Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Obama declares November National Adoption Month

Yes folks, it's official. I assume there's an official month for just about everything, and now adoption joins the ranks! It occurred to me that I've got a few other ideas for national months. Check out these chestnuts:

- National Funk Month. Celebrating all things James Brown, Parliament, Earth Wind & Fire, The Meters, Isley Brothers, Rick James, Sly Stone and ____________( fill in the blank). Featuring free concerts all over the country.
- National Fried Food Month. Everything tastes better fried, right? Either that or maybe just National Fried Pork Rinds Month.
- National Cool Car Month. Show off your ride. Free pine-scented air fresheners for all motorists driving cool cars.
- National Shag Carpeting Month. It would be great if this month could come with some deep discounts, because otherwise I don't know when we'll be able to afford to do our entire home in wall-to-wall, deep-pile glory.
- National Pet Humiliation Awareness Month. We've all known a pet - either ours or someone else's - who's been dressed in stupid outfits, made to pose against their will for holiday cards, or been falsely blamed for a bad deed. This month is for them.
- National Wedding Musicians' Month. Who else can churn out hits of the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s?
- National Stick Figures' Month. Because that's all I can draw!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Incredible Luck

The last week has been quite a whirlwind! Last Thursday, the day after getting our package of Wide Horizons stack-o-papers, Ryan, traveling north on 495 at 60 mph was hit by a hit-and-runner. He's okay, amazingly enough...nothing our talented chiropractor can't massage away. But the ninny who hit him from behind and set the car spinning twice and into the guardrail took off. Ry somehow got the car under control and pulled to the side of the highway, whilst the idiot driver (I have more choice words) left him there. That just blows my mind.

Aside from both being very very thankful that Ryan was alive and unbroken, we were both super bummed that our beloved 95 Corolla was in such sad shape. As it was an older car and technically not worth a lot to anyone but us, we didn't bother with collision insurance. Thus we've been holding our breath to see what the verdict was on possibly fixing it.

My Dad recommended that we have his local mechanic look at it, so we had it towed down there to Marshfield. Later that day, the mechanic said he hadn't had a chance to really get a good look, but described it as "a train wreck." Not promising. Aside from the money issue, I/we LOVE that car. It's been so dependable and we'd fully counted on its continued service for another ten years at least. Plus, like my Gramma, I get very attached to cars and even named this one "Cori," as she had named her earlier Corolla. :)

But GOOD NEWS!!! Our mechanic, Dave, said this evening that he can make it safely drivable for $300!!! He said "It won't be pretty...You won't want to take it to prom, but it will be safe. You were just lucky." But all that matters is our Cori is safe and usable. We welcome you back with open arms, Old Girl! Nothing can get you down!! Your battle scars make you even more cherished.

On the paperwork front, we are actually making great progress! I've been really touched at how people will go out of their way to get things moving quicker. My doctor's office, when they heard I'd need to get a medical report for an adoption, pulled some strings so I could get in this Monday! (Usually, I have to wait months.) In fact, we've got our first meeting with our social worker in one week. This first small step in the process is taking much less time than I'd anticipated.

Could it be our luck is changing?? Ryan's okay! Cori's okay! Paperwork is magically getting done! Cross your fingers for us...