Who's Popular???

My boyfriend that's who. He was named the Chex Most Popular Driver for the 5th year in a row getting 1.4 million of the total 3.8 million votes. I have to say that I voted a lot less this year then last but he still won. At least he won something this year.

I Work With the Scuba Santa from the Adventure Aquarium

A New Place To Be Bad...

So I'm sitting at the traffic light near my office, where I've sat every weekday morning for the last almost ten years when I look to my right and realize that there is a Children's Place in the shopping center. The shopping center I've been driving past and shopping in for almost ten years and never realized this store was there. Well I remedied that today. "Santa" is going to be leaving some really cool stuff under the tree for Elizabeth this year.

Ours Is Not To Wonder Why...

Eric is my five year old nephew and Batman to my five month old daughter's Robin. This was her on Thanksgiving Day. But instead of wondering why she was upset or worrying about why his normally happy companion was screaming at him he hugged her then turned and said "She's having a rough day." I immediately felt a sense of relief - that was it she was having a rough day. So simple a five year old could see it.

It's Just Like That Sometimes....

"I couldn't get my head off the pillow." - Eric age 5
(His way of saying he was tired this morning)

In a Thankful Kind of Mood...

At the risk of sounding terribly sappy I want to talk about things I'm thankful for this year...

1) I'm thankful that Miss Elizabeth is part of our family and here to celebrate Thanksgiving with all of us this year. Just remember when she cries that you all think she's the most adorable thing ever :)

2) I'm thankful for all of the wonderful family members and friends in my life who lift me up and make me feel loved all year long. But I am especially thankful for everyone who prayed for us and kept us in their thoughts when Elizabeth was sick and needed help. I will be forever grateful for that.

3) I'm thankful that I have a job and health insurance so that Elizabeth could get the medical care she needed and so that we didn't have to pay $150,000 + for it.

4) I'm thankful for the nurses and the doctors at Grandview Hospital and C.H.O.P. who took care of our little miracle so she could be the healthy little girl she is today. Especially Dr. Liechty who operated twice with such precision that you'd never even know it.

5) I'm thankful that my Mom is a careful driver. Her sitting at the traffic light a second longer then normal (even though her light was green) probably saved her life and Kyle's when the A-hole on his cell phone blew threw the red light.

6) I'm thankful that my Mom and my Mother-in-Law are willing and able to care for Elizabeth everyday so Matt and I can keep working to further all of our causes.

7) I'm thankful that Matt was able to be home with me during Elizabeth's birth and for several months afterward. Her challenges wiped me out but having him to help and support me made all the difference.

I know there are probably a million other specific things I am thankful for but I will end here. I hope to have a more grateful attitude in the coming year - and figured this was a good place to start.

I wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday. Enjoy!

It Was A Good Run...

Wednesday Night a fifteen year run came to an end when Brooks & Dunn lost the CMA Vocal Duo of the year award to Sugarland. Back in 1992 Brooks & Dunn took the award from The Judds and never looked back.

When One Boyfriend Fails, Look to the Other...

Everyone knows my boyfriend is Dale Earnhardt Jr. Well, he's been having a bit of a lack luster year behind the wheel this year. Most weekends I don't watch the race because I don't want to invest three or four hours only to have him blow up or have the wheel break off his car with two laps to go.

So enter my other boyfriend, cowboy extraordinaire Justin McBride. He won the PBR Built Ford Tough Series World Championship on Sunday, November 4th.

I guess that's why I have two boyfriends. I'm hoping Jr's switch to Hendrick Motorsports will jump start things - here's hoping.

I Need the Baby Whisperer...

Don't you kick yourself when you realize you knew how to handle a situation but you didn't listen to your inner voice so it ends up causing more trouble then if you'd just listened to yourself in the first place?

I'm kicking myself today because I still don't seem to be very "in-tune" with my daughter. At the beginning of the week we began adjusting her morning schedule so my dear husband can deliver her to the babysitter, instead of the babysitter coming to get her. So she has to get up an hour and a half to two hours earlier. Our little dumpling doesn't sleep much during the day so to me I thought it was very important for her to get her 10 hours at night, which mean a 7:00pm bedtime.

Well yesterday she was asleep when she arrived home at 6:15pm and had been for an hour. We woke her up and fed her and then gave her a bath. It was 7:30 so I thought I'd better put her to bed but I ignored the voice in my head that said (she doesn't seem tired). So I took her upstairs and put her in her crib. She played on her own for over a half hour. Then I thought she might need more milk before falling asleep so I fed her a 4 oz bottle (2oz less then normal because it wasn't two hours between feedings yet). So after the bottle it was back into the crib where she played for another good while. Then around 915 she started screaming. Both dear husband and I tried to console her but she kept on screaming. I told dear husband to make another 4 oz bottle. She drank the 2 oz's missing from the first bottle and went to sleep.

So two hours and much unnecessary crying later, I realized I could have likely averted the whole issue by playing with her until she tired out, fed her the full 6oz bottle around 8:30 and off to bed, only one hour late instead of two.

I don't like trial and error but I guess I have to get used to it. Since it seems that's what caring for children is based on. *Sigh*

Halloween's a Coming...

I've been lurking on the babycenter.com June 2007 baby board for the last several months and they had a thread where the women posted pictures of their babies in their Halloween costumes. I didn't think my peanut would fit into any of them so I just got her this onsie and pant set. It comes with a matching bib that says "My First Halloween". I know she'll be cute in whatever she wears but next year I'm going to find her one of those adorable costumes.

I think I'm addicted...

I was innocently looking through my Glamour magazine and the plucky blonde girl who plays the cheerleader on Hero's said she liked this site called http://www.junkfoodclothing.com/. I went on and of course they have clothes for babies. So I ordered the t-shirt above, because EJ needs some Wonder Woman in her wardrobe. Her ever expanding wardrobe...but that's a story for another time.

It's So Creepy It's Cool

I've been a fan of The King since his first commericals. Now it appears you can own a piece of The King in the form of this creepy mask. Excellent!!!

And So It Goes...

Well it's almost official my coworker is giving her notice to our boss tomorrow. Her last day will be Friday (10/12) unless our owner tells her not to let the door hit her on the ass before that.

I've cleared my credenza to accommodate the quotations for her customers that will now be my customers and I'm setting up some email folders, but other then that I don't really know what to do. I used to be used to working at a frantic pace but it's dropped off in the last nine years. I guess I'll just have to keep repeating to myself "One thing at a time" and hope that I can keep up. It can't be bad everyday can it?

Getting Them All In A Row...

Duck 1: My Personal Life

• I need a better way to handle the stress and aggravation in my life (noisy neighbors, slow traffic, incompetant people etc)
• I need a healthier relationship with food and the time to create new and different meals
• I need the time and motivation to tackle the ongoing issues with my weight
• I need to continue to nuture the relationships I have with my friends because they are very important to me.

Duck 2: My Family Life

• I want to enjoy my daughter and husband as much as possible without getting so bogged down by the day-to-day issues of what needs to get done.
• I want to give my marriage the time and nuturing it deserves, so we can be good partners as well as good parents.
• I want time spent with my mom, my siblings and my in-laws to be enjoyable and fulfilling for everyone involved.

Duck 3: My Professional Life

• I want more money
• An assistant to help me take care of sales for the entire world (since my coworker is leaving)
• A plan in place for when I am out of the office (because I will be taking a vacation)
• Ultimately a job where I can work part time to spend more time with my daughter and less time with customers who really don't value just how much I do everyday to help them get what they need.

Like Sands Through the Hourglass...

I've worked in my current job for nine years. In that time I have seen everyone who came before me, in the sales department, leave for greener pastures. Now my current sales co-worker tells me she has an interview this week and she may be leaving too. Everytime this happens it makes me question why I'm still here, why I'm still beating my head against the same wall day in and day out. I used to say the money was pretty good, but I don't think the money is going to be good enough for me to handle sales for the whole world by myself. I know I also need insurance coverage for myself and my daughter right now but the insurance they offer here isn't that great either - just ask my pockets which are $15,000 lighter now. I suppose there isn't anything to do about it, it just makes me weary.

I Called it a Train Wreck First...

Friday afternoon I heard Britney Spears was going to open the MTV VMA's and I knew it was something I had to see. On the dot of 9:00 p.m. out she came. Stomping mechanically through innane dance moves wearing a sparkly bikini made for a much thinner person. I was transfixed, sometimes even horrified at the spectical. I kept wondering who thought it was a good idea for her to do this. In addition to the ridiculous dancing she wasn't singing, nor was she even attempting to keep up the charade of lip-synching. At the end I pronouced it a train-wreck and tuned back in to Brett Michaels "Rock of Love". This morning it seemed the AP agreed with me...it was just so awful none of us could look away.

A Sad Day...

Weekly World News is no more. It's 28 year run has come to an end with its final issue hitting news stands this week. Back in the day, when I was in high school, my BFF Tina and I would devour WWN. We'd pick it up at the deli or the "Cumby" along with our king sized Snickers bars and sodas. The stories were always of the utmost craziness, but then again in the late 80's so were we.

The Grind...

Ten weeks off...where did the time go? I'll tell you, it was all that baby tending. It kept me busier then I ever imagined. Granted, nothing about my birth or post partum experiences was what I thought it would be. I didn't expect to labor for 24+ hours or be on mag sulfate so I couldn't get out of bed for 24 + hours after my babies birth. Nor did I expect her to be whisked away from me to the NICU at CHOP. I didn't think my five day old would have surgery, nor did I expect her to have a second surgery before she turned six weeks old. I didn't expect her to cry almost non-stop in the beginning, nor did I expect to have my gall bladder out before my baby was two months old. And just like that - here I am, back at my desk, toiling away like I never left.

I'm now free to send personal emails at will, read or watch TV online (between jobs of course). But part of me sees through the "glamour" of being at work and knows I will miss EJ's fun moments. Her little babbling conversations, her accidentally hitting herself in the face because her hands don't work all that well yet, or her kicking like a crazy ninja on her changing table. You just can't get that type of entertainment here. Thankfully I will also miss the crying and fussing.

For now though I suppose it's just how it is. Perhaps my dear husband will stumble into a fabulous, high-paying gig that will keep all of us in the Kimora Simmons lifestyle I aspire to. But until them I'll punch the clock each day and then head home and hold and squeeze my little baby.

But who decides what's boring...

Some times I think I "suck at life" too, but I'm too lazy to try to hide it. I work then come home and watch TV. I do like to read books and magazines and occasionally I scrapbook. Now that we have a child I imagine we will "do more" as she gets older because we'll have to help her grow in meaningful ways. Maybe she'll help us grow in meaningful ways too....just by being here.

Well it's August 18th now...

Only two more weeks of maternity leave to go. I'm beginning to get a little nervous about what my life is going to be like once it returns to "normal". Right now my dear husband is going to be responsible for the bulk of Miss EJ's care because he is still semi-retired. I know the grandmom's are going to help him out but it will be strange not to be able to sleep in while the other one watches her or watch TV all day while she sleeps on my lap. As my dear husband says I have to get out there and make him some money. So lets see - what's been happening...

• Well we left off with the dear little one having her hernia surgery, she weathered that just fine. She still has the gas which makes her cry but it seems we are now done with the doctors down at CHOP. She had her follow-up appointment on Tuesday (8/14) and all is well.
• I then promptly had my gall bladder out on Wednesday (8/15). The procedure went smoothly and I'm sure as the days progress I will feel more and more like my old self. Or rather my old self without a gall bladder.
• I stopped by work briefly on August 8th to show off the little peanut. Everyone thought she was appropriately adorable. I sensed my co-worker Heidi had somethings she has to tell me but we didn't get any one-on-one time to chat. I have to try to get down for lunch this coming week or next.

Well - I was supposed to shower about an hour ago - so I best get to it. I better figure out how to use the next two weeks in a productive manner - for I fear it will be a while before life settles down again.

Another Ten Days Down...

Wow, where does the time go. I've tried to get a post done on several occasions in the last few days but someone always seems to be awake. Here are some of my latest musings/happenings...

• So Drew Carey is replacing Bob Barker as the host of "The Price is Right". I'm not sure how I feel about that, though it doesn't much matter because I'll be back at work before the new shows begin.
• Last week there was a story about Oscar "The cat of death" on virtually every news/talk show on TV. I thought it rather interesting that he can sense when people are in their final hours better then doctors can.
• My boyfriend blew his engine in the final stages of the Brickyard 400 yesterday to finish in 34th. He had been running in the top five and actually led some laps. He sounded like he was going to pass out in his post blow-up interview...I hope the move to Hendrick next year brings him back to life.
• My baby had her hernia surgery today and she did very well. She's such a little trooper. She's been sleeping for the last three hours...I wonder if she's going to sleep tonight...
• Ingmar Bergman died today (or yesterday). He directed many movies but one mentioned by the news man brought back memories. It's "The Seventh Seal"...I had to watch it in my "Film As Literature" class in college. It's supposedly known for the scene where the knight plays chess with death...I just remember it being boring. I never said I was deep...

I suppose that's it for now. Nothing earth shattering I know. We've had several more visits in the last ten days and expect more in the days and weeks ahead. I have until Tuesday, September 4th to enjoy my "freedom" because then it's back to the grind. Around here it's also the first day of school for the new year. I might just have to go buy myself a new outfit.

Since I've Been Gone...

Let's see, it's been about a month since I've posted on Blogger...let's see what I've been up to.

• Had a baby girl on June 20th at 930pm after 24+ hours of "labor" - 6lbs & 19" long
• Had above mentioned baby girl have to spend a week down at CHOP in the NICU where she had a partial blood transfusion and surgery to remove a cystic mass from her abdomen.
• Brought baby girl home on Thursday, June 26th and spent the next month trying to figure out why she cries ALL THE TIME!!!
• Took baby girl down to CHOP on July 10th for her follow-up appointment. While there we discussed her next surgery to repair bi-lateral hernias that she has. Got the surgery scheduled for Monday, July 30th and her blood taken.
• Had myself to the doctor on Monday, July 16th because of recurrent, exhausting heartburn or possible gall-bladder attack.
• Baby girl went to CHOP's King of Prussia location on Thursday, July 19th for an abdomenal ultrasound to make sure everything was good (CHOP radiologists thought they saw an enlarged adrenal gland which may have indicated a "tumor") Luckily they were wrong on that and her abdomen received a clean bill of health.
• Today, July 20th, I had myself to the local outpatient center for my ultrasound to see if I am the proud owner of gallstones. It will be three days before my doctor gets the results - so I have to wait until Wednesday to call them and find out my fate. I am taking Nexium right now to keep the heartburn at bay and I'm using prayer in hopes of keeping another gallbladder attack away (that is, if it was even one to begin with). If I have gall stones I will likely have to have surgery to have the entire thing removed.

So that's about it for the last 30 days. I have watched a lot of TV and have had some visitors over to the house. Baby girl has had two successful outings (not counting doctor appointments) once for lunch with me, my mom and her aunt and then again today with me, my mom and my dear husband for breakfast. With the crying we never know if we should take her anywhere or not. I have managed to keep up a semi-regular email correspondence with the outside world and I even read some blogs yesterday while on the phone with my ween. I guess it hasn't been too bad of a month. I still can't believe I'm someone's mom. It's still so crazy.

Two Days Past "Due"...

Okay, I know as well as anyone that "due dates" are estimates that doctors give pregnant women so they have an idea of when their babies may come. But over the course of nine months you really become attached to the idea of being "done" by that date. I can't say I've been any more uncomfortable yesterday or today and I'm now getting to be pregnant in the privacy of my own home while I wait for her but it's kind of depressing. Like I some how failed at doing what other women have no problem doing - having their kids before their due date.

Julia Roberts has had her son and I saw online this morning that Tiger Woods wife had her baby. I think that leaves me and Jeff Gordon's wife and who knows when the hell she might be due. If not before, on Thursday, we'll find out when we're going to have her. Then I'll be wishing for one more quiet day before she comes. I've known for the last nine months that I wouldn't have much control over what would be happening to me and this is just an extension of that lack of control. A realization that the rest of my life will not be my own ever again.

No More Mr. Wizard...

Mr. Wizard died...he was 89. I remember watching him in the early 80's on Nickelodeon. His show ran on that channel from 1983 to 1991. He didn't inspire me to a career in science or anything like that, but it was entertaining enough to keep me watching.

Amusing & Timely...

Whitney of PopCandy fame just had an amusing posting about how long we, her loyal readers, keep movies out from Netflix. I find this timely because I had "The Da Vinci Code" for over a month before finally watching it two weeks ago. I don't know what my problem was - I ended up thinking it was a good enough movie. Perhaps I was discouraged by the fact that it was 2hrs and 40 minutes long. Before that, some time last year, I had "The Office: Season 1" for about a month too. Once again, I love the show, I don't know why it took so long to get through it.

Netflix and services like them are rather brilliant. We as the customer don't have to do anything to get the movies and they as the supplier sit and collect money from those of us who just can't seem to "get in the mood" to watch the movie we have on our coffee table. Sounds like everybody wins :):)

Too Good To Be True...

After a visit to the ladies room at work this morning it looks like we are back to the cheap, flimsy TP of old. For about a month we were in the lap of luxury. The paper was soft, bright white, and with a label of "Supreme", it was softer then the tissue I use at home. Some how our boss slipped a case of it under the radar of our cheap-ass owner, and for that short time we didn't have to worry about trying to "clean up" before the paper disintegrated in our hands. It was nice while it lasted.

Well let's see...

1) My baby to come, by June 17th, hopefully.

2) For my boyfriend to win a race this year.

3) For my customers at work to get their heads out of their asses and give me the information they know I need so I can process their projects.

4) Some more of those delicious cupcakes that I had at my baby shower. They would make a perfect "welcome baby gift" for me!!!

Now That's Better...

It's been about a week and a half since I got my car back from the dealership that was actually interested in helping me get the XM fixed. Of course three days after it was fixed XM themselves had a satellite problem that knocked the service out for 24 hours but at least it wasn't just me having the problem this time.

I am now able to enjoy all of my favorite programming virtually interruption free, instead of having interruptions every two seconds. Turns out all it needed was a new antenna, which is what we told the other dealership all along. They swore that wasn't the problem...I hope it was worth it for them to "stick to their guns" instead of making me a satisified customer. I'm sure they won't miss the lifetime of sales that are no longer coming their way either.

26 More Days Until My "Due Date"

It's funny how I check my blog every week to see how much time is "left" before this baby comes. It's not like I don't know how many more days or weeks it is but it puts it into sharper focus when I see those tickers at the bottom counting down. I'm happy to report that by the time I get home from work today (5/21). The room will be largely completed. It has been painted and the furniture will be moved in and the curtains will be hung. Now all that remains is to wash her clothes and bedding and find places for all of it in the room. It's really beginning to seem real now...we're having a baby. I'm trying not to panic!!!! :)

"Record Gas Prices Fail to Alter Driving Habits"

That's one of the headlines of the day on msn.com this morning. My question is how exactly am I supposed to alter my driving habits? My daily routine consists of me driving the 13 miles to my job in the morning and then driving the 13 miles back to my house in the evening. Occasionally at lunch I'll run a few errands near my office so that might add a couple extra miles to my "useage" in a week but for the most part it stays pretty static.

What people don't seem to realize is that it doesn't matter how much gas, we as a country, use or don't use. Because our "useage" has nothing to do with pricing. How much money oil companies want to make governs how much we're all going to pay for the stuff. It doesn't matter if it's summer, when they raise prices because it's the "summer driving season" or if it's winter when supply is low because more needs to be diverted to make heating oil for all of us selfish assholes in the North who want to heat our homes.

All we have to do is look at what happened after Hurricane Katrina. That storm comes through, levels most of the oil platforms in the Gulf and gas prices shoot up before the lack of supply was even able to be felt...those prices were high but they weren't this high so what's going on now? Smells like greed to me...plain and simple.

So no, I won't be altering my driving habits any time soon and I'm glad I'm "flush" enough to absorb the expense because Lord knows I'm not giving up my magazines and my Starbucks Blueberry Muffins to the man.

I've Been Told it's Easy, Because I Believe Whatever They Tell Me..

This past Saturday my mother and my ween threw a FABULOUS baby shower for me. It seems it was all very easy to orchestrate because I believe whatever people tell me. They even got my dear husband and his grandparents in on the act, and everyone played their parts well and carried it off right til the end.

I can't believe the TONS of wonderful presents BGH (Baby Girl Hercek) received. It's just a shame I didn't have more time to spend talking to everyone - gift unwrapping takes a lot of time. Though it seems that this "slow opener" did a better job at it this time around. With everything we received our little princess isn't going to know what to do with herself.

All Done...

Last night was our last childbirth/labor class. It seems funny that five weeks have passed relatively unnoticed and that in another five weeks our darling could feasibly be here - that is if she's a little on the impatient side. While I feel I received a lot of information during our classes I don't necessarily feel any more "prepared" for what's going to come next.

During one of the exercises last night the "dads" were supposed to write down the "mom's" birth plans and then run them by us. Well, it seems my well meaning husband really needs a more detailed list or discussion about "what I want". Granted the exercise was done in only a few minutes but it seems we need to get on the same page...just in case he needs to speak up at an important moment. I'm hoping our tour of the hospital's maternity ward this weekend will help me focus a bit more on what I'd like or what is available to me.

I guess there isn't really anything more that can be done that will make me any less apprehensive about the events of the next month and a half. I just have to take it as it comes and see how I do.

A Ray of Hope...

In October 2005 I bought a brand new, shiny 2006 Chevy Malibu to replace my previous Chevy Malibu. This new car came loaded with bells and whistles, including XM Satellite Radio, and I was jazzed. The service seemed okay at first but I would soon get a sinking feeling that there was something wrong with my radio. For roughly the last year, if not longer, I have been telling the dealership where I bought the car this...to no avail. No one wanted to ride with me to hear the products shortcomings, no one would entertain the notion that there was something wrong with the antenna...nothing. One of the service tech's even told us that the reason the satellite radio didn't work in my car but worked flawlessly in my mother's 2006 Chevy Equinox, was that her car was "taller" then mine which put it closer to the sky. Well, that was kind of the straw that broke the camels back.

Tuesday (4.24) I called another Chevy dealership and told them of my woes. They told me they would be happy to ride along in my car with me and I should just call back and set it up at my convenience. I called them on Wednesday (4/25) and set up my "ride along" for Thursday morning (4/26). The radio performed as poorly as I expected it to and the tech said he would talk to the service manager and they would get back to me. True to their word the service manager called me back today (4/27) and said they took a Malibu from their lot and drove the same drive the tech and I had taken and that radio performed flawlessly so my car definitely has a problem. He asked if I could bring it in on May 15th - that they would give me a loaner and hopefully be able to remedy the problem in a few short days. I was dumbfounded and rather giddy at the thought that I might be coming to the end of this long road of frustration. If they are able to make things work for me General Motors will be on the receiving end of a scathing email, phone call or letter or perhaps all three. Then I'll be sure to tell the dealership where I bought the car to stick it up their ass - and when my husband wants to buy his $40,000 pickup truck - that he won't be getting it from them.

I Am So Delicious...

You Are a Lemon Cake

Strong, sexy, and overpowering. You know who you are, and you're not afraid to show the world your fabulous self. You're confident, charming, and extremely popular.

What Kind of Cake Are You?

Not Long Now...

I had a doctor appointment on Friday afternoon (4/20) and it was such a shame I had to leave work early - the weather was BEAUTIFUL!!! The appointment went fine, my blood pressure was still down where it's supposed to be, but the doctor wanted me to go for an ultrasound because he felt the baby was measuring "big" for the week that I'm on (32nd). So I scheduled the appointment for yesterday evening.

Before I continue, allow me to share a dream I had. Several months ago I dreamt that I had already had my baby...I was at the hospital in a class type setting with many other mothers and nurses were bringing everyone's babies into the room. When I saw them bringing in the babies I realized I didn't know what mine looked like. Everyone else was handed small newborn size babies but when they got to me they handed me a baby that was the size of a two year old. I have no idea how I had the toddler baby or why mine was so much larger then everyone elses but it was. Then I woke up.

Anyway, my dear husband and I went to the appointment last night and at the end we were told our little bundle of joy is measuring 5 pounds which puts me at 34 weeks instead of the 32 where I am. I asked what it meant and the tech said it depended on the doctor. I believe I will likely get another ultrasound to check her again but I don't mind - because we now have two more pictures of our little girl and she's looking more and more like a human all the time. Just as long as she isn't the size of a toddler when she's born I'll be happy.

"Preparing For Birth"...

Last night was our first Labor & Delivery class. All 18 of us (nine couples) dutifully toted our pillows and blankets and settled in for what we hoped would be an informative evening. As a whole we are a very cohesive group...all white, all married (except for one couple, who are also the youngest couple) and most of us are in our late 20's or early 30's. It's possible I am the oldest mom-to-be at 34 but I don't know that to be true - I'm just speculating. The teacher is nice enough, appearing to be in her mid-30's she has three kids and has spent most of her time as an OB nurse. I didn't learn anything new last night except that pregnant women shouldn't lay on a concrete floor because my hips and pelvis were severely out of whack when we got home - I'm talking serious pain that took the entire overnight to subside.

The teacher did have a rubbery plastic baby that she passed around. It weighed almost three pounds, which is what our babies currently weigh. It was funny to watch everyone handle it - one guy took off his baseball hat and put it in it to see if it would fit and another guy pretended like he was going to drop it on the floor. She also had some large pictures of what a pregnant woman looks like on the inside, where all of her organs are and the like. I'd already seen those pictures online so that wasn't new to me. The teacher does have an empathy belly that all the Dad's can wear at some point. The male part of the young couple was the first to volunteer and he wore it well. Playing along with all the stuff the teacher made him do he was definitely a good sport and should proove to be an enjoyable part of the class.

Other then the act of actually going to the class, it should be okay. I just have to look at it that I am "preparing" for birth...though I'm still convinced she's going to come out in whatever way works for her, whether I'm breathing the right way or not.

Happy Monday...

I should have known today was going to be a good day when I woke up and could barely see the houses across the street through the heavy fog. You see, fog is just like rain or snow - people don't seem to be able to drive in it.

So I got to work without incident and then sitting in our morning production meeting I heard the words all pregnant women dread..."We have no water". I'm sorry what??? Where I work a statement like "we have no water" means... "we have no bathroom". I try not to panic. I already kind of had to pee by the time I got to work. Now I have to hold it "indefinitely". Well "indefinitely" turned out to be 10:30 when I gave in and went. The tank still had water so I was able to flush and the plumber has probably been here for over an hour now so I'm hoping that means we'll have water by later this afternoon. Sorry if this is all T.M.I. but it's what's new for today.

Did I Really Have Nothing to Say...

Is it possible that two weeks can pass without there really being anything of substance for me to say? Let's catch up shall we?

• I'm still pregnant - 28 weeks down...12 more to go. I had a realization over the weekend that I may just look fat to people who don't know I'm pregnant - that's kind of depressing.
• My 11 year old nephew came to my house one evening and while we were finishing dinner he was in the living room sitting on my coffee table watching TV. What possessed him to sit on the coffee table when there are two sofas and a comfy recliner to sit on. It made me realize our kid isn't going to be able to touch ANYTHING in our house. (Yeah I know...Good Luck with that)
• People drink Guiness beer with their breakfast on St. Patrick's Day - I saw it on the news, that was kind of gross.
• Warm weather makes people in my office talk about going on vacation. The owner of our company was just in Disney World - I like talking about going to Disney World - it makes me happy.
• My co-worker said I'm "nesting" because I cleaned a bunch of old crap out of my office last week. I thought I was being nice doing it - since she's going to have to be able to find things to help my customers for two to three months this summer. Plus I hadn't dusted my quote shelves since I moved into this office over a year ago - that was just disgusting.
• South Carolina wants to pass a law that would require women seeking an abortion to see an ultrasound of their "baby" then think about it for an hour before going through with the procedure. They were discussing this on Good Morning America - while showing an ultrasound photo of a fetus that was at least 20 weeks old. Having used fertility treatments to conceive I had ultrasounds from week five through week eleven. Would you like to see my pictures...of a black circle with a smaller lighter gray circle inside? Granted both areas got bigger as we went through the first trimester but it was still just a tadpole like blob - nothing that looked like a baby. If they want to pass this law I think they should at least be honest about what these women will see.
• My Mom comes and has lunch with me almost every Friday and last week she said my eight year old niece wants to come to my house for a visit before I have my baby. I don't know if she means a sleep over or just a come for the day type visit. I also don't know if she wants her younger brothers to come too or if she wants me all to herself. I used to spend a decent amount of time with her and the boys before I got married but over the last five years it's tapered off. Right now it's sporadic at best. Maybe she's worried that once I have my own baby I won't have time for her anymore and maybe for some strange child-like reason she likes having me around.
• Yesterday morning I had to go for my blood glucose test at the Quest near me. They open at 630am and, for those who don't know, I had to drink this nasty orange sugar water crap and then sit for an hour. By the time they took my blood at 855am they had gone through 44 people and there were at least another ten waiting. I can't ever figure out when to go so I don't have to wait forever. I'm hoping I don't have to go back.
• I was on the phone here at work when a purchasing agent called me to place an order. He had called this morning and left me a message, then I called him back and left him one. So he sat on hold until I was forced to hang up from my current phone call so I could talk to him. Then after speaking with him for 20 minutes he decided he really didn't know what his engineer wanted and that he'd have to get back to me on Thursday when the guy came back to the office. What a D.B.

Looks like I had some things to talk about after all...

Who do they think they're fooling...

I saw a commerical the other night for a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie coming out this spring...only now they are calling them "TMNT". Hello, do we remember the last group to try this? Their name was "New Kids on the Block" and they came back as "NKOTB" - trying to promote a hipper image. It didn't work for them and I'm wondering how it's going to go for the Turtles.

How did that song that the Munchkins sang go...

Oh wait I know..."ding dong the witch is dead the wicked witch blah, blah, blah". I know it's bad karma to be happy when bad things happen to other people but we had layoffs at our company on Friday and one of the biggest jerks in the world finally got the axe. That's right...no more getting baited into fights, no more frustrated customers, no more incoherent conversations...design guy is GONE!!!

The funny thing is, every one really disliked him and he did a really crappy job that was costing our company tons of money, but when we got word that he had been let go - people seemed sad about it. I don't get it. My co-worker began needling management two years ago to hire someone to replace her so she wouldn't have to deal with design guy anymore so they finally caved and it turned out the new girl was stupid. So there didn't seem to be an end to my co-workers misery in dealing with design guy until he got let go on Friday. So you'd think that my co-worker finally got the one thing she wanted more then anything else in the world and that she'd be happy....she isn't.

The same thing happened where my husband worked. His immediate boss was a ridiculous incompetent little man who made everyone's life a living hell. I think people probably cursed the day he was born. Finally after five years he was fired and instead of joy at never seeing the man again my husband felt bad - one of his female co-workers actually cried about it. Why would you waste tears over someone you HATED!!! I just don't get it.

Maybe I can be so callous because being laid off has never happened to me, but if on Friday my boss would have told me "We need to let you go" I think I just would have just said "Okay". What else could I have done? My life would go on and I would find something else to do. Maybe I don't feel the stress because I'm not the breadwinner in my family...but he's losing his job in two months and we're having a baby...but our lives aren't over. I have faith that he'll find something else to do.

I have a sweet deal here and that's no lie, but an end here is a beginning somewhere else. So for now I'm enjoying not dealing with design guy anymore and I'm helping out where I can. I know to be happy when a house falls on someone who deserved it... so I'm going to dance around and sing my little song. I would expect nothing less if it were me under that house next time - I'm sure there's someone out there who would think I deserved it.

I'm Not Sure Why, But I Think I Would Feel The Same Way....

The End Has Come...

Well, at 24 weeks pregnant I finally had to give up the ghost. The regular jeans were no longer all that comfortable so I'm on day number two of wearing actual maternity jeans. The pair I have on today are from my lovely friend Andrea who, after two daughters, will not be needing said pants anymore. I tried to buy my own maternity jeans this weekend but didn't have a lot of luck so I placed an order online this morning and hopefully by the end of the week I will have more pairs to choose from.

How Do You Keep From Being Baited Into A Fight At Work???

I hate that this happens to me every couple of months. There is this guy at my work, whom I deal with on a daily basis, who is a HUGE pain in the ass. Most days I can deal with his Adult ADD or his mental pychosis or whatever his problem is but on days like today it all boils over into a yelling, cursing, door slamming mess.

It started innocently enough...I have a customer who has a hot project...it needs to ship tomorrow (2/23) but due to a large number of custom screws it's not going to be ready until at least Monday (2/26). I had to go to design guy and ask if the customer in fact NEEDS all of these custom screws because it seems like a huge amount of overkill. He can't really answer this question because he just assumed the customer needed them...he never really asked him. So I figured I'd try to get the customer to answer the question. Then design guy, who has an issue with the guy who has to make the custom screws, basically calls that guy a liar (that it's going to take two days to make these screws). Maybe the screw maker guy is lying but I like him better so I stick up for him. I say "So if screw maker guy is lying to me and you're lying to me how am I supposed to get this job done". Well one thing design guy doesn't like is being called names so then he postured up to his full 5'6" tall and told me "he has too much work to do" and he "doesn't need this conversation". Well then the child in me rears it's ugly head so I curse a little, yell a little and slam my office door.

And now here I sit - trying not to stew about it - but I'm pissed - at myself - why do I keep letting design guy get to me? You think after nine years of working with the same people in the same place with the same dynamic I'd be over it, above it, beyond it...whatever...but obviously I'm not.

The Clock is Ticking...

I was checking out the baby time line thing at the bottom of my blog this morning and it said my baby will be born in approximately 16 weeks and five days. That really doesn't seem like a very long time. Hmmmm....

A Valentine's Treat...

My co-worker Frank was late coming to work today, due to our snow/sleet mix from last night. But when he arrived he brought with him treats for us girls in sales...a Russell Stover heart of chocolates and a pair of Gummy Handcuffs.

This is the same guy who bought my co-worker Heidi and I
K-Y Warming Liquid for Christmas one year.

Now all I need to make the day complete is a heart shaped pizza from Sophie's.

Cute Elephant Ass...

Sometimes it just seems like more fun to go over something then around it.

Being Jaded...

Every Monday morning I read the secrets on Post Secret to see what people have to say. Many times reading them makes me sad. There seem to be so many unhappy people out there. Even when I'm unhappy I know I'll be happy again because there are so many wonderful people in my life. I feel bad for the people who say they have no one. On Valentine's Day or any other day.

A Boy and His Guitar...

I was just reading an article by a brilliant mind at the NY Daily News and I learned I was supposed to be offended by Prince's "crude" guitar playing during his halftime performance. Allegedly his guitar, when played "strategically" behind the billowing sheet, looked like an enormous shadow penis. Awesome!!! I guess I was too distracted by his Prince screams or the Aunt Jemima head wrap to notice this 33 second assault on good taste.

If people with a media outlet to support them are going to complain after every Super Bowl they might as well do away with the half-time show all together. At this point I'd rather see the commentators discussing the first half then anymore shows by Paul McCartney or the old-ass Rolling Stones. It seems the networks are having too much of a problem walking the line where they want a spectacle, but just not too much of one.

Forget Osama...there's a greater threat now...

And it's the stupidity of people like Mayor Thomas Menino of Boston. He's vowing revenge against Turner Broadcasting because he went on television and made himself and his city leaders look like huge tools. In addition to everything else I have to worry about - I now have to worry that a glowing milkshake giving me the finger is actually a terror plot? That's almost as good as Joseph Biden thinking he could call Barack Obama a "clean" African-American and not hear anything about it.

The guy reporting the story on Good Morning America this morning had to hold back his laughter when he said that there weren't any problems with these devices in the nine other major metropolitan areas where they've been in place for the last two or three weeks. I'm not sure how these cities feel now - they either look heroic like they can recognize things as the non-terror threats they are or they look hapless because most never even realized they were in their cities to begin with. Ahhh, the double edged sword of lunacy.

Bring on the milkshake, the box of fries and the meatball...let them do what they will. In the event of another attack - my hope is that I am no where near stupid people like Mayor Menino because that would mean I would have to rely on those people to save my life. I'd rather take my chances in the wilderness...I've watched Red Dawn & Survivorman.

In Good Company...

Now that I'm pregnant, I'm very aware of who else is. Turns out my baby will share a summer birthday with...

• Tiger Wood's wife


• Jeff Gordon's wife


• Julia Roberts


• Jenna Elfman (Dharma of "Dharma & Greg fame) &


• Keri Russel (of "Felicity" fame)

It's Good to be an M & M...

On the Pop Candy blog there was a link to this groovy website that lets you dress up M & M's. You can choose eyes, eyebrows, mouths, arms, legs, hairstyles, accessories etc. This is me as an M & M. I'm wearing black cowboy boots but you can see them...

My Favorite Place, That I've Never Been...

I've always loved cereal. When I was a kid it was the occasional box of Cookie Crisp we were lucky enough to score, in a household marked largely by non-sugary standards like Cheerios and Rice Krispies. College was a dream come true for me, we had at least 20 varieties of cereal all lined up in a row just ripe for the picking. That's where I developed my affinity for Captian Crunch Peanut Butter Balls. My roommate and best friend always said that if she wrote a memoir it would be titled..."Sex & Cereal, The Life & Times of Andrea Berry". She even wrote an ode to Fruit Loops for our poetry class.

For several years now there has been a cereal cafe located approximately an hour from my house, in downtown Philadelphia. I've planned many visits there in my mind, but I have yet to actually make the trip. Now it seems they are opening a location in State College, PA sometime this month. Now my husband doesn't share my love of cereal but he did attend Penn State and fiercely loves them. We haven't been out to visit for a while so we might be able to combine both of our loves and I can finally score some of this cereal...that I will eat from a Chinese take out style container....I can even get candy on it if I want to....

Now I Can Mail His Face To Everyone...

Turns out my boyfriend has been imortalized on photo stamps. You can order them here.

I Think I'm In Mourning...

According to today's Issue of USA Today - it appears my boyfriend has a girlfriend...

"And, yes, Earnhardt does have a girlfriend, who lives nearby. At 32, Earnhardt knows it's time to think about starting a family, but he says he's not ready to take the leap."It would be nice to have a son," he said. "But it's not happening in the next nine months, I'll tell you that."I've got this girl I'm seeing. It's going great. We get to see each other pretty much whenever. But I ain't in no big rush. I enjoy being single. The fun thing about being single is you don't have to answer to anybody. If I want to go up there and race on the computer against my buddies four nights in a row and stay up until 7 in the morning, I can do that."Earnhardt isn't divulging details of his romance."I've had instances in the past when I should have kept things a little more under wraps," he said. "It's just no good (to talk). People find out who she is. Then they get online and tear her down and pick her apart."

Show Me To The "All You Can Eat" Seats...

I think the LA Dodgers are my new favorite baseball team. Just like Burger King & Taco Bell are my favorite fast food restaurants (from a marketing standpoint, not an eating one). When everyone is cutting portion sizes and trying to make American's thinner - Burger King and Taco Bell unabashedly offer enormous food for people who want it. Now the Dodgers are going to have a seating area where for $40 on gameday you can eat as many hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn and nachos that you want (within reason of course, as there are rules and time restrictions). If it's your thing to eat some of everything at a game it might pay you to sit in those seats. What would sell me - is having someone bring me the items - I just hate to get up and get it myself. I know some of the items at Dodger stadium will be that way - but some will also be self service, buffet style. I guess you can't have everything, but this is a good start.