Greetings from a temporarily fractured family

I think I should probably be asking everyone else for an update on my family rather than the other way around, considering that my wife and kids have spent more time with the Glover clan in the past six weeks than they have spent with me.

We've had some major goings-on with the Madrid extension of the Glover family since we last posted. Eryka got over her morning sickness shortly after arriving in the states. That was a very, very big deal. Believe me. And imagine if I'm the one saying that, think how she must feel.

Eryka left me. For just six weeks. She really needed a trip to see family. It helped her recharge her batteries to get that human contact that she craves and is often so hard for her to find here. Also, the conveniences of the States simply make life easier. Thanks to everyone who made her feel welcome while she was there. And thanks for looking after our kids when she made her trips out to see me in New York.

What was I doing in New York, you ask? Well, it turns out while Eryka was gone, I had to do some work-related travel-time to the States. First to swear in for the Bar (so yes, you can FINALLY be telling the truth when you tell people I'm a lawyer - it was all a big lie until I raised my right arm and swore fealty to the heathen state of New York). Then I went back to New York to apply for my Spanish Visa. What's that, you say? You didn't have a Visa? That's right - guess who has been an illegal immigrant in Spain (but only for like one or two months - you get 6 months out of every year as a tourist).

I wasn't actually supposed to received my Visa on that trip - I was only supposed to apply and then make another trip back to New York to collect it after it was approved. Well, whoever was coordinating coordinating my Visa application hadn't explained that to me very well (just picture this scenario: we have two different immigration agencies working on my case, one that is focused on the Spanish process and the other to help with U.S. documentation, the office manager in the Madrid office was running my file - first time she's done this, though she claimed to have handled all the other Spain Visa applications - it's a lie, it was the office manager in London who had done this, but she was out of commission with two broken ankles - and the Madrid office manager just got fired for incompetence and a bad attitude; in sum, no one knows what they're doing, least of all me). So I strong-armed the consulate into granting my Visa even though I was missing one of the documents I was supposed to have. Now that I have it, I'm supposed to apply for residence in Spain within 30 days or I have to start the process all over again. Hmmmm. . . I probably should have had that document before demanding the consulate issue my Visa. It's OK, I got the document on Friday, and I'm good to apply for my residence card.

OK, enough about my Visa. Anyway, the point is, I traveled twice to New York, and both times Eryka was able to come out and see me. First time because she wanted to and the second time because she had to apply for her Visa at the same time.

And in between all that, I traveled to Utah to see the whole clan. Boy, that was a whirlwind trip - but you already know about that.

And let me just fill you in on my travelogue these past six or seven weeks.

Week 1 - two and a half days in London
Week 2 - three days in New York
Week 3 - two and a half days in London - trip to Utah (four days, two of them travellling)
Week 4 - three days in Barcelona
Week 5 - the entire week in New York
Week 6 - NO TRAVEL! I only had to work 16 hours days every day, and pull an all-nighter last night to get a document out to a client in time.

But guess, what? LUCKY ME! My family comes back on Tuesday! And Tuesday is a Spanish Holiday! Which means I won't have clients bugging me all day and I'll be able to get some work done. (and maybe skip out early to go see the family)

And guess what else? I will FINALLY be taking some vacation time from my job in two weeks. We're going on a Mediterranean cruise. It's going to be awesome. So while Eryka's life seems like a perpetual vacation, mine certainly is not, which makes me all the more excited to get a week away from phones, e-mails, documents, contracts, accountants, clients, everything.

Well, as if you're not already bored to death with my rambling, I'll go on. Eryka and the kids got to go to Sea World in San Diego with Grandpa Victor and Grandma Karen. They had a blast. Those two kids really love dolphins. I would have liked to been there, but I'll get my chance when we move to sunny southern California. Eryka decided we could relocate there in a few years. Who knows? Sunny weather all the time and 20 minutes to the beach? It might be good for us. I would just need to find an office that would actually let me escape occasionally (which is probably a lot easier in Southern California than with Davis Polk in Madrid).

So I know this was long. But I had a lot to say. And believe me, there's more. You don't even want me to get started on the ward out here and my church calling. Don't worry, I'll spare you. But anyway, it's been good to share. Talk to you all soon.