Tag, I'm It!

I've just been tagged by Sue!

5 things I was doing 10 years ago:

1. working temp jobs to get some paralegal experience
2. playing volleyball on Friday nights
3. sharing an apartment in Berwyn
4. E-mailing, no internet yet for me!
5. Reading lots!

5 snacks I enjoy:

1. Popcorn
2. Ice cream
3. Cheetos
4. Pretzels
5. Chocolate brownies and chocolate chip cookies

5 songs I know all the lyrics to:

1. Numerous songson the Grease, especially Hopelessly Devoted to You.
2. Lots of 80's songs. (I hear you Sue!!!)
3. The Star Spangled Banner.
4. If You're Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands
5. Happy Birthday to You! (I'm getting desperate here!)

5 things I would do if I were a Millionaire

1. Pay off house & adoption
2. Travel all over!
3. Invest wisely!
4. Adopt more kids!
5. Have a housekeeper!

5 bad habits:

1. procrastinate
2. Spend too much time online
3. Get upset to easily.
4. A little too messy
5.

5 things I like to do:

1. Read
2. surf the internet
3. Blog
4. Travel
5. Spend time with Kevin

5 things I would never wear again:

1. Spandex
2. Anything neon green
3. crimped hair (Forgot about that one, Sue!)
4. (or ever) fishnet stockings
5. a bikini (well maybe if I had the body for it again)

5 favorite toys:

1. computer
2. DVD Player
3. Digital Camera
4.
5.

Now, who should I tag: Becky over at Our Little Russian Peanut and Christina at Our Vietnam Adoption Journey.

Oinking and Mooing in Kane County

Thought I'd post a few photos from the other weekend when we went to the Kane County Fair.. It was feeding time at the pig barn and boy, if you've never been around a pig barn during feeding time, the squealing is crazy. Somehow, this guy was able to sleep through all of it. He must be hard of hearing or something

And this little beauty had just been born in the past couple months. There really weren't very many baby calfs.

Sorry I don't update this blog as often as I should, after typing so much of the day at work, I really don't feel like typing that mch in the evening. I do, visit your blog and websites quite often. It just seems lately I have been leaving fewer comments, also. But do know I am following along with you on your journeys

Saturday, was a busy day, we got up and took the train downtown to go to Chinatown, where the local Families with Children from Vietnam group were meeting for the Dragon Boat Festival. There were several waiting families there and I finally got to meet Tommy, who Tara and Doug adopted back in April, whom I met at the FCV Tet celebration in February. He is even cuter in person than on his blog; and you have to admit he's probably the cutest baby ever! I also got to meet Christine & her, husband, who live a couple towns away from us. They have had one heck of a time with their dossier. They are waiting again for another document and hopefully it can be submitted to Vietnam. They also have a blog that I follow.

We also ended up going to the Kane County Fair later that same evening. I'll have to post some pictures, soon. So, we had quite a busy Saturday. On Sunday, we went to church as usual then came home did some cleaning and mowed the lawn, etc. and then had my parents over. We ended up having a delicious meal at Red Lobster. That has to be my favorite restaurant from the Lobster and Crab Stuffed mushroom to the wonderful biscuits they have to the garlic shrimp scampi and grilled shrimp, everything was just wonderful.

On July 19th, our agency was privileged to have a couple of the officials from the Department of International Adoption (DIA) in Vietnam visit on their first stop in their American tour. Interestingly enough, we found out our agency is one of the top five agencies in Vietnam. Also, it was learned that of 43 licensed agencies in Vietnam, only twenty are doing a good job. Here's the story on our agency's blog.

We just received an update from our agency, but nothing was said about referrals or anything. Either we did not receive anything or the Vietnam coordinator is on vacation and didn't send out her personal e-mail or maybe they were just very busy with officials' visit last week.

Tomorrow, our agency is putting on another waiting families forum with a pediatrician who is familiar with adopted children. What is really great is she has an office in two of the adjoining towns! So, there is a good chance, she will probably be the one we take our child to once we get him home and possibly even be our regular pediatrician. Well, it looks like I should call it a night, since I have to be up early for work.

Ladder of Dreams

We are slowly making up our way up the waiting list ladder. I officially received the e-mail our agency received 2 more referrals, a 6-week old healthy boy and a 3 1/2 yr old female waiting child. So we know moved to #141 overall and about #86 for those open to a boy. We are lowly, but surely making progress. Hopefully, we will be seeing some more movement soon. Come on referrals!

In other agency news, there are 4 families leaving for Vietnam this week. 2 of their blogs will be under the traveling section if you want to follow along for now they are under CHI.

Starbuck's news

Well as you may or may not know, I use to be addicted to Starbucks. Now I may treat myself once a week or if I'm really good less often than that. Of course, I found a new addiction that I am fighting "McDonald's Iced Coffee. It's about half the price for about twice the size. But when I got on the internet I was met with the headline "Starbucks shut controversial China store" It just doesn't feel right that there should be a Starbucks in the Forbidden City. Now, I checked where in the world, they have locations and there are no starbuck's located in Vietnam. There are about 100 in neighboring Thailand and many other Asian countries, but none so far in Vietnam. Now, I really think, they really need to consider opening a few stores at least Ho Chi Minh City and in Hanoi. The two main cities and the cities where most adoptive families spend time.

Not much adoption news. I did not receive the weekly update yet from our agency, but according to a couple other bloggers with our agency 2 more referrals were received. I'm expecting I will hear something, tomorrow and will post our updated position on the waiting list then.

Vietnam airlines direct flights to the U.S. delayed

I found the following interesting news article. We won't be traveling for well over a year so hopefully by then they'll be up asnd running here.
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/biz/2007/07/718415/

Oh Danny Boy ( A Final Farewell to John)

Our former co-worker would often sing this, during to paries or other work social gatherings. (of course, at the time sung, he was often the result of some beverages that he was enjoying a tad too much.) But I will never be able to hear this song again without thinking of him!

Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.

And if you come, when all the flowers are dying
And I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.

And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me
And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be
If you'll not fail to tell me that you love me
I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.
I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

You may be gone, but never to be forgotten!

The end is drawing near

The final day before we left, we drove up to L'Anse, where we ended up having the largest cinnamon rolls one ever saw. I also got to see Lake Superior and feel how cold it was, even in late June. Being so far north, it really never warms up.

Before we left I snapped father and son posing by the gorgeous rose bush in their back yard. (Actually this photograph doesn't do the rose bush justice It was just gorgeous!)

This one is better!

It was a real relaxing trip. It was great to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the laid-back lifestyle of the U.P.

Piers Gorge

We got some gorgeous pictures of Piers Gorge, in which the Menominee River flows. It's hard to decide which ones to post here!

These rock formations were formed by the glaciers.

Weird, I can't create a title for my entries. The box is there, but the cursor won't appear in there. I guess, Ill guess that I'll have create my own title seperately from the way I use to.


Our Trip to the U.P. of Michigan


I just realized I never posted about our trip a few weeks ago. We took a couple days off end of the week and went for a long weekend to visit Kevin's brother and father. The weather was great warm during the days, but the evenings and nights really cooled off. I took tons of pictures, so this will be more of a pictorial essay.

Here's a couple views of Pine Mountain. The sun was just starting to set somewhat so we got to see a beautiful sunset.

Here's one of the ski jumps in the area. This one is at Pine Mountain.

I believe this is the peaceful waters of Lake Antoine.

You're as old as me if :

1. You’ve ever ended a sentence with the word “PSYCHE.”
2. You can sing the rap to the “Fresh Prince of Belair.”
3. You wore biker shorts under your skirts and felt stylish.
4. You ever watched “Fraggle Rock.”
5. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars.
6. You wore a pony tail on the side of your head.
7. You played the game “M.A.S.H.” (Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House) with friends at school.
8. You know the profound meaning of “WAX ON, WAX OFF.”
9. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off.
10. You thought Thriller was the most awesome song (and video!) ever.
11. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
12. You remember the CRAZE - then the BANNING - of slap bracelets.
13. You still get the urge to say “NOT” after every sentence.
14. You believed the “By the power of Greyskull,” you had the power.
15. After you saw “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure,” you kept saying “I know you are, but what am I?”
16. You wore, like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high-top Reeboks.
17. You owned a bicyle with a banana seat and a basket.
18. Your roller skates had metal wheels.
19. You begged Santa for the electronic game Simon.
20. You had homemade ribbon barrettes in every imaginable color.
21. You wore the Little House on the Prairie inspired high neck, ruffled, plaid shirt in at least one school picture.
22. You can sing at least one song from “Annie” by heart.
23. You would tape songs off the radio by holding your portable tape player up to the speaker.
24. You wore friendship pins on your tennis shoes.
25. You had the shoelaces with the rainbow or heart designs.
26. You wore a banana clip at some point in your youth.
27. You know who Max Headroom is.
28. You ever wore fluorescent or neon clothing.
29. You could breakdance or wished you could.
30. When somone mentions two consecutive days of the week, the Happy Days theme is stuck in your head for hours on end
31. Partying “like it was 1999″ seemed sooo far away.
32. You thought that Transformers were more than meets the eye.
33. You wanted to be on Star Search.
34. Your first Walkman weighed about as much as a brick.
35. You HAD to have your MTV.
36. You know where to go if you “wanna go where everybody knows your name.”
37. You actually thought “Dirty Dancing” was a REALLY good movie.
38. You got a Little Professor calculator for Christmas.
39. You remember when ATARI was a state of the art video game.
40. You own any cassettes or records.
41. You thought by the year 2000 we’d all be living on the moon.
42. You ever had a Swatch Watch, and a Swatch Guard for it.
43. You had to stay after class to scrub your desk because your silver Outliner pen leaked through.
44. You ever rang someone’s doorbell and said, “Landshark.”
45. You thought eating Reeses Pieces would attract your own alien.
46. You have ever called 867-5309.
47. You held the top score on PacMan.
48. You owned a T-shirt that said, “I shot J. R. ” or know someone who did.
49. You ever said “I pity the fool”.
50. Your dream car was either: the A-team van, KITT or The General Lee.
51. You were sad when the “Where’s the Beef” lady died.
52. You remember when Ricky Martin was a member of Menudo.
53. You remember when cellular phones weighed 15 lbs. and had to be carried over your shoulder.
54. You still know the Big Mac song. “Two all beef patties, special sauce…”
55. You owned a real Rubik’s Cube
56. You used to own a Snoopy Sno Cone Machine.
57. You have a tendency to turn the collar up on your Polo shirts.
58. You remember exactly where you were when you heard the space shuttle Challenger had exploded.
59. You know all of the words to at least one of the Schoolhouse Rock songs.
60. Your first computer was a Commodore 64 or an Atari 800.
61. You thought being a latch key kid was completely normal.
62. There were days that the homework just had to wait until the ABC Afterschool Special was over.
63. You know what movie the phrase, “Number 5 is alive!” is from.
64. You remember when Molly Ringwald was on Facts of Life.
65. You wore the little bootie socks with the colored balls on the back.
66. You just had to have a Trapper Keeper to stay organized at school.
67. You remember when McDonald’s served their burgers in styrofoam boxes.
68. You were afraid of the Sleestacks on Land of The Lost.
69. You never thought they’d be able to top the special effects in TRON.
70. You played with Lego’s when they were just blocks of various sizes, not any of the special little parts.
71. You made Star Wars shrinky dinks in your oven.
72. Pierce Brosnon will always be Remington Steele, not James Bond.
73. You owned at least one Choose Your Own Adventure book.
74. You watched Mary Lou Retton win the gold.
75. The Dark Crystal is still one of your favorite movies.
76. In many of your childhood photos you are wearing something plaid.
77. You still love to play Pong!
78. Two words: The Clapper.
79. Six words: “This is your brain on drugs.”
80. You can sing all the words to “One Night in Bangkok” by Murray Head, and now you understand that it is about chess.
81. You had an entire wardrobe of Esprit clothing (or coveted one.)
82. Your bangs were teased perfectly to 7 inches above the rest of your hair.
83. You had multi-colored earrings that touch your shoulders
84. You’re still bitter that WHAM broke up
85. You can feel St. Elmo’s fire burnin’ in you.
86. You still can’t believe that Milli Vanilli was deceiving you all that time
87. Every now and then, you blurt out: “Ooh noo, Mr. Bill!!!”
88. You used to watch things on Beta tapes
89. You know who Martha Quinn is.
90. You carried your boom box on your shoulder
91. You remember Bruce Willis from Moonlighting, not Die Hard
92. You had ringside seats for Luke and Laura’s wedding
93. War Games had you wondering if you could really start Armageddon using your crummy TRS-80.
94. You can name at least three members of the Brat Pack
95. You wore a “Members Only” jacket.
96. You ever used Lee Press-On Nails
97. You believed drinking soda and eating Pop Rocks would make your stomach explode
98. You still argue over who was better: Tiffany or Debbie Gibson
99. Every time you hear the “OH YEAH…” song you think of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
100. You know how to use a rotary phone.

And how many people think it’s weird that so many things from this list are back in style again? Well, everything old is new again!

*** Borrowed from Mrs. Broccoli Guy's blog

A Late Update

Last week, our agency received 3 more referrals, so we have moved down the list a little more on the list. We are now #87 for a boy and #143 overall. Little by little we are chipping away at the list. Just under 2 months ago, we started on the list as #159 and #95 and we have already made some progress. They are expecting more referrals soon. So hopefully, we may see another update tomorrow or Monday. Also, there are currently 5 families from CHI who are in Vietnam getting their children; I believe they all should have their children now.

Thanks for the many kind words about the loss of my co-worker. He will be greatly missed!

Sad News from the Office

Mondays are always quieter, more somber days at the office. But today, we found out the sad news that one of co-workers passed away on Friday on the way from work. He had seemed fine at the office, but when he was walking to the train station, he had a heart attack. Everyone is shocked and saddened at the sudden news and that we were the last people who saw him that day. I have other news to share but that will have to wait until a later post. Rest in peace, J; you will be greatly missed! You were a great lawyer!