Happy Labor Day*

In honor of Labor Day, let's talk about some of the hardest work women do. Adapted from We are THAT Family.

How long were your labors?

I was in active labor with Rosi from around 1:00 AM until she was born just after 8:00 PM, so about 19 hours.

Active labor with Ian came and went. Counting from the time my water broke the first time, it was 4½ days before he was born. Counting from the second time my water broke, it was about 28 hours before he was born. Counting from when they broke my water in the hospital ... well, actually, I don't remember exactly when that was. I was in hospital for a total of about 20 hours before his birth. And I have the unique distinction of being the only woman my midwife ever heard of whose water broke three times during the birth of a single baby.

How did you know you were in labor?

With Rosi, I woke up in the middle of the night in pain. I didn't think I was having contractions, but Adam timed them at 2-3 minutes apart.

I woke up about 6:00 AM a week before Ian was due and felt like I really needed to go to the bathroom. I thought I hadn't quite made it, but when I turned on the light to clean myself up, I saw that the fluid was pink and realized my water had broken.

Where did you give birth?

I wanted to have both my kids at home. I saw a homebirth midwife while I was pregnant with Rosi until about 30 weeks when my midwife strongly recommended I transfer care to a hospital-based practice because of continued high blood pressure readings (she could not legally attend me at home if I was hypertensive and she felt it would be beneficial to have time to get to know another care provider before birth). I had Rosi at a hospital in Illinois, with no blood pressure issues at all.

With Ian, I planned to give birth at a private home just across the border in Minnesota because my midwife cannot legally attend home births in South Dakota (see my post Why Drive to a Homebirth?). Unfortunately, complications during his birth required going to the local hospital in MN, then transferring to another hospital here in Sioux Falls.

Drugs? C-section?

Both labors were augmented by Pitocin. During my labor with Rosi, I considered pain meds shortly after they started the Pit, but decided against them. I pushed her out about three hours later.

While laboring with Ian, I chose to have an epidural a couple of hours before he was born in a final, ultimately unsuccessful attempt to avoid surgery. He was born by emergency c-section.

Who attended?

I had a Certified Nurse Midwife at Rosi's birth, and Adam was able to catch her as she was born.

I was seeing a Certified Professional Midwife throughout my pregnancy and most of my labor with Ian, and the plan was for Adam to catch again. In the end, the on-call OB did the honors in the OR.

Want to play? Answer the above questions in comments or on your own blog.
Did you adopt? How long did you wait? How did you find out your child(ren) would be joining your family? When/where did you meet? How was the adoption arranged?
Not a mom? What were the facts from your own birth?

*I really tried to think of a post title that would be some sort of spin on Love's Labour's Lost, but couldn't quite manage it.

So Long as It's Not Radio Equipped

My sister tagged me for this meme.

1. What time did you get up this morning?
   This morning, 4:00 am. Normally, about 9:00.
   
2. How do you like your steak cooked?
   Depends on the steak--the better the meat, the rarer I like it. What we can normally afford should be cooked no less than medium-well. I once got a steak at the restaurant at the Chicago Symphony Center and it was really yummy rare.
   
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
   Uhm ... I think it was Toy Story 3. I was previewing it to see if I should take Rosi, but after watching it, I decided she'd be a bit traumatized.
   
4. What is your favorite TV show?
   Sunday Night Football
   
5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
   Of the places I've visited so far, my favorite is probably Auckland, New Zealand. Otherwise, anyplace where shoes are optional gets high marks.
   
6. What did you have for breakfast?
   Soy Live strawberry yogurt
   
7. What is your favorite cuisine?
   Overall, probably Italian, but so much of it is stuff I can't eat. Chinese/pan-Asian foods probably have the most variety that I both like and can eat without everything being specially prepared with my dietary restrictions in mind.
   
8. What foods do you dislike?
   I'm not a big fan of fish and fishy-tasting things.
   
9. Favorite place to eat?
   With friends and family.
   
10. Favorite dressing?
    Stove Top? I prefer my salads naked.
    
11. What kind of vehicle do you drive?
    Saturn sedan
    
12. What are your favorite clothes?
    Comfortable clothes that don't make me look like I'm wearing my jammies.
    
13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
    Just about anywhere.
    
14. Cup half empty or half full?
    Completely full! Half full of water and half of air. I tend toward pessimism in real life though.
    
15. Where would you want to retire?
    Someplace warm most of the year, but has some nice snowfall in the winter that I wouldn't be responsible for shoveling or driving through. Mountains and ocean would be a big plus.
    
16. Favorite time of day?
    Sunset
    
17. Where were you born?
    Michigan
    
18. What is your favorite sport to watch?
    (American) Football
    
19. Are you satisfied with your life?
    Overall, yes.
    
20. Are you a morning person or a night person?
    I'm a middle-of-the-night person.
    
21. Do you have any pets?
    Does the baby count? Or all of the imaginary animals my daughter keeps?
    
22. If you only had one day to live, who would you spend it with?
    My family, of course
    
23. What did you want to be when you were little?
    A movie star, a teacher, a doctor, a lawyer (about in that order)
    
24. What is your best childhood memory?
    Playing with my siblings on vacation
    
25. Are you a cat or dog person?
    Cat
    
26. Are you married?
    Yes
    
27. Always wear your seat belt?
    Yes
    
28. Been in a car accident?
    Yes, though I was only at fault once when I was 17.
    
29. Any pet peeves?
    People expecting to be taken seriously when they don't even bother to check their writing for spelling or grammatical errors.
    
30. Favorite pizza toppings?
    Pepperoni, spinach, and pineapple (yes, all together).
    
31. Favorite flower?
    Gerbera daisies
    
32. Favorite ice cream?
    My favorite real ice cream is Ben & Jerry's Chubby Hubby, but since I can't eat that anymore, I like Purely Decadent Peanut Butter Zig Zag.
    

The Last Thing

I found this on a discussion board this evening.

What was the last thing you ...

ate? Plain french bread.

said? "What?"

drank? Water.

laughed about? "And Then My Six-Year-Old Had Her Tattoo Removed..."

touched (besides the keyboard/mouse)? The french bread.

cooked? Frozen egg rolls.

bought? Yarn.

cried about? Tim Hodge's CaringBridge journal entry for yesterday.

took a picture of? A bag I crocheted.

wrote? "A bag I crocheted."

gave as a gift? A crocheted cowboy hat and cowboy booties.

broke? The seal on the bag holding the French bread loaf.

fixed? The stapler.

washed? My hands.

turned off? The light in Rosi's bedroom.

read? Tim Hodge's CaringBridge journal.

watched? National Geographic Video's collection of snake clips.

changed? My mind.

threw away? An apple core.

Ten Truths

I saw this meme on Patricia Zapata's fabulous blog A Little Hut and decided to try it.

1. I can't make Jell-o. Adam doesn't believe me, but every time I've ever tried, the stuff just won't set up for me. I am gelatin-challenged.
2. Back before I had children, I always thought pregnancy would be weird, like having an alien growing inside me. Actually, I sort of still think that, but he's a lovable alien.
3. Speaking of parenting, I was always planning to be called "Mama" which is what I called my mother when I was young. When Rosi was born, I just couldn't get a handle on calling myself that, however, so I stuck with "Mommy" instead. On her own, she started calling me "Mamie" and I discovered I liked it better than either of the others, so I stuck with it.
4. I'm writing a novel. Well, I'm not actually writing it yet. I'm preparing to write a novel so I can participate in NaNoWriMo this year.
5. Even though I'm horrible about sending thank you cards myself, I always feel a little hurt when other people don't acknowledge gifts I've given them.
6. I've been on TV twice in my life. Once in junior high when the local news was doing a story about snow days cutting into our spring break and once recently as part of an interview about the state of midwifery in South Dakota. I didn't have a speaking part either time.
7. When I was a child, I used to complain about my parents leaving the skin on when they made mashed potatoes. Now I do the same thing. I also thought my dad's peanut butter (all natural, no sugar added) was gross, but it's now the only kind I'll buy.
8. My very favorite part of high school math was geometry proofs. Set me to proving the congruence of two angles and I get a little thrill inside.
9. Although I'm a professional copy editor, I can't find typos in my own work. I know what I meant to write, but don't see what I've actually written instead.
10. I have always wanted to take a ride in a hot air balloon. When I was a kid, we'd go watch balloons take off periodically and I always thought it would be neat to go on one. I've also always been a little afraid of the idea.

It was a challenge to come up with 10 new things about me. For those of you looking for a more complete picture of my randomness, I invite you to check out all my memes.

Our Story: Preview

As I have mentioned, I'll be sharing the story of how Adam and I met and married this month. As a little preview to my twice-weekly posts, I thought I'd share this little meme I found on Queen of Dirty Laundry oh-so-many months ago.

Husband Tag

1. Where did you meet?
Church
2. How long did you date before you got married?
11 months
3. What does he do that surprises you?
Periodically, he makes these big gestures that just completely blow me away
4. What is your favorite feature of his?
I love the way his eyes crinkle when he smiles
5. What is your favorite quality of his?
His flexibility
6. Does he have a nickname for you?
Beautiful
7. What is his favorite color?
Forest green (but I had to ask)
8. What is his favorite food?
I had to ask about this one, too: Chicken and coconut rice--possibly tied with mumued pig (that's a whole pig roasted undergroung in banana leaves)
9. What is his favorite sport?
(European) football
10. When and where was your first kiss?
Standing on the grass, the night we got engaged
11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple?
Creating a special meal together
12. Does he have a hidden talent?
Hidden from whom? He knits, I guess not everybody knows that
13. Who said I love you first?
He did
14. What’s his favorite type of music?
Classical (but he has this thing for '80s pop ...)
15. What do you admire most about him?
Adam has a much better grasp on the whole concept of sacrifice as an expression of love than I do.

100 Things

I've seen this on two different blogs today and it seemed like a nice way to ease myself back into blogging.

The rules state: Below are 100 statements. Bold or change the color of the ones you have done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
But woke up in the rain.
3. Played in a band
I was in the school band for ... three years? I played clarinet and, very briefly, coronet.
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford budgeted to charity
I disagree with the original statement on principle.
7. Been to Disneyland or Disney World
World, 1991 with a bunch of kids from youth group after we'd spent all week offering disaster relief to victims of Hurricane Andrew.
8. Climbed a mountain
I've told this story, haven't I?
9. Held a praying mantis
Maybe. I liked bugs as a kid, but don't specifically remember what I caught over the years.
10. Sang a solo
In my church a few times when I was in high school.
11. Had stitches
Once in my head and once, um, elsewhere, after my daughter was born.
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
Kinda. I was taught how to chain and make a single stitch, but otherwise I taught myself to crochet.
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
I was pregnant at the time. One of the two times I vomited during that pregnancy. I haven't been interested in Navy Bean Soup since.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
Back when they still let you.
18. Grown your own vegetables
My parents had an enormous garden when I was a kid. I haven't grown much as an adult, but I discovered that a local church here has a community garden, so we may grow some veggies this summer.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept in an overnight train
On my way to my brother's wedding.
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
Not really on purpose, but I've taken a couple rides from strangers when I've gotten lost or had car trouble.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
Mental health days are my friend. I just wish the benefits plan for motherhood came with a few more.
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
Lunar only.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
Only the lunch-around-the-harbor kind, though.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
Mousehole, Cornwall, UK
35. Seen an Amish community
Shipshewana, Indiana
36. Taught yourself a new language
I've forgotten most of it, though. I studied Italian on my own before my trip to Italy. I learned enough to find the bathroom, order dinner, ask how much the postcards cost, and say "thanks" when given my change.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
Then I got married and had a kid.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
No sheer rock faces where I needed ropes, though.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
He was taller than I expected.
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
I wish we lived closer to the beach.
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
Well, okay, technically not. We tried to, but they'd closed early that day.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
Snorkeling when I was a kid.
52. Kissed in the rain
Probably. Not in some sort of romantic "moment" though.
53. Played in the mud
54. Gotten a speeding ticket
On my way to church for a volunteer appreciation breakfast.
55. Been in a movie
Sort of ... you can see where my car was parked in My Fellow Americans and I was inside the restaurant behind it.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
In Massachusetts and New Zealand.
63. Got flowers for no reason special occasion
I got flowers because my husband loves me!
64. Stayed the night in jail
65. Cried so hard you threw up
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
Unfortunately.
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
I saved a bunch of stuffed animals, dolls, books, two Little People play sets, and my toy box.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
It's very salty.
72. Pieced a quilt
Does it count if I'm working on one (that I've been working on for, oh, about 10 years now)?
73. Stood in Times Square
But never on New Year's Eve.
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
Technically, but I'd sort of already quit.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
But only through my elementary school library
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
I've never done the tour, though.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
Robert Fulghum, author of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day
Is there any other way?

You can go visit some other lists up today at Purple Puzzle Place and One Thing. If you decide to do your own list, leave a comment so I can come visit!

I'm Brilliant

At least that's what they tell me. In Spanish. My friend Jeanne, who writes At A Hen's Pace, passed on this wonderful award, saying she hoped to encourage me to post more often. She also said:

She's a superb writer; she's also funny, insightful, honest and quirky--even in the midst of trial.

Ooh!! Love those warm fuzzies!

I was looking for the origins of the award and found a killjoy informing us all that it's not a real award, just "a viral nuisance." Pah, say I. It may not be real to Alex Boese, but I like it just fine. If viral marketing is lauded, why not viral admiration and encouragement?

Now I'm supposed to pass it on to another brilliant blogger. Actually, I have two. One I know personally, the other I've only stalked online gotten to know virtually.

I hereby bestow my own warm fuzzies on Abigail of abirumania and Christine of welcome to my brain . net. Both women write thought-provoking posts that challenge me to reassess my own understanding of my world, my faith, and my relationships. Thank you, ladies. You inspire me.

Jeanne also tagged me to share six random things about myself, since apparently she didn't get enough with the Seven Random Things Meme. Thats okay; I've always enjoyed trivia. First thing done!

2. I can't seem to get a handle on the pronunciation of "meme". I know it's supposed to be "meem", but I continue to think of it at "meh-meh".

3. My family has some weird birthday coincidences:

• My mom and dad were born on the same day of the month, two months apart.
• My brother was born in the intervening month, two days earlier
• My father's ex-wife has a birthday in the same month, two days after my brother's
• His birthday is a week and one day before his wife's
• Her birthday is two days later than my niece's
• Another niece has a birthday exactly one week before my sister's
• Her husband has his birthday exactly one week before mine
• Adam's birthday is exactly one week after mine

4. I used to look forward to watching The Love Boat when I stayed home from school as a kid.

5. I was named after my great-grandmother, my grandmother, and my dad.

6. I prefer generic canned black olives to Kalamatas.

The first six of you to read this, consider yourselves tagged.

The Food Experience Meme

I got this at Queen of Dirty Laundry, where I appropriate most of my memes. Thanks, Lori!

Have you ever tried

• Venison? Nope. I have a personal rule against eating cute animals.
  
  
• Nettle tea? Not on its own, but I've had a pregnancy tea with nettle in it.
  
  
• Huevos rancheros? Sorta. I've had some kind of tex-mex egg casserole wrapped in tortillas.
  
  
• Steak tartare? Yep, though I didn't know I'd ordered it at the time.
  
  
• Crocodile? Nope.
  
  
• Black pudding? Ugh, no.
  
  
• Cheese fondue? Yup, back before the dairy strike.
  
  
• Carp? Probably not. I'm not much for seafood.
  
  
• Borscht? Or beets.
  
  
• Baba ghanoush? Yep. I prefer hummus, though.
  
  
• Calamari? I was probably made to bite a fried ring once, but ewwwww!
  
  
• Pho? I had to look this one up. I think my sister and I made a chicken version once about 10 years ago.
  
  
• PB&J sandwich? Is this on here just to make sure everybody gets a chance to answer "Yes"? (Though, I suppose if you have a nut allergy, peanut butter wouldn't be an option.)
  
  
• Aloo gobi? No, but I love the line from Bend It Like Beckham, "... and she made lovely aloo gobi last week."
  
  
• Hot dog from a street cart? Hot dog, no. Pretzels, ohh yeah. Mmmmm.
  
  
• Epoisses? Who? Had to look this one up, too. Nope.
  
  
• Black truffle? Only the chocolate kind.
  
  
• Fruit wine made from something other than grapes? Yup. Pear and, I think, blackberry.
  
  
• Steamed pork buns? Like pot stickers? Otherwise, no.
  
  
• Pistachio ice cream? Yum. Yes.
  
  
• Heirloom tomatoes? Maybe. If so, it's not something I intentionally set out to go eat.
  
  
• Fresh wild berries? Yup. We once made ice cream out of wild blueberries.
  
  
• Foie gras? Blecch. No.
  
  
• Rice and beans? Red, black, and pinto.
  
  
• Brawn, or head cheese? I had to look this one up as well. Ew. Along with the "cute animals" rule, I have one about no eyes in my food.
  
  
• Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper? Nope. I'm not much for hot peppers. Good food shouldn't hurt.
  
  
• Dulce de leche? Yes. More things to miss in a dairy-free lifestyle.
  
  
• Oysters? I had a bite of a fried oyster po'boy once.
  
  
• Baklava? Yes. Yum!
  
  
• Bagna cauda? Ba-whosa what-a? Nope. Not a big anchovy fan.
  
  
• Wasabi peas? Nope, doesn't fit in with my ideals about good food not hurting.
  
  
• Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl? Clam chowder, yes. Sourdough bowl, yes. Together, no.
  
  
• Salted lassi? So, now that I've looked this up, it's just iced yogurt with salt and pepper. Ick. I do did like mango lassis (lassi? lassie??).
  
  
• Sauerkraut? Yup, though probably only on a reuben.
  
  
• Root beer float? Oh, yummy. Yes, and one more thing I can't really have anymore.
  
  
• Cognac with a fat cigar? Yes to the first, and no-ugh-yuck-gross to the second.
  
  
• Clotted cream tea? Mmmm. Devonshire tea. And they say British food is bad.
  
  
• Vodka jelly/Jell-O? Nope.
  
  
• Gumbo? Yup. They don't let you out of Louisiana 'til they've watched you down some gumbo (or so they told me).
  
  
• Oxtail? Certain parts of the animal just weren't made for eating. (That would be a "no".)
  
  
• Curried goat? I sure did. It wasn't nearly as bad as I would have though.
  
  
• Whole insects? Ick, no.
  
  
• Phaal? (After a quick google search) Do I need to keep on this not hurting thing?
  
  
• Goat's milk? Only in cheese and yogurt.
  
  
• Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$130 or more? Highly doubtful. Maker's Mark only costs about $25.
  
  
• Fugu? I don't generally eat computer programs--oh, wait, you mean the fish? No.
  
  
• Chicken tikka masala? I'm guessing I have at the Indian buffet. Their food isn't labeled very clearly in English, so I'm not sure.
  
  
• Eel? No, thanks.
  
  
• Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut? Yes. Yum. Right off the conveyor belt, even.
  
  
• Sea urchin? No.
  
  
• Prickly pear? Yup. Breaded and deep fried.
  
  
• Umeboshi? Pickled fruit. Hmmm, no.
  
  
• Abalone? Ick. It was bad enough when I thought this was fish.
  
  
• Paneer? Does Panera count? I may have had it in something at the Indian place, but not to my knowledge.
  
  
• McDonald's Big Mac Meal? Yup. They'll even make it without cheese if you ask.
  
  
• Spaetzle? Homemade by a woman of German descent (or is she Swiss? I forget).
  
  
• Dirty gin martini? Nope. I don't like green olives.
  
  
• Beer above 8% ABV? Apparently not. Guinness is the strongest I've had.
  
  
• Poutine? Another Google search. Only if smothered and covered hash browns at the Waffle House count.
  
  
• Carob chips? Yup. My parents used to substitute them for chocolate chips. Probably would have worked better if the carob chips were sweetened.
  
  
• S'mores? Yum. My new favorite is coconut marshmallows with dove dark chocolate.
  
  
• Sweetbreads? "Sweetbreads a la Gusteau ... in an anchovy-licorice sauce." In real life, no.
  
  
• Kaolin? Yes. I ate paper as a kid.
  
  
• Currywurst? Ick. I'll stick to bratwurst on a bun with a zig-zag of plain ketchup, thanks.
  
  
• Durian? Nope. I hear it tastes good if you can get past the smell though (I don't expect I could).
  
  
• Frogs' legs? No, I think frogs are cute.
  
  
• Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. I've also had zeppoli, the Italian version of fried dough.
  
  
• Haggis? No. Cute animals.
  
  
• Fried plantain? Yup. Good sweet or savory.
  
  
• Chitterlings? No. Not interested. (Shudder.)
  
  
• Gazpacho? Bread soup? Hmmm. No, I think I'll stick to bread pudding.
  
  
• Caviar and blini? Yes, but not together.
  
  
• Louche absinthe? No.
  
  
• Gjetost, or brunost? No, but after looking it up, it actually sounds like something worth trying.
  
  
• Roadkill? Not as far as I know.
  
  
• Baijiu? Had to look this one up, too. No.
  
  
• Hostess Fruit Pie? Yum. Yes, but not for many years.
  
  
• Snail? No. Ick.
  
  
• Lapsang souchong? Yet another Google search. Tea that smells like a campfire? No.
  
  
• Bellini? Peach is my favorite.
  
  
• Tom yum? No. Too much seafood. I've had Tim Tams, though. Can I count that instead?
  
  
• Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant? Nope. I can't afford that many stars. (And, just for the record, why is a tire company awarding stars to restaurants, anyway?) (Ooh, here's why.)
  
  
• Kobe beef? No, but this I might actually try.
  
  
• Hare? Cute animal.
  
  
• Goulash? Not since I was a kid, and it was a church potluck recipe, so I don't know how authentic it really was. We didn't have any Hungarians at our church.
  
  
• Flowers? Yup. In salads a few times.
  
  
• Horse? Ew. No. Besides, it's a cute animal.
  
  
• Criollo chocolate? Nope.
  
  
• Spam? I'm sure I have on some camping trip or another.
  
  
• Soft shell crab? No. I think I've had crabmeat, but, again, not a big seafood fan.
  
  
• Rose harissa? Rose who? (Google is sure getting a workout tonight.) Nope.
  
  
• Catfish? Yup. Deep fried. Wasn't half bad.
  
  
• Mole poblano? Chocolate and peppers ... that's pushing it just a little bit, don't you think?
  
  
• Bagel and lox? Bagels, yes. Lox? Ugh, no.
  
  
• Lobster Thermidor? So, looking it up, it's basically a lobster omelet. Nope. I've had lobster, though.
  
  
• Polenta? Yum. Maybe that's what I'll make for breakfast.
  
  
• Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee? Nope. Not a big coffee drinker.
  
  
• Snake? No.
  

Take Five

I was tagged for the Five Things meme by my friend Ruth

The Rules

• The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
• Each player answers each question with five things about themselves.
• At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read the player’s blog.
• Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

The Questions

1. What were you doing five years ago?

• Wondering if Adam liked me the same way I liked him
• Working part time for a small not-for-profit organization
• Driving the same car (with a lot fewer miles on it)
• Writing my thoughts in a spiral-bound notebook
  
• Starting a brand-new prayer group with two girlfriends
  

2. What is on your to-do list for today?

• Take car to mechanic
• Figure out how to confront a friend
  
• Write a blog post
• Purchase gas-powered lawn mower
• Afternoon nap
  

3. What snacks do you enjoy?

• Beef jerky
• Graham crackers
• Pears and Cheese
• Candy
• Black olives
  

4. What would you do if you were a billionaire?

• Stop working for a living
• Hire someone else to manage my money
• Fund some really amazing charities
• Buy a house
• Travel the world
  

5. What are your bad habits?

• Not cleaning up right away
• Negative interpretation
• Interrupting
• Needing to be right
• Impulse buying
  

6. Where you have lived?

• Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Chappaqua, New York
• Chicago, Illinois
• Asheville, North Carolina
• Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  

7. What jobs you’ve had?

• Library page
  
• Teaching assistant
• Mystery shopper
• Copy editor
• Website designer
  

The Tags

Okay, I'm cheating on this part--I hate having to tag people, so if you enjoyed this meme, consider yourself tagged!

Thanks, Ruth! This was fun.

The Funnest Game

I've seen this meme around the past couple of weeks. Each time I see it I end up playing for a good half hour or so. It's just so much fun!

Here's how it works:

• Find your band's name here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
• Your album name is the last four words of the final quote here: http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
• The cover photo is the third image here: http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/?
  

My favorite combination so far?

• Band Name: Royal Dutch Mint
  
• Album: so little useless information
• Cover Image: "Holiday Inn"

NOTICE: To those of you who may be concerned about such things, I have no idea what sort of filters these sites have in place. It is possible that clicking one of the randomizing links will bring you to a page that you find offensive. I haven't found any to date, but my standards may be different than yours. Proceed at your own risk.

"All" About Me

I just got an e-mail from a friend of mine with all sorts of personal, but not especially intimate questions. I thought it would make a nice quick blog post.

• Were you named after anyone?
  My great-mother, grandmother, and father
  
• When was the last time you cried?
  Sunday night
  
• Do you like your handwriting?
  Yes
  
• What is your favorite lunchmeat?
  Roasted chicken, I guess (I'm not much of a lunchmeat fan)
  
• Do you have kids?
  One
  
• If you were another person, would you be friends with you?
  Yes, but I would probably annoy me
  
• Do you still have your tonsils?
  Yes
  
• Do you use sarcasm a lot?
  I'm trying to cut down
  
• Would you bungee jump?
  Maybe--not by my feet, though
  
• What is your favorite cereal?
  Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds
  
• Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
  No
  
• Do you think you are strong?
  I think I have a strong character
  
• What is your favorite ice cream?
  Ben & Jerry's Chubby Hubby
  
• What is the first thing you notice about people?
  I don't really know (according to Adam, it's "whether they're organized or not")
  
• Red or pink?
  Red, almost always
  
• What is your least favorite thing about yourself?
  My belly fat
  
• Who do you miss the most?
  My mom
  
• What color pants and shoes are you wearing?
  Black pants and white shoes
  
• What was the last thing you ate?
  Beef stew and wheat bread
  
• What are you listening to right now?
  Divorce Court (Adam's watching TV)
  
• If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
  I've always liked Burnt Sienna
  
• What is your favorite smell?
  Fresh bread, new books, and warm cider
  
• Who is the last person you talked to on the phone?
  My daughter's Sunday school teacher
  
• Do you like the person who sent this to you?
  Hmmm ... just kidding, Clare!!
  
• What is your favorite sport to watch?
  Football--especially if the Bears are actually winning
  
• What color is your hair?
  No longer blonde
  
• What color are your eyes?
  Hazel, but mostly brown
  
• Do you wear contact lenses?
  Not until I get a new prescription
  
• What is your favorite food?
  Appetizers
  
• Scary movies or happy endings?
  Happy endings, no question
  
• What is the last movie you watched?
  The Prince & Me (Adam picked it because he figured I'd like it)
  
• What color shirt are you wearing?
  Salmon
  
• Do you prefer summer or winter?
  I like the sunlight and carefree attitude of summer, but the snow and holidays of winter
  
• Hugs or kisses?
  Hugs
  
• What is your favorite dessert?
  Chocolate cheese fruit tart (see the recipe here)
  
• What book are you reading now?
  My sidebar says The Blind Assassin, but I'm not really reading anything at the moment
  
• What is on your mouse pad?
  My mouse
  
• What did you watch on TV last night?
  Part of Still Standing and That '70s Show
  
• What is your favorite sound?
  I love the sound of snow, the way it muffles everything when it first falls
  
• Rolling Stones or The Beatles?
  Not really a fan of either; if I had to choose, probably the Stones
  
• What is the farthest you have been away from home?
  8837 miles (Sydney, Australia)
  
• Do you have a special talent?
  I can curl my tongue into three "leaves"
  
• Where were you born?
  Michigan
  
• Who will you tag to go next?
  Angela from Purple Puzzle Place (I think it's time for more of your eleventy-one things)
  

First Letter Meme

I recently read this meme on Jennifer's blog, Chronicles of a Night Owl.

The Rules

• Use the 1st letter of your name to fill in each category.
• You are not allowed to make anything up; each answer must be a real place, name, etc.
• Use different answers if the person before you had the same 1st initial.
• You can't use your own name for the boy/girl name category.
• If you can’t think of anything, skip it.

Your Name: Amy

1. Famous Band: ABBA
2. Four-Letter Word: Alms
3. Street: Abbey Road
4. Color: Aubergine
5. Gift: Aspen Cologne
6. Vehicle: Accord
7. Souvenir Shop Find: Agate
8. Boy's Name: Adam ♥
9. Girl's Name: Adrian
10. Movie Title: Anastasia
11. Drink: Appletini
12. Occupation: Astronomer
13. Celebrity: Abigail Van Buren
14. Magazine: Among Worlds
15. U.S. City: Albuquerque
16. Pro Sports Team: Avalanche
18. Reason for Being Late to Work: Amnesia
19. Something You Throw Away: Advertising Circulars
20. What You Shout: Ahoy!
21. Cartoon Character: Archibald Asparagus

Oh, and I came up with all the answers on my own. Google only helped me find some of the cool pictures and websites.

Seven Random Things

This is about the level of my brain activity today. Angela at Purple Puzzle Place has tagged me for the 7 Things Meme. I'm supposed to list seven random things about me, plus the rule of the meme and a bunch of tags. So, here goes...

• My favorite flowers are Gerbera daisies
• I played the clarinet for a couple of years in junior high
• Adam and I got engaged eight weeks after our first date
• I prefer Coke to Pepsi
• My first job after college was interviewing fishermen
• I don't own an iPod and have no plans to buy one
• My IQ is 16 times my shoe size

Rules: Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog.

Tags:

• Abigail from abirumania (I'm still reading)
• Jeanne from At A Hen's Pace (when you get a chance)
• Jennifer from My True Self
• Jenny from Home is Where You Start From
• Joel from Revelation 4
• Ruth from There is no such thing as a God-Forsaken town
• Ash from PalmTree Pontifications (in hopes that you'll start blogging regularly again)

Thirteen Questions and Answers

I was visiting some other Thursday Thirteen bloggers and came across a very fun list of questions in Goofy Girl's post.

1. Apples- what kind is your favorite?
Adam has gotten me hooked on Pink Ladies. Granny Smiths are good for cooking, though (and a lot cheaper).

2. Bears- which one do you think is the cutest? Hmmm...not sure on this one. They all look rather alike in their uniforms. Maybe Brian Urlacher?

3. Coffee- what do you like in it?
Ice cream. Lots of ice cream. Actually, I've only had coffee a few times. I really prefer tea.

4. Drink- what do you normally order at a restaurant?
Water, iced tea or lemonade. Once in a while I'll get Coke or Sprite, but usually I stick to those three.

5. Eggs- how do you normally have them done?
I really like them fried, with the yolks completely solid. I usually order scrambled, though, because they're harder to mess up.

6. Friends- do you look for something in friends, or are your friends of all different types? Hmmm...I never really thought about it. I guess I look for people who are interesting to me, maybe people I admire.

7. Gems- what’s your favorite gem?
I like the brightly colored ones: Amethyst, emerald, ruby, sapphire.

8. Happy- what makes you smile?
Right now? My daughter setting up food on tiny little Japanese sauce bowls while announcing "Mamie tchin (chicken). Baby tchin. Daddy home? Daddy tchin."

9. Ice cream- what’s your favorite type?
Totally depends on my mood. I really like Ben & Jerry's though, especially Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Chubby Hubby.

10. Jellybeans- what kind do you like?
Red ones. As long as they're not cinnamon flavored. I really don't like the spicy ones. Ooh, and Jelly Belly Buttered Popcorn. Yum!

11. Knowledge- what do you know a lot about?
Um...compared to whom? I worked for five years as a meeting planner, so I guess I know more about event planning than an average woman on the street. I studied sociology in college, so I probably know more about group dynamics than your ordinary Spanish major. I probably know more about fertility and birth than a typical first-time mom.

12. Lemons- do you put lemon in you water, tea, or soda? Or lime?
Lemon in tea, lime in water or Coke.

13. Muffins- what kind do you pick out at the coffee shop?
Depends on the selection. I'm kind of partial to streusel-topped blueberry and lemon poppy seed, though.

Meme of the Arts

Jeanne from At a Hen's Pace has invited her readers to join her in this arts meme. I don't have much experience with memes (I think this is just my second), but I always loved those e-mail forwards where you had to share interesting things about yourself, like what color socks your wearing and who did you talk to last on the phone.

1. Name a book that you want to share so much that you keep giving away copies.
I think the only books of mine I've ever given away more than once because I liked them were the Bible and Outlander by Dianna Gabaldon.

If the question is meant to get to the heart of what my all-time favorite book is, however, I'm not sure it does. In fact, I'm not sure what book that might be. Maybe something by Beverly Cleary, like Ramona Forever. Actually, come to think of it, I have given that book to other people, just not my copy.

2. Name a piece of music that changed the way you listen to music.
The one that comes most readily to mind is the song Adam wrote for me. The first time I heard it (I'm sheepish to admit) I didn't like it very much. Adam is a classically-trained pianist. So, naturally, he wrote "classical" music. I use the quotes because it is not classical in the official sense (i.e., Mozart is classical, but Beethoven is romantic) but in the general cultural meaning (i.e., Beethoven is classical, but Garth Brooks is country). For me, "classical" music was all about needing to understand it, analyze it, and compare opinions about it using specific technical terms. Music theory, if you will. But listening to the song again, especially coming to grips with the fact that, while not in my preferred style, it was written in love for me, I really started to appreciate it. Now I only wish we had a decent recording of it. Unfortunately, the sound tech at our wedding had to turn the tape over at that point, so we never got the full song.

3. Name a film you can watch again and again without fatigue.
Ooh, there are lots. Most of them goofy romantic comedies like While You Were Sleeping, My Best Friend's Wedding, and The Parent Trap remake (I like the original, too, but I wouldn't watch it as much). Probably my favorite non-romantic comedy watch it over and over film would be The Rookie.

4. Name a performer for whom you suspend all disbelief.
Uhm...David Copperfield? Or is this supposed to be somebody I like so much that I'm willing to sit through their not-so-inspired movie (or listen to their second-rate CD) just because it's that person. Hmmm.... I'm not sure there is anybody like that. Maybe Tom Hanks. I tend to put up with a lot from him. (On the random facts front, did you know when he was just a young thespian, he went by "Thom"?)

5. Name a work of art you’d like to live with.
Does Adam count? He's already in my house, though. Probably one that would mean a lot to me would be a scale model of Alexander Calder's La Grande Vitesse (more images here). I was born in Grand Rapids and the big orange "Calder" is an indelible mark on my childhood. It would be rather nostalgic to have one in my living room.

6. Name a work of fiction which has penetrated your real life.
Sisterchicks on the Loose. The first of the Sisterchicks books by Robin Jones Gunn. I was reading it shortly after my daughter was born and it was the first grown-up book I'd read in quite a while (I spent most of my pregnancy re-reading some of my favorite children's books). Even though I had virtually nothing in common with the characters, I loved the travel and the interweaving of faith and life--unlike so many examples of Christian fiction that read more like expanded gospel tracts. I think I read it three or four times right in a row, just to absorb everything.

The second book in the series, Siterchicks do the Hula! is also a light and fluffy really deep book that does a great job of showing life and faith as a whole, not two separate pieces.

7. Name a punchline that always makes you laugh.
Okay, bear with me. I was visiting Cornwall a few years back, and I watched the local news one evening. They had a story about a nearby football (soccer) team that had gotten into trouble because their ball boy was wearing shorts on a cold game day. Some official body was giving the team management grief about it. I probably missed some of the details, since I don't understand UK organized (or should I say "organised") football, but I was under the impression that the big concern was the ball boy's age and making sure he wasn't working under unduly harsh conditions.

At any rate, the news show had an interview with the team's manager and he pointed out that the boy had been wearing plenty of other warm clothing (mittens and wool socks and a jacket and so forth) and he never even complained of the cold. The interviewer asked some question about the upcoming game and what the plans had been made to be sure the ball boys kept toasty.

The team manager kept a completely straight face and said, "Well, if the boys get cold, we can just wrap their legs in red tape."

That kills me!

Life in the Crazy Lane

Life has just been terribly (or wonderfully) busy these past couple of weeks. Adam's parents were in town the week of Thanksgiving. Having the built-in babysitters was fabulous, and of course, it was great to spend time with Mom and Dad, too. I'm now officially jealous of all you parents who have grandmas and grandpas living close by and willing to take your kids for an afternoon or everning every once in a while. Sigh.

Our expected houseful on Thanksgiving Day turned into a modest five as several guests were unable to make it at the last minute. So, the 17-pound turkey we'd purchased gave us lots of leftovers. Turkey and stuffing, reheated. Turkey sandwiches. Turkey corn chowder for a potluck dinner at church. Turkey with eggs for breakfast (actually, I only tried that one once. My daughter ate the eggs and left the turkey). And an excellent turkey-rice casserole, a twist on a yummy comfort food growing up.

Last week, I thought I'd have some lovely recovery time. The in-laws were headed to the other side of the country, the dishes and feast-day clean up was begun.... Then I started my work project for the website I design.

At first glance, I thought I could get it done in a few hours over a couple of days. Ahaha haha haha! Try 30 hours over six days! But it looks really nice now. I just have a few finishing touches I need to add, but I'm officially still on vacation from that today. Ahhh.

And one more thing to add to the mix, I'm on the Missions Team at church and we were getting Christmas packages ready to send to the missionaries we support. I was going to shop on Friday, then Saturday our whole team met to wrap and package all the gifts. But then it snowed on Friday. Some places were reporting 18 inches! Driving Adam to work in the morning took almost two hours (most of that time we were stuck in the snow in an uncleared parking lot--our daughter helped and encouraged us by sitting in her carseat chanting "Go! Go! Go! Go!"). After dropping him off, we started our shopping at a favorite superstore. Three hours later with a basket full of presents, I discovered that I'd left my wallet at the house. I almost started crying right there in the check-out line. Eventually it took two more trips back to the superstore and another to a local Christian bookstore in order to get all of the presents purchased for the next day.

The wrapping end of things went very well, however. My team plus a couple of additional volunteers, fueled with apple cider, coffee, and bagels, wrapped, ribboned, and packaged gifts for 4 families and 24 individuals. And we were done right at noon, exactly on schedule.

One last piece of business. Jenny over at Home is Where You Start From has tagged me for a meme: Six weird things about me.

One disclaimer before I begin...most of these things, I don't think are all that weird, but other people (mainly my husband) have told me so.

1. I enjoy sleeping in a cold bedroom in sweats and several blankets. If my nose is cold and my toes are toasty, I'm a happy camper.

2. I often like to eat something sweet followed by something salty. I completely grossed Adam out one night when our bridge group was over and I served dark chocolate followed by black olives. Yum!

3. The stock market makes no sense to me. How can all of these number-crunching, show-me-the-money types have come up with a system that is entirely dependant upon the reputation of companies and the fears of the public? I just don't get it.

4. I'm a bit of a math nerd. My favorite part of math in high school was geometry proofs and I still like long division.

5. I know all the words to the original Gilligan's Island theme song (beginning and ending credits). I also know what words changed in the second version.

6. For a while, in high school and college, my favorite movie was Tango & Cash with Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone. I think I even owned the video at one point.

So, there ya go. I'm a strange one, living a crazy life. But you love me anyway, right?

What to Write

I find myself wanting to post today, but not being able to decide what to say. Too many idea running through my head with too few words chasing after them, I suppose.

So, instead of having to write for myself today, I thought I'd steal a fun idea from Jennifer at My True Self, and ask Google what I already wrote.

I searched for "Amy wrote" and I've listed the first five that make sense:

1. Amy wrote all about our meetup and there's a photo too!
Cool. I wonder what the photo looks like.

2. Amy wrote two hilarious essays about her childhood.
See, I wrote twice, I shouldn't be expected to write anything more.

3. Amy wrote and directed the feature film.
Clearly I'm too busy to worry about posting today, but I'll be coming soon to a theater near you. Keep an eye out for me!

4. Amy wrote that you recently spent a week away.
Wherever you were, I hope you had fun.

5. Amy wrote: I also received the same letters.
I got letters? Who wrote to me?