A Little More

Okay, I'm still really tired, but here's a bit more info.

Paul got the divorce document that we needed on Friday, February the 5th. Of course, it was supposed to be Fed-Ex overnighted so I would get it before I went to Canada - and I would have- but the woman 'forgot'. ( She forgot pretty much everything but her own name in this process ). So, then Paul sent it to me in Canada. He Fed-Ex overnighted it to me and it cost $56! FIFTY-SIX! So it was delivered to my sister's office on Monday, February 8th. I drove there at warp speed and quickly printed out a cover letter while I was there too. Then I drove to the post office and mailed the two 'exemplified' copies of divorce decrees (one for each of us) along with the cover letter and my passport and an Xpress Post envelope in another Xpress Post envelope ($20). I was shaking so badly while I did this that the post office worker had to seal the envelope for me. I got a tracking number but was told that the package was guaranteed to get to the Consulate by 5 on Wednesday. As far as I could later tell, it did get there by then, but the tracking number got screwed up so the post office had to 'launch an investigation' to try and determine where the damn thing was. They couldn't find it for 3 days. I cried to the point of utter exhaustion. As I said, though, the package did get there on time, the post office just didn't know that because the bar code scanner couldn't pick up the bar code on my package for some reason ('this never happens!' they said). Anyway, as it turns out, they got it on Wednesday, granted me my visa on Thursday and mailed it to me on Friday. I got it on Tuesday, the same day that Paul bought me a Boston Terrier puppy for a welcome home/wedding/Valentine's Day gift and the same day as my mom's 73rd birthday.

So, yesterday after two hours of sleep, we got to the Winnipeg airport at 6 am and I began the immigration process. I had to give the officer there a huge sealed package of paperwork and then wait. But all went well, really. A few questions and a few warnings ( you WILL be deported if you work before you get your permit!) and I was on my way. The first flight was an hour and a half late leaving so I had to run, dead run, to make the next flight. When I ran up to the desk they said ' Jennifer, we had given up on you!' They asked if I had run from my gate and I told them that I did and the guy said ' that's almost exactly a mile'. Did you know that I could run a mile in less than 13 minutes? I didn't. Good to know though. Because of the very short stay in the Twin Cities though, my luggage did not get to the ATL with me. Paul and I went to report it and were told that we could wait 2 1/2 hours plus for it to arrive or it would be couriered to our apartment at around 7:30 or 8 (this was 2). We, obviously, chose to go home and have it couriered. At 8 I couldn't stay awake anymore so I went to bed, telling Paul that if by any chance the luggage wasn't there when he had to go to bed, he should wake me. Much to my chagrin he had to wake me at 11:30, unable to stay awake anymore. He told me that the courier had called at 9 to tell us it would be around 12:30 am before he got there. At 1:30 I called them and was told it would be 20-30 minutes. Needless to say I got it after 2:30 and then it was only one of my two bags. For your information, if you are packing two suitcases, don't put all of your clothes in one and everything else in the other. In other words, I'm currently wearing Paul's clothes :p I am told to expect my second bag this morning...we'll see.

But, who cares about all of it really. I'm here and very happy about it! Paul made a significant effort to have the place cleaner than last time (cause last time I cried when I walked in) so the cleaning shouldn't be too bad this time. He even had a V Day card waiting for me! Our new puppy is named Waffles and he is unbearably cute. I'm very touched that Paul got him for us.

So, the next week or two will be a flurry of continued paperwork, wedding planning and puppy training (did you know that puppies poop liquid and only liquid?) and although I'm tired and a bit lonesome for my family and friends I'm THRILLED to be home with my new family. Pictures will come when I have the energy.

By the way, I arrived here for good on February 18th, two years to the day from when I first physically met Paul. Eerie, no?