United breaks guitars

Having flown several times now I am surprised that up to now my luggage always was ok.
But after seeing them drop my suitcase on the ground in Harrisburg I make sure nothing really expensive is in there.
And for a good reason it seems.

Love how this guy handles the situation.

It doesn't stop

There is so much to do now that I felt guilty having the flu the last few days.
So what I did was sit down with a few boxes and sort out what can go and what I want to bring with me to the US.
Pretty brainless work I thought, but as it turns out, not something you should do with a non functioning brain.
I may have thrown out more than I realized.

Also getting estimates on shipping what is left. First of all, I don't have much.
Furniture and so on can stay behind, there isn't really anything in this house that I am attached to. Now, my books is another matter, just like my son would like to bring his Lego and his pillow for example.

Anyway, those estimates arrive in my mailbox now and it is like they are speaking another language.
Cb meters and groupages, 20ft containers (yikes, that is way too big), THC costs, insurance and a lot more that takes me 3 or more looks before I get a grip on what they mean .
Maybe I should let that go until I get that flu out of my system.

One thing that is pretty straight forward is surviving this warm weather we are having right now.
Even the girls won't come of the couch during the day. I can get away with dragging them to their pee spot and they are good for another nap on the couch. We all just decided not to move too much, which suits me fine right now.

Our interview date is getting closer and we have decided to throw a farewell party the weekend after that. And this Monday I can call to make an appointment for our medical. It is going to be pretty busy the next few weeks.

For the ones who asked, Paquita is doing fine.
Still tired from the anesthetic but that is normal, certainly with this type of weather.

For our readers on the other side of the big pond.
Happy 4th of July

Not my best day

so far I have dropped my coffee, managed to 'almost' get hit by a car and it is only 10:30 AM.

Am having a day off today because last week I found a little lump on one of my dogs. Normally I wouldn't worry and wait, but this little lump was on her trachea.
With the upcoming move to the US in the back of my mind I didn't want to take any risk and had it looked at.It is benign, but in a rotten place.
So today her surgery was scheduled, as a matter of fact, it is taking place right now.
Things like this turn me into a nervous wreck and it shows in the above stated little accidents.
Think I will try to stay in the house as much as possible today.

And there is plenty to do.
Started checking the closets last week and threw out a lot, clothes, blankets, shoes and other stuff I don't need to drag with me to the US.
It is amazing how much you gather in just 2 years time.

Anyway, every thing is done now with the move in the back of my mind.
Started cleaning the bathroom and kitchen thoroughly so that I just need to wipe off things when I get out.
Also am making a list of things that I have to cancel and when. Things I need to change.
Enough to keep me busy at a day like this.

In the meantime,Jack's office moved again and that kept him really busy. Which is why we don't see him on the blog very much.

The both of us are exhausted at the end of the day and I wonder how long we can keep up. 4,5 more weeks to go to the interview and I hope we can move soon after that.
We are both so looking forward to relax for a bit.

And we have a DATE!!!

When I came home from work today I found another envelope, our fourth package.
In it another envelope that I am not allowed to open and our interview date:

27th of July 2009

Will we really be moving within two weeks after that date???

DS-230, DS-156, DS-156K, DS2000, I-134 and more

The moment I opened up the envelope, I totally freaked out.
All these forms to fill in, most of them twice and than for me and my son twice also.
In that first phonecall with Jack after I received the envelope he must have thought I was losing it.

It took me two days to figure out what they wanted from me and I had it: 'op een rijtje' as we say here.
And Sunday evening I mailed the first forms back to Amsterdam. In the same time Jack had sent me other forms I needed to proof that we won't become a public charge to the US. Those papers and a lot of other things I had to sign off a checklist that I had to send back to the consulate as soon as I had it together.
After they receive that they will schedule our interview.
Could send that list last Friday.
Not bad eh? LOL, for a person who freaked out I mean.

One thing that isn't mentioned on all the papers is the fact that I need permission for my ex to take my son with me. And my guess was they would like to see something at the interview.
Since the consulate only takes phonecalls in the morning, I had to take a day off work and call them. They were so friendly and gave me all info I needed.
And yes, I need some proof, so next Friday it is off to the notary for the signing of a letter of consent.

Really, I am so grateful on how smooth things go with my ex, I can't imagine how horrible it must be if you have to fight for every little thing if it concerns the kids.

And since I had the day off...I decided to get my vaccinations done also.
Boy, that turned out to be a scare initially. After calling the pharmacy they told me the BMR (MMR) would cost me 193 euro's.
Luckily that turned out to be a little mistake their side, for both vaccinations I ended up paying just over 50 euro's. I even may get some back from my health insurance.
Getting the vaccinations was no fun, I know now why little kids cry with the BMR, it hurts, but the other one DTP, is mean afterwards, right now my right arm has a nice lump on it and feels pretty sore.
But hey, the things we do for love...

Anyway, a whole lot got done this week, a lot of money spent also for birth certificates, pictures, vaccines and other stuff, but for the moment I think I have things ready.

Now it is up to the consulate again to provide us with our interview date.
And please, can that be halfway next month????

Papers arrived in the Netherlands

We owe you guys an update because a few important steps have been taken the last one and a half week.
First of all, we finally got our second NOA, it was in Jacks mailbox the 28th of May.
What it means is that we were approved and that our application was sent to the American consulate in the Netherlands.
Much to my surprise I found a thick envelope on my doormat exactly a week later containing a lot of forms that I need to fill in and a list of stuff I have to gather for our interview and physical.

The envelope is on my desk for two days now and I have to admit, I am a bit scared of it.
I looked it through several times now and I am having a hard time understanding every thing they ask for or want to know. But we'll get there.
Today Jack and I will go over them, seeing what exactly they need and than see if we can get everything together within a week.
I would like to have all papers back at the consulate at the end of the week so they can schedule our interview.

It also means I need to get vaccinations for myself, my son had everything.
Need to get special sized photo's for the both of us that we need to go to Groningen for. Need to provide evidence of the relationship Jack and I have, which shouldn't be a problem at all :-) and a lot of questions need to be answered on the papers I got this week.

From now on we are going to be very busy with preparing for the interview and our move to the US which we hope will be somewhere around the end of the summer vacation.

Yikes, we are talking weeks now instead of months...


(btw, I hope to do a blog entry about our last visit to the US soon. Have been too busy since I got an official job recently)

A Walk in the Woods

It's been a long time since we have posted so we need to get busy and update what has been going on.

We had a wonderful visit together and did many things, traveling to Washington DC and the Shenandoah mountains as well as a very important meeting with the local school system to plan for Petra's son to attend next school year. Now we are both getting very anxious for word from immigration on moving to the next step. Every day seems to bring the hope and then disappointment if there is no news but we just have to be patient and wait for our turn.

We did decide that one thing we would like to do together as a family is hike through the abundant forests and natural space we have in and around here. We both enjoy it and there is a large trail system here that makes taking hikes an easy weekend adventure. One of the most famous hiking trails in the US runs right through the area, the Appalachian Trail, and the opportunity to explore parts of it are endless. The AT runs from the state of Georgia to Maine and is approximately 3500 km long almost entirely through forests and mountains. I took a look at what was around the stretch of it that runs through here this past weekend. I was amazed at how little I knew of the beauty that is waiting out there for anyone to enjoy.

There are many rock outcroppings that are very spooky when you come upon them all of a sudden. Waterfalls are common and I hear that there are some spectacular falls if you hike further into the forest.

One very interesting site is the ruins of a building built during our Revolutionary War period around the 1770's



A very little known site is the remains of a top-secret prisoner of war camp that held mostly German UBoat officers during WW II. I can see how they kept it secret because it is out in the middle of nowhere and even with directions, it took me a couple of hours to find it. LOL One prisoner etched his name on a bridge that crosses a small stream.

The forest was full of blooming flowers.
I came upon this lake that was deep in the woods and not a soul enjoying it but me.

I even made a new friend along the trail. LOL

I went out to explore some of the trails we can hike when Petra and her son move here and found that we will have plenty to keep us busy in the woods. I just hope the waiting game is over soon so we will have that chance this fall.