Our agency called to let us know we will be staying in Awassa the night before our embassy appointment on Monday. As it stands we will leave early on Sunday to travel to the birth family's location (?) and then back to Awassa for the night. Awassa is not far from Addis so it shouldn't be difficult to get back in time for appointment at the embassy in the afternoon.

On a different note and in regard to what is happening TODAY:
I want to stay positive about the primaries. I want to be inspired that so much has happened with the nation actually getting out and voting for the first time! In Texas and places you would think that the current administration had paralyzed. I want to stay optimistic about this "Change" Americans are hungry for. But I have to tell you I am nervous about it. I am anxious about it. Because I do have hope that the grown up running is not going to give in to "the silly season" in politics. Is not going to stoop to fear mongering and racial baiting. That Barack Obama will continue to run in his "presidential" way.
With leadership.
Credibility.
Intelligence.
Dignity.
Strength.
Compassion.
Vision.
And a whole lot of blessings from his supporters.

Lovely me I have the flu.
Which is actually fine as I would rather be getting better at home than trying to "Buck up" on the flight to Ethiopia.
Our neighbor came over today to be prepped on kitty and birdy care.
I finished shopping for the trip.
220 volt adapter? Check.
Baby shoes and socks? Check.
Electric socket protectors? Check.
Baby dishes that don't have obnoxious cartoons on them? Check.
Freezer food for our return home? Check.
Flip flops for the orphanage guest room (no shoes allowed)? Check.

Bubbles?

You better believe it.

Today is a wonderful day!








Mr. D came home from India and brought sweets and ganthia.
My mom called to tell me she and my youngest sister are coming to see us on Mother's day weekend! I am so pleased.
The sun is back in California. I have been gardening.
And I finished the most lovely project of all- this felted ball for Sanbate. And it only took me 10 hours.
The agency also sent 4 more pictures of Sanbate, who is a serious little child. Now that I see her I am wondering if the clothes will fit her. She is only 17 lbs. but she looks bigger in the photos.



A fun movie I found on Jack and Jill.

Tag, You are it!
Brought to us by Are We There Yet?




Groups of 4

Jobs I have had:
1. Waldorf Teacher
2. Nanny for 6 children
3. Veternary receptionist
4. Foreign Rights and Permissions Coordinator for Shambhala Publications

Movies I watch over and over:
1. Secrets and Lies
2. Its a Wonderful Life (yes I am a card carrying SAP)
3. Groundhog Day
4. The Royal Tenenbaums

Places I’ve lived:
1. East Coast (MA, NH, ME)
2. California (Berkeley)
3. Chicago(Rogers Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park and Logan Square)
4. Annandale-on-the-Hudson, NY

TV Shows I watch:
1. We
2. Don't
3. Have
4. Cable

Places I’ve Been:
1. India
2. Mexico
3. Dominican Republic
4. Ethiopia (In 9 days)

People who email me regularly:
1. My sisters
2. My husband
3. Ethiopia adoptees
4. Waldorf School colleagues


4 Favorite things to eat:
1. Salt
2. corn
3. Greens
4. Chocolate

4 Places I’d rather be:
1. Here Now
2. With my family and friends
3. With Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
4. In bed reading a good novel

Things I look forward to this year:
1. Meeting Sanbate and bringing her home
2. Moving to India and being a family that lives together
3. Being a mom And an artist
4. Getting rid of more stuff when we move

Now it is your turn, that is if you haven't been tagged yet.

NOTHING IS INSIGNIFICANT

I took notes during our 2 hour "travel meeting" with our agency today.

We will meet our child on International Women's Day.
I learned the names of the caregivers who have been looking after the children; Eskidar, Askala and Theras. The names of the drivers that will be ferrying us about; Mulat and Yonas.
1$ is equal to 9.5 birr.
The agency told us to bring between 1 and 2 thousand dollars to pay for the guest house, gifts, trip to Sidama to see birth family, and shopping.
Altitude sickness may be an issue as Addis is considered high altitude.
Emailing may have to be done late at night or early morning.
I have to think of questions for Sanbate's birth family and questions for her caregivers.
Remember to bring insect repellent, 220 volt adapter, standard polaroid film, flip flops and walking shoes.

I spoke to my friend and fellow adopting mom whose daughter is all grown now. She told me to take a lot of pictures even of things we may not see as important, like the inside of a grocery store. She couldn't emphasize more this thought to keep in mind as we travel Ethiopia,
"Nothing is insignificant".


Situations

Maybe you will enjoy the music and maybe you will see why this man, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of Art of Living is so beloved.

One of these pieces of artwork is a chalk drawing on tile done by S. Hatch in our back yard.The other is a meditation in marker on paper towel by M. Hatch.

Just in:
A letter from Paul Newell, candidate
for New York State Assembly

Senator Clinton,

Thank you for your years of hard work representing New Yorkers. I have proudly voted for you twice. Thank you as well for your hard fought Presidential campaign. American democracy, and the Democratic Party in particular, require the dynamic exchange of ideas that this primary season has brought. It has been exciting and inspiring to have a woman and a New Yorker contest the Presidency so credibly. We are a stronger nation and party for your candidacy.

But that time has past. After Senator Obama's 10 straight wins this month, no realistic path remains for you to win the nomination without thwarting the clearly expressed preference of Democratic primary

voters. While it is clearly your "right" to continue this debate until the convention, as a New Yorker and a Democrat I ask you to withdraw.

The campaign has become increasingly negative. I fear that you are permanently damaging your relationship with Senator Obama, the likely nominee of our party, and the likely next President of the United

States. Poisoning this relationship will not only harm our party, but may harm New York State as well. It may also do harm to the goals of social justice and working families for which you have worked for so many years.

In light of that, I ask you to end your candidacy for President this week. I look forward to your continued representation in the Senate. Thank you.


Sincerely,


Paul Newell

Wouldn't it be wonderful if good manners made a comeback? Can someone send this man's parents a fruit basket or something?

These primaries are killing me! I feel like I am back in school waiting for test results. There was an embarrassing moment on cnn last night with the Texas senator Kirk Watson. When asked to cite some of Barack Obama's legislative accomplishments he went blank. Poor guy. You can read about it in the blog jackandjillpolitics.

I set up the crib today, not without the occasional &*%$ but it makes our bedroom look so...domestic. It gives me a squishy feeling. And now all of Sanbate's clothes are in the drawer. After all those years of being a nanny, a day care provider and teacher, I can launder my own child's clothes.

I have been a little weepy this week, first with the Humane Society investigation and then tonite with the wrenching Israeli movie, Kadosh, starring Yael Abecassis. We rented it because she was also in the beautifully moving adoption film, To Live and Become, (about an Ethiopian boy who pretends to be Jewish to escape his ravaged country).

13 days left to do everything.
And a list to prove it. What are those things Hamish? The black ground covering you put around your garden to keep the weeds at bay? I think they are made of fiberglass. I don't know but I have got to get on the garden before the girl comes home. Our landlord is being pretty cool about letting us go month to month if we need to and I want the garden to look good for the new tenants.

There is this beautiful adoption blog called 3 continent family and the photographs in it are just... can I say it? Delicious. The blogger uses some kind of filter on her camera, probably a very commonly used device, to make her photos storybook pretty.

I just need to say it.
I love the H****'s. Melanie is gone this week and her Mr. has the flu so I invited the kids over for pancakes and a walk at Point Isabel. I knew it was a mistake to leave the camera. It was rainy and wet but they didn't care. At one point I turned around to see them, all 4 children, attached sleave to sleave (no hands showing)as one big monster.

You get extra points when you eat ALL the pancakes.

How is Obama going to win the Democratic primary? I have no idea. Although he is ahead by delegate counts, one needs 2,025 delegates to win the primary. Even if he wins the rest of the states by a healthy margin he still won't have that winning number. Maybe you politicos can help me. Is it the superdelegates that will throw him the needed numbers to get him to the magic 2,025? So, whoever is closest will get the superdelegate support?
Help me somebody.

New link added for the Ceo and President of The Humane Society below right. Why did I add this link? Without going into detail, the Humane Society investigation of the Hallmark/Westland Meat company in California and revealed heart ripping cruelty done to cows that were unable to walk to the slaughterhouse. I think it is important.

Nobel Peace prizewinner Dr.Wangari Maathai speaks about Resources and Conflict.

The second sock has finally joined the first today.
Mr. D was given the first for Christmas and now his gift is complete. The question still remains whether he will wear them.
But more important to me, I know how to knit socks!

LANGUAGE is a powerful tool:

"At First Baptist Church of DeKalb, members passed out red ribbons to several dozen people who attended a morning service. The Rev. Joe Sanders offered prayers for the families of victims and relatives of the gunman who killed five students and wounded 16 other people in a lecture hall Thursday before taking his own life."

FAMILIES of victims and RELATIVES of the gunman.
Family implies people that love you and care for you.
Relative implies only that you were legally tied to another by name.

Until we can change this kind of thinking-that we are not responsible for each other (strangers and friends alike) we will continue to experience these kinds of tragedies.
Blame Divides.
We must learn to belong before we can conquer alienation.
I believe it is the thoughts of "I am alone" that lead to these acts of violence. I look at myself when I am committing small acts of violence (on the road, in the grocer's) and I recognise that I am acting out of an impulse of disconnection.

I want to make life easier for others, even people I don't know.
Even people who don't think like me.
This is my prayer.

Shoes for Horizon House

My bud Melanie and I have been gathering donations and supplies for a project, (woven bag shown here) to offer to the waiting children at the orphanage. I am going to need to make the cardboard "looms" and draw out instructions as these children don't speak much english. I hope this little handwork project is fun for them.

We are also bringing beeswax and kite paper for stars, just in case.

Happy Valentine's Day!
My two loves are in Ethiopia
and India.
I hope they are having a heart day.

Last night before turning in I checked my email just to see if the early birds at the US Embassy in Ethiopia had responded to my plea and lo and behold. They had! Our V37 isn't lost after all.
Roller.
Coast.
Her.