Boring Monday

Monday's are traditionally low-key around here, so I "decided" to liven things up with a trip to the ER.  While slicing some bread, the knife slipped and I came away with a nice gash to my finger.  I ran some water over it, grabbed a paper towel to apply pressure, and it still wouldn't stop bleeding.  So I called Kevin to come back home and drive me to a medically approved facility where they take care of such things.  Off we went to Walnut Creek (45 min. away since anything urgent care closes at 5 pm.  How ridiculous is that?  And it's ridiculous that there isn't a hospital closer to Livermore.  But whatever; that's an issue for another day) and their ER services.  Thankfully it was a quiet-ish night for them, and we were there for only an hour after we checked in.  The result? No stitches, just some fancy gluing to keep it closed.  And I came away with some additional packets of cool hospital glue to reapply myself if needed.  It's pretty ugly looking, and if it were closer to Halloween, I'd definitely be incorporating this into a costume.  But it's not, so I'm just walking around with an ugly finger.    

Dead Leg

Last night I had the realization that the kid is literally getting on my nerves.  I've been having fairly constant pain, numbness, and tingling in my left leg the past week or so, and it is because the baby is sitting (standing? jumping? punching? tap-dancing?) on my sciatica.  My in-depth research (using the search function on the Kaiser website) led me to this self-diagnosis.  Plus, all those baby classes we took told us this was a possibility.  Now I just need to learn how to walk with a leg that suddenly goes dead out from under me.  It is an interesting feat.  

Busted

Driving home from my friends house last night, there were suddenly some flashing red and blue lights in my rearview mirror.  Apparently my left tail light was out, and I got a fix-it ticket.  Which doesn't go on my record unless I don't do anything to fix the issue in two months (I've already told Kevin he has this as a project tomorrow), so my ticket-less record still holds!

But in grand style, when they asked for my registration, I had it still in the sealed envelope from the DMV, on my passenger seat, and not yet on my car.  I couldn't find my current insurance information,  and all I could find in my glove box were several expired registrations.  It was pathetic.  I did pull the "I'm eight months pregnant and have no brain" card, and I think that combined with the glove box mess made them take pity on me.

Giving it up

We started talking about it awhile ago, and finally made the big move over the weekend; we cancelled our cable and house phone.  We're not going completely off the grid.  We still have internet (hence the possibility of this blog post), and signed up for HuluPlus and upgraded our Netflix to include streaming.  Kevin has some magic resources (legal? not-so-legal? I don't ask too many questions) that he uses to download most of the TV shows we watch, so we're still keeping up with pop culture.  We're just trying to save a little money, have cell phones, and don't really need all 5 billion channels that come with cable.  General Conference is streaming online, for heaven's sake, and most stuff is available online.  And really, if you I want to talk to you (or you want to talk to me), you have my cell phone number.  Or we're FB friends.  Or you read this blog.  Or you know my email address.  I'm reachable in oh, so many ways.  See?  I'm still connected.  I just don't have cable anymore.  Or a house phone.  But its not like I used it that much, anyway.    

Cravings

With this pregnancy, I have experienced some random cravings.  It started with red meat.  I like red meat; always have and (hopefully) always will.  It was a random thing for me to eat, though.  I didn't have it too terribly often.  But then I got pregnant and I NEEDED it every other day.  I probably ate more steak in one month than I do in an entire year.  I'm sure my arteries were thrilled.  Then it was In N' Out.  It is fine as a fast food place.  I don't eat fast food very often, and I'm not someone who thinks In N' Out is the most fantastic hamburger on the face of this planet.  I can take them or leave them.  But it became something I had to have on a weekly basis.  Sometimes twice a week.  And no other hamburger or hamburger joint would do.  It had to be In N' Out.  Again, weird for me.  But that craving went away and now I'm left with a desire for sweets.  I want ice cream for dinner (I partially attribute this to the heat of summer) and bake a ton more than I used to.  Although it has given me an excuse to try some recipes I've had on the back burner for awhile.  

I'm going to be happy to go back to my regularly scheduled program of eating.  I'm not a picky eater and am not really a fan of only wanting these specific foods.  I'm ready to be able to branch out again and be flexible in what's for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

Ikea

I am feeling a weird desire to wander around Ikea and have a mid-browsing food break in their in-store cafe.  I've never eaten at Ikea, which is somewhat sad and surprising for a person who lived with Meredith Black for two years.  The girl is an expert on Ikea and their cafe.  So, are there any recommendations for when I give in to my desire on the Ikea situation?  What should I try? What should I stay away from?

Wildflowers

We gave out wildflower seeds at our wedding (two years ago) and finally got around to planting some of the leftover seeds. They still have a ways to go, but are looking so pretty!

Early Training

I am 32 years old, have graduated with a Master's degree and done some post-grad work, held down a full-time job since I was 23 (part-time before that), and lived on my own for a number of years.  I tell you this because I am an adult; have been one and considered one for years.  But I still go into grocery stores and, if I'm not pushing the cart, am hanging on to its side, because that is what the rule was when we went grocery shopping with Mom and/or Dad when we (my brothers and I) were little.  When I go into an art gallery, museum, or a store with A LOT of breakables (like an antique store), I still automatically fold my arms or put my hands in my pockets.  That was the rule when we went into stores like that when I was little.  It's an automatic habit; a sort of subliminal message left over from childhood that has entered into my subconscious when I am in those places.  I let go of the cart, and I gesture towards artwork or pick up breakables to get a closer look at them, but my first instinct and almost constant habit is to fall back on my early childhood training.  

It will be interesting to see what habits this kid picks up and takes with her to the future, subconsciously. 

Know-it-alls

We finished the last of the recommended baby classes last night, so according to Kaiser, we know everything there is to know about babies, childbirth, and how to keep sane. I wish they gave out certificates. That would be a fun one to hang on the wall and laugh at.

Livermorium

There are some new elements on the periodic table, apparently.  And no. 116 was created at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (where Kevin works...though not on this type of thing, but still).  So welcome livermorium, the latest element to be added to the periodic table.  It was created by smashing some atoms together and, once created, disintegrates quickly.  I'm not sure what the point is, but hey, I'm willing to bet it's important somehow, someway, to someone.  And Livermore is famous.  Sort of.  In certain circles.  This time for more than just me living here.

A few changes...

It is with some sadness that I report that I only have three pairs of shoes that fit me right now; a pair of tennis shoes, my flip-flops, and some open-back sandals (they are, however, pretty and kind of sparkly). My high-heels hurt my legs and my feet are too swollen for all my flats.  It is kind of devastating.  In addition, I am only able to put my rings on and take them off during certain parts of the day.  If I don't put them on early enough in the morning, my fingers have already swollen too much to get them on.  I can't take them off without liberal helpings of soap and cold water until around 10:30 or 11 pm when it cools down a little and my sausage fingers go back to a somewhat normal size.  I am pondering just giving up wearing the rings altogether, but then I think my hands look weird without them.  Hopefully everything goes back to normal after birth, because I'd hate to get my rings re-sized and have to start over on my shoe collection.  It took me a long time to build that up, and I really do enjoy all my shoe options.     

Accessories

This kid has already collected an impressive amount of hair accessories. And I love them; I can't wait to see her in them. But I needed a way to store them, so thanks to the magic of Pintrest, I found a little project. I like how it turned out and am still amazed at the sheer number of hair accessory options the kid has. Even I don't have that many.