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I missed a call from that number yesterday. It was our state's INS location asking if we had already received free paperwork extension. Why of all times to be honest? Playing dumb would have saved us more than $800. Apparently, they didn't have our free extension information in their systems, the extension we received more than 18 months ago, the second time we completed all the paperwork. Oh, well. At least our paperwork is being processed and there were no other questions which means we'll receive an invite to be refingerprinted in a few weeks. Oh, the high price we pay for honesty. On the other hand, I could imagine at referral time, someone with INS halting the process because they discovered we owed them money.

Expiring Prints

Who knew that fingerprints expire in 15 months? It's like Marty McFly disappearing in Back to the Future.

Anyway, we're getting to be pros at this adoption paperwork. This is the third time I've mailed paperwork asking to be fingerprinted for our China adoption. We hope to receive an appointment next month to be refingerprinted in a big city. This will be our third time. Although it's a slight inconvenience, taking a half day or more off from work, it's also expensive requiring an updated home study and the outrageous charge to have these digits retaken in less than five minutes.

So, here we go again. If we receive Maggie's referral in less than 15 months, maybe we won't have to do this again. Yeah, right.

I'm on the slow boat to China, slugging to a shore that's still one to two years out of reach. Someone, throw me a life preserver.

We had a nice, long Memorial Day weekend. I saw a high school friend I haven't seen in years.Gina and I were in the same class. We disdained P.E. and loved band (flutes rule!). Watch out Gayla. I'll drop in on you next.Move over Mariah Carey. Jack's a Glitter Girl - you can't see it in the pic but that's the name on the tricycle.
My brother Billy celebrates his 40th birthday in a couple of weeks but we celebrated yesterday. And, in honor of a long standing tradition, we took silly shots with the birthday boy.

Graveyard Hangover

It seems that over the past few years I have entered a new chapter in my life where more of my older relatives are passing away. I attended the funeral for an aunt this morning. My mom said her mother always said, "Once you get to a certain age, the only time you see family is at funerals." Sad, but somewhat true.

My aunt's husband is still alive but frail. His nickname is Buck. When I was a kid and Buck came over to help dad with the roof, he threw candy down to us kids and made clucking noises as if we were little chickens gobbling up the candy. That's a sweet memory I'll never forget. We loved it.

One odd sight from today that relates somewhat to this entry title...as the prayers were concluded at the graveyard, we walked back to the car and noticed a tombstone decorated with an old fashioned car model and a six pack of beer. I'm not kidding. I'm not sure if the cans were drained or still had the beer inside. I heard the person was killed by a race car so that may explain the car model. And the beer? Thank God we all have a sense of humor.

I'm not sure what I'd like on my tombstone. I'm leaning towards a frozen, strawberry margarita, chips and salsa.

Weekend in Review

A cross in our room is reflected in a pix, a container used to transport holy communion. I celebrate communion and a shorter version of mass with several elderly in our town.Flowers from Meaghan: the gesture was sweet, flowers for Mike and me.Good friends: Meaghan and JackBest friends: mom and meThe Statue of Jack LibertyMy sister-in-law received a bunch of beanie babies from her aunt. She is donating them to the St. Louis Children's Hospital where Garrett goes for his check-ups. JeNae let us have a dog that Jack selected. (I really thought he was going to choose a cow.) And I chose a ladybug for Maggie Rose. Thanks JeNae!Ugh! What happened to Baby Roo's body?? (Cue the screaming!)

God Loves Drag Queens

A church group was protesting at a local city today. The city allows same sex couples to register their partnerships. As I walked back to work from lunch, I saw a young man, appearing for the other side, dressed as a woman with a sign, "God Loves Drag Queens."

It always irks me that men who are probably wearing three or more pairs of nylons have a hotter body and look way better in a dress than me. No fair!

18 month cutie

18 going on 19, months that is. Despite recovering from a cold and being around dinnertime, the photographer managed to snap a few good pictures last night. My little man is getting so big.