They say patience is a virtue…and I believe that. I also believe its not a virtue of mine. My husband and I have had a crazy life together since we were married. See he’s from England and has family there, and I am from the USA and my family is here. We have been through the immigration process for both of us to live in each others countries. We are now going through the process for myself and my daughter to live in the UK. Its not fun. Glyn has been back in the UK since Sept of 2011 getting things ready for us. Its not something you can do quickly but we honestly were hoping we would all be back together by October at the latest. Well, its now February and we just finally sent our applications in two weeks ago. When I say we sent in our applications, I mean I sent the applications along with 2 pounds worth of supporting documents and almost 2700.00 USD. Now, you get emails throughout this process. First email received-We have received your application and it has been opened and is being organized for an Entry Clearance Officer to review. Second email usually states that your application is being reviewed by an officer and approximately how long it will take for a decision, and the third is typically a decision.

My first email did say that it had been opened and was being organized. The second was that our applications would take a bit longer than normal…about 10 days rather than 3. The third was the one that sent me into a tailspin. We need more proof of income and proof that I have sole responsibility of my daughter as the notarized letter from her father giving me permission to take her with me was insufficient. I wouldn’t mind too much as I sent ALL of hubby’s pay slips since he’s been there, but they want the last one that came in AFTER our application was sent off. As well as a letter from his employer. GRRR. I would have sent the letter to begin with but I thought the 3 most recent pay stubs would be sufficient to prove he is working. I also have to run and get my custody papers changed to sole custody…oh and I have to do ALL this and get it back to NY in 2 weeks time in order for this to be approved. So, I have done all I can at the moment, now its a matter of the judge signing the paperwork and getting it back to me. Now the problem…I have NO WAY of contacting my Entry Clearance Officer to ask any questions or to ask for a few more days. NO WAY. I tried…but I’ve got NOTHING back. I wouldn’t mind too much, but if we are refused…we LOSE the 2700.00. End of story.

For something so complicated and expensive, you would think that there would be some type of customer service…but there isn’t. The whole process is a money making scheme….and it sucks. Oh, and the process to come to the US isn’t any better!

So, for the last several months, while waiting on my visa to move to the UK, I have been living with my parents who are in their 60’s. My dad is close to 70 and my mom 4 years behind him. Now, before I write another thing, I have to state that I LOVE MY PARENTS.OK that’s out of the way. I honestly think I am going to be locked up in either a psychiatric hospital or a prison if I don’t get out of here soon.

Issue 1) Bathroom habits. I honestly don’t need to know what you do in the bathroom, what it looks like, how often you do it, or which of you did it first in the morning!

Issue 2) One of you is deaf and is always yelling. DO NOT TRY to have a conversation with each other unless you are in the same room! Even then, look at each other when you talk. If I hear what? huh?, did you say something? one more time I may scream. If you walk into a room and you hear something that was quite honestly NOT directed at you…don’t keep asking huh? or what? until we answer!!

Issue 3) Other gross stuff. So my dad was a heavy smoker for years and years. He doesn’t smoke anymore due to the fact that he has COPD and is dependent on oxygen 24/7. On top of this is has this really nasty cough. NASTY NASTY NASTY. He is CONSTANTLY coughing up ICK…and spitting it into a tissue and looks at it and occasionally describes it. He seems insulted that I don’t want to know about it. Its bad enough I find his gross nasty tissues laying around. Honestly…THROW THE FUCKING THING AWAY! Its a tissue…its not made of fucking gold! You are not going to go broke throwing away a tissue you use once. Of course this is the same man that tells me he counts the squares of toilet paper he uses. No more than 6…but of course this is going back to issue number 1 above.

I am sure there are many more issues that I just can’t think of at the moment…and I’m sure I drive them crazy too. Again, I love my parents…but I seriously think I’m going to lose my mind if I am still here in a month.

So today is one of those days. Killing time out of the house. See, I live a good 20 miles from where I work…and my daughter lives (at the moment) about half way between where I am living and where I work. Today I am due to pick her up for the weekend :) but instead of driving home after work (I finish at 8am) I am hanging around at the halfway point for several hours to save driving back and forth today. So far I’ve done my laundry at the laundromat that has wi-fi. I’ve had a fruit and yogurt parfait at McD’s and using their wi-fi now. In a bit I will drive to the library and use their wi-fi.

Honestly, what in goodness name would I do without my laptop and free wi-fi today??? I’ve got my netfllix going and catching up on episodes of How I Met Your Mother. Not only that, technology is how I keep in touch with my hubby who is 3000+ miles away at the moment. It also is enabling us to get information we need for immigration a lot quicker than waiting for snail mail.
I LOVE TECHNOLOGY!!

It seems every year, I make the same resolution…to live healthier. I start off pretty good, and then it all goes to hell in a hand-basket. So will this year be any different? I hope so. I plan on moving more…parking further away, taking the stairs, walking when I have spare time rather than sitting on the computer. I also want to start using my spare-time better. Ultimately, by the end of the year of 2012, I would like to have sold at least one of my crochet projects. I’m getting good…but I know I could be better. I want to learn new stitches.  I want to try more challenging patterns…and I want to earn some money so my favorite hobby is also helping my family.

So that’s it. Will it happen….I don’t know…but I plan on trying my hardest!