Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas. It is snowing! It was snowing when we woke this morning and a few hours later, it is still snowing. Everything is white and gorgeous.
We have been partying for weeks. Work parties, family parties, having people here, and going to friends' houses. Now, the un-fun begins......packing away all the Christmas decorations. I think I will leave the decorations up another week just to enjoy the lights.
Tide Guy is off work for a week and plans to get the drop ceiling started or maybe completed in the basement industrial side. He got a big tool box/organizer for Christmas, a Lowe's gift card, and has bought some supplies to complete the project. Once that project is done, we'll start on the floor, then we should be able to get the organization going.
Gas prices are now back up to $2.89/gallon. Ugh.
So, on with the day of fun, eating, visiting, and playing!!
Merry Christmas!
Tide Gal
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Not Much to Say.....
I haven't posted anything in a while. There really hasn't been too much to say. My Bama team ended the regular season 9-3. Not bad, but the 3 losses were games we should/could have won. Now, Bama is headed to Orlando to the Capital One bowl. As of right now, we are not planning to go. We may change our minds later.
Gas prices soared to $2.89 for a while, but gratefully have dropped back down to $2.79 or so.
Tide Guy's program at work is barely hanging on. Job hunting is not fun at this time. There is a chance his program will hang on and start back soon. There are several factors and statements that seem positive and the new congress could help.
Christmas is just around the corner. So close I can almost see it. I need to finish shopping and I hope to complete my list today.
I just had a friend visit this week. We were friends in Okinawa and I have not seen her since June of 2004. She and her husband were visiting family close by. They have recently moved and are now about 7 hours by car from me. I see a road trip in my future.
News on China adoptions? Well, we completed our home study. We also had our fingerprints done. When we received our appointments for the fingerprints, Tide Guys was at 3 pm one day and mine was 8 am the next morning. Really? Seriously? Of course, there is no phone number to see if it was possible that I could have mine done at the same time. So, I went with him with hopes they would slide me in during his appointment and not have to make the 3 hour round trip the next morning. Luckily, they did. We received notice that our fingerprints have been accepted and we are now good for another 18 months.
So what have we been doing? Here is a short list: Carrie Underwood concert, tailgating in Tuscaloosa, all Bama home games, Bama games in Columbia, SC, and Knoxville, TN, Styx concert, local basketball games, Heart concert, met Verne Lundquist in SC, started some work on the basement, etc.
Merry Christmas!
Tide Gal
Gas prices soared to $2.89 for a while, but gratefully have dropped back down to $2.79 or so.
Tide Guy's program at work is barely hanging on. Job hunting is not fun at this time. There is a chance his program will hang on and start back soon. There are several factors and statements that seem positive and the new congress could help.
Christmas is just around the corner. So close I can almost see it. I need to finish shopping and I hope to complete my list today.
I just had a friend visit this week. We were friends in Okinawa and I have not seen her since June of 2004. She and her husband were visiting family close by. They have recently moved and are now about 7 hours by car from me. I see a road trip in my future.
News on China adoptions? Well, we completed our home study. We also had our fingerprints done. When we received our appointments for the fingerprints, Tide Guys was at 3 pm one day and mine was 8 am the next morning. Really? Seriously? Of course, there is no phone number to see if it was possible that I could have mine done at the same time. So, I went with him with hopes they would slide me in during his appointment and not have to make the 3 hour round trip the next morning. Luckily, they did. We received notice that our fingerprints have been accepted and we are now good for another 18 months.
So what have we been doing? Here is a short list: Carrie Underwood concert, tailgating in Tuscaloosa, all Bama home games, Bama games in Columbia, SC, and Knoxville, TN, Styx concert, local basketball games, Heart concert, met Verne Lundquist in SC, started some work on the basement, etc.
Merry Christmas!
Tide Gal
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Where There is Smoke.....
The big news here in Alabama is the possible cheating, stealing, and lying of Auburn's football quarterback, Cam Newton. He was at the University of Florida as a back up to Tim Tebow. He left after one year stating he wanted to play rather than sit out as Tebow completed his senior year. Turns out, he may have left due to stealing then buying research papers. After one year at a junior college, he is now accused of "pay for play" at Mississippi State. The University of Auburn, Cam Newton, and Cam's family denies the "pay for play" and is upset that any academic information from Florida has become national news, violating privacy laws. Of course, there are the dropped felony charges in Florida for buying a stolen computer out of a man's trunk.
Lots of news, allegations, rumors, and stories are flying on news sites, facebook, e-mails, and television. This will be interesting when the dust settles.
As Always,
Roll Tide
Tide Gal
Lots of news, allegations, rumors, and stories are flying on news sites, facebook, e-mails, and television. This will be interesting when the dust settles.
As Always,
Roll Tide
Tide Gal
Monday, November 8, 2010
Baby, It's Cold Outside
Since my last post, the temperature has dropped. The past few mornings have hovered between 35-40 degrees. I hate cold weather.
I noticed my last post was titled "Defeated" in reference to UA football. Since then we had won all games with all analysts saying Bama controlled their own destiny. Meaning, if Bama won all games they still had a good chance to go to the National Championship game. However, Saturday we played LSU and they beat us. Our hopes are dashed. I think Tide Guy and I will probably fore go any bowl game this year and take a last minute cruise if we can get a good deal.
Our paperwork from our agency should be on its way to USCIS today and we should receive fingerprint appointments soon.
Yesterday was our niece's 4th birthday party. The kids played on swing sets, the trampoline, riding toys, sidewalk chalk, pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, darts, and several yard games. Kids were everywhere and they all had a blast. It was complete chaos with the present opening. Lets just say I think most of the kids had a hand in ripping paper or pulling ribbons! But, seeing the kids with icing all over their faces was priceless.
Tide Guy has interviewed and applied for other jobs. His program is in severe jeopardy, most of which is due to the current administration. Election day was last week and the Republican party was hugely successful in replacing many national, state, and local seats. In fact, all Democratic incumbents with opposition lost in our county.
Gas prices are on the rise and are about $2.69 per gallon.
That is all for now.
Tide Gal
I noticed my last post was titled "Defeated" in reference to UA football. Since then we had won all games with all analysts saying Bama controlled their own destiny. Meaning, if Bama won all games they still had a good chance to go to the National Championship game. However, Saturday we played LSU and they beat us. Our hopes are dashed. I think Tide Guy and I will probably fore go any bowl game this year and take a last minute cruise if we can get a good deal.
Our paperwork from our agency should be on its way to USCIS today and we should receive fingerprint appointments soon.
Yesterday was our niece's 4th birthday party. The kids played on swing sets, the trampoline, riding toys, sidewalk chalk, pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, darts, and several yard games. Kids were everywhere and they all had a blast. It was complete chaos with the present opening. Lets just say I think most of the kids had a hand in ripping paper or pulling ribbons! But, seeing the kids with icing all over their faces was priceless.
Tide Guy has interviewed and applied for other jobs. His program is in severe jeopardy, most of which is due to the current administration. Election day was last week and the Republican party was hugely successful in replacing many national, state, and local seats. In fact, all Democratic incumbents with opposition lost in our county.
Gas prices are on the rise and are about $2.69 per gallon.
That is all for now.
Tide Gal
Monday, October 11, 2010
Defeated
Tide Guy & I traveled with the Tide to Columbia, SC. They beat us. All the experts predicted Bama would win, but would have to struggle. They were half right and half wrong. We lost, but did struggle. Bama played horribly and South Carolina capitalized on all of our mistakes. This was our first regular season loss since 2007. The South Carolina fans are not good winners. Well, actually, the adult fans are not good winners. The students were whooping and hollering like they should. The adults (age above 35) yelled and screamed obscenities at the Bama fans. No class....at least from the adults. Disappointing.
On an up note, we met Verne Lund*quist (CBS college football commentator) at our hotel. We talked to him three different days. He was the nicest guy and talked to us for a long time each day.
Via UPS, we mailed in all of our paperwork except for the completed home study on Thursday, October 7th, 2010. Of course, our deadline was October 10, which was a Sunday and Monday (the next day) is a holiday. We barely made it.....again. Our home home study still isn't complete, but we included a letter stating it would be in the mail soon. Maybe in 18 months, we will not wait til the last minute again. Maybe in 18 months, we will be very close to referral?? I doubt it.
Fall is here. At least on the calendar. We still have temperatures in the high 90s. The mums are blooming and will probably be dried up and dead by the end of the month.
Lots to do today. I am still unpacking from South Carolina. I dropped Tide Guy off at the airport on the way home from SC, but am picking him up at another airport Wednesday. We are going to see Carrie Underwood and spending the night in Nashville. We will be home Thursday, but will leave again Friday for a weekend in Tuscaloosa for Bama's homecoming game.
More later,
Tide Gal
On an up note, we met Verne Lund*quist (CBS college football commentator) at our hotel. We talked to him three different days. He was the nicest guy and talked to us for a long time each day.
Via UPS, we mailed in all of our paperwork except for the completed home study on Thursday, October 7th, 2010. Of course, our deadline was October 10, which was a Sunday and Monday (the next day) is a holiday. We barely made it.....again. Our home home study still isn't complete, but we included a letter stating it would be in the mail soon. Maybe in 18 months, we will not wait til the last minute again. Maybe in 18 months, we will be very close to referral?? I doubt it.
Fall is here. At least on the calendar. We still have temperatures in the high 90s. The mums are blooming and will probably be dried up and dead by the end of the month.
Lots to do today. I am still unpacking from South Carolina. I dropped Tide Guy off at the airport on the way home from SC, but am picking him up at another airport Wednesday. We are going to see Carrie Underwood and spending the night in Nashville. We will be home Thursday, but will leave again Friday for a weekend in Tuscaloosa for Bama's homecoming game.
More later,
Tide Gal
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Referrals Slow Down, AGAIN
Bama beat Arkansas. Barely, but we won. It was a great come from behind win, but it was scary.
In the last post, I mentioned that China was slowing down the number of referrals. It appears that is a correct statement as it seems only 3 days were referred this batch. That number should be confirmed within a day or two. A huge difference from the 2 weeks referral a few months ago. Ugh. If the two weeks trend continued, more babies would be brought home, the "line" would move faster, and we would travel to China much quicker. A 3 day referral slows us down tremendously.
The weather is cooling down and fall weather seems to be right around the corner. It is time to find mums and pumpkins.
Roll Tide,
Tide Gal
In the last post, I mentioned that China was slowing down the number of referrals. It appears that is a correct statement as it seems only 3 days were referred this batch. That number should be confirmed within a day or two. A huge difference from the 2 weeks referral a few months ago. Ugh. If the two weeks trend continued, more babies would be brought home, the "line" would move faster, and we would travel to China much quicker. A 3 day referral slows us down tremendously.
The weather is cooling down and fall weather seems to be right around the corner. It is time to find mums and pumpkins.
Roll Tide,
Tide Gal
Saturday, September 25, 2010
The Boys of Fall and Paperwork
Well, it is a rainy day here in Alabama. I'm glad that Bama plays Arkansas away today, so we don't have to travel to Tuscaloosa or sit for the game in the rain. There is a lot of hoopla surrounding this game because of Arkansas's quarterback. I think he is good, but "the experts" are saying Bama will still beat Arkansas. Of course, I think they are right.
In the adoption world, after a few months of positive referrals, China is back to it's old tricks. Right now, we are all waiting and there is no word this month. Some have speculated they are close to their quota this year, so they have to back off. Who knows.
We are through with our home study and our agency has all of our paperwork. Right now we are just waiting on clearances, then we can do our fingerprinting and submit the rest of our paperwork. We have to submit copies of various things like marriage license, driver's license, and birth certificates. Eighteen months ago I made several copies of everything so all we had to do was organize them. Of course we've moved since then and things have been misplaced. Yesterday, I finally found the copies and I just need to double check the list.
In the adoption world, after a few months of positive referrals, China is back to it's old tricks. Right now, we are all waiting and there is no word this month. Some have speculated they are close to their quota this year, so they have to back off. Who knows.
We are through with our home study and our agency has all of our paperwork. Right now we are just waiting on clearances, then we can do our fingerprinting and submit the rest of our paperwork. We have to submit copies of various things like marriage license, driver's license, and birth certificates. Eighteen months ago I made several copies of everything so all we had to do was organize them. Of course we've moved since then and things have been misplaced. Yesterday, I finally found the copies and I just need to double check the list.
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