I almost wrote "Ack," but then was suddenly reminded of "Cathy." Man, Jim's a dick.

I (finally) got my Visa Issuance Number! That's the take-home!

I'd suggest skipping the indented bit. Ceaseless whinging.

I suspect my aforementioned recruiting agency is a bit swamped. While I've been waiting for my visa issuance number for two weeks (and freaking out a bit as it's not supposed to take that long), I suddenly get an e-mail asking when my visa will be finished. Which I just stared at, blinking. Uhm, what do you mean? I pointed out that I was waiting on my visa issuance number and suddenly "YOUR VISA NUMBER IS READY!" I'm sure that I'll be getting frantic/snarky e-mails about needing to hurry up to meet my start date......because someone at my recruiting agency missed a memo. Adorable.

I've got to order transcripts that may or may not actually be required and then figure out how to get to the nearest post office (currently buried under 3 feet of snow) without a car. The post office is 7 miles away.

I want to spend as much time as possible living in a place where a bank, post office, and a market are within walking distance. Or at the very least, where there is extremely regular public transportation within walking distance. Urban sprawl infuriates me. Getting from store to store without a car in many places in Erie is incredibly awkward if not outright dangerous. And I don't understand why there's a casino closer to my parents' house than a post office.

I didn't even call the consulate today because I was afraid. Afraid that I'd have to go for another 10 minute interview in New York City, a shitstorm of money and logistics 300 miles away.

All I want to do is fast forward through the next week and a half, when I should be soaking in every last second I have left with my family before I leave for a year. I am SO annoyed and I'm acting like a giant bitch. I keep snapping at everyone and I hate it. I think I need a nap.

Edit, Some hours later: I finished reading Bone by Jeff Smith, had a small sleep, and then told my family sorry for being such a grump.

 (click to enlarge)

My dad had been explaining that he'd help me get to the post office and we'd figure everything out, but I just wanted to be upset. Anywho, after reading and indulging a moment of ridiculous self pity (Phyllis taught me that a good way of doing that is to press the back of your hand against your forehead and cry "My life is soooo hard!"), I was a decent human again. It's all about just doing the next right thing. I don't know why I insist in all of this fit pitching so much of the time

Someone from my recruiting company called and we talked about document stuff and I've got a list of questions for the consulate. Tomorrow, I've just got to think of my Julie and get outta bed, make those phone calls, help out around the house a bit, and do some drawing. Oh, and lay off the coffee a bit. I think it was tweaking me out a little. It's possible that the paperwork for the consulate could be in the mail tomorrow and that's when I've decided, officially, to stop stressing out about my new job in Korea. And if things don't mail tomorrow, progress will be made.

In other news, all this snow and holiday stuff is making me feel rather warm and cheery. I guess I missed it last year. My mom's been the biggest bundle of cute....and so's my dad. And all three siblings. I love my family. 

As I've been told a dozen times and I'm (obnoxiously) quick to forget, I'm a lucky girl.

bleh.