16 November 2025

It was a quiet week. But I did have to have a confrontation with my attorney. I mentioned last week that I got my FBI background check back. So I sent it to my attorney and asked what I need to do next. He waited a week to reply and said simply, “get it Apostilled.” No kidding! I know that! “But how? And don’t I also have to get it translated by a Spain-approved translator?” I emailed immediately.

An “Apostille” is an internationally recognized seal of authenticity. There are certain places that can do it. And it can take time and money.

I’m leaving for the US in three weeks and I need to have this done. (I’m still trying to get my appointment at the Spain consulate in LA). So after two days of no response, I went to his office. I was told he wasn’t there and that they would relay my message. I told them in no uncertain terms that his delayed, insufficient, and sometimes wrong responses weren’t acceptable. I’ve paid them a huge fee for this service. I told them I’d appreciate if the message to him included that I expect a response by the end of day. I said that “he cannot go to sleep tonight without answering my questions.”

In the time I walked from his office to home, he had responded with detailed and helpful information. Sometimes, you just have to be a squeaky wheel.

With the new instructions, I was able to send the paperwork and pay a crazy high fee for the Apostille, and I hope to have it back in time. The expedited service can take up to three weeks and they’re getting a lot of requests for these right now. But, I’ve done what I can do.

I’m a lighter note, my choir had a concert on Friday night.

This was a benefit for an organization called, Adopt a Senior. All Together Now, was a choral concert produced after the pandemic that was a celebration of musical theater. We reprised it for this occasion and sang selections from News Boys, Mary Poppins, Come From Away, Beauty and The Beast, Rent, Les Miserable and much more. It was all in English. It was fun to sing. And it was fun to hear it with the Spanish accents. And the band that was hired was tight! Piano, bass and drums. They were good!

On Sunday (today) Vicente, Cooper and I went for a hike at the Peña Cortada Roman Aqueduct. it was a perfect day.

As the holidays are approaching, folks here are getting in the Christmas Spirit. But of course, for us Americans, we know that first comes Thanksgiving. I’m thankful for all of my blessings, including the love of so many wonderful people in my life. I can’t wait to see many of you in a few weeks.