Update & Montreal Review

Well, as most of you know, Thursday we were approved for our Visa. (Well, Steve was approved for HIS visa at least!).

Another minor victory as well, Steve’s mom and grandparents are coming to the wedding. I don’t know WHAT I said-but, I said it. I got really fed up on Easter & finally spoke up to his mom & by the end of the convo she was typing ’I love you Libby. I’m glad we talked. I’m coming to the wedding’, ect.

Also, by some miracle, Mom says that Mrs. Cathi has the catering ’taken care of’...I guess maybe people to help cook & serve? I’m not sure the details. Also, my very very gracious aunt in Texas is bringing 50lbs of beef brisket (supposed to be AWESOME!!!) AND she won’t let us pay her back for it-its a gift to us.......how blessed am I?

This is my review
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
March 26, 2008

Well, we arrived in Montreal yesterday @ around 12:30pm. Thank God for our amazing Nagivon!! Turn by turn it never guided us wrong once. We woke up around 4:20am, and pulled out at about 5:30am. We got thru Toronto before it got crazy-though it amazes me the amount of traffic going thru there at 6am.

Once thru there, the drive was a breeze. No traffic, snow, rain or backups. We got into Quebec around 11:30am and instantly the roads were much worse-not as well maintained as Ontario. Everything, of course, was in French. Kind of makes me feeling like I am in France. We got to the hotel (La Tour Centre Ville) and went in and at a little lunch at the Cafe. Food was okay. I had a ’Sangria’ wine cooler with my pasta salad and half roast beef sandwich. The wine cooler made me SO hot! We asked for an early check in and she said our rooms were available. Room in general-very mediocre. A lot of potential with the amount of space, though. Full Kitchenette, bathroom, sitting room, table and chairs, bed area, ect. Massive window and central location were the selling points for me!

Steve roamed a few hours and brought back groceries. We had dinner at Yu Hang (Chinese restaurant in the hotel).

Steve wanted to swim, so we went up to the Penthouse floor and we see a couple holding an x-ray in the hall and wonder if they are VJer’s too. We went to the pool room and have the suprise of our life-Tonya, Steve’s friend from Ottawa and Andy, her Scottish boyfriend!!! I’ve talked to her before, but never met her in person and we’ve been planning to get together for months. How completely weird they were there.......

The bed was horrible! I did manage to sleep through the night though. We’re going to try to go to the Notre Dame Basilica tomorrow. If we can get a cab, we shall! Interview tomorrow morning-EEK!!!!!!!


March 27th, 2008

Interview day!! We woke to sunny skies and as soon as we left the hotel, we got a pretty heavy downpour of snow. We were the first ones at the US Consulate this morning. A couple arrived at the consulate, and as her cab drove off she screamed ’OMG! MY PURSE IS IN THE CAB WITH MY PASSPORT IN IT!!’..........POOR THEM! They did track it back though in time to get in the building.

At exactly 7:30am, the doors were opened and we were first in line. I don’t know why it NEVER crossed my mind to bring ID, but I didn’t have it. I was like "PEACE OUT STEVE, SEE YA BACK AT THE HOTEL" and Steve was left standing looking dumbstruck. I came back to the hotel and was in a brainfart. Where WAS my passport??? I don’t know. I still don’t know. I just couldn’t leave Steve there alone, so I grabbed my MS drivers licence and headed back down to the consulate. Got taken through security and went downstairs to wait for the elevator, which was to be at 8:05am.

At 8:05am, the security guard came down and we were called up to get in the elevator. The security told me my ’husband’ was already at gate 9. I walked in the room and there Steve stood-SO relieved to see me!!!

Thank God I did come back because I had to write a letter stating that I am free, clear and willing to marry him. Steve handed over all of the paperwork requested, no evidence though. She said we were approved and then we waited for him to be called for fingerprints, and pay his $131 American cash. He then waited for his interview, which was like 1 minute long or something.

I did not go in with him for that. They asked him:

-How we met
-When we decided to marry
-Why he decided to move down there (south)
-What is he going to do for work
-Has he ever been arrested

Simple enough, eh? So, we left with HUGE smiles on our faces and came back to the hotel (now it wasn’t snowing, figures) and called EVERYONE!

Word to the wise, as most of you know, DO NO BRING BRIEFCASES!! ONLY BRING CLEAR BAGS-no electronics, including the remote for your car that is on your keychain. DON’T leave your purse or other belongings in the cab ;)

The better organized you are, the better. I placed each separate document in its own malina folder, well labeled-they were impressed.

Now we have to get moved. I just reserved the U-pack moving company. Thankfully our rate went down about $200!!! I have less than two weeks to get everything packed up. Steve will be working another 5 days & he’ll be done! We should be back home (to my home) by April 15th. We have one month & 9 days to plan the entire wedding.........EEK!!!

Blessings,
Libby