This weekend we had planned to, and did, conquer many of the projects we had set up for the nursery. We (or more accurately M), painted the entire room, I re-purposed the dresser in there and made it appropriate for a changing table (got new drawer knobs and repaired/painted the dresser), I also painted the bookcase in there so that it can now cutely store baby books and stuff. We also managed to squeak in a quick visit to Lullaby Lane's warehouse clearance to see if we could find a dresser and crib (we didn't.)
I must say, it's pretty amazing what a coat of fresh paint does for a room. The nursery now looks much bigger and taller than it did before when it was all white/white. The pale blue walls against the white crown moulding look so great, I now want to paint all of the rooms!
We also ran over to an open house today on a property we thought looked good. It was really cute! We both liked it. But when we came back to our house, I really started thinking.... it's not so bad here. Sure, the temperature control is an issue here. But we have 2 full bedrooms plus a bonus room and a garage that can store much of our extra crap. Would I love a dishwasher? Definitely. Do we need all new windows and window frames? Yes. But, for what we can afford right now, we can't beat our location. We can walk to downtown San Mateo for dinner (or my latest fav, frozen yogurt), Trader Joe's is 1.2 miles away, Draeger's is walking distance as is my gym. And we're equidistant between the City and Palo Alto (for my job) and 6 miles to the airport (for M's job). So honestly, we can't beat it right now. It's cheap, convenient and best of all we're all moved in and settled here.
My folks are really into looking for a house for us right now. This comes second only to their new hobby of buying tons of shit for our son. (I can't emphasize that one enough). But I'm gonna have to break it to them that we aren't interested in moving before M upgrades to Captain unless we find the deal of the century with a location to boot. Unlikely at best.
So until then, we're making this little home cozy for the three of us.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
My car tells me it's hotter than f**k right now!
Given that the INSANE HEAT is all anyone can talk about these days, I might as well post about it too. Holy effin fugnut it's hot here. And today it was a tad cooler than yesterday. Now, my car is black inside and out, so there's that to consider... but when I left the underground parking garage at 1pm today it registered 91 degrees in Palo Alto (after sitting underground in the coolness for 2 hours). By the time I got to Firm B 10 minutes later, it registered 100 degrees.
Honestly, I'd rather see the little snowflake my car bleeps when it hits 32 degrees and hear the friendly little "frost warning" ding-dong than see triple digits like this. Mainly because I know that back at our house it will, undoubtedly, be hotter inside our house that it is outside. Our house is a little greenhouse that cooks all day and becomes unbearable around 6pm when temps are starting to make their way down. And because we don't own this house, all the windows suck and have to be propped up with items 'round the house (like shoeboxes, plastic things, etc) because they don't stay up on their own OR (even better), they don't open at all.
I feel the worst for our cats. On days like these I wish I could shave the poor creatures so they'd be relieved.
Thank god M installed the window-unit AC in the office. At least we all have one teeny tiny little room we can gather in for relief when the house becomes an oven.
Seriously. It's 95 degrees INSIDE OUR HOUSE right now. What the F?!
Honestly, I'd rather see the little snowflake my car bleeps when it hits 32 degrees and hear the friendly little "frost warning" ding-dong than see triple digits like this. Mainly because I know that back at our house it will, undoubtedly, be hotter inside our house that it is outside. Our house is a little greenhouse that cooks all day and becomes unbearable around 6pm when temps are starting to make their way down. And because we don't own this house, all the windows suck and have to be propped up with items 'round the house (like shoeboxes, plastic things, etc) because they don't stay up on their own OR (even better), they don't open at all.
I feel the worst for our cats. On days like these I wish I could shave the poor creatures so they'd be relieved.
Thank god M installed the window-unit AC in the office. At least we all have one teeny tiny little room we can gather in for relief when the house becomes an oven.
Seriously. It's 95 degrees INSIDE OUR HOUSE right now. What the F?!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Week 23: Almost 6 months!
Tomorrow marks the beginning of my 23rd week. I can't believe how fast the weeks are going now. Next week I'll officially be 6 months into this journey. (Well, depending on which reference material you read... I am starting my 6th month now according to What to Expect When You're Expecting. But I go by the old math formula-- 4 weeks in a month)
Anyways. M and I were just saying tonight that we can't believe how each week flies by now. I guess when we're not stressing about every single week and just making it to week 13 (getting out of the first scary/worrisome trimester), or to week 18 (to get the ultrasound) or to week 20 (to hit the halfway point).... it's just easier.
The other corner I'm rounding is public knowledge. Depending on what I wear, it's fairly obvious to most folks (particularly women who have had children) that I am pregnant. Yesterday I walked into a partner's office and the first thing she said was, "I didn't know you were pregnant! Congrats!" (wearing an empire waist dress that IMO is actually kinda flattering, not fattening). But today I walked into another client's office who had no clue. As we were ending our meeting, it came up and she was surprised. But she also does not have kids, as the partner does.
So I think I am still a bit on the cusp. I also think it depends on the time of day. One of these days I will post comparative shots so you can judge for yourself between morning belly and evening belly. Evening belly is definitely unmistakable. Morning belly is like, "uh... kinda ..... you could be, are you?"
I'll let you be the judge of that. For reference and just coolness, this is a depiction of what's going on inside my belly:
For reference, babycenter.org says that during week 23 he will be more than 11 inches long and weigh just over a pound. Cool huh!
Anyways. M and I were just saying tonight that we can't believe how each week flies by now. I guess when we're not stressing about every single week and just making it to week 13 (getting out of the first scary/worrisome trimester), or to week 18 (to get the ultrasound) or to week 20 (to hit the halfway point).... it's just easier.
The other corner I'm rounding is public knowledge. Depending on what I wear, it's fairly obvious to most folks (particularly women who have had children) that I am pregnant. Yesterday I walked into a partner's office and the first thing she said was, "I didn't know you were pregnant! Congrats!" (wearing an empire waist dress that IMO is actually kinda flattering, not fattening). But today I walked into another client's office who had no clue. As we were ending our meeting, it came up and she was surprised. But she also does not have kids, as the partner does.
So I think I am still a bit on the cusp. I also think it depends on the time of day. One of these days I will post comparative shots so you can judge for yourself between morning belly and evening belly. Evening belly is definitely unmistakable. Morning belly is like, "uh... kinda ..... you could be, are you?"
I'll let you be the judge of that. For reference and just coolness, this is a depiction of what's going on inside my belly:
For reference, babycenter.org says that during week 23 he will be more than 11 inches long and weigh just over a pound. Cool huh!ps- In case you are wondering, I am doing better getting over the weight gain part. And because you probably want to know, I've gained 16 lbs. Not terrible for 23 weeks, not at all.
Nights like these
Even though it was hotter than a frying pan in our house when I got home from work 'round 6-ish, I do like nights like these out and about. Because it was 85 degrees inside our house at dinnertime, the power was out and I had a super long day on my tired dogs, we decided to eat in downtown SM outside to beat the heat. Apparently everyone had the same idea. We walked downtown and found everyone eating al fresco at fabulous street-side cafes and restaurants on our way to the little Thai joint we like.
In passing, I thought, "I'd love to sit there at the Italian bistro and enjoy a cold glass of Pinot Grigio..." which is why I kept walking to the Thai place. It's too hard to enjoy a hot summer night at a cool Italian cafe with no wine. But M and I were perfectly happy with our meal of spicy clear glass noodle salad and basil beef with fresh spring rolls. A perfect meal for the night.
On our way home, we both commented on how we miss nights like these. It reminded us of summer nights in Sacramento where you could go to dinner at 8pm and it's still light, everyone is wearing flip flops and shorts/sundresses and not the normal Bay Area casual evening wear consisting of windbreakers/parkas and Uggs. (winter's version of flip fops).
So, even though I couldn't enjoy a refreshing glass of sparkling wine or a cool white wine over dinner with M, I did reminisce about nights like these of yore (if you will).
Cheers! If you had a brown out in your area too this evening, I hope you enjoyed it!
In passing, I thought, "I'd love to sit there at the Italian bistro and enjoy a cold glass of Pinot Grigio..." which is why I kept walking to the Thai place. It's too hard to enjoy a hot summer night at a cool Italian cafe with no wine. But M and I were perfectly happy with our meal of spicy clear glass noodle salad and basil beef with fresh spring rolls. A perfect meal for the night.
On our way home, we both commented on how we miss nights like these. It reminded us of summer nights in Sacramento where you could go to dinner at 8pm and it's still light, everyone is wearing flip flops and shorts/sundresses and not the normal Bay Area casual evening wear consisting of windbreakers/parkas and Uggs. (winter's version of flip fops).
So, even though I couldn't enjoy a refreshing glass of sparkling wine or a cool white wine over dinner with M, I did reminisce about nights like these of yore (if you will).
Cheers! If you had a brown out in your area too this evening, I hope you enjoyed it!
Monday, May 12, 2008
PHSPCA, not so humane to humans
One other thing we did this weekend was attend our volunteer orientation at the Peninsula Humane Society. I had the urge to volunteer here about a month ago and this was the first available orientation.
Let me just say, while they are great to the animals... to the volunteers? Not so much.
M and I showed up at the prescribed time expecting to complete our orientation in the 2 hours they indicated. We enjoyed the tour of the facilities, talked with the other volunteers, thought carefully about which volunteer positions we each wanted to do. But as the time started to run on and on and on... I started getting nervous. For a couple reasons, [1] We were hosting a BBQ at our house at 2pm, 90 mins after the orientation was set to end. Keep in mind we were still in our stinky gym clothes having gone straight from the gym in the morning to the orientation. We needed to shower and get the house/food in order for the BBQ. [2] I was STARVING like no other. I am pregnant, obviously, and need to eat regularly to avoid all kinds of nasty. I ate breakfast at 830am and worked out and it's now 1230pm and counting....
So when the group orientation breaks and we are supposed to watch a video, a woman raises her hand and tells the Volunteer Manager (basically HR for volunteers here) that she has a 1:30pm class in Palo Alto and given that we have to watch a 10 minute video and then do individual interviews after (there are about 35 people here), she wanted to know if she could skip the video and do her interview.
Then all hell breaks loose.
I am thinking the same thing. We need to get outta here because of the 2 aforementioned reasons and now I have a headache because I am STARVING and I have to pee so bad I want to rip the HR manager's head off.
About 4 of us go outside to discuss this issue with him and his helper in private. He proceeds to tell me that we have to watch this video and that we cannot do our individual interviews until after. Then each person launches into the committments we have, how we stayed here for now 2 hrs and 15 minutes and we gotta go! HR Manager is an asshole and doesn't give a shit though. When I finally get a chance to state my case I say, "We have been here for the 2 hours you said it would take. Is there any way we can do the interview over the phone during the week?" He says NO. "Is there any way we can do something over email?" He says NO. "Is there anything you can do to accomodate us? I mean, we came and stayed for the 2 hours and it seems a waste to make us come back and do the whole thing over in another month because we can't watch the video and wait to do all the interviews." He says NO.
D-I-C-K-H-E-A-D.
As soon as he says he can't accomodate us, the other woman still standing there with me spins off and leaves in a huff, saying "I just want to foster cats in my home. But I stayed here the whole time and now I GOTTA GO."
He runs off after her telling his assistant to just do our interview. However, in the process asks me "Well, where do YOU have to go and what time do you need to be THERE?" (tone is angry and condescending). I said, "we have another committment for which we have to get ready. I cannot stay here until 2pm to do all this stuff!"
Ok, let me just say this: If you, HR Manager, are going to get and keep volunteers here are things you should NOT DO:
1. Yell at your volunteers at their orientation
2. Tell them there is NOTHING you can do to accomodate their request even though they stayed as long as you asked them to (and longer)
3. Badger them into telling you what their next committment is and make them feel like no matter what it is, it can't possibly be as important as watching your STUPID ASS video
4. Tell them during the orientation that you regularly have to fire volunteers
5. Yell at your volunteers after orientation!
I cannot believe how poorly we were all treated. M was in the video room with the others when all of this went down, but when I relayed the story to him on the way home, he was outraged. First, during orientation the HR manager tells us that if we can't do the time committment or if we don't show up/call twice, we will be fired.
Ok, WTF? We'll be fired from volunteering??!
Then after he yells at me because I can't stay for another 45 mins for a fucking video and interviews, he freaks out and stomps off.
After much discussion at home, M and I decided to NOT volunteer at this organization. It sucks that we can't devote time to the animals like we wanted to and I hate SO much that we aren't going to help animals because of this asshole. But there are many other worthy organizations in the Bay Area who would gladly take our help without making us feel like pieces of shit.
Not to mention the fact that the PH SPCA requires a 1 year committment at 16 hours a month. Um, sorry. I actually have a life, a job and a baby on the way. I can't take another part time job right now from which I'll probably get fired because I have plans most Saturdays through July.
So, Brian Probst at the PH SPCA: f-you very much. You just lost your organization 2 very good volunteers. And until your organization finds themselves a new Volunteer Manager, we won't be coming back.
That is all.
Let me just say, while they are great to the animals... to the volunteers? Not so much.
M and I showed up at the prescribed time expecting to complete our orientation in the 2 hours they indicated. We enjoyed the tour of the facilities, talked with the other volunteers, thought carefully about which volunteer positions we each wanted to do. But as the time started to run on and on and on... I started getting nervous. For a couple reasons, [1] We were hosting a BBQ at our house at 2pm, 90 mins after the orientation was set to end. Keep in mind we were still in our stinky gym clothes having gone straight from the gym in the morning to the orientation. We needed to shower and get the house/food in order for the BBQ. [2] I was STARVING like no other. I am pregnant, obviously, and need to eat regularly to avoid all kinds of nasty. I ate breakfast at 830am and worked out and it's now 1230pm and counting....
So when the group orientation breaks and we are supposed to watch a video, a woman raises her hand and tells the Volunteer Manager (basically HR for volunteers here) that she has a 1:30pm class in Palo Alto and given that we have to watch a 10 minute video and then do individual interviews after (there are about 35 people here), she wanted to know if she could skip the video and do her interview.
Then all hell breaks loose.
I am thinking the same thing. We need to get outta here because of the 2 aforementioned reasons and now I have a headache because I am STARVING and I have to pee so bad I want to rip the HR manager's head off.
About 4 of us go outside to discuss this issue with him and his helper in private. He proceeds to tell me that we have to watch this video and that we cannot do our individual interviews until after. Then each person launches into the committments we have, how we stayed here for now 2 hrs and 15 minutes and we gotta go! HR Manager is an asshole and doesn't give a shit though. When I finally get a chance to state my case I say, "We have been here for the 2 hours you said it would take. Is there any way we can do the interview over the phone during the week?" He says NO. "Is there any way we can do something over email?" He says NO. "Is there anything you can do to accomodate us? I mean, we came and stayed for the 2 hours and it seems a waste to make us come back and do the whole thing over in another month because we can't watch the video and wait to do all the interviews." He says NO.
D-I-C-K-H-E-A-D.
As soon as he says he can't accomodate us, the other woman still standing there with me spins off and leaves in a huff, saying "I just want to foster cats in my home. But I stayed here the whole time and now I GOTTA GO."
He runs off after her telling his assistant to just do our interview. However, in the process asks me "Well, where do YOU have to go and what time do you need to be THERE?" (tone is angry and condescending). I said, "we have another committment for which we have to get ready. I cannot stay here until 2pm to do all this stuff!"
Ok, let me just say this: If you, HR Manager, are going to get and keep volunteers here are things you should NOT DO:
1. Yell at your volunteers at their orientation
2. Tell them there is NOTHING you can do to accomodate their request even though they stayed as long as you asked them to (and longer)
3. Badger them into telling you what their next committment is and make them feel like no matter what it is, it can't possibly be as important as watching your STUPID ASS video
4. Tell them during the orientation that you regularly have to fire volunteers
5. Yell at your volunteers after orientation!
I cannot believe how poorly we were all treated. M was in the video room with the others when all of this went down, but when I relayed the story to him on the way home, he was outraged. First, during orientation the HR manager tells us that if we can't do the time committment or if we don't show up/call twice, we will be fired.
Ok, WTF? We'll be fired from volunteering??!
Then after he yells at me because I can't stay for another 45 mins for a fucking video and interviews, he freaks out and stomps off.
After much discussion at home, M and I decided to NOT volunteer at this organization. It sucks that we can't devote time to the animals like we wanted to and I hate SO much that we aren't going to help animals because of this asshole. But there are many other worthy organizations in the Bay Area who would gladly take our help without making us feel like pieces of shit.
Not to mention the fact that the PH SPCA requires a 1 year committment at 16 hours a month. Um, sorry. I actually have a life, a job and a baby on the way. I can't take another part time job right now from which I'll probably get fired because I have plans most Saturdays through July.
So, Brian Probst at the PH SPCA: f-you very much. You just lost your organization 2 very good volunteers. And until your organization finds themselves a new Volunteer Manager, we won't be coming back.
That is all.
The Domino Effect
DJC and Wintermute sound like they had a fabulous Sunday of strolling through shops, leisurely eating pastries, and enjoying the sights and sounds of a cafe. We had a great Sunday too, but of a different order. We started with a yummy breakfast at Hobees's, who happens to serve the best coffeecake in California (IMHO). Then meandered through Home Depot looking for a good paint color for the nursery and organizational shelving for the mudroom/laundry room. (Why we didn't do this 2 years ago when we moved in is beyond me!). Then we moseyed through Bed Bath & Beyond looking for curtains & rods for baby's nursery (that room gets insanely bright in the morning, so I luckily located some blackout curtains. Ya know, the hotel kind). Then we ran across an awesome consignment furniture store and found a couch we must have. This place was awesome because most of their furniture is actually new! So no gross factor, don't worry. We originally went in there looking for a new desk, but found a highboy that might work for the nursery and a couch I am trying to convince M we gotta buy. :-)
We finally made it home with all good intentions of getting started on trying the paint color and clearing crap out of that room... to no avail. The nap urge took over both of us (sometimes I swear M is pregnant too--napping, eating in the middle of the night, etc) and we crashed.
But we did manage to try out the paint color (too bright, going back to lighten it), clear out the dresser in there we're getting rid of, and re-organizing M's closet. We also managed to add about 3 more projects to our list before the baby comes though.... hmm. We'll see how that works out.
I am hoping to get it all done though. Since we've officially decided to stay in our current rental rather than try to buy a house right now in a big rush before the boy arrives, we are trying to make this place as livable as possible. Which includes getting rid of a bunch of furniture and consolidating down into pieces that are functional and efficient. Sounds like a lot of work....
It's bizarre how adjusting one room really affects all the others. But in a house as small as ours, every little thing needs a home or needs to be tossed/donated. So in the course of a day we decided we need a new bed for ourselves, a new couch (and sell the old 2 we have), reupholster 2 chairs we are going to move into the living room, get a new desk (and get the old one hauled away), in addition to the nursery furniture. It really is an Domino Effect.
We finally made it home with all good intentions of getting started on trying the paint color and clearing crap out of that room... to no avail. The nap urge took over both of us (sometimes I swear M is pregnant too--napping, eating in the middle of the night, etc) and we crashed.
But we did manage to try out the paint color (too bright, going back to lighten it), clear out the dresser in there we're getting rid of, and re-organizing M's closet. We also managed to add about 3 more projects to our list before the baby comes though.... hmm. We'll see how that works out.
I am hoping to get it all done though. Since we've officially decided to stay in our current rental rather than try to buy a house right now in a big rush before the boy arrives, we are trying to make this place as livable as possible. Which includes getting rid of a bunch of furniture and consolidating down into pieces that are functional and efficient. Sounds like a lot of work....
It's bizarre how adjusting one room really affects all the others. But in a house as small as ours, every little thing needs a home or needs to be tossed/donated. So in the course of a day we decided we need a new bed for ourselves, a new couch (and sell the old 2 we have), reupholster 2 chairs we are going to move into the living room, get a new desk (and get the old one hauled away), in addition to the nursery furniture. It really is an Domino Effect.
The Gathering: Don't bother
Wow. This book is a major dud. Like I've said before, I always give books 100 pages to get me in and did the same with this one, a book club selection that my fellow book clubbers told me suh-ucked. And boy were they right.
At first I thought it was the author's odd style of bouncing back and forth (without notice, rhyme or apparent reason) between her childhood memories and the present. Between her live brother and dead brother (same guy). But it went on like that in a rambling, nonsensical way for 100 pages--or rather the whole thing--and I couldn't take it anymore. I skimmed the last 10 pages of my 100 goal looking for any change in dialogue or prose and found none.
So, if you like rambling nothingness, then I'd recommend this book. If you prefer books with a discernible point, a plot, some characters you can grab onto, aka anything resembling a normal novel, then this isn't the book for you. (or me).
At first I thought it was the author's odd style of bouncing back and forth (without notice, rhyme or apparent reason) between her childhood memories and the present. Between her live brother and dead brother (same guy). But it went on like that in a rambling, nonsensical way for 100 pages--or rather the whole thing--and I couldn't take it anymore. I skimmed the last 10 pages of my 100 goal looking for any change in dialogue or prose and found none.
So, if you like rambling nothingness, then I'd recommend this book. If you prefer books with a discernible point, a plot, some characters you can grab onto, aka anything resembling a normal novel, then this isn't the book for you. (or me).
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Week 21+: He kicks!
I've been waiting for weeks to feel our son move or do anything that resembles fetal movement. Partly because I've been feeling like a beached whale and it'd be nice to have something to think about other than that fact. Partly because most all of my currently-pregnant friends had felt their babies move by now. I don't know, just because I wanted him to move! And while he had been moving on occasion, we really had to lie there quietly and concentrate for a few minutes, waiting for him to move. M finally felt him move for the first time while we were in Maui, so cool!
Today, all of a sudden, he decided to have a little party in there. All during my client appointments he was be-bopping the day away, a little kick here, a little bump there. It was awesome! He really got the party started after lunch. I love it!
M's not here to take the bump picture, so I'll post something this weekend. But I am quite certain it's noticeable now. Sure, some folks still think I just look "thicker" as one (gay male) client said today. (you'd think he would have been a little more sensitive, huh?) But at the right angle and in the right clothes, it's quite clear to the non-idiots of the world that I'm pregnant. Yay!
So things are getting really fun now.
Today, all of a sudden, he decided to have a little party in there. All during my client appointments he was be-bopping the day away, a little kick here, a little bump there. It was awesome! He really got the party started after lunch. I love it!
M's not here to take the bump picture, so I'll post something this weekend. But I am quite certain it's noticeable now. Sure, some folks still think I just look "thicker" as one (gay male) client said today. (you'd think he would have been a little more sensitive, huh?) But at the right angle and in the right clothes, it's quite clear to the non-idiots of the world that I'm pregnant. Yay!
So things are getting really fun now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
