Head of Skate! HA HA HA

What would this blog be if I didn't get in on the Presidential Election Humor?  

See more funny videos and href="http://www.collegehumor.com/">CollegeHumor.

Picture Perfect

Since I have so many blog buddies getting ready to travel to pick up their babes, I thought I would give you all a way to spend your money.  Oh, I mean provide stimulation for your baby and a way for them to see your lovely face until you have them in your arms.  Check out Manhattan Toy Whoozit Photo Album. I'll probably get one, but who am I fooling I'm months away from a referral, but NEWSFLASH: Shawn and I have committed to finishing our dossiers by Nov. 7!  Oh, Shawn, I have assigned a date to November...I just thought you should know.  LOL  

A Big Yawner!!!

Boy:  I just have to ask you one question.

Girl:  Yes.

Boy:  So, why are you adopting from Ethiopia?

Girl:  Why not?

Boy:  Oh, I guess that is a good answer.

Girl:  Thanks.  

Brangelina Do It Again

Did you hear my favorite couple Brangelina donated $2 million dollars last week to help fight HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in Ethiopia?  The money will be used to help build a clinic in Addis Ababa to help children fight the diseases.  

Brad and Angelina said "It is our hope when Zahara is older she will take responsibility of the clinic and continue its mission."  

Way to go Brad and Angelina!!!!!!  

The 70 Bus

On Thursday and Friday I had attended a conference at the DC Convention Center.  I decided not to drive since I have been paying a DC Workers salary lately with my parking tickets.  So, my choices were: train or bus.  For the train I had to walk 12 minutes (not far) to the train, take a 20 minute train ride, then walk about 5-10 more minutes to the convention center.  For the bus I had to walk around the corner (3-5 min.) then take a 20-30 minute bus ride.  Seems pretty simple, the bus right?  Buttttttt....taking the bus in DC is an adventure.  There is such a stigma attached to riding the bus in DC and most "professionals" in the city just don't do it unless it is for transfer downtown, most "professionals" prefer the train.  Truth be told, I haven't been on the bus for 10 years at least, but I decided to throw caution to the wind and take the bus.  BTW, when I told friends I was taking the bus they all said "WHY?" 

Here I was at the bus stop, with a few interesting characters, and I didn't even know how much the bus was.  I had to take out my PDA and look it up.  It was $1.35 each way...cool, I got this (so, I thought).  Once I got on the bus I thought I would read my latest book.  Not so much.   I sat in the very front (this seemed to be safest for someone who hasn't taken a bus in a decade) with a few other colorful characters.  Right next to me was a man that had alcohol for breakfast and a few seats down was a woman who forgot to take her medication for breakfast.  She commented about everyone on the bus.  As Latinos got on/off the bus she yelled "Hola" and 'Adios" (not in a friendly way).  She asked a nice young woman who appeared to be from Nigeria if she lived in a shelter (what???).  She asked an Ethiopian woman if she was from Pakistan or Ethiopia?  HUH???  I laughed out loud on this one.  She then asked if they were (Pakistan and Ethiopia) close together, the woman of course said no.  She then had a very loud and disturbing conversation with another man about something, but I can't really remember what.  Whew...that was a long 25 minutes but when it was over I felt like, I have to do this again, this was fun.  I caught the bus home and the next day, more of the same.  Although on my return trip the next day I had words with a different crazy lady.  

I was on the phone with my mother (again in the front seats) and a pregnant woman, who happened to be Ethiopian, got on the bus.  We said Selam and I proceeded to get out of my seat for her to sit down (she was pregnant for goodness sakes).  Instead of letting her sit down a woman decided she was going to jump in my seat...she knew I wasn't getting up for her.  I turned around and told her I wasn't getting up for her, I was getting up for the other woman to sit down.  She told me SO.  I said okay GET UP!  She said the seat was for elderly and priority, I told her the woman was pregnant (the woman was about 50, not old, just mean), she said SO.  I was heated.  Of course the woman looked like it's okay, it's okay.  Meanwhile my mother is on the phone saying Tami be nice, she knows I am on an "interesting" bus.  I told the woman she was just rude and inconsiderate.  She proceeded to tell me she didn't care and then started calling me fancy pants (I had on my suit and did look very nice! LOL...hater!)  Finally, a nice young lady next to the crazy lady got up for the woman to sit down.  My job was done and I moved to the back.  

I can see why people don't take the bus but it is less expensive and less walking for me depending on where I have to go.  I'm a big gurl, can handle myself and the haters but whew...that was an experience.  I hope I don't have to do that too often!  Maybe I'll walk the extra 17 minutes next time.  :-)  

Life. It Happens.

When I was a kid my mother used to tell me: "Tami, you talk to much".  Then as I got older she said: "Tami, you talk too much and trust too easily.  You think everyone is your friend, they are not."  So, for thirty something years (don't ask) I pretty much heard those words repeated from my mother, in different ways of course.  For thirtysomething years she continued to see my heartbroken which broke her heart as well.  It was not until this past summer, when life happened (SHTF) that I finally understood what all of those things my mother said to me meant.  

A few weeks ago another AP asked me if she should tell everyone she is adopting and I told her if I had to do it over again I would wait until I had my referral to share.  When I started this process 15 months ago I thought it would move so smoothly for me...then life happened.   Life.  It happens.  Seems pretty simple to me, I thought it would be simple to everyone else.  I thought everyone would rejoice at my choices and provide support.  Maybe even if they weren't rejoicing I thought they would care about what was going on in my life.  So, I did as I often had, spilled all the beans about my feelings, the adoption process, plans I had for my baby girl, my career, about EVERYTHING!  Then guess what I found out?  Either many of those people could have cared less, they turned my joy into something they tried to use against me or they drive me completely insane asking me: "when is the baby coming, what is they problem, why is it taking so long, what are you doing wrong".  After each time someone asks me a question or it is very apparent they don't care about what is going on in my world a little is taken away from me and I think...what did I do to deserve that.   I want nothing more than to have my daughter home, but there are things that cannot be explained because life simply happens.  And after thirtysomething years I've finally realized that I don't owe people explanations for why my life happens the way it does...it's life, it just does.  

So, finally, what life has taught me is to keep some things just for me and to share when and if I feel it is the right time to. Fifteen months into the process I now understand why people wait until the first trimester to tell people they are pregnant.  My mother used to say, not everything is for everybody.  I finally get it.  I just hope that I am able to convey what it took my mother thirtysomething years for me to get to Baby I at a much younger age.  I certainly don't ever want to steal her joy and I know my mother never wanted to steal mine, but what she wanted me to do was keep some of that joy reserved for me because she knew that others could crush my spirit (I'm sensitive you know...LOL).  Ok Mom, I finally get it...I love you.  

I Have A Secret

If I didn't tell you this, I AM the queen of bargain shopping.  I can make it look like you have a lot of money when, ummmm...you don't.  I have tons of secrets that I usually don't share, but this one is just too good to pass up, so I'm going to hook you all up!  Oh, for this secret, Baby I wants very good baby shower gifts!  :-)  

Check out MamaBargains.com.  A mompreneur started the site and new bargains are posted almost daily, if it's a good day the manna comes twice.  Discounts are up to 70-80% on some items.   The Mama bargain of the day is a cute diaper bag by Timi & Leslie.  Suggested retail price is $150, MamaBargains.com price $19.  I found the same bag for $139 at BabyBungalow.com. FYI, last month Mamabargains.com had a $500 stroller for $199!  

I know, I know...you love me and I'm the greatest!  

XOXOXOXO,

Tami