We sold Tank today. It was a little sad to see him go, tucked away in his basket with someone else, but we are happy with the new buyers.
A friend of a work colleague was after a black or grey dwarf lop and so we happily obliged, rather than require a bunny sitter for 3 months and potentially receive a changed rabbit once we returned home, we decided to sell him now.
So they came today and picked him up along with his belongings and hutch. Apparently they have had rabbits for a long time and he'll have a small enclosed backyard to play in and live his days away. Sounds about right for him really!
But it does put another cross on the list that shows we are going really soon! 8 days now, next Sunday afternoon...its seems crazy that it has come along so quickly.
Both Bek and I have now finished work and while I will be completing uni work right up until presentations on Friday, Bek will be taking the opportunity to make last minute arrangements and packing...
It is very exciting though. We can't wait to have an adventure for the 3 months, with me fresh out of uni and ready to start life without late night homework, I might actually get to see Bek again in the evenings!
We've made a new blog for when we are away - check what we are up to at:
http://simandbek.wordpress.com
Once we are over there, we'll stop using this sims-place blog.
20 SLEEPS UNTIL WE LEAVE FOR NEW JERSEY!!
Which means only 18 until my final uni presentation is due!?
This whole Visa process is very stressful and complicated. Originally we didn't think we'd need to get a Visa as we were going for less than 3-months and not participating in paid work, which would allow us to use the Visa Waiver Program; however we decided to double-check and the US Consulate General recommended we apply for the B1/B2 Business and Tourism Visa as I am still doing unpaid work.
So then comes the stress of forms and interviews and applications, all only 4 weeks out from when we are booked to leave! Compounded by the fact that they don't recommend purchasing tickets until the Visa has been granted - bit late for that!!
We had our appointment today and it was very nerve-racking! Everything seemed to be traveling along nicely as we moved through the two security screening areas and received our ticket-number to wait in line. Upon approaching the Visa-man and providing our forms and letter of offer from Liquid he casually asked, "do you have the tax-exemption form from Liquid?"
"Uh.....what tax-exemption form is that?" we asked confused.
"You will need a tax-exemption form from Liquid to prove they are a not-for-profit entity and can offer the volunteer work."
Ouch.
We stood there shaking in our boots wondering if we were about to be sent away to get the form and come back another day - a day which we knew we didn't have!
He took the rest of our paperwork and asked us to sit back down and wait for another cashier who would approve/disapprove the Visa. So we sat down and waited for almost an hour, not knowing what would happen!
Finally our number was called and after a few simple questions about our intentions and our connection to Liquid they approved our Visa! Talk about a sigh of relief!! We couldn't stop smiling as we left the building as it now means that we are all confirmed and ready to go in only 3 weeks time!!!!
Very exciting!!
Bek and I went out on a dinner-date tonight to the nearby Vietnamese restaurant.
Sooo much food! We were full after the entree - usual story.
But it was good fun...
Bek's favourite: rice paper rolls!!
One of uni projects this semester is to design a kitchen.
I've found that it is very hard to design a kitchen without the surrounding rooms so I've gone a little further.
My latest renders are below - this is not the final product yet, there will be several changes and additional details. These are Solar Study's; working out how the sun affects the room at different times of day.
8:00am
1:00pm
8:00pm with some internal lights on.
11:00pm with all internal lights on.
Yesterday Bek and I bought new digital cameras!!
We had discussed buying a new one for a while as our current camera is several years old and its speed and picture quality have reduced significantly. Add on the fact that we are traveling to the USA for 3 months and I'll use it for work while there - it became worthwhile.
It is now an early Christmas present from Us, plus both Mum's and Dad's (and anyone else who wants to pitch in for it as my present since we'll be away) to Us. :-)
I had done my research as best I could and I knew what I was after so we headed off to get it. I must say we did score a bargain and I recommend shopping at The Good Guys any day!
Bek and I eventually walked out with:
- - An Olympus E-520 with Twin-Lens kit
- - 5yr warranty
- - 2gb Compact Flash card
- - AND a new Olympus FE-20 'point-and-shoot'
Very happy with that, so now I just have to concentrate on my Uni work and not get distracted by the new toys!
For those not in the 'know' Bek and I are headed for a white Christmas this year!
We had been planning to travel over to New Jersey, USA later this year during Bek's school holidays (mid-December to late January). Aiming to first visit England so that we could catch up with Bek's sister Claire over Christmas and then head on to New Jersey/New York for the official start of 2009!
However the price of tickets had caught us slightly off guard. Flights to EITHER New Jersey or England were okay, but the cost of getting to both was steep and so we had avoided buying the tickets until we were 100% sure that we a) could really afford them, and b) actually wanted to go that badly!!
In steps Liquid Church - New Jersey.
Three weeks ago we found out that Liquid was offering me a 3month internship in New Jersey!! They are planning significant expansion next year as they are going to start new campuses around the world via an internet campus system. Liquid was impressed with my previous design work, and so they have offered me the chance to go over to New Jersey and help them out!
Quite amazing and very exciting!
Originally, we were to get there and start as soon as possible - but due to my uni commitments the trip has had to be delayed. There was no way of me putting my uni course on hold when I only had 9 weeks left...ever!
So delay it would be - and 48hrs after I finish uni forever, we will both be on the plane to America!!! I will have my final university presentation on Friday 14th November, and we will be flying out on Sunday 16th November.
It will be a cold, cold holiday but a white Christmas will be very exciting! Especially one where New York is a 25min train ride away. And we are also planning on getting Claire over to us for Christmas as it is much cheaper to fly one person that two! So double the excitement there!
We can't wait...
