Dave G.

Fourth time a charm? Nope! Taking tomorrow off....now JM is stressed again.

Ohhhh....now I know why Tony has been so active on CFL lately! Funny for us...in China, JM sleeps so fast and so sound. She can play until 2 AM and sleep until noon. I've always been an early sleeper/early riser. Now that she's her and now that we're doing the family thing, she's adjusted her schedule to be more like mine. Now, she's having problems getting and staying asleep. She tells me that she looks over while I sleep and resents how well I can sleep. The other night was really bad for her (drivers license woes) and she reached over and sweetly touched my face. I woke up, saw her beautiful face, told her I loved her, and immediately fell back asleep. So much for being a supportive husband, eh?

Bless JM's heart...she woke up at 4:00 AM to study again. I was awake and finally talked her into going back to bed. She woke up at 6:00 and started studying again. Yes...her book too is filled with all sorts or writing. I had to define things like DUI, plate registration, etc. It wasn't easy using our Chinglish language, but we got through it. Right now, she's back at the DMV...very confidently this time. One more hour....

Good point...and thanks. JM told me she missed two cuz she hit the wrong button. Once selected, there's no going back. On a different note -- and this is what's so cute -- JM decided to actually read the DMV manual. What a concept, eh? LMAO! Tonight, she turned to me and said, "Maybe all this test taking is a good thing. Maybe I should actually learn about driving, do you think?"

Okay...letter finished requesting for the I-130 to be pulled. I talked to the Benefit's Center yesterday who confirmed everything shared here. My bad. The gal didn't think it would screw up the AOS process...it just cost me the $130 which can't be returned. No problem... Once again, thanks to everyone! BTW: Our AP? The Benefit Center is processing April 17 dates (we're March 24). When I called 30 days ago, they told me to wait 30 days to have paper in hand. Yesterday, they told me we'd have it in 30 days. BTW: I'm confused. Why does the Benefit Center and the local service center process APs? Vegas is processing I-131s from July 1, 2004...what's up with that?

Third time a charm???? Nope...but, at least JM's laughing about it all. Looks like it's the DMV again tomorrow. Even the workers there are pulling for JM now.

I'm going to vouch for danswayne. He's been around here for a long time. Never has he asked anything but good, honest questions and provided sound feedback to others. Everyone else is right....the greencard will be a long haul. The gal that cuts our hair just finished getting her sister (with family) here. It took seven years. I can only imagine it's taking longer these days.

Well...guess where JM is today. The DMV. Failed again yesterday...the 'puter kicked her out after answering #38 wrong. She was a wreck all day. Now, she's back at it with a great attitude. Keep your fingers crossed.

It's a politial red herring. Just because you say English is the official language, which most people support, there's nothing that can be done to enforce it. You'll still have bilingual schools and Spanish forms at the DMV and the such. Try to change that and you'll have the ACLU screaming foul.

I filed one. Does that mean I screwed up? You filed an I-130? Tell me it ain't so. It's so....will that hold up the I-485? If so, can I pull the I-130?

Trigg...I let you in on a little secret. She's been pounding me with questions. I have no clue! Driving is instinct now...and I know I blow it all the time. JM will even ask me, "did you signal long enough?" That then leads to an arguement...only cuz I get defensive. God, I love this woman........

I filed one. Does that mean I screwed up?

Drama at the DMV: So, JM goes to take the test. For those familiar with the computerized version of the test, the software lets you know question by question if you are right. There is a running total of right and wrong answers as you go through the test. The system shuts down after you get one more wrong than allowed. In NV, the test is 50 questions long and a passing score is 80%, allowing for 10 wrong answers. Four hours (!!!) into the test, JM is on question 48. She has eight wrong answers. She answers #48 wrong. Now she's on question 49 with nine wrong. It's gonna be a squeaker. She answers #49....wrong! Now, she's answering #50 sitting on 10 wrong. One more and she's a goner...... While taking the test, she's watching English speaking Americans drop like flies. They spend 10 minutes on the test, reach the quota of failed questions, and walk away in shame. She, on the other hand, had the special permission for the electronic dictionary and hammered out each word. It took 15 minutes just to understand the instructions in how the computer system works! Bless her heart. I'm so tempted to keep writing to keep everyone in suspense. But, it's been too long of a day. #50?????? Wrong. She'll go back Monday and do it again. This time, she feels more comfortable with the process. All the same, we celebrated her hard work over a nice lunch in China Town. What a trooper! I really love her strength and willingness. Thanks for the kind works earlier. Meant a lot.

Well, as I write this, JM is taking her test at the DMV! Yahoo! Her SSN came in the mail yesterday so I challenged her to give the DMV test a try. Bless her heart, she asked if I would think she was stupid if she failed. Five minutes ago, the doorbell rang. Express mail from the passport service. Now, the baby has a passport! This afternoon, we'll head to the visa office. I'll let you know how the test goes.

Darn...no one took the bait. Dave dude, I already explained why a drug company SHOULD be profitable. Don't tell me you aren't reading my posts. Man that hurts. The effects of my posts are rubbing off on you. Only three more months and you'll be voting for you know who.

Really? Are your sure???

Darn...no one took the bait.

You're right. I meant to say: Not to worry...in five years, Bush will be gone and McCain will likely soften the stance.

I just read this statementoff the USCIS site. Since JM is a K-1 and already in the US, how does it affect us? We don't need no stinkin' visa.

Devil's advocate: Why can't a drug company be profitable? BTW: I'm pro stem cell research. One thing I disagree with Bush about. Hell...even Orrin Hatch out of UT is pro stem cell. Not to worry...in five years, Bush will be gone and the next republican will likely soften their stance.

That's funny. I've been through the same process. I wig out worrying about stuff only to learn JM already knows what's going on. I've learned my lesson..."Honey? Can you help me?" Whoosh! She fixes the problem in a nanosecond, followed by the look of .

Ditto...my step-son has one more left in the Hep A series and he's good as gold.

As you can see by my updated signiture block, we got alot done today. First, JM and my step-son got temp work permits. After that, it was onto the SSA offices where we met with success -- cards should be in hand in two weeks. We were on such a roll that we went on to apply for our baby's passport. All this was done in less than five hours. Go figure. FINALLY, JM can get that blasted drivers license and really taste the freedoms Las Vegas has to offer. It really puts things into perspective. I really am not worried about AOS as long as we are together and can get advance paroles when needed. Sure, there's more that comes with "Big Blue" but that can wait....no hurry. YIPPEE!

If it was not for the fact I have kids I would be in China right now, I spent years living under the most repressive form of government there is(Military), I think I could handle life under Chinese rule easy. Darryl, You make my point well...for the most part. Yes, we as USCs could live as kings in China. Only in part because of our "wealth." I too am tempted. But, with my step-son and new baby, there is NO WAY I'd make them struggle so hard to obtain so little. My baby will be 18 in 18 years. He'll be off to school and on his own. After that, I'll take my little nest egg and live the high life in China. If I get sick or need a good doctor, I'll catch a flight to Tokyo or something to extend my life as far as it can go. That is, of course, assuming China maintains the status quo. Believe me when I say I pray that isn't the case. My dream is that the China government drops the lie of "The Big Red Star" and realizes how rich She can be without it.

Well said....exactly right!