The ten worst parts of the day:
1) The panic I experienced after I realized we could not get through the "purple" gate to get to "silver" gate without traversing the highway.
2) The several (hundred) moments of no cell phone service. (I'm absolutely convinced they scrambled service and claimed "high volume" was responsible. We all had lots of bars, but no service - very scary in a mob scene.)
3) The over 240 minutes that we were literally trapped on the mall.
4) The cold.
5) The fucking crazy cold.
6) The brief moment Katy lost her shit and started crying because she was so cold.
7) The moment a few hours later when I thought I might start crying because I was so cold.
8) The moment we were too polite (read: too stupid) to accept the offer of a woman who had two "extra" chemical-pouch "hand warmers".
9) The police officers barking vague, unhelpful orders from their heated cars about which direction the mobs of people should turn to reverse their course.
10) Justice John Roberts completely effing up the official oath... Seriously? you only have one job here, dude!
The ten "kind of messed up" but also kind of awesome parts of the day:
1) Getting onto the metro in the dark, before 6am eagerly anticipating what the day might bring.
2) Walking through the 3rd Street tunnel (where normally only cars are allowed) to get to the "silver" gate with about 5000 other people. I was silently panicking and a little convinced that we were going to be trapped in that tunnel for several hours.
3) The split second I thought the 21-cannon salute was an unplanned explosion.
4) Weeping during Rick Warren's prayer - would that he could live out that prayer and leave the gays alone.
5) When the crowd broke through the plastic fence, leading us to the capital reflecting pool.
6) When the only police officer in the vicinity tried to single-handedly thwart the advancing crowd of at least 1000 silver ticket holders from creeping up toward the front of the reflecting pool (through the above-mentioned plastic fence) using only his "I'm-your-father-that's-why" voice... And then finally gave up the fight 3-5 minutes later when he realized the insanity of what he was up against, choosing instead to suggest, "Walk. Don't run." Then he stepped out of the way and let us claim better seats. It was a tense, intriguing stand off.
7) Aretha Franklin's hat
8) The time I spent wondering if George HW Bush and Dick Cheney had a celebrity death match that left Bush limping and Cheney in a wheelchair.
9) The awkwardness and uncertainty I felt as at least 7 choruses of "na-na na-na, na-na na-na, hey hey hey, goodbye" were sung when GWB entered the arena for the last time as POTUS.
10) Packed shoulder to shoulder, stomach to back with the crowds of people larger than I could have ever imagined. Feeling a lot of pushing and shoving and frustration, but never really experiencing any hate or anger, practically nothing but common ground.
The ten best parts of the day:
1) Honoring the ritual of the "blood-less coup" that is the hallmark of our government and nation.
2) The 21 cannon salute that instantaneously followed Obama's oath of office. (Very cool!)
3) The multitude of black faces that paraded through the chamber and out onto the platform of the capital... Dignitaries and emissaries of a darker hue have been too painfully absent from our nation's ceremonies.
4) The tears that warmed my freezing face. This president makes me cry when he speaks. My heart trusts him.
5) Spending the day with Sarah and Graham.
6) The life-saving popcorn.
7) The soul-saving hot chocolate.
8) The indescribably amazing, "smart-wool", hiking socks I bought for the event at HTO
9) Realizing that I cared more that Barack Obama was president than that GWB is no longer president.
10) People, millions of people congregating peacefully - almost lovingly - in exceedingly stressful conditions for a thrilling event.
Shout out to our hosts, Marnie and David who not only made this weekend possible for us, but are also responsible for that fact that Sarah and Graham were our there with us today.
Showing posts with label Lists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lists. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
A few things
1. We had a lovely visit from the womb whisperer and her luvahh this weekend. We ate yummies and went to bed early.
2. JB is in number 3 pam.pers now... it is a kind of inconsequential reminder of how he is already growing up... I don't think I would be sad about this at all except as some of you may know, the pam.pers have little sesame street characters on the waistband. On number ones, big bird, elmo, ernie, and bert, etc are babies. On size two they are "toddler-looking" and on size three, they practically look like themselves. I am opposed to this type of "rapid-aging" of the characters. When I see the JB's new diapers, I cringe- these kids are all growzed up ("F").
3. The boy got another ear infection last week. This time in his left ear. He is on day 7 of his second 10-day course of antibiotics. He is doing well, but his appetite is markedly diminished. The crying, sad, feverish first few days last week were followed by a few days of puking. He was good at developing a warning system: a weird outcry, followed by a fake-sounding cough, and an abbreviated gurgle immediately proceeded projectile splatter. Web was christened last Friday when she baby sat in the morning, and at church on Sunday there was actually a splashing sound when about 40cc of swallow hit the floor. mmm... tasty. I don't know if the antibiotics or the mucus are throwing his GI tract for a loop, but yesterday at school, he required a full costume change. They sent him home with 2 crap-filled shirts, a pair of socks, pants, a soiled sheet, and a story that alleged it took 3 staff members to stage the clean-up.
4. My gram turned 84 last week and we attended a big bash for her. At that time, I saw Mac place an order for the first time. It went something like:
Waitress: (clearing the table)
Papa: Can I please have a coke?
Waitress: Of course. Can I get anything else for anyone at this time?
(silence) Waitress turns to walk away
Mac: (calling after her) I have some milk too...
I'm not going to lie, this kid stuns me. She's two! No one else ordered milk. No one asked if she wanted anything to drink... In this 45 second exchange she was paying enough attention to know that beverage orders were being placed. Ridiccockulous.
5. I am all tuckered out. My wife is being patient and supportive beyond the call of duty. We went to bed at 8:45 last night and I'm in bed as soon as I hit publish here. The events at work last week might be having their cumulative effect. I can't say I don't like my job because I do, but I'm back to daily headaches. I'm back to decreased milk production. I had to terminate an employee yesterday and there is a never-ending list of other "issues" that we are dealing with. blah. blah. blah.
6. My kid gets cuter every day... seriously. He's awesome.
2. JB is in number 3 pam.pers now... it is a kind of inconsequential reminder of how he is already growing up... I don't think I would be sad about this at all except as some of you may know, the pam.pers have little sesame street characters on the waistband. On number ones, big bird, elmo, ernie, and bert, etc are babies. On size two they are "toddler-looking" and on size three, they practically look like themselves. I am opposed to this type of "rapid-aging" of the characters. When I see the JB's new diapers, I cringe- these kids are all growzed up ("F").
3. The boy got another ear infection last week. This time in his left ear. He is on day 7 of his second 10-day course of antibiotics. He is doing well, but his appetite is markedly diminished. The crying, sad, feverish first few days last week were followed by a few days of puking. He was good at developing a warning system: a weird outcry, followed by a fake-sounding cough, and an abbreviated gurgle immediately proceeded projectile splatter. Web was christened last Friday when she baby sat in the morning, and at church on Sunday there was actually a splashing sound when about 40cc of swallow hit the floor. mmm... tasty. I don't know if the antibiotics or the mucus are throwing his GI tract for a loop, but yesterday at school, he required a full costume change. They sent him home with 2 crap-filled shirts, a pair of socks, pants, a soiled sheet, and a story that alleged it took 3 staff members to stage the clean-up.
4. My gram turned 84 last week and we attended a big bash for her. At that time, I saw Mac place an order for the first time. It went something like:
Waitress: (clearing the table)
Papa: Can I please have a coke?
Waitress: Of course. Can I get anything else for anyone at this time?
(silence) Waitress turns to walk away
Mac: (calling after her) I have some milk too...
I'm not going to lie, this kid stuns me. She's two! No one else ordered milk. No one asked if she wanted anything to drink... In this 45 second exchange she was paying enough attention to know that beverage orders were being placed. Ri
5. I am all tuckered out. My wife is being patient and supportive beyond the call of duty. We went to bed at 8:45 last night and I'm in bed as soon as I hit publish here. The events at work last week might be having their cumulative effect. I can't say I don't like my job because I do, but I'm back to daily headaches. I'm back to decreased milk production. I had to terminate an employee yesterday and there is a never-ending list of other "issues" that we are dealing with. blah. blah. blah.
6. My kid gets cuter every day... seriously. He's awesome.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
JB doesn't understand about saturdays...
It was a long week, during which I did decide to join the crying criers club.
On Wednesday, when all the denial wore off, I was missing my boy and to be honest, my home. If work were a little more "slow" this week I think I would have been able to "hold it all in." But my job this week was to prep for a huge staff presentation and off site meeting that we had yesterday morning. I volunteered to be the point person for that project and got in WAY over my head. Let's just say, I was up past midnight in non-mother related duties 3 nights this week, and went to be at 2am yesterday... Nothing like a little cramming and a mountain of self-expectation to get the party rolling.
The logistics of day care drop-off are getting much more routine all ready. But as the week progressed, I was organized enough to feel some of the emotion of the routine. Also, when I see my nieces at day care (that is supposed to make it easier to leave JB, but) many mornings, it felt like I was leaving three pieces of my heart behind as cam-cam giggles and screeches every time she sees me (every time she sees anyone, really) and Mac sweetly invites you to the big girl room to play stackable blocks with her. So, yeah, by Wednesday, I cried at quick but helpful cry.
... at work... sometimes these things can't be helped.
Katy and I had committed to go to this fundraiser for church last night, but by 9pm we were both zombies... we picked the kid up at S and J's house (friends of ours that we met through kt's work) and They were like, "I thought you were going to go out after the dinner."
Just. couldn't. last.
I was almost moved to tears again when I saw how JB was sweetly sleeping in the arms of S and J's 11 year old daughter. It's good to have friends you trust in terms of "they probably know more about how to care for our baby than we do..." but when these friends also beg, berate, demand, and don't quit until you actually set a babysitting date (and then insist on being the people who run to the store so you aren't arriving late to your "dinner date" when you show up without diapers...) We know we are truly blessed with a proverbial "village" helping us raise this child.
It was a successful week, but I am exhausted. Pumping at work is another element to all of this. I am used to literally working 8.5 to 9 hours most of it in meetings; often eating lunches during meetings, or while "catching up on my computer." I know that is not cool- that getting out of your work setting usually makes you more productive, but before the baby, it would often be 2 or 3 pm before I realized I hadn't taken a break yet. Now I have to find the time every 3-4 hours to pump for 20-30 minutes. That's about 2 hours a day attached to the breast pump (half of it at work.)
Putting that (again) logistical detail aside for a moment, pumping at work is not the same as pumping at home. Even though i am lucky and have an office with a door AND a lock, it was messing with my mind all week:
1) I am doing this for the baby and the baby's best interests, but the baby is nowhere to be found, seen, smelled, or heard.
2) I have to remember to do this for the baby, but the baby is not there to remind me
3) I am at work, in work clothes, that I have to partially remove to be a mammal
4) I have to leave meetings where I am all brain power and verbal "dominance" to go milk myself
5) When I am pumping, it is hard to do other things (even with the special bra-which is a nightmare to put on) but there is not much in my office to do during the pump except surf the net.
I have remarked to some friends, that it feels like it would be as natural for a zebra to be sitting at my computer checking my email as it is for me to be sitting there "acting normal" while I am half undressed pumping the milk out of my titties at the office.
It's one of those, "When you were in high school did you ever think you would end up doing this???" moments.
NOTE: the term "have to" is obviously not accurate, I can stop at any time, but if I want to avoid adding baby formula to our grocery list, this is what I have to do.
Anyway, we had all morning to "sleep in" but the boy doesn't know that... He's like a good do-be and woke up at 5:30 to get washed and dressed for day care. We fed him and he's hopefully about to fall asleep with us again now.
On Wednesday, when all the denial wore off, I was missing my boy and to be honest, my home. If work were a little more "slow" this week I think I would have been able to "hold it all in." But my job this week was to prep for a huge staff presentation and off site meeting that we had yesterday morning. I volunteered to be the point person for that project and got in WAY over my head. Let's just say, I was up past midnight in non-mother related duties 3 nights this week, and went to be at 2am yesterday... Nothing like a little cramming and a mountain of self-expectation to get the party rolling.
The logistics of day care drop-off are getting much more routine all ready. But as the week progressed, I was organized enough to feel some of the emotion of the routine. Also, when I see my nieces at day care (that is supposed to make it easier to leave JB, but) many mornings, it felt like I was leaving three pieces of my heart behind as cam-cam giggles and screeches every time she sees me (every time she sees anyone, really) and Mac sweetly invites you to the big girl room to play stackable blocks with her. So, yeah, by Wednesday, I cried at quick but helpful cry.
... at work... sometimes these things can't be helped.
Katy and I had committed to go to this fundraiser for church last night, but by 9pm we were both zombies... we picked the kid up at S and J's house (friends of ours that we met through kt's work) and They were like, "I thought you were going to go out after the dinner."
Just. couldn't. last.
I was almost moved to tears again when I saw how JB was sweetly sleeping in the arms of S and J's 11 year old daughter. It's good to have friends you trust in terms of "they probably know more about how to care for our baby than we do..." but when these friends also beg, berate, demand, and don't quit until you actually set a babysitting date (and then insist on being the people who run to the store so you aren't arriving late to your "dinner date" when you show up without diapers...) We know we are truly blessed with a proverbial "village" helping us raise this child.
It was a successful week, but I am exhausted. Pumping at work is another element to all of this. I am used to literally working 8.5 to 9 hours most of it in meetings; often eating lunches during meetings, or while "catching up on my computer." I know that is not cool- that getting out of your work setting usually makes you more productive, but before the baby, it would often be 2 or 3 pm before I realized I hadn't taken a break yet. Now I have to find the time every 3-4 hours to pump for 20-30 minutes. That's about 2 hours a day attached to the breast pump (half of it at work.)
Putting that (again) logistical detail aside for a moment, pumping at work is not the same as pumping at home. Even though i am lucky and have an office with a door AND a lock, it was messing with my mind all week:
1) I am doing this for the baby and the baby's best interests, but the baby is nowhere to be found, seen, smelled, or heard.
2) I have to remember to do this for the baby, but the baby is not there to remind me
3) I am at work, in work clothes, that I have to partially remove to be a mammal
4) I have to leave meetings where I am all brain power and verbal "dominance" to go milk myself
5) When I am pumping, it is hard to do other things (even with the special bra-which is a nightmare to put on) but there is not much in my office to do during the pump except surf the net.
I have remarked to some friends, that it feels like it would be as natural for a zebra to be sitting at my computer checking my email as it is for me to be sitting there "acting normal" while I am half undressed pumping the milk out of my titties at the office.
It's one of those, "When you were in high school did you ever think you would end up doing this???" moments.
NOTE: the term "have to" is obviously not accurate, I can stop at any time, but if I want to avoid adding baby formula to our grocery list, this is what I have to do.
Anyway, we had all morning to "sleep in" but the boy doesn't know that... He's like a good do-be and woke up at 5:30 to get washed and dressed for day care. We fed him and he's hopefully about to fall asleep with us again now.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Busy week
So many things have happened In the last 7 days:
1) We came home from Spain
2) Attended Yale graduation
3) Had Kt's parents staying over
4) Enjoyed a cookout with Kt's parents, Dad, Gram, and some BFFs
5) Had our upstairs bathroom ceiling redone (see #3)
6) Got our garden and lawn back in order (see #3)
7) Returned to work
8) I felt the baby move for the first time
9) We had the ultrasound (more to follow)
10) I had my 5 month check up (more to follow)
11) Katy felt the baby move
12) We had a big picnic with our families
13) Katy played in a softball game that required her to provide some emergency medical treatment.
14) We saw Katy's parents off, back to Ohio
15) We spent an evening catching up (via phone) with the womb whisperer and our California cousins
16) We finished the work-week
17) We caught the opening night of the CT gay and lesbian film festival
So much has happened that yesterday I had this conversation at work:
Colleague: How was your trip?
Me: Trip?? (pause) Um, what trip?
C: Didn't you go to Spain?
Me: Oh ya, it was fantastic
How quicklywe I forget...
1) We came home from Spain
2) Attended Yale graduation
3) Had Kt's parents staying over
4) Enjoyed a cookout with Kt's parents, Dad, Gram, and some BFFs
5) Had our upstairs bathroom ceiling redone (see #3)
6) Got our garden and lawn back in order (see #3)
7) Returned to work
8) I felt the baby move for the first time
9) We had the ultrasound (more to follow)
10) I had my 5 month check up (more to follow)
11) Katy felt the baby move
12) We had a big picnic with our families
13) Katy played in a softball game that required her to provide some emergency medical treatment.
14) We saw Katy's parents off, back to Ohio
15) We spent an evening catching up (via phone) with the womb whisperer and our California cousins
16) We finished the work-week
17) We caught the opening night of the CT gay and lesbian film festival
So much has happened that yesterday I had this conversation at work:
Colleague: How was your trip?
Me: Trip?? (pause) Um, what trip?
C: Didn't you go to Spain?
Me: Oh ya, it was fantastic
How quickly
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
3 am Blog maintenance
It's the middle of the night and I'm wide awake making a few lists...
I was just chillin' out in the bed, in the dark, meditating, relaxing, willing myself back to sleep, and then I thought of the blog. Now I'm up and cleaning this aspect of my life... There are a lot of posts that I started that never really published...
From January:
There's the one about going blonde again
There's the one about Anne's visit, and
There's the one about Anne's new nickname- "the womb whisperer"
There's the one about L and F's cocktail party/ indian baby shower
There's the one about how the quality of my life signifcantly improved when everything changed at work
There's the one about the quality of my life significantly improved when after considering many drastic changes, a decision was made to change nothing at home
There's the one about the weather
(There's always one about the weather...)
In February and March:
There were all the unwritten the posts about the fatigue, the uncertainty, the fear, and the nausea
The one about the sadness I felt when Tonja's mom died
The one about our favorite Christmas Gift. (How Katy and I have been obsessed for several years now with the story and music of the broadway sensation: Wicked. And how Teri and Bill planned a St. Patrick's day weekend in NYC to see it. ) The unfinished post would have spoken of how the show was all we had hoped for and more and it would have given a little more detail about all the obstacles we had to overcome in order to get there:
Update: Just in naming them, I now consider all these posts "written."
There, that was easy...
Stay tuned for another post that will (hopefully) be written soon:
The one where my sister is pregnant too!
I was just chillin' out in the bed, in the dark, meditating, relaxing, willing myself back to sleep, and then I thought of the blog. Now I'm up and cleaning this aspect of my life... There are a lot of posts that I started that never really published...
From January:
There's the one about going blonde again
There's the one about Anne's visit, and
There's the one about Anne's new nickname- "the womb whisperer"
There's the one about L and F's cocktail party/ indian baby shower
There's the one about how the quality of my life signifcantly improved when everything changed at work
There's the one about the quality of my life significantly improved when after considering many drastic changes, a decision was made to change nothing at home
There's the one about the weather
(There's always one about the weather...)
In February and March:
There were all the unwritten the posts about the fatigue, the uncertainty, the fear, and the nausea
The one about the sadness I felt when Tonja's mom died
The one about our favorite Christmas Gift. (How Katy and I have been obsessed for several years now with the story and music of the broadway sensation: Wicked. And how Teri and Bill planned a St. Patrick's day weekend in NYC to see it. ) The unfinished post would have spoken of how the show was all we had hoped for and more and it would have given a little more detail about all the obstacles we had to overcome in order to get there:
- 10 inches of snow, ice, and sleet falling overnight
- Our most accessible car having a dead battery in the AM
- neighbor's snow blower breaking when he tried to help
- 4 wheel driving out, around the incapcitaed car, making a mess of the driveway to catch the train
- staying and dining with Ric and Kim
- arriving home at noon
- shovelling to get to the car and back INTO the driveway
- removing and replacing car battery
- feeling totally exhausted after a fun and low-key weekend away
Update: Just in naming them, I now consider all these posts "written."
There, that was easy...
Stay tuned for another post that will (hopefully) be written soon:
The one where my sister is pregnant too!
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Top ten reasons I can't sleep
10) It's too cold.
9) It's too hot.
8) Restless body syndrome.
7) Driving a stick shift while tuning an ipod is not a cardiovascular workout even if you do it 2-3 hrs a day.
6) If you're going to eat 70,000 calories a week, shouldn't some of them be in the form of fruits and vegetables?
5) The 3am (advil) feeding; a.k.a.- This headache is not going to cure itself.
4) Tums. tum-tum-tum, tums- maybe these things have caffeine in them.
3) There must be a rule about only one person getting some shut-eye per bed, per night, right?
2) It's 7am somewhere.
And the number one reason I can't sleep...
Trust me, if I knew the #@%ing answer to this, I wouldn't be here blogging for your entertainment right now.
9) It's too hot.
8) Restless body syndrome.
7) Driving a stick shift while tuning an ipod is not a cardiovascular workout even if you do it 2-3 hrs a day.
6) If you're going to eat 70,000 calories a week, shouldn't some of them be in the form of fruits and vegetables?
5) The 3am (advil) feeding; a.k.a.- This headache is not going to cure itself.
4) Tums. tum-tum-tum, tums- maybe these things have caffeine in them.
3) There must be a rule about only one person getting some shut-eye per bed, per night, right?
2) It's 7am somewhere.
And the number one reason I can't sleep...
Trust me, if I knew the #@%ing answer to this, I wouldn't be here blogging for your entertainment right now.
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