Duck, part 3

Yes, folks, the day after Duck #2 we had Duck #3. Mom was home, so we were both running around the house trying to chase it out. Mom said this: "While he was up there [on top of the chimney] I should have asked him to put some chicken wire over the chimney." This is something we've been talking about way back since Duck #1, and we haven't done it yet, partly because we keep thinking that there will be no more ducks. Awaiting the presence of a duck in the house is not easy, you know. It keeps me on my toes!

Duck, Part 2

On March 23, I was graced with the presence of a duck in the house. As I walked past the study today, what did I hear but flapping of wings (it sounded like the poor thing was in a panic). Yup, another duck. He ran around the house and I finally caught him in my mom's closet. Every window on the front of the house was open, but he went out through the door -- I picked him up (in a towel) and set him on the front porch. I don't understand why they keep coming back. Our house is not built for ducks.

A lifelong goal

There was an article on the front of the Arts section of the AJC on Sunday about a woman who had read all of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novels. I saw it and was inspired. And so, my new project is to do just that. It will probably take years, but any project that isn't lifelong probably isn't worth much. Anything under "What I'm Reading" or "Books Read in 2006" with an author and date are Pulitzer Prize-winning novels and the date, of course, signifies the year in which said book won the Pulitzer.

I was reminded of some very wise words today (written in December):
"Your visa will happen one way or the other. I know it seems like a mount Everest but remember who moves mountains."

I have been wondering how quickly the Harry Potter books get translated into Portuguese, and I have found out. I am STOKED that #6 is already translated (though I can't actually buy it yet, as I am still in the US). I have read #1, #3, and #4, am making my way through #2, and #5 is on my shelf trembling in anticipation of being read. How exciting.

Addendum: I have read them all in English -- the above refers to the Portuguese versions.

Laughable or not

I can't decide. For those of you I have talked to, you know LOTS of tears were shed over this, beginning about 3 weeks ago. Went to the Brazilian Consulate in Miami to apply for a visa on Monday and sat in the wrong office for 3 hours. Right city, right street, right building, right floor, wrong office. If I hadn't lived in Brazil already, I would have wondered why no one told me when I signed in. Having lived in Brazil, I didn't wonder. By the time I figured it out, the visa section had closed for lunch. Hmmph. And then they wouldn't accept my documents Monday afternoon (understandable, since they only accept visa apps from 10-12). Went back Tuesday morning. The lady at the counter told me I needed a missionary visa, though that's not what I was applying for. Went back at 3 to talk to her supervisor (she told me to come back) and my docs were still sitting on her desk waiting to be looked at. E-mailed her to make sure all my documents were in order, and it turns out I was missing one that I needed from Brazil. Hmmph again. E-mailed my boss in Brasilia and he sent me a letter asking the consulate to reconsider their requirement for that particular document for lots and lots of reasons. Mailed that to the consulate this morning. We'll see what happens. All I can do now is wait and do what they tell me to.