Today I mailed four letters to Italy seeking my grandparents' birth certificates and their marriage certificate.

Once again, I went to the post office and the line was even longer today than yesterday and there were only three windows open. When I finally got to the window, I had the same guy as yesterday. Instead of printing out 94-cent stickers he put actual 94-cent stamps on the envelops in case "someone over there collects stamps."

Although I am only seeking three documents, I had to send four letters because I am not completely sure in which town my grandmother was born, so I sent a letter to both towns hoping one of them is right. Though, I had to send the letters in Italian so for all I know, I could be asking to adopt an Italian child or insulting the memory of someone's mother.

In other news, it has now been two weeks since I faxed my Freedom of Information Act request to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I have yet to even hear an acknowledgement that they have even received my request and assigning me a control number as their Web site claims I am supposed to get. If I don't hear anything by Monday, I am going to begin faxing the request every Monday until I hear something. I predict I receive my documents from Italy before I get anything from USCIS. Anyone want to take that bet?