12 Months and 12 Days - That, my dear friends (and strangers who might have ventured a gander into my world), is the length of time that passed between when I sent my application for permanent resident and when I was told I get to move through to the next stage. For 12 months and 12 days, with the exception of being sent my case number, I have heard not a word, not a peep, not a grunt or a groan from Canadian immigration. Lemme tell ya, it's a bit nerve wracking knowing that that much of your personal life is in a file and you have absolutely no control over the when's, where's and how's of trying to make a permanent life for yourself (see my June 1, 2006 entry about the amount of paper work and costs). Perhaps this is good "purgatory practice," (or at least it could be for those who still believe in that sort of thing).

So, what is this next stage? Well, it involves an "immigration medical exam," another letter of reference from my current employer, and, surprise!, a couple hundred more dollars.

Now, I shouldn't really complain about the money. One of the only things the current Canadian prime minister has done that has broken with his role as a Bush-like mini-me was to lower the "right of permanent resident fee" from almost a thousand dollars to just under five hundred. I am still quite grateful that I have the resources to be able afford this. I know there are families out there who have to scrimp and save for years just to get one person in.

Another aspect I should also be grateful for is that in the cover letter that was sent along with the next set of papers to fill out, I was informed that at this time, I am being exempted from the interview portion of the immigration process. From what I've heard, this will shave quite a bit off time-wise from my process (because over 12 months of stoney silence isn't quite long enough to rattle you).

As to the "immigration medical," I have the form I'm to bring, I went a got 2 more "passport size" photos to bring with me and I have found a "designated" doctor in my neighborhood that I need to call this week. It looks like it'll involve chest x-rays, blood tests and who knows what else. I suppose I'll more to write on that later... just hoping it's not as "detailed," if ya know what I mean, as the documentation I had to provide, especially since I think the doctor I can get into the fastest is a man. Ain't no man seen my "bits and bobs" since my pediatrician and I'd like to keep it that way, especially since immigration has info on just about everything else in my life.

Super Bowl Bum-day - I've always been a pro football fan so most years I watch the Super Bowl regardless of the teams playing. And in a year like this one when none of "my teams" are playing, a good portion of my viewing enjoyment comes from the very clever commercials.

However, much to my dismay, watching my first Super Bowl "abroad," it seems that the game as it is streamed into Canada does not have most of the commercials that have become as popular as what's happening on the field. Pretty much the only "product" that seems to have made it through is Bud Light, and the ones of theirs I'm seeming aren't that funny which makes me think they're not the ones being shown in the States. Most everything else is Canadian based or "stuff" I've already seen.

I guess instead of Monday morning quarterbacking I'll be Monday morning surfing by trying to find the "real" Super Bowl ads on the net.