The longest 5 to 14 weeks ever!

After waiting 4 months, 18 weeks, or 129 very long days, I FINALLY got a decision on my HSMP visa. Not that I've been anxiously waiting and counting the days...

I've been expecting a decision all week, and had contemplated calling the Home Office for my decision. I have just been too nervous. Early last week the UK Border Agency posted on their website they were processing applications from May 19th, and people on trackitt.com (a forum website that other UK immigrants share their thoughts, fears, experiences, etc) with higher reference numbers were posting decisions and people with application dates after mine were as well, but I was just too nervous!! That and the HO is open from like 9 to 4 (which is 1 am to 8 am for me); totally not convenient.

So, I just checked my mail, every day, and hoped that I'd get a package with all my documentation and an acceptance letter. And when I got home from the gym Friday night, I had a notice saying that I had a package waiting for me at the post office.

I barely slept any Friday night, just waiting for the post office to open so I could finally just KNOW. I woke up early and got to the post office at 9:01. By 9:03, I had ripped the package open; finally, I had my decision. My application was approved.

I'm still in a state of shock. Technically, I've been waiting for this letter for 4 months, but I started the application preparation well over a year ago. It's so weird that it's finally here, and my move over is imminent! I am very, very excited.

Next step is applying for an entry clearance. It is a much quicker process; I apply from an embassy in Los Angles (and not the Home Office in the UK). I have to submit 3 months worth of bank statements certifying that I've maintained a minimum balance and get some biometric data taken. Sounds easy enough, but I'm sure I'll end up worrying unnecessarily over that part of the process as well. ;)

Overdose or Allergy? Neither, Respiratory Infection.

A few weeks ago, I developed a cough. Didn't think much of it, didn't come along with any other symptoms, just an annoying cough that kept me awake at night. I was at Target so I decided to just grab a bottle of Vick's cough syrup. After 2 days of accidently (and unknowingly) taking double-dosages, I noticed my hands were swollen, red and itchy. Since I noticed this at 6 am on my way to my personal training session, I took 2 Advil and called it good (cause my legs were still killing me from Monday's session and there was no way I was going to make it through another round of squats, lunges, and stiff leg lifts without pain killers). But by that evening, my hands and feet were so itchy and red and swollen. I rubbed in some hydrocortizone cream, took another dose of cough syrup and went straight to bed. When I woke up Thursday morning, I still had the rash on my feet and hands, but now it was starting to appear on my knees. I decided I was going to head into work for a few hours to pass off my assignment, and then head to the doctor.

Turned out Thursday was not a quick day for me. On Monday, the company I work at, Safeco, was bought by Liberty Mutual (not all that publicized due to all the other business shake ups of late and the collapse of another 'mutual' in the Seattle area...) so when I got to work on Thursday, there was a mad dash project to strip our training down so Liberty Mutual employees could start training on the Safeco products. I was swamped all day, didn't even have time to eat lunch, but didn't even realize it until 6 pm. My hands, feet, and legs were still itchy, so I decided to make an appointment to see a doctor, that night. (But being brand-new to my health insurance plan, I had to find one first!) Found one provider that was still open, in the town I lived in, so I hurried there straight from work. Unfortunately, she was a complete idiot.

Best she could surmise it was an "allergic reaction" but she couldn't figure out why I had it, and prescribed quite an extensive dosing schedule of prescription strength anti-histamines. When I got home, I checked the label of the Vick's cough syrup- big warning: Discontinue use if redness, swelling or rash occur. Oh, and I'd been taking 30 ml doses instead of their recommended 15 ml max in 24 hours. OOPS!

I stopped taking the Vick's and after 4 days on the prescription anti-histamines, I still have my rash, and have developed quite a cold to go with it!! I was TOO sick to make it to my personal training session this morning, and even called in sick to work. Went back to the doctor and was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection (by a different doctor). Got another round of drugs (Glad I picked the job with the better health plan!), and am currently waiting for things to improve...

Bought High, Sold Low

Often times I get asked if I think I made the right decision leaving Florida. Usually, I don't know what to say, on one hand my life is so completely different (in good ways) than what it was, but on the other hand, I miss so much about my former Florida life (i.e. my kickass Florida friends!). So every once in a while, I wonder if I really did make a smart decision.

Well, I think I got some proof of a smart decision today! My very observant bike-riding friend Keri made my day (week, possibly my month, depends on when I hear from the visa people ;) ). She was riding her bike through my old neighborhood a few months ago and saw a For Sale sign in my former front yard. Then a few days ago, she noticed the sign was gone. Prompting her to do a little investigation on the Brevard Property Appraiser website and found something TRULY shocking!!

You can check out specifics here, but the basic idea is that I sold my house in September 2006 for $300,000 (sold for $350,000 with $50,000 cash back on signing). But the shocking part is, the guy who purchased my home recently sold my house for $200,000. So in under 2 years, the value of my (former) house dropped over a hundred grand!

This makes me believe I finally made a smart decision, I bought low and sold high...unlike the most recent seller ;)

I'm a Stinky Magnet!

No, I'm not stinky, but I do have an uncanny ability to attract very smelly people.

Seriously! Today I was surrounded by stinky people where ever I went! I was standing in line waiting for the bus this morning and this homeless man wandered up and totally violated my personal space circle - and he just reeked of alcohol - REALLY strong! (Technically, I'm not sure if he was in fact homeless, but I couldn't think of any other reason for smelling like that at 8 am on a Monday morning!) Then on my ride home from work this evening, at the last stop downtown, I see this man literally throwing out his cigarette as he was stepping onto the bus, and even though the bus wasn't full, I just KNEW where he was heading, right next to me.

So then I figured, it's just the bus. Stinky people ride the bus...but then, I was at the gym tonight? Yes, I know, people are working out, it's sweaty, there is a certain level of expectancy for stinky, but this "older" guy got on the elliptical RIGHT next to me (Not sure why that one since there were about 20 others empty!), and he just smelled BAD from minute one. It may have had to do with what he was wearing, one of those track suit outfits, with the warm up pants and jackets? (Notice I didn't mention a t-shirt? That's because he wasn't WEARING ONE - and he had his jacket completely unzipped. COME ON!)

I have to say though, the stinky gym guy did motivate me to hustle my buns - I was going to do 5K on the elliptical no matter how long it took me. I averaged just shy of 12 minutes for the first two miles, but I did that third mile in under 10 minutes - breathing through my mouth the WHOLE time.

I'm hopeful that stinkiness is only a Monday thing and the rest of my week will smell just fine ;)

Taking the Plunge

After going out to dinner for my sister's birthday, and having more bites of her ice cream dessert than I care to admit, I was completely guilt-ridden and decided to head to the gym. Friday nights are the time to be at the gym!! Or, not, as it was almost completely empty! It was great- I felt like I had the whole place to myself (with only two or three other people there). I did my usual 40 minutes on the elliptical, 20 on the stair climber, then moved over to the weight machines.

I was doing this arm/tricep one, guess I was doing it wrong cause this guy stopped me and showed me how to do it right. (Yeah, I wasn't even FACING the right way!) I recognized him as a trainer who works there - even though he wasn't in uniform and was there to obviously just work out. But he helped me on all sorts of machines for the next hour and I decided I was hooked, so I promptly signed up for 6 sessions with him.

My first session with Tyler is next week - I'm actually pretty excited. I've been having a lot of success at the gym on my own, seeing results every week, but I figured I could definitely benefit with some guidance. I've been toying with the idea of getting a trainer, and after realizing just how clueless I am when it comes to weight-lifting, I decided to just go for it.

I must say though, I am a little shocked at how much it costs! Fifty minutes with a trainer is more than I make an hour, which just kinda surprised me. But I realized December is only a few short months away and I need to get movin'!