dare I say progress?

D has said all along, "at some point things were get easier". Perhaps our time has come.

Met with our design duo, Kevin and Charlotte, and settled on the new home design. If any family members are reading this - you cannot say anything to anyone about this (and yes that includes mother). We are both very excited as it will totally open up living, dining and kitchen areas.

After our design meeting, we dropped in at the government's finger printing agency to see if D could get his visa fingerprints done today and not tomorrow. Suprise, suprise, they let him in! After that, drove across town and got the official copy of our marriage certificate, over to Kinko's and I got my passport photo done (required for his application), then to the bank to get copies of my passport and visa notarized, and then over to FedX to overnight the whole package down to LA! Finally ate lunch at 4 today. I was completely shocked.

Tomorrow must do's: get the kennel for the cat's sorted out. Secondly, off to the design center to pick our kitchen appliances. Current thinking is a cobalt blue Viking range and maybe (if I can convince D) a lime green SMEG fridge.

Oh, and I made it back to yoga this morning after taking yesterday morning off. My back was a bit cranky, so I did a ton more backbending at end of practice and it seemed to work itself out.

And maybe the biggest shocker of the day? I managed to call mom on her birthday, I was the last kid (out of ten, mind you) that called her. I think she was more happy that she spoke to all her children rather than actually having a conversation with me. Oh well, nice I can make her that happy.

what a difference a day (or two) makes

Maybe I've turned a corner?

D's visa paperwork is almost done. Waiting for the cover letter from the UK, supposed to arrive tomorrow AM. Only need to get his visa photo's done and the finger printing. Apppointment for the finger printing is on Friday, but hoping they might let him do it on Thursday so that I can send the package off on Thursday. Every day counts!

Drove down to Salem yesterday and now have Mooshi and Juju's (the cat's) paperwork stamped by the USDA. Just need to find the kennel's to ship them in and pay the Pet Mover's fee and we're all set there.

D convinced me to ask for an extension and stay in Portland for another week. Wasn't sure how I was going to ask for it without sounding like a whiner. In the end, I got it. I'm here in Portland for another week. Me so happy!! I have a very understanding and compassionate boss in the UK.

So, am feeling a huge relief. I'm hoping that when I do go back that D will be able to follow me in a week. Even if it's two weeks that's okay. But the idea of going back this week-end and living solo for three weeks was just about more than I can deal with. I knew that I'd be living on my own for the first six months of my assignment. But I've done it and I am done with it. I'm not signing up for anymore of that.

What a difference a day makes; or in my case two.

so not worth it

This is basically how I feel. So much paperwork and back and forth with the lawyer offices in London, the work office in Cheadle and me here in the states just to get my husband's visa sorted out. All of this could have been avoided if I was told to do this month's ago while he was waiting it out with the cats. But no, we didn't think he would have to get a visa, only to be told later that's not the case.

So now I'm on hold with the CIBT visa services to see if they can expedite his application process. Meanwhile, have to wait another day for the London office to okay his application, wait two more days until the Cheadle office can airmail the application letter on company letter head, plus who knows how long he'll have to wait to make his appointment for fingerprinting.

I decided to move the cats flights by a week too. As I'm still sorting through the paperwork for those two monsters. Plus, I can't find the right international kennel to ship them in. On top of it all the company that I'm paying so much money to make sure they get over there okay is now telling me conflicting information. I have to drive to Salem to have the USDA approve some of their forms - I thought it was the APHIS form, but now they're telling me no, just the EU journal. But the APHIS form can only be dated ten days in advance of their departure by our vet - otherwise the airline won't take them. So, another trip to the vet. Which I was going to have to do anyway as I looked at how they completed the EU journal and found several errors - including incorrectly spelling my name and not entering the dates correctly (day/month/year). Is it really that hard to fill out a form?

Back to my husband's visa - I just spoke to someone from CIBT and explained the situation. Of course they told me more conflicting information. According to them, my husband doesn't qualify for visa. This makes no f'ing sense. I highly doubt the law firm in London is having me complete all the paperwork to get his visa. wtf - now what? I guess I'll email the London office again and find out what to do.

In addition the external hard drive that I got for D's Mac at home to back up everything isn't working. Trying to use Time Machine and it backs up 272GB but then stops. I've followed all of Apple's recommendations. Not sure what to do - maybe I'll partition it as it's a 2TB drive. I've been trying to get this to work for the past four days.

On top of that, while I was in the UK, our internet service went down. So D had a friend come over and set up our new internet connection. The only problem is that we have no idea what the password is. This friend just happens to be in Iran on holiday. I've emailed him so I'm sure I'll hear back soon. But for now I had to come into work (even though I'm supposed to be on PTO). So far, I managed to stay undetected, thanks to a friend who is letting me hide out in her office.

But wait, there's more. It's called work. I can officially say that I am burned out. My list of things to do is feeling impossible, my inbox has 269 emails in it, 51 of which are unread, and probably another 100 that probably requires some action on my part.

I was going to try and complete my expense report - but I can't even do that. As D forgot to give me his receipt. wah, wah, wah - can you hear me?

And even though I've managed to get up at 5 this morning and do my yoga practice, I have lost my ability to cope with all of this. More than once I've had to hold back the tears. Which I know is really stupid as in the big scheme of things this is really nothing. I mean crap, D had cancer and we survived that. This should be a piece of cake.

But right now my only feeling is that this is so not worth it. I wish I was staying in Portland. Am I pathetic or what? And no M you don't need to answer that.

For the record I should also add that I'm feeling terrible that I haven't connected with family members, friends or even called my mom. Just more things I can't deal with.

I just read this entire post and I can't even stand myself.

Saturday in Portland

D and I just came back from walking the Fairmount loop. It's just under a four mile walk from our home that takes you around our little mountain - Council Crest. I love the walk for many reasons, one it's a loop and not an out and back and since it's near the top of our little mountain it has great views of the city, river and hills. Plus I like to notice all the changes, what homes are for sale, who's remodeling, and I love all the foliage. Many of the shrubs are just beginning to bud.

It's only 10am and the whole day is ahead of us. A few things on the agenda but nothing too major. I've had a hell of a week at work. It didn't help that I went back to the office last night at 6pm and worked for a couple of hours. Today is going to be a blackberry and iPhone free day. I'll see if I can do it. I really need a mental break.

I really wanted to do a vinyasa class at YogaPearl but it's cancelled due to a yoga workshop going on today. I took yesterday off as it was a moon day, so will have to do a bit of restorative yoga later today.

Okay, enough rambling about absolutely nothing! Time to shower and head out.

Wine & making decisions

Not sure if it was the wine or what; but D and I sat down toasted to a glass of wine and made some decisions.

1. Not renting the house
2. Go ahead with re-modeling
3. Not shipping any house hold items from Ptown to England;
except for his computer.

Let's see what other decisions we make after more wine. The night I still very young.
Cheers!

Tired....

I cannot get over my jet lag. I actually slept rather well last night, but I am so tired today. Of course it doesn't help that I'm stuck in a windowless room for an all day meeting.

Fortunately I still made it to yoga this morning. I'm on a roll for a full week's practice. Of course Friday is a moon day, but I still may go to the led class Friday night. Will see how I feel. I just want to soak up all the classes that I can while I'm here.

I'm completely debating the Mexico yoga retreat in April - have to make a decision soon.

Tonight - D and I have to make the list of all the crap we have to do to close up our Portland house and do the final move. No wonder I woke up with a headache this morning.

Portland!

Made it back to Portland Saturday afternoon. So incredibily surreal to walk back into our home. Since D hasn't moved, the house is just like it was when I last left. It's almost like I have to remind myself that I have this life, job and home in the UK. Very strange feeling, which has made for some bizarre dreams - most of which I don't remember. Saturday laid around the house - felt lousy with a crappy head ache.

Sunday went back to Yoga Pearl. I didn't tell anyone that I was coming back, fun to suprise my yogi friends. Since this trip is all about the family move back to the UK (and work!) I didn't want to share the news to too many people. I just don't have time to see everyone. After yoga we ate at Prasad. Love that place! Plan to eat there at least every other day - and maybe more than that. I devoured the: FEISTY TOSTADA (raw) - jalapeno cashew cheese, fresh spinach, avocado, sun-dried tomatoes, scallions & green chili sauce on pumpkin seed pesto raw crackers, served with a side of hot sauce & a small green salad with garlic tahini dressing, downed it with their Melody juice (greens, apple, lemon, and ginger). I crave that after yoga.

Sunday night - D made a great dinner of fish with chopped up tiny roasted veggies. Sorry if this is all about food; but you have to remember living alone I have an incredibly simple diet. So my taste buds are having a great holiday with all of this wonderful food. Later that afternoon we went to our favorite French bakery - St. Honore for their flour less orange cake and a cup of black coffee - perfect combination.

Attempted to watch the Oscars Sunday night, but I found them to be a complete bore - so putzed around the house instead. Didn't sleep well at all, woke up at 1am hungry so ate some cereal with a banana, popped a melatonin and woke back up at 4:15. Got up at 5:15 and made it to yoga. I'm thoroughly going to enjoy each and every practice over the course of the next couple of weeks.

Not even going to talk about work - lot going on. Not all great, will be interesting to see how the rest of this week unfolds.

Cat update - looks like we're getting all the paperwork in order, will be driving down to Salem (state capitol) on Friday to get their EU journal notarized by the government.

Met with the design team for the house this morning. So many options - will be fun to lift the roof and do a redesign of our kitchen, dining and living rooms. We just need to figure out when we're going to do it. Which really depends on the length of my expat assignment and if we're going to rent the house or not, etc. Too many unknowns.

Okay realize this post is a bit of everything; but I'm tired and not thinking very coherently. So going to stop now.