Getting One Step Closer

So here is my progress....
I've successfully received my U.S. Passport via expedited service. I paid $60 extra to bribe the State Department to process my passport within 2-3 weeks instead of the typical 4-6 week service. All I needed was the following:

1. Passport application
2. Passport sized photo (available at CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, etc.)
3. Original US Birthcertificate (must have full name & state seal)
4. Drivers License (bring copy of front & back just in case they don't have a copy machine)
5. Money Order for $135 made to US Dept of State AND separate $25 processing fee

For more detailed information, you can go to the State Department's website at http://travel.state.gov

You can even use this website to monitor the progress of your passport application. This site also has any travel warnings, tips, vaccinations required, etc. Very helpful website for me.

Next, I am waiting on my lovely boyfriend to send me the money for the visa application. Obviously not everyone will need to do this step, but this was part of our agreement when he asked me to come visit. The tourist visa application for Brazil is filled out online, not in person. You will make an appointment to bring your US Post Office Money Order, visa application, photos, and any required documents to the Consulate near you. I have to go to Atlanta, to Lenox Square area, to visit their consulate. From what I'm reading online, this place can take 20-23 days to process your visa application. I don't know how accurate this information is, but this consulate is relatively new and they don't even have a website!

Also, another piece of information I found, they require a bank statement that shows $1000 that will be available for your trip. Not every consulate requires this, so far I've only seen Chicago and Atlanta do. I have managed to be able to provide this, due to a very generous sponsor. Also, I am just waiting on confirming a plane ticket with Manny. We have to sit down and determine a good date. Obviously we want to set this sometime within 90 days of my appointment, as this is what is required. Once we have that plane ticket ready, I can make an appointment. I'm so very nervous for all of this that is happening. 

I'm trying to concentrate on my weight loss, as I've mentioned previously. I have only managed to drop 33 lbs, but that is not something to put down. It has taken a lot of hard work and determination. I have invested in a MP3 player, which helps me stay motivated during my workouts. I've come to enjoy Black Eyed Pea's Monkey Business and Eminem's Recovery as my motivational soundtrack. I have learned to walk like never before and I have even started jogging. I try to break up the monotony with walking outside, walking inside of the treadmill, and interval training. I will run 20-25 seconds and then run for 35-40 seconds, for up to 15 minutes. Then I will take a short break and do another 30 minutes of walking, with incline. I go outside and walk the dogs and sometimes I will jog the nearby subdivisions. I have my mother as my workout partner and I have concern about what will happen to both of us once I leave. Manny has dedicated his support to me and we have talked about getting a gym membership there. He prefers to do Jiu Jitsu and Paintball as his activities. Not something suitable to a girlie-girl like me. Here, I have been helping my mother find a local gym. She has promised me that she will continue and kick butt. She has done a staggering 70 lbs of weight loss. She is a heart attack patient, over 5 years ago. She has quit smoking since, but became diabetic, much to her disappointment. With exercise and food monitoring, she has managed to come off of her blood pressure medication and she hopes that she will one day come off her diabetic medication until she is much older. I cannot say how proud I am of her and everything she has done. She gives me motivation to keep going, I also want to catch up to her weight loss. ;)

Let me show you some before and after of where I am at....

I can't believe that I let myself get to that point, but I was truly miserable. I hated my job and my life. There was no doubt about that. My goal, before I leave, is 10 more lbs. If I can do more, that will be a bonus, but I am not going to push myself beyond anything reasonable.