After months of slowly progessing paperwork, things finally started coming together this week and then, today, success.

My work permit was finally approved this week. However, due to FedEx problems, it wasn't going to arrive in Huntsville until today. So, we made plans for leaving for Brussels on 1 May. Then, the Belgian Consulate said that we could drop off our paperwork today even though we didn't have the original of the work permit so we called the movers who were supposed to be here next week to pick up our few belongings yesterday. Today, when we went to the Consulate in Atlanta, the Visa Officer gave me my visa in an hour instead of having us come down middle of next week. So, we decided to fly to Brussels this Sunday. That meant that we had to book air, change arrival date for apartment in Brussels, figure out how to drop off car and vacate current apartment, and get all the other tasks done to get ready to move overseas in less than two days. I also had to wrap up tasks at work and clean out my office. It has been a long and successful day. {It is a 3.5 hour drive to Atlanta so we were up at 0430 and on road by 0500.)

We don't know when we will go house hunting or what day I will show up at the office; after all, these decisions were made after folks in Brussels were already gone for the weekend. We just hope someone is there to pick us up at the airport.

We will try to post when we can. Our home computer is in transit until we get to permanent apartment so Arlene and I will not be online that frequently. We will post our contact info when we get it as we want frequent visitors.

As we can, Arlene will update our blog with our latest adventures. )

See everyone on their visits to Europe!