Leaving pretty soon
It looks like I may be leaving as early as Sunday for an open ended trip.
The last time I had to go out of town RK tried to keep the blog going but he tells me he can’t do that this time. He’s going to be getting our daughter back and forth to school and doing whatever needs to be done as far as paperwork that I’d normally be doing. Plus I’ve got a long list of things he needs to go ahead and start buying for the trip.
And speaking of that list, is my husband the only one who thinks these lists are negotiable? If I put down two boxes of quart sized ziplocks and two boxes of gallon sized ziplocks and one box of snack sized ziplocks then that is what we need and it can’t be negotiated down to one box each. Do your husbands do this to?
But, back to my absence. It seems that the higher ups think it might be a good idea to check in on almost all of my projects, or at least all of the ones that are in the same area. Which means I could be gone a while.
I’ve set moderators up in the forum - they are in charge so you should listen to what they say. They all have blue stars under their name.
I would imagine that when the rumors hit that the rumor room will be pretty busy. It seems that the most logical way to do this will be to have one thread for each rumor and not start a new thread for every person who wants to report that they, too, have heard that rumor. People can PM each other to figure out if they have the same agency or whether this is coming from multiple agencies. Please do not try to make those guesses on the open board.
Please use the rumor room for a rumor that you are reporting. If it’s not a rumor that you’ve heard and are reporting then start the thread in the discussion room (or another room if it fits better in another room).
I know it can be hard, but try to look at the rumors objectively - where is it coming from, who is reporting it, how many places is it coming from, is there a conflicting rumor?
I’ll be around for a bit this morning but then I’ll be in meetings this afternoon and a good part of tomorrow. I’ll probably do a final post on Saturday or maybe Sunday morning.
I know, I know, ya’ll will be fine. This is kind of liking taking your child to daycare the first day.
February 8th, 2007 at 7:37 am
LOL!!!
My husband would buy EXACTLY what I put on the list and nothing else except maybe a Snickers bar!
Then he would tell me AFTER he got home… I wondered if you needed ‘X’ or ‘Y’? And then I would say, YES why didn’t you just pick them up when you were there?
He’d say…. “It wasn’t on the list!”
Do you think he’s afraid of me? (Big Grin)
Have a great trip… hopefully it is somewhere fun?!?!
February 8th, 2007 at 7:58 am
Have great trip RQ… absence makes the heart grow fonder. We all appreciate you tremendously now but when you get back think of how happy people will be! Oh and yes, my dh does the same thing and he s the obe travelling!
Kim
February 8th, 2007 at 8:09 am
In defense of husbands, the worst memory I have of the last trip to China is trying to get the luggage from one place to the next. We packed too much last time, and it made some of the travel transfers miserable. If our packing gets out of hand this time, I plan to be a brutal negotiator, as well.
February 8th, 2007 at 8:27 am
Have a great trip RQ. You gave us the tools, we will work nicely with them in your absence.
As for the King, I would not even give my husband the list in the first place. Heaven only knows what he would come home with. So, good luck with THAT!
Don’t worry about us, take care of business and focus on baby #2 when work allows :)
Elaine Lo
February 8th, 2007 at 8:38 am
Hi Elaine,
I know someone with the same name. A friend of a friend who used to come on ski trips with us many years ago. That wouldn’t be you would it???
February 8th, 2007 at 8:40 am
Hi Elaine,
I used to know someone with the same name. She was a friend of a friend that used to come on ski trips with us. That wouldn’t be you would it?
February 8th, 2007 at 8:41 am
RQ,
My posts are not showing up or are they?
February 8th, 2007 at 8:41 am
I won’t just be packing all of those ziplocks - I use them for organization when I pack. Also, anything that could leak goes into one so that if it leaks the leak will be contained.
I probably will not use all of them, but there is a good chance I’ll use more than a box of each, so we need two boxes. What doesn’t get used for the trip will get used later in the kitchen, so there shouldn’t be a problem with getting more than we need.
I guess I’m lucky that RK is good at going to the store and coming home with what we need. If he sees something he’s pretty sure we need that’s not on the list and it doesn’t cost much he’ll go ahead and get it. If it isn’t cheap then he’ll doublecheck with me to see why it wasn’t on the list before he buys it. Maybe I missed it, or maybe we already have it and he just doesn’t know it.
But right now we’re having the “why do we need ______” conversation over and over again.
February 8th, 2007 at 8:43 am
Hi Elaine, (sorry if this is now a triple post - the first 2 didn’t show up)
I used to know someone with the same name. She was a friend of a friend and came on some ski trips with us. Would that be you out there by any chance
February 8th, 2007 at 8:48 am
RQ,
Speaking of packing lists…..Would you consider (after you are home with your daughter) giving us first time families a copy of your packing list? I trust your judgement and am looking for the perfect list! =)
February 8th, 2007 at 8:53 am
LOL, my husband would do the opposite. He would buy enough ziploc bags for years.
Enjoy your trip!!
February 8th, 2007 at 8:54 am
Yes, when I get back I’ll work on a way to get a packing list up.
In a perfect world we’d have several versions of it - summer and winter, and then broken down into infant or toddler or older kid, with additions to be added on for those who are taking along older kids, too.
I have a pretty extensive packing list which got sorted into a shopping list which is why RK and I are having the discussions we are having. He hasn’t seen the packing list yet, just the shopping list.
February 8th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Thanks RQ!
February 8th, 2007 at 9:05 am
RQ,
Hope your work stuff goes well and you have safe travels to your worksites and to China. Am very excited for you to get to China!!!! We will miss you!!! Will be doing lots of fishing now that you have taught us to fish :-).
February 8th, 2007 at 9:06 am
RQ
Maybe he just needs to hear that not everything on the shopping list is on the packing list? And that the shopping list is larger since you don’t want him to have to do a bunch of last minute shopping to get just a little more of something you could have just bought the first time?
As for your first day of daycare analogy, I remember my first day of going to nursery school (many years ago) and they didn’t let me kiss my Mom goodbye (or perhaps not as many times as I wanted). I got sent to the corner for crying and making such a fuss about it. My point? I’m older and wiser now, always kiss my daughter before pre-school (many times) and promise not to make such a fuss that I get sent to the corner while you’re away. No promises about not having my own private pity party though. :o)
PT
10/27/05
February 8th, 2007 at 9:08 am
RQ ~
You’re right. We’ll be fine when you’re gone…we’ll miss you like crazy of course…but we’ll make it! I find it amazing that with all you have on your plate you still have time to worry about us!
My dh and I will definitely be having the same types of conversations as we get closer to travel. However, I think it will be me saying “why do we need that” Dh tends to want to pack everything and the kitchen sink even if we just go away for a long weekend!
Have a safe trip and I hope you find everything running smoothly. Btw, I hope your boss, and your boss’s boss, know how lucky they are to have you. I know I sure do!
TJ
February 8th, 2007 at 9:29 am
Good luck RQ! Thank you for giving us a sense of control throughout this unpredictable journey. You will be missed. Congratulations and safe travels! (LID 6/06)
February 8th, 2007 at 9:30 am
Have a good and productive trip RQ. We will all be fine. Hopefully a longer trip will mean that you will get all your projects organized so your bosses can be more relaxed when you are in China. Thank you for taking the time to organize the forum and for chosing moderators. Great idea!!
February 8th, 2007 at 9:48 am
Thanks for the information about the Ziplock bags … I was getting to wonder how many a person should buy since many people are saying to make sure you take some.
And, yes, I’m another one who would love to see your packing list. I’ve been looking at others and making up our own (though we won’t be traveling for some time yet). I’ve also been buying little things here and there so we don’t have to buy everything at one time. I’t easier to do this kind of stuff now when it’s -20 outside … then when spring/summer finally get here, I’m planning to spend more time outside with our DS instead.
February 8th, 2007 at 10:18 am
Aaahhh, let me sing of the glories of packing with zip lock bags, as someone who once did not.
Let me just say…soft sided luggage, packing for 2 months in Sweden, a bottle of large bottle of hand lotion, and not being smart enough to use zip lock bags.
Imagine getting to Copenhagen airport retrieving your luggage, to switch airlines, and discovering lotion oozing from the zipper and opening it to find lotion in your clothes, shoes, books, and hair dryer.
Do not scrimp on the cheap brands they pop open.
February 8th, 2007 at 10:24 am
OMG, too funny about RK’s “negotiations”. DH is positively allergic to the Shoprite. He whines and argues before he goes, then I’m guaranteed at least two cranky cellphone calls while he’s there. When he returns, he will have nothing from the list, and in the Wawa bag (!) will be milk, white bread, chips, and deli meat, and he’ll be carrying a cup of Wawa coffee. It’s much less exhausting for both of us, if I just go myself in the first place!
p.s. for all you non-South Jersey, non-Philly types out there, Wawa is our local convenience, quickie-mart chain, like 7-eleven. Goofy name, but it’s the local Indian tribe name for the Canadian Goose.
February 8th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Harumph. I’m a husband and my *wife* always tries to negotiate down what I put on lists. :) I’m forever getting “Why would we need 9 t-shirts, let’s bring 7.”
We’ve also got our packing list online and annotated if anyone wants to take a look.
http://home.comcast.net/~benjenn/packing.html
February 8th, 2007 at 10:31 am
waiting4Ash - what a nightmare.
When packing for China you really don’t want to take full sized things with you. The travel size works better, and for things like lotion or shampoo if you think you’ll need more than one travel size will allow then still better to pack two or three travel sizes than one large one (you can throw bottles away as you use them that way and have room for souvenirs).
And yes, I know the hotels provide shampoo and many people do not pack shampoo. I need MY shampoo and conditioner, just any old shampoo won’t do.
February 8th, 2007 at 10:34 am
Good luck, RQ! Thank you for always thinking of “your loyal subjects.” We promise to play nice while you are away:)
February 8th, 2007 at 10:35 am
LOL arsgeek - hate to say it by I’d be narrowing it down to three that get packed and one that gets worn.
February 8th, 2007 at 10:40 am
We travel a lot… so, we decided that we both have different responsabilities and the other cannot say anything about what the other decided to bring. It (almost) works!
… and that’s the husband point of view, of course… ;)
February 8th, 2007 at 10:42 am
You can always buy another suitcase in China as well. Just don’t buy it in the province because the cost for extra baggage for internal flights can be a little expensive if you exceed the weight limits. My husband is in China now (alas on business, not what I really wish for) and he purchased a suitcase for about $5 USD. It apparently looks fairly sturdy and we will see if it makes it back intact….. I bought one in my first trip to China to ship back a silk carpet that I bought and the suitcase was fine. We still use it and I think it was free with the carpet I purchased.
Ziplock bags are great (the small ones are a great way to keep your US currency clean and crisp in your wallet for the orphanage too) and I agree with RQ; a girl needs the shampoo she is used to…
February 8th, 2007 at 10:59 am
I have not congratulated you yet on your referral. You must be beside yourself.
For how long will you actually be away on your business trip? You must be a good multi-tasker, because I would be freaking if I was told I had to go away before going to China to pick up my child.
LID 6.13.06
February 8th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Thanks Ernabel, and leaving right now is not so bad. Once you get your referral and send in your acceptance there isn’t much to do until TA comes and you have a CA. There are a few nesting activities I wish we’d completed, but it will be okay if they don’t get done. That’s one reason I’m trying to step things up to leave ASAP, so I can get it over with and get back so I’m home when TA arrives.
February 8th, 2007 at 11:31 am
Hello Everyone, long time visitor, first time replying. This is DH and mine second adoption from China. Our first wait was 14 months. And I have to say that ziplock bags are a must. As for nesting, it has been 4 years since we went to China and I still have not completed my first list of things I had to have done.
On another topic, with a LID of 10/20/06 and a very long wait. I am hoping to influence the China adoption Gods and do a little project with my DD. I’m going to purchase one of those grow your own ladybug kits and set them free in hopes CCAA pushes out more referrals quicker. As well as it will be a very good educational experience for my DD.
February 8th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
LOL My dh will look at the list and think we DON’T need that many, one box will do…or better yet, instead of sandwich size he will get gallon size! :(
Some things will be on the list and I will say WHERE is this? oh I didn’t see that part of the list…WTH??? I think my dh does it so he won’t have to go shopping…then again, he never complains about it…hmmm…men! lol
Have a good trip RQ
LID May 15, 2006
February 8th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Hey guys our 171h is FINALLY ready to be picked up from USCIS!!! WOO-HOOO!! Now we can finally get ready for the much anticipated looong wait! Maybe I can go buy some new jammies and bedding and hubby and I can just hibernate for the winter…..and spring…and summer….and fall….and winter again…..and spring again….and summer again….and fall again…..wow that sure breaks my mood!
One step closer and lovin’ it!!
hey my spam word is uscis….I love them today, but not yesterday or the many weeks prior, just today!
February 8th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
RQ, thanks for all your work. We will miss you terribly in your absence. This will be a good first test to see how the forum can survive with less regular wise and informative (and kind) interventions from you. It is guaranteed you will have less time even after your China adventure because of the new and rather demanding little person that is entering your life. Still I have high hopes that this your other “baby” (this website) can function without mama around 100%. (But not without wishing mama was around more often!) Don’t worry. We’ll be all right. Really. I think.
February 8th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
RQ,
Congrats on your referral! Hope that your business trip is productive and you are all ready for China when that TA comes!
Wanted to ask a question that has been brought up before, but I can’t seem to find the thread…when are the trade fairs; are they just one week; and do they only affect Guangzhou?
Thanks…now that referral is here, I am focusing on our TA and how CNY and trade fair might affect its arrival.
:-)
February 8th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
gonnagetkayli, CONGRATULATIONS!!! I cried when we FINALLY got our approval. My wish for you….. A speedy DTC.
February 8th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Yes, RQ, my husband does it too. It’s a man thing. I’m so happy for you and hope you have a wonderful trip. Trying hard not to be anxious over your absence.
Arsgeek, thank you for the packing list. My dh is one who takes everything but the kitchen sink. I would take only the clothes on my back if I could. : - )
February 8th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
RQ,
Aside from packing things in them…what are all the ziplock baggies for? I have seen them on the packing lists..just didn’t know why?
Kim
February 8th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Dirty things: diapers, bibs
Clean things: papers, receipts, tickets
Outfits ready to go, with socks so you don’t have to dig
can be used as a glove in an “emergency”
I am sure there are others. ;)
PJM
10/26/05
February 8th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
snacks too
cover camera in rain
PJM
10/26
February 8th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
We packed an outfit a day for my two sons in Ziploc Bags on our last vacation. It was sooo easy to hand my 5 year old a bag and say “get dressed” it had underwear, socks, and his clothes for the day. and then I handed the bag for our 1 year old to my husband and asked him to get him dressed. It had a diaper, two wipes (in a smaller bag), bib, socks and clothes for the day in it–everything he needed to get him changed. We also kept an extra bag for each child in the car, just in case! It worked wonderfully and I will definitely use that technique when we travel to China. It will have to be modified a little since we won’t carry as many clothes, but I am sure we can figure something out. They also worked great for: dirty diapers, wet clothes etc
Michelle
February 8th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
I buy the Ziploc bags in Sams Club (BJ’s). I use the constantly and they are much cheaper that way.
LID 6.13.06
February 8th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Looks like I need to rethink my packing. Michelle, love the idea of putting individual outfits in baggies. That’s something my 4.5 yo could have fun with. Guess, I’ll run out and buy some more Ziploc bags!!!
Joan
http://www.chinamomsonline.com (updated!)
February 8th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Thanks. I really need to do this then because I am not travelling with DH and he will need to know how to dress my pumkin each day. I can put the mathcing bow in with the outfit!
Kim
February 8th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Arsgeek — I just have to ask — could you explain the meaning behind your screen name? Very curious about that one. . .
RQ — my husband will come home with what’s on the list plus more — usually including snacks and a drink! Safe travels, and we will wait impatiently for you to come home.
February 8th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
i was wondering we will have 2 round trip tickets and 3 tickets on the way back so can i buy and extra suitcase for the return trip for the stuff i buy while in china since i’ll have 3 seats.
February 8th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Everyone’s going to miss you! We will try our hardest to get a long without you! :o) Thank goodness for the message boards.
Safe travels and congratulations again on your referral!!
Wendy
LID 12/27/05
http://adoptionandfire.typepad.com
February 8th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
rq - you and i may have been separated at birth! i went through an entire box of ziplocs just to go to my brother-in-laws for christmas! :) i make lists for everything, but packing is especially important. and dh…well…he does a lot of the “wait, do i need that?” sort of thing. we’ve never been on a trip where we haven’t had to go to a store for something he’s forgotten (we’ve been together 9 years). when we were first married we went to homecoming, and had a fancy cocktail party to go to. we were getting dressed when he realized he didn’t pack dress socks. i had been outlet shopping earlier in the day, and he got to wear my brand new cow socks to the party with his suit. ha! :)
good luck with your trip…i promise, i won’t throw a “first day of day care” temper tantrum…i think…:)
February 8th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
RQ,
Have a safe and productive trip. Come home early and receive TA soon.
Thanks for this light-hearted thread.
My wonderfully loving, handsome and great father to our 8 year old, won’t even begin to think about packing until we are on the plane. Then he will ask… “honey, did you remember to pack ‘this’ or ‘that’ for me?” That’s his idea of making sure we have everything. LOL
February 8th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Hi Clementine - the name comes from my blog, arsgeek. Art of Geek (in psuedo-latin).
As for ziplock bags, we brought a whole range of sizes. My favorite use was putting her gotcha day outfit into a gallon sized bag on the day that our daughter came to us. To this day we can still crack that bag and the smell (not a bad smell just a Bella/China smell) brings us right back to that moment.
February 8th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Joan–Yes, our 5 year old LOVED the Ziplocs! He ended up packing his stuff (MANY souveniers) in the bags for the trip home, and then when we unpacked at home he used the Ziplocs to “organize” his room! Every group of items has its own Ziploc. I have always been very organized with his toys, but never thought of Ziplocs–he still loves them!
Michelle
February 9th, 2007 at 11:49 am
Have a nice trip and I’m hoping that you will be back before the rumors start coming!
Take care and come back soon.
Chantalle
LID 10-24-05 (next??????)