Registration Day!

Today was the day for registration.  Yay!


According to the schedule I got, there was a department meet and greet in the Larkin Building at 1:30.  Mark and I got to the university a little after and wasted time in the wrong side of the building.  He was a dear, however, and went off to find the right place while I waited by a door waiting for some people to end their meeting.  A sign said international students needed to go there, so I did.  I didn't really.  I got my registration packet and discovered that the electives I choose earlier this month were not registered.  This isn't going to be a problem as I was able to choose two elective modules right then and there.


Apparently several members of the department knew of my Visa saga of last year.  Lovely, I already have a reputation but they seemed pleased that I have finally made it!  I know I am and I have a sneaking suspicion that Mark is too.  :)  Once my packet was all signed for I just needed to actually register.  Registration was open from 3-5 today and, as we were walking along we found that today was the day to register for a GP.  Say what?


According to my schedule that was supposed to be on thursday.  Sigh.  Not a big deal though because then we can do it now rather than much later.   So we walk into the building and there's  man who hands me a form to fill out and he asks me where I live and I tell him just off of Beverley and he goes, alright you need to talk to this lady over here.  And then she wants to know where I live so I tell her.  She doesn't know the cross streets.  So Mark had to tell her that we live next to Bull Inn and then the light went off.  And Californians have a bad reputation for stupidity.  Now, when I applied for my Visa there was a warning that said I might  have to pay for any medical costs so I was surprised when I got words that the university requires all students to register with a GP.


I gave the hospital/clinic where I am registering my information and was told they'd get in contact with me in a few days to make an appointment for a physical.  They wanted to know my NHS number, which I will be getting I am sure.  And my previous UK addies, which I don't have and my medical history which is quite brief.  So I shall be getting a physicl, which is a good thing and hopefully I can get their version of levothroid!  :D


And then we continued on to register.  We show up and there are signs pointing the way and a woman asks me if I'm here to register and I said, yes and she asked to see my registration packet and told me to stand in the middle line.  After a few mintues those who were in the Home & EU line were brought in and I was behind them.  Seeing my passport the guy who led us in took me out of line and sent me to a special registration area where they check visas.  Glad I have one.  The woman entered my information into the computer, marked the top sheet and sent me upstairs.  So Mark and I go upstairs where we are informed we need to go down the hallway, last door on the right.  


We get to stand in yet another line where eventually someone else scans my Visa and finishes my registration.  He then takes a picture for my student ID card and apologizes for it being yellow.  Finally we were done and then it gets funny.  Just outside are two girls who are obviously American.  One is from the east and the other is from CA and they weren't sure what to do next.  And I said, do you have your ID card?  They said yes, and I said, then I think that's it, you're done. And I asked if their pictures were jaundices too.  And the girl from the east, a blond naturally, goes what?  I repeated myself and she goes, I'm from the US and we don't really have that there.  And I said, your picture is yellow right?  Jaundice.  She still had no idea what I was talking about.  Surprised the child could find her left shoe let alone England and Hull.


And now we head up to IT so that I can get the laptop connected to the school's WIFI.  That took a while itself as the IT guy didn't seem to be able to speak due to his Hull accent getting in the way of proper enunciation but he was a nice guy and got me sorted out well enough.


By now I was done and I just wanted to go home.  Mark bought some DC and what looked like Whoppers.  They were similar but they didn't taste the same and they were definitely not as good.  


But my I met my master prof. who is reasonably distracted as his wife is due to give birth to a little girl here at any moment.  And Mom, I speak better than my profs- elocution wise.  :)  But then a lot of people speak in their normal regional accents and don't concentrate on speaking "well" as we'd call it.  But that's alright.  What really surprises me is that I have not yet adopted any kind of regional accent, or have lost my American one.  maybe that'll change when I start my classes, but if they're only twice a week maybe not.  I suppose we shall see.

The Saga

Nothing is ever easy for me.  I get through immigration and customs without a hitch, great.  But if that goes well I suppose I should have expected something to go tits up, as the brits say, and I am not to be dissapointed.  No matter what I do, there must be a saga.  And this is mine.


It starts back with my financial aid.  I applied, as did all university bound students, for financial aid before the March 2 cut off date.  I applied for my loans, was approved and I dutifully signed my MPNs.  This was all done by Feb. I think.  Now, once the loans have been approved and the MPNs signed they will inform the university of choice within 24 hours.  Several weeks/months later I wonder why I have not received word from the finance office that they have my MPNs so I look through my old emails and find the financial aid lady who is SG and email her.


I sent her a letter of re-introduction and asked her if she had them.


No.


Sigh.  Okay.  So I have to resign my MPNs.  I do that and I have to wait another 24 hours, which because of the time difference means 2 days instead of 1.  Whatever.  I wait a few days, just to make sure and send her another email.  Do you have them now?  Yes.  Oh good.  But now we need your 8 page SAR.  Okay.  So I call the financial aid office and request my SAR because the university requires it.  I am told it will take 7-14 days.  Really?  Whatever.  Now, this is my fault, I should have remembered that as I needed it the last time I tried to get to Hull.  No problem, this is only July, I have time.  So, eventually I get a copy of my 8 page SAR.  Sweet, if I have them then surely the university does too which means I should get a letter of proof of financials.


A week goes by and no email of confirmation.  I figure that it takes a little longer for it to get to Hull for some strange reason.  But I get nothing from the university so I email SG again.  Do you have a copy of my SAR?  No.  See, last time they got a copy, this time, apparently not.  Ok, can I scan them or do I need to mail them to you?  Scans are fine.  I scan them, email them and wait.  An email comes back saying I need pages 3 & 10.  I had somehow missed 3 & 10.  I send them and it's the end of the day.


So I get to wait for the following day.  Still though, it's no problem... it's just worryingly getting towards August... I have time.  I should be able to get it all done here soon, and I can get my visa and be good.  Nope, now I need to fill out this form.  yes, I want every penny you can give me because I want to make sure I have enough money coming in so I don't have to worry about the financials for my visa.  I email that back and I wait.


And Finally!  I have a copy of my financials.  It's now the end of July and I can finally apply for my visa.  That's the easy part.  I have my biometrics appointment the 29th and then I wait a couple of days for money to come in to pay for the expedited visa fee so I can get my visa sooner rather than later.


After more waiting and fretting and getting into the country I get an email saying that disbursement checks will come on the 20th of Sept.  Great!   So Mark and I walk the almost 2 miles to the university, go up and down stairs, go all over the place to find out that the check might be in the next day when the banks are at the school.  Fine.


So we went another 2 miles home.  And returned the following day only to find that not only is there no check but that the computers are down, there are no letters of introduction and we have to go the bank and register in person.  Granted this is just a few doors down but... annoying none the less.  We are informed that we are required to have an letter of introduction to the bank the following day.  Alright, fine, whatever.  Within nothing more we can do, we return home and have a rather large lunch.


And this morning, after doing a bit of cleaning up, as Mark would say, we got dressed and headed out.  We get to the international office to pick up our letter of introduction as required by the bank to be told that we don't need them.  Umm.... say what?  We are told that there are new protocols in place today and that because the computers are still down the banks are going to send the university the information of the students who are opening accounts with them, then they'll send letters directly to the bank at which point the bank will open our accounts.  And no, it won't help to go to the bank and talk to them, no they won't be able to tell us if they have sent the info to the university and no we won't be told if letters were sent to the bank.  The only way we'll know that this has happened is if we get an email from the bank letting us know our banking information.


We were told this could happen as early as 1 this afternoon.  I just checked my email... nuthin'.  


So Mark & went to visit SG and asked what this means about the check.  It's all out of her hands now so I need to ask someone else.  It could take several days for the bank to send me my details and it's entirely possible that I won't get a check until the 3rd.  I ask SG if I'll get an email letting me know if the check is ready and she said she doesn't know as it's all up to the guy I had to email- from whom I got no other email... great.  


So.  I have money coming to me.  Which I might not get until the third and which I have been told I should have been able to have gotten on the 20th.  I have a bank account I opened which I can't access because the bank and the university haven't figured out how to communicated with each other and I have no idea if or when my money will actually be cut.


At least I know it shall be in pounds sterling.


And registration is on the 26th.  Oh joy.

Welcome Week Day 2

Day two and the International Office was having an open house for banks.  Mark & I had already gone online to check out the bank options in town and decided on the Graduate account with Lloyds TBS which was to start at 12:30.  We were a bit delayed getting there because mark's friend came over to do some laundry and we sat and had a nice chat... that is until his friend tried to tell me that traditional Mexican guacamole never has tomato in it.  Then we had an argument as I took exception to some brit whose idea of mexican food is taquitos.  Really? 


Once he was gone Mark and I headed out and arrived at the International Office where we stood in a very long line to talk to banks.  A woman came out asking for our attention and asked if anyone there was for Lloyds.  Several hands raised and she said that we could just go to the bank office, they've been told to expect an influx of students and that we don't need letters.  So with a canadian girl and an exchange student from WA we went to Lloyds and waited in yet another line for the two harried tellers to get us all settled.


When it was finally my turn I was told that the graduate account is only for residents but that they had foreign student account, at least that's what it sounded like as I couldn't quite hear her over the noise.  So I signed the papers and she said I could bring my letter of intro the following day.


So Mark and I stopped at a bakery, bought a loaf of bread and took the long way home through Pearson Park.  We then stopped off at Tesco's Express, bought a few things for supper, came home, had lunch and we have not been hungry since.


So tomorrow I guess we'll return to the school, get my intro letter, get the bank account active, send that info to the guy who will be sending me my disbursement check.


So not much happened today and I don't think much is going to happen tomorrow either but such is life.

International Office Welcome Week Day 1

I received an email from the financial aid lady telling me to email someone with my particulars, being, when I am going to arrive, do I have a UK bank account and am I living on campus.  I emailed him yesterday saying, arrived, no and no... though in not so few words.  That email also said that funds could be received as early as yesterday.


So yesterday Mark and I worked on making a shopping list of things we need to get and do.  One of the most important items on that list was real coffee.  My dearest has been living off of instant coffee and while he'll drink it, he doesn't really like it.


This was our plan for the day: Go to the school and get my reimbursement check-which will be in pounds sterling and bless the financial aid lady she hoped that was okay with me... uh yeah!  :)  And then we were going to go to staples, get me some school supplies, head to the post office, mail off stuff that people are going to be needing (such as mom's ATM card), return home, pick up Mark's hand held shopping cart and then head to Tescos (sorta like a super wal-mart) and buy food, diet coke, real coffee and everything else that was on our list.  I had planned on getting up at 8 to do all of this.


Instead I wake up at 4 and my brain begins to work.  Mark wakes up and bless him, he adds the item I had just thought of to the list and sits and chats with me, suggesting I take some benadryl to get some sleep.  I do and while I am waiting for it to kick in I decide to check facebook where my loved ones are still awake and ending their day.  I was back asleep by 5 and didn't wake up until 10:30 at which point Mark comes in with a cup of coffee and a DC.  he had gone to the tescos express across the street and had bought me 2 6-packs.  It must be love.


We were soon out the door and went to the campus.  I don't have pictures yet because his camera holds about 4 pictures and that isn't very much.  Once we have a better SD card, I shall do what I do and bombard you with them.  :)  We see a sign that said International Office and hey, we decided to go inside and have a look.  Good thing we did.  They were glad to see me and told me I needed to fill out this yellow form so they know I have arrived.  And no, I had no idea this was needed.  They were quite relieved when I said, no I am not living on campus, yes I do have housing and no I don't need help getting settled in.  I have a Marcos.  :)  They also had a bag for me with nasty fruit cake biscuits, "milk" in pack, instant coffee in a similar pack, tea and a schedule for the international office welcome week.  And no, I did not know they were going to have that, so I am glad we decided to stop in and have a look.


We then went to the campus itself and went to the Financial Office in the Venn building and, after waiting in line for half an hour, were told to go to the student union, second floor.  And after standing in line for half an hour or so we are told the computers are down but I'll check.  We are told then to go to the top floor of the Cohen Building (right next to the Venn building-same building) and ask for Robert.  We go there and we walk to the top of the building-these people don't seem to believe in elevators.  We are then told Robert is at the International Office.  Great, so we go back and are then told he's not in but to leave a message and he'll call back.  So we decide to pop off to a pub for some fish and chips.  


And here is my take on the Grey Mare.  No diet coke, just pepsi, diet pepsi and what they call clear lemonade which is just like sprite without the lime.  So I had that.  I wasn't impressed and with such limited choices in caffeine, I have decided I am not interested in returning.  The fish was more like a whale on a plate but quite good, the fish was obviously fresh, though the fries were obviously cooked from frozen and not really good at all, a bit cold in the middle to be exact.  The peas were untasted by me as I don't eat peas.  Mark does and was not impressed with them.  We then get a call from Robert telling us to talk to the financial aid lady.  So we go back to the financial aid office and talk to her.  She said all was clear and good and that I can get my letter of introduction tomorrow for the banks and that it's possible I'll get my check tomorrow but it's also possible it won't come through until the 3rd.  So I am going to assume that I am getting it on the third but by then I should have a bank account and I can email the guy, give him the particulars and it will be automatically deposited into my account.


There is also welcome week for post-grad students next week and each department has a day for their welcome, for which I don't the date.  The financial aid lady suggested we go to the Larkin building (humanities) and ask a certain person about it.  I decided that I'd rather go home, email my master prof. as they are doing construction on some of the buildings and I really didn't want to bother with it.


We took a different route home and stopped by a different grocery store called Lidle and bought a chicken, potatoes and some olive oil.  I cut up the chicken into its separate parts, cooked a pot of rice (we so need a rice cooker), chopped up a single chicken breast, added some soy sauce and poured that and a thin bit of "sauce" over the rice for dinner.  It was the worst thing I think I have cooked in ages but Mark seemed to think it was good.  He ate everything I put into his bowl at least.  And yes Elizabeth, one can buy a bag of frozen chicken breast, which I will most likely do from now on.


It is now getting quite late and the bank reps are going to be at the office at 10 tomorrow and I want to get an early start.  We still need to go the post office and we need to figure out where I am going to bank so I shall bid you all a fond goodnight and goodmorrow.

Day 1 in Hull

Tuesday, Sept. 20

I came to Manchester and despite my fears, anxieties, paranoia and trepidation it could not have been a more positive experience for me.  The plane landed a bit early at 8:25 rather than 8:40.  We disembarked and were transported along the flight deck to immigration.  Those with British & EU passports were allowed to go through one lane while the rest of us went through another.  They were fairly quick though and we were serenaded with the sound of stamps on passports.  I was just hoping I would get the same thing.  I got into the line about 9 and was through about 10:30.  As a student to Liverpool said while we stood in line, "It's like Disneyland, only not fun."  Heh, tell me about it.

Well, finally it was my turn and I approached the immigration agent who actually smiled at me.  I handed her my passport with my landing card and she said something about students and I said I am a student and she said, Oh!  Okay!  very nicely and then she proceeded to ask if I had my offer letter, instead I gave her a copy of my CAS which told her what I'm studying and we chatted about the problem they're having with "students" who are enrolled in fake universities.  She knew of Hull and even said it was a good school so, bully for me eh, wot?

I was feeling pretty good, my heart rate went down and I was thinking, alright, we can do this!  She asked me about my previous rejection and I told her that I didn't know what I was doing, didn't really know about the CAS, financials or anything and I was just trying to be pro-active.  She was following me and she seemed to like my answers and I was feeling very good until she told me to have a seat while she checked out the rejection.

oh. crap.

But she came back and told me she didn't realize I had come and had been sent back so I told her about that and she knew that one can't get a visa in Philly.  She then smiled and said to me, "Well, you don't need to worry about that today." And she grabbed her stamp and I cannot tell you the smile of relief that cross my face.  And then she said that she's taken care of that rejection notice on my file and I could have sung her praises!  She said I shouldn't have to worry about answering about that now and I asked her if I needed to have my CAS or financials next time I came through and she said I might need to have the CAS but I shouldn't need the financials.  I think I'll just keep them all on me just in any case.  Better safe than sorry.

So I came up to customs and I stopped long enough to ask them if I needed to declare 4 bottles of wine.  The guy I asked thought about it and said, nah you're ok and so I went through and the first thing I saw was Mark and he had something to say so I told him to hush.  I saw that there were some people from Hull there and I ignored them as I walked right to Mark and gave him a huge hug.  It was only until 4 in the morning that I thought of them but Mark said that they were there for a host of students and not me.  Oh, good.

And then Uncle Phil dropped us off, wished us well and headed home.  Mark and I just chatted and ordered pizza of which I ate 1 slice and declared I was no longer hungry.  We chatted and talked and laughed and we eventually had a short nap.  We woke up, ate a bit more pizza and went to be at 9:30 when I simply could not stay up any longer.

The rest, my dear friends, shall be expounded upon in another post.  As it is now, it's almost 6:30 and I should get supper started before I get hungry and will botch the whole thing.

Packing Up

I hate moving.  I hate packing up everything I own, I hate cleaning up, I hate loading boxes onto trucks, I hate moving the boxes into new houses and I hate unpacking.  I just hate the entire business of it.


Packing up one's bedroom, clearing it out so that nothing of me remains behind is vastly different.  All my clothes are either in a huge duffle bag for my sojourn in England, in Goodwill bags or staying here because I know my sister will get some use out of them.  I'm not leaving one bedroom for another, I'm leaving it all together.  I no longer have a room, I have to find another, a new space, one that won't be crowded with the reminders of my past-just of my future.  


It means taking a good, hard look at all those little bits of odds and ends that I've held onto because I can need to go somewhere.  I have always used moving as a time to get rid of stuff I don't need anymore and I am once more plagued with indecision.  Do I really need to keep the pogs?  I never really played with them all too frequently when I was a kid... are they really that important?  What about the stickers?  Or that first year clarinet music book from which I learned basic fingerings?  It's probably a good thing I no longer have the Fussel book or else I'd agonize about that too... and I hated that book.  I was never good with those exercises anyway.


But I'm not just moving and clearing away things, I am, in a sense, moving onto a different phase of my life.  When I return next fall I will need different things.  Do I really need that silly mask my roommates and I wore at the Mardi Gras festivities the Commons hosted that first year in 2005?  Oh but those were sweet memories.  The beads from the night adorn my headboard.  I also have the child size Home Depot apron a friend and I begged off of the Home Depot table at the Walk for Life in 2006 in Merced my Senior year at UC Merced.  It was silly but it has my name on it.


Even as I write this I know the answer to all these questions and the answer is-yes.  I don't need them but they are reminders of a very happy time in my history, when I was on the verge of change, when I had been changed.  No, I won't bring them with me as I shall be returning home and yes, it's clutter but I get a smile whenever I see them.


But the biggest sign of change is my bed.  I love that bed.  I bought it the start before my senior year of college.  It's green and it cost me $100.  Yeah, it was a steal.  The store I bought it from in Merced said that it was discontinued and there were only two left and he just wanted to get rid of them.  Score for my roomie and me.


It has been supporting me for the last five years (2006-2011) and I am very fond of it as it is a reminder of a great time in my life.  But there is no room in the house for it as my sister will be bringing in her bed.  Nor is there going to be any room for it in the garage as it's full and gonna get fuller with my sister's stuff here soon.


So I need to say goodbye to my bed and find a good home for it.


There are some memories we can hold in our hand and keep for a lifetime and some memories we have to keep only in our minds and hearts, an allow the physical to move on.


And yes, this has been a post about my bed and my reluctance to give it away.  As I said, I love that bed and I really wish I could keep it.


Have I mentioned how much I hate moving?

Getting a UK Tier 4 Student Visa-General

Having just written the previous post I realized that my two readers (hi mom!) might not be fully cognizant of what it entails to get a Tier 4 Student Visa from the UK. If you know the pains I've been through, then you know it's a bitch and a half, but you don't know what is required well... I'll tell you. After 3 times at bat, I think I have it down now.

And if you are an American looking to cross the pond for school... here's a few questions and answers to help you on your way.

First of all, if you're getting a visa, you need to know which one you have to get. For me I had to get a Tier 4 Student Visa-General. How did I know I needed that one? The UKBA website made that fairly obvious. Although you can get a bit nervous when the online application asks you what kind of Tier 4 Student Visa you're getting because it has options. If you don't have a scholarship and you either have student loans or Mommy & Daddy have the money in their bank account and you're over 17... you're a general student.

So I know what visa to get, what documents do I need?

The first thing you need is what is called a CAS from your sponsor-which is the university itself. The CAS is the Certificate of Acceptance for Studies, or something like that. It's a document that the university sends to the UKBA to let them know you're coming to their school. They should email you a copy. The University of Hull does, at any rate. I would recommend that you save this email... you need all the information of of it for your application.

What does it take to get a CAS?

I think it depends on the University. For Hull I had to apply. I thought it was the easiest application process ever. And it was. Once I was accepted I got a Conditional letter of acceptance which meant I needed to send them a few things before they'd send me my CAS. They needed official transcripts, 2 letters of recommendation and a copy of my diploma. Once they had those and processed them I was sent a CAS, which was also sent to the UKBA. You will get the CAS 4 months before the start of term. You CANNOT apply for a visa any sooner than 4 months start of term. You CANNOT enter the country on a student visa any earlier than 1 month prior to start of term.

I have my CAS now what?

You need money, and lots of it! The website will tell you that you need to have enough money to cover your tuition and enough money to cover what they call your maintenance fees. These fees are what the UKBA requires you to have so that you will have money for things like books and housing and food so you won't try and get onto their version of welfare. They have to different rates depending on where you're going to school. Because I am outside of the inner London Boroughs I only needed 600 GBP for 9 months which is 9800 GBP total. That's over $15,000 so yeah, it's a lot of money. If you don't have $40,000 wasting away in the bank and neither does Mommy or Daddy, make sure you apply for financial aid before March 2... you're going to need every dime you can get your hands on.

Once you've done that- go to your university's website and see what they require from You and what they require from your loans. The University of Hull requires you to send them the 8 page SAR. When ordering it make sure it can get to the university and if it doesn't, you might have to mail it. Ask to see if you can't email scans instead. Hull's been great about accepting scans of all my stuff... thank God!

So I have my CAS and the university is awarding me $40,000, now what?

Make sure you have a copy of their award letter. A print up of the email saying you have it is okay, though they university will probably send you an official copy of the award letter. And double check the amount. The people in the office are only human and there is a huge difference between a $20K award letter and a $40K award letter! The UKBA needs every single piece of paper the university gives you saying how much money you're getting so if the university sends you 5 sheets, make sure you give that to the UKBA with your visa packet. If there's only 1, make sure you send that. If you're going to Hull, you should have 2.

Alright already, can I apply for my visa now or what??

Yes. Make sure you have a copy of your CAS in front of you as you will be referring to that to answer the questions on the visa application. This is really easy and straight forward so don't sweat it. It also doesn't take very long. And all the questions they ask are either things you know (such as your mother's name, birthday, birthplace, same with dear old dad) and things you might not know (do you qualify for NTI?-your CAS has the answer for you). Once you are finished, GO Over Your Answers!!! At one point, I noticed that I had somehow checked that I was male. I'm not. So do be paranoid about your answers.

And Make Sure you have the RIGHT GW number (visa application number) and the right passport number!!!

Once you've finished that pay for it and schedule a biometrics appointment. This will be with the DHS immigration services building in the closest city to you (If you're in Sacramento this is on Reed Ave just off of Harbor BLVD and across the road from Ikea). You'll be given a date and time for your appt. but I'll give you a hint, you might be able to get in early, like a day early. You never know.

But you have 2 weeks from your biometrics appt. to send in your application packet so don't sit on it!

Do I need to worry about my biometrics appointment?

No, this is easy and painless and should take no more than 5 minutes. At this point I would suggest that you have a manila envelope or something to hold all of your visa application documents in. If you're at the point where you're getting your biometrics done then you should have the following printed up and on hand:

1. Copy of your CAS printed from your email.

2. Copy of your visa application.

3. Copy of your biometrics appointment (both of these will have been printed from your online application site) 4. Copy of your proof of financials.

5. Official transcripts (can be opened) or whatever proof you sent to the university to show you already have a degree and

6. YOUR PASSPORT! If you don't have all of these things together, stop what you're doing and get them together.

Now!

Okay, so I got fingerprinted and my picture taken now what?

You're almost done. Did you know that you need an auxiliary sheet?

Say what?

It's true. They need additional information from you. This is something you print up and fill out in blue or black ink. This lets them know how much money you owe the university, how much money you've paid, how much money they require from you total and how much money you can get your hands on to support yourself. They have changed their website and so you should be able to get this form once you've started your application. If not, make sure you scour the UKBA site for it!! and make sure you're filling out the right one. If it doesn't say Tier 4 general student visa on the top right hand corner, you've got the wrong one.

Anything else?

Yes. They want 1 passport picture of your pretty face. You can send them both but they'll just return the one they don't need. Make sure you don't smile. A Mona Lisa smile is okay but really, all they want is a mug shot. Don't smile.

Can I mail it already?

yes but check off these items to make sure you have them.

1. Printed Visa application

2. Biometrics appt. stamped and verified

3. Auxiliary information sheet (the one you had to find)

4. Evidence used to obtain your CAS (transcripts)

5. Copy of your CAS

6. Copy of your proof of financials

7. 1 passport photo of you Not smiling no older than 6 months old

8. Your Passport + any old passports you might have on hand

Got them all? Good, now you're ready to mail them.

There are 4 places in the continental 48 to take your application, the British General Consulate in LA, NYC, Chicago & DC. Your appt. sheet tells you where you're supposed to send your application.

So how should I send this?

If you have never applied for a visa before, your application should be easy and shouldn't take too long. If you have managed to get all of this done 4-2 months before start of term, put the documents into an express envelope and spend the $5 to get it there priority. It should arrive in 2 days. And it should take them a couple of weeks to approve your visa at which point they mail all your documents back to you.

If, however, you got a month to go and you're worried about getting to the UK in time for start of term, do a search for their expedited services. They have two options: You can either spend $100 for their expedited fee or $150. The $100 is one in which you make an appointment in either LA, Chicago, NY or DC to walk and get your visa in the same day (you can hope). The $150 fee is for NYC only. You pay worldbridge $150, write Priotrity Service on the outside of your envelope (spend the $20 to get it shipped overnight w/ express) and mail it in. You can only mail it in after 24 hours have passed since your biometrics appointment. Once you've paid for it, you Have to include that receipt in with your whole visa package. They will send you an email letting you know each stage of the game.

At no time should you even Think of buying a plane ticket until you have your visa in your hot little hand. I have learned this the hard way. You might have to pay a few extra scheckles to get your plane ticket with little advance warning but you could end up spending a Lot more in the long run. Trust me, I learned that the hard way.

Once you have your travelling papers in order, get in touch with the university and they'll probably have a welcome team to pick you up from the train station/bus station/whatever that is closest to the university and help you get settled in.

All I can say is good luck.

They Like Me!

I am not a fan of the UK Border Agency. Their website isn't clear, it suggests one thing while saying something else, it doesn't give you all the information you need in one place and you can't get any help with anything without paying a company a ton of money, and even then, they're not UKBA agents.

In September of 2010 I tried to head to England for grad school.

That was a fail- they didn't like my lack of visa-even though the site suggested I could get one in the UK. Boy was I wrong. Never mind the fact that school started on the 27th, I flew out on the 21st and got my CAS a week before that. I can get vet a visa in 3 weeks... of course I can... suuure.

So I spent an additional $330 to get a visa so I could go back! Aaaand that took so long I extended the school's 4 week allowance for international students Plus the 2 weeks they allow for extreme cases like mine. I got the visa back 3 days too late to do me any good.

So I had a pretty piece of paper glued to the inside of my passport. It's about as effective as a nerf paperweight in a tornado.

And so now it is 2011 and I am making my second attempt to cross the pond and successfully enter England-land (yes I know it's really England and the addition of land is redundant-that's the point people). My CAS arrived on time in May. For the University of Hull you need transcripts, two letters of recommendation and a copy of your diploma ( I think) to get the CAS (certificate of acceptance for study). I had already turned mine in last year so they just bumped it all up to this year's application. Thankfully!

But I got an email from the UK Visa office in NYC and my visa has been approved and my visa is on its way! WOOOOOOT! I've been very excited since I got the email this afternoon. It's hard to believe!!

Now all I need to do is pack, clean out my room so there's nothing of mine in it and get ready to go.

I will miss my dog but she's going to stay home with Grammy and Aunt Libbie so she should be okay without her mommy. Plus Grammy gives her doggie treats, not Mommy.

Latest Visa News

I have found my passport! I knew it had to be around here somewhere and sure enough, it was in one of the bookshelves downstairs. I have my CAS and I am waiting on the lady from the university to get back to me letting me know that she has all my financials worked out. Once I get confirmation from her, I can print it up and apply for my visa.

I am anxious about reentry into the UK but, as my brother keeps trying to assure me, I ought to have nothing to worry about, I have a valid student visa.

That is the latest news on this front at least.

I cannot enter the UK on a student visa until Aug. 26 at the earliest. It's already mid-july and I need to get those financials squared away soon as it takes 3-4 weeks to get a visa approved. I do hope to be able to fly out Aug. 28 as that seems to be the cheapest date to leave.

In other news, HP 7.2 shows tonight. I've got my ticket for the 3D 12:01 showing. I cannot wait!! I know I am going to cry though.

But it is now 1300 and I need to finish getting things ready for the maids who are coming anywhere from 0845-0900 tomorrow. Ouch. I don't think I'll be getting home until 0300 sometime. Whimper.

Anywhoo, that's all I have for t'day, t'week, t'month, :P

Much love

April 27, On the Farm Day III

It rained and it rained and it rained and it rained and it rained and then it stopped just long enough for the three of us to hop in the car to see the midwife. Speck decided she didn't want to move around much last night or this morning so Chia decided she was going to check with the midwife to make sure the fetal heart rate was up. It wasn't too much later after we called the midwife that Speck decided that she had tortured her mama enough and started moving around. The crazy child had changed positions inside her mother. But Speck is more than fine, her heart is beating well and though she isn't ready to be born tonight we might have a birth here in a week or so. Chia hopes that she comes on a Wednesday as that would give her daddy 12 days off instead of 10 as his 10 days would end on a friday and he'd get that weekend free. But Chia and I both think it'd be cool if she were born on May 1^st too. I supposed that she'll come when she's good and ready, no matter what her mama or her daddy might prefer. Babies are persnickety like that I have noticed.

There was a tornado warning for the area so we decided that we were going to stay put. There was no tornado but a couple of Californian women are not exactly prepared to face even the prospect of a tornado, but we did discuss it. Should we end up having one we've decided that we were going to toss all the clothes on the floor where the is a V in the walls and make a shield against the closest windows with the table on its side. I guess we could also make a tent out of the blankets but I suppose we don't have to worry too much about it.

C and I had fun with our morning chores while Chia was enjoying a hot shower. C has a tendency to help her while she showers and for some reason she doesn't feel as if she needs his help. So he helped me do the breakfast dishes. We had groats for breakfast this morning. Before I took my shower I soaked them in some hot, soapy water so that when I was ready to clean them the pan would be easy to get clean. C and I divided up the work. I washed each dish in the suds, rinsed them off in cool water and held each item over the drying rack. I would then as C if he could put the plate/bowl/cup/whatever into the rack. He took each item and happily helped me lower the item right where I had positioned it. Then I handed him a spoon, showed him where it went and asked if he could put the spoon there. Then I asked him if he could put the spoon with the other one and he put it in the same spot as the other spoon. Then I handed him a fork and asked him if he could put it in with the spoons. And he did. Once we were finished with the dishes we clapped and had a little celebration and then I asked him if he'd like to help me sweep.

His favorite toy has become the green green. Most adults might recognize it as a dust bin that has a long handle so it can be used without bending down or over. But he knows it as the green-green because it's green. He held it still for me while I swept the front area and then once I got the stuff from the floor into the dust bin I asked him if he could throw it away. He took it over to the garbage, lifted it and tried to get the dirt in the garbage but he needed a little help figuring out that he needed to turn it to get it to work properly. Then we swept the small kitchen area and this time he had no problems figuring out that he needed to turn it, he just couldn't quite finagle it enough to get it turned. Then we did more clapped and more praise was had and then when Chia got out of her shower, there was more praise. We had fun. I think I can honestly say that was the most fun cleaning I have ever had.

This afternoon was not without its own amusements. C was unable to go to the playground but a bed and two adults was all the playground he seemed to require. He climbed up and on and over and through and around everything. He wore us out long before he slowed down... even after his nap! Although we all slept for 2 hours and it was heavenly. Sleep has been interesting with all the thunder. But from what I have been told the storm has passed by us and we are due for a few days of sun and heat. Personally I like the thunder and the lightening but it's keeping C awake and with it his mama so they're ready for the sun to come.

I think we're headed back into town tomorrow. It gives us something to do, to be out and about. I hope to take some fun pictures while we're out. I took several fun pics of C and Chia in black and white today, a lot that are just so sweet that it'll make even a hard heart smile. It's pretty hard not to go awwww when you see a two year old boy kissing his mommy's pregnant belly. At least I don't think it is.

Chia has an odd craving for some chicken nuggets so we might hit the golden arches tomorrow and they has internet there so I will most likely be updating this then. I love and miss you all. And that includes my Coopaducks.

EHM

My name is Ein. At least, that's how C says my name. He is quite vocal and not at all shy about coming to me for anything he might want. Chia and I have already seemed to form a routine. Much like a cat, C is a huge help in the kitchen so one of us cooks while the other watches and entertains him while he sits at the table and eats snacks. And with the combined power of 2, both adults are actually able to eat an entire meal.

We arrived at the farm a bit after 3 and unpacked, had a snack and set up shop then we went to the playground by the Farm Store where C got to play around and Chia and I were able to check our mail and do stuff online. Then a little before 6 it was time to head home and get supper ready. I entertained C while Chia cooked some rice and vegetables. I actually ate some, though not all, and finished off the rest of the chicken tenders I had had from an all-nighter place my cousins had taken me to that the local Vanderbilt University students use instead of their library. There was plenty of rice left after dinner and I am sure that we'll have left-overs for dinner tonight.

The sun went down and with it we found ourselves heading towards bed as well. Chia and C had a bath and she enjoyed reveling in hot water while I dried him off and let him run around in his birthday suit. He was fine so long as he was able to check in on his mother during his bath. He's fine being with me but Mama has to be within sight.

It was warm and muggy all day yesterday and about 4 in the morning we had a huge thunder storm that woke everyone. The gloriousness of the storm was amazing though the thunder that boomed overhead made it hard to sleep as did the piercing lightening that was bright enough to see even through closed eyelids. Speck didn't really like the thunder it was that loud. I know I found it hard to sleep but eventually I managed to go back to sleep. I woke up at one point and noticed that it was light outside and I remember thinking, before I drifted off back to sleep, that C would wake up soon as Chia had told me he wakes up when the sun does.

Sure enough, not too much longer, I heard him wake up and with him Chia did. I hadn't planned on getting up so early and had every intention of sleeping in just a little longer. I hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, had a hard time getting to sleep and I thought I deserved at least another half hour of sleep. C, however, had different ideas about things and stood at the bottom of the stairs saying, “Ein, Ein, Ein, Ein, Ein,” over and over again until I acknowledged him. Once I answered he wished me good morning and I figured that if I didn't get my butt downstairs I'd be subject to him waking me up.

So I brushed my teeth, entertained him while his mother tried to make pancakes off of a finicky burner. Then I took a shower, while she tried to get him ready for the day. I watched him while Chia showered then, once we were all dressed and packed up, we went into Lawerenceburg, TN which is one of the closest towns to The Farm.

We were out the door and on the road by 9 AM... with a toddler. Yes, he got us up that early. We got into town about 10, looked to see what chinese food places there were as she was searching for a place that had Panda in the title but couldn't find any. We stopped off at Wal-Mart, got a few supplies and then we were hungry again and it was about 11 so we had chinese food for lunch. There was a chinese buffet and C had fun eating rice off of chopsticks.

Then it was time to come home. We got back a bit after noon, got resettled and then it was nap time. C is still not yet asleep but his mama is trying to get him to sleep. He was standing at the foot of the stairs calling me, probably to make sure I was still there. So we had a conversation and eventually Chia was able to pull him away.

Once we are up from our nap we'll probably head to the park where we'll play for a while. Chia and I will take turns checking email and watching C. And then, just about when the comp's battery has died and I have taken several dozen pictures that afternoon, well pack C back into his stroller and walk home and get ready for some supper. I have not yet worked on Mark's blanket though as I am reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. Part I are birth stories which are meant to combat the horror stories that women hear from women who've had births in hospital settings to show a woman that really, birthing is not a horror, pain-filled traumatic experience but an amazing one-if you do it correctly which is through a natural birth. I read a few of the stories then decided to skip most of them and went onto Part II. Which I am finding an interesting read. So far I'd highly recommend my pregnant friends to read it... okay so I only have 2 pregnant friends and one has already read it-in fact, it's her book.

It's currently 1320 and I don't think C is really wanting a nap as he is fussing. I can hear Chia speaking to him in a low, calm voice and he is responding to it.

As for me, I am ready for that nap. It is cool and breezy and the trees are murmuring gently. I can hear birds singing and calling to each other. I'd feel as if I were camping but I'm in a cabin instead of a tent. I have the windows up here wide open to allow as much as the cool, fresh air in as possible. This is what I love about being in the middle of nowhere, you can't hear the highway, or people in general, unless someone passes by. It almost feels as if you are a million miles from nowhere. The only thing that could make this better is if the cabin had more modern amenities.

As it is, not all the outlets work, which isn't all that big of a deal. The septic is very sensitive and can't handle copious amounts of toilet paper... joy. There's no internet in the cabin, which would be convenient. The Farm, however is huge and there are a lot of possibilities for hiking. I was going to bring a pair of keens but I forgot. Chia can't really hike anyway as the trails are a bit too steep for her.

But still, I am sure that tomorrow morning, instead of going into town, we'll take a nice long walk. Walking is good for all of us.

Until the next time, I love you all

EHM

The Farm

The Farm is in Summertown, TN about an hour and half from Nashville. It is warm and muggy but there is a slight breeze that is cooling things off a bit. About a quarter of a mile from the cabin is the farm store which has wifi. There is also a jungle gym here for children to play on. Tomorrow I hope to have pictures from today.

I have also met and enjoyed the company of my cousins, Caitlin, Meghan and Sean McKeighen. I am not too sure if TN is ready for 4 living and 1 dead McKeighen.

The cabin itself is very rustic and small and smells like it has been closed in and I am hoping that a few days of airing it out will get that stench out. There are two beds, one right next to the front door so you almost run the risk of hitting it when open it. Just inside is the dining table which, amazingly enough, sits 6. There is a very tiny kitchen and the fridge is just outside the kitchen itself. Again I will post pictures tomorrow as I haven't loaded them yet.

I will post more tomorrow. Love to you all,

EHM

At the Airport

Several days ago a good friend skyped me and asked if I couldn't travel to TN to stay with his wife, Chia while she enters the last few weeks of her pregnancy with kiddo #2 at The Farm in Summertown, TN. A week and a plane ticket later, I am sitting at the Sacramento International Aiport (SMF) waiting for my flight which should be boarding here soon.

I was originally scheduled to fly out of American Airlines at 1425 on Easter. I was to fly to Dallas and then, from there, to Nashville where my darling cousins would pick me up and let me crash on their couch for the night. Until I tried to check in this morning and discovered, to my very great dismay, that my flight was canceled. A quick internet search got me the 1800 number for AA and a kind lady got me onto a United flight that would send me to Denver and from there I'd head to Nashville (BNA).

The reason why the flight was canceled is because the crew never checked in. Oops. :) I am sure that they're stuck at another airport and were unable to get here. I doubt that they were unable to get out of their hotel.

So instead of heading to Terminal A I am at gate 36 in Terminal B. Boarding is supposed to commence at 1415 (1 minute from now) and is supposed to depart at 1245 but it looks like we might not be leaving until 1500.

On the way here I was quite anxious, and nervous and there is no reason for it to be honest. I'm staying in the Continental US but my last airplane trip ended in disaster.

I am sure that this time around I am not going to find myself detained.

And here is our plane!!! Yay! I am going to head out. I'll update the blog as frequently as I can.

Love to you all-

EHM

Til Death Do Us Part

This afternoon I was waiting for mom at Kaiser when I heard the soft, slow shuffle of feet and the clack of a cane approach from my right. I looked up as a woman no less than 80 walked up to the man who had been sitting on the other side of the corner just to my left. "I'm all done Sweetheart." She rested against her cane as she fished through her pocket with her right hand to pull out a gold bracelet she carefully placed onto her wrist. Her husband gathered up her purse and a plastic bag that held some paperwork and some medication. He rocked back and forth a few times before he was able to get to his feet while she waited patiently for him to get vertical. I didn't hear the words they spoke back and forth for I was too buys admiring them. How long have they been bound together by love and a promise signified by a gold band on their left hand? They were a beautiful thing to watch. There was a slight clatter as she dropped her cane. Her husband tried to bend down to pick it up for her but I jumped up and picked it up myself. They both thanked me and I replied that I'm young and limber. God bless this woman, she looks at me with a twinkle in her eye and asks, "Are you saying I'm old?" I laughed and I said, "well, you're slightly older than me." She looks haughty as she quips, "only by a few years I'm sure." I grinned as her husband was standing by and just smiling. "Of course, " I said back, as if the mere thought of her being old never entered my mind, "why, you're old enough to be my big sister!" She laughed in appreciation and they both bade me a good day.

They both left but just a bit later Mom came out and we were ready to go. We were right behind these two lovebirds when he stopped, stooped all the way over to pick up a penny. It made me smile. He carefully put it into his pocket before taking his wife's hand. They were both hunched over with the weight of their years. I stopped to rifle through my bag to look for my camera. They were shambling before me, their fingers interlocked as if to defy that love belongs to those young enough to waste it. Their hands were work hardened, spotted with age and wrinkled and yet it was perhaps one of the most beautiful things I have seen in a very long time.

That is what people want, a love that really does last a lifetime and it's love like that that gives us young 'uns the hope that maybe,just maybe love really can, in fact, last a whole life long.

Big Sister

Our pets often become our children, especially when we are sorely lacking in that department. And so, whether we intend or not, we have a tendency to anthropomorphize our pets. It gets harder when your pet really does think she is a human. Cooper looks at me as if I have just said something funny when I remind her that she is a dog.

I think, however, that there ought to be some understanding for us poor besotted fools who tend to make our pets our children because well... they act like children.

For the last four years in which I've had Cooper she's been an only child and she liked it. She tolerated the cats but I am her mommy and only her mommy and I may be no one else's mommy. She doesn't like to share. And she's never had to. Things were easy because if she wanted attention from me, there was no competition. Things are not exactly the same with her cousins.

Don't get me wrong, she likes having her cousins about. She plays with them and they are helping her explore her inner dog, something that has been sorely lacking. And she gets more help than she really wants from Roxie.

Now, Roxie is a big sister and like all big sisters, she feels as if she must keep her sister in check. On more than one occasion I'll have let the girls outside to go potty before bed. If Kai has seen a cat then she will stay outside to watch for the elusive feline. This usually requires me calling her two or three times before she finally listens. And this is where Roxie reminds me of every big sister I have ever known.

Big sisters feel as if they must take on the role of parent. Why, I dunno. I know that, on more than one occasion my own sister felt as if she needed to become the parent for whatever reason. It drove my brother and me crazy. Roxie does the same thing. If I have called Kai to come inside Roxie will go out and try and bring Kai back in. I can almost hear her yelling at Kai to come in because Aunty said so. And in true little sister fashion, Kai ignored her sister and argues with her the entire way in.

What is really amusing to me is when I tell Kai it's time to come in and Roxie goes outside, tries to grab Kai's neck to bring her in and only when she's shepherded her sister back inside will she look up at me as if to say, See Aunty, I brought her in for you. Silly Roxie. I always thank her but tell her I don't need her to boss her sister around.

What really makes me laugh is when Roxie tries to get Cooper to follow my orders. Now, Cooper's a good dog and we have an understanding. If I call for her in a certain tone she can elect to come or not. It might be her loss but hey, a warm bed all by one's self is a warm bed without anyone to bother her. Sometimes I call her and it's an order, others I call her because she's in big trouble. She usually hides when I use the MOM tone. But Roxie, being a big sister, will sometimes go and fetch her cousin.

Like sisters, I can almost hear the two cousins arguing. Roxie will try and herd Cooper towards me but Coops won't suffer that. So they argue. Loudly. Incessantly. And then I have to yell at the both of them to be quiet. I sometimes threaten to beat them with the biggest stick they can find but they don't seem too concerned.

At bed time Kai will instigate play time with Cooper. She tried with Roxie but she just ignores her little sister. Cooper and Kai snarl and growl and make all sorts of mock fighting noises as they dance and jump and prance and make general nuisance of themselves. Which makes me yell at them to stop it! I'm usually yelling at Coops since she is the elder of the two. At times I yell at them to get off the bed.

Roxie will hold herself very still as if to say, look at me, I'm a good girl. And because she is, she gets to stay up. I don't think either Coops or Kai notice. Kai will jump back up into the bed and race towards me as I am base. Cooper is a step behind her waiting for her to get away from me where she can continue her assault. And Roxie just sits there as if she can show them proper behavior.

Silly girl. I often think that she would love to rough house with Coops and Kai but she's too busy trying to be the good and proper child, to set the standard of behavior by which all other siblings will be measured. And even as I pet her and tell her she's a good girl I laugh. She's definitely a big sister all right.

Iron Constitution & Paper Towels

When it comes to canine children, I think I have it fairly easy. All things considered. My Cooper is properly house trained and she loves her mommy and, after 3 solid years of rearing, she is a good girl I have no problem letting her off leash even at a friend's house. I can also give her just about anything and she'll eat it. My baby isn't exactly a picky eater.

She also has an iron constitution.

Many pet parents have strict diets for their children. I have good friends who have a kitty who requires a very strict diet. I can feed Cooper anything. Though she doesn't like it, she is able to eat the cheapest dog food or the most expensive stuff on the market. Sure, she would love to have fresh meat for each meal but I don't have the money for that. She didn't exactly pick a rich mommy. Several years ago she even ate all but a few slices of a large salami and pepperoni pizza.

Many people supposed that she would toss it up. She didn't. I have never seen her throw up anything she has eaten.

Unlike her cousins.

My sister and I ordered some chinese food the other day. Last night I took the rest of the meat and allowed the dogs to help themselves to the remaining vegetables. They gobbled it up in appreciation. The food didn't agree with them. Both Roxie and Kai rejected their meal. Just about the same time. Roxie threw up in three different locations, including mom's $130 Ikea couch. Kai just chose to soil a blanket that happened to have been on mom's other $130 Ikea couch. Yes Mom, they've been cleaned up.

Only once I have seen to the girls did I run upstairs to check on Cooper who was curled up under the blankets on my bed. She wasn't exactly pleased to have me disturb her.

She also has shown no signs of rejecting her treat from last night.

But, a half roll of paper towels and a load of laundry later, all three girls are now curled up recharging. Roxie is on the floor at my feet, Coops is on the Lazy Boy and Kai is tucked up under my arm.

I am just glad I didn't need to clean up after myself. After all, I am not exactly known for my iron constitution.

Three Dog Night

I always wanted three kids. As in human children. I have none. But I do have a dog, Cooper. And boy it took a lot of time, effort and emotion getting her to be a solid citizen and my work still isn't done-not by half. She can always improve her manners.

Recently I have sort of become the caretaker for my aunt's two dogs: Roxie and Kai. Roxie is a redhead and dumb as a brick but sweet. She's always really bad about putting her nose where it does not belong. I'm constantly having to yell at her to get away from food. And then there's Kai who is a 6 month old chihuahua mix and has a bladder problem. More like, she has no concept that all peeing and pooping is something to be done outside and only outside. She drives me crazy, especially when I come from being gone all day long and find that she's peed on my bed. She's lucky I haven't killed her yet. And both dogs shred anything. Kleenex, paper towels, boxes, books. Yes, books.

They're both lucky I have not killed them yet.

But because of Roxie Cooper is acting more like a dog. She's fetched 4 times now! And we're so proud. She plays with other dogs. Granted Kai has become her favorite toy but... she's playing.

I always did want three children. Mainly because of the great sibling dynamics it creates but now I have a better appreciation for parents of 1 kid... it's easier... might not be as challenging as 2 or 3 but (depending on the child) easier.

I have often asked how dogs and toddlers are different and the prime difference i can think of is that toddlers grow up... dogs don't. You also don't have to change a dog's diaper. However, like toddlers, my dogs do have regular nap time. They will play until about 2 when they all just lie down and nap. No matter what they are doing, all three of them lie down for a nice nap all on their own accord. They sleep for about an hour then get up and do whatever. And then, about 8PM they go down for another nap. They sleep for about an hour and then it's time to pee and they come back in, play a bit and settle down for bed by 10.

It is a bright and beautiful day today and if I can get the gumption to get up maybe Libbie and I can take the girls to the dog park. We have three balls, three dogs and a ball launcher. Could be fun.

A New Year

A New Year has arrived and with it a new decade. I am sure the usual has already been said and all the same resolutions that no one plans on keeping past February have already been made and some of them already broken.

I know that I have a few resolutions myself and, believe it or not, I actually intend on keeping them. Happily for me, mine don't require me to get up at 0 dark 30 and pretend I enjoy running. Nah, I know me better than that-when it comes to exercise I'm not capable of kicking my own ass and need someone to do it for me. But, like many out there, it is my intent on loosing some of the weight I have managed to add and get into some shape in the meantime. I have no interest in running a 5K, 10K, half or even full marathon and there mere idea of doing so makes me groan and whimper. I have done a 5K and my lovely sister didn't understand why I wasn't all juiced from it.

My second intent is to continue with my education. Of course, this was my plan last year but... things didn't quite work out. I have hopes to get to the UK in March but my CAS for the 2011/12 school year won't arrive until May. I nearly pulled all my hair out going through this process once... I just hope I don't loose my sanity going through it all a second time. It is, however, all for a good cause. And He of whom I speak know I am referring to him.

As for the rest, well, let's just say that I also intend on maintaining everything I planned on doing.

Pictures!

The rain of the last few weeks have managed to produce some really amazing colors of green in the forest. These are some surreal colors and remind me of the greens from LOTR. It is simply beautiful but, I am sure you have enough with words and want to see some pictures! I haven't taken too many yet because I have been pretty much home bound but here are a few from these last few weeks.

These first four pictures are from May 22. It snowed and it snowed for several days off and on. I had thought I was going to miss the snows for this year but Yellowstone has had a few surprises for us!

But now I shall shut up and give you the promised pictures.

We had to close the road a few times due to snow on Sylvan Pass. People were not exactly happy about that but then, as I said-mountains breed their own weather.
And this is me, proof that I was in the middle of all this wonderful snow.
The mountain to the north of us. Just last summer that was filled with smoke from the Castle Fire.
And I love this snow line. You can tell where there was precipitation but one point is cold enough for snow and just below it is all rain.

And this is the first bison in the meadow. As you can tell the green shoots are just now coming up in this picture. Our meadow has yet to turn into marsh here but it is coming.
Memorial Day Dennis raised a new flag. Our old one was two years old, smelled funny and shall be given a proper send off.
And I love how these low lying clouds just sit there about the mountain. This happens whenever it rains. Just a beautiful effect.
And this is the tributary/cascade/whatever that had the mud flow.
same tributary, other side
and this is the meadow where it all runs into.
Ephemeral cascades and waterfalls form during the spring melt and when the rains fall.
An ephemeral water fall.
And the Shoshone River that is right next to us. It got high.
really high.
and it ran very fast!
and here is the beginning of our meadow/marsh
And this is the path that leads home. And no there are no winnows in there.
These crows were around for several days eating all the large, fat, exposed worms.
And one day I am at home and Coops just starts woofing so I decide to let her out to see what was amiss and there were 4 huge bull bison in the area. I took the following pics from the front door. And yes mark... I was not always inside the screen door when I took these but I did make sure I was far enough away. I was being careful.


















Coops had to go to this spot and smell it.




On Monday we had a cookout and it proved to be a bright and beautiful day.
There were a few snacks before the grub came one but the following takes the cake.
There are several people of Norwegian decent who are living at the east gate now and they all appreciated this. If you want to know what it means you need to ask Merethe. I have been told that it is the S word.

Anyway that is all for now. I am hoping to go into Billings in a few weeks to go to Costco. But DC is on sale, 24 pack of DC for $5 at wal-mart right now. I am SO stocking up! You really can't beat that price. You can't.