Living in America 2013

[smartieknickers]

Howdy y'all! I was a long time lurker on the Living in America 2012 thread and in the spirit of my new year's resolution to 'get involved in more stuff' I thought I'd start a new thread, what with it being a month into 2013 and all that... So who's with me?

Link to previous thread

Brief introduction: I initially moved from Scotland to Houston, TX with my DH and DS (now 2) in 2011, but we moved to Dallas in September last year. We never really felt quite at home in Houston but for some reason we really like life in Dallas, even though it's pretty similar in a lot of ways. We have just today finally dispatched with the last of our Christmas visitors (we've had parents and in-laws here back-to-back for 5 solid weeks!!) so I'm feeling like I deserve a large and a medal

what on earth for???

I was going to ask that too

For turning right on a red. The bloody roads were all empty, it was late at night, so I did a 'California rolling stop'.

And then came the fine . Because I didn't completely stop. But fines here are ridiculously expensive. $500, I could add in a little more and fly back to the UK!

Oh man, maybe I shouldn't get a license

LICENCE. Ffs.

How has your move been rootypig? Are you settling in?

I'm glad its nearly the kids bedtime. The husband is out at a works do, so I'm ordering Chinese and having a or few beers. DS has hand foot and mouth so we are contained in the house for five days. FIVE! Feels
Like a lifetime!

It is ok. A bit painful. Shipping still not turned up, got to get my driver's licence then a car. I need to be patient about getting life here going - not my strong suit. But we are living in a UCLA family complex which means I have the godsend of play areas with other children and parents right outside the door - literally.

Do you work outside the home California or are you SAHP? I am struggling a bit to find things to do with DD, I miss my lovely sure start centres!

I think it took me about two months to settle in. I joined baby boot camp, which is an exercise class that you can take babies and kids to. It helped me make friends and get some sort of routine.

I also joined local moms groups. I found them on big tent. We have been going to regular playgroups and made great friends! I really recommend it.

I'm at SAHM. I can't work because I'm on my husband's H1. It's been nearly three years since I've worked. If I'm honest, I really miss it. I love my kids, really enjoyed being there for them.....but now I want to work. Though there is the visa issue

Thanks california for the encouragement. I need to be more patient in every way

Our shipping is in the port of Los Angeles so soon I will have more than two outfits and a bunch of other stuff I can't even remember and we are going to buy a sofa this weekend - luxury!

I swear I thought I'd be a grown up by the time I was 30. Sigh.

Goddamn I turn my back for a month to fly home, come back and find there's a ton of West Coasters crawling out of the cupboard!

Been in LA about 20months now - going to go back over the thread properly once DC are in bed and respond properly

Oh my goodness RoseLau and Rootypig I'm in Mar Vista, pleeeeeease can we have a meetup?! I've been desperate for some MNetters!

Also, Roselau I have several friends who've had babies in the last two years (two of them in the last 24hours!) at various west side locations so feel free to pm me your details I can pass on if you need some advice of where to start looking

We are in Mar Vista! I think??? Near Mar Vista park anyway.....

yes yes yes meeeeeeetup

We are 5min walk from the rec, amazing!!! How are you settling in now?

Then we are max ten mins from you! how ridiculous. I will PM you my mobile number, let's get together soon!

That would be great. We just found a place in Venice. Will be moving next Saturday. Excited to finally be settling since baby is due in two short months.
I have found a dr and will be delivering at cedars Sinai but if you have pediatrician recos closer that would be fantastic!!

Oh and rootypig we're also waiting for our shipment. Let's hope it arrives in the next few weeks. We just bought a mattress but that's basically all we have! Where did you get your couch? Any furniture store you recommend?? We're probably just going to go to ikea...
Good luck with the unpacking:)

We just went to IKEA :)
Am going to pimp it a bit, but for the money they're great. Now I'm going to surf craigslist for every other conceivable piece of furniture....

I just went round to ATB's house! MN in real life, larks.

'twas lovely to meet you rootypig! Roselau you need to get in on the west side action - I'm a 10min bus ride from Venice.

Both of you join Brits In LA Facebook group, Westside Swap (though I might have to invite you to that) an there's this yahoo group called peachhead2 which is useful for stuff, things to do etc, all parents in LA again

thanks ATB, have joined all those :)

Two recent trivial yet important discoveries I thought that I would share

1. If you get the free add on Media Hint for Firefox it scrambles where in the world you are - BBC, ITV and C4 galore

1. if you order from Cult Beauty for a US address you don't pay VAT and my parcel wasn't charged customs either... saved so much the guilt of my extravagant purchasing almost entirely went away

I've just changed my MN settings so I see a whole thread in a page, so I'm probably painfully out of date but DO NOT drive over the month you are allowed before you get a license. And, afaik, all states only allow a month.

It's all great until you get rear ended and your insurance company goes into meltdown. Has happened to 4 of my friends.

OK, confused now. You need to be here for 4 weeks minimum to get a social security number and you need that to get a driving license, don't you?

Texas says I can drive on my UK license for 3 months. Passed my Texas theory this week, practical in 2 weeks...