And the Answer Is: Hey, Hey, I Can Stay!

Lori's got her visa. Finally. That's right. They said yes! I am shocked, stunned, amazed, baffled. I thought for sure my working visa application would get stuck to the bottom of a drawer somewhere, but lo and behold, they said yes.

The FAQ:

So, what does this mean?

• The working visa is good for up to 2 years maximum, but lasts as long as my working contract.
  
• I'm not getting kicked out yet - MUHAHAHAHA!
  
• Immi.gration obviously read my blog on the celebration of my first real Aussie BBQ and decided to give me a break. (Obviously just regularly eating vegemite toast wasn't enough for them!)
  
• I'm not in limbo anymore. Seriously, I was going to change my address to 666 Limbo Road, Sydney, Post Code 000?
  
• When people ask what I'm here on I can just say, "Oh, I'm on a temporary working visa" and not have to say, "Well, you see, first I applied for X, and then two years later...and now I'm on my 8th visa...and...yadda yadda...(at this point most people have fallen asleep) etc"
  
• My father can stop writing letters to Immi.gration telling them to kick me out
  
• My parents can start planning their next trip to Australia and my Dad can sample the two benches he didn't get a chance to sit on in all of Sydney in 2000.

So, how do you feel?

• Relieved.
  
• Tired.
  
• Pleased.
  
• Happy.
  
• Excited.
  
• Surprised.
  
• Mostly relieved. ;-)

How are you going to celebrate?

• Well, I'd like to shout all my friends a drink, but I got a visa, I didn't win the lottery. Sorry, guys :-)
  
• I'm going to celebrate Sydney. I've been thinking about this for over a week now, but each week I'm going to do something or see something that I've never done before in Sydney. There are tons of things I haven't done here yet. I'm going to stop being a slacker. Last week I took the ferry to Balmain for the first time. This week I went to a Korean restaurant I've been meaning to try for the last year. These are only little things, but it's a start. I've compiled a list of slightly more exciting things to do, so now it's a matter of ticking things off and adding more items to the list. If you have any suggestions, just holler.

Thank you to all my friends, family, and poor strangers who didn't know what they were getting into when they asked me about my visa situation. :-)

The Visa Verdict is In

Well, I've gotten word from Immi.gration. The news is in. Finally. It's only taken almost 2 years. Unfortunately I have to be a total pain in the ass and not reveal what the verdict is, whether I'm happy or sad, whether I'm packing or unpacking. My laywer just emailed me to tell me what's up. Anyhoo, I'm so sorry to not say anything, but I promised my parents that I would tell them the news (good or bad) first. As soon as I've spoken to them, I will spread the word. I just can't believe they've finally made a decision.

...

Stupid Nightmares

What is a stupid nightmare in B-fly Land? I classify a stupid nightmare as a dream involving something I simply should not be worrying about anymore. I've had terrible reoccuring nightmares about being kidnapped, chased, hunted, followed, stalked, you name it. They're terrifying and they suck, but hey, they happen. What I should not be having nightmares about are forgetting to hand in school assignments! I'm 25! I graduated from high school SEVEN years ago! I have some Uni nightmares, where I forget to go to some class class, all semester, and find out that I'm not graduating - yeah right, but that was over THREE years ago. The highschool/junior highschool ones especially drive me insane. Granted, many of my teachers were a piece of work, but still. Why am I having bad dreams about forgetting to hand in homework assignments from the 8th grade? That's just a waste of a nightmare. I'm not saying I prefer dreams where someone is chasing me with the intent to kill me, but if I wake up with my heart-pounding, it better be for something bigger (or better!) than a lost homework assignment!

Recently I've been having nightmares about PHP and HTML. It's dumb, but I'll have be more worried if/when I start dreaming in PHP and HTML. < / sarcasm> ;-)

Photo from today is another view from Tibidabo, Barcelona and yesterday's pic is of the Cactus Gardens, Barcelona.

Weekend in Review

As usual, I don't have time to get into everything that happened, but, here are some of the highlights/lowlights:

• iOTA, must be mentioned again!
  
• Coming across a blocked off street surrounded by policemen, due to a large, dead, bloody body under a sheet, and lots of broken glass indicating someone jumped or was pushed from the window of a tall building overlooking Hyde Park at 2am
  
• Seeing the worst comedy show in years in Enmore with Mowzez. Habib does not deserve Parole! But it was free, woo-hoo!
  
• Having brekkie with my old co-worker, his lovely partner, and their lovely 4 month old daughter on Saturday morning - 'Auntie Lori' brought her a butterfly!
  
• Spending the day writing stories writing at Sydney Harbour/Botanic Gardens
  
• Taking my first ferry ride ever to Balmain (have only been by bus)
  
• Feeling like a secret agent blogging for Kristen.
  
• Running into Graeme, Andrew, Helen, Jacqui, Lisa, and heaps of other people at The Town Hall on Saturday night with Mowzez.
  
• Realising the entire population of Sydney arrived at the Town Hall around 1.30am
  
• Calling my first (and hopefully last) ambulance for a poor homeless guy that was puking up blood on City Road.
  
• Being serenaded by a cabbie singing Eminem lyrics to me.
  
• Having one of your co-workers take your hand and put it on the back of his head and neck, making you feel a strange lump/growth and asking you, "So, what do you think this is?" Ew. I'm like, "Geez, man, I don't know what it is but I sure hope that when that thing hatches, it's not contagious!"
  

And that's all for today, folks! It's been grand. ;-)