Filing in March

[HighwayStar 0]

Congrats to all those who are about to get married! Michael and I were just discussing choices for witnesses, though I think they are not needed in VA. I am not going to have anyone from my side there, and he is estranged from his family, nor does he have any close friends where he lives.... I don't really care, though, because in my view a wedding is for the couple involved, and not for their guests. For us it will be the end of a very difficult time in or lives, and the beginning of a new life together, which hopefully will last as long as possible.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Awwwww Highway . I am so happy for you. It's nice to see you looking forward with some hope and plans. I just knew it would eventually work out, and step by step, you're getting there.

Yay Kim. You've had a bit of drama and suspense about when things are going to move for you. But you've never doubted it's going to happen. Here's to Kim and Russ. And I saw you were thinking about Oct. 4 as a possible date. I'm still working in Oct 5. Nick is officially unemployed as of today and gets to work full time on packing and getting rid of things and making shipping arrangements. It's crunch time.

[stevi1123 0]

Congratulations Kim and Russ.....I hope it zoooooooms to NVC!

[KimandRuss 0]

Thank you ladies.

mama Nich, that was graham who was thinking the 4th. We are considering the 18th but the JP marrying us has just a few dates so we'll just follow her lead. We don't really care. Wow, you're getting close, eh? Sooooo pleased for you!

Stevi, we were stuck in AP at the NVC sweetie.

But happily, we are in the air between LAX and Auckland right now! woohoo! The Embassy already has Russell's complete packet 3 and his medical so we're just waiting on an interview date. It's Monday in NZ so we're hoping they receive the packet by tonight and Russell can call to see if he can schedule his interview tomorrow. They already know we're in a rush.

Still so nice to see you all making progress.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi my scattered March Mates and Kim too.

Well I'm watching another hurricane. Ike is predicted here Saturday. But from experience, things change alot so nothing to panic over yet. Was watching Gustav and it went elsewhere. Each update the predicted landfall changes a bit. It's kinda like our timelines predicting our NOA2s. But I'm on standby keeping an eye on it trying to be ahead of the preparation. I filled my car with gas today and got a chunk of cash from the ATM. People start lining up for gas or they run out if you wait. And if I evacuate and my local bank's computers go down in the storm, you can't get money from an ATM because they can't access the account info. Seems like I did read that they have a back up plan since Hurricane Rita evacuation to switch to a different location in case of a disaster. Ok, I feel better. Just got to keep checking, but Wednesday will be decision day whether to start packing and removing all loose objects from the yard. Wish Nick was here.

[stevi1123 0]

Hi my scattered March Mates and Kim too.

Well I'm watching another hurricane. Ike is predicted here Saturday. But from experience, things change alot so nothing to panic over yet. Was watching Gustav and it went elsewhere. Each update the predicted landfall changes a bit. It's kinda like our timelines predicting our NOA2s. But I'm on standby keeping an eye on it trying to be ahead of the preparation. I filled my car with gas today and got a chunk of cash from the ATM. People start lining up for gas or they run out if you wait. And if I evacuate and my local bank's computers go down in the storm, you can't get money from an ATM because they can't access the account info. Seems like I did read that they have a back up plan since Hurricane Rita evacuation to switch to a different location in case of a disaster. Ok, I feel better. Just got to keep checking, but Wednesday will be decision day whether to start packing and removing all loose objects from the yard. Wish Nick was here.

Oh Nich,

I am so sorry for what you are going through, and I pray for all of you who are in the paths of these horrible, life-altering storms.

Ironically, Taiwo and myself are seriously considering relocating to Texas in a year (after he arrives). We have been planning it for a long time. Houston, to be exact. I once lived in San Antonio when I was in the Air Force many years ago, but I did not get out into the mainstream of city life much. I have wanted to move to Texas for many years. Just as in life, we have to take the good with the bad. Look at California: great weather year-round, but those awful earthquakes....In my area, (Cincinnati) we are kinda lucky when it comes to weather, but we do have quite a few tornados in the surrounding areas during tornado season.

I hope it all works out ok for you.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi Stevi--

Woke up so had to check the 5am latest hurricane report. Looking better for me this morning. This still reminds me of going up and down on Igor's list. hahaha Well I should go back to sleep, but looking at all the various versions of hurricane tracking maps kinda woke me up. California is fabulous, but very expensive because of that beautiful weather. Houston is way more affordable and very friendly, but it's hot and humid. Inland, like in Houston proper, is not so dangerous for hurricanes. I live 60 miles south right near the coast and low lying coastal areas are subject to evacuation because of tidal surges. I only evacuate to north Houston.

Austin area is lovely, but housing prices have gotten much more expensive since Dell started in the area decades ago. I have a friend who sells real estate to "Dellionaires", as she calls them. Michael Dell actually started his PC business in his college dorm room in Austin.

Ummm.....think I'll go get another hour of sleep.

[stevi1123 0]

Thanks for that info Nich, and it is good to hear that you are ok.

I never knew about the Dell info either. That is interesting. I'm typing on one of his keyboards at this very moment

Stevi

[KimandRuss 0]

mama Nich, I think maybe you just need to move north! Boston is a great place to live!

Well, I come bearing good news my march friends... my love has his interview next wednesday, the 17th! That's 6pm Tuesday night for those of us est in the US. He plans on flying home the following Wednesday. So just two weeks from tomorrow our decade long journey will bring to an end this long and difficult chapter...and bring the start of the next much happier one!

[HighwayStar 0]

Oh, Kim, that's WONDERFUL news!!!!! From the bottom of my heart, I really wish you the very best... And hopefully we'll get to meet you some time in the US. I've always wanted to visit Boston.

As for us, I'm still waiting for the people from Naples to send me Packet 3. When I emailed them, I got an autoreply that put me in a sort of 'holding pen' for two weeks - which are over tomorrow. Since I know they got my email, I don't think it's productive to email them again. In any case, I have to wait for my birth cert to be ready, so there's no hurry.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Oh WOW Kim. I'm so excited for you. This whole process comes into perspective in hindsight. Back when we were all waiting for just a touch...anyting to know our petition still existed seems ancient history to me. We got NOA2 way before you, Bex, Alina, Ana etc and yet Russ will be in the US sooner than Nick. It sorta shows that NOA2 isn't everything, although it is a huge comfort to get it. There's so many other bits and pieces to the ultimate destination of the visa journey....arrival in the U S of A.

Nick arrives three weeks from today. Hope I have an intact house for him to come to. I see there's been another shift more towards me. Back and forth...all guesses based on other weather systems in the US that may or may not push it one way or another.

I do plan to visit Boston some time. I was asking Nick if we wanted to plan a little honeymoon trip. I've never done a fall foliage thing in New England. We don't really have seasons here with all the fall color. Lot's of huge live oaks that are pretty much green all year. The trees that lose their leaves don't turn orange and red...maybe yellowish brown and fall off. So the blaze of color I see in photos looks gorgeous. I guess I haven't been on that many fall trips. I had to go to Michigan once when I was working for Dow. There was a tiny bit of fall left and the first snow while I was there. I was blown away by seeing big red barns. LOL. It was like pictures you see in your 2nd grade social studies book. We don't have big red barns here. So where's a cool destination for fall foliage?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Today is hurricane evacuation day for me.

Woke up to check at 5 am and voluntary evacuation for my county and mandatory at 10 am for next town has been called. Going to go before the masses fill the roads. Here's hoping it's just a dry run exercise.

Here kitty kitty...time to get in your cage....

[aleena 0]

Oh Nich.... i am so sorry you have to leave your home and i really feel for everybody else who need to do so...

I really hope it is not as bad as they say and you can all reuturn to your homes soon.

I am kind of unfamiliar with all this hurricane preparation. We don't have anything like this in Romania. If i think about it Romania is the safest place you could be...lol.

I have seen the touch af a hurricane 2 summers ago here in the US. I think it was Ernesto. It was pretty bad ...nothing like i have ever seen, although it had lost a lot of it's strength by the time it reached here. Anyhow...it was pretty scary for me and i can't imagine how it would feel to be right in the way of such a destroying force of nature.

They seem to be doing a good job getting people away from the hurricane path and i think that is very important.

Nich hope you can go back to your unaltered house very soon!

On a happier note! Oh my God KIM!!!!! Just like me i know a lot of people here are really excited about you getting close to the end of this awful process!

Alina

[KimandRuss 0]

Nich.. I hope you are safe and sound. Been thinking of you every time I hear about the bad weather. Please stay safe.

New England is absolutely the most breathtaking in the fall color! mid-october is usually the peak time for north central massachusetts, where I live. Here's some fall pics of my area from a few years back. Our wedding ceremony will be Ocboer 18th (we think ) so it should be just gorgeous. you are welcome here any time at all.

Thank you so much aleena. Yes, we feel as tho our decade long trilogy is about to end and a new, happier and richer, chapter shall begin. We are thrilled!

[HighwayStar 0]

All the best to all of you, from the bottom of my heart! Still waiting for Packet 3 from the Naples consulate... Started a thread in the Europe forum in order to get some more detailed info. I don't know if it is a good idea to email them again, since the two weeks were over today... Hopefully I'll get some answers soon!

I absolutely ADORE fall, or autumn as we would say here in Europe, and the first time I ever travelled to the US I spent most of those two weeks in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Asheville, in a wonderful log cabin. I'll never forget that time as long as I live... Michael said he'd love to go back there for our honeymoon. He was born in Portland, OR, and loves the mountains, just as I do. Hopefully soon!