We made it! After leaving our house at 7:00am, we checked into our hotel room in Beijing at 11:oo pm (10:00am Central Time Zone). Yes, that means we travelled for 27 hours. We went from Hartsburg, MO to KC to Minneapolis, to Tokyo, to Beijing. No problems whatsoever, although I was pulled out of the boarding line in Tokyo and was subjected to a thorough search of my person and possessions. (Thankfully, they stopped just shy of a strip search.) And Bethany will have to admit, that at least for the first day of our epic voyage, I have been a joy to travel with. No meltdowns or panic attacks whatsoever. I'm pretty proud of me right about now.
Tomorrow we will tour The Forbidden City, Tianenmen Square, and the Great Wall with the five other American families also adopting a child. We will take lots of pictures and try to post a few tomorrow evening (morning for you.)
That's all I can manage to type for now. Haven't slept in about 30 hours or so. I think I started hallucinating a while ago. I could swear I just flew half way around the world and landed in Beijing. Can you believe such nonsense! Funny what sleep deprivation will do to the mind.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Last Pre-Trip Post
Well, tomorrow is the big day. Unless you've been living under a rock, then you know we are flying to China tomorrow to complete our adoption of the cutest little boy in the Eastern Hemisphere (Alex is the cutest boy in the West of course.) Tonight we will pack everything we need for the two week adventure. Bethany has made several lists to keep us organized. I don't deal with logistics very well, so she has taken that burden upon herself and done a wonderful job of keeping the process on track. Much credit also goes to our adoption agency Children's Hope International. They have nailed down our itinerary, including our inside China travel and lodging arrangements, sigtseeing tours, and official appointments to make the adoption finalized. So, what exactly has Blog Daddy contributed to this process you might ask. Well, does freaking out about every minor detail and blogging about it count for anything? Probably not. But whenever Bethany gives me a list of things to do, somehow I manage to get it together long enough to complete my assigned tasks. And apparently, the only thing left on the to-do list is to pack.
When a woman is pregnant, she and her husband have nine months to wait in anticipation of the "big day." When that day comes, the mother does wonderfully and the father becomes a nervous wreck. Well, we began the adoption process over two years ago. Two years worth of frustration, excitement, anticipation, and elation. And now the big day is finally close. (We'll meet our son on November 3rd.) And of course, the mother is handling things wonderfully and the father is a nervous wreck.
Well, I mostly wrote this as a reminder to you to check the blog regularly while we're in China. Hopefully I will be able to post pictures and first-hand accounts of our journey every day. Add this blog to your favorites list and share this experience with us. Thank you for your love and support that you have shown throughout this process. We are blessed and humbled to have so many people who care so much about us.
Travis
When a woman is pregnant, she and her husband have nine months to wait in anticipation of the "big day." When that day comes, the mother does wonderfully and the father becomes a nervous wreck. Well, we began the adoption process over two years ago. Two years worth of frustration, excitement, anticipation, and elation. And now the big day is finally close. (We'll meet our son on November 3rd.) And of course, the mother is handling things wonderfully and the father is a nervous wreck.
Well, I mostly wrote this as a reminder to you to check the blog regularly while we're in China. Hopefully I will be able to post pictures and first-hand accounts of our journey every day. Add this blog to your favorites list and share this experience with us. Thank you for your love and support that you have shown throughout this process. We are blessed and humbled to have so many people who care so much about us.
Travis
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Name the New Naughton Contest
We give up. Bethany and I have tried and tried to think of a name for our new son. Nothing sounds right. His current name is Jiang Yi Zhan (pronounced jong-ee-jan.) We think Jiang means "pure" or "strong", Yi means "bright" or "virtuous", and Zhan means "talkative, profound, tranquil, or fighting." But, since there are four ways to pronounce each word in Chinese and each pronunciation can have multiple meanings, we really don't have a clue what his name means. The nannies at the orphanage will be able to tell us I hope. Nevertheless, it is hard to spell or pronounce for us westerners. Therefore we will likely change his name.
We need your help. Most American names don't seem to fit a cute little Chinese boy, so we've tossed around a Chinese-American hybrid idea or two. None of our ideas seem to work. So please help us out. Post or email your suggestions to us. If we choose your submission, you will win an official souvenier from our trip to China. (Nevermind the fact that most anything you can buy in America is made in China.) We promise- no melamine contamination or lead-based paints.
We need your help. Most American names don't seem to fit a cute little Chinese boy, so we've tossed around a Chinese-American hybrid idea or two. None of our ideas seem to work. So please help us out. Post or email your suggestions to us. If we choose your submission, you will win an official souvenier from our trip to China. (Nevermind the fact that most anything you can buy in America is made in China.) We promise- no melamine contamination or lead-based paints.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The Big Bang Theory
The convergence of life-changing events taking place in my life right now is starting to weigh deeply on my psyche. We all have a few stresses to deal with. That's a part of life. Here's what's happening with me right now- all at the same time:
1. We are flying to China in one week to adopt a son. I don't do well in crowds, so I thought I would confront that fear by travelling to the most populated place in the known universe. Oh, and they don't speak 'Merican.
2. #1 is worth repeating, "...to adopt a son." I'm gonna be a dad again. This time to a two year old orphan who was literally dumped in the street by his biological family just days after he was born. He will not understand a word I am saying to him. He will wonder who these pale people are who are forcing him to sit in an airplane seat for 20 hours. He will wonder "where the hell am I?" when he sees Missouri for the first time. I hope he will accept me. I hope he will love me.
3. I am worried about my mom. She will be on her own for part of the time that we're in China. Blake will be with her part of the time, too. She is in constant pain and struggles to eat. She gets irritated with me for force-feeding her high-calorie milkshakes and for imitating Nurse Ratchett when it comes to taking her medicine. Cancer sucks.
4. We as a family are getting by on one vehicle. This wouldn't be such a big deal except that we live in Hartsburg, Bethany works in Jeff City, Alex goes to school in Ashland, and Mom lives in Columbia. Today is a perfect example. This morning, I dropped Alex off at the bus stop and drove Bethany to meet a friend who volunteered to drive her the rest of the way to work. This afternoon I will drive to Columbia to take Mom to a doctor appointment. Then I'll drive back to Ashland to pick Alex up at school. Then we'll drive home until Bethany calls for a ride. Then we'll drive back to Ashland to pick her up where her friend drops her off. Then we'll drive home.
5. I am trying to get my truck fixed so we can have two vehicles. A guy in Harrisburg has a motor and tranny for it and will haul the truck to his place to work on it. He was supposed to pick it up Monday, but now won't be here till Thursday or Friday. Then he said it would take a week or so to get it back to me. We'll be on a plane to China by then!
6. The election. As you know, I am a supporter of Barack Obama. I share my reasons with people so that they know where I stand and I try not to smear the other candidate or his followers. However, the negativity that the McCain camp is spewing forth and the negative responses from some friends and family have really disturbed me. This is the most important election in decades- possibly in American History. And it is wearing me down. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue, but with all the other stress in my life, it just fuels the fire of anxiety in me.
AAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! As you can see, with the gravity of all of this stress concentrating on me all at once, it feels like a huge release is building up. An explosion. The Big Bang. All I know is that when we get home on November 15th, I hope that the Universe chills out for a while. I hope that when the dust settles I have a healthy, happy new son who loves me. I hope my mom starts feeling better. I hope my truck runs. I hope Barack Obama will be able to heal the wounds of division and hatred that have opened up in this country. I hope that the dust settles- period.
Alright, I'm done whining. I don't want pity or anything. I just needed to vent before the lava dome blew out like Mt St. Helens. Peace, homies.
1. We are flying to China in one week to adopt a son. I don't do well in crowds, so I thought I would confront that fear by travelling to the most populated place in the known universe. Oh, and they don't speak 'Merican.
2. #1 is worth repeating, "...to adopt a son." I'm gonna be a dad again. This time to a two year old orphan who was literally dumped in the street by his biological family just days after he was born. He will not understand a word I am saying to him. He will wonder who these pale people are who are forcing him to sit in an airplane seat for 20 hours. He will wonder "where the hell am I?" when he sees Missouri for the first time. I hope he will accept me. I hope he will love me.
3. I am worried about my mom. She will be on her own for part of the time that we're in China. Blake will be with her part of the time, too. She is in constant pain and struggles to eat. She gets irritated with me for force-feeding her high-calorie milkshakes and for imitating Nurse Ratchett when it comes to taking her medicine. Cancer sucks.
4. We as a family are getting by on one vehicle. This wouldn't be such a big deal except that we live in Hartsburg, Bethany works in Jeff City, Alex goes to school in Ashland, and Mom lives in Columbia. Today is a perfect example. This morning, I dropped Alex off at the bus stop and drove Bethany to meet a friend who volunteered to drive her the rest of the way to work. This afternoon I will drive to Columbia to take Mom to a doctor appointment. Then I'll drive back to Ashland to pick Alex up at school. Then we'll drive home until Bethany calls for a ride. Then we'll drive back to Ashland to pick her up where her friend drops her off. Then we'll drive home.
5. I am trying to get my truck fixed so we can have two vehicles. A guy in Harrisburg has a motor and tranny for it and will haul the truck to his place to work on it. He was supposed to pick it up Monday, but now won't be here till Thursday or Friday. Then he said it would take a week or so to get it back to me. We'll be on a plane to China by then!
6. The election. As you know, I am a supporter of Barack Obama. I share my reasons with people so that they know where I stand and I try not to smear the other candidate or his followers. However, the negativity that the McCain camp is spewing forth and the negative responses from some friends and family have really disturbed me. This is the most important election in decades- possibly in American History. And it is wearing me down. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue, but with all the other stress in my life, it just fuels the fire of anxiety in me.
AAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! As you can see, with the gravity of all of this stress concentrating on me all at once, it feels like a huge release is building up. An explosion. The Big Bang. All I know is that when we get home on November 15th, I hope that the Universe chills out for a while. I hope that when the dust settles I have a healthy, happy new son who loves me. I hope my mom starts feeling better. I hope my truck runs. I hope Barack Obama will be able to heal the wounds of division and hatred that have opened up in this country. I hope that the dust settles- period.
Alright, I'm done whining. I don't want pity or anything. I just needed to vent before the lava dome blew out like Mt St. Helens. Peace, homies.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Blog Daddy Picks a President
The moderately conservative Columbia Tribune has endorsed Barack Obama. Editor Henry Waters writes an excellent case supporting his endorsent.
http://www.columbiatribune.com/2008/Oct/20081019Comm001.asp For all of you still trying to decide who to for, read this commentary. Also, for those of you who don't think Obama has laid out his plan in specifics, please check out his website: barackobama.com
On a personal note, my sister-in-law Meredith has been working for the Obama campaign for over two months now. The amount of sacrifice and effort she and her fellow campaign coordinators are putting forth is inspiring. She and Blake are living over 1000 miles apart for over three months to help Barack win this election. Bethany and I loaned Meredith our car for the final month of the campaign season so she can "get out the vote". It is a challenge to get by with just one car when you live 20 miles from town, but it is a worthy sacrifice. We have also donated money to the campaign to help the effort. Plus, we already voted due to the fact that we will be in China on Election Day. In short, we believe in Barack Obama.
If you haven't decided who deserves your vote yet, consider this: I have never believed so strongly in a leader before in my life. I am not simply "swept up" in the excitement of Obama's campaign. I truly believe that he is the man who is best suited to change the direction of this country for the better. I realize that he doesn't have as much experience as McCain. But he has proven to have sound judgement and has demonstrated how he will surround himself with strong leaders such as Joe Biden and now Colin Powell. McCain has chosen Sarah Palin as his would-be successor in the worst case-scenario. She, in my humble opinion, is not prepared to face the pressures of leading the most powerful country in the world. She is naive and has very limited knowledge of the world outside of her isolated home state of Alaska. Her "executive experience" consists of holding the office of governor of a very sparsely populated state for roughly a year and a half. Oh, and she was mayor of a town the size of Mayberry. She is no doubt a good person, as is John McCain, and she may well prove to be a successful governor of her remote corner of the globe, but I have grave doubts about her ability to lead our nation.
So, for the last time before the election, I am making my case for Barack Obama. Don't let the right-wing extremists cloud your judgment. Obama is not a Muslim. He doesn't pal around with terrorists. He loves America. He is a dedicated family man who wants to make the world a better place for his little girls to grow up in. He has inspired millions of people to believe in a greater cause. He can and with your vote will make America the envy of the world and a beacon of hope for everyone once again. Please vote for Barack Obama in November 4th.
Sincerly,
Travis
http://www.columbiatribune.com/2008/Oct/20081019Comm001.asp For all of you still trying to decide who to for, read this commentary. Also, for those of you who don't think Obama has laid out his plan in specifics, please check out his website: barackobama.com
On a personal note, my sister-in-law Meredith has been working for the Obama campaign for over two months now. The amount of sacrifice and effort she and her fellow campaign coordinators are putting forth is inspiring. She and Blake are living over 1000 miles apart for over three months to help Barack win this election. Bethany and I loaned Meredith our car for the final month of the campaign season so she can "get out the vote". It is a challenge to get by with just one car when you live 20 miles from town, but it is a worthy sacrifice. We have also donated money to the campaign to help the effort. Plus, we already voted due to the fact that we will be in China on Election Day. In short, we believe in Barack Obama.
If you haven't decided who deserves your vote yet, consider this: I have never believed so strongly in a leader before in my life. I am not simply "swept up" in the excitement of Obama's campaign. I truly believe that he is the man who is best suited to change the direction of this country for the better. I realize that he doesn't have as much experience as McCain. But he has proven to have sound judgement and has demonstrated how he will surround himself with strong leaders such as Joe Biden and now Colin Powell. McCain has chosen Sarah Palin as his would-be successor in the worst case-scenario. She, in my humble opinion, is not prepared to face the pressures of leading the most powerful country in the world. She is naive and has very limited knowledge of the world outside of her isolated home state of Alaska. Her "executive experience" consists of holding the office of governor of a very sparsely populated state for roughly a year and a half. Oh, and she was mayor of a town the size of Mayberry. She is no doubt a good person, as is John McCain, and she may well prove to be a successful governor of her remote corner of the globe, but I have grave doubts about her ability to lead our nation.
So, for the last time before the election, I am making my case for Barack Obama. Don't let the right-wing extremists cloud your judgment. Obama is not a Muslim. He doesn't pal around with terrorists. He loves America. He is a dedicated family man who wants to make the world a better place for his little girls to grow up in. He has inspired millions of people to believe in a greater cause. He can and with your vote will make America the envy of the world and a beacon of hope for everyone once again. Please vote for Barack Obama in November 4th.
Sincerly,
Travis
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Touchdown!
With the skill of an NFL wide receiver, Alex found a gap in the zone coverage of the opposing team's defense and made a remarkable catch. The catch was remarkable because his eyes were closed (click on the image for a full sized view) and because he sprinted down the field and into the end zone for six points.
Autographs: $5.00 each.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Catfish Kisses
Alex caught this 2 and a half pound catfish in our neighbor's pond the other day. He landed two big-uns that day. Not bad, eh?
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Finalized Adoption Plans
There's no turning back now. Because we received confirmation of our travel dates to and from China, Bethany bought our plane tickets yesterday. Our itinerary is as follows:
(Confirmed travel dates: October 30 thru November 15)
Thurs, Oct 30, leave the US
Fri, Oct 31, arrive in BJ (Beijing)
Sat, Nov 1, sightseeing in BJ
Sun, Nov 2, fly to your child's province (if you do not want to travel to BJ, you can arrive in the capital city of your child's province on Sunday afternoon)
Mon, Nov 3, meet your child
Tues-Fri, Nov 4 – Nov 7, adoption process in the province with free days and sightseeing
Sat, Nov 8, Fly to Guangzhou
Sun, Nov 9, free day
Mon, Nov 10, medical for children
Tues, Nov 11, free day
Wed, Nov 12, free day
Thurs, Nov 13, ACS appointment (American Consulate)
Fri, Nov 14, take oath at the ACS and get child’s visa late in the day
Sat, Nov 15, return to US.
Fri, Oct 31, arrive in BJ (Beijing)
Sat, Nov 1, sightseeing in BJ
Sun, Nov 2, fly to your child's province (if you do not want to travel to BJ, you can arrive in the capital city of your child's province on Sunday afternoon)
Mon, Nov 3, meet your child
Tues-Fri, Nov 4 – Nov 7, adoption process in the province with free days and sightseeing
Sat, Nov 8, Fly to Guangzhou
Sun, Nov 9, free day
Mon, Nov 10, medical for children
Tues, Nov 11, free day
Wed, Nov 12, free day
Thurs, Nov 13, ACS appointment (American Consulate)
Fri, Nov 14, take oath at the ACS and get child’s visa late in the day
Sat, Nov 15, return to US.
We will arrive in Kansas City at 5:15 on the 15th. So, it looks like our new son will be sleeping in his new bed in his new home with his new family that evening! As you can imagine, we are getting quite anxious now. I made a deal with Bethany- if she promises to handle the logistics then I promise not to let myself get too freaked out. You see, I hate not having control in a situation. This journey requires me to put my complete trust in our agency, the airlines, taxi drivers, Chinese and American government officials, etc. I have to "let go" and allow everyone to do their jobs while I just go along for the ride. That's a little overwhelming for this old country boy. But, with Bethany at my side and a little boy on the other side of the world who needs me, I'll do my best to hold myself together. Don't be surprised if after we return home, I may need a few days to "decompress" before I start feeling like my usual care-free self again. Those of you who will be visiting our house for Thanksgiving will get to meet your new nephew, cousin, grandson for the first time. Hopefully by then, I will have regained my tenuous grip on sanity.
Monday, October 06, 2008
Tina Fey as Sarah Palin
It's funny because it's true.
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/vp-debate-open-palin-biden/727421/
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/vp-debate-open-palin-biden/727421/
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Silver & Black Hack
Ever since I can remember, I have been a fan of the Oakland Raiders. Back in the 1970's, they along with the Pittsburg Steelers were the two most dominant teams in the AFC. In the 1980s, the Raiders made two more Superbowl appearances while the Steelers faded. So, I eventually became predominantly a Raiders fan. I didn't just root for them to drive Chiefs fans crazy (although that was quite fun.) I didn't wear the Silver & Black just to look like a gang-banger, either. I was a true fan of the team. That's right- I said I was a fan of the team.
Al Davis, the owner of the Raiders since the 1960s, used to run one of the most feared organizations in all of sports. Coaches like John Madden, Tom Flores, and Jon Gruden were football gurus who each led their teams to glory. I knew things were taking an ugly turn when Gruden left for Tampa Bay and beat the Raiders in the Superbowl. The Raiders have hired five different head coaches since then and the micromanaging style of ownership that Davis has always employed is now poisoning the organization. Davis had made questionable draft picks, ridiculous free-agent signings, and multiple hirings and firings of lousy coaches. He fired Mike Shanahan and refused to pay his remaining salary. Shanahan of course went on to torment Davis's Raiders as head coach of the Denver Broncos. Oh yeah, he also won two Superbowls there. Davis has moved the team without NFL permission twice, publicly embarrassed Hall of Famer Marcus Allen by benching him during the prime of his career, and has recently fired head coach Lane Kiffin only 18 games into his career while calling Kiffin a whiner, a liar, and an embarrassment during a press conference. The team is a complete failure and it is entirely Al Davis's fault. Therefore, I hereby renounce my citizenship as a member of "Raider Nation." From this point on, I am reverting to my back-up team, the Pittsburg Steelers.
The Steelers have won five Superbowls. The team has been owned by the Rooney family for generations. They have only had three head coaches in the 37 years that I've been alive. Chuck Noll, Bill Cower, and Mike Tomlin are all class acts. They have taught their teams to be hard-nosed and good sportsmen. The organization is very professional and produces a great product for their fans. They are the exact opposite of the Raiders. I look forward to rekindling my love affair with the Steelers franchise. I get a little nostalgic thinking about all of the history associated with the team. Bradshaw, Swan, Harris, Blier, Greene, Greenwood, Blunt, Bettis, Roethlisburger, etc. I am proud to say that I am officially a fan of the Pittsburg Steelers.
Al Davis, the owner of the Raiders since the 1960s, used to run one of the most feared organizations in all of sports. Coaches like John Madden, Tom Flores, and Jon Gruden were football gurus who each led their teams to glory. I knew things were taking an ugly turn when Gruden left for Tampa Bay and beat the Raiders in the Superbowl. The Raiders have hired five different head coaches since then and the micromanaging style of ownership that Davis has always employed is now poisoning the organization. Davis had made questionable draft picks, ridiculous free-agent signings, and multiple hirings and firings of lousy coaches. He fired Mike Shanahan and refused to pay his remaining salary. Shanahan of course went on to torment Davis's Raiders as head coach of the Denver Broncos. Oh yeah, he also won two Superbowls there. Davis has moved the team without NFL permission twice, publicly embarrassed Hall of Famer Marcus Allen by benching him during the prime of his career, and has recently fired head coach Lane Kiffin only 18 games into his career while calling Kiffin a whiner, a liar, and an embarrassment during a press conference. The team is a complete failure and it is entirely Al Davis's fault. Therefore, I hereby renounce my citizenship as a member of "Raider Nation." From this point on, I am reverting to my back-up team, the Pittsburg Steelers.
The Steelers have won five Superbowls. The team has been owned by the Rooney family for generations. They have only had three head coaches in the 37 years that I've been alive. Chuck Noll, Bill Cower, and Mike Tomlin are all class acts. They have taught their teams to be hard-nosed and good sportsmen. The organization is very professional and produces a great product for their fans. They are the exact opposite of the Raiders. I look forward to rekindling my love affair with the Steelers franchise. I get a little nostalgic thinking about all of the history associated with the team. Bradshaw, Swan, Harris, Blier, Greene, Greenwood, Blunt, Bettis, Roethlisburger, etc. I am proud to say that I am officially a fan of the Pittsburg Steelers.
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