Dis…combobulated

Tuesday, April 17th, 2007 • 3 Comments

The nor’easter hasn’t swept me down the raging Pemigewassett River. Sometimes these little funks come up where one gets all the ‘dis’ words—disillusioned, disenchanted, discouraged. But I’m still here.

The snow turned to rain by Sunday night, and boy did it ever rain. We didn’t lose power, but yesterday the lights flickered so much for so long I turned them all off anyway. The computers were both kept off. Better to pretend the power was out than live in some demented Flashdance strobe scene. My mother returned from a week in London by flying into JFK Sunday morning, where she was told to pull up a suitcase and make herself comfy. But my sister called me yesterday afternoon to tell me Mom was on a bus to Portland, so it could have been worse. That’s one good reason for me not to leave the country.

Well, that and not having a passport. Since I’m six in mine, I don’t think it’s current anymore—although I was pretty cute then and might still travel if I could keep that picture. But I’ve heard the law changed so we’ll need passports if we want to go into Canada for the F1 GP or snowmobiling which is…what’s the word I’m looking for…stupid. My driver’s license has my name, photo and address on it, dammit.

Despite the lingering snow and chilly temps, we’re starting to look forward to ATV season. The husband took the Scrambler formerly known as the tall kid’s into the shop for its pre-season checkup (and some tinkering as it sat for 2 years waiting for the short kid’s legs to grow.) Now it’s officially the short kid’s and he’s dying for mud season to be over so he can get out there and ride.

(Note: The machine isn’t running. He’s just sitting on it, making vroom vroom noises and posing for the camera. If it was running he’d have his gear on.)

Please, please let it be spring soon.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 17th, 2007 at 8:40 am in General. You can feed this entry. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

3 comments to “Dis…combobulated”

1. Charlene
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   1

     · April 17th, 2007 at 10:06 am · Link

   Are you kidding me? We have to have passports to go to Canada now? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been back and forth over the border and my driver’s license was good enough. Geez.

   I’m a short drive and a ferry ride from Canada, and we’ve been planning to take the kids over the ferry to see the Bouchart Gardens…but if we have to get passports for them, maybe not.

   
   
   
2. Shannon
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   2

     · April 17th, 2007 at 10:15 am · Link

   Go now. :rofl:

   Q. Why is the U.S. government implementing the travel initiative?

   The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) mandated that the U.S. Secretaries of Homeland Security and State develop and implement a plan to require U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport or other appropriate identity and citizenship documentation when entering the United States.

   For many years, U.S. citizens, and some citizens of other countries in the Western Hemisphere including Canadians and Mexicans with Border Crossing Cards (BCCs or “Laser Visas”), have not been required to present a passport to enter the United States. Currently, a traveler may make a verbal declaration of citizenship, or present other forms of documents to enter the country that cannot currently be validated or verified in a timely manner, such as birth certificates and driver’s licenses.

   Q. When will the travel initiative be implemented?

   In the proposed implementation plan, the initiative will be implemented in two phases. The proposed timeline will be as follows:

   January 23, 2007 – Passports, Merchant Mariner Documents (MMDs) or NEXUS Air cards would be required for all air travel from within the Western Hemisphere for citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda.
   January 1, 2008 – It is anticipated that on January 1, 2008, U.S. citizens traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid U.S. passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes may permit a later deadline, both the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to put all requirements in place by the original deadline. Advance notice will be provided to enable the public meet the land/sea border requirement.

   
   
   
3. Michelle
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     · April 17th, 2007 at 11:29 am · Link

   Yeah – the lineups up here for passports are a nightmare. People can literally stand in line all day only to be turned away. A friend of mine got there at 4am last week in order to actually get processed that day (the line up was already down the block and that was just to get to the building). My dh went to do ours and luckily this was about a 6 weeks ago and the lines were only have as bad (he lined up at 6 to get in at 9) but stupid me :wtf: forgot to sign one tiny spot on the kids passports so theirs couldn’t be processed (I wasn’t with him – 3 kids in a four hour line is NOT a good thing). Which means that we have to go back. :doh: How much have I been kicking mysel?

   Point is, I hope your line ups are better. I used to drive down to the US all the time because we are only 1/2 hour away.