I am courageous, resilient, and unstoppable!

This turned out to be a bit of a stressful week for me.  I spent the whole week checking the Spanish consulate's website trying to get an appointment. I've been checking it every 30 minutes all day every day. There was one morning that I logged on and an opening was available, but... the site wouldn't accept my picture format. By the time I figured out the format it wanted, it had timed out, and the appointment was no longer available. That was devastating, but at least I know that appointments do open up! I also know what format it wants on the picture. Something else happened this week that threw a major wrench in my cogs.  Originally, I was going to be able to keep my remote job with reduced hours when I went on my exchange. Unfortunately, that is no longer an option for me, and I won't know if I can return to my position until I get back and reapply. I haven't made a firm decision yet, but right now I'm still working towards being able to go. This is a once-...

 Just in case anyone was wondering, it's ridiculously tedious to get a visa for Spain. The closest Spanish consulate is about a nine-hour trip from home, and you have to apply in person. Once it's ready, you have to pick it up... in person. Could someone kindly let the Spanish government know that there's such thing as mail services, email, and such modern miracles in the U.S.? Like, it's 2025, people!  SO, I went to the consulate this week to apply for my visa. I had to take two days off work to do it. Then, when I got there, they informed me that the regulations had changed and that I had to have more documentation. Their website hasn't been updated yet, so there was no way for me to know about the regulation changes. To put the icing on the cake, they're completely booked out. I have to keep checking their website for cancellations so I can rebook. Then I'll have to make a mad dash back to the consulate. The website puts you through at least two puzzles t...