L.A. - So warm....

Scott and I were down in LA last week visiting some friends. The weather there was amazing! It was beautiful and sunny and so warm.

The day we were set to come back to Chicago - we got a call from my Dad in the morning telling us to check on our flight. Turns out the weather in Chicago was so bad that they were canceling most of the flights.

Scott got on the phone and managed to get us on an earlier flight out (that was already delayed by two hours). We took off in beautiful sunny Los Angeles, and when we finally landed in Chicago - the change in temperature between the two places was over 70 degrees! It was a very scary landing, and almost every other flight coming into O'Hare had been canceled. But we landed and we're alive - so I would consider that a successful flight.

So now we're back in chilly Chicago in this freezing apartment....brrrr...

I-129F Approval - One step closer

We got another I-797 in the mail at the beginning of this month. It was a notice of approval of our I-129F petition! Yay! One step closer to being able to work!

It's true that once you've entered the world of the US immigration process - you begin to speak in terms of form numbers and visa classification numbers.

So currently - we've filed our I-130 indicating our intention to file the I-129F (which we then filed) in order to obtain the K3 visa....insane. Now we keep getting all of these I-797's in the mail telling us that they've received our forms - then again once the forms have been approved. The next step is for us to get a notice of our K3 visa interview that should be in Montreal. Once we get that and land in Chicago - we should file for an adjustment of status and then I should be able to get a greencard - though it may be conditional until we've been married for 2 years.

SO CONVOLUTED!

From Sara

1. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT?
Small mark right next to my right eye - bad corkscrew - punched myself in the face attempting to open a bottle of wine....sad but true

2. WHAT DOES YOUR CELL-PHONE LOOK LIKE?
Black and Orange - Scott got it for me as a "homecoming" present

3. WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LIKE TO LISTEN TO?
All sorts - Willie Nelson is my current cooking dinner favourite

4. WHAT EXACT TIME YOU WERE BORN?
Not quite sure - I think around noon - I'd have to watch my Dad's speech at our wedding to know

5. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW?
A K-3 visa from the US government

6. WHAT DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Having a job....and some sort of purpose on a daily basis

7. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED "POSSESSION"?
Scott

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FRAGRANCE OR SCENT?
Grapefruit scented glycerin soap

9. DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC?
YES!

10. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK?
Sometimes

11. WHO DO YOU TAKE AFTER? YOUR MOTHER OR FATHER?
Both I think...but I'm a crier like my Dad

12. WHAT KIND OF HAIR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Don't care....heh - if you know Scott then you'll understand

13. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF BEING PROPOSED TO / WHERE WERE YOU PROPOSED TO?
Not sure / underneath the trees where we then got married

14. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINKS?
Coffee fer sure

15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PIZZA TOPPING?
Vegetarian - lots and lots of different veggies

16. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Probably sushi - I haven't had it in over a month! so sad.

17. WHO IS THE LAST PERSON YOU MADE REALLY, REALLY MAD?
Not sure - probably Scott though

18. DO YOU SPEAK A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE?
Pathetic, but no

19. WHAT WAS THE FIRST GIFT EVER YOU REMEMBER SOMEONE GAVE YOU?
A remote control bug from Mom and Dad for Christmas - apparently I cried because I wanted a puppy

20. NUTTY, SALTY, SWEET, BITTER, SAUCY OR SPICY?
Spicy

21. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU?
Send them a card for no reason

22. PICK YOUR FAVOURITE LUCKY NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED:
11

23. BLONDES (BETTY), REDHEADS (CHERRY) OR BRUNETTES (VERONICA)?
Brunettes - chocolate brown brunettes

24. WHAT NUMBERS DO YOU CALL MOST OFTEN?
Scott's mobile

25. WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST?
Myself - when I can see myself being stubborn but just can't seem to help myself

26. HAS ANYONE EVER SPIT ON YOU?
No - and I hope no one ever does!

27. YOUR WEAKNESSES?
Dogs of any sort

28. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
Babysitting

29. HAVE YOU EVER MADE A PRANK CALL?
Yes

30. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED OUT THIS SURVEY?
Watching the superbowl pre-game

31. IF YOU COULD GET PLASTIC SURGERY WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Not sure....

32. WHY DID YOU FILL OUT THIS SURVEY?
It was either this or pay close attention to the pre-game

33. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST?
Height - not that tall, but I guess I act tall

34. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF ALCOHOL BECAME ILLEGAL?
Dear Lord - what a horrible thought... I guess I'd turn the bathroom into a distillery

35. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY / CHRISTMAS?
A greencard

36. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT?
2 - or 3 if we suddenly come into money

37. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Nope - my parents just liked the way my name sounded. I agree with them

38. DO YOU WISH ON STARS?
Always

39. WHICH FINGER[S] IS YOUR FAVOURITE?
My pinkie - I have a child-sized nail on it

40. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY?
Two nights ago when a friend told me about their Mom having MS

41. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Only sometimes

42. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LUNCH MEAT?
Spicy salami - but I usually get turkey

43. ANY BAD HABITS?
Does moodiness count?

44. WHAT IS THE MOST EMBARRASSING CD YOU OWN?
Sass Jordan

45. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I'd like to think I would be

46. DO LOOKS MATTER?
Yes - and anyone that says no is either ugly or is a liar.....or both

47. HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER?
By walking away

48. WHERE IS YOUR SECOND HOME?
I don't even have a first home right now!

49. DO YOU TRUST OTHERS EASILY?
I'm not sure - I guess so

50. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE TOY AS A CHILD?
I'm sure a doll of some sort

51. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Yes

52. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A MOSH PIT?
Yes - but only once or twice

53. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A POTENTIAL FRIEND / MATE?
Honesty

54. WHAT ARE YOUR NICKNAMES?
Smutton, Smuttina, Smut-bag, Sprutton, ARB

55. DO YOU UN-TIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No

56. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ICE CREAM FLAVOUR?
Butter Pecan

57. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE COLOURS?
Green and Yellow

58. WHAT ARE YOU READING?
The Devil in the White City - by Erik Larsen

59. WHO DO YOU MISS MOST RIGHT NOW?
So many people - too many to count

60. DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN FIVE WORDS OR LESS FOR A JOB INTERVIEW / TO YOUR FRIENDS:
Damn hard worker

61. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Kanye West is singing a superbowl song

62. LAST THING YOU ATE?
Bacon

63. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Dad

64. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE IN ANOTHER PERSON?
Teeth

65. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Montreal General

66. BIGGEST FEARS / SCARIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU?
Leaving Toronto

67. FAVOURITE DRINKS?
Raspberry seltzer, vodka-soda, fresh orange juice with seltzer

68. FAVOURITE JOKE?
That "welcome to Jamaica man, have a nice day" one

69. FAVOURITE SPORT / ACTIVITIES?
Bike riding - don't do it a lot - but I really like it, walking

70. YOUR HAIR COLOUR?
blondish

71. YOUR EYE COLOUR?
blue with brown patches

72. WEIGHT / HEIGHT
I don't even want to try and guess / 5ft 8in

73. SIBLINGS?
One - Derek

74. FAVOURITE MONTH?
September

75. DO YOU LIKE SUSHI?
SO MUCH

76. LAST THING YOU WATCHED
Dan Marino talking next to the field

77. FAVOURITE DAY OF THE YEAR
Any day that involves lots of friends and/or family

78. ARE YOU INTROVERTED OR EXTROVERTED?
Extroverted

79. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SEASON / SEASONING?
Autumn / Salt

80. RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE NIGHT STANDS?
Relationships

81. WHO DO YOU SECRETLY LOVE OR WHAT IS YOUR SECRET GUILTY PLEASURE?
People.com - but don't tell Scott - I look at it everyday....

82. FAVOURITE SONG AT THE MOMENT?
Nelly Furtado's new one

83. LAKE OR OCEAN?
Ocean - but Lake is good too

84. BIGGEST TURNOFF?
Judgmental people

85. LAST TIME YOU SAW YOUR BEST FRIENDS:
Way too long ago

86. LAST KISS:
10 minutes

87. LAST TEXT YOU RECEIVED:
From Ness - just as her 30th birthday party was winding down

88. LAST TIME YOU HURT YOURSELF:
This morning - stubbed my toe

89. WHERE ARE YOU WORKING / WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING:
Nothing/Nothing

90. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY:
St. Lawrence market on Sat mornings with the whole family

91. SCHOOLS YOU WENT TO:
Northaven, St. Michaels, ESD, St. Clements, Trinity

92. WHERE ARE YOU NOW:
In Chicago - on the couch

93. WHERE WILL YOU BE IN FIVE YEARS:
In Chicago - on a better couch

94. WHAT ARE YOU WEARING:
Lululemon pants and my bathrobe (I'm trying to explain the brilliance of lululemon to Chicago girls)

95. VENT ABOUT WHATEVER YOU WANT HERE:
The grocery store is jammed with fat lazy women buying chips and pop for their fat families to watch the superbowl. And someone stole my cart just as I was getting the last thing on my list! So mad...

96. WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT FAVORITE MOVIE?
The Secretary

97. WHAT DID YOU DREAM ABOUT LAST NIGHT:
Not sure - I think it was scary though

98. WHEN WAS YOUR LAST RELATIONSHIP AND WHAT HAPPENED:
Scootie - and I married him

99. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU GOT DRUNK / PLAN ON GETTING DRUNK SOON?:
Two nights ago at a pub with a friend / not today - I'll be the DD from the superbowl party

100. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO ANSWER THESE STUPID SURVEY QUESTIONS?
Indeedy

Best Comment Yet

American Girl 1: So why do all Canadian travelers have big Canadian flag patches on their backpacks?

Me: Because they don't want to be mistaken for Americans

American Girl 1: Why? (with a sneer)

American Girl 2: Because Americans are obnoxious tourists....