i've got the darn thing in my hands! What an absolute headache! (Probably not as much of a headache as Continental will give me on Friday, but at least I'm on my way!) Thanks to those of you who prayed it here in time!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Finally...
i've got the darn thing in my hands! What an absolute headache! (Probably not as much of a headache as Continental will give me on Friday, but at least I'm on my way!) Thanks to those of you who prayed it here in time!
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Our Tax Dollars at Work (?)
Oh how I loathe our feder@l government at times! Like right now--5 days before I need to take a trip out of country and my new passport STILL has not arrived! In an attempt to exorcise some of my pent up hostility and anger, I will recount for you the long and painful process I have endured to get my passport renewed (but it will probably only make me more furious).
February 2007--my passport expired
March 2007--mailed off expired passport with a renewal application--expected turn-around time as stated on state department website and paperwork: 6-8 weeks (PLENTY of time for my late June departure).
June 13--called and spoke with Darcie at the passport agency--passport has not been completed, but she will be glad to "expedite" it for me (whatever that entails) and she has "complete confidence that the agency will be able to get my passport to me on or before the 25th" (a mere 4 days before my departure).
June 19--of course I have no confidence in what Darcie told me, so I call back to check. I am told that my application is "almost complete" and should be mailing out any day.
June 21--still doubtful, I call back to find out the great news that my application is "almost complete" and should be mailing out any day. Agent promises to send an email that should speed things along and ensure that once completed, the passport will be overnighted to me. I make appointment to go to passport agency in New Orleans on Wednesday June 27th where I can get my passport same day, just in case.
June 22--a verbatim repeat of June 21
June 23--see June 21 and 22
June 24--book flight to New Orleans for Tuesday night because trip now seems inevitable. Later on same day, I check passport agency website that now says (to my utter shock and surprise) that my passport is no longer "in process" but has now been completed and mailed to me via priority mail (not overnighted) and I should receive it around the 27th (less than 48 hours before departure). Uggggggh!
February 2007--my passport expired
March 2007--mailed off expired passport with a renewal application--expected turn-around time as stated on state department website and paperwork: 6-8 weeks (PLENTY of time for my late June departure).
June 13--called and spoke with Darcie at the passport agency--passport has not been completed, but she will be glad to "expedite" it for me (whatever that entails) and she has "complete confidence that the agency will be able to get my passport to me on or before the 25th" (a mere 4 days before my departure).
June 19--of course I have no confidence in what Darcie told me, so I call back to check. I am told that my application is "almost complete" and should be mailing out any day.
June 21--still doubtful, I call back to find out the great news that my application is "almost complete" and should be mailing out any day. Agent promises to send an email that should speed things along and ensure that once completed, the passport will be overnighted to me. I make appointment to go to passport agency in New Orleans on Wednesday June 27th where I can get my passport same day, just in case.
June 22--a verbatim repeat of June 21
June 23--see June 21 and 22
June 24--book flight to New Orleans for Tuesday night because trip now seems inevitable. Later on same day, I check passport agency website that now says (to my utter shock and surprise) that my passport is no longer "in process" but has now been completed and mailed to me via priority mail (not overnighted) and I should receive it around the 27th (less than 48 hours before departure). Uggggggh!
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Yard Sale Junkies
Sometimes on Saturday mornings you'll find Shea and me cruising the streets of Cahaba Heights and Mountain Brook looking for the really good deals. Now that we have a baby on the way, we have a whole new (long) list of things to look for. This morning we found 
(what I think are) two really great deals: the BabyBjorn City Carrier and the FP Aquarium Take-Along Sw
ing. We bought both of these items for $10 each. (If you are a penny-pincher like me, that's a savings of $124.98 before tax based on the retail prices at one of our favorite stores.) Now it's time to get out the Lysol to help ease my "someone-else's-kid's-germs-are-all-over-this" paranoia.
(what I think are) two really great deals: the BabyBjorn City Carrier and the FP Aquarium Take-Along Sw
ing. We bought both of these items for $10 each. (If you are a penny-pincher like me, that's a savings of $124.98 before tax based on the retail prices at one of our favorite stores.) Now it's time to get out the Lysol to help ease my "someone-else's-kid's-germs-are-all-over-this" paranoia.Monday, June 11, 2007
And now hear this...
More on the subject of trying to fast-forward through certain times of life here. Ouch!!
Waiting, for real
It seems like so much of life these days is waiting - waiting until I feel better to be able to do the stuff I need to do; waiting to find out if the baby is a boy or a girl; waiting for JM to go out of town and get back; and finally waiting for the baby to get here. I wonder how much I miss out on in looking forward to the next thing and looking back on things (when I felt better, when it wasn't so hot outside). JenMom's recent post on "The Precious Present" really struck a chord with me. Check it out here.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Exploring My Creative Side
My friend Gayle talked me into taking a pottery class. Now for those of you that know me (and as I am sure JM would tell you) I have issues with manual tasks and fine motor skills. So it was quite amusing to try to use a pottery wheel. Every class I ended up covered with clay from head to toe and somehow ended up getting my finger caught in the piece I was throwing - completely ruining it. I definitely enjoyed the opportunity to hang out with my friend Gayle, but the class helped to confirm that I do not have any hidden talents as a potter. Gayle, however, is a natural and will be taking the class again. I have attached a copy of some of the pieces I made for your amusement.
Cute babies!
John Mark has been working in the yard all weekend long landscaping. Bella, Eddie, and I have been hanging out on the couch. He's sore from all the hard work - I'm sore from being a couch potato!
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