Problems getting solved

In all fairness to all the people I talked to yesterday and the day before I thought I'd better report that my frustrations are decreasing. I spent a lot of time on the phone yesterday talking with people in the embassy again, and I ended up corresponding with some nice man at the Social Security office in the Philippines who wrote to me four times even though it was a Tuesday! Between the two of them I may get the social security problem cleared up and yes, Lynn, it was probably my fault because I'm still registered in my maiden name! Nearly 30 years have passed since I changed my name and I've sent in forms and talked to the social security office during that time when I registered for Takumi and Leiya's social security numbers. I don't know how I managed to overlook myself (and why no one else noticed.) So hopefully in a few months I'll have a new card in my hands. In the meantime I got other help for sending a signature to the Students' Federal Aid office.

And I must say, that except for the recorded phone messages, everyone I talked to was very polite, very helpful, and they all went out of their way to make my life easier.

Tetsu is tackling my bank problem and I've sent my package to the States, so my frustrating day was short and things are back on track again today! Thank you, Lord!

I realize I haven't been taking many pictures lately. It is still cold out and everything is gray and brown so I haven't been inspired by any scenery. The quilting isn't moving at any great pace so nothing photogenic in that department. My meals have been simple so the camera doesn't need to record work in the kitchen so what do I have left but... ANIMALS!

Here are Velvet, Patora and Cleo lined up on the sofa trying to keep warm. The sunlight comes in the window and heats up the sofa and that's how I found them when I came back from the day out.

And here is Choco curled up in Lemi's old bed. I made the cushion out of an old towel stuffed with thread ends and seam allowances and then tucked it into an old sweat shirt. I left the shirt as is because I like the way the arms can embrace whichever animal sits on it. And look at the cute logo on the shirt! Isn't this a great dog (and cat) cushion cover?!

(It was a cute sweatshirt when I wore it too.)