Protecting my rear

There's a reason I don't back into parking spaces. This is what happens when you try to back into a parking space in your parking garage at work while lining your car up with the jeep (i.e. no back end) next to you. Ooops!

My submission to FAIL blog

I spent two hours at the dogpark before realizing I was wearing two different shoes.

Teaching your child to suck on a straw:

also known as Starting him early
also known as There's only whipped cream in there
also known as All it takes is some whipped cream to teach a one-year-old to suck through a straw instead of chewing on it.

Freak accident, emphasis on the freak (because that's how I looked)

We've been bike riding almost every day for the past couple weeks. Yes, there are bugs, and yes, they often get in my eyes, hit my forehead, and one got up Christen's nose. These are generally gnats and mosquitoes, which turn to goo in your eyes. Gross, but not painful.

Saturday night we were riding home from a particularly long bike ride and were about a mile out when a bug hit my eye. Not a gnat. Not a mosquito. I don't know what this bug was, but it had a hard, green little body and got stuck in my left eye with my contact. Pain!!!! It's a good thing I was going over a small bridge, because we were next to a major highway and I may have jerked the bike into oncoming traffic. I couldn't get the bug out and he refused to turn to goo, so I had to ride home with one eye.

When I got home, I got the bug out and my eye looked like this: I put some drops in it and hoped for the best. It was bloodshot and painful, but I thought it would be okay. It was a good ride, otherwise.

A half hour later it looked like this: my eyeball itself had swollen around my contact, making it very difficult to get out. My eye had also swollen and was all very tender. I was afraid for a black eye. I fished out my contact and tried to ignore it.

Sunday morning it was a little weepy, so it was stuck closed. It was like I had pink eye! I stopped taking pictures, and we rode to the gym to work out for awhile (and I hoped that no one thought I had pink eye while I was there). I figured if the swelling didn't go down by Monday, I'd see an eye doctor.

Thankfully, Monday it was better. Still a little red and tender but making progress. The swelling went down. That's a plus. Today I'm still wearing my glasses (which reminds me that I desperately need new glasses) and the eye itself is still slightly red, but getting better daily so I haven't seen a doctor.

Self preservation, airplane style

I've been making a concentrated effort to be less of a bitch lately. Ha, I know, right? Well, I'm generally not a bitch. For some reason, though, I get in these moods and I attempt to sabotage my relationship with my other half and I get bitchy. I know I do this. I did it to my ex, and easily ended 3 years with him. Toward the end of that relationship I always felt like I was the worst version of myself around him. I couldn't control myself. I've never had great self esteem, and I never felt that he adored me enough (which, by the way, he didn't). When I get self conscious, I lash out. If I could have controlled myself then, who knows if that relationship would have lasted longer. It wasn't healthy in many other ways, and I wouldn't have found my husband if we hadn't broken it off. So I'm glad for it.

Now, I know what I'm doing. We've been together for six years, married for two. Every once in awhile I get to be a big pain in the butt. Everything he does pisses me off. I've mentioned this change to him, and he doesn't seem to notice it (he must have trained himself to ignore it). But since I notice it, I'm trying very hard not to let every stupid thing he does bother me. It makes me a nicer person. I like being a nicer person.

Glad I don't do this every weekend

How do those who drink every weekend keep it up? I have a glass of wine or two every once in awhile, but I don't go all-out drinking .... um, ever. Even when I get a little tipsy, it's not all-out. And I've never had a hangover.I know you want to kill me now. :)

But Friday night we went over a friend's house for poker. We brought Spencer too so he could mingle for a little bit and slept in his playpen in the computer room (side note: he was awesome sleeping at someone else's house. I had faith that he would fall asleep eventually, but he never even cried. He was perfect. I love my amazing son.).

I had such a good time! We played Texas Hold 'Em (blah, but people have a strange fascination with that game), and Bullshit (which made me laugh so hard my face hurt) and then some drinking-related card game that I don't know what it was called (maybe ring of death?) but helped get me even more trashed. I started pouring other people's drinks into my glass when I ran out. Thank god I'm not an obnoxious drunk (as far as I know ...)

Saturday morning was a little rough. I felt fine when I got up; I drank a couple glasses of Crystal Light to keep myself hydrated and cooked up some eggs for breakfast. Halfway through the cooking I started feeling ... bad. Seriously bad. I powered through the rest of the cooking and then collapsed on the couch for two hours of Psych and Monk while Christen took over the rest of the, um, moving. He made me some coffee, and two cups later I was feeling closer to myself. Thank God I don't do that all the time.

A Lack of Political Humor (ramble, please disregard)

Warning for ahead: I'm diplomatic about my politics and my religion, possibly to a fault. There's a reason I rarely post on such things. I'm leaving my comments on, but please save the rants against either side and please post thought-provoking instead of riot-inciting comments only ... thanks in advance).

I have a friend who is a die-hard Conservative. He's far more polarized than I'm generally comfortable (I've always said that people that are too far left or right scare me; I'm a true moderate. Otherwise I'm known as a fiscal conservative (with some exceptions) and a social liberal (with some exceptions)). However, he's an old, good friend and I do respect his opinion. My problem is this: He is so bitter about Obama that he complains about every step he makes. Daily complaints. I might be naive (I'm not counting it out) but I don't remember the complaints about Bush every step during the first months of office. I know that there was debate on whether he actually deserved it because of the craziness that happened at the time of the election, and I know that there was certainly bitterness at the start of his second term but I don't believe that there were complaints two months in about how he was ruining the country. Maybe I'm wrong.

A few months ago a flame war erupted on another friend's Facebook page because he had mentioned his allegiance to the President, and other friends of his had started a bitter (sorry I'm out of adjectives) fight over whether he was one Republican's president or not "he's not my president, blah blah blah" etc. I am likely the eternal optimist here; I think it will be hard but I believe that the steps being taken at this time are for the good of the country. I have to believe that this spiral has an end, and that we as a country will climb out of the hole that we have dug for ourselves. It will surely not be without sacrifice.

I think the point of my rambling here, is stop complaining if you aren't doing anything. Try giving him a chance. As Bush himself said (from Jack Tapper:

“I'm not going to spend my time criticising him. There's plenty of critics in the arena. I think it's time for the ex-president to tap dance off the stage and let the current president have a go at solving the world's problems,” the former president said in remarks to business executives. “He deserves my silence. And if he wants my help, he can pick up the phone.”

...The speech today was Bush's first since leaving office in January. The event was organized by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and his remarks to business executives were closed to the press and the tickets were invitation only.

The former president said he wants President Obama to succeed. “I love my country a lot more than I love politics. I think it is essential that he be helped in the office.”

I think it's a very noble position to take, and although I've never cared for him politically, I respect former President Bush much more personally given his obvious graciousness. It's possible that he only takes the high road because he has other more outspoken allies already railing against Obama, but either way, I'm impressed.

Entitlement

My dogs are not allowed on the furniture. This is a constant; they have never been allowed on any of the furniture. However, for the past few months (at least since Jazzy came to live with us, but possibly since we moved in June), Lola sleeps on the couch at night. I haven't figured out how to break her of this because she does it when she knows she can't be caught, and gets off when my alarm goes off so I can't catch her when I get up. The only way I know is because she leaves a wet drool mark on my light tan micro fiber couch which usually leaves a watermark. It's infuriating! Does anyone have any ideas of how to break her of this habit?

In another, slightly related need for information, does anyone know of a good way to reliably clean micro fiber??

Sushi me this

I love sushi. I adore it. I could stuff myself full of those delicious little rolls and roll myself out of there every single solitary day.

This being said, I'm having a hard time bringing myself to go to any other sushi places now that I have found the one. I know there are other very good sushi places in Tampa. Heck, I'm usually the one to spot a new one and insist on trying it out (although seriously, if you are either out of salmon or don't use cream cheese, pack up and go, please). (side note: I know I'm not a connoisseur. I don't generally do sashimi, I don't do the slurpy soups usually, and I don't do wasabi. I know what I like. And other sushi eaters usually like what I like (with the exception of eel, which I adore and others, not so much) and that's that). Okay, back. So my favorite sushi place is Origami Sushi, on Hillsborough Ave. Oh. My. God. Seriously awesome. Spicy crunchy tuna. Awesome. Bagel rolls. Awesome. Mexican roll. Awesome. Tampa roll. Awesome. But the pièce de résistance is the Crazy Horse. What's in it? Tempura shrimp. Cream cheese. Avacado. Roe. Spicy Mayo. Tempura chips. Probably crack. It's awesome. If you live in Tampa, try it now.

That is all; over and out. :)

Up all night

Ever since I realized they opened a new library branch five minutes from my house, I've been there a couple times a month loading up on books. I've generally been on a chick-lit guilty pleasure kick, reading anything easy and cute and doesn't require my brain. The only book I'll mention from that set of books as surprisingly worth reading was Marion Keyes' Rachel's Holiday. This was decidedly not chick-lit fodder, but instead the story of a young woman who is put in a drug rehab center in Ireland and her journey through sobriety. It was very good.

I also read about half of Joyce Carol Oates' The Falls, a very gothic, dreary book about a woman whose first husband commits suicide in Niagara Falls, and so on and so forth. I can't really say why I stopped reading; it was generally well written and interesting. It was just so dreary!

The last novel I read was The Other Boleyn Girl, at the insistence of NPR Junky (who disabled her blog so I can't link), and also recommended by my friend Autumn who is a literary assistant in NYC (although she recommended the book-on-CD because the writing wasn't great but the story was). I .... well, I liked it very much, oddly. I'm not into period/epic stories/movies/etc, ever really. I try to read them or watch movies and it just grates on my nerves. So I got through the whole thing, which is a good sign. Also, I thought it was due back at the library today so I stayed up until after midnight last night to finish it. Also a good sign. I think my only qualm with it is actually what probably made me enjoy it. It felt like chick-lit fodder. I know that there is a historical story (although not true to history) and that some or all of the drama may or may not have happened, but it just felt like another summer read, with no real meat. So, if that is your general reading material, you should pick it up. I thought I should feel more satisfied with it, like it should have been more of a meal but instead was like those passed-appetizers of mini beef Wellington. Tasty but unsubstantial. Am I carrying the analogy too far?

Do you have any book suggestions?

Success with iBert and Ernie

iBert is a big hit. We've gone bike riding every day this week except once when Christen worked late and I was sick and annoyed. It's been really great, actually. Christen and I talk more, and Spencer gets to look at the water and the cars (and Daddy on the bike next to him). It's a great activity for us as a family and so cheap and healthy! We live right off the trailhead for the Upper Tampa Bay Trail, so we usually take that up through Westchase and back again. Monday I needed a couple extra things for dinner, so Spencer and I rode up to Publix and back. Tonight we rode 10 miles. I'm excited for what the weekends hold for us on our bikes!

I'm a believer (maybe)

I've been having back pain for two years. It's not every day, it's not always seriously painful, and it doesn't go anywhere. It doesn't hurt when I walk, or exercise, or lay down. It doesn't bother me when I sleep, or stretch, or anything. The only time it ever hurts is when I sit for long periods of time. At that point it aches, and when I try to get up, I get sharp pains in my very low back. These pains can be pretty severe so that I try to roll off my couch rather than stand straight away.

I was afraid there was something seriously wrong. Of course, this means that I don't go to a doctor because I'm scared of what he'll tell me. Being in the business that I am (and I know you don't know exactly what that is), I see a lot of records from a lot of quack doctors. There are some good ones, sure, but a lot of them are too busy lining their pockets instead of helping their patients. I don't exactly hold chiropractors in high regard. I mean, come on. They aren't really doctors; they don't go to medical school. My dad's best friend is a retired chiropractor. He's actually very well respected in the field. Same with the father of a good friend of mine. He's retired and now owns a vineyard a couple counties north. But since they're both retired, I was unsure of who to turn to.

Enter my new chiropractor. I've only had two sessions and my back is so much better! I'm hoping that by next week I should be able to finish treatment and only go back on a prn basis. Hallelujah! It really is amazing. It doesn't appear that there was anything wrong with my back, it just needed to be realligned. :) Yay for no pain! Let's hope it lasts!

cough cough

I'm sick. And I'm a baby about being sick; this I know about myself. But I'm going to drag myself to work and hope not to cough on anyone because I've been sick since yesterday and it's just getting worse so I need to prepare myself for the possibility of being dead tomorrow and having to call in. Hope not; too much work to do. Thankfully I have high cube walls (6 feet) so I can quarantine myself.

Toodles!

meet iBert

I love my iBert. I've had my eye on him for quite awhile, but I also wanted a new bike to go with him. Last weekend I ordered him off amazon (evidently there is one specialty store on Davis Island that carries them, and that's it for the whole of the Tampa area). Then I picked a bike at Target, and this weekend we got that home. Last night we put it all together and Spencer and I took our inaugural trip around the block last night before dinner. Today we overdid it a bit -- 5 1/2 miles! It was very fun except for the last mile or so when he was bored and started hanging off the side to mess with my leg which threw off my center of balance. I can't wait until my husband finishes fixing up his own bike and can join us!

bad precedent

I still can't sleep, so I got Spencer up for a little midnight snuggle. He's not a snuggler, but if I catch him while he's sleepy and not fighting it, he'll lay on me and rub my arm like a true snuggler. I know it's bad precedent, but he's such a sweetie when he forgets how much he wants to get down and play. The biggest mistake I made was picking him up 6 hours after he went to bed. He was still sleepy, but not tired enough to just fall asleep on me while we rocked. He laid there and rubbed my arm and pinched my elbow and I got to hold him close for a few minutes. Then I realized we both need some sleep so I laid him back down with his cookie monster and he hugged him and smiled at me.He's still awake (I left him about 10 minutes ago) but he's just babbling to himself (and maybe a little to Cookie) until he drifts back off to sleep.

He's such a sweetheart.

under the influence

I should know better than to have a cup of coffee at 8:30 pm. I don't drink a lot of coffee, and I do decaf more often that not. Since I don't really drink soda anymore and only rarely partake in tea, I've become fairly sensitive to caffeine. At 9:45 I couldn't figure out why I was wide awake.

D'oh.

Off to do some reading (The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates).

oh, the comfort!

I can't wait to get home. I ordered this on Monday, which will likely mean that I need new sheets to accomodate it. I'm so excited! I just can't hide it! I'm about to lose control ... okay, enough of the digression. Seriously, folks, I can't wait to sleep tonight.

Oh jealousy, look what you've done ...

Spencer is going through a phase where his daddy is his favorite person. This isn't bad, except that when we're both home he won't play with me but he climbs all over daddy and gives him kisses. He cries when I give him kisses.

It kind of hurts my feelings.

saved by the bell (or not)

The past two nights the power has gone out in the middle of the night. I would generally relish the extra bit of sleep that I could blame on someone else, however luckily (?) both nights either Christen or I have woken up and noticed the issue before we were late. Christen woke up at 5am on Monday, reset the alarm and came back to bed. Last night, I woke up at 2:30am, noticed the blinking light and reset the clock. Now, why we don't have a battery backup in our alarm clock in this day and age I don't know. However, I can say it's a 5-year-old, $8 clock. I can't expect miracles. I would like to be able to expect more sleep though.

___

I wrote that on Tuesday, and Tuesday night I set my phone alarm just in case. Wouldn't you know, the power didn't go out! I don't know what I'm going to do about sleep when the clocks change.

a new start (again)

I've been thinking about changing blogs for awhile. I don't know why; I don't technically need a new start. I had been with my last blog for 22 months with 158 posts (159 once I post my last post there). My blog before that had 485 posts over 34 months. There was a good reason for the change that time. Got married, pregnant (although I didn't know I was pregnant when I changed blogs), and I had a falling out with my best friend. I started a new chapter.

I think this change is just for me. I needed a change; a new look. Something new to look at. My usual readers will hopefully follow me here. Truthfully, I don't have a lot of regular readers. Maybe the transition will help that. But I change for me.

You won't find me here.

I'm moving again. Please follow me over to wordpress! I don't know why; I just needed a change of scenery.

The fact that blogrolling has started being such a pain in the butt has probably helped me make up my mind though.

Cheers!

http://aprilbapryll.wordpress.com