I woke up this morning, well, it was about three AM when this realization hit me, to the fact that the sniffles I have been fighting have turned into a full-blown cold. It was bound to happen sometime. I got the kind of achy-almost sick thing back in December, but nothing came of it. Spring is usually worse for me. There are so many more hacking and coughing students packed into too hot rooms with too cold temperatures outside for it to not happen. So, here I am on the cusp of Spring Break (one week...no classes...three papers and catch up work to do...) hacking away with the stuffed up runny nose. Great. I check the "What to Expect..." pregnancy Bible and yes, what I have is progressing as a normal cold. What I can do about it? Sleep, eat healthy, drink extra fluids (I'm already drinking at least 64 oz a day!) and have some chicken soup. If it doesn't clear up within the week, call the doctor for more suggestions. Thanks.
But, it is the Friday before Spring Break...the last day of classes for me and I didn't want to ditch out (again) on yoga. So...I made poor John rush through his morning, I hustled out the door and scrambled to the gym only to find the class locked out of the yoga room. After about five minutes of waiting the PE admin announced that class was canceled. This must be some kind of Karmic payback for missing class when I really wasn't sick...just lazy.
Two hours to kill before astronomy.
Astronomy was fine...except for the sniffling and coughing on my part. Not the best frame of mind to learn about HII clouds and H2 molecules and that space is not empty. It's like the ocean...only the water that fills everything in at different temperatures and pressures is this gas and dust stuff...Inter-Stellar Matter...yes, very interesting stuff.
In any case, I'm home now and happy to be here. I need to run the dishes from last nights dinner with Miss V. That was so much fun! We hadn't had a good catch-up chat since December. She brought a divine ruhbabrd tart from the restaurant where she works...super yum. I made sea food paella and brought out the last bottle of Spanish wine. John and Miss V enjoyed that..although I admit to having half a glass with dinner...it was the last bottle! Dinners are always nice, I only wish I was feeling better.
I plan on taking the weekend slow. I already canceled some tentative plans I had with my Mom...which is sad...but my goal tomorrow is to sleep in and rest and run some small errands with John. Then sleep some more. I know, the exciting life I lead, but in the end it will make me feel a whole bunch better. So I can tackle all those papers next week.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
You've Waited so Long forThis...
Yes folks, I ran into the older brother of the infamous Boom Box Girl (check the October 05 archives as I don't know how to link ya'll there from here) from San Jose State. I was waiting at the Santa Clara Light Rail station...note: En-route to this very station yesterday the following conversation between two grad student-looking guys was overheard by yours truly-"Yeah, Santa Clara is closer to where I'm going, but I won't get off there, it's just so, you know, ghetto." It is a bit downtown if you know what I mean, but geeez, I don't have any problems walking to campus from there, and I'm six and a half months pregnant. Get a grip guys, your college is the middle of a freakin' city....where was I?
Right, waiting at the light rail station when the sound of really loud Latin pop music began to drown out the construction noise. Not a small feat, the construction is involving jack hammers right now. And yet, the Latin pop music was winning the battle of the airwaves. I had to look to see who could be making such a distinct impression upon my day. Who should appear but a very large Latino man in full leather biker gear riding a very big very, very, very, yellow (think Tweety bird yellow) three-wheeled motorcycle. The entire back side of the motorcycle over the two back wheels was one large casing for speakers. His head was well below the speaker line, making the perfect rolling sound stage. He cruised around the block at least two times before my train got there. You go biker man.
Other than that, I have a cold and am beginning to feel pretty miserable. Which figures, because Spring Break is next week. I have at least two papers to write, and if I was a good girl, I'd get four done, plus small writings I'm behind on. As it is, I hope to feel better and sew more baby stuff. I ordered rings today to make myself a simple sling carrier. If I get wacky, I may try to make a padded pouch carrier as well. Go mama.
And this is what I've made you all wait so long to read about. Ha. I love blogging.
Right, waiting at the light rail station when the sound of really loud Latin pop music began to drown out the construction noise. Not a small feat, the construction is involving jack hammers right now. And yet, the Latin pop music was winning the battle of the airwaves. I had to look to see who could be making such a distinct impression upon my day. Who should appear but a very large Latino man in full leather biker gear riding a very big very, very, very, yellow (think Tweety bird yellow) three-wheeled motorcycle. The entire back side of the motorcycle over the two back wheels was one large casing for speakers. His head was well below the speaker line, making the perfect rolling sound stage. He cruised around the block at least two times before my train got there. You go biker man.
Other than that, I have a cold and am beginning to feel pretty miserable. Which figures, because Spring Break is next week. I have at least two papers to write, and if I was a good girl, I'd get four done, plus small writings I'm behind on. As it is, I hope to feel better and sew more baby stuff. I ordered rings today to make myself a simple sling carrier. If I get wacky, I may try to make a padded pouch carrier as well. Go mama.
And this is what I've made you all wait so long to read about. Ha. I love blogging.
Tuesday, March 7, 2006
You Might Have Forgotten
I am really still in school and doing things not related to getting ready to have a child. Don't laugh, really I am. Today was a big day in school for me, I had my first mid-term and I got back my first paper in career writing. I can't complain about either, really.
It was miserable today. Weather wise. It was pouring rain when I had to leave for class which is not a great motivator. Neither was the fact that I'd been bopping around in the house in pj's all morning enjoying the quiet house. Or the fact that I had to go take a test. I always hate the first test of the semester in any class, and I really hate it when we have only two tests that count for a whole lot of grade. And of course I had to go early and buy a blue book. For some reason, the only times I've been in the student store to purchase supplies...no matter what...it's been raining. No kidding. Last semester too. Weird.
So, I get to class mildly damp and settle in for one last review of my notes. I'm glad I got there early, because it was a full house. As my teacher walked in she commented: "Boy, there must be a test or something today, because the classroom hasn't been this full since the first day." The test, all in all wasn't too bad...but we'll see if I write enough on the passages for full credit. It took me the entire period to finish. That hasn't happened in a long time. I was rushing at the end to write down the last few definitions. Note to self: I think I'll start with the definitions first next time, and spend less time reviewing the test as a whole.
Next stop was the bathroom. But you didn't need to know that.
Then on to my career writing class to pick up my paper. I didn't have to attend class today, the Newsletter team is editing, and I'm on the Writing Life team...so we were free to stay away. I did want my paper, and because my two classes are in the same building, and this one is on my way out even, it was silly not to go. Did I mention that I really wanted to see my paper?
This assignment was to interview a writer of our choosing and write a profile of them. It's been ages since I've done a formal interview. I chose to write on a fellow blogger and freelance writer: Manic Mom. Check her site out at http://www.manicmommy.blogspot.com. The interview was great fun and I enjoyed the write up. Even the peer review process was helpful. Our professor expects us to come to class having already read and commented on our group's papers. This allows us real time to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each individual paper. It was a new experience, and one I actually learned from. I think my paper got better from the suggestions. Not perfect, but better.
When all was said and done, I got a B+ which I am very pleased with. Our professor is notorious for being a very tough grader. She made some very good points about where my paper "lost it" and if I made her corrections, it would be an even better piece. But, woo-hoo for a solid start in her class. She also suggested I write a piece for The Writing Life about freelance writing. I think I will, from my research last semester and this interview, I think I could do a pretty good job with it. Good things all around. I feel pretty good about the class so far, and if I can maintain a solid B I will feel as though I have done a good job. I have set the goal of no punctuation errors for my next piece of writing...sloppy sloppy girl that I am. ;)
Now...I really must get back to work on my paper about the subtle Christian themes that run through selected Old and Middle English works. Blah. Sometimes it's not all that much fun to be a writer.
It was miserable today. Weather wise. It was pouring rain when I had to leave for class which is not a great motivator. Neither was the fact that I'd been bopping around in the house in pj's all morning enjoying the quiet house. Or the fact that I had to go take a test. I always hate the first test of the semester in any class, and I really hate it when we have only two tests that count for a whole lot of grade. And of course I had to go early and buy a blue book. For some reason, the only times I've been in the student store to purchase supplies...no matter what...it's been raining. No kidding. Last semester too. Weird.
So, I get to class mildly damp and settle in for one last review of my notes. I'm glad I got there early, because it was a full house. As my teacher walked in she commented: "Boy, there must be a test or something today, because the classroom hasn't been this full since the first day." The test, all in all wasn't too bad...but we'll see if I write enough on the passages for full credit. It took me the entire period to finish. That hasn't happened in a long time. I was rushing at the end to write down the last few definitions. Note to self: I think I'll start with the definitions first next time, and spend less time reviewing the test as a whole.
Next stop was the bathroom. But you didn't need to know that.
Then on to my career writing class to pick up my paper. I didn't have to attend class today, the Newsletter team is editing, and I'm on the Writing Life team...so we were free to stay away. I did want my paper, and because my two classes are in the same building, and this one is on my way out even, it was silly not to go. Did I mention that I really wanted to see my paper?
This assignment was to interview a writer of our choosing and write a profile of them. It's been ages since I've done a formal interview. I chose to write on a fellow blogger and freelance writer: Manic Mom. Check her site out at http://www.manicmommy.blogspot.com. The interview was great fun and I enjoyed the write up. Even the peer review process was helpful. Our professor expects us to come to class having already read and commented on our group's papers. This allows us real time to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each individual paper. It was a new experience, and one I actually learned from. I think my paper got better from the suggestions. Not perfect, but better.
When all was said and done, I got a B+ which I am very pleased with. Our professor is notorious for being a very tough grader. She made some very good points about where my paper "lost it" and if I made her corrections, it would be an even better piece. But, woo-hoo for a solid start in her class. She also suggested I write a piece for The Writing Life about freelance writing. I think I will, from my research last semester and this interview, I think I could do a pretty good job with it. Good things all around. I feel pretty good about the class so far, and if I can maintain a solid B I will feel as though I have done a good job. I have set the goal of no punctuation errors for my next piece of writing...sloppy sloppy girl that I am. ;)
Now...I really must get back to work on my paper about the subtle Christian themes that run through selected Old and Middle English works. Blah. Sometimes it's not all that much fun to be a writer.
Monday, March 6, 2006
Doula-Waah-Ditty-Ditty-Dum-Ditty-Doo
I just finished reading "The Official Lamaze Guide to Giving Birth with Confidence". My favorite analogy was the "new shoe blister pain aversion". I can relate to that, having worn wildly inappropriate shoes to most functions for the greater part of my life. I am nursing blisters right now from an extended no-sock excursion two weeks ago. Hmm...so labor as a painful blister you must work through, 'cause you chose to wear those lovely shoes, after all. Yeah, I can deal with that.
Somehow, I imagine labor will be slightly more painful than a blister. And those nights of wildly inappropriate shoe wearing I usually had some kind of pain killer going on: lots of drinks.
As I head into the final push (forgive my pun) of pregnancy, the labor process has been on my mind. I am not expecting to avoid pain, but I would like to avoid unnecessary discomfort. The Lamaze book (a philosophy, not just a breathing method anymore!) gave me much to think about. I had to create some serious mental filters while reading to avoid the heavy handed propaganda against the medical community, but with this accomplished I got some good advice and some real food for thought. One avenue I am going to explore that I hadn't considered before is to hire a professional labor support person, otherwise known as a doula.
The term "doula" comes from the Greeks, and was the most trusted female member of a lady's house. She was the personal support for the woman of the house, and today doulas are the personal support for a laboring woman. They offer emotional support all the way through labor and delivery, and are trained in relaxation techniques as well as various labor and birthing positions. They have attend many, many births, and know what to expect. They do not offer medical advice, but can remind you of your options, and guide you to ask questions to determine the best course of action for your birth. Women who labor with doulas often don't need medical intervention or drugs to make it through labor. While I'm not against painkillers, I would like to avoid as many interventions as possible. Just to see if I can do it.
Another reason I'm thinking of having a doula with me, is I like the idea of someone impartial being around during the birthing process. I know John will be with me, but he's going to be as emotionally attached to the situation as I am. It would be nice to have someone who can help both of us remain calm and focused. It takes the pressure off both of us to be at top performance, and I think will allow us to relax and remain a bit calmer during the storm.
The trouble I'm running into now is how to find a doula. Because I'm not willing to buck the traditional system all together, I am not in a position to easily seek a doula or two out. If I was using a midwife, or going the birth center route, I'm sure I would have one already. As it is, I am using a traditional hospital and a single practice OB as my main birthing team. I've had no luck finding doulas in this area so far, but my search has just begun. The Internet has sadly let me down on this one, unless I want to go to San Francisco or Santa Cruz to deliver this baby. Neither are my first choices, so we'll see what comes up in the good ole South Bay.
I have a few more months to figure things out. Otherwise, it'll just be me and the hubby against the contractions.
Somehow, I imagine labor will be slightly more painful than a blister. And those nights of wildly inappropriate shoe wearing I usually had some kind of pain killer going on: lots of drinks.
As I head into the final push (forgive my pun) of pregnancy, the labor process has been on my mind. I am not expecting to avoid pain, but I would like to avoid unnecessary discomfort. The Lamaze book (a philosophy, not just a breathing method anymore!) gave me much to think about. I had to create some serious mental filters while reading to avoid the heavy handed propaganda against the medical community, but with this accomplished I got some good advice and some real food for thought. One avenue I am going to explore that I hadn't considered before is to hire a professional labor support person, otherwise known as a doula.
The term "doula" comes from the Greeks, and was the most trusted female member of a lady's house. She was the personal support for the woman of the house, and today doulas are the personal support for a laboring woman. They offer emotional support all the way through labor and delivery, and are trained in relaxation techniques as well as various labor and birthing positions. They have attend many, many births, and know what to expect. They do not offer medical advice, but can remind you of your options, and guide you to ask questions to determine the best course of action for your birth. Women who labor with doulas often don't need medical intervention or drugs to make it through labor. While I'm not against painkillers, I would like to avoid as many interventions as possible. Just to see if I can do it.
Another reason I'm thinking of having a doula with me, is I like the idea of someone impartial being around during the birthing process. I know John will be with me, but he's going to be as emotionally attached to the situation as I am. It would be nice to have someone who can help both of us remain calm and focused. It takes the pressure off both of us to be at top performance, and I think will allow us to relax and remain a bit calmer during the storm.
The trouble I'm running into now is how to find a doula. Because I'm not willing to buck the traditional system all together, I am not in a position to easily seek a doula or two out. If I was using a midwife, or going the birth center route, I'm sure I would have one already. As it is, I am using a traditional hospital and a single practice OB as my main birthing team. I've had no luck finding doulas in this area so far, but my search has just begun. The Internet has sadly let me down on this one, unless I want to go to San Francisco or Santa Cruz to deliver this baby. Neither are my first choices, so we'll see what comes up in the good ole South Bay.
I have a few more months to figure things out. Otherwise, it'll just be me and the hubby against the contractions.
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