Ban banning

The road to immigrating to the United States is a process, a world I am familiar with. There is paperwork, money that has to be paid, photocopying of documents, waiting, vetting, more paperwork, more money and waiting. If you do not check the right box, your process is delayed. You wait more, and this happened with a country we have a special relationship with. It is more difficult from a country that we are not on friendly relations with. So when legal immigrants, any legal immigrants are detained at the border - it's wrong. Full stop. The executive order is wrong. The walls this administration are building inside and out are wrong.

I want to fly away

Give me your tired, your poor, your hungry I'll piss on 'em. That's what the statue of bigotry says

The true north strong and free

We got incredibly lucky with the weather over the past weekend and had an amazing road trip to Western New York with a trip to Toronto as part of the itinerary.

Everyone had their passports this time as we made the border crossing. Last time we went to Buffalo one of our party had to have his passport sent to the U.S. Embassy to get a visa for a trip to Africa. This time, there was a misplaced passport of another member of the party that was found with little stress and no tears.

My friend said that there would be a longish line at the border because of the holiday (Thanksgiving) weekend in Canada but when we crossed the Peace Bridge, there were no cars in the booth, just a border guard who examined our passports and let us in with no problems.

I keep forgetting that there are a few other large cities in Canada. I knew Hamilton was big with over half a million people, but Mississagua with over 700k, that shocked me. I was reminded that 40% of the country's population lives along the southern part of Ontario.

Our first destination was the Hockey Hall of Fame. Just outside the entrance is a display of goalie masks over the years. Here's Jacques Plante's. He was one of the first goaltenders to regularly wear a mask.



I believe that was a type of fiberglass. The HOF has a number of cool interactive exhibits as well, and some nice displays of the great players in the game.



There's a very cool exhibit where you can call a play and have it played back. I did it to one of Rick Nash's great goals when he was with the Blue Jackets. A lot of fun.

Hockey has the best hardware in any sport. All of the trophies (or their replicas, shh!) are kept in a hall that was once a bank.



It's an impressive display of the history of the game, and I'm glad we finally got to go there.

It had been well over twenty years since I've been to Toronto. There's a lot of construction going on, big buildings!



We took the subway, then a streetcar to the whiskey bar I found online. The Caledonian is a great place. It's run by a lovely Scottish woman who uses the words "Sweetie" or "My Love" in every sentence. She and my wife started talking, turns out she's from the same small town where my wife's Grandparents are from. Small world! The food was authentic Scottish.



Yes, they had haggis, and steak pie, a signed picture of Andy Murray on the wall and a very good whiskey selection. In selling the deep fried Mars Bar dessert, the owner said it's, "The best thing out of Scotland." Here, I had to correct her, because that would be my wife.



There's a billboard you can't see in America.

After a rare brief visit to IKEA we headed back to Buffalo.

We arrived the Canadian/U.S. border reentry point. There's not a long line. Guy in the car in front of us is getting questioned a very long time. After a couple of minutes I see the siren light over the booth go off, then the gate go down behind his car. My friend has been over the border hundreds of times and has never seen this happen. Border guy gets out of the booth, is on his radio, points to where he wants the driver to go. Driver goes to an unknown fate.

We pull up, tell him one place we went to was IKEA. Guard asks us if we spent $2,000 there. Four of us in a KIA Soul. These are strange times we live in.

We had a great time. Went to my alma mater for a too brief homecoming visit on Saturday night and headed home on Sunday morning in a bit of rain, but it was not snow or ice. The Subaru was magnificent, averaging about 30mpg the entire trip.

Just do not mention what happened to the Buffalo Bills.

Windfell

Despite my lack of production in other areas, I got our taxes finished this weekend. For the first time since my divorce I was able to claim my son and therefore received a modest refund. Not a major windfall by any means, but enough to pay for the car insurance and a tea kettle that does not leak.



My wife received some good news, she is now an official permanent resident of the U.S. Her new Green Card came in the mail on Friday and we do not have to worry about anything immigration related for another ten years.



Mere words cannot express my disdain for the above character. I give my son his iPad, he immediately finds videos of her, and watches them over and over. The learned helplessness is overwhelming. The annoying meter, breaks the meter. I know, it's something he gets, but you have not lived until you have heard the words "Bridge, rocks, tall mountain" shouted at 3AM. Try it sometime.

But I will never lose my head tonight

The hurricane is headed up the East Coast. Like many, I have plenty of family and friends in Irene's path, including my parents. I spoke to my Mom yesterday, they're fine. She mentioned the long lines at the gas stations, that they had plenty of food. They're going to be fine, as long as no trees blow through their windows, but I worry. This is one of the frequent times I feel guilty being so far away.

My wife is going to see her Father for the first time in over two years this week. He and her Sister are even further away. It's hard to imagine what she has done for love, crazy! This week she filled out the paperwork to have her permanent resident status updated. Today I mailed that out. We're likely to hear back from Homeland Security soon, with a note that her status has been extended another year while they review the paperwork. Sometime after that, she'll find out she can stay another ten years.

We've been watching my son for about ten days straight. When he gets on the bus Monday morning, I will not see him until the next Thursday. While I'm away, he will turn nine. He's a great kid. Even greater once toilet trained. He's been listening to a song on my iPod all weekend, walking all around the first floor of the house, holding the iPod, taking the beginning of the song in, then restarting. I'll post the song tomorrow, as part of the 'What I've been Listening to" project.

It's not even green anymore

So one of these came in the mail today. Not for me, and it does not quite match this picture.



The process took fourteen months, which is a reasonable amount of time considering we dealt with the Department of Homeland Security. We were never called in to interview either. No separating us and asking about toothbrush colors or what the other likes on their eggs. Our long national nightmare has ended. Or, another has begun, who really knows?

A couple of books have been read: First up.



I've been rather jaded about memoirs these days. People are writing that fiction is dead and that memoir is the new literature. Screw that, and double for James Frey. This one, however, is a couple of cuts above the drivel that's being published. Take a true crime, add some drug use, S&M and a very screwed up childhood - Stephen Elliott has created a non fiction work that's part In Cold Blood, part Hunter S. Thompson at his finest and part, well I'm not sure what and that unknown is what makes this one worth seeking out.



I had no idea he was working on a book before he died until a friend pointed it out on Facebook. Carlin was collaborating with Tony Hendra, who did a good job assembling Carlin's thoughts to the page. It provides some great details on his stand up days and a very frank use of his drug use and how it affected his family life. Not a pretty story, but it ends on a high note. It's a shame his heart could not hold up long enough so he could put his story on the Broadway stage. That would have been worth seeing.

Since I have not poated any pics of him for a while, here's one of the boy in the pool. He's been going into the deep end. No knowledge that it's twelve feet deep. No fear. He's been swimming the length of the pool, twenty five meters and back, reaching forward for speed.



We're also up a bit late tonight.




My daily reports tell me this site has been getting lots of recent hits. I don't track from where, unlike other bloggers, and am really not concerned with that. It's always good to see people reading though. Anyone want to say hello? There are a couple of new 'followers' here too. You're welcome to stay, but isn't participation fun? Thank you all for reading.

You are men?

Have not really said much about the Beatles remasters. At this time, what I will say is that I have what I wanted, and I like what I've heard. The mixes have some punched up bass and a clarity revealed that was not in the previous cds. What the engineers could not improve was left alone. Abbey Road sounds absolutely exquisite. I'm not going to detail the minutia in the stereo and mono mixes here, but there's plenty of material on that in other media and blogs.

Helped a friend move yesterday. Figures the one day it rains in the last two weeks and we get to lug someone elses belongings in it. Could have been worse. I'm feeling the effects of laboring today, as there were only two men to lift a sofa, washer and dryer. No one was injured although one of us got quite damp dealing with a washer hose and nearly busted a hand after said washer nearly fell on it.

Scottish Wife now has her social security card, I'm sure we'll be hearing about the status interview soon!

From the small world department: We went to a birthday party Saturday night and were introduced to a woman who lived in the UK for several years. We talked about immigration and she told us about her now ex husband and how well he's fit into American life by getting involved with the Columbus Crew and also getting their young son involved. I asked her son's name and she told me. I've met them, at Columbus Crew functions and even took their picture.

Even watched a bit of soccer yesterday. A live link for the Celtic/Hearts match provided some fine drama as Loovens scored in extra time to give the Hoops the win. Later, I avoided all websites and updates and watched Everton/Blackburn on delay and was rewarded with a 3-0 Everton victory. Saha scored a brace, the defense rallied and tightened up despite the loss of Phil Neville. Upswing!

I did miss the Crew tie to Chicago entirely, as well as the Bills win.

Coming down to the final two weeks before IWPS. Time to start cramming. There's still time for you to DONATE.

Many thanks if you have!

The Day Off

Went to the USCIS downtown this morning for my wife's biometrics appointment. It was scheduled for 9AM. We were expecting to wait. I brought a book. We got there about 8:40 and there was only one other person there. My wife filled out a form and was instantly fingerprinted, photographed and sent on her way. We were there less than twenty minutes.

She's also going to need a Social Security card so we headed out to the office to see if/when she could acquire one.

We got there and the parking lot was full. There was not a seat to be had inside. We were B-122 and B-103 was called while we waited. There were also people with A and C, and maybe even D before their numbers.

Just to see what would happen, we headed out on an errand then came back to the office. About forty minutes later there were even more people and B-105 had just been called. Rather than wait until 2PM, or later, it was best to try another day, and camp out overnight to get a decent spot in line.

We headed home to escape the heat for a bit then went to Haiku for lunch. My friend Stephanie has her work on display all month and it was a good way to get some decent food. I'd never been there before, the patio is lovely, complete with a koi pond. It was a bit too hot out there today so we opted to dine in. Good food. I had a large portion of padd thai.

At the end of the day, we're still waiting for her status to change but we think another step in the right direction has been taken.

The Final Form

Sent out the last major immigration paperwork this morning.



Now we wait again. I'm sure they'll cash the check well before we hear anything back. I did get some donuts to heal the pain.

Red, White and Boom in Columbus tonight. We're staying at home. Going to a friend's tomorrow. May go to the old spot to see what fireworks we can see tomorrow night.

Have a safe weekend everyone.

Busy with nothing to say

Plans are moving along. Arranging meetings.

Still, finding enough tables and chairs weighs heavy.

Went to WB for open mic and slam. I have to say Jory did one of the coolest things I've heard in a long time. He enlisted the help of a sax player and they did a call and response piece to some haiku. It was excellent.

There was also a poem read about a musician hoarder that made my speccy girlfriend cringe. Even I knew that one hit a bit close to home for her.

I did a polarizing 'Why Jackson Browne Sucks.' I think some in the audience had no idea who he is, which to me is a good thing.

Did not compete in the slam as I already had enough points to get in the Grand Slam.

Glad I did not. Judging was harsh, but consistent. I wore out my voice booing. Not many high scores last night. Congratulations to Patrick, who was a solid winner.

Not sure how prepped I'll be for next week as there is so much going on. I will be there though.

My son is soon to be losing teeth. His front lowers specifically. I could have pulled them out, but the sight of his blood makes me squeamish.

Finally heard back from Sherrod Brown about the immigration issue we had. Thanks, but she's already here!

Who were you then who are you now?

A long stressful workweek ends and a new chapter in my life starts. She gets here tomorrow. For good. I'm having the last Irn-Bru because she's bringing a fresh batch with her. After that's gone, we're on our own. Or to Jungle Jim's.

I've been part of two broken marriages and really do not want to go for the triple crown of failure. Who is perfect here? Not me. Far from it. Often times I get the feeling I was not even liked in my few previous relationships, that my eccentricities were just tolerated for some mysterious reason.

At least I can laugh when a friend of mine says I don't have enough trick to be a sociopath.

Getting the house in better shape. Finding the dust bunnies, probably missed a few spots so I'm proofreading the floor and things. Might even change the locks.



Another message on the machine for L. Another bill collector. I wonder if it's one of the bank accounts she overdrew from then skipped out on. One of them she had to have a relative cosign for. She must have hidden that from him the way she hid a credit card debt and who knows what else from me.

Headed out to First Draft tonight. Looking forward to seeing some folks tonight. It's going to be a good weekend.

Bring it!

The visa is now in her hot little hands, waiting to be opened upon entry.

Went out and bought a proper mattress for my son tonight. He's been sleeping, when he sleeps, on a box spring with a pad on top. It's something I felt guilty about, not being able to provide him with a real bed. Now he has something else to bounce on at five in the morning.

It's game seven between the Penguins and Capitals tonight. What I've seen of this series has been spectacular. I have to admit to rooting for Washington, not because of Federov, but because of OSU alumni Dave Steckel.



I hear that Ovechkin kid is a good player too, there may be a future for him in the league.

I'll watch the game and clean between periods. Most of what I need to do is downstairs now, so I'll be able to at least hear the game.

I'm calling Kilroy

There were several vague responses from the embassy. About a week, five to ten days then ten to twenty days to get the visa - a phone call cost about two bucks a minute and no information was given. Email is deliberately not answered. one needs a code for that, and that means another phone call. I decided to contact my congressional representative and see if there was anything she could do.



I spoke to an aide on the phone, who told me I needed to fill out a privacy release form and email it to him. I did that and later in the day on Friday he sent a very polite and professional letter of inquiry to the embassy. I also contacted one of my senators, filled out pretty much the same form and was told their immigration intern had a backlog of work.

On Monday morning the congressional aide sent me the response from the embassy, that her visa was being printed out and that she should receive the visa mid-week. Today she got a text that she will be getting her visa, and the return of her passport on Wednesday morning.

She arrives here on Saturday.

I have no idea if the email nudged the embassy into action, but I think I know who I'll be voting for when she's up for reelection in 2010.

Breezy, noisy Sunday

Werner Herzog's narration style could make Goodnight Moon sound like the book of revelations. I can only guess why he hates penguins so much.

My son has been bouncing off the walls all weekend, sometimes at 5AM. We got into the backyard for a bit. He's not as bothered by the noise from the people next door putting up a roof, which causes all the dogs in the area to start barking and whining, as I am. He was not even disturbed much when I broke out the weed whacker.

Play is a bit different with an autistic child. Expectations change. The act of throwing and catching a ball with your son is altered, being it rolling a rubber ball or Nerf football down the stairs, or a large play ball off the side of a Radio Flyer.



He's been reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar and identifying the drawings. He's pretty good at it. He takes my hand and uses my finger to point at a picture he doesn't know. I tell him what it is, and he repeats it back to me. He thinks the word salami is the funniest thing he's ever heard.

Speaking of funny, I was looking at a professor rating website and the line, "no wonder her husband left her," really made me laugh. Over ten years later, she's still bringing it up in her classes. Sad and revisionist at the same time.

Did some shopping for the event yesterday, picked up plates, cups, etc. Still need one of the major parties to be allowed into the country. Maybe we'll hear something tomorrow. Maybe this week.

Soccer, wind and bouncing off the wall

Got up too early to find a feed for the Old Firm match. The crowd at Ibrox was loud as the home team came out ahead 1-0. They have a rock solid defense and the Celtic offense could not break through. I'd question why Strachan did not start McGready, but I doubt it would have made a difference.

Did not realize Everton was on FSC this morning so I got to see them draw for one half before taking my son swimming. That's how the game ended.

It's the Crew against the Wiz at home tonight. Will the canaries win their first game? In the wind?

The boy has a new obsession.



He comes into the back room and flicks the switch. He likes watching it move, for reasons that are only known to him. He does the same thing with the fan in the bedroom. He'll lie there with me and watch it for a long time. His mother tells me he will not go into her mother's bedroom, where she has one. I can only speculate why he he is not interested in going in there.

He also moved the chairs in the dining room to form a little tunnel, which he crawls though.



Really have to clean the house. I've also been told he's been doing this with chairs at school. His swimming is going great. He went the width of the pool and back, unaided, several times. He even kept his head above water most of the time. He also did not pitch too much of a fit when the lesson was over, unlike last week.

Still waiting on her visa. Got fed up with the vagueness and contacted my congresswoman. One of her aides sent a very polite letter of inquiry to the embassy on Friday afternoon. We'll see what happens come Monday. Could be an interesting week.

How I'm feeling

Like going all Banksy on a certain place in London.

Shilling for the fellow who brings the sheep in

Been buying things I never thought would be purchased again. Went to the Stepford Mall and did not find what I was looking for, but I did price external hard drives. Ended up back where I should have started, would have saved me gas, and bought the thing.

I was so stressed and aggravated by all the stop and go that I ended up buying a six pack of a very good beer to take the edge off.

Also got my hair cut, and went to Nancy's for chicken and noodles. People are trying to make a go of it, so it may not close. Emphasis on the word may.

The wait continues. Freaking paperwork is, where?

For some strange reason I have Grey's Anatomy on. It's been awhile. Are they killing off Izzy or George?

Oh it's May

I've been making lists, asking for lists, receiving lists.



It's Lisztomania!

The weather tonight has been miserable. Tornado sirens went off. Local weather people wet their pants in joy. They could use all their toys. Their dual titan doppler telestrater green screen radars, and still get it wrong!

Worked my way through another of the Ealing set. Last night it was The Maggie. Fun little film about a salty Scottish captain of a decrepit ship who cons his way into taking some cargo from a wealthy American businessman. It has a witty scene involving a pier, a ship, and some highland cows. I had never seen one until we got lost in Pollock Park.



Deftly directed by Alexander Mackendrick, it takes a few good shots at impaitient Americans, and contains some roots found in one of my favorite films, Local Hero. You know Bill Forsyth had to see that one for inspiration. They'd make a good double feature.

I was feeling sad, bored and did not want to go to bed so I ended up watching Rachel Getting Married. It is a very uneven film filled with some deliberate and some not deliberate uncomfortable moments. A lengthy monologue by Anne Hathaway at her sister's rehearsal dinner left me squirming at some very bad writing and the minutia of the wedding reception went on for about ten minutes too long. For the most part the acting was sound, with high marks to Bill Irwin and Debra Winger. Even Robyn Hitchcock has a cameo, so it's not all bad.

Also had my interview about Arts Fest. It went well I guess, tried to not sound too much like an idiot. Lots of nervous laughter. Not sure on the air date, but will let the two or three of you who read this know when I find out.

Now, to continue waiting, and to hope there's a window of dry weather so I can mow the lawn sometime tomorrow or Sunday.

I have a tracking number

I have to admit my day was better than the six months pregnant women who was walking in the woods, got chased by a bear then hit by a car.

By checking a wrong box on a form, it cost $41.95 to send said, corrected, form 3,600 miles in two days. That's a lot of stamps.

Live and learn, and continue to wait.

In other news, it looks like I'm going to be interviewed about the Arts Fest gig on WCBE. The interview is next Thursday. Not sure on the air date but I'll let you know.

Earlier, I went to dinner at a Chinese place. I've been such a wreck today the fortune cookie slipped out of my hand and hit the floor. It broke open.

Here's what the fortune said:

"Good news from afar may bring you a welcome visitor."

The fortune is now on the refrigerator. I swear if the thing had lottery numbers on it I'd have played them.

Pre Oscars

I am weak, watching the Oscars every year as if they really matter. Ultimately, it's an excuse to open up an inexpensive bottle of sparking wine, eat some cheese and be rude to the television. Like the nightly news, but with better dressed people onscreen. I've only seen a few of the movies and have a lot of speculation about who will win. If I get half right, it's been a success.

A couple of weeks back, while watching the Grammys, a few people from my old college radio station ended up gathering on Facebook and had a wonderfully snarky conversation. It was so much fun, we're doing it tonight.

Earlier today I went to a poetry reading that was supposed to be a youth slam. Not many people turned up so it turned into an abbreviated open mic. I enjoyed the people and the space. It's put on by a group I can't get to because I have my son when they meet. There's one seventeen year old kid who has incredible potential. Heck, she's amazing already. I read a new piece and think I did well with the fifteen or so people who attended.



Yesterday I went to the new Dunkin' Donuts at Broad and High that everyone has been dying to try. The donuts are ok, not bad really. The coffee I was not impressed with. It tastes burnt. I'm not a coffee person, but I know scorched when it's in my mouth. Next time, I'll get a bag of tea and some hot water - and sample a couple more donuts.

A very productive weekend, despite getting little writing or reading done. Managed to get more documents across the pond for my girlfriend's immigration process, saw my son in the pool and did a few other things I've been meaning to do but have not had the time. One did not quite pay off, the other may.