Waiting for Godot

In any journey, there are days where one seems to tread water at best. Today was one of those days. Our major task for the day was supposed to be picking up C's passport from the VN gov. However, the agency staff person assigned to take us never showed. There was a series of phone calls to other staff members members that briefly held out the possibility that we might yet make it, but the bottom line is that it didn't happen. Now, the plan is to pick up the passport on Monday morning. It really must occur then because C's appointment at the International Health Clinic for his health clearance to travel (i.e., showing he doesn't have mad cow disease) occurs Monday afternoon and the passport must be in-hand for him to be seen by the health clinic staff. In short, today's hiccup hopefully does not impact the schedule but is aggravating nonetheless. Additionally, a perfectly beautiful day was spent in the hotel rather than out and about.

But all is not lost... T went shopping! She went shopping w/ another family (while E & C were going stir crazy in the hotel) and used some mad bargaining skills that would make her sister K proud. While in VN, it is important for us to pick up things we can give to C as we have two celebrations each year (his birthday in August & his "gotcha day" on Nov 1st). Now, T has a good idea how the Brits feels right now when they shop in the US (w/ the Euro/Dollar conversion tipping against the Yanks). Since "Di" Man has begun showing his musical talents w/ banging chopsticks & utensils against the table, Mama decided to purchase a small drum & xylophone to bring home for later "gotcha days".

While E was downstairs later this afternoon, T was on "Di" Man patrol. E called up to the room & C was fascinated by the phone ringing & Mama picking up the phone and talking. He quickly responded by taking the phone away from Mama and listening. T told E to talk to C & C was perplexed but fascinated. T isn't sure what E said to C but C's end of the one-way conversation ended when C kissed the phone.

Since "Di" Man had a good day, we decided to forgo the usual bath torture & give him a sponge bath. Well, as you can imagine, that was alright in his book. No screams of bloody murder...actually smiles were seen for miles. C loves to have lotion put on his body (but to do so, T must put a dallop in each palm, then take the lotion and rub it into different body parts). He brushed T's teeth (or at least made an attempt) but didn't allow Mama to return the favor in kind.

Oh, yeah...he also discovered the fun and giggles of Mama giving him the raspberry on his tummy (but Ba is NOT allowed to do so). Mama also took him on a field trip to see his buddy D taking a fun splish-splash bath (so hopefully, if D likes the bath, so will the "Di" Man - we hope...otherwise nights will be interesting in the Heberlig house).