Daydreaming of Europe and Ethiopia

I love to travel!  My favorite trips include places where there are lots and lots of historical sites. I like stepping back in time, and seeing how folks lived. (I know that's rather corny, and not too sexy, but it's what I like)  In my free time, I daydream about my next world expedition. It helps to take my mind off of all the stresses in my life.  Since my son is glued to my hip, most of our trips include him. ( I think he would just die if we left him to go on a long trip out of the country). 

I hadn't planned on taking him to Ethiopia when we travel, but last week out of nowhere he asked me; [Mommie, when are we going to Ethiopia to pick up the baby? I was thinking we could stop in South Africa and see the elephants on a safari too.] Anyone who knows my son knows that he loves elephants! He loves Africa because it is where the elephants live. He's been this way since he was a baby. So I didn't want to bust his bubble, and tell him he couldn't go to Africa. So I guess we will be buying another ticket to Ethiopia in the near future (notice how optimistic I am).  I can't wait to get back there!

Anyhoo, I'm trying to take a family style Mediterranean cruise in 2010, and I recently learned that Disney will be sailing to Europe again in 2010. (FYI.. I love Disney cruises). Well that was before I learned that the price for a family of 4, before airfare would be over $13,000! More like $20,000 with airfare! (WT..insert your explicative here.) What's crazier is that I actually considered paying for it! I guess you could say that I had drunk the Disney kool-aid, and started hitting the pipe with Mickey Mouse! I actually convinced myself that this was reasonable, I mean it's Disney after all. Well that was until my travel agent shook me out of my haze, and explained that we could have just as much fun as a family, at half the price on another cruise line. Thank God for sane people.  So now needless to say, we are looking for cheaper options because I am determined to go to Europe before it's all said and done.  

Buried In Fingerprints

OK y'all. I'm gonna scream! Yesterday made our 3rd fingerprinting session. This time we were fingerprinted  for our Dossier FBI clearance. Too bad the FBI can't just look at the last set of prints we gave to them like 3 months ago. I guess the computers don't talk to one another. I feel like I should have some type of presidential clearance after all of this.  What's worse is that we will have to have a fourth set taken before our CIS prints expire in Feb 2009.  (Yikes)

But I'm not complaining. I'm just glad to be near the end of this paper chase. I'm still aiming to be placed on waitlist by November (Tami are you still with me?). I feel like the little engine that could. I'll keep you updated as our dossier nears completion. 

Midnight

This is how I feel tonight. Some nights I just can't sleep. This is really bad news because when I have insomnia, I usually end up buying some infommercial gimmick... "lose 10 lbs in 2 days", "find your fortunes in real estate", you name it, I've probably bought it.  I can't help myself.  My favorite thing to buy is work-out DVD's.....Tae-Bo, Tae Bo Amped, Turbo Jam, PX 90, Rockin Body. You name it, I probably have it.

iPhone

Since I have absolutely nothing new to report on the adoption front, I thought I'd vent about our cell phone service. You see I love my iphone. It's the best thing since sliced bread; but I must say I absolutely hate ATT. Ever since we switched over from Sprint, I get dropped phones calls at least 2 to 3 times per 15 minute conversation. This really sucks, because I catch up on all things in the car, on my phone. Needless to say, it's a pain when I get into a really good conversation, and suddenly...silence. By the time I call the person back, I can barely remember what we were talking about. Oh well. Such is life. I guess you can't have it all. 

CIS Approval

We are chugging right along!! Our CIS approval arrived yesterday to my surprise. It only took about 3 weeks after we resubmitted. It probably would have occurred even sooner if they had realized that we already had our fingerprints done. At any rate, it is in my hand now(whoppee)!

All we have left is submission of yet another set of fingerprints to the FBI for our dossier. After that arrives, we should be on waitlist. I hope in time for a late spring arrival, and travel in the early summer.

Gladney Approval

That's correct. We have finally gotten Gladney approval. (Hoot Hoot) Our dossier is nearly complete. So hopefully we will be on the waitlist very soon. My blog buddy Tami, and I have set November as the month we hope to complete all of these task and make waitlist.

Funny--SNL-Tina Fey/Amy Poehler as (Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton)

I have a sidebar. Has anyone seen the Tina Fey/Amy Poehler SNL video? I found it to be quite funny.  If you haven't seen it, just head over to You Tube.  

Bridal Showers, Concerts, and a Rainbow

Well since I have no pictures of a beautiful Ethiopian baby girl to display as of yet, I thought I'd share some of my own. (I guess it's the next best thing). My friend S. (orange dress)  is getting married in 1 month. These are 2 photos from her local bridal shower. It was very nice with great food, and drinks (hoot hoot!!).  The cupcakes were to die for. I had two.  I guess that's why I'm popping my "Rockin Body" DVD in daily to take off a few of those cupcakes.

B and I had a night out a few weeks ago. We saw "Mint Condition" live in concert.  They were wonderful!!  The night was pretty fun with the exception of "the intoxicated trio" that sat by us and gave a show of their own.  B and I seem to have no luck at concerts.  We always seem to have seats next to the drunkest folks in the room.  Let's just say they keep things interesting. (Go figure) 

I have seen at least 3 rainbow's in the past 3 months. Wow!! How beautiful.  This is a photo I snapped from my backyard.  Everytime I feel down for whatever reason, I look at it and think of God's promise to us. (Just thought I'd share..I'm actually surprised you can see it)

Some Summer Photos-In No Specific Order

This summer we went to New Orleans for a wedding. (I'm originally from NOLA). While there we caught up with old friends.  [My mom (in green), me (in red), and mother and daughter duo Q and G]. We have known each other for years; as a matter of fact Gs mother used to be one of my babysitters.  The photo at the top is a picture of a "second line". If you've ever been to New Orleans, you may have seen this. It's a dance using umbrellas and we wave handkerchiefs in the air.  It's a celebratory dance to jazz music.  We do it at most things weddings, funerals, Mardi Gras, you name it.  We lucked up at this wedding because "Rebirth Jazz Band" performed live.  It was great!! 

This summer we travelled to Orlando, Florida. While there, we went on a Disney Cruise (3 day). It was so much fun. If you've never done Disney, you must try it. I highly recommend!! Well we had such a great time I only took 1 picture (LOL) But hey, it's pretty.  A nice photo of tropical fish we took while snorkeling.  I also had the opportunity to meet the great Dr. Dorothy Irene Height.  She is 96 years old and awesome.  (There is a picture of us above).  She is a living legend!  If you've never heard of her you should Google her.  She is a civil rights icon, and was the only woman to speak at the March on Washington with Dr. King.  If you look at old pictures of that day, you will see her out front and center.  She has a book entitled " Open Wide the Gates of Freedom". 

The summer started out with B's 8th Birthday! No party this year (mommy too tired). But I promised a sleepover next year. (What was I thinking.....ten or more 9 year old boys. I guess I'll see if I can get out of it). Well this year we had cake and ice cream at home, dinner at Kobe's Hibachi Grill (B and dad), and a new bike for Mr. B. 

Progress!!

I decided to wait until I had some news to report before I posted again.  I am happy to say that we have finally received our corrected, finalized homestudy from our social worker. (Yeah!!) If I tell you the drama it took to get to this point, you would understand my elation.  We had received numerous copies of our homestudy before this point, all with something not quite correct.  From typo's, to misspellings, to notary commissions that expired in November 2008 (and as all AP's and PAP's know, this would never work for the dossier; notary commissions have to be valid for at least 1 year).

Well finally, we received a set that seems to have everything we need!! (Whoopee). I have packed it all away into an envelope with our updated health reports, and off to our agency it will go in the morning.  

I also waited for our finalized home study before I resubmitted our I600A; so that will be in the mail tomorrow as well. We have fingerprints that are good until 2/2009 from our last I600A. Hopefully these can be used to get our initial 171H, and then we will just update in 2/2009.  

So we appear to be one step closer to agency approval, and our dossier is almost complete. (minus 171H and FBI clearance for the dossier)  So we're still aiming to make wait list by November (ok, I know I said September before, but hey things change).  Keep your fingers crossed.