Cars and visas

Long distance relationships are hard. I'm still missing Vernie a lot, but having things to do helps. I'll probably start looking for a job soon, or i might decide to do realestate appraising. right now i'm working on this 87 Toyota that i got a while back. after i make it road worthy i'm going to sell it. that should help a lot with my "saving to get married" goal of $7,000. I'll keep my beat-up 88 camry for transportation. i'm also working on getting Vernie's visa application ready to submit to the USCIS(U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services). Hopefully i can submit it soon in order to "get the ball rolling", so we can get the visa by this summer.

On The Right Track

I had a great time getting reacquainted with friends at a Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Ryan and Jenny. Awesome party guys; thanks!
I've been back now for almost two weeks, and I'm starting to feel normal again. It's hard to have grace for myself during the reverse culture shock period. I keep thinking, "I'm so lazy....I should be doing this and that, and get off my ass...." It helps that I have friends who understand what I'm going through. On top of the adjustment to life back home, I'm really missing my fiance Vernie. At first it wasn't too bad, but as time goes on it gets harder to not be with her. So, I'm gearing up to find a good job and keep myself busy with work. Today I got a haircut, and worked on my resume. I'm really glad that I'm motivated to do all this right now. I'm also trying to get the visa process going so Vernie can come here.

I'm a Fiance

Well, here it is, the official announcement on this blog that i am engaged. I'm glad to be home again, but missing my fiance so much. We don't have our wedding plans all nailed down just yet, but you'll know. i proposed to Vernie at sunset on Siargao Island where we met, and she said yes. it went really well, and the island has great sunsets and sunrises. The tradition there is to propose with two rings....one for me and one for her. after i bought the rings, it was so hard to wait to ask her. now i understand the expression, "it was burning a hole in my pocket."

Home Sweet Home

I'm home again. the trip was safe and fast. my head is still spinning though from the changes, both in location and in my life. more on that later.
so, in the last 24 hours i have heard three people say that they don't like to answer their cell phone, but like to let it go to voicemail. that's interesting to me cause i don't remember that being a trend when i left two months ago. is it a trend? why do people like to do that? maybe it's cause they are lazy. maybe they don't like to talk to people. maybe, like me, they need time to think about a response to a question that may be asked, so they listen to the message and then call back after thinking a bit. i just came back from the Philippines where everyone has a cell phone that they use for mostly for texting. so i wonder if texting will become more common here in the U.S.? the only difference is that the reason for texting in the Philippines is that it is cheaper than calling. i hope texting does become more popular here in the States.

Jet Lagging Behind

Well, well, i'm here in Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport waiting for my next flight home. i can't believe they have free internet here. it will be a long haul before i get home, maybe i'll take a nap somewhere quite.
it was sad leaving Vernie this morning. the last two months have gone by so fast. last night we said goodbye to her family....tears for everyone. i'm really looking forward to coming back there. next time i return it will be for a wedding.
California, here i come.
and oh yeah, happy birthday to me!!