Is the worst behind us?

Since our dismal Tuesday things have started looking up:

Whirlpool finally showed up to replace and install our washer. So now we have a washer, dryer, and clean clothes. Here is a photo of the set; notice the cute little dryer. It was the only model in the store that dries clothes 100%. Apparently most people here hang their clothes out so dryers are not in demand.

Clay got our internet working with having to use special software that was slowing us down and that we had security concerns about. Once he found the fix everyone at Ford said, "Oh, yes, that thing. Of course everyone knows you have to adjust that."

TV is working. Well, we had the dish and the service, I owed $2 for the cable they installed so paid that to get it working. We are still borrowing a UK TV but are headed off today in yet another effort to find a converter to make our own TV work.

We've ordered blinds for the house, courtesy of the owner. They should be installed this week. I doubt they will block much sun but at least we won't be showing the neighbors our naked American bodies. Next up is for me to pick the brain of a co-workers wife on how she got the beautiful curtains in her house so I can follow suit.

Went to the same co-worker's home Friday night for dinner and had a lovely time. Their house is gorgeous and they have the sweetest little girls. The parents told us that the children at the girls' school, which is mostly children of foreign workers like us, compare airlines and their frequent flier mileage accounts. Isn't that the cutest thing?

Oh, and our bank account is working and Ford made a deposit for me. So no more foreign transaction fees for our US ATM. Now we're just waiting for our credit card to come through. BTW, at about 43 rupees per dollar think about what your account balance would like look with a few thousand dollars in it. I feel way richer than is merited at this point!

Best news is that the ship with our sea container left Singapore last week and is on its way to Chennai. It should arrive this week then we just have to wait for it to clear customs and be delivered. We are going to be very patient but, geez, it will be nice to sleep in our bed which we haven't seen since early June. I asked how on earth they will get the 40 foot container to our house. Trust me, these are not roads or traffic in which you'd see an American-style semi. I was told they take them out at night. In any case, I'd image they will have to transfer from the container to smaller trucks to get down our road. Hopefully I can get photos of this for you.