Brian's behind a closed door right now, and I feel like it's a cartoon...you know the kind, where you hear "ZAM! BOW!" and see stars and exclamation points outside. Does it sound horrible to say he's chasing a mouse and trying to stomp on it? Ah, to be a big brave man.
I. Hate. Mice.
We came home last weekend to put away groceries and I noticed a few...signs...of a mouse under the sink. (Side note...I think I just heard an unhappy mouse sound). Later that afternoon, the little bugger ran across the kitchen floor and started playing bumper-mouse off the trash can and refrigerator. I, being a girl, screamed like a girl and ran into the living room...where my husband and dogs were sitting calmly.
Brian set some traps and life went on.
He left the Friday after Thanksgiving to visit family in southern Missouri, but I remained at home because I had to work at the toy store, my part-time earn-more-money-for-the-adoption job. As I was sitting on the couch working on blog posts for the toy store website, the darn mouse ran along the living room wall, into the dining room and away from sight. This time I yelled, "NO NO NO I DON'T LIKE YOU!" I considered it a victory to not have screamed like a girl.
I stopped and bought more traps on my way home from the toy store on Black Friday.
Fast-forward to today, actually just moments ago. We're headed out to get our Christmas tree, so I opened the hall closet door to grab a scarf and gloves. Who should appear, scampering across the top shelf of the closet and threatening my very life and limb? You guessed it, our little friend.
I'm sad to report I screamed. Again. Loudly.
Something tells me he's not really our friend, or won't want to be our friend after Brian got him under his boot, at least briefly, and is now in the nursery calling the mouse really bad names. He apparently had him cornered for a while but the darn thing has hidden himself. Two traps are set and Brian's just told him we're leaving and won't bother him anymore. Guess I'm going without gloves and scarves since they need to be washed.
Have I told you that I. Hate. Mice? I still choose to believe we have one, that it's the same mouse starring in all of these shows.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
It's not going to be THAT cold...
As long as you bundle up. Did I really just hear the weather guy say that? That's almost as good as sportscasters saying, "What this team has to do to win is score more points than the opponents." Um, thanks. Did you go to school for that?
Not much to report...pies are baked, apps are done, the second oven is hooked up in the garage. Yes, I wrote second oven. We've had one in the garage and it earns its keep every Thanksgiving. I told Brian last night we could only get rid of it when we have an oven that can cook a turkey, apps and sides. Until then, our spare gets used one day a year!
Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone. Our agency sent a holiday wish and said something about being thankful for the pursuit of parenthood. I'm not sure how thankful I am to have to pursue parenthood, but I'm definitely thankful that we have the opportunity to be adopting. Here's my deepest heart prayer that this is the last Thanksgiving without our Jackson or Hope.
Not much to report...pies are baked, apps are done, the second oven is hooked up in the garage. Yes, I wrote second oven. We've had one in the garage and it earns its keep every Thanksgiving. I told Brian last night we could only get rid of it when we have an oven that can cook a turkey, apps and sides. Until then, our spare gets used one day a year!
Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone. Our agency sent a holiday wish and said something about being thankful for the pursuit of parenthood. I'm not sure how thankful I am to have to pursue parenthood, but I'm definitely thankful that we have the opportunity to be adopting. Here's my deepest heart prayer that this is the last Thanksgiving without our Jackson or Hope.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
A chance encounter
So I might - stress MIGHT - be able to figure our more about our I171H wait. I was ringing a couple up at the toy store today and they said they had a long plane trip ahead of them. Being me, I asked to where their long trip was taking them. They responded Ethiopia. Hmmm, I said to myself, I wonder if they are adopting?
Again, being me, I asked, "Can I ask if you're adopting or travelling there for another reason?" They are adopting from there and I said we were adopting from Russia. The she of the she and he said, "How are things going," and I said, "I'm stalled out waiting for my I171H...can you help with any tips?"
Can I just tell you how WONDERFUL it was to have two strangers across a counter from me just KNOW what I was talking about? They nodded and said, "Yep."
But, what was better was that they managed, somehow, someway, to navigate the bureaucratic waters and find some until-now super-secret name of an actual PERSON at the Kansas City office who might at least be able to shed some light into where our paperwork is...or maybe, just maybe, might be able to expedite it.
The she of she and he is going to e-mail me tomorrow. So, fingers crossed (I ask you all to do that a lot!) that we might at least get more information.
To my online pal Aray...I continue to think of you all and imagine the possibilities for you and your husband. I can't wait to hear more and see how this opportunity develops for you.
Again, being me, I asked, "Can I ask if you're adopting or travelling there for another reason?" They are adopting from there and I said we were adopting from Russia. The she of the she and he said, "How are things going," and I said, "I'm stalled out waiting for my I171H...can you help with any tips?"
Can I just tell you how WONDERFUL it was to have two strangers across a counter from me just KNOW what I was talking about? They nodded and said, "Yep."
But, what was better was that they managed, somehow, someway, to navigate the bureaucratic waters and find some until-now super-secret name of an actual PERSON at the Kansas City office who might at least be able to shed some light into where our paperwork is...or maybe, just maybe, might be able to expedite it.
The she of she and he is going to e-mail me tomorrow. So, fingers crossed (I ask you all to do that a lot!) that we might at least get more information.
To my online pal Aray...I continue to think of you all and imagine the possibilities for you and your husband. I can't wait to hear more and see how this opportunity develops for you.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Apple of my pie
Anyone have an absolute favorite apple pie recipe they'd like to share? I think I want to add one to the Thanksgiving menu and wondered if anyone out there had one that's a winner. Please share, if so!
Or, for that matter, any favorite sides? I'm looking for a few veggies (we have potatoes, sweet potatoes and green beans covered!).
Or, for that matter, any favorite sides? I'm looking for a few veggies (we have potatoes, sweet potatoes and green beans covered!).
Settle down, settle in
I got curious yesterday to see if I could learn about the processing of our application and return of the coveted I171H. I was shocked when I found on the Department of Homeland Security/Citizenship and Immigration Services website the average wait time at the Kansas City office for our type of application.
Ready?
THREE MONTHS!
Eek! That means with a fingerprinting date of Oct. 1 that we're easily looking at after the holidays before we get news of our I171H. That's a major disappointment, as I'd all along hoped to have our first batch of paperwork IN Russia by Christmas. Oh, well. This whole thing sometimes seems like a series of exercises toward some theoretical thing, not a real thing, so I guess what's the big deal? We've been trying to become parents since April of 2006 and now it's really just feeling like a vague idea that we have - you know, like, "We should retire to Colorado" or "I'd love to travel to Ireland one day."
OK...enough complaining. You all have enough struggles in your own lives. I hope things there are clicking along just as you want them to!
Ready?
THREE MONTHS!
Eek! That means with a fingerprinting date of Oct. 1 that we're easily looking at after the holidays before we get news of our I171H. That's a major disappointment, as I'd all along hoped to have our first batch of paperwork IN Russia by Christmas. Oh, well. This whole thing sometimes seems like a series of exercises toward some theoretical thing, not a real thing, so I guess what's the big deal? We've been trying to become parents since April of 2006 and now it's really just feeling like a vague idea that we have - you know, like, "We should retire to Colorado" or "I'd love to travel to Ireland one day."
OK...enough complaining. You all have enough struggles in your own lives. I hope things there are clicking along just as you want them to!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
I HATE waiting!
OK, we're headed toward the 7-week mark waiting for ONE. STUPID. PIECE. OF. PAPER.
Oy.
P.S. The next time you notice a headline with WAITING misspelled as WATING, call me the idiot I deserve to be called! How hard is running spellcheck, really?
Oy.
P.S. The next time you notice a headline with WAITING misspelled as WATING, call me the idiot I deserve to be called! How hard is running spellcheck, really?
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Inspiring words
I had the opportunity today to attend (for free) what was called a "motivational seminar" here in Kansas City. Better yet, a co-worker I really enjoy was going to, so I got to hitch a ride with him downtown and hang out with him during the seminar.
While some of the seminar - which was HUGE, by the way, with more than 20,000 at the Sprint Center and others at a satellite location in Raytown - was a blatant sales pitch by speakers peddling their wares (or trying to get you signed up for other seminars for an amazingly low price only available to you today that is usually thousands of dollars!), there were a number of truly motivational speakers with wonderful words.
One I'd heard before, Gen. Colin Powell. He was just as incredible today as the first time I heard him speak. The other I hadn't heard before, but really enjoyed - Rudy Giuliani. Regardless of party affiliation, political views or policy agreement, I don't think you can argue that both men are incredible leaders, and hearing them speak was definitely a worthwhile way to spend my day.
Oh, and KU basketball coach Bill Self and KC Chiefs player Tony Gonzales weren't bad either!
While some of the seminar - which was HUGE, by the way, with more than 20,000 at the Sprint Center and others at a satellite location in Raytown - was a blatant sales pitch by speakers peddling their wares (or trying to get you signed up for other seminars for an amazingly low price only available to you today that is usually thousands of dollars!), there were a number of truly motivational speakers with wonderful words.
One I'd heard before, Gen. Colin Powell. He was just as incredible today as the first time I heard him speak. The other I hadn't heard before, but really enjoyed - Rudy Giuliani. Regardless of party affiliation, political views or policy agreement, I don't think you can argue that both men are incredible leaders, and hearing them speak was definitely a worthwhile way to spend my day.
Oh, and KU basketball coach Bill Self and KC Chiefs player Tony Gonzales weren't bad either!
Friday, November 7, 2008
The 5-week wait
When you're actively trying to conceive, there is such a thing as the 2-week wait - that time after ovulation but before you can get confirmation that you're pregnant. Even though the 2-week calendar is exactly the same number of days during that wait as it is every 2-week period, it seems so lllllllllloooooooonnnnnnnggggg. It has been so nice since we decided to adopt and exit the "actively trying" rollercoaster to not count the days on the calendar.
That having been said, I feel like we've been in the midst of an endless 2-week wait. That wait - this time around for our coveted I171-H document from the federal government - is becoming mind-numbingly frustrating.
At least during the 2-week wait, you knew that if you weren't pregnant, sometime within the 2 weeks you would KNOW you're not pregnant - you knew that within that 2 weeks you'd have an answer.
Waiting for this flipping piece of paper is so frustrating since I have no idea when it will come. I was really OK for the first three or four weeks, but now I'm just getting antsy. I can't finish the rest of my paperwork that we need to submit to Russia before we can get a region assignment until we get the I171-H. And, yes, I know that adoption is all about waiting and that there's likely lots and lots more waiting ahead, but I feel like this waiting is now delaying our later waiting, if that makes any sense!
So, send any wish you'd like into the universe that we get our paperwork back from the feds before we hit the 6-week mark next Wednesday.
That having been said, I feel like we've been in the midst of an endless 2-week wait. That wait - this time around for our coveted I171-H document from the federal government - is becoming mind-numbingly frustrating.
At least during the 2-week wait, you knew that if you weren't pregnant, sometime within the 2 weeks you would KNOW you're not pregnant - you knew that within that 2 weeks you'd have an answer.
Waiting for this flipping piece of paper is so frustrating since I have no idea when it will come. I was really OK for the first three or four weeks, but now I'm just getting antsy. I can't finish the rest of my paperwork that we need to submit to Russia before we can get a region assignment until we get the I171-H. And, yes, I know that adoption is all about waiting and that there's likely lots and lots more waiting ahead, but I feel like this waiting is now delaying our later waiting, if that makes any sense!
So, send any wish you'd like into the universe that we get our paperwork back from the feds before we hit the 6-week mark next Wednesday.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
To Manjo and his bride
I'm sure that's quite the cryptic headline. Not everyone's lucky enough to have a Manjo, or be a Manjo, but it's one of my good things in life. And yesterday my Manjo got married! Forgive me a few moments of sappiness while I wish him and his new bride as much happiness as there is in the world.
Right out of college, I moved a couple of hours away from home to be a newspaper reporter. I landed an internship in St. Joseph, MO, and the internship turned into a job (which was good for a girl who had just graduated from journalism school with a BS in what was then termed journalism - news/editorial).
There were lots of fellow reporters my age at the paper and I was lucky enough to make a really solid group of friends. We worked, we hung out, we hit the bars (even the occasional townie ones). One of the sports guys became one of my closest friends. We would pick a new drink to make each night (Salty Dogs, other random picks with unusual names that could be made from the many liquors in Long Island Ice Teas) and rent movies (VHS ones) or watch Seinfeld reruns and the occasional Dallas Cowboys documentary or "year of" tape.
One night during a movie, we both misheard a line and in one of those it-made-sense-right-then-and-is-the-funniest-thing-ever moments, our interchangeable nickname of Manjo was born.
Flash forward more years than I'd care to count (more than 10, less than 20 by a thank-goodness few) and my friend stood yesterday before a motley crew of his friends and family, and his bride's friends and family, and said "I do."
Naturally, Brian's and my ride home was full of me reminiscing and being thankful that my friend and his now wife invited us to their special day. It did my heart good to give him a hug, tell him I love him and meet his lovely wife.
So, to Adam and Dea, here's one of the readings from our wedding. Keep those smiles on your faces and enjoy the adventure that's uniquely yours. From this friend whose hand is always near, congratulations.
The Irish Blessing (Traditional)
"May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
May God be with you and bless you;
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.
May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you."
Right out of college, I moved a couple of hours away from home to be a newspaper reporter. I landed an internship in St. Joseph, MO, and the internship turned into a job (which was good for a girl who had just graduated from journalism school with a BS in what was then termed journalism - news/editorial).
There were lots of fellow reporters my age at the paper and I was lucky enough to make a really solid group of friends. We worked, we hung out, we hit the bars (even the occasional townie ones). One of the sports guys became one of my closest friends. We would pick a new drink to make each night (Salty Dogs, other random picks with unusual names that could be made from the many liquors in Long Island Ice Teas) and rent movies (VHS ones) or watch Seinfeld reruns and the occasional Dallas Cowboys documentary or "year of" tape.
One night during a movie, we both misheard a line and in one of those it-made-sense-right-then-and-is-the-funniest-thing-ever moments, our interchangeable nickname of Manjo was born.
Flash forward more years than I'd care to count (more than 10, less than 20 by a thank-goodness few) and my friend stood yesterday before a motley crew of his friends and family, and his bride's friends and family, and said "I do."
Naturally, Brian's and my ride home was full of me reminiscing and being thankful that my friend and his now wife invited us to their special day. It did my heart good to give him a hug, tell him I love him and meet his lovely wife.
So, to Adam and Dea, here's one of the readings from our wedding. Keep those smiles on your faces and enjoy the adventure that's uniquely yours. From this friend whose hand is always near, congratulations.
The Irish Blessing (Traditional)
"May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
May God be with you and bless you;
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.
May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you."
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