All those in the US...

[OverRated]

... here is a lovely new thread. With an uninspired but easy to find title. And an old list.

Please update as needed.

1. Mamama - Chicago, DS 2
2. Twirl - MD - married, DD 3 and DS 1
3. Califrau - Milpitas, CA - married, ds1 (7), ds2 (4). sahm
4. Greatgooglymoogly - NY State - married, DS1 (3), DS2 (17 mths)
5. Alipiggie - Erie, CO - 2 DS's aged 5 and 4
6. Tinpot - North Carolina
7. dooneygirl - Oregon City, OR A married SAHM. DS 4 , DD 2
8. Earlybird - TN, DD (6)
9. SofiaAmes - LA
10. LATyke - Redondo Beach, CA
11. NannyK - Boston, MA
12. Marls001 - Bentonville, AR
13. Hellish - Ottawa, Canada
14. Sunchowder - Florida - DD Girlscout age poss 14ish, SDS um late teens.
15. SittingBull - near San Francisco, CA - married,two children, 1 DS 3 years, 1 DD 18 months
16. ChiTownLady - Chicago
17. MKG - New Jersey -ds1 22 months,ds2 3 weeks
18. Yesthereare4ofthem - NY State
19. Albert, Brazil - married to Brasilian, DS(7)
20. Texan Dallas, TX, married to a Scot, DD (7), DS (5)
21. Tiggyhop - Houston. DS (4) DS (3) and DD (20 months)
22. Bananapudding - Texas. married, DD 6
23. jabberwocky - TN married, ds1 3.10, ds2 6 months
24. Brooklynmom - NYC. DD, 14 months old...
25. Vixie78 - Houston Texas
26. TwinMommyToBe - Boston
27. Barefeete - British Virgin Islands
28. Dodgykeeper - Dayton, Ohio 29)Syd - Manhattan Beach, LA
29. Weewilliewinkie ? VA
30. Chocchipcooke - Ohio
31. Mummimamma - PA. Married, DS, soon to be 5, DD 1 (15 months)
32. Shouldalistenedtomymum - Canada - Hamilton, Toronto,
33. Anorak - Bermuda, DD 15 and DS 7

East Coast
NannyK - Boston
Twinmommytobe - Boston
Greatgooglymoogly - NY State
Yesthereare4ofthem - NY State
Brooklynmom - NYC
MKG - New Jersey
Mummimamma - PA
Twirl - MD

The South
Earlybird - Soon to be in TN
jabberwocky - TN
Sunchowder - Florida
Marls001 - Bentonville, AR
Tinpot ? NC

Midwest
Mamama ? Chicago
ChiTownLady - Chicago
Dodgykeeper - Dayton, OH
Chocchipcookie - Ohio

Rockies & Southwest
Alipiggie - Erie, CO

Northwest
dooneygirl - Oregon City, OR

California
SittingBull - nr San Francisco
Califrau ? Milpitas
Syd - Manhattan Beach, LA
SofiaAmes - LA
LATyke - Redondo Beach

Texas
Texan - Dallas
Tiggyhop ? Houston
Vixie78 - Houston
BananaPudding

Canada
Hellish ? Ottawa
Shouldlistenedtomymum - Hamilton

BVI Barefeete Bermuda Anorak Brazil
Albert, Brazil

Whew. I live in Ann Taylor long-sleeved tees - they have lycra so are quite fitted - and their jeans. Yes, boot cut. I just don't have time to iron. These can just be whipped out of the tumble dryer.

Went to the lawyers today to make my will (I'm OK but it needs to be done). Put on make-up!!! Sat in an office!!! Had an adult conversation!!!

Please make a will if you don't have one. I learned today that if you are domiciled in the US you come under US law if you die (regardless on nationality) and there are horrid tax implications if your trustees are not US citizens. So a UK will would be treated I think as a foreign trust and it causes headaches here.

Also, children need a guardian appointed.

Sigh. Every time I hear the word will, I get depressed. We really need to make one, but there's nobody that we can leave the kids to.

Congrats on doing the will chochchip! I've had one since I was in my late twenties and revise it every time there is a major life change, i.e. marriage, kids. It is a little morbid but the consequences of not having one can be really awful on those who are left behind. I think legalzoom.com does them pretty inexpensively if you wanted to go that route.

Re: move - probably not until around May. I'd like ds1 to finish up with his school here and his occupational therapy that we just started for his sensory issues. That said, hardly anything in life goes according to schedule, lol.

CCC wow! I had no idea about the will thing. We did ours when we got married but that was 9 years, two kids and another country ago. Need to get that sorted. Still havent sat my driving test or managed to get my social security number so I guess it will get added to that list. Having a really tough time getting my SS number. They keep telling me that a don't get one unless I plan to work and that I need to pay for and file an application for a work permit thingy first. I have an L2 visa and dh company said I would have no problems being able to work but I have a different definition of no problems. How on earth do you file taxes without a SSN? Actually how on earth do you file taxes?
I think I need some chocolate now.

I always need chocolate when I think of taxes...

DK, they will give you a 'taxpayer identification number' for filing taxes. I filed before I had a SS number. I would use a tax-filing service at least for the first year, there are lots of deductions here I didn't know about.

Having heard what I did today I would not attempt to draw up a US will myself JW - it is more complicated if you are not a US citizen and/or have assets, an executor or a trustee in the UK. I think that could be a false economy. You need a lawyer who can deal with that IMO.

Please don't put off your driving test DK!!! I know of a nameless English person who kept putting it off, got stopped and had to go to court because she was driving on her UK licence. Couldn't possibly say who it was.

Also your insurance premiums will be much lower. It is easy-peasy (a joke) compared to the English test. Just stop dead at the stop signs.

Oh goodness, I really should have a will over here. But I just can't be doing with more legal stuff.

Yes. Definitely stop dead at the stop sign even if it is miles back from the junction. Don't then creep forward so you can see around the blind corner. You will get shouted at

I love Ann Taylor Loft. They have a 75% off sale at the moment...

And taxes.

Sorry for this hijack ...

Does anyone have, or know of, an 8 yo girl who is looking for a snailmail penpal? My dd is driving me nuts since discovering her best friend at school has one! Ideally she'd like one in the UK, but also one from abroad.

Her likes are:

Swimming
Cycling
Arty things
Her pet guinea pig
Her ipod
Her Nintendo DS

Sorry - Hijack over! XX

Yes, you must do a will (and proper foreigner filings) or if either spouse dies then money will not pass automatically tax free to other spouse. This also applies to us citizen with foreign citizen spouse. (I am an american on my 2nd english husband so have a little experience in this). Getting tax id number for filing taxes is easy...just an extra form you file with your 1040. However, in some states (like here in california) you can't get a drivers license without a ss number, so you may need to sort that out first.

Ok can anyone give me the lowdown on Valentines Day American style? I guess by the packs of 30 cards with childrens designs that it is not done the same as home. The themed gift bags and treats that are everywhere are also worrying me. I was totally caught out at Christmas when everyone gave candy or homemade things in little bags at the last minute when it was too late for me to reciprocate. Also if ds is supposed to write a card to all the kids in his class we better start now! I think what irked me the most was the card I saw in Walmart for your dog to give to the dogsitter!
Also, I need to know what is a suitable snack for a kids soccer team after practice (and why 7yr olds need a snack after 30 min excercise). As our surname begins with A, we are first on the list so I don't even see what others are doing! So many new experiences.
Went down to Lebanon to do the theory part of the driving test today but I got lost so didn't get it done. Not a good sign.

I HATE SNACKTIME! As far as I can see no event takes place without it. I am so anti-snacking. No idea what to give them though I have seen packs of those goldfish savoury bics given out. I refuse to participate. It is the only thing I take a principled stand on in life.

I am giving card to DH and DS and I'm giving a valentine gift to my babysitters from my DD - probably a photo of her with them and some chocs.

Can't you do the test in Centerville?

Your child must give cards to everyone in the class or to no one at all. This usually happens in Kindergarten and 1st Grade. And slowly peters out each year after that. For ds, in K all the kids gave them out and by 1st it was about 80%. We, by the way, were in the 20% who did not. I am expecting dd to be more adamant about giving them out every year. Some mothers do pretty homemade cards and homebaked cookies, but the vast majority (at our school at least) do horrid store bought ones with yucky candies attached. Just the name of the giver and receiver is considered sufficient.
Americans take the theming of their holidays really seriously in a Las Vegas sort of way. You are allowed to recognize the kitch value in it all and have a good giggle when it's totally over the top, but not to be cynical or denigrating.

I have given up on trying to convince everyone else about the importance of healthy snacks. I just give them to my kids and hope that they don't get too many hydrogenated vegetable oil filled cookies and crackers elsewhere. I would guess that something that isn't obviously "junk food" will be ok. Like juice or milk and cheese sticks. Or how about dried fruit or carrots/celery/tomatoes. Costco has peas in the pod (eat the whole thing) in large bags at the moment.

Oh dear, dodgykeeper. Better luck with finding the DMV next time.

Califrau should know about suitable soccer snacks. What about orange quarters and gatorade? Or apple juice and raisins? No idea.Seems a bit unfair that you have to go first. Is there a friendly parent you can ask?

I don't understand Valentine's Day over here - I know people send cards to their parents, grandparents and siblings. Very odd

Has anyone seen or heard from Anorak?

Check out the barium meal thread that is just a little ways down the page, Anorak started it tonight.

So Califrau, what do you think about the Fed rate cut?

I only ask because you seem to be the only person in the USA who has a 'friggin clue' what is going on!!!

I think DK should do prune mini-muffins and rice cakes. Tell them it's a new state law.

What fed rate cut? Does this affect me? (effect? I have confused myself)

Thanks for pointing me towards Anorak's thread.

Prune muffins. Hmm

I wasn't actually serious about the prunes though I do love them myself.

Fed Rate cut may happen later this week which would lower interest rates - good if you want a mortgage in the next few months, bad if you have savings and it may increase US inflation which is currently rising, especially food. So Fed rate cut topic thereby links to soccer snack topic...

Califrau. How can you be so young and have no mortgage!

The vouchers have arrived! Thanks Cali