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.