Where did she go?

[Ken y Leidys 20]

You guys got it wrong. There is no "Marriage Penalty" when the immigrant spouse is not earning. THat is when the filing jointly benefit pays off. Taxes 101 Class, Dismissed!

WOW! Sounds like AOS will be covered...$5/day lunch money for Leidys will be covered...New Army Boots for Rubi covered as well!

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Leidys arrives this weekend!!

That's the good news. Here was my conversation with Mom 1 hour ago:

Me: "Hi Mom, How's it been going? I couldn't call you because the cell minutes were gone, and calls get expensive when you go over your minutes."

Mom: "Well, if you couldn't call while I was watching Jeopardy, you could call at 7:30 - that's just an excuse!"

Me: "You know that I'm studying, right? I don't have much extra time to call now."

Mom: "I was planning to stay at your house tonight so that I could help you clean."

Me: "That won't be necessary, anyway I have a final exam to study for. Could it possibly be Sunday, instead?"

Mom: "I leave for Tennessee on Monday, so I can't do anything on Sunday. I will have to be Saturday."

Me: "I have to upload my final exam on Saturday, it might take me all day to study for my test - I'm 1 point away from earning a 'C' grade...I really need to study."

Mom: [yelling] "So, you can't study when people are in your house cleaning? What are you going to do when Leidys comes, then!?!"

Me: [yelling] "Do you remember when she went to your hotel room so that I could study for my class when we were in the hotel?"

Mom: [yelling] "That's fine if you don't want me in your home. I was going to help you, but if you don't want it, that's fine with me!!!"

Toxic?

TOXIC?

TOXIC???

[Ken y Leidys 20]

24 hours to go...

I can't even believe it...

What a wild trip this all turned into...

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Ken, what special treats do you have prepared for mi hermana Leidys?????

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Ken, what special treats do you have prepared for mi hermana Leidys?????

Sleeping Bag for our trip to Joshua Tree on Thursday

Air Mattress to put inside $400 REI Tent

Clean house, Fresh food that I cooked in the 'Fridge, plus some ODDS AND ENDS...

[Ken y Leidys 20]

UPDATE

Does everyone remember Jesus -- the Owner of the Internet Cafe I patronized in July 2008?

His GrandMother died tonight of Pancreatic Cancer, and his Mother is a complete wreck.

Jesus is, "Staying Strong" as he described it, but the guy can use some love and support.

Please send your condolences to: hhstp@hotmail.com

[Chica Yeyé 41]

oh man, sorry about Jesus grandma

He should rename the cafe after her, as a remembrance thing.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Twelve hours ago, I woke up and began cleaning, organizing, and really thinking.

The home she lived in up until today, she shared with 7 family members.

She slept on a dilapidated twin-size bunk bed in a house with no screens, and

mosquitoes that make nightly visits. All of her worldly possessions fit inside of

a borrowed suitcase, a duffle bag, and an over sized purse. Nothing more.

Is it normal to feel a sense of guilt at the loads of clothing I am shifting around

to make room for her small amount that she has to wear?

Leidys' plane lands in another 3 1/2 hours, bringing this thread to a definite end.

It was definitely a pleasure to share these thoughts with everyone here at VJ.

After Onelis let me know the truth about her plans of not pursuing an honest relationship

with me, I seriously doubted the need to date another woman outside of Southern

California. But, life can be strange like that.

Here I am in a house that is almost too clean, white bamboo floors below me and

a smooth white ceiling above my head. Leidys will now learn to adjust out of the

uneven concrete floors and open windows to double pane, vinyl-sided tinted windows.

This money used for upgrades on my house 6 yrs. ago amounted to more than the

total value of the house in Barranquilla where her family now sleeps, minus one family

member...in transit to Los Angeles.

[DARUMA07 25]

Twelve hours ago, I woke up and began cleaning, organizing, and really thinking.

The home she lived in up until today, she shared with 7 family members.

She slept on a dilapidated twin-size bunk bed in a house with no screens, and

mosquitoes that make nightly visits. All of her worldly possessions fit inside of

a borrowed suitcase, a duffle bag, and an over sized purse. Nothing more.

Is it normal to feel a sense of guilt at the loads of clothing I am shifting around

to make room for her small amount that she has to wear?

Leidys' plane lands in another 3 1/2 hours, bringing this thread to a definite end.

It was definitely a pleasure to share these thoughts with everyone here at VJ.

After Onelis let me know the truth about her plans of not pursuing an honest relationship

with me, I seriously doubted the need to date another woman outside of Southern

California. But, life can be strange like that.

Here I am in a house that is almost too clean, white bamboo floors below me and

a smooth white ceiling above my head. Leidys will now learn to adjust out of the

uneven concrete floors and open windows to double pane, vinyl-sided tinted windows.

This money used for upgrades on my house 6 yrs. ago amounted to more than the

total value of the house in Barranquilla where her family now sleeps, minus one family

member...in transit to Los Angeles.

ken, I have been following this thread from the beginning and have been basically silent until now. I just want you two to know that we wish the best for you! I know exactly what you are feeling right now and believe me tomorrow you will have to pinch yourself just to make sure all this is true. Good Luck and may your life with Leidys will as special as my life with my Ruchie....

[Vi Mazzella 4]

Don't go........ we really enjoy reading your post.

Please tell Leidys " Bienvenida a America hermana Colombiana"!!!! I wish you guys the very best. I'm sure this holidays are going to be unforgetable, remember my advice, be very patient, this is a complete new world for her, I wish you live in NY so I will be visiting her all the time hahaha.

Let us know when she arrives and her first impressions of CA.

[Nikita2Charles 32]

Bienvenida a America to Leidy's

Be patient with her, even though the house might be bigger, more beautiful, and so on, so many more materials things that we all here take for granted, but one thing to keep in mind.

THERE"S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.

I grew up in Marlborough projects, even though at time people talk bad about the housing projects, I had to tell a few folks i've met along the way, I grew up in the projects, i didn't turned out a Drug dealer, in Prison or all the negative things associated to a place.

Keep in mind, at time she'll feel lonely, homesick, missing her family, just be there for her, remind her how you love her, and is always going to be there for her, after all she's leaving it all up to be with you, money, material things and so on is good, but nothing like home. It's not easy, we went through it, let he know she's not alone, many people has gone through it, and she will also but in her own time, everybody is different, adjust differently, it can be very difficult at time.

TRUE LOVE IS PRICELESS!!!

I wish you guys all the best,

Edited November 23, 2009 by Nikita2Charles

[Ban Hammer 13,144]

the thread isn't over until wedding pics are posted.

[Krikit 1,163]

How exciting for you, Ken! Can't wait to hear how the POE went, and her arrival home.

Yes, as the others say, be gentle with her. Something new is exciting, but she's going to be hurting from the pain of saying goodbye and being away from her home and family. Sometimes that pain comes out in anger for seemingly little things. Give her a hug and thank her for making that sacrifice.

Congratulations!

[Saska+Tim 7]

Twelve hours ago, I woke up and began cleaning, organizing, and really thinking.

The home she lived in up until today, she shared with 7 family members.

She slept on a dilapidated twin-size bunk bed in a house with no screens, and

mosquitoes that make nightly visits. All of her worldly possessions fit inside of

a borrowed suitcase, a duffle bag, and an over sized purse. Nothing more.

Is it normal to feel a sense of guilt at the loads of clothing I am shifting around

to make room for her small amount that she has to wear?

Leidys' plane lands in another 3 1/2 hours, bringing this thread to a definite end.

It was definitely a pleasure to share these thoughts with everyone here at VJ.

After Onelis let me know the truth about her plans of not pursuing an honest relationship

with me, I seriously doubted the need to date another woman outside of Southern

California. But, life can be strange like that.

Here I am in a house that is almost too clean, white bamboo floors below me and

a smooth white ceiling above my head. Leidys will now learn to adjust out of the

uneven concrete floors and open windows to double pane, vinyl-sided tinted windows.

This money used for upgrades on my house 6 yrs. ago amounted to more than the

total value of the house in Barranquilla where her family now sleeps, minus one family

member...in transit to Los Angeles.

So happy for you!

Wish you guys all the best

[Brit Abroad 166]

the thread isn't over until wedding pics are posted.