We've started planning our trip to Cuba in April. I've already received my security clearance packet and papers and will be on a plane headed for Cuba on April 9th. I'll be bringing hubby home for a week and then we the four of us will be heading back to Cuba for the second week of hubby's leave.
The boys, however, need passports. I, being the dim-headed mother that I am, didn't order BBZ's birth certificate after he was born. So, I've been waiting to receive that to get his passport. That finally came on Friday, so today I tried to take good passport photos at home rather than spending $20 at CVS or Walgreens. After several attempts to capture NO shadows behind their heads, I gave up. We headed to Walgreens where some joe schmo took a photo with his little Kodak camera with a white backdrop in from of a refrigerator door. The dude didn't even get down of the boys level so the pictures looked like he was 10 feet tall taking the photos on my 34 inch child. To boost up BBZ a little more, and to keep him still, I had him stand on an upside down shopping basket. He finally captured the right photo, but come to find out later he didn't proportion the size of the boys' heads big enough. And then because he was shooting at eye level, BBZ looks like he has no chin.
Either way, I paid for the darn photos, and headed to the post office, the only one in the area that accepted passport applications. Not thinking passports would be a high commodity in the area, I was not prepared at all. Ok, somewhat, I at least brought a snack and drink for the boys. I get there at 10:30am and the PO box area is full. There is another family there with four children who were already there waiting since 9:30am.
When we finally got to the window, both boys had fallen and hit their heads, were tired, hungry, and just plain done with being there. I totally third that, but alas we needed to finish. Our applications? Were not complete. Apparently, a power of attorney for hubby directly from the government was not good enough unless it specifically stated I could get a passport for my children alone. Because god forbid if I wanted to flee to someplace like, Cuba, with my children. To go see their daddy! Which my application specifically said.
By the end of the stay, which totaled to just under 2 hours, I had accomplished nothing. I was pissed. I contacted daddy and he was able to get the correct form out, but it wouldn't get here for another week.
So I guess I need to do this all over again this week so we can get them in time. This time - I will be prepared in more ways than one.
Previously drafted on February 8, 2011. Finally printed today.
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