Still Waiting

Exactly two months ago I mentioned that I was trying to apply for teaching positions in the UK and also for a separate visitor's visa to go back for a short visit before the start of the school year. Well, I'm STILL waiting to hear about the visitor's visa!

I completed my application online at the end of June but didn't have my appointment for my photograph and fingerprints until early July. Then when my application arrived at the British Consulate they had it over a week before they opened it. I got an email at that point, saying that if everything was in order they could make a decision within 24 hrs. Of course that was on a Friday afternoon, so I wouldn't know anything 'til Monday afternoon. Surprisingly, they emailed me Monday afternoon -- NOT saying I was granted the visa as I hoped, but saying they would need 15 more days to process my request and make further inquiries!

Good grief! What do they think I'm trying to do???

Because I'm having such a hard time getting a VISITOR'S visa, I figured there's no way they'll grant me a work permit! So I've had to shelf that plan for the time being. Something else is in the works, tho. But I don't know if it will happen for sure, so I won't say anything just yet.

In the meantime I plan to still wait for word on my visa and to start the school year substitute teaching. I'm not going to commit to a full-time position just yet, in case what I'm looking into/thinking about doing happens.

So, I've had a wonderful summer of waiting and exercising patience! And I can't believe it's nearly AUGUST! Some of my poor friends and former coworkers at my old school already go back to work on Monday. So glad I got outta that place when and how I did!

The Laws of Primogeniture

A conversation I had the other day reminded me of this poem by Linda Pastan. I don't have a deep knowledge of modern poets and poetry, but I really love her work. I think because she came to Baylor my senior year for our annual poetry festival and I attended her poetry reading. No one can bring life to a poem like the one who wrote it. So I hear her voice in my head when I read this poem, which makes it more meaningful . . .

The Laws of Primogeniture

My grandson has my father's mouth
with its salty sayings
and my grandfather's crooked ear
that heard the soldiers coming.

He has the pale eyes of the Cossack
who saw my great-great-grandmother
in the woods, then wouldn't stop
looking.

And see him now, pushing
his bright red fire truck towards
a future he thinks he's inventing
all by himself.

Seoul Check

Go check out my friend Elaine's new blog. She and her husband just moved to Seoul, South Korea -- he's in the army and she's teaching English. She's mostly blogging to keep her family and friends up to date, and she has some cool photos up of the city.

Any idea what this is???

I'll give you one hint:



I plan to send it to Locks of Love tomorrow, something I've always wanted to do! Hopefully it will be made into something beautiful for someone and become their crowning glory, as it was mine.





(((Sorry about the sideways photo, folks. I uploaded it straight from the memory card and am too lazy to put it into a program just so I can flip it once)))

It's an enigma

I love grapefruit, but I hate grapefruit juice (from a can or bottle...never tried it fresh, tho).

I love plums, but I hate prunes.

Similarly, I love grapes, but don't care for raisins (I'll eat them, but mostly I'm "eh" about 'em).

I'm afraid of heights, but I really want to go sky diving some day.

Ok, that's all I can think of right now. I'll add more later, I'm sure. Or not. Who knows.