Still Waiting (in case you were curious)

I have become an expert at the "hurry up and wait" game. Every time we reach a big milestone, we rush around like crazy people for a few days to make sure no one, especially the USCIS is waiting on us for anything. Then we submit our work. Then we wait. And wait. And wait. So that's what we're still doing. Today, next week, next month....hopefully the month after that we'll be rushing around to make travel arrangements. We went to get our fingerprints retaken AGAIN. Apparently fingerprints expire. Explain that one to me. I'm sure the government knows better than I do, but seriously?

So we ventured to our neighborhood USCIS office (clear across town, in a Mexican shopping mall) to get this redone. Brian was on his way to the Courthouse, so he couldn't wait with Connor and I when we had to come back "in an hour". There was no explanation for that except that they were busy. There were about 8 employees taking care of 6 people. HUGE rush, right? So we make our way down to the conveniently located mall playground where Connor played and made friends with a little girl whose parents were also going back "in an hour".

When our hour was about up, we returned only to be told that I had to go back to my car and leave my cell phone in it. I'm sure my CrackBerry was receiving terrorist messages and instructions from K and R, and that they could be perceived as a threat to our sovereignty. I mean, deciding who R should date is quite controversial, and of specific interest to Homeland Security. So I dragged Connor back to the car, mumbling choice expletives about the USCIS that he pretended not to hear out of pure shock, I'm sure. Mere minutes later, we were back in business. Since Connor wasn't being fingerprinted, he wasn't allowed within the imaginary confines of some imaginary area that was not marked nor fenced in. But as soon as he stepped over the "line", one of the 8 employees would rocket over and tell him to move back. He did look especially menacing that morning. Who can blame them?

Employee number 4 finally was the one to do the deed. All the while talking about the new Batman movie and how he's seen Ironman 6 times, and it gets better and better every time. And how he can't wait for Dark Knight to come out on DVD so he could watch it whenever he wants. While enamored with his encyclopedic knowledge of Batman, I just needed to get out of there before I committed a federal offense. At least he wasn't yelling at my kid.

As we walked to the car (again), Connor asked why those people couldn't be just a little nicer, "we're just trying to bring my baby sister home for goodness sake!" I couldn't have said it better myself, kiddo.