HP & TDH

It is done! All 759 pages! I finished the book a short time ago and then answered the call of the Mommy needing. I received the book yesterday at about 1pm and read a bit before leaving for a well needed dinner and a movie with Auntie Ren. We saw, what else, HP & TOOTP and it would take a whole other post to discuss the rude obnoxious movie patrons we were subjected to. I am just disgusted at how little courtesy is shown toward others. All around us people talked non-stop during the movie- even after several polite requests to please be quiet. I mean the last movie I saw before this was before we had even traveled to China! I was really looking forward to see this and I can't understand why people can be so rude?

So I read a bit yesterday and then today... till it was finished. I will begin reading it again for nuance immediately. It was good... I laughed, I cried and on one or two occasions - I exclaimed. I won't bother with the spoilers - either you won't care or you are reading it yourself and have no desire to know what I do at this point. I will say I was more right than wrong and I am proud that I was loyal to a certain character all along - never doubting at all.

Indeed - I had already figured out one major piece of information that helped enormously in barreling to the end of the series. I am sad to have it go and now have only to look forward to the remaining movies. It will be worth it!

This just in!!!

It is a very sad day here in the Palace. We have found out that we can never again drink fruppacino in the Forbidden Palace in Beijing, PRC. Public Protest Clears Forbidden City of Sturbacks!It is indeed a very sad day here in the Palace. Although I hold the memories of our trip to China near to my heart and I know that our return trip will be just as sweet.... there is a part of me that is so sad that this little travesty of cultural imperialism with not be there. I was never so happy to see that green dot as I was that day... although there have been times when the cuppa was just as badly needed and dearly loved. Oh, I just don't know if I can even bear to return to Beijing! Perhaps we will have to travel Through HK - though I am thinking a stop in Shanghai would be a nice treat!!! It is just hard to imagine a world where the bastion to consumerism and imperialism is not being sheltered in the arms of the what was once the most exclusive and off-limits place in the world... yea, that does not actually seem right! Well, as usual I felt you should know that this has happened.

I am teaching a summer course here on campus about Gender & Work and we were talking about gender stereotypes. One of the students said that "people don't really want to see men cry..." I replied I would have been very hurt if my DH had not cried on one or two occasions in our life together. Our marriage and February 20, 2006 when a woman from the orphanage placed our darling girl in our arms for the first time. There were plenty of tears to go around - Mamas and Babas! I was thinking also that there were at least two occasions I could think of in my lifetime where I had seen groups of men crying openly in the street. One I have seen in film since I was less that a year old and the other well... I think there were plenty of people of whatever gender crying where ever they were. It would have seemed somehow too inappropriate to not cry on that terrible day.

It is weird to think I will someday have to explain 9-11 to my daughter just as my own mother explained JFK's assasination to me. To think that this is now a part of our collective history and as such EFP will need to understand that point in time - hard to imagine since I still do not really understand it either. I got to thinking because last night after putting her to bed for the night I turned on the TV and was stunned to see a scene quite reminiscent of 9-11. NYC was ablaze with sirens, flashing lights and regular broadcasting was interrupted. Thankfully - it was a steam pipe explosion and though there were casualties they were relatively few. The city is all in an uproar and on top of that it had already been a very bad day for many. The torrential rain and thunder/lightening brought traffic to a complete standstill and many people never made it to work, cars were flooded and I know for a fact that there was not a rental car available for 100 miles anywhere near NYC.

Not far from where we live a tornado touched down. Hmph! It is all too easy to forget the precarious nature of human life. How seemingly small events or large can impact us in ways we are not prepared. Counting myslef lucky to have merely been a bystander in the annals of history seems quite enough for me. I can handle brushing with greatness from a safe distance.

Life goes on here much as usual. My car is fixed and back at home. We are still struggling some with separation anxiety at daycare drop off and yesterday EFP declared "I no like school" but then ran up the path and happily shared snack with her two favorite friends J & K. We had one more nasty bite incident and while I do feel sorry for the child who is the biter - I am not going to allow my child to be victimized by another. We had stated in no uncertain terms that our child is not be be put at risk for another bite/scratch from this kid. I know that toddlers are physical and that EFP can get pushy - so when she is in it with any other child it is not a problem and they do teach good skills for dealing with this. No, this is simply a child who will get up from playing, walk across the room and try to bite a chunk out of my daughter for no earthly reason. The child in question is now on one-on-one restriction and the next step is out the door. I am by no means the sort of mother who will swear that her child is never at fault or that it is impossible for her to misbehave... quite the contrary!! I do see that she needs limits and discipline with frustration. She has hit a kitty and received an immediate time out. I mean we only have three big rules... no hitting, no throwing (except balls) and no meaness to kitties. That is it for now. EFP and her friend J are like sibs already they are always at each other with toys or activities - but they are just as likely to hug and kiss as push and shove. This other situation is nothing like that. I am still rather furious.

On other fronts things continue much the same. We are getting excited about our upcoming vacation and looking forward to some much needed rest and relaxation. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer and getting the chance to recreate and recuperate.

WOW, Miss T is how old...........?

Why she is 11!! Thank you so much for asking! 11 Years ago - a person was born who is the essence of heart and soul for me. I never knew until the minute my sissy gave birth to Miss T - the meaning of the words unconditional love. I an so lucky to have a sister who had two such amazing children. I am thankful everyday - for without my niece there would never have been an EFP! She is:

1. 11 years old today July 8th, 2007 (they are on their way back from the national championships that were held in Canada and I don't think they had access so I am posting this late).

2. An amazing Irish Step Dancer who competes in Prelim Champion level (AWESOME)

3. AN incredibly gifted and talented young lady

4. A very funny person

5. Incredibly intuitive and emotionally sensitive

6. Smart in all the right ways

7. Crafty and artistic

8. Dramatic and poised, Silly and musical

9. Kind to animals and her little brother (she saved him from a bear once)

10. Helpful to have around (understands the packing shoes rules)

10.25 A great and sincere friend

10.5 Imaginative and ingenious

10.75 Loving and lovable!!

11. Beautiful - inside and out!

Love - Aunt Sissi, Uncle G and EFP!!! We love you and we are so proud of you all the time!!!

Two-year molars!

And other trips to h*ll! We have reached the end of the teething and it is a nightmare. Fevers from 99 to 102 at any time of day or night. EFP is in such pain she ASKS for "meds Mommy, please!" I mean have you ever heard of a two-year old ASKING for meds? Of course - mine also asks for shrimp now - so I have come to expect that from her. We needed no fireworks for the 4th - we had our own. EFP is miserable... and so I have been a virtual prisoner on my little mini-break. Oh well, the down time is good for us, we are usually so busy that any excuse to relax is welcome. She did go swimming for a bit tonight and we did make one trip to Targette - for the dollhouse bookcase (SALE!) and I have finally organized the toybee section of the LR and now her books, little peeps and all the playduh stuff is organized and easy to reach. Whoopee!! EFP can now count to 20 in English, 10 in Spanish & ASL, and 5 in Mandarin. Is my baby the BOMB or what?


It has also become abundantly clear we will be waiting a very long time for EFP's sibling. I am not upset - I knew going in that the wait would be long, I am just worried that by the time we get a referral we would have become sort of out of love with the idea of adding another child and that is when the panic sets in. I mean we are still sort of working on making our life work with one child - I can't imagine how adding another is going to be, especially when we won't know for a few years even what gender the child would be. Apparently at a recent meeting with our agency the CCAA confirmed that a 2.5 to 3 year wait for those of us currently in process has been deemed probable. I went into this thinking that would be fine - one day care bill at a time and all.. now, back aching from aforementioned organizing, baby holding, comforting and other miscellaneous motherings that I just wonder if I will still want another in 3 years. My agency released a new waiting child list - and there are some adorable babies - any of whom I would be so lucky to parent - but the day care dilemma and not having enough time saved to be able to travel and then stay home for even a little while loom as huge problems. Will the idea of starting all over again in 3 years have lost some of its allure after so long? ACH! (like Bill the Cat). I don't know, I guess we will see. Oh - and FINALLY after ONLY 10 months.. we are a licensed foster family! yea us.

Ooh! Look what I can do!!!