*Three days post-facial, and my skin is a bit unhappy with me--even though I was told otherwise. Definitely not going back there! Hydrating facial my ass. I should've known from the pseudo-scientific "body wrap" bullshit on their website. /yet another rant about anti-science
*Fun at the playground! We took advantage of a non-rainy day to take Rosina to a small, hidden-away playground about two miles from home. They only have toddler swings, but they have playground/slide structures for big and little kids. I think we may have Rosina's next birthday party at the pavilion there, provided it's not too expensive to rent.
*Crepes for lunch at a local place down the road from the playground. It has some pretty mean-spirited reviews online, but I can't imagine why--the food was good, and the service and atmosphere were wonderful. Great chai latte, too.
*We had a few days' respite from the teething, but then somebody woke up crying only an hour into her nap, then proceeded to yell and beat her head on the carpet and pull my hair until we finally gave in and gave her some Tylenol. People with early teethers don't know how good they have it! ;)
*Down about seven pounds since New Year's! I doubt it will keep up this pace unless I really start working out in earnest, but for the moment I am happy. Soon I should notice a difference in my clothes.
Sunday, February 10
Saturday, February 9
It rubs the lotion on its skin
*Searching online for a recipe for DIY chest rub (which I learned is as simple as a carrier oil and a few drops of eucalyptus and lavender), I was stunned, as usual, by the insane amount of anti-scientific bullshit out there under the guise of being "natural" and "organic". It's amazing how people who are afraid that petroleum is going to leach into their skin (sorry, it can't), and won't take antibiotics even when they're needed (and don't get me started on the anti-vax assholes), have no problem ascribing magical properties to "natural" oils and applying (or ingesting!) them with no qualms. Sorry, putting peppermint oil on your feet will NOT fix your cold. And coconut oil is great, but it does not cure cancer. Grrrr...
*Had a nice lunch with my cousins and attempted to go prom dress shopping. There aren't all that many dresses out yet, and my cousin recently had a big growth spurt (tall and busty and a size four--tough life, hmm?), so she didn't find anything today. There are some pretty hideous things out there!
*Did a (tiny) bit of extreme couponing today--$5 Gud coupon plus Gud sale = free vanilla body spray! I didn't get some enormous rush or anything, though. :)
*Made reservations for Valentine's Day. We normally don't go out, but our local Aladdin's has a prix fixe that night. Yay! Now I just have to figure out what to get for Mark. (We only ever do small things--last year Mark got me locally-made chocolate, which was pretty fantastic.)
*One more horn to go, and the monster is done! I did want to sew on some extras...
*Had a nice lunch with my cousins and attempted to go prom dress shopping. There aren't all that many dresses out yet, and my cousin recently had a big growth spurt (tall and busty and a size four--tough life, hmm?), so she didn't find anything today. There are some pretty hideous things out there!
*Did a (tiny) bit of extreme couponing today--$5 Gud coupon plus Gud sale = free vanilla body spray! I didn't get some enormous rush or anything, though. :)
*Made reservations for Valentine's Day. We normally don't go out, but our local Aladdin's has a prix fixe that night. Yay! Now I just have to figure out what to get for Mark. (We only ever do small things--last year Mark got me locally-made chocolate, which was pretty fantastic.)
*One more horn to go, and the monster is done! I did want to sew on some extras...
Friday, February 8
Traditionally built
*Finished the body of Rosina's monster. It is indeed a very quick project.
*Bad tummy today. I have a gastroenterology followup on Tuesday, but I'm not sure if they need to adjust my medication or anything. I did eat pizza two days in a row, which could've set things off.
*Uneventful trip to Costco, where I had a "Polish sausage" (which I hope I won't regret, ibid.) and griped about how the price of gas has gone up fifty cents in the past two months or so.
*Watched the first DVD of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and enjoyed it as much as I thought I would. Either Jill Scott is a truly incredible actress, or she is a really sweet person in real life, too.
*Finally meeting up with my cousins (two of my father's first cousin's daughters, whatever that relationship's called) tomorrow! They moved to the next town over in August, and we just haven't met up until now. (The older girl is twenty, and she totaled her car just a few weeks after moving down.). I haven't seen them since my brother's wedding in 2010, which was the month before I got pregnant--so it's been a while. After lunch the three of us are going prom dress shopping, which I've never actually done before (no regrets about that, plus I do have opportunities to wear gowns--usually more than once!). I'll have to tell their mother that I played Cleavage Police for her fifteen-year-old. ;)
*Bad tummy today. I have a gastroenterology followup on Tuesday, but I'm not sure if they need to adjust my medication or anything. I did eat pizza two days in a row, which could've set things off.
*Uneventful trip to Costco, where I had a "Polish sausage" (which I hope I won't regret, ibid.) and griped about how the price of gas has gone up fifty cents in the past two months or so.
*Watched the first DVD of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and enjoyed it as much as I thought I would. Either Jill Scott is a truly incredible actress, or she is a really sweet person in real life, too.
*Finally meeting up with my cousins (two of my father's first cousin's daughters, whatever that relationship's called) tomorrow! They moved to the next town over in August, and we just haven't met up until now. (The older girl is twenty, and she totaled her car just a few weeks after moving down.). I haven't seen them since my brother's wedding in 2010, which was the month before I got pregnant--so it's been a while. After lunch the three of us are going prom dress shopping, which I've never actually done before (no regrets about that, plus I do have opportunities to wear gowns--usually more than once!). I'll have to tell their mother that I played Cleavage Police for her fifteen-year-old. ;)
Thursday, February 7
Moisturize me!
...And now a Doctor Who reference! I'm on a roll here.
*Uneventful trip (i.e., one that lasted under 15 minutes) to Time Warner to exchange our 11-year-old modem for one that reliably works for more than an hour at a time. I should thank said former modem for letting me sleep in this morning, though it also meant I had to cram in my work during Rosina's nap.
*Amused by Rosina's exploration of the new furniture. She had fun closing her favorite baby doll inside the cabinets. Live it up, kid--there'll be child locks on those cabinets by Sunday night.
*I had purchased a Groupon for a pedicure from a small spa, but they discontinued the nail services, so I thought I'd have a facial instead. How my custom-tailored facial ended up being a "hydrating" one, with exactly four extractions, I will never know. Seriously, I see my face in the mirror every day. Hydration is not normally one of my skin's needs--and extractions totally ARE. Hopefully I will not end up with serious zits by the weekend. I have been considering chemical peels to get rid of some sun damage. Am I insane for this? Should I just buy some skin-lightener and slap it on my forehead and nose every night? Peels are not cheap. Maybe for my fortieth birthday (some years away, happily).
*Started the monster for Rosina tonight. The pattern is really a breeze, so I should be done pretty quickly.
*Everybody else in the house has been in bed since I got home an hour ago. I am about to take an uninterrupted shower! I'll need it to slough off all that moisturizer...
*Uneventful trip (i.e., one that lasted under 15 minutes) to Time Warner to exchange our 11-year-old modem for one that reliably works for more than an hour at a time. I should thank said former modem for letting me sleep in this morning, though it also meant I had to cram in my work during Rosina's nap.
*Amused by Rosina's exploration of the new furniture. She had fun closing her favorite baby doll inside the cabinets. Live it up, kid--there'll be child locks on those cabinets by Sunday night.
*I had purchased a Groupon for a pedicure from a small spa, but they discontinued the nail services, so I thought I'd have a facial instead. How my custom-tailored facial ended up being a "hydrating" one, with exactly four extractions, I will never know. Seriously, I see my face in the mirror every day. Hydration is not normally one of my skin's needs--and extractions totally ARE. Hopefully I will not end up with serious zits by the weekend. I have been considering chemical peels to get rid of some sun damage. Am I insane for this? Should I just buy some skin-lightener and slap it on my forehead and nose every night? Peels are not cheap. Maybe for my fortieth birthday (some years away, happily).
*Started the monster for Rosina tonight. The pattern is really a breeze, so I should be done pretty quickly.
*Everybody else in the house has been in bed since I got home an hour ago. I am about to take an uninterrupted shower! I'll need it to slough off all that moisturizer...
Wednesday, February 6
Dream of the '90s
Yes, this is a Portlandia reference. You will understand soon enough.
*Furniture delivery! The box was indeed extremely heavy (my goal weight, coincidentally). The truck driver was super nice--with a nearly impenetrable eastern NC accent, to boot--and he did indeed bring the box to the door, and even up the front steps, for $20. I wasn't really able to help Mark with the construction, since I was pretty busy with baby-wrangling, and it did indeed take one person about four hours to construct! We haven't put it into place yet, but I'm sure we will tomorrow evening.
*Despite the fact that we now own a perfectly functional converter box and non-rabbity antenna, I still watch most of my new-run broadcast TV on Hulu; this means I am always a week behind on Fox shows, but I can deal with that. Anyway, there was a '60s song on Glee the other week that I knew I had heard covered before, but I just could not remember where. Then it finally popped into my head:
Oh yes, Vonda Shepherd. Then it occurred to me that the character singing the song on Glee was a sophomore in high school...and would have been an INFANT when this aired. Sheesh. So this song is impenetrably stuck in my head now.
*Finished Eats, Shoots and Leaves, largely in a marathon session this afternoon. I wish this book had been written when I was in high school! I had a bit of an addiction to semicolons myself. In fact, I ran across a semicolon-hater my senior year of college: one of my honors thesis readers. I did tend toward a kind of stuffy, Anglophilic style back then (the late '90s, again!), and this woman just hated it. I mean, she was crossing out semicolons that were actually necessary, like in lists! (I ended up converting at least one of those to a short chart, but still.) Anyway, I really liked the book--though I took a bit of exception with her hatred of emoticons, which I think are a perfectly rational response to the impersonal nature of email and other internet-based speech (though I wouldn't use them at work!). I just hope it doesn't make me too self-conscious when I'm typing!
*In order to keep Rosina occupied while Mark was building the entertainment center (the purchase of which was almost entirely motivated by concern for Rosina's safety, not because we desperately needed another big bulky piece of furniture), we put on a Classic Sesame Street DVD. We watched the very first episode! Interestingly, there was an introduction to the episode that mentioned that the DVD was meant for adults to watch, not children. What could possibly be wrong with 1969-vintage Big Bird?! Well, we figured it out about halfway through: in a segment meant to teach kids about prepositions (over, around, under, through), a group of kids roam this semi-apocalyptic landscape. Running around a clothesline was no big deal, but how about going through a storm drain culvert, or over a pair of sawhorses at an abandoned construction site, walking on 2x4s three feet off the ground?! I suppose we don't want to encourage that sort of thing; though I've gone through a storm drain in my time, the balance-beam trick was definitely a bad idea. And nowadays, when everybody's supposed to wear bike helmets...well, I just can't imagine the righteous indignation! ;)
*It was also a day of baking: granola in the afternoon (with probably a bit too much molasses, though it is really tasty), and hidden-vegetable "toddler muffins" in the evening. We tried the muffins tonight, and they're good--kind of a cross between banana and carrot cake, with sweet potatoes as well--but Rosina hasn't tried them yet. The woman who submitted the recipe said that her son likes to eat them right out of the freezer when he's teething, but I'm not sure how Rosina will feel about an ice-cold muffin; she's way too used to regular food now!
*Furniture delivery! The box was indeed extremely heavy (my goal weight, coincidentally). The truck driver was super nice--with a nearly impenetrable eastern NC accent, to boot--and he did indeed bring the box to the door, and even up the front steps, for $20. I wasn't really able to help Mark with the construction, since I was pretty busy with baby-wrangling, and it did indeed take one person about four hours to construct! We haven't put it into place yet, but I'm sure we will tomorrow evening.
*Despite the fact that we now own a perfectly functional converter box and non-rabbity antenna, I still watch most of my new-run broadcast TV on Hulu; this means I am always a week behind on Fox shows, but I can deal with that. Anyway, there was a '60s song on Glee the other week that I knew I had heard covered before, but I just could not remember where. Then it finally popped into my head:
Oh yes, Vonda Shepherd. Then it occurred to me that the character singing the song on Glee was a sophomore in high school...and would have been an INFANT when this aired. Sheesh. So this song is impenetrably stuck in my head now.
*Finished Eats, Shoots and Leaves, largely in a marathon session this afternoon. I wish this book had been written when I was in high school! I had a bit of an addiction to semicolons myself. In fact, I ran across a semicolon-hater my senior year of college: one of my honors thesis readers. I did tend toward a kind of stuffy, Anglophilic style back then (the late '90s, again!), and this woman just hated it. I mean, she was crossing out semicolons that were actually necessary, like in lists! (I ended up converting at least one of those to a short chart, but still.) Anyway, I really liked the book--though I took a bit of exception with her hatred of emoticons, which I think are a perfectly rational response to the impersonal nature of email and other internet-based speech (though I wouldn't use them at work!). I just hope it doesn't make me too self-conscious when I'm typing!
*In order to keep Rosina occupied while Mark was building the entertainment center (the purchase of which was almost entirely motivated by concern for Rosina's safety, not because we desperately needed another big bulky piece of furniture), we put on a Classic Sesame Street DVD. We watched the very first episode! Interestingly, there was an introduction to the episode that mentioned that the DVD was meant for adults to watch, not children. What could possibly be wrong with 1969-vintage Big Bird?! Well, we figured it out about halfway through: in a segment meant to teach kids about prepositions (over, around, under, through), a group of kids roam this semi-apocalyptic landscape. Running around a clothesline was no big deal, but how about going through a storm drain culvert, or over a pair of sawhorses at an abandoned construction site, walking on 2x4s three feet off the ground?! I suppose we don't want to encourage that sort of thing; though I've gone through a storm drain in my time, the balance-beam trick was definitely a bad idea. And nowadays, when everybody's supposed to wear bike helmets...well, I just can't imagine the righteous indignation! ;)
*It was also a day of baking: granola in the afternoon (with probably a bit too much molasses, though it is really tasty), and hidden-vegetable "toddler muffins" in the evening. We tried the muffins tonight, and they're good--kind of a cross between banana and carrot cake, with sweet potatoes as well--but Rosina hasn't tried them yet. The woman who submitted the recipe said that her son likes to eat them right out of the freezer when he's teething, but I'm not sure how Rosina will feel about an ice-cold muffin; she's way too used to regular food now!
Tuesday, February 5
Please, Sir, may I have some more?
*This hat is overtime. And I don't use that word frivolously. (Sorry the photo's so blurry--she moves quickly!)
It was a nice day, so we played outside for a while. Rosina had a chance to play with her little scooter-thing for the first time in a while. Unfortunately it was full of water! Mark is going to drill some extra holes in the bottom.
*Speaking of drills, our entertainment center is coming between nine and one tomorrow. I have to negotiate with the driver to help get the almost 200-pound shipment to the door. (Hopefully twenty bucks is enough incentive.) We're going to build it tonight. The online reviews all say it takes a few hours--I'm hoping with two of us working on it, it'll be a bit faster.
*Our daffodils are blooming! I cut one and put it in the bud vase on the kitchen windowsill, where it serves as a reminder that I need to start my tomato seeds ASAP...
*Rosina's favorite color is blue, if her crayon choices are any indication.
*I started the second Bex sock, since I'm trying to save the stockinette feet for public/mindless knitting. It's a lot easier the second time around! I had wanted to make another Adorkable Monster for Rosina for Valentine's Day, so I ought to start that--but the first one I made only took two days, so I guess I have some time.
It was a nice day, so we played outside for a while. Rosina had a chance to play with her little scooter-thing for the first time in a while. Unfortunately it was full of water! Mark is going to drill some extra holes in the bottom.
*Speaking of drills, our entertainment center is coming between nine and one tomorrow. I have to negotiate with the driver to help get the almost 200-pound shipment to the door. (Hopefully twenty bucks is enough incentive.) We're going to build it tonight. The online reviews all say it takes a few hours--I'm hoping with two of us working on it, it'll be a bit faster.
*Our daffodils are blooming! I cut one and put it in the bud vase on the kitchen windowsill, where it serves as a reminder that I need to start my tomato seeds ASAP...
*Rosina's favorite color is blue, if her crayon choices are any indication.
*I started the second Bex sock, since I'm trying to save the stockinette feet for public/mindless knitting. It's a lot easier the second time around! I had wanted to make another Adorkable Monster for Rosina for Valentine's Day, so I ought to start that--but the first one I made only took two days, so I guess I have some time.
Monday, February 4
Suburbia
*Fun trip to Tar-zhay this morning, which included the purchase of two super-clearance tops for me and one absolutely adorable newsboy cap (also on sale) for Rosina. Pictures will be taken ASAP.
*Crockpot favorite--chicken with olives, raisins and capers--for dinner, served with roasted sweet potato wedges...yum.
*Discussed our plan to enroll Rosina in preschool in the fall (just eight hours a week). The school has already posted the application, so we may need to move more quickly than we thought.
*Good bellydance class--there's a new step I will have to practice a bit, but that's a good thing!
*Just busted a hole in my Binghamton T-shirt! I guess it's fifteen years old and was due to be replaced, but will I be able to find one without a Bearcat on it?
*Crockpot favorite--chicken with olives, raisins and capers--for dinner, served with roasted sweet potato wedges...yum.
*Discussed our plan to enroll Rosina in preschool in the fall (just eight hours a week). The school has already posted the application, so we may need to move more quickly than we thought.
*Good bellydance class--there's a new step I will have to practice a bit, but that's a good thing!
*Just busted a hole in my Binghamton T-shirt! I guess it's fifteen years old and was due to be replaced, but will I be able to find one without a Bearcat on it?
Sunday, February 3
Briefly...
*Rosina is coming down with a cold, we think: runny nose, coughing. Oh, sad baby night coughing. :( She got three colds in two months this fall, so we've been spoiled for the last few months. Poor thing! I hope this is a quick and mild one.
*I guess the Superbowl is over by now, not that I care. I just can't get invested unless a team I care about is playing, and since the Jets haven't been in FORTY YEARS, I only ever watch if the Giants are playing. We celebrated an anti-Superbowl by watching lots of trailers for musicals on Amazon Prime. (Mark has a free month, and wants to get the most out of it. Honestly, I don't think it's that great, unless you already like pay-per-view.)
*Took a nice long nap! I really should do that more often.
*Yummy lunch at Neomonde. They know me by sight now, since I get full-fat Greek yogurt there three times a month. It's so cheap!
*Finally finished the leg and heel of the sock. Using the decrease row for the toe worked out great. I guess I'll know soon if it's going to be too loose around the ankle...
*I guess the Superbowl is over by now, not that I care. I just can't get invested unless a team I care about is playing, and since the Jets haven't been in FORTY YEARS, I only ever watch if the Giants are playing. We celebrated an anti-Superbowl by watching lots of trailers for musicals on Amazon Prime. (Mark has a free month, and wants to get the most out of it. Honestly, I don't think it's that great, unless you already like pay-per-view.)
*Took a nice long nap! I really should do that more often.
*Yummy lunch at Neomonde. They know me by sight now, since I get full-fat Greek yogurt there three times a month. It's so cheap!
*Finally finished the leg and heel of the sock. Using the decrease row for the toe worked out great. I guess I'll know soon if it's going to be too loose around the ankle...
Om nom nom...
*We just got back from a delicious Indian dinner (Tower India, if you're local) with some friends we hadn't seen in a few months. They live in the next town over and are incredibly busy with new businesses and MBA programs, so it is always a treat. Vegetable kofta curry, paneer butter masala, dosai--we were sated and full of carbs. Which is why we had froyo afterwards. (Fun fact: Autocorrect wanted to change "froyo" to "group". It makes sense if you think about qwerty, but still.) Rosina didn't do so well at first, but once we stopped trying to shove yogurt in her face and took her out of the high chair, she was happier, and even ate roti and some tastes of our food.
*Part of the reason for the general grumpiness is last night's disturbance. It was late, and I was about to go upstairs when Rosina started crying. It sounded like she was pretty unhappy, so I went in to check on her. Between trying to give her some Tylenol and milk and bringing her downstairs, she probably wailed for about half an hour before I managed to cheer her up with an array of Sesame Street video clips (how about Billy Joel and Marlee Matlin serenading Oscar the Grouch with "Just the Way You Are"?). I didn't get to bed until after two...
*More Rosina: she had the first meeting of her second swim class this morning. It had been a year since the last one, but she's still pretty comfortable out there. Apparently most of the kids are around her age (Mark goes with her), but she was the only one who wasn't freaking out. So at least there's that.
*We (or mostly Mark) have been watching It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia on Netflix, which is just a crazy show. There are no redeeming characters, and the writers seem hellbent on offending as many people as possible. (Like Family Guy, but not as racist and sexist--jeez, I can't even watch that anymore.). But even multiple seasons in, it's still actually funny. They even had the prerequisite "let's put on a musical" episode, and now we can't get the big song out of our heads. It's too convoluted to explain...
*Only four more pattern rounds on the sock! I took a look at the foot chart, and there's an easy way to decrease all the extra stitches in one. Tomorrow!
*Part of the reason for the general grumpiness is last night's disturbance. It was late, and I was about to go upstairs when Rosina started crying. It sounded like she was pretty unhappy, so I went in to check on her. Between trying to give her some Tylenol and milk and bringing her downstairs, she probably wailed for about half an hour before I managed to cheer her up with an array of Sesame Street video clips (how about Billy Joel and Marlee Matlin serenading Oscar the Grouch with "Just the Way You Are"?). I didn't get to bed until after two...
*More Rosina: she had the first meeting of her second swim class this morning. It had been a year since the last one, but she's still pretty comfortable out there. Apparently most of the kids are around her age (Mark goes with her), but she was the only one who wasn't freaking out. So at least there's that.
*We (or mostly Mark) have been watching It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia on Netflix, which is just a crazy show. There are no redeeming characters, and the writers seem hellbent on offending as many people as possible. (Like Family Guy, but not as racist and sexist--jeez, I can't even watch that anymore.). But even multiple seasons in, it's still actually funny. They even had the prerequisite "let's put on a musical" episode, and now we can't get the big song out of our heads. It's too convoluted to explain...
*Only four more pattern rounds on the sock! I took a look at the foot chart, and there's an easy way to decrease all the extra stitches in one. Tomorrow!
Friday, February 1
Whirling dervish
*Eek, look how big my baby is! I think I may have gotten her to jump today, just a tiny bit off the ground. Tonight before Mark put her to bed, she was spinning around in a circle. And she tried meatballs for the first time today--inhaled them, I should say. She is definitely my child...
*Work was actually very productive this morning--even if it did mean compiling statistics manually. Seriously, who would design peer reviewing software without the capability to run reports on the reviewers? I was really hoping this new system would be better than the last, but I've learned three new systems in three years now, and this one is clearly the worst. It is horribly non-intuitive.
*Finally got to the post office--I mailed my monster for the 600 Monsters project (it's probably not going to Newtown, but I trust the organizers will get it to a kid who could use a monster hug) and some gifts for my nieces. Then we went to Costco, where I finally bought the temporal artery thermometer (on sale, no less), along with other supplies and an impulse-purchase 5-pack of eos lip balm. Hey, I use a lot of lip balm, and I like to have a change from Burt's Bees once in a while.
*Still plugging away on the sock. I have about 26 rounds now before I get to decide how to decrease for the ankle. On second thought, I ought to take a look at the foot chart to see how they're decreased there. I think it's a decrease worked into the large cables...
*OMG. If you watch The Lizzie Bennet Diaries (YouTube series), you have probably been buying your nails for the last few weeks, wondering how the Lydia-Wickham situation was going to be handled. Well, now we know. And spoilers aside, I think it works with the gestalt of the show--new media, fourth-wall breaking... If you haven't been watching, there'd be a lot of catching up to do (84 episodes, plus like, 24 of Lydia's, and Maria Lu--and I just noticed that Gigi has a new channel), but I promise it's worth it! Plus it's not like the Interwebs are going anywhere...
Thursday, January 31
Because sleep is more important...
*I'm actually posting this on Friday (shhh!). I was actually in bed a minute before eleven! I'm going to continue to try to catch up on sleep over the weekend.
*Remote desktop is working, but everything is all screwy, and because of software updates my files were hidden in some random backup location. Plus the mad German came out of hiding and, per his MO, needed something done immediately and started freaking out when I didn't write him back in ten minutes (smack in the middle of the 24 hours the server was down). Argh.
*Brought my sock to knit night, and actually got a few things done. Discussed some mystery upcoming events...
*Rosina had a fever spike this afternoon--she almost never runs a temperature, but she felt warm after her nap, so I took her axillary temperature, and it was 101. I hardly believed it, sine the thermometer is so crappy, but my temperature was normal. I gave her some Tylenol, and it was significantly lower in just a few minutes. She seems fine now, so I guess it was just one of those things. It could definitely bee teething-related.
*i have been freezing veggie burritos for us to eat for lunch, and I am officially dick of them. What's worse is that I don't think Mark is even taking them to work. I was doing this so we could save money on lunches, and he probably spends more than $30 a week on just lunch. Must discuss!
*Remote desktop is working, but everything is all screwy, and because of software updates my files were hidden in some random backup location. Plus the mad German came out of hiding and, per his MO, needed something done immediately and started freaking out when I didn't write him back in ten minutes (smack in the middle of the 24 hours the server was down). Argh.
*Brought my sock to knit night, and actually got a few things done. Discussed some mystery upcoming events...
*Rosina had a fever spike this afternoon--she almost never runs a temperature, but she felt warm after her nap, so I took her axillary temperature, and it was 101. I hardly believed it, sine the thermometer is so crappy, but my temperature was normal. I gave her some Tylenol, and it was significantly lower in just a few minutes. She seems fine now, so I guess it was just one of those things. It could definitely bee teething-related.
*i have been freezing veggie burritos for us to eat for lunch, and I am officially dick of them. What's worse is that I don't think Mark is even taking them to work. I was doing this so we could save money on lunches, and he probably spends more than $30 a week on just lunch. Must discuss!
Wednesday, January 30
Technical difficulties
*I missed posting yesterday because that time was better spent taking a shower. I never understood why parents of small children so valued showers, but now I do! I don't need to wash my hair more than three times a week anyway, since it's so long at the moment, but I wish I didn't need to mark the calendar for it!
*Server issues at work, hence the title of this post. I wasn't able to check my email or access any of my files. Still can't! The silver lining is that I can let myself sleep in tomorrow.
*Made a decision regarding Bex (the docks I'm working on): I'm just going to do the cable pattern on the legs, and do the feet in stockinette. I don't need the extra bulk in my shoes, plus I'll be able to make the legs longer without running out of yarn. Also, the feet will not need my undivided attention.
*Just bought two new diaper covers and two long-sleeved bibs on sale on Amazon. Interesting stuff, eh?
*Rosina is really in the thick of this molar thing--drooling like crazy, both hands in her mouth, general fussiness, and grumpiness about eating. Poor thing...I wish we could look forward to it being over soon, but after this one we still have canines and another set of molars to go.
*Server issues at work, hence the title of this post. I wasn't able to check my email or access any of my files. Still can't! The silver lining is that I can let myself sleep in tomorrow.
*Made a decision regarding Bex (the docks I'm working on): I'm just going to do the cable pattern on the legs, and do the feet in stockinette. I don't need the extra bulk in my shoes, plus I'll be able to make the legs longer without running out of yarn. Also, the feet will not need my undivided attention.
*Just bought two new diaper covers and two long-sleeved bibs on sale on Amazon. Interesting stuff, eh?
*Rosina is really in the thick of this molar thing--drooling like crazy, both hands in her mouth, general fussiness, and grumpiness about eating. Poor thing...I wish we could look forward to it being over soon, but after this one we still have canines and another set of molars to go.
Monday, January 28
Up too late, surprise surprise
*Had a very nice lunch with my officemates and a few out-of-town staff. It was great to have more time to catch up--I know I'm lucky to be working with such nice people (even if I do think they talk about religion too much). Rosina was a doll the whole time, particularly considering she was past due for her nap.
*Speaking of Rosina, she makes the cutest animal noises right now. Dogs say "wuw wuw", cats say "meh"--and her favorites are horses, sheep and goats, but she's been baa-ing for a while now.
*Ridiculous Southern reaction to possible precipitation #17: the district calling a three-hour delay when there was only a very slight chance of rain, well north of here. Maybe if they hadn't called it the night before, they wouldn't have basically wasted a school day.
*Good bellydance class tonight. I have to clean up my Tunisian twists--ugh, especially going to the left! I am so right-handed--but other than that I have a pretty good handle on what we've done so far in this choreography.
*Got about five rows of my sock done at at my Monday knitting group--my fault for bringing a cable-crazy Cookie A. pattern--and afterwards completed a motley shopping list consisting of super glue, magic erasers, breath mints and bananas. I still can't find a calendar anywhere. I may check a craft store tomorrow, but I wonder if we're out of luck and will have to print one. We definitely waited too long!
*Speaking of Rosina, she makes the cutest animal noises right now. Dogs say "wuw wuw", cats say "meh"--and her favorites are horses, sheep and goats, but she's been baa-ing for a while now.
*Ridiculous Southern reaction to possible precipitation #17: the district calling a three-hour delay when there was only a very slight chance of rain, well north of here. Maybe if they hadn't called it the night before, they wouldn't have basically wasted a school day.
*Good bellydance class tonight. I have to clean up my Tunisian twists--ugh, especially going to the left! I am so right-handed--but other than that I have a pretty good handle on what we've done so far in this choreography.
*Got about five rows of my sock done at at my Monday knitting group--my fault for bringing a cable-crazy Cookie A. pattern--and afterwards completed a motley shopping list consisting of super glue, magic erasers, breath mints and bananas. I still can't find a calendar anywhere. I may check a craft store tomorrow, but I wonder if we're out of luck and will have to print one. We definitely waited too long!
Sunday, January 27
Team Peach Cobbler FTW!
*We just crushed it at the local sports bar's trivia night. Fifty dollars!! (Figures they'd have a new rule where you have to spend the credit right away--and since there were only two of us, and we didn't order drinks, we ended up buying a few desserts to put in the freezer.) Go Peach Cobbler! (Don't ask me where that name came from--it just popped into my head.) And considering that Mark had to leave for about half an hour to take care of a work thing, leaving me alone with Rosina for the last two rounds before the final, I feel particularly good about it. I aced the third round!
*FaceTime date with Cathy, where we discussed the relative merits of 1990-vintage colognes. Malibu Mist and Electric Youth are both available on Amazon--though the photo of the latter looks pretty yucky. Maybe I'm just lazy now, but I usually use either scented lotion or vanilla body spray these days--when I think of it at all.
* Took a very restorative hour-long nap. I am so loath to take naps--it's always seemed like a waste of daylight to me--but I haven't been sleeping that well lately (it's the low humidity; I think I ought to get a new prescription for Flonase), and I was supremely cranky today before that nap...
*Went to Whole Foods alone to pick up some basics. Believe it or not, their milk prices are actually competitive! (We've had bad luck with milk from Costco and Kroger going bad days before the sell-by date--and don't get me started on Trader Joe's!) It is SO relaxing going to the grocery store when you don't have to worry about your car's proximity to the cart corral, or about keeping a baby occupied. Plus my English Breakfast Tea was on sale!
*We went to the dollar store to pick up some coloring books (why go anywhere else? They're just going to be scribbled on) and some wrapping paper, and I also picked up one of those large French twist hairpins. I have fallen prey to hair gadgets before! This one actually seems to work, however. I am pleased.
This is a particularly bourgie post, for whatever reason. Don't worry about me, I still turn up the volume when Thin Lizzy comes on...
*FaceTime date with Cathy, where we discussed the relative merits of 1990-vintage colognes. Malibu Mist and Electric Youth are both available on Amazon--though the photo of the latter looks pretty yucky. Maybe I'm just lazy now, but I usually use either scented lotion or vanilla body spray these days--when I think of it at all.
* Took a very restorative hour-long nap. I am so loath to take naps--it's always seemed like a waste of daylight to me--but I haven't been sleeping that well lately (it's the low humidity; I think I ought to get a new prescription for Flonase), and I was supremely cranky today before that nap...
*Went to Whole Foods alone to pick up some basics. Believe it or not, their milk prices are actually competitive! (We've had bad luck with milk from Costco and Kroger going bad days before the sell-by date--and don't get me started on Trader Joe's!) It is SO relaxing going to the grocery store when you don't have to worry about your car's proximity to the cart corral, or about keeping a baby occupied. Plus my English Breakfast Tea was on sale!
*We went to the dollar store to pick up some coloring books (why go anywhere else? They're just going to be scribbled on) and some wrapping paper, and I also picked up one of those large French twist hairpins. I have fallen prey to hair gadgets before! This one actually seems to work, however. I am pleased.
This is a particularly bourgie post, for whatever reason. Don't worry about me, I still turn up the volume when Thin Lizzy comes on...
Late again, so I'll make it quick
*Had a pleasant evening at the cocktail hour and dinner. It was nice catching up with people. Free filet mignon didn't hurt, either! The Key lime pie was a bit out of season, but still delicious.
*Spent most of the afternoon cleaning, but it's nice to have it over with.
*Rosina had a rough day toothwise, but Tylenol helped a lot. I ended up putting her to bed tonight after I got home--it's usually Mark's job (I normally wash the sippy cups every night), so it was nice for a change.
*I must've slept oddly last night--I know there were weird dreams, at least--and my back and neck have refused to let me forget it. Another reason to go to bed now...
*i have heard "Close My Eyes Forever" on the radio twice in the past week. This cannot be a coincidence.
*Spent most of the afternoon cleaning, but it's nice to have it over with.
*Rosina had a rough day toothwise, but Tylenol helped a lot. I ended up putting her to bed tonight after I got home--it's usually Mark's job (I normally wash the sippy cups every night), so it was nice for a change.
*I must've slept oddly last night--I know there were weird dreams, at least--and my back and neck have refused to let me forget it. Another reason to go to bed now...
*i have heard "Close My Eyes Forever" on the radio twice in the past week. This cannot be a coincidence.
Friday, January 25
Snow day
I'm so glad I didn't have anywhere to go...
*Southerners are historically chicken when it comes to the white stuff, but this was no joke. It started snowing a bit at about eleven this morning, which alternated with sleet and freezing rain for most of the day. When I went to get the mail (empty!), there was about 1/4" of ice on everything. I'm glad Mark managed to get home before it got too nasty.
*Played this song for Rosina today. I don't know whether she liked it, or if she just enjoyed my awesome dance moves. It definitely brought me back.
*We are watching the last few episodes of Ellery Queen on DVD from Netflix. It was a really well-made show, but I guess it wasn't gritty enough for the post-Watergate, post-Serpico world. I have been waiting a while for the latest Doctor Who half-season to show up--I am now learning what they mean by "Very long wait". I may just break down and pay to stream the next half-season from Amazon. This is just silly...
*I have a work function tomorrow night, and one of my friends is watching Rosina so Mark can come to dinner after the boring "happy hour" at the office. (Free steak dinner--I shouldn't complain! And other than helping to set up snacks and making small talk with near-strangers, I don't have much to do!) My editor is presumably in Europe, where he was the other day, so I should be able to avoid any of the Herculean last-minute requests for which he is so famous.
*I am almost done with the Baby Bobbi Bear I'm making for my new niece. This is my first time using Berroco Remix, and I really like it. (I suspect the 100% recycled content is pre-consumer, considering there's a decent but inoffensive amount of VM in the skein.) This time I need to just bite the bullet and embroider the face as soon as possible, instead of waiting most of a year, like I did with Rosina's!
*Southerners are historically chicken when it comes to the white stuff, but this was no joke. It started snowing a bit at about eleven this morning, which alternated with sleet and freezing rain for most of the day. When I went to get the mail (empty!), there was about 1/4" of ice on everything. I'm glad Mark managed to get home before it got too nasty.
*Played this song for Rosina today. I don't know whether she liked it, or if she just enjoyed my awesome dance moves. It definitely brought me back.
*We are watching the last few episodes of Ellery Queen on DVD from Netflix. It was a really well-made show, but I guess it wasn't gritty enough for the post-Watergate, post-Serpico world. I have been waiting a while for the latest Doctor Who half-season to show up--I am now learning what they mean by "Very long wait". I may just break down and pay to stream the next half-season from Amazon. This is just silly...
*I have a work function tomorrow night, and one of my friends is watching Rosina so Mark can come to dinner after the boring "happy hour" at the office. (Free steak dinner--I shouldn't complain! And other than helping to set up snacks and making small talk with near-strangers, I don't have much to do!) My editor is presumably in Europe, where he was the other day, so I should be able to avoid any of the Herculean last-minute requests for which he is so famous.
*I am almost done with the Baby Bobbi Bear I'm making for my new niece. This is my first time using Berroco Remix, and I really like it. (I suspect the 100% recycled content is pre-consumer, considering there's a decent but inoffensive amount of VM in the skein.) This time I need to just bite the bullet and embroider the face as soon as possible, instead of waiting most of a year, like I did with Rosina's!
Thursday, January 24
Blerg
Things got away from me yesterday, as I will explain...
*Rosina had a rough day yesterday, mostly because she's working on some molars--but she's also started this pattern where she grunts/yells when she wants us to do something or give something to her. I keep saying, "Please, mommy?" to try to change it before this becomes a habit, but it's not working yet. And there are tantrums, but they're normally brief, and are to be expected at this age. That doesn't mean I have to like it!
*Misplaced my wallet! I ordered that tv stand last night, and never put my wallet back in my purse--so of course I left without it when I went to buy milk. I luckily had a $10 bill in my wallet (I feel bad when my grandparents send me money for Christmas, but it saved my ass!) After we got home and put Rosina down for her nap, I tore apart the living room looking for it, with no luck. Mark found it in three minutes, in a place I had already looked.
*Got totally bitched out by someone for saying something completely innocuous. I've known this person for a while, and maybe they had just had a bad day, but it was really unnecessary. I'm trying not to take it personally, but, um, well, I do! It has changed my opinion of them, at least for the time being...
*Heard "Let's Go Crazy" on the radio, and they totally cut the spoken word part! Big mistake.
*In good news, I have been following the 1600-calorie version of the DASH diet since the beginning of the year, and I think I've actually lost a few pounds. :) I made myself these Deal-A-Meal-y cards out of construction paper, and it's been a pretty easy way to keep track of servings without having to keep a food diary or anything.
Since I get a kick out of this picture, I will post it completely out of context.
*Rosina had a rough day yesterday, mostly because she's working on some molars--but she's also started this pattern where she grunts/yells when she wants us to do something or give something to her. I keep saying, "Please, mommy?" to try to change it before this becomes a habit, but it's not working yet. And there are tantrums, but they're normally brief, and are to be expected at this age. That doesn't mean I have to like it!
*Misplaced my wallet! I ordered that tv stand last night, and never put my wallet back in my purse--so of course I left without it when I went to buy milk. I luckily had a $10 bill in my wallet (I feel bad when my grandparents send me money for Christmas, but it saved my ass!) After we got home and put Rosina down for her nap, I tore apart the living room looking for it, with no luck. Mark found it in three minutes, in a place I had already looked.
*Got totally bitched out by someone for saying something completely innocuous. I've known this person for a while, and maybe they had just had a bad day, but it was really unnecessary. I'm trying not to take it personally, but, um, well, I do! It has changed my opinion of them, at least for the time being...
*Heard "Let's Go Crazy" on the radio, and they totally cut the spoken word part! Big mistake.
*In good news, I have been following the 1600-calorie version of the DASH diet since the beginning of the year, and I think I've actually lost a few pounds. :) I made myself these Deal-A-Meal-y cards out of construction paper, and it's been a pretty easy way to keep track of servings without having to keep a food diary or anything.
Since I get a kick out of this picture, I will post it completely out of context.
Tuesday, January 22
On a roll...
It's late so I'll be quick:
*We have been going back and forth about a new entertainment center. We bought a nice tube tv right before the LCDs came out, so now we have a 75-pound tv that no furniture is designed to support anymore. I think we have finally decided on something that isn't going to bankrupt us, and just need to work out the logistics.
*Caught up on Castle with one eye while reading Peter Rabbit over and over again with the other.
*I found these old links in an unposted entry from November 2011:
Article on the first black MLB player--in 1905--who later became a lawyer for Marcus Garvey
One-hour quick clean!
And this needs no introduction.
*In annoying work news, my Remote Desktop is still down, and our new peer review system only provides useless statistics.
*i am a Pinterest power user! Go follow me if you don't already. I mainly use it for recipes, it seems. Pinterest recipes tend to fall into two camps: hysterical veganism (hello, some of us can't eat tofu, and refuse to waste money on almond milk) and full-on Sandra Lee cream-of-mushroom soup craziness. There is no middle ground! And why does everything have so much added salt and sugar? I like all the ideas, but I end up having to modify everything, because they're so ridiculous...
*We have been going back and forth about a new entertainment center. We bought a nice tube tv right before the LCDs came out, so now we have a 75-pound tv that no furniture is designed to support anymore. I think we have finally decided on something that isn't going to bankrupt us, and just need to work out the logistics.
*Caught up on Castle with one eye while reading Peter Rabbit over and over again with the other.
*I found these old links in an unposted entry from November 2011:
Article on the first black MLB player--in 1905--who later became a lawyer for Marcus Garvey
One-hour quick clean!
And this needs no introduction.
*In annoying work news, my Remote Desktop is still down, and our new peer review system only provides useless statistics.
*i am a Pinterest power user! Go follow me if you don't already. I mainly use it for recipes, it seems. Pinterest recipes tend to fall into two camps: hysterical veganism (hello, some of us can't eat tofu, and refuse to waste money on almond milk) and full-on Sandra Lee cream-of-mushroom soup craziness. There is no middle ground! And why does everything have so much added salt and sugar? I like all the ideas, but I end up having to modify everything, because they're so ridiculous...
Monday, January 21
Five (okay, six) moment memoir #1
Oh, blog. I have neglected you for so long. I genuinely thought I didn't have enough time for blogging--but when I see the other ways I fritter away my time, it makes me wonder. Anyway, I read this piece in O magazine (thanks again, Helen!) about one writer's idea for a "five-moment memoir", in which only five points are listed, and I thought that might be a good way to get back into things. Since it's been more than a year, I know an update would take forever, and hopefully this will just help me skip over all that. So welcome to the mundanity that is my life.
*Got to sleep in today! Dragging my ass out of bed at seven every morning is manageable, but rather unpleasant. I know I should be all thoughtful about Martin Luther King, and believe me, I am, but I am also grateful to get an extra two hours of sleep.
*In old-lady-in-the-supermarket news, a retired NICU nurse stopped us today in Target. They're always so happy to see the tiny ones doing so well. In other Target news, I bought some vanilla Gud body butter for half off--score!
*Heard "Silent Lucidity" on the radio. Wondered how Queensryche was always grouped in with the grunge bands, when they are clearly straight-up prog. Seriously, you could tell me that song was by Yes, or even Pink Floyd (doesn't it sound like "On the Turning Away"?), and I might believe you.
*Caught most of Obama's speech today. I thought I wouldn't miss much after our errand, but they must've been running really early. Civil rights were in focus for obvious reasons, but I can't help but think of GWB's "I'm the decider" BS. Repeatedly bringing up gay rights would certainly rile the conservative dipwads...
*Slight update: my new niece was born Friday! Elizabeth Anne looks like a little grumpy Sicilian woman, just like her sister Charlotte did. They should come home from the hospital tonight. Rosina was very excited to see pictures of her, particularly since she is currently obsessed with babies. "Baby" is probably her favorite word at the moment.
*Just read The Passage by Justin Cronin. There are obvious comparisons with The Stand, and his style is similar to Stephen King's, which could explain why I found it so hard to put down. Oh, and there are nasty psychic superhuman semi-vampires, and epic doomed-to-fail journeys across wastelands, and of course The End Of The World, which, if you know me, you know is my favorite book topic ever. If a novel includes a decimated population scavenging for unspoiled canned food in long-abandoned supermarkets, I have probably read it.
And that was six moments! More tomorrow, if I can get my ass in gear. Maybe even more pictures... This one is from Thanksgiving--enjoy.
*Got to sleep in today! Dragging my ass out of bed at seven every morning is manageable, but rather unpleasant. I know I should be all thoughtful about Martin Luther King, and believe me, I am, but I am also grateful to get an extra two hours of sleep.
*In old-lady-in-the-supermarket news, a retired NICU nurse stopped us today in Target. They're always so happy to see the tiny ones doing so well. In other Target news, I bought some vanilla Gud body butter for half off--score!
*Heard "Silent Lucidity" on the radio. Wondered how Queensryche was always grouped in with the grunge bands, when they are clearly straight-up prog. Seriously, you could tell me that song was by Yes, or even Pink Floyd (doesn't it sound like "On the Turning Away"?), and I might believe you.
*Caught most of Obama's speech today. I thought I wouldn't miss much after our errand, but they must've been running really early. Civil rights were in focus for obvious reasons, but I can't help but think of GWB's "I'm the decider" BS. Repeatedly bringing up gay rights would certainly rile the conservative dipwads...
*Slight update: my new niece was born Friday! Elizabeth Anne looks like a little grumpy Sicilian woman, just like her sister Charlotte did. They should come home from the hospital tonight. Rosina was very excited to see pictures of her, particularly since she is currently obsessed with babies. "Baby" is probably her favorite word at the moment.
*Just read The Passage by Justin Cronin. There are obvious comparisons with The Stand, and his style is similar to Stephen King's, which could explain why I found it so hard to put down. Oh, and there are nasty psychic superhuman semi-vampires, and epic doomed-to-fail journeys across wastelands, and of course The End Of The World, which, if you know me, you know is my favorite book topic ever. If a novel includes a decimated population scavenging for unspoiled canned food in long-abandoned supermarkets, I have probably read it.
And that was six moments! More tomorrow, if I can get my ass in gear. Maybe even more pictures... This one is from Thanksgiving--enjoy.
Thursday, December 22
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