Pregnancy and the Introvert

OK so first a quick definition of introvert vs extrovert. This has nothing to do with how friendly a person seems or even how comfortable they are in big gatherings. The easiest way to explain it is like a battery. If at the end of a long hard monotonous week at work you need to 'recharge your batteries' do you need to go out and see people or stay home and be alone? The energy you need to recharge yourself either comes form being alone (introvert) or being with people (extrovert). I am most certainly an introvert.

As an introvert I used to encourage my roommates to go out, help them get ready promise to clean up and then stay home with the door locked and lights out pretending the apartment was empty when I needed to 'recharge'. This doesn't mean I didn't like to go out or I don't like spending time with people. I just need alone time or I melt down.
Now how is this affected by pregnancy? Well on the surface it's only the fact that you have to go more places for a while. This past week we had activities scheduled every night and 3 planned for Saturday. I ended up skipping Thursdays Relief Society event just to recharge at home because I knew if I didn't I wouldn't make it through Saturday.

***Once again let me remind you needing to recharge at home so I can 'handle' these activities has NOTHING to do with whether or not I want to go to them. All of Saturday's events were things I was excited to attend, especially my fabulous baby shower (thanks Nancy, Laura, Amber and Wendy!!!).***

However by Saturday I was really struggling to have the energy to socialize. This confused me a little. I mean, I've made it through way more socializing in way better form in the past but lately it's been really hard. Why is it so hard right now? Is it some weird nesting hormone that makes me never want to leave my house? Even small trips are becoming increasingly hard for me to handle.
Finally I realized what it was. Pregnancy for this introvert, even as much as I love it, has been 8 months and counting of never being alone. I don't think every introvert feels this way. And I don't want anyone to think I don't love pregnancy. In spite of the slightly snarky posts published here, I love being pregnant. There's such a purpose in it. And all body image jokes aside, I almost always love the feeling of being pregnant (exceptions: while vomiting, while wiping urine off the inside of my leg, when I forget how far my tummy extends and ram it into something).

What I'm saying though, is that to me, as much as I love it, pregnancy is a slow leak on my energy battery. It's never quite full because I am never truly alone. Now that I realize this I think I can plan better and I can definitely understand better why I have the current social ability of your average hermit.

And so...please forgive me if I avoid you at the grocery store.

PS A way fun test to see your personality type here. Good definitions of the personality type once you know what it is here. I'm INTJ, Nate's ESFP.

If you like Postal Service...

you'll probably like this song.

Owl City - Fireflies
Uploaded by UniversalMusicGroup - Explore more music videos.

Also, my body is pretty amazing isn't it? Even with swollen ankles...

New Least Favorite Pregnancy Question/Comment

(beside "you look HUGE"- thanks A).

Are you excited?

No I'm serious that's the question I've been getting asked 15 times a day lately. (possibly exaggeration)

They look at my belly and the circles under my eyes (a result of getting up to pee 8-9 times a night lately) and ask me,

Are you excited?

No. I am totally unmoved by the very-soon-to-be-coming arrival of my baby Peanut who I already love and get to meet in person for the first time.

No. I am emotionless about the fact that someday soon I will not have to carry this parasite with me everywhere and will occasionally be able to hand him to his father with the words, "take him away" ringing from my lips.

No. I am unaffected by the imminence of the great and dreadful experience I will soon go through called childbirth with all its inherent pain and joy.

No. I am indifferent to the changes that will soon enter my life. This life which now holds only small responsibilities of keeping myself, husband, 4 dogs and 2 cats fed and reasonably healthy and will soon involve the caring for a creature totally unable to meet his own basic needs.

No. I am cool and dispassionate about the whole experience. Please ask me another inane question that I am required to answer with an energy I haven't felt in weeks and actually shows nothing of my true feelings. I am happy to take time out of my day to answer you.

PS To any of you who are now saying to yourselves, "She's a little uppity. What are we supposed to ask/comment on then???". I say- I don't know how to talk to those crazy pregnant ladies! You're on your own!

Puzzle

Do you ever... and Belly Pics!!!

Dear Friends and Family,

Do you ever see me and think:

"Holy Hannah! Look at her- she's massive! Is she supposed to look like that? I think something's wrong...the parasite is taking over!!! Quick- get it out of there before her abdomen explodes like a zit!!!" ???

I do.

And now some belly pics:

Nate made fun of this one cause he said I keep lifting my head weird- it's to avoid the dreaded pregnancy double chin!!! He doesn't understand.
I know the power socket looks stupid but it was the best lighting in the house...
Close up! The chubby fingers are especially attractive.
These next ones were supposed to be a compare/contrast with this picture from my honeymoon:
You'll have notice my complete lack of a bum. I thought it would be fun to see the thing now taking over my backside. But you can't really tell!!!
I even tried holding my skirt against it
That just looks stupid. It's so tragic the pictures don't capture the fact my arse is sticking out farther than ever in my life. I'm sorry you are missing it.

Moving on...

The view from the top (surprisingly hard to take picture. required a tall husband, which luckily I have). Sorry for the semi-cleavage. It never really goes away now.
If you look close you can barely see a toe peeking out. Hey little buddy...haven't seen you in a while!
And last, but not least, the ankle. See that spot where a bone used to poke out very visibly...just flesh/retained water there now!
Hope that made your day!

Pregnancy Milestones IV

They keep coming...

1. I've reached an all-time high of needing to get up 4 times during a single night to pee. Thinking of investing in a bed pan.
2. Bought a birthing ball.

3. People have stopped looking nervous when they ask when I'm due (it's pretty obvious it's getting close and I really am pregnant). Also, after I've told them, have started letting me know how close that is, as if I was unaware...

4. Convinced my sister to give me the parking pass she paid for so I didn't have to walk.
5. Nate has been relieved of all late-night/over night Scout duties just in case I go into labor in the middle of the night- he has to be there!

6. Set up my tour of the hospital.

7. Tried to get by a man talking, to get to the restroom in a restaurant. He ignored my several polite "excuse me's". Finally I just pushed past and when he looked down and saw my pregnant belly was touching him he jumped back horrified. Not sure if he felt guilty or has a fear of pregnant women but it was awesome!
8. That's what my belly button looks like (ps do you know how hard it is to take a picture of your own belly button??? also I'm counting this as a requested 'belly picture').

9. Had my first Braxton Hicks contractions. About 4 in an hour at the end of work and while I was getting to my car. The next day, while walking to my car not experiencing contractions, I was amazed at what a short, easy walk it was.

10. Got my first tiny stretch marks on my belly. I knew I was going to get some (they're hereditary and I already had some from getting boobs in 8th grade). It was a relief to just get them showing up over with (ps they're on the bottom of my belly so I can't actually see them but Nate can).
11. Asked Nate to sweep under the kitchen table for me since I was having trouble reaching under there and it's too heavy to move. He chose to finish the chore he was working on first. He returned to find under the table already swept out and me in tears. Possibly nesting...

12. Also, Nate is one of those people who likes the alarm to go off 6 times before he actually gets out of bed. A couple days ago as soon as the first alarm went off it seemed completely necessary and rational for my to get up and do the dishes at 5 am.
13. People are actually buying plane tickets to come out and see Peanut!

PS While filling up my tank of gas this morning Nate got me pink grapefruit juice to drink. Nothing has happened so far but we'll wait and see if the curse continues...

Most Embarrassing Thing I've Done Today...

After remembering Whitney posting about Victoria's Secret nursing bras and realizing I had certainly grown out of my normal bra I decided to check online for info on them.
As I looked I realized I knew I wasn't my old size but I didn't know my new size. I decided to measure myself. I read their online tutorial to refresh my memory and took the soft measuring tape I happen to have in my desk at work to the bathroom to do some measuring.
In the stall I took off my shirt (for a better reading), sat on the toilet stool and started on the measuring process (well first I peed cause, ya know, I'm pregnant). The measuring is really kind of awkward to do your self.
Then it happened...I dropped the end of the measuring tape in the toilet. Yes it still had pee in it! I didn't even notice until I brought the end back up to wrap around myself and got urine water on the front of my pants. There was a moment of honest disbelief.
And then I pulled the measuring tape the rest of the way out, wiped it on toilet paper, finished measuring, finally flushed and went to wash it and my hands in the sink. Luckily my shirt is long today and covered the slightly damp spots on my pants until they dried.

What? You've never done anything that stupid? Well I've taken your portion. You're welcome.

Dirty Motherhood Secret and Notes

Here goes- prepare to judge me...
I don't know which part of my baby is which. There is a hard/large part on the upper right side of my abdomen. I assume it's either a head, back or bum. The limb-type things that are constantly hitting the mid left side of my body are most likely arms/fists/elbows/knees/feet. I just don't know. I am not sure if my baby is upside down or not. If I let you feel my baby and you ask what it is I will most likely tell you something I made up in my head that very minute. "Oh that's his right elbow. I'm a good mom so I can tell". I expect this is not the last time I will experience a slight feeling of inadequacy.

Other notes:
1. Already posted on facebook but for those of you who don't subscribe...I think my cat is an assassin hired to kill me and make it look like an accident. She has been crazy about winding around my legs while I'm walking lately. Considering I can barely see my feet while walking and have a little bit of a balance problem at the moment, this has become a serious issue.

2. Found this blog. Have almost started crying at work while reading it. Start here.
3. Tired of hearing about health care stuff and town meeting drama. Willing to vote for anything that results in a death panel I can be on to rid the nation of dead weight people I personally don't like or care about.

4. Realizing I still haven't legally changed my name to Mitchell since it means I have to order a birth certificate from California and last time we tried to order anything from the DMV there we lost over $300 in a cashier's check they never found and no one would let us cancel. Wonder if Peanut will ever notice or care that his birth certificate reads like that of your average bastard (ps haven't all of you wanted an excuse to use the word bastard on your blog???).
5. Had my last normal meeting with my cub scouts for this year. Next week is the big combined pack meeting and then they move up to become Bears. We played Ticket to Ride. Sad but excited for them.

6. How many of you can still do this math? Just wondering...

Things I Love About Neil Gaiman...

This is in an effort to rectify the embarrassing previous post where I plugged the recent book I had read/listened to by Neil Gaiman but thought I had already waxed eloquently about him and so neglected to tell you why you should AT THIS MOMENT be stalking him...

1. He's dreamy. He's won Hot Daddy Blogger a couple years running. I'm not usually into the artistic type but his crazy hair and penchant for black shirts leaves me all aflutter.

2. He wrote both The Graveyard Book and Coraline, two scary children's books. He's bringing back the ghost story for kids in a world where we white-wash everything but the violence and sex they see on TV.
3. He raises bees.

4. Wrote a song with Amanda Palmer called "I Google You". Was adorably awkward in posting on his blog that they were dating (about 2/3's of the way down in the post).


5. Does awesome children's picture books. We got Brad (Nate's dad) The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish. I desperately want The Dangerous Alphabet.

6. Works with Black Phoenix Trading Post on jewelry and scents to benefit Alzheimer's research.

7. Wrote Death: The Time of Your Life, one of the few comics I've ever really liked. I love words so comics are hard for me but this one was beautiful. Also wrote The Sandman which I will one day force myself to read, knowing I will love it in the end.
8. Rescued a dog. When he found out the dogs owner considered the dog "a nuisance" he adopted him. Also has several cats.

9. Seems to have good, happy relationships with his daughters (I love a great dad). Also has a son- I'm assuming that's a good relationship too but I've heard about him less. Spoke very respectfully about his ex-wife.

10. Wrote Stardust and several other great novels, audio books, theater pieces, movies scripts and comics. Written about by Tori Amos in numerous songs.

For more information visit his website. Or his children's book website, Mouse Circus.

Favorite Author Fridays - Neil Gaiman

Update: I seriously thought I had already done a Favorite Author Friday about Neil Gaiman!!! Now I feel awful I didn't list his other books I love and go more in-depth about how blasted cool he really is. I will try to rectify this soon.
This week I listened to Neil Gaiman read The Graveyard Book. It was magnificent. Not only was the story beautiful and different but his reading of it was amazing. He did it on his book tour, reading a chapter or so at a time to each different group. PS Isn't he hot!!! I read his blog regularly.
The basic story is that a toddler's family is killed but he ends up safe in a graveyard where its normal inhabitants raise him. It's a children/young adult book but is a little scary which I think kids like more than we often give them credit for. I defiantly recommend it- in fact, go listen right now!!!

This morning as I was thinking about writing this post I heard a song on the radio that had a small part about a graveyard. I thought, that's perfect- I'll include that in my post. Then I looked up the video on youtube and really listened to the words. It is so good and so sad. I already loved Death Cab for Cutie but this made me love them even more! Being from California wild fires are a huge issue every year. Enjoy.

Death Cab for Cutie - Grapevine Fires

This makes me so mad/sad!!!

Visit RinglingBeatsAnimals.com

Why are people so mean to animals?

From the Ringling Bros. Website:

Animal Care FAQ

People often ask, "How do animals live at The Greatest Show On Earth^®?" Here are the answers to frequently asked questions about this all-important subject.

Q: How does Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^®care for its animals?
A: Because animals are an integral part of what we present to our audiences, Ringling Bros.^®Ringling Bros. exceeds all federal animal welfare standards set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Animal Welfare Act. provides the highest standards of care to our animal performers 365 days a year. Our staff consists of animal experts who devote their lives to living, working with and caring for animals. They meet the animals' physical needs with nutritious foods and regular veterinary attention and their mental needs by providing a stimulating environment. In all aspects of animal care and safety,

Q: What are the conditions where the animals live at each arena?
A: We pride ourselves on the level of care and the healthy environment we provide for all our animal performers. In arenas where space permits, our animal facility is outdoors and in the full view of the public. Each animal is groomed daily. The entire stable area, as well as individual animal stalls, is kept clean around the clock. We often provide guided tours of our facility for animal experts and media.

Q: What are the traveling conditions for the animals?
A: Ringling Bros. operates the largest private train network in the United States. Every traveling species has custom-made traveling cars, and our traveling animals are under constant supervision. On longer train rides, the caravan stops at scheduled intervals to provide the animals time to exercise. In the event of an emergency, we have evacuation procedures in place. Our trains and housing facilities are routinely inspected by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and exceed all federal guidelines.

Q: How much time do your animals spend performing?
A: Just an hour or two on performance days. An average day in the life of a Ringling Bros. animal includes feeding, training, rehearsal and play. For the most part, our animals spend more than half of the day eating, sleeping and socializing with other animals.

Q: How are the animals trained to perform their routines?
A: Our expert handlers watch closely as their animals socialize, then create routines based on natural behavior. We use voice recognition and rewards to encourage the animals to learn a set routine. This process ensures that our animals are relaxed when they are displaying their natural behaviors to patrons in an entertaining fashion.

Q: What happens to the animals when they are too old to perform?
A: Of the animals you see performing with Ringling Bros., some belong to us, and others join us for a specific amount of time and are owned by private individuals. When an animal reaches retirement age while living with us, Ringling Bros. finds healthy and stimulating environments that provide excellent care for the remainder of their lives. Our Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation^® is a shining example. Our elephants spend their "golden years" with our herd in Polk County, Florida, under the watchful eye of animal care experts. We also donate retired Ringling Bros. elephants to zoos to help these communities maintain social herds for their existing elephants. As of 2001, retired Ringling Bros. elephants now make their homes at The Phoenix Zoo, The Niabi Zoo and The Little Rock Zoo. Many of our big cats retire to Wildlife on Easy Street, a sanctuary located in Tampa, Florida, that is home to 23 species and subspecies of wild cats.

Q: At what age does a young elephant perform?
A: Calves born under the care of Ringling Bros. remain with their natural mothers until old enough to be properly weaned, usually 2 years. Some youngsters have short tours with the circus, while others may stay at the Center for Elephant Conservation. In either case, young elephants have opportunities for social interaction with other elephants, while developing positive connections with caretakers and handlers that lay the groundwork for performing.

Q: How does Ringling Bros. feel about the regulation of performing animals?
A: We welcome regulation, because it protects the well-being of all animals. There are many federal animal welfare statutes and state and local animal cruelty laws in place to protect performing animals and prosecute those who neglect or mistreat them. As a standard-bearer for the circus industry, Ringling Bros. contributes to the public lawmaking process by sharing our expertise with public officials.

Q: How does Ringling Bros. feel about local legislation banning the use of animal acts in some towns?
A: We believe that these bans are unnecessary and take away a treasured part of the circus experience that patrons tell us they support and love. (Fortunately, such communities are the exception, not the rule.) By banning performing animals, the town is effectively saying that our experts are not fit to handle the animals they have devoted their lives to caring for. We can't say it enough: Ringling Bros. loves animals as much as you do!

Q: What is Ringling Bros. response to a lawsuit filed by four animal special interest groups and a former Ringling Bros. employee?
A: Feld Entertainment, the parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will show during the trial that its Ringling Bros. elephants are healthy and well cared for by a team of full time veterinarians and an animal care staff that works to ensure that the animals have an enriching and safe environment. We also will show that we meet and often exceed federal regulations on the care of our animals and that Ringling Bros. animal management practices are commonly accepted and well-known to the government. In short, Feld Entertainment intends to refute the meritless allegations spread by those who do not own or know how to care for an elephant. To learn more: www.ringlingbrostrialinfo.co

You make everything better...

When the world is conspiring against me I remember John Stewart and how much I love him. Looking forward to being a minority AND a shout out to the Irish!

Oh the Inhumanity!!!!!

I noticed them last night as I was getting ready for bed...red spiderwebs on my ARSE (thanks Whitney)!!!!! As I stared at them in unbelief I made a sound like a cry/scream/woman being strangled. "Why did you not tell me about these?!?", I asked Nate- as I stared at the buckshot resembling marks. "I thought you knew", he replied, "plus what does it matter- I'm the only one that sees them and I don't care". I didn't even bother to reply- it's obvious logic is on my side.

Turn that racket down you D^$& kids!

One way you know you're getting old is an inability to relate to "those kids today". You especially don't get their music and will start referring to it as 'noise' or 'racket' and the kids themselves as 'whippersnappers' etc. All the music from your generation becomes higher quality than anything they put out today.

I didn't realize I had moved into this old man demographic but it is now certain. I heard the Jordin Sparks new song Battlefield and my first thought was how stupid it was and how she was trying to copy, but not getting anywhere close to, Pat Benatar's Love Is A Battlefield.

So here you go so you can make your own comparison and name yourself 'old' or 'hip' (or whatever words those kids use nowadays!).

LAME:

Jordin Sparks Battlefield official music video HQ
Uploaded by GLAMOUR_123 - See the latest featured music videos.

Super Rad!!!
Pat Benatar - Love Is A Battlefield


Come on you know the way to fight dirty pimps is with a dance fight!!!

Pregnancy Milestones III

Oh yes they're coming quickly now. Milestones to mark all the beauty and absurdity of growing a parasite you one day hope will behave rationally and take care of you in your old age.

1. Can always feel at least one part of Peanut through my belly, he's like a hard, constantly moving tumor.
2. Watched Orgasmic Birth. Made Nate watch it too. Great footage of happy births, overuse of the word 'ecstatic'.

3. Attended my first birth class at the hospital. Soon to be parents: there may not be such a thing as a stupid question but there is a stupid time- 2 weeks before your baby is due seems a little late to be learning basic biology. However to be fair, I'm glad you're at least putting in some effort at the end.
4. Have become the "cautionary whale" (name that movie!). Seriously school is about to start and looks of joy and knowing from mothers and grandmothers have been replaced by looks of fear and pity by co-eds. Yes dear, this is what will happen to you if you continue to get smashed every Thursday night at the local bar and go home with anyone. Remember this body when you look at yourself in your bikini this weekend and STAY SOBER!

5. Finally warm regularly. I am no longer freezing while in my office all day. Tragically I am now getting hot very easily when outside.
6. Had numerous dreams where Peanut is born, we play with him and then put him back to finish 'cooking'. Currently jealous of marsupials.

7. Tried on 3 shirts this morning before I found one that didn't show the bottom of my belly.
8. Wearing flip flops to work. At the point where my feet get hot and are swollen by the end of the day if I'm not careful, so have taken to wearing flip flops to the office- just try to say anything about the dress code!

9. Made Amber push me around in a cart at Walmart cause my feet hurt...dared workers to say anything...almost got stuck in the cart when I realized my balance wasn't up to me getting out without over-turning the cart.
10. Can eat sweets again!!! I knew it would eventually happen. Now to convince myself every urge for ice cream doesn't necessarily need to be satisfied...

11. First bouts of acid reflux. Leave room for my stomach, Peanut!...and the ice cream...
12. Took a bath while Nate was gone and then honestly thought I might not be able to get out of the tub without help.

13. Started making family talk to Peanut before they're allowed to get off the phone with me- you can't hang up on a pregnant woman!!!

It's Likely I'm Ridiculous

Every morning that Nate doesn't have to be at work before me he makes me breakfast (I know isn't that cute?). I'm not saying we do anything fancy- breakfast is usually cold cereal in an Eskimo Joe's cup that I can eat while driving. Well this morning I wasn't feeling up to cereal (I didn't grow up a cold cereal fan and it's still a little weird to me) so I asked Nate to make me something different. He decided to make egg on toast. I also got a cup of Ruby Red Grapefruit juice. I know you're saying, "grapefruit juice???? after the hallway incident???" but honestly it was magnificently delicious.

So there I am eating my egg on toast and drinking my grapefruit juice on my way to work when it happens- the yolk leaks all over my shirt and dress. Mind you I am wearing this shirt and dress because I have no other clean clothes that fit my fetus-carrying body. I start to get frustrated. I contemplate turning around and going home to change only to remember two things: 1. I have no other clean clothes that fit; 2. Of the two other people who work in my area one was home sick yesterday and I'm not sure she'll be in today and the other has an early morning meeting so no one else will be in my area of work.

I call Nate and he encourages me to continue onto work and just clean up when I get there. So I continue on.

Then I have to slow rapidly. There are two puppies playing on the highway. One I have seen before (and delivered him back to his home) the other is a little pit bull puppy, probably between 12 and 16 weeks old, I have not seen before. They are playing in the road and they almost get hit multiple times. I get out hoping they will come to me. They do- in fact they love me but I can't seem to get both in my car. I can get one in but when I try to put the other in, the first one gets out. They are both very loving and wet and stinky.

Finally I get the little one in my car and convince the slightly older one to follow me to the house/trailer I believe is theirs. I knock several times but no one is home. I contemplate several options but it's difficult- where I am out in the country there is no dog catcher. Neither close town will take them at their dog catchers. Finally I decide to try and shut the farm gate on these people's driveway hoping it will encourage the puppies to stay in the yard. I do this but while it is obvious they don't close this gate often, it is also obvious the puppies can get through it if they want. However they do seem inclined to stay around the house at least for the moment so I leave them- very torn about what, if anything, I've accomplished.

And so once again I continue onto work. I call my boss to let her know I'll be late. When I get to work I go into the downstairs bathroom to clean up. I am now covered in egg and dog hair, wet, and stinking of wet puppy. Once again I end up standing at the bathroom mirror with my shirt off, trying to wash it in the sink. An older lady comes in. She looks a little concerned they let crazies like me in the building.

I finish washing up the best I can. Now I am wet and smell of dirty puppy and public restroom soap. And I go to work to sit at my desk and write this all down.

What is the moral you ask????

Is it 'get up earlier and eat at home'?
'Stop trying to rescue the puppies of the world; you're not actually making a difference'?
"Sometimes God lets crazy things happen to you to see if you still have a sense of humor'?

NO. I believe it is, 'If L drinks grapefruit juice in the morning she will end up with her top off in the bathroom'.

I hope you've all learned your lesson.

Overwhelmingly Irritated

It all started out as something simple- it was time to buy the new parking permit at work. They don't start selling them until July 20th (and the old ones expire on the 31st) but last year they had a grace period of 15 days if you had the previous years permit still on your car. So I didn't stress much. Plus I was waiting for payday on the 31st to get one.
Anyway so I get online a few days before to make sure all is well and find out I can't buy one online since I have a Bursar balance. That's fine. I make plans to stop by on my way home on Friday night and pick one up, but then Friday night rolls around and we have a thing to go to so I just race home and figure I'll get one sometime on Monday. I park in my normal area on Monday, go to work, work from 730 am to 430 pm and then go to my car. I've gotten a $35 ticket. Seriously???!!! Well, I figure I'll just go get my permit and talk them into lowering my ticket.
I get to the parking office and there am told that I can't buy a permit at all while I have a Bursar balance. Please let me know what having a bursar account and buying a blasted parking permit have to do with each other! I can't even just outright buy a permit with cash or bank card? I have to go through the Bursar? I was starting to get really frustrated at this point. I might have actually said the words, "that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard". The young man told me I just needed to pay my bursar balance. Note: If I had the money to completely pay off my bursar balance wouldn't I have already done it? They also wouldn't do anything about dismissing my ticket until I paid my bill and came back. How I'm going to manage walking to and from way off campus parking to work each day at 8 months pregnant with a pulled tendon in my leg I'm not sure.
My next great idea was to have my sister Amber buy me a permit on her account (she just started working here at the university) but I discovered each employee can only buy one permit. My frustration is over whelming.

The Scientist

...an xkcd comic. Honestly my thought when seeing the lightning strike was to ask why and want to mess with it. I'm such a nerd!

Peanut/Pregnancy Story

OK so I realize I haven't been talking much about pregnancy/Peanut lately. The reason being that everything is going well. I finally have started gaining weight- I'm still under but closer to normal. I haven't been sick (except occasionally). I can feel Peanut daily and while it's sometimes uncomfortable, it hasn't progressed yet to the 'where have all my organs gone' stage. I'm really enjoying pregnancy right now.

That doesn't mean there aren't funny/awkward moments. I continue to wet myself on a regular basis. I have something going on with the tendon that runs on the inside of my right thigh that makes it excruciating to get up/down and begin walking. I am constantly trying to fit in spaces that I forget are now too small for me.

Case in point: While at Frontier City when Amber, Miguel and Wendy were going on Eruption I was trying to get pictures of them. Because of where they were sitting on the ride I had to get behind the entrance line of people. I had to get through a line divider/fence like the one below.
Without thinking I bent over and tried to go through the middle- and literally got stuck for a minute. I forgot my stomach protrudes quite a bit in front of my body and wouldn't fit. Yes, several people in line did notice and yes, I then had to climb over- which was less than graceful.

I won't forget the little people...

Dear Family and Friends,

I'm famous!!! Some of you might have heard of my obsession with a certain country girl named Pioneer Woman. I found her quite a while ago from a food recipe she posted and followed it to her full-fledged site of deliciousness. She was super funny and fun and seemed to understand a little of the crazy feelings I had. Why? Because she has lived in LA and now lives on a ranch in the country! Through reading old blog entries on her site I decided I thought she lived in Oklahoma. She does! And someone Nate knows knows her family (or something like that); she's like the Kevin Bacon of the country world! Plus, she had a way steamy love story of how her an her husband, Marlboro Man, met.

Anyway she recently started a site totally devoted to food called Tasty Kitchen. I joined and have slowly been adding my favorite recipes (ps I unabashedly stole recipes given to me by others that I regularly use). And guess what????? She made one of my recipes!!! It was my Molton Chocolate Cakes recipe I got on my mission. Delicious! I'm so proud. Honestly I felt a little weepy when I first saw it while doing my daily blog check (hey I'm pregnant I'm allowed).

So if you'd like to bask in the glow of my stardom feel free to read up on how Pioneer Woman made Molton Chocolate Cakes. I'll try to answer your calls of congratulation in the order my social secretary gets them to me (ha ha as if I ever answered my phone before I was famous...).