Come ON, people

We received new pictures of Madelena this morning, along with the news that we're still in "limbo" in the Guatemalan review process. "Limbo" being code for "we have no f'ing idea what's happening, no one will tell us a thing, have a nice day." In the meantime, I bludgeoned a hard-boiled egg after being unable to peel it. I was so enraged by the churlishness of this egg that I had to whack it several times with a coffee mug — the egg splatter was quite spectacular, and would draw the interest of the most avid CSI fan.

This is what happens when Type-A optimists realize that a) they're not in control and b) someone is robbing them, robbing them BLIND of their optimism.

We've talked about me going to Guatemala to live and work this summer, taking Shawn Joaquin with me. I have these idealized notions of living in our little casita (behind the locked gates and with high speed internet access, of course), Madelena in my arms, Shawn Joaquin off at the preschool down the street, perfecting his Spanish and making new friends, and a loving niñera to help me with both of them while I worked during the day. The reality of it would be spending warm evenings swathed in mosquito netting, getting knocked off my dial-up connection repeatedly while missing work deadlines and spending hours trying to reach Gregg on his cell phone while he enjoyed those luxuries I once took for granted - pizza delivery, late night dog walks and HBO-as-valium.

Shawn Joaquin asked me why I'm sad. I told him I was missing Madelena. He hugged me, patted me, and then proceeded to tell me to get him some milk NOW, with a straw, and not to forget the side of almonds. And to stop talking about Madelena.

"Don't talk about Madelena. Talk about Shawn Joaquin. I FUNNY."

I think he's on to something.