Happy 8 month LID to Me!

Honestly, it doesn't seem possible that I have been waiting for 8 months. I know I said this last month, but when I began I was told to expect a 12-14 month wait. Later they extended it to 16 months and even then I could still conceptualize it. Now....I have no freakin' idea. They have been talking of a speed up after the new year, but even if they start processing 15 LID each month that still puts me at 2 years. Even if I hadn't learned it before this adoption, certain things are just out of my hands and no amount of stressing, yelling or hair pulling is going to make any difference.

My day was going really well until I got home. I received a statement from 5th3rd Bank (what a dumb name for a bank) saying that I was being fined a $33 overdraft fee. I got online and looked into my account and even with the overdraft fee I still had nearly $100 in my account. What the heck? I called the 800 number that linked me to somebody somewhere in the world (why I can't I just call the bank and have them deal with it...can you tell I'm feeling pissy?) and she attempted to explain how I can be fined even though I had the money in my account prior to my mortgage payment and still had money in my account following the withdrawal. Anyway, I waited until she said she would waive the fee before telling her what I think of her bank and then I told her I was going to look into having my accounts moved to my local bank. She then proceeded to tell me that they all do business the same way. I was quick to tell her that I have had several loans with my local bank and have NEVER had mysterious fees applied to my account and have never had any communication issues with them. I then called my local bank (whom I have my checking account and have had 2 car loans with) to see what it would take to get it transferred. I hope I can afford it because I'm tired of all of these crazy add-on fees that were never discussed when I opened my mortgage account. Trust me, I went through my documents with a fine tooth comb before I signed and after the first time 5th3rd tried to screw me with a bogus add-on fee. Arrghh. I need to take a walk before my head pops.

If that wasn't frustrating enough I began reading my new Adoption Today magazine and one of the guest columns was written by a rep from an adoption agency here in the states making predictions about international adoptions. She anticipates that they will dry up considerably forcing parents to look in other areas. Ok, I really didn't need to hear that either. I think it is very frustrating that single women in this country aren't able to adopt infants in their own country. I was told by my SW that international adoption was the only way for a single woman to adopt because no birth mother in the US would choose to put her child with another single parent. Unless I was open to being a foster parent or adopting a special needs child I was not going to be able to adopt. With China closing the door to singles that leaves so few countries in which we can adopt. I'm actually not frustrated with the wait, not today anyway, but I am irritated that adoption options are getting fewer and fewer. What are you supposed to do when you have all this love and no one to give it to?

Tech crap and all that jaz

Ok, here are just a few of things I have heard the past few days:

• "UNIX" pardon me, but isn't that way happens when a man loses his junk?

• "virtual server" or "virtual machine" I'm glad I wasn't the bright one who asked what that was during a meeting. You know the answer? And these were the exact words: it's a pretend server/machine. Yeah.

• "push it through" Evidently this is what they say when they are loading new applications to one or more systems.
  

• "Vulcan" No kidding...this is the name of one of their servers. Would you like to guess with one of the others is called? Enterprise. Again, I'm not kidding. Sorry, boys, I'm a Star Wars fan, NOT a Star Trek fan.
  

I'll try to remember some of the other things I've heard. The meetings that involve the IT, IS, and CI (me!) teams are interesting. IT and IS does NOT speak the same language as the rest of us. Even though they all talk funny, these are some of the funniest guys I have EVER met. No kidding. I actually snorted.

Yesterday they held the annual IT cook-up and since I'm sandwiched in with the IT people I got to really really appreciate it. There were over 80 people that showed up and we were expected to judge 13 different chilis (and some side dishes and desserts). They were looking for the hottest chili, and I have to admit I was disappointed. I've decided, along with my new BFF Jason and Amber that we are going to submit a chili next year. I'm going to call it "toxic waste". I want it to be the hottest, nastiest chili ever produced. I don't even want it to taste good. I just want it to be hot. I've already involved my bro-in-law, Wes, on the project. Wes loves hot in a way that isn't healthy. So, if anyone has ideas on what I can do to hotten things up, please speak up!

I had a realization yesterday as I was sitting in my office (and try not to let one rip after all the chili and cheese I had just ingested--geez, just typing that makes me giggle). I really like the people I'm working with and I think I'm really going to enjoy my work. I'm not with the other analysts, and initially I thought that would be a problem, but one of them is not very nice and they are very intense. Instead I'm sandwiched on another floor with the informaticists, educators and IT people. I LOVE it. The guy in the next office over is too much fun. He's about my age and gets my sense of humor. Too much fun. He is also a Christian, which is a nice change from what I am used to. My office mate is Catholic and a little spit-fire. The ladies in the office to the left of me are also very funny and relaxed. They are also religious. The reason I mention that is because for the first time in my life, I have a job where I am not constantly hearing the F word. And you know what? I curse less when I don't hear it all the time. My goal was to clean up my language before MayLing comes home and I think that has a better chance of happening.

I've said several times that Select closing, although painful, was probably the best thing for me. I'm in a better working environment, I will be doing something that I enjoy (marketing had losts its zing many moons ago for me), and daycare is onsite. I will be able to have lunch with my daughter. How awesome is that?

I leave for Dallas on Sunday. You know what else is cool about this job? I have received the highest clearance EVER. When the IT guys were configuring my laptop this afternoon one actually remarked that I must have friends in high places. Sooo, I am taking my laptop with me to Dallas and I will be able to keep up on my e-mail, although if you don't mind, send it to my work address because that is a little easier. I also have internet access so I can update my blog and stay updated on yours! I think this job is going to be a very good thing for me.

I need some suggestions/feedback

Ok, so I'm not sure how to handle a situation. It's become kind of funny at this point, but I don't want my new co-workers thinking I'm a nut. I am a nut, but not the kind of nut they probably think I am. The woman that helped me get my job is a woman in my FCC group (families with children from China). She obviously knows I am adopting, but since she doesn't attend any of our meetings probably does not realize that I have kept it quiet. Well, one of the other employees came up to me and the conversation went something like this:

Her: Kathy told me that we live in the same neighborhood.

Me: Really?

Her: Yeah, she said she delivered her nursery furniture to you.

Me: Yeah, I live on XXXX Drive.

I could tell she was waiting for clarification about the furniture, but I left her hanging. When I was leaving on Friday this conversation occured with another co-worker after I told her my parents were coming for a weekend visit:

Her: So does your son enjoy spending time with his grandparents?

Me: (What the heck?!?) I don't have any kids.

Her: You don't have any kids? I thought someone said you had a son.

Me: Nope.

Her: Are you married?

Me: No.

Her: Were you ever married?

Me: No

Her: Are you dating someone? Living with anyone?

Me: No.

Her: Do you have any pets...a cat?

Me: Yeah, I have a cat.

It's actually funny when I do it live and in person. Maybe she thinks I bought the crib and changing table for my cat? Anyway, I really don't want to talk to my co-workers yet about my adoption. I was fortunate that it didn't slip out while I was working for Select because I think it would have been even more difficult to find employment. Who's going to hire someone that they think is going to take off in a year (haha) for 3 months? Anyway, any ideas how to handle it if it comes up again? I'm all ears.

CCAA Updates--Good Riddance November

I have been logged in for nearly 8 months (on Friday I will celebrate 8 months!). The CCAA has been stuck in November 2005 for most of the time I have waited. I will be thrilled beyond words when they finally get through the end of '05! Just seeing the calendar flip to '06 will be good for my soul.

Wow, getting up early is exhausting!

I've had it nice the last two months...I've gone to bed late and gotten up later. Since parking is such a huge problem, I have to get up early and get to work early so that I can find a spot. I do ok until about 1-2 pm. After that, I'm toast.

Work is going well. I don't yet have access to a lot of the programs I need access to (long story), but I've been told I will get it. It wasn't really a problem until yesterday when I ended up taking over my classroom for nurse competencies. The nurses were given a scenario (patient fall) and instructed to do an assessment, documentation, orders and physician consult within two of our programs. Well, I've never even SEEN the inside of these programs before and suddenly I'm trying to answer questions about them. When one nurse said she was having trouble printing her assessment I said,"Why don't you take me through the steps that you remember." Fortunately when we walked through it together it brought it back so she could do it herself. I'm signed up for 4 more competencies (8a-2pm) so I hope I have access by the time I do the next one. I already have so many meetings and appointments to go to that I have had to start writing them down.

I have my first training seminar set up in Dallas. I have never been to Dallas so I'm pretty psyched. I'll be traveling down with another co-worker, but we will be in different training seminars so I won't see much of her.

I was told to personalize my office any way I wanted so I am shopping for paint. I want something bright and am leaning towards red (yes, red) and a bright green. My office mate and I both agree that bright is the way to go. The pastels would be too sedating for both of us and according to my office mate "Purple makes you crazy." We are going to go with a retro theme of some sort. So, if anyone out there reading this has a small fridge (like a dorm fridge) that you'd like to get rid of, please leave a comment. Or, if you have anything else you'd like to pawn off on us, please let me know.

I'm tired. I took a 2 hour nap this afternoon. I forgot how much working takes it out of me. I'm sure the early hours aren't helping much. I'll try to update again soon.

PS--I got MayLing waitlisted for the daycare. Yeah!!!! I have been dreading this for so long, but it was an easy decision once I got hired here.

Did ya miss me?

Well, did you? I thought it would feel strange going back to work after 2 months off, but it really doesn't. I'm not anxious. I'm sleeping fine. I have far less time now and check my e-mail far less. I need to get to bed since I'm getting up so early now, but I just wanted to let you all know that things are going great and they have really thrown out the welcome mat. I have never felt more welcome, actually. They had a card waiting for me yesterday with a message from everyone on the team welcoming me to the group. When my boss finally found me (I felt very popular yesterday) she hugged me. Yep, I was shocked too. I have never had a boss hug me. But coming from Suzy it didn't feel artificial--she seems like a very genuine person and it is obvious that everyone likes her. I do hope that they will keep her in that position because right now she is only interim director.

Other big news...Lisa Ling was in town today to present a lecture and I attended the lecture. It was free and the theatre filled up fast. EVERY China adoptive parent reading this knows Lisa from her National Geographic documentary "The Lost Girls of China". She really is incredible. I felt like a dork for not knowing she was on "The View". Give me a break, I work for a living and don't watch daytime crap. Well, even when I wasn't working I still didn't watch daytime crap. I will try to talk more about it tomorrow when I have more time. Bloomington is an amazing little town. Last week Jeff Daniels was here to perform during Lotus (yes, the Dumb and Dumber Jeff Daniels) and the Dali Lami is coming back to town in a few weeks. Before you get all excited about that, the Dali's family lives here and he comes home every year or so. Just between the two of us, the Dali may be a holy man, but his family is full of quacks. I'm not kidding. His sister-in-law called me a Mennonite! I had to look it up because I wasn't even sure what the insult meant. One of the Dali's nephews is a real troll. He owns some rental properties in town and his tenants always complain about him. You'd think a "holy" man would have a more wholesome family. Or perhaps being only once removed from fame gives people the false sense of "my sh** don't stink". And yes, I realize my verb tense is incorrect but I'm keepin' it real over here. Jeez, I think I need some sleep.

1st Day!

Today was my first day back into the work force since I lost my job at Select. Speaking of Select, I was officially terminated exactly one week ago. It was a pretty dull day, and that's a good thing compared to yesterday. Following church I ate Thai food with Rhonda, but I think I had food poisoning. Without going into too much detail I'll just say that I was up quite late and I wasn't sure I would make it to work at all!
Tomorrow will feel more like my first day since it will be my first day working with my new peers. I'll probably get my office and desk assignment and start testing out of some of the computer courses. I'm sure I'll have more to report then! I'm sure you guys will miss my near daily progress reports...I'm not sure I'll be as faithful once I start working full-time, but hopefully I'll still have something interesting to share every day.
Here is a picture of my name badge...I guess this makes it official! I had to clock in today for the first time in 8 1/2 years! I hope I can remember this everyday.