Living in America....... summer 2010!

[redflipflops]

So.... new thread.... please join me

introductions:

redflipflops - California (central Coast)

Its still in the 70s/80s here in Kansas. I am tempting fate but I am ready for some cold weather now - I want to buy new boots!

We have hit a lull now, a few months after all the guests have left, into a routine, no social life (outside of the children) to speak of so both feeling a bit homesick. I am very much a get on with it kind of person, I throw myself at anyone mums I see in the hope if finding a friend (like a loony!), it is quite successful! But DH just keeps thinking about when we can go home to visit, what he will do when we move back and dwelling on it. I suggest social things to do but he at heart is very lazy and never wants to! Very frustrating. If we are only here for three years (seems increasingly likely) I want us to throw oursleves into it and really enjoy it, otherwise it seems a bit of a wasted opportunity.

Oh well, pumpkin patches and carving this weekend, enjoying the sunshine!

That seems a shame that your dh isn't settling well rodeo. Have fun with pumpkin carving though - that's a lovely American tradition that we should wholeheartedly embrace! What is Kansas actually like? I get the impression it's really rural, but I'm not sure why.

All. Pumpkin. Patched. Out. Two days in a row with two different classes at the same pumpkin patch is definitely too much.

I've lived here all my life, and I find it difficult to make friends. It doesn't really seem like there are that many opportunities to. I've found that taking the initiative and throwing yourself at people and doing all the inviting is about the only thing that works.

I gave a wry smile at the thought of throwing myself at people. It's true that that's what you have to do. Sometimes you just miss the friends that have known you for years and years and the familiarity of that. When are you doing the carving dooney? Will have to tap you for information soon about the best baby gear shops in Portland. I know my way to Ikea and Powell's book shop and that is it!

I think we'll have to carve ours on Sunday. The kids only have school the first few days of next week, and we're leaving town on Wednesday.

You know what, I don't really know where good baby places in Portland are. I'm from the Portland area, but we were living in Southern Oregon when I was pregnant and had the kids, so I wasn't here when they were babies. I did a LOT of shopping online when we lived down there.

I'm actually really shy, and always have been, so throwing myself at people goes against everything I am, but I just really didn't want my kids to not have friends because I am so shy and quiet, so that was my motivation for expanding my horizons, if you will. It gets a bit easier after time, and actually I've had a really great past year, and have made 4 good friends from parents of kids that went to school with DS, and two of those we've made friends with both the husband and wife, so it is great to do things with them as families, and as just couples.

How has the pumpkin carving gone today dooney and rodeo? We still have ours to carve but have made fresh tomato soup with dh's harvest. Feeling a bit worn out to be honest. Had a lovely birthday yesterday. Breakfast in bed, local deli for brunch, walked into town to the pottery lounge to paint some plates etc. Second-hand bookshop/coffee shop then a walk through town and the park. Dcs and dh had baked me a lovely carrot cake and dh made dinner and we watched 'the girl with the dragon tattoo'. It was a perfect day! Need to slob out on the sofa now though!

Not to worry about the baby stuff dooney. I'm sure I can find a few shops online. I was thinking mostly babies r us and that sort of thing anyway. I really want a feeding chair this time as our sofas gave me terrible back ache with my dcs.

I know what you mean about shyness too. Bizarrely, I am not very shy when talking in a foreign language! It's just a room full of English-speaking people that scares me! Glad you've found some people that you really enjoy being with. That makes such a difference.

Wow - been so long since I've been on Mumsnet - life's been manic workwise. Alipiggie, Expat living in Colorado, been here now Five WHOLE years. Loving life. Great job, bought a house now and boys are in 2nd and 3rd Grade now. Taken up playing the Viola believe it or not :). Been glorious here in CO for the last few weeks. I'm sure the snow's going to hit sooner or later. Welcome to all the newcomers I promise I'll read the whole thread soon. Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Sounds lovely alipiggie. Colorado is on my list of places to visit. I think the snow will hit here soon too (Central Oregon). Making the most of the sunshine while it is here.

my sil lives in colorado - fort collins. we went there last christmas & was nice, but i also like where we live.

jenny - i think if you return to the uk, your dc can give up us citizenship, so won't have to file taxes. but then they can't jsut return to the US, but there's all sorts of regs about that anyway.

sadly for dh the inland revenue seem VERY interested in him & he's just done 2 years of paperwork, whereas they told me that they're done with me!! beware though - because the uk is so hard up they're contacting all sorts of people to see if they can get any money from them. (mind you, i told child benefit we were leaving 2 years ago, have reminded them, and STILL receive it - i have no idea how to stop it OR return the money - i keep asking, but they won't tell me)

regarding pumpkins - we got a bit carried away - the pumpkin looked big, but not stupidly so, in the middle of a huge field. however, it wouldn't fit in the boot of the car, and is at least 2 feet in diameter. also, a VERY bright orange colour! we've found in previous years that they don't keep once you've carved them, so they just sit outside until actual halloween, then you carve them for that night, stick lights in & hand out the candy. pretty much they start rotting after about 24 hours.

That's interesting about the rotting pumpkins! I have been wondering when to carve.... AND what to cook with the inside? soup I guess?

I found the Child Benefit people quite efficient (stopped when I told them etc..) but Child Tax Credit people annoying slow.

Have you got your Green Card now Kickass?

Pumpkin soup, pumpkin curry, pumpkin pie if you like it, though I think you need certain kinds of pumpkin for that. Have you got lots of stuff planned this week red?

alipiggie, nice to hear from you again. I'm so glad things are going so well for you!

The boys went camping with my parents and one of the activities was pumpkin carving so they both arrived home with one. Ds2 is going to the pumpkin patch Tuesday so I guess we will wait on that carving.

flipflops - green card came through in JULY!!!! we were expecting it about no, but detroit has so few immigrants atm, that it just whizzed through the system.

so now i'm waiting to get my qualifications accepted & then start job hunting. in the meantime, i'm painting the entire house, getting in new carpets & have done a big load of work on the garden.

Ali! So great to see you again.

Glad you had a good birthday, Tadjp.

Pumpkin carving went well. I don't like slimy pumpkin guts, so I never do it, DH has pumpkin duty. It seemed to go a lot faster this year than in years past. Hopefully ours won't mold too much by Halloween.

The stupid Praying Mantises came back to our yard, so we have some again. We leave on Thursday for vacation, so I told the kids they'd have to turn them loose by then, or they would die. We're headed back down to DH's family. His aunt got diagnosed with brain cancer a few weeks ago, and was only given about 2 months, so we're hoping she'll be stable enough to see her again. She's been doing well enough to have visitors.

That's a shame dooney, sorry to hear that. Hope you get to see her v soon.

I hope your travel plans go well dooney. Good luck.

Thank you. His aunt was a bit medicated out, but doing very well and up and around and it was a good visit.

Have we all gone on vacation?

Hey, dooney, I can't seem to keep up with the thread lately. This new office eats up so much time! If I'm not actually there, I'm thinking about it...

i went 'up north' for a few days. one of my friends has a cabin, and once a year we head to her place - no men or children allowed (which dd was most upset about). we sit around, eat, drink, talk, do knitting/sewing (if we feel like it), eat, drink & talk.

then come home.

twas lovely

Glad you got to spend time with dh's aunt, dooney. Kickass, that sounds amazing - I'd be happy with a girls' night out at the moment! Jabber what do you do in your office?

My acupuncturist phoned her midwife who seems to think my OB is just being really thorough and that if he really thought the baby needs to be delivered around 26 weeks he would already be making arrangements for me to be transferred to Portland. That gave me a bit of peace of mind but we'll see for sure next week.

Got to do my presentation in Spanish tonight. It's so nice to go off and use my brain for a couple of hours a week. Hope you all have a great Wednesday.

hi all

back from the Grand Canyon, which I have to admit was very Grand (duh). It was great though, still recovering 1200 mile round road trip in one weekend takes it out of the best of us

The Grand Canyon is totally amazing! I went to the west rim years ago but have yet to see the north rim.

jenny, I am a behavioral optometrist. So in addition to regular eye exams, glasses and contacts, we also have a vision therapy room for kids with visual processing problems. That can range from a lazy eye to issues relating to developmental delay or autism. It's really interesting but getting things up and running in the middle of a recession has taken a lot of work, both physical and mental. Some days it's a challenge to stay positive but I keep reminding myself that we actually are on track for a first year.

The Grand canyon is on my list.

Your job sounds fascinating Jabberwocky! America really relies on people like you taking the plunge and setting up in business. All power to you - that takes courage! [v impressed emoticon]

Courage - and a glass of wine every now and then, lol.