Happy Birthday ita!

And, yikes, Cashmere. How are things going for him/them?

He's actually doing well. He's getting an advanced nursing degree and they've been married for over three years. I don't know how long it actually took him to get his actual card, but I know he had several interviews over a year to get the paperwork done.

I don't know how long it actually took him to get his actual card, but I know he had several interviews over a year to get the paperwork done.

Tom's been in the process for 4 years. 2001 and 2002 were getting interviews, physicals, his company posting his job and interviewing candidates (to prove that Tom is the best qualified person to do the job), fingerprinting, forms, etc., etc., etc. I wasn't around for some of that, so some of that is anecdotal. The entire application was submitted in December of 2002 (he started the process January of 2001). 2003 and 2004, we played the waiting game. Residency awarded December 14, 2004.

Possibly the marriage track is faster, but by the time that became an option, we'd have had to withdraw the original application and start again.

Possibly the marriage track is faster, but by the time that became an option, we'd have had to withdraw the original application and start again.

Maybe. Up until then, Reza was in the country on a student visa, so he didn't try to pursue a green card.

Yet a uterus at rest? Teeny tiny thing.

This is true. It's when it's in use that it gets large. The books telling you cheerfully what's going on inside attempt to compare it to various things to give you an idea. "This week, your uterus is the size of an orange!" "This week, your uterus is the size of a grapefruit!" and so on until they run out of common citrus fruits and suddenly "This week, your uterus is the size of a soccer ball!"

Gronk.

Morning.

Happy ita day.

eagerly looking for distractions. work options are so not interesting.

soooooooo...something to kill some time.

What was one thing that you got as a gift this past year that still makes you smile?

I was treated to dinners a few times this year when I both really needed the company and when the gesture of buying my meal was greatly appreciated. I doubt my friends and family realize that the pizza, burger, or BBQ meant as much as it did, but that is part of why I love them so much.

"This week, your uterus is the size of a grapefruit!" and so on until they run out of common citrus fruits and suddenly "This week, your uterus is the size of a soccer ball!"

Pomelo is the week between grapefruit and soccer ball, no?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ita!

Pomelo is the week between grapefruit and soccer ball, no?

The last pomelo I saw was about the size of a soccer ball... (there's a several week gap between grapefruit and soccerball, mind, and the books aren't sophisticated enough for all that fancy stuff, else we'd have durian week and perhaps even breadfruit.)

My silliest Xmas gift was striped cookie monster toe-socks. Yes, Nutty, I'm lookin' at YOU. They make me smile, but feel funny to wear.

Happy birthday to ita and those I've missed in the last few days. We seem to have a lot of end/beginning you the year birthdays.