Around the same time Matt and I started dating one of the big holiday movies was "As Good as it Gets" which starred Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, Jack Nicholas and for some reason, a very weird little dog. In that movie, somewhere amidst all the drama Helen Hunt's character says one of my favorite movie lines of all time:
"We all have these terrible things to get over!"
I know its not witty, or funny or intense or any of the things favorite movie lines are probably supposed to be, but back at the time, I was no where near as well adjusted as I try to be today and the statement rang very, very true in my ears.
Personally: Do I have some terrible things in my past that I need(ed) to get over to find any peace and happiness in my life? Yes.
But also: So does everyone else.
Seriously!
Think about it? Have you ever known a person, no matter how happy they are, who hasn't gone through something that traumatized them (or continues to traumatize them) in some very personally way?
I can't think of anyone.
And that is one of the most reassuring realizations I have ever had.
Back in the winter of 1998 when the movie was out, it occurred to me, honestly for the first time, that no matter how much "shit" I went through with my parents, and how messed up I might have been because of it... I was not alone.
Everyone has been through something terrible.
That, my friends, is life.
I don't know why. I don't know if its God's plan for us, or His testing us, or Satan fighting for our souls, or the result of fate or freewill and bad choices or what... but life for everyone has a nasty tendency to really suck lemons sometimes.
I bring this up today because this particular week has sucked a lot of lemons for me. A lot. (No, I am not about to launch into a spiel about making lemonade, although... yum...) And, I reached a point yesterday evening where it was time to sit down, cry it out and have a nice little pity party for myself. (Stop judging me, you know you've done it, and sometimes its a good healthy way to deal with stuff.) So this morning, on the flip side of a good night's sleep and greeted with the happy prospect of the morning sunshine, I was mulling over everything in the car while I drove to work and suddenly and for no reason at all my movie line popped into my mind. I started to feel better.
"We all have these terrible things to get over."
Oh yea!!!
We all have terrible weeks and a lot of really stupid, bad things happen sometimes.
In my case, these things inevitably happen when Matt is underway and completely unable to help, but that is beside the point.
My problems are no bigger than anyone else's. My problems are NOT any indicator that I am some sort of horrible malfunctioning person, that I don't deserve to be happy nor that I will end up like my mother. My problems, are actually the spice of life and by overcoming them I have become the person I am today. The strong, capable, caring (although sometimes grumpy and very anti-morning) person that I am today.
buck·eye - noun, \ˈbək-ˌī\ 1: any of various shrubs or trees (genus Aesculus) of the horse-chestnut family; also : the large nutlike seed of such a shrub or tree 2: capitalized : a native or resident of Ohio — used as a nickname
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Kid Cuteness
The other morning I was teaching a class of 3rd graders. We were reviewing a lesson on basic rhythm and I was asking for someone to please tell me the name of a note I was pointing to in the music. (It happened to be a quarter note.) So an adorable little girl raised her hand, I called on her and she told me "It's a quarterback!"
:)
This morning at the end of a 45 minute lesson with 4th graders the children were lining up. During the lesson we'd been reviewing the names of the pitches on the staff in treble clef and then used that to learn to play "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" on xylophones. In a lame attempt at summarizing and wrapping up the lesson I told the students that they should all go home after school and proudly tell their parents that in music they'd learned to play a whole song on a xylophone. A not-so-adorable little boy raised his hand and without waiting to be called on asked, "What's a xylophone?"
*sigh*
This next one isn't my story, but it cracks me up none the less. A friend of mine teaches kindergarten. A few years ago she had a student who was half Hawaiian/Half Filipino. One time, that student was trying to tell somebody about her heritage and she proudly said, "I'm half Hawaiian and half Jalapeno."
:)
Another time that same kindergarten teacher, who happens to be very skinny and about 6 feet tall was at Dairy Queen eating a Blizzard. One of her students was there at the same time. She walked up to her teacher, looked her and the ice cream over and asked "How can you eat that and stay so tall?"
:)
Working as a teacher there are good days and bad days. Lately, it seems like there have been more bad days than good for me, thanks to budget cuts and meetings and hormones and car trouble and a whole mess of other stuff. So, this afternoon I decided to take a few moments to remember some of the funny stuff the kids do and say because, in the end, it isn't the kids fault that all the ridiculous stuff happens and stresses me out. The kids are why I go to work every day even though I feel like just maybe I'm going crazy. The kids are awesome.
:)
This morning at the end of a 45 minute lesson with 4th graders the children were lining up. During the lesson we'd been reviewing the names of the pitches on the staff in treble clef and then used that to learn to play "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" on xylophones. In a lame attempt at summarizing and wrapping up the lesson I told the students that they should all go home after school and proudly tell their parents that in music they'd learned to play a whole song on a xylophone. A not-so-adorable little boy raised his hand and without waiting to be called on asked, "What's a xylophone?"
*sigh*
This next one isn't my story, but it cracks me up none the less. A friend of mine teaches kindergarten. A few years ago she had a student who was half Hawaiian/Half Filipino. One time, that student was trying to tell somebody about her heritage and she proudly said, "I'm half Hawaiian and half Jalapeno."
:)
Another time that same kindergarten teacher, who happens to be very skinny and about 6 feet tall was at Dairy Queen eating a Blizzard. One of her students was there at the same time. She walked up to her teacher, looked her and the ice cream over and asked "How can you eat that and stay so tall?"
:)
Working as a teacher there are good days and bad days. Lately, it seems like there have been more bad days than good for me, thanks to budget cuts and meetings and hormones and car trouble and a whole mess of other stuff. So, this afternoon I decided to take a few moments to remember some of the funny stuff the kids do and say because, in the end, it isn't the kids fault that all the ridiculous stuff happens and stresses me out. The kids are why I go to work every day even though I feel like just maybe I'm going crazy. The kids are awesome.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Baby Belly Photo 1
As I'm sure I've mentioned already in a previous post, I've been really starting to show in these last few weeks. That seems about right to me as I'm in my fourth month... but nevertheless, loads of people continue to tell me that I look like I am "so much further along." While this is an awesome compliment on so very, very many levels it is in no way any more annoying, I suppose, than when I was not pregnant at all, or even only 6-8 weeks along and not showing at all, but people would swear I was because I tend to have a little bit of a pot belly. (Yes, I know that a pot belly is absolutely one of least sexy physical attributes a girl could have, but this is the figure I inherited from my mother. oh lucky me.)
Anyway.
So pretty much since Christmas it has become more obvious that I'm growing rounder in the middle and a few of my far away friends have been asking to see pictures. So, in a second I am going to post one. Before I do though, I just really need to say that I am not the biggest fan of photographing my naked belly EVER, because like I said it tends to be where I carry all my fat. I am not really comfortable with the fact that in order to have a child my belly has to get even bigger and uglier in the process, but I am coping with it, because I feel incredibly blessed to even be able to carry this child. Big blessing= forcing myself to deal.
But: so help me if one more person tells me they think my bulging middle section is, "cute" I think I'm going to cry. There might be a baby in there, and I might be incredibly excited about that fact, but the additional fact that I am now shaped like a lima bean with legs, is, in my opinion absolutely NOT cute.
So enough stalling already, see for yourself. Here I, er, "we" are, 17 weeks along:
Please judge nicely, the hormones have been making me cry a lot lately.
I choose this one, out of the half dozen I took, despite the fact that is off center because I find it amusing that Brutus managed to get his little nosy head in there, (as if he doesn't appear on my blog enough.)
Anyway.
So pretty much since Christmas it has become more obvious that I'm growing rounder in the middle and a few of my far away friends have been asking to see pictures. So, in a second I am going to post one. Before I do though, I just really need to say that I am not the biggest fan of photographing my naked belly EVER, because like I said it tends to be where I carry all my fat. I am not really comfortable with the fact that in order to have a child my belly has to get even bigger and uglier in the process, but I am coping with it, because I feel incredibly blessed to even be able to carry this child. Big blessing= forcing myself to deal.
But: so help me if one more person tells me they think my bulging middle section is, "cute" I think I'm going to cry. There might be a baby in there, and I might be incredibly excited about that fact, but the additional fact that I am now shaped like a lima bean with legs, is, in my opinion absolutely NOT cute.
So enough stalling already, see for yourself. Here I, er, "we" are, 17 weeks along:
Please judge nicely, the hormones have been making me cry a lot lately.
I choose this one, out of the half dozen I took, despite the fact that is off center because I find it amusing that Brutus managed to get his little nosy head in there, (as if he doesn't appear on my blog enough.)
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Lake Poway Adventure
As I'm sure all of you know, last weekend was a 3 day because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Matt had to work on Saturday, so we were all the more eager to make something out of our free Monday. Also, the unseasonably warm weather in the 70s and 80s was due to continue for just a few more days before settling back into the dreary coldness of winter in San Diego where the highs only reach the low 60s and clouds have even been known to bring actual rain, so we thought we'd go out and enjoy the blessed weather.
We packed up the dog and a large bottle of water and headed out to lake Poway around 11:00. We'd heard loads of times what a nice area it is but had failed to make the whole 5 mile trip yet so we didn't know quite what to expect.
When we arrived we were greeted by a large parking lot surrounded by athletic fields, picnic pavilions and playgrounds. At the bottom of a hill lay the Lake itself with loads of ducks, boats to rent during the busy season and hiking trails running around the lake in several directions. We headed off around the lake expecting the path to lead us, oddly enough, around the lake. It did start off like that... but soon it divided into a lower pathway (presumably for fishermen and sadly off limits to dogs...) and a higher path which edged along further up the hill and quickly began carving further and further away from the lake, up and down increasingly large hills and even dividing off again into still other, more ominous looking trails which disappeared out of side around the back of the surrounding mountains.
We stayed as close to the lake as possible, hoping there would be a direct path to lead us around. Here is a photo of the lake as we were about half way around. It was pretty. Also, the burnt out plants from last year's fire were interesting to look at up close. You can see some in the front of this picture.
So we were having a good little hike. Sure, it was hot and we'd neglected to bring hats or even wear sun screen, but the lake wasn't very big. And Brutus was loving it! He sniffed and climbed and relieved himself all over the place. And, when he started to look weary we stopped and let him rest in the shade and drink some water.
The problem of course was me. On a normal day I drink about a gallon of water easily and am in "fair" shape. When I run at the gym I average about an additional third of a gallon during my short 3 mile run. A run which I haven't done since the first month I knew I was going to have a baby. So I was hot and out of breath and thirsty but we'd only brought the one bottle of water. The bottle from which my doggie was rapidly lapping up large portions. Oh, and it didn't help I was wearing flip flops. Comfy flip flops sure, but not exactly the best shoes for hiking up and down hills.
Also, you don't really realize how being pregnant affects your physical strength and endurance until you find yourself unexpectedly hiking up and down hills.
But you know it was fine.
Until we made it to the part of the path which split completely away from the lake and left us no other choice. I guess the Lake is dammed off on one side. (I'm not sure if this is a natural made or man made lake, but there is still the large dam and at the one side the path splits away from the lake and heads off into the canyon that was probably once filled with water. And that's right I said canyon. As in the one that we would soon be hiking in and around and up and down. Or I guess rather down into and then up our of again.
Here's a photo...
This picture was taken as my triumph photo because I took it as we neared the top of the path leading us OUT of the canyon and back to the lake and eventually the car in the parking lot. If you look closely you can see the path zig-zagging through the canyon. It was quite pretty in that So-Cal deserty sort of way. I could even appreciate the beauty through my heart attacks and lack of breath. Luckily Matt is very patient, in good shape and never drinks water when he works out so the water was left for me to to split with the doggie. The doggie who was able to supplement our water supply by lapping up a drink from several small trickling streams we passed along the way. Also, the doggie, we were recently informed by our veterinarian is in awesome physical shape, probably from running up and down the hill/cliff which makes up a large portion of our back yard. So, when I was dying, he pulled on his leash and Matt shoved me from behind and together somehow we all made it up all the hills.
The total hike was just under 3 miles and even though there were a few times along the way when I feared it might kill me, (or in the very least give me sun stroke,) I kind of can't wait to do it again. But with more water. And sun screen. And proper shoes. The trouble is Matt is at sea for the next few weekends and even with the dog, I don't think I should try it alone and pregnant. (Actually, I seriously wonder if I'd try it alone un-pregnant.) That's the weird thing about finishing something, no matter how much it hurt along the way, its easy to forget the pain thinking back and just relish in the triumph convincing yourself you can do it again.
We packed up the dog and a large bottle of water and headed out to lake Poway around 11:00. We'd heard loads of times what a nice area it is but had failed to make the whole 5 mile trip yet so we didn't know quite what to expect.
When we arrived we were greeted by a large parking lot surrounded by athletic fields, picnic pavilions and playgrounds. At the bottom of a hill lay the Lake itself with loads of ducks, boats to rent during the busy season and hiking trails running around the lake in several directions. We headed off around the lake expecting the path to lead us, oddly enough, around the lake. It did start off like that... but soon it divided into a lower pathway (presumably for fishermen and sadly off limits to dogs...) and a higher path which edged along further up the hill and quickly began carving further and further away from the lake, up and down increasingly large hills and even dividing off again into still other, more ominous looking trails which disappeared out of side around the back of the surrounding mountains.
We stayed as close to the lake as possible, hoping there would be a direct path to lead us around. Here is a photo of the lake as we were about half way around. It was pretty. Also, the burnt out plants from last year's fire were interesting to look at up close. You can see some in the front of this picture.
So we were having a good little hike. Sure, it was hot and we'd neglected to bring hats or even wear sun screen, but the lake wasn't very big. And Brutus was loving it! He sniffed and climbed and relieved himself all over the place. And, when he started to look weary we stopped and let him rest in the shade and drink some water.
The problem of course was me. On a normal day I drink about a gallon of water easily and am in "fair" shape. When I run at the gym I average about an additional third of a gallon during my short 3 mile run. A run which I haven't done since the first month I knew I was going to have a baby. So I was hot and out of breath and thirsty but we'd only brought the one bottle of water. The bottle from which my doggie was rapidly lapping up large portions. Oh, and it didn't help I was wearing flip flops. Comfy flip flops sure, but not exactly the best shoes for hiking up and down hills.
Also, you don't really realize how being pregnant affects your physical strength and endurance until you find yourself unexpectedly hiking up and down hills.
But you know it was fine.
Until we made it to the part of the path which split completely away from the lake and left us no other choice. I guess the Lake is dammed off on one side. (I'm not sure if this is a natural made or man made lake, but there is still the large dam and at the one side the path splits away from the lake and heads off into the canyon that was probably once filled with water. And that's right I said canyon. As in the one that we would soon be hiking in and around and up and down. Or I guess rather down into and then up our of again.
Here's a photo...
This picture was taken as my triumph photo because I took it as we neared the top of the path leading us OUT of the canyon and back to the lake and eventually the car in the parking lot. If you look closely you can see the path zig-zagging through the canyon. It was quite pretty in that So-Cal deserty sort of way. I could even appreciate the beauty through my heart attacks and lack of breath. Luckily Matt is very patient, in good shape and never drinks water when he works out so the water was left for me to to split with the doggie. The doggie who was able to supplement our water supply by lapping up a drink from several small trickling streams we passed along the way. Also, the doggie, we were recently informed by our veterinarian is in awesome physical shape, probably from running up and down the hill/cliff which makes up a large portion of our back yard. So, when I was dying, he pulled on his leash and Matt shoved me from behind and together somehow we all made it up all the hills.
The total hike was just under 3 miles and even though there were a few times along the way when I feared it might kill me, (or in the very least give me sun stroke,) I kind of can't wait to do it again. But with more water. And sun screen. And proper shoes. The trouble is Matt is at sea for the next few weekends and even with the dog, I don't think I should try it alone and pregnant. (Actually, I seriously wonder if I'd try it alone un-pregnant.) That's the weird thing about finishing something, no matter how much it hurt along the way, its easy to forget the pain thinking back and just relish in the triumph convincing yourself you can do it again.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
I guess I know now why my pants wouldn't stay up today...
I thought that the reason I spent the day hitchin' up my pants is because they are maternity pants and I am not that far along yet. But I was wrong. Apparently it is because I was meant to be a plumber today.
You see...
There is an unwritten rule of any Navy marriage that say when your spouse is home everything will generally be smooth sailing. However, as soon he ships out (be it for a day or for a year,) ANYTHING, and EVERYTHING, can and probably will go wrong.
Sound like a superstition to you? Or perhaps the whining of lonely wives who can't hack it?
Well its not.
From a historical perspective, in my own relationship, this has always manged to be true. As an example, consider the 4 flat tires I've had since college. (Yes, I do realize that 4 is an awfully high number of flat tires, even over a period of 8 years... but I don't want to talk about it so let's get back to my point...)
which is that each time I have had a flat tire, Matt was separated from my by the navy.
(The latest was this past May while Matt was on deployment.)
Anyway... let me get back to today. This morning as I was foraging through the refrigerator looking for lunch I nearly vomited at the rancid smell of rotten leftover Christmas turkey oozing out at me. I had a similar experience this afternoon when I got home from work and was looking for a snack. So, as a responsible wife, I decided to dispose of the foulness. But I wanted to get the awful chore over with as quickly as possible.
I shoved the leftover wing and drumstick into a zip lock bag (so it wouldn't stink up the kitchen) and tossed them in the trash. (Tomorrow is trash day, thankfully.) I then dumped the rest of the contents down the garbage disposal's sink and proceeded to shove the meat down the drain.
Unfortunately, by the time I was done, the turkey had disappeared but the water was no longer draining out of the sink. Instead I had a sink full of nasty turkey-plegm water making me start to gag again.
I ran the disposal for awhile longer and hopped the Insinkerator would catch up. (It didn't)
I stuck my hand down into the nastiness to pull out anything that might have been stuck in the disposal. (but didn't find anything.)
I tried the plunger, which as it turned out, only made massive amounts of Turkey-phlegm water shoot out of the little drain vent at the top of the sink. (I never knew what that thing was there before, and frankly I rather wish I still didn't.)
I tried some Draino. (This succeeded in making the Turkey-phlegm water smell like beach, and that's about it.)
So, I looked under the sink. The first thing I did was notice that one of the tubey-pipe things was unhooked. It was the one that connects the drain to the vent thing on top of the sink (where the plunger had made water shoot out) and since it was now unhooked, the turkey-flem water was pouring out everywhere under my sink. (Gross! I removed all the stuff and got some towels. So NASTY!)
I grabbed a screwdriver and managed to reattach the pipe/hosey thing that was leaking. This, however, had nothing to do with the original clog, but was merely an extra problem I had caused by trying to get the water to stop coming out of the sink vent. Awesomeness.
It was becoming pretty clear that the problem was an honest to goodness turkey clog in the pipes. (Suddenly flashes from that old episode of Full House where the girls wash their Dad's wedding ring down the drain and then flood the house trying to get it out of the pipe began to flash through my head... but I decided not to panic.)
Luckily, I figured out how to turn the water off, not that it mattered because this was a problem with the DRAIN, but I figured it was better to be safe than sorry.
So then, I decided the clog would be somewhere around the elbow joint. Isn't that the purpose of the elbow joint? Yeah, I don't know either, but it seemed like a good place to start. I grabbed a couple wrenches and tried to loosen the pipe.
or....Not so much.
You know how boys are just naturally stronger than girls? (Argue all you want, there is a reason why Matt was the one who rebuilt our retaining wall. Boys are just naturally stronger.) This particular piece of human nature, DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!
I fought with that stupid pipe for 30 minutes before it even budged. What makes it so much more annoying is that I am positive Matt would have gotten it on the first try. And the best part was... it was the wrong pipe. *Sigh*
Well technically it was the right pipe, because its all one pipe, but I took apart the wrong joint. So I wrestled with the next piece for another 15 minutes or so before finally getting to the clog.
I then used a chopstick to push out that nasty turkey blob of clogginess before putting the whole mess of pipes back together.
Because I am sooooo awesome.
In retrospect it wasn't a big deal. And sure, I know that NOW. Now that it is cleaned up and all and the pipes are back together, the water is mopped up and the horrible, rancid smell had diminished. But, an hour and half ago when my sink was full of nasty turkey spew water which was leaking out all over the place... I had a much different point of view.
Anyway, problem solved. Super Navy Wife to the rescue! :)
(Let's just all try to ignore the fact that I'm the one who caused the problem to begin with.)
You see...
There is an unwritten rule of any Navy marriage that say when your spouse is home everything will generally be smooth sailing. However, as soon he ships out (be it for a day or for a year,) ANYTHING, and EVERYTHING, can and probably will go wrong.
Sound like a superstition to you? Or perhaps the whining of lonely wives who can't hack it?
Well its not.
From a historical perspective, in my own relationship, this has always manged to be true. As an example, consider the 4 flat tires I've had since college. (Yes, I do realize that 4 is an awfully high number of flat tires, even over a period of 8 years... but I don't want to talk about it so let's get back to my point...)
which is that each time I have had a flat tire, Matt was separated from my by the navy.
(The latest was this past May while Matt was on deployment.)
Anyway... let me get back to today. This morning as I was foraging through the refrigerator looking for lunch I nearly vomited at the rancid smell of rotten leftover Christmas turkey oozing out at me. I had a similar experience this afternoon when I got home from work and was looking for a snack. So, as a responsible wife, I decided to dispose of the foulness. But I wanted to get the awful chore over with as quickly as possible.
I shoved the leftover wing and drumstick into a zip lock bag (so it wouldn't stink up the kitchen) and tossed them in the trash. (Tomorrow is trash day, thankfully.) I then dumped the rest of the contents down the garbage disposal's sink and proceeded to shove the meat down the drain.
Unfortunately, by the time I was done, the turkey had disappeared but the water was no longer draining out of the sink. Instead I had a sink full of nasty turkey-plegm water making me start to gag again.
I ran the disposal for awhile longer and hopped the Insinkerator would catch up. (It didn't)
I stuck my hand down into the nastiness to pull out anything that might have been stuck in the disposal. (but didn't find anything.)
I tried the plunger, which as it turned out, only made massive amounts of Turkey-phlegm water shoot out of the little drain vent at the top of the sink. (I never knew what that thing was there before, and frankly I rather wish I still didn't.)
I tried some Draino. (This succeeded in making the Turkey-phlegm water smell like beach, and that's about it.)
So, I looked under the sink. The first thing I did was notice that one of the tubey-pipe things was unhooked. It was the one that connects the drain to the vent thing on top of the sink (where the plunger had made water shoot out) and since it was now unhooked, the turkey-flem water was pouring out everywhere under my sink. (Gross! I removed all the stuff and got some towels. So NASTY!)
I grabbed a screwdriver and managed to reattach the pipe/hosey thing that was leaking. This, however, had nothing to do with the original clog, but was merely an extra problem I had caused by trying to get the water to stop coming out of the sink vent. Awesomeness.
It was becoming pretty clear that the problem was an honest to goodness turkey clog in the pipes. (Suddenly flashes from that old episode of Full House where the girls wash their Dad's wedding ring down the drain and then flood the house trying to get it out of the pipe began to flash through my head... but I decided not to panic.)
Luckily, I figured out how to turn the water off, not that it mattered because this was a problem with the DRAIN, but I figured it was better to be safe than sorry.
So then, I decided the clog would be somewhere around the elbow joint. Isn't that the purpose of the elbow joint? Yeah, I don't know either, but it seemed like a good place to start. I grabbed a couple wrenches and tried to loosen the pipe.
or....Not so much.
You know how boys are just naturally stronger than girls? (Argue all you want, there is a reason why Matt was the one who rebuilt our retaining wall. Boys are just naturally stronger.) This particular piece of human nature, DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!
I fought with that stupid pipe for 30 minutes before it even budged. What makes it so much more annoying is that I am positive Matt would have gotten it on the first try. And the best part was... it was the wrong pipe. *Sigh*
Well technically it was the right pipe, because its all one pipe, but I took apart the wrong joint. So I wrestled with the next piece for another 15 minutes or so before finally getting to the clog.
I then used a chopstick to push out that nasty turkey blob of clogginess before putting the whole mess of pipes back together.
Because I am sooooo awesome.
In retrospect it wasn't a big deal. And sure, I know that NOW. Now that it is cleaned up and all and the pipes are back together, the water is mopped up and the horrible, rancid smell had diminished. But, an hour and half ago when my sink was full of nasty turkey spew water which was leaking out all over the place... I had a much different point of view.
Anyway, problem solved. Super Navy Wife to the rescue! :)
(Let's just all try to ignore the fact that I'm the one who caused the problem to begin with.)
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Oh San Diego!!!
So you know that commercial with Peyton Manning where he's going from hotel room to hotel room enjoying the benefits of his stays, while all the hotel employees are politely insulting him.... and then at the end of the commercial he is in San Diego. The hotel cleaning lady tells him to "Take a hike!" and Peyton says "I might just do that... THE WEATHER HERE IS SWEET!!!"
No?
Well, here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6mfDJ02VCY
Anyway, that commercial just slays me. Mostly because its funny, but also because the weather here is, indeed, SWEET.
Today, in January, (for the 3rd day in a row) it was 80 degrees.
:):):):)
I drove home from work with the sun roof open and the windows down.
And to make it even better, when I got home and checked Facebook, a large number of my friends back in various parts of the Midwest were complaining about the freezing cold and piles of snow.
Man do I ever love San Diego.
But, before you all go on about your business of hating me let's consider the flip side of enjoying this awesome So Cal weather.
First and foremost there is my house. We got a bargain last year when we purchased a modest little 3 bedroom ranch that is just over 1800 square feet and only in need of minor repairs for just shy of 400 Grand.
what a steal...
or, not.
But its okay because the Navy pays Matt a decent wage, after eleven years, and I bring in a small share teaching. Well, I am supposed to. However, Monday we teachers got a memo in our mailboxes concerning the California Budget Crisis.
Here is an excerpt:
"The District passed the 08-09 budget on June 19, 2008 based on the Governor’s revised budget proposal commonly known as the May Revise. The state legislature did not pass a budget until September 23, 2008 over 82 days late. On November 4, 2008, the Governor called for a special legislative session due to a shortfall in revenues of over $11 billion. His proposal at the time called for severe cuts to all school districts including Vista Unified (VUSD) which would have severely impacted the general fund for the District. Again the state legislature failed to pass a budget revision. Democrats are holding fast to increasing revenues while Republicans are holding fast to no new taxes.
Again on December 1, 2008, the Governor called for a special legislative session to deal with the state’s fiscal crisis which had grown from $11 billion to $20 billion through June 30, 2009. This time the Democrats drafted a plan increasing revenues by using the term “fees” rather than “taxes”. In addition, Democrats proposed significant cuts to categorical programs and general fund programs. Again this would have a significant impact to VUSD’s budget. The Democrat plan was vetoed yesterday by the Governor.
With the significant shortfall in revenues, the State is running out of cash to meet its obligations. The District gets at least 60% of its general fund from the state with the remaining 40% coming from local property taxes. Controller John Chaing has indicated that the State is expected to run out of cash by February and will begin issuing registered warrants otherwise known as IOU’s.'
What's this? You have no knowledge of this Crisis. Well, that must mean that either you don't live in California, or, like me, you bury your head in the sand whenever the news is on. So to be honest, I really don't know much about it either. What I do know is this: in a few weeks California is going to be officially broke after years of over spending, an ongoing failure to pass a workable budget and a failure to bring in sufficient revenue. So far as I can tell, this is what happens in a democracy when overly liberal-hippy-Californians recall a perfectly normal, and admittedly probably very corrupt, but also very experienced politician then elect an actor as his replacement. This is how we got, "Ah-nold" as our Terminator... er, Governator... I mean Governor. You know as opposed to some one who actually knows what he's doing.
Whatever.
What I also know if that is I get an I.O.U. in lieu of a paycheck come April we're going to have a real problem.
Serious question now: do you think if it's acceptable for a state government to start issuing I.O.U.s, will my mortgage company also start accepting them rather than actual monetary payments?
Probably not. But, at least it will be warm outside when we are homeless.
No?
Well, here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6mfDJ02VCY
Anyway, that commercial just slays me. Mostly because its funny, but also because the weather here is, indeed, SWEET.
Today, in January, (for the 3rd day in a row) it was 80 degrees.
:):):):)
I drove home from work with the sun roof open and the windows down.
And to make it even better, when I got home and checked Facebook, a large number of my friends back in various parts of the Midwest were complaining about the freezing cold and piles of snow.
Man do I ever love San Diego.
But, before you all go on about your business of hating me let's consider the flip side of enjoying this awesome So Cal weather.
First and foremost there is my house. We got a bargain last year when we purchased a modest little 3 bedroom ranch that is just over 1800 square feet and only in need of minor repairs for just shy of 400 Grand.
what a steal...
or, not.
But its okay because the Navy pays Matt a decent wage, after eleven years, and I bring in a small share teaching. Well, I am supposed to. However, Monday we teachers got a memo in our mailboxes concerning the California Budget Crisis.
Here is an excerpt:
"The District passed the 08-09 budget on June 19, 2008 based on the Governor’s revised budget proposal commonly known as the May Revise. The state legislature did not pass a budget until September 23, 2008 over 82 days late. On November 4, 2008, the Governor called for a special legislative session due to a shortfall in revenues of over $11 billion. His proposal at the time called for severe cuts to all school districts including Vista Unified (VUSD) which would have severely impacted the general fund for the District. Again the state legislature failed to pass a budget revision. Democrats are holding fast to increasing revenues while Republicans are holding fast to no new taxes.
Again on December 1, 2008, the Governor called for a special legislative session to deal with the state’s fiscal crisis which had grown from $11 billion to $20 billion through June 30, 2009. This time the Democrats drafted a plan increasing revenues by using the term “fees” rather than “taxes”. In addition, Democrats proposed significant cuts to categorical programs and general fund programs. Again this would have a significant impact to VUSD’s budget. The Democrat plan was vetoed yesterday by the Governor.
With the significant shortfall in revenues, the State is running out of cash to meet its obligations. The District gets at least 60% of its general fund from the state with the remaining 40% coming from local property taxes. Controller John Chaing has indicated that the State is expected to run out of cash by February and will begin issuing registered warrants otherwise known as IOU’s.'
What's this? You have no knowledge of this Crisis. Well, that must mean that either you don't live in California, or, like me, you bury your head in the sand whenever the news is on. So to be honest, I really don't know much about it either. What I do know is this: in a few weeks California is going to be officially broke after years of over spending, an ongoing failure to pass a workable budget and a failure to bring in sufficient revenue. So far as I can tell, this is what happens in a democracy when overly liberal-hippy-Californians recall a perfectly normal, and admittedly probably very corrupt, but also very experienced politician then elect an actor as his replacement. This is how we got, "Ah-nold" as our Terminator... er, Governator... I mean Governor. You know as opposed to some one who actually knows what he's doing.
Whatever.
What I also know if that is I get an I.O.U. in lieu of a paycheck come April we're going to have a real problem.
Serious question now: do you think if it's acceptable for a state government to start issuing I.O.U.s, will my mortgage company also start accepting them rather than actual monetary payments?
Probably not. But, at least it will be warm outside when we are homeless.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
10 Things
In random order:
1. I am having a very bad, afternoon/evening. This is really quite annoying because this day started out wonderfully. Seriously, our high temperatures this week are hitting the upper 70s and lower 80s. What could be better? Well, not much I suppose but since lunch this day has really gone downhill. Grr.
2. My dog got into his crate willingly this morning. That has never happened before. Ever.
3. Why is it that everyone always wants to give me their opinions of me or their advice? Do I like come off as needing a great deal of assistance in life? I don't think so, but everywhere I go people tell me how they could do my job better than me, or how my every response to any given situation is incorrect. Then of course everyone has an opinion about my pregnancy. On average I find these opinions to be interesting or valuable 1% of the time. Advice when I seek it out is absolutely fine. I love it. I need it. After all, I asked for it. However, why is it that people walk up to me, ascertain that I am "with child" and automatically assume I need help. It's annoying. Especially when the unwanted advice givers are rather on the old side and possibly have children who are older than I am. It is also difficult for me to handle when the advice comes from some one with RADICALLY different values and beliefs than me.
4. The Navy sucks. It forces my husband to work long hours. It is taking him out to sea for in a few days. It is also currently forcing my husband to weigh in with his opinion on whether or not the family of the young sailor who recently committed suicide ought to receive his death benefits. How awful!
And, the Navy isn't telling me all the details of our move yet and I want to know them NOW. I am a planner after all.
5. Sinus infections are really annoying when everything is dripping. Thankfully I've progressed past the drip stage. Now I've moved into the wonderful faze where my nostrils alternate between which one is working and which one is stuffed to the point of wanting to burst. This is probably just as annoying as the dripping.
6. We put my fat cat on a diet last week because he weighs 16 pounds. This means that all the animals went on a diet. So far I haven't seen much of a size difference in any of them, but I do see the fat cat a lot more, since he's taken to begging for what ever it is I am eating.
7. The midwife says it is way too early, but I am fairly certain I can feel the baby moving around when I am laying on the couch typing on my laptop like this. It's weird.
8.Last week was super annoying for me as a football fan. Granted, at least the Fiesta Bowl was a good game, it is just unfortunate that my Buckeyes didn't come out on top in the end. However it was really really annoying afterward when the commentator guys stated that Texas must have been very over rated all season to have struggled with such a lame team as Ohio State.
Those commentator guys also really suck because after the national Championship game they stated that the loosing coach from Oklahoma still deserves our respect since his team has played for 4 national titles in 9 years. Sweet! Ohio State has played for 3 titles in 8 years, so why do we supposedly suck so much?
9. The Steelers really beat the pants of the Chargers. Stupid Steelers. I'm not a big fan really, and I was only watching for something to do, so don't care that much, but, still.
10. My stupid dog is outside right now, barking "Bloody Murder!" or something at a pile of leaves.
1. I am having a very bad, afternoon/evening. This is really quite annoying because this day started out wonderfully. Seriously, our high temperatures this week are hitting the upper 70s and lower 80s. What could be better? Well, not much I suppose but since lunch this day has really gone downhill. Grr.
2. My dog got into his crate willingly this morning. That has never happened before. Ever.
3. Why is it that everyone always wants to give me their opinions of me or their advice? Do I like come off as needing a great deal of assistance in life? I don't think so, but everywhere I go people tell me how they could do my job better than me, or how my every response to any given situation is incorrect. Then of course everyone has an opinion about my pregnancy. On average I find these opinions to be interesting or valuable 1% of the time. Advice when I seek it out is absolutely fine. I love it. I need it. After all, I asked for it. However, why is it that people walk up to me, ascertain that I am "with child" and automatically assume I need help. It's annoying. Especially when the unwanted advice givers are rather on the old side and possibly have children who are older than I am. It is also difficult for me to handle when the advice comes from some one with RADICALLY different values and beliefs than me.
4. The Navy sucks. It forces my husband to work long hours. It is taking him out to sea for in a few days. It is also currently forcing my husband to weigh in with his opinion on whether or not the family of the young sailor who recently committed suicide ought to receive his death benefits. How awful!
And, the Navy isn't telling me all the details of our move yet and I want to know them NOW. I am a planner after all.
5. Sinus infections are really annoying when everything is dripping. Thankfully I've progressed past the drip stage. Now I've moved into the wonderful faze where my nostrils alternate between which one is working and which one is stuffed to the point of wanting to burst. This is probably just as annoying as the dripping.
6. We put my fat cat on a diet last week because he weighs 16 pounds. This means that all the animals went on a diet. So far I haven't seen much of a size difference in any of them, but I do see the fat cat a lot more, since he's taken to begging for what ever it is I am eating.
7. The midwife says it is way too early, but I am fairly certain I can feel the baby moving around when I am laying on the couch typing on my laptop like this. It's weird.
8.Last week was super annoying for me as a football fan. Granted, at least the Fiesta Bowl was a good game, it is just unfortunate that my Buckeyes didn't come out on top in the end. However it was really really annoying afterward when the commentator guys stated that Texas must have been very over rated all season to have struggled with such a lame team as Ohio State.
Those commentator guys also really suck because after the national Championship game they stated that the loosing coach from Oklahoma still deserves our respect since his team has played for 4 national titles in 9 years. Sweet! Ohio State has played for 3 titles in 8 years, so why do we supposedly suck so much?
9. The Steelers really beat the pants of the Chargers. Stupid Steelers. I'm not a big fan really, and I was only watching for something to do, so don't care that much, but, still.
10. My stupid dog is outside right now, barking "Bloody Murder!" or something at a pile of leaves.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Is that really my belly button?
Well, we've passed the 14 week mark, so I guess I am officially in my second trimester.
So far, I haven't noticed many changes. I still go in wild swings from having absolutely zero symptoms to having a very strong desire to die. Maybe there is LESS of the wanting to die, but it's really hard to tell.
Thankfully since the Great Spaghetti Disaster (G.S.D) a few days before Christmas, though, everything has stayed down.
What's that? I haven't shared with you the awesome grossness of the G.S.D.?
Well, by all means then, let me back up:
~~~~~~~~~~~
It was early the week before Christmas. I'd spent the better part of the last few days camped out on the sofa watching daytime television and eating Lucky Charms because doing anything else had a habit of making my head spin and my tummy churn. Sometime that afternoon between all the crap-tastic television I caught a commercial for the Olive Garden and started to get a strong hankerin' for spaghetti. (Spaghetti, as it happens, is one of my favorite meals and I have been known to eat it for dinner 2 or even 3 times a week if no one is around to judge me.)
Naturally, when Matt came home and asked me about dinner I mentioned my "craving" and, the awesome and adorable man I married went and made me some. Complete with Garlic Bread. Yummy!
Or...
As it turned out...
maybe...
Not. So. Much.
After about 6 bites I started to feel yucky. I kept eating though, because my awesome hubby HAD cooked for me after all! (Don't get the wrong idea there people, on any given night there is approximately a 90% chance Matt cooks dinner. There is, however, only about a 1% chance that will have cooked. The rest of the time we eat out.) I kept eating until my plate was around half empty. Then I decided I needed a hot bubbly bath. I kissed Matt and apologized for not finishing, and I went to my room to get my bath things.
Then I went into the bathroom and revisited my spaghetti. A few times. Until at last, the whole toilet was full and now apparently clogged with undigested pasta.
I tried to flush and the bowl became dangerously close to overflowing. But I wasn't done yet so I finished off in the sink. That sink part was a very bad idea as it turned out.
Ugh.
I called for Matt. (Oh lucky, lucky Matt.)
Needless to say, I have NEVER been so glad to have had the prior experience, back in 2004, of cleaning up after a very drunken version of my husband who was definitely sleeping it off in a puddle of his own spew, because, now it was time for my redemption.
Matt cleaned up the bathroom.
And thus, I gave up on spaghetti. Possibly forever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Since then, I've MOSTLY been feeling ok. Less tired too, but that probably has more to do with the two weeks vacation then anything else. Thank the Lord.
Meanwhile... I am expanding. Quicker, or more drastically then before I guess because people have been telling me I'm showing since Thanksgiving. (It is much more likely that I tend to have a bit of a fat tummy and it was just sticking out a bit more since I've been neglecting the gym but if people wanted to blame the baby who was I to argue with them?)
Then the other day I noticed my belly button. I used to have such a nice little belly button. It had been pierced when I was 18 and for the last 12 years a cute little bead or fake diamond stud dangled there in my navel's tiny little slit. I took the ring out when I found out I was pregnant, and thankfully so far the hole hasn't stretched. As for the button itself, it certainly has. What used to be a nice little slit in my tummy, barely wider than a penny stood on its side is now a big wide crater in the middle of my bulging little belly. That same penny would have no problem whatsoever laying down flat on the bottom of my belly button's abyss.
Why didn't any body warn me about this? I knew it would probably pop out near the end, but nobody mentioned it was going to, like, quadruple in size in the just the first few months?
But, on the flip side....
heheh....
my breasts have never (ever, ever, ever) looked better.
:)
Now, if I could just find some pants that fit...
And, if my students could stop arguing about why their music teacher is getting chubby....
That would be nice too.
So far, I haven't noticed many changes. I still go in wild swings from having absolutely zero symptoms to having a very strong desire to die. Maybe there is LESS of the wanting to die, but it's really hard to tell.
Thankfully since the Great Spaghetti Disaster (G.S.D) a few days before Christmas, though, everything has stayed down.
What's that? I haven't shared with you the awesome grossness of the G.S.D.?
Well, by all means then, let me back up:
~~~~~~~~~~~
It was early the week before Christmas. I'd spent the better part of the last few days camped out on the sofa watching daytime television and eating Lucky Charms because doing anything else had a habit of making my head spin and my tummy churn. Sometime that afternoon between all the crap-tastic television I caught a commercial for the Olive Garden and started to get a strong hankerin' for spaghetti. (Spaghetti, as it happens, is one of my favorite meals and I have been known to eat it for dinner 2 or even 3 times a week if no one is around to judge me.)
Naturally, when Matt came home and asked me about dinner I mentioned my "craving" and, the awesome and adorable man I married went and made me some. Complete with Garlic Bread. Yummy!
Or...
As it turned out...
maybe...
Not. So. Much.
After about 6 bites I started to feel yucky. I kept eating though, because my awesome hubby HAD cooked for me after all! (Don't get the wrong idea there people, on any given night there is approximately a 90% chance Matt cooks dinner. There is, however, only about a 1% chance that will have cooked. The rest of the time we eat out.) I kept eating until my plate was around half empty. Then I decided I needed a hot bubbly bath. I kissed Matt and apologized for not finishing, and I went to my room to get my bath things.
Then I went into the bathroom and revisited my spaghetti. A few times. Until at last, the whole toilet was full and now apparently clogged with undigested pasta.
I tried to flush and the bowl became dangerously close to overflowing. But I wasn't done yet so I finished off in the sink. That sink part was a very bad idea as it turned out.
Ugh.
I called for Matt. (Oh lucky, lucky Matt.)
Needless to say, I have NEVER been so glad to have had the prior experience, back in 2004, of cleaning up after a very drunken version of my husband who was definitely sleeping it off in a puddle of his own spew, because, now it was time for my redemption.
Matt cleaned up the bathroom.
And thus, I gave up on spaghetti. Possibly forever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Since then, I've MOSTLY been feeling ok. Less tired too, but that probably has more to do with the two weeks vacation then anything else. Thank the Lord.
Meanwhile... I am expanding. Quicker, or more drastically then before I guess because people have been telling me I'm showing since Thanksgiving. (It is much more likely that I tend to have a bit of a fat tummy and it was just sticking out a bit more since I've been neglecting the gym but if people wanted to blame the baby who was I to argue with them?)
Then the other day I noticed my belly button. I used to have such a nice little belly button. It had been pierced when I was 18 and for the last 12 years a cute little bead or fake diamond stud dangled there in my navel's tiny little slit. I took the ring out when I found out I was pregnant, and thankfully so far the hole hasn't stretched. As for the button itself, it certainly has. What used to be a nice little slit in my tummy, barely wider than a penny stood on its side is now a big wide crater in the middle of my bulging little belly. That same penny would have no problem whatsoever laying down flat on the bottom of my belly button's abyss.
Why didn't any body warn me about this? I knew it would probably pop out near the end, but nobody mentioned it was going to, like, quadruple in size in the just the first few months?
But, on the flip side....
heheh....
my breasts have never (ever, ever, ever) looked better.
:)
Now, if I could just find some pants that fit...
And, if my students could stop arguing about why their music teacher is getting chubby....
That would be nice too.
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