Vacation Pictures

View from Sheraton in Boston

Boston Architecture
Plymouth Rock
Mayflower II
Cheers - The Original
Fog in Booth Bay Harbor, Maine
Lighthouse
Schooner
Doggie Driver
Hampton Beach, New Hampshire

I'm backkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

I'm back, but swamped.

Just a couple of quick things to update.

Vacation was fabulous! Pictures to come soon!

Baby getting bigger. Glucose test fine despite gallons and gallons of ice cream and tons of gummi bears I eat now.

UT beat the hell outta OU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wooo hoooo!

Astros went the distance and beat the Braves!!!!!!!!! Woooooo Hoooooo!

Texans kept to their potential and lost as usual. We've come to expect that.

Work crazy. It took me all day to get through my 400+ emails.

Running out of time to do anything for this baby including getting showered. We have so many weddings and out of town trips in the next three months, we may have to baby shower after the baby is already here!

I'm glad to be home, but I need a vacation from my vacation.

Maine here we come

In all this Rita talk, I had not really had time to get excited about our upcoming vacation. We leave on Saturday for a week up in the great Northeast. We fly into Boston and then on to this place for a week of relaxation and exploration. I am so excited! I have never been to this area of the country and can't wait to see what a real Fall looks like with changing leaves and the like.

I did just look at the weather up there and OMG High of 70ish and lows in the 40's. I'm gonna freeze. Lucky for me I have a built in oven on my belly, but I am still going to freeze. I know those of you that live in those areas are laughing your butts off at me, but today we have a heat index of 115 possible. Right now it is almost 5 and it feels like 104. so dressing for the plane ride from here to Boston should be interesting.

I have nothing to wear in cold weather seeing as none of my normal winter clothes fit over my belly. I guess it's time for a belly shot too. I'll get right on that.

Rita not so Rocky for Houston

Well, I'm back to the grind and things are fairly normal for me, but I am one of the lucky ones. We safely made it to Austin on Thursday evening. It took us about 6.5 hours, which compared to some people's nightmare trips, was nothing. I took us through the back roads of southeast Texas and it worked out well for us. Luckily we live on the northside of Houston so we didn't have to come through all the bad traffic and we didn't have to get on any major freeway until we got to Austin.

It took my MIL 9.5 hours to get from her house to our house which is normally a 1 hour drive. She left her house at 1 in the morning too, but that didn't help. My parents went to Shreveport, we have family there, to ride out the storm. It took them 17 hours to get there (it's normally a 4-5 hour drive). And unlucky for them, Rita passed right over Shreveport at some point. They got a lot of rain, but other than that are okay.

Granted, my experience was a pretty good one so I am probably not a good cross section, but I think the state and local officials did a pretty good job with the evacuation. There really is no good way to evacuate 3 million people. The main problem really is the gas shortage. We still don't have gas at any station near our house, but right now I am okay on gas.

I'm so glad that all of my family and friends made it through this storm safe. My heart goes out to those in East Texas and Western Louisiana who were not so lucky. I'm sorry for their losses.

Thank you to everyone who had good wishes for me and my family. We did come home to find our two pear trees from our front yard laying mostly in the street. We lost one completely it looks like, but the other one may be salvagable. It will look funny without it's twin though. All in all not too bad. The winds were still strong when we got home on Saturday, but other than that we have had hot, humid weather, with heat indexes of 112 possible today. Fun stuff.

Safe and Sound

Yesterday we decided to be better safe than sorry and made our way to Austin. We waited for my mother in law who left her house at 1 AM Thursday morning and got to our house, normally an hour and 15 minute drive, 9.5 hours later. Poor thing. Then we turned around and got in out cars and drove to Austin. I took us a bunch of back roads, some out of the way, but we got to Austin in about 6 hours, which considering what has happened to some people, is really good. And we both had half tanks of gas. We are safe and it looks the like worst of the storm will miss us. I am praying for all those in the direct path of Rita though. If you are still in the path, be safe and God bless.

No Ritas for Me

I guess Rita hasn't heard that I am pregnant and therefore not allowed any of her kind. I guess she doesn't really care.

At this time we are planning on riding the storm out at the house. Work is an unknown for the next two days, but I will for sure not be around on Friday, but tomorrow is questionable. I hope to at least be able to leave early the next two days as the major route home is also one of the major evacuation routes.

So, everyone who might be affected by this storm, be careful, be safe and be smart. God Bless.

Pooper slots

My husband just called me pooper slots. And that is normal believe it or not. No wonder I ended up with the name Shooter.

Babbling Post

I've been crazy busy and hence the no posting lately. So here is what has been going on lately in a nutshell.

Work is nuts; moved my office across the building from the rest of my department because we ran out of room and I'm the only one that is moveable. And I'm so busy that I haven't had time to unpack a thing except what was on my desk when I moved.

We leave in two weeks for a week vacation to Maine (yippee). Leave on the day of a major event in which I have to have all of my holiday events planned and printed.

In wedding this past weekend. It was beautiful and the bride was gorgeous. I'm exhausted. I can't hang like I used to. Got to dance which I haven't done since before I got pregnant. There is something just wrong about a 6 month pregnant woman rolling to Usher. But I had a blast.

Have another wedding next weekend. Have 3 more between then and the end of the year. Fun stuff really.

Oh and we are in the middle of planning for next year at work on top of everything else.

We have done absolutely zero on the baby's room. In fact, I haven't even cleared out the room from when we moved in last Thanksgiving.

So, needless to say, Momma is exhausted and busy and blogging has unfortunately taken a back seat. I miss it though and hope to be back soon.

Oh and hubby bought us a computer. Not sure when we get it or when we will get internet, but OMG I am excited!!!!!!!!!!!

Random Question Day

How do you make a connection?

A Tree For Ethan

I keep meaning to post this link and I keep forgetting. T & R have decided to plant trees in honor of little Ethan. They will plant one in their backyard and one at the cemetery. If you would like to donate, go to www.atreeforethan.com.

A Brand New Day

A brand new day

This past week has been a trying week. This post is going to be a combination of things and at times will probably not make much sense, but I have to get out some of what is on my mind. This is not a happy post and deals with the loss of a child, so if you are pregnant, you may not want to read any further.

First let me say that the tragedy in the gulf coast has not been forgotten by me and I am doing what I can to help the efforts here in Houston to make the lives of those poor people a little bit better, but last week another tragedy affected me far more deeply.

Last Wednesday I received a phone call from a friend with horrible news. My friend T and her husband R lost their baby at 37 weeks. Almost full term. It was the last thing I was expecting to hear. T had gone in for a routine doctor's appointment to find out that little Ethan no longer had a heartbeat. Tami spent Wednesday and half of Thursday in labor and about 12:30 PM on Thursday delivered Ethan at a little over 5 lbs. It looks like Ethan just ran out of room and put too much pressure on his umbilical cord so that it stopped supplying him with what he needed. Saturday they had the funeral for Ethan and it was the most difficult thing I think I have ever done. Burying anyone close to you is never easy, but burying a child is something that no one should ever have to do. The service was beautiful and Ethans parents held up amazingly well. I did not hold up so well. I cannot begin to fathom the pain they are experiencing. My heart breaks when I see the pain they are going through and I wish that I could somehow take some of that pain away. Please keep T and R in your prayers as well as their families in this trying time. T and R have a strong faith and I am so thankful that they have God to bring them through this. It will take time to heal, but I have no doubt in my mind that they will come through this and they will do wonderful things because of this experience. It's hard to see God's lessons right now, but I can only hope that good will come out of this tragedy in some form or fashion. Rest in peace Ethan MH.

This tragedy has been very difficult for me to deal with. The death of a child to me is more tragic than most due to the fact that they haven't gotten to lead full lives. In Ethans' case, he didn't even make it out into the world. Yet he was so very loved and his short life had such an impact on so many people. Our tight group of friends has come together during this time of sorrow in a way that makes me proud to call myself a part of that group. Having someone so close to you deal with a pain so unimaginable reminds us all of our fragility and vulnerability. I remember going to bed on Wednesday night and thinking to myself how exposed I felt. Being pregnant, I cannot help but be scared for myself and my baby. Not only have my friends been rallying for T and R, but they are worried about me and as much as this event is so not about it, it makes me feel a little less exposed that so many people care. Even T herself asked me how I was feeling. How she could even think about me at a time like that, I don't know. I know that I have to stay positive and that the odds of this tragedy happening to me are low, but again I'm reminded of how fragile we are.

Many would think with an event like this, that I would be questioning my faith. It has in fact done the opposite. I have prayed so much in the last few days. In fact that is all I seem to be able to do. Until recently, faith to me has been something that others had, but not me. For some background, I was 12 years old before I had any real religious upbringing. From age 12 through 18, I was raised Jewish. I went to Hebrew school every week. I was Bat Mitzvah'd, I was confirmed and I graduated from Hebrew school. but in all those years I learned little about Faith and God was not a strong pressence in my life. (Or so I thought) At times in high school I proclaimed to be atheist or agnostic. In college I was agnostic. In the last couple years I have found faith. I tend to relate to Judaism in the "organized religion" sense, but I don't attend synagogue and due to my husband's strong faith in Christianity, I have adopted some of the principles of Christianity. With the exception of Jesus as the Son of God. I am still aligned with Judaism on this major point. I am not by any means trying to get into an argument with anyone, so please do not take that last statement as a war cry. I am merely trying to find my way, to fine my faith. I had recently decided that I would really try and give my husband's church a try. It is very important for me to show a unified front and to teach my children faith. Just because I don't have an alignment with any organized religion does not mean I do not have a relationship with God. I have a very strong relationship with God. I pray a lot, but I also know that I need to do more and be more, but I'm not sure what that is yet. I want my children to know God and to have faith in their lives. I think back to the time in my life when I didn't have faith and can tell a major difference in my happiness and the ease in which I lived my life. I am a prime example of the power of faith and I will never forget that. I needed to feel close to God this week, so I went to church with hubby on Sunday. I really don't like his church, but wanted to give it a try because he has become very involved in this church and likes it very much. I have found that I like the preaching style of Joel Osteen. He preaches in a way that is not offensive and that doesn't turn off non-Christians. I realize one of the major commitments of being a Christian is to convert others to Christianity, but that is all I feel I get from the church hubby goes to. In my mind church should be a comforting, uplifting, learning experience. The preacher at hubby's church is constantly preaching about how we are all sinners and nothing is ever good enough and opens every service with an announcement and hand out to all visitors and a call to action to become a believer. This type of talk has always turned me off. I have a lot of very good friends who have a strong faith in Christianity and I admire their faith. I can have wonderful religious conversations with these friends and never do I feel abused or lesser of a person because I do not have the same faith as them. I know that really if I don't believe in the main premise of Christianity, that I won't in theory be able to get the most out of church, but I will watch Joel Osteen preach and feel as though I am learning something and feel uplifted and want to be better because of his sermon, not feel like lesser of a person. My point in all this is where do I go from here, (hypothetical question here). I am thinking of going to a local synagogue to see how I feel about that. I am lost and still trying to find my way, but I have to find something that not only works for me, but that will work for my family. I cannot ask my hubby to compromise his beliefs, yet I have to find something that will work for both of us as we build our family.

As you can see, the tragedy of the past week has really done a number on me and I am working through a lot of things. I am talking to the baby a lot and he/she is kicking me a lot, which I take as a good sign. I treasured every movement before, but now I will for sure not take any of this pregnancy for granted.

May today find you happy, healthy and thankful for all that you have. I know that I am. God Bless.

A Lesson in Driving

It seems that some of the public has forgotten those long ago, or not so long ago, lessons in driver's education. I am taking it upon myself to re-educate, ahem, the general public on lessons in driving.

I. The Benefits of Blinkers
II. How To Merge
III. Reading Speed Limit Signs
IV. Proper Turning Etiquette/Proper Blinker Usage

(Do you sense a pattern here?)

I. The Benefits of Blinkers
Using blinkers while driving is the only reasonable way to communicate your direction changes. I am not a mind reader although I play one on TV. I can sometimes guess what you are trying to do by your head movements, but it would really make life so much easier if you would just flip that little switch and give me some direction. Then I can stay the hell away from your backside and resist the urge to introduce my radiator to your bumper.

II. How To Merge
Merging is definitely at the high end of the difficulty spectrum when it comes to driving. The majority of the time the highway department has had the foresight to give you some visual clues that merging is up ahead. Occasionally the highway department will over estimate one's skills to merge and put signage a little too close to the actual merge location. In the instance when you have plenty of notice (this does require you to have your eyes open while driving and that you be paying attention to said directional signage), turn your blinker on in the appropriate direction, check all of your mirrors, not just the one closest to you, and adjust your speed accordingly so that those around you do not need to rearrange their speed to accommodate you. This does not mean speeding up and slowing down in a manner that does not allow for one you are merging with to predict your actions. Merging should be done in a smooth manner and should not make the cars around you have to swerve or slam on their brakes.

When merging onto a freeway, there is not instance in which you should come to a complete stop. Most likely the speed limit on the highway is at least 55, in which case getting up to said speed from a complete stop will definitely affect drivers around you. Again speed up or slow down when merging onto the freeway in a manner that does not rearrange the lives of those around you.

III. Reading Speed Limit Signs
Once again, the highway department, with many motives, has provided you with signs that will help you in your drive. Speed limit signs can vary, but tend to be white with black letters. While driving on any road, you should always be on the look out for speed limit signs. This will not only keep you from getting a ticket, but will keep you from annoying those around you. If there is just one sign, then please go at least that number and 5 over would be even better. If there is a sign that lists a minimum and maximum speed limit, the maximum is preferred and again, 5 over this number is ideal. If there is more than one lane and you are obviously going slower than those around you, the right lane is the appropriate lane to be in. YOU ARE NOT THE LAW. If the person behind you wants to go faster and you can get it another lane, DO. IT. Save us all some sanity. You were not placed on this earth to make me go the speed limit. Get out of my way.

IV. Proper Turning Etiquette/Proper Blinker Usage
Here we will revisit bullet number I. where we learned the benefits of blinkers. When and where to use your blinker can be confusing, but I will give you some pointers to make it more clear. When turning in either direction or changing lanes in either direction, turning your blinker on at least 30 seconds or 100 feet before your turning/changing lane location is ideal. Turning your blinker on as you turn does you and me no good. You might as well not waste the energy, yours or mine. You do NOT have to come to a complete stop in order to turn or change lanes. Slamming on your brakes at the last second to turn is not recommended and doing any of the above without using your blinker is at no time acceptable driving etiquette.

There are a lot of ways to turn on your blinker. My personal preference is to keep my left hand on the steering wheel and just drop a couple of fingers down to flick the blinker switch up or down. That's the lazy method. You can pull your entire hand off the steering wheel and push down or up the blinker switch as well. I do not recommend this method if you are the type of person that needs to have your hands on the wheel at all times to remember that in fact you are the one driving the vehicle. Then you have your forceful blinker changers. That means taking your hand off the wheel and actually swatting at the blinker.

Once you have used your blinker and made the appropriate lane change/turn, it is necessary sometimes to turn off your blinker. If you leave your blinker on indefinitely, it forces me to have to think and we all know how much I love to do that. Leaving your blinker on for over 15 minutes should be cause for ticketing because you have most likely adversely affected over 50 drivers by this action unless of course it is 3:00 AM and no one else is around. Again, I cannot read your mind, so seeing a blinker, makes me believe that you do in fact want to change lanes or turn. This is especially annoying/important when you happen to be driving, say a dump truck or 18 wheeler. I am no idiot and know that you are bigger and therefore that you win the merge race. I am therefore forced to yield to your huge monstrosity of a vehicle so when you drive with your blinker on indefinitely it forces me into a very uncomfortable holding pattern.

Other good driving tips.
-Watch the road. This should be obvious, but some of you seem to need a reminder.
-Pay attention to those around you. You are not the only one on the road, nor do you own it.
-Crawling up my ass with your big wheel is not going to get me to go faster, but it will piss me off.
-Proper acceleration is a must. That big wheel you got I know comes with a V8 engine so there is not reason to get off the starting block at the light going 5 miles an hour for the length of a mile. Floor that sucker.
-Get an ear piece for that cell phone and use it. If you can't drive on the road and talk on the phone, got off one of them.
-While sitting in traffic, please try and remember that you are not the only one who would like to get home today.
-The shoulders of the road are not roadways and are not meant to be driven on at mach speed.
-Just because you have a truck or 4x4 doesn't mean the median is a roadway either.

Thank you for your kind attention. This has been a message from your friendly neighborhood driving maven.

Random Question Day

What are you waiting for?

Gummi gummi

Mama needs gummi bears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wanna read my back

With all the preggo acne I am being blessed with, Hubby decided the other night that, "your back says 'I love you' in Braille." I shot back with, "More like the first 5 books of the Bible."

Behold the Belly

All those little dots you see on my shoulder. Preggo Acne. Fun!

Give it to me... One more time

I read a lot of blogs. At least I try to, not as many as I would like though. I just can't seem to get around to my entire blogroll very often. I have seen a lot of posts about unsolicited advice and such. I can be a giver of unsolicited advice. I can't help it. I'm that way in real life too and don't always know when to just shut my trap and listen, not solve. But I love people and I hate seeing anyone in pain or hurt or even inconvenienced really and so I try to help. It's what I do. I am a helper.

I would like to think that most bloggers, except for that group of bloggers that likes to just leave nasty comments or doesn't think at all when the comment, most bloggers I think are genuinely good people and are just trying to help. Bloggers as a whole are also a very self-promoting group, isn't that partially why we blog? So I suppose, if I know something that might help you solve a problem or situation in your life, I would want to tell you about it, because hey, not only do I help you, but I look like I know something other than just how to type words on a page.

I read a lot of blogs that deal with family, Mommy/Daddy Blogs if you must put a label on them. Probably 99% of my blogroll are family life blogs. Even before I got pregnant, I read family blogs. I like family. I like kids. I always saw myself with kids and I personally am intrigued by families and how they interact and how especially parents raise their kids. In general I have a very jaded idea of kids these days. Mostly on the day to day dealings with them in stores and in public and of course what you see in the news. I know that this is not a good cross-segment of what is out there, but I still find myself making judgements about "kids these days." Well, since I started blogging, and reading family blogs, this view is at least balanced out. I am pretty sure that anyone who treated their children badly wouldn't post it on the internet for all to read, but in reading family blogs, I have found that the majority of bloggers have something to teach me about raising children. I admire the parenting skills I see on the blogs I read. I take notes and hope to remember some of the wonderful things I have learned for when I have children. Perhaps this leans more towards the level of people that can afford computers and interent access and that those facts directly correlate to their parenting skills. I don't know.

Boy have I gotten off track.

This post was really going to be all about you, my readers, giving me advice. I'm asking for it... so give it to me. Specifically, I would like your parenting advice. What is the best piece of advice when it comes to parenting you have received? Pass it on. If you feel need to give me other pieces of advice, bring it on. I like to think that I am a pretty self analytical person and that I take constructive criticism to heart. If you aren't honest with yourself, then your life really isn't worth living. I try to live by that. So if my writing sucks, tell me. If I say stupid things, tell me. Please remember though that you can never truly know a person by their blog. Don't judge the blogger by the blog skin.

Idiosyncrasies

The lastest meme seems to be about listing 5 idiosyncrasies you have. I thought I would play along because I am 1) lazy and 2) happen to actually enjoy memes for some reason.

1. I am a paradoxical clean freak. Most of the time I am a horrible housekeeper and a horrible slob. But when I do clean, I clean frantically and completely. And when it is clean, I am a perfectionist about it. I will clean up repeatedly the smallest little things, like wiping the counter obsessively or taking the trash out as soon as it nears fullness. Good thing I don't clean very oftern.

2. I am a compulsive popper. Zits that is. I come from a long line of poppers. My mom is a Queen Popper of the "will-you-look-at-this-thing-on my back" popper. I can't help it. And right now with the pregnancy acne, I look like a land mine.

3. I've talked about this one before. When listening to music, I don't really hear the words. Usually a chorus will stick with me, but even if I know the words, I don't really process the words. I don't really pay attention to what is being said. I usually like a song or artist because of the beat of the song or the person's voice. When I was in dance and taught , I always pointed out beats in the song rather than counting out 8 counts.

4. Along the same lines of the above, I don't process words well if I can't see a person's lips. It's almost like I can't hear unless I can see the person's lips. But strangely enough if I can't see the lips, such as listening to the radio, if I can close my eyes and concentrate, I can process and "hear" better.

5. Chocoholic... sort of. I love chocolate of all kinds. But, I don't like chocolate flavored things. Chocolate cake, ice cream, powdered drink mixes, milk, etc. Just don't like it. Funny thing is, now that I'm pregnant, I can't get enough of chocolate flavored stuff. I am also like this with peach. I love peaches, but hate, loathe, peach flavored things.

So those are just a glance into my weird little quirks. I have lots, but I had a hard time remembering these.

Weekend Update with Shooter

So, you wanna hear about my weekend? Okay, because you asked so nicely.

Saturday was a busy day for me and I think I am still recovering. I'm still getting used to not being able to go as much as I used to. My Saturday started with the bright idea that I would treat myself to Starbucks, especially because I had a $10 gift card. Why not, right? Being the indecisive pregnant person that I am, I finally decided to try the Green Tea Frappacino. Bad mistake. This drink, tastes. like. a$$. Green A$$. Perhaps my pregnant synapses were not connecting well and say the green and assumed that somewhere in there might be the taste of mint. Logically speaking one would not make this connection, but alas, I'm and not logical at this point.

I drove the hour into Houston to meet my parents and my cousin and his wife who were in town from... well technically there are on their way from New York, moving to Pasedena, CA. It was good to catch up with them. I don't get to see them very often on the account that they live on one coast or the other and always have a one bedroom apartment which makes visiting on a "budget" difficult unless one wants to sleep in a broom closet. This cousin of mine is the one closest to me in age, but that is where the similarities end. First of all he is a boy. Secondly, he is a genius while me, not so much smart as smart a$$ (that's three a$$' in one post, it's now officially the word of Monday). He made like an almost perfect score on his SAT's. Went to Yale, then on to NYU for law school. Now he and his lawyer wife are moving to California to work in Attorney General's offices. Smarties. This guy has been debating since he could talk and rattle of stats from the stock market to baseball better than anyone I have ever met. Ridiculous really.

From there, my step-mom, MIL and myself went on the marathon of marathon's of baby registry. Let me just say that wedding registry - so much more fun. Don't get me wrong, it was fun picking things out, but I swear it took us over an hour to get out of the feeding area. I couldn't even begin to decide what type of bottles, what type of nipples, what type of milk storage, and on and on. We were there for 5 hours.

From there I went to the last of the "girlfriend's" 30th birthdays! We are officially all 30 now! Margaritas and Fajitas. No ritas for me though. This particular girlfriends lives as far as possible from me so my drive home was an hour and a half. For some of you, that's all the way across your state, for me, that's one city.

Anyways... now that I have completely bored you with the weekend update, try to have a happy Monday.

Dearest Baby

Dear Jazzy Baby,

We went and had the ultra-Ultrasound today and you performed brilliantly. We got to see you yawn and wiggle and wave at the camera and cover your ears trying to make that awful sound go away. The days when I get to "see" you make me so happy. I can smile all day long. These are the days that I know everything is okay. Not only because the doctor tells me everything looks good, but because I get to see you with my own eyes.

We do not want to find out what you are going to be, boy or girl, because both your father and I want it to be a surprise. A part of me did want to know today, but I am glad that we are going to wait. Most of us think you are a boy, I can't really tell you why. Your Aunt thinks you are a girl. I guess we will just wait and see. I hope you will forgive me and your father for always calling you a "he" if you do in fact turn out to be a girl.

I had a dream last night that you head poked out of my belly and then all of a sudden I was holding you. It was a little scary because in my dream I was only 5 months along, just like I am really. But I was so happy to hold you and see you in my arms. I cannot wait until I actually do get to hold you. But let's go ahead and wait another 5 months, mkay? Thanks.

We also toured the birthing center and it really looks nice. I think you will like it. You get to stay in the room with me and Daddy and we are very happy for that. The room is very good size and has a TV, DVD, VCR and CD Player as well as a refrigerator. They also have a full supply of popsicles, for free. That makes Mommy very happy. They have nice hydrotheraphy rooms where we can labor if we choose. Please don't give mommy too much back labor, mkay? We have enough back problems as it is.

I am very excited and can't wait to be able to feel you move in my belly. I'm not worried, yet, but if you could, just give me a good kick for my own sanity and I will be happy. Daddy talks to you every day and sometimes I have to tell him to lower his voice. He likes to yell at you to make sure that you are moving around and then he sticks his ear against my belly to listen to you slosh. He says he can hear you in there. Lucky him.

Almost 19 weeks now. Almost halfway there. I will try and do better at eating good foods and maybe getting some exercise. You just keep doing your job and I will do mine and we will meet soon. I love you.

Love,

Mommy

Pregnancy Torture

I forgot the best part of my little appointment today. I have to drink 36 oz. of fluid an hour before I go in. And I can't go pee until after the Ultrasound. Torture I tell you. It's currently 30 minutes before my appointment. And. I have to pee!

Friday Sunshine

Happy Friday Everyone! I'm off shortly for an Ultra-Ultrasound. Hopefully more getting to watch Jazzy Baby do acrobatics in my belly. But in the meantime, I leave you with these words of wisdom.

Condensed from "LIFE'S LITTLE INSTRUCTION BOOK, VOL. 2"H. JACKSON BROWN, Jr,(A footnote indicates the book was copyrighted in 1983)

Never laugh at anyone's dreams
Believe in love at first sight.

Trust in God, But Lock Your Car
Remember that no time spent with your children is ever wasted.

When traveling, take two big safety pins so you can pin the motel drapes shut.
Accept a breath mint if someone offers you one.

Keep the porch light on until all the family is in for the night.
Rehearse a joke before telling it.

Always try the house dressing.
Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

Once in a while invite the person in line behind you to go ahead of you.
Send your mother-in-law flowers on your spouse's birthday.

Buy ladders, extension cords and garden hoses longer than you think you'll need.
Never be the first to break a family tradition.

Steer clear of any place with a "Ladies Welcome" sign in the window.
Don't stop a parade to pick up a dime.

Ask anyone giving directions to repeat them at least twice.
Don't wash a car, mow a yard, or select a Christmas tree after dark.

Hold your child’s hand every chance you get. The time will come when he or she won't let you.
Own a hammock.

Never be photographed holding a cocktail glass.
Give people more than they expect, and do it cheerfully.

Someone will always be looking at you as an example of how to behave. Don’t let him down.
Do your homework and know your facts, but remember it's passion that persuades.

Be as friendly to the janitor as you are to the chairman of the board.
When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and say, "Why do you want to know?"

Overestimate travel time by 15 percent.
Don't be so concerned with your rights that you forget your manners.

Never wear a white bathing suit.
Don't dismiss a good idea simply because you don't like the source.

When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
Put the strap around your neck before looking through binoculars.

Never say anything uncomplimentary about your wife or children in the presence of others.
No matter how old you get, hug and kiss your mother whenever you greet her.

Brush your teeth before putting on your tie.
Never ask a barber if you need a haircut.

Phone home if you're going to be more than 20 minutes late.
Remember that everyone is influenced by kindness.

Overpay good baby sitters.
If you're away from home and hear church bells, think of three people who love you.

Leave a quarter where a child can find it.
When it comes to worrying or painting a picture, know when to stop.

Avoid using the word impacted unless you're describing wisdom teeth.
Never order chicken fried steak in a place that doesn't have a jukebox.

Go on blind dates. That's how I met your mother.
Call your dad.

Happy Friday. Spread some sunshine.

Nothing at all Really

It's 4:20 on a Thursday and my brain has reached capacity. Odd since I did very little of anything today, but shhh... don't tell anyone.

So I decided that I would write on this here blog something life changing for all of us. Do tell...

So I give you options to cursing should you be so inclined:
flubmonkey
lugcuket
foofighter
gobstopper
shutola
shooshums (good for Shut Up, not exactly cursing, but not so nice)
gibblegog
poo pie (don't bother me...)

In other news, if you haven't heard, The G family had Genuine Baby IV yesterday. Congrats to them!

What else could I possibly ramble about. How about trying to find a Grinch Costume that won't frighten small children. For those of you with small children, what are your thoughts on this costume?



Personally, it scares me a little bit. My choices are pretty much this costume or to have one made. Pretty frightening, huh?

Thankful

For lack of better/other things to say, here is what I am thankful for this week:

• The shuttle is home safe and sound.
• I am safe and sound and so is my family this week.
• New baby's. Go see Genuine's hour by hour account of the birth of Genuine Baby IV.
• My job. I may not always like it, but I'm sure glad I have one.
• Food on the table and milk in the fridge.
• A car that still runs. ***please don't jinx it***
• My girlfriends.
• Humpday!

The Week in Numbers

It has been a week... We'll just leave it at that. Lots going on, some beyond trying to explain, so here's a little glimpse, by the numbers.

2 deaths
1 funeral
1 trip across Texas
1 cold
4 sleepless nights
1.5 books read
1.5 days worked
1 day til the weekend
1 very jealous me for not attending blogher
1 slightly broken car 1 broken car without a new inspection
1 guestroom nowhere near clean to be turned into nursery

But, alas, 2 of the cutest little one's in the world, My Nephews:

Goolism

Found this over at Amber's Place. Very interesting. Words in bold are mine.


Googlism.com will find out what Google.com thinks of you, your friends or anything!

jasmine is welcome in winter
jasmine is this?
jasmine is a naked gun
jasmine is sexy =9 duh (Yeah Duh!)
jasmine is a qualified masseuse and offers a sensual (Sensual WHAT?)
jasmine is not happy this year
jasmine is available for adoption (Oh, really?)
jasmine is seven months old
jasmine is six months old
jasmine is a beautiful 16 inch black porcelain doll
jasmine is better than belle or ariel (I agree)
jasmine is incredulous at being told her experience with the (...)
jasmine is less than a two minute walk from the beautiful white sand taylor beach
jasmine is good ground cover fast
jasmine is welcome in winter by lee reich
jasmine is drooping (don't tell the whole world!)
jasmine is a qualified masseuse and offers a sensual erotic body 2 body massage (so that's the answer)
jasmine is jammin' in africa
jasmine is the sweetest cat i could ever (I don't even want to knwo what you could ever)
jasmine is called "the king of oils"
jasmine is very expensive (Damn skippy)
jasmine is an innovative musician (not so much)
jasmine is talking about?
jasmine is a beautiful 16" black porcelain doll (still?)
jasmine is a full object oriented database system
jasmine is a plant native to the south
jasmine is one scent nearly everyone loves
jasmine is a very powerful fragrance with a full (here we go again)
jasmine is calming
jasmine is useful with the following
jasmine is indigenous of himalayas of western china
jasmine is a true object database with an integrated development environment and a robust multi
jasmine is both strange and romantic in that its blooms open only at night
jasmine is regular presenter/reporter on sky digital?s ?simply money? channel
jasmine is over 25 years old
jasmine is one of the first plants that comes to mind when one thinks of sweet fragrance
jasmine is one of the first plants that comes to mind when one thinks
jasmine is evocative of warm
jasmine is a single or multistemmed shrub or
jasmine is nothing fancy to look at
jasmine is realising that its competitive edge
jasmine is aware of the importance of sport
jasmine is a popular groundcover
jasmine is ready for the holidays in this forest green confection
jasmine is a recovering alcoholic and johnnie walker keeps calling her name
jasmine is a sacred flower known as ?moonlight of the grove?
jasmine is incredibly strong
jasmine is a large
jasmine is the happiest baby i've ever known
jasmine is a pure object
jasmine is an evergreen fragile climbing shrub that can grow up to 10 meters
jasmine is incredulous at being told her experience with the alien dr
jasmine is
jasmine is wearing a gold band round one arm
jasmine is so harsh that it demands a touch of the true oil to soften it
jasmine is the next
jasmine is heaven sent
jasmine is one of the most recent
jasmine is fast
jasmine is an evergreen or semi
jasmine is a one of a kind alpaca with a personality that is all her own
jasmine is furious with him saying he should have consulted her first
jasmine is stabbed and seriously injuried it is julie who looks after her
jasmine is extremely polydexterous
jasmine is also a dog
jasmine is very much in touch with the personal wishes of her group and cleverly adapts the visit accordingly
jasmine is the princess of agrabah
jasmine is a true ground cover; its
jasmine is approximately 8 days
jasmine is getting worse
jasmine is a major breakthrough for enterprise developers
jasmine is referred to as "the king"
jasmine is outgoing
jasmine is strong sensual stimulant
jasmine is far more powerful than its queen
jasmine is it usually has a quite strong fragrance
jasmine is best pruned in late winter
jasmine is the daughter of alice and glenn gadie of detroit
jasmine is active
jasmine is an exclusive
jasmine is a black & white male alaskan malamute who is about 9½ years old and weighs approximately 75 pounds
jasmine is an absolute delight
jasmine is a 9 year old pitbull
jasmine is the blonde bombsite er
jasmine is a sturdy
jasmine is an overwriting
jasmine is classified as jasminum officinale

I gave up half way through with the witty comments.

4:00 AM

We had an interesting morning today. At 4:00 AM hubby jumped out of bed because he said someone had rang the door bell. I didn't hear anything and I usually hear everything. He had pulled the gun out and I lay there wondering what to do and my heart beating wildly. Hubby came back from the living room laughing. I could not figure out what could possibly be funny. This is what was so funny.

And More fun.
This is what I found when I went to step out the back door.

And here is the funniest part. This is hubby's car. This is Tigger, going "What the hell is that?"

It seems that some of hubby's buddies decided to play at our house last night. I didn't think it was so funny at 4 or 5 or 6 for that matter, but 7:30, hilarious!

Jelly Bean 16 Weeks

Traveling Hand Signals

I sit in quite a bit of traffic living in the vicinity of Houston as you can imagine. My main route home is currently under construction as well so I sit for about 45 minutes a day in mind numbing traffic. On occasion I will take back roads, although it takes a little longer even with the traffic on the main roads, but it is usually a more pleasant drive.

Sitting in traffic one day I thought how nice it would be to communicate with other drivers via hand signals, and no, I'm not talking about that one signal we all use when we are angry. No, signals that would tell us something about what was up ahead. Similar to the flashing of one's headlights to signal a police officer up ahead. We could have signals for "accident ahead" or "stalled car" or signals that might tell us how much farther to get past said problem, "10 more minutes". Signals such as, "Take the feeder/frontage road instead" or, "It's hopeless, turn around now."

Traveling hand signals would be used by drivers coming from the opposite direction to help us decide the best way to go about our business. Sometimes I think it would help me be patient if I at least had an idea of why I was moving so slow. If there is an accident, I try to be patient by telling myself that it could be worse, and I could be the one in an accident, so me being stuck in traffic is considerably better than having to deal with an accident or being hurt. Same goes for a stalled car. Being that I have always driven older, not so reliable vehicles, I can always be thankful that it is not me stuck on the side of the road.

Want some help?

Is it just me or does anyone else get the heebie jeebies from that damn paperclip helper guy that pops up in Micros*ft Word? I always feel like he is wiggling his eyebrows at me and saying, "Hey, baby, want some help?" in a dirty old man kind of way, know what I mean?

I feel good...

It is so wonderful to be able to say, "I feel good," when people ask how I am feeling. After 2 months of doing nothing but bitch and moan every time someone asked how I was feeling, I even prefer to hear myself say, "great!"

Thank you to all of the Mommies and Daddies that gave me advice on diapers. Now to just get hubby to add me to the Sam's account so I can go a diaper hunting. I know I am starting early, but my boss said that it worked so well for her and her hubby and they didn't have to spend a lot of money all at once, but spread it out, so I thought I would try it. Now I really need to start cleaning out the guestroom and turning it into the baby's room. I have gotten my first stuff for the room, thanks to my step mother, who could barely wait until the 2nd trimester cut off line before buying stuff. Pictures to come, or there is a link to my registery over there on the right.

And there comes the end of my attention span...

From Blue Butts to Baby Butts

To all you mommies out there, I have a question. Pampers or Huggies? Or does it matter? I am going to start buying diapers every week now, hopefully on sale, but not sure where to start. Any ideas on how many of each size I should buy? Help!

Smurf Butt

Saturday afternoon I walked into our master bath, because I do that a lot these days. I flipped on the light because something looked weird on the seat. Sure enough, the seat was blue. In the shape of a butt. Blue Butt. I called my hubby to see if maybe he had sprayed something on the seat that might have reacted with skin or something. We could not figure it out. I joked that it had to be hubby's butt, because there was no way my butt was that big. Ahh, denial. I was scared to sit on the seat since I didn't know what was wrong with it, so I started using the guest bath.

Last night, we went to my parents for dinner. I was in the restroom a couple of times during our stay, simply because I now have a bladder the size of a pea. As we were getting ready to leave, hubby went in to relieve himself and afterward called me in there. Guess what was there. Blue Butt. Guess whose fault? I have Smurf Butt. I think it must have something to do with a chemical reaction between two medications I am taking that I started on Friday. It really is strange though. See for yourself.

Smurf Butt Toilet

Turtle Friday

Can this day possibly go any slower? Today has felt like a Monday and I have the mood to prove it. Why is it when a day starts bad, everything that follows has some bad in it too.

Looking for to hopefully having the new Harry Potter book at home when I get there. But, I'm not holding out hope, just because UPS says it's in the general area, does not mean it is going to be on my doorstep. And of course, it would be one more thing that didn't go my way today.

Bah Humbug!

The Age of Innocence: 16 & 17

Since 16 & 17 are so close and kind of run into each other, I will cover them together in one post.

I was 16 at the beginning of my Junior year in High schoool. At this time, I was a member of our high kick drill team, The Band Aids. We were considered part of the band and performed with the band, hence the name Band Aids. Not because some of our routines were especially brutal. I remember on routine to the song Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles where we went from a standing position and fell straight onto our faces. We of course, or hopefully, caught ourselves with our hands. That was the intent anyways. In practicing to get this move right, we ended up with many bruised knees. At least until we discovered that knee pads were miracle workers. Too bad we couldn't wear them during the performance. At least that would be on the football field.

When I turned 16 or soon after, my Dad gave me his old car. It was a mint green 1981 Mazda 626. I didn't care what it was, it was a CAR. Not long after I got it, I would be driving along and all of a sudden it wouldn't go into any gear and then white smoke would poor out the tail pipe. I kept telling my father about the problems, but the car would never do it for him. He finally took it into the mechanic and they told him the engine was going to blow up. Told you so.

I remember my Dad taking me and my friend Lauren for our learner's permits. The day we were going, it poured and I remember, driving down Willowbend on the wrong side of the road. Technically we were actually on the sidewalk and on people's lawns. We had to be or we would have just gotten stuck and we were getting those permit's come hell or high water. Pun intended. I remember a bus came by and we rocked back and forth from the waves. That was the day I learned that as long as you kept on the gas so that water did not get into the tail pipe, you should be okay driving through semi-high water. Don't quote me on that.

I remember driver's ed too. I remember almost going into a ditch one day with someone driving. Most of all I remember the video they showed us about trying to beat trains. It was disturbing and has had a lasting affect on me for sure. I will never try to beat a train.

At the end of my Junior Year, at 17, I had try outs for cheerleading. At that time you could not be a cheerleader until your senior year. Our senior year would be the first year that we allowed Juniors. We had practice every day after school with the current squad. I remember hours of my arms going up and down into all different cheer positions. It was hard work. I would come home sore every day, but I didn't care. I had wanted to be a cheerleader for as long as I could remember. Try outs came and I was so nervous. We had to go out on stage and do our cheers while the judges sat out somewhere in the dark auditorium and watched us in the spotlight. I am sure that I said I did horrible. I remember the day they were announcing who made the squad. All of us that tried out sat in the hallway awaiting the announcements. The outgoing squad came over the loud speaker to announce the 1992-93 Cheerleading Squad. They had made up two line little poems for each of us. I don't remember what mine said, but I remember being so happy I made it. I may have that poem somewhere.

The summer between my Junior and Senior year was spent practicing for cheerleading. Hours in the sun practicing stunts and cheers and pyramids and more. This summer was also a summer that would change my life forever. At this time my Mother and sister lived in Mexico. my mother ran a small resort in the Yucatan about 4 hours south of Cancun. This would be last summer I would visit here. It was the 3rd or 4th summer that I had been coming to visit mother in this particular location. My mother never stayed in one place very long. This summer my Mother got married. I remember finding my sister at the wedding. She was drinking Mescal, a very strong drink. Keep in mind my sister is 4 years younger than me. I took one sip of that stuff and about threw up. Yuck. But she kept drinking it.

Later that night something happened that forever changed my view of the world. I am not ready to tell that story yet, but maybe someday. I have started to write it, but don't know that I am ready to share that with the world yet.

Back to happier times. High school was your typical drama central. I had a boyfriend and then I didn't. I had a best friend and then I didn't. I turned 18 in December of 1993 and graduated the following May. I left high school behind me when I graduated and never looked back really until my 10 year reunion two years ago, where I reunited with so many of my girl friends that I had been missing all these years. I am glad to have them all back in my life. Now I can really appreciate them.

I spent much of high school depressed and disappointed. I expected a lot of other people and when those expectations (which were usually unreasonable) were not met, I was angry and hurt. I spent a lot of time angry and hurt and I look back now and it's such a shame that I could not enjoy the blessings I had in my life. I had always wanted to be a cheerleader, but my experiences on the squad were dampened by my negative view of the world and my high expectations of others to make/keep me happy. I look back now and realize how lucky I was and how blessed I was. I am so thankful that at least now I appreciate all the things and people around me. I am healed. I am blessed. I am happy.

The Age of not-so-Innocence: 21

Ahh, 21, good times, good times. Hard to believe it was 9 years ago, almost 10. Again, my memories will be of around that time period.

It was 1996. I was at the University of Texas in my 4th year of my 6 years I would be there, or my first senior year. I lived with my best friend in the whole world, Mel, and we went everywhere together. Many people didn't recognize us unless we were together. I think by this time she had already graduated, so our schedules were a little different now, but we still spent a lot of time together.

I was working in the bar scene as a manager for a contract shot company (shot as in liquor shot). I worked pretty much every week, Wednesday - Saturday. I worked all over Austin from country bars to 6th street and even a couple bars in San Antonio on occasion. We went out Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights, just about every week. We were party people, as anybody who works in the bar scene knows. I smoked and drank, a lot. So turning 21 was kind of a let down. Now don't get me wrong, I was happy to finally be able to drink legally, whenever and wherever I wanted and Mel was happy because now she wasn't the only one who could go to store and buy liquor.

We went to 6th street for my 21st birthday. I think it was just me and Mel actually. I was pretty sober that night, although I think I did get sick off a Yager shot, but Yager always made me sick. My shot of choice at the time was Goldschlager, which now just makes my stomach turn. I could drink like you wouldn't believe. Mel and I would go to parties and she would brag that I could drink anyone under the table. As long as it was beer, I pretty much could. Not so proud of that now, but at the time it was pretty cool.

I did a lot of country western dancing at that time and that is what kept me in shape through college. If it wasn't for dancing, my diet of fast food and beer and eating at 3:00 in the morning would have definitely caught up with me. I even was on a team for a short while.

We spent lots of time out on Lake Travis or Lake Austin, in the greenbelt or at Zilker Park. This was a time for spontaneity and we loved to just get up and go. In my sophmore year in the middle of spring break, Mel and decided we would drive to Taos, NM and we did. Just like that. The carefree feeling of that time I miss sometimes. No worries, no cares, a drink and a smoke and all was good.

I can't really remember, but I think I had a serious boyfriend at that time, but my years get blurry, especially around 21, if you know what I mean. When Mel and I were single, boy were we dangerous. We were called the kissing bandits. If we got enough alcohol in us and the boys were cute enough, well, let's just say, we weren't shy.

Mel and I went to as many football and baseball games as we could. The coach of the baseball team even knew us because we spent so much time at the field. Disch Falk was one of my favorite places to study and I still love that feel to this day. We would sit on the first base line right at the edge of the net and taunt the players. We knew every player and some of their stats. We got to know the TV crews. We went on a lot of great road trips to watch games. I still love watching the Longhorns play, whether it's football or baseball, Hook Em!

21 was an age where I was happy. I was still finding myself and had my share of hard times. I went to school full time and worked about 40 hours a week also. But I made good money and school came out okay, even though it took me 6 years to graduate, I did it. And I paid for it and will be paying for it probably til the day I die. I'm glad I went. College was a wonderful experience for me and I finally was able to be who I really was and enjoy that person.

And there you have The Age of not-so-Innocence: 21.

The Age of Innocence: 14

Age 14. Again, my "memories" are somewhat fuzzy of that time and not for a reason that had anything to do with mind altering anything. Age 14, I believe was my last year in junior high. This is a little fuzzy too since I started 1st grade early, but then took 4th grade twice (that's a whole other story) so I think I was in 8th grade.

I went to a magnet school for physical education so I did an hour of dance and an hour of gymnastics per day rather than PE, thank God. Even though I had to wear a leotard, it was still better than the bright blue and yellow PE outfits those in PE had to wear. By 8th grade I was used to having to run around in a leotard in front of the boys, even though it still wasn't the most comfortable thing.

I remember some of my favorite pieces of clothing during this time. One was an acid washed jean skirt that had three layers. You may be laughing your butt off right now, but at the time I was stylin'. Another outfit came from Esprit, very cool in those days, and was splatter painted all over in different colors. I know, go ahead and say it, DORK.

It was in 8th grade that I had my first love. Brian S. We went together for I don't know how long. It seemed like forever, but it was probably something more like 3 weeks. We would write notes back and forth and talk on the phone when he wasn't grounded. My taste in boys at that age was the skater type. I liked the little bit of bad boy in them and the spikey hair that went high and then came down over one eye. I "went with" this one skater guy that was black and he had this really deep voice. When he would call my parents thought he was much older. I never told them he was black. (Nice little Jewish girl dating a black guy, wouldn't have gone over well). That one lasted probably a week and a half. He wanted more, but I wasn't all that interested.

I spent lots of time in my room making up dances to songs from the Top Gun record, yes record, and taping (yes taping) my favorite songs off the radio. I was into Depeche Mode, The Cure, Erasure and other bands like that.

8th grade was kind of a milestone for me. Not only because next year I would be going to high school, but I had actually gone to the same school for a whole 3 years, we hadn't moved and I had actually started to make some friends. I remember I would cry at the end of each school year because I was going to miss my friends so much. Each summer I would go to NM to visit my Mom. I really didn't have many friends there.

I was a good teenager. I didn't have much freedom, so I went to friends' houses, had sleep overs and that was really about it. I spent a lot of time in my room reading and just avoiding my house.

Oh, and I had to ride the bus to school. The school was not the one closest to our house, which was 3 blocks from our house. That is where I had to catch the bus. It was really embarrassing to be sitting at one Junior High to catch a bus to another Junior High. You look like you belong there, but you don't know any body. I can't remember if it was this year or not, but one year the bus we got for my area of town was the short bus. Yes the short bus. You can imagine the jokes. Go ahead, make one.

And that my friends, is the Age of Innocence at 14. Next time, we will discuss The Age of Innocence at 21 and then later 16 and 17. Feel free to give me another age to remember if you haven't "played" yet.

The Age of Innocence

My sister asked, so innocently, to remember the age of 4:

I don't "remember" a whole lot, but I can think back and imagine from what I know now. We lived in a nice little house in Taos, NM with my Mom and my step-dad (it's weird to write that since I have never really considered him my step-dad, but that is the best way to describe it). I had my fourth birthday and a mere 8 days later, my sister was born. I don't remember the birth, but she was born at home. Not sure where I was, but most likely I was there or maybe with friends.

From that house and that time period, I remember the old white appliances in the kitchen. I had stuck Valentine's stickers over most of them. The fridge, the stove - come to think of it, those were the only appliances we really had, unless you count the black stove that sat in the middle of the living room that was the only source of heat for the house.

I remember the huge tree in the front yard that I loved to climb. When you got under it, it was almost dark and you could look up and see all the branches, with very little light shining through. I would climb on the lower limbs til I got high enough that I was scared. I climbed on anything and everything. That is why my Mom built me a jungle gym. Maybe that way I would quit climbing on the furniture. She also put me in gymnastics.

I also have a memory of that house of the backyard. It had a huge backyard. As you stepped out the back door- the only door we really used, the first thing you saw was of course the Volkswagen. I can't remember what we had then, it could have been a bug or a van, I think we had both at times. Definitely a van. The next thing you saw was a tepee - a full size real tee pee. I don't know why, but we had fun playing in it. Back way in the back of the yard was an old adobe building that was partially eroded. There was no roof and no doors or windows. It was very open and most of the time it scared me. Now I don't know if this is really a real memory, but I have always thought of that house in this way. At a certain time of the year, that house would fill with ladybugs. In my memory, you would walk in and parts of the walls would be almost red. I love that memory, so if it isn't real, I don't want to know.

So that was The Age of Innocence at 4.

Next time The Age of Innocence at 14 requested by Flying Piggies.

And then The Age of not-so-Innocence at 21 requested by Mrs. Mogul.

The Age of Innocence

I thought I would try something other than talk about pregnancy and blah, blah, blah, so I came up with The Age of Innocence. A little game per se.

Pick an age, or an age range and I will regale you with a story or memory of that time. Or tell me something about that time in your life. Or just tell me something.

Wheel of Fortune

No, not that one. Found this over at Blah Blah...

I am The Wheel of Fortune The Wheel of Fortune represents unexpected encounters and twists of fate. You can't predict surprises; you can only be aware when one is circling around. Indeed, Card 10 often suggests wheel-like actions - changes in direction, repeating cycles and rapid movement. When the energy of the Wheel arrives, you will feel life speed up. You are caught in a cyclone that may deposit you anywhere. "Round and round and round she goes, and where she stops, nobody knows." For a full description of your card and other goodies, please visit LearnTarot.com

What tarot card are you? Enter your birthdate. Month: Day: Year:

Rachel Dachel

I was 16 the summer we picked her out. I don't remember how it came about that we would get a dog, but I remember that we were getting a puppy! It was a rare time that my sister and I were both with my Mom for the summer and we picked her out together. All I remember is a large fence behind a warehouse and walking back behind the building to where the puppies were. She was a big ball of black fur, you could hardly see her feet. I don't know how we decided on her either, but we did and we took her home. I imagine that we played with her for the rest of the day. She was mostly chow so she had that colored tongue and I imagine I loved letting her lick my face with her puppy breath. How we came up with Rachel for a name, I don't know either. I know Mom came up with it and that was the end of it. Rachel the black chow, forever known as Rachel Dachel or Good Dog.

And she was a good dog. She was a great dog. Somewhat of an escape artist though. She could figure out how to climb the highest fences and escape a seemingly escape-proof yard. She was known to chase after things on a camping trip and once got out and attacked the neighbors rabbits. That was not fun. I remember a time she killed a bird, and Mom tied the bird around her neck to teach her not to do it again. I cried and cried at the punishment, both for the bird and for Rachel.

She had 3 or 4 litters of puppies, all balls of fur just like her. She was fiercely protective. She didn't like strangers, and even less men. She grew up in a household full of women, my sister, me and my Mom, on the rare occasion we were all there at once. She was Mom's companion through all the years she was single and remains her loyal companion today.

But today, Rachel has trouble getting up. Her joints have erroded. She is forgetful and can't hear. Her sight is failing also. And so today, she will go to a place where she is no longer in pain and she will remember the good days.

RIP Rachel Dachel. We will miss you.

A Sad Day

My thoughts and prayers go out to those in London. What a sad day.

Disclaimer: 3 Posts in one day is not the norm

There is a commercial that plays quite a bit these days. I think it is for Primarin which I believe has something to do with hormone replacement for women going through menopause. Now there is one line in the 5 minute long disclaimer about all the symtoms you will have by taking such medication which always make me think I would be better off just dealing with the symptoms of said problem because the side effects are the same as said problem side effects. (whew that was long winded) My point...

The one line that gets me every time:
"If you have a uterus..."

IF you have a uterus? I am probably way wrong, but if you don't have a uterus, isn't menopause a little bit more difficult to go through? I'm no doctor though. Duh!

Potami from the Front

Note the Auto - Patomus on the front.

Potami

Driving home the other day, I got behind this:

Overheard

"Whose butt is that?"

It came complete with a picture, but I didn't want to be rude.

A few of my favorite things

Things that are making me happy today:

• My car is fixed!
• Car getting fixed only cost...$49.00.
• In shock from minimal cost of getting car fixed.
• My car that is almost 10 years old, still runs like a champ, but no longer like an 80 year old woman who smoked all her life.
• It's Friday!!!!
• My physical therapy has been scheduled to one day a week!
• It's Friday!!!
• I have a massage and a hair cut tomorrow.

Things I'm not so please about today:

• It's Friday and I have to work until 10 PM tonight.
• I am working a wine dinner and I can't have any wine.
• I have to get up much earlier than I want to in order to get to above mentioned massage and hair cut.
• It is so worth it because I have a horrible crick in my neck/shoulder and can't move around much.

Have a happy Friday folks!!!

Ringing in a new me

11 weeks and counting, and counting, and counting. Not really.

I took my belly button ring out last night. I had planned to take it out as I got bigger. Hubby couldn't wait for me to take it out. He never liked it, don't know why. So I was sitting on the couch watching Dancing With The Stars, a whole other story in itself, and I was just seeing how easy it would be to take out the little square that held the ring in. Easier than I thought. So I took it out. And now I miss it. A lot. I don't think I really wanted to get rid of it. A friend of mine is 7 months preggo and she just got a plastic bar and kept it in. Now I look at my belly button and the hole above it and I'm sad. I miss my ring. I didn't get it until I was 23. My step mother even took me to get it. She said if I was going to get it done, she would make sure it was safe. It was funny, I would never get my ears pierced again, yet I got my belly button pierced. I guess part of me feels like, I have to change so much with this pregnancy whether I like it or not, that I feel like I lost a part of me that I could have kept. Now I don't know if I really would have wanted to look down at my bely at 8 months and seen it in there, but now I will never know.

As I sit here and type this, I have tears dripping down my cheeks. Blame it on the hormones. Sissy.

Goodbye dear Ring, you will be missed.

Vacation Time

Not right now. I wish.

Hubby and I are trying to plan a vacation. Somewhere in the US that we haven't been. Not a big city, more of a quiet getaway. We would probably go in late September or early October. I'm looking for suggestions on where to go. Remember I am pregnant, so Vegas is out of the question. Where should we go?

The Sound of a Thousand Mufflers Part II

So hubby went with me to my doctor's appointment this morning and got to hear the car first hand. He commented, "That's really loud." That's what I tried to tell him. He promises to get it fixed this week. As he continued to laugh and hold his ears every time we can to a stop light. Smart Ass.

Unsolicited Advice

I officially got my first piece of unsolicited pregnancy advice today and I'm not even showing. Okay a little bit, but really it's just tummy cushion.

I was sitting at the doctor's office waiting for hubby to have a colonoscopy (he's fine) and eating my first snack of the day. Sitting on the floor next to my purse is my copy (given to me by my sister) of What to Expect When you are Expecting. The woman across from me is writing some notes, but I'm not paying much attention. All of a sudden she gets up, hands me a note and in full outside voice (i.e. loudly) she announces that the book I am reading is not good and the one she wrote down on the piece of paper will "put that one to shame." I said thanks, and she walked out. I looked around and a couple of people in the waiting room looked at me with eyebrows raised. My feeling exactly.

She came back later and sat in a different part of the waiting room and proceeded to tell the people across from her of a better Mexican restaurant than the one they had been talking about. Anyway, in the course of the conversation, we all learned that she is a Labor and Delivery nurse. But still...

The Sound of a Thousand Mufflers

My poor old car is officially in need of retirement. When the lady in the drive through asks you to turn off your car so she can hear you, that is a pretty good sign that the car is about done. That or I just need a new muffler and undercarriage.

What's a happenin' hot stuff?

Title has nothing to do with post. It just popped in there. $5 virtual to anyone who tells me what movie that's from. It's easy...

Well, I just got back to work after a day and a half off and a very relaxing and fun filled weekend to the beach with the girls! We talked and talked and talked and talked. That's what us girls do, you know. We talked a lot about babies and motherhood and birth and the parts of each other's lives that we missed out on or that happened before we knew each other. We had two preggos and two Mommies so lots of information was shared. I am so glad to have these women in my life. It's amazing what information you get from girl friends.

I took yesterday off to recover, but instead spent most of the day with hubby at the nursing home visiting his sick Great Aunt. She is not doing well. It hurts me to see him with her. He gets so upset and I hate seeing him like that. I feel so sad everytime we do to the nursing home. So many of the people there can't really talk or don't make much sense when they do. I can't imagine being locked up inside myself, not being able to speak and interact. Hubby's Aunt is usually very vocal and is very sarcastic so the nurses love her. She was not very lucid yesterday and it was really sad to see her this way. She always has some smart aleck come back when you say something she doesn't like. My MIL said she did say something earlier in the day. She said, "I sure could use a cup of coffee." (They don't get coffee in the nursing home, but she loves her coffee) The nurses started laughing and she said to my MIL, "I don't know what they think is so funny." I didn't get to meet her before she was in the nursing home, but she has always been a close part of hubby's family and her loss will be very hard. She is 91 and has lived a long life and I can't help but hope that she is not in pain and that God will take her when she is ready.

I have been reading lots on pregnancy and birthing and so forth. I have a lot of decisions to make about how I want this birth to happen (ideally of course). Both my sister and I were born at home by midwifes. My Mom was a midwife for many years, a registered nurse and is now a Nurse Practitioner specializing in woman's health. I hate taking drugs for any reasons and tend to avoid them unless I am in a lot of pain. I really don't want any unnatural intrusion when it comes to the birth, but I want to be in a hospital in case something does go wrong. My ultimate goal is for me and the baby to be healthy and safe. I just have a lot to figure out. I am going to interview some other doctors. I don't really like the doctor I have now. I just feel like I am running out of time and I am so busy, I really don't have time right now to take off work for interviews. What to do. What to do.

Well, that post was a little bit everywhere. Oh well!

What I've learned this week...

Not much.

1. Doing a photo shoot in the middle of June outdoors. In Texas. SUCKS.
2. Doing a photo shoot in the middle of June outdoors. In Texas. Pregnant. SUCKS. (Had to throw that in there)
3. Spending 6 hours at the ER with my husband is a terrible way to spend a Saturday. But at least he is okay.
4. They don't really make maternity clothes for the "bloated and looking fat, not pregnant stage". I had to hunt down a belt this morning to keep my pants from hanging out around my ankles.
5. I am really looking forward to eating normal food again.
6. There are some really good golfers out there.
7. There are more really bad golfers out there.
8. Photo shoots are all about the hurry up and wait.
9. And that is all my brain can handle.

How's that for a post?

I'm alive

I'm still here for anyone who might have been wondering. Work has been really busy and when I'm not working, I'm sleeping. That's pretty much what I do these days.

Tell you what, you want something exciting, go look at Little Baby JuJu. I offer you cuteness in the place of my lack of posting.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I have never been so tired for so long in my entire life. Even in college, I was never this tired, for this long a period of time. I'm usually the type of person who has to have quiet, dark and comfortable surroundings in order to sleep. Now, I am about to fall asleep in the middle of conversations, at my desk, walking to my car and scary enough, driving.

This baby is certainly turning my world upside down. I could sleep all day long. Eating has become a whole new thing for me. I love food, especially food that is bad for me, but now, food doesn't look so hot and my diet pretty much consists of saltine crackers, toast, milk, fruit, and vegetables. The only thing that remotely looks good to me is fruit, good for baby, lacks variety though.

Holiday weekend coming up and me, can't wait to sleep it all away. That and buy some pants that fit. I am not showing per se, but my stomach either has forgotten what it is like to be sucked in or just doesn't care. So, needless to say, I have one pair of pants that I feel comfortable in and by comfortable I mean, not stuffed into my clothes like a sausage.

In non-baby related news...

What a week!

What an incredible week. I started the week off feeling like crap. I just thought it was a hangover until Monday and then Tuesday. By 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 17th, I felt bad enough that I left work. I took a nap and just laid around the house until about 4:00 eating nothing but crackers and toast. By 4:00 I decided I would take a preg test, just in case. As I waited the three minutes, totally expecting to have to make a doctor's appointment for a stomach virus, boy was I in shock when I walked back into the bathroom and say two pink lines.

What does that mean? Two pink lines? Well, right there on the stick it says I'm pregnant, but I don't believe it. I stood staring at the stick and saying OMG over and over. I then went to the trash and took the instructions back out of the trash and read them, OMG! It's real. I'm pregnant! It's really real. OMG, OMG, OMG, rinse, repeat!

I was so excited, I ran around the house, going OMG, OMG and He (hubby) has to come home right now. Unfortunately, hubby's business partner was in town and I knew they were probably coming by the house together. I really wasn't ready to share the news with anyone other than my hubby. Sure enough they came to the house. We should the partner around the house and then we decided we would all go to dinner. When was I going to get to tell hubby?! I had taken pictures, so when we got in the truck, I took the camera out and held it up to his face. He looked at for a couple of seconds and then looked at me and said "Are we really?" When I said yes, he got this huge grin on his face and immediately said he had to tell P (the partner). I tried to talk him out of it. I really wanted to get it confirmed by a doctor, but hubby was busting to tell anybody. I was too really. So we told P when we go to the restaurant. He is kind of a dry fellow, so his reaction wasn't the excitement I was looking for, but we were excited enough for all of us.

I have been pretty nauseous all week and living pretty much off crackers and toast and Gatorade. I haven't actually thrown up, thank G-d, but I feel like I am going to all the time. My heartburn kicked in pretty good yesterday, so I'm stocked up on Gavascon and Tums.

To add more fun to the mix, on Wednesday, our A/C was out at work along with our computer system. I went home a little early. Then I get home and our A/C at home is broken. Hopefully it is getting fixed today. Needless to say, I'm getting very little sleep and just trying to eat what I can, but I am so excited that I am pregnant and I can't wait for the journey.

P.S. G-d I know I told you that if all my stomach problems were due to pregnancy, that I didn't care, I would do it for the whole 9 months as long as I was pregnant. I see that you were listening and appreciate that, but could me maybe consider a little joke between us and at the most stick to the first trimester? Please?

The Best Picture Ever

Click here to see the best picture I have ever taken.

Randomness

Well, I got suckered into watching all three hours of The Bachelor last night. I haven watched maybe two shows all season. Had I known in the beginning that it was going to be drawn out for-f%#$@^@$-ever, I wouldn't have started watching it in the first place. I would have just gone on line to see who "won". And I had to flip back and forth between CSI Miami and The Bachelor. Ridiculous, that's me.

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On another note, has anyone every tried proactiv, the face stuff? I'm curious as nothing seems to work for me and I have more acne than a 16 year old hormonal boy. I'm wary of anything sold on TV, but if it actually works, I would do it all day long.

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For the last 2.5 days I have felt light crap. I am not sleeping at night. I hate our brand new bed. Hubby loves it, but it is too soft for me. I'm not under any large amount of stress right now, so I can't imagine my sleep deprivation. I have always dealt with sleep issues. In college, it was not being able to go to sleep. For the most part now, I can go to sleep, but I'm awake and tossing and turning half the night. I'm exhausted. My stomach has been bothering me also. At times I am very nauseous and other times it feels like a mixture of constipation and heartburn. I can't help but hope that it means baby, but I don't really have my hopes up. As of yesterday, I thought it might just be a two day hangover, but since I still don't feel well today... I'm not sure.

All I know is I'm tired of feeling like poop.

Anyhoo, what's going on with yous guys!

Fluffy

Puppy Cuteness!

The weekend in pictures. Because I'm lacking anything to say.

Airtime

My husband and I and another couple had dinner last night. The male part of our couple friends is a pilot. He has not flown for a couple of years, but today he was going back up in a Cessna. He gave my husband the opportunity to go with him. As the night progressed, I proceeded to learn that my husband hates flying because he cannot be in control (he has never flown a plane before). I can understand this feeling as I am exactly the same way in cars, especially when driving in the rain. As part of this invitation to fly was the option to actually fly this plane.

As we agreed the points of this opportunity last night - it scares the living beejeebees out of me - I understood on a logical level hubby's argument that everyone has to learn some how and that is where commercial pilots start. I understood his fascination with going up in the plane, I understood him wanting to support our friend on his first flight in many years. I understood this was something exciting for him to do. I also understood that it is dangerous. His argument, it's no more dangerous than driving a car or riding a dirt bike. It's just, it's so BIG. Does that make sense? It seems to me to be a rather large decision to make with your life, but then again, how is it any different than choosing to get on a commercial jet?

I have been flying since I was 4 by myself, so until 9/11 me flying was a pretty normal thing. I trusted my pilots. When I was younger, I spent plenty of time in cockpits (back when that was allowed, during the flight even) and as with any role of authority, I trusted those people and still do for the most part. The only thing I do differently other than the security portion of the flight, is count the rows in front of me and behind me to the nearest emergency exits. I still read my book during the mandatory flight procedures. I still don't pay much attention to what is being said, but I probably should. Like I said, not much has changed in the 26 years I have been flying.

Unfortunately, becoming an adult opens your eyes to certain things. No matter what we do for a living, we are all human. We all have fun (most of us anyway), some of us like to party more than others, some of us do recreational things that are not necessarily good for us or others and might actually affect the way in which we do our everyday lives. Our lives outside of work sometimes do affect our life at work. Pilots, police officers, doctors, firefighters, government employees, etc, none are exempt from the lifestyle choices you and I choose to make. So in a round about way, I am saying that now I realize that the police officer who pulls me over, might be hungover, just like me. The pilot flying my plane may have had a few too many last night, or today for that matter. We hold people in these positions in a high regard, we expect that they live by different standards, that their problems are different than ours, that the way they choose to have fun is different than the way in which we choose to have fun.

Thankfully, hubby and friend and trainer are all safely on the ground, but ever since the moment he called to tell me they were definitely going up, my heart has been hurting. I have a hurt in my heart. I'm thankful they are safe. I have a feeling though that my husband has found a new "hobby". And I don’t like it.

Update: Hubby says it's too expensive to be a hobby. Whatever stands in the way.

Mothers

My dear, dear friend Bekah, who is a wonderful mother herself, wrote a beautiful post to all the mothers out there. Whether you are currently a mother or not, go read this post.

If I were a...

I've seen this various places around the blogosphere, but technically stole it from here. she chose to answer all of them. I'm gonna stick to 5 or so...Pick 5 or do them all. Your choice.

If I could be a scientist...
If I could be a farmer...
If I could be a musician...
If I could be a doctor...
If I could be a painter...
If I could be a gardener...
If I could be a missionary...
If I could be a chef...
If I could be an architect...
If I could be a linguist...
If I could be a psychologist...
If I could be a librarian...
If I could be an athlete... I would play for fun and not for money. I would make honesty and integrity essential to the game.
If I could be a lawyer...
If I could be an innkeeper... I would open a Surf Hotel with my hubby in Costa Rica or Hawaii
If I could be a professor...
If I could be a writer...
If I could be a backup dancer... I would be doing my dream job.
If I could be a llama-rider...
If I could be a bonnie pirate...
If I could be a midget stripper...
If I could be a proctologist...
If I could be a TV-Chat Show host... Instead of having stars come onto a set, I would spend a day with each of them doing their normal routine.
If I could be an actor...
If I could be a judge...
If I could be a Jedi...
If I could be a mob boss...
If I could be a backup singer... that's just too funny for an answer. Unless of course you liek the Scuttle variety singer.
If I could be a CEO... Every day would be "casual day".
If I could be a movie reviewer...

Meme-ing it forward

Okay, I only had one taker on my offer to meme it forward. Bad Bloggers! Kidding, really. Summer asked for 5 questions, so here there are with her answers.

1. If you could become another person for just one day, who would it be and why? Any regular person with no chemical imbalances, really. I'd like to see what life is like for regular people.

2. If you had to eat one thing every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? dammit! I should have eaten before I read this question. I'd have to say, avocado.

3. If reincarnation is to be believed, what animal would you want to come back as and why? A human, obviously. No really, a cat. cats get to sleep 16 hours a day, can lick their own genitals, and manage to retain affection from their companions even when acting aloof or downright hostile.

4. If you could do anything in the world, and get paid to do it, what would you do? help people solve everyday problems. talk therapy, if you will, combined with action.

5. You're shipwrecked on a deserted island with no real hope of being saved, do you make the best of it and build a home or try to get off the island by building a raft? no hope? I'd build a home and hang out, unless there were extenuating circumstances, like my children being in danger, or something. I'm afraid of the ocean. Even more than before, after watching Open Water.

do the dance

Is it strange that any time I hear Joy to the World, I silently and invisibly do the piano bar dance with full gestures and all.

Happy Mommies Day

Happy Mother's Day to you all you wonderful mothers out there in blogland. I can't wait to join you. And a special Happy Mother's Day to my Mom and my sister and my step-mom and my MIL. I have lots of Moms!

My Mother, my best friend.
My ear and my shoulder.
My advisor and my healer.
My survivor.

What my brain can handle

No more yanky my wanky.

Had one or two too many drinkies last night. And now for a list of what I've learned this week.

I've learned this week:
I've learned that the time between Monday and Friday is relative to your workload.
I've learned that if I don't wear my clothes often enough, I find that my ass no longers fits into them.
I've learned that my husband I fight more when we drink.
I've learned that if my husband thinks I look, I believe I look good. At least for a little bit.
I've learned that most of the stuff on my desk goes in the trash.
I've learned that crying at night makes my eyes puffy in the morning.
I've learned that I cannot wear moisturizer at all. It makes me break out. And I've tried a ton of them now.
I've learned that whenever I'm running late, my water light goes on in my car and I have no gas, and my butt doesn't fit into any of my clothes. When the shit flies...
I've learned that if you enable people for long enough, you might as well just do it for them.

And that, folks, is all my brain can handle (I just typed candle instead of can handle)!

Meme it Forward

Sarcasmom is Meme-ing it forward from dbsmall. The case is this: dbsmall asked Sarcasmom 5 questions a la Interview Style. In turn, Sarcasmom asked me 5 questions a la Interview Style. Here are her 5 questions with my answers.

1. You have been banished to a deserted island for eternity. You can take 1 book, 1 album or CD, and 1 photograph.Tell us what they are and why.

Gone With The Wind or The Bible/Torah. I love Gone With The Wind, but with the Bible I don't know that you could ever get bored. I would take a compilation CD that has jazz, rap, hip hop, country, reggae, salsa, etc. A little bit of everything. For a photograph, it would have to be a picture of my entire family.

2. If you had one ticket for a round trip on a time travel machine , would you go back in time or into the future?

I would go back in time. I don't have a specific time, but going into the future seems as if it would make me want to come back and change things. And we all know what happens when we try to change the future. (Back to The Future)

3. IF you could have 1 Super Hero type power what would it be? Why?

I would be able to transport myself places in the blink of an eye without transporation. No more traffic!

4.What is the most likely reason that you name would appear as the headline in my morning newspaper?

That is a tough one. My initial reaction was, I never do anything newsworthy. Then my reaction was, don't be so self-depricating. So I would probably be a headline in your paper as JAZZY CHANGES THE WORLD WITH NEW INVENTION. A girl can dream, right?

5. If you had to choose one, and by choosing one give up the other, would you choose love, or money?

I always choose love. With no one to share money and wealth with, it isn't worth anything. Love above all is what keeps this world running, not money.

Now it's my turn to Meme it Forward. Leave a comment if you are interested in me asking you 5 questions and I will come up with 5 questions, a la interview style. When you answer them, send me your answers and post your answers on your site and I will post your answers on my site as well.

Downtown Houston Skyline

What are you looking at?

Saturday Storm