Reason #139 – I will never be a Girl Scout
Reason #139 – I will never be a Girl Scout
Feb 24Yesterday morning C and I went to the American Embassy to apply for our visas. I double-, triple- and quadruple-checked the folder with the papers before leaving the house.
Marriage certificate? Check.
J2 forms? Check.
Proof of payment? Check.
Bank statements, birth certificates, deeds of property, letters of reference? Check.
Sudoku book? Check.
We both showered, because we figured that looking clean and smelling nice would improve our chances of getting into the US. C wore his cutest overalls, I broke out the real pearls, and I even put on my lucky yellow undies for extra oomph.
Those visas were gonna be ours! I had thought of everything!
…or had I?
Three minutes into the first of six long queues (but who’s counting?) I realised I had thought of everything except my poor, long-suffering toddler.
Did I bring juice? No.
A snack? No.
A change of clothes? No.
A toy? Hell no.
Wet wipes? Not even wet wipes?? Nope.
All I had in my handbag was ONE diaper (which we fortunately didn’t need) and a bottle with some leftover milk, which got a quick rinse and refill at an Embassy tap so C could drink his beloved “awa”.
Jeez weez, those queues were definitely not fun.
But as the Bard said, all is well that ends well, and WE GOT OUR VISAS!
US of A, are you ready for the Blessed Child?
I did this at a toddler gym class in front of a whole bunch of other moms. It feels horrible when you child is begging for sustenance after you forced them to run around a gymnasium for an hour and you’ve got NOTHING.
Congrats on the visas!
Mommy Shorts recently posted OSCAR- Is Your Baby Gold With An Inflated Sense of Self-Importance
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
March 1st, 2011 at 11:59 pm
Thanks! Now let’s both try to remember to carry at least a &^%^&$ granola bar in our bags!
PS: did you see how awesome the dress looked in the end?
[Reply to this]
Yay!! Happy dance!! And YES were ready!!
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
March 1st, 2011 at 11:59 pm
That’s what YOU think… *evil chuckle*
[Reply to this]
Many Many many congrats to you and the “blessed one”!
Girl scouts is over rated any way and have no fear it took me to the kids were 7 and 5 before I figured out to ALWAYS have food on me for them!!!
How Does She Do It Mom recently posted What Can You Learn From A Child
[Reply to this]
Michelle Reply:
March 1st, 2011 at 5:25 pm
My kids are 8 and 6….I still forget to bring water out on a hot day….meh.
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
March 2nd, 2011 at 12:00 am
You give me hope. If they made it to 8 and 6, they’ll definitely survive!
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
March 2nd, 2011 at 12:02 am
Heck, if they made it to 7 and 5 they’re out of danger.
Thanks! I can’t wait to fly!
[Reply to this]
Welcome to the USA! I bet that was stressful, but glad you both survived! And I can definitely relate with the unpreparedness with my 17 month old…. lol
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
March 2nd, 2011 at 12:02 am
No welcomes yet – we don’t fly until next Monday!
[Reply to this]
Christine Reply:
March 2nd, 2011 at 1:24 pm
Oh! Safe travels then!!
[Reply to this]
Yes yes yes yes yes!
Serene recently posted Pantry Cooking Month- Like Spring Cleaning- but with Food
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
March 2nd, 2011 at 12:03 am
*doing happy dance*
[Reply to this]
Hells yeah we’re ready for C! Bring it! LOL.
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
March 2nd, 2011 at 12:04 am
That’s what you think, lady! C is like the Spanish Inquisition!! :D
[Reply to this]
Becky B Reply:
March 2nd, 2011 at 8:31 am
Heehee! Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! :)
[Reply to this]
You still exist! Kisses, and welcome to our left shore!
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
Thank you! I’ve missed you!
[Reply to this]
Geez, I was starting to think I’d unsubscribed from your blog (no seriously I’m a bit dense!) Congratulations, and I’m totally in the unprepared mom’s club with ya.
Neeroc recently posted Tidy up Tuesday – freecycle is my bff
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 8:10 am
Hee hee! No, I was the one who unsubscribed, sorry. But I’m back!
[Reply to this]
Welcome to the vast sea of privilege and discontent!
I for one, feel the blessed child’s positivity flowing already!
CDG recently posted A Persistent Memory
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
February 24th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
The land of the free! The home of the brave! The nation that gave the world t-bone and waffles for breakfast! What’s not to love??
PS: We have to meet at some point!
[Reply to this]
CDG Reply:
February 24th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
Come east, newly visaed one! Boston is lovely in the spring!
CDG recently posted A Persistent Memory
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
February 24th, 2011 at 8:30 pm
Ooh! I’ve never been to Boston AND I need to travel with C as much as I can before he turns 2 and I have to pay a full fare for him. Expect us soon, we’ll bring cookies!
I never even had a clue that you were not already American….lol. Where are you now?
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
February 24th, 2011 at 7:10 pm
I’m just a mere Costa Rican in bananaland…
[Reply to this]
Been there! :D We went to a playdate Wednesday. The things are only, like, two hours long so I didn’t bother packing a diaper bag. Fresh diaper on the bum and out we go.
Bam! Diaper leak. My kid played for another hour before I took him home for dry pants. Mom fail.
Ashley recently posted Tracking a Period- when fertility isnt a concern
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
February 24th, 2011 at 7:11 pm
Oh yeah. The no-extra-diaper radar works like a charm on these boys!
[Reply to this]
Congratulations! Those US embassies are serious business, aren’t they? I had to do the same, pretty much a year ago… with a 6-week-old and 3.5-year-old in tow. Not fun!
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
February 24th, 2011 at 7:11 pm
Ooof… I was so stressed throughout! But we made it!
[Reply to this]
Dude, you had a sudoku book. I don’t see the problem.
Anne-Marie recently posted This is Your Avó on YouTube
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
February 24th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
It’s not like I had a chance to even open it. But I had it, dammit.
[Reply to this]
Anne-Marie Reply:
February 24th, 2011 at 7:10 pm
Well, all I’m saying is if you seriously had a problem, it’s not like you REALLY forgot wipes.
But that’s just me. I ran out of toilet paper the other day and used the East Bay Express. And then looked in my underpants about 2 hours later and wondered if I was dying because they were completely friggin blue. Um… apparently I used a very patriotic mattress ad on my lady parts.
Anne-Marie recently posted This is Your Avó on YouTube
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
February 24th, 2011 at 9:41 pm
BAAHAHAHAHAHAA! Holy crap, you made me laugh out loud here!
OMG. I hate when I do that. Forget everything. Congrats though!!!!
Summer recently posted Don’t Ever Jump To Conclusions In the Presence Of Candy
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
February 24th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
The BC Circus is coming to town!!! :D
[Reply to this]
YAY! CONGRATS! :)
Michelle recently posted Daddy
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
February 24th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Thanks! Can’t wait! Flight booked for March 7, let the packing begin!
[Reply to this]
As a Brit who has just received her green card after an 8+ year process I have to say anything to do with visas or immigration generally turns me into a twitching nervous wreck! On another note I’ll never forget wheeling my 6 week older daughter down Michigan Ave in Chicago in nothing more than a diaper and because she had soaked through every stitch of clothing with that nasty mustard poop and it was far too hot to cover her in a blanket.
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
February 24th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Been there, done that, bought a onesie for C because he had nothing clean/dry left, and put it on him in the shop, tags and all!
[Reply to this]
HEY!! Congrats on the VISAS!!! You go girl! To the united states of sunshine! :-) That is great news :-)
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
February 24th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
Wuieeee! California dreaming!
[Reply to this]
It only takes one trip out like that to burn it into your head to never forget again! I did it once and now I’m usually ridiculously over prepared when we go out. On the other hand, I still haven’t mastered not forgetting the things I need for myself!
And Congratulations on the Visas! That is super exciting.
[Reply to this]
ofthesea Reply:
February 24th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
It is! If all goes well we’ll be there by the end of next week and I. Can’t. Wait.
[Reply to this]
New Bad Mom Post:Reason #139 – I will never be a Girl Scout. Read it now! http://1000reasonsimabadmom.com/reason-1...
[Reply to this]