Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Updates and a Correction

Cassie got a new dresser (well, new to her). It's of a style that I love with a mirror and is the perfect size for her. I found it at an antique shop for a very reasonable price (have you priced new furniture?). Cassie's comment was, "Thank you for my new mirror Mommy." I knew that would be her favorite part.

I came down with bronchitis this spring. I developed a cough and after my bout with pneumonia earlier this year I didn't hesitate this time to see my doc. She prescribed cefuroxime (I can't even pronounce it) and after a couple of weeks I seemed to perk up.

I no longer have an orange porch. All the severe thunderstorms we've had lately have managed to wash off the orange paint. If only I could get rid of the snake residue on the sidewalk left from four July 4th's ago.

BlogLikeItsTheEndOfTheWorld takes place annually on June 13, not on Friday the 13th. They just happened to coincide this year, hence my error. So Feb 13 will not be the next event. I hear there were some imaginative zombie stories.

Cassie has finally warmed up to taking showers. Several times over the past two years she was going to shower with me, then backed out at the last second. My back appreciates not having to lean over a tub.

Adoption of Daughter #2 is still on track, but proceeding so incredibly slowly. The China Center of Adoption Affairs is working on referrals for families with Log-In Dates (LID) of January, 25, 2006, and it's taken them a couple of months to do January. Our LID is April 20, 2007. Additionally, our federal paperwork is beginning to expire. We'll be doing our paperwork two and three times before all is said and done, and of course paying the same fees all over again too. Our fingerprints expired in June and our homeland security papers will expire in September. Fees have increased as well so to re-file with the Feds will now cost $800 plus fingerprint fees. If we were following the same timeline for this adoption as we had for Cassie's, we'd be in China right now. This is so frustrating.

Book Display - Transitions

I was browsing through my photos, and discovered I hadn't shown you one of my book displays put up in early May.

That's the month for graduations, but there are other life events as well that can occur at anytime. So here's a listing of books to help you define yourself, get your act together, survive college, get that first job, find your first apartment, and find a balance between work and home (Ha! Like any of us have really done the latter...).

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum

Chicken Soup for the College Soul: Inspiring and Humorous Stores About College by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Kimberly Kirberger, Dan Clark

College Survival: A Crash Course for Students by Students by Greg Gottesman and Friends

Congratulations! Now What?: A Book for Graduates by Bill Cosby

The Experts’ Guide to 100 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do by Samantha Ettus

First Things First: To Live, To Love, To Learn, To Leave a Legacy by Stephen R. Covey, A. Roger Merrill, Rebecca R. Merrill

Getting Ready for College: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go by Polly Berent

How Full is Your Bucket?: Positive Strategies for Work and Life by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton

Job Interviews for Dummies by Joyce Lain Kennedy

Keys to Better College Reading by Carol H. Bader and Harley F. Anton

Life’s Little Instruction Book: 511 Suggestions, Observations, and Reminders on How to Live a Happy and Rewarding Life by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Live Your Best Life: A Treasury of Wisdom, Wit, Advice, Interviews, and Inspiration from O, The Oprah Magazine

Making a Life, Making a Living: Reclaiming Your Purpose and Passion in Business and in Life by Mark Albion

The Modern Girl’s Guide to Life by Jane Buckingham

The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke by Suze Orman

Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss

The Power Years: A User’s Guide to the Rest of Your Life by Ken Dychtwald and Daniel J. Kadlec

Resumes for College Students and Recent Graduates published by VGM Career Books

The Smart Girl’s Guide to College: A Serious Book Written by Women in College to Help You edited by Cristina Page

Success is a Journey: 7 Steps to Achieving Success in the Business of Life by Jeffrey J. Mayer

The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Jack Canfield

The Ultimate Student Handbook by Alice & Steve Lawhead

Why Won’t the Landlord Take Visa?: The Princeton Review’s Crash Course to Life After Graduation by Tara Bray

Your First Job: For Students and Anyone Preparing to Enter Today’s Tough Job Market by Ron Fry