We normally only get mail about once a month when my step-daughter, Becky, sends it to where ever we may be. She hasn’t sent it this time in over a month because I did not know how long we would be somewhere until this week.

So, I opened the bag and got a few surprises. First, the good ones. I got my yearly dividend check from the electric co-op from when I had my house. I think I’ll still get those for a few more years. The check I got this year is enough to go out to eat at a really good place, like maybe Outback Steakhouse or something similar to that.

Next, I got a statement from one of the medical bills we have been paying on since 2005, when FabGrandpa was in the hospital for four days, and it turned out to be that his thyroid had quit functioning. Anyway, that one bill is paid in full, YIPEE. One down, three to go.

The last of the good ones, is that I also got a statement from the IRS, showing that I only owe them $63.00 more, so that bill will get paid off this month, too. Yay!

Then for the finale: FabGrandpa’s passport arrived, but I got a letter saying that the birth certificate I sent them won’t do. It is not a “certified” copy, and it does not show the date my birth was recorded. Excuse me? I ordered that certified copy from the state of Georgia, and paid good money for it. The other copy I have (I ordered two copies from the vital records department at the same time) does have the raised embossed seal on it:

However faint it might be, it IS there. And the date the birth was recorded is also right there on it:

So, it sort of looks like the date filed says 6/16/1952, which would be about three weeks after I was born, but if who ever filled out that form way back then couldn’t write worth a shit, how is that my fault? I was a baby at the time!

How in the hell do they expect me to correct something that was recorded way back in 1952?!? I am going to call the vital records department on Monday to see what, if anything they can do for me, but if I don’t send in another copy in 60 days, I’ll lose my application fee and have to start all over again. So NOT FAIR! FabGrandpa will get to go to Mexico without me. I demand justice! I NEED that tequila, I NEED those margaritas!!!

So, to calm my nerves and get my Mexican fix, I made charro beans for dinner:

1 lb dried pinto beans
6 slices bacon

Rinse the beans, cover with water, and bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. Pour into a crock pot. Add the bacon, cut up, cover, and cook until the beans are tender.

6 slices bacon
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1 poblano pepper, seeded and chopped
1 16 oz can diced tomatoes
1 tsp oregano
1 tablespoon cumin
salt to taste

Fry the bacon until crisp, set aside. Add the garlic, celery, onion, and peppers to the pan, and sautee in bacon grease until the onions are clear. Add the bacon, crumbled. Add all to the crock pot. Add the can of tomatoes and salt to the crock pot, stirring well to combine. Cook for one hour longer. Serve with corn bread or corn tortillas.