No Thank You

I just read an article on babycenter.com (coolest place to go for week-by-week information on pregnancy) and they have this article on what Dads should expect for labor. It talks all about contractions and how to time them. I read it and it is totally freaking me out - so I'm sure it's going to freak Wes out.

It goes on and on about the stages of labor. I have decided, after a thorough investigation of labor, that I don't want any part of it.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_a-childbirth-cheat-sheet-for-dads-to-be_8244.bc

So there! No seriously - can I just say "no thank you" I don't really want to go into labor. There's got to be an easier way to have a baby than all this....

Oh PS - babycenter.com (who is alway right) said that at 31 weeks I am to expect to be pummeled tirelessly by my kid. Well done, Holden - you're right on track obviously.

31 Weeks How your baby's growing:

This week, your baby measures about 16 inches long. He weighs a little over 3 pounds and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Mazda Race Team

I did this race event thing at my work for the Mazda race team - they showed with RX-8's and MX-5's and signed helmets, etc. Anyway - this is just a funny picture of them all laughing at me trying to get into and fit in a race car. It was so tiny and my belly got in the way. Anyway it was a fun event but I don't think that Holden and I are destined for Nascar.

Growing Exponentially Each Day

Here is my belly at 7 months - after giving it a good hard scratching obviously. Seriously, my stomach itches like crazy. But anyway just charting my progress, though I seriously need to take another picture because it's growing exponentially now.

Holden is fierce. I woke up Monday morning feeling like I had broken ribs on the right side. He kicked or punched (not quite sure) me all night long I'm guessing and it has taken three full days for me to recover enough to laugh out loud without pain. I have to sit straight up or he comes at me with his flailing limbs.

Other than that and a few nasty flu bugs I've caught lately - all is going well. My doctor is having me come in every two weeks now and I get to have another ultra sound next week! Maybe this time I'll be able to make out something (other than the obvious heart beat).

My 10 Year HS Reunion Wasn't Terrible!

I'm not quite sure why I was so wary of going to my ten year high school reunion.....maybe it's because when Wes talks about his HS experience it sounds like light and fluffy pancakes - and yet when I think about the things that my friends and I dealt with it sounds so much more dense.

Not that I didn't have fun - I'm sure I did....maybe it's because I'm a girl and girls have such complex emotions that no matter what age we are things are intense for us. Here is a group shot of my closest friends in HS. I love them dearly. Aren't they beautiful?

I'm definitely glad the night was "just nice" - everyone was nice to each other, no hostility or lame pretense. Everyone was just nice. And Wes was incredible given the fact that I totally ditched him the entire night- he just hung out and made talk with the other husbands/boyfriends and entertained himself by playing BrickBreaker on his phone. I can't imagine me being so easy when he has his 10 year reunion - he was class president so I'm in for a real treat :)

"I had a dream, I had an awesome dream"

So Amber and I were out to dinner last night and had a wonderful conversation about music. I have come to realize that I can no longer berate her for listening to her guilty pleasures in as much as she recognizes the fact that they are guilty (very guilty).

This got me thinking about how my guiltiest of musical pleasures compare to hers. As I sat over my pizza in a kind of calm horror, I realized that there's some crap out there that I absolutely love.

Exhibit A: Lionel Richie
Uh, hello? How can anyone deny "Ballerina Girl," "Hello," "Penny Lover," "Stuck on You," "All Night Long," "Say You, Say Me," "Dancing on the Ceiling," or "3 Times a Lady?"
Answer: you can't.

There was a restaurant in Bulgaria that I frequently frequented for one reason only - they played nothing but Lionel Richie's greatest hits. It never got old. His voice is butter. His fro dominates. His popped collar is the only reason guys who try to do the same aren't instantly damned to perdition. He can wear white pants any month of the year.



Exhibit B: Hall & Oates
Talk about Ebony and Ivory - move the eff over, Sinatra and Stevie! And will my crush on crooners with lusciously huge hair ever end?
We're talking about "Private Eyes," "Kiss On My List," "You Make My Dreams," "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)," "Out of Touch," and of course "Maneater."

I've never seen one member of a duo (John Oates) be so content with being such a minor part of the band before.

Here, watch this YouTube video of "Private Eyes" for heaven's sake! Aren't they the cutest little guys you've ever seen? Isn't it so adorable how John Oates blinks his eyes so big, or Daryl Hall had probably practiced that spin move in front of the mirror for hours just to get it down?

Exhibit C: KD Lang
You probably didn't think I'd go that guilty, huh? Well, to be fair, it's mainly just one song by KD Lang. I don't know why, but I could listen to "Constant Craving" all day.

I think it's the sweeping end of each verse, the ebbing and flowing accordion, and KD Lang's tonally gorgeous and soft voice that moves me, because it's definitely not Ms. Lang moving me - lesbians aren't my cup of tea.

Here's the video, which isn't that bad, if you can get past the fact that she could be Paul Reubens' double.

There are plenty more, but I don't want to incriminate myself to much. Plus, too many such revelations could be too much for some of you.

And lastly, today's my favorite wife's birthday, and I love her so much! We're going to Lugano's tonight - sucks that I'll have KD Lang in my head the whole evening.

...and a curse on Anna

Here's the comment from the recipient of my ever-faithful hubstituting, Anna Shirley, regarding my wife's recent entry about my Bob Dylan concert foray:

In our case Anna, Amber usually does like the songs Bob Dylan writes.
(SCORE - Bob: 01 Anna: 00)
And further more, the Indigo Girls aren't worthy to listen to Bob Dylan, let alone cover such a righteous, righteous song such as "Tangled Up in Blue."
(SCORE - Bob: 02 Anna: -1)
I am, however, channeling the angst of Bob champions such as Paul Merten, so this could be considered ganging up on poor Anna.
(SCORE - Bob: 02 Anna: 00)
And, if asked whom I loved more out of these two intellectual heavyweights, I'd answer 10 times out of 10, "Anna."
(SCORE - Bob: 02 Anna: 01)

It was a close one, Anna, but Bob won. Everyone, can't we just agree that Bob paints one of the most concrete and personal narratives ever in this song? Yeah, Bob's voice is a bizarre acquired taste, but at least it's not a dime-a-dozen pop "maven" like Kelly Clarkson (sorry, Amber - I had to) or pseudo-emotional drivel like the stylings of that one "Delilah" song.

Here, take a listen (or re-listen) and hear for yourself:
Bob Dylan - Tangled Up in Blue

May 9th called - it wants its blog entry back

It's been four months since that incredible Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals where the Jazz beat the Warriors 127 to 117 in overtime because of the heroics of LDS apostle Robert D. Hales.
Wait, you didn't know about the incredible, clutch performance of The Haleacious One (the nickname given to him by L. Tom Perry)?

The Energy Solutions Arena's lower bowl was littered with baby blue, in honor of the infantile nature of the arch rival of The Haleacious One's alma mater.

I was able to round up a couple suite tickets (in the Citadel Broadcasting suite). My date for the evening, Jonathan, was casting his best jinx on the Golden State Warriors (see left). They were the upstart braggarts of the 2007 NBA Playoffs and the Jazz were about to serve them some humble pie.


The game was an intense affair, punctuated by the noticeable loss of starting 2-guard Derek Fisher. The arena was on edge, but there was a peculiar calm coming from the suite directly to the right of us. I couldn't put my finger on the particular brand of assuredness emanating from the small group.

As the fourth quarter came to an end, the tension was reaching a palpable climax. The Jazz were putting together a historic late game rally, spurned by the sudden appearance of Derek Fisher, direct from New York. I would later find out the the viewing television audience knew that he was en route, but we in the area had no idea that Fish would emerge from the sea of the Big Apple in time to see any action. After some huge missed opportunities by the Warriors and some stifling defense and a key 3-pointer from Fish, the Jazz forced an Overtime decision. There was something too perfect, almost scripted about the entire affair. The Jazz came out firing in the opening minute of the Overtime period and a win was never in doubt - a suitable yet subtle denouement that was definitely story book.

It wasn't until the waning minutes of OT that I realized why such a perfect playoff game was unfolding in the dramatic fashion it was. Gazing into the adjacent suite, I zeroed in on the source - the reason - for the Jazz's victory that night. The apostle Robert D. Hales was sitting there, stoic and confident, as if willing - no, controlling the entire outcome of the game. What I and tens of thousands of others were witness to that night was a miracle - a great and eternal plan to reward the Jazz and their fan base for years of faithful devotion after the Fall of Stockton and Malone to the ever-selfish deceiver, Michael Jordan.