Yardies, at home and a farrin'

[tenika 0]

Looks like a few of us will be in Jamaica within the next few weeks-from what I can recount:

Jill (ChrisineJames) [are you packed yet?]

Kelly (luvtravelin)

Michele (Jamaica to CT)

Dru (woogietail)

Eric (eric_drewey)

Jax (BelwinMills)

anybody else?

If I'm able to go....I don't know where they will be putting us and I'll be "working". Some of these trips don't allow us alot of down time. I'm going to work on the "sitter" part tomorrow, so that I can at least go on that trip.

We'll have to link up for those that will be in Negril !!

Count me in too . I will be going down down the second week of April.

Thanks everyone for your help on the affidavit question.

[thndrdancr 0]

Hey all,

Congrats to Dave for passing the driving test, and luck to Andre.

Glad to see you back, Rhonda, missed your chatter...thats in a GOOD way. So sorry to hear you got sick tho on the trip.

Congrats, Joanna on Adrian's (hopefully) May interview.

And happy travelling to all's upcoming trips.

Lake got his green card in the mail TODAY..this morning. He really wasnt quite as excited as I think he should have been, but he was the day he got approved, and he called ALL his relatives and they were all too busy to really talk to him and I think that is what brought him down a bit. That and the job hunting...to be honest I havent really applied at the jobs here that pay the $5.75 an hour, which are a LOT...I really think its important for him to finish schooling first, so have been rather concentrating on that. But he is getting antsy to work...

I talked it over with him, bout the only higher paying job that MIGHT be easy to get would be loading trucks for UPS or DHL or FedEx. And they pay great for someone with NO contacts, international references, etc, at $8.50 an hour as opposed to under $6. I am just not sure what to do, but I do know he will probably catch pneumonia if he is out in the cold TOO much at this time of year, he is just NOT used to the cold weather yet and this is the time when one catches stuff...warm..cold, hot, chill. Silly weather.

Anyhow, I WILL post about the interview, been meaning to do it...it was pretty easy but as you guys might know it was a bit difficult to show joint financial stuff cuz Mom has a hissy fit at EVERY step I take to bring him into my life. Him not being able to contribute doesnt help, even tho its NOT his fault. The ONLY financial thing I had was that I had put him as joint user on 2 of my credit cards, and thats ALL. The only thing. I had other stuff but nothing financial. And we drive Mom's old car, I wanted to put him on the insurance so he could do a little practice driving around town, but she went ballistic over that, so....well...sigh....you know the "You KNOW if someone has an accident they could sue and take the house away???? and ...."etc. Hell mom, if I (meaning YOUR daughter) gets sued they could do the same thing. ok, cant say that to mom, she turns 80 this weekend...Soooo, imagine having been being real close to your parent all your life and LIVING with said parent and them being slow to accept???? Poor Lake is SOOOO patient, I swear guys, if I had a MIL treat me like my mom did him to begin with, I woulda left the country. He is one admirable man.

Damn guys, sometimes this is stressful, ya know. I hear ya bout family not accepting and ...AND....we all live together on top of that...so it gets a bit rough. I asked my sis if she had ANY suggestions...she cant think of any either, short of us buying a car and putting it in HIS name I guess...now...HOW are we gonna afford that, I am not working, HE is not working....

Know what ya mean, Mrs Squitto bout the government setting ya up to fail, by the time you pay all the fees and such, your so tapped out its all you can do to pay the bills and eat, let alone find a vehicle to get around in so you can get to work if you DO get a job. Here in Nebraska, its essential to have a car, all we have is bus service that runs from like 6:30 am to 8 pm, and it runs downtown to go across town, so you have to do a transfer, if you work across town, it takes 2 hours to get there IF you have a job that is within the time parameters the bus runs. That makes across town trips 4 hours each day! Unreal, hmm? And the city isnt THAT big..the bus system is just weird.

Well, off my rant, its time for bed, its just been pretty busy here lately. My sis was asked to increase her hours at work, while taking a $1.37 an hour pay cut! My niece inlaw still in hospital, but baby and her seem to be doing fine and are at 27 weeks Thursday (today I guess, wow) so hopefully if she has it, the babe should be ok. Lake is taking classes Mon - Thurs mornings and I have to get up early in the mornings...UGH, to take him. But he is doing great.

Hey, question for ya guys, if your guys want to go to college classes and they HAVE finished high school, would any colleges you talk to accept theirs? Lake doesnt even have access to his records since his school had a fire and burned down...and all ours SAY they need transcripts, etc...Just wondered how any of you handled that? I thought at first he didnt graduate, but then I did some follow up reading on the Guyanese schooling system, and the degree he got IS considered a high school equivalency but...the dodo forgot it back at home. So I figure he needs GED one way or the other...not sure but it cant hurt, can it? #######, you know I have no idea where MY diploma is either, if I were to need it. Just one of those things you put away and dont think of any more.

Sorry to long, chat with ya all later, hugs and take care to all...

Jill

[Jamaica to CT 0]

Looks like a few of us will be in Jamaica within the next few weeks-from what I can recount:

Jill (ChrisineJames) [are you packed yet?]

Kelly? (luvtravelin)

Michele (Jamaica to CT)

Dru (woogietail)

Eric (eric_drewey)

Jax (BelwinMills)

anybody else?

...adding Tenika to the list

Where's everyone staying? I'll be in Mobay. I think a couple of you will be in Negril the same week I'm in JA.

[luvtravlin 0]

Is there a blank form of the DS230 listed on a website somewhere? Or does anyone have a copy that you can fax to me or email me a copy ?? I'm trying to help Craig fill out his information and it's frustrating to say the least (as you all know).

Thanks !

Kelly

[rhondapayter 0]

Thanks Min

actually I meant 7 c, it reads, I have personal property the reasonable value which is..?

I was wondering if that is like clothes, computer, car etc. Not sure what to put there

thanks

Like Mindy said, I think you only need to claim personal assets if you don't make enough money to meet the guidelines (% above poverty level or whatever it is). I didn't use any assets - just my income.

OOOOHHHHH my goodness I cannot believe it, I e-mailed the Embassy this morning before I left work and I just looked at my e-mail and they already e-mailed me back, I have e-mailed them 2 other times and never recieved a responce. Anyway I am happy that I got a responce they said that they are processing our case and should assign Adrian a May 2005 interview date soon....

Anyway I gotta get ready for work now...will chat later.

Joanna

That's great Joanna It won't be long now. Hang in there.

[woogietail 0]

Looks like a few of us will be in Jamaica within the next few weeks-from what I can recount:

Jill (ChrisineJames) [are you packed yet?]

Kelly? (luvtravelin)

Michele (Jamaica to CT)

Dru (woogietail)

Eric (eric_drewey)

Jax (BelwinMills)

anybody else?

...adding Tenika to the list

Where's everyone staying? I'll be in Mobay. I think a couple of you will be in Negril the same week I'm in JA.

I'll be in Negril, wanted to do Ochi this time but Trevor couldn't get off from work, so it's back to Negril.

[rhondapayter 0]

Good morning all

One more day til TGIF Why do the weeks drag by so slow and the weekends fly by? I just finished catching up.

Good luck with the driver's test Jamie & Andre. Make sure he practices parallel parking. Tony failed the test the 1st time because of that. They're pretty strict here. He did fine with everything else and passed it the 2nd time. The part that sucks is you have to pay EACH time you take it - whether you pass or not

Wow, sounds like a lot of you are going to JA next month. You guys can have your own little "reunion"! My friend Jackie and Craig (her Jamaican husband) and their 7 month old baby are down there right now. They had to bring the baby to show her to all his family She's such a doll.

Hope everyone has a good day.

[rhondapayter 0]

Hey Rita,

Where you been girl? I know you can't still be on your honeymoon Let that poor boy come up for air We want to know how you guys are doing? How are the kids?

Myisha,

Same to you. You've been MIA lately. Check in and let us know you're ok.

[tenika 0]

I will be staying in Kingston, I exactly a resort type place, but at least I would be able to spend time with by boo

based on you guys suggestion, I know what to do for that question I asked about yesterday, thanks a mil!

[jkb919 0]

Is there a blank form of the DS230 listed on a website somewhere? Or does anyone have a copy that you can fax to me or email me a copy ?? I'm trying to help Craig fill out his information and it's frustrating to say the least (as you all know).

Thanks !

Kelly

Hey Kelly,

Look under "Examples Forms" here on the VJ site and you can get a copy of the DS230 form...it is a fillible forms that is where I got Adrains form from....Hope this helps

Hello everyone else, I am going to do my bridal registry today at Bed Bath and Beyond, I dont need too much but there are a few things we could use, my friend is throwing me a bridal shower at the end of April, she wants to have it before Adrian gets here so I dont have to leave him alone, while I go have a party.

So will chat later, Joanna

[eric_drewry 0]

Looks like a few of us will be in Jamaica within the next few weeks-from what I can recount:

Jill (ChrisineJames) [are you packed yet?]

Kelly? (luvtravelin)

Michele (Jamaica to CT)

Dru (woogietail)

Eric (eric_drewey)

Jax (BelwinMills)

anybody else?

...adding Tenika to the list

Where's everyone staying? I'll be in Mobay. I think a couple of you will be in Negril the same week I'm in JA.

I will be staying at the Knutsford in New Kingston. This is a work trip, with hopes of an Interview before I leave, odds are against me there, but they said they'd try. Maybe I'll come back a little late with my wife..

[Minfay 0]

Maybe I'll come back a little late with my wife..

Now....wouldn't that be wonderful!!

[rhondapayter 0]

Hello everyone else, I am going to do my bridal registry today at Bed Bath and Beyond, I dont need too much but there are a few things we could use, my friend is throwing me a bridal shower at the end of April, she wants to have it before Adrian gets here so I dont have to leave him alone, while I go have a party.

So will chat later, Joanna

I love Bed, Bath, & Beyond! We registered at Kohl's (which I don't think you have in FL) and Target. Tony went to the Bridal Shower with me and helped me open the gifts Everyone wanted to meet him anyways. We had the shower 1 month after he got here and the wedding 1 month after the shower. NONE of it was planned until after he arrived in the U.S.!!! My mom is GOOD! We were just going to get married by a judge or something but my parents wanted me to have a "real" wedding with a shower and everything. It was small (about 30 people) but really nice.

Have fun registering - it's like shopping without spending any money Let us know when you're registered so I can go on-line and see what you want

[ChristineJames 0]

Everything is working out. I'm very happy!!!!

And no....I'm not packed yet!!!!! But I'm an ol' pro at this.....I'll get it together in time. No doubt about it!!

Congratulations to David and good luck to Andre on their driving tests.

Kelly and Jill(ChristineJames)...hoping that everything works out for the best

Joanna and Eric- wishing you the best for May interview dates

Looks like a few of us will be in Jamaica within the next few weeks-from what I can recount:

Jill (ChrisineJames) [are you packed yet?]

Kelly (luvtravelin)

Michele (Jamaica to CT)

Dru (woogietail)

Eric (eric_drewey)

Jax (BelwinMills)

anybody else?

[Ms Squitto 0]

good afternoon

We sooooooooooooooooooooo need this

Beat Stress Together!!

Your spouse can be the one to cause you stress, but often he is the only one who can help you chill out. Here are 9 ways to de-stress as a duo (some might even make you laugh your stress away!).

Hug it out

Give your partner a hug after a long day at work. While you embrace, rub each other's upper back with your fingers and knuckles. Massage in between shoulder blades and spine.

Share it

Spend time debriefing about your day, taking turns sharing how things went. Each of you should talk for at least two minutes. When your partner is sharing, try not to interrupt. Simply listen with all your attention. Having separate time to vent will make you feel heard and acknowledged, and will release some of that hot air that’s been brewing inside you.

Spoon her

Lie together, one behind the other. Focus on taking long, deep breaths in unison. No need to talk; let the physical contact and deep breathing relax both of you. This works magic if you are not getting along or are feeling overwhelmed.

Give mini massages

Have your partner sit in a chair, and stand behind it. Give a massage like a pro, applying pressure with your forearms on the muscles between the neck and shoulders. Ask if it feels good. When finished, switch positions.

Steamroll him

Have your partner lie face down on the carpet or a futon. Lie on your partner's midsection so your bodies form a plus sign. Roll your body up and down your partner's body. Ease up on your weight around the knees. Ask if your weight feels okay.

Re-connect

It's important to acknowledge your partner for the many wonderful things you offer each other. Take turns talking about all the qualities that you love about the other. Begin your sharing with "I love how you..." or "I love when you." Recognizing your partner makes him (and you) feel cared for and loved.

Put your feet together

Have your partner lie face down on the carpet or a futon. Place a pillow under his feet. Stand by your partner's feet and face away. Walk your heels on up the soles of his feet. Ask if he likes your foot pressure.

Dance it off

If you both feel worn out from a hard day, play some dance music and shake a leg together. Inspire each other to higher levels of enthusiasm and cardio exertion. Whatever was bothering you before you started dancing will vanish instantly.

Give a rub down

This is the world's easiest massage technique. Have your partner sit up in a forward bend. Make sure his legs are stretched out in front. Lie on your back about two feet behind your partner's back. Lift your heels up and place them on your partner's upper back. Rub your heels on the sore muscles between your partner's shoulder blades and spine. Ask if the pressure feels good. Switch positions.