Gettysburg

Lately I’ve been sort of lamenting the end of my gallivanting days. But then I think, I can still gallivant, it will just have to be controlled gallivanting – not uncontrolled gallivanting. I was also thinking of our last trip down to DC (see blog from Oct. 18) and thought I would share our Gettysburg trip with you today.

When we were driving back from DC we stopped off at Gettysburg and did a little tour of the battlefield. Out of all the Civil War Battlefields I have been to, this one was pretty awesome.

Now, don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not one of those people stuck in the past who has an actual side in this war. (If I did have a side, it would be the one that won at Gettysburg.) Plus, I’m from Kansas – like I give a fat-rats-ass about the Civil War. Sure, from a military history standpoint it is interesting – a great part of my psyche is not wrapped up in it, though. It is kind of weird, though, that Kansans aren’t more wrapped up in it. I mean, we are from “Bleeding Kansas: Where the Civil War Began.” But, the only thing I even remember learning about it in elementary/high school is about John Brown and his raids in Lawrence. Now for some movie trivia - a notable 1940 western, Santa Fe Trail deals with the pre-Civil War period of Kansas and the abolitionist John Brown's raids. And Ronald Reagan played the part of Custer, who has to capture John Brown!

I’ve spent enough of my adult life in the South to know that there are a lot of people still serious about it. I mean, you can read something about it in the paper practically everyday down there. Must be all that sweet tea getting to them. I love when I am travelling and finally get just north of Richmond. Then I can order tea without specifying I want “Yankee iced tea.” North of Richmond it comes plain, unsweetened – the way it is supposed to be. Richmond on down it comes sweet. Not just sweet, but cloyingly sweet. I don’t know how they can drink that stuff. (On the other hand, once you cross into Canada you can’t order iced tea anymore. Sometimes the chain restaurants have it on their menu, but if you order it you will get a CAN of Nestea flavored tea drink –ewwwww!! I’ve been known to order hot tea and 2 cups of ice to make iced tea in Canadian restaurants. They think it is weird. They still have that British viewpoint that tea should be hot, and that’s that!)

Last time I was living down in the South a friend of mine had some bumper stickers made for me. I saw one on a guy’s car once, and thought it was great. He actually had it on his car, though, which made him braver than me. I never put one on my truck because I didn’t want it vandalized down there. It was the Confederate Battle flag, in a circle with a line through it and the wording said, “Get Over It. You Lost!” Oh, it was so awesome. (Hmmmm, maybe I am more wrapped up in this than I thought!)

EARTHQUAKE!!!!

Friday night we had a 4.5 earthquake here in Ottawa. The epicenter was over in Quebec, but that is only about 20 km from us. We were just sitting there, watching a movie, when all of a sudden we heard this rumbling noise and the house was shaking a little. I said, “Holy Crap! What the hell is that?” and Jack said, “shhhhhh –shhhh!!” I thought it felt like an earthquake, but I didn’t know there were earthquakes here – and Jack had never been in one big enough to actually hear the rumbling before so we discounted that theory in about 1 second. We ran to the window and drew up the shades to see if the neighbor’s house had collapsed, because that is kind of what it sounded like. But no, everything was normal. So we ran outside to see if we could see anything – still nothing. (and no one else out looking, either, which was weird to me.) About an hour later the news finally had an update and told us it was a 4.5 earthquake! It was the strongest one to hit the area in 15 years, which probably explains why I didn’t know we even had quakes here. I’m not a big fan of earthquakes.

My first earthquake was the 94 Northridge earthquake. Remember that one? January 94, Los Angeles, 6.7! A 6.7 trumps a 4.5 by A LOT. It happened at 0430 in the morning and I was in a rare deep sleep in my bed in Pasadena. I probably would have slept through it, but my boyfriend at the time was on his knees shaking me yelling, “wake up, wake up, wake up!!” Remember I was coming out of a sleep so my first thought was, “OMG! He’s having a flash-back to ‘Nam.” (He was 20 years older – so this was possible.) But then I woke up a little more and could hear and feel the rumbling. I remember seeing the doorframe to the bedroom moving. So, of course, my next thought was, “OMG! INVADERS!!” (It was either aliens or the Russians.) I dived off the side of my bed to grab my 9mm – but I had just moved it to a “safe” place the day before because I was babysitting a little kid. So I came up from the floor with my HANDS pointing like they were a pistol. That would have been very effective against any invaders. Finally, I woke all the way up and realized it was “just an earthquake.” (An earthquake seemed much better than either of my first 2 thoughts.) My boyfriend was still sitting on the bed looking at me and kind of laughing at my reaction. The worst part of a big earthquake like that is the after-shocks. For the next week or so afterwards the ground would just start to rumble and shake at random times – and it was always creepy because you didn’t know if it was just an after-shock or “the big one.” I like tornadoes way better.

Nesting?

This is the helpful notice I received from Pregnancy Weekly today: “Have you started to experience the nesting syndrome yet? Many women report the urge to clean, organize, and decorate their home right before they go into labor. Just be careful to not overexert yourself or climb on high ladders from which you could fall. How has the nesting phenomenon affected you?” (At the end they also ask if I have a last will & testament yet. Yea, thanks – let’s just remind me that people DO die in childbirth!)

Anyhoo, regarding nesting. I don’t think that is happening to me yet. UNLESS you count me hiring people to clean for me. I want this place to be really clean when the baby gets here. I just don’t want to do it. On Wednesday I had a cleaning service come in and clean my home. If you can call what they did cleaning. Today I have the carpet cleaners coming to clean our carpets. I figure it has been 4 ½ years since this carpet was put in. It is time to get all the embedded cat hair and cat barf out of the carpet! Actually, it is our old neighbor. They used to live next to us and they run a carpet cleaning business, so I called them up to do ours. I’m glad I looked them up because they are the only neighbors we ever actually made friends with. (And their 3 kids are getting old enough to babysit!)

But nesting? Well, I think maybe the letter I sent to the cleaning people may have been hormonally affected. It is kind of loopy. They are coming back on the 10th, and if they still suck I am firing them! I mean, Wednesday was the FIRST time they had been here. It was supposed to be a good cleaning, as they charge more than a normal cleaning that time. You would think they would be trying to impress me and make me want them to come back! But no….(here it is:)

"Hi Jessica,
It's me, Tonya xxx again. (By the way, my name is spelled Tonya, not Tawnya.) Guess what I have spent the last hour doing? Cleaning house. The more I looked around the more I noticed and realized that I had to do something before my husband gets home tonight. If I had left it the way it was and then told him I spent $xxx for someone to basically come vacuum he would kill me! I'm not too happy myself about the whole deal!

The reasons why we decided to hire a house cleaning service is because a) I am pregnant and it hurts my back to clean now and b) we will soon have a newborn who will apparently be sucking all our time and energy. But, one of the conditions of the cleaning is that it at least has to be done to the standard I would clean, preferably better, to make it worthwhile.

I am hoping that isn't my usual cleaning crew. Can I get different people next time? People who look as happy and energetic about cleaning as the people on your brochure? Or even cranky, mean looking people as long as they actually clean.

What exactly have I done today? Well, I re-vacuumed the foyer and front room and upstairs bathroom. I dusted everything in the living room, den, bedroom, and other den. I finished cleaning the toilet (spots on lid and still brown stuff in bowl.) I polished the chrome fixtures in the bathroom, along with the chrome toothbrush holders, etc. and I dusted the lint stuff off the sinks and vanity. I have not yet cleaned the leftover gunk off the stovetop or vacuumed the utility room, but I will get that done before my husband gets home tonight. I should re-mop the living room floor, but just don't have the energy. There is still dust in the corners of the wood furniture and some tough dirt on the baseboards that I am not going to worry about - but that I would expect to be taken care of during a "spring cleaning" like today was supposed to be.

Your letter states that you "hope you will not notice a dramatic change in the appearance of your home from visit to visit." I hope that in the future this is because you do maintain a "high-level of cleanliness", not because you just leave all the dust and whatnot in place.

On a final note, Tom xxx signed the receipt with a little note that says, "Thank you for allowing us to clean your humble home." This may be your practice, but I think it is one thing for me to call my home "humble", but quite another for you to call it that. Even if it is, does it need to be pointed out?

I really don't want to be one of those awful, complaining customers, but it is hard enough for me to justify in my mind having a cleaning service when I will be at home. It is very important for me to feel like I am getting my money's worth out of the service.
Thank you for listening and here's hoping the visit on March 8th doesn't lead to me cleaning after you leave again!

Sincerely,

Tonya xxx xxxx"

Then this is the response she sent:

"I am sorry for the problem we have caused you. To change your team though we would need to change your next cleaning day (and reg schedule) to Fridays. Commencing March 10th. Is this possible? This team is one of my more senior teams. Thank you for your patience."

I’ll keep you posted – but I already have others lined up just in case I have to say, “You’re Fired!!”

Good, Neutral, Bad, and Funny News

Well, really it is mostly all neutral news. Not like Yay! good news or OMG! bad news. Today at the doctor’s we found out that:
Good: The baby is still head down
Neutral: The baby is still high. She hasn’t dropped yet so delivery is not imminent.
Bad: I am Group B Strep positive. All that means is that now I have to get an IV and a bunch of antibiotics when I am in labor. And if my water breaks before I go into labor they will have to induce me. Ewww – I hate IVs so bad. No one can ever hit my veins and I will not be in the mood to be a pincushion. I am going to warn them right away and ask for the anaesthesiologist to poke me first, because apparently they are the best at doing it.
Oh, they also think the baby is going to be big. I guess cookies grow big babies.

The funny news is that my birth mother and her husband are coming to visit in May. They bought tickets yesterday and sent me the itinerary. (This is the funny part – not their visit.) It all looked good until I noticed that they were flying to Ontario, CALIFORNIA instead of Ottawa, ONTARIO. I told Jack and he said, “That is such an American thing to do.” Hey, we can’t help it if the initials for California AND Canada are CA!! Hopefully they will be able to get that straightened out without too many problems!

I also had the cleaning service come in today for the first time. I am so picky. I will wait until tomorrow to tell about that because I am still not happy. We will see if the manager emails me back.

Thank goodness Jack gets back into town tonight. I go to the airport to pick him up around 2300! Yay!!

Are We There Yet?

Wow, sitting around waiting for a baby to show up is one of the most boring, uncomfortable things to do in the world. I should be thankful that it is boring and I am not having any problems, other than being uncomfortable. Yea, yea – but writing about how thankful I am would be boring, too.

So, today I have basically just layed around in bed, then messed around on the internet, drinking water and tea, and watching my stomach undulate as she tosses around in there. What is she doing? She better not be turning back around breech! I swear, I tried to drag this “getting ready for baby” stuff out as long as I could, but everything is done and ready and just waiting. I could buy more clothes or something – but that just seems kind of stupid. Some of this stuff just has to wait until after she is born. I don’t know how big she will be and don’t want to be stuck with 5 million newborn size diapers if they don’t fit!

I did find this website and now I want this bag. A pink camo diaper bag, to go with my camo sling (although I couldn’t find a pink one of those.) As an added bonus today I got a package from my Aunt in New Mexico! She sent a couple cute little outfits, and she made a baby quilt. It is awesome, because it is not pink. It is orange and green and yellow and blue. It is really neat! Now, I can do another load of baby laundry.

The customs people had opened up the box, and they did a really crappy job of re-taping it. OK, customs people – maybe you have to open up all my baby gifts, but could you at least close the box adequately when you are done snooping???? At least everyone is writing “GIFT” on the paperwork and boxes so I haven’t had to pay duty in awhile!

WTF? Over.

The winter Olympics aren’t my thing. The only thing I have been waiting to watch is the Canadian vs. US women’s hockey game for the gold. Then, the US women LOSE – to the Swedes!! WTF? How could they do this to me???? I’ll never hear the end of it up here. It is karma, I tell ya. It’s getting back at them for last time when they put the Canadian flag on their locker room floor. They lost that time, but the curse lives on. Ya just don’t disrespect another country’s flag like that.

Friday we had a freak flash-freeze storm. It was nice and warm, and of course, raining then BAM!! The temperature dropped like 20 degrees and the wind started blowing about 110 km an hour blowing all the old snow everywhere. So now there is a really nice 4-inch layer of ice on everything. I kept hoping the weather would warm up to melt it, but the long range forecast doesn’t have it getting above 0 this whole week. Well, I wasn’t going to put up with 4 inches of ice on the front step so today I got out the bucket and dumped bucket after bucket of hot water on the front step and sidewalk to clear a little path for me to make it safe coming in and out of the house. Pour water, chip with shovel, repeat ad nauseam.

One of the neighbors came over when he heard the chipping. We agreed the ice was crazy. I think he was surprised to see it was me doing it, but hey, Jack is gone and I figure it is better to try to get rid of it than fall on it again. He told me I didn’t look 9 months pregnant, but I assured him that I felt like it! It is that stupid groundhog. We go the whole winter without a winter, then the Canadian groundhog has to predict 6 more weeks of winter, and then sends in some real winter weather, laughing the whole time…hahahahahahaaaaaa suckas!!

Just Call Me Grace!

I don’t know what it is, but I should just stop walking. Last night I fell down some stairs at home. This morning on my way to the LLL meeting I fell in the parking lot. Granted, today it is snowing and it is “slicker than cat shit on a door knob,” as they say back home. But still – I don’t want to have this baby until Jack gets home and I’m afraid I’m going to jiggle her loose if I keep falling!! No more wearing socks at home- just slippers with action-grip soles.

Yesterday morning the neighbor had to shovel the driveway. We take turns doing it (rather, the guys take turns.) So, I knew since Jack was gone that it was going to snow a lot. It snowed all day today and it was our turn. I wrote a note and put it on their door for when he got home. It said Jack was gone for 2 weeks and I am ready to have this kid in about 20 days so even though it was our turn if he would get our side I would appreciate it. I just got up from a little nap and peeked out. The driveway is done and he even did our front steps. I’ll have to buy them some beer or something.

Anyway, I got one of those “getting to know your friends” things in the email today. So, instead of emailing all of you with it I am just posting my answers here. Feel free to answer some of them in the comments if you feel like it.

1. WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR KITCHEN PLATES?
They are blue with red, orange and yellow with white swirls on the border. They match my
Mexican colored kitchen.

2. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
The Nursing Mother’s Companion. I can’t get comfortable enough to read a novel right now.

3. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD
Batman!

4. FAVORITE BOARD GAME
I pretty much hate all board games. Sequence isn’t too bad.

5. LEAST FAVORITE SMELL(S)?
Skunks

6. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF IN THE MORNING?
I have to pee (again.)

7. FAVORITE COLOR:
Purple

8. LEAST FAVORITE COLOR:
That pukey yellow color they like to paint hotels in Europe

9. HOW MANY RINGS UNTIL YOU ANSWER THE PHONE?
Two or Three –unless it’s the daytime and I think you are a telemarketer.

10. FUTURE CHILD'S NAME?
Samantha Morgan (in 3 weeks or so!)

11. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA?
Chocolate! Specifically dark chocolate.

12. DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE FAST?
Yes – get out of my way.

13. DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL?
No, I have a real life cat to sleep with.

14. DO YOU LIKE THUNDERSTORMS
Not particularly. However, the ones in Arizona were always cool.

15. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR?
It was a 1979 full-sized Ford Bronco. I could get my whole high school class in there!

16. What Is the Meaning of Life?
We create the meaning in our lives. It does not exist independently. I believe we all have a different purpose to fulfill here; it is up to us to find out what it is.

17. DO YOU EAT THE STEMS OF BROCCOLI?
A little bit of stem is ok – not the whole stalk.

18. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY JOB WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Dictator of the Universe!! Baring that, I would like to have a job that involves writing and policy development. I’d like to work for the UN so I could have some of the billions of dollars that they waste. (At at least the P-4 level, preferably Director level.) I mean, they are already forking out the dough – I should have some of it.

19. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY COLOR HAIR WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Auburn

20. IS THE GLASS HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY?
All I know is sooner or later, someone has to wash the glass.

21. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
I have lots of favorites. At the moment I seem to be quoting Super Troopers a lot. (What’s going on meow?)

22. DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE RIGHT KEYS
Yes – you can read this, can’t you?

23. WHAT IS UNDER YOUR BED?
Perhaps tufts of cat fur.

24. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NUMBER?
7, cuz my birthday is on April 7th.

25. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH?
Porn and hockey

26. YOUR SINGLE BIGGEST INTENSE PAIN?
Having my knee drained was kind of sucky, but I am thinking it may be childbirth (coming soon.)

27. PERSON MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Only someone with time on their hands and as bored as I am.

28. PERSON YOU SENT THIS TO WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
All the secret people who read this blog.

29. KETCHUP OR MUSTARD?
Mustard, but grown-up mustard – not French’s Yellow mustard (gross.)

30. HAMBURGER OR HOT DOG?
Hamburger- hot dogs aren’t really food, are they?

31. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON?
Spring and fall.

32. THE BEST PLACE YOU HAVE EVER BEEN?
Right here in my man’s arms – smelling his neck

33. WHAT SCREEN SAVER IS ON YOUR COMPUTER RIGHT NOW?
A view of Iraq from a helicopter – very depressing.

34.WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FAST FOOD?
Taco Bell, but up here in Canada I guess it is Tim Horton’s

35. Favorite thing to shop for?
Pens & paper; personal items (I could buy lotion and face cleanser every day – it’s an odd affixation I have.)

Fake Canadian Thai Food

Well, I didn’t think I would have anything to put on here today, but now I have a complaint. A new Thai/Vietnamese restaurant opened up here in Orleans recently. At first I was all excited – yay!! Thai food!! Even though a little voice in the back of my head kept saying, “you know they can’t really have Thai food here. No Canadian would eat it if it was even remotely spicy.”

With Jack out of town I figured tonight was a good time to try it out. I was imagining the delicious Thai food available in the States. Food so spicy it makes sweat drop off your nose, the way God intended Thai food to be. However, being the eternal food optimist can be quite disappointing up here.

I looked at the menu and saw the little red peppers beside some of the dishes. I asked the lady if the peppers meant Thai hot or Canadian hot. She assured me they meant Thai hot. I explained that I was NOT Canadian, that I liked spicy food. Then, I asked for my food to be made “Thai hot – I want it spicy!” She assured me it would be. I don’t know, maybe Canadians go in and pretend like they like spicy food and it gets sent back all the time. At any rate, I got my food and it had about as much spice as my morning oatmeal. Yep, it was the typical Canadian geriatric flavored food. No spice, no zing – no chance in hell of any sweat even thinking of breaking out on my brow and dropping off my nose. *sigh* When I was leaving the lady asked, "Was it spicy?" I replied, "No." Awwww.

I just miss being able to GO OUT and eat spicy, ethnic food. Sure, I make it at home – but it would be nice to be able to just go out and get some Mexican food or some Tom Yum and Pad Thai. So much faster than making it at home! Now, y’all run out and squirt a pack of Taco Bell Fire sauce in your mouth just for me!!!

Head Down!

Well thank goodness the baby is now head down the way she is supposed to be. I think it happened on Friday after I saw the chiro for one last Webster Technique. I felt awful all day after that – something was definitely going on inside there. Of course, that was the night we had people over for dinner, too. Figures.

When I woke up on Saturday I felt great, though. I made Jack look at my stomach to see if there was a difference and we both felt what we hoped was a head down low where before there had been nothing. Even Jack felt it, so we figured it was her head. The ultrasound on Monday evening proved it.

She really hates those things. Once again she had her arms over her head so we couldn’t see her face. She did that for every single ultrasound (all 3 of them.) Plus, she was in some uncooperative position so it was hard for the lady to get the measurements. She said the baby weighs 7 lbs but to take it with a grain of salt since the measurements might not be right on. I hope she doesn’t gain a lot these next 24 days or so!

It turns out the baby is due right during March break and that means my doctor is gone on the weekends and working reduced hours during the week. I met the other doctor she works with today – but if I go into labor on a weekend it is still just a guess as to who it will be that catches the baby. Even more reason to stay home as long as possible! We did the Group B Strep swab today. Hopefully that comes back negative so I don’t have to get an IV and be pumped full of antibiotics while in labor.

Now it is snowing – and when it is done snowing it is supposed to turn to freezing rain. It is because it is Tuesday. I have the childbirth class from 1930-2130 and so far every Tuesday the weather has been crap! It is uncanny

Yay! Winterlude.

It is the time for Winterlude here in Ottawa. The Rideau Canal becomes the world’s largest skating rink, there are ice sculptures, and best of all – Beaver Tails! Beaver tails are doughnut dough that is stretched and then fried. Then it is covered in some gooey goodness, like cinnamon and sugar or maple frosting. Mmmmm.

On Saturday it was nice and sunny out. Cold, yes, but sunny and I wanted to go outside for awhile so we headed down to Dow’s Lake for some sunshine and a walk. Have any of you ever seen a pregnant lady walk on ice? Hahahaaaaa – it was an adventure to say the least, but dammit, the beaver tail shack was like a mile away! Plus, I only have one speed now. As we were walking there from the pickup Jack said, “Let’s hurry and make this light.” I told him, “I’m going as fast as I can. I told you I have one speed and it is mosey.” Even when I try to go faster it doesn’t really do any good.

There were tons of people out, lots of families. We saw a lot of the stroller we are looking at buying. We talked to one couple about it and they love it. The lady said all her friends laughed at her when she bought it, but now they have like 5 strollers each and she still just has the one because it is so versatile. So, we are definitely going to be getting the Chariot Cougar 1 (with jogger and bike options.)

Anyway, we finally make it down to the beaver tail vender and the line was about ½ mile long. But we had to get one after all that. It was delicious – full of doughy, mapley goodness. After that we climbed the steps up the bank and took the sidewalk back to the pickup. It was only half ice on the sidewalk, as opposed to all ice down on the lake.

On Sunday afternoon I had to take Jack to the airport and he doesn’t get back until late on the 23rd. We are both hoping he gets to finish the course and I don’t have to call him back early!!

Spicy Peanut Sauce

I’ve got nothing today people. The plumber is gone. Our new kitchen faucet looks great. I recovered our kitchen chairs with some funky material that matches one of the kitchen walls. We want a new kitchen table and chairs. We have an old Formica jobbie that Jack got from his mom. We had the same exact table when I was growing up. It eventually became our table at “the cabin” but I don’t think it exists anymore. Anyway, it is very old and the chairs were covered in this dirty, mustard yellow material with stains and paint spots. Since we aren’t buying anything until we find out if we are getting posted this summer I decided to do a little face-lift on them. (Does that mean I’m nesting? Is the baby coming soon? Please – not until at least after Feb. 23rd!)

Tonight we are having people over for supper. I think they are bringing us some of the stuff they had when their kids were little. Yay!! But on the bad side that means I have had to clean house. I cleaned half of it yesterday and now I have to get busy and vacuum and mop the floors on the main level. Yuck. We are getting Merry Maids starting March 1st or so. I can hardly wait. I figure I will know I am really nesting when I start to clean house because I want to.

Anyway, I am going to make chicken parm and pasta with Spicy Peanut Sauce, the most delicious sauce in the world. My friend in Baltimore made it for me many years ago and it is so good. I have been addicted to it ever since. Everytime I make it I can’t believe that I have made something so yummy. (And I am a good cook, too, so I expect things I make to taste good –but this….mmmmmm.) So, I am going to share the recipe with you. Try it – you will like it:

SPICY PEANUT SAUCE

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 scallions, chopped fine
1 garlic clove, chopped fine
1 tablespoon finely grated peeled fresh gingerroot
1 cup water
1/2 cup creamy or chunky peanut butter
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
3 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes

In a saucepan heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook scallions, garlic and ginger, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer, stirring. Simmer sauce, stirring, until smooth and cool to room temperature. Sauce may be made up to 3 days ahead and chilled, covered. If sauce is too thick after chilling, stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons hot water until sauce reaches desired consistency. (You can also freeze it for later!)
Serve sauce with grilled poultry or meat, on noodles, or as a dressing for spinach salad. Makes about 2 cups.

This is from the www.epicurious.com website. Check it out for all your recipe needs!

It’s Not Just Me!

Last night at our class all the women were at the point where we are just tired of being pregnant (except the one who is due in April.) The whole atmosphere has changed. Instead of us being chatty and friendly we are just, big, fat, tired, cranky, pregnant women. The men are more quite, too. Probably afraid to anger the walruses their wives have become. It was kind of funny – but at least I know it isn’t just me. One lady was talking about how it is a 15-minute ordeal to roll over in bed now.

The last part of the class we went over C-sections. Eeekkk! THEY STRAP YOUR ARMS DOWN PEOPLE!! If this kid doesn’t flip over and get her head down I am not going to be looking forward to that. I’ll be all like, “dude, you can’t take the baby out until you unstrap my arms!!!! Do it now!!!!! Or when you do unstrap them I will strangle you!” I don’t know how well that will go over. Should you yell at someone who is about to cut into your innards to pull a baby out? Probably not, but then again prudence isn’t one of my strong points.

Today I went out and actually bought some stuff for the baby. I got her those little mittens to wear so she doesn’t claw her face off with her little razor blade fingernails. I got a changing pad for the changing table, a little diaper shirt with snaps at the neck so I don’t have to freak about putting a neck hole over her squishy head, and some shampoo, lotion and powder.

I am just tired, tired, tired. A little sleep before the baby comes would be kind of nice because we know it won’t happen after that. Last night Jack was on the couch saying, “Ohhhh, I’m never going to get a good night’s sleep again” in this really sad little voice. Plus, now I have to clean house since we are having people over for supper on Friday night. Ugh. So tomorrow I will get up, go to my LLL meeting, buy groceries, clean house, and then the doula is coming over in the evening. On Friday the plumber is coming to put in a new kitchen faucet and under sink filter. I hope he doesn’t make too big of a mess!

31 Days….(or so.)

This is the long part of being pregnant. Everyone, from friends to my aunt to even my Grandma, is writing to tell me this is the part that drags on. Yes, it does. I just occupy my time doing my tricks to get the baby to turn the right way. I have an ultrasound on Monday evening so I hope it works by then!

We have the baby’s room pretty much ready. We have the crib up and the changing table, too. We don’t even really need a crib yet, since the plan is for her to sleep in the Arms Reach Mini-Co-Sleeper that hooks onto our bed. No jumping out of bed to feed her at night, just roll over and give her the tit. But of course, some people don’t get that so it is just easier to buy a crib, set it up and say, “Why, yes, we have the crib” when they (my mom and MIL) ask. Plus, maybe I can use it for naps – and it does convert into a toddler bed later and the changing table converts into a normal dresser. (Yay, Ikea!)

I do not have my hospital bag packed yet. I think about it but haven’t gotten around to it. It seems a little early, but the Pregnancy Weekly website keeps warning me to “do it now” since so many babies come early!!!! That just makes me think about it a little more, but still no packing has taken place. I mean, my baby won’t come early. And I am waiting for the spring nightgowns to come out at Wal-Mart. I want to buy a couple of button-front short sleeve cotton gowns to wear while I am in labor and delivery at the hospital. Right now they only have the awful long sleeve flannel gowns out – but they are on clearance sale so that means the spring ones are just around the corner. I figure they are just going to get ruined so the $10 Wal-Mart gowns will be fine. They probably won’t come out in time and I’ll end up just being naked. Not that I have a problem with it – I’m just trying to find the gowns so I don’t make other people uncomfortable.

A Baby Shower and Stuff

On Thursday evening we went to buy groceries. By the time we got done I was starving so I got a bag of the rice chips out to tide me over. On the way home we had to stop at Canadian Tire to buy new windshield wipers. I decided to stay in the pickup and wait, because how long can it take to buy wipers? I said, “I’ll stay out here and guard the groceries.” To which Jack replied, “Hmmm, I think I should guard them or there won’t be anything left!” Ha ha.

He went into the store and it took him like an hour so I had to eat practically the whole bag of rice chips. They were supposed to be sour cream and onion flavor but they tasted like seaweed to me. I checked the ingredients and it just said “spices” but I guess dulse or kelp could be a spice. Probably just my enhanced pregnancy senses. Lots of stuff smells weird to me now, too. By that I mean lots of stuff smells like cat piss tome. Coffee smells like cat piss, this mango and strawberry liquorice Jack bought smells like cat piss. And so on…it is quite disturbing to say the least.

We had to buy milk at the store because he goes through it like it is a delicious nectar or something. I don’t drink milk. It grosses me out and always has. The sight of a milk truck going down the road makes me ill just thinking of all that cow juice just sloshing around in there…bleeehhhhh. (That is why I drink Silk Soy milk…mmmmm.) Anyway, they sell milk in plastic udders up here. You buy a bag of 3 bags of milk, plop a bag into the milk container at home, snip the end, and then if you are like Jack you can suck the milk right out of it without using a glass. That grosses me out, too, but he is the only one drinking out of it. (Keep that in mind if you come over for coffee and ask for milk in it.) You can buy milk in containers here, but you have to pay a “jug deposit” and return it to the store to get your deposit bag so no one does it. I just wanted to share what the milk looks like up here so here you go:

Interesting, eh?

On Friday evening we were invited over to some of Jack’s friend’s place for a get together. Well, it turned out to be a surprise baby shower for me so that was very nice. There were balloons, a cake, snacks, and booze for everyone else. We got a really nice car seat, a baby backpack thing, and a Senators bib. It was fun to get out and a nice surprise because I didn’t think we would be getting a shower!

Now, we are going to put the changing table together……

Pink Hippopotamus

My friend from birth back in Kansas sent a baby gift to us and one of the items was this super soft adorable pink hippo (easily dressed as a hippoclown.) The baby’s first hippo. We were so excited to get it and it turns out it was almost an accident she even got it. As my friend says, “That hippo...it was so funny....I couldn't quit touching it....I didn't even realize that I was carrying it around the store....it was just so yummy that I hadn't put it down.”



I thought that she had bought it on purpose, since she is jealous of my hippoclown gravy boat. (See Jan. 11 blog post for picture.) Last night we decided this pink hippo will be the baby’s first hippo. Then, when she turns 21 she will inherit the hippoclown gravy boat. We can tell stories when she is growing up that start with, “One day, this hippoclown will be all yours. It is your birthright.” I am sure she will appreciate it and love it as much as we do.

Speaking of babies….on Tuesday I had an appointment and now the little brat has turned breech (well, transverse with her head higher than lower anyway.) So, since then I have been doing all kinds of stupid human tricks to get her to turn head down the way she is supposed to be. I know several people who have given birth to breech babies – but they are older (like my Aunt.) Nowadays they don’t even let you try. If it is breech it is an automatic C-section. I would really like to get her to turn the right way!! Tomorrow I have an appointment with a special chiropractor who does the Webster Technique. Hopefully that will help, too.

I also hope that she does NOT come early! Jack has to go away from the 13th to the 23rd (I think he just wants to get out of the last 2 childbirth classes.) When he gets back there will only be 2 weeks left until her due date. I am a little freaked out because of what happened last time he went away when I was pregnant. He was only 2 ½ hours away that time – this time he will be over 5 hours away. And they want him to take a bus! He is telling them he has to drive in case he has to leave early. Thank goodness I have a doula in case I do go into labor early – at least I won’t be alone!

Whither the Pummelo?

Another exciting food story! A few days ago I bought a pummelo at the store. It was only 99 cents and it was huge. I had no idea what it was, but it was in the same aisle as the grapefruits so I figured it was like a big, delicious grapefruit.

It also intrigued Jack. For the next 4 days every time we would walk by the table we would pick up the pummelo and talk about it.

“What’s this again?”
“A pummelo.”
“What’s that?”
“I don’t know. It was in the grapefruit aisle. Isn’t it huge?”
Next day…picking up pummelo and looking at it.

“Mmmm, we should eat this one of these days.”
“I know. I hope it is delicious!”

This sort of nonsense went on until one night we picked it up and decided to eat it.

“What is this again?”
“A pummelo. Isn’t it huge?”
“Yea, but feel it. It is so lightweight.”
“Oh my gosh! You are right. It hardly weighs anything. If it is like a big, delicious grapefruit then it’s all dried out and yucky.”
“Yea, it would have to be all dried out. There can’t be any juice in this thing.”
“How can it be so big and so lightweight?”
“Should we eat it?”
“Yea – let’s do it.”

So we decided to peel it in case the “lo” part of the name indicated it was like an orange. Once we got in there we discovered why it was so lightweight. It had about 4 inches of peel on it. We peeled off tons of this thick peel, and the resulting fruit thing was about the size of an orange (and not a big one, just a normal one.) We went from cantaloupe-sized fruit to orange-sized fruit. Then it turned out that the outer membrane holding the segments together was very, very tough and thick as well. We struggled to peel apart the segments, busted into the actual fruit area and ate it.

It was not like a big, delicious grapefruit or even a grapefruit/orange cross. It was like a weird, non-juicy, non-tart grapefruit gone wrong. It wasn’t bad and it wasn’t delicious. It was just OK. And for all that work and all that excess peel it just didn’t seem worth it. It was way more fun to look at it and speculate about it than to actually eat it.

“Lo, the pummelo will not be gracing our fruit dish at this time.