One year ago...

One year ago today I fell in love with the man who is now my husband. He had a mohawk then, so I guess it's true that love is blind. Since then my life had changed pretty dramatically, I have, in the past year, left a company with whom I had been employed for 13 years, got married, and, most importantly met the other man in my life, Samwise Wilder Klein- Morehead. I would not change this past year for the world, even at 2 in the morning when I have finally closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep and Sam wakes up and wants to be fed, or, like yesterday, when putting Sam down for even a minute caused such screaming that I had to literally make pralines with one hand, and did not eat or go to the bathroom all day.
I love my life!!
Tomorrow we are headed down to Orleans for Christmas. I have 3 weeks worth of crossword puzzles saved up, and I am going to finally finish "Lonesome Dove." The pralines I am bringing are a little gooshy, but, again, in my defense, I made them one handed. The toffee and the fudge turned out ok, though.
Then Friday I get to see my mom again, Nadine and David in January, and hopefully Mandi in February. Getting to spend a whole week with Jeff's family is awesome, but it makes me miss my own. Hopefully my dad can get out before we move to Orleans.
So, Happy Holidays everyone! I hear my little baby waking up and I have just enough time to run to the bathroom before the crying starts!!

Thwarted Plans!!

Pralines were at the top of my agenda today, but I have read too many warnings about making candy on rainy days, and pecans are too expensive to take a chance with if the candy does not set. Already my toffee is a little shady because of the candy thermometer incident, so I don't want to take any more chances. I am just going to wait for my butter to soften and start making cookies, even though it might still be a little too soon for that, as well. maybe I'll just make the dough for now?
Tonight the Blazers are going to try to make it 9 in a row. I have faith!! Brian and I are going to go to the A&L, site of our first game together, to watch the end of it, because Jeff went out for a little bit last night. Oh, how I can't wait to go out together!
Anyway, I thought I could write more but someone is a little fussy.

My beautiful sister Mandi with Sam. We wish she would come visit again!!

Be Prepared!!

I was just halfway into making almond roca, about to stick my candy thermometer into the pot filled with bubbling butter and sugar, when I noticed my candy thermometer was broken. Argh! I removed the thermometer part from the glass and marked where 300 degrees should be, but when the candy reached the mark it did not look right so I let it go for 3 more minutes. It is also raining out, so the conditions were already not optimal for candy making. Sometimes i am so hasty! But i really wanted to get cracking on my candy making so it will all be ready for this weekend. Hopefully it will turn out ok, but I am sure even if it does not set it will still be delicious as something, and someone will eat it, maybe over ice cream. I have faith, though.
Tomorrow hopefully it wont be raining and I can go get a new thermometer and make pralines and fudge. Mom- if you are reading this, yes, I will save some for you, and I specifically made the toffee with milk chocolate just for you!!
Survivor- so satisfying. This is the first time in 9 seasons that I would have been genuinely happy with whomever in the final 3 had won. For the record, though, the final 3 is stupid and they should go back to two. Next season- fans versus favorites!! Awesome!! Why didn't I apply? Oh yes- because i was pregnant, fat and out of shape. Still, I'm super excited and I can't wait to see who comes back. I hope Peih Gee comes back. I was kind of sad when she got voted off!!
Project Runway- Poor Jack! I hope he is ok. I also hope the next challenge is more interesting then the last 3 have been. No one wants to see people design men's clothes, or clothes for real people. Or from old clothes. Wheres the Haute Couture, Heidi?
Jeff, Sam and I went up to Seattle for the day on Sunday to meet Sam's big brother Noah for Noah's eighth birthday. Sam loves being in the car! And I think Noah and Sam will end up getting along very well.
Jeff and I watched the worst movie in the world on Sunday, "Duets", with Huey Lewis and Gwyneth Paltrow. It was my fault because I had seen it before and could not believe it could be as awful as I remembered it. It was way worse. I thought it would be charming because it was about Karaoke, but there were so many things wrong with it that I don't even have the energy to complain. It did not ruin our lovely weekend.
And- Holla!! The Blazers have won 6in a row. Can they win number 7 tonight!! I believe!!!

My, what a busy week...

Well, not really. I just got out a little more than usual. Tuesday night I left Jeff home with the kid and Brian went out so I could cut loose, or at least see if I remembered how. We went to a cheap divey taco place for dinner and I got my margarita on, then we went to Tennessee Reds so I could see my friend Sara, who owns the bar and was bartending that night. I got to see my friend Justin, aka "The Wolfe" as well, and we sang some songs, which was awesome. For the first time a crowd really appreciated our version of "Candy", and I appreciated 2 vodka tonics. Alas, I looked at the clock every 10 minutes missing my husband and child, and, while it was great to be out, I felt sort of guilty for having a good time when I knew Jeff was at home getting puked on. I also knew that I would have to be up all night with Sam, so that curtailed my drinking a bit.
Today I met with my friends Jen and Autumn for lunch. It was mine and Sam's first solo trip in the car, and I did ok. Sam slept the whole way, but it was weird not being able to look at him. He was great during lunch, he slept in his sling the whole time and I did not spill anything on him. It's always great to see Jen, who is super fun to hang out with and always knows good gossip, and seeing Autumn was a treat, it had been more than a year since we had spoken and it was good to catch up.
Sam and I had a good time cruising around Target after lunch, stocking up on baby things and a birthday card for Noah.
Tomorrow is breakfast with Molly, Henry, Violet and Lisa. Sam and I have such a social calender all of a sudden. It will be interesting to have 3 infants at one table tomorrow!!
I would write more but I am typing with one hand and holding a pacifier in Sam's mouth with the other.

Why can't every day be like Sunday?

I love the weekends! They just go so fast. I guess I just will never take for granted how much I enjoy hanging out with my husband. We don't really even do anything, just relax, but I love having him around and seeing him with Sam. Sunday we took Samwise to the Paradox for breakfast. He was great, and then as we were leaving he got to see his first snow. Then cousin Pam was an angel and sat with him while Jeff and I went to see "The Golden Compass." I was pretty enchanted with the look of the movie, the set design and costumes were gorgeous, and the effects were wonderful, but I felt it was a little slow. And I missed my baby!! I checked my phone every 10 minutes to make sure no one had called. Then when we got home I went grocery shopping all by myself. It felt kind of weird to be alone, I am used to having my little sidekick around me at all times! I wonder how I'll do tomorrow when Brian and I go out to dinner. Jeff will be with him, so it will be ok.
I remember what we did Saturday night! We had dvr'd "Mr.Mom." It had been forever since either of us had seen it and it was still pretty funny. What ever happened to Micheal Keaton, I wonder?
This week brings us the end of "Survivor." I will try to have the strength to go on.

Watching Samwise

Sorry, I did not do much today other that watch Samwise make faces as he slept. He is better that TV. And getting more beautiful every day. And also starting to look a bit like Jeff, I think. He found his fingers and I love to watch him suck his thumb. Hopefully he wont suck it as long as his mommy did. Or his Beebee for that matter. His hair is starting to lighten in color, and I think its going to be wavy.
Sam had a projectile vomiting episode that was scary and hilarious at the same time. Poor daddy was the target. It did not seem to bother Sam too much, but daddy was soaked!! Sam got me back by peeing all over me today. he really has range. I guess I will start using the peepee teepees.
I noticed the other day that I now refer to myself in the 3rd person.
Denver and the Mile High Orchestra better not make it through another round of "Next American Band" tonight. I will be furious
On Survivor last night it was "family" episode. I cried the minute the first family member came out. Gets me every time. Who thinks Todd was faking about his sisters miscarriage? I hope he was not. It was a clever ploy once, but tacky now. I think he will get voted off next week, it would be super cool to have an all girl final 4 but I really did like Todd, and Courtney and Denise really don't deserve to win. GO AMANDA!!
I think the guy with HIV is going to have to leave Project Runway next week. That's sad. He was a good designer. Good luck, Jack!
Happy weekend, everyone!!
By the way, I have been getting back in to my myspace. I recently found a few friends from when I lived in Ventura that I totally forgot about. I can't wait to hear back from them and see how they are doing. Also, one of them, Ben, who used to be one of my Shift Supervisors at the Port Hueneme Starbucks, died in a car crash. He was a wonderful man and I will miss him. Rest in peace, Ben.

What we do all day

What Sam and I do all day is hang out. We were a little stir crazy today, and the weather was amenable, so we took a walk outside, but mommy is usually so tired from being up all night that we hang out on the blue chair and doze and watch daytime television. We love Martha Stewart and think Rachael Ray is super annoying.
We have fun things coming up, though!! Saturday Jeff and I are going to get new phones; I am because I hate my phone, it won't hold a charge and my stupid Sprint contract is up, and Jeff because he got water on his keypad and can't dial 1,4 or 7, and can't send texts, which, before me would have been no great tragedy but is now a big deal.
Also, since Samwise has been so good on his previous outings and in his sling we are going to try to go out for breakfast on Sunday morning. We miss that tradition!!
Next week we are going to Seattle for the day for Noah's 8th birthday, and to introduce Samwise to his step brother before we all have to make a 9 hour car trip together.
Then the week after that is Christmas in Orleans already! I am so excited, I bet it is so beautiful there in December, and I am so looking forward to spending time with family.
The weekend after that is New Years, and my mom is coming back up, I can't wait, she is great company, and so helpful, and Jeff and I are looking forward to going out together. We will have been together for a year on Dec. 21st. Ha ha.
It seemed to me that I was pregnant FOREVER. Time just crawled by until my due date. Sam turned 2 weeks old last Tuesday, and I could have sworn he was just born. Maybe its because I am so excited for the holidays, but time seems to be flying by.
We lit the Hanukkah candles with Aunt Nadine on Tuesday, and had the traditional Jewish meal of pizza for dinner, but the next day we had latkes for lunch, and decided that they were in fact a much better brunch option then dinner option.
I am very excited because all the clothes that have not fit on me in forever are now loose!! Maybe that is because I can't put Samwise down for long enough to eat!!

Where's our Blazers Jersey?

Grandpop Steve sent us this Philadelphia Eagles outfit!! Its a little to big for me but I love it anyway! Mommy wants to know if this means that she has to watch Football, cause it will never happen. Basketball is our game!!

We will miss Nadine!!

auntie Nadine came to visit for a few days!! I slept on her for 2 nights in a row and mommy got to sleep for hours at a time!! She was such good company, and we cant wait till she comes back!!

Talk of circadian rythms

On Saturday night I got 6 hours of sleep in a row! This is due to the sad fact that, despite all the supplements I have been taking, pumping I have been doing and the specialists I have been seeing, my breast milk has refused to come in and we have switched to bottle feeding. Usually I wake up all night because Jeff has to work in the mornings, but no work on Sunday so he was able to help me out with the feedings. I woke up super refreshed and more high spirited then I have been in a while. Sunday was a perfect day. We woke up at 10 (!!!!!) and then Jeff went out and got breakfast. I can drink coffee now, so I had two cups (which, along with my child, kept me up until 4 am last night).
While Jeff was out I put on the digital music channel, hoping to expose Sam to some classical music, but then we both decided that we much preferred the "retroactive" channel. Sam and I had a good time discussing the merits of the Replacements, and talking about how "Up" was a really under- appreciated album, but every REM album after that had disappointed us. We were able to learn about INXS, Depeche Mode, Souxie and the Banshees, and the Cure. We even shared trivia with daddy when he got home - that Murry Head of "One Night in Bangkok" fame recorded as Judas in "Jesus Christ Superstar."
Today we are going to tackle the riot grrls and we have big plans to dance around the kitchen to Le Tigre and Gossip.
Sam stayed awake and alert most of Sunday, so we were able to really enjoy him. We thought that would mean he would sleep well through the night, but, sadly that was not the case.
Nadine is coming to visit tonight, and stay till Wednesday, and she wants to stay up all night with Sam. Can I get a big "Hell Yeah!!" I have not slept next to my husband for a long time.
Isn't it funny, new mothers, how a shower feels like a months vacation?
Hopefully my friends Molly and Lisa will come and visit me this week as well. They both have cute new babies, too.
A year ago this week I was getting ready to go to the beach with my best friend to drink alot and sing Karaoke in a dive bar and drink some more and sit in the hot tub. Funny.
I told Jeff he could go out on Tuesday to shake his sillies out, if I could go out next week. Its a shame we cant go out together but I'll take what I can get, and what I can get is an Ocean full of Sushi and a beer as big as my head with Brian. My mom is going to come up for New Years, and I am so excited to put on a dress and makeup, and, lets be honest, a bra, and go out and see some friends and sing a song!!!

poop glorious poop!!

We have been so worried because Samwise has not pooed for several days. After the Doctor on Tuesday, we supplemented my scant breast milk with a goats milk concoction prescribed by Dr. Ed that we had to feed Sam with a syringe. Finally yesterday we went and got him some formula and bottle fed him, and in the middle of the night when I went to go change him, there it was!! I have never been so happy to see shit in my life.
We are going to a lactation specialist in a few minutes that will hopefully help us with breast feeding, but I feel that we have done everything!! I event tried the old wives tale of drinking a stout, but lets be honest, no one really had to twist my arm for that.
After the lactation person, we are going to visit Dr. Ed and see how the circumcision scar is healing, and make sure everything is ok.
On a completely different note, remember the episode of "The Cosby Show" when Denise made Theo a "designer" shirt that was ridiculous and had weird sleeves and a collar? I swear Sweet P made that shirt on last weeks episode of "Project Runway."
Also, "Survivor" totally ruled! I love a coup.

Further Adventures!

First of all, thank you everyone for your well wishes! We are doing fine and so happy to be home.
The thing that is worrying me right now is that its been 8 days and my milk has not come in yet. My doctor said that it is one of the side effects of having a c- section, but I am pretty upset about it. It's hard to not feel like a failure- at having a home birth, at breastfeeding, ect. So we are supplementing his breastmilk with formula in a syringe right now, and I am making lecticin smoothies to help my milk come in.
Yesterday we went and got circumcised, and that was pretty traumatic for everyone. We brought along the traditional manaschewitz, and I said some prayers, but I had to turn away during the actual event. Sam seems to be doing fine, though.
I am feeling better as well. Monday, when Jeff went back to work, I pretty much cried all day. I didn't think I'd be affected by the post pardum blues because I am pretty cheerful by nature, but I have been sobbing alot. It gets better every day.
Samwise has been doing a much better job of sleeping, and this morning I even put him in the bassinet for 2 hours and got some sleep!! Otherwise, I have been keeping up with a lot of TV at night while dozing in between feedings.
Right now Samwise is sitting in his vibrating chair watching me type. He says "hi" to everyone, but its time to eat.

Daddy and Samwise, with Grandpa Steve in the background!!

Samwise on his first day!!

We love the vibrating chair thingie!!

Sleeping Sam

There is my sweet sleeping baby!!

my beautiful son!!

Samwise and mommy sitting on the blue chair that we managed not to ruin in labor!!

Tomorrow, I promise

Samuel Wilder Klein-Morehead was born at 7:01 am on November 20th, 2007. He was 9 lbs, 10 oz, and 22 inches long. We labored at home for 15 hours before going to the emergency room and having a c- section. Mommy, Daddy and Samwise are all doing great, and being kept company by lots of loving family. Tomorrow, after I get the staples removed from my stomach, I promise I will write a longer, more detailed entry with pictures of the most beautiful child in the world.

Here we go

My water broke about 15 minutes ago. Now I am just waiting for Jeff to come home and for Gabriel the intern to come over. Neither my mom or dad are answering the phone. I am FREAKING out. I have literally thought about this moment 1000000 times a day for the last 9 months, and now I am hours away from meeting my son. Nothing is set up, things are scattered around the house, I am just really scares about the pain right now and about what happens next. I pray it will go smoothly. I pray he'll be healthy and I'll be ok. I hope I can stay at home and not have to be rushed to the hospital. Pain I am ok with, but I have never been good with ambiguity, and its the waiting that's been the worst part.
I guess watching "Return Of the King" last night helped out after all!!
Stay tuned!!

Nice Morning

I woke up today and hopped right over to the old Kitchen Aid and whipped out a batch of Pam's pumpkin scones. I threw in the rest of a bag of crystallized ginger that I had laying around, and I am going to glaze them with ginger icing. Not a bad way to start a Sunday. Lets hope it ends in BIRTH!!
Ooh I love when my kitchen smells like things baking. Except with the glasses now, every time I open the oven my glasses fog up. It's a small price to pay for looking so cute in these glasses!!
Bob just e-mailed me and told me that there is ANOTHER Def Leppard movie. How lucky can we get?
Pam- I just took the scones out of the oven- they look delicious. I wish I had a pumpkin pie blizzard to eat with them, or a pumpkin milkshake from Burgerville.
I really am in a baking mood. I wonder what I can make next. Maybe I'll just make the cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving and store it. I think its close enough that it wont go bad.
There is nothing better than hanging out in a warm kitchen on a rainy day listening to the vocal stylings of Neko Case. Except maybe next I'll put on some Def Leppard!!
Rock on!!

My rant against Target

Usually I love Target. Most of my clothes are from there and nothing gives me more pleasure than slowly cruising the aisles in search of something I have to have. But today they committed a grievous offense against me, so now I must boycott, at least for a while.
We went in to get the crib we had been looking at for about a month. There were little pamphlets, many of them, I might add, that you were supposed to bring up to an employee and they would bring you the item. We were informed that it was discontinued, as well as our second choice. They did not have any in stock in any stores, yet they continued to keep them on display. They offered to order me one from the website, but they would charge me shipping. I thought that was horrible customer service, so we went to IKEA and got a nicer one for $30 less, and I got to go to IKEA.
So now I am mad at Target. Why would you keep something on display, for weeks, that you were out of?
The Blazers are also on my list today after blowing a 25 point lead to lose to Philly last night and then Washington tonight.
Maybe I'm just cranky cause I am having contractions. Jeff wants me to call the doctor cause they are pretty regular, but I just have a feeling it's not time, yet. I really, really wish it was, though.
Google, however, has been wonderful lately, letting me sign right on to my blog.

Lighten up its just FASHION

So I am in love with Ravi the Israeli on Project Runway. His dress was beautiful and I hope he wins. Some of the contestants, as usual, are crackpots, like the woman who hand sewed her dress onto her body- seriously, people, its season 4, don't you know that you need to know how to use a sewing machine?
The garment that came in second place that all the judges loved was hideous. HIDEOUS!! Beige and plaid and unflattering. I expect more from Michael Kors. Tim Gunn questioned it, though.
So Janet was wrong, no baby yesterday. I want him to come today so he'll have the same birthday as Brian. Pam says Saturday, Bob says Monday. I just want to sleep on my stomach again.
I don't want to jinx myself, but my blog problem seemed to have miraculously healed itself. When I signed on today it went right to my dashboard!!
I checked on a whim, not really prepared to write, so I need to go put stuff in my hair before my bangs dry kitty-whompus.
By the way, the Office last night- Depressing!! and it's the last one for a while.

And the winner for longest comment ever goes to....

That would be Bob, I think, listing all of the illustrious people who were born on November 19th. Thank you, tell him what he's won...
I think Janet might be right, though. I am pretty sure that I am having some pretty serious contractions right now, although my water has not broken yet or anything. Does one trump the other?
Thank goodness that this morning I went out and got all of my grocery shopping done and got 95% of what I'll need for Thanksgiving.
Pam's latest blog entry got me thinking of things I would never wear. Then again, I always swore I would never leave the house in sweatpants and 6 months into my pregnancy and it was "well, they fit, so..." but in the spirit of bad fashion, here it goes:
Slip on tennis shoes- you know, with no backs? Its like the most counter intuitive, tacky thing ever. they're sneakers, yet, you can slip out of them at any moment. Where is the logic in that?
I am also VERY against all of the colored jeans I have been seeing in magazines lately. Yellow denim? On whom does that look good, I ask you?
I am against store bought cut off jeans, as well. I had to adios a few of Jeff's when he moved in, along with some extra-hideous Hawaiian shirts.
I am not particularly enamored of white jeans, either, and no, its not because of some menstrual catastrophe in Junior High. They just seem like an invitation for disaster.
I don't like printed t- shirts with slogans like "something high school track team" etc that you get at like Old Navy that are "vintage" when it's obvious that you never went to that place or whatever. Did that make sense? However, I would wear an "everyone loves a Jewish Girl " t-shirt.
I will defend my leg warmers till my dying day. I don't care if they look silly. They WARM MY LEGS.
I will probably think of more things, but, OUCH!!

Place your bets

I guess everyone in Jeff's family is placing bets on when Sam will come. Janet says Thursday, and, as Jeff says, Boy howdy I hope she's right. If he comes on Friday it will be Brian's birthday, too, so that would be kind of cool as well. As long as its not Thanksgiving Day!!
We just got back from a small baby shopping spree at Target, where we got a car seat, and much classic pooh themed sheets etc... So cute!!
Also saw Dr. Ed for the shortest appointment ever. Pee in a cup, blood pressure, weight, baby heartbeat, done!! Just the way I like it.
Some woman at Freddies AGAIN asked me if I was having twins. Come on, people! That is RUDE!!
Prison Break Fall finale tonight. I think they did that last year, too. Make us wait until February. Oh well, there is still Nip/Tuck, and Project Runway starts tomorrow night.
Blazers versus Detroit tonight. A nailbiter. Go Portland!! If we win this one we might have to name Sam LaMarcus instead!!

Nadine's Billboard

Today, Yuma, Arizona... Tomorrow, the world!!

2:30 am

It's o'dark o'clock but my back hurts so badly that I can't sleep. I tried stretching and walking around but no dice. So I thought I'd post a little post. Yesterday there was a marathon of "The Next Great Iron Chef" so I watched that. It's pretty good, The challenges are pretty much on par with "Top Chef", and the chefs are all quite reputable and talented. Also, I love Alton Brown and he is the host. I still have the last 2 episodes saved on my DVR.
I think I am going to try to read "Lonesome Dove" for a while, then try to go back to sleep.

sunday

Jeff is at the Comic Book convention today, so I busied myself with a leisurely stroll through Target, and you know what? I have no idea what I need. I walked up and down the baby health care aisle just baffled- shampoo, soap, diaper cream, etc... which one is the right one to have? I need my mom!! I ended up getting a pair of baby nail clippers, a diaper changing mat to go in my e-bay diaper bag, and classic Winnie The Pooh Tigger and Eeyore stuffed animals. Next week I'll tackle the crib and bedding at a bigger Target- mine is kind of dinky and has a limited selection. I also got a new shower curtain liner- finally, a new shower mat and rugs for the kitchen floor, and cleaning supplies. Better late then never for that "nesting" bug, I guess. My Craig's List purchase today was for a pretty much brand new activity mat/gym, and she threw in some bouncy thing that vibrates. The thing we got yesterday- some thing that has hangie things and goes on the floor- I turned it on and music started playing and Jeff got a very funny look on his face. I suppose by the time we have our next kid I'll just be able to plug my i-pod into any toy and that will be that.
I was going to complain today about "The Next Great American Band," but I don't have the energy. Sufficed to say that if you are covering a song by a famous artist in front of an audience of millions of people you should LEARN THE LYRICS, and the judges should probably comment as such and not just try to crawl up peoples butts. But I don't think anyone watches this stupid show but me, and we generally watch it on fast forward, like I watch "American Idol." And I NEVER vote.
The peeing is really getting out of control these last few days. At least I don't do what I read about sometimes happens- the leaking or whatever. I know, I know, tacky to bring up, but seriously, that would suck beyond the telling.
The Blazers KICKED DALLAS' ASS last night!! So satisfying!!

Grrrrrrr Blogspot

I hate getting into my blog at home. For some reason, the blog site or whatever does not recognize me, so every time I want to post I have to create a new blog. I now have several with names like"whocaresnotme223" etc, and the list is getting long and frustrating. When I signed on at work with my gmail address, it went right to my dashboard and I could post away. This is the only downside to not being at work for the next 3 months. My list of unused blogs will grow exponentially with my frustration and ire.

That being said, it is Saturday. I picked up a bunch of Craig's List finds this morning, then went out to lunch with Jeff. He now is drilling hinges into wood for a comic book display case, and will then go on to reprice comic books for the rest of the day.

I had big Target aspirations for today, but I think I will wait till tomorrow, when Jeff is at the Comic Book Convention all day. I am getting so excited!!

So Jeff came inside on Friday night giggling that Dave (our fashionably challenged neighbor) was wearing a tie and some sort of "rakish" hat. I tried to go outside under the pretense of getting fire wood but he was already inside. I managed to discern that a "rakish" hat is indeed a fedora, possibly with a small feather. Jeff remarked that Dave commented that he was "trying out some new looks" and this made him feel like a different person. Of course he was still rocking the cowboy belt. I don't know what disappointed me more- the fact that my sweet husband, under my poor influence, is learning how to be snarky and cruel, or that I missed Dave in person. Oh well. This morning as I was leaving to go pick up a stroller I saw it for myself. It is actually PIN STRIPED! And underneath the fedora was still the "do-rag" And enough aftershave to knock out a small army. I hope he still does not have the link to my blog, that would be embarrassing. His gross sister, who sits outside and smokes all day with her 3 inch talon- like nails, nicely commented that it didn't look like I was having a baby, but like I was having All babies. Nice, huh? Like I don't feel huge enough.

The Blazers played another kick- ass game last night and beat the Memphis Grizzlies. Tonight- Dallas, my least favorite team in the NBA. I am ready to boo and scream at the TV!!

Christmas!! Already?

Every year that I worked at Starbucks I used to get so angry that it was Christmas Christmas Christmas, when they carried on all the time about diversity and respect. As a Jewish girl, I took serious offense to being forced to listen to Christmas carols, use Christmas cups, and decorate MY store with Christmas trees that looked like toilet bowl cleaners. I voiced my concerns often, but was told, of course it was all marketing- which means its all about the bottom line. Christmas sells! Anyway, here it is, November 9th? and the stores are already are decorated for Christmas. Am I the only one that finds this reprehensible?

"You got big dreams, You want Fame...

Well, fame costs, and right here is where you start paying... in sweat"- Yes that's right. I almost swooned when I heard those words coming out of Tyra's mouth on the last "America's Next Top Model." She said it in the dance studio before showing the modelettes how to do a sexy walk, slide down a mirror and not look like a "ho"- which I did not think was possible, and slide across the floor on your knees- knee pads provided. All the girls either looked like the aforementioned ho's, except for a few who looked like mental patients. Then they got to film a music video with pop sensation Enrique Iglasieos (sp?) in which they were supposed to look like sexy vampires. Oh Tyra, where do you come up with this stuff?
Chicago FINALLY won a game last night, against Detroit. We can all let out a sigh of relief in that they will not be starting out the season 0-5!!
This is my last day of work before Maternity leave!!
I have not done anything else interesting lately but take walks and watch TV. I am also reading "Lonesome Dove."
Maybe I'll update more, later.

Blazers 93 Hornets 90

Have I mentioned how stoked I am about basketball! Last night was icing on the cake as our scrappy Trailblazers shot to victory over the as yet undefeated New Orleans Hornets. We watched the first half, then I got so nervous I had to turn it off and watch "House." Then we caught the last 6 minutes, which, if you know basketball takes at least a half an hour, especially when the score is close because there is a lot of fouling going on. Anyway, we persevered, and I think that means we have not lost an opening night home game in 7 years. Also, Who new New Orleans was such a good team? I pretty much ignored them last year, even though they have Chris Paul, rookie of the year from 2 years past, and my 2 favorite former Kings, Peja and Bobby Jackson.
I wish I had started watching basketball earlier than 2002. I feel like I missed out on some of the great players and games. For example, on channel 37 now they show classic games and when nothing was on the other day we watched a Blazers/Spurs game from 1992 that was fantastic, back when the Blazers won the Western Conference. Good times.
One of the first games I remember watching was the Kings/ Lakers game for the Western Finals years ago. It was when Caryn and I were living in the studio, so it's not like I could have gone into another room to escape it. anyway, it was so close and so tense that I had to go outside until it was over. after that I was hooked. I still pretty much hate football, baseball, hockey etc...
Portia De Rossi started her stint on Nip/Tuck last night as Julia's love interest. Does TV get any better? I think not. Poor Ellen.
Oh, and my sister Nadine has a freaking BILLBOARD!! I'll post it when I get home.

Craig's List RULES!!

My newest acquisition? A $149.00 breast pump for $25. Next, a glider rocking chair for upstairs and some toys. I am also looking for a printer. Jeff is very impressed at my thriftiness.
"Prison Break" was awesome last night, but it is just as frustrating as the first season. The episode was 2 hours and when it was over I still was unsatisfied. The plot is thickening, though, with an ever widening conspiracy, but I have to say that I think Lincoln is so stupid. Everything that went wrong this season was his fault.
I just really don't have a lot to talk about today. Maybe I'll come back and write later on.http://www.npr.org/blogs/monitormix/2007/11/
Awesome blog alert!! Carrie Brownstein, formerly of THE BEST BAND EVER Sleater-Kinney, has a blog on the NPR website. You should go check it out even if you don't like the band. She is very smart and knows a lot about music.

Well worth the wait

So I finally got to watch Nip/Tuck last night, and it was worth every second of the wait I had to endure!! I had a huge smile on my face the whole time, and I even heard Jeff chuckle once or twice. HOOKED! Just like I said he would be. And its on again tonight.
I am going to try to spend some time today posting recipes in the recipe section. I made a great vegan shepherds pie last night with a roasted garlic mashed potato crust that went over very well, and there is still the vegan sloppy joe to post, and my other mac and cheese for Nadine that is not made with gross nutritional yeast.
On a sad note, I had thought that I would be able to still cook some things for Thanksgiving this year, but after making this Shepherds pie, that had a lot of steps to it, I was kind of exhausted. Ill take it one day at a time.
I am 38 weeks pregnant, today!! I think that means I am officially at term, so, any day now. I am taking walks and eating spicy food and all the other things you are supposed to do, but he'll come when he is ready, I guess.
After work I have to go return my library books, and then, Dr. Ed!! I wonder if we will get an ultrasound or anything today? Those are fun.
The food section in the Oregonian is all about French onion soup, which is one of my favorite things to make and eat. Alas, its hard to make a good vegan facsimile of it, what with all the cheese, so Ill just have to look at pictures.

Count your blessings

Today while at the 7-11 in line to get my newspaper there was a couple behind me that smelled like a brewery and looked just gross. They were buying 10 tall boys of "Hurricane Ice." Ice beer, as Jeff has informed me, has loads more alcohol then regular. This was at 7:30 in the morning, and I dont think they were buying it for a party later. Also the 7-11 people knew them, so I am sure this is a regular thing. These are the people probably qualifying for government aid, and food stamps, while Jeff and I, technically at the poverty level when I go on maternity leave, still make too much money for WIC. Oh well, at least we still have our teeth, and each other. Things like that remind me to count my blessings.
Things I did not do this weekend:
-Make scones. I made chocolate chip cookies instead. They were a bigger hit.
-Watch Nip/Tuck. I don't want to talk about it but if it didn't tape last night there will be hell to pay
-Move furniture around and make shelves. We decided to get one project done at a time and wait till the comic book convention is over
- Go to see "American Gangster". We stayed at home and watched "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkeban" and "Boogie Nights" instead.
We did, however, take advantage of the lovely weather and take 2 long walks in the sunshine.
Doctors appointment tomorrow, one of the last, I would imagine.
Also, 2 hour Prison Break event that I have to wait for Brian to watch.

Sunday

I have to post every day for this month, so here is a quick one for today. My new favorite website is http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/ They have recaps of most of the shows I watch, and are written in just the snarky tone I love! My favorite was last weeks recap of "The Biggest Loser" when they actually quoted a song from Les Miserable to illustrate the war between the red, black and blue teams..." Red, the blood of angry men, black, the dark of ages past.." then something about blue being the color of Gatorade that is not really a flavor, which was shades of my Icee post, so I was instantly smitten.
They do not, however, review "The next Great American Band" and more's the pity, because if there was ever a show made for sarcasm, well, this is it.
There was also a post of the to 10 best Amazing Race episodes of all time, and, while I don't agree with all of them (my favorite was when Charla the small person carried a side of beef around her neck, or maybe when she got electrocuted), It was still a good read and got me excited for this season, which starts tonight and features Lesbian Clergy and a Goth couple. How did we ever live before reality TV, I ask you.
I suppose I should go make scones now and go to Trader Joes, but I really just want to sit on my blue chair and take a nap in front of the fire.
Peace out.

The Weekend

Here is what we plan to do on our brief weekend!!
- Drive out to Gresham to pick up a changing table and swing we found for cheap on Craig's List
- Go see "American Gangster"
-Sleep, sleep sleep, an extra hour, because THIS week is daylight savings
-Watch disc 2 of "Freaks and Geeks"
- Watch "Nip/Tuck" Finally!!
-Make shelves for the baby clothes, and move furniture around.
-Bake Pam's pumpkin scones
I think that's it!! besides the usual Tin Shed for breakfast, sleep in routine. And then next week is my last work week. Come out come out Sam!!

My favorite time of year..

So it is my favorite time of year. It is when I get all of the cooking magazines' holiday issues, and pore over them looking for spectacular things to make for Thanksgiving, and then end up deciding to go to my old standby, Martha Stewart. This woman has never failed me, not once. I started making every dish from her cookbooks the year she was incarcerated because I felt bad that she was not cooking for herself, and wanted to commiserate, and everything turned out so well that I have been using them for years. But then again, how can a turkey that calls for a pound of butter and a bottle of wine not be miraculous.
One thing I have never done that all the magazines say you should do is brine my turkey. I figure the ones I buy at the grocery store are already injected with all sorts of saline as it is so it would not matter. One year I sprung for an organic, free range turkey from New Seasons, and along with costing me $30 it was kind of dry, so maybe I should have brined that.
Sadness, though, this year in that Thanksgiving dinner will be provided by Fred Meyer or the like, because I will either be too pregnant to get close to the stove, or have a tiny tiny infant. I do not like to relinquish thanksgiving duties to anyone else, so i will probably try to make a few things in advance and fit them in the rapidly filling freezer.
Usually for thanksgiving I cook for 3 days. I make cranberry sauce, which only I eat, and I love it so I make a ton, Sweet potatoes (the kind with marshmallows, I tried something more upscale one year to great protest), mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts (for my dad!), Stuffing, creamed onions, the turkey and usually 3 pies. I also make some appetizers especially the pastry wrapped baked brie for Mary Ellen that tastes so good but kind of hurts the next day. So you can see how Freddies has some hard shoes to fill. Also this year I guess I need to make Tofurkey.

November!!!

Oh man am I actually due in 20 days? I can't believe that after all of this waiting that it is actually November. I waffle between excitement and sheer terror.
Poor California- first the horrible fires and now a big earthquake! Do I really want to move back? At least no one was hurt in the earthquake, nor do I believe there was much structural damage.
I got a haircut yesterday that I absolutely hated when I walked out of the place, then I got home and decided that it was pretty cute, except she cut weird long bangs that kind of wing out at the sides and are too short to tuck behind my ears. Irritating. I still have to play around with it but she just trimmed it (my hair was one big split end) and re- cut the layers, and now it looks good even when it just dries naturally, but it got super curly. I'm curious to see what it looks like blown out and straight. Ill try it now, because I guess soon its ponytail 24/7 for this girl!! With a side of spit up for styling product!!
So I got all of this stupid candy, yesterday was the first Halloween I have actually been home for, and did we get one trick or treater? NO!! So we are stuck with 1,ooo,ooo boxes of Dots, the grossest candy in the world that I bought so I would not eat it all. I made Jeff take them to work, if they don't eat them they can use it to stick down roofing material.
Also- tragedy of tragedies- I set my DVR to tape the season premier of Nip/Tuck- I was looking forward to it like some people look forward to Christmas, and I don't know what happened but my DVR taped 10 hours of I don't know what but NO NIP/TUCK!! I was devastated last night, even thought it will be rebroadcast 100 times this week I really wanted to watch it last night. GRRR.
The new rocking chair is fitting in and getting along great with the rest of the furniture. Jeff has taken to it like a house on fire, I see rocking chair fights in the future, especially when the blue chair is gone. Maybe I will look on Craig's list and try to find another one.

I Owe Jeff a Quarter

I know, I know, I am a terrible fan and I actually bet against the Blazers- a 20 point spread, no less, but come on. they were playing the Spurs. However, after watching the game I am truly excited to watch them play this season. They played hard and well, like they didn't realize they were supposed to lose.
Brian came over, too, and I made homemade pita bread, falafel, hummus and veggies. The pita was good but I think the recipe called for too much flour because it almost burnt out the motor of my poor kitchen aide, I could smell it. But it was super easy, Ill post the recipe in the recipe section.
I have been starting work at 8 instead of 6:30 the last few weeks, and even though the extra hour of sleep is nice, traffic sucks a bit more now, I miss my favorite 7-11 guy who always beams at me and says "my customer!" (why I love him and stopped going to the plaid pantry because of mainly the same thing is a mystery), and there are 1,000,000 hooligan kids out waiting for the bus. Also I get off later, which I don't like, and its busy almost right when I start so I don't have as much time to blog or check e-mail or what not.
I must go get my hair cut today after work. It is one big split end!!

E-Bay Adventures

So I posted on Craigs List for someone to help me sell all of my Starbucks stuff on E- Bay, and I met this nice guy Brian. We posted all of it, and the bidding ends in about 5 hours. They have been posted for about 6 days. The first few days I was a little concerned because nothing was selling, but in the last few hours the bidding wars have begun, and let me tell you this is an exhilarating feeling. I check every 10 minutes because he sent me a link to all the stuff. It's such a rush, I can see how people do this for a living. I can't wait to find other stuff to sell (comic books? what?) I told him for his trouble I'd give him 20%, but I still stand to make enough to buy a baby sling, get a haircut and maybe go pay the electric bill!!
Tonight is an exciting night for TV. Up at 5 is opening night for the Blazers! They are playing Champions San Antonio, and I hate to bet against my boys but I think it's going to be a massacre and I bet Jeff a quarter on a 20 point spread. I'm just pragmatic.
Then, "The Biggest Loser"- The aftermath, in which we see the repercussions of Nicks dramatic 17 pound strategic weight gain to save the blue team. Who says reality TV isn't exciting?
Then, after almost a year of waiting, Nip/Tuck is finally back. I am rejoicing!!
Brian is coming over to watch some of the game, and hopefully Jeff will stay home, too, instead of going out. I will tempt them with hummus and other snacks, and then when I am tired they can both go to the bar together, those crazy boys always going out on a school night. I am glad my best friend and my husband are friends, It's cute, and convenient!!
The comic book convention is in a few weeks, and Jeff is all sorts of worried I will go into labor right as he's selling X-Men comics or whatever. We have backup plans, but there is a chance...
I thought Sam was going to come last night, I was having some pretty nasty contractions, but I think it might have just been Sunday nights chinese dinner.

Miss Me?

Well, the weekend is over, and I am very sad. That day and a half seems to go so quickly. Especially when Jeff and I spent the better part of Sunday morning going around (he went around, I stayed in bed and hollered from upstairs) looking at all the clocks and trying to decide if it was actually daylight savings time. We had heard that it was, then read that it wasn't till the 4th of November. We were pretty sure our phones changed automatically, but for some reason the DVD clock upstairs and the computer were showing an hour earlier. Very confusing. Then we figured who cares, it's Sunday lets just go have breakfast.
After the Paradox, which I like much better now that I know I can order off the lunch menu, we walked down Belmont looking for a store called "Polliwog" that my friend Lisa had gotten her baby sling at. I was so sure it where it was, but we couldn't find it. Jeff said it was under the Confundus Charm, which it probably was. So we got back in the car and it was one block further.
The store was so cute, and by that I mean that we could not even afford to buy a pair of baby socks in it. The saleswoman was totally helpful, though, and explained about all the differences, features and benefits of all kinds of slings. She even opened up packages so I could try different sizes on. I ended up liking the Hotslings brand, so I just went home and ordered through the website, where they were $30 cheaper.
The rest of the weekend was spent trolling around thrift stores looking for rocking chairs, but I finally found one on Craig's List. It's gold velvet(!!!) and looks just like my favorite reading chair I used to have in my room when I was growing up, And it was only $20. And nostalgic. I loved that chair. I think it was my grandmom Ruth's.
2 more weeks of work until maternity leave, and I am counting the days. Aunt Aileen, I hope you bet on Curlin for the Breeders Cup like you did on the Preakness. He won and was kind of a long shot, so you would have made some money. If you did, I want a cut because I gave you that tip!!
I did not think it was possible to go the bathroom any more than I have been, but the last few days it has literally been every 20 minutes. We are going through a lot of TP here at the Klein-Morehead residence. Will it ever end?
Tomorrow is the big day!! Opening day of the NBA, and the season premier of Nip/Tuck!! 2 of my favorite things. Oh! and by the way, Survivor is really getting good. I usually don't care about anyone until the merge, and it looks like that is coming next week. I love that they brought the gross food challenge back, this I think was the grossest one next to all stars where the loved ones had to eat live roaches and big spiders. But the baby turtles, shell and all, that was right up there. Oh, another gross one was Palau where they mixed gross things in a blender. But at least there weren't eyeballs looking at you.
It was too bad that Todd's brilliant plan was thwarted, though, even though I failed to see the logic of giving James the immunity idol, they could have just told him where the other one was. Now, the arguably strongest person in the game has 2 immunity idols, right in time for individual challenges. Hello one million dollars, James!! And could Todd and Amanda have been less discrete in finding that idol in the first place? Jeesh! Amateurs!
Must remember to buy Halloween candy today, although the chances of trick or treaters in my area are slim to none, unless they are trick or treating for meth.

Breeders Cup

Loyal readers- The next few days is The Breeders Cup, a big Horse Racing day at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. Due to a lot of gambling fools, I will be super busy at work and will probably not to make entries for a while, seeing as I do the bulk of my blogging here. So, see you on Monday!!

New Glasses

So I picked up my cute new glasses yesterday and did the stupidest thing. In my haste to be able to see clearly, I forgot the repercussions of a new prescription. As I was ripping my contacts out of my eyeballs, where they were almost fused, I was tossing them blithely into the trash while thinking "hey this might not be such a good idea." Indeed. You know what happens with new glasses. Sure, I could see, but the whole world was tilted up and I ended up walking through the mall with deliberate steps looking a drunk fool. Then I got in my car and sat for a while because I was afraid to drive home.
When I got home I had to crawl up my front steps because I could not tell how high they were. I finally got inside and sat down, turned on the TV and did not have to squint once at the menu, when usually I have to stand up to look at it. Yes, I know, I waited too long. Hindsight as well is 20/20.
I have gotten a lot of complements on them already, And I am already used to seeing them on my face, even though when I get up in the middle of the night everything is all fuzzy and I can't see the clock, so I have to look at my phone because I like to see how many hours (or minutes, in today's case) I have left to sleep.

36 Weeks....

I have been having little contractions lately. Not bad, like I am going into labor, but enough that I am aware of them. I have also been dreaming of babies. Some so real that I wake up and listen for them.
We had our home visit last night, by Dr. Ed, Gabriel and Shawna, his interns. They were all so sweet and walked us through exactly what was going to happen, when to call them, etc. Of course, being me, I worry about disturbing people in the middle of the night, and feeling guilty for calling too soon. Then they said "It's ok, this is what we love to do" and all of a sudden I knew it was going to be ok, these people are awesome.
We discussed where I would labor and I told them I was pretty intent on 2 things- ruining the blue chair and Jeff's "Chaos Incorporated" work shirt that I hate. So I will labor in that shirt on that chair and hopefully bleed or whatever over them both. They said that after the baby comes they will put him right on me and just let us hang out together, and that after he's Apgar tested or whatever it is they do they will leave the 3 of us alone for a while while they clean up. I don't think they do that in the hospital.
We bought a 5-in 1 bassinet/bedside sleeper/portable bassinet/changing table thing this weekend (it's still in the basement, daddy). We had to get it then because it was the one I wanted and was being discontinued and the one we found was the only one in Oregon. Plus, since we got the floor model we didn't have to put it together, and after our gift card and the floor model discount I talked them into it only cost us like $25, plus they threw in a warranty.
So we will use that for a while until the real furniture comes, and have decided, after being encouraged by Dr. Ed, that Sam can just sleep with us for the first few weeks.
My glasses are ready today!! I am so excited to see!!
Also, Happy 31st birthday to my sister Mandi yesterday!

Don't Be That Guy

So this is a long story. I think that in the early 90's there was this movie, I don't remember it ever being out in the theaters but it was shown on Comedy Central every 5 minutes. It was called PCU and starred a not-very-famous yet Jeremy Piven. Anyway, he was in a fraternity on a very politically correct campus, and his fraternity was made up of all the drunks and losers who just wanted to have a good time but were thwarted by other people that were insulted by their low- brow hi-jinks.
So in one of the scenes, the members of the frat were going to go see a concert, and here is my point. One of the guys was wearing a t-shirt of the band that they WERE GOING TO SEE!! Jeremy Pivin told him to "not be that guy", and that sound advice has stuck with me at every show I go to and see the lame folks in their concert t-shirts of the band they are seeing. Even worse when they rock the shirt they JUST bought at the souvinier stand.
The point of all this is that last night, Pam, Kathy, Jenny our respective spouses and I had a Def Leppard concert reunion party, in which we watched the stunning cinematic achievment "Hysteria, the Def Lepard Story." I think it really gave us some valuble insight into the psyche of that band, and also provided us with an awesome drinking game that I will re-visit when I can drink. The game was, and here you will see where this all ends up, is that every time a member of the band in the movie is spotted wearing a Def Leppard T-shirt (this happens alot) or listens to a Def Leppard tape (cassette tape!!! million dollar rock stars!!) you take a shot. If we had been drinking we would have been puking all over Jenny's lovely furniture.
I think we all agree the best scene- and it was hard to choose, there were so many- was when Rick Allen, the drummer for those who don't know, high on coke and booze and driving fast in his '84 whatever playing chicken with a Mercades and listening to "Rockit," I think, flips his car over the embankment. As his lady friend walks around dazed, Rick stands up- AND HE DOSEN'T HAVE AN ARM!!! It is in fact lying next to the smoking wreck of his car.
Does this stop him from being a kick ass drummer? Hell no!! Just an opportunity for 1 more dramatic montage in a movie chock full of them!!
So thank you Jenny for hosting this party, and for making the chocolate chip cookies that Jeff ate so many of that his jeans barely fit on him this morning!!
Tonight Dr. Ed is coming for his home visit. I had dreams all night of the baby being born. We are so close now!! 36 weeks tomorrow!!

Jeff Probst is Pissed

On Thursday's Survivor, there was the inevitable plot twist that sent 2 tribe members from each tribe to the other tribe. The upshot of this was that the lame weak tribe (who were idiots and thought that only they were getting new members) took the two strongest players from the other side. Good strategy. They then went on to theorize that if the other tribe lost the next 2 challenges, both of their origional members would be kicked out. So the 2 crafty girls made a plan, and decided to throw the challenge in order to kick Aaron off and keep their origional team strong. This was smart, actually, if their assumptions are true that
1. They will merge at 10 as usual
2. The tribe members don't switch back (even if they do, it's still kind of smart
3. The origional members don't form new alliances ( which is possible, cause no one liked Sherea's lazy ass anyway
4. Some other twist like mutiny or whatever.
Anyway, what made it extra special was that the girls were so obvious about throwing the challenge that it was painful to watch, and ooh boy was Jeff Probst angry!! But, like PG said its not about winning the battles, its about winning the war, and sometimes big risks like that pay off, so kudo's to her for having balls, I guess. All the men did was sit around and bitch and not even try really hard to save themselves, so go figure. Its time for a girl to win anyway, and now I have respect for PG and Jamie, even if she has no poker face.
I loved how on "The Office" last night Michael thought all you had to do to declare bankrupcy was to actually, literally DECLARE it out loud. Genius.
We were going to go to this childcare seminar that our doctor wants us to attend, but i went on line and looked it up and it was $90 per person. Now we have a good excuse not to go, which is awesome because it started at 8:30 on Sunday morning, and our Sundays our precious- i'ts our only day off and we are selfisho with our time together.
Also, I am posting my recipes for Vegan Tofu lasagna and Vegan Sloppy Joe's in the recipe section. They were both a big hit here this week. Carnivores can substitute meat and real cheese if you wish!!

go here!!!!!!

I had to link this site http://www.mulletjunky.com/ after the mullet conversation today. Laugh out loud funny. Tomorrow i will discuss the shady goings- on from Thursdays Survivor. WHY do people throw challenges? No respect for the game.

Party in the Back

In the Fred Meyer yesterday, while grocery shopping, I came across the lushest, most Kevin-Cronin-esqe mullet that I have seen in ages.
You can tell when someone rocks their mullet with pride because they do shampoo commercial moves like flipping their heads around, and this guy had all the moves.
Is the mullet making a comeback? One of the women (I don't remember her name, cause she has not spoken that much yet, but she is a lunch lady from the Midwest) on Survivor has one, too.
I have a picture of Jeff with a mullet on the refrigerator. I don't know which was better, that or the mohawk.
A mullet, if you don't know, it the "Business in the front, party in the back" hairdo popularized in the eighties, and now worn ironically by hipsters. It's still ugly, and not to be confused with the "skullet", which is bald/balding in front and long and scraggly in the back. A skullet can be seen on my next door basement dwelling neighbor, Chris Cayman of the NBA, I think he plays for the Cavs, or by several people spotted at the recently attended Def Leppard or ZZ Top concerts.

I made vegetarian Sloppy Joe's last night, with the soy crumbles, and they were actually pretty tasty. I also made a 10 pound lasagna with tofu instead of the ricotta that I will probably freeze in anticipation of a time when I can't cook. I am trying to make 2 meals at a time every night now, and freezing one. You can never be too prepared.

This weekend we are going to start rearranging the bedroom and decide where to put all the baby furniture. It's really getting to close to put off any longer.

The Taming of the Shrew

MY. HOUSE. IS. SO. CLEAN. I can't begin to tell you how good it feels. This sweet little girl Oksana came yesterday and in 3 hours accomplished a miracle. And while she was cleaning, I went to the library and got out 3 more cookbooks and 2 more baby books and an actual novel, then went to Target and bought the right sheets. When I got home it was like the Twilight Zone- a very shiny, nice smelling one.
So now, of course, I am a shrew. When poor Jeff came home after a hard day of working in the mud and rain, was I sympathetic? Not at first, I was too busy shrieking "don't you dare take your shoes off in here! Go in through the basement." Then when he was heating up his soy dog I was sarcastic about onion peels in the sink "you know, honey, we don't have a garbage disposal, so that kind of stuff can go right in the garbage." And to add insult to injury i was snarking this as I was walking out the door to go have dinner with my friend Brian. A public, humble apology to my husband, who even did his own dishes before I got home.
Still, I know us, we are the pilers of things so we are going to have to be on our game for the next few weeks, But I am going to be calm about it. At least now the level of cleanliness will be able to be maintained, if I keep on it every few days.
I think Jeff went to sleep at about 8:30 last night, he was so tired after going out the night before to celebrate the end of birthing classes. The only thing i am going to miss about them is the treasure trove of blogging material they provide.
Today it is supposed to storm, with 45 mile an hour winds, and this is the day I saved to go to the grocery store. At least I don't have to work outside, and my plan is to be a nice wife and have something nice and hot ready when my poor soaking husband comes home (through the basement.) So I will leave you now to go leaf through my cookbooks.

The Sacred Circle

So as Jeff and I walked into birthing class last night, at 6:30, which was the time class starts, we were all alone, as usual, with the teacher. Why can't people be on time? It's so frustrating to me. Anyway, the class area was darkened, with lit candles, and this horrible caterwauling country music was playing as Karen said "I thought you guys might like to start off by dancing." Now, I love to dance with my husband, but the waiting area of the Northwest Natural Birth Center is not my idea of a perfect venue, nor is some ass clown in a cowboy hat emoting on "When you say Nothing At All" the perfect music. So we sat down on the couch and relaxed and waited for the other couples to join us in this small circle of musical hell.
One other couple arrived; the girl that always wears short skirts and sits with her legs spread, and her husband with the wooden beaded necklace that is always the "volunteer" for demonstrations. We chatted for a bit and then Karen asked the women to join her on the floor in the corner. After shooting Jeff a nervous look I complied.
Turns out the activity du jour was labor sounds. Believe me, it was much more horrifying in person. There were 3 of us women and Karen around a scarf (the men were being "present" in another part of the room) with 5 tea lights and a coyote figurine on a plate. Coyote= howling, get it? So Karen starts rocking back and forth and keening and growling, and wouldn't you know it but we are expected to join in. I feel so bad for our teacher sometimes, because I know she wants loud participation, but its just never going to happen. The class managed a few whispered moans, probably made possible by the ice we were holding to our wrists, and then the men were invited into our sacred circle to echo our cries.
Well, as you can guess, thank goodness everyone's eyes were closed because the minute Karen started up again with the keening and the banging on the floor, and the moaning, I couldn't help it, silent giggles, the kind that won't go away. I had to dig my nail into my flesh, I actually drew blood. I don't think anyone else fared much better. All I kept thinking about was how much my mother would have probably loved this.
Then we watched a video in which people were represented by illustrations of Elk, and it was all about epidurals.
Then on to Post Pardum, then breastfeeding.
We closed with a lullaby.
Then we found out that, unfortunately, out last class next Monday coincides with our very important home visit from Doctor Ed. Sufficed to say we are not all that torn up about it.

The Eye Doctor was just as expected. My eyes are terrible, and my prescription so strange that lenses have to be special ordered and will not be in for 2 weeks. The frames are super cute, though. I hate the test where they blow puffs of air in your eyes. Frighteningly enough, with no glasses or contacts i could not read ANYTHING on the eye chart. Not even the big top line which is always just an "E."

Dr. Ed was ok, except I had to get a horrible pap-smear like test. He is really gung- ho on us going to this seminar this weekend, he has told us about it on 4 separate occasions, and even called me at home to remind me, so it's a good thing we got relaxing out of the way last Sunday, because it seems that this one is going to be action packed, what with that and "Hysteria, the Def Leppard Story" in the afternoon.

The cleaning people are coming today, I am so excited. And then Brian is coming over later for "Prison Break", which I already watched but will happily do so again.

Birth Video

So yesterday night we watched the Birth DVD that our birthing class teacher lent us. It was this woman in Mexico actually giving birth. Due to time lapse or whatever it lasted like 15 minutes, but it did not really look that bad. She started having contractions, took a walk, sat in a stream, ate beans and rice, and then got in a bathtub with her husband and pushed the baby out with like 4 moans. No blood, no muss, no fuss. Her 2 younger kids were there, too, and afterwards they all hung out in the tub with the new baby. Wow.

Still, it was kind of beautiful and after we turned on "Freaks and Geeks" I had a moment and shed some tears, because, really, no matter how many times I think about it in a month I am going to be doing the same thing.

I had lunch with my friend Lisa yesterday. It was so funny because we both were thinking about what we were doing last year around this time, and let me tell you it did not involve organic rice bowls and baby conversations(she has a beautiful 4 month old- Violet Rae.) It was so nice to talk to a new mom, and get some practical advice, it actually calmed me down a little. Plus i just miss hanging out with her and hearing Starbucks gossip, of which there is always scads.

Busy day today. Work till noon, eye doctor, Doctor, then birthing class. I cleaned the house yesterday in preparation for the cleaning people who are coming Wednesday. I don't want them to think we are slobs!!

I think I was supposed to bring my "birth bundle" to class tonight. I guess I will have to go home and find a few spiritual things to wrap up in a scarf. Eek.

Ask me about the Beatles....Really

No, really. At least until they come to America for the first time. I fulfilled my wifely duties by watching the first 2 in a series of 8 tapes of "The Beatles Anthology." I now have a head swimming with Beatles facts, just like my husband. Like, did you know how they came up with their name? Or the name of the bar that they played in Liverpool before they were famous? Or the other 2 guys that were briefly in the band? Well, I do, and if you want to know we will be happy to lend you the series.
I enjoyed most of what I watched from a historical standpoint, but I must say that I still loathe early Beatles, especially "Twist and Shout" and "Love me do." Sorry. I'll enjoy it more when there are George songs.
Yesterday was awesome. I slept in till 10am, which is literally unheard of, then we watched a Beatles tape and went to the Tin Shed for breakfast. There was a super long wait, but it was lovely outside so we just drank coffee and Jeff told me comic book convention stories. We also people and dog watched. Alberta is the best street for that!! Everyone wears interesting clothes and there is such an eclectic mix of people-I could have sat out there all day. Then when we went in we got a seat by the window so we could continue watching people, this time out of earshot of them so we could comment!!!
Then we braved Trader Joe's, which is always and adventure on the weekends. We went home and I baked off the cinnamon-apple rolls i had started the night before. They turned out super good, so after we sampled a few I told Jeff that he needed to bring them to work and get them out of the house. My baking skills are coming along nicely, and would be even better if I had an accurate oven. Again, they turned out better I think because I did not have a recipe, only for the dough.
Saturday, after not learning my lesson of paying attention (buying the Friday paper again instead of the Saturday), we went to Target to pick up a few things. We needed a few more sets of sheets, and I was so excited to see sheets on sale for $9.99. Well, of course the minute we got in the car to go home i had a strange feeling, and, lo and behold, they were flat sheets instead of the fitted sheets I wanted. We also forgot windshield wipers. It's time I learned my lesson about writing lists for Target.
On a good note, storage containers were on sale, so I was able to store a bunch of extraneous crap that has been lying about. I felt like Edina from "Absolutely Fabulous" running around crying " surfaces, darling, I want to see surfaces!!" Now the house will be so mush easier to clean and maintain.
I heard Neil Diamonds' "Solitary Man" on the way to work today. I love Neil Diamond. We made fun of my mom when we drove cross- country with her a million years ago because she kept playing "America," but when I drove from Chicago to California, what song do you think started off my journey? That's right!! Besides, The Jazz Singer is like the best album ever. "Love on the Rocks" is a karaoke favorite of mine. I tried "Girl,You'll be a Woman Soon" once but it sucked.
Today I am having lunch with my friend Lisa and her 4 month old, Violet. I have not seen Lisa for more than a year, and that was at a bar. It's funny how things change in a year... no more bars for us mommies.
Tomorrow is a super busy day. Eye doctor appointment for glasses at 1:00 (ok mommy?), Doctor Ed at 4:15, and the second to last birthing class at 6:30. I know the posts about "Birthing From Within" will be sorely missed, so I'll try to make the next two super- exciting.

Vexing

I stopped at (gasp) the Starbucks in the Fred Meyer because I started work later today. I really wanted a Pumpkin Spice Chai. So I got my newspaper there and when I got to work to xerox a copy of the crossword for Jeff, what would you know I bought Friday's paper again! So frustrating. So I had to copy work's copy, and do my crossword on white paper, and I don't have the sports section so I can't read about how badly the Blazers got their butts handed to them last night by the Nuggets.
I made Tofu Parmigiana last, which actually tasted alot better than it sounds. the trick is to freeze the tofu for a while, therefore imparting a chewier, more chicken-y texture.
Five and a half hours to go until my weekend!! We have to run to target and get storage containers, windshield wipers, a new trash can and a digital thermometer, then pack up some extraneous stuff and put it in the attic. then I am free free free to relax!!
Next week I am going to go to the eye doctor and get cute glasses, and also get my house cleaned!! Woo Hoo!!
I am so glad creepy Dave the hugger got kicked off of Survivor. I can't wait to see what the big twist is!! Are they changing up teams again?

Feelin' Groovy

I am sitting at work now sipping the biggest cup of "pregnancy tea." I'm not quite sure what it's supposed to do, but my throat is scratchy and I figure I might as well try to kill two birds with one stone and soothe my throat and strengthen my uterus at the same time.
Happy 23rd birthday to my awesome sister Nadine! Check her out at www.kswt.com to see her in all of her anchorwoman glory. However I remember when she was born so I feel old, old old.
The weather is turning cold and i love it!! All I want to do is cook when its miserable and rainy. Last night i made mushroom- barley soup, and the best part is that it will probably be even better today! I also made us eat at the table last night and not in front of the TV, which we have been getting in the bad habit of doing. It's good to connect and I want to make sure that when Sam is born we have family dinners. My family eats so fast that I have been trying to slow it down, and talk about our days, even though it seems all we talk about is baby, baby baby, but really can you blame us? We are so excited.

Portland 111, L.A Clippers 102

And everyone gets a free Chalupa!! I guess we are off to a great start. In other Basketball news it looks like Luke Ridnour is going to have to wear a sexy face mask ala Rip Hamilton because of our favorite King, Ron Artest, formerly responsible for the infamous "Malice in the Palace."
Today after work I can finally go grocery shopping. I think what I am going to do next week is get some of those freezer Tupperware things and make a bunch of meals that can be frozen then go straight into the oven, so that as I get closer I don't really have to think much about cooking, and also so I will have stuff to feed the birthing team.
My doctors appointments are every 2 weeks now, so you can imagine how fast time is moving for me.
I feel a whole lot better today than I did yesterday, I just might have needed a long nap and a good nights sleep. I guess I will be used to not sleeping through the night, because I get up at least 3 times a night to go to the bathroom. And usually at the same time every night; 12:58, 2:12 and 4:50, like clockwork. It's eerie, and kind of makes me mad because the last time is so close to when I have to wake up that it seems like by the time I get comfortable and fall asleep again my alarm goes off.
On Sunday I have to make good on my birthday promise to Jeff and watch his 10 video series on The Beatles. And he STILL won't watch Survivor. I said I would do it only if we could stay in bed and watch it and he got all happy because I guess John and Ono had a "Bed In" and so this would kind of be a tribute, only i am not protesting anything, except maybe having to watch 20 hours of Beatles footage.
Isn't there a law against white pants after Labor Day? We were out last Tuesday and I saw at least 3 pairs. Not only do I believe this is dangerous in muddy Portland, but a huge faux pas. But then I looked at some of the things I have been running around in over the last few weeks and decided to let it go.
I finally finished the Titans of Chaos series that Pam lent me. It was kind of a struggle to get through because it was so mathematical, but I really enjoyed the characters. It is always bittersweet to finish a series, because you are so emotionally invested for so long and then its over. I am going to read "Lonesome Dove" next because it's one of the only Larry McMurtry books I have not read, and supposedly a Morehead family favorite.
I have been cleaning out my closets and sold a bunch of clothes to Buffalo Exchange on Tuesday. It feels good to purge things I have not worn for a while. And I made enough money to buy the Birthing Kit that we need to get.
I think we left the bath salts our Birthing teacher gave us in the back seat of my car, because all of a sudden it smells like a Dead show in there, which is better than smelling like Taco Bell and Feet, which is how it smelled before. Those bath salts are supposed to be something that Jeff was assigned to do for me- make me a foot bath and give me a foot massage, and I am not supposed to have to do anything in return. Maybe last weeks class wasn't so bad after all!!
I was bored at work on Tuesday so I played with the on line Target baby registry. Fun!!!
This Saturday my goal is to streamline all the knick-knaks that are everywhere- throw away old candles, organize loose CD's, get rid of clutter, so the house will be easy to clean and a bit more baby proof, which is what I am most concerned about. All of the jewlelry and stuff I have out I am going to find drawer space for, as well as bowls, pots and pans. Anything i have not used for more than a year- its OUT!! That will feel good.
Also, since we are not leaving the house on Sunday, I am going to defrost the rest of the Pecan roll dough and concoct something. My friend made apple butter, so I am going to spread the dough with that and some sauteed apples and rasins and extra crumb toppng I have left over from banana bread and drizzle it with a glaze and see how that works out.