You know what I've been thankful for this Thanksgiving? That Baby may finally be letting me off the First Trimester hook! It took almost 17 weeks this time around, but suddenly on Wednesday I had more energy and the pelvic bone pressure/back of the thigh nerve pain wasn't so intense. That night I actually cooked dinner and proceeded to eat a lot of it without getting slightly grossed out! The timing was excellent for me to pig out on Thanksgiving dinner at my aunt and uncle's house on Thursday. It was so delightful to legitimately enjoy eating again. Although I don't think I'm up for Indian or Thai yet, the good streak has continued through today. Hooray for not feeling like crap anymore! (knock on wood).
P.S. We potentially could find out the boy/girl status in a couple weeks, but we are some of those frustrating "let it be a surprise" people, so you'll just have to wait it out with us.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Dunsmir
I sure do like me some walking through historic rich people's houses! That's why I went to the Dunsmir Estate in Oakland several months ago with a friend and her little guy. Taking 2 youngsters on the tour wasn't the best idea ever, but we made it through. The house isn't as spectacular as a Hearst Castle, as interesting as a Winchester Mystery House, or as well-kept as a Filoli (all fantastic Bay Area rich-people houses to visit if you haven't), but I enjoyed checking out the house and nice grounds.
It's hard to explain to your boy why he can chase dirty rat pigeons around but not the nice ducks:
It's hard to explain to your boy why he can chase dirty rat pigeons around but not the nice ducks:
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Pet Central
Even though it's expensive, sometimes inconvenient, and people may stand across from your church chanting unfair things during Sunday services, San Francisco and the Bay Area is still a pretty great place to live. I was going to make a giant post on cool things I've seen or done in the past several months, but one at a time seems more manageable. Here we go:
Pet Central (on Broadway near Stockton): I wandered in to this Chinatown pet store one day when I was running errands nearby. It's awesome! The animals seem well cared for and it's bright and clean. Looking at the fish downstairs is almost as good as visiting an aquarium--salt water, fresh water, more kinds of goldfish than you knew existed, giant $200 fish, etc. I've never seen cats there, but they usually have puppies--I almost had a cuteness-induced fit when I saw a baby weiner dog and baby Boston terrier there on one trip. They have reptiles, birds, hamsters, chinchillas, and all the supplies you might need. Plus they seem to have a large collection of Chinese movies for rent up front (pets + movie rentals...naturally!). Please, someone go there and purchase pets or pet stuff so I don't feel guilty for never buying anything from them.
Pet Central (on Broadway near Stockton): I wandered in to this Chinatown pet store one day when I was running errands nearby. It's awesome! The animals seem well cared for and it's bright and clean. Looking at the fish downstairs is almost as good as visiting an aquarium--salt water, fresh water, more kinds of goldfish than you knew existed, giant $200 fish, etc. I've never seen cats there, but they usually have puppies--I almost had a cuteness-induced fit when I saw a baby weiner dog and baby Boston terrier there on one trip. They have reptiles, birds, hamsters, chinchillas, and all the supplies you might need. Plus they seem to have a large collection of Chinese movies for rent up front (pets + movie rentals...naturally!). Please, someone go there and purchase pets or pet stuff so I don't feel guilty for never buying anything from them.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Ode to Hotwire
It seems I have neglected to brag up the awesome deal we got on a hotel for our London trip: $119/night for a Hilton! That's in U.S. dollars y'all, not pounds! We got it through Hotwire.com, which lets you select the star level and geographic areas you will accept, then shows you prices but not exact names or locations of your potential lodgings until you commit to buy. It's a bit of a gamble, but it turned out great for us. Our room wasn't spectacular, but it was comfortable and clean and the hotel was in a very convenient location. The normal rate for our room would have been around $300 a night, so we saved some serious cash.
I also have to give much love to Priceline.com for hotels. As with Hotwire, you can specify the star levels and areas you'll accept, but you are committed to booking if they find a hotel for the price you name. So it's even more thrilling and scary, but it's come through for me too. Namely $60/night for a downtown Portland Hilton in April and $55/night for a good-enough San Diego hotel several years ago. I'd highly recommend using either site as long as you do a little research.
I also have to give much love to Priceline.com for hotels. As with Hotwire, you can specify the star levels and areas you'll accept, but you are committed to booking if they find a hotel for the price you name. So it's even more thrilling and scary, but it's come through for me too. Namely $60/night for a downtown Portland Hilton in April and $55/night for a good-enough San Diego hotel several years ago. I'd highly recommend using either site as long as you do a little research.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Bummer
Things that are bumming me out lately:
1) Mervyn's is closing. What's going to be my 2nd favorite place for boy clothes now? (1st = Old Navy. Yes, I'm kind of cheap.)
2) Local station 106.9 is now all news instead of Oldies! My sweet Oldies! KFOG 104.5 and KISS 98.1 are sort of helping me along, but I'm distraught. Are there any other options?
3) The Mormon haters have only become more rabid since California voted to define "marriage" as only between a man and a woman (NOT taking domestic partnership rights from gay couples). I understand that people are upset, but what is the point of the protests, singling people out online who donated to Yes on 8 and labeling them bigots, encouraging boycotts of the places they work, etc? These things only make Yes people more committed and serve to spread ugly, false stereotypes. Mormons do not hate gay people; in fact, Church leaders have repeatedly encourged love and compassion toward them. Many Mormons have good relationships with gay friends and family members despite differences in beliefs. I thought the Church's response to the backlash was excellent. It is not getting much attention, probably because it is courteous and reasonable (I'm sure the press would be all over it if it seemed at all inflammatory). I am hoping and praying the contention simmers down.
1) Mervyn's is closing. What's going to be my 2nd favorite place for boy clothes now? (1st = Old Navy. Yes, I'm kind of cheap.)
2) Local station 106.9 is now all news instead of Oldies! My sweet Oldies! KFOG 104.5 and KISS 98.1 are sort of helping me along, but I'm distraught. Are there any other options?
3) The Mormon haters have only become more rabid since California voted to define "marriage" as only between a man and a woman (NOT taking domestic partnership rights from gay couples). I understand that people are upset, but what is the point of the protests, singling people out online who donated to Yes on 8 and labeling them bigots, encouraging boycotts of the places they work, etc? These things only make Yes people more committed and serve to spread ugly, false stereotypes. Mormons do not hate gay people; in fact, Church leaders have repeatedly encourged love and compassion toward them. Many Mormons have good relationships with gay friends and family members despite differences in beliefs. I thought the Church's response to the backlash was excellent. It is not getting much attention, probably because it is courteous and reasonable (I'm sure the press would be all over it if it seemed at all inflammatory). I am hoping and praying the contention simmers down.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Mountain man on pain killers
My Husband has got problems. Specifically ones with his left arm that have been bothering him for awhile. So after he finished a really long project at work, he decided to take a Surgery Vacation--sweet! Well, if you consider having 2 same-day surgeries in 2 weeks sweet, I guess.
First, a tear and some bursitis in his shoulder were repaired/cleaned up. Then on Friday he went in to have the funny bone nerve in his elbow moved back where it should be (eeeek!). He's been a trooper and has been fantastic to help me as much as he can around the house--doing dishes with one hand, entertaining My Boy, etc. I'm a lucky lady. Plus he decided it would be amusing to grow a beard, something he's never done. Here it is:
I think it's a nice beard, don't you? He thought it might look strange since he has some white whiskers on the left side, but I think it's cute (it's not so cute that the whiskers turned white after the right side of his head went through the passenger window in a car accident when he was 17. So did a spot in the back of his hair from the trauma).
Here he is, all decked out in the temporary cast that's making him pretty uncomfortable right now. It comes off Thursday, then we go to a Ben Folds concert that night where I will have to be his bodyguard of sorts and keep jostlers away from the arm. Best wishes for a speedy recovery darling!
First, a tear and some bursitis in his shoulder were repaired/cleaned up. Then on Friday he went in to have the funny bone nerve in his elbow moved back where it should be (eeeek!). He's been a trooper and has been fantastic to help me as much as he can around the house--doing dishes with one hand, entertaining My Boy, etc. I'm a lucky lady. Plus he decided it would be amusing to grow a beard, something he's never done. Here it is:
I think it's a nice beard, don't you? He thought it might look strange since he has some white whiskers on the left side, but I think it's cute (it's not so cute that the whiskers turned white after the right side of his head went through the passenger window in a car accident when he was 17. So did a spot in the back of his hair from the trauma).
Here he is, all decked out in the temporary cast that's making him pretty uncomfortable right now. It comes off Thursday, then we go to a Ben Folds concert that night where I will have to be his bodyguard of sorts and keep jostlers away from the arm. Best wishes for a speedy recovery darling!
Halloween '08
We carved pumpkins:
Or at least we carved the 2 smaller ones and realized it's not that fun, especially when your child won't touch the guts and can't help much with the carving (and the smell is making you feel a bit barfy if you're pregnant). We decided to go for markers and stickers with the big daddy pumpkin.
We went trick-or-treating to the stores on Chestnut street with friends, 3 of whom were also Buzz Lightyear!
We knew the Nov. 1 church party would provide more treats and good times, so we opted out of doing anything more Halloween night. There are only a few areas of SF that provide the traditional experience anyway given all the apartment buildings. I am looking forward to the day when we get trick-or-treaters and I can celebrate my favorite holiday appropriately!
Or at least we carved the 2 smaller ones and realized it's not that fun, especially when your child won't touch the guts and can't help much with the carving (and the smell is making you feel a bit barfy if you're pregnant). We decided to go for markers and stickers with the big daddy pumpkin.
We went trick-or-treating to the stores on Chestnut street with friends, 3 of whom were also Buzz Lightyear!
We knew the Nov. 1 church party would provide more treats and good times, so we opted out of doing anything more Halloween night. There are only a few areas of SF that provide the traditional experience anyway given all the apartment buildings. I am looking forward to the day when we get trick-or-treaters and I can celebrate my favorite holiday appropriately!
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