Friday, March 28, 2008

A Little Scare

For the past few days, I have been having a sharp pain in my side just to the right of my belly button. Yesterday, my doctor sent me to the hospital. I was hooked up to monitors and had a myriad of tests while they tried to figure out what was wrong. Long story short...they still don't know what is causing the pain. However, baby is in good shape and very very active. While I was at the hospital, they discovered that I was having regular contractions. This was a complete and total shock as I didn't feel them at all. In the end, they decided to send me home with the caveat that I stay home from work today and stay in bed.

As you know, I am still nine weeks away from my due date. Much too early for baby to come. Although the situation isn't dire and I will get checked again next week, please send good thoughts and prayers my way that baby will stay in my belly until May.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

RUN by Ann Patchett




I'm a little behind on my reading since I have been working on setting up the nursery for baby. However, I finally finished RUN by Ann Patchett. I had heard good things about this book so I was anxious to read it. The story takes place over a
48-hour period when the lives of one family are changed forever after an accident on a snowy evening.

The book isn't long but I found it took me forever to finish it. I just wasn't engaged by the story or the characters. I'm not sure why. Perhaps it was the fact that the events were condensed over such a short period. I also wasn't sure why some of the plot points were included. They seemed unnecessary. It wasn't entirely clear to me what the writer was attempting to accomplish or get across. The book is fairly well-written but definitely not one of my favorites.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Nice Surprise

I will be taking a short break for a few days while my mom is visiting but I wanted to share something nice with you. I just found out that I have been given the award for "Outstanding Community Service by a Staff Member" at my workplace. This is an award where you are nominated by your co-workers. I think there are few things more meaningful than being recognized by your peers. I don't really feel I should be recognized for community service as it is my privilege and joy to volunteer but it is nice that people nominated me for this. I am so flattered and touched!

Monday, March 17, 2008

SPRING READING THING 2008


It's time for the Spring Reading Thing at Callapidder Days! Whoopee! The official sign-up day is on the 20th but I thought I'd go ahead and get my post ready. Okay, there are several books I have been waiting on at the library and I've decided to put them on my Spring Reading Thing list. Hopefully, I'll get them all before the SRT is over.

Here they are:

1. RUN by Ann Patchett

2. CRAZY SCHOOL by Cornelia Read

3. HOW THE DEAD DREAM by Lydia Millet

4. AWAY by Amy Bloom

5. TRAIL OF CRUMBS by Kim Sunee

6. THE SENATOR'S WIFE by Sue Miller
As I read the books, I'll post reviews and link them back to the titles here. Wish me luck!!

Friday, March 14, 2008

LBC Freebie of the Day

Get a free sample of GLAD ForceFlex trash bags.

LINK

Thursday, March 13, 2008

LBC Freebie of the Day

Get a free sample of FIBER ONE CARAMEL DELIGHT CEREAL when you sign up for their newsletter. (I use my "junk" e-mail account)

LINK

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Guilty Pleasure

Okay, I have a confession. I am getting addicted to Bravo's REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY. I don't know what it is about this show but I just love it. Maybe it's the fact that it is proof positive that money doesn't buy sense. I thought it would be appealing because it would give me a vicarious look at the NY high life but instead it just makes me relieved that I have the life I do. I look at the obsession that these women have with clothes and maintaining their youth as well as the stress of figuring out where they stand socially and I breathe a sigh of relief. Sure, money can make things easier. However, a lot of it involved what you do with it. I certainly don't want to be in a place where my summer could be ruined by whether or not I got invited to a cooking party or not or whether I won a "friendly" tennis game or not. So silly. And yet, so entertaining!!!

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Spring Reading Thing!


Katrina will once again be hosting the Spring Reading Thing and I am really looking forward to it. It's a low-pressure way to get focused on your reading. I'm going to start working on my list! You can sign up at Callapidder Days starting on March 20. I hope you'll join in the fun!

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Give Me a Brake

I have a confession to make. Lately, I have gotten really nervous about crossing streets. I think part of this comes from my experiences at work. I work at a junior college located on a very busy six-lane street. The junior college is on one side of the street and most of the restaurants and other places to eat are on the other side. I really enjoy taking a walk at lunchtime and going out to eat. Once I get past the smokers, however, I must face other challenges.

People seem so distracted and harried when they drive around campus that they never seem to pay attention. I have made an EXTRA effort only to cross in crosswalks and several times people have had to SCREECH to a halt to avoid hitting me. Now, I go out of my way to walk down the block to the crosswalk with the flashing lights in order to cross and even then I have been narrowly missed by cars several times. I feel like I have to wave my arms and jump around in order for people to see me. Even though I'm a big pregnant lady!

Now, I am just as bad as the next person when it comes to talking on my cell phone and driving. But, I'm starting to think we have TOO many distractions now. Cell phones, food, iPODS, texting...our focus on driving worsens in the fact of all of this multi-tasking! If people can't notice you in a crosswalk with flashing lights when cars in other lanes have stopped, there is definitely something wrong!

Gripe over.

Monday, March 03, 2008

Thank You for Not Smoking

I have a few gripes to share with you. I'll share one today and one tomorrow.

First of all, it is a BEAUTIFUL day here in Northern California. I'm a little grumpy that I am stuck inside at work. At least I have some windows to look out of.

I was thinking about smoking today. It doesn't seem that long ago when one would enter a restaurant and be asked whether one would like to sit in "smoking" or "non-smoking." That seems to be a rarer phenomenon these days. In California, smoking is banned just about everywhere. As a non-smoker, I find this refreshing. My husband is also sensitive to this issue as both his parents were heavy smokers and both died of cancer. Gary has bad lung problems as a result of his exposure to smoking throughout his childhood. I was lucky enough to be raised by two non-smokers. But I have to admit that I have gotten a little spoiled.

The campus where I work became a non-smoking campus last year. That doesn't stop students from hanging out on the street smoking, however. When I go for my daily walk, I feel like I have to run the gauntlet to get through the smokers. It's really frustrating. On the one hand, I believe that smokers should have the right to smoke if they want to. I imagine it must be EXTREMELY difficult to quit that kind of addiction. And it doesn't seem fair to force smokers into small spaces or outdoors in inclement weather. HOWEVER, I don't want to breathe in that smoke. And I certainly don't want my child to. Sigh. At least it seems like smoking is on the decline. I'll just cover my face with a scarf when I cross the street where the smokers hang out. Or is that too dramatic?

By the way, I have a non-related anecdote to share. I'm sharing it because I think it's something my friend Vieve will enjoy.

I went out for Mexican food today and saw something unusual. There was a gentleman sitting at a table and he was eating chips and salsa. The salsa was served in a little bowl. Normally, people (like myself) dip the chips into the salsa and then eat them. This gentleman would eat a few chips and then pick up the bowl like a teacup and DRINK THE SALSA! I was amazed! He must be a hardcare salsa lover!