Off topic but . . .

Jazzercise tonight KICKED MY @$$!!! My balance was SHITE as I haven't worked out since the 7th other than a few yoga poses at home. Yes, I do better when my core is stronger, but there's this lumbar stenosis that I'm told affects my balance - - I wonder how well I can really do unless I get that fixed??? Which obviously I'm not planning to do - - my balance is better than it used to be ever since the first steroid injectino when doc withdrew arthritic fluid - - I still worry about falling though and have nightmares about slipping on ice while flat-hunting. I love the Friday night teacher too - - Mary is GREAT!!! Love her knowledge of music, her athleticism, and that she has international experience too - - coordinates Russian teaching in the San Antonio HS system - - how cool is THAT??!!?? Teaches English too and comments on bad grammar in songs. I love it. Came home and am trying to use up my Lidoderm patches rather than take them with me, so took off my sports bra to apply to my upper back and when I put it back on the bottom was SOAKED. Didn't know I had worked THAT hard!!! But TG I did!!! Between moving and car issues, I hadn't worked out since the 7th.

Then I got seduced by the Haiti telethon - - Stevie Wonder was playing when I got home - - this is the second time in a week that I've heard a tune of his and not been able to remember what it was later. I've been a fan of his ever since I can remember. I really need the music/performance vibes right now and whatever he was playing, I was singing along and noting his chord choices and vocal choices, and so often I would make the sasme choices he does - - his performance fed my soul. Didn't cry until John Legend with "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child." Sooooo powerful and moving. And the Haitian woman who sang "Many Rivers to Cross"!!!!! By far the best rendition I've ever heard. Bono and Rhianna duetting??? Awesome. "Haiti, we won't leave you stranded." Madonna singing "Like a Prayer?" I didn't like what she did with the tune at the end but up to then it was going well. She's a year younger than me. And Neil Young and - - I don't know who it was he was duetting with, but I had forgotten how Neil can hit and hold the high notes. Dang. I shoulda been working but I went way over my commitment today - - and I really need to feed my soul right now - - I'm sad about being separated from Toby and Michael. Toby hopefully for not too long and hopefully neither one permanently - - but you never know. I'm in a pretty emotional place right now.

I have really GOT to get an electric piano ASAP - - so many times this week I've actually gotten up and headed to the living room to play - - forgetting there's no piano there!!! It's been my refuge for emotional healing since I was a tiny child. There just ain't no substitutzky.

Went to the bank and ordered currency today. 60 pounds for $102.47. They'll call me when it's ready. Should be by Wednesday.

Gonna work as hard as I can this weekend and then hit the moving preps hard Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to get ready to GO!!! I leave a week from tomorrow!!!!!

I so wish I was 20 years younger going into this experience. I never believed that getting older really DID change you physically, mentally and emotionally. Well, guess what - - it does. I've been modifying in Jazzercise for years - - getting older is requiring me to modify how I do a lot of things - - but I never feel prepared for the ch-ch-ch-ch-changes. Thank you, David Bowie.

Onward and upward!!! As Michael says, in time all will be good.

Toby's ready . . .

Got his paperwork back from the USDA in Austin. Not without drama. He had 2 rabies vaccine certificates, one from January 27 (which would have been good for my original Kent start date) and one from November 11 (by which time start dates had been pushed to February.) One said he was a DSH and one a DLH. The vet who had declared him DLH called me and asked which was true. I said DLH. She said the other vet had called him DSH and they needed to redo their paperwork. I called the other vet to give them a heads up. Apparently USDA called them about 3 different things before things were finally set right. Fed Ex brought the completed paperwork back to me from the USDA Thursday and I faxed it to Dana, the pet mover, on Friday. When I drop him off at Traveling Tails on January 27, I need to bring his 3-page USDA paperwork (actually it's an EU health certificate with the USDA's approval), his 2 rabies vaccines, and a copy of his rabies titer. Got em all and he's ready.

I also donated some clothes to Goodwill this week. Next week I will call and arrange with the Salvation Army to come and pick up furniture. I have next week and the week after to get the apartment clear of furniture I don't want to take. Then the week of the 25th, I will be completely off work and can devote my full attention to whatever remains to be done. The packers and movers are coming on the 28th. The plan is to stay in Michael's apartment after the movers are done until I hafta go to the airport on the 30th, but his apartment is being worked on by the owners. Hopefully they will be done by then, but if not I can always stay in a Fairfield Inn, as I've done in the past when I needed temporary housing. Or maybe something cheaper, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Oh yeah, I quit one of my jobs this week as I was having equipment issues and needed the time to deal with moving. I feel more relaxed than I did. It really makes weekends a lot easier - - I was able to work out last night and today I finally went back to the "Nine Lives" bookstore, which I've been wanting to do for ages. Picked up a couple books for the trip and petted the resident kitties. And talked to the cashier, who in the past went to England to take part in a "Canterbury Tales" reenactment complete with chain mail. Very pre-9/11. 1978, in fact. The security people were confounded even then though. I don't think they're used to seeing a lot of, uh, ARMOR. Like, knight-wear. LOL!!!

30 more days to work in the US . . .

January 24 is my last work day in the States, and that's 30 days from today!!! Woohooooo!!!!!

Made an appointment for Wednesday, December 30 with the last vet who saw Toby. All she has to do is sign the EU certificate paperwork attesting that he was healthy when she saw him. I hafta bring in his rabies tests and titers, with his microchip number on all that paperwork, and she has to sign the EU paperwork as a USDA-certified vet. Then I Fed Ex all that off to the USDA in Austin with $111.00 and a self-addressed envelope. They Fed Ex me back Toby's EU certificate in a day or two. All this paperwork goes with him when he goes into boarding January 27. When he is ready to fly, after I get settled, he has tick and tapeworm treatment within 24-48 hours of getting on the plane. Then he flies to the UK and the pet movers bring him to my flat.

I REALLY hate being away from him, and hope I can get settled quickly so he can get over to the UK more quickly. He's being so lovey-dovey lately. Well, he always is. He is definitely Mommy's boy and I will miss him sooooooo much. Him and Michael. I can't think about that these days without crying. Of course I'll be busy, but I just hate the thought of leaving my very fave males in the entire universe . . . even if it's only briefly . . . . . :(

Got my visa!!!!!

At least, the courier agency rep tells me it came in Friday and the only reason I don't have it in my hot little hands right now is that his employees didn't jump on it. It's being Fed Exed today and I should have it tomorrow.

I've never been so relieved in all my LIFE. Now I can move forward - - or at least, I will when I DO have it in my hands.

Tally-ho and here I come!!!!!!!!! *cartwheels*

My UK phone works!!!

Michael got it going. I couldn't and neither could the guy at Radio Shack. I mean, we couldn't even get it powered on. Now it powers on and you can scroll through the features. Can't make calls or haven't been able to, I assume because it's on a UK network. At least now I feel more confident that I'll be able to power it on when I get off the plane and use it immediately. Already talked to the nice lady at Virgin Mobile a couple of nights ago when I couldn't figure out why it wasn't powering on. She couldn't figure it out either and we left it at I was gonna go to a local cell phone store here to get it powered on. I don't know how Michael did it, but he has the magic touch FOR SURE!!!!!

Now if only I would hear about my visa . . .

Sorry so silent . . .

Had periodontal scaling on Tuesday after I got my biometrics and it has required more coping skills (well, time and effort at least) than I had planned. Did Fed Ex my visa app to the courier on Wednesday and I am worried about that. I guess the worst that can happen is he doesn't get it in on time (I think it is due in 2 weeks from the date of application, or maybe the date of biometrics?), or it gets rejected (cuz I left something out, though I went over it with a fine tooth comb, but since I had to do the Tier 2 section over completely, I'm not feeling that self-confident), and I have to apply again. Linde said if that happens I'll have to get a new sponsorship number. I would hate for that to happen, but at least apparently I could still get a visa.

In good news, one of my paychecks started depositing to the credit card I want to use overseas while in transition so my Bank of America account can settle down here and be closed. Salt water rinses help when my teeth hurt too. They were supposed to start out ice cold and go to hot, but I've been using them lukewarm as both temperature extremes are painful and I don't understand the rationale. I have a follow-up with the dentist on Tuesday and will ask.

I'm still on antibiotics too. Maybe that's why I've been "off."

Made my plane reservations!!!

I seem to have missed the detail that American, where I have my frequent flyer miles, doesn't fly into Gatwick, so I'm flying into Heathrow. SAT to JFK 30 January 2010, JFK to LHR 31 January 2010, arriving 1 February 2010. Ready to make my B&B reservations now, but waiting b/c I have much other business this week.

1. Biometrics appointment at noon tomorrow.
2. Dental surgery at 1:30 Tuesday.
3. Call courier on Wednesday - - prepare visa package to be mailed to them.

The expats forum recommended A Briggs, but per their web site they are experiencing delays with UK visas currently, so it may be back to the one in Dallas recommended by UK Pro. I emailed Linde over the weekend asking her to resend me the list - - I believe she sent out a list of courier agencies and I would like further choices - - but I am at the point of having trouble remembering what I saw where. Need to touch base with Sam at Icon re Natwest Bank and with Dana at Animal Land. Hey wait, I can email both of them. Think I will do that now.

Oh yeah, I got some passport pictures at Walgreens today b/c they are required for the visa. Also printed off and filled out the separate "Tier 2" visa section. Getting the package ready to be sent off to the courier may be rather a lot of work, but at least hopefully if I do something wrong we will catch it sooner rather than later and can correct it.

Good thing being a social worker has gotten me used to paperwork!!!!! :D