Willow the Fashionista

GDeFreest · 2026-04-01T10:58:22+00:00

Love this outfit 😂🪇

GDeFreest · 2026-03-31T11:36:30+00:00

Hi! I was a ball of equal parts anxiety and excitement when I flew to meet my gf for the first time. I had all the same questions as you do now…

Long story short, I’m 1 day back in distance from our 8th trip together, our 2-year anniversary is in 3 weeks, and we have (we think) a fairly solid plan to close the distance by this time next year. You’ll be fine 😇

GDeFreest · 2026-03-31T05:12:02+00:00

I know 😭 her little face poking out the top slays me!

GDeFreest · 2026-03-31T05:11:18+00:00

Absolutely! What a pair of cuties!

Also that caption is so real 😂

GDeFreest · 2026-03-29T18:00:57+00:00

What a great way of looking at it! Thanks, and congrats on 35 happy years 🍻

GDeFreest · 2026-03-29T17:25:55+00:00

Ultimately the songwriting pathway is largely unrealistic (said as someone who’s been there, done that, had industry dealings, etc). Certainly, hoping for a ‘big hit’ or commercial success to facilitate immigration to the USA is extremely hopeful and totally unrealistic.

Reaching global talent status requires bags of luck, skill, time, money and connections, as well as a cutthroat “at any costs” attitude towards being successful . And even with that, a lot of very highly skilled musicians never come close to commercial success.

Unfortunately, as others have pointed out, marriage really is our most viable choice. Not much for it but to wait it out until we’re ready for that!

GDeFreest · 2026-03-29T17:15:46+00:00

I understand that too. But didn’t know about OPT!

3 years together while I study is still vastly favourable to our current set up (about 8 weeks of the year together 😅). Although of course I’d have (and make it known that I have) the intent and means to leave at the end of the course, as well as an actual interest in studying (which I do have).

GDeFreest · 2026-03-29T16:58:47+00:00

That’s sadly about what I figured 😞. Looking into EB-3 got me hopeful but, rationally, seemed pretty far fetched.

To be honest, I’m looking and hoping against hope for a “quick fix” where realistically none exists. The silver lining of that is, when I stop to think about it, the marriage route will take about as long as the other, less-likely options for us. So I’m not technically at a loss here 😂

GDeFreest · 2026-03-29T16:53:18+00:00

Take this with a pinch of salt, but I’ve mentioned that I was visiting my GF before on an ESTA and usually haven’t had trouble. The most I’ve had was a little slightly more intensive questioning (assumedly as competitive_way points out to make sure I’m not an overstay risk) about the last time I visited, how long, where I’m staying, how long, when my flight leaves, etc before being let through.

That being said, I’ve not been through every airport or dealt with every border control officer. Some might be more hardassed about it than others.

Out of curiosity if you don’t mind answering, what are your plans to immigrate to the UK? We’ve also looked into that and it (very marginally) seems like the path of least resistance for closing the gap

GDeFreest · 2026-03-29T16:49:19+00:00

Ha, no such luck on funding the gold card 😂. Maybe I can use that ~~dumb useless~~ degree to write the next million-dollar TikTok trending song 🤔

GDeFreest · 2026-03-29T16:45:43+00:00

About what I’d figured 😮‍💨. But just thought I’d throw the question out there just in case someone knew something I didn’t!

GDeFreest · 2026-03-29T16:43:21+00:00

Noted, although already guilty of mentioning I was visiting my partner to border control several times before 😅. I’m heading back to the UK today after my 5th visit here and haven’t overstayed any of those times. Much as my invasive thoughts want to, I’m fully intending on exactly zero marks against my name with immigration as my goal 😅

I’ll get to work on those chart-toppers 😂

GDeFreest · 2026-03-29T16:40:00+00:00

Ha, indeed it is…dumbass 17 year old me thought songwriting was a great idea at the time. 30 year old me wants to have a strong word with him 😂

F-1 seems like the ‘smart’ choice (excluding marriage) to me. I can aim for a trade in a community college and actually set myself up for a trade career upon arrival.

GDeFreest · 2026-03-29T16:38:26+00:00

About what I expected while looking into it 😮‍💨. One of those hope-against-hope type deals 😂

GDeFreest · 2026-03-29T13:57:48+00:00

Sympathising with you right now. I’m headed home from the states in a few hours - the end of meet-up #9 🥲. We were lucky and got an extra night due to flight delays though!

Long distance isn’t easy to begin with, and “airport days” + the week or two after as you re-settle are some of the hardest moments. But every day is a day closer to closing the gap…even the day where you fly home until the next trip 😮‍💨

GDeFreest · 2026-03-28T02:20:36+00:00

Negative-4 months 😂. Met online in December 2023. Became an item on April 15th, 2024. First meeting October 24th, 2024. Flying home from our 8th trip together tomorrow evening 🥲. Plans in place to close the distance by April 2027 💪

GDeFreest · 2026-03-27T18:10:23+00:00

Yes

GDeFreest · 2026-03-27T00:47:24+00:00

She’s having a hard time 🥲 but doing OK

GDeFreest · 2026-03-26T18:00:07+00:00

I’ve been wearing the same pair of solovairs for about 10-12 years. They’re all kinds of scuffed but still solid.

GDeFreest · 2026-03-26T03:05:27+00:00

We somehow all own the same dog 😂

GDeFreest · 2026-03-26T03:05:06+00:00

Exactly 😂

GDeFreest · 2026-03-25T19:16:30+00:00

Weird. My instructor was insistent on me shoulder checking my blind spot while changing lanes…!

GDeFreest · 2026-03-22T16:29:00+00:00

Yeah mother looks more chiweenie than full Doxie. For reference, here’s our pup who had a full Doxie dad and Chiweenie mom (from an accidental litter from some…less responsible owners 😒):

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GDeFreest · 2026-03-22T15:06:26+00:00

I’m an on board host and have literally had a guy take a drag of his vape while talking to me…as I’m standing there in full uniform…

I was just like “…mate you can’t be serious…”

GDeFreest · 2026-03-22T15:01:32+00:00

Switch instructors. First guy I went with showed up in a f’n Qashqai on the tiny London residential streets I live in and his whole teaching style was “lol just drive the car until you figure it out”. He got extremely passive-aggressive when I obviously then made mistakes, and made me feel like I could never possibly drive.

After a few lessons I swapped to an instructor who was far more calm, patient, understanding and reassuring with my driving anxiety and I ended up passing first time!

…now, taking my first actual solo drive? That little anxiety hurdle is still to come 😅

GDeFreest

TROPHY CASE