Oh the Fun...

...of living in a developing country.

On Thursday our internet went out. John (using his far superior Spanish) figured out it was cut out by Amnet. He then called them - using their English line - and found out it was because our debit card expired and they didn't have the new exp date. So...instead of calling us to inform us that our billing wasn't working and giving us a warning. They cut us off. Nice.

John gave them our new exp date and was told it would be on in 24 - 48 hours. But for someone who's filling out Security Clearance stuff online and someone else who uses World of Warcraft as a stress reliever, not having internet for any amount of time sucks. SUCKS!

So after I couldn't get a hold of a friend because he phone was cut off just like my internet, John called Amnet Friday evening to check on the status. Apparently the guy who John talked to on Thursday night didn't do anything. Here are your options: 1. wait until Monday when someone who can process debit cards comes in (REALLY?! You're the biggest internet provider in Costa Rica and you don't have an easy way for all employees to do this?!). 2. Go to a bank to pay the bill and then call them for service activation. 3. Go to a Fischell pharmacy and pay the bill and then call them. Fine. We'll to option #3 because we can't go a whole weekend with out internet!

So yesterday on the way home from a day in San Jose with some friends on a guided tour - a whole other story - of the historic part of San Jose we stop at the Fischell on the way home. John doesn't have the customer number. No worries, they should be able to check by phone number. They can't find it under our phone number - that's not right. No phone number? Well they should be able to look it up by name. They don't believe his last name is what it is (it's a first name, but still!!). ARGH! #$%&*&^ %$#@#$$%^&** &^%$#@Q!#$%^&***&^%$$ #@!#@$%^^

I've entered the homesickness portion of my tour - I know it. :)

So I haven't worked on my security clearance stuff since Thursday night and I have a TON left to do. John played WoW last night and is most likely on right now. I've been online for almost two hours this morning catching up on blogs (because I fell asleep last night trying to)...


(Three and a half hours later) I heard Simon playing with a toy and had to run to him. He's so cute! I then went to the gym, fed Simon while John napped, made French Toast for Malachi and I while John napped, and worked a little bit on my Security Clearance while John napped. John only napped for about an hour and a half, but it was productive for me, and he was so touched that I offered to let him do that.

So...now I'll work more on the Security Clearance, and after that who knows. I do know that tonight I'm watching the Emmy's! I'm excited!!

Things

The kids are doing really well. Malachi's enjoying school and is learning his letters, numbers, Spanish letters, swimming (on the days it's not raining), playing with play-doh (making numbers), eating snacks (that I pack, and ones from his friends), eating lunch, amongst other things. The last two days he's come home with an amazing amount of energy so I wonder if they've been putting the nap mats and blankets to good use. Either that or he's acclimated to the schedule. Wish I could say the same about myself. He made up a phrase "Holy Scheckmoes" his friends from school think it's really funny. I laugh when he says it.

Simon is also doing well. We had a fairly normal day today. He slept in this morning - we had to wake him at 7 to feed him before we left. He's up on his knees rocking, sometimes up on his hands, sometimes up on his elbows. Sometimes the front of his body isn't up at all. He's sitting really well now. Although grocery carts are still a challenge. He sometimes falls over onto his face. He's not a fan of that.

Johnathan (this is what he goes by at the Embassy, apparently it's becoming natural for me) is still working away. He often comes home with interesting, funny, and heart breaking stories about his interviews. Since we got here we've had a couple of American deaths (John's not dealing with those yet) and near deaths. It's always hard to hear stories like this. I don't envy the Officers doing American Citizen Services. John will do that before he leaves - he'll probably start next year some time. He went and saw Inception the other night with a friend. He says it's amazing. I'll see it some day.

I'm still trying to figure out school. I need to check with DBU (Dallas Baptist University) to figure out how many credits I can transfer in before I start at Ecclessia. If I get my butt moving I can probably start in September - probably not though. I'd have to register for that by the end of next week. Hm. I might be able to pull that off. I also need to fill out FAFSA but have had a hard time with that because I can't find our tax papers and figure out how much I made separately from John. My Spanish classes at the Embassy are going well. We're being taught a ton and I'm not remembering to study at home. I so need to do that.

I'm going out tonight to see a Ryan Reyolds film from 2008 with a friend (she saw Inception with her hubby two weeks ago). Why am I seeing a 2008 film? Because it's playing in the VIP theater (reclining leather seats with drink and food service in the theater - even a little button to call the attendants. It's not quite as awesome as the Love Sac theater in Dallas because there are no blankets. It's really close though.) and my girlfriend and I want to go out. Her hubby's away, and I'm burnt out.

I need to update photos on flickr and facebook. It's been a while, and I have plenty to add. We'll see when I actually get to that. Who knew that sending my child away for close to nine hours a day would actually make me busier than I was this summer. Well...all the school age moms did, but I didn't!

Suit Up!

October 13th is Suit Up Day. Here's a link to follow for the website suit up day.

It's going to be legen...wait for it...dary! Here's the text from a flyer that can be printed out and posted where ever you like. Sorry about the all caps - that's how the flyer was made.


INTERNATIONAL SUIT UP DAY 2010
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13TH, 2010

SUIT UP IN HONOR OF BARNEY STINSON, THE SUIT-WEARING WOMANIZER WE ALL LOVE. IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHO BARNEY IS … ASK YOUR FRIENDS, THEY WILL TELL YOU. SUIT UP BECAUSE SUITS ARE AWESOME, EVEN IF YOU DON’T LIKE BARNEY.

THINGS TO DO ON INTERNATIONAL SUIT UP DAY:
WEAR A SUIT TO WORK
WEAR A SUIT TO UNIVERSITY
WEAR A SUIT IN HOSPITAL
WEAR A SUIT TO SCHOOL
BUY A SUIT
IF YOU SEE SOMEONE WITHOUT A SUIT, TELL THEM TO GO HOME AND SUIT UP, OR CONVINCE THEM TO WATCH HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
DRINK IN A SUIT - IF YOU CAN FIND A BAR CALLED MCLAREN’S, DRINK THERE
PARTY IN A SUIT
PLAY LASER TAG IN A SUIT.... WHAT UP?
IT’S GOING TO BE LEGEN…WAIT FOR IT…DARY!

1st Day Down

I got a little bit emotional today, I have to admit. I didn't cry as much as I thought I would. I didn't bawl like I did on Malachi's 1st birthday.

I didn't want to leave the school this morning though. And I was super jealous of the parents who stayed after we left. You see...John has to get to work by 8:00 to make sure he's working the visa line in time. He's the only parent from the Embassy who's a Consular Officer. Everyone else got to stay and go in when they pleased. Luckies.

If you haven't heard yet, P fell down our stairs yesterday. Happily she's ok. I took her to the hospital and had an x-ray done (only $51 btw) - no fractured ribs - yay! She'll be recovering at home for the next week. I'm very sorry for her that she fell. BUT (be warned, I may sound insensitive here) it does make my life a little hard right now. I'm supposed to work Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I left work early yesterday to take her to the hospital. I dragged my poor baby in for an hour today so I could email the materials I needed to do my work from home (that was quite a process btw, Simon has a lot of stuff!). Tomorrow I am supposed to be at Spanish Class from 10:30 to 12:00. I may be asking a friend to watch Simon during that time. I may just miss my class.

I spent today either taking care of Simon or working. Right after I finished the work I went to Malachi's school to get him.

I took him to a little grocery store because I had to pick something up for dinner. I knew it would be a while before we got dinner so I let him have a treat - donut and chocolate milk actually. Then we sat in the Embassy parking lot for about 20 minutes before parking in front of the Embassy for about 10 waiting for John.

Whew! What a day!! We still haven't had dinner and we have a Skype date with John's brother and sister-in-law in about 20 minutes. I guess I could go cook some pasta while John watches Scrubs with Simon and Malachi watches Cats and Dogs on the netbook. I think I'll do that...we should eat.

****10 Minutes Later****

Simon got hungry so he needed a bottle. And then I got distracted by Scrubs. Guess we'll have to eat after the Skype date.

Kindergarten

Malachi starts Kindergarten Wednesday. He's pretty excited. I'm very excited.

I'm so excited to have him with people his age again. He's been so cooped up since we moved to VA and I couldn't get him into pre-school.

He got a hair cut today. He hasn't had one since we left the States and it was getting pretty shaggy. He looks very handsome again; el es muy guapo.

Dream a little (or BIG) Dream for me...

My blog friend who lives in Manila is a life coach. She helped her Filipino client realize he doesn't know how to dream. She noticed that a lot of Filipino's don't know how to dream. It's not something their culture lets them do.

She appreciates that Americans know how to dream and she put down in words some of her dreams. She asked her readers to comment with some of theirs. I put down some realized and not yet realized dreams. I then thanked her for encouraging this, and then I thought...this would make a great blog entry of my own. So...here's the list that I put on her blog.

Realized dreams:

marry an amazing man
have child 1
have child 2
to not live check to check
getting a job in CR
running two 5K's

Dreams I'm dreaming:

being out of debt
having child 3, 4, 5...6?
seeing my children growing into amazing people
finishing my bachelor's degree in Management
running a 10K

So...what are YOUR dreams?

One Down, Three to Go...Again

He's in Brisbane and in about four hours takes off for L.A. WOOT!

Only about 29 hours to go...as long as they're not too late coming in!