Yes, I should be on my way to the airport right now, but I am not. Instead, I am updating my blog from my mom's computer in Isanti! Yeah, Minnesota, USA. Long story? or Short story? We'll go with the in between story. Went to Chicago last Tuesday to clear up the confusion at the consulate, gained visa approval for myself and Sierra. Provided an addressed and stamped EXPRESS envelop and was told they would put it in the mail to me Thursday to receive Friday. Friday arrived, mail arrived, no visa! Called the consulate. Was told my passports were put in the mail that morning--that's Friday morning. The package didn't leave Chicago until midnight Friday night. After many phone calls to different postal agencies, I learned the passports are scheduled to arrive by 3 p.m. TUESDAY, July 25! Yeah, I was supposed to leave July 23! I attempted every avenue possible during the day yesterday, including trying to locate the envelop in St. Paul to drive and retrieve it, but I was never able to reach a dock worker and the package still doesn't show any further than "enroute chicago" from Friday night. Frustration, anger, stomache pain, all set in throughout the day, and at approximately 9 p.m. I looked at Joe and said, "I'm done. I've done all I can." We have since reserved tickets for Thursday, July 27 leaving in the afternoon, so it looks like we are moving in the right direction. We will miss some new hire events this week and Sierra will miss her scheduled testing on Wednesday, but there's nothing more we could have done about it, so I can't worry. We are at least arriving before teacher workshops and before the first day of school. It could have been worse. So, at this point, still not pictures to post, still in the states, but we're getting closer.