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!!!!

Sorry

Ok - to those of you (well the only one) who is actually following (standing still and waiting) for me to blog something else - I should be back on track now. I have internet at my new place - even if I don't have a couch or microwave and MORE importantly I have recovered my password to get back into the blog. You would think after forgetting it the first time I would have kept better track of it. Actually, I did put it in a file on my computer, but that crashed and I had to get the Geek Squad to back it up. So I am back.

The First Night of 2009 is the First Night in My Condo

Well, last night was my first night sleeping in the condo. I went to pick up my goddaughter and her two BFF's. They squeezed into the car with as much house stuff as I could fit (leaving enough room for the kids). We dropped the stuff off at the condo and then went out to grab some stuff to eat. I knew that the oven/stove wasn't working yet so I had to make som,ething on the George Forman. So, burgers, chips and orange soda for the kids (water for me). I purposely didn't buy Coke 'cause I knew I would drink it all. I will try not to bring it into the house. Maybe if I limit myself to drinking it outside the home it will help my addiction. I received Prince Casian for Christmas so we watched that while eating. I thought it would have been a movie that the kids han't seen but alas they had and not only that CC was helping me out by explaining the parts that went over my head just like I did when she was little. I still have no furniture. My friend/former "landlord" brought over the matress my former roommate gave me. I was pleased to see it there when I got home yesterday. The kids enjoyed their sleepover on air mattresses - so much so that I had to text them from my room at 2:00 am to ask them to quiet down. Sure, I could have gotten up and walked into the living room, but they respond so much better to the technology! :)

This morning I had to get up TWICE to move my car (curse that alternate side of the street parking). The first time I couldn't find a spot that I could stay in so I had to go back outside and then SIT there for 1/2 HOUR to make sure I didn't get a ticket.

When we finally got moving we went to the NY Hall of Science which happens to be free on Fridays from 2-5! The girls enjoyed themselves. I dropped them back home after some KFC and hurried home to my mom's in order to get to my internet service. I have to wait until JANUARY 24th to get service at my new place. The thought of that was stressing me out so I decided to try out an aircard and see how I like it. I have 30 days to decide before I am locked in to the contract. Can't live without the internet.