Hello, blogheads! :-)
Yet another one of my quickie stop-ins to say hello and to let you all know that I'll be absent for awhile. I am going to be in The Land of the Really Blonde People and Lots of Snow visiting my paternal grandparents and some other relatives.
It's a good thing I managed to get my passport in just ONE DAY!!! Yes folks, I know they tell you that it takes 6 weeks to get a passport, but if you're sly and wily like Hila, you can get it in just a few short hours! How, you ask? Be a dingleberry and misplace your passport and not realize it until a few short days before your trip is scheduled to occur. Fill out all necessary forms and have all required forms of identification as specified by the gov't and be willing to shell out a large chunk of change and bada-boom, bada-bing, prest-o change-o rearrange-o, you'll have a shiny, new, United States passport in no time! :-D
Actually, I take that back. You'll have it, but you will have to wait for it. And wait for it. And wait for it. I am not joking when I say that you actually have to make an appointment to wait to see a clerk. Seriously. What. the. heck. I called and made an appointment, foolishly thinking that upon arrival I'd simply check in with a receptionist of sorts and would soon be pleading my sorry case to some desk jockey and then away I'd go. Much to my chagrin, however, this was not to be. Instead, I had to wait in line just to check in with the receptionist, who gave me a number so I could sit and wait 30 minutes (mind you I HAD AN APPOINTMENT) to speak to someone, just to in turn wait 4 hours to come back and WAIT AGAIN for them to call my name when my passport was finished, which I was informed would be processed at random...Egads is all I have to say about that!
Anyhoo, back to my trip to Sveeeeeden (aka the Frozen Tundra) Am I excited, you ask? Of course! I haven't seen my grandparents in over a year, so I am really looking forward to spending time with them. I am not, however, looking forward to the only 6 hours of sunlight a day and the -2384939843 degree temperature and the 4.23775 feet of snow that will be on the ground...Ok, ok, so I'm exaggerating. But not about the darkness. That's gonna be a trip.
Anyway, I'll be thinking about you all while I'm on my little vacation. I'll be back in time for New Year's Eve so maybe I'll post a little around then!
Wish me luck in my travels!
-Hila
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8 comments:
How wonderful!! I have Swedish blood on both sides of my family.. I would love to visit someday...
Safe travels and take pictures!!
Last night I started working on passport applications for my kids. I took mug shots of the three who are still at home. I hope to do it all by mail.
Chana,
If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend it! This is my first time visiting Sweden in the winter so I'll have to fill you in on what that's like when I get back, but I can tell you that the summers in Sweden are fabulous! It's definitely the "Land of the Midnight Sun" :-)
PT,
Good luck with the passport apps! I didn't realize you could use pics from home--my parents have always made me suffer and go have them professionally taken. Oh well, at least you won't end up with goofy smiles since they're not allowed in passport photos! And if you have plenty of time to spare, doing it via mail is certainly much less stressful. However, if you're in a pinch, it's much easier to go directly to the source!
Well, I best be going! It's 2 pm here and our flight to Chicago has been canceled so we'll be driving there instead. Nasty weather is expected, so please say a prayer for my family that we have a safe trip!
-Hila
Good luck and have fun! I hope the airports aren't too hectic around now. My memories of recent travel are very . . . unfun. Probably because of all the gear and strollers though.
Hey PT - where ya guys goin?
BTW as for applying by mail for the kids, I guess it's different in every state and you'll see what it's like out in Yenemsvelt.
Here in NY, for a first time passport application for a minor under 14, the child must come in person with both parents to the actual passport office. If one of the parents can't come, he/she has to sign an affidavit allowing the other parent to apply for the passport for that child.
Crazy world, but I had to do it, down to the affidavit, for both my kids as babies when we went to RD's family in Belgium.
You sure being blonde has nothing to do with a rushed passport ;) just kidding. Anyway, all that waiting sounds VERY Israeli. Israel is even worse. Trust me.
Have a safe and enjoyable trip. We'll miss you!
Have a fabulous time!
RaggedyMom,
See my latest post about airport fun
:-D I think this time of year is always going to be hectic and stressful no matter what, so we might as well all get used to it. *sigh* As for the passport thing, that's a national/federally regulated thing, so all minors under 14 have to go with their parents (I remember this from the first two times because i was 8 and 12, respectively). I can't imagine having to get passports for little ones is very easy, though! And don't worry, I like memes! I'll have it up soon.
KollelMama,
Hahaha! You know, it's funny that you said that because my Dad said the same thing when I came home and triumphantly showed him my new passport! LOL I guess sometimes being blonde does have its perks, I will admit. Jk jk!
Kasamba,
Thanks! I did. No snow so it was kind of a bummer, but I got to see all of my *BLONDE* relations so that was good times :-D
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