Sunday, June 28, 2009

Is Chivalry Dead?

I am not one of those hard hitting "open the door for me because I am woman" types, but there are some things that should not have gone out of style.

I don't mind standing in church. Especially if its my own fault. But days like today make me wonder what would have happened if some nice able-bodied male would have let me sit down.

Some background facts:
1. I have never dealt well with heat and humidity and used to pass out in church all the time when I was young.
2. Yes, I am "with child" but currently look more chubby than preggo.
3. I was late to mass and not remotely surprised that I would have to stand.

But, had someone taken pity on me I may not have had to stagger out of the sanctuary TWICE before I finally gave up and went home. Not only that...but no one even thought to ask if I was okay. Sigh.

I think the only thing that kept me from passing out was the fact that I didn't want to be lumped with the little old lady crowd. It seems that they are always the ones being hoisted out of the pews and carried off to make sure they are okay. So far...since I have been there at least....they have. That and I didn't want to wake up in the ER with an ambulance bill looking me in the eye.

Oh well. Live and learn. Maybe next time I will take one of those little personal fans with me. I think I have one shaped like Winnie the Pooh.

Have a great week all! Most of us get Friday off! Yay!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Summer

There is something to be said about the magic of summer. Nothing in my world actually changes (except the electric bill...thank-you Charlotte humidity). I still go to work during the week, still walk the pup in the evening etc etc, but there is just something about it.

I LOVE chilling out with friends outside. Tonight we went to hear some live music and chat with some friends. It was awesome (and I got a yummy Five Guys grilled cheese!). It reminded me so much of those lazy summers that actually did mean a change of schedule and a bit more chill time. Too bad we can't take summers off from work!

It is amazing to me how our senses can transport us to a totally different place and time. Sometimes its a smell, a song or a taste that rockets us into childhood playing kickball at the neighborhood rec field.

My favorite example is green Kool-Aide. Every time I drink it or think about it I go back to picnics at my grandma's house. Everyone got together for whatever random summer holiday was going on and we had a picnic. Grilled fish or hamburgers, sliced cucumbers, watermelon, potato salad and green Kool-Aide (the real stuff with sugar). I doubt that anyone else in my family can even relate these events to a beverage...but I do every time. To me, that is the traditional American family summer.

Now obviously that is a smidge on the egocentric side...cause that is my upbringing, but I loved it. I have a clear image of the yard, the tree (that Pap tried to kill), the picnic table that could flip over if the weight ratio wasn't quite right, Grammy's clothes line, Prince's dog house the croquet set ready for the Kearney rules....as if I was standing in the yard right now. Everyone is there too, performing their duties (Aunt Linda was always the creator of the green Kool-Aide).

Amazing. All that from Kool-Aide. It brings me happiness, peace and a little twinge of...gee I wish I could be there and then right now. I would take Dave back with me...maybe we could get him to like potato salad if we start him young. =)

Anyway...raise a glass of your favorite childhood beverage and remember the good ole' days when summer was 3 months of pure randomness!

Cheers!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Puppies

I have become one of those pet owners. Yes, I do think my dog is the cutest ever. And yes, I do find it necessary to tell everyone about him.

Cute/funny/bizarre stuff GZ has done recently:

1. I bought some pretty sweet shoes for an even sweeter price recently. Sadly they are a little rough on the heels. But no worries. GZ thinks it's a fun game to sneak up on me at the end of the day and steal the bandaids off my feet.

2. Our daily walk is a 2 mile loop around the neighborhood. Typically he trots around with his tag wagging and plops down in random patches of clover for breaks. However, Monday was a little hotter than usual and as we were rounding the 1/4 mile mark he sat down, looked at me, turned around and started trotting back home. Okay then...so much for that walk.

3. Today he woke us up at 400am to pee...oh wait...that wasn't cute.

4. This isn't new...but is bizarre. If Dave lies on the floor to play with him, GZ will literally lick his face for 15 minutes strait. He has this little determined face that goes with the ritual. He even does the shaved part of the back of Dave's head. Odd really.

5. He is terrified of the marble in front of the fireplace. If one of his toys lands there he stretches out as far as possible (pretty far considering) and tries to nip it. If he can't reach he sits there and cries until one of us rescues it.

6. His best doggie friend is Juno. If we accidentally tie both of them out without letting them sniff GZ will bark at the end of his rope and Juno will whine at the end of his. The sit in their respective yards yearning for a longer leash.

Okay...that's all. At some point I'll figure out how to upload pics.

Bye bye
Jess

Monday, June 15, 2009

Blog Hiatus

It seems that with all of the things that require my attention for update, my poor little blog has gone by the wayside. Too bad because this is my favorite of the social networking entities.

So...where to start...I guess with the obvious topic...pregnancy.

I am thinking this will be an ongoing segment because from what I understand, this is a 10 month commitment (that's right kids 40 weeks...that 9 month thing is a myth to lure you into conception). For now it has been mostly fun with periods of panic, dismay and utter exhaustion. For your chuckling pleasure I have made up a top 10 list...

Carefully Guarded Secrets of the First 16 Weeks

1. This one is pretty common...but for those out there that were unaware....MORNING Sickness. Ha! Morning Sickness would be a blessing. No no ladies, it is all day with no warning sickness. Sitting at your desk at work, still haven't told anyone so playing it cool, all of a sudden someone walks past your office with, what would normally be a yummy smelling PopTart, and BAM...you are scurrying down the hall.

***Jess's magic cure: Jolly Ranchers!***

2. Pants. Who needs them. Unless you are blessed with the cutesie basketball pregnancy you can kiss your favorite dress pants good-bye after week 14 (or if you are super stubborn...go ahead and wiggle into them at week 17...but don't expect to sit down at work).

***Jess's current number of buttons that have been "moved": 6**** (PS...yes I did buy 3 new pair of maternity pants...but am still convinced that I am forced to wear them before my time).

3. Dreams. Holy crap! This one I read about...but I repeat...Holy Crap! You go from terrible dreams of being left alone on a deserted island with no Jolly Ranchers in the first Tri to well...lets just say that there is a whole industry related to the ones you get in the Second.

***Jess has no words for this one...just don't forget to wake up...and don't be mad at your mate for your hormone's featured presentation.***

4. Hunger. Second breakfast. Need I say more?

***Cravings of interest: Pad Thai, Open Faced Turkey Sandwich, McDonalds Fish Sandwich and Egg and Cheese Biscuits*** (any wonder about those buttons?)

5. Potty breaks. My sincere apologies for harassing my dear friends that had to pee more that 3 times per day...cause I am begging to be cathed! Please...give me a bag that I can carry around and not trot down the hall 800 times/day! Please!!

***Of note....B vitamins (the bulk of your prenatals) make your pee a pretty color and icky smell.***

6. THAR SHE BLOWS!!! If society is so focused on women not tooting and burping in public they would make men have the babies. Yikes.

***Foods to be wary of...Broccoli. Soooo yummy....sooo volatile!***

7. Bipolar...has nothing on me! Yep, its true, you can go from happily sitting at your desk to wanting all of a sudden to kill the next person that has the audacity to exist. Weird really. I had a mirror in my desk drawer to make sure that the crazed look I was feeling wasn't actually making its way out.

***Jess's tip: Remember that not killing your mate thing.***

8. Exhaustion. I am too tired to write on this one. Seriously though, for someone like me that used to survive on very little sleep quite well...this is ridiculous. I am talking 10 hours/night. Who has time for that??

***Jess's tip: After much research and personal interviews. One caffeinated beverage/day seems to be pretty Kosher...though talk to you MD in case you are Special.***

9. Swelling. Maybe its just me...but my feet really swell up at the end of the day. Now, true, they used to do that anyway, but good grief! This is supposed to be a 3rd trimester thing.

***Jess's tip: screw fashion, go for comfy!***

10. Fitness. Eep. Go from 5K to barely being able to walk around the 2 mile loop in your neighborhood. Okay...this was my fault...I was a smidge terrified the first few weeks so I crawled in my little bubble and hid...but MAN is it hard to get back into it. My dog (with the 2.5 inch legs) can totally out trot me on walks.

***Jess's tip: Keep up your normal routine unless the doc says no!!***

11. Okay...this is a top 11 list...Memory. I used to pride myself on my ability to multitask and remember stuff. Oh no my friends. If you would believe it, I now rely on Dave's memory. Baby Brain is not a myth!

***Jess's tip: WRITE IT DOWN!! Otherwise consider it gone.***

That's all.

Toodles.