Thursday, September 28, 2006

I have just learned that Senator Frist will be bringing CIANA (the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act) to a vote for cloture TOMORROW. A vote in favor of cloture will then open the door for the Senate to actually vote on CIANA before the end of session. CIANA was just passed by the House and 1.) makes it illegal to transport a minor across state lines for an abortion if she has not already complied with her home state's parental involvement law and 2.) institutes a 24 hour waiting period after her parent/s are notified before she can have an abortion.

New York does not currently require parental involvement, but the passage of CIANA would force us to comply with another state's law!

We need to call Senators Clinton and Schumer and tell them to vote NO to cloture on CIANA TODAY.

Senator Schumer's office:
202-224-6542
Online comment form: http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/contact/webform.cfm

Senator Clinton's office:
202-224-4451
Online comment form: http://clinton.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm

If you don't live in New York, call your Senators anyway!
Alvin, we hardly knew ye.

When I got home last night, poor little Alvin was curled up in the trap...peacefully snoozing. Only he was dead. I think the cat probably scared him to death, saving him from a far crueler fate.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

I've lost another 1.25 pounds! And I am starting lunchtime walking today.

Miss Eva did more heart taking last night. She now has officially wrapped redhead R. and her partner J. around that little finger...She was standing next to me on their couch lecturing one of their dogs, with shaking finger and everything. Hilarious. It was nice to relax and drink wine (we were smart and walked over to their house) and eat and sit by their fire. Especially since I've been kind of jumpy at home lately, ever since Chip or Dale or Alvin or Simon or Theodore made his way into the house on Saturday. Cute animals in the house freak my shit out. And make me scream. Which makes the baby cry. So we were very excited yesterday morning when Alvin made his way into the Havaheart trap during Miss Eva's breakfast. But here's the thing. I don't have a heart. I think letting him go away from the house is just inviting more visitors. It's not rational, I know, but in mind, killing him will send a message to the other vermin. But my vermin killing man is away. He usually uses a pellet gun to end the verminy life quickly. So since yesterday morning he's been sitting in the trap on the porch. And even worse, the neighbor's cat has been sitting next to the trap. Waiting. I've tried to go out and get Charlie to stay, so I can release Alvin for an afternoon snack, but the cat takes off when I open the door.

Oh the drama!

Monday, September 25, 2006


For some reason, blurry and squiny seem to sum up the Junior Miss as of late. She's constantly in motion, and the last few days has been sticking her booty out when she's standing, which I think is an attempt to balance, as opposed to an attempt to poop.

Things I forgot to tell Bill when we talked on Saturday:

1. The fence. The new neighbors have erected a six foot fence around their whole property. S., who lives on the other side said to me: "It feels like a judgement." Actually, it feels like a gardening opportunity.

2. The Howard Update. I meant to tell all the new Howard Stern news. Because we love us some Howard. shut up. I know it's wrong.

3. The wood. He probably thinks there still two HUGE piles out in front of the house. Now there's only one thanks to the Dad and the Suzy.

I did remember lots of I love yous. But now I miss him, and I didn't really before.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

The Money Tree

A few years ago I was heavily in debt and this was a constant source of stress for me, as it is for many people, of course. I spent $7 a month on caller id so I could see if the ringing phone was a friend or a bill collector. My student loans were adding up to about $700 a month, my rent was almost half my take home pay, my credit card debt was holding firm and never going down, because I could pay only the minimum amount, my car insurance was costing me more each month than my car payments because I was parking in a public lot in an "Urban" area, and I never had enough money. I was stressed opening the mail.

And then....I moved. I left the SLC, and got two months worth of unused vacation time paid to me. I was able to pay off my credit card. Then I consolidated my loans and started paying $140 a month instead of $700. Then my car was paid for and moving to a place with a driveway decreased my car insurance by an insane amount. And soon, even with the neary 20k pay cut I took when I moved I had more disposable income than ever before. I actually was able to take control over my money. And it has been incredibly freeing. And somewhere along the line something incredible started happening: whenever I needed more money, something would happen that would get me the money I needed. Bill would get a $250 tip. Someone would send us a gift of money. I would receive a long awaited travel reimbursement check. So now when I need money, I just sort of ask the universe for it. And it comes, in one way or another.

And it just happened again. I was stressing about our school taxes and was going to need to take money from savings to pay them. (It sucks to own two properties in september!!) At the last minute yesterday I decided against going to the bank to make the transfer. Instead I went to the Post Office. Where there was a package waiting for me filled with things for Eva (and for her cousin Amy, since some if it was too small.) And at the bottom of the package was a card. And in the card? Just about enough to cover the school tax. It was sent by a couple I have NEVER met, old friends of my mother-in-law.

It's not that I never had gifts or small windfalls before I got my financial house in order....it just was that everything was so confused and overdue that a few hundred bucks wouldn't really make a difference. But now, when money comes in, I know exactly where it should go for the most benefit.

So thanks, Universe and Mr and Mrs F. My ulcer has now shrunk back to normal size!

And also...I lost a pound and a half in the last week!

Monday, September 18, 2006

Welcome new cousin Amy Lynne! The latest addition to the family was born around 11 on Friday night and weighs 9lbs 12oz and is 21 inches long!

We had a great visit with the Aunt and Uncle Js, bought mums, got some exercise, roasted a turkey breast and finally found a more ideal living room arrangement. Now that's progress!

Friday, September 15, 2006

First of all, I've put myself on a diet. The other day i was looking for a co-worker in the clinic and she wasn't around, so I fell to temptation and hopped on the scale. Oh my. My post partum weight lost has stalled at just under 160 pounds. And for my height this makes me overweight (my BMI is 25.5) Not much overweight, but enough. I'd love to weigh just about 30 pounds less than I do. So I am trying to eat under 1500 calories a day, because to be honest I am totally sedentary and never exercise. Ever. I avoid going upstairs in my house, fergodsake. So there you have it. My goal is to lose the weight in six months. Which is kind of silly, because I think I might like to be getting knocked up again in six months. But whatever. I did not need to gain 60 pounds with Eva.

Other than that, this morning my family was happy with people other than me...E. was content to sit on the lap of visiting Aunt Janet while Momo has attached himself to my brother, Mike. (Yes, I know his name is Jon, but my pal Z once thought it was Mike, so now and again I call him that.) The dog gave me a look like I was cat poop. Does he not realize that he's been sleeping on the bed since Bill left?

Thursday, September 14, 2006

As I am sure you all have seen, my "boss'" (not really, but she's the head of the amazing organization for which I work...) mom died. I had the pleasure of meeting Ann Richards just once, when I worked at SafePlace, but in that one encounter I was struck by her energy and power. And her sense of humor. When she was introduced, the board member doing the talking included in his intro a reference to a famed Austin strip club, and she laughed louder than anyone. She was also one of those folks who are shockingly smaller than they appear on tv...but for a little white-haired lady with drawn-on eyebrows, she sure managed to make a big impact. After I met her that once, I started seeing her EVERYWHERE, including at the movies. She just seemed so real to me...a rarity for a politician. Anyway, this is just to say that I am sorry for our loss, the Richards' loss, and, of course, Texas' loss.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Today I am playing my second favorite game: "Tooth ache or sinus headache?" It is second, because my number one favorite is "Manure or dirty diaper?" I am leaning twoard sinus headache because Miss E has a cold and is coughing and dripping green....yum. Nevermind, she spent all night in her crib...I heard her cry a few times in the night but she settled herself down, which means the "No Cry Sleep Solution" is really working.

We voted last night, and made an amazing discover. In my county, the CORONER is elected. I find this fascinating, and apparently there's only one dem running, because I did not have to make a difficult choice (between like five people!) as the Republicans did. But doesn't that seem fucked up? I would think Coroner is the kind of job you work your way up to, and like, EARN through your work, not via the whims of uninformed voters like me! How the hell do I know who has more experience sawing open skulls and cracking apart rib cages? How do I know that Candidate Number One's experience doesn't consist of repeats of Quincy MD and a newfound love of CSI: Miami? My coworker tells me she thinks the candidates all work in Funeral Homes. But how is THAT a qualification? Just because you can bury 'em doesn't mean that you can tell the cause of death! Or has my tv viewing led to a complete misunderstanding of what it is the coroner actually does? I am currently shocked and appalled. And I am sure some research into this would quell my fears, but to be honest, it's more fun to be shocked and appalled.

Speaking of shocking and appalling. I am a bad mother. I took my eight month old to a bar. Now, I have taken her there before, but we were eating dinner those times so that seems different. This time I went with the sole purpose of having a beer. And also saying happy birthday to Eva's not so secret admirer, S.. And everyone else was having dinner, but I could only stay for forty five minutes because I am not such a bad mom that I would delay baby bedtime for beer drinking. And I didn't even finish it. But still. What kind of person brings a baby to a bar? Even if that bar's big screen television was playing some infomercial on finding Jesus. And even if baby got to see a Book Club Auntie!

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

So cold in the house last night! But under two blankets and in a blanket sleeper, Miss E still made it til 4:45 in her crib...I actually really love the early morning snuggle time we've been having, though it leaves me stiff and sore from staying in one position for a long time.

My sister-in-law is now three days past her due date. Her babe is estimated between 9 and 10 lbs. (gotta love the S family jeans!) Her doc told her all along that because of her age he would induce if there were any issues, but he has been so impressed with her healthiness (she has only gained about 10 pounds total, because she actually lost weight in the beginning, and she looks smaller than I have ever seen her, with the exception of the bump!) But, she did have an appointment this morning, and I expect she probably being induced right now, though I won't know it til I get home. Anyway, please think of L and her future rugby player Amy/Jack!

Monday, September 11, 2006


What a lovely weekend! Eva and I met my mom at our motel in Williamstown in the early afternoon, after a long ride in her big girl car seat....no more infant seat, she's on the verge of being too long for it, though by weight she's still ok. Then we had lunch and off to the Clark, where she expressed her feelings about the Impressionists, and stared down one of the Degas ballerina sculptures. After that we relaxed in the Adirondack chairs by the brook before dinner, where Eva continued to make friends and influence people.

The next morning we headed in North Adams where we stumbled upon Natural Bridge State Park, being early for Mass MOCA. Both the mama and the grandma had some height issues, but mama chalked it up to not being able to see her feet for the baby bjorn. (The picture of the aqueduct looking thng below is from there.) Then it was off to Mass MOCA, which I loved, Eva seemed to like, and my mom liked some of...(the reverse was true of the Clark...) My mom and I shared a favorite few pieces there....they were in the "Ahistoric Occasion" show, and the works we liked best (though I was really interested in everything in that exhibit) were by Dario Robleto. he's doing things like recreating the boots of a civil war veteran using melted down records of spirituals, letters from a soldier, bonemeal, herbs and a million other things that have significance to the image he is creating...very cool.

In the afternoon we ate ice cream, the power went out and Eva made more friends over Thai food.

Yesterday morning we drove up to Bennington, where I snapped a picture of the monument (below) and grandma got sleepy Eva in her sling.

This morning Eva was too cold to sleep in her own room...so we snuggled up around three and were soooooooo cozy! I refuse to turn the heat on this early!

Thursday, September 07, 2006

It's a yeast thing, and boy, is she miserable. We saw the doc that was the main reason we initially called this practice, but since he had no openings we went with Dr. C, whom we love, of course. I enjoyed this Dr.B, but I like Dr. C better. Anyway, he prescribed nystatin cream for her girly bits and suggested she eat yogurt. Already doing that. Then he talked about how when he was a resident in Amish country diaper rash babies would often come in the diapers full of black powder...the amish would burn flour into charcoal and make a powder that way and it seemed to work. But he thought the nystatin would be faster and easier. He also suggested leaving her in disposal diapers for the next few days. Which is a bummer because a.) they cost money and b.) there is much less room for error, which I need because diapering the Junior Miss is like trying to grab a cat out of a washer that's on the spin cycle. At least with her cloth dipes I stand a chance of getting reasonable butt coverage before she makes a break for it. Brat.

And also my new couch rules!

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

The sofa has arrived and is in my living room! WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!

And the Junior Miss has a rash that looks like the most painful thing to happen to a hooha this side of childbirth. It doesn't seem to be bothering her (though she was up a LOT last night) but the doc wants to see it because she was on the antibiotics recently...So later today we'll be there (and she'll get weighed, which I always am excited for!)

Tuesday, September 05, 2006


Eva had a great weekend with her Grampy and Suzy! So great that her mama took a total of five pictures, of which this is the best!

We went to the Adirondack Museum, took the train from Placid to Saranac Lake and back, went shopping, and ate a lot! we missed a lot we wanted to do, including the Pig Roast and Fort Ti. Oh well!

It's all good because we are enjoying SLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.

Friday, September 01, 2006

Can it get better than this? Last night she slept from 8 til 7! With a brief mewling at 10:30, which was stopped with a shh and a blanket rearrangement. Genius! I am starting to feel, well, like myself!

My carpet is starting to feel, well, gritty. The vaccuum won't suck and I never got to R's to borrow hers and I think I'm just gonna suck it up (haha) and go buy a cheap one after work, after I stop to get a cake for S's birthday...Miss Eva is very excited to know that her Grampie will be waiting for her tonight when she gets home!