Happy Thanksgiving

While there are certainly things that aren't going our way this year (my brother's still overseas and we're still not matched with a child), there's still tons to be thankful for. I hope everyone reading this post is enjoying a lovely holiday with their friends and family. And speaking of my brother, please keep him in your thoughts this holiday season. This is the longest we've ever been apart and we've NEVER not been together on a holiday.

In adoption news, check out this New York Times blog (thanks to Chad for passing it along). I haven't had the chance to read all the way through, but what I've seen is pretty darn cool. Also, our local paper ran a story today about an amazing family that has adopted 20 children (yes, that's right, 20 children). - Sarah

international food week at work

This week at my place of employment we had what was deemed "International" food week. Last week was African week and one day was specifically Ethiopian food. I thought this was going to cool, but I was utterly disappointed. The meal was some stew served over toast(yes toast not njeria?) with some collard greens. I was so let down as I was looking forward to this all month.

We have a local grocer who sells organic foods and they carry hot dishes prepared by our local Ethiopian restaurant. On Monday I called up there to make sure that they still had some of the food left and the person I talked to (after waiting for 8 minutes) said that they had plenty of food of left. So I called sarah and she was going to stop there on her way home and pick some up. Of course they were out of food. We're seriously jonesing for some Ethiopian food.

Second topic does any one now what all of the hubbub was about with Beyonce in Ethiopia? -Tim

Skunky

A few days after Halloween I tore through Target and got an adorable skunk costume for 50% off. I'm so excited. There were tons of other really cute ones, but my mom was there to make me practice restraint.

On the adoption front, our application still hasn't moved up the chain at all. I'm guessing we've been in the same position since mid-June, but I could be wrong about that. I try not to read every e-mail update that comes from the agency because it's just too dang depressing. The wait is really hitting me now. In the beginning I vowed to be tough because this entire process is out of my control, but that's so hard.

I promise to write more soon (Might not get around to it this weekend, though - I'm covering a HUGE Indian wedding complete with an elephant). Sorry we've been so lax about posting.

*** Oh, and a quick clarification.... a "lurker" made reference in a recent post about a stinky Milton. That's our cat, who, by the way, is black and white like a skunk! - Sarah

Ethiopian food

If anybody is around the Washington, D.C., metro area and wants to try some ethiopian food, an economics professor from George Mason has an informative ethnic dining guide: http://www.tylercowensethnicdiningguide.com/ethiopian. -Tim

Random Stuff

I'm still quite shaken about what happened Saturday across the street from my work, just minutes before I arrived. I know that homelessness and the mentally ill are a sensitive, politically charged subject, but something needs to be done. This was so senseless!

On a much, much lighter note, the publication for which I work has released its November issue and inside is a package of adoption-related stories in honor of National Adoption Month. I am so proud of this package. We've got essays from people who have adopted (everything from how do you talk with your kids about adoption to an amazing single mother who adopted three special-needs children), debunking adoption myths (no, not all domestic adoptions are open) and even some adoption etiquette(don't EVER ask an adoptive parent, especially in front of the child, if they're the child's "real" parent). Unfortunately the content's only available in the actual issue - so if you're in the area be sure to pick up a copy! You'll even find an essay from me about the homestudy process.

In other adoption news, I'll be helping to pass our ever-increasing wait by checking out some of the clearance Halloween costumes and goodies at Target this weekend! After Easter we got an adorable duck basket for dirt cheap, so I'm super excited about what we might find.

And finally, a note to all of you lurkers: I know you're out there, reading our blog faithfully but never commenting, even just to say hello. Show us some love, people! This is a long and somewhat isolated process, so it helps to know that folks are in our corner. - Sarah

Scary

I went to work this morning to clean off my desk since I lost my glasses for about two hours yesterday under a pile of papers. I got to work around 9 a.m. When I looked out the window I saw police, police tape and a body under a tarp right across the street. Within minutes, dozens more police appeared and a vast swath of road and sidewalk were sectioned off. If I wanted to leave, I wouldn't have been able to.

Nearly three hours later I found out what happened. This is so horrible in so many ways. First the obvious — this woman was walking her little dog on a nice Saturday morning on a fairly busy street — one on which today there was some kind of charity race with tons of runners.

But also, my mother live mere blocks from here. Plus, I obviously just missed this. Had this been any other day I would have walked around the front of the building, but since our front gates are lock after hours, I went through the garage. I'm grateful to be OK, and I'm grateful that people stopped to help the woman and also to call the police. I wonder where her little dog is now... I hope he's safe. - Sarah

Gluttony

While we're waiting for the baby I figured we might as well take full advantage of our rare free time. So, this week we're going out to dinner nearly every night for Restaurant Week. Modeled after NYC's famed week, several fine dining establishments in my town offer prix fixe menus, with partial proceeds benefiting the Food Bank.

I made reservations at places that Tim and I could never afford otherwise and that we'd never tried despite having lived here our entire lives. Tonight I went with a former coworker to Zeus Gallery in the Museum District. I started with a salad that had pumpkin-seed brittle. I had pork loin with apple and fennel, sweet potato puree and greens, and then finished it off with key lime pie (a brownie size). I brought half home for Tim's lunch tomorrow. It was sooooo good!

Tomorrow Tim and I are going to Julep's, which I've been to and Tim hasn't. Thursday, after my mom and I go hear Cokie Roberts speak we're going to Bacchus. Sunday Tim and I are going to the Hard Shell.

I am going to be so fat come Monday. And the worst part is, the final photo from the magazine's fitness challenge is coming up really soon. I'm thinking I'll be on some sort of liquid diet by the time this week's up. - Sarah