End of the road

[shaun]

Gerry you did great.    Your pictures took me back to when I had a previously owned furniture store.

[RobertBfrom aust]

That all looks great Gerry , a lot of tlc and thought went into her room , I am sure she will love it , regards Sujuan and Robert .

[ChinaBound]

   Looks good. I am sure she will like this.

[Arnold]

Looks like you have "Good" Taste not only in Food! I see you chose white, is that what Katie prefered.. instead the natural wood look?
When it comes to Furniture, we both dislike the cheap stuff and spend a little more for real wood.. as Qing and I have done with her son.. all Oak. Then again, I think a Girl (Katie) will much more appreciate "Her" bedroom set than Qing's son is. She will definitely be pleased and spoiled at the same time.

[Pineau]

Arnold,
I sent katie a slew of photos on QQ showing the different types of furniture and a gambit of the different colors. This is the style and the color that she chose. Although she originally chose a plain post headboard,  when she saw this one she liked the headboard because it had a shelf and a couple of drawers.

Here is a photo of what she picked looking at internet showrooms. ( that is a $1000 bedroom without the mattress and foundation) I have about $475 + labor invested and I think she will like it better.

[Pineau]

Shaun, You will appreciate this. Last night I found an ad for furniture I could not stay away from.  I bought another bedroom suite. But this one I will not touch with a sander or paint.

 From  Carolina, it is a 40 years old Thomasville, the complete Queen  bedroom suite.  Thick-solid wood. There is not a a single piece in the lot that weighs less than 35-40 pounds. The headboard was nearly too much for me to lift into the truck. I had to leave the dresser and armoire behind because two people could not carry them. I am going back today to get them.  Cleaned and waxed it will look great in the guestroom. They don't make furniture like this anymore.

went back and got the dresser and armoire today. The dresser was so big I couldn't close the tailgate. They both rode home with the tailgate down and no tie-down straps.. they never moved.

[Pineau]

Message from wife.. We have been together for 3 years.  In that time I think we have been apart only briefly. Most of that time we have been together side by side 24/7. You would think that you get tired of someone in you face all the time but it only strengthens our friendship. I miss her a lot and apparently she misses me too.  A few of her words from this morning.

  今天我将在北京市区游览,下午4点钟在酒店集合,将有车乘载我们到火车站.  你的妻子认为嫁给你,是她最正确,最荣幸,最幸福的选择.  这些年我们都是在一起,现在我们各在一方,我很不习惯 ...以后我们再也不要分离..我现在知道:我是非常爱你,你是我的爱人,朋友,和生活的伴侣..我死而无憾... 

[Arnold]

..... just warms a Man's heart!!!

[Pineau]

Its been two weeks and still not VISA.
Could be the national holiday in China that lasts for 4 days.

Another possibility and I wonder if anyone knows.... Has the US government shutdown affected the visa unit at the Guangzhou embassy?

[Robertt S]

Department of State

Overall impact

The State Department, which receives funding in the annual State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, will be able to operate for a limited time.

Impact on workers

Activities carried out by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, both domestically and abroad, are fee-funded and will continue. The department will continue passport operations and visa issuance overseas.Some passport offices are located in federal buildings that may be forced to shut down during a lapse in appropriations because of a lack of building support services. Embassies and consulates overseas will continue to provide American citizen services.

[Pineau]

I talked with the embassy and asked where is Katie's VISA. There was a week long holiday for most of the staff and that caused some delays. The VISA was approved on Sept 18th and issued on Sept 28th. She said they are  still working on it getting the info packet ready to mail. It should be about another week. Seems this can take anywhere from two weeks to a month or more from approval till delivery.

A first happened today. Katie has never had a father. He split when she was born and in all her life she has seen him may half a dozen times. He doesn't have anything to do with her and has never supported her. When I came into her mother's life 3 years ago she saw me as just a friend of her moms and later her husband. She has always been quiet and stand offish with me until the last year. Just before I left China she began to open up to me. Joke a little and tease. Well I think I have crossed over from moms husband to being her dad. Tonight just as I was saying good night to her mom on Skype video chat. Katie leaned over in front of the camera and kissed me good night.  Warmed my heart. 

[fivetrout]

PRICELESS!

[Arnold]

... Gerry, you now have TWO Ladies that think the world of you! NICE!

[shaun]

Thumbs up from here Gerry.

[Pineau]

MPO how long have you been waiting? Are you Appling for a USA visa? Are you still in Canada? How does that work?