To do list

For those in the close path to PR, from our friends Nick and Mason from Life without border this is a to do list prior (with time enough) to make the hoped landing:

Reference Letters:

• Letters of References from all your banks verifying your credit histories (letter of credit experience)


• Copies of your credit reports


• Letter of credit history with local gas and electricity supplier


• Letter from Home and Vehicle Insurance companies showing history with them


• Certified Driving Histories from DMV that goes back at least 10 years


• Make sure your car insurance covers you in Canada and you have it for a month after you move to Canada


• Medical Insurance coverage for three months while you're waiting for OHIP
  

Car:

• Recall Clearance Letter


• Complete paperwork listed at RIV and US Customs


• Contact Port of Exit and complete all US Export Requirements
  

Pets:

• Obtain a signed and dated certificate from Vet showing last vaccination for rabies, vaccination used and the ID number of the vaccination. Make sure they include pet's age, breed, gender, and weight
  

Other:

• Complete Goods in Possession List


• Proof of funds


• Complete Voting Registration for voting abroad from New Jersey


• Notify change of address with magazines
  

Work:

• Resumes and letters of Reference from Employers

A Royal fart* (*AKA Pedo)

A little of today's humor: "Uncle Phil, you're a disgusting gentleman..."

No News is Good News

It's been over two months since our medicals. We figure the delay in our next step toward permanent residency is because of Emilio's additional X-Rays and MRI that were submitted on June 14th. We're so close now the waiting is the hardest part.

Our TO condo building is up to the 6th floor of construction. We joined a really cool Toronto forum where nice people take pics of the progress for us. The people buying our home are still trying to sell theirs. The market has softened here. Hopefully this weekend it will sell!

My Mom and Dad were on Toronto this week, they go on antique car tours every year and this year was to Niagara Falls, so they took a day trip to see our future city. I look forward to their reactions. I can predict my Moms already. "It's too busy" LOL

Emilio had surgery on his sinuses again last week. He's recovering fine and we hope this fixes it once and for all!

The animal kids are great and this year I will have my best crop of tomotoes yet. I picked the first ripe one last night and today we will enjoy it with some home grown basil and fresh mozzarella.

It's All Because (The Gays Are Getting Married)

Moore may tackle gay rights

Controversial filmmaker Michael Moore has revealed that he might take on homophobia and the anti-gay movement in his next documentary.
“I think it’s a very ripe subject for someone like me to make a movie about,” he admitted, in an interview with The Advocate. “Simply because we are not there yet and it remains one of the last open wounds on our soul that we are not willing to fix yet.”
Moore, whose latest film Sicko attacks the U.S. health care system, expressed anger at fundamentalist Christians in the U.S. who condemn same-sex marriage.
“There is nowhere in the four Gospels where Jesus uses the word ‘homosexual.’ The right wing has appropriated this guy … and they have used him to attack gays and lesbians, when he never said a single word against people who are homosexual. Anyone who professes to be a Christian and does that is certainly not following the teachings of Jesus Christ.”
Moore, who told the magazine he is a spiritual person, said he supports same-sex marriage.
“I certainly believe that I have no right to tell another couple whether they can or cannot be married,” he said.
Moore said he is optimistic that gays and lesbians in the U.S. will have more equality soon “because everyone has someone who is gay or lesbian in their family or their extended family.”
The director of Fahrenheit 911 and Bowling for Columbine said he is proud to speak out in favour of gay rights.
“If you believe in equality, if you believe in standing up for the rights of all, especially for people most affected by bigotry and discrimination, then you have no choice but to be present and accounted for when it comes to standing up for gays and lesbians in our society.”

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From: Canada.com

Independence Day: For some not all

Today is Independence Day here in the US. I used to enjoy this holiday. I used to think the United States was the best country in the world until I became politically aware. When I was a young man I never even imagined same sex marriage for my life. It's wasn't even an idea that we entertained. Once they started discussing it I thought why would I want to be part of that institution. After meeting Emilio I realized the rights associated with marriage are vitally important for any family.

Right wing Republicans in debates enjoy telling me that in Iran they would kill Emilio and I, as if I am supposed to accept second class citizenship here because it's worse for people like us in other areas of our planet. I really don't understand how these people think. Do they really believe I am going to sell out the best interests of my family here because of terrible treatment elsewhere?

Sometimes I feel like my friends want to apologize to us for celebrating the 4th of July. We are going to John and Dennis' house for the great party they throw annually. There is a sort of discomfort when people are praising the US while we have fought so hard to be an equal part of it. I still think the US is a good country, it has a way to go to be much better and the foundation is there to eventually be the place for all people to live equal and happy. My sincere hope is the United States looks to Canada as an example to follow.

From now on the only flag we will be flying has a maple leaf. Emilio and I discussed for next year at Toronto Gay Pride to organize a group of immigrants to march and thank Canada for giving us the home we need rather than the home we yearned for from our birth countries.

Ny Gay pride parade

Here's a short video from 6 hours compressed to 9 minutes:



Some pics: