questions. Explaining America is like the blind man describing an elephant. What he describes depends upon what part of the elephant he touches. America needs to be experienced. It's almost impossible to explain.