a long time in coming….
Sagas, my friends, never end, but sometimes there is a happy sub-ending (a cousin of sub-total). Today was one of these.
Today we had an interview at the USCIS (the INS, for those of you who haven’t followed all the name changes) and Peter became a PERMANENT permanent resident.
What does that mean? It means (1) he is no longer CONDITIONAL permanent resident (2) he now has 10 years or so before he has to renew it 
[really permanent, huh?] (3) we proved that we were really married by answering four questions, including “did you have lunch?,” and providing bank statements, retirement account statements, our lease, airplane tickets to Seattle and San Francisco and three pictures which we printed on our bubble jet printer (4) Peter can apply for citizenship this weekend - which should talk about a year (5) We waited two years, six months, 23 days and four long hours this afternoon for this.
Also exciting news, although it is not news yet, just exciting, is that my brother Paul and his wife Amy are expecting a baby any day now… (two official doctor due dates: Oct 18 or 20)… we are all waiting expectantly. And the couple requests that if you send out thoughts for their well-being that you send thoughts which concentrate on bringing on labor as soon as possible.