The Dream Team

I'm a Princess!

2010-02-11T08:21:00.002-05:00

Lest any of us forget, Izzie is a princess. Consider the conversation over breakfast:

Me: You done with your bagel, babe?
Her: I'm not a babe. I'm a princess.
Me: Yes, I know you're a princess but you will always be my baby girl.
Her: No. I'm Princess Izzie!

Behind The Scenes

2010-02-05T10:51:00.005-05:00

I'm terrible about taking pictures, and even worse about doing anything with them once I've taken them. Thank goodness for my dad, who takes great pictures a lot and then shares them with me! Anyway, since I have been such a bad blogger and let more than a year lapse between posts and pics, I thought the best thing to do would be to post a few pics, and the stories behind them. So...

Griffin and Izzie do love each other. Griffin of course gets annoyed by his little sister though, and sometimes forbids her in his room or even on the steps leading up to his room. They both can tease each other mercilessly, and can bicker like the best of 'em. But on this day, Griffin went all out: He helped his little sis put on her Princess costume, then built an elaborate stage for thrones. One for Prince Griffin, and one for Princess Izzie.

The Kingdom

Griffin loves to make things, build things, create things. He made me a ring from a leaf, and he used various Izzie toys to make creatures. See for yourself...

A lovely Ring

The Pizza Critter

A Bear

Christmas was amazing this year. My mom and dad and brother spent Christmas Eve at our house, and we went to an amazing Christmas Eve service at our church. Griffin was in the Nativity play; this year he was one of the Wise Men. My parents bought the kids a great book by Mrs. Clause, and she answers kids' questions about Santa. It is a great book and loads of fun! Here they are reading it:

Story Time

Cheers,
Beth

Oh My My

2010-01-27T16:43:00.005-05:00

It has been so long since I've posted. And so much has happened. Izzie is almost 3! Griffin is 7 1/2. I turned 45, but of course admit to only being 39. I got laid off from my job in May 2009. I was out of work for a long time, looking for anything and everything, trying to get the freelance gig going again. I interviewed and almost got a job in Seattle, which would have meant moving. I didn't want to move. I didn't have to. Freelance work is now picking up.
Griffin is now half-way through second grade and is doing great! He reads amazingly well, and is a whiz at math. Science is still his love, and he continues to mix potions and create new whiz-bangs. Upstairs now is a contraption FOR ME that says in magnets "I love you," has a button that when pressed shines a light on those words, has a lego robot thing that moves when you pull a lever, and more! His mind is always working.
Izzie is talking up a storm. She has so many words, most with their own flavor. Griffin is Pippin, Gabby is bappy, mostly I'm mommy but sometimes I'm Beff. When watching her princess movies (yes, she loves princesses, especially Ariel) she is fond of commenting on the evildoer, saying, "her is mean." She is almost potty trained, but this girl has a mind of her own! She loves to sing and dance. She'll belt out songs all the time, will close her eyes and sing softly than boom out a note with her version of a vibrato. Where does she get that???? Izzie is in preschool three days a week, and loves it! She's still tiny, but has the biggest heart.
I'm good, happy that I'm still able to work from home so I can be with my children. I'm constantly hoping and praying for more balance, more peace, more zen, more contentment, more patience. I joined the YMCA and we love it. This summer, when I had no work, I went to the Y four times a week and it was fun to get in shape. Mostly I did spinning, which I love. I started running. I actually ran a 5K! It is nothing short of a miracle for me... I've never been able to run more than a mile my entire life, even when I was super-fit as a high school and college gymnast. Alas, my freelance work has picked up (this is a good thing, of course!) and I've slacked off. I need to figure out my new schedule that has little definition, since work comes in fits and spurts. I need to lose more weight and stay in shape, largely because of health reasons. I need to be healthy for my children!!! I just need to lose that 10-20 pounds. I'm hopeful.
We went skiing recently, with a dear college friend, her husband, and her son. We had a blast! Griffin is doing parallel turning down the beginner slopes. Izzie even skiied. She did not like it at first, when I first put that boot on her. I bribed her with candy. She loves candy, and so...
After her first trip down the bunny hill (I had her in between my skis and held on to her) she got a huge smile and shouted "anin anin anin" (again again again). It was too cute. I'm closing with a few pics from our trip. I do hope I get back to blogging regularly.

Happy Birthday!

2008-12-05T16:42:00.005-05:00

The Shopping Spree Heard 'Round the World

2008-10-23T12:13:00.001-04:00

Here's my own little political joke:

Hot red leather jacket and other sophisticated, vogue outfits from Neiman Marcus: $75,063

Black suede stiletto boots and other sophisticated, vogue outfits from Saks Fifth Avenue: $49,426

Damage to Palin’s folksy, joe-schmoe image (not to mention the RNC’s, and McCain-Palin campaign’s image): PRICELESS

The Busy Life

2008-10-21T10:17:00.004-04:00

I cannot believe I haven't posted in more than three months. On the other hand, I can. If you notice, my last post was in early July. I hadn't been back to work very long. Griffin hadn't started first grade yet. Summer coasted along reasonably well, although my life was considerably more hectic once I went back to work. But when school started the end of August... WHAM! I don't know why school makes for more busy, but it does. And Griffin started Cub Scouts. WHAM again! And we've been fighting a redistricting proposal that would move Griffin to a different school. Anyway, it has been busy, busy, busy. But, for updates. Griffin is doing fantastic in first grade. He is reading now and is a great speller. He does really well in math too. His obsession and love of science still rules the day. I bought him some Magic School Bus videos and he watches them over and over and over. He learned to ride a two-wheeler. We haven't ridden our bikes to school yet because he still struggles with the starts and stops, but soon we will. I got a bike seat for Izzie and so soon we'll all ride together to school. Speaking of Izzie, she is doing fabulously. I really can tell that she's blossoming and it's almost as if a little weight and sadness has been lifted from her body. Adjusting to a new life and new family hasn't been easy for her, even though she's always been a happy, sweet little girl. But now her spark really sparkles, her smiles are more spontaneous, and she just looks more content and comfortable among us, with us, in our home. She has a few words: done, hi, bye, duck, yes, and she tries to say other words. She carries on little conversations and carries her purse, cell phone and baby around all the time. I'll do my darndest to post again soon. There's lots to talk about.

Fabuloso Fiesta!

2008-07-03T10:49:00.005-04:00

My neighbors and I celebrated our Guatemalan babies this past weekend. We had a fiesta to honor Izzie's homecoming and F.'s 2nd birthday. F. came home from Guatemala about a year and a half ago. He is so adorable and I just know he and Izzie are going to be great friends. We invited lots of friends and neighbors to the fiesta, and I think everyone had so much fun. We also used the opportunity to raise money for our agency, which continues to support orphanages several places around the world, including Guatemala. These orphanages struggle, so contributions from people like us are so very critical. Now, I'll share a few photos from the FIESTA!

Oh, and Happy 4th of July!!

He Blinds Me With His Science

2008-06-26T10:52:00.003-04:00

This morning, when I dropped Griffin off at Science camp, the camp instructor walked him to the door, saying: Let's skip there! Griffin enthusiastically began his "skip"... a half-run, half-walk with a little bounce of his body at the start of each step. In one hand, he was holding onto his rocket that he bought home from camp yesterday to finish decorating; in the other, his lunch bag containing a snack. His "almost skip" was the best thing I've seen in awhile. I want to sear it in my memory, to call upon it whenever I'm sad or overwhelmed or worried. It was so precious.

The morning started off with a little humor from my little scientist. Griffin: Mom, do you know what Gabby's (the pup) favorite vitamin is? Me: No. What? Griffin: A BITA-min.

Too funny. I'm sure that joke's been told somewhere sometime by somebody, but my amazing little guy had never heard it and thought it up all on his own, while finishing breakfast. I love him with all my heart.

Cheers,
Beth

One Week

2008-06-21T11:56:00.003-04:00

Okay, so it wasn't terrible being back at work. Our new nanny is great, and even though Izzie cries still as soon as she arrives, she's quickly over it since the nanny is so sweet to her and plays with her all the time. Griffin had a week of gymnastics camp -- which he LOVED! -- and next week is science camp, and then he gets full attention from the nanny in the afternoons too, so he has had a good time as well! I'm at home, so I get to see their sweet faces a lot, and I can get a kiss and hug any time too!
It's Saturday now, and it's a rainy, stormy morning so far. We need the rain, but geez, I wish it could have rained during the week instead of on my day off! To boot, Griffin started complaining of a headache last night, and now has a slight fever. He's asleep now, and Izzie's been napping for about 45 minutes. So, our Saturday will be an indoor one. And low-key. I hope to be able to run some errands this afternoon, as we are preparing for the big Welcome Home party next weekend for Izzie. My neighbors, who adopted a little boy from Guatemala a year and a half ago, and I are having a Fiesta! celebrating Izzie's homecoming and their little boy's second birthday. We've invited a bunch of folks from the neighborhood, plus other friends and family. We are going to have a taco bar, margaritas, and more! It'll be fun.
I better go before children awake. Here's a few fun photos from the last few weeks!

Work Looms

2008-05-28T20:53:00.003-04:00

On June 16, I officially go back to work. Now, I know I shouldn't whine. I work for a great company and have a great boss who is very supportive... and most fantastic -- I work from home! And I'll have a nanny here, so Izzie will be here with me, albeit in the next room. Griffin, too, will be in and out (here and at various science, golf, swim, and vacation bible school camps). But oh have I enjoyed playing stay-at-home mommy for the last three months. I wish and wish and wish it could go on for a longer period of time. I wish I could win the lottery (guess I'd have to buy those little tickets!?!). I love the freedom and flexibility staying at home gives me. Laundry can get done, or it can wait because the beach or park beckons. Dinner can be a frozen pizza or something much more elaborate, and can be on the table by 5:30 so evenings can progress at a much more relaxed pace. Cups of coffee in the morning while Izzie happily plays with her toys, trips to the grocery store that are easy and whenever, walks in the neighborhood... and on and on. Sure it isn't perfect, but it is wonderful. Ah well, I am extremely blessed to have had these three months!!! Now, a few photos...

Bro and Sis

Dancing Queen

Sweet Sleep

Nina Bonita

Wotr Snacs aka Water Snakes

p.s. The snakes aren't real, but I did cave in to the boy's request for a Hermit Crab. Crabby, as the little fellow is affectionately called, moved in two days ago. So our family of four is now five: Mommy, Griffin, Izzie, Gabby, and Crabby.

Turning One

2008-05-21T09:09:00.005-04:00

Happy Birthday Izzie! Our sweetness turned one on April 23 (sorry my post is so belated, she's now almost 13 months old!) Some of the milestones: she's taking her first steps, she gives kisses, she has about 13 teeth!, she has the start of a few words... hi/hey, leche.
She's fiercely independent, but prefers to be in the same room as others and not alone. She has a fiesty sense of humor. The other day, she reached into the dog's water bowl and I said "No No No Izzie." She stopped, then reached again but instead of putting her hand in the bowl she pulled it back, turned to me and grinned. Then, she did it again, as if to say... "tee hee hee mommy, look what I'm about to do. Ha ha! Just joking. Had you fooled, didn't I?"
She loves Griffin, who in turn loves her. He loves to make her laugh and giggle. He loves to play with her in the bath tub. And he loves to be the one that gets to teach her about things: "No No Izzie, don't pull the dog's tail. That will hurt the dog." or "No No Izzie, it is dangerous to climb up on the bed."
Griffin of course is also exhibiting typical brother behavior. He's declared a portion of the room they share together as 'his side,' in which Izzie is not allowed.
All in all, things are fabulous! Hectic, yes, but fabulous!
On a separate note, there are still many families waiting to complete their adoption processes and to bring their children home. The Guatemala system is hitting snag after snag. Please pray for everyone involved... that God will lift up the families and children as they endure this wait, that God will inspire the hearts of those running the show to put the children first and set aside their different political and idealogical agendas, and that God will change the hearts of those that have acted at best unethically and at worst criminally as they worked in adoptions.
I'll leave you with some super cuteness!

My first birthday cupcake tastes great and wears well!

Hosiery - More fun than a bag of toys!

Puppy Love!

A day at the beach.

Izzie's world-famous yoga pose: One-Arm Volcano Pose!

The most handsome mug at Wrightsville Beach!

The Amazing Izzie

2008-04-21T20:30:00.005-04:00

She is pure love.

I know it has been an eon since we reported we were going to Guatemala to bring Izzie home. I had every intention of getting her picture up and letting you all know all is well. It is. Beyond well. We are all adjusting and settling and falling in love. Griffin is such a super big brother. His favorite thing about Izzie: "She's a baby!" And what he likes about having a baby sister: "When she is happy, I can make her giggle."
Izzie giggles and smiles a lot! She is such a happy, sweet girl. I will write more and post more pictures, but here are a few. We are very busy, and having a blast!

Here Comes Mary Isabela!!!

2008-02-26T21:48:00.003-05:00

We got the incredible news today... on March 11 we are to be at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala for sweet Izzie's Visa appointment. One day later, we'll have her U.S. Visa. We're flying to Guatemala City on March 9, and will return on March 16.
On March 16, 2008, Mary Isabela Bacheldor will become a U.S. citizen, and be with her forever family. We are so excited. Beyond words. I will write more in the next few days; plans about our trip, thoughts for Izzie's foster family and for her birthmother. And my promise to this sweet baby girl, my daughter.
For now I leave you with this photo: Mary Isabela's mommy and brother toasting her sweetness. We love you Izzie!!!

I'm Coming Home Soon!

2008-02-15T17:36:00.004-05:00

More good news... the DNA sample was taken, and I expect that the lab will begin processing the test next week!!!! I'm hoping it only takes a week (the test can take anywhere from a few days to 10 days, from what I understand), and that the results are back in the hands of the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala by early in the week of Feb. 25. I also got new pictures today of sweet Izzie. She is the cutest ever, even when she is looking wistful and perhaps even a bit sad, as in this little picture. I still am pinching myself over and over that this wonderfully sweet-natured, beautiful baby girl is my daughter!

Anaranjado!

2008-02-14T08:11:00.002-05:00

More exciting news to report. As of now, I am officially, legally, wonderfully, and HAPPILY Mary Isabela's mommy!!!! I got a call from my agency last night and Izzie now has a modified birth certificate and Guatemalan passport with my last name on it. The final adoption decree has been issued. And the U.S. Embassy has authorized the final DNA test, a test that will compare Izzie's DNA with the sample that was taken when she was just a few months old. The sample (using a cotton swab on her cheek) will be taken by a U.S.-approved embassy doctor, likely by week's end. Then the sample will be sent to a U.S. lab for testing, and the results will be overnighted back to the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala. From there, embassy officials review the results and then make an appointment for me and Izzie to be at the embassy, so she can receive her U.S. Visa to travel into the U.S.!!!! We really are on the home stretch. Hallelujah! We still won't know when we'll travel (until we get the e-mail from the U.S. Embassy telling us when our appointment is) but it could very well be the week of March 10!!!

Oh, and anaranjado is "orange" which is what is referred to for DNA Authorization. When we get our embassy appointment, that's rosado "pink."

It is really time to get all the last-minute stuff done on my list. Izzie will be home soon!

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

Did You Hear The Good News?

2008-02-08T13:49:00.001-05:00

We're OUT!

Finally, after about 125 days, PGN put its stamp of approval on Izzie's adoption. Her family -- mommy, Griffin, Papa, Grams, Uncle Todd, and Gabby the Pup -- are overjoyed.

In about six to eight weeks (maybe a tad longer, maybe a tad less), we'll be traveling to Guatemala to bring our sweet Mary Isabela home!!!

International adpotion according to...

2008-02-06T10:41:00.000-05:00

John Stossel. And he's GOT IT RIGHT!

Okay, in full disclosure, I don't always ultimately agree with Mr. Stossel, but I generally do find myself impressed with the arguments he makes. He often offers up a compelling case on a variety of topics.

But here, with regards to international adoption and in particular, adoption in Guatemala, Mr. Stossel hit the proverbial nail on the head. Here are just a few pointed snippets from his op-ed:

... a UNICEF representative who huffed to The New York Times that adoption "has become a business instead of a social service."
Oh, yes, everyone loves "social service." But when adoption was a government-run social service in Guatemala, the results were disastrous.

and this:

Guatemala is one of the more corrupt nations in the world, 111th out of 179 countries, says Transparency International.
Even if the new bureaucracy isn't corrupt, there's little chance it will process adoptions as quickly as the brokers did because without profit, it has no incentive to move the kids through the cumbersome adoption process. When other countries have put adoption in government hands, adoptions slowed or stopped. Paraguay went from sending more than 400 kids to the U.S. in 1996 to sending zero in 2006.
That's a tragedy.

To read the op-ed in its entirety, go here.

Take that, Unicef!!!!

Small Joys

2008-02-01T15:02:00.000-05:00

I've said before that life with my dear sweet Griffin is what's shored up my fragile sanity during this adoption process. Here are just two small examples of how:

Last week, I suggested we go to Bowling Night, which was being sponsored at the local bowling alley by his school. Now Griffin has never been bowling in his life, but that didn't curb his enthusiasm. After numerous yelps of joy, my son hopped up and down in a circle, blowing kisses over and over and over. I asked, "What are you doing?" His response: "I'm kissing my life!"

Fast foward to today, when I picked him up from school. Here's a snippet of our conversation about our puppy, Gabby, the mixed-up black lab who we think has a lot of cocker spaniel in her blood.
Griffin: "Why doesn't Gabby look like us?"
Me: "Because she's a puppy and puppies don't look like people."
Griffin: "Why didn't God make puppies look like people?"
Me: "God made us all look different. That's what makes life interesting. Imagine if everyone and everything looked the same. Or there was only one color. What if everything was the same color? Wouldn't that be boring?"
Griffin: "Yeah. What if everything was black."
Me: "Yeah, that would be boring. And dark. Our house would be black, the grass would be black. The flowers, our car, the sky. Everything."
Griffin: "Yeah. That wouldn't be good. EVEN IF BLACK IS SO TRENDY."

Turning Blue

2008-01-25T17:09:00.001-05:00

It is hard holding your breath for 3-plus months. But that is what I feel like I've been doing. Ever since I got to hold her sweetness and hear her laugh and snuggle up with her in October, I've been holding my breath, waiting to bring her home.

Of course, I do get the requisite breaths needed to sustain life, but honestly, I'm not really breathing...

So I'm tossing up a prayer that we'll soon get Izzie home. I want to hear that we've gotten PGN approval. Then I want to hear that the final decree has been issued, and that the birth certificate and new passport have been completed. Then, that the DNA test has been conducted and processed and then that the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala has received the results and given us a Visa appointment date. I would like that date to be in March, or sooner!!

I would like all this so I can breathe. And so that I can hold her sweetness again and forever.

The View of The Room

2008-01-10T09:59:00.000-05:00

Maybe because I'm feeling more optimistic (and because some posters on an adoption thread started a discussion about what their babies' rooms look like), I thought I'd post a pic of my kids' room.

There's still work to be done, but it's nearly complete. We even hung a sweet chandelier in the alcove where Izzie's changing table/dresser is (you can't see it in this picture). And I still have some artwork to hang in there. But I really like it. It is cheerful -- a mish-mash of bright colors: hot pink, yellow, orange, red, sea blue, blue, lime green -- that I think mesh well together but give each child their own personal area.

They will be sharing a space for sleeping and keeping clothes in, but the playroom is upstairs. Of course, I suspect there will be many a night in which one or more of the kids will end up in my bed. Griffin still does on occasion, and sometimes for a treat on a weekend night he gets to fall asleep in my bed with me, as we watch HGTV. I do plan to co-sleep with Izzie if it helps with her attachment and adjustment. I co-slept with Griffin and am a big attachment parenting fan. There has been some good news from Guatemala... it looks like they are making progress on setting up this Central Authority. And I am still seeing cases being approved by PGN so I suppose they are doing some work. But there's still a lot of questions to be answered.

On a sad note, my dear friend lost her mother this week. I attended the funeral on Tuesday, and it was a lovely service for a lovely, beautiful woman. I am praying for the family, especially for my friend's father (he and his beloved wife were married for 60 years!), and for my friend who will miss her sweet mother so much.

peace,
Beth

In The New Year

2008-01-07T09:24:00.000-05:00

It is 2008, and lots will happen. Izzie will come home, I truly believe. And I'm hoping sooner than later. Griffin turns six! Now that is amazing. My dear friend Amy will have her third child. We'll elect a new president! And so much more... It will be a very good year, I believe.
Izzie's file was resubmitted Dec. 20th, thank God. I found out the same time rumors were swirling that since the new law took effect (Dec. 31) PGN was no longer accepting new cases nor allowing current cases to be resubmitted after they were kicked out. There are plenty of questions remaining about the process of grandfathering, but apparently we are supposed to hear some news this week (more rumors, but I'm crossing my fingers!)
This has to be quick update, as I've got tons to do today. Izzie never leaves my thoughts, and this wait to bring her home is definitely taxing my emotions. But the sweet Griffin boy constantly rejuvenates me, as does the support of my amazing parents, brother, and friends.
Here's to 2008!

Tears

2007-12-18T23:26:00.000-05:00

I got word this morning that once again, our file has been kicked out of PGN. The reasons are completely absurd, and are easily fixed, according to my agency. But they will take some time, and it will be a miracle if we can get the new requests from PGN taken care of before the new year. I am so sad. Beyond words. Now, I just am praying that Izzie will be home before her first birthday.

I will post more later, but for now, my heart is too heavy.

Good News...

2007-11-13T11:29:00.000-05:00

We are back in PGN, which means that once again our file will move along in the process. Hopefully this time instead of another kick-out the next bit of news will be approval!!!
Also, there's been rumblings of movement among the Guatemalan Congress, which seems to be searching for a better solution than to enact a law that in effect may very well stop adoptions on Jan. 1, 2008... including in-process cases such as mine. We are cautiously optimistic.

peace,
Beth

The Dream Team

2007-11-07T18:18:00.000-05:00

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Spook With No Face!

2007-11-02T10:11:00.000-04:00

Look what was scarying everyone and everything on Halloween in Wilmington! Chills... spooky... eek... ahhhhhh... RUN!

Griffin was quite the scary ghoul. He proudly went around knocking on doors trying to scare everyone. Of course, his sweet heart wouldn't allow for endless scares. After their initial fright, he'd quickly peel off his mask to show them that really, he wasn't a ghoul but a Griffin!

I love my boy.

She's All That!

2007-10-30T17:04:00.000-04:00

The Amazing Izzie. She really is. My mom and I fell in love with her precious heart. She really is the sweetest, gentlest, loving-est, cutest, beautiful-est, cuddliest, darling-est baby girl ever! Our visit in Guatemala with Mary Isabela was perfect (except of course we had to say goodbye.) She did really well considering she had to stay in a hotel room for three days with two complete strangers... who of course are her mommy and her abuela who love her so so so so much. At first she wasn't sure she wanted us to give her a bottle, and the foster mother (who is great!) was worried Izzie might not drink her bottle. She wouldn't look at me when I gave her the bottle, and would slowly drink it down. By the middle of the second day though she started to trust us, and by the third day all was well. She slept with me in the big bed, after my three unsuccesful attempts the first night to get her to sleep in the crib. Trouble is, I'm so short that I could not lay her down in the crib very easily (this was a very simple hotel crib and the sides did not come down). Three times poor Izzie would be sound asleep in my arms and then I'd go try and lay her in the crib, and it was pretty much gentle, gentle, gentle... then almost a free-fall! the last six inches as I tried desperately to lay her down as softly as I could manage. She'd of course wake up, eyes frantically looking around to find out who rudely awakened her from her slumber, then pucker up her sweet bow of a mouth into a big cry. I told my mom, enough is enough. I'm a veteran co-sleeper (Griffie slept with me for his first few years) and so we pushed the bed up against the wall, took all the big blankets off and she laid next to me and slept so sweetly. I actually loved the opportunity as I think it was a great way for us to bond.
I told my mom that for Izzie, it was probably a bit like a baby spa... three days of two ladies attending to her every want and need, holding her all the time, playing with her, fully focused on her, talking to her. For us it was heaven.

BUT

Leaving her in Guatemala was very, very hard, and it makes the wait now seem even harder. Especially since today I got bad news: we got a previo this week from PGN, which means that our file was kicked out. In our case, it was for a minor technicality. Apparently PGN didn't think the photocopy of the birthmother's birth certificate was dark enough so they kicked the file out. UGH!!! Now our attorneys have to go back to the province where the birthmother is from to get a new (darker) photocopy of the birthmother's birth certificate because it has to be stamped from the powers-that-be in that province. This is on the West coast of Guatemala, so they have to drive several hours to take care of this. Hopefully we will get resubmitted to PGN early next week. Needless to say, this delays our case because typically your case is going to take at least 8 weeks to get through PGN, and every time you get a previo, that 8-week countdown starts over. With the Christmas holidays coming up, it is now very likely that we won't get approval from PGN before the new year. That is not good news.

Please keep us in your prayers.

Two Days! Too Excited!

2007-10-17T09:20:00.000-04:00

I can hardly work. I can't believe in two days I will finally get to meet in person her sweetness. I have a ton of things to do between now and the flight early Friday morning, but the only stuff I want to do is that which is related to our trip to see Izzie. Writing stories about RFID is very challenging at the moment.

Of course I have the typical angst of leaving my precious Griffin, and every time I think about leaving him tears well up in my eyes. I am such a wuss. But I love him to the moon and back and around the world a million, million, million, million times, and more than that even! I wish he could come with me and my mom, but he (and my dad and mom) will make the trip to bring Izzie home, hopefully in December.

Please keep us in your prayers that we have a safe journey, and that the ongoing adoption crisis in Guatemala resolves, and that Izzie and the thousands of other babies can join their forever families.

Adios. I'll post new pics when we return.

The Final Review

2007-10-09T20:25:00.000-04:00

I've gotten word that our file is now in the hands of PGN, the Procuraduria General de la Nacion. PGN is the Guatemalan agency that will review all the paperwork on me, Izzie, and her birth mother (we've already been reviewed by the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, and the Guatemalan Family Court). Word is that PGN is averaging about two months, if you have no kickouts (the so-called previos). Those are given when the PGN reviwer doesn't like something he or she sees in the file. If there's a kickout, the attorneys have to fix the issue, the resubmit the file, where it starts again at the beginning of the queue. And the average two-month clock starts ticking again.

So, our file was submitted on Oct. 5. Two months from now will be Dec. 5 -- my birthday. What a grand birthday present it would be to receive PGN approval. Of course, I'd love to get an early birthday present!

In the near-term, my mother and I are headed to meet Izzie in less than two weeks!

Peace,
Beth

Time

2007-10-01T10:41:00.000-04:00

Really, where does the time go? Griffin started kindergarten the last week of August, and it has been unbelievably non-stop busy since.

He has homework every night. He is learning so quickly. He walks around the house all the time talking about letters and letter sounds and words and numbers and shapes. He loves it.

Izzie's adoption continues to move along, and we continue to receive new pics, new videos, and doctor reports. She is amazing and beautiful and precious. She is five months old now. On Sept. 24, we got pre-approval (PA) from the U.S. government, which basically is their approval that we can adopt this specific bundle of love... Mary Isabela. Now, we will wait for the Guatemalan government to give us approval.

But back to time. Apparently now, time is running out. Guatemalan President Berger is threatening to make changes to the adoption process, to take effect Jan. 1, 2008, that could very will put a stop to all adoptions between Guatemala and the U.S., including ours. It is unbelievably scary. Forces are at work to try and change this. There are many fighting the cause. Because if Berger has his way, thousands of children, including Izzie, would end up in limbo because they have already been relinquished by their birth parents and are waiting to join their forever families. And the Guatemalan government has no money or resources to care for these children. And thousands more will never have the opportunity to find forever families if adoptions shut down. It is indeed very tragic, both for us personally and for humanity. Please pray, or chant, or yell, or meditate, or dance, or whatever method you choose to help prevent this from happening. And if you can, go to these two links and do some more:

Petition

Guatemala 5000 Initiative

Finally, I'll leave you with a sweet Izzie smile.

Peace,
Beth

Izzie Visit

2007-08-16T10:11:00.000-04:00

We are planning to visit her sweetness in October, and I can't wait! She is growing and changing so fast, reflected in a new batch of photos we received just the other day. My mom is planning to go with me, and while I'd love to go for a week, we'll probably only go for a few days. I want to save up as much time off to spend with Izzie when we're able to bring her home forever! Anyway, isn't she too adorable?!?

Major Hurdle Cleared!

2007-08-08T11:09:00.001-04:00

We got the results back from the DNA test Izzie had with her birthmom, and all is good. It feels really good to have that hurdle cleared. Now, our adoption file will be submitted to the U.S. Embassy for review, and hopefully in 50-60 days the powers that be will grant us pre-approval. We're looking at early October. And that's the month my mother and I are thinking about going to visit her sweetness. Once pre-approval, or PA, is granted, then our adoption file gets submitted to the Guatemalan government agency (aka PGN) that will review our case. That'll take a few more months.

I have to say it really broke my heart looking at the DNA results paper. There's a polaroid photo of Izzie and her birthmom, who despite being only 19 looks much older. I'm sure... life in Guatemala is not easy, and being so young, and single, and having to relinquish your child, must surely steal away the bliss and beauty of youth. But I hope in Izzie's birthmom's heart, there is a sliver of peace. Because Izzie is so very loved, by so very many. Already and always.

In addition to the photo, there are two thumbprints: A big one, Izzie's birthmom's, and a tiny, tiny one, Izzie.

And finally, in the photo, Izzie is wearing the little dress I sent her. Her foster mommy put the dress on I'm sure specifically for the very important day. So there Izzie was, in the lap of her birthmom and wearing a dress from her mommy.

Godspeed to bring her home.

DNA Test Done!

2007-07-19T10:07:00.000-04:00

We got word that Izzie had her DNA test done on July 13, as expected. Her bio mom came to the appointment, and she also had her first Family Court interview. It was great to hear that those two events happened. I am so thankful that Izzie's bio mom has so far been strong enough to continue through with all the necessary appointments. I can only know how I would feel, and I am not sure I would have her strength and conviction to see it all through. I believe that it is love and faith that is shoring her up, and that is what I will share with Izzie about her bio mother. Izzie may not be able to understand it until she becomes a mother herself, but the story of her bio mother's bravery, love, conviction, and faith will be the story I tell her.

I do not really know what Izzie's bio mother feels or thinks. I cannot speak truths of fact, but only truths of faith...

Now we are waiting for the DNA results to come back, which is probably the quickest sub-process in this larger, lengthy adoption process. I expect will get the results in the next few weeks. By the way, once we do, we can go and visit sweet Izzie!

As for my other sweet baby -- Griffin -- he has only 8 more days 'til he turns FIVE! Amazing. We are having a joing b-day party with his buddy Riley, who turns five just four days after Griffin. I've got to go and get my little man's b-day presents. I know my parents bought him an ant farm, something he has been wanting for a long time. So, I guess we will soon have pet ants in the house. That is not necessarily something I relish, so let's just hope this little ant home on the range is super secure, and that no little six-legged creatures escape the joint. I am going to get Griffie some stuff for his PlayMobil castle, and also a new lunch bag for school. I also got him a book and a pencil case for school.

Well, time to get crackin' on work.

Cheers,
B

Smiles

2007-07-10T10:10:00.000-04:00

We got some new pictures of Izzie yesterday and she is all smiles. Griffin took one look at the picture and said "I love you!" Of course then he asked, "Mommy, why are you so curious about her?" He loves using the word curious. He also loves using other big words--and made-up words--whenever he can. One of his long-time favorite made-up words is smugg, which in Griffin Dictionary means to smoosh or squeeze, as in "I smugged up the paper." Or "Don't smugg up the cookie." This morning, he made up a new one, telling me I shouldn't kaze, which in Griffin Dictionary means to think someone isn't hurrying up, when actually they are hurrying up.

So isn't Mary Isabela so beautiful, and lovely, and sweet, and smiley, and amazing? I am sorry I'm not posting full big pics of her, but I'm reluctant to do so until we have gone through the full legal process of her adoption. As for the process, I received word about a week-and-a-half ago that the U.S. Embassy authorized DNA tests for Izzie, and her birth mom. The agency told me they expected the tests to have been done last week, but I have not heard if they were done or not. Izzie's birth mom was also supposed to have met with the Guatemalan Family Court last week. I am praying for her birth mom, as I can only imagine the sadness she feels. I pray that she has faith that her child will be well-loved and well-cared for. For she is, and will be.

Griffin turns 5 in just a few weeks, and I really can't believe my baby boy is getting so big! This is a big one. Up next, kindergarten. Where does the time go?

Speaking of time, time for me to get back to work.

Cheers,
B

Fighting Sleep and the Bug, Yet the Proceso Oficial Begins

2007-06-19T22:55:00.000-04:00

I don't need no stinkin' sleep! And she don't need no stinkin' bug!

The G man and I went to the pool today after work, and he swam and swam and swam. I thought surely that'd wipe him out and he'd fall asleep right away at bedtime. Nope. He could not get settled and so called me into his room to lay down with him for a bit. I did, and we had some good snuggle time. Then, after a few minutes I got up to go, and he started to cry. "Mommy, later on in the night can I come sleep in your bed?" I told him if he wakes up in the middle of the night and wants to, he can come sleep with me. Then I said good night. Within a minute, he was crying and calling out to me. I went in to check, and amidst his very sincere tears, he told me, "Mommy, I don't think I can do that. I can't wake up in the middle of the night. I'm afraid I won't. Can't you just come get me and carefully lift me up into your bed?" How can one say no to that? Well, I never answered yes or no. Now, he is sound asleep and I know both he and I will sleep better in our own beds. But I also know that if he is still in his bed come morning, he's gonna be some-mad at me. What to do...

We got an e-mail June 15 from our adoption agency, and the good news is that the documents have been translated and the power of attorney has been registered, which really officially starts the paperwork in Guatemala to bring home Izzie. This week the attorney will file with Family Court. We got another e-mail today, and our adoption agency let us know that poor Izzie has been sick. She went to the doctor, and luckily doesn't have strep! It is a viral infection. She apparently is on the mend. Poor thing. Griffin and I said a little prayer asking God to take care of Izzie. It is soooo hard on infants when they have stuffed-up noses and ears. I remember when Griffin was about six months old and got his first really bad cold. He was so miserable, and the only way he could get any sleep was to prop him up slightly. I put some hard pillows under his crib mattress, to give it a bit of a recline. That seemed to help, but not much. I also used a humidifier, took him into the closed bathroom, cranked the shower on HOT and held him while the warm mist filled the air. Oh, and there was the dreaded snot sucker. He would scream when I tried to unclog his nostrils. I surely didn't blame him. I'd never want anyone to stick some rubber bulbous thing up my nose to try and suction out crusty, thick, icky snot.

Well... here's to fighting sleep and fighting bugs. May Griffin get a good night's rest and may Mary Isabela get well.

Peace,
B

Precious Heart

2007-06-11T21:48:00.000-04:00

She couldn't be cuter. And so tiny. We finally received new photos and a new video of little Izzie and she is pure love. Of course, while seeing her sweetness makes me so happy, my heart also hurts. I want to scoop her up and can't. I am starting to get this thing called an emotional roller coaster when it comes to international adoption. When I received her referral, and first pictures and video, I was smitten. For days I couldn't stop thinking about her. Then, slowly... for sanity's sake and for the facts of life... I had to disconnect a bit. Her presence, while never forgotten, was less intense.
Then BAM! We get new pictures and a new video and I'm back on an Izzie High. I'm thinking we may just have to make a visit trip. I'm dreaming about her, talking to Griffin about his little sister, sharing her picture with anyone who will look.
Well, only about seven more months of this ride (if we're lucky! say your prayers that our journey to bring Mary Isabela home will be trouble-free).
Good night Izzie. We love you.

She's a Night Owl for Now

2007-05-22T19:29:00.000-04:00

At just a few days old, Izzie apparently had her nights and days mixed up. It's a common conundrum for babes, after all, it's night all the time for nine months, and they sleep and eat, kick and flip, and wave their arms and suck their thumbs and who knows what else in the calm and quiet of darkness. So Izzie sleeps all day, then wakes up when the sun goes down. She's up until 2, sleeps till 4, then is ready for a bottle! That may have changed as she is now 3 weeks old! What a gal...

Her big brother, the G man, never had his days and nights confused, really. He had a real predictable schedule. Between about 11 p.m. and 8 a.m., he'd sleep for two hours, nurse and fuss and nurse and scream and nurse and cry for an hour, sleep for two hours, nurse and fuss and nurse and cry for an hour, sleep for two hours, and on and on. During the day, he took naps, but sure enough, he nursed every two hours until he was 11 months old. I was a very tired momma.

Now, Griffin is a night owl, and sleeps in like a teenager. That boy has been known to sleep to 11 a.m.! It is good for me, who has never been a morning person.

We'll see how little Miss Mary Isabela develops her sleep patterns!

On another note, I sent a package to my agency, and they'll take it down to her next week. A few items for her, and a few thank-you items for the foster family. Everything has to fit in a gallon bag, so you see, it can't be much.

Adios for now. I've got to go clean the house.

The Name

2007-05-20T11:23:00.000-04:00

Mary Isabela

And her big brother has decided she will be called Izzie.

God bless Mary Isabela.

Baby Sister Needs A Name!

2007-05-18T21:01:00.000-04:00

Help! I feel like I'm trapped in a Berenstain Bears episode, because I refer to our sweet baby girl as baby sister. I'm trying so hard to think of the right name for her, and I'm doing it in the confines of just a few choices. I want to include my mom's name and I'd like to use something from our little girl's given name, and/or part of her birth mom's name.

So that leaves me with but a few options:

Mary Isabela
Isabela Mary
Haydee Marianne

Which way to go? The little G guy wants to call her Izzie, so his vote is for Isabela Mary or Mary Isabela. Perhaps if we went with Mary Isabela, we could instead use the nickname of Maisey, which I also like. At least two very dear friends have voted for Haydee Marianne, because Haydee is unusual, but cute.

Stay tuned...

Our Beautiful Baby Girl

2007-05-17T10:37:00.000-04:00

I cannot believe it. We have received our referral. And she is so sweet, and amazing. I can't stop looking at her beautiful face. We're still deciding on her name, so stay tuned.
Now begins the second wait, probably the toughest and longest, to bring her home. Please pray with us that it will be speedy and without problems. And please pray that our baby girl will be safe and well-cared for while she waits to come home. And finally, pray for her birth mother that she is comforted in knowing that her baby girl is already loved by so many, and that she will be a cherished daughter and sister in our family.

My Handsome Guy

2007-05-10T10:37:00.000-04:00

The G man has had to get glasses, and boy is he too handsome in them. He is doing great wearing them, although he did manage to step on them just about a week after getting them. Luckily, they didn't break. Kids' glasses ain't cheap! Anyway, let's hope that wearing the glasses will correct (or improve) the vision in his right eye. Otherwise he may have to start wearing a patch too. While he would look like his cool friend Q in his patch and glasses, I'm hoping we don't have to patch. Q wears his patch very well, but it is still a struggle (according to his mom). Okay, here's a pic of Griff with his new glasses, standing next to R2D2 and CP30 (or is it C3PO) at our post office. Griffin made me bring the camera so we could get a pic of his favorite little robot R2D2, who lives (according to Griffin) in robot land, which is a big, big desert. Does anyone remember the beginning of the first Star Wars (in order of how the movies came out) when Luke bought R2D2 and CP30, and then R2D2 ran away. That is as far as we got when watching the movie about six months ago, because Griffin got very upset and worried about R2D2 getting lost. But those 15 minutes of the movie left a big impression... and Griffin still recalls what robot land looks like.

It's true, I really was born!

2007-05-07T19:41:00.000-04:00

Finally, my birth certificate arrived, notarized, certified and authenticated. Today I put it in the hands of the US Post Office, and am keeping my fingers crossed that it'll arrive safe and sound in the Chicago Guatemalan Consulate tomorrow by noon. The USPS has tried my nerves... I talked with the Illinois authentication office last Friday, and was told that my certificate left their office on April 18. Well, instead of putting in my mail box, the USPS decided to forward it to my parents' house. In fact, much of my mail is now being forwarded to my parents' house. The USPS has even sent notices to various businesses that mail me regularly to inform them of my *new* address, so now my parents are receiving bank statements, bills, etc. -- all meant for me! AAARRRGGHHH! My parents lived here briefly while their house was being built, and then filled out forwarding address forms (each individually) so that they'd get their mail that was coming here forwarded to their new house. So now, more than four months later, the USPS has decided they should also forward all my mail to my parents. I'm highly annoyed.

Well, at least my parents live only a half-hour away, and they kindy brought my birth certificate here last night so I could get it out asap. My agency did tell me that they received my Virginia divorce papers from the D.C. Guatemalan consulate so hooray! I'm so nearly done with the dotting of i's and crossing of t's, and wrapping up the dossier.

And hopefully soon I'll get a referral. That will be amazing. It really is all amazing.

As for other news, Disney World was too much fun. I'm so glad I was able to take the G man to Disney, and that my parents were able to share it with us. G really had a blast, as did we all. At breakfast on the first day we went to Magic Kingdom, G colored a picture of Mickey M. and announced that he wanted to give it to Mickey when he saw him. It was too cute. G walked up to Mickey, handed him the pic, and gave him a big hug.

Will The Loose Ends End?

2007-04-25T22:30:00.000-04:00

I'm still awaiting the blasted birth certificate, but I was able to get a hold of the Illinois folk as they were processing my request, so now I'll not only get the certificate, it'll be authenticated too! Then it goes to the Guatamalan consulate in Chicago. The divorce certificate is in, and authenticated. But did I tell you it doesn't mention anything about me taking back my maiden name... a document that must be part of my dossier? Well, now I have to get the divorce decree from the court authenticated too. Luckily, the Virginia authentication office called today and I should have it tomorrow. Despite the confusion I had with them, they really stepped up. The woman I spoke with this evening was personally dropping it of at the Fedex drop off box. Thank you Virginia!
The most exciting news is that my agency thinks I might see a referral in the next month or so. No guarantees, but still... wow! I know that's when the big wait sets in, but it really is exciting.
Speaking of exciting, in just two days the G man and I will be on a plane to DisneyWorld. Grams and Papa are meeting us there, and we are going to have fun fun fun! Especially Griffin. He so deserves this; he really is my wonderful sweet boy. He had kindergarten assessment today. It is so hard to believe my little guy will be starting kindergarten in the fall. I'm very proud of him!
Well, I must get to work on some freelance projects I have.
Ciao for now.

The Blasted Birth Certificate

2007-04-16T13:12:00.000-04:00

So obviously the divorce decree has put a kink in my process. But how tough is it to get a birth certificate? I sent for it the first week of March, and here it is the third week of April and nada! I do hope it comes in the mail this week... or at least by early next week! Regardless, we're going to DISNEYWORLD! Yep, gotta go for a conference and thought it'd be a great opportunity to take the little monkeydoodle down there. I can't say he's overly excited about it, but I'm sure it's because he really has no concept of what Disneyworld is to kids. I'm so excited to see how much fun he is going to have. My dear parents are coming with us, and they'll watch my guy while I work at the conference during the week. It is going to be fun.

Ciao for now. I've got some serious deadlines this week!

I'm approved to be approved!

2007-04-11T09:44:00.000-04:00

Yep, I cleared the first hurdle (albeit the easiest) in our journey to bring home little sister. I got CIS approval, which came about a month before I expected. Of course I was over the moon. Now if I could get all those niggling little pieces of paper to finish their journeys for notaries, stamps, authentications, reviews, etc., etc.

I've hit one snag along the way... not realizing my divorce decree had to come from Virginia's vital records department, I got a notarized copy from the court where the divorce was granted. Then I sent it off to the Virginia state department to get authenticated, where they told me it wasn't dated so they couldn't authenticate. So I called the court, and they said, oh... you need it certified and authenticated so you can get it authenticated? Okay, we'll do that. Send us a letter... so the court in speedy order sent me a new dated, certified divorce decree. Then I was reading the form letter that the Virginia state department had sent me, and saw a spot (not checked, mind you) that said vital records that need to be authenticated must come from the vital records department. Sorry, didn't know that a divorce decree was a vital record. Apparently in the commonwealth, it is! So now I'm back to square one on the divorce document. I've sent a letter and money to the vital records department requesting a certified copy of my divorce, and asking them to send it on to the Virgina state department to authenticate. This has set me back about two weeks in getting the dossier done. I always hated that divorce.

And, I'm still waiting for my birth certificate from the middle state of Illinois. Hurry up!

Griffin is so sweet, by the way. He built me a house in the living room (using his favorite building materials, every pillow and cushion within the living room confines, plus a few step stools). This house has an upstairs and a downstairs, and a super-soft floor. He is amazing. He told me he built it just for me, using all his skills.

Adios for now. I must work.

NC off to GC, two more to go

2007-04-02T13:06:00.000-04:00

On Friday I sent off a stack of notarized and authenticated docs (all done in NC) to the Guatemalan consulate in Georgia, where they'll legalize them. I hit my first little snag with my docs (done in VA). My divorce decree from the courthouse needed to be authenticated, not certified, in order to get authenticated again by the VA state department. Go figure. So back to square one with that. Luckily the courthouse is very quick, and then I'll send the two docs to VA state department for authentication, then send those off to get authenticated again by the GC in DC. Still waiting for my birth certificate from IL, then that has to go to the GC in Chicago. Are you with me? Well, once all that is done I'll have my paperwork finished. And hopefully that'll all come together by Mayish, the same time I hope to get my CIS approval. Then sometime after that, hopefully a referral!
Now that I'm this far along in the process, I cannot stop thinking about her. I'm finding it hard to work. But work I must.
Griffin is on Spring break this week and spending lots of time with his grams and papa. He is very happy to be at their house having lots of sleepovers. Of course, it is very quiet here... and it is only 1 p.m. and they all just left a few hours ago. It is going to be a quiet lonely week. Luckily I have more than enough work and projects to keep me busy.
I'll also be anxiously checking the mail every day. Dernit, I wish my birth certificate would arrive!
Adios for now.

Decision Made... For Now

2007-03-21T21:54:00.000-04:00

I've done it. I've shushed my mind and am pursuing full-force to adopt a little girl from Guatemala. Griffin can't wait to meet his sister, and I can't wait to meet my daughter. I've been actually in the process of this adoption since late Fall, and in the past two weeks, as I was plugging away on my dossier, things seem to blow up with regards to Guatemalan adoptions. But despite all the rumors and stories and fears and on and on, my agency (whom I trust) along with other agencies, are continuing their programs. In recent days I was teetering on switching to Vietnam, but for now, I'm sticking with Guatemala. And I'm at peace with this decision. For now.

Life, a job, and other heavy stuff.

2007-02-07T22:21:00.000-05:00

I applied for a different job this week. I'm sure what I've asked for in salary is too high, but mama's gotta raise the hog, slaughter it, and cook it too. And at my age, it is really hard to go too far backwards in the pay scale. Not that I could anyway. There's the house, and the car, and the food, and the health insurance, and the heat, and the AC, and the cable, and the phone, and the cell phone in case of emergency, and the electricity, and well someone has to pick up the trash, and the newspaper, and clothes, and geez... how the h-e-double-toothpicks do people do it?

Well anyway, I applied for the job. And it could be cool. But I doubt I could work from home. Which I do now. Which I love because I'm here a lot for my little guy. But I hate because it can be lonely. Especially since there's no pig farmer coming home in the eves to keep me company.

So we'll see. And if not, perhaps I'll audit a creative writing class this summer. Perhaps I need to break out a bit. Life can't be so consumed by my current job, which while putting the bacon on the table, tends to suck the life out of me at times. Not that I'm complaining. Or am I?

Maybe there's a novel in me. Or a good non-fiction thriller. Or a kid's book. Or a how-to? Or another business, to accompany the baby boutique I currently own.

Time for bed.

Obsoletion

2006-07-14T13:01:00.000-04:00

Trust me, I'm not oblivious to the war that's breaking out in the Middle East. I've been actively following it for two days. CNN is on in the background as I write. But right now, I've got to butter my bread. Deadlines are weighing down on me, as I have to file a story about a congressional hearing on RFID.

I'll have to post commentary (not that anyone necessarily cares what I have to say) on the Middle East situation later, likely on Sunday. We're heading out of town this eve.

Just one thought though. When the fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah in Lebanon broke out, I felt angered at the idea that Israel would risk so much. Couldn't they take the higher ground? I'm not passing judgement on Isreal, but my knee-jerk reaction was "oh my god, this could escalate to all out war in that region; we have soldiers over there; Middle East instability is so dangerous for the U.S., blah blah). Then I thought how arrogant of me. Our country doesn't like it when others try and tell us what to do with regards to war. How dare we? Yeah, yeah, I'm aware of all the implications and our world role, etc. etc. But still....

Bottom line -- war sucks. for everybody.

This pretty much sums up how I feel about war:

Either war is obsolete or men are.
-R. Buckminster Fuller, July 12, 1895 – July 1, 1983, American visionary, designer, architect, and inventor.

Gotta go.

Slipping Two Steps Behind

2006-07-14T00:50:00.000-04:00

Y'know, I just missed being in that hip new group called Gen-X by one year. I'm a baby boomer. Of course, so are my parents... and yet we are a generation apart. Anyway, I couldn't help but feel like I somehow got lumped with all the fuddy-duddies (sorry mom and dad). Now I've come to find out that my generation has been pushed down the ladder another rung. There's a new generation now, with its own hip name: The Net Generation. The N-Gen. N-Geners. And I'm several years out of that group... 13 years, to be exact. Bummer.

See, the N-Gen are those folk that can't remember a time when E-mail didn't exist. Or the Web. Or gaming. They have gadgets galore, and spend gobs of time online in various chat rooms, meeting places, communities and boards. They IM. Download music to iPods and MP3 players. They blog (hey, so do I!), and Vlog. They have screen names, become avatars. This N-Gen is a wired(less) engine. But cut me some slack. I may have had an electric typewriter and be able to remember a time when faxing was very avant garde. (At my first job, the fax machine was the high-tech way we exchanged information with business partners.) Yeah, and sometimes I called my bosses and verbally gave them stories I was filing from the road. But I'll tell you what, I can't imagine not being able to surf the Web, shop online or E-mail. So even though I'm two generations behind, I still feel closer to N-Geners than Baby Boomers.

Or maybe I'm just wanting to squeeze too tight on that slippery soap called youth.

FRID

2006-07-12T11:01:00.000-04:00

I'm a writer by profession. That'd explain why this is my first blog, and I've never really kept a diary, except for that tormented time in college when I spent so many nights cryin' over a boy named Allan. I still have that journal. It is as silly as it sounds.

So, I write all day. And it's nothing super-cool (well to me, anyway). I'd love to write about architecture, or skiing, or sailing, or wars and politics and third-world countries and solving world peace. But I'll settle for pretty cool.

Right now, I'm covering RFID (I often type it too fast and it ends up as FRID, hence this blog's name). Anyway, RFID is a technology. Couldn't you tell? All technology is written in acronyms. RFID stands for radio frequency identification. For privacy freaks, RFID means tiny little spychips that spooky governments are going to inject into the nooks of all of our backs while we sleep so they can collect nanosecond by nanosecond our every move. For corporate behemoths plotting to take over the world, like Wal-Mart, RFID represents innovative new technology that'll solve the problem of an empty shelf when the Wal-Mart shopper walks down the aisle looking for fried pork skins. For the middle of the road folks looking both ways, RFID will settle in as a useful tool to help track goods, improve food and drug safety, and even provide personal security, if you want it. There's quite a few other useful applications for RFID, which by the way are tiny chips the size of a grain of rice that communicate data via RF waves.

So I write about RFID. (Now you know why I have the RFID Journal link... a very good site owned and run by my friend and employer Mark Roberti, who offered me a part-time gig to write articles every week for the online publication.) I also cover other technologies, and have for the better part of 15 years. Let's see... I was writing about networking, IBM mainframes, and a strange thing called OSI (Open Systems Interconnect... I even wrote a 120-page book on this tech topic!) before e-mail was a common form of communication. Fax was where it was at back then. I wrote about network and system management before IP was hip. Then came the Internet, the World Wide Web, and E-commerce (yep, covered 'em all). I moved on to enterprise applications, service-oriented architectures, and more.

I'm freelancing now full time, spending half of my work week covering RFID and the other half covering various and sundry technologies for various clients. I'd like to go on to other stuff, but I must be mindful of what butters my bread. I got a little one and a decent lifestyle that at 41, I'm not willing to give up.

Of course, writing full time, whatever the topic, leaves me with little incentive to ramble in a blog or write some amazing short story or >gasp!< a novel. Maybe someday.

Anyhoo, I've got to get back to the butter. And RFID.

Explosions Everywhere

2006-07-11T23:05:00.000-04:00

Since moving to Wilmington, N.C. about two months ago, I've not had the chance to watch CNN or other news junkets like I used to. Not that I don't want to. But my parents are staying with me and my son while their house is being built, and there always seems to be something going on. Don't get me wrong. I'm really enjoying my parents here. As a single mom it is nice to have adult company. And I really do like my parents. Also, they're a huge help with my son... I have to say I'm getting a tad (okay, a lot) spoiled. Three sets of eyes, ears and hands to go around, and they're all quite busy as Griffin is a talker and a mover -- non-stop.

So back to CNN and the rest of the news. Not only is the constant commotion that's ongoing here preventing me from sitting in the easy chair (after the Grifster goes to bed, mind you) and getting my fill of headlines, talking heads, in-depths, tops-of-the-hour, weather updates, and more... the freelance career I was forced to start up has kept me busy many a night. (Speaking of, I should be working right now on one story... don't worry Patty, it'll be in on time.)

So, instead of editing this eve I clicked the mouse to cnn.com and saw the lead story about the train bombings in India. When I had checked first thing this morning, the lead was a second-day story on the building explosion in NYC. Explosions everywhere.

Granted, these two stories are vastly different: one a suspected suicide attempt and no loss of life; the other a suspected terrorist attack with more than 170 dead and many more injured. But both are fundamentally the same. Blasts that ripped quite unexpectedly through the ordinary process of living, both at the apparent hands of people who somehow lost their ability to imagine -- and live within -- that very first minute after their explosions went off.

After all, had the New York man compelled his mind to consider the passersby whose flesh would be shredded from the shrapnel flying from the building within seconds after he tried to take his life, he might have reconsidered. Or perhaps had he thought about the minutes after when firemen would risk their lives, and in the process get injured, as they fought their way into a burning building to check for survivors, he might have tried a less invasive form of suicide.

What if the Indian perpetrators had harnessed what little humaness their souls had left, perhaps they'd have accounted for the mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters or brothers who within a millisecond of the bomb's tick would cease to exist, leaving behind a trail of mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters and brothers forever weeping over their losses. Would they have, could they have, opted for a more peaceful protest?

The New York man didn't die. And now he has the rest of his life (however long that may be) to consider what he did, and what he might have done. Presumably the terrorists are dead. I am of the belief that they'll have black and grueling eternity to consider what they did.

I just wish they all could have put themselves in someone else's place before their bombs went off. I wish they could have put themselves in the passersby's, firemen's, mothers', fathers', sons', daughters', sisters' and brothers' shoes for just one minute... that one minute.

As we all should. As often as we can try.