Trials of Penelope

USCIS: The Future Looks Brighter

2009-08-11T13:15:00.002+02:00

Things are definitely changing - for the better - at the USCIS. Recently some of my friends received their conditional green card in less than 5 months. What a difference from the past. My husband and I had to wait for more than 19 months.

Now there is a catch:

When my husband and I got our interview, we had been married for almost 2 years, we had filed taxes twice together, we had bought a house together, we were expecting a baby, etc. As a result, my husband and I did not have to answer a lot of additional questions during our interview. After all, we had plenty of proof our marriage was not a sham.

My friends, on the other hand, had only been married for a few months and did not have that much proof. They had to answer quite a bit of questions but nothing like the movie Green Card. My friends had met at college. The officer asked them if they had brought along their transcript as proof that they both had studied there. They had not. In the end the officer asked them a few additional questions and approved their case. My friends advice: prepare well and bring along ANY possible document supporting a relationship.

Click here to read more about my immigration adventures.

La Vie en Rose

2009-08-10T15:16:00.005+02:00

I always wanted a KitchenAid stand mixer but I never came around buying one. I never did a lot of baking and I could get by without a mixer. Well, kind of. It took ages to mix and in the end the dough was never perfect. Now that my daughter is 3 years, we often bake and decorate cookies. I first thought about buying a hand mixer but I quickly realized that was not an option. In no time my daughter would claim it. I could do without a tantrum let alone the danger factor. I knew the KitchenAid stand mixer was the answer. But it is so expensive. I looked around and then I came across a bargain. I found a brand new 5 quart KitchenAid stand mixer for $160.00 instead of $369.99 at Kohl's (a combination of a regular sale, a shopping pass and a rebate). Of course, there was a little catch: it was a pink one. I first thought: no way! I am really not that much into pink. I thought about it long and hard and then I realized that this was a bargain too good to pass up. The next day I dropped by Kohl's and bought the last pink KitchenAid stand mixer. I am so glad I did. It is not only a wonderful appliance but the color blends in well with the rest of the kitchen. I already registered the KitchenAid stand mixer online and I was glad to see that KitchenAid will donate a part of the purchase price to the Susan G. Komen foundation. Another good reason to go pink (now and then).

Crash Course

2009-08-04T21:39:00.003+02:00

I used to speak Korean pretty well. I lived in Korea for quite some years. I always thought Korea would be a part of my life - forever. But then I fell in love with an American, moved to the US and got married. I thought my Korean adventure had come to an end. If only I knew! A few weeks ago I signed up for the Georgetown University Language Exchange program. This is a free service provided through the Office of International Programs designed to connect individuals who wish to practice and improve their foreign language skills (click here to read more). The Office of International Programs set me up with a native Korean speaker. Tomorrow we will meet for the first time. At first I was all excited. But then I got a panic attack: I am supposed to speak Korean! This morning I ran around the house like a chicken without a head. I tried to introduce myself in Korean (to my wall) but I would not say the words came easy. I soon realized there was no point trying to sit through my Korean language Rosetta Stone DVD in one afternoon. O well, I just hope my Korean friend will be patient. To be continued.

New In-State Tuition for Military Members and their Families

2009-08-03T14:53:00.005+02:00

Next Spring I am planning to go back to college. When I talked to a counsellor at the university, he asked how long I had been living here. He wanted to make sure I had been here for over a year so I would qualify for in-state tuition. Luckily this rule no longer applies for members of the armed forces on active duty. Since July 1, 2009 members of the armed forces on active duty and their family qualify for in-state tuition after 30 days. Click here to read more.

Back to the Gym

2009-07-30T17:03:00.003+02:00

The past few days I ran around feeling grumpy. I quickly realized I was missing the gym. I was reluctant to go back while my calf muscle was still feeling a bit tight. But I also knew sitting at home was not an option either. I was missing my weekly step class. Maybe I could just do some of the exercises. I had a quick chat with the teacher before class on what I should do and especially not do. She told me not to bounce or jump on the step. I maybe did not get a full workout but at least I could walk home on both legs. I feel so much better now. I will definitely take it easy for a few weeks and hopefully soon I can go back to my regular routine.

Product Review: Guillow's Jetfire Model Planes

2009-07-28T18:17:00.005+02:00

As I shared in my previous post, my husband, my daughter and I visited the National Air and Space Museum in Dulles VA. On our way out we dropped by the gift shop. My husband picked up a box with two Guillow's Jetfire model planes (among other things). When we got home, it was almost bedtime. The next day my daughter found the box on the dining table. I told her to wait until papa returned from work. It was "their" little project. We decided to paint airplanes until my husband got home.

My husband and my daughter assembled one of the model planes together and then tried it out inside the house. What an excitement. Once my daughter understood how to hold it and more importantly how to let go, they tried it again but now outside. They had the best of time together. Next time my daughter gets invited to a birthday party, we will definitely include a box with two Guillow's Jetfire model planes. Fun and inexpensive. Click here for store locations.

Full Circle

2009-07-27T15:05:00.006+02:00

When I was in middle school in Belgium, I learned about Hiroshima and the atomic bomb. I never really understood the pain until I visited Hiroshima many year later. I also visited Nagasaki. I returned home with a feeling "Never Again."

A few years later I drove by the city of Oak Ridge in TN, about 25 miles west of Knoxville. Some people refer to Oak Ridge as the Atomic City, the Secret City, the Ridge and even the City behind the Fence. Oak Ridge was established in the early 1940s as the base for the Manhattan Project - the massive U.S. government operation that developed the atomic bomb. (Source: Wikipedia).

In 2004 I read about a link between Oak Ridge and Belgium in the papers. Who would have thought Belgium played a role in all of this? A Belgian historian uncovered that the United States had a secret deal with Belgium to buy uranium that was later used in the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. (Source: Access My Library).

Yesterday my husband, my daughter and I visited the National Air and Space Museum in Dulles VA. I had no idea they had the actual Enola Gay on display! On August 6, 1945, the Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb used in combat on Hiroshima, Japan. (Source: National Air and Space Museum).

When I was in middle school learning about Hiroshima, I had no idea that one day I would be able to visit all these places linked to the atomic bomb. At that time it all sounded a bit abstract. Atomic bomb? Japan? Leukemia? So much information all at once.

I hope one day I can tell my middle school teacher all about my visits. She introduced me to this important chapter of history - and her inspiration is still lingering on.

The Death of Bluescreen

2009-07-27T02:04:00.002+02:00

Last Friday my PC died. Diagnose: The Death of the Bluescreen. There was nothing else I could do but to turn off the computer. I wish I had never bought a PC with Windows Vista. Too late. I was definitely not going to make the same mistake again. No more Vista. No more Bluescreen. Last Saturday I dropped by BestBuy and less than 5 minutes later I walked out with my very first Apple laptop. Once I got home, my husband and I started it up. I wish you could have seen us: two novices admiring their first Apple. I am still getting familiar with my Apple but so far so good. Everything seems so much easier.

BodyJam Ow Ouch

2009-07-24T21:38:00.006+02:00

Last January I became a U.S. citizen and I joined the gym. When I was little, I always joked about Americans going to the gym. Once I became a U.S. citizen, I had to get my own gym membership. Of course there is more to the story. I joined the gym because I was in pain. The winters in the metro D.C. area are much colder than in Georgia. I barely did any exercise and I started having severe backache. I was always a bit wary about gyms, thinking they are exclusively for people in good shape. I was wrong. The gym is for everyone. Last January I signed up for an annual membership with Gold's gym and I now go 4 times a week. I feel great and I am no longer in pain. That is until today. I had the brilliant - read: overconfident - idea to join a BodyJam class. BodyJam is supposed to be a fun dance-based class. I do have to confess I have little feeling for rhythm. I should have known better. I had fun right up to the end when I heard a "pop" in my calf muscle. I could barely stand on that leg let alone dance anymore. I had pulled a muscle for the first time in my life. I immediately went home, took Motrin and took a hot bath. Shortly after I started worrying because I no longer could stand on that leg. I wondered how I would pick up my daughter at daycare. I drive a shift and I need both legs to drive! I ended up calling my husband who advised me to put ice on it. I followed his instructions and sat on the bed reading a book for several hours. The muscle is still tight but at least now I can stand on that leg. One thing is for sure: no more BodyJam for me!

Useful links:

Website: Click here for your 7 days FREE VIP membership at Gold's Gym

Baghdad Speeding Ticket

2009-07-23T14:53:00.004+02:00

Yesterday I finally cleaned up my office. Actually, I should say my living room. Our living room is divided in two spaces: a sitting area and a desk area. When I grew up, my parents always did most of their paper work in the living room. I just like the feeling of togetherness. But this comes with one huge disadvantage: the desk quickly fills up with documents, and in no time, our living room feels cluttered. I had piles of documents hidden away all around the desk. (I am expert at this!). It kind of looked tidy but it did not feel tidy. Yesterday I had enough and I bought several portable filing boxes at our local Target. While I was going through my personal Himalaya of paperwork, I noticed a small pink slip. I was about to throw it out but then I noticed my husband's handwriting. There was a city and a date marked on top of the pink slip: Baghdad, 22 December 2005. O my, I had found my husband's speeding ticket back! On that day my husband and some other soldiers were out and about in Baghdad. Apparently the driver was driving a little over the speeding limit and the car got pulled over. Because my husband was the senior officer in the car, he got the ticket. Lesson learned: even during wartime you can not get away with speeding! I will definitely frame this ticket. Priceless. And the filing? All done! Now the hardest part: keeping it up.

Computer Problems

2009-07-18T16:05:00.004+02:00

Last June my computer started acting strange. In the evening my computer would crash over and over again. First I thought I had too much stuff on my computer and I removed almost everything, including my picture files. But to no avail. Every evening my computer would crash at the exact same time. I performed several virus scans but everything looked OK. I started suspecting a problem with my operating system Windows XP. Recently Microsoft posted a warning about a new vulnerability (click here to read more). If only I had bought a Mac. O well, next time. I just installed "Microsoft Fix It." I hope that will do the trick.

Fairy Gifts (3)

2009-07-17T21:17:00.004+02:00

Yesterday I dropped by Marshall's. I needed some new shirts and a pair of shoes. Of course I always end up buying a few extra things. I checked out the Fairy/Princess aisle - yes indeed there is such a thing! - and I ended up buying a tulle skirt filled with a bouquet of fabric flower petals for my daughter for only $9.00. Probably my friends (and my husband) are laughing out loud right now. You? Pink? When I was pregnant I said I would never buy huge plastic toys or anything pink. Now I know better. Yesterday my daughter and I played pretend dress-up again, dancing around the living room, reading books about fairies and waving our magic wands at each other. Life is good.

Fairy Gifts (2)

2009-07-16T03:13:00.007+02:00

Last night my daughter and I played pretend dress-up. My daughter put on her new fairy hat and swung around her magic wand. We read together the book "Goldilicious" by Victoria Kann. A story about a girl with a princess hat and a magic wand and her pet unicorn. We had all the tools we needed. Our imagination did the rest... . An evening full of magic.

Looking for a fun birthday gift for a 3 year old girl? Check out the following items:

* Magic Wand
- Name: Schylling The Enchanted Fairy Wonder Glitter Wand
- Price: $4.95 at Amazon.com

* Book
- Title: Goldilicious by Victoria Kann
- Price: $11.46 at Amazon.com

Fairy Gifts (1)

2009-07-15T20:01:00.004+02:00

When I left for California (see previous post), I had promised my daughter I would return with a "surprise." My friend Val told me about a fun toy store called "The Ark" on 4th Street in Berkeley. They specialize in European toys and other high quality toys. The shop also had a whole section with items from Fairy Finery. Fairy Finery is a mother owned business based in Golden Valley MN specializing in washable, durable play clothes for the fairy princess, brave knight, regal king, super hero, magician, wizard, robin hood, Peter Pan, woodsman, or the adventure seeker. My daughter loves pretend dress-up so I knew a fairy hat (see picture) and a magic wand would be the perfect "surprise." You can order Fairy Finery items online at http://www.fairyfinery.com/ or you can contact Fairy Finery at sales@fairyfinery.com for a shop near you.

My First Flight Without My Daughter

2009-07-15T16:51:00.006+02:00

Late June my computer crashed. No Internet connection. No blog. I spent countless hours trying to revive my computer. I uninstalled several software programs and deleted hundreds of pictures. I lost several picture files (Thank God for http://www.dropshots.com) but at least I managed to save the computer. I am not out of the woods yet: my computer still crashes once a day. Luckily it only takes a few minutes to restart. I am thinking about buying a new computer and maybe even a mac. But for now, I am back to blogging. And so much has happened!

Last week I visited my friend Val in California. It was my first flight alone since my daughter was born. I was anxious about saying goodbye, expecting tears and more. My husband and I tried to explain I had to go away for "work." She seemed OK knowing that papa always returns home after work. We said good-bye at the security checkpoint and then I had to turn a mental switch. I immediately headed for the elevator and then I noticed the escalator. "Hey wait a minute. I can use the escalator. I don't have to worry about a stroller, a suitcase full of toys or an excited toddler on the run." I only had to worry about myself. I slept on the plane, I read a book and I listened to music. I almost felt like I was 25 again. Apart from one thing: now when a baby or a toddler cries on the plane, it no longer bothers me. Now I sympathize with the parents.

Baby Alert

2009-06-22T16:37:00.008+02:00

A few weeks ago my friend Val wrote a sad story about baby Everett. The baby died after his dad forgot him in the car. Click here to read the full story. Today I read in the Belgian paper a similar story. Last Thursday a dad also forgot his baby girl in the car in Kessel-Lo, Belgium. When the mom discovered the baby in the car, the baby had already died from heat. Click here to read the full story. When you do a google search and you type in "baby dies in car," you will be surprised at the number of news reports. Each year 27 children age 14 and younger die of heat stroke after being left in cars. Some people believe the actual number is much higher.

I had the luck that I never had to work full-time while being a new mom. I never had to rush and my baby daughter always came first. If I would have had to work full-time, I think I would have lived on the automatic pilot. I remember being exhausted after again a night without much sleep. Luckily I could make up during the daytime. Unfortunately some people have no choice.

I wondered whether there is any device that might help prevent forgetting your baby in a car. I did a quick search and I immediately stumbled upon a device called "Baby Alert":

This device is comprised of the Toddler Smart Pad and a key ring alarm unit. The Toddler Smart Pad is placed under the cushion of the child safety seat. Once the child is seated in the safety seat, the Child ‘Minder® system passively monitors your child in his/her safety seat. Installation takes less than three minutes.
1. Place the Toddler Smart Pad under the seat cushion of the child safety seat and
2. Place the Key Ring alarm unit on your automotive key ring.
The Child ‘Minder® system is activated when a child is seated in the child safety seat. An alarm sounds in six seconds after a parent or caregiver walks more than fifteen (15) feet from a vehicle while the child remains seated in the child safety seat. The Child ‘Minder® system will significantly reduce that one in a hundred thousand chance that your child maybe inadvertently left unattended in a motor vehicle while seated in their child safety seat.

For more information on "Baby Alert," click here.

Digital TV

2009-06-17T17:02:00.004+02:00

When my husband and I bought our house in 2004, we decided not to get cable TV. We already had plenty of bills to pay, and on top of that, my husband was leaving for his first tour of duty. I did not watch a lot of TV anyway and back then I could definitely do without all those news channels screaming "terror alert." I would get my information elsewhere: the Internet, newspapers, magazines, etc. However, we are the proud owners of an old-fashion TV and a pair of bunny ears. Occasionally my daughter will watch a kids program on the channel QUBO but that's about it. When I heard about the digital TV transition, I immediately ordered a government issued converter box coupon and bought a converter box for $10.00. Last Friday, June 12, when the television stations started broadcasting exclusively in digital format, I had to rescan for channels. I had heard I would get more channels. That was an understatement. Now we get channels from China, Russia and even one from Belgium and the Netherlands. Now my daughter can watch Sesame street in Dutch! Not a bad deal for $10.00.

GI BILL

2009-06-11T13:21:00.000+02:00

It has been a year since we moved to the Metro D.C. area. We love it here. There is so much going on in and around D.C. Never a boring moment. I am happy I decided not to look for a job right away. It gave me a chance to get to know the neighborhood, make friends and explore the many treasures in and around D.C. I am ready though for a new challenge. I would love to go back to work but I am also considering going back to school. I might be eligible for the GI bill. I already visited a few local universities and I had a meeting with an education counsellor and a professor. At first I was a little overwhelmed. I have not written an academic paper in over a decade, let alone research. Luckily my husband is my biggest fan. To be continued... .

If you are a military spouse and you are thinking about going back to school, check out the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website. The website covers the new GI Bill including option to transfer benefits to spouse. Click here (general info), here (form 22-1990) and here (transferability) for more information.

It All Started with Speak & Spell

2009-06-09T23:02:00.007+02:00

My daughter is crazy about her Leapfrog Leapster Learning Game System. Every night she takes it to bed and plays with it for a while. This reminds me so much of my own childhood. When I was little, my uncle gave me a Texas Instruments Speak & Spell. I could barely write a sentence in Dutch, let alone English. But I was intrigued by that machine. Every night I played with it until I fell asleep. After a while I knew all the words by heart but I had no idea what the meaning of the words was. Anyhow, yesterday I told my mom about my daughter and her Leapfrog and how it reminded me of the Speak & Spell. Today I got a phone call back from my mom telling me she found the Speak & Spell hidden way in a box in the attic. Luckily the old batteries had not ran out. This device must be older than 30 years and it still works. Pretty amazing. Maybe soon the Leapster will have to compete with the Speak & Spell. How much fun to pass things on from one generation to another!

Useful links:

Blog: Objects Plastic - Texas Instruments Speak & Spell.
Website: Play Texas Instruments Speak & Spell online.

Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide

2009-06-02T12:23:00.006+02:00

During the past few years my husband and I rarely ate out. Our daughter did not really enjoy restaurant visits. She always wanted to wander around right when our order arrived. We decided to wait until she got a little older. Recently we started going out again. My husband and I love ethnic food - especially authentic Korean food. But it would be nice to try out something different.

Yesterday my friend Val told me about Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide. Tyler Cowen is a professor of economics at George Mason University and at the Center for the Study of Public Choice and apparently he also loves to dine. Tyler Cowen's Ethic Dining Guide includes more than 650 restaurants in the Washington, DC area. We will start with the section "Some Places You Must Try." And guess what? A Korean restaurant makes the top of the list!

Pennsylvania Adventures: Albright Mansion Restaurant

2009-05-31T20:17:00.008+02:00

Last month we spent a few days at Jim Thorpe, PA. It is a lovely town with a European feel. Some people call it "Little Switzerland." The famous "Stone Row" and the narrow streets definitely remind me of Europe. We also tried out several restaurants. That was a more typical American experience. You know burger, steak, etc. The food was OK but nothing special. There had to be something better.

During our many walks in and around town, we had passed by the Albright Mansion Restaurant. The restaurant caught our attention. It did not really match with the other eateries around. They served breakfast, lunch, dinner and even real English Tea. We decided to give it a try.

I am very European when it comes to breakfast. I love to start my day with bread, yogurt and fresh fruit. I am not really into eggs, pancakes and biscuits with gravy. Breakfast at IHOP is torture for me.

At the Albright Mansion Restaurant my husband and daughter opted for pancakes and I had the breakfast parfait. The owners are originally from England. I thought "this could be good or bad." Belgians do not really rave about the English cuisine. This turned out to be good, no no better, no no, best! While I savored my breakfast parfait, I had a true taste of Europe. This was my best breakfast ever in the U.S.

It was a pity we had to leave for Gettysburg that morning otherwise I would have tried out the English Tea. Maybe next time. If we are ever passing by the town of Jim Thorpe again, we will stop at the Albright Mansion Restaurant. Simply delightful!

Picture: My daughter at the Albright Mansion Restaurant (May 2009)

Useful links:

Website: http://www.albrightmansion.com/

Website: Charles Albright (Wikipedia)

The Stroller of the Future?

2009-05-31T18:47:00.006+02:00

I have a regular stroller, a running stroller and a bike with a baby seat. All those items take up a lot of space. I would love to have three in one. The stroller of the future? We are already there! A few days ago I read an article about the multifunctional urban vehicle - TAGA - in a Belgian newspaper.

www.taga.nl
Taga is a multifunctional urban vehicle, uniquely designed to suit the needs of today's parents and children. Taga combines the benefits of a premium stroller and a carrier bicycle to create a new transportation modality.

Safe, Reliable and Fun
Taga lets parents and kids move about the city easily, transforming a typical daily journey into an exciting adventure. When reaching the desired destination, whether a shop, cafe, indoor playground or a friend's house, Taga is converted within seconds into a stroller, allowing parent and child to conveniently enter the premises, ride an elevator or ascend steps. There is no need to lock Taga outside and no parts are left behind. Taga can also be taken on the underground, train, bus or any other means of public transportation, offering continuous riding to and from any destination.

The Taga Difference
* Taga is able to carry you to longer distances than a stroller - and offers much more fun for the parent and child
* Taga is more modular, maneuverable and convenient than a bicycle - and much safer for riding with kids
* Taga is more cost effective than a car - and much better for the environment and your well-being

Source Text: http://www.taga.nl/
Source Picture: Google

Pacifier Stories

2009-05-29T13:29:00.006+02:00

A few days ago my friend Val wrote a funny blog post about pacifiers (click here to read her post). While I was reading her post, I had several flashbacks about my pacifier ordeals. My daughter loved her pacifier. She was hooked. Wherever we went, we also packed a bag full of clean pacifiers.

Panic on the plane
When my daughter was 23 months, we flew together to Belgium. I had packed several pacifiers. My daughter kept throwing her pacifier around the plane. I remember sitting down on my knees in the aisle trying to look under passenger's seats and even under their feet. (It was a night flight and dark inside the cabin). Somehow half way the plane ride I ended up with only one remaining pacifier. When that one disappeared, all hell broke loose. My daughter started screaming. I still remember all business men sitting behind and in front of us trying to look for the pacifier. And then one business man called out loud "I got it!" What a relief! Bottom line: when you travel long distance, always bring along several pacifiers and a key chain flashlight.

Time to let go
When my daughter turned 24 months, we knew it was time to say bye bye to the pacifier. We were concerned about her teeth, but that was not our main concern. My daughter wanted her pacifier non-stop and she barely said anything. I was worried about a possible speech delay.

Painful but short
One morning I took all her pacifiers and threw them in the bin. That was the easy part. In short my husband and I did not sleep for one full week. We would take turns sleeping beside her crib for over one week to soothe her. She kept asking for her pacifier. And then all the sudden, she forgot about it.

If you would like to share your pacifier stories, feel free to leave a comment.

Kleenex Please!

2009-05-28T22:52:00.003+02:00

In July I will visit my friend Val in California - alone. Since my daughter was born, we have not been a single day apart. I have forgotten what it is like to fly alone, take a nap or read a book undisturbed. I think I will be at a total loss on the long plane ride. I probably will feel very lonely. Kleenex please! But sooner or later I have to do it. My daughter will be in good company though. My husband will take care of her. My husband and my daughter now go by the name "The Clan of the Cave." What a brilliant name, what a brilliant excuse. The house will be a disaster. Maybe I should not clean before I leave. Why bother? O well, I can't complain. I am going to California!

U.S. Citizenship

2009-05-28T22:37:00.002+02:00

The military now offers free U.S. citizenship/naturalization information sessions at Fort Myer, VA. The details are as follows:

Citizenship / Naturalization Information Session
Date(s): July 15, 2009
Time: 6:00—7:30 p.m.
Location: TBA, Fort Myer, VA
Instructor: Ms. Nancy Martel / Ms. Rene Fizer
To register, call (703) 696-0156 / 0153.
Information session on US Naturalization & Citizenship.