You have to get there to get there

So'kay, to go to China you need to get a Visa (they just don't take American Express).  Here are the steps to get a Visa (okay, my steps...your mileage may vary).

1. Learn that you have to get a Visa
2. Get all the paperwork you need to get the Visa
3. Get stressed out at all the paperwork you need to complete to get the Visa
4. Procrastinate (see step 3)
5. Contact a courier service who handles Visas for China (recommended by our agency) to learn exactly how you have to complete the forms
6. Complete the forms (and find out it's easier than you thought)
7. Get all the other papers you need to go with the forms (a copy of China's approval of our adoption, our passport photos, etc.)
8. Find out where the Chinese Embassy is (3505 International Drive, Washington, DC, in case you were wondering)
9. Tell the boss I'll be back about 2 pm (giving myself a cushion since it's 11 am). 
10. Take Metro from Bethesda to Van Ness (recommended only if you work or play in Bethesda...if you live in say San Diego, YMMV).
11. Take Westie Rescue call on walk to Chinese Embassy.
12. Arrive at Chinese Embassy.
13. Learn that you really need to go to the Chinese Embassy's Visa Office, which is conveniently NOT at 3505 International Drive, Washington, DC.
14. Use smart phone (yes, Ann, it is a smart phone or at least it's smarter than I am) to look up 2201 Wisconsin Avenue, Washington, DC.
15. Sigh and appreciate the exercise.
16. Start Walking
17. Turn around and go back to the Chinese Embassy because you remember they have a phone number for the Visa office on the plaque.
18. Get phone number and call.
19. Let it ring.  Over 20 times.  Twice.  With no answer.
20. Walk from Point B to Point C (see map).
21. Arrive at Visa office at 12:45 pm.
22. Find out the plaque at the Chinese Embassy missed a little piece of information when it said the Visa office was open from 10 am to 3 pm Monday - Friday:  It's closed from 12:30 - 1:30 pm Monday - Friday.
23. Go to Bruegger's Bagels for lunch (highly recommended!)
24. Walk back to Visa office and get in line
25. Go through metal detector, dropping all the junk I keep in my pockets and temporarily surrendering my pocket knife...at least I didn't have to take my shoes off.
26. Get number (689) and look at number board (637).
27. Wait
28. Wait
29. Get bored checking personal and work cell phones
30. Wait
31. Worry that our photos are two small, that I messed up something on the form, that someone is bothered by the smell of the Everything bagels I got from Brueggers for Ann and I.
32. Wait
33. Get more nervous when 688 comes up on the board.
34. Leap up when 689 comes up
35. Go to Window.  Forget to say "Ni Hao."  Mumble "Good afternoon."  Stupid American.
36. Get nervous every time the nice young Chinese lady says something about something.
37. Get receipt to pick up Visas.  No problems with forms or photos.
38. Pick up pocket knife on way out of Visa office.
39. Walk from Visa Office to Woodley-Park/Zoo metro (the bus would have taken just as long to go all the way up Wisconsin Ave and as for a taxi, where do you think I am, New York?)
40. Arrive at Woodley-Park/Zoo metro
41. Return to Bethesda and get back to the office at 3:30 pm
42. Explain to boss why I am 90 minutes late (don't worry, he's cool).
43. Stay until 7 pm making up most of the time.
44. Plan to go back on Thursday to pick up the Visas.

A nice loooong stroll around some beautiful DC neighborhoods