Galateia!!!! It''s TOMORROW!!!!!!!

[gwendolyn]

After two years, you FINALLY get to be with your honey! I am so happy, excited, and thrilled beyond words for you!!!!! I hope you are able to sleep tonight!!!!

 

[ladypirate]

Wooo! Have a safe trip!!!!!

 

[galeteia]

Heya!

It''s so sweet that you remembered!

I know- I just talked to my guy and he is over the moon excited. I''m a bit busy bashing my head against the wall to appreciate the situation, but I imagine it will sink in tomorrow when I head out - I''m leaving the house at 9am tomorrow and will get in to Lubbock at 10:40pm.

I feel a bit like a marathon runner who is just focusing on hitting each checkpoint as they near rather than the final dash; I think when I''m on the plane, having gotten through customs by land and gotten a special stamp I can only get through Windsor/Detroit, it will really sink in and I may startle my seatmate with a squee or two.

I tell ya, though, I am really excited about the trip to New Mexico to ''get cohabitated''! (We use the visa forum''s expression "ceremony of cohabitation" to describe the legal marriage.)

Sometimes I call up my guy and shriek "We''re gonna get cohabitated! Wheee!"

I''ll be back to this thread later after I get some stuff done

''

 

[gwendolyn]

Oh, honey, how could I forget what you''re going through? I''ve gone through the mini-teeny-tiny version of what you have, and I could barely stand it! International long-distance is *SO* hard. I can''t imagine doing what you''ve done, as long as you''ve done it!!! And you''re HERE! You''re at the end! You guys are getting cohabitated!!!

I really am just so, so happy for you. After you jump all your hurdles and have a safe flight, go through immigrations, customs, baggage claim, etc. etc., YOU WILL BE DONE!!!!! You will be together. Nothing better than that!!

 

[FrekeChild]

Galateia-
Where in NM? And when? I''m so excited for you!!!

 

[Rhea]

How exciting! Getting cohabitated is very fun. Good luck!

 

[TravelingGal]

Galateia, I am so happy for you. What a road it''s been, and you''re just only getting to the starting line.

Best of luck to you and your FI. When/if things get tough, just remember how much you went through to be together and how strong your love is. Keep us posted on how you are doing in the U.S.!

 

[emeraldlover1]

OMG, I''m so excited for you. Also, that will make me #3 on the list...again OMG!!!!!!!!!!! Again, please log on and tell us how it is to finally be TOGETHER!

 

[galeteia]

Date: 5/17/2008 7:52:17 PM
Author: emeraldlover1
OMG, I'm so excited for you. Also, that will make me #3 on the list...again OMG!!!!!!!!!!! Again, please log on and tell us how it is to finally be TOGETHER!

Actually, he hasn't proposed yet, so I'll be remaining on the list until he does.

I'll be sure to check in with you ladies tomorrow night when I've arrived; signing off for the last time from Canada!

See you all tomorrow!

 

[Dandi]

WOOOHOOO!!! How exciting!!!

Safe travel Galateia!

 

[bee*]

Oh wow Galateia!!!! I''m thrilled for you. Have a safe trip and enjoy being with your man!

 

[onedrop]

Ah....the end of a journey....and the start of a new one!!! I am really, really happy for you and your FF. It''s an exciting time and the work and stress has all paid off!!

 

[ladypirate]

I hope your trip is going really well--congratulations on getting cohabitated!

 

[basil]

Hey Galateia,

I have been following your story along since I''m in a long-distance relationship as well. I liked your running countdown to the number of months until you could be together, because as it got closer, it meant that I got closer to being together with my fiance. I''m so happy for you that you have finally made it! I can''t even imagine how good that must feel!

Good luck with your move, your cohabitation ceremony, and your future engagement!

 

[Just_Me]

Very exciting!!! Congrats!

 

[galeteia]

I''m in Texas!

We have a totally cute little apartment, and today we''re going to tootle around getting me things like a razor, shaving gel that doesn''t smell like aftershave, and soap. That''s right, soap. I hopped in the shower and had to ask where it was ... turns out it''s this very manly shower scrub that had the word ''grit'' in it.

On MY girlie parts? Hells to the no.

Can you imagine?

So girlie supplies are the list. Our apartment looks out on a dog park, which is utterly charming; green, trees, and doggies everywhere. (POOCHIES!

) The apartment has a ton of sun coming in but it''s all indirect, so my retinas are thankful.

Where I left is hovering around 50 degrees, and it''s 95 here!

That will be a big adjustment.

I think I need to go shopping for a hat, unless I want to look like a tanning bed addict in short order ...

I want to follow in my mother''s footsteps and continually get carded until I''m 35.

That''s the update for now.

"Next time, on a very special Adventures in Texas: The invasion of the medicine cabinet by arcane skin care and feminine products!"

 

[FrekeChild]

LMAO Galateia!!! "Grit"? Seriously? Wow.

It''s only going to get hotter too. Where in Texas are you? And why do you have to come to NM to do all the legal stuff?

 

[galeteia]

Date: 5/19/2008 1:38:01 PM
Author: FrekeChild
LMAO Galateia!!! ''Grit''? Seriously? Wow.


It''s only going to get hotter too. Where in Texas are you? And why do you have to come to NM to do all the legal stuff?

Yeah, I was not willing to apply something so named to my tender nether regions. Possibly any regions, tender or not.

I''m in Lubbock. I''ve insisted on not getting married (or as we put it, ''legally cohabitated'') in Texas because they have some circa Dark Ages marriage laws and my guy is none too keen on the statement "We got married in Texas", so we''re turning it into a little adventure and going to NM.

When I was calling around to the different city clerks to get info way back in the day, the Texan clerk sounded miffed that I even existed, whereas the ABQ clerk was super sweet and had an accent musical to my ears.

We don''t have a place to stay yet in ABQ but we''ll figure it out. For the sake of the paperwork, it''s best if we get married on Friday; any later and we''ll run into some icky deadlines.

 

[TravelingGal]

Too funny Galateia...

Are you loving the reunion?

 

[onedrop]

Date: 5/19/2008 12:44:43 PM
Author: Galateia
I''m in Texas!

We have a totally cute little apartment, and today we''re going to tootle around getting me things like a razor, shaving gel that doesn''t smell like aftershave, and soap. That''s right, soap. I hopped in the shower and had to ask where it was ... turns out it''s this very manly shower scrub that had the word ''grit'' in it.

On MY girlie parts? Hells to the no.

Can you imagine?

This is classic! I so feel your pain on the "soap" issue. It really is the little things that make a house a home.

Glad you made it to TX safely, and the decision to get get co-habitated in NM is just so romantic to me. The scenery and a new beginning....wow. Best wishes to you!!!

 

[emeraldlover1]

Date: 5/17/2008 9:54:13 PM
Author: Galateia

Date: 5/17/2008 7:52:17 PM
Author: emeraldlover1
OMG, I''m so excited for you. Also, that will make me #3 on the list...again OMG!!!!!!!!!!! Again, please log on and tell us how it is to finally be TOGETHER!

Actually, he hasn''t proposed yet, so I''ll be remaining on the list until he does.

I''ll be sure to check in with you ladies tomorrow night when I''ve arrived; signing off for the last time from Canada!

See you all tomorrow!

I know, I know...I was just wishfull thinking for you! You deserve it after waiting this long.

 

[galeteia]

Date: 5/19/2008 6:17:52 PM
Author: TravelingGal
Too funny Galateia...


Are you loving the reunion?

Um ... no comment

I have to say, I really, really love my guy. It''s so blissful to be back together, I just wish I wasn''t having, uh, significantly painful girlie issues because I''m more interested in curling up on the couch with hot tea and a blanket than exploring my new surroundings. Still, this time I have a manfriend to do late night feminine product forays (which he did gladly) and make me tea, and provide foot and/or backrubs at request. I''m spoiled. (Yay!)

And I wanted to thank everyone who has popped into this thread; I''m very touched that you were thinking of me!

Onedrop, I agree that going to NM for our cohabitation is romantic, I can''t wait.

and EmeraldLover, now that we are together, I am content to wait.

Whee! Together at last!

 

[icekid]

Date: 5/20/2008 2:49:35 PM
Author: Galateia

I have to say, I really, really love my guy. It''s so blissful to be back together, I just wish I wasn''t having, uh, significantly painful girlie issues because I''m more interested in curling up on the couch with hot tea and a blanket than exploring my new surroundings. Still, this time I have a manfriend to do late night feminine product forays (which he did gladly) and make me tea, and provide foot and/or backrubs at request. I''m spoiled. (Yay!)

hehe, this is my hubby''s favorite task. not so much. But I''ve been following your crossing the border fun threads and wanted to chime in too that I''m so glad that you two are finally together. You must be on cloud nine. congrats!!!

 

[galeteia]

Date: 5/20/2008 3:34:31 PM
Author: icekid

Date: 5/20/2008 2:49:35 PM

Author: Galateia
Still, this time I have a manfriend to do late night feminine product forays (which he did gladly) and make me tea, and provide foot and/or backrubs at request. I''m spoiled. (Yay!)

hehe, this is my hubby''s favorite task. not so much. But I''ve been following your crossing the border fun threads and wanted to chime in too that I''m so glad that you two are finally together. You must be on cloud nine. congrats!!!

My guy was reading over my shoulder when I saw your reply, and he joked that doing a midnight run to the, er, ''pink aisle'' is "an investment; think about all the brownie points we get for stuff like that" which made me crack up.

Apparently he had a guy moment joking around with the dude at the counter, who was familiar with having to do said midnight runs himself, hehe. I think it''s sweet when guys do things that are obviously out of love for their ladies.

It''s such a relief to have snuggles only a hug away.

 

[galeteia]

Update:

We''re going to get cohabitated tomorrow (yay!) here in Lubbock (boo!) because it''s simpler and faster and way, waaay cheaper. We started getting stressed out with the prospect of hotels and car rentals and not being able to find anything earlier than next Friday.

We nearly ended up legally cohabitated this afternoon when we zipped in to apply for our license; we got a waiver to skip the 3 day waiting period and there was a JOP right there. However, my guy''s mom wants to be called first and he felt it was disrespectful to go into a court room in jeans.

So it''s tomorrow at 1 pm.

I''m getting a little frayed; one reason I didn''t want to get legally married in TX was because of all the vows you have to go through. This isn''t my ''real'' wedding (I''m not even officially engaged yet!) and I deeply resent being forced to mouth vows I don''t mean yet. My guy feels that words are just words, but it bothers me. I want to save our true vow exchanging for our ceremonial wedding down the line. We''re going in early to talk to the judge and ask her to weed it down to the bare legal minimum.

Also, I''m going to be mulling over it all night. I think I would have preferred to just get it done today since we weren''t expecting to be able to do it; it would have been as laid-back and informal as you can possibly get!

And I have to whine and moan a bit; I am sooo tired of having to do everything bass-ackwards. International love has a high pricetag.

Thanks for listening.

 

[FrekeChild]

Aw darn. I was looking forward to hearing about your trip to Albuquerque. Because that''s where I am!!

And seriously, too bad about the vows and all that.

How''s Lubbock treating you?

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 5/21/2008 6:58:02 PM
Author: Galateia
Update:


We're going to get cohabitated tomorrow (yay!) here in Lubbock (boo!) because it's simpler and faster and way, waaay cheaper. We started getting stressed out with the prospect of hotels and car rentals and not being able to find anything earlier than next Friday.


We nearly ended up legally cohabitated this afternoon when we zipped in to apply for our license; we got a waiver to skip the 3 day waiting period and there was a JOP right there. However, my guy's mom wants to be called first and he felt it was disrespectful to go into a court room in jeans.


So it's tomorrow at 1 pm.


I'm getting a little frayed; one reason I didn't want to get legally married in TX was because of all the vows you have to go through. This isn't my 'real' wedding (I'm not even officially engaged yet!) and I deeply resent being forced to mouth vows I don't mean yet. My guy feels that words are just words, but it bothers me. I want to save our true vow exchanging for our ceremonial wedding down the line. We're going in early to talk to the judge and ask her to weed it down to the bare legal minimum.


Also, I'm going to be mulling over it all night. I think I would have preferred to just get it done today since we weren't expecting to be able to do it; it would have been as laid-back and informal as you can possibly get!


And I have to whine and moan a bit; I am sooo tired of having to do everything bass-ackwards. International love has a high pricetag.

Thanks for listening.

Bolded: no kidding. And J and I are still in the theoretical/planning stages. Haven't even started the paperwork process yet!

I am sorry that you are experiencing some disappointments with the wedding location and vow situation. It is good that you'll be able to do it so quickly (today! Woohoo!!!!) and for mucho less dinero, though. Hopefully everything will go awesomely well and you will be officially cohabitated by this evening!

 

[galeteia]

Date: 5/22/2008 2:50:06 AM
Author: gwendolyn

I am sorry that you are experiencing some disappointments with the wedding location and vow situation. It is good that you''ll be able to do it so quickly (today! Woohoo!!!!) and for mucho less dinero, though. Hopefully everything will go awesomely well and you will be officially cohabitated by this evening!

Aw, thanks!


We''re leaving very shortly to go to the court house, I''m in a bit of a state of disbelief; it''s strange to be finally jumping through a hoop you''ve been prepping for two years to do so!

Wish me luck. Hopefully I will find a polite way to convince the judge to let us off easy; I know I can''t say anything about this being ''only the paperwork marriage''!

Goin'' to the court house to get legally cohabitated: Stand by.

 

[galeteia]

Update:

I am now legally able to live with my honey.

 

[gwendolyn]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!! I don''t believe in luck so I didn''t want to say anything before when you left! So glad it all went well! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!