99 Things

Pinched this off K1's blog.

Here are the rules:
Bold (since I can't "bold", the ones I have done are GREEN) the things you’ve done and post this list on your blog then leave me a comment and tell me you did this I can go see. I bet this has gone around the blog world already, so if you've done it, let me know.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyworld
8. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Written something that was published
11. Bungee jumped or parachuted
12. Walked across the Golden Gate Bridge
13. Been in a fist fight
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Seen the Rings of Saturn with a telescope
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when not ill
24. Built a tree house or snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Fired a gun
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Visited the Leaning Tower of Pisa
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal
44. Visited Africa
45. Cried yourself to sleep
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Visited the Eiffel Tower
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Pretended you cooked something from scratch when you didn't
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie or commercial
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold something door to door
62. Gone whale or dolphin watching
64. Donated blood, marrow, etc
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Held onto a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten frog legs or caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Time Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Done something illegal
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Sang a solo
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Climbed a mountain
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had surgery
89. Directly saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Seen a loved one die
94. Given birth to a baby
95. Visited the Alamo
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Sent a text message while driving
99. Been stung by a bee


54 bolded or made GREEN - I am impressed!! I can't say that I even want to do all of them, but there are a few on there that I would be willing to do/experience.

Good or Bad?

Yesterday was our 32nd month LID Anniversary.

I forgot - TOTALLY forgot. Not until I was reading Dolores and Shawn's blog did I even realize that yesterday was the day.

I have been thinking about it. I am not sure if forgetting our LID anniversary is a good thing or a bad thing.

I will have to ponder muchly about it and well hey - I have about 60 more to go so missing one or two along the way shouldn't be a big deal.

WHOO HOO - we (after almost 3 years) are 1/3 of the way there!!

Apparently I am a bit bitter tonight!

Excitement!!!

There is some INCREDIBLE news to share!!

Go HERE and share in their joy!!

We are beyond happy for them and are most excited for K1 and K2 to welcome K3 & K4!

I have goosebumps just thinking about it!

It couldn't have happened to nicer people and we wish them all the happiness in the world!

ICK!!

So I am sitting at my computer minding my own business.

Something catches the corner of my eye.

I look down.

There is a mouse at my foot.

OH YES THERE IS!!

I jumped - it scared the crap out of me.

My jumping scared the crap out of it.

It ran.

I haven't seen it since - though I have heard it.

The pest people will be here in the morning.

Sigh...

Matching???

Oh my!!! I am getting excited!!

It has been reported that there is "matching" happening at the CC*AA.

Is someone holding Hannah's picture at this very moment?? Are they clipping Hannah's picture to Catherine file right now as you are reading this???

I am getting goose bumps! This is really happening for Catherine and I can't wait to share in her joy!!

Addiction!!

I am addicted to RQ!

I am stalking the site every hour to make sure that I haven't missed anything.

VERY, VERY soon, two good friends Catherine and Doris and Dan are going to be receiving their referrals and I am beyond excited!!!!!

I am looking for a scrap of information - tidbit or morsel that something - anything - is being rumoured!!

If I am like this for someones else's referrals, I can't imagine how I will function when my turn comes!! LOL!!

C'mon referrals!!!!

31 Months...

Another month passed by - nothing much else to say...

Refresh

Refresh
Refresh
Refresh

I am going to be spending a LOT of time at my computer today hitting the refresh button...

Rumours are out there that some people with a March 21st and March 23rd LID have received referrals.

My very good friend Catherine has an LID of March 23rd.

Could this be true? Could this be happening?

If so - my other very good friends Doris and Dan are right around the corner with an LID of March 28th.

It is certainly an exciting time for me - well and for them of course!!!

A Dream

The other night I had a dream. I woke up from this dream SWEATING and a little bit freaking out...

In my dream, Catherine and Doris and I all received referrals at the same time - THIS MONTH! Now Catherine and Doris have a March '06 LID and I have a December '06 LID. In this dream, the CCA*A would randomly pick someone with a later LID and 'surprise' them with an early referral.

I was the one randomly picked!!

AND

They referred us TRIPLETS!! YES TRIPLETS!!!

I started freaking out! THREE babies!! I wasn't ready, I wasn't prepared, what were we going to do...

Then I woke up.

Interesting dream!! Perhaps I should go and buy a lottery ticket...

30 Month LID

Well another month has passed. I can't even say another month closer because Pumpkin keeps getting further away.

Some months are better then others.

However, not even being 1/2 yet and with an estimated 62 MORE months...well it is hard to even try and keep up appearances anymore...

On the plus side - we have 62 more months to REALLY get to know Dolores and Shawn before we travel together!!

Finances

I was out recently with a married friend. While we were out, she mentioned that he husband ‘bought’ her an outfit for the baby. She also mentioned that a couple of weeks prior, he had paid for the groceries because she was low on cash. I have seen married couples go to a restaurant and each pay for their own. All these things are different then what Mark and I do or how we handle our money.

This lead me to thinking, how do couples handle their finances. Do couples have HIS and HERS money? Does a certain percentage – based on what is earned – go into a communal pot? Is a set amount put in a joint account each payday? Is one partner responsible for this, this and this, while the other is responsible for that, that and that?

It intrigues me to learn how and or why other couples handle things the way they do.

Mark and I have one pot. It all goes in the one pot. Yes we have savings and pay bills etc, but the money that comes in is OURS. We discuss large purchases before they are made, but otherwise, we both spend what we want to spend. That said, we are basically both on the same wavelength about what we will spend our money on. Neither of us is going to go crazy and spend a bunch on money on anything. If I want to go out for lunch or dinner with friends, then that is what I do. If he wants to pitch in for a gift for someone at work, then that is what he does. It all basically works out. We don’t keep track of who spent what.

What do other couples out there do? Please feel free to answer anonymously if you don’t want to be identified.

I would LOVE to hear how others do it.

Songs

Tonight I was transported back in time. It was quite a ride!!

Do you have some songs that the minute you hear them, they jump you back to a moment in time? Sometimes that moment is a good one with a good memory...sometimes not so much.

Other songs - the minute you hear them you think of a certain person - again good reasons and bad reasons. Some songs you would THINK you knew what kind of an association they were based on the song, but you know what happens when you ASS-U-ME...

Here are some songs that 'jump me to that moment or that person' - in no particular order:

No judgments here - Most of them were a different place and a different time...

Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody

Dire Straights - Money for Nothing

Cher - Just Like Jesse James

Phil Collins - Against All Odds

Sophie B. Hawkins - As I Lay Me Down

Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart

Frozen Ghost - Dream Come True

Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes - Time of your Life

Shania Twain - From this Moment

Any Kenny Rogers Song...

Any Neil Diamond Song...

These are just the ones that popped into my head when I started writing this. What songs bring back memories for you?

Blank

I try and get out to walk every day. I usually make it and walk for about 30 minutes or so.

While I am walking - there are many thoughts going through my head. Many times I am composing FANTASTIC blog posts in my head.

Unfortunately my memory is not very good. By the time I get home and I am ready to sit at my computer, I have not only forgotten the contents of these fantastic posts, I have also forgotten the topics!

Then when I sit down at my computer, I stare at a blank screen and well, you know the rest - there isn't anything posted on my blog.

I am getting a new deck and it was just finished today - when I get it all organized I will post some pictures. I can't wait to get out and use it and hook up the BBQ again.

We had a great time in Montreal with 3D. I wish they didn't live 5 1/2 hours away.

There is something wrong with my jaw muscle. It HURTS! It comes and goes and I can't open my mouth sometimes. I had to cancel my dentist appointment on Thursday. There was no way that I could keep my mouth open for an hour.

Between now and the end of summer, we are busy all but 3 Saturdays.

I don't much listen to the radio anymore.

I am liking that summer is here/coming.

I don't have any getaway vacations planned.

I had pizza for dinner.

That is about all that I can come up with right now!

A Shitty Post

Question:

Why is it o.k. or at least accepted for cats to wonder aimlessly outside? They are not wild animals - they belong to someone. Yet they are allowed to skulk around outside and shit in other peoples gardens and on their lawns and various other places. There isn't even a 'owner' around to pick up after them. Why would you even own a cat when it spends all it's time OUTSIDE of your home? What is the point?

As for dogs - why do some owners insist on NOT picking up their dogs shit when they are out for a walk but instead leaving it on a path or in the grass when some unsuspecting person (like myself) will step in it?? What about a curious child and they wondering what that 'thing' is in the grass?

Pets are a responsibility and if you are not up to picking up their shit and taking care of them - well then don't have them in the first place. Unfortunately you don't need a licence to have a pet...

29 Months...

Like this STOP sign, I feel like our adoption has stopped. It is SO FAR away and gets further away every month. There isn't even a tunnel let alone a light at the end of it at this point in time.

If it is not one thing it is another thing. Currently it is the Swine Flu. I feel for families who are waiting for their TA. I feel for families who are waiting for their referrals. It just seems like the CC*AA can never give a straight answer about anything. Their news releases are full on contradictions. The information we receive from agencies is different from agency to agency.

The children belong to China and are theirs and until we adopt them, and until that time, they make the decisions. Unfortunately, I don't always agree with their decisions.

Either way - we are sharing this 29 Month LID with Dolores and Shawn. We miss them terribly and want them to come home!

Sigh...

Randomness

Here are some current thoughts on my mind:

• The trees are budding and spring has sprung. I survived another winter!!

• There is as much sugar in orange juice as there is in Coca*Cola

• Unfortunately - I LOVE Coca*cola
  

• Bloglines is not working properly. Feeds are VERY slow to show - sometimes DAYS!!

• Google Reader is much better
  

• I won a prize for being Rhondas 40,000 visitor (o.k. I may or may not have been her 40,000th - but I was close!!)

• I am still without a computer and still waiting for it to be repaired

• I have to prepare to switch to my summer purse

• I spent the night puking - I am still not dressed - It is 4:00pm

• I haven't puked in quite a few hours
  

• D & S are needing to post some pictures of their newest family member Jinx!!
  

• My grocery list is getting long - my fridge is getting empty. I have to get to the store

• I need to update my sidebars of my blog
  

So there you have the current thoughts on my mind. Scary isn't it...

Lost...

I am computerless.

I feel lost without my laptop.

THIS time the 'light bulb' that illuminates the screen is 'burnt out'. I have to either buy a new computer or pay to have it fixed.

I decided to have it fixed. Currently I am waiting for the part to come in. The part being an entire new 1/2 of my laptop. The entire screen has to be replaced.

I can still see the screen - it still works if I hold a flashlight up to it and illuminate it that way. Not so easy to type that way!!

Sharing a computer with Mark is not ideal. His computer is in the basement. I don't like the basement.

Hopefully by mid week I will be back on my laptop.

I was "THIS" close to buying a Mac...maybe next time the laptop goes on the fritz I will take the plunge.

Vent complete now...

28 Months...

28 months ago we officially "got in line" to adopt our daughter from China. 28 months later, I forgot that it was our LIDversary - I had to read it on Dolores and Shawn's blog. I missed month 27 all together.

As Dolores said, I am beginning to wonder if this adoption will ever really happen. Dolores also mentioned that we are further behind today then we were when we started this...all true statements.

I know people around say YES it will happen...but I really am not depending on it. "They" have been talking about a speed up for 2 YEARS now...still haven't seen it...the line just gets longer and longer and longer.

I want to say that I will wait for as long as it takes for my baby girl to come home, however, I think that a 7 year wait might be a little too long - even for me.

Time will tell...

Dolores - you asked if we were in a better space...I don't think so. We miss you and hope you come home soon!!

Hair Update...

As a follow up to the HAIR post - I have more thoughts and answers to questions...

I was reminded (thanks Kerri) by a reader on the HAIR post about nose hair - that is icky too. While I thought and contemplated nose hair (I know, I know) - EAR hair popped into my mind also - ICK!! I am not a fan of either one of those.

A reader asked what else goes on in my brain if I am blogging about hair - Michele - I think it would scare you to know what goes in inside my brain - TRULY!!

I would also like to clarify that Mark does not WAX his chest.

I do think that hair grooming is something that guys just don't talk about. Not being a guy I wouldn't really know - but that is my guess.

Now rogue eyebrows just popped into my head...

O.k. time for another topic!!

End Date...

First off - what is wrong with me doing two posts in two days...

Anyway - there are so many of us waiting for our children from China. None of us has expected the HUGE wait that we have/had before us.

I am just wondering if people out there have wavered. Have you had a date in your head that if you don't receive a referral by a certain date that you are pulling out.

What about a certain age of yourselves? If you don't receive a referral when you reach a certain age will you withdraw?

What about your current family situation? Do you already have children? Does that make the wait easier or harder? Does it make you want to pull out or stay in?

We are looking at an additional 5 year wait from NOW - unless something drastically changes - for our daughter from China. This is certainly NOT what we signed up for.

Would you - if able - pursue a concurrent adoption and have your child from China be the second child instead of the first child?

I just have so much rambling on in my head right now.