Home of the Immoral Minority

A funny

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 05:26:15 GMT

Jonas was cleaning his office today and came across this test video from August 2001, filmed when we were still living in our old apartment in Eden Prairie. I think we must have just purchased a simple webcam and were trying it out. Hee hee!

17 degrees below zero is time to do some home cooking

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:40:32 GMT

I have French onion soup in the oven, and chicken and corn chowder in the crock pot. Yum yum! Yesterday Jonas baked 4 loaves of homemade multi-grain bread. We are so domestic all of a sudden.

Albino squirrel at my birdfeeder

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 14:27:54 GMT

Albino squirrel
Originally uploaded by Ryner12

Have I mentioned we have an albino squirrel visiting our birdfeeder? S/he appears to live in the city park just beyond our property, but scampers over (sometimes with a friend, as in the photo on the right) to partake of the peanuts.

In other news, I'm still married...but I've had to remove my wedding rings. Here I thought I could sneak by with hardly any negative side-effects of pregnancy, but edema has reared its ugly head as I transition into month #9. Ah, well, could be worse.

Sadly, there are only two days left of my 11-day winter vacation, and I can't for the life of me figure out where the rest went. I feel like I've accomplished very little.

Why?

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:09:19 GMT

This image neatly sums up the puzzlement I've long had about those who consider climate change to be controversial: Why, still, would you be opposed to improving the environment?

Winter break

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 03:55:00 GMT

I'm free! No work until January 4. What will I do with myself, I wonder?

It's looking like a winter wonderland outside, and it's supposed to snow for at least the next 24 hours. We postponed our family Christmas until Sunday so that nobody has to drive in dangerous conditions tomorrow. Jonas has the snowblower ready, and we stopped at the grocery store on the way home to pick up ingredients for snowed-in comfort food that we can prepare during the next two days.

Stay warm and safe, everyone. Merry Christmas!

Random Monday notes

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 04:45:21 GMT

Today I issued a library card to a man whose middle name was Demon. Poor guy.

I learned today that one thing my belly is good for is holding the drinking fountain on while I'm refilling my water bottle.

Just one more day of work, and then I'm off for a whopping 11 days!

Shocking

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:27:27 GMT

Did you know that 1 in 3 births in this country nowadays are via Caesarean? After thousands upon thousands of years of human childbirth, could we women really be so inept at this natural process to warrant an alarming number like that?

In the eye-opening film The Business of Being Born, it is noted that the most popular time for Caesarean births is just prior to a doctor's shift change. Although the procedure is undoubtedly necessary at times of medical emergency, it also seems to be performed frequently for the doctor's convenience. I know several women who feel that they were pressured into a Caesarean birth against their wishes and despite no apparent emergent birth situation.

I don't know, of course, how my own childbirth experience will play out, but you can bet I will strongly resist being a victim of unnecessary surgery for someone else's convenience.

Well, it finally happened

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:45:41 GMT

After tiptoeing delicately around it for several weeks, I finally crossed the line and the Wii Fit weighed me in with a BMI of 30 and declared me officially obese. Kind of a blow to self-esteem, despite having a perfectly good reason growing inside me. Ah well -- 50ish days to go!

I've taken to sitting on an exercise ball at home while at my computer. This apparently is not only good for posture but helps to "crack open" the pelvis in preparation for childbirth, and I think my pelvis is going to need all the help it can get.

At work today I took a phone call from a woman who wanted to donate some live fish to the library -- definitely one of the more odd requests I've heard in my library days. I told her we didn't have a fish tank, but then transferred her to the reference librarians who could maybe help her find a home for her fish. She was moving, apparently, and needed to get rid of them.

gulp

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:20:31 GMT

My good friend Elizabeth and her husband Micah became proud parents two days ago to a bouncing baby boy. That is awesome!

It's also scary.

E had been exactly 7 weeks ahead of me, pregnancy-wise, so it was interesting and educational to watch her experience all of the milestones first, knowing my turn would come later. However, now she's done! There was always someone ahead of me up until now. THAT MEANS I'M NEXT! I'm starting to panic and compose lists of things we still have to do/buy/think about.

We hired a doula last week, so that will help with a few things. She has a lot of experience and seems to be exactly the type of support I'm looking for to complement Jonas' support during labor. She's also going to help us write our birth plan.

I think we're buying a car seat and stroller this weekend.

But there is still so much more...

Oh, my tummy

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 22:48:21 GMT

My house smells like gingerbread! And I have eaten way too many cookies.

Cozy Saturday

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:12:43 GMT

Beef stroganoff in the slow cooker, ingredients on hand to make gingerbread cookies, and I'm about to take a short nap. Weekend, I love you.

10 years!

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:31:21 GMT

Yesterday I received an email from HR congratulating me on 10 years of service to Hennepin County! My actual anniversary is December 20, so it will be official in just a few weeks. As a 10-year veteran I'm invited to choose from an array of gifts ranging from jewelry to sportswear to gadgets, etc. The selection is different depending on how many years you're at (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35), so 10 is nothing super spectacular, but decent. I haven't yet decided what I'm going to choose.

Despite a stressful year with budget woes and being painfully short-staffed, I'm happy. And pleased to be recognized. December also means it's stability pay (read: bonus) time!

RecycleBank

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:02:47 GMT

Have you heard of this stellar endeavor?

About six months ago I received a flier in the mail inviting me to register my bi-weekly recycling with a site called RecycleBank. It turns out that my waste service provider has upgraded its trucks to weigh my recycling as it's being dumped into the truck, and for every so many pounds of recycling, I earn points. Accumulated points are then redeemable on the RecycleBank website for coupons good for free or discounted products of all kinds (very often environmentally friendly or organic).

One cute feature of the site is that it keeps a cumulative total of your recycling presented in several ways. My total recycling since May currently weighs as much as a newborn orca whale, and I have saved 2.24 trees and 149.63 gallons of oil.

This is a great program, and I love being rewarded for something I would be doing even without this kind of incentive. Whenever I redeem the coupons at the grocery store, the employees always comment on how cool it is too. Today we came home with a free box of Seventh Generation baby wipes and a free bottle of Seventh Generation all-purpose cleanser.

If your curbside recycling service doesn't participate in this program, you can make an inquiry on the left-hand side of this page.

Up before the sun

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:08:06 GMT

What the heck am I doing awake for no reason at 7:00am on Saturday morning? I am not turning into a morning person. I'm not.

Pie!

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:17:26 GMT

For fun I made pumpkin pie today, and BOY was it delicious! It was a new recipe, one which actually called for softened ice cream as part of the batter, and I was curious how it'd turn out. It was just a tiny bit more custardy than traditional pumpkin pie. This is the recipe I used -- recommended!

I'm going to take the extra pie to work tomorrow since Dad said he's already planning to make one for TG.

Squirmy wormy

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:43:10 GMT

I am unexpectedly enthralled by watching my own undulating belly, mesmerized by the seemingly alien creature writhing inside.

Mmmmm

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:59:20 GMT

I would love a big, fat, greasy, juicy hamburger about now. I haven't been to Lion's Tap since last May!

Tomorrow!

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:35:36 GMT

I'll be leaving at 8:00am tomorrow morning for 4 days of nonstop scrapbooking in Wisconsin! *squee*

I won't be able to cut loose as much as the rest of the ladies this year, but that's OK. I'm just looking forward to getting away from home for a few days with nary a care in the world.

Eerie

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:20:47 GMT

Today at work I was suddenly thinking about how I hadn't seen my old high school English teacher in the library in a while. Five minutes later he walked in.

*eerie music*

5 days!

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:58:30 GMT

Until Beaver Camp!

Yes, it's that time of year again. Time to escape with a bunch of other ladies to a cabin in Wisconsin for 4 straight days of non-stop scrapbooking.

In other news...

...I'm completely pumped that I got my iPhone calendar application to sync successfully with Google Calendars. Yay, technology!

...Reclining on the couch and staring at my own belly can be very entertaining. Watching the ripples and bulges it's easy to imagine that what's actually inside is a seething mass of alien life forms.

...I treated myself to a bottle of Julmust with dinner tonight. It's that time of year.

Nursery done!

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:50:57 GMT

Creating a nursery
Originally uploaded by Ryner12

We finished up the nursery this weekend. This morning we hung two mirrors, and in the afternoon Mom delivered the rocking chair she used when I was a baby. That means that, except for actual clothes and supplies, the room is COMPLETE!

More photos of the completed room begin here.

I feel some relief. Now Piglet could arrive any day and I'd feel ready for her, although I'd really prefer that she wait until February.

Whee...I mean Wiiii!

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:16:18 GMT

Have I already mentioned how much I'm enjoying the Wii Fit so far? Who knew I would have such talent for leading a marching band and doing kung fu? Haha! I'm trying to incorporate as much variety as I can among aerobic, strength, balance and yoga, but there are a number of exercises that are uncomfortable because my belly gets in the way. There are more than enough other choices to keep me entertained and active, though, and so far I have been doing at least 20 minutes each day.

I've also heard good things about EA Sports Active, so I'd like to try that eventually, but I should probably show some restraint and not purchase too much at once here.

13 days until Beaver Camp!

Winter holidays win!

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:52:07 GMT

Has anyone noticed how perfectly the winter holidays fall this year? It couldn't be better: December 24-25 are a Thursday/Friday combination, so there is a 4-day weekend. The following week, January 1 is a Friday so that's a 3-day weekend. Not one to let an opportunity like this pass me by, I requested off Monday, December 28 through Thursday, December 31. Those four days will garner me 11 days off in a row! SCORE!

I haven't received an official response for the time off request yet, and heck -- I don't know exactly what I'd do for 11 days, but it was just too perfect to let get away.

Happy Halloween!

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:45:17 GMT

We received at least 142 little goblins at the door last night -- a good year! Almost ran out of treats, though, which is partly why I'm posting this. (Reminder for next year: Buy treats for at least this many kids!) Surprisingly, our 100-calorie bags of microwave popcorn were a hit, especially among older kids. Sneakily healthy!

Insulted by Wii

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:56:16 GMT

We finally bought a Wii last night, including the Wii Fit. So far it's pretty cool.

As part of the setup, it gathers some basic info, weighs you and has you perform some balance and agility tests. One thing it can't take into consideration is a health condition -- like pregnancy, for example.

It asks my age/height/etc.
I get on the scale.
Wii Fit says, in a disappointed voice: Ooooh, that's overweight!

Gee, thanks.