Las Vegas - The Upgrade Experience

As Paige puts it: I'm the luckiest sun of a gun she knows. No, I didn't win anything at the slot machines or gambling at the table. But I manage to get U's a few "upgrades" along the way.
Saturday morning we were walking through the Escalibur (a hotel casino next to the Luxor where we stayed) and someone approached us offering 2 free tickets to any shows. We bought into the idea and picked Criss Angel, of course. We talked to a lady and toured the new Grandview Resort for 2 and half hour an got our free tickets.
On our way back, tired from walking, I jokingly asked the acquamassage girl if we could get 2 for 1. "Sure!" and we did.
When it was time for the show we stayed all the way in the back. A lady approached us an asked us: "do you like your seats or would you like to sit up front?" You can guess what we said. Fantastic show!
Next day: Blue Man Group at the Venetian. As we sit in the back, a producer comes to me and asks me if I would like to volunteer on stage to trick the audience. "Sure!" he took me to the back and gave me black shoes and explained I'd be going to get pulled onto the stage by the Blue Man and participating in a trick where they put a jumpsuit and helmet on me and guide me back stage while a pre-recorded look-alike is hung upside down and painted on. As soon as I get backstage, the assistants change my clothes into a dirty jumpsuit and shoes and I'm reeled back onto the stage in a box with a jello head. The blue Man ripped the jello off my head to reveal me safely inside! I was then taken to my seat by an assistant. It's quite interesting and intimidating how they his got close to my face and back an just stated at me in the eye, not saying a word. I felt one breathing in my right ear and had to double-check to make sure he wasn't saying anything (dumb of me, since when they're i character they don't utter one sound)!
Today, coming back to the airport earlier to try and get on standby for an earlier flight, we stop at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino's door to find out where the shuttle was (they have the best shuttle/taxi services/lines right around the corner). We asked a lady coming out of the parking if he knew where the $2 shuttle was. "Sure, let me go back in and ask for you guys." she comes back saying it would probably be a while for it to stop by the hotel and offered us a free ride to the airport in her car (yes, we made sure she did work at the hotel). She turned out to be the VP of Entertainment at the Tropicana and had worked as a producer for the Blue Man Group a few years ago while still at the Luxor and some when they moved to the Venetian. She told us some stories about the Blue Man Group founders (e.g. 2 of their wives were girls that did the improv feast with them on stage - the girls pulled out of the audience for every show).
Well, to top it off: we made it to the earlier flight.
Ready to come back to Las Vegas and get upgraded again. What an experience!

Happy 5th wedding anniversary (indeed)!!!

Evelyn's second birthday

It is hard to believe you're now 2 years old, my princess. We've seen you grow smarter, prettier, funnier, and more certain of your lady convictions. Girl, do you know what you want!
We had a fairy-themed party for your second birthday. You've been into a Tinker Bell phase lately, knowing exactly which buttons to push in your mommy's iPhone to play a music video of Celina Gomez singing a fairy song that goes somewhat like "fly to who you aaaare..." and you'll sing it to yourself every once in a while when playing with your toys. So sweet.
Vovó was here this time. She loved being able to spend your second birthday together.

Disney Trip

I can't believe I'm just now writing about this. But we had the most amazing experience: I was able to take my mom, Evie, and Paige to Disney in October.
I had been accepted in the Learning 2010 Conference as one of the 30 Under 30 participants (30 professionals under age 30 working in learning companies). I got to meet interesting people like Marshall Goldsmith and Jon Kapp (from the Obama social media campaign).
The most amazing thing was to be able to take my mom without her knowing where we were going until we got there! She couldn't believe it. The best birthday of her life, she says, which we spent at the Animal Kingdom.
We got there on Thursday might (10/21/2010) by car. Went to Magic Kingdom on Friday and Animal Kingdom on Saturday. Leaving Sunday to just hang out around Coronado Springs while I went to some events.
Evie behaved so well! She loved the parks and played till she dropped every day!
Our favorite was Animal Kingdom. My personal favorite the Africa region!
Funny to hear my mom say she thought people really lived in the Africa area of the park in the little "town" area...

The Cat Reward

Today we were playing with Evie outside when my mom saw the neighbor's missing at walk into his garage.
My mom insisted o call.

Well, he asked me to lower the garage door. When he got home it was the cat.

He insisted on giving my mom the $50 reward.

Social Security Cards Here

My updated American citizen card got here today.

My mom's first social security card ever also came in the mail today! She was all excited about it...

SSN for Rosária

Today we went to the Social Security Administration and applied for my mom's social security card. I also updated mine (never found time ever since becoming a US citizen).

We stopped by the Brazilian Bakery and the Minas Emporium on the way back...

Rosária's Greencard!

Today my mom received her permanent residency card in the mail.
Even though she doesn't understand what it means, it means a lot!
Thank you, God!

PS.: she was asking me if she still needs to go to Rio to renew her visa once her passport expires. :)

My daughter wants the moon

O Evie.

At the beach. The moon is shining, pretty in the night sky above us.
You see it's pale light from within the cabin. You point at it and snore. That's what you do when you see the moon; is it sleeping? You call it with you hands, as of saying you want it.
Daddy tries to get close to it but he can't give it to you. You cry. He says he would give it to you if he could. We run in the shack... Another good night sleep...

First beach for Evie and Vovó

Evie,

This was your first beach. Rosária had never seen the ocean either.

We came down to Seaside, FL where the Cadenheads' family have a beach house.

Mommy and daddy played with you building sandcastles by the lagoon. Daddy loved spinning you in the lagoon water and running splashing it on Vovó, Sheri and mommy. You enjoyed being on the float with mommy, but when sitting on mommy's lap on the beach chair you peed all over mommy... You also made friends with a little boy (Conner) at the lagoon, playing with sand.

Vovó and you chased birds and watched the waves crashing in the shore. You said "wow!" several times...

Vovó knelt down, she said, and thanked God for showing her the beach. She had asked Him one day show her a pretty Florida beach... And now she saw it with you, the most beautiful girl...

Rosária Tries Different Things

Uma das coisas legais de se ver aqui é a atitude aberta da minha mãe para experimentar coisas novas. Doces, saladas, molhos, bebidas... O mais surpreendente foi o café hoje:

"Enzo será que é gostoso esse creme que vocês colocam no café, é?"

"Claro, mamãe."

"Posso experimentar?"

"Lógico, quer mesmo?!"

"Sim. Um pouquinho só."

[despejando o creme no café]

"mmmm que delícia! Isso é forte... até serve de almoço..."


Quem diria: Rosária tomando café diferente!

My mom = lucky

I asked her if she wanted to scratch a lottery ticket today when we got home: she won $100!
Hahaha. She's like: "I gotta tell Edna. I never won in Brazil, came to the States to win. I'll pay you the $20 you spent on the tickets and still have the money to buy the stuff I want like the hair dye I saw at Publix for $2! I'll go ahead and buy 2 of them!"

My American Grill

Today I can call myself a true American: I went to Lowe's and bought a gas grill, invited Ron and Sheri Cadenhead and grilled some burgers and hotdogs I got at The Butcher Shop.

While I looked at grills at Lowe's, my mom decided to wander around at the store. A few minutes later she comes back where I am telling me the tale of how the lady at Lowe's dialed an interpreter service for her. She was speaking Portuguese on the phone asking for a manicure set... (let me emphasize: we are AT LOWE'S!!!)...

Rosária in the States

Mamãe está nos EUA. "De Martinho Campos para o mundo", como digo. :)

Eu nem bloguei desde a chegada dela pois estou aproveitando ao máximo a presença dela aqui nesta primeira semana.

Ela chegou dia 01 de Setembro. Levantei cedo para ir pegá-la no aeroporto. O vôo veio de Brasília durante a noite. Eu e a Paige estávamos preocupados se a mãe teria pânico durante o vôo (minha mãe mesmo brincando de talvez precisar de levarmos ambulância ao portão de desembarque). Hehehe.
Eu peguei um passe no balcão da Delta para ir até o ponto de segurança logo após a imigração.
A encontrei lá: calma, feliz, dizendo que ficou tranquila e adorou o vôo, que nem durante turbulência ela ficou com medo pois se apegou a Deus.
Logo saindo do aeroporto já começou a dizer coisas como:

"Que loucura deste lugar, até metrô tem no aeroporto!"
"Que país bonito. Muito verde, mato, ar puro, casas bonitas..."
"Se eu contasse ninguém acreditaria."

Ela também está impressionada com o preço de mercadorias, especialmente roupas. Comprando de lembrancinhas para a família no Brasil a vestidos na TJMax. Compras são a coisa favorita dela nos EUA, "um terapia" como diz ela. Chega de uma loja e já quer voltar pra rua para ver mais vitrines...

Mas o que ela adora mesmo é passar tempo conosco, especialmente com a Evie ou Vivi como ela diz. Fica vislumbrada com a beleza e inteligência da Evie, em suas próprias palavras.

Nos dias em que a Evie vai para a eacolinha, a mãe fica procurando ocupação. Então, limpa a casa e faz uma boa comida da mamãe para nós.

Mamãe's First Day in the USA

After going through a few different interview rooms at the ATL airport, she met me after the first security check. She said she had a good trip, loved the flight! "Not scary at all", she said.
On the way home she was in awe: so many trees in the city, pretty houses, big cars (a guy in a red truck even smiled at her as he passed us). ;)

She loved seeing Evie and playing with her.

We had lunch at Chick-Fil-A.

Later in the afternoon, the 3 of the took a walk outside near the pool.

We the met the family for dinner at Family Tradition.

She said it was s great day and it will take s few days for her to realize she's in the States and not just dreaming...





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

She got it!

This morning my mother went to an interview at the American Consulate in Rio de Janeiro.

After a quick and nice interview she was granted a visa which will be stamped on her passport and mailed to her in Belo Horizonte.

She sounded excited once I finally got a hold of we after trying to call the whole day. She is on the bus on her way home now.

My Mom in Rio

She arrived today with her sister. I had booked a hotel 3 blocks away from the Consulate for them.
I tried to call the whole afternoon: they had been wandering around the streets of downtown Rio looking for coffee...
She said they thought it was easier to get around in Rio than in Belo Horizonte.

She has her interview tomorrow morning.

Mamãe's Greencard Interview Scheduled

For August 11th at 7:15am in Rio de Janeiro.

DS-230

This morning we sent out my mom's DS-230 parts I and II (application for permanent residency).

Affidavit of Support sent off

This morning I sent of the Affidavit of Support forms (I-864 and I-864A) along with documentation to prove our income.

Fee: $70.

We put our house on the market today

With Larry Lester, Coldwell Banker's help.

More Steps in my Mom's Immigration Process

A few weeks ago (May 10th) I paid a $70 fee for the Affidavit of Support which was processed on May 12th. The Affidavit and all related documents are ready to be mailed in to the National Visa Center (NVC). However, I had been very busy taking a few classes for work and hadn't sent out the Affidavit of Support. Today I received an email from NVC saying there was a new $400 processing fee to be paid.

I paid for that one and am now waiting on a reply from NVC to an email I sent asking if I need to now wait for the processing of that fee, go back to the website, print the fee's "cover letter/receipt" and add it to the same package the Affidavit of Support and its documentation is being sent in.

As soon as I receive that confirmation and print the Processing Fee's cover letter, I will send off the documentation to NVC.

PS.: Every time I have a question I either call or email NVC and they are the most courteous and knowledgeable USCIS department I've yet to contact.

Please read!

Great article! http://biggovernment.com/pliberatore/2010/05/18/arizonas-immigration-law/

Arizona’s Immigration Law

by Phil Liberatore

The recent law passed in Arizona raises some tough questions.  How does one respond to a state law that enforces federal law?  Our President said it was “misguided.” Many state and city politicians in California have said it is time to boycott Arizona for its “harsh” immigration policy.  One Los Angeles Councilmen said that Arizona is acting like it is its own country.  One Texas Congressman said that the law is something he wants in his state.  A city councilman in Costa Mesa, CA said that the city is going to copy it and make it an ordinance.  Many activist groups have now filed legal suits against Arizona’s newest law, but many experts say that the law will stand.

Having grown up the son of an immigrant, I know firsthand the hardship of having no roots and being in a strange place.  I was born in New York and moved to the San Fernando Valley.  My father struggled to put food on the table, and I had to work as a young man.  I had my own paper route and worked hard.  When I graduated high school, I received a scholarship to USC.  This is the dream that most immigrants have for their children.

California became the place where dreams came true for my parents and me.  My father taught me that to be a good citizen you have to follow the laws.  I believe that still today.  I am successful because I have followed the laws of this great nation.  I believe, to find success in this country it must first start there.  I have driven past Home Depots, like many of you.  I think about the lives those men are living and my heart hurts for them.  I know they struggle to put food on the table just like my father did.  I know they came here seeking a better life for their children.  I understand their plight, but their method in achieving that goal is what I cannot understand.

Our current system has moved beyond common sense.  Our President has failed to uphold the laws set out by Congress and states are not allowed to enforce the federal laws.  Immigration and Customs Enforcement lack funding and staff to handle the current situation.  We have judges and district attorneys that are more dedicated to sentencing ICE agents then to enforcing our immigration laws.

This issue is no longer one which we can sit idly by and hope for a solution. We have solutions. First, we need to secure our borders. Second, we need to remove all financial incentives for illegal immigrants. And third, we need to demonstrate the clear and responsible pathway to legal immigration.

Arizona passed legislation allowing local law enforcement agencies to work with federal agents.  We have laws in this country for a reason and they need to be enforced.  The American dream is something that I believe in, but a vital part of that dream is honoring the laws that we have established.  If I am elected to the 42nd Congressional district in California I will stand in the way of any amnesty bill or pathway to citizenship that does not honor those that have sought to come here legally.  I fight daily to uphold and defend the Constitution and the values that hold it in place.  We need responsible common sense immigration policies. As the son of an immigrant, I am pro-immigration but oppose the recent wave of illegal aliens.  John Adams said “Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people…”  We stand at a pivotal moment; to create and protect opportunity and call upon our leaders to ensure the will and protection of the people of the United States of America.

A perspective that the news has been avoiding!

USCIS Agent Assignment Form

My mom received a letter and a form today (all in English, by the way) which asks her to assign an "agent" to receive communication of her process. I asked her to scan it and email it to me, I will fill it out on my computer and email it back to her so he can sign it and snail mail it to them...

Notification Received!

Today we received a notification that Enzo's mother has been approved for her visa.  Next step is for her to receive more information from the US consulate in Brazil.  From there, they will instruct her of her next step! So close!