Shut up with the title

The VEEPs

2008-10-03T11:43:00.001-04:00

I my opinion, saying Sarah Palin did a good job in the debate is like sending a JV team to play a varsity team, and as long as they don't lose by more than 50 points, saying "Hey, they actually did a really good job!"

Okay, so not that anyone even reads this anymore, but

2008-08-15T12:07:00.001-04:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26218530

God forbid anyone actually parent their own child.

Happy Father's Day to Joe!

2008-06-12T20:23:00.000-04:00

Apparently in Massachusetts

2008-06-09T14:11:00.001-04:00

State law prohibits storing more than a quart of gasoline in a home, including attached garages. The gasoline must be stored in an approved safety can, she said.

The law allows people to store up to a gallon of gasoline in a detached garage or shed at least 50 feet away from an inhabited building.

Yes, I am updating my blog, and here's why

2008-05-16T20:36:00.002-04:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24670991

""Ain't got no food left, the kids are probably hungry," said Brown, a 23-year-old single mother who relies heavily on her $312 monthly allotment of food stamps. For days, Brown said, she has been turning cans of "whatever we got in the cabinet" into breakfast, lunch and dinner for her children, ages 1 and 3."

Okay, now I realize we only have one child, not two, and he doesn't eat THAT much food, but in a month, we generally spend $200-225 on groceries, and that includes some high cost items such as Joe's tea ($8.99 for 50 bags) and my favorite ham that's $6/lb.

How can this woman, who is the only adult in the household (therefore drastically reducing the food intake) have spent $312 and have run out of food several days before the month is over, making her desperate to stand in line at midnight for the store to open?!

Oh, I know, by buying stupid unnecessary stuff like brand name charcoal briquets (yes, I know it's not the same woman in that picture, but it's the same idea). I know those aren't eligible for food stamp purchase, but if she is buying those, I can only imagine what's filling the rest of the cart - stuff that's full price, high mark-up, and unnecessary.

"For now, many of the needy, including many in Kladis' store pushing carts laden with soda pop, bags of cookies and chips — much of it cheaper than healthier food — are doing what they can to stretch their shrinking buying power. The bottom line is, a mother trying to feed her kids is not really picky about what she puts in their bellies," said Dan Gibbons, executive director of the Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation. "She just wants them full."

That is disgusting. I don't care. Say what you want about "they don't know any better." ANYONE KNOWS BETTER. ANYONE.

According to NYS guidelines, JOE AND I ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FOODSTAMPS but we are not mouth-breathers who stand around with palms up, waiting for the guvmint to help us out, so we can turn around and say they ain't helpin' us enough.

It sickens me, but I don't know what option I have other than to continue feeling the pinch at tax time so that these people can fill their kids with Lays potato chips and Hostess powdered donuts and I can count the days until we move out of Riverside (I know the problem will still exist, but hopefully in Alden I won't have to see it EVERY DAY).

How can people be graduated from high school with spelling like this?

2008-01-19T08:26:00.000-05:00

"What can I say I'm a planner. I'm a bit of a worrie wart I gues. But I'm also vary efficant."

- a 21 year old bride to be, on a message board for local brides

Lots of engagements!

2008-01-15T10:08:00.000-05:00

Wyatt & Laura are getting married, and now Dave & Carrie are getting married as well! Congratulations all around!

I just found out that

2008-01-14T19:40:00.000-05:00

my employer doesn't offer 401k matching. Bummer.

Apparently I'm an activist

2007-12-06T09:09:00.000-05:00

I participated in Ad Busters' "Buy Nothing Day" without even knowing it. On Nov. 23 (day after Thanksgiving) I did not leave the house, and therefore did not buy anything. I'm changing the world! Whooooooooo! What an idiotic concept. Like a commenter said, it's like those "Don't Buy Gas Today!" days. If you buy the same amount of gas 20 hours later, are you doing the world a favor? Mmmmm, no.

Is it just me, or does this plot synopsis sound like absolute gibberish?

2007-12-02T22:12:00.000-05:00

In August Rush, the charismatic Irish guitarist Louis (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and the sheltered young cellist Lyla (Keri Russell) have a chance encounter one night in New York, and fall instantly in love. But soon the two lovers are torn apart, neither knowing what has become of the other -- Louis thinks Lyla has abandoned him, and Lyla believes that the child she conceived with Louis was lost in a car accident. Years later, performing on the streets of New York and cared for by a mysterious stranger (Robin Williams), their child (Freddie Highmore) uses his prodigious musical talent to seek the parents from whom he was separated at birth, just as Lyla teams with a dedicated social worker (Terrence Howard) to find the son she thought she lost.

The girls in my mothers group are putting together a "mom's night out" (or would it be "moms' night out"?) to go see this movie. I am staying home.

Congrats to my parents on getting DSL!!

2007-12-02T21:55:00.000-05:00

I uploaded a new "blog song" as I had forgotten what song was even attached to my blog. I looked and I had last uploaded a song in MAY. Yeah, I don't update much anymore.

Anyway, things are good. Natey's 8 months old now, which is insane. Christmas is coming soon and I think we're going to go get a tree! We've never had one of our own, but I really feel like we should since it's Nate's first Christmas. I got a tip on a good "cut your own" place. Gone are the days of just going out into the woods and lopping off the top of a tree I guess. We need some land.

"Through the Months" with daddy

2007-11-08T22:24:00.000-05:00

Saving the world + graphic design = fun

2007-10-25T22:30:00.001-04:00

(click to enlarge)

We've been using ECOBAGS from www.reusablebags.com for quite a long time now, but they were always just blank, plain bags. I decided to change all that. I just did these two as a test to make sure the iron-on transfers would work, so now I have to design 6 more "BYOB" plaquards and get the bags all ironed up. Well, Joe does the ironing - he's better at it.

I think they're pretty cool. I hope they encourage someone to start using cloth bags.

Nice job, Wegmans. Jerks.

2007-10-25T22:27:00.001-04:00

I know it always says "Sold by weight, not by volume" but come on.

That is the brand new, unopened bag, sitting next to the box that's at least 2x the size it needs to be. Sheesh.

Becker Farms

2007-10-25T20:35:00.001-04:00

Want to see more pictures? Smugmug.

Don't blow it, American Toy Industry

2007-10-13T12:02:00.001-04:00

Toy recalls spur demand for US made toys

We went to Sears for pictures. Yes, Sears.

2007-10-12T21:58:00.001-04:00

Why I hate Hollywood:

2007-10-12T21:30:00.000-04:00

It is my understanding that this is an actual framegrab from the movie:

This is the cover of the DVD I saw for rent in Blockbuster:

Forget the arms for a moment. It's possible that, a second later, they actually all extended their arms like that (I haven't seen the movie). Judging by the difference between Beyonce's dress in the two pictures, maybe they did. BUT, look at Jennifer Hudson's belly. Yow. If I were her, I'd be MAD. And Beyonce's hips, come on, like she isn't skinny enough.

I hate that garbage. Photo retouching goes so too far. Like the cover of every single women's magazine. Like this cover featuring Ashlee Simpson - NO ONE's skin looks like that. NO ONE.

NO ONE.

Look at it.

2007-09-19T20:37:00.000-04:00

Our little Natey is 5 months old

2007-09-07T08:35:00.003-04:00

Nate and his puppy

2007-09-03T19:12:00.001-04:00

Prunes = Blog Post

2007-08-31T10:19:00.000-04:00

He likey da prunes. They are kind of messy though.

They make his pee smell bad, and they make his poop solid like "real" poop and not the usual stuff he had been doing since he was born. It's much easier to clean up.

On a different topic... I dare you to look at this and not say "Awwwww..."

Also this:

Rice cereal = Blog post.

2007-08-10T09:09:00.000-04:00

We had Nate's 4 month appointment this past Monday and we got the OK to start rice cereal. Well, he hates it.

Nate's laughing!!!

2007-08-05T21:16:00.001-04:00

I had been waiting and waiting for the day to come... Nate is laughing! Watch the video. (He is also a bumGenius 2.0 one-size model!!)

Click to see the video on YouTube. If, when the video is playing, you click the icon in the lower right-hand corner, second one in, it will go to the correct vertical aspect ratio.

4 months!!

2007-08-01T12:24:00.000-04:00

The summer is flying by.

Sorry I haven't posted, but there is not that much going on, and when there is, I'm too busy to blog about it.

3 months... I can't even believe it

2007-07-01T22:53:00.000-04:00

We caught him red-handed!

2007-06-27T09:44:00.000-04:00

Not a lot going on, but fun nonetheless!

2007-06-27T09:42:00.000-04:00

Beaver Meadow Nature Center in Java named a trail after us, apparently:

And we went to my grandparents' house to meet my cousin Nathan & his wife Ashley's two little girls (they all live in TN) and it was my grandparents' first time with all three of their great-grandchildren!

Here are the Mitchells with the Van Otterloos:

Congratulations!!!

2007-05-31T11:15:00.003-04:00

Turck & Lindsay are engaged... how wonderful!!!!!!

Look at that head control!!

2007-05-28T19:48:00.000-04:00

It's still kinda wobbly, but wow, can he get it up there!

He will be two months old on Wednesday!!! Holy crap!

Here's a video of him rolling over:

Who is gonna mug two black fellas, holding pistols, sat in a car that is worth less than your shirt?

2007-05-25T10:11:00.000-04:00

It has hit 89 here the last two days. Hot, hot, hot. Joe has off school the next 5 days (3 day Memorial Day weekend plus Friday & Tuesday) so we are going to have fun family time. I think we're going to the zoo today. I'm glad it's not supposed to be quite as hot!

Smiles that melt your heart

2007-05-21T18:19:00.000-04:00

But they're not ALL smiles...

Wow

2007-05-16T22:17:00.000-04:00

Still got it

2007-05-10T22:21:00.000-04:00

Last Monday after Joe got home from school, I went to Wegmans for subs. On the way home I stopped at Wilson Farms to get a capuccino. As I was walking toward the store, I heard someone say, "Hey, RIT." (I was wearing my RIT hoodie.) I looked up and saw a black man smiling at me. He looked to be in his late 20's. I smiled. He said, "Hey, beautiful smile! Beautiful smile!" I just smiled again and walked inside the store and got my drink.

When I came out, he was sitting in his car right outside the door. He had his window down. He said, "Hey, can I have a minute of your time?" I said, "For what?" He asked, "What's your name?" I told him. He said, "I just wanted to tell you that you're pretty, and you have a beautiful smile." I thanked him. He then looked at my left hand and said, "Oh, that's an engagement ring isn't it?" I said, "Actually, it's a wedding ring. I just had a baby a month ago too." He said, "Oh, wow! You look great! You do!" I started walking away and he said, "Beautiful smile!"

Still got it. :) (It's actually the first time I can remember being "hit on" by a complete stranger in... well, years.)

Happy (early) Mother's Day to me!

2007-05-09T15:13:00.001-04:00

Thank you to Turck and Joe H.

2007-05-09T15:10:00.000-04:00

for calling and asking us to go out to 5 de Mayo for dinner last night. Fun was had by all.

Butterflies are not witches in disguise

2007-05-06T22:36:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Cinco de Mayo, we took Nathan to the Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls. He loved it. By "loved it" I mean slept almost the whole time. Oh well, he's a baby. The important thing is, Joe and I loved it!!!

(click picture for more pics)

Sweet irony

2007-05-02T21:09:00.001-04:00

I hate it when things I say come back to bite me in the ass.

Nathan holding Nathan

2007-05-02T10:13:00.000-04:00

That's right, more pictures

2007-05-01T15:51:00.000-04:00

On 4/26, I took Nathan to the doctor because he had been spitting up quite a bit, and also had some congestion. I took this while we were waiting for the doctor.

They said he had a fever of 100.3, so they sent us to the hospital for bloodwork. That was hard. I called Joe and had him come up from school. Seeing our tiny baby with the needle in his head was tough!!!

On Sunday night, Joe gave Nathan a bottle for the first time. It was so cute!

And today, he's wearing cousin Jayden's "irresistible" jeans... they don't lie!

Wow, lady, just wow.

2007-05-01T15:47:00.000-04:00

Dear Prudence,
We moved to a new neighborhood more than a year ago and have been friendly with all of our neighbors. Our kids (ages 6 and 9) have made friends with several neighborhood kids. One neighbor is very religious, but we are not religious at all. My daughter is over at their house for an extended period probably once a week or so, and their daughters also play at our house. I always thought that we would just discuss religious, mythological, and spiritual matters openly and honestly with our kids, and as they grew older, they could make their own choices. I've told my kids about the different concepts people have of God and that I don't believe in a God that is a supernatural person. Recently, though, my daughter came home from the neighbor's with some very specific religious claims—creationist myths about the age of the Earth, and a claim that God is proved because of some very specific prophecies that "came true." All of a sudden, my daughter wants to get religious jewelry and go to their fundamentalist religious school because "they learn about God." It seems my choices are to confront my neighbor, make playtime at their house off-limits, aggressively educate my daughter that our neighbor is full of crap, or just passively trust in my current "the truth will set you free" approach. I don't want to make any enemies in the neighborhood, but I don't like the level of brainwashing that could go on while I am trying to play fair.

—Raising Kids, Not Disciples

"I always thought that we would just discuss religious, mythological, and spiritual matters openly and honestly with our kids, and as they grew older, they could make their own choices." Then, it seems that you left a choice off your list of actions to take - let your daughter hear what other people believe and start forming some of her own beliefs!

Three years... where does the time go?

2007-04-26T22:15:00.000-04:00

(click for full size)

I guess I should just rename this "Baby Blog"

2007-04-23T10:52:00.000-04:00

It's all I do anymore, so it's all there is to talk about. Anyway, it's picture time.

Here's me wearing Nathan in our BabyHawk baby carrier when we went to Buckhorn State Park on Grand Island this past Saturday.

Nathan's first tub bath

He could finally have a tub bath because his umbilical cord stump finally fell off!

Here's Nathan with his Great-Grandpa Gordon

Nathan is my grandparents' first great-grandSON (they have two great-granddaughters) and the first great-grandchild they've gotten to see & hold!

And here he is with Matt, who was SO excited to hold him (read: scared and not excited at all)

I love the look on Nathan's face. He looks pretty scared himself!

"frustraighted"

2007-04-20T22:17:00.000-04:00

That "word" was used in a post on the message board I use. It's a really helpful resource - a message board for moms of babies 0-6 months old.

However, it frustraights me how often there are misspellings. That's not a typo, that's just plain wrong.

Birth Announcement

2007-04-17T17:52:00.000-04:00

click to view full size

We mailed these out last week. He's really changing fast - he's a little pizza face right now because of baby acne. He's a good boy.

So... Very... Tired...

2007-04-16T08:28:00.000-04:00

The last two nights Nathan hasn't slept as well. I know he probably still sleeps better than many babies, but I feel so exhausted. I hope Joe doesn't feel too tired. I am definitely going to try to sneak in a nap this afternoon.

Day 12 in babyland

2007-04-11T22:33:00.000-04:00

Well, Nathan is now 12 days old and we have been having a lot of fun. In this case, fun involves being peed on during diaper changes multiple times, pooped on once (it's like a cannon, seriously), and spit up on (just me... Joe has not gotten to enjoy this yet). However, while I would not tolerate this treatment from any other person in the entire world, it is basically impossible to be mad at this:

And these feet... I have a hard time not sticking the entire things in my mouth:

Joe says I should be worried that he's going to "pull a Lenny" (see: "Of Mice and Men") with the baby. I'm not worried. Seeing them sleeping together is so amazing:

And here is my brother, the proud uncle, holding Nathan for the first time:

It's been an exciting almost-two-weeks, and I'm sure it's only the tip of the iceberg. More to come.

Joe the Daddy

2007-04-04T19:38:00.000-04:00

Pictures of baby Nathan!

2007-04-02T12:10:00.000-04:00

We arrived at the hospital, Birthing Room #9, at 6:50pm on Thursday March 29.

This is the clock I spent the next 16 hours looking at anxiously:

Do not read if you really only want to see pictures.
Around 3am, after having hard contractions 2-3 min apart for almost 12 hours, and only progressing to 5cm (halfway) I gave in and got an epidural. I didn't want to, but I am glad I did because I would not have made it the next 8 hours without it.

Around 5am, the doctor checked me and said that since I was still at only 5cm and the baby was still high in my pelvis, she gave me only a 25% chance of delivering vaginally. I did NOT want to have a C-section and I cried. They offered me a chance to try a drug called Pitocin that induces stronger contractions, but told me it could present a problem for the baby's heartrate, which was dropping low with each contraction because his cord was being compressed. I told them I would just take their advice - after all, I've never done this before! - and they said that it wouldn't hurt to at least try the Pitocin, and I fully agreed. I would rather have tried it and ended up having to have a C-section than just opt for the C-section

At 8am the doctor checked me again and I had dilated to 8cm and was fully effaced! I was ecstatic because it meant that soon I would be ready to push and almost certainly able to give birth vaginally!

At 8:50am I was fully dilated and started pushing. I pushed for TWO HOURS (it was bad. I'm not kidding. Bad.) and the baby was finally born at 10:50am! I will spare the more greusome details of the actual birth, but there was an infection in my amniotic fluid that caused the baby to be born with a fever of 103 and gave me a fever of 102. However, he was healthy otherwise!!!

He weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces, and was 20 inches long with a 13 inch head and 12 3/4 inch chest.

Because we both had fevers, they wouldn't let me hold him right away, but Joe was able to take pictures of him getting cleaned up, and when they did his footprints they also put one on Joe's hand.

They moved us to the recovery room in the maternity ward and brought the baby to see us around 3pm! This is my first time holding the baby - he's about 4 hours old!

Here's Joe holding him:

And here he is!

My parents came to see us on Friday, and they actually got there before we were even moved to the recovery room, but I don't have any pictures of them with the baby yet.

On Saturday, we had more visitors and picked his name - Nathan Alden. We had seriously considered "Leland" but we're saving that one for the future I guess. And more photos were taken:

On Sunday, everything was all set for us to leave the hospital so we got Nathan dressed in his monkey sleeper with matching blanket and hat!

The hospital let us keep the super-soft plaid blanket from his nursery bassinet so I was all over that. We put him in the carseat and headed home:

This is his first night in his pack n play bassinet (Joe did a GREAT job swaddling him into a beautiful burrito!):

And this is Nathan this morning with Daddy before Joe got up for work - that's a "newborn" sleeper and it's still huge on him!!!

Our baby is here!

2007-04-02T07:54:00.000-04:00

His name is Nathan Alden and he was born at 10:50am, Friday March 30th. He weighed 7lb. 9oz and was 20 inches long. I will post pictures soon... I'm pretty tired right now!!

It sounds like monsoon season out there!

2007-03-22T11:44:00.000-04:00

I am sitting in our office half working, half goofing, and although I can't see out the window (curtains) I can certainly hear what's going on! It sounds like a torrential downpour! I knew that rain was in the forecast for today, but I didn't know we were going to get dumped on! I guess it doesn't matter for us, since our basement doesn't flood and I wasn't planning on doing anything outside today, but I wonder how people in flood-prone zones are doing.

I am starting to get more and more anxious on a daily basis. I wrote to my friend Mary Beth that today I am feeling anxious, fretful, overjoyed and terrified. I wouldn't call it "mood swings" per se, because I am really feeling all of them intertwined.

The doctor changed my offical due date back to April 1st, after having gone on a due date of April 7th for the last 3 or so months. I don't know if it's because they see some sort of progress that they're not telling me about or what. I am still going by April 7th. It would be ideal if I could go into labor on the afternoon of the 5th, or anytime on the 6th or 7th. That way Joe wouldn't have to miss any school (he has the 6th off for Good Friday, and the 7th is a Saturday). Then he has the whole following week off from school for spring break.

So anyway, according to the doctor I am 38 weeks and 4 days, meaning that by their count I am only 10 days away from delivery! It is completely exciting and paralyzing. Like I said, I am much more comfortable thinking that the baby will come April 5, 6, or 7, but I know that everything happens in its own time and we just have to be ready. I still haven't packed our hospital bag but I have started to think about what needs to go in it and have started gathering things together. I know it's something that has to be done, but I am the kind of person who, if the bag is packed and sitting by the door, it sresses me out, taunting me, reminding me every time I see it how long I have until I'm likely to need it.

I really need to get out of the house and get my mind off this, but like I said, downpour, plus I am waiting for the UPS man to come back and deliver our diaper bag. According to the online tracking, I missed him by EIGHT MINUTES yesterday, so they rescheduled delivery for anytime between 10:30am-5pm today. Uuuuuuggggghhhhhhhh.

Something I had never seen before

2007-03-19T20:50:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, driving home from church, I saw a dead gull in the road on The 33. It was weird. I'm guessing it hadn't been there long because it looked pretty pristine, just all sprawled out. Even though there are so many thousands of gulls everywhere, it made me a little sad just for a second.

Feeling huge and grouchy

2007-03-18T16:21:00.000-04:00

Today is the first day I've really just felt large and irritable. I must admit though, the irritable part is probably stemming not from my huge belly, but from the fact that I am doing my ST-100 (NYS Sales Tax). They switched me from filing quarterly to yearly, which I thought was a good thing... until I am now in the process of figuring out sales tax due for the entire past year.

This is not my idea of a good time.

I am hungry and I feel crummy

2007-03-15T09:25:00.000-04:00

I feel like I didn't get enough sleep last night, but I did get about 8.5 hours. I must have just slept kind of fitfully. Last night was the first time I've had to get up to go to the bathroom twice in the same night. The first time I had a little trouble getting back to sleep, around 1:30am.

As much as I've enjoyed being pregnant (I've had a WONDERFUL pregnancy, no morning sickness, no back pain (other than a few pinched nerves back in February), and no real trouble sleeping) I'm really starting to feel ready to move to the next stage. I don't want to be in too much of a hurry, because I really have tried to take everything one day at a time and enjoy this all for what it is (and I know once the baby comes out, I can't ever just put him back in and take a nap) but I am starting to become anxious for what's next.

I had my 36 week appointment on Tuesday. The doctor did an exam but didn't say anything about any progress toward labor. I didn't really expect there to be MUCH progress, since I still had 3 1/2 weeks to go, but I guess I expected him to say SOMETHING. I have my next appointment on Monday (I have to go weekly now) so I guess I'm hoping there will be some progress then.

I am currently 36 weeks, 5 days according to my EDD (estimated due date) of April 7th, which I came up with based on the fact that I had longer than "regular" 28 day cycles - mine were around 34-35 days. My EDD based on the first day of my last period (which is how the doctors usually figure it) was April 1st, which would make me 37 weeks, 4 days (almost a full week farther along), and my EDD based on how they measured the baby at the official ultrasound was April 3rd, which would make me 37 weeks, 2 days.

Basically what I'm saying is that there's a chance my EDD of April 7th, which is what I've been going by, is wrong and later than it should be, but I've been operating under the assumption that I would rather deliver "early" according to my mental EDD than be "overdue." It's all mental, but anyway, I guess I'm expecting to deliver anytime during the first week of April. I hope I'm not way overdue like my mom was with me - she says I was born 11 days late. Ugh, I don't want to wait that long!!!

Thanks for the "convenience"

2007-03-12T15:22:00.000-04:00

Cost of a gallon of 1% milk at Wegmans: $1.89
Cost of a gallon of 1% milk at Wilson Farms: $3.19

Wow. I understand that Wilson Farms is a convenience store and things generally cost more, but that is a whopping difference. I could see more of a need for the cost difference if Wilson Farms were a freestanding mom-n-pop store, but it's a chain, a huge chain, owned by the same company that owns Tops.

Anyway, WHAT A RIP OFF.

The problem with names like "Haley"

2007-03-12T11:28:00.000-04:00

On the message board I use, there are often posts titled, "What do you think of this name?" or "Top three boy names... WDYT?" (For those of you not up on the lingo, WDYT = what do you think.) Some of the names are great, some are hideous, some are waaaaaay overused, and some are really uncommon and intriguing.

Besides not being a fan of any of the it-names of the moment (boys - Aiden, Hayden, Jayden, Gavin, Jackson, Liam... girls - Emily, Emma, Madison, Olivia, Sophia, Abigail), I have a problem with names that have multiple "accepted" spellings, because it means your kid is forevah going to have to spell (or even pronounce) his/her name.

Take the name "Haley." I have seen the following variations, all of which are considered "acceptable."
Haley
Hayley
Haylee
Haylie
Haleigh
Hayleigh
(and there might be more)
*These are not to be confused with Halle, Hallie, or Halley (the above names are pronounced with a hard A, these are pronounced with a soft A).

I was infurated by one post saying the girl was mad at her mother-in-law for pronouncing their unborn baby's name (Haylee) as "Hail-ee" and not "Hay-lee." I'm serious, I sat in front of my computer for a good 30 seconds saying, "Hail-ee. Hay-lee. Hail-ee. Hay-lee." I COULD FIND NO DIFFERENCE. NONE. Maybe this family lives in a part of the country where they have some weird twang in their voice that creates a distinction, but HOLY RUCKSACK, if you are getting bent out of shape about something like that, do you not think it's going to happen the baby's ENTIRE LIFE and that you (and she) are going to have to deal with this FOR-EV-ER?

Also, there is the problem of people trying to use "cute" or "unique" spellings for the name, not thinking about the fact that they're setting their child up for a lifetime of "Let me spell that for you."

Instead of just naming a little girl Sidney or Sydney, I'm seeing variations like Sydnee, Sidni, and Sydnie. Or instead of Zachary, a name I really kind of like, I'm seeing Zackary and Zacharee. Gag me. With an electric mixer.

We're considering names that are all well out of the top #50 names in the Social Security Administration database... I think they're all actually out of the top #100. Some aren't even in the top #500. However, they're not "strange" - they're just not the it-names of the moment, because I can't name my kid something every third parent in the country considered for their child. And if these names ever have to be spelled for someone, it's just because the name's not uber-popular right now, or the person asking is an idiot.

GATTACA

2007-03-12T11:27:00.000-04:00

http://health.msn.com/pregnancykids/pregnancy/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100157198>1=9145

For those of you who watch American Idol...

2007-03-08T10:54:00.000-05:00

Were the judges watching the same performances last night? It seems like they're just so eager to heap praise on the female singers. Melinda can belt it out of the park, Stephanie has a great voice (I wish she'd sing a wider range of stuff) and LaKisha has a big voice too, but the other performers were totally "ehhhhh" to me.

Jordin, who usually seems a lot more effortless, sounded like she was yelling and out of breath. Sabrina has a good voice, but for me lacks anything that makes her memorable or different. Antonella needs to go home a month ago, and Haley's time is just plain up.

Gina, who I like, and WANT to like... well, the best thing I can say about her performance is that she made me appreciate what a good singer Amy Lee really is.

Not sleepy... Frustrated

2007-03-07T23:07:00.000-05:00

This is the first time in forever that Joe has fallen asleep first. I got up at 8am today so I feel like I should be more tired, but I tried to go to sleep and I just couldn't. I was all fidgety and I didn't want to wake him up with my kicking and tossing so I got up and turned the computer back on. I've got RLS (restless leg syndrome) working overtime and I'm just wide awake. I don't know why... I haven't had any caffeine or sugar for hours.

Tomorrow Kim & Jayden are coming up and we're going to the outlet mall together. The Carters store has everything 50% off and I have a coupon for an additional 20% off one item so I'll buy at least one thing. We're really pretty much set for clothes though, so unless I find something super cute that I think I might not see again, I probably won't get too much. I need to go to the Motherhood Maternity store too, but other than that I don't really have an agenda for the trip. It was more her idea and I'm just tagging along. I made her promise not to walk too fast.

Stuff has been going on here... Joe started his subbing at Fred. H.S. last Wednesday. I'm adjusting to being home alone every day. It's really boring, but I do have more time to get stuff done I guess. He's in there with the regular teacher (to observe & help out) until Friday, then on Monday he starts in by himself for at least 4 weeks. She's going out for surgery and would like to be out for only 4 weeks but doesn't know at this point. That 4 weeks puts us exactly to my due date.

That's right, I am due in one month. One month from today. Craozy, huh? We had our second baby shower this past Saturday and we were definitely showered with gifts. I couldn't believe everyone's generosity. We got some really cute stuff, and some really practical stuff too. It was wonderful. At this point, the only things we need that we don't have are the sheets for the bassinet (which I can easily get at Target anytime) and the extra carseat base for Joe's car (sold out at Babies R Us and ALL THREE local Toys R Us, and not sold in store at Target or Walmart). If we don't get that immediately, it's not a huge deal, since we usually go places in my car anyway. I would just like to have it sooner rather than later so we can go to the fire station and make sure the bases are installed properly.

I spent part of this afternoon designing birth announcements. I have both a vertical and a horizontal template laid out, just waiting for a photo to be put in. And the name (whcih we still haven't decided), and the birthdate & birth specifics. I made a green one and a blue one. Joe thinks he likes the blue better but I think I'm just going to wait and see which looks better with whatever picture we end up using. I just wanted to get the thing designed now so that it can be tweaked, printed, and out in the mail a.s.a.p. after the baby's born. I'm trying to figure out how many I'm going to need to have printed... probably around 35? Maybe 40. I'm sure I'll want to keep one or two for ourselves, maybe one to frame, definitely one to put in the baby book. That's right, I'm doing a baby book. I wasn't sure if I would or not, but I am doing one. I think it's cute.

Other than that, there's not a whole lot else going on... I mean, what I just described sounds like enough though, right?

Update, 11:50pm:
I think I'm sleepy enough to go to bed now... here's hoping!

Now to bring the mood down a notch or two...

2007-03-02T13:45:00.000-05:00

This is the email I sent to a few friends on Wednesday:

I am starving but I got bitched out yesterday at the doctor for gaining too much weight (I'm up 29 lbs. at this point). The nutritionist, who weighs me at each appointment and talks to me about the gain, was nicer about it and just told me to watch myself, but the actual doctor (who is about 5'0" and 100 lbs, I'm not kidding) was such a freaking asshat about it. She kept going on and on... and ON. Telling me that I'm in the "danger zone" for weight gain and that I'm going to have "SO MUCH WORK" to do to lose the weight after I have the baby, and ideally, not only should I lose the baby weight, but an additional 50-60 pounds as well because 200 lbs is "just not healthy" for my height (which I know, but my BP is always normal, I am not dropping sugar or protein in my urine, and I did not develop gestational diabetes). She kept referring to my BMI and the fact that I've gained the amount of pregnancy weight they recommend for "normal" women. "Did you know that your ideal weight for your height is 140-150 pounds?" Lady, I have not weighed 150 lbs. since I was in the freaking 8th or 9th grade.

I GET IT. I AM OVERWEIGHT. The thing is though, although I did feel overweight at 200 lbs, my pregnancy starting weight, I had just gained 15 lbs since going off the birth control patch the previous March. For 3 years I held steady around 185 lbs and felt pretty content at that weight. Even as a Jr/Sr in high school, when I was in shape and on the volleyball team & track team, I STILL weighed around 170-175. I was not skinny by any means, but I was healthy and I have never wanted to be a size 6... I would just like to be a size 12 or 14 again (I was size 16 at the start of pregnancy) so I can shop at "normal" stores and not have to buy pants at Lane Bryant.

Anyway, if Joe hadn't been there, I probably would have cried. He assured me that he still loves me, that I don't look like a fat whale (to him at least), and we went home and snuggled. If I had been coming home to an empty house, I probably would have eaten a pound of spaghetti and 10 peanut butter cups. I am normally NOT a "comfort eater" (seriously, I hardly ever eat potato chips, cookies (except those kickass ones at the shower) or candy bars) but the way she talked to me about "Don't eat any carbs! Don't drink anything but water and milk! No fruit juice! No pasta! No cereal!" made me want to go eat it all immediately. Bitch. I SO hope she's not the one on call the day I go into labor.

This is gay.

2007-03-01T17:49:00.000-05:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17388702/?GT1=9145

Happy 3rd Anniversary to us!

2007-02-28T13:40:00.000-05:00

To celebrate our anniversary, I booked the same room in the same hotel where we stayed the night we got married... king size bed & a jacuzzi! I'm getting ready to leave to drive down there now, and Joe's meeting me after school! (Coincidentally enough, the hotel is in Fredonia, where he just started his new teaching job today!!!)

To many more happy & healthy years!

Pictures of our baby shower decorations

2007-02-28T13:35:00.000-05:00

Big thanks go out to Carolyn & John for all the decorations and all the work hanging them up!

No photos from the actual shower are ready to upload yet, but thanks to everyone who came for making it a great party!!!

I got a NEW new watch.

2007-02-18T19:47:00.000-05:00

We had to go back to the outlet mall because the watch I got on Thursday had a loose pin that caused it to fall off while I was wearing it (luckily it happened at home and Joe was able to find the pin). Unfortunately, they were unable to replace the pin and they didn't have another of the same watch, so I had to pick a new one, but I'm really pleased that I found this one:

I didn't see it when we were there on Thursday or I would have tried it on then! I really like it. The segments on the band are a little angular and will take a bit of getting used to, but the face is very similar to the watch I lost and I like that a lot. I'm glad to have this watch, and hope that it doesn't have any defective parts!! (It did come with a 1 year warranty though, so I will save the receipt just in case!)

Voila... presto chango!

2007-02-16T19:09:00.000-05:00

To add a finishing touch to all the painting work we did in the kitchen, we bought a curtain rod and some plain white curtains for the window, and we hung up the sconces Joe's dad gave me for Christmas. I went to Pier 1 and picked out these translucent orange glass candle holders and some "mango papaya" scented tealights. I wanted "ginger peach" which is my favorite Pier 1 scent, but apparently it was discontinued... over a year ago. I don't go to Pier 1 very often.

Looks nice, eh?

Seriously, idiots.

2007-02-16T13:58:00.000-05:00

Post on message board:
I'm due April 17th and everyone keeps saying that i only look 5 or so months pregnant. My favorite is when they say "are you sure you're 8 months along" - no, I'm like Britney Spears and have no idea how far along I am in my pregnancy. UGH!

My reply:
The hilarious thing is that if you're due April 17th, you're NOT 8 months along, and you actually have no idea where you are in your pregnancy! You're not even 7 months until tomorrow!

I "finally" got a new watch!

2007-02-16T11:13:00.000-05:00

We went up to the Niagara Falls outlet mall last night and there is a Fossil store there (good brand, I've had three Fossil watches in the past) so we went in and looked and I ended up getting this watch. I like the fact that it has a green face... really uncommon!

I lost my lavendar faced Nine West watch just before Christmas. We were at volleyball one night at the Knights of Columbus and I took it off and put it in my coat pocket for safe keeping. The only thing I can think of is that when I put my coat on to leave and took my car keys out of the pocket, it pulled the watch out too and it fell on the floor without me noticing. As soon as I realized the watch was gone (the next morning) we went to the K of C and looked around but it was nowhere to be found. I had it for about 2 years so it wasn't new by any means, but it was a nice looking watch and definitely in good enough shape that I wouldn't be surprised if someone found it and decided to keep it instead of turning it in. I was really upset, because I liked that watch A LOT and I haven't been able to find any more like it, in the Nine West brand or any other.

Anyway, the only thing that bugs me about this watch is the fact that it has the little numerical date window, but I will get used to that. As someone who's used to wearing a watch every day, it's just nice to have a watch again!!!

Movies watched:

2007-02-14T23:27:00.000-05:00

Clerks II: One word - Terrible.

Broken Flowers: I really liked this movie! I had heard it was good, and knowing a little bit about Jim Jarmusch I expected it to be interesting and well-shot... it was both! Bill Murray was really good, a lot like his character in "Lost in Translation" and the supporting acting was great too, especially the guy who played Winston (Jeffrey Wright). Hilarious. I enjoyed the movie the whole way through and would definitely watch it again and recommend it.

Ho-Ly Crap

2007-02-13T09:38:00.000-05:00

I checked www.intellicast.com to see today's forecast and the current radar image. W-o-w.

That is a whole lotta something going on.

Less than 8 weeks, can you believe it?

2007-02-11T22:05:00.000-05:00

We went to a "Childbirth Preparation" class yesterday. It was 8 hours long. My butt & lower back definitely started to hurt after sitting in that chair for so long, but I would say I definitely had a positive experience. I learned several things about labor and a little bit about relaxation techniques. We also got to see several explicit birthing videos, which was not necessarily as cool, but it's all part of it I guess. I am glad we did it.

Friday we painted our kitchen... FINALLY! Now every room in our apartment is painted! YAY!

We painted the living room, dining room, spare bedroom, office (other spare bedroom), and bathroom within a month or two of moving in (June 2004), and we painted our own bedroom about 8 months later. We never painted the kitchen because I couldn't decide on a color. I thought an orange shade would look nice but I didn't want it to be "too much." Finally, I got the paint chips out again and picked a color (Behr's "cantaloupe slice" in eggshell) and Joe said I just wanted to have the kitchen painted before everyone came over for the baby shower (we're having the party here in 2 weeks). What's so wrong with that? Now it's done! Hooray!

Movies watched:

2007-02-08T19:35:00.000-05:00

Wedding Crashers: I actually had someone say to me, "You've never seen it? But you work AT weddings!" as if the movie is somehow required viewing for people working in the wedding industry. I liked it, thought it was funny, thought the performances were good, but let me tell you, those weddings in the movie are (in my experience) NOT accurate representations of weddings at all. They were all mid-afternoon receptions, tons of strangers dancing together... stuff that just doesn't really happen. Not around here at least! I thought the ending was terrible, but I don't have my pen poised to write an alternate ending either. It was enjoyable though.

The Devil Wears Prada: A lot better than I thought it would be!! I really enjoyed it! Sure, there were parts of it that seemed a little over the top, and I got a little sick of the neverending cattiness, but I thought it was really good! I even liked the ending. Most surprisingly pleasing movie that we've rented in a while... I had heard such mixed reviews that I didn't want to get my hopes up, but it was definitely better than I was expecting!

Ahhh, the intelligence of those soon to be raising children...

2007-02-07T11:59:00.000-05:00

I go on a certain pregnancy message board. There are a lot of helpful things I've found, tips for pregnancy and after birth, etc. However, there are a lot of really maddening things there too, like this:

Probably more than half the women on the message board have no idea how far along they are in terms of months, and constantly ask "How many months am I? When am I six months pregnant?"

I really really don't see how it's so hard to figure out, but there are an overwhelming number of women who count pregnancy as 10 months long ("lunar" months - I had never heard of this until I went on this message board) so they're going around saying they're 6 months pregnant when they still have a good 5 months til delivery (because not only do they consider 24 weeks as having completed an entire 6 months, they consider 20 weeks as starting the sixth month and therefore "6 months pregnant.") It is sickening.

This is my response to one such post:

You crack me up, seriously.

Quoted text: "Whatever! I don't agree! In life, you say you are 25 years old when you turn 25, not when you have completed 25."

Process that for a moment. Do you realize what is wrong with your statement? YOU TURN 25 AFTER YOU HAVE COMPLETED 25 YEARS OF LIFE! Do you understand how your own statement completely contradicts the point you're trying to make?
You "turn" 25 on the 25th anniversary of your birth, meaning 25 complete years after you're born, just like a baby turns one after one year of life. You don't bring your baby home from the hospital and start telling people he's one year old!!

FYI everyone, pregnancy is 9 months long whether you like it or not. You can tell yourself whatever you want, but reality is that pregnancy IS nine months long, and it doesn't break down into an even, easy to translate to weeks system. Telling yourself and others that you're farther along than you are does no one any favors. What day are you due? Count back one month from that day and then you're 8 months pregnant. Another month and you're 7 months. If you're due January 1st, you're 8 months pregnant on December 1st, no matter how many weeks/days it works out to.

Enjoy your pregnancy for what it is... approximately 8 months of enjoying the awe of life growing inside you (after the first month when you don't know yet that you're pregnant).

Belly Update... 7 months today!!!!

2007-02-07T11:07:00.000-05:00

2 months to go - WOW!

Movies watched:

2007-02-01T06:38:00.000-05:00

Little Miss Sunshine: I enjoyed it, and I assume Joe did because he didn't say otherwise. It's not the best movie ever but I really did like it right up until Olive goes on stage at the pageant, at which point the movie stopped being enjoyable, and in my opinion, ended badly. I really, really liked Steve Carell's performance though, and Alan Arkin, although quite profane, was enjoyable to watch too. And the little girl, Abigail Breslin, was really pretty excellent. The other characters... ehhhh...

The Italian Job (the 1969 original): I liked it, but I now realize why there's a thread on the movie's IMDb messageboard called "Worst Ending Ever?" The movie just ends. They didn't even try to write and ending and fail. I guess I actually prefer it though, because it leaves it up to the viewer's imagination. I enjoy Michael Caine and this was my first time seeing him in a role as a younger man (the first movie I ever remember seeing him in was "The Cider House Rules"). It's a little campy in places, but it IS a 60's British movie, and the banter/dialogue is really pretty witty in places. I wouldn't tell anyone they had to watch this movie, but I bet $100 it's better than the remake (which I haven't seen, and don't plan on seeing).

Today is Christian Bale's birthday.

2007-01-30T09:28:00.000-05:00

I didn't realize he's married!!! Good for him. I had actually wondered how a guy like that could still be single.

Movies watched this past week:

2007-01-28T13:48:00.000-05:00

Ben-Hur: running time 3 hours, 32 minutes. It was good. I can see why it's a classic. I went into it not knowing anything about the story - I thought it was a 3 hour movie about chariot racing and had no idea it had anything to do with Jesus. I was glad that I was prepared for how long it was going to be, but I thought the pacing was good and it didn't really seem that long.

Who Killed The Electric Car?: running time 1 hour, 32 minutes. I fell asleep toward the end. Joe enjoyed it more than I did. I didn't really get anything out of it.

Million Dollar Baby: running time 2 hours, 12 minutes. Joe really liked it, as in, would watch it again. I liked it, and watched it the whole way through, and was interested the whole time, but would not watch it again and came away without really feeling anything in particular. I had heard it was really sad, and it was kind of, but not at all to the degree I thought it would be (and I am an emotional pregnant woman!). I didn't feel any attachment toward the characters, so when the story unfolded at the end, I didn't really feel any strong emotion about it. Joe liked it a lot though.

We accidentally returned them to the wrong Blockbuster. We pretty much always rent from one particular store, but were getting sick of their selection so we went to one farther down Delaware. When we returned them 5 or so days later, we took them to the original store by accident. Oops! I called this afternoon when I realized what we had done, but the kid said they had already fixed it (the stores are considerably less than a mile apart). He sounded annoyed. I was calling to apologize!! Sheesh!

Thirty Weeks... Wow. 3/4 of my pregnancy is behind me!

2007-01-27T23:38:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it. I have tried really hard to take everything one day at a time, not take it all for granted, and not spend every day wondering what was coming next. I want to enjoy my pregnancy without dwelling on anything and without making it go by too fast by always wanting to see what's around the bend.

I can't believe that in approximately 10 weeks, the baby living inside me will be born and have a face (that we can finally see) and a name and ... I really don't know. I'm starting to get into the really emotional part of pregnancy. I can't believe that it will suddenly be real, because up to this point it really still seems very fantastic.

I am really glad that everything in my pregnancy has gone so smoothly and I can only hope that it will continue that way until the end (and, of course, after). I'm so excited about the way I'm going to feel when I see our baby for the first time!

Yahoo, little baby! Grow!!

2007-01-20T12:49:00.000-05:00

According to the Third Trimester Fetal Development section of www.pregnancy.org, this is what our baby looks like this week (week 30):

By the end of the week he will (statistically speaking) be over 15 1/2 inches long and weigh almost 3 lbs!!!

So far this week...

2007-01-19T19:27:00.000-05:00

it has been really strange not going to the paper. Not like I wake up with a feeling of dispair, that I've lost my identity because I no longer work there, but just a general feeling of uncertainty.

We have watched The Machinist (really good) and The Illusionist (alright) starring my two favorite actors. It was bizarre to see Christian Bale so sickeningly thin (and that's an understatement) but I really enjoyed the movie otherwise. Somewhat Memento meets Fight Club in a way. Edward Norton was fairly good in The Illusionist, but having just seen The Presige a few months ago (yes, starring Christian Bale), I couldn't help comparing the two and The Prestige came out the obvious winner.

I am baking meatloaf right now. It smells pretty good.
1 lb. 90% lean ground beef
1/2 cup water
1/2 package Stove Top stuffing mix
1/8 cup of ketchup mixed with BBQ sauce
sprinkle of brown sugar
Bake at 375 for 45 minutes
Serves: 4
- Side dish of Carolina Long Grain & Wild Rice
Total cost: Approx $4.00

I have a meeting tomorrow at 2pm then I guess we're going to hang out with Turck & Joe H, get some dinner, etc. Sounds fun, as we haven't hung out with anyone except our volleyball team lately (other than New Years). I'm hoping we can all agree to go to Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican restaurant over near the Galleria. I've eaten there 3 times and really enjoyed it each time! Plus, because of the new church we started going to, I have a discount (printed in the church bulletin each week) to get 15% off!!

I wish we had more movies to watch, but we got our rent one get one free deal for the week and I don't want to pay full price to rent a movie (I'm such a cheapskate). Like how we waited months for Stranger Than Fiction (good movie!) to play at the $3 theater instead of paying $6.00 (after discount tickets we get from the zoo) to see it at the Regal. I'm hoping The Departed will go to the $3 theater soon. We did use discount tickets to see The Prestige at the Regal because I just couldn't wait!

If [getting a discount on everything] is lame, then I guess I'm just a big lame.

Belly Pictures from 1/5/07

2007-01-17T10:36:00.000-05:00

6 months! 3 months til we meet the baby! Yes, those stretch marks are heinous, but que sera sera. I'm just glad I'm not huge yet! I know there's still plenty of time for that, but I'm holding out hope that maybe I won't become a house.

(For the record, that is my 2001 Warped Tour T-shirt - I can still wear all the same shirts! Hopefully that will continue for a while... I like my shirt collection!)

What's the correlation between parents' education level and made up names?

2007-01-16T23:16:00.000-05:00

A girl on the pregnancy message board I use is 21 years old, has been married 6 months, and is 8.5 months pregnant.

They are naming the baby girl Nayome Joychelle.

Oy.

Hopefully to come, a hit from Bobcaygeon

2007-01-16T08:32:00.000-05:00

I got a hit to my pro website from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, where the unknown won't even go. So excited! I needed something to make this sad Tuesday morning a little happier.

Edna, our beloved hamster, passed away yesterday

2007-01-15T22:15:00.000-05:00

She lived with us, along with her sister Ilsa, from May 19, 2005 until November 9, 2005 when Ilsa passed away after appearing weak for several days. Edna continued to live with us, alone but seemingly happy, until Sunday January 14, 2007.

We had noticed that she seemed like she had lost a little weight and hadn't been running on her wheel as much lately but she was up and very active as recently as last Monday the 8th when we took this video. I discovered her on Sunday afternoon, curled up in her hidey-hole snuggled in her little blanket (a piece of an old towel). We said our tearful goodbyes and buried her in the backyard next to her sister.

Goodbye, sweet hammy babes.

Dove "Real Beauty"

2007-01-15T05:37:00.000-05:00

http://about-face.org/blog/archives/21

My cousin Nate's wife Ashley had this link posted on her blog. It's a short video showing the transformation from regular girl into billboard model. With a degree in Advertising Photography, it's really not shocking to me (other than the fact that the stop-action video made it look REALLY easy - I wonder what kind of specialized programs they're using), but I think it probably is more than most people think about when they see a photograph on a billboard or in a magazine. I have a hard time watching shows like "America's Next Top Model" because I can see the retouching that has gone into their photos... They film the shoot, we can see what's happening, but then the photos that they show during each elimination round are so glossed over, so perfected.

If you want to be disturbed by photo retouching, check out any or all of the images on this website - http://www.glennferon.com, particularly this one - http://www.glennferon.com/portfolio1/portfolio15.html. The guy does amazing work, yes. But it is amazing in a very sickening way.

That's why I do the style of photography that I do - it's real.

Pictures with our new camera!

2007-01-12T22:48:00.000-05:00

The new camera

Macro shots R cool

Our "nursery" as of a week ago... Lots to be done!

My friend Carolyn from work

My friend Samantha from the Wilson Farms next to the paper

My friend Courtney from work

Courtney's boobs, real and dream-world

Pictures from my last day at the Gazette

2007-01-12T22:43:00.000-05:00

I know that pretty much everyone who reads my blog has no idea who these people are, but most of them have been my co-workers for the past year. Wednesday January 10th was my last day (I got "let go" due to budget cutbacks) so I took a bunch of pictures to remember everyone. If you're interested...

Pictures from the Newspaper

We bought it.

2007-01-05T20:40:00.000-05:00

We also ended up buying the warranty to cover any internal malfunction or physical damage over the next 4 years (they'll replace a broken/cracked screen one time). $511 later, I am happy to have the camera... I think we will really enjoy it!

Am I prepared to spend $379 on a point & shoot?

2007-01-02T22:34:00.000-05:00

Gulp.

Happy 2007!

2007-01-01T19:39:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year everyone. Fun party last night, I hope YY posts some pictures. I think I'm going to buy the digital camera that Laura has... I really liked it. Good times.

Merry Christmas to all!

2006-12-21T14:37:00.000-05:00

Hope you all are enjoying the holiday season and have a safe New Years Eve!

whattheduck.net

2006-12-20T18:50:00.000-05:00

Probably funnier to a photographer, but come on, if you have any sense of humor...

Archives> WTD #49: Past Tense

Riches!!!

2006-12-18T22:36:00.000-05:00

We finally finished taking back all of our cans & bottles today. I'm not sure how long it had been since we last did it... a long while. We took a batch Saturday, a batch yesterday, and the last batch today. We got $34.70 total. It's a good heap of stuff out of "the baby's room" but there's still a long way to go!!!

23w2d ultrasound

2006-12-13T07:31:00.000-05:00

I am now 5 months and 5 days pregnant. It's going by really fast and I'm just trying to enjoy it and take it one day at a time, but it's so hard to keep from being anxious and curious about what's coming next!

What?! How can this be?

2006-12-10T08:31:00.000-05:00

Joe and I have been talking about getting a point and shoot digital camera what with the baby on the way and all. Obviously with my background, there are certain things about the camera that are going to be a pretty big deal to me and I won't be happy with just a run of the mill piece of junk.

My cousin Nate had an in-depth review of the camera he just bought, the Finepix F30, on his blog. I was really impressed with what he said about it and started checking it out. I was horrified to see that the camera has no optical viewfinder!!! I left a comment on his blog asking him to email me any more thoughts about the camera. Then this morning, looking through store ads, I am equally horrified to see that most, if not ALL, point and shoot digital cameras have no optical viewfinder!!!! I completely understand the small discrepancy between what shows in an optical viewfinder and the actual image being recorded on the sensor, but to entirely eradicate the viewfinders from ALL small digital cameras? AAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! No really, AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

What time and how burnt?

2006-12-09T15:58:00.000-05:00

I can never get over the times that people ask me if I took a certain photo in my portfolio or on my website. Seriously.

Last night I met with an older couple (late 30's, early 40's) and the groom-to-be asked me if I usually take a picture of the cake. I said, "Yes, if there is a cake at the reception, I take a photo of it." He said, "What about the couple with the cake?" I wasn't really sure what he meant so I asked, "You mean a formal posed photo of the couple with the cake? Not usually, not unless I'm asked." He flipped back a few pages in my portfolio album to a picture of a couple smashing the cake in each other's faces. This photo, specifically:

He pointed to it and said, "Did you take this picture?"

I wanted to say, "What do you think?" Of COURSE I took the picture. If you had any reason to think that I didn't, that I was displaying someone else's work as my own, should you even be talking to me, considering hiring me? SERIOUSLY.

The same couple said, while flipping through my album, "These pictures are good!" with a hint of surprise in their voices. What did they expect? I usually just say thank you, but I sometimes I want to ask, "You expected less?" Joe says I just take everything to personally. I think some people are just idiots.

Anyone else have any predictions?

2006-12-06T19:00:00.000-05:00

Madame Zaritska, our resident clairvoyant, wants to help you prepare for the arrival of your child. Here she does her best to predict certain aspects of your labor and birth experience.

What she senses for you:
The day you deliver, outside will be hazy. Your baby will arrive in wee hours of the morning .

After a labor lasting approximately 9 hours, your child, a boy, will be born. Your baby will weigh about 6 pounds, 15 ounces, and will be 19 inches long. This child will have light blue eyes and some blond hair.

Bowling, mustachios, and other nonsense

2006-11-29T06:41:00.000-05:00

We met up with some old friends to go bowling on Friday night. Bowling itself was pretty fun I guess. We hadn't been in so long, and I just wanted to do it! However, I used two different balls and really didn't like either, and never got in a groove. I got one strike though I think, possibly two.

Wyatt brought fake mustaches for everyone to wear. (Strange that he didn't "get" to wear one since he has a REAL mustache.) I wore one for about 15-20 minutes, but the adhesive was really starting to bother my skin, and also it was so wide that the little fibers were touching my nose. Joe wore his the whole time. Joe Holler's made him look REALLY hilarious - Wyatt? Pictures? Turck's was a gray "grandpa" style mustache and did not look real but was hilarious nonetheless - Wyatt? Pictures?

Driving down Fluvanna Ave from the bowling alley to the Cherry Lounge, we had to go through a police roadblock for DWI. The cop leaned down real close and asked me some questions, where I was going, etc. I told him we were going to the Cherry Lounge. When he couldn't smell any alcohol and I was responding satisfactorily, he told me to drive carefully because they'd been getting some DWI's and to have a good night. We drove on.

The Cherry Lounge sucked because it was packed and I had to shout to talk to Wyatt even though he was sitting approximately 3 feet from me. I was glad when we didn't stay there that long. Joe and I were getting ready to go home when everyone decided to go get pizza. I don't remember the name of the place, and I've only been there a few times before, but DANG their crust is good. After pizza, when everyone else (except maybe Randy & Laura I think - married couples are so much fun) decided to go to Shawbucks, Joe and I said our goodnights. Even though we left right then, it was still a little after 1am when we got home because we had to drive all the way back to his parents' house.

Driving down Third Street to get out of Jamestown, we came across yet another police roadblock. As we pulled up, I said to Joe, "Isn't that the same guy?" He said, "No, they just all look the same." I put my window down and the guy leaned in real close and asked how I was doing and said, "Didn't we talk to you earlier tonight?" I said, "I TOLD him you were the same guy but he said no!" The cop just laughed and told us to have a good night. I bet my breath smelled like pizza real good.

I wonder what the chances are to get stopped at two police DWI roadblocks in the same night, across town, at 10:30pm and 12:15am, by the same cop, and be completely stone sober both times.

Posting slowdown

2006-11-22T07:16:00.000-05:00

I have been pretty busy the last couple weeks with reprint orders, working at the paper, visiting relatives, and general day to day stuff.

We went to see Chrissy & John and got some Christmas shopping done (she lives near the Waterloo outlet mall which is cool) but there's still a ways to go. Glad Joe's family makes Christmas lists, because it makes it easier to just pick something to buy. However, if you want to buy a certain item, you have to do it quick or someone else does it, then you have to pick something else.

Today I have to work at the paper, then we're supposed to go to Courtney & Trish's for some Thanksgiving fun, then volleyball 7-8pm, then some people are going back to their apartment for more fun but we'll probably go home (because their fun involves heavy drinking and well, I've never been there or done that, but it still doesn't interest me). We haven't decided yet if we're going down to Joe's family's house tonight or tomorrow morning. I guess we'll just wait and see how we feel tonight after volleyball.

I'm looking forward to getting together with everyone for Thanksgiving. Hopefully everything goes as smoothly as it normally does and we can enjoy the time "back home."

New belly pictures!

2006-11-16T09:45:00.000-05:00

Can you believe I am halfway done with my pregnancy? It's so weird!

These pictures were taken last night at 20 weeks, 3 days:

That's the difference between my belly exposed and under a shirt... it looks so different! And these pictures were taken just minutes apart, just enough time for me to change my clothes. My belly looks pregnant in the first one, but in the second one, I just look like I enjoy pie too much!

Today, working from home is more like procrastinating from home

2006-11-09T13:39:00.000-05:00

I need to buckle down and do some work. I have reprint orders out the wazoo (I'm talking 6, which is a lot to have at one time... why did everyone have to order RIGHT NOW?) and I am sick as a dog and don't feel like working.

In the last 2 days, I have gone through more than one entire full-size box of Puffs Ultra, and I can't take any medicine because of the fragile beebee inside my uterus. My throat hurts, my head hurts (I can take regular Tylenol, but I only took two about 5 hours ago and they didn't do anything), and my nose has just finally cut down on the constant snot drippage.

On a positive note, I was contacted by a site where I did a wedding in August and they'd like to use some of my photos both in a print brochure and also on their website with full photo credit. Also, a florist I worked with in August is doing a trade show and wants to order three of my photos as 11x14 to hang up in her booth. Sweet.

These are the photos the florist wants for display:

and this is an additional one that she will display on her website: