A Few New Things

Well, for the few of you who are checking in on me - I wanted to post my new bed. I am no longer on the floor. My good friend Diego came by and assembled my bed. His friend Oscar put together the TV stand and end table which I have not posted. The carpet runner and magazine rack were two things I bought in Trinidad at a store called Mode Alive. It is located on Frederick Street and I hear there is another branch in Curepe near the Kaydonna movie theatre.

Baby's Room

OK - I am very excited. Work is going to begin in my condo on Monday. The kitchen is going to be totally ripped out and redone, the bathrooom retiled, tub glazed and best of all - a sliding glass door installed in the living room to create a baby's room.

The doors will open from the middle as in this picture. There are fixed panels on either side. That will allow light from the baby's room windows to enter into the living room.
http://www.slidingdoorco.com/products/closet_doors.html
CLICK ON THE 4th pic from the bottom.

But they will look like this (MINUS the winery :)
http://www.slidingdoorco.com/products/closet_doors.html
CLICK ON THE 5th pic from the bottom.

When I first saw the doors from this company I didn't think that I would be able to do it, but my contractor did some checking and came back with the same company that I originally found the doors on. It will take about 2 months for them to come in, but it will be worth the wait - and
I am waiting for the baby anyway so all is well.

Maxi on a Mini Budget

As some of you know my car was in a minor accident while I was in Trinidad last week. I was 100% innocent. Michelle, H and I were hanging out when Michelle went in to KFC. The car was parked when it was rear-ended by a maxi taxi (the public transportation for you non-trinis). H jumped out to look at the damage. The maxi's tailpipe was stuck in my grill and the
number plate was broken in half with the end part on the ground. The maxi driver wasn't saying much. H and M were telling the guy just give $120 TT which is $20 US to purchase a new plate and get it put on. He totally refused! He was 100% at fault, but he would not budge. We said we would call the police, but he didn't care. We were heading to the movies so we didn't want to wait for the police - that in Trinidad could have been all night - or never. Bystanders were shocked that the driver was not willing to cough up the cash. In the end H got the guy to give $80 TT and we picked up the broken plate and went on our way. A few days later I got a new number plate for $50 and when I left Trinidad it was on the dashboard.

Back From Vacation

Well, I have been back from Trinidad for two days now, but have been trying to catch up on stuff with very little sleep (my plane had to return to Trinidad after being in the air for about an hour due to a medical emergency so I ended up getting home about 2 am).

So - now for vacation pictures.

Maracas Bay - Girls "Lime" Michelle, Arlene and I drove through the mountains to get to the beach with the best bake and shark in Trinidad. We took a "sea bath" and then went to get something to eat. You can see the food shacks behind the guys we took pictures with. They were all too happy to oblige.

When I went to Port of Spain to do a little shopping I was met with the Old Time Carinval right in front of the store I was shopping in. The blue devil is really creepy!

Plans for the Kitchen

I had a contractor come over on Saturday to start writing estimates for renovating the kitchen. My plan is to take what you are seeing and RIP IT ALL OUT. I want to put all the appliances on the wall oposite where the fridge is and put a breakfast bar where the fridge is which will open the kitchen up to the living room. I would love any suggestions.

A Crazy Busy Week

Wow - this week is so busy at work. First of all, it is Spirit Week. Monday was Crazy Hat Day, Tuesday is Dress Like Twins Day, Wednesday - Wacky Hair, and Thursday the kids are supposed to wear the colors of the City Year volunteers who work in the school. That alone would keep us busy enough, but tomorrow is the 100th Day of School and we have to go on stage to present our 100th Day projects - AND then Friday we had a Valentine Ball planned in our classroom. I didnt want to cancel because I promised. Did I mention that there is a "walk through" on Thursday to observe how we are implementing the reading program. And of course there is the fact that next week is a vacation and we have to hand out homework packets. Oh, and I have to get trained to use the new technology that was given to me (I am happy about that, but it just feels like to much all at once).

All this and I should be posting about my new couch, but since I didn't get it I can't. The new delivery date is February 28th. I am not sure when the bed will be here, but I am getting tired of being on the floor. At first it wasn't so bad, but now I am done with that. I guess it is all step by step.

Furniture.

Things are coming along well in the furniture department. I have ordered a bed from an online company. I wanted a solid wood platform bed with drawers underneath and that is what I got. I also went to Jennifer Convertibles on Monday and picked out a sofa bed. I probably drove the lady crazy because I kept changing my mind. I finally decided and ordered one. My decision haunted me because I thought that the couch wasn't deep enough. Today I called back and switched for another one. I want everything to be just right. Saturday I wait for delivery. Also on Saturday I am having someone come and do an estimate for renovating the kitchen and bathroom. I think that once the kitchen is done it will feel so much better. I will post some pictures once I get a card reader. This new computer doesn't have a built in card reader and I don't know where the cord is. So - hang on and you will see some photos soon.

Wii and "We"

Something I never thought I would do - buy a video game (for myself). I started thinking about Wii and how so many people are enjoying it. People I speak to of all ages and walks of life are talking about Wii. They do it together, alone, for fun, for exercise. I decided to take the plunge and I went to Target and picked one up in time for Super Bowl. I needed it for that day because I was babysitting my friend's very active 4 year old while his mama went to a Super Bowl party. She came over and hooked up the Wii a few days before so the little guy would be entertained while he was at my house. I actually have been playing it on my own. I will get Wii Fit so I can use it to exercise at home.

Something I always knew I would do - have children. Well, anyone who knows me knows that I am in the process of adopting a baby from Ethiopia. I didn't really want this blog to be all about that. I love reading other people's blogs about their adoptions. In fact, that is how I first came to read blogs. I wanted to know about Ethiopian adoption and I stumbled across some blogs and kept reading from there. Now I read various blogs, but mainly about Ethiopian adoption.

So - as it is I signed up with an agency in late 2006 and worked on paper work, fingerprints, immigration clearance, home study visits, reference letters and so forth until December 19, 2007. At that point I was officially placed on a waiting list and I am expecting that within a few weeks to a month I may get a call saying that there is a baby who needs a family. There have been many ups and downs and anything can happen with international adoption. Countries can change their polices regarding singles, age of parents, income requirements, number of children in the family ... I am hoping that all will go go well and I will have a child home with me by October the latest. That will make me a WE!!!!