Oldfriend

Hi Randy, yeah its been a while. Sure do appreciate the friendship that I built with you and a few others. Catch your photos on Fb, really nice and (believe it or not with my reputation - kinda make me nostalgic for China - especially these days. Anyway, We might have an I 20 - have to see - and after that I will probably need to contact the SSA directly. Life used to be so simple. I am incredibly busy being a dad and all to an adolescent girl, nonetheless I will see if any posts interest me to add my cynical yet compassionate two cents. Anyone know how to contact Bing (Carl's wife)? Well, see ya, Steve

Hi all, been a while. I have a question about getting a SSN, however it requires a short background. The question is simply: can my niece get a SS card? Background. My niece, Wendy, is my wife's brothers daughter. She is a Chinese citizen, but has been living with us in the states for the last four years. We have tried the adoption route with no success and/or future hope. Nonetheless, we are trying to keep her here. She is currently 12 - too young I know - but we are looking towards the time she turns 16. Anyway, she is here on a ten year f-1 school visa and is attending a private school. In the future I am hoping to gain her citizenship, but for right now (or rather when she turns 16) we want her to be able to find a job of some sort. Hey, private schools are expensive! I have done some research and I do find information pertaining to university/college students but nothing on our situation. Come on Dan, still got it in you? Yer old friend Steve

Carl helped so many of us during the dark days of visa hell. He was especially helpful to me. He gave so much to my survival here and on FB. I flew out from PA as soon as I heard he was hospitalized and finally met him yesterday morning. I finally got to say thank you.

Every year. Several types of Chinese squash - goes nuts. This veggie I simply call "grass" actually grows too fast. We have better luck with the Chinese seeds than regular seeds. Only problem with the Chinese veggies is they grow sideways.

Randy, I do not come here often anymore. I try but to no avail. Anyway, I am glad that you are here and there to eyewitness the slow but inevitable sojourn into China's sanity. Something I missed when I was there. Thanks, and here's hoping that I will continue to post and try to be positive. Being the China basher that I am Oldfriend

It deeply saddened me to hear of his passing. He was indeed an influence of the times. Seems like, lately, all the moments and movements that I lived through are passing away or looked at like ancient history. Tried to talk to a 30ish coworker the other day that it was just in '64 that blacks in Ole Miss. got the right to vote. Well, you know what I mean. 64 fer christ's sake. It's like plowing sand anymore.

In the beginning of that video was a "water city". I'm almost positive I was there. Pleasant memory of a time I (lack of better words) hated. Huh . . .

Gosh, I didn't want to seem unsociable. I was - ahem - asked to see if I could get some answers here. I have been pretty overwhelmed with soooo many issues - good and bad - that I haven't made the time to keep in touch. And in all honesty I miss some of you guys a lot. Anyway, I'll post when I can. Steve

Thanks Dan. I do recall the two year rule. Wenjia (Wendy) is 8 years old and will be with us through her visa for 10 years. I will check out your links. Wendy will be attending a private school and this is where she received the visa through. We want to be able to send her to public school and claim her as a dependent. Both of which we can't do under the circumstances. Because we are her legal guardians she could attend public school, but we would lose her visa. I sure don't want to deal with that hell again. Research time. Steve

Hey fellas, been a long time. Miss the interaction. Miss the camaraderie. Anyway, not going into detail of the last year or so, but I know some are interested in John. Well, he made it through his four years and is living at home preparing to go to Penn State for his BA in business. He's super pumped as am I (cause I get to live through him vicariously! HA!) More sordid tales later - to the point. Ying's niece has received an 8 year student visa and is preparing to start school soon. Ying (mostly) and I (halfway) and John (not at all) want to adopt her. We are her legal guardians now and her parents are in agreement with the adoption. So, since she is already here does this make a difference in procedure? Anybody know what that procedure is? I am ready and willing to answer any additional questions pertaining to this topic. But I will probably hold off on life stories for other award winning posts. (Those who know me know my sense of humor). Except for telling Carl that this is the life that got in the way when I made plans. Steve

And you could customize them with wood burning, carving, etc. Ah, to open a Lutherie

Hell after a recent study of the Civil war, I find it offensive.

I see potential! Ka ching. I want one. Only darker. Hell, I'll build the web site. Yes, it's finally all coming together.

I finally sat down to play the other day. Clipped the nails and everything. Man, how many times do I play the same old lick. My job requires the slow development of arthritic fingers too. I know I have the potential and that's what's so frustrating. Arggh! Course havin' someone to jam with would do the trick. Hmm.

C'mon out. I'd love to meet you. It's in the works. I'll PM ya.

Let me be the judge of that. How does the second week in September sound? Or there abouts. Is that a word?

Carl, You gonna have that thing tuned up and running by September?

You sir are a home wrecker. Oh you act all innocent and everything, but you are devious nonetheless. You know damn well that every time something goes just the least bit haywire, I think, "What am I doing this for? I got a good buddy who's a Luthier fer Christ sake! I could be out there in Portland learning the trade and experiencing that all mighty cosmic Warpedbored vibe! Shit" So watch yer step mister and don't be surprised if one day . . .

Personally, I think that, particularly with this subject, many here are afraid to be labeled China-bashers, etc. So really truthful opinions are a bit saturated with too much caution. Not me. When I lived there I experienced so many examples of this all holds barred system of helpfulness. Not that we don't have many instances of bystander apathy in the States, but what I saw daily had a much different flavor to it. This level of noninvolvement and nonintervention exists on all levels of social strata in China, up to and including the police. Prime example: my father-in-law getting the shit kicked out of him by three drunk fools and the police responding with "Doesn't matter, no bones broken" Y'all can have China thank you. It sucks.

Run for the hills!

It's perfect the way the grain flows with the manmade. You either have the good eye or one hell of a Zen thing going. One with the wood, baby! I'll wager that it will be one of those "See the music" highs when you strum your first augmented-minor chord.

OK, now you're starting to piss me off! I can't just up and leave man. Gettin' close but not yet. Quit toying with me!

I suspect you don't have sister's birth cert, need to send copy of both and perhaps a copy of house book showing both listed as sisters. Need to establish relationship. I went over all docs and will provide them with all the necessary paperwork. Appreciate your help Dan.