I have applied for an immigration visa to Australia. So, that means I am moving to and attempting to become a citizen of Australia. This visa is complicated and straightforward in many ways. Simply put, Ry is agreeing to sponsor me and in return, the Aus government will give me entry to the country and a work permit. After a two year probationary period, my case will be reviewed to see if I have been a good enough monkey (and not a scary one, like the one from the movie Outbreak- but more on that later) to then become a citizen. WOOHOO for dual citizenship! During that time I am allowed to work, eat, sleep AND leave the country. Which means, I will be coming home to visit and I get to travel (hello Asia!). Amongst the things I am NOT allowed to do is live anywhere else during this period, or participate in any illegal activities. Which is a bummer, and will definitely put a damper on my social life.
In all honesty, I have no idea what I will do once I get down there career wise, but I am sure I will figure that all out soon enough. First, I have to get through the daunting task of actually getting my visa application approved!

This process has been full on and laborious. I fully appreciate the job immigration agencies do. It’s HARD work! Dates and times and things you would never normally ponder upon come up regularly in the application. Detailed questions- and you have to prove the crap out of everything. I had to submit a state police report and copies of my birth certificate, passport, local id, etc.. After Ry and submitted our portions of the application- we had to ask for witness statements (thanks again Liz and Des!) and mon-ay!

After my case worker (for lack of a better term) notified me that they received my application, several weeks later he informed me that I had to get part 2 into gear. This included an FBI background check (still waiting on that one) and two medical exams- one physical and one x-ray. In addition, Ryan and I have lots and lots and lots of evidence that we have to submit to prove that we like each other, and that I have been cooking for him since 2003. The medical exams were a comedy of semi- errors that included a visit to a shady medical clinic, a run from the doctors office to Kinkos for missing passport photos (for anyone considering embarking on this journey, get like 10 passport photos done from the get go, you’ll need them), fees, and another run to an even shadier (is that even a word?) wood paneled x-ray clinic. Seriously- the “receptionist” answered the phone with a “hello?...(awkward pause)” and that was it. I’m like- “um, yes, I’d like to make an appointment…is this the x-ray clinic?” SHADY! SHADY! But, I got the X-rays done and so off they go to Washington D.C. The FBI background check was a bit crazy too as I had to get fingerprints done, but the Evanston police will only do them if you have an Evanston address on an ID. (Evanston has A LOT of “Evanston citizen ONLY” stuff I am realizing.) So, I had to trek all the way down to where my parent’s live to get them done. Advantage to that was at least they were free- most places charge you $10 to get them done and $16 for the card to put them on.

The finale (I hope!) of my portion of the application is an interview with my case worker next week in D.C. Wish me luck, ya’ll! I am ready to go to Oz!

** Update: I have already gone to DC for said interview and will have to post more on that chaos soon...**

HAPPY 21st MIEX!! WOOT!

The Rogue Traders come stateside!

Aussie band The Rogue Traders' music is finally coming over here. Hurrah! They have a crazy pop sound, and they have a few catchy hits. I brought their CD home with me (and got made fun of by many an Aussie on the way. But what do they know? They think the Black Eyed Peas are the height of sophistication!) and have been passing on songs to friends.

Now their song "Watching You" is now in an Old Navy television ad! Good for them! If you are interested check them out here. I really like their song "In love again"...they sample from a really fun 80's song we all know the words to.

FINALLY! Ben's farewell photos!

......and so we bid our good friend BenZ adieu! Hit up the photo for the fun.

OFFICAL UPDATE! (Don't fear the reaper...)

I am back stateside- but that doesn't mean that fun is over! I have loads and loads of pictures and stories still to tell, I just haven't had time to post them yet, as looking for a job has been sucking up all my time.

I am living with (the long-suffering) Brendan, again, and sitting on monster.com all day. A few temp jobs here and there, but nothing too glamourous. I should start a blog about temping- but that might get me into trouble, as anything good to say, would be shrouded in bitchiness. heh.

Good friend and fellow cowbell lover Ben Z has moved onto greener pastures (aka San Fran)- We'll miss you Ben! Pictures of his last jam in Seattle forthcoming.....

Otherwise, just waiting to hear from you good folk. Please email me and tell me what you have been up to!

Crappy day at the beach


I woke up fairly early this morning to go and buy a body board. I have been to the beach quite a bit lately, and I was jealous of all the people who had them and seemingly glided across the waves. Meanwhile, I would catch a wave and end up eating sand from the sea floor and lose my swimsuit at the same time. So, I thought it was high time to pick a board up.

The water was cold, but I insisted in getting in and going further and further out. The board worked great at first, but then, it worked TOO well. One minute I was talking to this guy about the seaweed and the next, I was all alone about 60 meters from the shore. EEK! So, I tried to do what I learned when caught in a rip- swim parallel to the shore then body surf your way in. Well, using the body board made it really difficult to, uh, SWIM- so I was kicking my legs like mad, but not getting anywhere. The buoyancy of the board actually prevented me from going anywhere. At this point, another body boarder (obviously more experienced than me) saw me and kept me company, encouraging me to stay afloat and be calm. I told him that I was okay, just tired, but he recognized a stuck idiot when he saw one and called the lifeguard. I felt like a right fool, but unless I let go of the $80 board that I JUST BOUGHT, there was no way I could get back to shore without killing myself (I tried to swim with it next to me, but it just hit me in the head a few times). *sigh* The lifeguard surfed over and towed me into the middle of the flags (at 25 meters) but then this huge wave came and dumped over both of us. Luckily, we were both in area where your feet touched the sand and I tiredly walked back to my towel.

So, that's my story for the day. I am also ever so grateful for the Dee Why surf club for helping me out- they rock! I am also grateful that he didn't have to drag me all the way to the shore. That would have been waaaaay embarrassing.

*Update- then I get home and read the news and see THIS. SHARKS?!?! Narrabeen beach is just north of Dee Why Beach. sheesh.

RIP- Isohunt dot com

So sad. We had such goodtimes Isohunt. You provided me with hours and hours of entertainment. I shall miss you.
Feel free to donate to their downloading love.. HERE.