LIGHT and the End of the Tube

::DEEEEEEEEEPP SIGH::

I feel like I've been spinning my wheels trying to get this Visa for the United Kingdom. There are half a gillion websites, and I feel like they're all telling me to go to a different website, e-mail a different person, fill out a different form, etc. Finally, though, I've reached some sort of answer as to how to go about filling these forms out, where to go, how to get there, when answers should be made, etc.

I have an appointment this Friday with the British Consulate in Atlanta so that they can gather my biometric information...or something like that.... I was told by someone over the phone that I would need to fill out yet another form, which I can find on some website. I couldn't find the form. I don't know if it exists. If the form does, indeed exist, then I just won't fill it out. The British Consulate can print one out for me and I can fill it in when I get there this Friday. All will be well. I'm tired of freaking out over this.

OH! And I was told that I could receive a response in 5-15 business days. This is NOT what I read online earlier today; I read that it could take 60 days. There's quite a discrepancy.

I just used the word discrepancy. AND I almost spelled it correctly the first time. I'm really proud of myself.

Soo...I don't know if I should believe 5-15 or 60. I just want the thing in my hot little hands as soon as possible. Maybe this will be like the US Passport. I was told 4-6 weeks, and it was at my house waiting for me in 3 weeks....

I have also received my first donations!! I'm really amazed at how generous people are. I have a long way to go, but I feel soo much better knowing that other people believe in me to donate money. I've got a fair amount of my own money invested in this, too. I didn't say that in my first letters, and I really regret that. When I get paid tomorrow, I'll be writing a healthy...and scary...sized check to Mom for money that I owe her, AND check to Creekside UMC.

Speaking of money, I still need to pay for my Visa. $212 to get a Visa!! BAH! that's a lot of money....

I received my book, Kate Fox's Watching The English, from Barnes and Noble the other day. I've been reading up on conversation codes, and "weather-speak." It's really quite interesting to learn about why the English talk about the weather so much. It's not a pathological interest in the weather, but rather a way of starting a conversation...a way of inviting another person to conversation. It also acts as a conversation filler...when there's an awkward silence or something like that. I've been reading on how to respond, too. I've been highlighting rather important passages when I come across them. I have a feeling that this book will be VERY useful.

I'm going to check my e-mail, and then I'm going to continue reading.

Oh poop on a stick. I've just done something to the computer monitor and my start button and tool bar and all of that have disappeared. I've done this before, but I don't remember how to bring it back. Oh, for the love.... I hate PCs.