Some updates

1.    I have ordered two pairs of shoes to try out, on either extreme of the price scale. These Tieks, and these New Balance flats. Both had free shipping and returns. Both have great reviews for walking/being on my feet for a long time. The NB flats will arrive today, because Zappos is awesome, and Tieks are being shipped priority mail and should arrive Monday or Tuesday. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I’ll start moving outward and try other ones if either of these two pairs don’t work. I pulled the trigger last night after walking about downtown Cleveland on my lunch break in my Payless flats, because my feeties got really sore.

2. Last night while Facetiming Nana (my mom) while Boo was taking a bath, I also decided to give my phone a bath. Soooo, I had to get a new phone today. Great timing after ordering some expensive Tieks, amirite? But y’all are right, investing in shoes is a good idea! Now I have a shiny new iPhone 6 with extra memory for photos and videos, with a glass shield protector and rubber case to avoid any cracked screens when it is inevitably dropped. At least I now have a nice camera phone before Europe, even if it was really bad timing to fork out more moolah.

This is what happens when you let a Boo pick your phone case. 

3.    John may be sent to work near Chicago the week after Boo and I head to D.C. Since my last day at the office is next Monday, this means yet another domestic trial run for us to take! Since he will be in Elk Grove, Boo and I will navigate the public transportation system in to Chicago. Should be a good time. The only time I’ve been to Chicago was in the dead of winter and five months pregnant. I think I’ll enjoy the Bean (and Sprinkles cupcakes) a bit more this time through the eyes of a Boo.

4.    We’ve hit some snags, outcome to be determined. John has been approved for his work visa, but Boo and I were denied our residence visas because we do not plan to stay for longer than six months, but want to stay for longer than three. I don't get it, either. And you'd think this is something the company his work hires to handle these types of things would have realized before. Just sayin'. *insert annoyed emoji here*

At present, we would be allowed to stay in Luxembourg for 90 days. We are working on determining if there is something we can do about this, since, ya know, WE SOLD OUR HOUSE AND I ESSENTIALLY QUIT MY JOB TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. The laws only allow us to be in the EU for 90 days, then we would have to leave for 90 days (basically, 90 days per 6 months is permitted without a residence visa… and my residence visa was denied. I am aware there are some countries that do not require this long-term visa, but I’m not interested in living in Lichtenstein on my own, and paying rent, while John is in Luxembourg.). I may end up going to the Luxembourger embassy in D.C. and begging them to see if they can do something. Arrogant American, I know.

And no, 90 days isn’t long enough. That extra two months is a lot. I’m not going to accept this unless it is absolutely the only possible way we can be over there with John *deep breath*

More later when we know. Now I get to continue packing my damn house, because there's no going back now.