Paperwork backlog could prevent millions from voting.

We, like apparently about a million other people, submitted B’s paperwork to become a U.S. citizen in June of last year - right before they raised the fees from $330 to $675.

Hopefully, though, he will be the exception to the article - our last call to USCIS about 2 weeks ago said that they just needed to send off his fingerprints and then we would be able to contact the Milwaukee office about scheduling him a date to fly to the U.S. and have his interview and be sworn in.  We’re very excited about everything, especially that he - hopefully - may be able to vote this November.

Come on, USCIS, get your butts moving!

Can you believe this crap?! I am never putting another banana chip in my mouth EVER AGAIN YOU CAN’T MAKE ME I WON’T DO IT NO NO NO.

Classroom Spelling Bees will be held for
4th, 5th and 6th Graders

on Teusday January 29th.

Permission slips will be sent home on Monday.

for those kids who are interested in participating

Classroom winners will meet at 3:00 on Teusday to prepare!

As you could gather by the postcard the other day, my parents and I went to Tangier, Morocco this past weekend. This was the first time I have gotten to travel anywhere with my parents as an adult.

We booked a tour guide through a local travel agency and picked the overnight stay. We left early in the morning and drove to Tarifa where we caught a high speed ferry and rode the 40 minutes or so to Africa. Africa! It’s just a bit surprising that Africa is that close to where we live. Overall, we had a pretty good time; Morocco wasn’t as scary as I’d heard. Our tour guides made me feel much more comfortable as there was one in front of us and one in the rear making sure everyone stayed together. They took us through the old part of town, the casbah and the medina, and then to the souk full of little shops peddling their wares to the tourists.

We ate lunch at a local restaurant - a lightly curried soup to start followed by the main course of rice with grapes, chicken, and a few root-based vegetables. Dessert was some honeyed fried dough and sweet mint tea.

We were dropped off at our hotel in the early afternoon and paid a bit more to have a local guide take us around the old Jewish quarter which was similar to the first tour except that it felt like it was more “local” whereas the other sector was more touristy. We walked through a bustling local market selling olives and chickens and spices, then a bit more shopping where I picked up a great lamp that I’ve seen the style of before and have wanted for a while.

I got quite a few pictures that I’ve posted on my flickr account, click on the picture below to see them.

Don’t worry…Dad had fun, too.

They’re finally visiting…mom and dad are here!

Hooray!  Another new nephew made it safely into the world.  B’s older brother Davið welcomed his third child, his first son, early on Thursday.  He’s gorgeous!  It looks like he’ll have red hair, which is funny because just a few days earlier I was telling someone that if we ever had another baby, he or she would probably have red hair.

Just like with Svala’s baby who was born in November, he won’t have a name until he’s baptized.

Congratulations to Davið, Teodora, and big sisters Alex, Birta and Dagmar!   We hope to see you soon!