June, huh? That sure was a long time ago.
More to come soon...
17 October 2009
25 June 2009
Farewell MJ
I figured with the news of Michael Jackson's death, now was as good a time as any to return to the blogosphere.
In elementary school, I was a huge MJ maniac. Posters covered every inch of my wall. (Of course, this was before NKOTB came onto the scene and dethroned Jackson for me.) The summer I turned 10, my right arm was in a cast up to my shoulder, an odd and ill-timed biking accident. (I was trying to do a skid in the left-over winter street sand on a three-speed.) A couple of days after my accident, a flower-delivery truck pulled up in front of our old house on Pinnery Avenue. The doorbell rang. A man was standing there with a basket or bouquet of flowers - I can't remember what variety - and a brown paper bag. My mother said they were for me.
I opened the little card attached to the flowers and nearly dropped dead:
"I was very sorry to hear about your accident." - Michel Jackson.
That is not a typo, that is exactly how the card was signed, and, being almost 10 years old, it didn't tip me off as to its validity.
And as if flowers from The King of Pop weren't enough, when I peered into the brown paper bag (again, the fact that these items were delivered to me in true wino fashion did not raise a red flag), I nearly lost my mind. A pair of starch-white socks with glittery speckles and a single white glove. I went to my room and slipped them on, Michael in his yellow sweater vest and bow tie looking on.
I think I might still have that glove, somewhere. I definitely have the card.
The cast came off shortly before my tenth birthday, but my love for Michael lived on. At my MJ-themed party, my girl friends and I huddled in the living room and watched Thriller for the first time, two years after it's debut. Then we made an ill attempt at the Thriller dance in the yard and admired my Michael Jackson cake - the image of him, again, in his yellow sweater vest, almost too beautiful to eat. But we were 10, and hungry. It was one of the best birthdays ever.
Don't know if you did what they say you did, but rest in peace, MJ.
My Top 10 Favorite Michael Jackson songs, in no particular order. :
1) Thriller
2) The Girl is Mine (with Paul McCartney)
3) PYT - Pretty Young Thing
4) Beat It (because my little brother used to break dance on top of the washing machine to this song).
5) The theme song to the movie, Free Willy.
6) Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
7) Billie Jean
8) The Way You Make Me Feel
9) Wanna Be Startin' Something
10) Smooth Criminal
In elementary school, I was a huge MJ maniac. Posters covered every inch of my wall. (Of course, this was before NKOTB came onto the scene and dethroned Jackson for me.) The summer I turned 10, my right arm was in a cast up to my shoulder, an odd and ill-timed biking accident. (I was trying to do a skid in the left-over winter street sand on a three-speed.) A couple of days after my accident, a flower-delivery truck pulled up in front of our old house on Pinnery Avenue. The doorbell rang. A man was standing there with a basket or bouquet of flowers - I can't remember what variety - and a brown paper bag. My mother said they were for me.
I opened the little card attached to the flowers and nearly dropped dead:
"I was very sorry to hear about your accident." - Michel Jackson.
That is not a typo, that is exactly how the card was signed, and, being almost 10 years old, it didn't tip me off as to its validity.
And as if flowers from The King of Pop weren't enough, when I peered into the brown paper bag (again, the fact that these items were delivered to me in true wino fashion did not raise a red flag), I nearly lost my mind. A pair of starch-white socks with glittery speckles and a single white glove. I went to my room and slipped them on, Michael in his yellow sweater vest and bow tie looking on.
I think I might still have that glove, somewhere. I definitely have the card.
The cast came off shortly before my tenth birthday, but my love for Michael lived on. At my MJ-themed party, my girl friends and I huddled in the living room and watched Thriller for the first time, two years after it's debut. Then we made an ill attempt at the Thriller dance in the yard and admired my Michael Jackson cake - the image of him, again, in his yellow sweater vest, almost too beautiful to eat. But we were 10, and hungry. It was one of the best birthdays ever.
Don't know if you did what they say you did, but rest in peace, MJ.
My Top 10 Favorite Michael Jackson songs, in no particular order. :
1) Thriller
2) The Girl is Mine (with Paul McCartney)
3) PYT - Pretty Young Thing
4) Beat It (because my little brother used to break dance on top of the washing machine to this song).
5) The theme song to the movie, Free Willy.
6) Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
7) Billie Jean
8) The Way You Make Me Feel
9) Wanna Be Startin' Something
10) Smooth Criminal
24 March 2009
He's Here!
Colin Richard Curran
Born 3/19/09; 9:27pm
7 lbs 4 oz
Black hair; blue eyes
22 hours of labor ensued; VBAC failed; born via c-section; result the same: a beautiful baby boy!
14 March 2009
The Waiting Game
If I had stuck to the plan, baby #2 would be here, already a ripe 36 hours old. BUT, being an indecisive person, and one who waits until the final possible moment to switch things up, I postponed my repeat cesarean until NEXT Friday. I wanted to give him a chance to come on his own, but was too chicken to make the full commitment to the VBAC.
Now, of course, I am terrified that I will go into labor. It's almost like I am having a baby for the first time.
Because I never really went into labor before they had to perform emergency surgery the first time, I haven't a clue what to expect should I go into labor this time. But I have to lay in the bed I have made. So now we are just playing the waiting game.
In any event, baby Curran will be here by Friday, March 20, regardless of the method in which he makes it into this world.
Now, of course, I am terrified that I will go into labor. It's almost like I am having a baby for the first time.
Because I never really went into labor before they had to perform emergency surgery the first time, I haven't a clue what to expect should I go into labor this time. But I have to lay in the bed I have made. So now we are just playing the waiting game.
In any event, baby Curran will be here by Friday, March 20, regardless of the method in which he makes it into this world.
04 March 2009
25 Facts About This Pregnancy
In just 9 days, a new baby will be born into this family. In the spirit of all those "25 things" notes going around on Facebook, I decided to give you, "25 Facts Surrounding My Second Pregnancy and Second Child." In no particular order, here they are.
1. Due Date: March 20; Planned C-Section: March 13
2. It's a boy!
3. For some reason, I feel incredibly guilty about above-mentioned C-section. Perhaps because I can't seem to get away from all the inferences that I should not be having a C-section.
4. I keep a bottle of Tums tucked underneath my pillow all times. The heartburn and reflux are so bad this time around, it's like a ball of liquid fire in my throat. Perhaps the Heartburn Fairy will come and take it away and leave in its place the $222 million winning lottery ticket.
5. Despite my best intentions, and the fact that I went to the gym through my 8th month, I still gained too much weight.
6. I am currently at the stage when my appendages resemble overstuffed sausages.
7. The good news: I was able to wear my wedding rings through month 8; last time I made it only to month 3.
8. Another piece of good news: During my last pregnancy, we were new in town, and our local friends were few and far between. This time, I have a good group of friends to help maintain my sanity.
9. I have learned that perfection is impossible: sometimes good enough is enough.
10. Nine days to go, and the nursery is not done. See #8.
11. I will not go into depression mode if I cannot breastfeed. I hope.
12. Last night I cried - full on sobbing - because my first-born wanted to play and I am too fat to get on the floor with him.
13. None of my maternity clothes fit me anymore; I am relegated to the house wearing husband's sweat pants and maternity half-shirts.
14. Monthly Napa Valley wine shipments: $90 per month; a full wine cabinet due to husband's 9-month wine abstinence: priceless!
15. We have decided to keep the name (mostly) secret until the baby is born. So don't even ask!
16. THIS time, I will send out cutesy birth announcements. Who said it's the second child who always gets the short end of the stick.
17. I cannot wait to see Braedan's face the first time he sees his new baby brother...
18. However, I am prepared for my son's adverse reaction once he realizes his brother is here to stay, and is not some myth we have been talking up for 9 months. "When does he go back?" "I liked it when it was just me and you" and "I don't want to be a big brother anymore" are all remarks I fully expect to have to deal with.
19. I am already dreading the grocery bill that will come as a result of living with three males.
20. I need to come up with a plan of attack for losing weight once the baby is born. Step 1: Quit eating so much.
21. I have been told by even the most driven of my friends that I am crazy for not taking any time off my part-time, work-from-home editing/writing job once the baby is born.
22. Thank goodness we now have digital cable and DVR.
23. To videotape or not to videotape? That is the question.
24. For a week now, husband has been asking me to pack a bag. I still have yet to do it.
25. I am secretly (well, not anymore) hoping that I go into labor before next Friday!
1. Due Date: March 20; Planned C-Section: March 13
2. It's a boy!
3. For some reason, I feel incredibly guilty about above-mentioned C-section. Perhaps because I can't seem to get away from all the inferences that I should not be having a C-section.
4. I keep a bottle of Tums tucked underneath my pillow all times. The heartburn and reflux are so bad this time around, it's like a ball of liquid fire in my throat. Perhaps the Heartburn Fairy will come and take it away and leave in its place the $222 million winning lottery ticket.
5. Despite my best intentions, and the fact that I went to the gym through my 8th month, I still gained too much weight.
6. I am currently at the stage when my appendages resemble overstuffed sausages.
7. The good news: I was able to wear my wedding rings through month 8; last time I made it only to month 3.
8. Another piece of good news: During my last pregnancy, we were new in town, and our local friends were few and far between. This time, I have a good group of friends to help maintain my sanity.
9. I have learned that perfection is impossible: sometimes good enough is enough.
10. Nine days to go, and the nursery is not done. See #8.
11. I will not go into depression mode if I cannot breastfeed. I hope.
12. Last night I cried - full on sobbing - because my first-born wanted to play and I am too fat to get on the floor with him.
13. None of my maternity clothes fit me anymore; I am relegated to the house wearing husband's sweat pants and maternity half-shirts.
14. Monthly Napa Valley wine shipments: $90 per month; a full wine cabinet due to husband's 9-month wine abstinence: priceless!
15. We have decided to keep the name (mostly) secret until the baby is born. So don't even ask!
16. THIS time, I will send out cutesy birth announcements. Who said it's the second child who always gets the short end of the stick.
17. I cannot wait to see Braedan's face the first time he sees his new baby brother...
18. However, I am prepared for my son's adverse reaction once he realizes his brother is here to stay, and is not some myth we have been talking up for 9 months. "When does he go back?" "I liked it when it was just me and you" and "I don't want to be a big brother anymore" are all remarks I fully expect to have to deal with.
19. I am already dreading the grocery bill that will come as a result of living with three males.
20. I need to come up with a plan of attack for losing weight once the baby is born. Step 1: Quit eating so much.
21. I have been told by even the most driven of my friends that I am crazy for not taking any time off my part-time, work-from-home editing/writing job once the baby is born.
22. Thank goodness we now have digital cable and DVR.
23. To videotape or not to videotape? That is the question.
24. For a week now, husband has been asking me to pack a bag. I still have yet to do it.
25. I am secretly (well, not anymore) hoping that I go into labor before next Friday!
21 January 2009
Saddened
Recently, an acquaintance of mine - a fellow blogger; a famously talented, funny, poignant and cool chick - was diagnosed with a terrible disease. Breast Cancer. When I first read the news on her blog, I cried. How could this happen to such a vibrant, YOUNG woman, the mother of two adorable little kids, whose exploits and escapades are painstakingly and hilariously outlined on her blog (along with those of their slightly overweight pooch, Vito).
We don't know each other well - at all. I think I have met Kate only once, but, I have long since admired her for her incredible ability for the written word. (Seriously, Kate, you NEED to write a book.) For reasons beyond my understanding, her diagnosis has hit me rather hard. Perhaps it is because we are roughly the same age (and not to mention beautiful and talented). Maybe it's because I have read about her healthy eating and yoga habits, and thought to myself, "This is enough." Or maybe it's because, despite my assertion that "so many women" seem to get breast cancer, I have never really known someone personally who has been diagnosed with it. And if I had to guess, I never, IN A MILLION YEARS, would have guessed this woman would get breast cancer.
Now, I have one more reason to admire Kate. On her blog, she has, with a sense of humor I do not think I would have the strength to muster, openly discussed her discovery, diagnosis and intimate thoughts of the "palpable mass" she herself discovered while playing with her daughter. Again, while I don't know Kate well at all, I said to our mutual friend that if anyone can get through it, it's Kate. I just know this. I feel it because I can sense it through her words. She has a strength and an outlook on life that is unmatched by anyone I have before met.
Thinking of you and your family, Kate. And knowing you will battle breast cancer - and WIN.
We don't know each other well - at all. I think I have met Kate only once, but, I have long since admired her for her incredible ability for the written word. (Seriously, Kate, you NEED to write a book.) For reasons beyond my understanding, her diagnosis has hit me rather hard. Perhaps it is because we are roughly the same age (and not to mention beautiful and talented). Maybe it's because I have read about her healthy eating and yoga habits, and thought to myself, "This is enough." Or maybe it's because, despite my assertion that "so many women" seem to get breast cancer, I have never really known someone personally who has been diagnosed with it. And if I had to guess, I never, IN A MILLION YEARS, would have guessed this woman would get breast cancer.
Now, I have one more reason to admire Kate. On her blog, she has, with a sense of humor I do not think I would have the strength to muster, openly discussed her discovery, diagnosis and intimate thoughts of the "palpable mass" she herself discovered while playing with her daughter. Again, while I don't know Kate well at all, I said to our mutual friend that if anyone can get through it, it's Kate. I just know this. I feel it because I can sense it through her words. She has a strength and an outlook on life that is unmatched by anyone I have before met.
Thinking of you and your family, Kate. And knowing you will battle breast cancer - and WIN.
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