Hiya!! It's that time of the week (otherwise known as Tuesday night Eastern) and time for DIDS. You regulars know DIDS is short for Damn, I Did Something. It's that chance we all crave, to tell everyone the large, small, glorious and mundane things we DID in the past week.
I'll be your substitute host for the evening! While talking to the DIDSman himself yesterday, I casually said "Hey, if you ever want a fill-in host again, let me know." Well, let it never be said that he doesn't make wishes come true... :-)
So what DIDS I do recently? Let's see...
The vast majority of my efforts in Real Life these days have centered around getting our dossier done for the adoption I first mentioned mumblewaythehelltoolongagomumble. In short, we want to adopt one or two kids between the age of 3 and 6 (give or take a year or two upward) from Ethiopia. The dossier is what gets submitted to the Ethiopian Government for approval. Since Mr. Brillig is both (1) the only one of us working a paying job; and (2) writing a book that takes all of his disposable time, the task fell to me to get it completed. I let myself get distracted from the necessary but tedious collecting of vast quantities of paperwork by a whole lot of things: the start of Kid Brillig's school year; her swim team; the holidays; and that Great Time-Sink Of My First Life, Second Life. It wasn't that I didn't want to adopt, it was just that so many other tasks DIDS (appear to) need doing.
And as I fell further behind, it got harder and harder to get back on track. Depression about it set in, and I dreaded each day I had no DIDS. Plus, the clock was ticking on our Immigration Approval, our home study and our fingerprints. Sigh...
Then help came from two quarters: First Mr. Brillig, who finally had enough and called me out on my lack of forward movement- then reminded me that while he couldn't do the running around during the day, he could and would help with organization and planning. Second from a buddy in Second Life, who decided they wanted to be part of the solution, not the distraction. They won't let me hang out with them inworld til they get word I've accomplished something adoption-related for the day. Sounds silly I know, but in two weeks I've gotten more done than in 6 months:
Got the letter from the Police Department attesting that we have no arrest record (although it may need redo-ing... how they could NOT use the specific phrasing required when I gave them the text to use is beyond me).
Drafted our statement of reason for adopting from Ethiopia (note: if you've ever had to write one of these, please tell me how to make it not sound hokey... ours needs work).
Scheduled time with my friend the Notary Public to get 6 documents notarized. Ooh, that one includes a bonus lunch date with her as well :-).
I DIDS schedule our next visit to the travel immunization clinic. Yellow Fever and Typhoid is done, we still have meningitis and a host of other shots to go.
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and know what needs doing to get us there. I've also started spring cleaning and gone back to the gym twice a week. Amazing how getting something accomplished makes you feel.
But you knew that already, didn't you? So... what DIDS you do that's making you feel proud?
