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May 31, 2005

A Daffy Duck Band-Aid Kind of Day
Checkup day for the bub, finally, after a lapse of six months (moving and no insurance can do that). Got caught up on his shots, and was a real champ about it this time! Screamed during, of course, but stopped pretty much as soon as I picked him up. And hasn't been too cranky today, either. Well, not moreso than normal.

Sigh.

Of course I've tried to keep him distracted by moving (walking and a longish drive to Santa Rosa for Target). Since he's happiest being out and about, trying to grab things off shelves as we go.

His weight growth has dropped significantly (from 75th to 19th percentile), but our old awesome doctor told us we might expect that from such a crazy little motorbutt. So we're not going to worry about it. News to us that the water here isn't fluoridated, though, so now he'll be on drops.

It's verging on miserably warm in this house in the afternoons, and so I'm feeling quite betrayed by the landowners when they told us that we could get by here just fine without A/C. Today I finally let Daniel run 'round in his diaper - he was just so sweaty even only in his little shorts and tee. With no sleep, and the round-the-clock whining/crying, and now the heat... well, let's just say I'm not sure the old sanity can handle my aggressive diet plans at the moment. Tomorrow we're getting fans, I think.
05/31/05 05:45 PM |  Comments


May 30, 2005

The Drunk Fresh Maker
I'm super allergic to Febreeze - being in the same room with it makes me miserable all day. So this sounds like a great substitute!
05/30/05 10:57 PM |  Comments


Jumpin' Bub, Take Two
He went through a rather lengthy period of disinterest in jumping. Looks like that's past.
05/30/05 05:29 PM |  Comments


May 29, 2005

Getting Schooled
I'm taking a class at the local community college for the fall semester, whee! So excited. I've been trying to teach myself Illustrator for years now, in half-hearted dribs and drabs. As a testament to my appalling lack of self-motivation, the process'll go much more smoothly when a grade is at stake.

The meeting times couldn't be more perfect - 7 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday nights. And how can you beat CC tuition here, at $26 per credit? Even my dinky hometown CC costs $61 right now. I should take a class every semester. Perhaps I will.
05/29/05 11:02 AM |  Comments


May 28, 2005

Good News
My sister finally got a new job! As a dietician in South Bend, Indiana. I've spoken before about how difficult it is to find zookeeping jobs, much less ones that pay a livable wage, so this is quite a boon.

If you know anything useful or interesting about the area that I might pass on, let me know!
05/28/05 03:52 PM |  Comments


May 27, 2005

For Lost Fans
In case you haven't seen these yet:

http://www.oceanic-air.com
http://www.oceanic-air.com/seatingchart.htm

You can get a special fall sneak preview if you punch in the lottery numbers on the seating chart (4,8,15,16,23,42).

I suppose that Alias site is still around, too... No, not really. But there are mirrors.
05/27/05 04:08 PM |  Comments


May 26, 2005

Well, This *is* What the "Babble" Category is For
There's a mother's board that I help moderate. Or rather, a half-paralyzed patient that I aid in prodding with an electrified metal pointy thing every now and again to get it to scootch forward another agonizing millimeter. My attempts are getting lamer as my brain gives in to summer mooshification.

Frankly, it's making me tired and more depressed than it really should. Is it worth it anymore? I still like the folks there, mostly. Haven't been happy on other boards. Find I can use the online chatter and advice, when it exists. But what the hell did I do with my time and sanity before the Intarweb? Oh, yeah. I read. Books, if I recall.
05/26/05 05:43 PM |  Comments


Back to the Movies
I went to the new cinema last night - what a treat. I'm so glad our arrival here was nearly concurrent with its completion. It's nothing fantastic; just very, very comforting.

One of the true signs of being a grownup may just be seeing a movie alone, and not feeling a shred of weirdness about it. I've finally reached that point. Good thing, as the Boulevard not only features blockbusters, but serves up artsier, meatier fare, too. I saw Crash. Went into it carrying a bit of disgruntlement, as the movie I really wanted to see wasn't playing at any times that worked. And at first the whole plot did seem overwhelmingly... contrived. But I soon got past that, and, judging from the abundant gasps and sniffles, so did the rest of the suprisingly packed little screening room.

Best of all, I can walk back to my car without feeling like a knifer is going to leap out, stab me, and steal my credit card and Timberlands. Yay for small cities!
05/26/05 12:14 PM |  Comments


May 25, 2005

I'll Tell You Where to Put It
Get your hot Tagboard action here. I'll have it re-styled and permanently linked... well, someday. Any off-topic, silly, whatever shtuff goes there. Si? Si.
05/25/05 01:29 PM |  Comments


May 24, 2005

Fickle, We Are
Couldn't find any rooms in Seaside, OR for the Fourth (at least none that didn't jack up the rates times three specially for the occasion). So we're thinking about something more sanely closer to home. Reno, perhaps. Haven't been since we got hitched there in 2002. And they probably throw a pretty decent holiday. I know there's at least a parade.

Better off downtown this time, methinks. Nothing super-fancy (is anything in Reno all that fancy?). The Sands sounds good - themeless (does anything in Reno have a real theme, aside from maybe Atlantis?), renovated, cheap, and casual. And I'm kind of a Mel's Diner fan, so.

Reno has only one letterbox? Egads! Hmm, may have to rethink this ;-)
05/24/05 08:28 AM |  Comments


May 22, 2005

Afternoon in Old Town
Yesterday we went to check out the Farmer's Market in the historic district. Not too much in the way of produce. I only bought a basket of strawberries for shortcake - and it turns out many were bad. Maybe we'll just stick to the quaint roadside Palace of Fruit in Penngrove from now on.

While over that way, we decided to grab a few letterboxes. Turns out that one great spot took up all of our two-hour parking. There was a rather unkempt labyrinth, which I thought was maybe built in Victorian times, but after some Googling, I found its birthdate to be a rather disappointing 1999.

D. took a few pics while Daniel and I hung out.

On our way back to the car, we passed the beautiful and long-vacant Philip Sweed elementary school. The grafitti, busted-out windows, and rotting ceilings made me sad. However, a little more Googling had me smiling again.

I love how letterboxing gets us walking in neighborhoods we might not otherwise, finding hidden treasures. At curbside in front of many of the grandest of the old gingerbreads, we saw patterned concrete blocks rising from the sidewalk. It took me a few minutes to realize we were seeing our first carriage steps.
05/22/05 09:56 PM |  Comments


May 21, 2005

Just Me?
I love classic cars. I do. They make me smile when I see them tooling around town.

Strange, maybe, then, how I loathe classic car shows. Always hot, crowded, too gleamy, and a monstrous pain in the ass when you're trying to get somewhere or do anything within a five-mile radius.
05/21/05 09:07 PM |  Comments


Miscellaneous Shots
Downtown, from across the river in the evening rain
Road to Napa, drive-by style
Daniel, beneath D's desk, with mouse
05/21/05 09:11 AM |  Comments


May 20, 2005

Um
I think it's great that Britain has a National Vegetarian Week (May 23 - 29).

But the promo poster is just wrong.
05/20/05 11:53 AM |  Comments


May 19, 2005

Really Big Shew
Yesterday, even though it was raining, I made a point of spending part of my MNO* downtown, to gawk at the lines for Prequel The Third. And, just as you'd expect, there were costumes. Storm Troopers, mostly. I should've taken pictures, even if they wouldn't have turned out all that well because of the dusk.

That's not the only reason yesterday was a big movie day for Petaluma - it was also opening day for the first real cinema in about four years. When the hoopla dies down, I'll be sure to catch a chick-flick or two there.

*Mom's Night Out. Do it for sanity's sake.
05/19/05 11:01 AM |  Comments


May 18, 2005

Wee Drinkies
Apparently, I've been moonlighting as a cocktailstress.

We saw these at Safeway last night. Of course I want Blue Lagoon, to match my website. But they only had Cosmopolitans and Appletinis.
05/18/05 10:32 AM |  Comments


May 17, 2005

Broken Record
No sleep. No sleep. No. Sleep.

Pardon if I seem obsessed, but I'm getting... NO SLEEP.

Honestly. I never thought things would still be this bad at nine months. Last night we came very close to a crash course in crying-it-out. And you know how I feel about that, at least for bubs under a year. But wouldn't it make certain grandparents fond of doing the I Told You So! Shuffle™ downright giddy?

Last night we watched Meet the Fockers. Blue dogs are funny! HA! But I digress... Mrs. Focker told Greg to put a bit of rum in the baby's milk for teething. Daniel might be teething. I'm not certain. I already have stubs for four fingers and I'm missing a nipple, so perhaps you can take a peek in his little dragon mouth for me. I wonder what Dr. Sears has to say about drunking up your infant...
05/17/05 08:01 AM |  Comments


May 16, 2005

This Space Left Intentionally Vague
There is nothing - no, nothing - more infuriating than having certain behaviors falsely attributed to yourself. The ones that you, having been on the business end of them, despise, and go out of your way to avoid.

Soooo... how 'bout those Sox?
05/16/05 10:52 AM |  Comments


May 15, 2005

Some Cake
Happy 100, Vegas.
05/15/05 11:25 AM |  Comments


May 13, 2005

9 Months Old
So fast. Happy 3/4 birthday, little bub!

I just taught him something more useful than zerberts - if you wave at him, he waves back. I'm working on trying to get him to extend that to me just saying "hello."

He's been much better in the car lately. Which, needless to say, has made life easier. And he plays with his toys so well now, I can eat breakfast with a book, or spend some real quality time online. It's... well, it's awesome.
05/13/05 04:13 PM |  Comments


Happy Friday the 13th
There once was a girl at the P.O.
Who had two packages for outgo
She purchased both labels
But Muttering Mabel
Made her forget one - Oh no!

And that's why I got my own postage-less package back yesterday. I'm so easily distracted, it's insane.
05/13/05 09:44 AM |  Comments


May 12, 2005

The Gen X Tupperware Party
Slowly picking up the in-vogue Mandatory Mom Hobby - scrapbooking. I've actually been accumulating bits and bobs since well before leaving Michigan, but never really got off the ground. Now that it seems to be an excellent way to get out and socialize (my favorite kind of event - hands busy and something crafty to talk about, as opposed to just staring at each other while trying to be interesting), I've got no excuse not to pick it up.

It's easier for me to consider it now, too, what with a plethora of lines that aren't terribly froufy-cutesy. Though I'll admit that Daniel's first year book is going to be fairly precious.

And, after two years, it's about time I put my little investment to use.

Update: I dug up the first (and only) layout I did, for the Jennie and D. book, back in '03. It's not too bad for a first attempt, methinks.
05/12/05 12:03 PM |  Comments


May 11, 2005

Aw, Man!!!
I just missed my chance for a possible Coolest Reuse Project. Evah. Drat.
05/11/05 02:13 PM |  Comments


I Do Loves Me Some Alliteration
Okay, I'll play along:

Pick five of the following and then 
complete the sentences. Then pass 
this little meme on to three more 
of your blog friends… no tag backs! 

If I could be a scientist… 
If I could be a farmer… 
If I could be a musician… 
If I could be a doctor… 
If I could be a painter… 
If I could be a gardener… 
If I could be a missionary… 
If I could be a chef… 
If I could be an architect… 
If I could be a linguist… 
If I could be a psychologist… 
If I could be a librarian… 
If I could be an athlete… 
If I could be a lawyer… 
If I could be an inn-keeper… 
If I could be a professor… 
If I could be a writer… 
If I could be a llama-rider… 
If I could be a bonnie pirate… 
If I could be an astronaut… 
If I could be a world famous 
blogger… 
If I could be a justice on any 
one court in the world… 
If I could be married to any 
current famous political figure… 
If I could be a justice on any 
one court in the world, I 
would...

If I could be a librarian, I'd work here.

If I could be an inn-keeper, it would be on a small ranch, with goats, and ponies, and a koi pond. There would be fresh muffins for breakfast (a different flavor every day of the week), and mimosas. No one would have to share a bathroom, and I would put the prettiest stationery and postcards in the desks. For bathing, you could choose a bar of your favorite handmade soap from a big basket in the hall.

If I could be a world-famous blogger, I'd still answer all of my fan mail. Even the nasty letters, because it would give me the chance to be evil, and being evil to mean people is good fun. I would put text ads on my sidebar to support my Frappuccino habit. Most importantly, my Google Rank would beat Jennie Garth.

If I could be a doctor... I'd probably die of a bleeding ulcer.

If I could be a musician, I'd play for movie soundtracks. I would meet John Williams and become his protege. He would even let me help write the score for Harry Potter VII.

I shall also alliterate my tag-ees: Suze, Sarah, and Stephanie. Of course you're in no way obligated to participate :-)
05/11/05 01:24 PM |  Comments


May 10, 2005

That's That.
Adieu, TrackBack. Parting is such sweet... well, relief, honestly. I've not much time/patience/know-how/non-babyfried brain cells to devote to coddling something that's used so very infrequently.

The link was crowding out multiple-categoried closing lines, anyhow.

As for the things I do use... ugh. Don't get me started again on Cingular/Motorola. Sunday I lost the signal three times in a ten-minute conversation (we're not in Siberia here, people!). Not to mention the multimedia software went kaput. Again. My attempts at fixing probably even made the situation worse. My restraint has been quite laudable, really; the phone has not yet become a missile.
05/10/05 11:09 PM |  Comments


Options for Idiotproofing
Damn you, Trackback spammers. I've just been deleting them every day, and banning the IPs (highly ineffective, I know). That's one way to deal with it. Or:

  • I could just quit Trackbacking, it's used very little, anyhow.
  • I could manually shut it off on entries as they fall off the page.
  • Apparently there's a plugin (blacklist?). Given my previous forays into messing with MT, I'm not sure I have the stomach for that.
  • Does anyone know if there's a config setting that will close trackbacks after a set time automatically? If there's not, there absolutely should be. Because that would be the ideal solution. I did some superficial poking around, but didn't see anything.


    • In any case, the current situation won't stand. You're not using my space for evil, asshats.
    05/10/05 10:33 AM |  Comments


    May 08, 2005

    I Even Got to Read a Whole Chapter
    Happy Mother's Day, moms. I hope you got to sleep in like I did (until 11!!!). Chocolate (espresso truffle), French-milled laurel soap, a cute card ("signed" by Le Bub!), and, flowers are great, too.
    05/08/05 01:29 PM |  Comments


    May 07, 2005

    Well, That's A First
    Yeah, baby!
    05/07/05 03:34 PM |  Comments


    May 06, 2005

    Born
    Of course the birth story of Rob and Stacy's baby, June, is entertaining stuff. That was our hospital, too. I guess it wasn't only us that felt overwhelmingly oppressed by being forced to stay in those claustrophobic little recovery rooms much longer than we felt necessary...
    05/06/05 07:10 PM |  Comments


    Say Chee...z
    I must be un-American - until yesterday, I'd never purchased Velveeta. But a very highly-rated recipe for baked macaroni and cheese called for it, so, it was time.

    Me: I can't believe that G&G didn't have 
Velveeta. Doesn't every store have it?
D: Where did you look?
Me: Where the cheese slices are.
D: It's not refrigerated!
Me: Whuh???
    So last night I hunted all over Safeway. Would it be with crackers? Nope. Um... Soups? Dressings? Nuh. It was on the top shelf, nestled amongst pastas and sauces. Unrefrigerated parmesan was nearby, too, which at least makes sense.

    So now I'm not only a Real American, but I'm just that much less uninformed. Whee!
    05/06/05 03:51 PM |  Comments


    May 05, 2005

    Go 'way.
    It's no big secret I hate aggressive salespeople. But when I'm outside my own home, I'd really rather you not pitch to me there, especially. I mean you, Alhambra water distributor. And you can wipe that hurt puppy look off your face, too - I was nice about it even though I didn't have to be.
    05/05/05 04:52 PM |  Comments


    New to Me...
    Mulch, made of organic cocoa shells. I saw this while reading the Friedman's ad today. Aside from repelling slugs and not depleting nitrogen like bark, it "Disperses a pleasant natural aroma of chocolate." Mmm.
    05/05/05 04:40 PM |  Comments


    May 04, 2005

    My Little Kewpie...
    ...had quite a case of bedhead today!
    05/04/05 08:04 PM |  Comments


    Hopefully No One I Know
    Have you (or someone you know) been refused birth control by a pharmacist? Take Planned Parenthood's survey - the stories and information gathered will help arm them in their fight against such grievously absurd behavior.
    05/04/05 07:38 PM |  Comments


    H.R. Bubbinstuf
    Gah. Tail-end of his cold, and now he's breaking a new tooth on the bottom, too (that's seven, if you're counting). Up at five this morning. Not. Fair.

    I'm thinking this might make a good first birthday present. Doesn't it look like fun? Got great reviews (hey, what happened to the user-submitted photos? I loved looking at those!), and look at all the toy awards!

    The older he gets, the tougher it becomes to find simple jammies (like, say, the Gerber sets of three you can get at Target). We'll have to raid the Carter's outlet next week. Anyone want any Flops while we're there?

    Been having morbid daydreams lately. Precariously, neither D. nor I can think of one family member we'd want to (or that would/could) take in the bub if something happened to us. Is it terribly pathetic that I'd trust some of you first? Sigh. I wish I could stop obsessing over it.
    05/04/05 12:23 PM |  Comments


    May 02, 2005

    Bub Willing...
    Thank you, John, for the insider info. Hopefully we still have time to score a cottage in Seaside for the 4th - they have a parade, too! D. is all about the Tillamook - we might have to wind our way down the 48 miles to catch that, too. I miss watching fireworks from the Lake Superior beaches and breakwalls, so an oceanside view should be just the thing.
    05/02/05 09:19 AM |  Comments