Italia

[ace13 0]

Congratulations!

Now comes the fun part--reunion

Best wishes for a safe and happy flight for your hubby

Antonio got his visa in Naples this morning and just called to let me know We're both so pleased. I'm getting plane tickets right now for Sunday.

He didn't tell me much about the medical, only to say that he had to have 2 shots and his arm hurts. ... The interview was pretty typical. Antonio said the man who interviewed him was a kind American man. The questions asked were:

1) What work did you do in the military?

2) What work does your wife do at the university?

3) When did your wife start work at the university?

4) Where did you and your wife meet? (in a 3rd country)

5) What were was your wife doing in this country?

6) How long was she there?

7) When did you marry?

8) Your passport has been red-flagged since August 2005. Do you understand why? (He did, because our attorney had done an FOIA request, and I've been in touch with the General Consul of USCIS since I got married.)

Whew, so now I can live again. I have been nervous all morning, which I hadn't expected.

I wish all the best to those coming after us! Daniel and Maria (maria_b84, who was kind enough to contact my husband and offer reassuring words before the interivew) -- may your journeys be as smooth And yes, D, I would say it's time to start the paper blitz! (And the Stefano thing was pretty funny. I needed some comic relief that day.) ~Ciao.

[Kaalyx 0]

Thank you, ace13, for the dancing smilies and the congratulations ... I'm soooo very happy. My husband has regained the levity and youthfulness that disappeared around interview time. ... I'm prepping slowly for his arrival on Sunday. Oh, happy day ... ! And then I can start that exercise routine I've been talking about ...

Onwards and upwards ... !

[alexcrv76 0]

CONGRATS to both the new visa and the passed exams!!!

I don't have much time right now, I will try and post again later if I can.

Have a nice day!!

P.S.

Nice to see you again Angela...did you eventually try the recipe I gave you for pasta and lenticchie? Please let me know.

[akwalta 0]

I went off the pill 4 months ago and we are doing Natural Family Planning. It is so cool.

Anna, my ex-husband and I were quite impressed because we did NFP for over a year with no failure.

About a year after that, we discovered we were infertile. No wonder we were so good at it

On another note, I have an aunt/uncle whose last name is Wythem. They jokingly refer to their daughter (much younger than their sons) as Rhythm Wythem

Okay, couldn't resist. I had to have some fun today

Antonio got his visa in Naples this morning and just called to let me know We're both so pleased. I'm getting plane tickets right now for Sunday.

Congratulations!

Nice to see you again Angela...did you eventually try the recipe I gave you for pasta and lenticchie? Please let me know.

Not yet. I try to not cook Italian for him too close to his trips to Italy. If he compares me to his mamma's cooking, he might be sick eating mine Once he comes home from this trip, I'll give it a few weeks and try it then. Thanks

Edited February 9, 2006 by akwalta

[breezy 0]

Sending Congrats to Kaalyx on Antonio's visa!!

Bree

[breezy 0]

oh and for anyones FYI.....I'm looking for tickets to the U.S. and am finding low fares on edreams.it

One way is $$$, but round trips are 500 E and under!

Hope all is well with everyone here, a big belly rub full of love to Alex and Sean,

and a big hello to Angela and Ace! TC all! Bree

[dmencaroni 0]

Congrats to Antonio and Kaalyx Now the best part comes, reunion!!!! I must confess I'm a bit lost since Naples is still bouncing me off...I feel a bit depressed I've sent them other emails and a very "hard but polite" fax and had no answer...they would not put me through the IV office when I call...maybe they hear my italian accent....my wife keeps telling me to be patient but i'm not...

Thanx to K and Alex for the congrats....can't wait for this last "pain" to be over...

Hope the rest of the crowd is well and send you a big ciao!

Daniel

[Kaalyx 0]

Thanks, Bree, Alex, Angela and Daniel! You guys are awesome ... I'm twiddling my thumbs here because he'll be here in 3.5 hours -- a little later than expected b/c the plane is 46 minutes late . Yes, I've been tracking the plane in flight. I don't like to wait in airports and prefer to arrive as soon as he leaves the baggage claim.

I think I've done everything I wanted to do before he gets here. I've got tons of food, prosecco, cheeses, wine, sangria, fresh pink and purple tulips throughout the house, new little touches (vases, Italian books and magazine subscriptions on subjects he's interested in, the calendar of his family's business hanging in the kitchen). Everything's dusted, washed and spotless. Towels are laid out. I still need to vacuum and wash the car, though.

I'm strangely (?) calm. I've been preparing for this day since I left Italy on Jan 8, so I've settled into this moment quite well. I hope we can just pick up where we left off, singing U2 songs in the car on the way to Fiumicino. And it's a beautiful day here too. The sun is out, and by Jove, send us more such afternoons as this

[alexcrv76 0]

Ciao!

I'm always so tired now that I do not spend too much time on the computer, also because chairs and staying sitted for too long really kill my already hurting back...I just entered my 38th week, and last night full moon started so hopefully the baby won't make us wait too long... Despite how much I love to feel him move I am tired of being pregnant! We are both ready to meet the baby, even though labour and delivery, as I probably said before, are a really scary/fixed thought at the moment.

So what plans are you guys making for San Valentino? Anything special? We are probably just staying at home, I do get sooo tired...but Eric said he has something really special to give me this year...mmmhhh very curious!! He has such a great taste when he picks stuff for me, I know I will love it whatever it is.

Angela,

I am sure you'll do great if you follow the recipe... I will be waiting to hear how it goes.

Kaalyx,

once again congrats!! I get the feeling we won't get to see you too much around here in the next days...

Breezy,

hello girl!!!! Nice to see you again. Thanks for your PM too, I have been meaning to reply and then I keep forgetting...please bear with me, being absentminded is a very typical trait of pregnant women.

One other thing...for flight tickets you can also check www.travelprice.it, that's where I usually found the best deals for both nationa and international flights. And it gives you the option to insure the ticket in case you need to cancel/change it.

Did you guys see the opening ceremony of Torino 2006 winter games? I thought they did a really outstanding job, for once I wasn't bored!! I actually read all kind of positive reviews about it all over the world, made me even prouder to be an Italiana!

Time to rest on the couch now...have a great day everyone!

Edited February 13, 2006 by alexcrv76

[ace13 0]

Ciao!

Alex, I did watch the Opening Ceremonies. Stefano is missing home SOOOO much now that it is on TV every night. The 9 year old from Bologna that sung the national anthem was so angelic. The only part that was wierd for me was the plastic cows Alp part in the beginning. I definately think it was successful. Didn't Sofia Loren look old--I have always thought that she held her age beautifully--but for the first time, she looked made up and older. I guess you can't fight it forever

I pray for a safe, easy labor for you and baby Sean. He will come when he is good and ready, I am sure How exciting--any day now!

Kaalyx---IS HE HOME??????

I am sure you are busy getting reaquainted Congrats

[alexcrv76 0]

Didn't Sofia Loren look old--I have always thought that she held her age beautifully--but for the first time, she looked made up and older. I guess you can't fight it forever

I never really liked her...when she was young she was kinda "thick" and kinda vulgar looking, with age a better figure/look came but her face started stretching beyond belief more and more...I get the feeling she can barely close her mouth now... I am sure if we had her money, lifestyle and plastic surgeon we'd hold our age even more beautifully than she does

I pray for a safe, easy labor for you and baby Sean. He will come when he is good and ready, I am sure How exciting--any day now!

And thank you so much, you are too sweet. We are definately impatient for him to show up...I guess we can only wait...

Happy Valentine's day to everyone!!

[Kaalyx 0]

I'm anxious for baby news! May he come soon , and may the backache and strain go away! And Alex, what was your Valentine's Day surprise? ... Nio and I didn't do much for the occasion. I gave him a card, he gave me chocolates -- mostly out of a sense of obligation to the day. His homecoming was gift enough. But we did go for a long walk, and planned to go to the cinema to see "Roman Holiday", then head to a jazz club, but he was so jet lagged, that we spent the night in talking. And we went to bed early.

But it's been wonderful having him back. I lost my calm when I was waiting at the airport. He only emerged from customs 1.5 hours after the plane landed, and I was crying for most of that time. I can only imagine what the people around me must have thought Anyway, it's been fabulous having him here. There's been a lot to keep us busy (social visits, family stuff, bureaucratic stuff, catching up with other). Gosh, it's been less than 3 days, but we've been running around like crazy. ...

Anyway, I won't be a stranger! Hope everyone's doing well. ... More soon ... !

[alexcrv76 0]

I'm anxious for baby news! May he come soon , and may the backache and strain go away! And Alex, what was your Valentine's Day surprise?

Thanks! I hope to give you all baby news pretty soon as well

I am attaching a pic of my surprise...I guess being pregnant has its benefits... It is real, meaning it is a 1/2 carat of diamonds total I was speechless...

Buonanotte a tutti!

[ace13 0]

Babies Any Babies Just checking

[Moon9393 0]

Hello guys!!Im from Italy also and i just moved to the states few months ago. Yeah i married an american guy ! I got my greencard interview tomorrow everything should be fine! Anyone is in Missouri?

Ciao a tutti

Paola