Iowon't

Hello all!

I'm back. Catching up on some work projects and getting back into the groove. We had a fabulous Christmas and week off. aaaah.

sidetopic rant:

Can I just say how sick I am of hearing about Iowa and its freaking primary. I really don't care what that solitary state has to decide. Why should that little select group have so much undue influence on the election. Move all the freakin primaries up to the same day and be done with it!

gah.

Anyway,

Glad to see you all again, B

Merry X-mas to all!

We're doing Christmas at our house this year so there will be much frenetic cleaning happening in the next 24 hours. I still haven't even finished wrapping all the presents yet either. I'm so excited about this holiday. I can't wait to see E unwrapping all those gifts and he's got lots to unwrap too. The gift order will go something like this E, E, E, E, E daddy, E, E, E, E, E, pappa, E, E, E... I'll be glad to get some new gifts as well. My enthusiasm for the old toys is really waning.

So, here's my Christmas wish to all of you. May your holidays be joyous and the new year prosperous. Peace to you and yours my friends. Mwah!



photo by me!

The internet is full of all sorts of useful applications:

Why I love Takoma Park

Image from the Fourth of July Parade:



Street sign:





Trombone Quartet at gazebo:



photos by flickr user takomabibelot

Do you hear what I hear?

Being a parent has pushed me into trying, experiencing new things. Some are things I never dreamed even existed. Some involve messes in places I never even dreamed possible and some are joys that I didn't know were even in the realm of possibility.

E woke up last night from either a coughing jag or a nightmare I don't know. I think as parents we're always tired because we operate with this hyper-alertness that in my case even extends to sleep. Little noises can wake me and trigger a house scan to make sure everyone is where they should be and everyone is safe. E's cries weren't subsiding so I went into his room to calm him down. I rubbed his back as he drifted back to sleep and it hit me how simple and powerful this was. This ability to soothe and take care of your child is almost primal and instinctive and it filled me with peace.

Another first, I made cookies for the school's holiday party. A local singer had come and everyone spread out blankets to hear songs both holiday and toddler-friendly. Picture a room of parents and 30+ kids with singing and dancing. The little ones can't control themselves they have to move, they have to jump, they have to dance. I never imagined that I would find this relaxing but then again I never thought I'd be able to drive on the Beltway either.

At first E is bouncing around the room but the lateness of the hour brings him back to me. L tiptoes in late and E squeals in delight reverting it seems back to infant joy. This is my idea of staying out late now. The two-year-olds have staggered back to their parents' arms as the 3's and 4's keep bouncing away til last call. E's in my lap and L is leaning against me as the lights come back up. It's 7 pm and it feels like 4 am on a Saturday. Now at least when a friend tells me about going clubbing I can now answer yeah, I went out dancing too and it was the best time I've ever had.

Known when to say when

If you only see one youtube video about drunk monkeys, this should be it:



I'm so shallow. The monkeys falling over completely toasted around 2:45 is highlarious.

The crying, the stitch, and my wardrobe.

I run over to Target at lunch to pick up a couple Christmas presents and when I get back into the driver's seat I notice something. What's that? Oh my. My pants have split right at the crotch. The seam has just unravelled exposing my calvin's to the world. I don't remember that being there this morning when I pulled them up. Of course I'm half asleep when I dress so it's likely I just missed it.

I'm thinking back to this morning when I was talking to my co-workers and I was probably sitting with knees apart. Did they notice? I've only been here less than 4 months so would they be comfortable enough to say hey, you're flashing.

Two months ago I was getting something behind my desk and the corner of my cargo pant pocket caught and ripped a perfect line in the front of my pant. I was wearing boxer briefs at the time and there they were. So this makes 2 underwear flashing incidents in a new office in the span of three and a half months. I had to tell my office mate about the front rip because it was so apparent. I may have to let this one slide and simply sit demurely through the rest of the day.

Ho, Ho... Ho?

I don't know why it didn't occur to me before but as we raced through the mall to finish up our shopping we came across the elaborate Christmas Land display in the intersection of the corridors. I hate malls and I hate all the faux holiday cheer. Oh yes Macy's I'm sure you're wishing me a Merry Christmas from your truly altruistic nature.... and yet... The big tacky showy Santa spectacles fill my heart with joy. It's so disjointed, like coming across a Hawaiian Luau in the middle of parking lot.

The songs were playing the fake snow was flying through the air and there sits Santa. This was a good Santa too. The beard and the belly was real and he had just the right touch of joviality. The looping tape wished us Happy Holidays in a variety of accents. Little dioramas showed us Christmas scenes across the world. Look the little pagoda has xmas lights strung across its pointy roof.

As we approach Santa I prepare to give my speech, "It's OK E I'll be right here for you. Santa just wants to find out what you want for Christmas," I rehearse. I let go of E's hand and he runs up to Santa. Uuuuh. OK he's lifting him onto his lap, here comes the breakdown.... and nothing. Santa looks at me, "Daddy you need to back up behind the camera."

"Uuuuh Ok, I was just you know, he's uh. OK. I'll be back here."
The elf has already whispered his name to Santa so he cuts right to the chase. "So, E what would you like for Christmas?"

E looks at him and with complete confidence states, "I had eggs and toast for breakfast."

whew, he still needs me. This year's list will be easy to take care of.

Hopin, Wishin, Waitin

I completed the draft review of my homestudy and sent it back to the social worker for corrections. Once I receive that I'll send the doc to my placement agency for review. I hate this part, waiting for others to complete a task. I'm afraid I had a bit of a meltdown a couple nights ago, arguing with L that we need to get things moving. I know the long wait is coming and so I want all the paperwork done. We haven't even begun the authentication process yet. There's no point starting until the docs are all at a common point.


The medical doc is done and I have my police clearances so really it's the homestudy that is holding things up, just like last time. Coincidentally it's also happening around the holidays. I wanted to be done in November. Ka-plow. Now, I'm looking at the end of December for dossier completion.

Now, I'm reading all I can about Vietnam adoption too. I think I'm better at filtering out the alarmists at this point. The process takes a certain amount of protectiveness. You take in as much as you can ignore the doom and focus on the positive. It's going to be a long night moon. I have my little man and he needs me. The rest is up to the universe.

Razzle Dazzle

It makes sense that this fabulous creature would appear on the trippy kids' show Yo Gabba Gabba. I've seen every episode many many times now. You remember her from the I'm the Internet psa fighting for net neutrality.

So, here's Leslie and the Ly's video. What am I thankful for? Gold Glittery Jumpsuits.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

Game over, water boy

I've always hated Adam Sandler. Back when he was on Saturday Night Live he was just mildly annoying. I could fast forward through his bits to get to the good parts. His idea of a skit was Opera Guy? I mean come on. My son comes up with better routines tooting in the bathtub.

Then Chuck and Larry comes out. No I haven't seen it but I don't need to watch Hostel to know how bad that is either. In the preview the hot chick asks Chuck/Larry to feel her up. I can tell you that supermodels don't run up to me asking for body checks.

Now, I find out Sandler is contributing money to the Guiliani campaign. Sweet Jesus. I think it was Biden who pointed out that Guiliani thinks 9/11 is a verb. Congratulations Sandler you've out-douched yourself.

/ Rant over

Book Learnin!

This can't be right. I mean really, I'm this close to talking about boogies.

Don't forget your shovel!

I only recently discovered this song and I love it so much. I picked up the album on itunes and it's quite good. It's on heavy rotation in my car right now.




JCB song - Nizlopi

We met with our social worker and he has this ability to unnerve me. Perhaps I'm naive but I don't usually focus on the problems of adoption. It's probably a coping mechanism I admit but I want to look at the steps we need to take to get from here to there and back again. We've weighed the risks and looked at all the options we could and made our decision.

I do feel this is right and that the universe has pointed us in our current direction.

sigh.

I'll feel better once all this paperwork is completed.

November reign

Hello all!

I'm still around just very busy. We had several halloween parties to go to and there's been a rash of baby showers and birthday parties.

Also, I've been finishing up the domestic adoption paperwork. The Vietnam dossier is much simpler than Guatemala. I hope to get that knocked out in November. I wish I were more organized but this sort of rigid paperwork sends me into hysteria and checking and rechecking in a big loop.

I must get back to work. My project calls and there are forms to fill out!

Cheers!

I had to turn word verification back on because I started getting bombed by spam. Sorry. Curse you spammers.

A Hole is to Dig

When it rains, well if it ever will rain, I'm sure it will pour. A small trickle in front of our house became a torrent of water before long. After calls to the county to come and inspect the leak and calls to various plumbers we discovered our water line needed to be replaced. < gulp and ka-ching >

On the positive side, E was thrilled with the equipment in front of our house and marvelled at the big hole in our yard. You realize how cushioned we are in our modernity when events like that take you out of your comfort zone. E was very confused when I kept all his bathwater in the tub and we stockpiled the water on the kitchen counter.

I wonder what life will be like though in another 20 years with global warming ticking away. We have another freakishly warm day here, up in the high 70s. October shouldn't be short-sleeve weather. It's unnatural.

We have been able to enjoy our porch much longer than I expected though. Eating outside is one of the finest, simplest pleasures.

Have a glass of wine, cheers!

I am, I am Superman.

Ah, fall is in the air finally. The nights are crisp and brilliant. I no longer have to wrestle with the comforter on or off and can snuggle in all cozy under the weight.

We did our costume shopping for Halloween. It’s so much fun watching him experience all these rituals through his new and happy eyes. It was difficult to get him to focus on the costumes with all the dancing skeletons and cackling witches. I think I er he made the right decision as he bounded across the house, leaping the ottoman in a single bound:




Up, Up, and Away!

It's been a busy week at work and home. I think I'm nearly finished with the US documents and hopefully soon I'll get the dossier requirements for Vietnam. Oh how I can't wait to start that.

The State Department is now telling people not to adopt from Guatemala in pretty blunt language. My heart breaks for all those children and the families of Guat who can't take care of them. I will always have a special place for them. We'll be back one day and I hope to instill pride in E for his homeland even though it's far from what I think of the place and my own country at the moment.

Moonatoni

E has been playing pretend kitchen and cooking for a while now. He'll even ask to watch cooking shows at times (maybe he'll be our little top chef?). Recently we developed a game where I'll catch the moon and give it to him. Then he'll give me the moon back. I'll grab a star and give it to him. Yesterday we were walking back from getting his hair cut and I reached up, caught the moon, and handed it to him. He looked at his hand for a second then took a big bite out of the moon. I laughed, first time I'd seen this. You ate the moon! What did it taste like? His response: "really, really, really good pasta."

hee