If I was pregnant, I'd be really fat, tired and definitely ready to get that baby out. Instead, I think I've entered into the zen zone of "whatever". All the projects that I planned on doing are sitting in a corner... it seems kinda like waste of time to work on them. It's a problem of too much time. So, here's to hoping that soon I'll be out of time.

Homestudy Again...

This time last year, I was waiting to for the call from my agency's social worker to set up the homestudy visit. I was so excited... just waiting for the call (not "THE CALL" - just a call to set up the appointment). I drove back from the Christmas celebrations to Seattle for the first meeting, mentally rehearsing answers to questions I thought I might be asked. Then came the marathon cleaning and arranging of furniture. Preparing the dog. I swear I can still feel the excitment from it.

This year, the SW from the state finally made on Thursday (almost 12 months later than the first). It took about two hours, but it probably would have taken less time if I wasn't so chatty and the dog didn't keep trying to sit on her lap. The appointment was scheduled for 3.30pm and I didn't have time to take her (the dog) for a walk, so she (the dog) was a little excited to see someone else there. I pointed out my smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, the locked medicine box and all the fire exits. We discussed having fire drills - the SW recommended that I practice with the dog (seriously!). Everything was checked off - the report takes about two weeks to write up and is then sent to the supervisor. My fingerprints are still not back, so that has to also be cleared. Hopefully, it's just a christmas rush or vacation rush or something like that.

After that, I don't know. It's a little scary with all the "don't know" time frames. Initially, I was told that I would have a long wait (ha! they don't really know what long means...) and then as the SW was leaving, she told me that another family had been cleared the day before and was "already full." I don't know if that means I should be excited, worried or neither. I guess I'd have to say that I'm more than a little catious with my emotions this time around. I haven't done anything to prepare myself in months. No books, no magazine articles, no shopping for myself, nada. I'm not sure I want to start up again, only to have another torturous wait.

Home Study Part Deux

Tomorrow the SW from the state is coming to do the foster/adopt homestudy. I wish I could say that I was excited, but really, I'm not. I didn't clean nearly as deeply as before and I keep forgetting to lock up the wine bottles. There are still dishes in the sink - but I'm too tired to finish tonight. Hopefully, I'll get up early tomorrow morning and do it. I've had enough stress for today.

Really Hanging Around

What's the old saying... "men make plans and God laughs"...

It snowed on Saturday. Really fat flakes that stuck around long enough to make a snowman. Sadly, it melted in the rain on Sunday. Sunday night brought on a big storm - at least to Pacific Northwest standards - kinda like a Nor'easter only with more panic. Really, people around here are such pansies when it comes to inclement weather. I was a little worried about the satellite dish on the roof, but I also knew that there wasn't a clear path for the wind to blow it directly.

About 1.30am (monday), the power went out. I woke up about 5.30am to wait for the phone call from school... it never came. Eventually, I found my emergecy radio (hidden next to the emergency candles, except I already had candles out, so looked there last), wound it up and listened. No power anywhere, most of the county was dark. People are starting to call me to find out about school, but no word. I was just about to drive in when the radio finally announced the school closure at 6.30am. What were they holding out for? Who knows... I'm guessing they did not build in any extra days into the calendar (God forbid kids should attend school for one second more than the state mandated 180 days) and since some genius scheduled graduation on the last day of school, it's likely to be fubar when the missed days are added back in. BTW, it's now day three of no school and no one from the school has called. Someone did manage to update the school website. Heh.

Monday morning I drove down the road to get some hot coffee, but otherwise sat around the house reading a Patricia Cornwell book. Thanks to Ikea, I had plenty of batteries and candles. I even rigged up little hot pot set up using tea lights and the broiler tray from my toaster oven. Tuesday I went to the grocery store to pick up some more fruit and, you know... escape the four walls I'd been staring at for the last 24 hours. The wind had stopped and the roads were passable to the grocery. Of course, the highway was blocked by landslides and trees. There were huge lines to get gas, but I think they all used most of what they bought in the waiting.The power went back on at 12.37am, but we're still out of school. There's no real flooding (beyond the annual) around here. Lots of trees down and almost every street sign came down, but for the most part we're watching everything on TV, just like you are. It looks worse in the outlying areas, but I'm not going to have a real close look.

*update - I finally got a call. No school tomorrow either. The roads to the outside world are still sketchy and no one seems to what's going to happen, so I'm just hanging around.

Not Really Hanging Around

With the holidays coming on and three performances next week, I've barely been online in the last week, avoided email and blogs and just tried to keep my head above water.

I still have a ton of grading to do and am debating heading into the big city to meet up with a friend.... decisions, decisions, decisions...

Yesteday I got the insulation finished (finally!), in snowed and I finished all my christmas cards. My shopping is nearly done; all that is left is making of cookies for the neighbors and friends.