We got a paper yesterday from Migrationsverket (the immigration agency), and we finally have an appointment for our permit renewal interviews. We’ve been waiting since June, when our permits expired, for them to schedule us for an appointment. Talk about backlog! Anyway, we’ll be going down to Umeå on the 26th, and I’m hoping it will be quick and painless. We’ll be eligible to apply for citizenship in July, and I’ll be glad to relegate all these immigration hassles to the past.

We (well, Lydia, actually) also got a package from her bio-dad, and there was a strange assortment of presents in there (a dozen or so statehood quarters, a bunch of obviously used knickknacks, a framed photo collage including a picture of my mom’s old dog and one of me and my mom at my college graduation–he swears he didn’t take any of my photo albums on his B&E visits to my house–and a wind-up alarm clock, among other things). There were also some more appropriate gifts, like stickers, a DVD, an art set, and some Barbie horses (all in conveniently thin, flat packaging — ideal for stuffing down your pants at the local Wal-mart). No robot cat, like he promised to send her (guess those were a little harder to conceal, what with all the increased store security around the holidays). In case it isn’t already abundantly clear to the reader, I completely, totally, one-hundred-percent hate that insane bastard with an intensity that still surprises and sometimes scares me. And, no, I don’t ever say any of this to Lydia. In fact, I have never said anything bad at all about him to her, much as it pains me sometimes to have to listen to her go on and on about how great he is.

Anyway, on to happier topics. We’re going to town in a little bit, after Olof, Lydia, and I have showers. Tage already had a bath, and I feel like an old-time farm family, getting all cleaned up so we can go to town on a Saturday afternoon. I am in serious need of some Oil of Olay moisturizer, and we need to pick up some groceries, too. I haven’t been to town in what feels like forever, so I’m also looking forward just to walking around some and browsing in my favorite stores. I need to find some little presents for the Secret Sister exchange I’m doing on another website where I’m a member. It’s so much fun to pick out surprises for other people.

I guess that’s about all I have for now. The dishwasher just finished its cycle, so we can start on our showering and get ready to go. We had the exhaust pipe replaced on our car yesterday, so I’m excited to go for a quiet ride!