Liver disease as grounds for inadmissibility.

[SalishSea 17,819]

25 minutes ago, WestHighlander said:

Yes, I remember you too! Lord-a-mercy, the weather has been pretty savage this last week, hasn't it? I'm guessing you're on the other side of the Cascades; my fiancee's place is way over in Kennewick, but we had a huge dump of snow earlier this week too. I heard that Snoqualmie Pass is closed completely until next week, and that's the worst I've known it since I've been visiting over here.. I have a friend in Bellingham, and she was posting photos of the snow there, too. Hope you managed to dig yourself out OK!

Yup, I'm in Kenmore, top of Lake Washington and just outside of Seattle.  I have never seen so many weather alerts in < one week on my weather app......snow, high wind, river + flash flooding....and, last summer, it was 113f here.  Just bizarre.

 

I think all the mountain passes are closed.  My younger son is up at Uni in Bellingham.  They get the Fraser river outflow coming down from BC, so even more severe weather 😅.  My kids are dual US/UK citizens, but haven't been able to travel back to the UK since pre-Covid.

 

Where will you move to when you leave Washington State?   I keep trying to think of some better real estate market to move to, but anywhere that would make sense in terms of cashing out equity has either sucky weather or sucky politics - or BOTH.    

[WestHighlander 64]

4 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Where will you move to when you leave Washington State?   I keep trying to think of some better real estate market to move to, but anywhere that would make sense in terms of cashing out equity has either sucky weather or sucky politics - or BOTH.

Oh, I hear you there.. That has been the subject of some rather, shall we say, heated discussions while I've been here! She grew up in Utah, and moved to the Tri-Cities with her ex 25 years ago (she still lives in the house they had before her divorce, so we're both keen to move out of it). She was feeling a lot more adventurous until a couple of years ago, but the pandemic has pushed her back into her comfort zone a bit, and she's not keen on moving away from her support network of friends. Personally, I can't frickin' stand the Tri-Cities: a sprawling vomit of strip-malls and Walmarts in the middle of a howling desert, and the politics.. I'm not even going to go there. 

When we relocate, I've been pushing for Vermont, which I really like the look of climate-wise, and the housing prices are very affordable, but she's adamant she would hate it. At the moment, the most likely candidate is Savannah, Georgia.. Tana has a friend who moved there a year ago and loves it. Apparently Savannah is more agreeable politically than most of the state, so I'm keeping an open mind. If it was me, I'd much rather be somewhere in upstate New York or maybe Maine, but true love is mastering the art of compromise.. Even if it means alligators in the garden and having to get hurricane insurance.

[SalishSea 17,819]

6 minutes ago, WestHighlander said:

Tri-Cities: a sprawling vomit of strip-malls and Walmarts in the middle of a howling desert, and the politics.. I

HAHAHAHA!  Yes!  When I was a kid, we would say they were called that because they try to be cities.  Also - try to get out before you absorb some of the Hanford effluviant. 

I was born in raised in Seattle, and I have always considered  most everything east of the mountains to be colossaly stupid, except for grape and hops crops ;-).

 

8 minutes ago, WestHighlander said:

Even if it means alligators in the garden and having to get hurricane insurance.

LOL!  No one should have to worry that a prehistoric relic may strike at any time, whilst planting spring bulbs.   Normally I would agree with you about the hurricane insurance, but it seems that will be needed everywhere soon.  Also - don't forget about rattlers.  When I take my kiwi east of the mountains, he becomes preoccupied by the idea of rattle snakes.

 

I have a dear British ex-pat friend who lives in Portland, ME, and LOVES it.  He lived in Seattle and Portland for many years, before heading east.  Seems it is affordable, with some semblance of arts, culture and literacy.  He moans about the ongoing snow issues, but lives in an urban flat now, so no more snow shovel hellscape.

[WestHighlander 64]

10 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

HAHAHAHA!  Yes!  When I was a kid, we would say they were called that because they try to be cities.  Also - try to get out before you absorb some of the Hanford effluviant. 

I was born in raised in Seattle, and I have always considered  most everything east of the mountains to be colossaly stupid, except for grape and hops crops ;-).

 Oh, they don't try that hard to be cities, believe me. Most of the time they're trying to be a trailer park in Alabama, or so you would think from most of the locals.. Lots of them red baseball caps over here, y'know. Eeek! Every time I have to go to Walgreen's on my own I'm muttering under my breath, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..", etc. Put it this way, for a dose of "culture", we have to go to Yakima, and that's about as close as it gets. Having grown up less than 50 miles away from the Edinburgh Festival, I feel the need to escape to Portland or Seattle at least once every trip just to remind myself what civilisation looks like.. Especially after the annual drive to Utah (through southern Idaho) to her dad's farm. All I will say is: I now know what real orcs look like.

[SalishSea 17,819]

18 minutes ago, WestHighlander said:

 Oh, they don't try that hard to be cities, believe me. Most of the time they're trying to be a trailer park in Alabama, or so you would think from most of the locals.. Lots of them red baseball caps over here, y'know. Eeek! Every time I have to go to Walgreen's on my own I'm muttering under my breath, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..", etc. Put it this way, for a dose of "culture", we have to go to Yakima, and that's about as close as it gets. Having grown up less than 50 miles away from the Edinburgh Festival, I feel the need to escape to Portland or Seattle at least once every trip just to remind myself what civilisation looks like.. Especially after the annual drive to Utah (through southern Idaho) to her dad's farm. All I will say is: I now know what real orcs look like.

Orcs!    Hahahaha!

 

How do the Tri-City denizens hey take to your accent?  If they understand it even vaguely, are they shell-shocked?  At least there has now been enough exposure to Shrek to familiarize Americans with Scottish accents 😂.  Well, fake ones ;-).  

 

Have you ever been up to BC?  Vancouver is spectacular.  Much more of a world city than Seattle.  We have been missing it hugely throughout the pandemic.

[WestHighlander 64]

4 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

How do the Tri-City denizens hey take to your accent?  If they understand it even vaguely, are they shell-shocked?  At least there has now been enough exposure to Shrek to familiarize Americans with Scottish accents 😂.  Well, fake ones ;-).  

Most of the time I can make myself understood, although I occasionally forget myself and use some random piece of Scottish slang, which results in blank stares until I rewind and translate. I used to work in hotels in the Scottish Highlands, so I resort to my "reception voice" most of the time over here. If I actually used my "back home" Glasgow accent, I'd need a TV screen round my neck showing subtitles wherever I go. 

 

8 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Have you ever been up to BC?  Vancouver is spectacular.  Much more of a world city than Seattle.

Not yet, but I have an aunt in Richmond BC who married a Canadian guy and settled there nearly 40 years ago.. I keep threatening to visit, so I'll have no excuse once I get my visa! 

[SalishSea 17,819]

5 minutes ago, WestHighlander said:

Most of the time I can make myself understood, although I occasionally forget myself and use some random piece of Scottish slang, which results in blank stares until I rewind and translate. I used to work in hotels in the Scottish Highlands, so I resort to my "reception voice" most of the time over here. If I actually used my "back home" Glasgow accent, I'd need a TV screen round my neck showing subtitles wherever I go. 

 

Not yet, but I have an aunt in Richmond BC who married a Canadian guy and settled there nearly 40 years ago.. I keep threatening to visit, so I'll have no excuse once I get my visa! 

Alec has resorted to a strange accent as well, just to be understood.  It's so sad really.  

 

If you go up to Richmond, you should seek out Indian food, as well as Chinese and sushi, lol.  Vancouver and its suburbs are a mecca for cheap and excellent sushi, especially as compared to Seattle.

 

Edited to add:  Kiwi worked for a time at Costco, and has gotten pretty good about not flying off the handle as much when perceived as Australian.

Edited January 8, 2022 by Jorgedig

[Rocio0010 5,579]

1 hour ago, Jorgedig said:

he becomes preoccupied by the idea of rattle snakes.

I was too. Until I married my now hubby, who’s a hunter. He got one the other day and cooked it for me. Not bad at all!

[carmel34 3,622]

3 hours ago, WestHighlander said:

At the moment, the most likely candidate is Savannah, Georgia.. Tana has a friend who moved there a year ago and loves it. Apparently Savannah is more agreeable politically than most of the state, so I'm keeping an open mind.

Savannah is beautiful, just visited a couple of weeks ago, the historic district is amazing, and it is close to beaches.  Not sure about affordability, but likely much better than Washington State.  The Atlanta area is also worth considering, with a similar climate, mild winters (snow is very rare here), and summers are not as hot and humid as Savannah or Florida.  Plus, there is a nice choice of neighborhoods/cities, we bought a house on 1.5 acres in a countryside setting, but very close to the cities where we both work.  Another plus is the Atlanta airport where you can fly direct to most major cities in the world.  The economic growth in the Atlanta area brings with it many job opportunities as well, and politically, this area is now mostly blue, unlike the rural areas of Georgia which are very much red.  We really like the mix of sunshine with regular rain, which keeps trees, plants, and lawns well-watered.  Our water bill has been less than $30 a month here vs. $400 some months in California.  Spring and fall are amazing seasons in Georgia, and even the warm summer is lovely with occasional hot/humid days.  I've visited the Scottish highlands many times, and although it's beautiful, the cold and rain nearly year-round would drive me crazy.  Good luck to you both on your journey!

[Wuozopo 4,293]

6 hours ago, WestHighlander said:

I reckon my best bet would be a letter from the consultant who treated me at the hospital and runs the follow-up clinic I attend twice a year.

Yes. Perfect. He can briefly explain the diagnosis and treatment etc and the follow ups that you attend. And how you are doing today.

 

6 hours ago, WestHighlander said:

As for the vaccinations, I've had all of the above except a recent tetanus, so I'll get that attended to before I go to the medical.

That’s the one most need because the last one given was probably in childhood and was more than 10 years ago. Also remember a new flu shot if the timing puts you at the medical during the next flu season. This years flu shot won’t count for next Oct-Mar.  You may have to go to Boots or an in-store clinic because UK GPs don’t usually give them except to children or the elderly.

[mam521 2,062]

8 hours ago, WestHighlander said:

Most of the time I can make myself understood, although I occasionally forget myself and use some random piece of Scottish slang, which results in blank stares until I rewind and translate. I used to work in hotels in the Scottish Highlands, so I resort to my "reception voice" most of the time over here. If I actually used my "back home" Glasgow accent, I'd need a TV screen round my neck showing subtitles wherever I go. 

 

Not yet, but I have an aunt in Richmond BC who married a Canadian guy and settled there nearly 40 years ago.. I keep threatening to visit, so I'll have no excuse once I get my visa! 

I’m chuckling at this because I have a friend and former colleague who used to preface his classroom teaching with a warning about brogue and just to tell him to speak English if he slipped into old habits (he originates from Glasgow as well). 
 

8 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

Edited to add:  Kiwi worked for a time at Costco, and has gotten pretty good about not flying off the handle as much when perceived as Australian.

Poor hubs! Aussies and Kiwis sound about the same as Jamaicans and Trinis - if you listen for a second, it’s not the same!