I've been finishing up what was a rather chill weekend compared to last.
Trying to obtain a Canadian passport. I've been meaning to for years but can't seem to get off this continent. Now the government reactions of the US and Canada to 9/11 has nudged the process along. Getting the passport now instead of later is sort of silver-lining-ish 'cos now I can leave when I want too.
The Cdn. Passport filing online is cool but you've got to find or hire everyone and/or their Veterinarian* to vouch for your authenticity (a guarantor) by signing your passport photo and and a "I've know this person for two years, minimum," document, vouching for me being me. Um. Right. After a lot of time at Passport Canada and "The I Was Born Outside of Canada...What Does That Make Me? sections. I've read for myself what a woman that I met in Madison, Wisconsin at a John Kerry-Bruce Springsteen rally told me(!)--If you have your kid in a country not Canada the kid is still Canadian. They've amended the rules to first generation only--which means both my boys went from Americans to 1 Canadians in an evening. (without filling or applying for anything). The household has shifted from 3 Americans/1 Canadian to 3 Canadians/1 American.
So they are American here but Canadian in Canada but Canada "suggests" getting a Canadian passport which I am doing because I have to for me. The suggestion is followed up by a hypothetical allusion to, "What if you need the Consulate? You'd best be a Canadian citizen with a Canadian Passport. hee.
Right now, my really slow photo printer is cranking out eight pages of Canadian Passport Application.
Today (Monday) is drive to Cary, IL and pay a lot of money to get my hair done in multi-colours. I'll get passport photos after my roots are touched up though vanity will win out and it won't be today.
Both my kids are first-generation-in-a-foreign-country Canadian, Too Funny. Talk about learning something new each day. Their kids however have to file papers by age 28 in order not to lose their Canadian-ness.
* Your vet--on the list of people that have "known you well enough--2 yrs.minimum" to vouch for you. Aww.
The weather blows. Literally. Warm tonight--icky, wet cold tommorow and allergy season as well.
A piece of the weekend:
@Dan: Unique perspective!
Posted by: Cyn | April 02, 2008 at 09:13 PM
This picture looks like a scene out of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory."
Posted by: Dan | April 02, 2008 at 08:31 PM
Please email me links for Canadian passports. My U.S. one is ready to expire.
@Her Brother: Done!
Posted by: Her Brother | April 01, 2008 at 12:24 PM