November 24, 2004
Thanksgiving in Canada
It always made more sense to me to have Thanksgiving in October. First off it's not as late in the year, second its actually closer to the final harvest (Samhain/Halloween)which is what Thanksgiving was originally about, and third it kinda breaks up the holidays rather than slam them all together at the end of the year. Todd and I are getting excited about Christmas now - we can't wait to check out Toronto and meet all the friends we've made and hopefully make new ones.
Paperwork is all done for the most part. We mailed off the FBI fingerprints last week. As soon as we get those back we can send the application in. If I was smart about it I would have done those first and I could have had them back by now...sigh. We'll just be happy to have the sucker in and not sitting on our desk staring at us the whole time.
Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends up North even though tomorrow is just another Thursday for you. I'm thankful for all of you (North and South of the border.)
*hugs*
Posted by Nikolas at 08:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackNovember 17, 2004
Parallels
I went to the main headquarters for the Denver Police today and had my fingerprints taken so I can get my FBI record for the immigration application. As I waited in the lobby a polite young woman sat next to me. We talked briefly and I notcied she had a british accent. We talked about the weather, the traffic and when we eyed each others fingerprint forms we talked about why we were there.
Turns out we were both applying for immigrations cards.
However, her's was for the United States and mine was for Canada. I found it ironic that as I prepare to possibly leave this country, there is already someone waiting to take my place.
Makes you think.
Posted by Nikolas at 05:36 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackNovember 16, 2004
How do you say Merry Christmas in Canadian?
So Mason and I did it last night...we booked out trip to Toronto. We will be flying out Monday the 20th getting in around Noon and leaving on Friday the 24th around 5:30pm so we can spend Christmas/Yule at home. Extending the trip to the 26th would have cost too much and we didn't want to be an imposition on anyone - thank you for all the offers though. We are both excited about getting to see Toronto and getting acquainted with our possible new home. We both fell in love with Vancouver, I really miss Montreal, and I really like Ottawa even though it sounds nothing happens there - hopefully Toronto can use its Canadian sultriness on us as well :-)
I mailed off my background check information for Colorado and Massachusetts today, and I tried to go down to the police station to get my fingerprints for the FBI, but apparently they only have ink on Wednesdays and Thursdays < /sarcasm >. So I will need to take another trip down tomorrow...ugh I just want all this to be over.
Posted by Nikolas at 05:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackNovember 15, 2004
Oh My G-
OMG OMG OMG OMG. I went down to Wells Fargo Bank today and got my two Cashier's checks for $550 Canadian each. I guess this means it's full speed ahead. I'm kinda nervous but kinda excited at the same time. I also stopped by the FBI and picked up fingerprint cards and got a shitload of money orders for the background checks we need to do in Colorado, Massachusetts and at the FBI.
Wow.
Posted by Nikolas at 05:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackAnd the paperwork continues...
So I've pretty much completed most of everything. All that is left is our employer letters, FBI checks, photos, and the check for $1100 Canadian - ouch! I'm hoping to go get the FBI cards today along with stopping at the bank and seeing if they can cut a Canadian check.
Mason and I have decided on going to Toronto for Christmas/Yule this year. The problem is trying to figure out the dates....I don't think we can leave until the 20th, and then we need to decide how long to stay. Do we go through Christmas and spend it by ourselves, or do we fly home the 24th for some us time under our tree....hmmm.
Either way we're using miles for the tickets so I have to book soon.
Posted by Nikolas at 01:36 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackNovember 13, 2004
Manada?
Why have I never heard of Pansy Division??? Apprently they opened for Green Day once. Here is one of their hits...a tribute to my boys up North:
MANADA
A tribute to the beautiful men we've met in the country America takes for granted.
Every time I go north of the border
Boy after boy always wins me over
I'm going to Manada
The weather's cold
But the guys are hot
I don't care if it snows a lot
I'll snuggle up with the boy I got in Manada
From Newfoundland
to Vancouver Island
From Edmonton to the Breton Highlands
It's different from the USA
I'm not sure that I could stay
But I know I'll find my way to Manada
There's Scott in HaliFax
Benjamin in Medicine Hat
There's Laurent in Montreal
In Manada, I want them all I'm going to Manada
The weather's cold
But the guys are hot
I don't care if it snows a lot
I'll snuggle up with the boy I got in Manada
November 11, 2004
FUCK OFF!
I am so angry right now you have no idea. Some asshole who we thought was our friend decided to make comments in Mason's online journal because Mason had decided to make "Oh Canada" the ringer on his phone. It was a way for him to deal with the crap around here and kind of look forward to hopefully something better. Somehow, this asshole believes that this insults every Veteran who has died and makes us less American and patriotic. He then decided to blast him because we are considering moving to a Blue State or Canada and how we are not staying here in Colorado to "fight the fight" and that we are "abandoning the fellow gays."
FUCK THE COLORADO GAY COMMUNITY!
They're to fucking busy going to the Midtowne Spa or skiing in Vail to give a shit about rights. Their too scared to come out of the closet and attack homophobia then make things better. I am soooooooooooooooo over this goddamned bullshit! THIS is why we're moving somewhere, anywhere but here.
So I went after him, I tore him a new one and I really don't give a shit what happens. Never piss off a Greek.
Posted by Nikolas at 04:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackChristmastime in Toronto?
So Mason and I had lunch today...I had the day off being the good little governement worker that I am (thank you Veterans!) and decided to meet up with Mason at work. He recently applied for a job with Rogers Cable in Toronto - we'll see if anything happens....but over lunch we thought, "hmmm....perhaps we should go visit the city we want to move to if our visas go through?" So we have been thinking about maybe going out for Christmas/Yule to check things out and let Mason visit some companies to get his name out.
Just a thought....
Posted by Nikolas at 01:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackNovember 10, 2004
Paperwork
Good Lord!
I've been working on our paperwork for the past couple of days and it amazes me how many hoops we need to jump through in order to even just apply for immigrant status in Canada...I'm surprised that they don't ask for a vial of blood along with the application (I'm sure that comes later in the physical.) Do you guys even know how much it takes to get into your country?
I'm not complaining, but I'm just amazed how stringent things are...
Back to the paperwork...
Posted by Nikolas at 04:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackNovember 09, 2004
Is there an Uncle Sam in Canada?
So I've been chatting with a woman in NYC who is moving to Canada with her husband - they are just waiting for their Visas. Her blog is located here. Anyway, she was contacted by a reporter at the Globe and Mail (is that in Toronto?) who wants to do a story on the possible Gay Flight from the United States...so she forwarded her e-mail to me.
Long and short of it is I'm going to be in her article. Wow.
I'm not quite sure how to react to this. Her questions via e-mail were poignant, respectful and fair. Perhaps it is my neurotic American way but I keep waiting for the catch.
Posted by Nikolas at 03:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackNovember 05, 2004
Canada
I am in the process of completing the Application for Permanent Residence in Canada for Mason and I. I've been thinking hard the past few days about this and it has not been an easy decision. The process itself sounds like it could take up to a year so I figured that Mason and I should start filling out the paperwork now.
I don't know what to think...I know that Canada has its problems too and it is not an idylic paradise of leftist ideals, but the one thing I do notice is that you try to treat each other with respect, you keep religion out of politics and that you push forward to try and improve the human condition - which is more than I can say about the United States. Besides, I don't think Canada ever invaded another country for no good reason...did you? For Christ's sake you even let gay couples complete an immigration application as a couple...oye!
So yeah, who knows if I will follow through with this or even if I'll be accepted, but it is something I am considering. I wanted to be able to write about it in order to deal with my frustrations and issues.
When my parents came to the United States in 1968 it was a different place. Full of opprotunity and hope. In my 30 years on this planet I have seen this country come to espouse everything I hate - greed, money, power - from supersized McDonald's meals to Super Wal-Marts - this country is obsessed with bigger, better, faster, more.
Like I said a few days ago, this might be my birthplace, but it is not my home.
Posted by Nikolas at 07:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
