Not-so-little yellow house

House next door is back in the running! I think I'm going to take it. I'm hesitating, planning to work out the budget with the higher rent, etc, but I think I know deep down that that's just a show of "being responsible."

It has a reading nook at the top of the stairs. I'm not sure I'm capable of saying no to that...

Changing Time into Wine

Finally opened my law school graduation wine last Thursday.  It was a gift from my brother's girlfriend's parents when I graduated, and I meant to open it once I had a job.

Of course, it was the worst legal market in a long time at that time, and a job didn't come easily.  I had a short-term research fellowship, and then a internship, and then some consulting gigs-- nothing that seemed to call for opening the symbolic wine.  Finally, I started my current job last fall, but never had gotten around to figuring out what the right time for symbolic wine deployment was.  But, hey! I had my first-ever non-time-limited job (I've done a lot of fellowships and grant-funded things in my life...)

Thursday, two things prompted me to open it.  First, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the terrible VAWA version to show that they weren't going to go along with the Senate VAWA.   In this climate, compromise seems unlikely and unproductive, and while I don't think it's likely, I think that we should be concerned that there's a real chance of major disruption of funding to domestic violence services.  If that happens, I'm going to be job searching again.

Second, it was a good night for it. I had some friends coming over for dinner, friends who I've known for between 10-16 years, and who I don't imagine ever fully falling out of touch with. All the sorts of people who can graciously accept a little bit of symbolism with their wine without it being a big deal.  And I was going to open some bottle anyway, so why not this one?   I did in fact have another couple bottles on hand, even though often not having it sold at grocery stores in this state makes me forget to keep it stocked until I actively need it and it's not there.  (Usually this comes halfway through a recipe, when I realize I need half a cup of white wine, and I have to choose between not having the wine in there (sad for the flavors that are alcohol-soluble!) or turning some light-colored sauce distinctly purple with the random Shiraz I have in the fridge.)

So we drank the symbolic wine, which didn't taste bad at all, and it was a nice evening, and there was good food and good conversation.  And I was satisfied to officially close the door (U.S. Legislative Branch-willing...) on my post-graduation-, job-searching-, "what am I doing with my life?" days, and look towards new things.  Fostering is something that I wasn't even in a place to start considering in any real way when I got that bottle, and now it's becoming a very real focus of my life and plans.  It's good-tasting change, with body and subtlety and all that.

The Girl Who Dreamed Only Geese

Have been looking at children's books with an eye to great illustrations of a diverse range of kids.    Love this Leo & Diane Dillon painting from "The Girl Who Dreamed Only Geese and Other Tales of the Far North".

I might need to try to get all of their books: they're amazing illustrators AND they represent a wide range of people in their art.  This particular image would make a great framed print, don't you think?  How do you go about getting permission to do that, I wonder?

The Big To-Do List

There are a number of things I need to do to get my life ready for bringing kids into it.  Since the next foster training classes are in the fall, I have a nice period of time to get things in order and strengthen my safety net:

Official DCYF steps:

Fingerprint Affidavit (appt made for 6/12)
Application Submitted
Physician Approval Submitted
Background Checks Passed
References from Friends and Family
Homestudy
Lead Certification
Fire Inspection
Classes

My To Do:

- Find therapist
- Get Primary Care doctor
    - Release Form
    - Records Sent
    - Appointment
    - Faxed record from ST
    - Bloodwork
    - Get certification form signed.
-Release forms
- Dentist
- Renew Passport
- Visit Italy (October?)
- Investigate local UU churches
- Tell landlords plan to move
- Find 2BR or 3BR place
    - find movers (have referral)
    - negotiate moving dates
    - move
- Clothing purge to second-hand store
- Sell or donate old books (trade-in-credit to populate collection of kid's book would be good too!)

Things I'll need in the new house:

- Kid bed
- Crib?
- More bookshelves
- dining table chairs
- cool colorful educational decor (maps, infographics, etc)
- kid bedding
- toys
- washing machine/dryer (dad working on finding these on craigslist)
-Arrange washer/dryer delivery
- Microwave
- outdoor furniture and grill (not the top priority...)
- window AC units (determine config)

Picture books I need:
 (removing this list as I add them to the amazon wishlist, which seems a better place to keep track)