Our kids currently consist of 2 mutts (lab mixes of some sort), 3 cats and some fish. We often have to board them–the dogs–when we go on vacation. With our upcoming travel–eventually–to Ethiopia we are looking into a new boarding facility. It is crateless–meaning the dogs are never in cages/kennels unless it is feeding time, then they are put in crates to eat. The rest of the time the dogs are out running in one of the yards or indoor playrooms. I dislike boarding my dogs because I hate to have them locked up for so long each day–they are only out for 4 hours a day at our current boarding establishment.

Before they are accepted into the facility they must go in for an interaction interview. I am taking them tomorrow. Maybe I should bath them tonight and make them look thier prettiest so that they make a good impression. It amazes me how nervous I am about my babies–they aren’t babies anymore they are nearly 7 years old now. I am not looking foward to tomorrow’s interview, as I don’t want it to go poorly. I don’t know why I worry. They have been boarded lots and been to doggie day care many a days. But, I am still nervous. I love my dog babies and would hate for them to be rejected. They have very high self-esteem but being rejected could adversly affect them in some way. Well I will sit them down tonight and tell them the severity and importance of tomorrows big interview and hope that all goes well. As this boarding facilty is $15 a day cheaper than the current place and so much nicer. Wish us luck.

I am just thankful that I am not going to be part of the whole preschool interview thing. If it is hard with dogs I can’t imagine how I would be before the day of my children’s interview. Ug…

I have finally found my camera and taken pictures of our remodeling projects. Neither of them are finished yet, but we are getting closer. There is still much to do, but I welcome the business as we have much time to waste.

I was unofficially notified by our agency’s director that we are in Group S. I am in total, complete and utter shock. YAY group S for Soon our son will come home…..Holy Shit…..

Okay, Okay. As of 12:28 pm CST we are officially in group S. I can’t believe it. The last group R only waited 12 days until their court date after being notified. Can that really be true. If that is the case that means that our court date would be July 19th. Wow. Then travel could very well be the last week of august. If we have our embassy appointment on Aug 30th, I would be so happy as my birthday is the next day. What a great way to celebrate–yesterday was hubby’s bday and we found out about our group assignment today and….WAIT. I am making myself crazy. Calm down. breath….Okay.

No I am not talking about the US, N.Korea, or Mexico this morning. Maybe later, but I try to stay away from politics in blog world–as there are plenty who don’t. I am talking about the completely inept, unintelligent, incompetent, insanely mystifying leadership at my summer school program. We have a five week summer school program here at the high school where students can earn 2-.5 credits. They–per the state–must not miss more than 5 hours in one class inorder to receive a semesters (.5) credit. Well, my school never abides by the rules–we will give credits away at the drop of a hat to just about anyone–yeah I know it is sad.

Anyway. Summer school is slated to offically end on July 14th–one week from today. So why am I giving my final today? you ask. Well because the aforementioned leadership has decided that we have to turn our final grades in on July 11th at 730 in the am. Yes that is 4 full school days before the summer school session is over. Now I know this seems a little, how shall I put this–crazy. I teach high school–I thought that needs repeating. Those of you who have teenagers or remember being a teenager know what it is like to get teens to do anything they don’t want to do if they are not getting something for it. Now try to get teens to do something for 5 hours a day, 4 days in a row when they are getting nothing for it–as final grades will already be turned in. If you are shaking your head at the sheer brilliance of our leadership here–sit back because there is more.

Of course this is a high school. This may be summer school, but our students are not stupid. When all their teachers changed due dates on thier projects and moved up the days of the final exam the students caught on. It didn’t take 1 hour for them to know that final grades were being turned in on Tuesday and for them that means that they are done. Why would they get up at 6 on a summer day and come to school for nothing? Good question. Well our fearless and clueless leaders who are not in the classroom contending with angst ridden teens make an announcement this morning telling student that they will not get credit for their classes if they are not here all of next week–this after students have found out that the school is no longer dropping them if they miss to many days. To whom does any of this make sense? Not to me. I am not going to fight the battle to get my students to work when they get nothing for it. It is hard enough to wage war with them when their grade is at stake. I just would like to know where these people who think they are smarter than everyone else got their degrees and how they envision this next week working. Oh the beauty of education….

Well there will be two more groups entered into court before the closure. This is it for us. It must be. I hope so. I don’t know if hubby could handle having to wait until November to travel. He turned 40 today and work is super, very, astonishingly stressful right now for him. His company is in a huge conversion at work–upgrading all PCs to Windows XP. They have to upgrade some 12,000 computers this month without a glitch as they are a brokerage firm and the home office (where he works) needs to be functioning. It is stressful as if it doesn’t go right–he is the guy they call–as his boss is on his 2+ week honeymoon.

Anyway. I a going to be absoluetly crazy, insane, checking my email every day–not that I don’t do that obsessively already. I can’t even imagine not getting into one of the next 2 groups. I mean–our director expects us to make it. That must mean we have a really good chance. Okay–I will stop over analyzing my analysis. Yeah good luck Finley…..

Okay now the hard questions. I have been back and forth about this until I have worn a hole through the carpet and subfloor. Do we baptize our baby or not. Neither hubby or I are very religious. I can’t remember the last time I went to church when there wasn’t a funeral or a wedding. And I certainly can’t remember the last time I really wanted to go to church. Hubby is a very spritual man and appreciates all religion for its beliefs but does not subscribe to an orgainzed doctrine. Neither do I. I was baptized Catholic and took my first communion but was never confirmed and after I was about 9 we never really went to church anymore. But then I feel like I am making a choice for him. I guess either way I am making a choice for him. My hubby’s family is very non-religious–atheists to be exact. I just don’t know. I can’t believe how incredibly hard this decision is, but it is hard. For those of you who are not religious how have you made this decision. I know it is personal, but I am really curious how people make it.

Okay–still haven’t heard yet. HA HA. Oh the next week or so will be really long….