She's official!

We were finally able to get Desi's social security number. Mind you, we still don't have the actual card in hand, but we have a number. A precious, precious number that will allow us to not-so-gently remind the Federal government they owe us thousands of dollars in a tax refund for 2006. Not 2007. 2006.

And all it took was countless chats with the woman in the Social Security office in London, several phone calls to the IRS in Philadelphia, a couple of calls to the secret unpublished number of the Homeland Security Department in London, and two trips to the U.S. Embassy in London (one of which was futile because the folks at the front desk wouldn't hold Eric's laptop although it very clearly says on the front door that all laptops must be left with the folks at the front desk).

Piece of cake!

And apparently, our difficulties with an Embassy and a government agency or two are not an isolated incident. At least we haven't had any troubles of the munchkins-who-throw-up-a-lot-but-won't-poo or we-may-get-kicked-out-of-the-country sort (sorry Anne!).