Sunday, February 01, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Damn You, Capt. Sully! Damn You!
Claude, Jacques, and Chicco, who was from down by Detroit, had often seen the lights of NYC. They had smelled (longingly) the aroma of discarded street-vendor pretzels. And, most of all, they had admired the ladies of Central Park, what with their extra-sassy NYC waddles. All of this happened, of course, on their bi-annual sojourns over The Empire State whilst heading in a southerly direction (South Beach here we come!) or in a northerly direction (Chicco always a few feathers less than when he arrived in Florida).
Though the three geese were street wise and tough, they had always taken seriously the stories they heard about "the ones" who simply vanished while flying over New York City. Occasionaly a feather would be found or, God forbid, a piece of webbed foot. Frankly, Claude, Jacques, and Chicco found the stories too frightening to speak of. It was just understood: NYC was a no-fly zone. Sometimes at night, however, Jacques would find himself unable to sleep and his thoughts would wander to that dark place. Where had those geese gone? How could they vanish entirely (or, almost entirely)? It was a mystery Jacques simply could not let go. He needed to know.
Jacques had decided that this was the year he would Goose-up and enter the city that called to him. (Besides, he figured no risk was too great if in allowed him to have even a chance at those CP ladies. He had heard tale of their abilities to...well, we'll save that for another story.) Claude and Chicco were not surprised when Jacques revealed his quest to them. Throughout their time in South Beach Jacques had been quite distracted, lacking his usual interest in recovering fallen churros and pursuing las gansas. Mostly Jacques spent his days walking alone on the beach, revealing nothing to his friends.
Needless to say, it took Jacques a great deal of effort to convince Claude and Chicco to join him in his quest for the truth. In fact, he was only able to persuade them by bribing them with large quanities of Kentucky bluegrass, a delicacy in the goose world. It was a bribe, however, that would go unpaid.
As New Jersey approched the three geese steeled themselves for entering this unknown world, a world full of questions and, possibly, death. Claude and Chicco tried to convince Jacques to let them stop in Central Park first, thinking that, if they died, at least they would have had one night with the ladies of CP. Jacques, however, was adamant. The mystery was to be solved before partaking in any "tourism" activities.
The three geese followed the route of the New Jersey Turnpike, turning east in NYC via the Lincoln Tunnel. As they approached the city they noticed what appeared to be massive white, colorfully adorned birds. The birds were unusual in a number of ways, but especially the noise they made. Jacques, Claude, and Chicco were terrified at first, thinking that they had solved the mystery and their deaths were imminent. However, after flying near several of these beasts of the air, the three were still alive and flying high.
Jacques had heard that a number of the disappearances had happened near the Hudson River. He guided his buddies down to the ground, stopping in Hells Kitchen to ask some rough-looking birds where exactly he should be looking for answers. Information doesn't come easily in Hells Kitchen. Let's just say there were mentions of pate. However, with more than a little cunning and a few evasive maneuvers, the boys were able to get the information they needed. Directions firmly in beak, the geese flew towards the North River Piers.
Sadly, this is where our story must end, as no more information concerning the whereabouts of Jacques, Claude, and Chicco is available. It is this author's hope that the three geese are enjoying themselves somewhere on the Upper East Side, near Central Park.
In an unrelated event, a US Airways flight ditched in the Hudson River the same day the geese were seen in Hells Kitchen. It is likely the birds got an intimate view of the exciting event!
Though the three geese were street wise and tough, they had always taken seriously the stories they heard about "the ones" who simply vanished while flying over New York City. Occasionaly a feather would be found or, God forbid, a piece of webbed foot. Frankly, Claude, Jacques, and Chicco found the stories too frightening to speak of. It was just understood: NYC was a no-fly zone. Sometimes at night, however, Jacques would find himself unable to sleep and his thoughts would wander to that dark place. Where had those geese gone? How could they vanish entirely (or, almost entirely)? It was a mystery Jacques simply could not let go. He needed to know.
Jacques had decided that this was the year he would Goose-up and enter the city that called to him. (Besides, he figured no risk was too great if in allowed him to have even a chance at those CP ladies. He had heard tale of their abilities to...well, we'll save that for another story.) Claude and Chicco were not surprised when Jacques revealed his quest to them. Throughout their time in South Beach Jacques had been quite distracted, lacking his usual interest in recovering fallen churros and pursuing las gansas. Mostly Jacques spent his days walking alone on the beach, revealing nothing to his friends.
Needless to say, it took Jacques a great deal of effort to convince Claude and Chicco to join him in his quest for the truth. In fact, he was only able to persuade them by bribing them with large quanities of Kentucky bluegrass, a delicacy in the goose world. It was a bribe, however, that would go unpaid.
As New Jersey approched the three geese steeled themselves for entering this unknown world, a world full of questions and, possibly, death. Claude and Chicco tried to convince Jacques to let them stop in Central Park first, thinking that, if they died, at least they would have had one night with the ladies of CP. Jacques, however, was adamant. The mystery was to be solved before partaking in any "tourism" activities.
The three geese followed the route of the New Jersey Turnpike, turning east in NYC via the Lincoln Tunnel. As they approached the city they noticed what appeared to be massive white, colorfully adorned birds. The birds were unusual in a number of ways, but especially the noise they made. Jacques, Claude, and Chicco were terrified at first, thinking that they had solved the mystery and their deaths were imminent. However, after flying near several of these beasts of the air, the three were still alive and flying high.
Jacques had heard that a number of the disappearances had happened near the Hudson River. He guided his buddies down to the ground, stopping in Hells Kitchen to ask some rough-looking birds where exactly he should be looking for answers. Information doesn't come easily in Hells Kitchen. Let's just say there were mentions of pate. However, with more than a little cunning and a few evasive maneuvers, the boys were able to get the information they needed. Directions firmly in beak, the geese flew towards the North River Piers.
Sadly, this is where our story must end, as no more information concerning the whereabouts of Jacques, Claude, and Chicco is available. It is this author's hope that the three geese are enjoying themselves somewhere on the Upper East Side, near Central Park.
In an unrelated event, a US Airways flight ditched in the Hudson River the same day the geese were seen in Hells Kitchen. It is likely the birds got an intimate view of the exciting event!
Friday, January 02, 2009
Does This List Sound Familiar?
So, friends (okay, I know that nobody is really reading this anymore, but whatever, it is good for me to make the list), on this, the 2nd day of 2009, I give you my January gratitude list...
I am grateful for/that...
1. My dad, who is the midst of a battle for his life, is fighting with all that he has and, in that fight, he has responded well to his chemotherapy;
2. Katie had a wonderful first Christmas, which included hosting Pops and Deemaw, playing the Baby Jesus at church, and presents, lots of presents;
3. Having my parents here at various times, which allows me to SLEEP;
4. Christmas cards...few things are better to receive in the mailbox (though that Publisher's Clearing House is making it an interesting race);
5. Finding old friends on Facebook;
6. I have been able to nurse Katie for 7 months and think I will able to continue as long as she and I are both willing...this is quite amazing considering how horribly the nursing relationship began;
7. The opportunity for fresh starts that the beginning of a new year brings;
8. The more and more frequent realization that I have control over how I feel-patient or frustrated, controlling or relaxed, irritated or accepting (this doesn't mean I always choose the right one, just that I know that I could...);
9. That I can pretty solidly bank on a snow-free winter; and
10. That the cats have resolved their feline war brought on by an unxpected intruder (or, more precisely, an unxpected intruder's urine) via the Christmas tree.
I am grateful for/that...
1. My dad, who is the midst of a battle for his life, is fighting with all that he has and, in that fight, he has responded well to his chemotherapy;
2. Katie had a wonderful first Christmas, which included hosting Pops and Deemaw, playing the Baby Jesus at church, and presents, lots of presents;
3. Having my parents here at various times, which allows me to SLEEP;
4. Christmas cards...few things are better to receive in the mailbox (though that Publisher's Clearing House is making it an interesting race);
5. Finding old friends on Facebook;
6. I have been able to nurse Katie for 7 months and think I will able to continue as long as she and I are both willing...this is quite amazing considering how horribly the nursing relationship began;
7. The opportunity for fresh starts that the beginning of a new year brings;
8. The more and more frequent realization that I have control over how I feel-patient or frustrated, controlling or relaxed, irritated or accepting (this doesn't mean I always choose the right one, just that I know that I could...);
9. That I can pretty solidly bank on a snow-free winter; and
10. That the cats have resolved their feline war brought on by an unxpected intruder (or, more precisely, an unxpected intruder's urine) via the Christmas tree.
Monday, December 08, 2008
December's Gratitude List
So, I know that I intended to write these on the first of every month and today is the 8th, but, hey, I figure it is never too late to be thankful. Also, I feel I must address the glaring absence of posts between last month's list and this one's. Most of my attention is going to the writing of Katie's blog and, thus, there are fewer posts here. (Those of you who I want to have that address, have it. If you don't and you want it, e-mail me or respond and I'll see if you made the cut.)
So, quickly while the girl naps, here is this month's list:
1. My husband, who has got to be one of the kindest people on the planet. This morning he saw a cat get hit by a car and stopped to see if he could do something to save the cat. He couldn't so he took great care to move the cat's body and find the home to whom she belonged so he could inform the family. Please note, it wasn't he who hit the cat, he merely observed it. That's a good person, my friends!
2. Katie...not much needs to follow this. She is, simply put, a rock star. What a gift God has given us in her. But, should you want to catch a glimpse into her greatness, I offer you this: The other night she slept from 6pm to 8:45am...and this is only a little longer than her usual night's rest. Again, I say, ROCK STAR!
3. My dad, who though facing what is probably terminal cancer, keeps up the good fight and continues to find joy in life and give joy to my life. A person could not have a better father. You're a bug-catching, balloon-volleyball-paying all-star.
4. The rest of my family, especially my mom, who support me and encourage me and make me laugh.
5. Georgia. My God, it is good to be here.
6. Owning a home...no doubt, it has it's downside, but when I unpacked this time, I knew this stuff was staying here a while. And, it was staying in closets that were mine!!!! Hooray!
7. Barack Obama becoming our next president. Thank you, American voters, thank you!
8. Christmas shopping...I think I truly do find more joy in figuring out what to give to the people I love than I do getting stuff-which says a lot, 'cause I really like getting stuff!
9. Cool/cold weather! I am so glad fall is here and winter is in sight. I hate being hot and it is nice to be out their raking MY leaves on MY yard in the cool, crisp air.
10. Christmas music...I love it, love it, love it!
So, quickly while the girl naps, here is this month's list:
1. My husband, who has got to be one of the kindest people on the planet. This morning he saw a cat get hit by a car and stopped to see if he could do something to save the cat. He couldn't so he took great care to move the cat's body and find the home to whom she belonged so he could inform the family. Please note, it wasn't he who hit the cat, he merely observed it. That's a good person, my friends!
2. Katie...not much needs to follow this. She is, simply put, a rock star. What a gift God has given us in her. But, should you want to catch a glimpse into her greatness, I offer you this: The other night she slept from 6pm to 8:45am...and this is only a little longer than her usual night's rest. Again, I say, ROCK STAR!
3. My dad, who though facing what is probably terminal cancer, keeps up the good fight and continues to find joy in life and give joy to my life. A person could not have a better father. You're a bug-catching, balloon-volleyball-paying all-star.
4. The rest of my family, especially my mom, who support me and encourage me and make me laugh.
5. Georgia. My God, it is good to be here.
6. Owning a home...no doubt, it has it's downside, but when I unpacked this time, I knew this stuff was staying here a while. And, it was staying in closets that were mine!!!! Hooray!
7. Barack Obama becoming our next president. Thank you, American voters, thank you!
8. Christmas shopping...I think I truly do find more joy in figuring out what to give to the people I love than I do getting stuff-which says a lot, 'cause I really like getting stuff!
9. Cool/cold weather! I am so glad fall is here and winter is in sight. I hate being hot and it is nice to be out their raking MY leaves on MY yard in the cool, crisp air.
10. Christmas music...I love it, love it, love it!
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
November's Gratitude List
After a few months off the blog radar, I return (a few days late) with this month's gratitude list. Without further ado, the things I am grateful for this month are
1) My family, especially my beautiful baby girl, Katie;
2) The really fun scrapbooking workshop I just attended;
3) That it looks like the people of the United States will elect an African-American for president, and, a person who might be able to correct the horrors that Bush has brought about;
4) That I am FINALLY a homeowner...hooray;
5) All the support my parents and my minister gave me during the first weeks of Katie's life, when I was struggling with post-partum depression;
6) The wonderful folks of PHPC, who have made Andy, Katie and me feel so welcome;
7) To be back in a town where we have some wonderful friends to do fun things with;
8) Harper and Dylan, who have hung in there with all the transition in their little feline lives;
9) The Daily Show; and
10) Laughter.
1) My family, especially my beautiful baby girl, Katie;
2) The really fun scrapbooking workshop I just attended;
3) That it looks like the people of the United States will elect an African-American for president, and, a person who might be able to correct the horrors that Bush has brought about;
4) That I am FINALLY a homeowner...hooray;
5) All the support my parents and my minister gave me during the first weeks of Katie's life, when I was struggling with post-partum depression;
6) The wonderful folks of PHPC, who have made Andy, Katie and me feel so welcome;
7) To be back in a town where we have some wonderful friends to do fun things with;
8) Harper and Dylan, who have hung in there with all the transition in their little feline lives;
9) The Daily Show; and
10) Laughter.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Suck It, Orthodontist
So, as you may know, I have braces. I have had them since January of 2007. I hate them. I hate the fact that I am 30-years old and sleep with a bag of mini rubber bands on my bedside table. I hate the fact that I am paying $5000 to having something done that my parents paid several thousands of dollars to have done once already. I hate the fact that all the family pictures of the first year of Katie's life will feature me with more hardware than your local Home Depot. I hate having lunch with someone and wondering not if I have food stuck in my teeth, but just how noticeable the food stuck in my teeth is.
But what I hate most, as of late, anyway, is the incompetence I encounter at the orthodontist. In Maryland I had a great ortho. He was young, funny, creative in his orthodontic assessments, smart, took time to explain the mechanics of what he was doing, had hired talented assistants, and was not bad looking. I looked forward to going to his office because everyone was so nice and I left feeling like we were making progress.
Then, we moved to Georgia. I was limited in my options as to whom I would choose as my doctor due to the fact that my MD orthodontist had used a new style of braces that most orthodontists aren't familiar with. (Despite being new, they still leave me with the opportunity to be called "metal mouth".) Thus, I am stuck with the doctor I have. The doctor himself is not so bad. I have toenail clippings that have more personality than he does, but he does seem to know what he is doing and that is more important than his ability to entertain me. However, the hygienist I have been assigned to over these last few months, frankly, SUCKS! I have had three regular appointments. For two of them I have had to go back for "emergency" care. Now, none of it was a particularly big deal, but when I am paying someone that much money, they should know what the hell they are doing. At my most recent visit, the woman replace the old wire with a new wire, adjusted it and we were good to go...when I pointed out to her that she had failed to put a necessary coil back on. Thus, we had to start all over. Why do I know this woman's job better than she does?
Perhaps this is a minor thing to gripe about. However, scheduling appointments requires a little more forethought and planning than it previously did. And if every time I go to the orthodontist ends up creating another appointment that we have to schedule, and one that has to happen immediately because something is poking me or falling off, then it makes life more complicated than it needs to be.
So, on Monday I go back to have something fixed that the woman didn't do correctly this past Monday. I have asked for another hygienist....surely that can't all be that incompetent!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Perhaps My Mothering Skills Need Some Work
Today's signs that I am in fact the world's best mom:
1) While fixing and eating my lunch, my lovely daughter spit-up. She doesn't really spit-up that much, so I am not usually on the look-out for it. So, I finished eating and sat back down on the floor to play with her. The poor child had spit-up all over her face, up her nose, and rubbed into her ear. Good parenting!
2) While feeding her a bottle this afternoon, Katie was apparently spilling some milk out of her mouth on the side opposite me (so that I couldn't see it). So, after she finished eating I sat her up to burp her and the back of her hair was soaked with milk. Maybe we can consider it a spa treatment?
3) During our car ride this afternoon, Katie managed to get a diaper wedgie of sorts. When we got home I hooked my finger in her diaper to un-wedge. I came out with a finger covered in poo. I'm not sure how to spin this one...
Ahhh, motherhood. You are the best!
1) While fixing and eating my lunch, my lovely daughter spit-up. She doesn't really spit-up that much, so I am not usually on the look-out for it. So, I finished eating and sat back down on the floor to play with her. The poor child had spit-up all over her face, up her nose, and rubbed into her ear. Good parenting!
2) While feeding her a bottle this afternoon, Katie was apparently spilling some milk out of her mouth on the side opposite me (so that I couldn't see it). So, after she finished eating I sat her up to burp her and the back of her hair was soaked with milk. Maybe we can consider it a spa treatment?
3) During our car ride this afternoon, Katie managed to get a diaper wedgie of sorts. When we got home I hooked my finger in her diaper to un-wedge. I came out with a finger covered in poo. I'm not sure how to spin this one...
Ahhh, motherhood. You are the best!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Did You Miss Me?
So, after a 4 month hiatus, which included having a baby, moving to GA, buying a house (almost), and getting more familiar with my breasts than I thought possible, I'm back.
The husband mentioned in the previous post is still with me, too, which may surprise you considering the behavior described. I figure I have punished him long enough for his less than loving comments. Maybe now that he knows I am back in the blog world he'll do something so absurdly sweet I simply couldn't not blog about it, thus proving my previous characterization of him wrong....
Well, the battery is dying on both the computer and the author, so I will make this entry a mere toe in the water and leave you waiting for the cannonball that my writing normally is!
Glad to be back!
The husband mentioned in the previous post is still with me, too, which may surprise you considering the behavior described. I figure I have punished him long enough for his less than loving comments. Maybe now that he knows I am back in the blog world he'll do something so absurdly sweet I simply couldn't not blog about it, thus proving my previous characterization of him wrong....
Well, the battery is dying on both the computer and the author, so I will make this entry a mere toe in the water and leave you waiting for the cannonball that my writing normally is!
Glad to be back!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Is Your Husband As Supportive As Mine?
Ways the lovely Andy has expressed his love to his oh, so pregnant wife in the last week or so:
"Don't you ever get tired of just lying around all day?" he asks.
"You know, your feet kinda look like morgue feet," he says to me when the circulation of my feet was struggling a bit.
"You big pregnant whale!" Yes, he really did say this.
This one happened a few months ago. We receive weekly e-mails from a pregnancy website that updates readers on the babies status and gives pointers for different aspects of pregnancy. The e-mail that prompted Andy's next awesome remark was at the point where my belly was really starting to grow. The e-mail said something to the effect of "Don't worry about that belly, you'll have your old body back soon enough." So Andy in his supportive way says, "You probably don't want your old body back, do you?" It doesn't matter that what he said was true, he still shouldn't have said it!!!
Now, some of you may be saying to yourself, "I'm sure that in context these weren't as bad as they seem." Can someone tell me a context where calling your 39-week pregnant wife a whale is constructive?
"Don't you ever get tired of just lying around all day?" he asks.
"You know, your feet kinda look like morgue feet," he says to me when the circulation of my feet was struggling a bit.
"You big pregnant whale!" Yes, he really did say this.
This one happened a few months ago. We receive weekly e-mails from a pregnancy website that updates readers on the babies status and gives pointers for different aspects of pregnancy. The e-mail that prompted Andy's next awesome remark was at the point where my belly was really starting to grow. The e-mail said something to the effect of "Don't worry about that belly, you'll have your old body back soon enough." So Andy in his supportive way says, "You probably don't want your old body back, do you?" It doesn't matter that what he said was true, he still shouldn't have said it!!!
Now, some of you may be saying to yourself, "I'm sure that in context these weren't as bad as they seem." Can someone tell me a context where calling your 39-week pregnant wife a whale is constructive?
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Watch Out Pat Summitt, This Baby Has Your Number
Soooo, on Tuesday we had a sonogram done on the doctor's suspicion that Miss Priss might be a little big. It appears that the doctor's years in medical school paid off. The heavyweight champion of the womb is weighing in at 8lbs 9oz and showing no signs of making her debut anytime soon. (Fortunately, I have since had a friend tell me that the weight prediction for her son was a pound off, which is substantial when we are talking about the difference between 8 and 9 pounds being pushed out of my nether regions.) So, the plan is to sit and wait, which is not my favorite plan. I begged the doctor to go ahead and do something to get this show on the road, but was given an emphatic "no!". Apparently, unless it is medically necessary, this practice does not even consider intervening until 39 weeks in order to allow the lungs to mature as much as possible. I guess this makes sense, being as the lungs are, you know, THE LUNGS. So, we go back to the doctor a week from tomorrow, when I will be 39 weeks and 1 day. I will have an ultrasound the following Tuesday, June 3 and I guess a decision will be made about whether or not to induce, operate, or wait. (All this of course assumes that she doesn't decide to kick it into high gear and show up early...no surprise that this is where my vote lies!)
I guess no matter if she shows up tomorrow or shows up June 5 she's gonna be a big girl. So, my dad and I have started to think about her basketball career. I'm sure Pat Summitt will be retired 18-years from now, but I'm putting out a warning to her now just in case. Baby Girl Acton is going to have some mad skills on the hardwood and she will not be playing in TN orange. (A moment of explanation for those of you who don't know who Pat Summitt is. She is the unbelievably successful coach of the Volunteers women's basketball team. She is the all-time winningest coach in women's basketball and has 8 national championships. She is the female John Wooden.) In the same breath that I turn down Coach Summitt's future recruiting, I will go ahead and put it out there that my daughter would love to play for Duke, Vanderbilt, LSU, or North Carolina, all storied programs. And in case any of you are wondering if UConn and Geno Auriemma is an option, let me direct you to a weather map.
So, even though it is likely that none of the gabillions of newborn outfits that we were given will fit this child, we know that she'll be able to fit into her Air Jordans pretty soon.
I guess no matter if she shows up tomorrow or shows up June 5 she's gonna be a big girl. So, my dad and I have started to think about her basketball career. I'm sure Pat Summitt will be retired 18-years from now, but I'm putting out a warning to her now just in case. Baby Girl Acton is going to have some mad skills on the hardwood and she will not be playing in TN orange. (A moment of explanation for those of you who don't know who Pat Summitt is. She is the unbelievably successful coach of the Volunteers women's basketball team. She is the all-time winningest coach in women's basketball and has 8 national championships. She is the female John Wooden.) In the same breath that I turn down Coach Summitt's future recruiting, I will go ahead and put it out there that my daughter would love to play for Duke, Vanderbilt, LSU, or North Carolina, all storied programs. And in case any of you are wondering if UConn and Geno Auriemma is an option, let me direct you to a weather map.
So, even though it is likely that none of the gabillions of newborn outfits that we were given will fit this child, we know that she'll be able to fit into her Air Jordans pretty soon.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Hold On Tight! The Excitement Might Overwhelm You.
I talk to my parents on the phone a lot. Like, probably every day. I think part of it is being an only child-that status tends to make one particularly close to one's parents. (Unless the parents were tools, in which case it is a different situation. But my parents aren't tools...good work, Mom and Dad.) Also, when my dad got diagnosed with cancer last winter I definitely started talking to him more frequently. Add in a pregnancy and there is pretty frequent phone contact. (Not to mention that I only work part time and the cats don't talk back, which sometimes equals a bored/lonely Elizabeth.) Oh, and an important note about these phone calls is that it is almost always me calling them. (See the previous sentence for insight into that.) However, yesterday both my parents called me just to check in. Yesterday was Wednesday. I think our most recent conversations prior to that occurred on Monday. Two whole days incommunicado! No wonder they were a little worried/confused.
Well, like I told them, there just isn't much to say at this stage of the game. The highlights of the day are getting off the couch with only minimal grunting and Law and Order reruns. What is deemed a big activity has definitely changed. For instance, today is leg shaving day. Never before in my life has a pre-determined day been for leg shaving. However, it just takes so much energy, not to mention contortionist skills, that now, before entering the shower, I must steel myself for the work ahead. Lame.
So, there isn't much to write about. There is another big adventure that is in the works, as some of you know, but it is secret for a few more weeks. After that the world will know. However, for now, you're stuck with stories of leg shaving.
Well, like I told them, there just isn't much to say at this stage of the game. The highlights of the day are getting off the couch with only minimal grunting and Law and Order reruns. What is deemed a big activity has definitely changed. For instance, today is leg shaving day. Never before in my life has a pre-determined day been for leg shaving. However, it just takes so much energy, not to mention contortionist skills, that now, before entering the shower, I must steel myself for the work ahead. Lame.
So, there isn't much to write about. There is another big adventure that is in the works, as some of you know, but it is secret for a few more weeks. After that the world will know. However, for now, you're stuck with stories of leg shaving.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
You Want Me to Do What?!?!?!
Yesterday evening turned out to be more eventful than I planned. (However, it isn't too terribly hard to beat a frozen dinner with Charlie Gibson, Pat Sajak, and Alex Trebek as dinner guests.)
After several days of an intense pain on my right side that was coming and going depending on whether or not I was sitting or standing, I decided I should call the doctor. What actually prompted me to finally call was the fact that the pain did not subside upon sitting, which was the pain's M.O. Now when I called, this was what I had in mind for their response: "Oh, we're sure it's fine. It's probably just the baby's elbow or foot sticking in an uncomfortable position. Nothing to worry about." Then I would hang up and head for my frozen dinner. Instead they said, "Why don't you come in and see the physician's assistant in 30 minutes and that will give you some peace of mind." Despite that plan being a little more involved than what I was looking for, I agreed since peace of mind was what I was looking for after all. For about 15-20 of the interim 30 minutes I was on the phone with my dad (talking about hairstyles and such) and thus did not respond to the call waiting beeping in my ear.
After I got off the phone with my dad, I received a message telling me to just go ahead and go to the hospital so they could do a Non Stress Test. What!?!?!? No, No, No. Remember, it is just an inappropriately positioned elbow. No big whoop, remember? Alas, I headed to the hospital feeling a little like a tool since I was confident what I was feeling wasn't worth all this fuss, but still looking for the previously mentioned peace of mind. Fortunately, both the hospital and the doctor's office are literally across the street. As I was driving over I called Andy, or, to be more precise, I called the dentist's office and gave them a message to give to Andy. I asked the receptionist to as calmly as possible tell him where I was and what was going on. Fortunately, again, the dentist's office is also across the street from the hospital.
After filling out some suprisingly short forms in the lobby of Labor and Delivery, I sat and waited to be called back. Andy arrived in that time, which was good. After the nurse took us back I got to practice getting into the gown, which really should come with instructions. I'm not brilliant, but I'm not an idiot either, and I needed a dadgum diagram to figure out how to align all the appropriate pieces. I was really pretty content in my shorts and t-shirt. I'm pretty sure I should've just stuck with that!
Anyway, I feel as if I am belaboring (ha!) this story. To make it short(er), the test indicated that I was (and still am) actually having contractions, but it was unclear to the nurse whether or not they were real or not. Thus, we got a doctor's visit also, which was super fun-I especially liked the part where she stuck her hand up me to check my cervix. That's what she said she was doing anyway; it felt more like she was digging for buried treasure. Or a buried submarine.
In the end, the conclusion was that it was false labor, which I think seems really fricking unfair. I can deal with pain if we are getting somewhere, but pain just for the hell of it and to confuse me-WTF!?!?!? Hopeful that something might be gained from the experience, yet knowing the answer ahead of time, I asked the doctor if the presence of false contractions would allow us any insights into any kind of timeline. Nope. (Unfair, I say, unfair!) Instead, I was sent home with instructions to take a bath, have some Tylenol and go to bed. (She must have just forgotten the part about making margaritas.)
The end result: "an intense pain of my right side that comes and goes depending on whether I am standing or sitting." Plus a little peace of mind.
After several days of an intense pain on my right side that was coming and going depending on whether or not I was sitting or standing, I decided I should call the doctor. What actually prompted me to finally call was the fact that the pain did not subside upon sitting, which was the pain's M.O. Now when I called, this was what I had in mind for their response: "Oh, we're sure it's fine. It's probably just the baby's elbow or foot sticking in an uncomfortable position. Nothing to worry about." Then I would hang up and head for my frozen dinner. Instead they said, "Why don't you come in and see the physician's assistant in 30 minutes and that will give you some peace of mind." Despite that plan being a little more involved than what I was looking for, I agreed since peace of mind was what I was looking for after all. For about 15-20 of the interim 30 minutes I was on the phone with my dad (talking about hairstyles and such) and thus did not respond to the call waiting beeping in my ear.
After I got off the phone with my dad, I received a message telling me to just go ahead and go to the hospital so they could do a Non Stress Test. What!?!?!? No, No, No. Remember, it is just an inappropriately positioned elbow. No big whoop, remember? Alas, I headed to the hospital feeling a little like a tool since I was confident what I was feeling wasn't worth all this fuss, but still looking for the previously mentioned peace of mind. Fortunately, both the hospital and the doctor's office are literally across the street. As I was driving over I called Andy, or, to be more precise, I called the dentist's office and gave them a message to give to Andy. I asked the receptionist to as calmly as possible tell him where I was and what was going on. Fortunately, again, the dentist's office is also across the street from the hospital.
After filling out some suprisingly short forms in the lobby of Labor and Delivery, I sat and waited to be called back. Andy arrived in that time, which was good. After the nurse took us back I got to practice getting into the gown, which really should come with instructions. I'm not brilliant, but I'm not an idiot either, and I needed a dadgum diagram to figure out how to align all the appropriate pieces. I was really pretty content in my shorts and t-shirt. I'm pretty sure I should've just stuck with that!
Anyway, I feel as if I am belaboring (ha!) this story. To make it short(er), the test indicated that I was (and still am) actually having contractions, but it was unclear to the nurse whether or not they were real or not. Thus, we got a doctor's visit also, which was super fun-I especially liked the part where she stuck her hand up me to check my cervix. That's what she said she was doing anyway; it felt more like she was digging for buried treasure. Or a buried submarine.
In the end, the conclusion was that it was false labor, which I think seems really fricking unfair. I can deal with pain if we are getting somewhere, but pain just for the hell of it and to confuse me-WTF!?!?!? Hopeful that something might be gained from the experience, yet knowing the answer ahead of time, I asked the doctor if the presence of false contractions would allow us any insights into any kind of timeline. Nope. (Unfair, I say, unfair!) Instead, I was sent home with instructions to take a bath, have some Tylenol and go to bed. (She must have just forgotten the part about making margaritas.)
The end result: "an intense pain of my right side that comes and goes depending on whether I am standing or sitting." Plus a little peace of mind.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
The Flip Side of Yesterday
Sooo, to counterbalance yesterday’s whining blog post, I give you the month of May’s gratitude list.
I am thankful for/that…
I can eat my cereal without holding the bowl due to the fact that the fetus comes with an external table;
Confirmation class will be done on Sunday. I have enjoyed it, but I am tired and will be glad to have the pace of work slow down;
Atlanta friends;
I am not giving birth in August (the heat would do me in);
On a related note, the air conditioner is fixed;
My parents are the most amazing helpers in the history of grandparents-to-be;
Having a baby means you get to pick out birth announcements, which means going to the stationery store, which means I might wet myself with excitement (I mean, I am wetting myself for other reasons, so I might as well find one that I am pleased with!);
We figured out how to put the stroller together, as well as install the car seat…plus, there is a county agency to check to make sure it is done correctly in case we didn’t figure it out the right way;
White cheese dip in the not-too-distant future;
New Kids on the Block’s imminent return (speaking of reasons to wet yourself!!!);
Really good friends and really good family. There is nothing better than loving people who love you back (I’ve tried it the other way…it isn’t nearly as fun.)
I am thankful for/that…
I can eat my cereal without holding the bowl due to the fact that the fetus comes with an external table;
Confirmation class will be done on Sunday. I have enjoyed it, but I am tired and will be glad to have the pace of work slow down;
Atlanta friends;
I am not giving birth in August (the heat would do me in);
On a related note, the air conditioner is fixed;
My parents are the most amazing helpers in the history of grandparents-to-be;
Having a baby means you get to pick out birth announcements, which means going to the stationery store, which means I might wet myself with excitement (I mean, I am wetting myself for other reasons, so I might as well find one that I am pleased with!);
We figured out how to put the stroller together, as well as install the car seat…plus, there is a county agency to check to make sure it is done correctly in case we didn’t figure it out the right way;
White cheese dip in the not-too-distant future;
New Kids on the Block’s imminent return (speaking of reasons to wet yourself!!!);
Really good friends and really good family. There is nothing better than loving people who love you back (I’ve tried it the other way…it isn’t nearly as fun.)
Monday, May 05, 2008
Reasons Why Being this Pregnant Rocks (She Said with Her Tongue Firmly Stuck In Her Cheek)
So, I have to say it, I AM SO TIRED OF BEING PREGNANT! I can't wait to be a mom, but I am over being pregnant-by a long shot. Here are some reasons:
There is an unidentified pain in my right side. I think, in fact, in may be an unidentified body part of the alien who has taken up residence in my abdomen.
There is an alien who has taken up residence in my abdomen.
I haven't seen my private parts in weeks, possibly months...but everyone else sure as hell has.
Pregnant leg shaving...a new sport that will debut in Beijing. Good grief!
Heartburn was not something I was at all familiar with prior to pregnancy. Now, however, I'm thinking I should buy stock in TUMS.
And while I'm at it, I might as well get me some stock in Charmin. Good God! How can one person pee so much...and to be frank, I could handle the frequent peeing if the pee and I could agree on when it was going to come out. Yuck.
Thank you notes...except for your's, writing your's was the highlight of the day.
This one's petty, I know ('cause the other's weren't): The baby will be born mere days after Father's Day and yet Mother's Day will go by just like any other Sunday. (Andy, you're not getting a Wii.)
So, those are some of the reasons I am ready to be unpregnant. Aren't you glad you stopped by?
(While writing this, ironically, I realized that neither Andy nor I wrote our May gratitude lists. Guess I'll make that a separate post.)
Until then...
There is an unidentified pain in my right side. I think, in fact, in may be an unidentified body part of the alien who has taken up residence in my abdomen.
There is an alien who has taken up residence in my abdomen.
I haven't seen my private parts in weeks, possibly months...but everyone else sure as hell has.
Pregnant leg shaving...a new sport that will debut in Beijing. Good grief!
Heartburn was not something I was at all familiar with prior to pregnancy. Now, however, I'm thinking I should buy stock in TUMS.
And while I'm at it, I might as well get me some stock in Charmin. Good God! How can one person pee so much...and to be frank, I could handle the frequent peeing if the pee and I could agree on when it was going to come out. Yuck.
Thank you notes...except for your's, writing your's was the highlight of the day.
This one's petty, I know ('cause the other's weren't): The baby will be born mere days after Father's Day and yet Mother's Day will go by just like any other Sunday. (Andy, you're not getting a Wii.)
So, those are some of the reasons I am ready to be unpregnant. Aren't you glad you stopped by?
(While writing this, ironically, I realized that neither Andy nor I wrote our May gratitude lists. Guess I'll make that a separate post.)
Until then...
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
I'm Still Here
I just wanted you to know, blog world, that I am in fact still here. And I haven't let the blogging go by the wayside. Rather I have just been absolutely inundated with the activities on my to do list. Pregnant ladies should have at least one extra day added to their weeks...seven days just isn't enough when a mere trip to the grocery store feels like climbing Mt. Everest.
In short, I just wanted to put all your anxious minds at rest and let you know that I will soon return. Hopefully after this Sunday things will normalize a bit...that is before normal is forever lost when Miss Priss arrives. (She says hello, by the way.)
Until then, I leave you with this closing thought: Heartburn sucks!
In short, I just wanted to put all your anxious minds at rest and let you know that I will soon return. Hopefully after this Sunday things will normalize a bit...that is before normal is forever lost when Miss Priss arrives. (She says hello, by the way.)
Until then, I leave you with this closing thought: Heartburn sucks!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Sunday's Sermon (AKA: A Copout Post)
The following sermon was preached this past Sunday, April 13. It was the day the congregation celebrated the work of Rainbow Place, the women's homeless shelter which is housed on the third floor of our education building November through March. You will note, perhaps with thanksgiving, that the sermon is a little short. This is because there were other celebratory pieces of the service that cut into my preaching time. Bummer about that.
The texts were Genesis 9:8-17 and Matthew 25:31-46.
A few weeks ago my husband Andy and I were driving to Babies ‘R’ Us in Silver Spring. As we slowed down at a stoplight I noticed some motion outside the car out of the corner of my eye. I turned my head to look at the van next to us. The driver truly seemed to be having a fit. She was vehemently pointing at something in the distance and mouthing some words. Andy and I looked over our shoulders in the direction in which she was pointing and didn’t see a thing. So we turned back to the woman with curious looks on our faces, a little alarmed at what might be wrong. She continued to point and jump up and down to the degree one is able to do so in a seatbelt. Andy rolled down his window to find out exactly what had this woman so excited. The lady rolled down her window and said, “Look! Look! A rainbow!” Andy and I turned our heads, politely admired the rainbow, and smiled at the lady as traffic began to move again.
Meanwhile, inside the car Andy and I were more than a little amused that a grown woman could react with such enthusiasm to a rainbow. You really would have thought that the woman had spotted that elusive rainbow with the pot of gold at the end. It is true, I must admit, that Andy and I were a little less than gracious in how we mocked her after driving away, but it was just so bizarre.
It occurred to me, however, as I was thinking about this sermon that this stranger’s joy over seeing a rainbow is probably how we should react when our skies are unexpectedly adorned with such beauty, a beauty that reminds us of God’s grace. Even more, I imagine that this lady’s jumping up and down is exactly how Noah and his family responded when they laid eyes on that first rainbow. Noah’s family had been on a boat for forty days with hundreds of animals. The family had no access to fresh food, entertainment, or an escape from the cacophony of smells and sounds produced by the animals. This in and of itself would have been tough. However, the situation had to have been even more horrific as Noah’s family watched the only world they had ever known slowly drown. How many lives did Noah see lost? How many homes did he see destroyed? How much despair must he have felt?
In light of this misery that Noah had been living in, what must that rainbow have meant to him? And not just the physical spectacle of it all, but the promise it came with. At this point God says to Noah, “This was a horrible moment in our history together. But I make this promise to you now: it will never happen again. Whenever the storms come in the future, the rainbow in the sky will be a sign that all of creation will not be destroyed. There may be hard times, some lives may be lost, but I will never abandon you. I am your God and this rainbow will serve as a sign of my love and my promise to you.” That rainbow in the sky was a physical sign of Noah’s salvation, a physical sign that his burden had been lifted and that God would support him
I imagine that the joy Noah felt when he saw the rainbow God put in the sky for him, is similar to the joy and hope that the women who are the guests of Rainbow Place feel when the shelter opens up for the season. Many of these women have endured storm after storm from the beginning of their lives. Some of these women lived comfortably until unexpected storms of massive sizes capsized their lives. The struggles these women face are endless. For whatever reason, their abilities to successfully procure stability for themselves are minimal. And, because of this, as Elliot Liebow says in his book Tell Them Who I Am,
The humanity of the women is under constant threat and by no means easy to preserve. Most homeless women are engaged in an unremitting struggle to remain human in the face of inhuman conditions.
Without a doubt, it is significant that, on the nights they stay at Rainbow, the women have a safe place to sleep, eat, bathe, and have other basic needs met, but what is more critical is that the women receive human companionship from those who are able to look past their physical exteriors, able to look past the label of homeless. When the women walk through the doors of Rainbow they are no longer the odd person out, no longer a drain on society. They no longer receive skeptical looks or have to wait in interminable lines only to be told they are ineligible for services. Rather, they become children of God; they become women through whom the face of Jesus shines just as brightly as it does through anyone in this sanctuary. Again from Elliot Liebow’s book, when talking about the environment of Rainbow Place he says,
The rules…were few and mainly limited to what one must not do…There was nothing that one must do. Everything not forbidden was allowed, thereby allowing maximum freedom. The women were allowed to be themselves.
Thus, it appears that the work and ministry of Rainbow Place carries out the commands of Jesus inherent in this morning’s Matthew text. As one of the Rainbow board members told me, “You can pretty much carry out all the tasks mentioned in this passage in one night at Rainbow.” Hungry women are fed. Thirsty women are given a drink. The woman who walks in the door a stranger is welcomed just as much as one who has spent many a winter in the shelter. Women lacking clean clothes are given new clothes and the opportunity to wash their dirty ones. And the sick are cared for. Only the command to visit the imprisoned is not explicitly lived out at a night at Rainbow. But I imagine a number of the women would agree that living the life of a homeless woman is a prison in of itself, even if the metal bars are absent.
The ministry of Rainbow Place is the ministry of Jesus Christ himself, and there is much we can learn from what happens there. Twenty-six years ago members of Rockville Presbyterian Church saw a need in this community and rather than simply bemoan the circumstances of that need, they asked themselves what they could do to fix it. They asked themselves what they could do to improve the world and make it more like the place God intended it to be. And then they took it one step further: after answering these hard questions, the founders of Rainbow Place took action. They didn’t merely observe the hardships of the homeless of Montgomery County, note the sadness, and then move on. Rather, they formulated a plan and enacted it, overcoming many hurdles and roadblocks.
I wonder how frequently most of us, even with the best intentions at heart, fail to take that last step? We find ourselves lamenting injustices we see in the world and yet fail to act on it. We bemoan that we are living in a country with political leaders who have led us down unwanted paths, but then barely make the effort to vote, much less actively support candidates we believe can make true change. We stand astonished at the deplorable state of public education in this country, but fail to provide inexpensive supplies to low-income children, much less take the time to tutor an at-risk child. In short, we ignore the command inherent in Jesus’ message.
What then are we to do? I believe we are to model the actions taken by those who went before us, the founders of Rainbow Place, and those walk among us now, the current staff and volunteers of Rainbow Place. These folks are able to truly look at those our society has deemed “the least of these,” and love them anyway. In fact, they take it a step past love. They turn their love into actions. This is what we are called to do. Regardless of who we encounter, no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, age, political affiliations, socioeconomic status, no matter if they have piercings and tattoos and purple hair that we just don’t understand, we are called by Jesus Christ, the very one we profess our faith in, to act. Friends, the world is full of people in need. And God has gifted each and every one of us with the ability to serve. Perhaps you are good at math-find a struggling student to tutor. Perhaps you are a gifted seamstress-make blankets for children in Intensive Care Units. Perhaps you are talented at woodworking-sign up to assist with Habitat for Humanity. The world needs your gifts. God depends on your gifts.
On this morning when we celebrate the work of the men and women who make Rainbow Place a safe harbor of sustenance and hope, our challenge is to find the face of Christ in all who we encounter and open up our hearts and lives to them in such a way that they can’t help but see the face of Christ looking back at them.
The texts were Genesis 9:8-17 and Matthew 25:31-46.
A few weeks ago my husband Andy and I were driving to Babies ‘R’ Us in Silver Spring. As we slowed down at a stoplight I noticed some motion outside the car out of the corner of my eye. I turned my head to look at the van next to us. The driver truly seemed to be having a fit. She was vehemently pointing at something in the distance and mouthing some words. Andy and I looked over our shoulders in the direction in which she was pointing and didn’t see a thing. So we turned back to the woman with curious looks on our faces, a little alarmed at what might be wrong. She continued to point and jump up and down to the degree one is able to do so in a seatbelt. Andy rolled down his window to find out exactly what had this woman so excited. The lady rolled down her window and said, “Look! Look! A rainbow!” Andy and I turned our heads, politely admired the rainbow, and smiled at the lady as traffic began to move again.
Meanwhile, inside the car Andy and I were more than a little amused that a grown woman could react with such enthusiasm to a rainbow. You really would have thought that the woman had spotted that elusive rainbow with the pot of gold at the end. It is true, I must admit, that Andy and I were a little less than gracious in how we mocked her after driving away, but it was just so bizarre.
It occurred to me, however, as I was thinking about this sermon that this stranger’s joy over seeing a rainbow is probably how we should react when our skies are unexpectedly adorned with such beauty, a beauty that reminds us of God’s grace. Even more, I imagine that this lady’s jumping up and down is exactly how Noah and his family responded when they laid eyes on that first rainbow. Noah’s family had been on a boat for forty days with hundreds of animals. The family had no access to fresh food, entertainment, or an escape from the cacophony of smells and sounds produced by the animals. This in and of itself would have been tough. However, the situation had to have been even more horrific as Noah’s family watched the only world they had ever known slowly drown. How many lives did Noah see lost? How many homes did he see destroyed? How much despair must he have felt?
In light of this misery that Noah had been living in, what must that rainbow have meant to him? And not just the physical spectacle of it all, but the promise it came with. At this point God says to Noah, “This was a horrible moment in our history together. But I make this promise to you now: it will never happen again. Whenever the storms come in the future, the rainbow in the sky will be a sign that all of creation will not be destroyed. There may be hard times, some lives may be lost, but I will never abandon you. I am your God and this rainbow will serve as a sign of my love and my promise to you.” That rainbow in the sky was a physical sign of Noah’s salvation, a physical sign that his burden had been lifted and that God would support him
I imagine that the joy Noah felt when he saw the rainbow God put in the sky for him, is similar to the joy and hope that the women who are the guests of Rainbow Place feel when the shelter opens up for the season. Many of these women have endured storm after storm from the beginning of their lives. Some of these women lived comfortably until unexpected storms of massive sizes capsized their lives. The struggles these women face are endless. For whatever reason, their abilities to successfully procure stability for themselves are minimal. And, because of this, as Elliot Liebow says in his book Tell Them Who I Am,
The humanity of the women is under constant threat and by no means easy to preserve. Most homeless women are engaged in an unremitting struggle to remain human in the face of inhuman conditions.
Without a doubt, it is significant that, on the nights they stay at Rainbow, the women have a safe place to sleep, eat, bathe, and have other basic needs met, but what is more critical is that the women receive human companionship from those who are able to look past their physical exteriors, able to look past the label of homeless. When the women walk through the doors of Rainbow they are no longer the odd person out, no longer a drain on society. They no longer receive skeptical looks or have to wait in interminable lines only to be told they are ineligible for services. Rather, they become children of God; they become women through whom the face of Jesus shines just as brightly as it does through anyone in this sanctuary. Again from Elliot Liebow’s book, when talking about the environment of Rainbow Place he says,
The rules…were few and mainly limited to what one must not do…There was nothing that one must do. Everything not forbidden was allowed, thereby allowing maximum freedom. The women were allowed to be themselves.
Thus, it appears that the work and ministry of Rainbow Place carries out the commands of Jesus inherent in this morning’s Matthew text. As one of the Rainbow board members told me, “You can pretty much carry out all the tasks mentioned in this passage in one night at Rainbow.” Hungry women are fed. Thirsty women are given a drink. The woman who walks in the door a stranger is welcomed just as much as one who has spent many a winter in the shelter. Women lacking clean clothes are given new clothes and the opportunity to wash their dirty ones. And the sick are cared for. Only the command to visit the imprisoned is not explicitly lived out at a night at Rainbow. But I imagine a number of the women would agree that living the life of a homeless woman is a prison in of itself, even if the metal bars are absent.
The ministry of Rainbow Place is the ministry of Jesus Christ himself, and there is much we can learn from what happens there. Twenty-six years ago members of Rockville Presbyterian Church saw a need in this community and rather than simply bemoan the circumstances of that need, they asked themselves what they could do to fix it. They asked themselves what they could do to improve the world and make it more like the place God intended it to be. And then they took it one step further: after answering these hard questions, the founders of Rainbow Place took action. They didn’t merely observe the hardships of the homeless of Montgomery County, note the sadness, and then move on. Rather, they formulated a plan and enacted it, overcoming many hurdles and roadblocks.
I wonder how frequently most of us, even with the best intentions at heart, fail to take that last step? We find ourselves lamenting injustices we see in the world and yet fail to act on it. We bemoan that we are living in a country with political leaders who have led us down unwanted paths, but then barely make the effort to vote, much less actively support candidates we believe can make true change. We stand astonished at the deplorable state of public education in this country, but fail to provide inexpensive supplies to low-income children, much less take the time to tutor an at-risk child. In short, we ignore the command inherent in Jesus’ message.
What then are we to do? I believe we are to model the actions taken by those who went before us, the founders of Rainbow Place, and those walk among us now, the current staff and volunteers of Rainbow Place. These folks are able to truly look at those our society has deemed “the least of these,” and love them anyway. In fact, they take it a step past love. They turn their love into actions. This is what we are called to do. Regardless of who we encounter, no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, age, political affiliations, socioeconomic status, no matter if they have piercings and tattoos and purple hair that we just don’t understand, we are called by Jesus Christ, the very one we profess our faith in, to act. Friends, the world is full of people in need. And God has gifted each and every one of us with the ability to serve. Perhaps you are good at math-find a struggling student to tutor. Perhaps you are a gifted seamstress-make blankets for children in Intensive Care Units. Perhaps you are talented at woodworking-sign up to assist with Habitat for Humanity. The world needs your gifts. God depends on your gifts.
On this morning when we celebrate the work of the men and women who make Rainbow Place a safe harbor of sustenance and hope, our challenge is to find the face of Christ in all who we encounter and open up our hearts and lives to them in such a way that they can’t help but see the face of Christ looking back at them.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Warning! Busy Week Ahead!
So, friends, I just wanted to let you know that the blog might have to play second fiddle over the next few days, if not the coming weeks. There is a lot going on! Our (mine and Andy's) calendars are starting to fill with pediatrician visits (to find the right one), continued baby class, baby showers, sermon writing, visits from both my parents, the RPC youth auction, and more. These are just the things that I can remember without looking at my calendar.
Plus, it takes about 30% of my day just to make it up the blasted stairs to my apartment.
Thus, with my limited energy, I will have to make other things a priority. Though it would be pretty funny to get up in the pulpit and just read blog posts instead of a sermon. (Many people are under the misconception that minster types aren't real people...blog reading would cure 'em of that kind of thinking really quickly!)
So, until we meet again, hang tough! (Yes, it's true the New Kids on the Block have reunited, are recording new music, are going on tour, and (some of them) are still cute! There is a God!)
Plus, it takes about 30% of my day just to make it up the blasted stairs to my apartment.
Thus, with my limited energy, I will have to make other things a priority. Though it would be pretty funny to get up in the pulpit and just read blog posts instead of a sermon. (Many people are under the misconception that minster types aren't real people...blog reading would cure 'em of that kind of thinking really quickly!)
So, until we meet again, hang tough! (Yes, it's true the New Kids on the Block have reunited, are recording new music, are going on tour, and (some of them) are still cute! There is a God!)
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
What Are You Thankful For? (April 2008 Edition)
It is time for this month's installment of my gratitude list. It is funny how much I enjoy doing this. I think part of the reason I like it is because it is a chance to let people know that I appreciate them. So here's to you if you made the list...if you're not on it, perhaps you should re-evaluate some things, huh? (Kidding.)
I am thankful for/that...
1. All the previously pregnant women (especially those with new babies) who are willing to share their stories with me...even the gory parts;
2. My parents will each get to be at one of the two baby showers that are being thrown for us. My dad and his wife are coming next weekend and will get to attend the shower at Andy's church with us. My mom will come the following weekend and get to attend the shower at my church. Hooray!;
3. That my husband, despite getting me sick in the first place, is turning out to be a pretty good nursemaid;
4. ChapStick...I love that stuff, man! Especially as I am currently unable to breathe through my nose and my lips feel like Florida in August;
5. Andy and I will celebrate 4 years of marriage on Thursday. So, four years ago today, we were having a shrimp boil at my mom's house in Baton Rouge with family and local friends. It was a great time! (We won't talk about the rehearsal!);
6. The baby will be here SOON! She is due two months from tomorrow, but we've been having a conversation about how it is okay if she wants to come 7-10 days early (as long as she's done doing her thing inside me);
7. Spring is here! The weather is starting to show signs of turning the corner, flowers are blooming, the birds are at the feeder...new life abounds!;
8. I have a washer and dryer in my apartment. I swear the laundry is never done and if I had to walk up and down 4 flights of stairs with all those clothes...well, let's just say we'd have smelly clothes on quite frequently;
9. People are reading my blog. Most of them appear to blog voyeurs, but my location map tells me that they are in fact reading. And for those of you who actually comment, you get a gold star in this month's gratitude list!;
10. I know that I am loved and have people (and kitties) to love back!
I am thankful for/that...
1. All the previously pregnant women (especially those with new babies) who are willing to share their stories with me...even the gory parts;
2. My parents will each get to be at one of the two baby showers that are being thrown for us. My dad and his wife are coming next weekend and will get to attend the shower at Andy's church with us. My mom will come the following weekend and get to attend the shower at my church. Hooray!;
3. That my husband, despite getting me sick in the first place, is turning out to be a pretty good nursemaid;
4. ChapStick...I love that stuff, man! Especially as I am currently unable to breathe through my nose and my lips feel like Florida in August;
5. Andy and I will celebrate 4 years of marriage on Thursday. So, four years ago today, we were having a shrimp boil at my mom's house in Baton Rouge with family and local friends. It was a great time! (We won't talk about the rehearsal!);
6. The baby will be here SOON! She is due two months from tomorrow, but we've been having a conversation about how it is okay if she wants to come 7-10 days early (as long as she's done doing her thing inside me);
7. Spring is here! The weather is starting to show signs of turning the corner, flowers are blooming, the birds are at the feeder...new life abounds!;
8. I have a washer and dryer in my apartment. I swear the laundry is never done and if I had to walk up and down 4 flights of stairs with all those clothes...well, let's just say we'd have smelly clothes on quite frequently;
9. People are reading my blog. Most of them appear to blog voyeurs, but my location map tells me that they are in fact reading. And for those of you who actually comment, you get a gold star in this month's gratitude list!;
10. I know that I am loved and have people (and kitties) to love back!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Don't Touch Me...Not Even with a 10-Foot Pole
So, I'm wondering if there is a really cool craft you can make out of used Kleenex (or in this case, torn off toilet paper), because after today I'm gonna have a whole lot of 'em. Why you ask? Well, my husband apparently time traveled last weekend and whilst he was away he acquired Bubonic Plague. Fortunately, he was kind enough to bring it back with him to share with his friends, or at least his wife. Thus, I have TB-sounding lungs, gangrene-looking nose, and sporadic moments of fever (which doesn't look like anything, except maybe making my cheeks resemble the Coca-Cola Santa Claus).
However, tomorrow is the first day of a new month and that is the day we do our thanksgiving lists, which I think is really fun! So, tune back in. Hopefully the plague will be gone and that will be one thing on the list!
P.S. I recommend you NOT Google Image search "Bubonic Plague." It is NOT pretty.
However, tomorrow is the first day of a new month and that is the day we do our thanksgiving lists, which I think is really fun! So, tune back in. Hopefully the plague will be gone and that will be one thing on the list!
P.S. I recommend you NOT Google Image search "Bubonic Plague." It is NOT pretty.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Baby Class Numero Dos
Last night was baby class number 2. You may recall that baby class number 1 sent me into a bit of a tailspin. Thus, I was a little apprehensive about how I would respond to last night's adventure. You will be happy to know that I did just fine. I must admit I am still a little bit stressed about getting the breathing right. At one point, while teaching the breathing techniques, the teacher, Jennie, said, "You choose what works for you. There is no script. You are not getting a grade." I WANT THE GRADE! I WANT THE SCRIPT! I paid $175 for this, I want to leave knowing what hour on what day this little girl will make her arrival. I am starting to get the sense that I am gonna have to let that one go. Damn.
Despite still struggling with perfecting my breathing techniques, I was able to take in the other information and not freak out. I think that I was comforted by the fact that we started the class with a list. (Aaah, lists! How do I love you? Let me count the ways...) We discussed what we needed to bring to the hospital with us when the moment of truth is upon us. (She didn't say anything about Jack Daniels, but I'm pretty positive it just slipped her mind.) Which is a great conversation for me because it is so linear. I loved it and took some notes that I am quite sure others in the class were envious of.
You will be even more impressed with my change in composure when you know that I did it all by myself. Andy, sadly, was home with an ear infection and possible strep throat. The doctor said that if I was going to get his ailments the damage was already done, but that the other ladies hadn't had the privilege of hanging out with him and thus would be vulnerable to his germs. Thus, he was told to stay home. It was sad and disappointing, but, like I said, I took damn good notes so I could report back. The only thing that was lacking in my report was that I didn't have a model of the pelvis to use as a visual aid. Too bad about that.
Tomorrow is our 30-week checkup. Details will be forthcoming...
Despite still struggling with perfecting my breathing techniques, I was able to take in the other information and not freak out. I think that I was comforted by the fact that we started the class with a list. (Aaah, lists! How do I love you? Let me count the ways...) We discussed what we needed to bring to the hospital with us when the moment of truth is upon us. (She didn't say anything about Jack Daniels, but I'm pretty positive it just slipped her mind.) Which is a great conversation for me because it is so linear. I loved it and took some notes that I am quite sure others in the class were envious of.
You will be even more impressed with my change in composure when you know that I did it all by myself. Andy, sadly, was home with an ear infection and possible strep throat. The doctor said that if I was going to get his ailments the damage was already done, but that the other ladies hadn't had the privilege of hanging out with him and thus would be vulnerable to his germs. Thus, he was told to stay home. It was sad and disappointing, but, like I said, I took damn good notes so I could report back. The only thing that was lacking in my report was that I didn't have a model of the pelvis to use as a visual aid. Too bad about that.
Tomorrow is our 30-week checkup. Details will be forthcoming...
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