inspired again

For the last few years, I guess since our family photos went digital, I've managed to avoid being photographed very often. It so easy to press delete when you don't like the way your clothes fit or how the camera angle shows off your chin(s). Also we lost a hard drive earlier this year that had all of the photos that I considered acceptable. Since Lil Lou arrived, I've spent a lot of time trying to preserve every waking moment on film-memory card space is probably more accurate. I've also been going through old photos of Alex and myself trying to match up his nose or eyes. It has really started bothering me that I'm not in any of the recent photos. I want Lou to be able to look back at his beginning and see how happy he has made me.

Coincidentally, I clicked a button today that lead me to read about the life of an amazing woman. After a nearly fatal airplane accident that left her with facial burns, she writes about the love that she has in her life, she posts photos of her happy family, and she includes her smiling face.

This really did take a lot of effort but it is only the beginning. Maybe I should have saved this epiphany for my new year's resolution. Oh well, I always have the old stand-by. Stop swearing.

Aye me

I have a problem. I can't use facebook. I don't know why. I just spent the last 30ish minutes trying to update my status. I couldn't do it so I deactivated my account. I did the same thing not that long ago with myspace. It's probably the social part of the social networking that is difficult for me. I don't mean to neglect friends and family, it just happens. I'm really not sure why, I bet I could dig up some buried psychological reason but that doesn't sound like fun either. I was really looking forward to scanning some old photos too. Oh, well. For now, I am content with sitting on the bed, typing this post, teaching Lou how to use his new dragon wubbanub and planning my mamas 50th birthday party.

Maybe its time to update to a Flikr pro account, hmmm.

Happy December.

Since my last post . . .

1. We had a baby! His name is Lucas Alexander and he is beautiful. His daddy and I love him so much. Everyone said that things would change once he got here and they have. It's wonderful. He was born on October 15th at 6:49pm. He weighed 6lbs 15oz and he was 19" long. The doctor had me convinced that he was going to be a giant. I was pleasantly surprised. I went to the hospital at 6:30 on the 14th to be induced and only 19 hours later he was here!


The staff at the hospital was so nice. Lucas had jaundice and fluid in his left ear that was causing him to have difficulty hearing. Since we left the hospital, his jaundice has cleared up and the fluid is gone. He is perfect.

DJ Lucas having his infant hearing test

2. Alex and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary. I love my husband more and more everyday. He is too good to me. My mama and nana came over to stay with Lucas while we went to Texas Roadhouse and to Costco. I know, very exciting. Lucas was only four days old and we couldn't wait to get home to him. I had a margarita with dinner too, it was fantastic. I really missed margaritas while I was pregnant.

Best Husband Ever!

3. Julie and Shane were married on October 24th at Willow Creek Conservatory. It was a beautiful day. We couldn't have asked for better weather. The leaves had just started to change, and we used pumpkins and fall leaves to autumn it up even more. Lucas even wore a special fall outfit that Tainaka gave him at my baby shower. Our family did the twist and my sister jumped in the pond with her wedding gown on. She trashed her dress. It was fun. There was even a candy buffet.

Mr. and Mrs. Shane Williams

Little Lulu and the wedding cake

Julie and Shane

We all danced because the craziest month in my family's history was over!

4. I turned 31. I almost forgot about my birthday after all of the excitement but my family remembered. Mama, Jeff, Alex, Lucas, and I went out for some fish for dinner. I really missed fish too. Mama and Jeff gave me a griddle that I used to make Sunday breakfast and Alex and Lulu gave me a new Gameboy DSi that I am using to waste time. Alex woke me up with breakfast in bed and the sweetest card that I have ever received.

5. Halloween! We didn't have time to carve our pumpkins but we managed to visit our family. Alex and Lucas wore skeleton costumes.

Well, I think that about covers it. October has always been my favorite month and I believe that it always will be. I'm very happy that Novembers finally here.

Thanks a lot full moon. . .

For some reason I wanted to believe the old wives tale about the full moon bringing on labor, it seemed possible to me that labor and delivery units everywhere would need to staff more nurses to take care of babies popping out of mommies in the hallways because the delivery "suites" were all occupied, at least that's the way I heard it. The full moon was Sunday, today is Tuesday.
Ay, me. 39 weeks today and I have a cold. At my appointment yesterday, the doctor told me to get an H1N1 vaccine as soon as possible. I tried but no one has them yet.

I stopped working last week, it was getting harder and harder to get up in the morning and I pretty much went to sleep as soon as I got home. I was so tired. My sweet husband and the doc convinced me that I needed to rest. I'm glad.

My sister and I have been working on the candy table that we are planning for her wedding. There is so much going on right now and so much to look forward to. We are thinking about making moon pie owls

I hope Alex and I don't forget our 7th wedding anniversary in all of the excitement.

Way more important than healthcare!

Now, that's change I can get behind! I hope it works out for the guy in the bat shirt. I wonder what the flowchart in the background is all about. I do love a nice flowchart.

hehe

This tee is so funny. I love ceasar, can't wait till I can eat it again!

#90

The 10th was Alex's 31st birthday. I made him a marble cake and we went to Miyabi's with my family where he was forced to do the chicken dance. I love it when Alex does embarrassing things. He's so silly and it makes me laugh.

One of my favorite memories was our first trip to the ren faire together. Alex yelled and really got into the jousting match. I was happy that he was having fun and he didn't care about what people around him thought. He was different from the guys that I was used to and I loved it! Now, we have fun when we go places and make the best of our time together. I really wanted to go out of town the weekend before his birthday, since we probably won't have the opportunity again before the baby comes and we were both off of work on Monday, but it didn't work out. Mom and Dad Said went to Alaska and we stayed with Michael, Jasmine, and Jovanni since they are so bad and can't be trusted to be alone. Well, not Jasmine, just the boys. We made up for it by taking a day trip to Riverbanks Zoo last Saturday. It was fun and hot. I'm getting more and more uncomfortable and I have to pee all the time so the zoo in August may not have been the best idea. I was reminded of our very first trip to the ren faire, we made the best of our trip and had a great day! I'm not sure how I feel about zoos now, though. I can see where they do wonderful things with protecting endangered species but I couldn't help but feel sorry for the penguins. They had their backs to us and they were facing a fake horizon like they thought they could wander off into the sunset. The penguins made me sad.

I got Alex some new shirts and a board game for his birthday. I'm going to read the directions now so that I can teach him how to play when he gets home.

Tomorrow, my Mom and I are going shopping for my little sisters wedding shower gift. Her shower is this weekend! I can't believe that we have less than two months until she's married and we have a new Said in the house. Yikes!

#89

Wow, I didn't post in July at all. I would like to say that I was sunning myself at some oceanside resort or traveling to some new far away place but I wasn't. I was here, just not blogging. *EDIT* I just remembered I went to Tn and Va with my Mom and my sister for the 4th. We ate and shopped too much. It was fun!
We did manage to paint the baby's room. I (Alex) used benjamin moore's brookside moss, inspired by this nursery photo from flickr.

I'm having some major trouble with all of this baby gear. That crap is expensive. Much of it seems excessive and most products are made of plastic, very expensive plastic. I ordered a Irmi-like caboose lamp and an vintage Irmi nursery rhyme mobile from ebay. Both made from actual wood. I feel so much better about that seven dollar purchase than I would have felt if I had bought any of the themed mobiles and lamps from Babies R Us. I had an Irmi lamp, it had a couple of clowns on it with a yellow gingham shade, I think, that's been quite a long time ago.

Why do baby rooms need a theme? I don't like theme rooms, maybe theme colors, but Pooh, safari animals, sports, and bugs all make me gag.
I did find one bedding set at BrU that I didn't hate but I just couldn't buy or register for it. I really only wanted the bed skirt and the bumper anyway. Another thing that's bothering me is the cost of breast pumps and all of the scary stuff online about not buying a used one. I did find a used Pump in Style at a consignment sale today. I'm still not sure if I'm going to use it but it was only $25 bucks and it had some un-used breast pads and storage bags that I will use. Currently, the pump is in a bunch of pieces on the dining room table. I just couldn't understand how milk could get into the motor and I wanted to find out. The inside of the pump motor is as clean as a whistle. I'm not convinced that the warnings aren't just scare tactics used to sell more $280 breast pumps.

Still don't have any names. Alex likes Amir, I like Lukas. Well, I like a bunch of names but Lukas is the only one that Alex cared for. He will probably still end up being a Jr. We'll see.

I'm using the laptop to post this. We lost a hard drive a few weeks ago along with all the photos and some music. It was a major bummer. I even started a facebook but I can't add a pic so it hasn't been used much. I guess we need to have a Amy/Alex/Puppy/Kitty photo shoot soon but I haven't really been feeling the camera lately.

I don't know if I'll have a job after the baby comes, but more on that later. We go to a Caring for Baby class on Monday evening, my in-laws are in Alaska for the next eight days so we will be staying at their house with the out of control boys till they get back, the last scheduled ultrasound is on Friday and my wonderful husband turns 31 next Monday. It will be a busy week, aren't they all?

coming soon. . .

This made me very happy.

#87

I can spend hours on the apartment therapy sites. I've made a list of some of my favorite things from the last few weeks. Too bad I'm broke.

1. Tauntaun sleeping bag- I don't know if an adult can fit in this, especially an expanding pregnant lady, but I would love to give it a shot.

2. Oliver's Room- I'd already spotted this cute nursery on Flickr and got the paint approval from Alex. I can't believe he liked it too, that's a first. Too bad we can't agree on a name that easily. I love to watch cute stuff travel around the net. Makes me feel like I'm on the inside. It probably should make me feel like I spend too much time online.

3. Recipes- I've already made our menu out for the rest of the month. It didn't include these soft pretzels or cucumber water, but the second draft will. The menu does feature MS's Gnocchi with summer veggies and slow-cooker chicken tacos. Yum, I hope.

4. Cookware- This post just made me want to give my cast iron skillet more love.

5. unPaper Towels- I've tried to limit myself to one or two rolls of paper towels a month. Not because I am "green" (I really hate the green movement btw) but because I get really pissed off about paying a bunch of cash for paper that I am going to get dirty and throw away. I like the idea of keeping these in a basket by the sink.

I'm sure there are many more that I am forgetting right now. I haven't even mentioned my favorite flickr and etsy finds. I'll save those for future post content.

I had a killer thrifting day last Saturday. Tons of baby gear, clothing, books, I even picked up some vintage pyrex for my tiny collection and this baby sling. Yay.

Oh, yeah. I started a facebook after my little sister and numerous others convinced me. I expect to treat it about the same as the myspace attempt that I made several years ago. Meaning I'll probably never log on or reply to anyone and they'll get pissed off and go away. We'll see, I may dig it.

It's a. . .

Boy! At first, I thought we were having a boy and then after a bunch of strange dreams involving forgetting to feed my little girl until she was eight years old and then she hated me and kicked me every time I tried to get near her, I decided that we must be having a girl. I was wrong. The little dream girl was blonde anyway. I should have know she wasn't ours. I'll probably just forget to feed someone else's little blonde girl one day.

It's a little baby boy and he is super cute, at least he seemed cute on the scratchy little ultrasound pic. I will post one later. His lips are huge, maybe he'll grow into them.

Alex is happy. He didn't say anything before but I think he really wanted a boy. Something about making more Said's, I guess.

Oh, the doctor said no traveling more than an hour away after 34 weeks so there goes DragonCon *sniff*. No biggie, I have lots to keep me busy and take my money. I'll get there in 2010.

aww man!

The doc's office called this afternoon and rescheduled the BIG U/S to the 27th! Ugh, I can't wait two more weeks. I'm trying to remember that there are tons of people that don't want to know the sex of their baby until it's born. I'll just try to think like one of those people.

I think I've also decided that I don't need to go to DragonCon this year. I'm still going to ask the doctor if she thinks it's a good idea, just in case she says-sure, why not. I checked out the calendar last night and I will be 36 weeks at that time. I got scared after googling "travel at 36 weeks". I'll wait till I ask the doc before I give my hotel reservations away to some lucky con-goer. sigh.

#84

Okay, I've been seriously busy. I'm so busy that I can only list the things that I've been doing, in no particular order, and hope that one day I will be able to form my agenda into some sort of entertaining narrative.

1. Crying-Jennifer's Mother passed away last Monday. It was very sad, and I don't feel like there is anything that I can do to help her feel better. I am also extremely hormonal so I can't really get in the car or take a shower without finding some reason to shed tears.

2. Sweeping- My sweet husband pulled up our old carpet and put down a new wood-ish floor with Shaylan's help a couple of weeks ago. I haven't really got everything back in order yet. I decided to move every piece of furniture from its original location and purge a few hundred items. So far these things haven't made it out of the door but they are in nice little stacks in the middle of the room. I'm sweeping because my dogs are shedding and apparently the carpet just absorbed the dog hair or something, the new floor doesn't. The floor is beautiful and I can't wait till everything finds a home so that I can truly enjoy it.

3. Watching the Doctor- I've spent a ridiculous amount of time watching Dr. Who. I can't get enough except I've seen all that is available and now I have to start watching Torchwood.

4. Shopping- I got a new floor and Alex got a new TV. This is a nice flat one that fits above the fireplace. One day, all of the components will be hooked up and I will actually be able to watch it.
I took a trip to Ikea Charlotte with my mom, Julie, and Amber. I was disgustingly frugal, I only purchased some spoons, a napkin holder, some cheap rag rugs, a little bib/bowl set, and a rabbit driving a carrot rattle. I couldn't resist the rattle. Who's ever seen a rabbit driving a carrot? I have, that's who. My Mom bought us a highchair. I told her that we weren't going to have a highchair because I didn't see the point and she kind of freaked. She said something confusing about the kid hanging on the side of the table having it's butt sniffed by one of my dogs. When I said that I thought this one was cute, she recognized the opportunity and snatched it up.
I bought some maternity clothes online. I was pretty disappointed because they are huge! They should have cost a million dollars for all the fabric that was used. I hope I don't grow into them.
I also spent $5 at a yard sale a couple of weekends ago. It was an anything-you-can-fit-in-a-box-for-five-bucks sale. I filled my box with a bunch of children's books (little golden books are my favorite), a Nirvana unplugged CD, some bibs, a board game, and one of these. Alex and I couldn't stop playing with it, I finally had to put it away so that we could get some work done.

5. Eating- I've been eating several Wendy's sour cream and chive baked potatoes a week. They are about the only thing that doesn't give me gastroesophageal reflux disease and they're super cheap. We made a low country crab boil to celebrate Mother's Day last Sunday. It was delicious. I'm going to figure out how to scale it down and make a less expensive version of it for dinner instead of waiting for special occasions to enjoy it. I'll probably have to substitute the crab for more shrimp in the non-special occasion version. We are definitely going to have to invest in some seafood crackers if we keep doing this. I knew that my family was on the edge of being full-blown S.C. rednecks but I didn't realize the extent of it until I saw my sister trying to break open her crab legs with a pair of pliers! Hehe, it was a good day.

6. Making lists- I keep finding to-do lists in my pockets. People to call, websites to check out, chores, groceries, baby names, goals, I've even made a list of random facts about myself just so I will be prepared when I get one of those memes. The baby name thing is really a stumper. We can't agree on any boy names and only a few girl names. We are considering a raffle, just for family and friends, they can pay a dollar for a chance to name our child and we will make some money and won't have to make a decision. I figure family and close friends won't try to ruin the child's life with some crazy name like Han Solo, oh wait Alex has already tried that one. Maybe this isn't a good idea. Anyway, we have the BIG ULTRASOUND next week, maybe well see something and we'll both agree on a name. Peter? hehe.

7. Waking up- I've never had trouble sleeping, until now. It's really taking a toll on me. I'm grumpy and I want to sleep at all the wrong times, like during the new Star Trek film that I had to beg Alex to take me to last Thursday or during an unusually boring phone call at work. I think I am going to stop drinking anything after 8:00 and see if that helps.

8. Saving- I'm trying to save money for DragonCon. Alex and I decided to pass on DC this year when we found out about the baby and that my company is no longer required to offer FMLA but now I am super depressed about it and I have to find a way to go. I booked a room at the Hyatt last October before all of the host hotel rooms were taken. We should have been using the last few months to stash away cash for DC, but we didn't so I have some catching up to do. I have a few ideas. I will have to add ebaying and counting change to my list. Going to DC while eight months pregnant shouldn't be too bad, right?

I'm sure I am forgetting something. I will post about it and pretend like it's something exciting and new if I remember it later. I have lots of photos to upload to Flickr. The Greek Festival is this weekend, so everyone should come downtown and have pastitsio and grape leaves or a gyro and beer. Beer reminds me of the margarita that I missed out on Cinco de Mayo. Dang, I really want a margarita.

cake

I got this email today with a recipe for a 5-minute chocolate cake that is baked in a coffee mug. I was grossed out so I deleted the message (after forwarding of course). The strange thing is, I can't stop thinking about going to the kitchen and making a cake in a mug. I've even been wondering if I could mod the recipe a bit to include a molten chocolate center. mmm. . .

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons cake flour (plain flour, not self-rising)
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons baking cocoa
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 3 tablespoons chocolate chips (you can add more or less)
• 1 dash vanilla

Directions

1. Add dry ingredients to a coffee mug and mix well.
2. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
3. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
4. Add the chocolate chips and vanilla essence, mix again.
5. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minuter at 1000 watts.
6. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
7. Allow to cool a little and you can tip onto a plate if you want.

Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your life.

It's the Monday of a short work week. What's better than that? I'll tell you. I didn't remember that it was a short week until last Friday. Surprise! I didn't even have to wait around and count the days. I also have a doc appointment on Wednesday to check out BtB and I have to go to court for the car accident. My car's not fixed yet and I am thinking about ordering this book. Oh yeah, it's cold again. I had to bring my plants in because it may freeze tonight. Yes, freeze. Did I miss my move up north? I thought I lived in the south where people say ya'll, drink sweet tea, and I don't have to wear coats in April. I can't wait for summer.

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday, Jeffy! I'm sorry that I missed your party, sounds like you guys had a great time. I hope you have a terrific year! It was great to see you all!

bye bye Galactica

I just watched the last episode of my most favoritest show ever and it didn't disappoint. I had to TiVo it since I was in Asheville yesterday watching a decrepit man entertain a billion rednecks at the Orange Peel. Note: even the hillbillies in Asheville smell like patchouli.

I really should have waited for Alex to come home before I watched it. We really like to get our nerd on together, but I couldn't wait. I guess I'll have to watch it again in a couple of hours, darn.

Pierre Chang. . .

is haunting my dreams. I've been having some strange ones lately, but last night Pierre Chang (the Asian Dharma scientist from Lost) was trying to tell me something. I don't know if I was dead or not but I was lying on a gurney covered with a white sheet when I realized that there was a small television between my feet. I looked under the sheet and Pierre Chang told me that I was on my last ride! Hopefully, he meant that it was my last gurney ride. Anyway, it creeped me out so I drew this pic because I couldn't stop thinking about it. Please excuse the poor artwork.

been a long time.

It's been a while. I will try to sum up all that's occurred.

-I used my new mixer, really enjoyed it.
-My favorite neighbor, Mark, moved away. I miss him, but he's doing great in his new digs.
-My favorite friend, Jennifer, doesn't work with me anymore. I miss her too. It's not the same.
-The snap peas that I started for the CAF Snap Pea Challenge are growing like crazy, no blooms yet.
-I spent a Saturday night at my in-laws while they were out of town. We had to watch Alex's little brothers because they're crazy teenagers that can't be trusted. I took a really nice shower, ate spaghetti, and watched the UFC.
-We ordered new board games, Pandemic and the Battlestar Galactica game, can't wait to try them. Maybe I'll get to this weekend.
-I missed the Ani DiFranco concert that I bought tickets for months ago because I wrecked the Jeep. . .again. This was a big one. I have whiplash and a bunch of scrapes and bruises. I got t-boned on Wade Hampton. Lucky for me, my Jeep is taller than that little Nissan. Not so lucky for the other guy. He's okay though, I checked while we were in the ER. For now, I'm driving a tiny rental car. I don't feel very safe, I need to drive tank.
-I've been sleeping all the rest of the time because I am 10 weeks pregnant. Yep, pretty shocking. I don't know when you are supposed to blog about such things so here ya go. I guess now we'll have to tell all of our friends and family.

Meet Bob the Blob

mmm. . .baked goods

Alex and I don't usually celebrate Valentine's Day much, but I have been hinting (by hinting I mean begging) for a stand mixer for ever so he bought me one for V-day. I really wanted the green apple mixer since it matches absolutely nothing in my kitchen so it had to be ordered. Yay, nothing says love like an overpriced kitchen appliance. I love you, Alex!

multi-tasking

I managed to bake, do laundry, and upload photos to flickr this morning. Yay for me! I made cupcakes for an old friend that's having a birthday party this evening. The "old friend" is a double entendre because I have known him for a long time and he is getting old. Hehe. Just like when Hannibal Lecter said that he was "having an old friend for dinner" but different.

The chocolate one is from the super easy Self-Filled Cupcake I recipe. The green one is a margarita cupcake, the recipe is from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. I'm not a vegan. I think if I de-vegan the recipe next time, I may be able to get a little more height from the cake. I regret that I only had green crystallized sugar. It doesn't look much like a salt-rimmed glass but that is what I was going for. I love my sweetie pie plate and I can't wait to use it each February. I picked up some of the cute owl valentine stuff from Target last weekend. Alex told me that it's beginning to look pretty girly in the kitchen. It must be a phase. I hope it stops before I beg Alex to let me get this cute pink fridge Well, I'm off to be productive.

soundtrack for Saturday morning: Bad Boy Bill - Bangin' the Box vol. 3 (cause it keeps me moving and it reminds me of my sweetie)

Envy

I check out the Cold Antler Farm blog everyday. I lurk. I read about Jenna in an article in BUST and I was instantly jealous. Her post today titled "Let's Bring Back" made me very happy. I can't wait to take a pic of her book with my Jeep. I probably won't send it.

Why couldn't I be something fun, like the acrobat?

Your result for The Pop Culture Archetype Personality Test...

The Druid

Ninja, Monkey, Punk, Cowboy

Druids are filled with a dramatic sense of wonder, viewing the world through rose-colored glasses as they watch everything come to life, from flora and fauna to mundane objects. They see the good in almost everyone and everything, yet struggle with the idea of ethical perfection (or lack thereof). They tend to turn away from the world and toward essence and ideal, and while they are concerned with all people and creatures, those things are valued only in that they are part of a greater whole; in this, they often struggle to find their place in things, and need to feel a part of whatever they are involved with. Fluent with language, they are keen to pick out patterns in people and things, although their somewhat otherworldly focus on the larger picture can lead them to seem somewhat absentminded. Nevertheless, they have a knack for explaining complex things quite simply.

Druids are often beset by Histrionic behavior, craving attention, reassurance and praise in everything they do. Emotionally exaggerated and often sexually charged, they become concerned with physical appearance, and grow uncomfortable when they are not the center of attention. Their emotions are subject to rapid shifts, and their actions are entirely self-centered, with no tolerance for delay in getting what they want. Their speech often lacks detail as their shallow emotions carry across into their dealings with others.

Famous druid types include Homer, Shakespeare, Dick Clark, Jackie Onasis and Julia Roberts.

Take The Pop Culture Archetype Personality Test at HelloQuizzy

just stopping in quickly to say. . .

CAPTAIN JACK HARKNESS IS THE FACE OF BOE!

I didn't see that coming. Crazy addictive BBC programming, you shocked me.

cough, hack, sneeze

Beware, there are germs in the hills. Seriously. My parents came home with some dreaded illness a few weeks ago and now I am following right along. Yuck. My house is a mess, my dogs are stinking, I'm out of clean underwear, and there's so much that I need to do-but I just can't.
I did manage to make this cake.
I totally used the orange dish towel to cover up the floury mess that I made on the stove top. I've also overloaded on the television this week. Dr. Who, Lost, BSG, the Food Network (inspiration for the cake). I hate that I long to watch these programs. I pine to live in a television-free home. I picture myself having a surplus of time that I can spend enriching my life. Crafting, conversation, baking, playing with the animals. Who am I kidding, how will I play xbox or wii without a TV and I'm sorry but Battlestar Galactica and Lost are fraking awesome, not to mention the bloody Doctor! Maybe I can just get rid of cable again. That's a step, right?

I wish I would have made this cake. Maybe next time!

random soundtrack courtesy of iTunes: It hurt so Bad- Susan Tedeschi

#71

Last weekend was our annual trip with Alex's family to Tennessee. We've been going up there for the last few years to spend time with Alex's brothers and their families. They live in MD and VA and we don't see them very much. I had fun, we played games, ate good food, watched movies, and had interesting conversations. I like hearing Dad Said's take on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since he is from Jerusalem. I don't know if I necessarily agree with him but he definitely shed some light on the situation for me.

I would like to say that it was a relaxing trip but it really wasn't. Somehow, we had to share a room with our nephew and Alex's little brother, Michael. It was loud, smelly, and kind of awkward. I didn't get a lot of sleep, I crashed yesterday and slept for hours after we got home. Hopefully, we won't have to do that again. I'm not really sure why we were stuck in a room with other peoples children, especially since we don't have a family of our own (pets weren't allowed), but we made the best of it. Alex and I always feel like the adults at the kid table. (At least in his family, everyone acts like children at mine). I used to consider this a bad thing but I'm beginning to think differently.

The cabin had a great view of the Smokey Mountains and it snowed a lot on Monday. It was lovely. I would feel privileged to wake up to that view every morning.

Oh, I just remembered there wasn't any Wi-Fi! Booo!

I am listening to the inauguration on the radio as I am writing this. It feels way more like history-in-the-making listening to it rather than watching it. Besides, this computer at work won't be able to stream the video with out blowing up. The NPR correspondent keeps mentioning Michelle Obama's yellow dress, I guess they are just trying to offer a visual but I can't imagine why someone listening to the event on the radio would really care about such things. I didn't vote for Obama but I do hope that he does a good job. I really wouldn't want to be in his shoes right now. I can't even imagine the stress involved with the escalating conflict in the middle east and the crash of the world's economy. I am surprised that there aren't more presidential suicides. I guess some people are just made for that sort of thing. I'm not one of those folks. I am enjoying the fanfare, though. We really are blessed that power is transferred so peacefully in our country and that no one had to kill W to get him out of office.

I was going to post a pic from my weekend but I haven't unpacked the camera cable yet. I am feeling pretty lazy so I probably won't do it today. I may not upload the photos until February, since I have already used 99% of my 100 MB Flickr limit this month. I really need to stop being such a cheap ass and upgrade to a pro account.

soundtrack for the homebody that doesn't want to leave again anytime soon: Home Again-Carole King

Frustrated, Inc.

This computer is driving me bananas! As I am typing this, windows are popping up, fans are whirling, and my music is skipping. Alex needs to get home soon, I don't know how much more I can take of this. I guess I could charge up the notebook and use that but it's just not the same and I don't have a USB mouse. UGH! Using the touchpad makes me feel like I got my hand cut off or something. Oh no, one of the pop-ups is talking to me! I give up.

worst week ever

This week I went with my Dad to the ER because he is very ill and no one really knows what's going on with him (other than his usual problems), I watched the story of how Rose Tyler "died" on the season two finale of Dr. Who, I discovered that I have cysts on my ovaries and that I am going to have a "procedure" next week to examine them, I had to go to Wal-Mart, and I sliced my hand open with my new super sharp rotary cutter-it won't stop bleeding.

I have this theory that odd years are bad, or at least bad for me. 2007 was pretty awful but 2008 was lots o' fun. 2009 is starting out kinda rough. This odd year theory may be all in my head, it really doesn't work well with all of the 2012 stuff that's out there. I am going to try to disprove my hypothesis starting now.

Oh wait, one of the dogs just pulled an old general tso's chicken container out of the garbage can and made a mess all over the floor.

Okay, odd-years-aren't-bad testing starting over . . .now!


no soundtrack today, iTunes hates me, sigh.

12/31/2008

12/31/2008
Originally uploaded by raae
Happy New Year! I hope your New Year's Eve was more
wholesome and orderly than mine.