Living in America 2011

[MmeBucket]

We were a few messages away from being closed on the other one. Hope everyone finds me here.

Hi missmary, of course you can, have to go now but will prob be on after 9.30/10 our time!

Hello - thought I'd pop in again. It's been a while. Good Luck with the health stuff, MissMary - I know it can be a bit tricky.

Penguin - where are you going?

Hope everyone is ok.

Grockle, there's someone asking about Chicago a little farther down on the thread.

Penguin, I thought you weren't leaving until next year?

We decided to leave after the one year, my boss and pg were/are not a good combination. So we're taking UK mat leave. We have no idea where we're going as DH is looking for a job all over. He's had a second interview for oxford though. It would be nice to live somewhere cheaper mind.

I've never been to Oxford

Good luck to your DH, Penguin.

I think I responded re Chicago but will happily say more if needed.

How's you, Jabber?

Good luck PA! Oxford is very nice. Opportunities for you two later! Will be pinning dh down this weekend to plan the journey to and from San Diego. Would be lovely to meet up (a la wifey and thumb!) and will try to plan a stop in SB.

How's everyone else?

PA good luck with the job hunting. Hope it hasn't been awkward with the boss/pg situation? Nice to be able to do a road trip before leaving though (something we'd love to do but might not be possible...). We've not seen much of LA - I never know where to start and the traffic always puts me off!

We have the Amgen Tour of California (bike race!) going through my tiny town today. DH is 'working from home' ! lots of visitors and film crews. Also my youngest was 2 today so we're eating lots of cake!

so that's where you live red

Halo! Thanks for all the travel tips and advice, I'm sure we'll be fine (she says with a quiver in her voice). I've shed a load of tears the past few weeks, I'm coming to terms with the fact that we're leaving, it is not exactly what we wanted at the moment, but we'll survive.
San jose/Silicon valley looks nice enough, and we're amazed at the sizes of apartments and houses. And the sunshine looks yummy.

Glad all is ok after the bad weather, good luck with travels!

Good luck with the move mdavza. If we are in Milpitas (just north of San Jose) where dh's company HQ is, we'll let you know and we could perhaps meet up.

Sorry about the boss thing, Penguin.

Grockle, I guess I missed that. Haven't been keeping up with the thread as regularly as I used to.

Struggling a bit right now with the constant pressure of being in a business start-up with the economy the way it is. I keep telling myself it was the right thing to do but sometimes it's hard to convince myself!

Keeping my fingers crossed for you jabber. You're an optometrist, aren't you? What is the difference between that and an optician? I hope you get some more clients through the door.

Yes, good memory tadjennyp. I do exams, vision therapy and I have an optician who works for me and does the frame measuring and lens ordering part.

On the one hand, I know I should be pleased at how things are going as far as new businesses generally are but on the other hand I'm just ready for it to really take off iykwim. Dh has been an absolute star about holding my hand and talking me through it. I hope, but am not 100% sure, that I could be as positive if the roles were reversed.

The first year is always the toughest and in this economy you are doing amazingly. And you have a skill that will be always be needed, whether you eventually decide to go and work for another firm, or your own business goes through the roof. I, on the other hand, am a German teacher and this school district keeps making High School teachers redundant. I am beginning to wonder if I will ever work again if we stay in this city.

The good news is that dh has his biometric appointment for the green card in Portland in a couple of weeks' time. The dcs and I were rejected, however, so I don't think we will get the green card in time for a trip back to the UK this summer, by the time the solicitor reapplies. Ho, hum.

Hope everyone else has some great plans for Memorial Day weekend!

I think the fact you're business is doing OK in a recession is great and really sets you up for the future.

How stressful, tad and jabber. Tough times

Thanks, everyone, I know you're right. We will have been open for 2 years this September so my head keeps trying to remind me of the 3 to 5 year rule but emotionally I seem to forget that rather often!

Also, managing employees is a constant struggle! Just when I think things are going smoothly someone decides to have a mini-meltdown. It's like being a kindergarten teacher at times. "Don't say you don't like so-and-so just b/c she's different. You may get annoyed at some of the things she does but she's really a good person just as you are." or whatever. After my full-on migraine Friday I've decided to convert to "Work it out. I don't want to hear about it!"

Universal Studios was good but not great. Was smaller than I expected but rides quite good (although I didn't go on too many with being pg). A smaller version than Disneyland but without as much 'magic', then again we were there xmas day so there was extra effort. There were quite a large proportion of shows which trying to combine DDs naps with too much hassle for us. Depending what you're after something that isn't a full on day could be quite useful.

Was a lot of good stuff for kids though and off all ages (DH wanted to go on some), plus the child switch system was good. Means you only have to queue once and there's a play room for children while one of you waits, I don't remember that being there at Disneyland. They weren't very clued up today so me and DH got away with not queuing at all a few times with this system (one of you is suppose to queue normally and the other person goes straight on afterwards)

Back in the Uk, mums wedding was fab though I am never speaking to my sister ever ever again (I mean it this time, for reals!).
We are in the New Forest staying with the in-laws. DC's already been in the stream twice today and we are off to Peppa Pig world tomorrow, woohoo!

Glad the wedding was fab and of PeppaPigWorld! Sorry about your sister though.

Oh Frida - that sounds tough. Hope you are ok. I live just outside the Forest and am off to Peppa Pig World in 2 weeks (school tip). We spend much of our summer (and winter come to that) paddling in the streams. Watch out for Adders - apparently there are more of them than usual, due to the warm spring. Am sure you have heard the stories!

I have 3 staff and it can be a nightmare managing them. Sometimes, dealing with staff and getting them to do what needs to be done is harder than dealing with the children!

Where's Kickass?

sorry about your sister, family has the ability to really unnerve you :(

Hope everybody is still safe. I have not paid enough attention to where everybody is, but I hope that the weather yesterday and today has not affected you all too much. Keep safe and heed those tornado warnings, please!