jaysaint Getting it all down on paper…

Meme I just made up: Go to Wikipedia, click on “Random article” and post the intros (or the whole thing, if it’s a short one) to the first three you get.

1. Iorlas
Iorlas is a minor character in J.R.R Tolkien’s novel The Lord of the Rings.

He is Bergil’s uncle from Lossarnach, presumably Beregond’s brother. He is only mentioned by Bergil and never appears in person, though he likely fights in the siege of the city and the battles of the Pelennor Fields and the Black Gate.

In the Peter Jackson film, there is a similarly named character named Irolas (played by Ian Hughes). He is an officer of Minas Tirith who appears after Faramir retreats from Osgiliath.

2. Transcarga
Transcarga (International Airways) is a cargo airline based in Caracas, Venezuela. It operates domestic charter cargo services.

3. Furze Platt School
Furze Platt School in Maidenhead is made up of two schools: Furze Platt Junior and Furze Platt Senior School.

Furze Platt Senior school has 6th form facilities, and is an ‘IT/Maths’ Specialist school, and has notably high levels of technology to boast in each classroom.

Furze Platt Senior has been successful, mainly due to new management, in turning the ‘tough’ image around into a very successful and influential secondary school. It is highly regarded by Ofsted and many other governing bodies.

I admit that I skipped two random entries. The first was on monkey hunting, and I’m just not into putting that in my journal. The second was 1921 in Ireland. And while I could be into putting that in my journal, just the first graf was super-long and would try your patience.

It’ a rainy rainy Sunday. There’s nothing better, to my mind, although I will be sad if it cancels our building’s annual cookout tonight. No one can believe an apartment building in New York has a group cookout, but we’re a very friendly bunch. There’s also a progressive Christmas party each year where anyone willing throws their doors open and the group moves from apartment to apartment throughout the night.

Here’s an unrelated question (in case anyone is actually reading on this rainy rainy Sunday): Does anyone think he or she could name the dates and addresses for every place s/he’s lived since s/he was 18? I’ve lived 11 different places, it seems, and am having a hard time imagining how I’m going to come up with the address of my first college apartment in particular.

We made the decision to be parents. We made the decision to adopt. We got approved by an adoption agency and social work agency. But nothing says “We’re doing this thing” like mailing two thousand dollars.

Yesterday I was coming back from a quick trip to the bank across the street from our office.

While I was waiting on the corner for the walk light, a woman went running by behind me. And she was not kidding around about that running, she was pounding down the sidewalk.

As I turned back around to face the street a cab drew up to the curb, the back window rolled down and none other than Billie Jean King stuck her head out to yell, “Go Girl!!!” at the runner.

If I could get Billie Jean King to personally cheer me on when I exercise I feel I could be ready for the 2008 Olympics.

So much has happened this week.

Was it just yesterday that we got the first phone call? I think it was. I came home to hear: Hi there, and congratulations! You’ve been approved by our agency to adopt an infant under 12 months old with no known medical issues.

(There are various levels of approval, all having to do with age, that determine how young a kid you can get.

CCAI (Get used to that acronym, it’s our adoption agency) emailed us a packet of get-started documents and some contracts to sign. I had them notarized today and unless work runs right over me tomorrow I’ll get them to the post office.

I also did the intake interview with our social work agency today, and we’ll have our first visit scheduled by early next week.

For the third time so far I’ve answered the questions:
— Have you ever been arrested?
— Have you ever been treated for drugs or alcohol?
— Have you ever received psychiatric treatment?
— Have you had any surgery, been hospitalized or do you take any perscription medicine?
— Have you ever been accused of child abuse or neglect?

Thank the heavens that I was able to give an honest “no” to all of the above (minor surgery like tonsils and wisdom teeth can be omitted.) They tell you that a “yes” doesn’t mean you’re definitely eliminated, but I wouldn’t want to make a bet on that. China is hugely (appropriately) protective of these babies and the official policy seems to be “Take No Chances.”

Remind me that I think it’s all appropriate and justified when I’m trying to get fingerprint and other records from four different states, as well as elaborately certified and notarized financial and personal documents and, for all I know, birth certificates for our cats and lie detector tests on dead ancestors.

Does that sound like complaining? It’s not. I’m over the moon. I wonder how long I can subsist on the fantasy of “Gotcha Day.” (That’s another one to remember.)