Where the Deer and the Antelope Play - Living in the USA (visitors welcome)

[SuperBunny]

East Coast
MaNanny - Boston
Twinmommytobe - Boston
MuminCT - CT
Greatgooglymoogly - NY State
Yesthereare4ofthem - NY State
Brooklynmom - NYC
alarkaspree - NYC
MKG - New Jersey
Mummimamma - PA
Poetmum - PA
Twirl - MD

South
Earlybird - TN
jabberwocky - AR
Sunchowder - Florida
Marls001 - Bentonville, AR
Tinpot - NC
MadameDeathStare- AL

Midwest
SuperBunny- Chicago
Dodgykeeper - Dayton, OH
Chocchipcookie - Ohio
MonkeyLover
KickAssAngel - Ann Arbor, MI

Rockies
Alipiggie - Boulder, CO
Ribena

Northwest
AnnieLaurie - Seattle, WA
Dooneygirl - Oregon City, OR

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

Texas
Texan - Dallas
Tiggyhop - Houston
Vixie78 - Houston
BananaPudding - Austin
Cosmicdust - East Texas

Canada
Hellish - Ottawa
Shouldlistenedtomymum - Hamilton
Nooka - BC
Jacksmama - Langley

Exotic Islands
Anorak - Bermuda
cp - Trinidad
Barefeete - BVI

Brazil
Albert

cali, i'm with you, i just didn't realise that they did check. i'm sceptical about whether they really would 'catch' anyone trying to take kids when they're not meant to, i mean if a one parent had access for a day, and high tailed it to the airport, would the staff their really know they shouldn't be getting on the plane?

I've never heard of Carmen SanDiego. The OU thing is ridiculous. I did wonder about registering using my sister's address in the UK and getting her to forward stuff but am not sure it would be allowed. I don't have the brain power, time or money to do a course anymore but would be nice to have the option.

Kickass, even when I was with DS's Father, I was told (by BA) that I should carry a notarised letter saying I had his permission to leave the US with DS. And Immigration did ask me about it when we returned to Chicago. So I would definitely carry a formal document, just in case. They probably won't ask for it but, if they do, birth certs etc are not sufficient.

If any of you have a Jason's Deli near you, I highly recommend it. Having been ill for 3 days, I braved Target and then it was late and we still didn't have food at home so, I took DS for dinner. $1.99 for a kid's meal (grilled cheese), organic apple slices, juice or milk or soda and free ice cream and fabulous staff who waited on DS hand and foot.

I didn't know we had lurkers on this thread. I know a few people drop in from time to time but lurkers, wow! Hello StillOverHere & ButterflyEffect

notarised = 'approved' by a solicitor?

only 118 posts until a new thread needed!! will any more lurkers come out of the closet before then?

So thankfully body hair is out for today. Apparently the new word of the day is paella. I've already heard that several hundred times, but thankfully, I can handle that much better.

so what you having for dinner tongiht, dooney? paella by any chance?

Kickass, I can so tell that you are totally my type of person.

How did you know what we're having for dinner?

Funny, I was talking with some Spanish people yesterday and it made me think of paella.

Notarised = stamped by a Notary - there is usually one at a bank. I dunno exactly what a notary is but it makes things official. My attorney notarises everything for me.

thanks sb.

If you can find a friend who is a notary, that helps.

Can anyone help me with my ordering gifts thread?

cali (and others) do you do your own taxes, or pay someone? as we've just moved here & dh got a lot of expenses, some of which he should pay tax on, we think we need some help this yea, but wondered if it's really necessary, although I don't even know which form i should complete.

Another question... you know when you go to the post office to send a parcel and they ask you a million questions, including, "Is there anything fragile, liquid or perishable?" What happens if you say yes?

I want to send a tiny bottle of bubble bath stuff to the UK. I have wrapped it in bubblewrap put it in a ziploc bag, wrapped it in tissue paper and put it in a Jiffy bag. Will they let me send it? Or do I just lie and say it isn't liquid?

Sorry Kickass, x-posted. I've always done my own taxes. They're stupidly confusing but doable. You just need a million forms and a great deal of patience.

sb, they're not a 'banned' substance, but i would lie tbh.

what forms, i assume there's a website i can download them from? if dd & i don't 'count' due to lack of SSN, dh will have a hissy fit!

i've looked at the MI forms (have to do a state form as well as a federal one, i think) & it's really simple, but doesn't let us claim anything against the mortgage, so am assuming that on fed ones is where we work all that out.

though i'd try doing forms, get dh to look them over, then if not sure, we'd get someone in & try not to leave it too late.

You need to do your FEd form before the state one. If you live and work in the same state, it should be easy enough.

The frustration for me arises from instructions such as:

Line 29a (see instruction 6 on page 24)

which I read and it says,

If you ran over a chicken AND swam with dolphins but did NOT climb Everest, read page 47. Otherwise go to page 34.

Which states:

Subtract line 15 from line 25. If the answer is 7, multiply by 3.25137. Spin around in a circle 3 times. Then write 0 in the box and complete Schedule C3. Do not pass go. Do not collect 200 pounds. Now pay me lots of money for no apparent reason.

I will lie at the post office. Thanks. If in doubt, lie.

I'm going to get arrested aren't I?

If you say yes to the question, then they'll just ask you if it was packaged properly if it is non-hazardous liquid. You packaged it properly, as they like them in ziploc bags.

Very interesting tax forms, SB.

Well how about you freeze it first then it's not liquid .

To answer the question about taxes I'm way too lazy (busy at work) to do my own and pay an accountant - first time for me of course as single (head of house). Won't be much but anything is better than nothing.

Hope everyone's doing okay?

I've just found out that if you don't qualify for a SSN you can instead get an ITIN (Individual Tax Identification Number, I think). I don't know whether children can have them though .

Dh's relocation package included someone to do his taxes for the first year. I'm hoping they will be less complicated next year.

Kickass, we use an accountant that DHs company uses. He is used to dealing with alien workers. You may find its easier to use an accountant especially if you are still paying National Insurance etc in the UK, as you can claim for that on your Federal return. We also found out this year that when Dh is out of the country on business that he doesn't pay tax on those days. You will need to get tax id numbers to be able to claim for you and your DD. Hope that helps.