Wow, another Christmas has rolled around. Right off the bat I can say that this Christmas is definitely better than the last. This time last year I was asleep getting ready to head to the airport for an early morning flight to head back to Jamaica after a five day stay with J in Louisiana. He was going to drop me to the airport then head to work for a 12-hour shift. And two days ago we had just found out that I was pregnant. We didn't know when next we'd be able to see each other again, and we certainly didn't know if and when I would be able to migrate.
Thankfully, this year is a lot different. We're here in our new home. The Munchkin is sleeping sweetly in her room. Her Dad is having a ball playing Star Wars: Republic Commando, a gift from our neighbours. And her Mom is being a kid again and avidly watching Santa's progress at NoradTracksSanta.com. We've got cards, we've got presents under the tree, we've got a poinsettia and holly bed-in-a-bag and we've got my Mom's Christmas punch, but most important, we've got each other all together for our first Christmas as a family.
Here's wishing you all a Merry Christmas and the happiest and most blessed of New Years, from our family, to yours.
The Mad White Jamaican
Discovered this on You Tube, had me and J in stitches... Let me know whether you think he's really Jamaican or not!
Hevaen and Hell
No, this won't be a deeply theological or philosophical piece, just something that found it's way into my Junk Mail that hit a chord.
A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like. " The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.
In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, "You have seen Hell."
They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.
The holy man said, "I don't understand." " It is simple" said the Lord, "it requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."
I've been reading a lot of Medieval romance novels lately and I guess the contrast between then and now that doesn't put modern days in a positive light is that back then people worked together a lot more. I guess it may have mostly been because if they didn't work together they wouldn't survive but from that cooperation I'm sure there were instances where people helped each other and worked together just because of a genuine desire to do so. Today we live in a world - at least in the West - where each individual or family is more likely to be an island onto themselves.
Especially here in America, you can live somewhere and never know your neighbours name. It's bad but I only met my neighbours wife maybe 3 weeks ago and I've been here since June. (Mind you we live in split building type housing.) And I remember at our last base in similar housing, I'd mistakenly received my neighbour's mail and when I went to carry it over and introduce myself in the same go, the man cracked the screen door, mumbled hello, snatched the letter and shut the door in my face.
Such is life I guess, but it's so sad.
A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like. " The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.
In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, "You have seen Hell."
They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.
The holy man said, "I don't understand." " It is simple" said the Lord, "it requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."
I've been reading a lot of Medieval romance novels lately and I guess the contrast between then and now that doesn't put modern days in a positive light is that back then people worked together a lot more. I guess it may have mostly been because if they didn't work together they wouldn't survive but from that cooperation I'm sure there were instances where people helped each other and worked together just because of a genuine desire to do so. Today we live in a world - at least in the West - where each individual or family is more likely to be an island onto themselves.
Especially here in America, you can live somewhere and never know your neighbours name. It's bad but I only met my neighbours wife maybe 3 weeks ago and I've been here since June. (Mind you we live in split building type housing.) And I remember at our last base in similar housing, I'd mistakenly received my neighbour's mail and when I went to carry it over and introduce myself in the same go, the man cracked the screen door, mumbled hello, snatched the letter and shut the door in my face.
Such is life I guess, but it's so sad.
Taking Time
My Aunt P recently visited with us for Thanksgiving... well, actually to come and see the little one for the first time. Thanksgiving was just a bonus. I love seeing my AP because she's my Mom's younger sister and it's always nice to hear stories about my Mom, but as my relationship with my Aunt has grown since my Mom passed I've come to love my AP more as her own person. Not sure if that makes sense, but to me it's now more of liking AP for her stories and the way she sees the world and the advice she imparts, as well as her being a link to my Mom.
One of the biggest things she left with me this time (apart from the amazing olive oil tip!) is the value of taking time to look after yourself. Yes, I eat healthy (or do my best to *eyeing cookie box on kitchen counter*) and I get enough rest but my AP taught me the value for taking time for myself. As always, nothing puts things into perspective like having a baby and I suppose it took Moo to make me understand that it's not a timewasting indulgence to pamper myself - and it doesn't have to be in a big way either.
Mind you I wouldn't mind being able to jet off to a weekend spa retreat but part of being a mom is definitely being practical and my AP helped here as well by showing me loads of little things that I can do (to be honest I'm not quite sure she realizes the big impact she had!). So these days my home smells like a delightful mix of McIntosh apples, cranberries, sandalwood and a wonderful Yankee Candle fragrance called 'Home Sweet Home'. In the evenings while J clicks away at the computer, I've stopped staring at his back waiting for him to make conversation, I either initiate talk-time myself, or I snuggle in the couch with a good book and a glass of wine, enjoying the play of the lights on the Christmas tree. And I give myself a mini-spa treatment every bath time with flavours like Mango and Bath & Body Work's delicious Japanese Cherry Blossom.
Yup, life is simple... but life is good.
Yup, life is simple... but life is good.
Isn't this ornament precious? I found it at Dillard's last week :)
Dutty Wine Drama
Am I the only one who thinks that today's Jamaica Observer Editorial Cartoon is just the business? LOL I remember seeing the front page of a Star back in June that said that doctors were alledged warning of the fatal dangers of doing the 'Dutty Wine' - the dance that goes along with the Tony Matterhorn hit track of the same name. Lots of discussion ensued but it all faded away because we decided that while you could probably strain your neck, doing the dance - even on your head top - probably wouldn't result in anything except some nasty bruising and a sore back. Enter yesterday's Observer that an autopsy is to been done on the body of a teen in the dutty wine dance (click here for the story) alledging that the girl involved may have "experienced dizziness as a result of decreased blood flow to the brain, which could have caused a blackout and subsequent trauma to the brain". Interesting but tragic development...
Success!
A second ago it dawned on me that if I wait until I "have time" to sit and do a long blog post then you all might never hear from me again! So although I know the Miss is supposed to wake up any minute now, I'm going to hammer off a short post because this is reall great news!Well, J and I have been in the process of filing for my permanent residency here and this month marked a succesful end to what has been a two year process. Now I know in the grand scheme of things and the way immigration matters go, two years is a really short time, but because I wasn't allowed to live in the US meanwhile everything was being processed, J and I have been apart for most of our marriage! (Thankfully we have credit cards and J had lots of leave stored up.)
So finally I'm not only back in the States, but as my friend just said on MSN I'm also "finally stable". Don't worry though, I definitely know that foreign is not a bed of roses and to be honest migrating is bittersweet... let's face it, there's nothing to match the extended family and friend network we both have in Jamaica, and the way of life on the rock might be hard and unsafe at times but there's a level of comfort there that you'll never experience anywhere else.
Anyway, on that note let me sign off... but not before adding that the Miss' first Halloween was a blast. I decked her out in her Milky Moo costume and she was so tired that she pretty much just chilled and slept meanwhile we trick or treated with my friends and their kids. Well, time to nap while I can.
Ciao.
Bumps in the road III
Those of you who've been reading my blog from the start of the year may remember my posts about sticking to the RWD class, even though it's the harder road less travelled? Well this is definitely taking some perseverance, but at the same time this dexterity season has been remarkably rewarding. How can the season be rewarding when I haven't won anything since the first dexterity - had my teeth kicked out at dex 2, had to sit out dex 3 because I was over 6 months pregnant and had third place snatched from my near to the end of the day last Sunday at dex 4. Dismal, right?
Not if you look at the bigger picture...
This is what I call losing the battle but winning the war. It definitely brings home how understanding the rules and working with the system can help in the long run.
Mind you, I still want to be within 10 seconds of the leaders on any given dexterity and I still have a sick feeling in my stomach having missed out on any trophies in the grand finale (I placed 5th in RWD and 4th in the Lady Driver class) but my driving is improving. On Sunday no one said that I was driving slowly, which is usually the first thing I hear. And I could feel that I was driving faster. I mean I was launching off the line, I had to car up as close to red lining as I could go and not sit on the line spining tyres... I charged into some corners at a speed where I swore the car would understeer but kinda knew in the back of my mind that it wouldn't... (simple logic, other people had to be going faster than I was to make those hellishly fast time therefore my speed would not equal a mishap! lol).
But anyway, the end result of this season is two trophies and the understanding that to master RWD and to be the first female to do so will take time.
PS - To everyone who helped out with Moo on Sunday, all the Uncles and Aunties... thanks a million! It really does take a village to raise a child :-)
Blog History
Not if you look at the bigger picture...
This is what I call losing the battle but winning the war. It definitely brings home how understanding the rules and working with the system can help in the long run.
Mind you, I still want to be within 10 seconds of the leaders on any given dexterity and I still have a sick feeling in my stomach having missed out on any trophies in the grand finale (I placed 5th in RWD and 4th in the Lady Driver class) but my driving is improving. On Sunday no one said that I was driving slowly, which is usually the first thing I hear. And I could feel that I was driving faster. I mean I was launching off the line, I had to car up as close to red lining as I could go and not sit on the line spining tyres... I charged into some corners at a speed where I swore the car would understeer but kinda knew in the back of my mind that it wouldn't... (simple logic, other people had to be going faster than I was to make those hellishly fast time therefore my speed would not equal a mishap! lol).
But anyway, the end result of this season is two trophies and the understanding that to master RWD and to be the first female to do so will take time.
PS - To everyone who helped out with Moo on Sunday, all the Uncles and Aunties... thanks a million! It really does take a village to raise a child :-)
Blog History
- Casualty: One Tyre Valve http://youmewordsablog2.blogspot.com/2006/02/casualty-one-tyre-valve.html
- Bumps along the road I http://youmewordsablog2.blogspot.com/2006/02/bumps-along-road.html
- Mijn auto dromen http://youmewordsablog2.blogspot.com/2006/02/mijn-auto-dromen.html
- Bumps in the road II http://youmewordsablog2.blogspot.com/2006/03/bumps-in-road.html
One of his better parodies
This is definitely one of Weird Al's funnier parody's. For those who don't know this is a take on Chamillionaire's track Ridin' Dirty.
- Mood: worried, Moo gets her first immunization today
- Music: hum of the PC fan
The First Milestones
While it didn't feel that way while we were going through it... the first six weeks have gone by in a the blink of an eye. Last week J was greeted by his first broad gummy smile from our little Miss and she's been cracking me up nightly smiling and imitating nursing in her sleep. At almost 11lbs and 22 1/2" she had my midwife saying that I must have "tiger's milk" because Moo is developing so beautifully. We really do have to give thanks that we stayed sane and just continuing praying that we'll keep it together in the days and months to come!- Mood: tired but grateful and happy
- Music: E! True Hollywood Story - Society Girls
The Ultimate Job
Your ultimate job as a mother is to prepare your children to leave you. Parenting Magazine (Sep 2006)
Parenting is definitely the ultimate job, but while I agree with that statement, I've got to add that preparing your child to stand on their own two feet should be the biggest job for both parents. I remember about two weeks before my Mom passed away we were having our weekly Sunday telephone conversation (I was away at university) and she said, "You know what? I can go now. I've seen you through the worst." Naturally I scoffed at her for being morbid. But as I hold our Milk Monster and pump her legs to help her work out her gas, I see what all those 'life lessons' my Mom liked to impart were about. They ranged from ones handed down from her own mother like "Don't be afraid of anyone because everyone puts on their underwear one foot at a time" to mainstays like "Those who know better, do better." And now I'm glad that I'd started writing them down in a little Quote Book along with other meaningful sayings.
Parenting is definitely the ultimate job, but while I agree with that statement, I've got to add that preparing your child to stand on their own two feet should be the biggest job for both parents. I remember about two weeks before my Mom passed away we were having our weekly Sunday telephone conversation (I was away at university) and she said, "You know what? I can go now. I've seen you through the worst." Naturally I scoffed at her for being morbid. But as I hold our Milk Monster and pump her legs to help her work out her gas, I see what all those 'life lessons' my Mom liked to impart were about. They ranged from ones handed down from her own mother like "Don't be afraid of anyone because everyone puts on their underwear one foot at a time" to mainstays like "Those who know better, do better." And now I'm glad that I'd started writing them down in a little Quote Book along with other meaningful sayings.
What's sad is that some parents don't seem to take that job to heart. Or maybe they don't see that coddling their child or demanding to be involved in every last facet of their child's life might unwittingly make the child dependent on them and unable to survive - or perhaps just make good decisions on their own. Then again, a five year old does need its parents to be involved in every fact of their life. So while many parents are agonizing over, "How do I let my child go?" there's also, "When do I let my child go."
Luckily for me, while we do have to financially start planning to see Moo out the house aka send her to college, I do have to deal with the emotional side of that question for a good many years to come.
And on a random note: I'm proud to say that I'm doing my part to prevent more psychos in the world!
How you may ask? By breastfe- er, nursing of course. According to an article in Tuesday's Gleaner: "Mothers who breastfeed their babies for up to six months or more are less likely to to raise children who are psychopaths, according to Dr. Eva Lewis-Fuller, director of family health services in the Ministry of Health." So let me just take time out to pat myself and all the other nursing moms out there on the back :)
Picture madness
They say these months go by very fast... so J and I are determined to photograph all the precious moments we can. Mind you, most of the pics we have so far are of the Milk Monster sleeping but we've managed to squeeze in a few awake pics as well.
http://www.pbase.com/slybabyk/maelynn
Enjoy.
http://www.pbase.com/slybabyk/maelynn
Enjoy.
Greetings from the couch
"I haven't done laundry in two weeks - unheard of! I load the dishwasher every 2 to 3 days - madness! The bed hasn't been made for God-He-knows-how-long - scandalous. But I guess this is the life for now..." - 1/9/06 Email to my Aunt P
Adjusting to life with a newborn baby apparently has a lot to do with things other than changing diapers, burping, lack of sleep and breastfeeding (or nursing for the squimish amongst us). At least I've figured out why at the beginning of the second week I did not wake up even when Moo was wailing at the top of her lungs during the night. I felt like such a horrible mother, but after talking to my friend who has a 2 month old son, we found out that I was doing too much during the day and tiring myself out. (Thanks Dee!) The remedy: less housework, more naps. Much easier said than done!
I'm even getting the hang of waking up every two hours during the night to brea- sorry, nurse but you wouldn't believe how hard it is to just stack the dishes in the sink and not wash them, or cut my eye after the vaccuum cleaner, or ignore the rumpled bedspread. But although I was skeptical, I can see where forcing myself to ignore some of the housework things is paying off - I really am starting to manage getting up multiple times in the middle of the night. There are lots of other adjustments to be made but J and I are taking it in stride. We're also taking heart in the fact that we're already half way to the 6 week mark... which will be half way to the 3 month start (when colic aka fussy baby, should stop).
So we're going to keep on taking this one feeding at a time (that's how my day is broken down now - into 2 to 3 hour slots!) and snapping those photos and videos to preserve these first moments and days.
Adjusting to life with a newborn baby apparently has a lot to do with things other than changing diapers, burping, lack of sleep and breastfeeding (or nursing for the squimish amongst us). At least I've figured out why at the beginning of the second week I did not wake up even when Moo was wailing at the top of her lungs during the night. I felt like such a horrible mother, but after talking to my friend who has a 2 month old son, we found out that I was doing too much during the day and tiring myself out. (Thanks Dee!) The remedy: less housework, more naps. Much easier said than done!I'm even getting the hang of waking up every two hours during the night to brea- sorry, nurse but you wouldn't believe how hard it is to just stack the dishes in the sink and not wash them, or cut my eye after the vaccuum cleaner, or ignore the rumpled bedspread. But although I was skeptical, I can see where forcing myself to ignore some of the housework things is paying off - I really am starting to manage getting up multiple times in the middle of the night. There are lots of other adjustments to be made but J and I are taking it in stride. We're also taking heart in the fact that we're already half way to the 6 week mark... which will be half way to the 3 month start (when colic aka fussy baby, should stop).
So we're going to keep on taking this one feeding at a time (that's how my day is broken down now - into 2 to 3 hour slots!) and snapping those photos and videos to preserve these first moments and days.
- Mood: moderately tired
- Music: Coach Carter on Showtime
Wow
Moo
August 11, 2006
9:35pm 7lb 7.4oz 20"
Wow, just about sums up life since my birthday. If you haven't guessed by the change in ticker at the top of the blog, our baby daughter is here. In fact, she made her appearance the day after my birthday! Pretty much I headed to the clinic as usual for my weekly check-ups, but when the midwife examined me to see how my cervix was progressing, she looked up with a shocked expression and said, "I just don't quite know how you're keeping this baby inside. You're 5-6cm dilated. Are you sure you're not feeling any pain." Now remember, the maximum is 10. I was already pretty much half way to delivering the baby and no contractions. The staff at the clinic were in shock, and so were the nurses at the Women's Center at the hospital when I walked up to the ward and checked myself in.
By the time J got there with my hospital bag there was still no action, so I told him to go home, get a shower, change out of his work clothes and I'd call him when my midwife came and broke my water to speed things along. We timed it right and he got back at around 5-ish just when she was ready to get started. The contractions started soon after she broke my water, but they were bearable. So to speed things along J and I trooped up and down the hallways. We made the nurses happy because I agreed to test out their new telemetry system for monitoring labour progress. By 7:00pm the contractions had really started to wring me out so I gave in and asked for some pain meds. I was too far along and expected to delivery too quickly to get an epidural. Instead, I got a very nice cocktail of 3 different narcotics. After that the catch phrase was "pleasant"... well, at least until the contractions stepped it up again and I said, "Okay, that's not pleasant."
Now this might gross some of you out but the best thing I heard in the labour room was one of the nurses saying, "No you can't go and poo, we don't want the baby's first swimming lesson to be in the toilet." If I hadn't been feeling another cramp at that moment I would've rolled off the bed laughing. Pretty much, that meant it was time to push! All in all, I can't complain. I got the order to start pushing at 9:20pm and Moo was born a scant 15 minutes later. Afterwards one of the nurses commented, "Wow, you sure must have a guardian angel up there." My reply, "Actually, yes I do." Thanks Moms.
Now this might gross some of you out but the best thing I heard in the labour room was one of the nurses saying, "No you can't go and poo, we don't want the baby's first swimming lesson to be in the toilet." If I hadn't been feeling another cramp at that moment I would've rolled off the bed laughing. Pretty much, that meant it was time to push! All in all, I can't complain. I got the order to start pushing at 9:20pm and Moo was born a scant 15 minutes later. Afterwards one of the nurses commented, "Wow, you sure must have a guardian angel up there." My reply, "Actually, yes I do." Thanks Moms.
So for now, J and I are here adjusting to life with a newborn in the house. He goes back to work tomorrow, and Moo has an appointment with the pediatrician, so it will be a day of firsts for both of us. For more pictures of our bundle of joy, click the Pictures link to the right. Ciao.
Interesting... I wonder where Jamaicans would rank
Unfortunately, Jamaican men probably weren't considered in this poll because I'm sure the outcome would be quite interesting!
Koreans do it more, Brazil digs variety, but Italy rings bells
AFP , LONDON Thursday, Aug 10, 2006
South Korean men are having sex more times a week than anyone else in the world, though Brazilian men are at it with a wider range of women, suggests an international survey published on Monday.
The poll of 40,000 men for Men's Health magazine found that Britons spent the most time on foreplay but flopped when it came to endurance, with Mexicans coming first for stamina in the bedroom.
On average, South Koreans said they were having sex at least four times a week, while Filipinos said they masturbated almost six times a week, the most of any nationality.
Brazilians topped two categories, with 19 percent saying they had had a threesome, which might help account for them having clocked up the most lovers (11), according to the internationally published fitness magazine.
Polish and German men were found to be the most faithful, with 62 percent having never cheated on their partner, followed by Australians (60 percent) and Dutchmen (59 percent).
British men spend -- or claim to spend -- an average of 17.44 minutes on foreplay per sex session, longer than Australians (17.2 minutes), Germans (16.92 minutes) and Mexicans (16.91 minutes).
But British men last only 18.64 minutes from foreplay to climax, far behind the Mexicans (23.17 minutes) and the Dutch (22.42 minutes), while 60 percent of Italian men said they made their partner climax every time.
Koreans do it more, Brazil digs variety, but Italy rings bells
AFP , LONDON Thursday, Aug 10, 2006
South Korean men are having sex more times a week than anyone else in the world, though Brazilian men are at it with a wider range of women, suggests an international survey published on Monday.
The poll of 40,000 men for Men's Health magazine found that Britons spent the most time on foreplay but flopped when it came to endurance, with Mexicans coming first for stamina in the bedroom.
On average, South Koreans said they were having sex at least four times a week, while Filipinos said they masturbated almost six times a week, the most of any nationality.
Brazilians topped two categories, with 19 percent saying they had had a threesome, which might help account for them having clocked up the most lovers (11), according to the internationally published fitness magazine.
Polish and German men were found to be the most faithful, with 62 percent having never cheated on their partner, followed by Australians (60 percent) and Dutchmen (59 percent).
British men spend -- or claim to spend -- an average of 17.44 minutes on foreplay per sex session, longer than Australians (17.2 minutes), Germans (16.92 minutes) and Mexicans (16.91 minutes).
But British men last only 18.64 minutes from foreplay to climax, far behind the Mexicans (23.17 minutes) and the Dutch (22.42 minutes), while 60 percent of Italian men said they made their partner climax every time.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/
archives/2006/08/10/2003322566
- Mood: calm and happy - advancing in age does have that effect I suppose
- Music: the hum of the A/C
Not so slowly... but definitely surely
Time operates in such a weird way. While last week felt like it too forever, this week has gone by in a blur. Still everything seems to be going slowly in terms of our pregnancy. But then not really because we can actually see Mae's due date as its circled on our calendar. I can't explain it. If you're confused by what I'm trying to say, just chalk it up to a 'placenta' moment. Which according to one of the midwives is the whole forgetfulness and spaciness that some pregnant women go through. (That's the card I got to hand in at the hospital, so rather than the person on call from the clinic, I can have one of the midwives at my labour and delivery.)
Anyway, we had another OB appointment today. J was able to get off work for a bit to come with me, which I really love since he wasn't able to be there for the first seven or so months because he was here and I was in JA. (He's been having fun assembling baby things, like the bassinet we were given - thanks EP!) I've gained more weight, - nothing out of control - and my blood pressure is low, but still okay for a pregnant woman. The great news is that Mae's getting ready to come out! (If you don't understand preggo-jargon, skip the rest of this paragraph lol) I'm already 3cm dilated, there's 80% effacement or thinning of the cervix and the midwife could feel her head. I didn't know whether to freak out or smile when she said the part about the head, but when I glanced over at J he was so pale that I couldn't help but smile.Other than that I'm realising how much I'll miss my cousin and her friend when they leave in about a week. It's been so nice having the two of them here, not just to help with the unpacking, cooking and cleaning, but to have someone to talk to during the day. You wouldn't believe how alone you can feel when you go from a job where you're always talking and interacting with a lot of people to being by yourself at home all day. I think back and maybe that's why the first couple months of our marriage were so rocky. I'd just left college where I lived in a house with ten or so people, went to classes with at least 20 other students and ate meals in a dining hall that could hold hundreds. At least I know what to look out for this time around so there'll be no need for the severe crankiness :-)
Geography of Men and Women (JK)
Got this via the email mill from an aunt of mine (thanks Aunty R!). I completely disagree of course, when I hit 40 I know I won't have lost the war, God willing and life spare I plan to be in the third prime of my life (naturally I'm in the prime of my life now, and will be again when I hit 30, so 40 will be the third prime... then there'll be the fourth prime and the fifth and so on *grin*).
THE GEOGRAPHY OF A WOMAN
THE GEOGRAPHY OF A MAN
THE GEOGRAPHY OF A WOMAN
- Between 18 and 20 a woman is like Africa, half discovered, half wild, naturally beautiful with fertile deltas.
- Between 21 and 30 a woman is like America, well developed and open to trade especially for someone with cash.
- Between 31 and 35 she is like India, very hot, relaxed and convinced of her own beauty.
- Between 36 and 40 a woman is like France. Gently going but still a warm and desirable place to visit.
- Between 41 and 50 she is like Yugoslavia, lost the war - haunted by past mistakes. Massive reconstruction is now necessary.
- Between 51 and 60, she is like Russia, very wide and borders are unpatrolled. The frigid climate keeps people away.
- Between 61 and 70, a woman is like Mongolia, with a glorious and all conquering past but alas, no future.
- After 70, they become Afghanistan. Most everyone knows where it is, but no one wants to go there.
THE GEOGRAPHY OF A MAN
- Between 15 and 70 a man is like Iraq - Ruled by a dick.
War time humour I suppose, but you can't help but smile nonetheless :)
- Mood: happy and expectant
- Music: the hum and whir of the PC, fridge, A/C and I think J left the Playstation on
Alright Moo, come out now
Seriously. Child, come out now. Yes, the car seat hasn't gotten here yet with the rest of my stuff from Jamaica. But J and I can manage that hurdle. What I can't take much more of is this. I don't even know how to describe this.Yesterday this pregnancy just took a turn for the worse. No, I've not had to go to the hospital or anything. And she's doing quite well, but while I thought that all I had left to deal with for the next 4 1/2 weeks was her stretching, she proved me wrong.
I don't know if it's just that time in my pregnancy, or that the spicy shrimp that I had for dinner set me off. But last night was hellish. I mean indigestion to rival all indigestion ever experienced.
Then much to my dismay I ran J out the bed with my farting. Yup, if it wasn't me going through it I'd have been laughing but I felt so crappy and so ashamed about J having to beat a strategic retreat to the couch that I ended up bawling myself to sleep.Today hasn't been much better. I've spent most of the day in bed. Thank God my cousin and her friend are here visiting, they helped me get food going and cooked dinner. I truly hope that everything I've gone through is pre-labour.
She seriously needs to come out now. You can bet your last dollar that tomorrow I'm calling my doctor to ask about induction. I feel like such a wimp, but jah know, this nuh mek it at all.
Pictures
1 - Everything but the bed... we've got clothes, diapers, wipes, lots of stuff washed and ready
2 - Eight months preggo... I took my cousin and her friend to the base pool last week
3 - Eight months preggo, about a week before the second one. Bigger, rounder, tired-er...
Things that scare me...
Okay, so lots of you messaged me saying that pregnant women shouldn't even attempt to Dutty Wine. Sure, I've got no problem with that. It's kinda hard to bend over and position with what amounts to a basketball tucked up against your stomach and it wouldn't be cute if I fell flat on my face. But even more scary than that, is this...
Men should NOT dutty wine. I don't care, whining like that is NOT for men, it's for women. I tell you, coming on the heels of men buying off all the tight jeans in Jamaica, things are getting way out of hand... *sigh*
Men should NOT dutty wine. I don't care, whining like that is NOT for men, it's for women. I tell you, coming on the heels of men buying off all the tight jeans in Jamaica, things are getting way out of hand... *sigh*
- Mood: scared, but happy :p
- Music: Bow Wow - I Think They Like Me (remix)
Preggo Dutty Wine
Yeah, so who says pregnant women can't dance? My knees, that's who! So we were having audio problems with the PC, which resolved themselves as mysteriously as they appeared and I went to YouTube.com and typed in 'dancehall queen' to find a video to check if the sound was back. J was teasing me about using that search, so I said that you can find anything on the website. To prove my point I searched for 'dutty wine'. Strangely enough, there are a whole bunch of short vids up there with people practising in their living or bedrooms. One set of girls had mussi three up there and at one point I was saying, "No man, them just warming up," but then the vids finished and J was like, "Please, all of them flop." So I got up to show J how one of my writers did bus the move one day at work when no one was looking. I position, give the neck two flick, proceed to bend my knees to start to whine and then clack, clack! I kinda jus froze mid position then looked at J and asked him, "Did you hear that?" I hadn't even started and my knees were popping like rice krispies! DWL We both started laughing and he was like, "Look, just sit your ass back down in that chair." Ahhhhhh I missed being home with this boy, who says married couples don't got jokes *grin*Pop Yo Trunk
Speaking of being here at home, I was initiated into more of the ways of the dirty, dirty south on Friday night. We had stopped at Sonic, which is one of the gear head meet up spots here, and we were sipping on some lime-aids (did I ever miss THOSE) talking with one of our friends, when we look across the parking lot and see a black dude with a forest green Dodge Stratus-looking car roll in, music blaring... but then with his trunk open. Now, I'm thinking to myself Okay, maybe dude forget to get something and opened the trunk so he wouldn't forget. I do that with my bonnet sometimes to make sure I remember to check my oil and whatnot. So we're there chatting, hanging out and all of a sudden the music goes up a notch and the trunk starts to move! I mean move. Like up and down hydraulic movements.Our friend takes one look at my face, busts out laughing and asks if I've never heard the rappers talking about 'poppin the trunk' to show off all the audio stuff they got in the back - with hydraulics and everything, not just normal trunk opening like in that picture there. Apparently not. J and I were like, hmmm... there's a reason we don't do that in Jamaica. It'd take just two of the crackheads at the Waterloo Rd/Hope Road intersection to liberate you of all your ICE... one to argue with you about cleaning your windshield, and another one to swipe all the amps and subs out the back... what will these guys think of next?
Eight months and HOME
Nothing feels as good as coming home. No, nothing feels as good as coming home and realising that the packing boxes that you'd left have are no more, that your husband really and truly cleaned and did his best to make your coming really sweet. Looking around I realised that all that's left to do is put out our albums, photos and memorabilia (wifely things to do to be sure! LOL) and I almost started to cry. I think J is bewildered by how I was gushing about the house but I guess men think differently. To me the effort he put into organising everything shows how much he cares because when I left the shippers had just brought our stuff and there were boxes piled up to the roof. Mucho brownie points, definitely.
So yup, I'm in the States. I can't wait to go and drive my car, no offense to my 240SX in Jamaica but there's nothing like a turbo SR engine (although I think J has detuned my car, can't blame him I am eight months pregnant today LOL). He's been doing work there too, my A/C is almost fixed (he bought a re-gas kit and tried to do it all himself) and he also took his amazing track race seat out his car so that I'd be able to drive if if necessary. That right there is sacrifice, people, as you can see it's a Pro seat, but he's right... I wouldn't be able to hoist myself over that side piece.Anyway, it's off to find some food. More blogging later. I'll definitely have more time on my hands but I'll warn you, just like how the blogging took a 'baby' turn a couple months back, don't be surprised if you start reading alot about home improvement woes and my struggle with Wallieworld (Wal Mart) and other retailers as I go about making this place perfect before Moo Moo arrives :-)
Here's my song of the moment...
Matisyahu - King Without A Crown
You know you're living in 2006 when...
I know this one has probably made the email rounds many times, but I thought it deserved a post:
You know you're living in 2006 when...
1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.
13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.
14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list.
AND NOW U R LAUGHING at yourself.
You know you're living in 2006 when...1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.
13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.
14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list.
AND NOW U R LAUGHING at yourself.
The 'What Not To Do' Example
Today is Father's Day. For many people with great Dads, it's a time for celebration and joy, for the rest, it's probably another occasion to play hypocrite, but whichever side of the fence you're on, Father's Day makes for great reflection. I remember one year I actually gave my Mom a card on Father's Day... we were doing a poem in English class called For My Mother, May I Inherit Half Her Strength and I realised she did double duty with me, for which I'll always be grateful. This year is even more poignant because J and I are both looking forward to the birth of our first child together. So understandably I've been looking through all the mommy and daddy info I can find online these past few months - why should preggo moms be the sole focus of attention?
With all that in mind here's one from an MSN article on Ten Ways To Be a Great Dad:
Here are a couple funny tidbits I found in another MSN article, Things a man should know: About fatherhood:
With all that in mind here's one from an MSN article on Ten Ways To Be a Great Dad:
6. Treat your kid the way you wanted to be treated when you were a kid. Take a look back on how you were raised... Look back at how your dad showed, or didn't show, his love for you. How he disciplined you, encouraged you, criticized you, and molded you. If you had a great dad, now's your chance to take everything he showed you and put it to good use.
If you didn't have a great dad, this is your chance, your golden opportunity to make up for every fatherly injustice he did to you by being to your child a much better and more sensitive, involved, loving dad than he was to you. This is your chance to show your dad, and the world, "This is what being a good dad looks like." Provide your child with a level of love, patience, understanding, and affection that shows your own dad how it's done.
Click here for: Ten Ways To Be a Great DadHere are a couple funny tidbits I found in another MSN article, Things a man should know: About fatherhood:
- Don't worry, your dad didn't know what he was doing, either.
- Your child, at birth, already has a deeply complicated relationship with his mother, and, for the first year, you are only a curiosity.
For a couple of years after that, an amusement-park ride.
Then, a referee.
And finally, a bank. - Reason boys are better: They cannot get pregnant.
- Reason girls are better: They're less likely to get arrested.
- The first time you change your son's diaper and he pees all over you is not an accident. It's foreshadowing.
- You are under no obligation to tell children the truth.
Lying to children is, in fact, half the fun: "Oh, that tree? That's a yellow-spotted spickle-gruber, of course."
On the other hand, they do remember everything. - Your bedroom door gets a lock. Your teenage son's does not. Lock or no, please knock before entering, as the disruption of a youth who is spanking his monkey will be twice as traumatic for you as it is for him.
I'll stop here but if you'd like to see the rest, here's the link:
Click here for: Things a man should know: About fatherhood
And last but not least, I found a quiz on American Baby.com Are you man enough to be a stay-at-home Dad? Have fun guys!
Click here for: 'Are you man enough' quiz
- Mood: restive
- Music: classical music (well, headphones on the tummy for the baby)
Congrats J!
Fate has strange way of working things out. Leading up to last Sunday's third JMMC dexterity I started getting worried that I was going to be so put out by the fact that I couldn't compete that I'd be no help whatsoever to hubby who's been looking forward to competing in the event for weeks. If the MBMC dexterity a week earlier was any indication, I knew I was in for some seriously green feelings of jealousy. But as luck would have it, I needn't have worried. The organiser of the event (the FWD veteran) figured correctly what would happen and I found myself under the timing tent manning the timing equipment for the whole day. Now that might sound boring, no walking around, no socialising or conversing with friends. But at seven months pregnant, I'm definitely not one to pass up a permanent comfortable seat, free food and water and a shady spot under a tent.
With me and my potential bad vibes out of the way hubby was free to shine and shine he did! Before his first run they had him under starters orders for a long time (I think that was because of the timing equipment) and I was so worried that he'd start thinking too much about the course and spazz out but let me tell you he put down a run that instantly won him the hearts of the crowd. On a course that confused the hell out of many competitors causing many to DNF on their first and even subsequent runs, hubby hit the skid pad with tyres squealing and drove his heart out. I'm sure there are other times when I've been really proud of him but Sunday saw me cheering wildly from under the tent, "That's MY babyfather... a my husband dat!" And while at first everyone around me merely smiled in that amused sort of way, by J's third run they were all on their feet as well. His runs were just that good. He swung my little car around those cones like the 240 has an LSD. Even almost battering off my fog lights and license plate didn't stop him, neither did hitting a cone break his concentration. He just went out there, neck or nothing, and I'm SO proud!
And yes, he's my husband, so it's my job to cheer J on, but you ask him, I can be very objective when necessary. At the MBMC dex he only won the class because he was the only person in the class. He also DNFed twice, he wasn't aggressive on the gas, interestingly enough, only rotating the back of the car after DNFing. But the objective at that dexterity was not to set any blistering times but for him to learn the feel of the 240SX and develop confidence for the JMMC dex. And you can bet your ass that mission was accomplished! Not only did he win his RWD class, but he also earned a place in the Championship run as one of the top ten fastest JMMC members on the day. He placed well there, once again delighting the crowd with his run. As a class winner he also competed in the 'best of the best' section where all the class winners drove one car. I don't know how he shoe-horned himself into that itty bitty car, knees all up in his chest, but he did, and even though he sprained his thumb on the steering wheel, he drove the car for a damn good third place position. Congrats on a job well done babe, a job very well done.http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/TeenAge/html/
20060612T180000-0500_106826_OBS_A_TEST_OF_MENTAL_
AND_DRIVING_ABILITY_.asp
http://www.wheelsjamaica.com/wheels_forum/index.php?topic=44339.0
- Mood: happy
- Music: world cup football on the tellie
Somersault Central
Okay, so our child is going to be an Olympic gymnast. That's the only explanation. Well, that, or as I told J yesterday, she's busy practising some senior kung fu moves. Her favourite seems to be the Somersault Crane Style... roll roll roll, lash out hard, then jab jab jab to follow up. Lucky for me she's still cushioned inside the uterus because the Lord knows if this was an open air assault on my person I'd be in tears. As it is she's really fun to watch - my 'basketball' tummy undulates and stretches (quite painless for the non-mommies out there!) and sometimes you see what has to be her head poking out one side. Plus, J is here! He's loving watching and feeling the tummy as his daughter goes through her gymnastics or kung fu paces. :p- Mood: happy and content
- Music: early morning sounds in the neighbourhood
"You're finally pregnant!"
As if to say we just now conceived LOL The funniest thing is that some people are just now realising that I'm pregnant, like a co-worker who I say hi to and see at least twice a week. I couldn't help but grin at the shocked expression on his face as he gazed down at my bump and comprehension dawned in his eyes. Come to think of it, now that I look at this picture, I still don't really look that pregnancy (note: I'll be all of 7 months next week). I mean, the clothing tells the tale, that's a maternity top, but those jeans are actually a size 5 pair of jeans from Long Elegant Legs that I'd bought last year. Praise the Lord too, they're the only pair of jeans that can still fit, and apparently maternity jeans manufacturers don't believe tall women get pregnant.What's up with that anyway? Even before I got pregnant I always had massive problems, like the Gap for some reason is all gung-ho about Long length jeans, but do they make long length pants? No. What? Tall women only wear jeans? And by tall, I mean 34" inseam. That's tall. Not this 30" or 32" inseam that some people try to pass off as long length that look like regular floodas pants, as opposed to the regular 28" Katrina-style floodas pants. Hmm, I sense that this post is becoming a rant LOL Actually I'm in a pretty good mood today. Got a lot of stuff done on the road and I'm done getting dolled up for Jas' arrival next Tuesday. Anyway, Moo Moo's starting to tense up... time to go eat!
Pet peeves
What is it with people who come up to you and say, "Now I don't mean to be negative or criticize but..." I mean, really, cut the crap. Yes, you absolutely have to be open to criticism, suggestions and comments, but I'd like to think those should be of the constructive kind. True, that statement in itself is quite innocent, but you know it's anything but by the smirk that accompanies it on the speakers face. They may as well push the: 'Get Kim's Back Up' button, because although I've learned to mask my emotions (they used to play on my face like the lastest blockbuster showng at Carib 5), I instantly go on the offensive. No, not defensive, no retreating into any shell here. I instantly start thinking how I'm going to cut the person off so I can get back to what I was doing before.
See, the sad thing is that it's always easier for humans to bitch. Finding something negative to say is usually not too hard, and some people seem to delight in actually searching for ways to bring other people down. We live in a society where people will happily harp on the slightest mistake or shortcoming until the second coming of our Lord, but ask them how everyone is going to move forward or dare to ask if they have a solution and they draw blank quicker than special forces guys on a training simulation.
I think that's what annoys me most about that statement, the underlying knowledge that most times the speaker has nothing positive to add, because you know what, I love hearing suggestions and new ideas. Even if it's not the instant solve-all answer. They're usually a start and you can sit down together and hash things out from there - your ideas triggering mine and back and forth we go - until the problem runs a little bit smoother, or we've ironed out most things to make sure that the mistake doesn't occur again.
Idealism, it's a hell of a burden to bear I tell you.
See, the sad thing is that it's always easier for humans to bitch. Finding something negative to say is usually not too hard, and some people seem to delight in actually searching for ways to bring other people down. We live in a society where people will happily harp on the slightest mistake or shortcoming until the second coming of our Lord, but ask them how everyone is going to move forward or dare to ask if they have a solution and they draw blank quicker than special forces guys on a training simulation.
I think that's what annoys me most about that statement, the underlying knowledge that most times the speaker has nothing positive to add, because you know what, I love hearing suggestions and new ideas. Even if it's not the instant solve-all answer. They're usually a start and you can sit down together and hash things out from there - your ideas triggering mine and back and forth we go - until the problem runs a little bit smoother, or we've ironed out most things to make sure that the mistake doesn't occur again.
Idealism, it's a hell of a burden to bear I tell you.
- Mood: calmer than when i started the blog
- Music: one day cricket on the tellie
Quotes 2105
Not sure who came up with this one...
The career of a writer is comparable to that of a woman of easy virtue. You write first for pleasure, later for the pleasure of others and finally for the money.
In other news: My child will not starve, I have COLUSTRUM! No, I'm not going to explain what that means. I know in a couple weeks I'll look back at this post and be embarassed as hell but right now I'm too happy to care. Can't be bothered to find a dictionary? Ask a heavily pregnant woman or new mother (older Moms might not remember).
The career of a writer is comparable to that of a woman of easy virtue. You write first for pleasure, later for the pleasure of others and finally for the money.
In other news: My child will not starve, I have COLUSTRUM! No, I'm not going to explain what that means. I know in a couple weeks I'll look back at this post and be embarassed as hell but right now I'm too happy to care. Can't be bothered to find a dictionary? Ask a heavily pregnant woman or new mother (older Moms might not remember).
Blog therapy
Ever get the feeling that nothing you do is ever good enough? Most times you can shrug it off though because you know you've done your best. Maybe not shrug it off, but as my Moms used to tell me when my report card would have one or two bad grades, "If you can look me in the eye and honestly say you gave it your best shot and there was nothing else you could do, then that's good enough." So I didn't get a trophy at that last dexterity outing. It still hurts like hell but I could sleep that night because I knew that was the best I've ever driven in my car. I have along way to go with this RWD thing, okay.
But somethings aren't that easy to shrug off. Even though I'm not a teenager any more, even though I know how he treats me is wrong, even though I have a wonderful husband who's shown me what love really is and helped me believe in my own self-worth, this man can still bring me to tears. Although they're more tears of frustration because I'm angry at myself than the tears of despair they once were, they're still tears. Why can't I stop them even when I know that nothing I do will ever be good enough for him? I stopped actively trying to do his version of 'good enough' and started learning to really love myself a couple months back - thank God - so I really hope it's just pregnancy hormones why I still shed these tears.
Ironic isn't it that he's supposedly so concerned that work is stressing me out in this, what he calls my 'delicate', state. Right. That's why when a co-worker asked last month why I'm always working so late I answered that being at work is less stressful than being at 'home'.
Blog therapy. Instant. Helpful. Free.
But somethings aren't that easy to shrug off. Even though I'm not a teenager any more, even though I know how he treats me is wrong, even though I have a wonderful husband who's shown me what love really is and helped me believe in my own self-worth, this man can still bring me to tears. Although they're more tears of frustration because I'm angry at myself than the tears of despair they once were, they're still tears. Why can't I stop them even when I know that nothing I do will ever be good enough for him? I stopped actively trying to do his version of 'good enough' and started learning to really love myself a couple months back - thank God - so I really hope it's just pregnancy hormones why I still shed these tears.
Ironic isn't it that he's supposedly so concerned that work is stressing me out in this, what he calls my 'delicate', state. Right. That's why when a co-worker asked last month why I'm always working so late I answered that being at work is less stressful than being at 'home'.
Blog therapy. Instant. Helpful. Free.
Quotes 1705
This one is stellar...
"I'm very happy to believe that Jesus was married," said McKellen, an outspoken defender of gay rights since disclosing his homosexuality in the late 1980s. "And I know the Catholic church has problems with gay people, and I thought this would be absolute proof that Jesus was not gay."
It's from Ian McKellen, who plays a Grail enthusiast in The Da Vinci Code. Critics at the Cannes Film Festival said he stole the show in the film and also at a press conference with the above comment.
"I'm very happy to believe that Jesus was married," said McKellen, an outspoken defender of gay rights since disclosing his homosexuality in the late 1980s. "And I know the Catholic church has problems with gay people, and I thought this would be absolute proof that Jesus was not gay."
It's from Ian McKellen, who plays a Grail enthusiast in The Da Vinci Code. Critics at the Cannes Film Festival said he stole the show in the film and also at a press conference with the above comment.
Thank you to everyone...
... who sent Mother's Day wishes. I looked at the laptop this morning (was too tired when I came in from work last night) and I had so many MSN messages from friends and acquaintances wishing my Happy Mother's Day that I almost started crying.
Here's one of the nicest ones I received:
i read ur blog for this morning and i cant say i understand wat u r going through but from what i have seen and heard u have had and r having a great life just being who u r and i guess u should b happy that u had as much time as u did with ur mom and i predict that u r going to b a great mom u already have the text book situations down pat and i want u to know that i have been grateful to God...
for placing u in y life and kim whenever u want i will share my mom there is enough of her to go around it might not be the same but it is a gesture but i am sure u have other angels that ur mom has secretly put in ur life to replace her (Maelynn hint hint) it might not b a coincidence that ur first child is a girl
HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY
Thanks Sue! And to everyone who sent me messages, and most of all to Jas'... you made my day.
Here's one of the nicest ones I received:
i read ur blog for this morning and i cant say i understand wat u r going through but from what i have seen and heard u have had and r having a great life just being who u r and i guess u should b happy that u had as much time as u did with ur mom and i predict that u r going to b a great mom u already have the text book situations down pat and i want u to know that i have been grateful to God...
for placing u in y life and kim whenever u want i will share my mom there is enough of her to go around it might not be the same but it is a gesture but i am sure u have other angels that ur mom has secretly put in ur life to replace her (Maelynn hint hint) it might not b a coincidence that ur first child is a girl
HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY
Thanks Sue! And to everyone who sent me messages, and most of all to Jas'... you made my day.
Life lessons
My Moms always had a life lesson handy and not the ones you see being advertised on TV. Since she was also an irreverent, fun-loving person, in addition to being a great forward thinker and compassionate, a lot of the life lessons were hilarious. Like her answer to whenever I had a headache was to ask, "Kimmie, when last you go to the bathroom?" According to Moms, anything backing up down there would give you a headache. Now, that might sound weird to some people, but if I went to the bathroom after that I was always okay!She always had a way of delivering even the most poignant lessons in such a tongue-in-cheek manner that they never flew over my head or got scoffed at when I was a teenager. Like I remember one day, she'd picked me up from school and we were right at the filter lane at the top of the road from here. I can't quite remember what had happened, but I must've been apprehensive about some people/something at school and she passed down a gem from her own Ma: "You don't ever have to be afraid of anybody because we all put on our drawers one foot at a time." I remember I'd expected something cliche like, "because we're all human beings" or "we all bleed the sae blood" or something like that, but what she said not only had me laughing again but also feeling confident again. I've never forgotten that one. Nowadays when I feel apprehensive, I just picture the person in question hopping about on one foot trying to put on their drawers!
I'm going to dwell on stuff like that today, Mother's Day, instead of the fact that she's gone and we won't be having double Mommy Day brunch like I'd always dreamed. God is looking out for me too, this morning just as I'd dragged myself out of bed determined not to lie in and cry, I got a call from a coworker who said that she'd been waiting since midnight for a decent hour to try and be the first one to wish me my first Happy Mother's Day. She was the first too, narrowly beating out another friend who sent a text message. So while I can't go through The Book of Questions, and 1001 Questions with my Mom, as suggested by an MSN.com reader, there are still lots of new memories to be made... I think I'll get that book to share with my husband, and maybe someday I'll be lucky enough that our daughter might want to share it with me too.
Louiiiisiana :)
Jack was sitting in an airplane when another guy took the seat besidehim. The new guy was an absolute wreck, pale, hands shaking, biting his nailsand moaning in fear. "Hey, pal, what's the matter?" Jack asked.
"Oh man...I've been transferred to Louisiana," the other guy answered. "There's crazy people in Louisiana and they have shootings, gangs, race riots, drugs, the highest crime rate..."
"Hold on," Jack interrupted, "I've lived in Louisiana all my life, and it's is not as bad as the media says. Find a nice home, go to work, mind your own business, enroll your kids in a good school and it's as safe as anywhere in the world."
The other passenger relaxed and stopped shaking for a moment and said, "Oh, thank you. I've been worried to death, but if you live there and say it's OK, I'll take your word for it. What do you do for a living?"
"Me?" said Jack, "I'm a tail gunner on a Coca-Cola truck in Shreveport.
I had a photo of the Jamaican Toyota protype that had about 24 cp (cow power) but it seems that the photo didn't attach when a coworker forwarded it to me :(
"Oh man...I've been transferred to Louisiana," the other guy answered. "There's crazy people in Louisiana and they have shootings, gangs, race riots, drugs, the highest crime rate..."
"Hold on," Jack interrupted, "I've lived in Louisiana all my life, and it's is not as bad as the media says. Find a nice home, go to work, mind your own business, enroll your kids in a good school and it's as safe as anywhere in the world."
The other passenger relaxed and stopped shaking for a moment and said, "Oh, thank you. I've been worried to death, but if you live there and say it's OK, I'll take your word for it. What do you do for a living?"
"Me?" said Jack, "I'm a tail gunner on a Coca-Cola truck in Shreveport.
I had a photo of the Jamaican Toyota protype that had about 24 cp (cow power) but it seems that the photo didn't attach when a coworker forwarded it to me :(
- Mood: belly full
- Music: gardener cutting someone's grass
Quotes 4506
I like random quotes. Many of my bookmarks are devoted to sites that list them and I even have a quote book lying around the house somewhere. I figure I may as well Blog them as well, since the majority I find online these days. This one came from the BBS forum over at the Sims 2 website:
Some people are like Slinkies. They're really good for nothing, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
(TS2 BBS)
Some people are like Slinkies. They're really good for nothing, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
(TS2 BBS)
Tapping the side of the keyboard
I guess this is what happens when you haven't blogged in awhile but have a million and one things that you've been thinking about saying. Like the fact that my car was broken into last Thursday morning (may the bastards rot in the most cesspit-like, fierry nether reaches of hell). Mind you, they took my radio, which has been broken since February with my Maroon 5 CD stuck inside. But they also got my Palm PDA which had slipped out my bag and was apparently on the back seat. Luckily, they jimmed open the door and didn't break the lock or the window. I suppose I shouldn't be too upset, they even left the screws that had been holding the radio in its bracket. At the end of the day I still feel severely violated. I've never had a vehicle broken into before and I'm just now feeling comfortable sitting in the car alone again. Silly, I know, but it's like I keep feeling that someone is going to come up from behind the passenger seat and nab me.
Then, there's the hellish pregnancy gas pain I've been going through. Male and more squimish readers feel free to skip this paragraph, but I just had to put this in there. I mean who KNEW that gas pains could hurt THIS bad? Two weeks ago I even went to my OB in tears because I thought there was something hurting my baby. I did a blood test and a urine test (which of course turned up nothing) and it wasn't until my last lamaze class, when they hit full force, that I found out what was going on. The lady in front of me turned to see if I was okay and then randomly asked if I'd been drinking cows milk. Who knew that 100% cows milk could cause suck distress?! I guess I'll have to try 2% but until then it's a straight diet of ginger tea.
Other than that I'm here enjoying Moo Moo moving around in my tummy. It's like being in my own special world, since although if you put your hand on my tummy you will feel her kicking, it doesn't feel quite the same for anyone else as it does for me :)
Then, there's the hellish pregnancy gas pain I've been going through. Male and more squimish readers feel free to skip this paragraph, but I just had to put this in there. I mean who KNEW that gas pains could hurt THIS bad? Two weeks ago I even went to my OB in tears because I thought there was something hurting my baby. I did a blood test and a urine test (which of course turned up nothing) and it wasn't until my last lamaze class, when they hit full force, that I found out what was going on. The lady in front of me turned to see if I was okay and then randomly asked if I'd been drinking cows milk. Who knew that 100% cows milk could cause suck distress?! I guess I'll have to try 2% but until then it's a straight diet of ginger tea.
Other than that I'm here enjoying Moo Moo moving around in my tummy. It's like being in my own special world, since although if you put your hand on my tummy you will feel her kicking, it doesn't feel quite the same for anyone else as it does for me :)
- Mood:happy
- Music:some techno music someone's playing on their radio
Can I be included in Mother's Day?
It's one of the view thoughts that's made me smile today. This is definitely one of the worst days I've had in recent memory. I had a proposal to give to my boss to take to the big weekly meeting here at work, I've got the pedal a bit more to the metal heading to work to give it in on time and wouldn't you know it... my car dies right at the intersection of Westminster and Sandringham in Eastwood Park. Just some belt noises, complete shut off and a puff of smoke that disappated by the time I opened the bonnet.
Luckily two passing gentlemen pushed the car onto the sidewalk and I proceeded to leave it there and head to work, having been offered a ride by one of the guy's and his girlfriend. So hand in proposal, head into department meeting. Mind you all I had this morning was a cup of tea because I'd said to myself, "Okay, I'll just grab breakfast at the canteen after I hand in the proposal." Right. Fast forward to 12:30, I still haven't eaten and I'm meeting a wrecker service to get my car off to a garage.
Alot else has gone wrong but I'm near to tears right now as it is and I can't bear to rehash everything else. And the only thing that has made me smile today was looking at MSN.com after signing out of Hotmail and seeing that Mother's Day is coming up. Yes, that brings sadness too... I don't have my Moms anymore. But maybe I'll get a Mother's Day present this year. That would be nice. But even if I don't, I'll still be able to rub my belly and smile.
Luckily two passing gentlemen pushed the car onto the sidewalk and I proceeded to leave it there and head to work, having been offered a ride by one of the guy's and his girlfriend. So hand in proposal, head into department meeting. Mind you all I had this morning was a cup of tea because I'd said to myself, "Okay, I'll just grab breakfast at the canteen after I hand in the proposal." Right. Fast forward to 12:30, I still haven't eaten and I'm meeting a wrecker service to get my car off to a garage.
Alot else has gone wrong but I'm near to tears right now as it is and I can't bear to rehash everything else. And the only thing that has made me smile today was looking at MSN.com after signing out of Hotmail and seeing that Mother's Day is coming up. Yes, that brings sadness too... I don't have my Moms anymore. But maybe I'll get a Mother's Day present this year. That would be nice. But even if I don't, I'll still be able to rub my belly and smile.
- Mood: despondent
Tanning the belly with no shame
So I took my pregnant self to Hellshire Beach last Thursday. A co-worker and I decided to beat the Easter weekend rush and catch some rays and eat some Escoveitch fish before the hordes descended on Easter Friday. Since I don't own (and don't intend to buy) a materntiy bathing suit, I marshalled my courage, slipped into my black boy-short bikini, grabbed my towel and headed out the house.
The whole experience was funny and surreal to the extreme. There I am, spindly arms, spindly legs and a round mass of belly in front of me that no one apparently could mistake for fat. One guy even tried to hit on me in the water! "Baby mother," he said, "You know we man always give up seat to unuh in the bus." I was like, "Uh... okay." I honestly can't remember the last time I took a bus. So I just said thank you and then moved swiftly to another area in the water. At one point I felt really self conscious though because so many people were staring at me (as if I didn't invite that upon myself LOL) but my co-worker reassured me. "Don't worry Kim," she said, "This is Jamaica. Everyone thinks pregnant women are cute..." then she added something to the effect that it was so obvious that I was pregnant because I'm so skinny there couldn't be any other explantion.
I'm glad I went though. The day was nice, the sun not too hot and the fish and festival was deeeelicious. Definitely something that I'm going to try and do more often as this pregnancy progresses.
The whole experience was funny and surreal to the extreme. There I am, spindly arms, spindly legs and a round mass of belly in front of me that no one apparently could mistake for fat. One guy even tried to hit on me in the water! "Baby mother," he said, "You know we man always give up seat to unuh in the bus." I was like, "Uh... okay." I honestly can't remember the last time I took a bus. So I just said thank you and then moved swiftly to another area in the water. At one point I felt really self conscious though because so many people were staring at me (as if I didn't invite that upon myself LOL) but my co-worker reassured me. "Don't worry Kim," she said, "This is Jamaica. Everyone thinks pregnant women are cute..." then she added something to the effect that it was so obvious that I was pregnant because I'm so skinny there couldn't be any other explantion.
I'm glad I went though. The day was nice, the sun not too hot and the fish and festival was deeeelicious. Definitely something that I'm going to try and do more often as this pregnancy progresses.
- Mood: content
We're having a girl!
According to my doctor, she's nice and healthy, and actually my doctor was really proud of me because I was asking all sorts of questions like: So there's no extra fluid behind the neck? The intestines are all inside? The vertebrae in the spine and the ribs all look okay? Thigh bone is a good size? He actually turned back on the ultrasound machine and went over everything again, explaining as he went. "Usually I just take the measurements I need and that's it because most people either don't have a clue or don't care," he said. So he explained the angle from which all the information is collected, like that the view of the intestines and the bladder is taken from the head down. He also explained why some couples who are told they are having a girl end up with a boy. Apparently lots of doctors/midwives don't see a penis and declare the baby a girl, but according to my doctor it's the absence of a penis and the presence of a vulva that means you've got a girl.
New ultrasound pictures as soon as I get my hands on a digital camera. I forgot mine in the States and I'm waiting on J to Mailpac them to me...
New ultrasound pictures as soon as I get my hands on a digital camera. I forgot mine in the States and I'm waiting on J to Mailpac them to me...
Perk you up ;)
Sometimes I randomly click the 'Next Blog' link at the top of all Blogger pages. Here's a joke that I found at Jokes (mfunny.blogspot.com)
Three Italian nuns die and go to heaven.
At the Pearly Gates, they are met by St. Peter. He says, "Sisters, you all led such wonderful lives that I'm granting you six months to go back to earth and be anyone you want to be."
The first nun says, "I want to be Sophia Loren;" and *poof* she's gone.
The second says, "I want to be Madonna;" and *poof* she's gone.
The third says, "I want to be Sara Pipalini."St. Peter looks perplexed.
"Who?" he says."Sara Pipalini;" replies the nun. St. Peter shakes his head and says; "I'm sorry, but that name just doesn't ring a bell." The nun then takes a newspaper out of her habit and hands it to St. Peter.
He reads the paper and starts laughing. He hands it back to her and says...."No sister, the paper says it was the 'Sahara Pipeline' that was laid by 1,400 men in 6 months."
Three Italian nuns die and go to heaven.
At the Pearly Gates, they are met by St. Peter. He says, "Sisters, you all led such wonderful lives that I'm granting you six months to go back to earth and be anyone you want to be."
The first nun says, "I want to be Sophia Loren;" and *poof* she's gone.
The second says, "I want to be Madonna;" and *poof* she's gone.
The third says, "I want to be Sara Pipalini."St. Peter looks perplexed.
"Who?" he says."Sara Pipalini;" replies the nun. St. Peter shakes his head and says; "I'm sorry, but that name just doesn't ring a bell." The nun then takes a newspaper out of her habit and hands it to St. Peter.
He reads the paper and starts laughing. He hands it back to her and says...."No sister, the paper says it was the 'Sahara Pipeline' that was laid by 1,400 men in 6 months."
- Mood: somewhat happier, got some work done
- Music: on the phone with hubby :)
Back with all the memories
Memories are like a double-edged sword. I'm back here on the rock with all the memories of my stay with J, being swamped with memories of my Moms. I can't believe it's been three years already since she's been gone. Wednesday was the third anniversary of her death and yesterday would've been her 52nd birthday. Sadly, and I feel it's gotten to the point where a memorian was put in the paper just because it was a duty to be done. Maybe I'm just clinging too tightly to my memories, but I think my Moms deserved better, or maybe not better, but at least more thought? But that's life and I wasn't here - I couldn't bear to be here, actually no April 5 has caught me on this island since 2003 - and so, I suppose I forfeited my input. Maybe I'm just jealous that others have moved on with their lives so completely, while I'm here struggling with feelings of loss and a little bitterness that Moms never saw me graduate, get married or land my first job and will never see the grandchild I'm carrying.- Mood: sad, lonely
- Music: next door neighbour playing some Bob Marley
Florida baaaaby!
Goodbye B-52s, hello F-22s! After a gruelling 11 hour, 2 day drive we arrived in Panama City, Florida last Saturday along with my friend and her husband who were nice enough to follow us down here to make sure we didn't get lost. Her husband has family in southern Alamaba and they were en route to my friend's baby shower, but they took leave early to come down with us and show us around a bit since the husband had been stationed at the base here temporarily for five months last year. Mind you, the devil was strong. J's turbo exhaust manifold broke in two not one hour into our drive and we ended up having to get a Uhaul and an auto transporter to bring his car down here. It's only God and his angels why I managed to drive my car all the way down here, although my friend did have to drive with me before we made out overnight stop in Foley, Alabama because I'd started dropping asleep and swerving all over the road.
This place is nice. We're at Tyndall Air Force Base, which is actually east of Panama City. All the spring break mad teens and young adults are at Panama City Beach which is west of PC and over a really big bridge. MTV films here at Club Lavela and apparently there was quite a crush at the Ying Yang Twins concert over there a couple nights ago. That picture to the left could have been taken at a beach that just down from the base if you're heading on I-98E towards Mexico Beach. Yes, beach, beach, beach... it might not be the startlingly clear blue waters that we as Jamaicans are used to, but it's not too shabby either. And this is just March! I can't image what the summer will be like.I've already found a guy with a stand at the mall who makes the best fresh lemonade. Seems to me this pregnancy this has me craving sour and salt. The only sweet I can deal with is a 99c Sonic Junior Banana Split, with no chocolate topping because I've given up chocolate for Lent. In other baby news, I'm really starting to show now. Although in a t-shirt and jeans I still just look like a "mawga girl with gas". J' and I are still crossing our fingers that we can get an obstetrics visit scheduled for next week before I leave so that we can find out whether we're having a boy or girl when we're together. Other than watching the countdown for the beginning of hurricane season (T-64), right now it's kicking back at the base inn and watching to see what housing options come up, while enjoying the fabulous weather...
- Mood: getting hungry, almost feeding time
- Music: the click of the keys in the base library computer lab
15 weeks, 5 days
OB visit went well yesterday. I'm doing good (I've gained another one or two pounds!), baby's doing good, rather quiet during the ultra-sound, but then I was hungry at the time, so he/she probably was just conserving energy until I got some food into both of us :-) At my next visit, hopefully we'll be able to see whether this little one is a he or a she, and that's something we definitely want to know. Although, these things are never 100%... just look at my brother, he was my sister right up until when he came out! Still, we can't wait.- Mood: contemplative, anxious
- Music: daily sounds of life in Kingston
The second trimester but...
... I keep getting teased that I'm not pregnant! LOL Last week at the dexterity (I was wearing that ladies mini-polo shirt in one of the pictures below) I had a friend of mine look at me and say, "Kim stop tell lie. Afta yu nuh pregnant, a jus sympathy yu a look." I nearly died laughing. I couldn't blame him, this was after I'd gotten him to get me not only a cup of soup, but also stand in line for my lunch and then go back for a soda. Everyone else who was present at the time mirrored his statement, that I couldn't possible be all of 4 months pregnant. I said to them, but he's seen the ultrasound. Then they launched into the fact that anyone can photoshop an ultrasound and they're sure that anyone can find one on Ultrasound.com. "But I feel fat," I persisted.
Who told me to say that! "You feel fat because before you did look mawga," was one response and I really couldn't say anything to that. I'd gone down to 125 lbs last year, which is dismal for someone who is 6'2", but I was depressed about having to leave J. I'm up to about 136 lbs now which is better, but still about 9 or so lbs short of what I was 3 years ago before my mother died. Then this morning my father's baby mother came downstairs and said the same thing. My brother is just about 4 months old, so she clearly remembers being pregnant, and she just shakes her head whenever she looks at my stomach.
But like I said last week, if I'm not pregnant, then there has to be something else seriously wrong with me to explain the throwing up, lack of sleep, fevers, frequently going to the bathroom, moodiness/irritability and amazing urge to eat :-)
Who told me to say that! "You feel fat because before you did look mawga," was one response and I really couldn't say anything to that. I'd gone down to 125 lbs last year, which is dismal for someone who is 6'2", but I was depressed about having to leave J. I'm up to about 136 lbs now which is better, but still about 9 or so lbs short of what I was 3 years ago before my mother died. Then this morning my father's baby mother came downstairs and said the same thing. My brother is just about 4 months old, so she clearly remembers being pregnant, and she just shakes her head whenever she looks at my stomach.
But like I said last week, if I'm not pregnant, then there has to be something else seriously wrong with me to explain the throwing up, lack of sleep, fevers, frequently going to the bathroom, moodiness/irritability and amazing urge to eat :-)
- Mood: getting hungry...
Bumps in the road
Blog therapy. Last Sunday at the second JMMC dexterity of the season (and my last until hopefully in October) I came 4th in the RWD class and 5th in the Lady Dexterity class. I could've come second in the Lady's class if I hadn't butchered four cones on my run, but that's life. All throughout my "road less travelled" blogs I never realised that the teething/growing pains would hurt like this. The real FWD ace gave me a pep talk on Sunday that I'm so grateful for - I'm sure not even he realises how much - but it doesn't really take away the bitter taste of losing... not even coming home with one trophy.The interesting thing is that although at Dex 1 I came home with two trophies, RWD sensei was actually happier with my outing this time around. Go figure. He says that this time I really drove my car, and that I shouldn't worry about hitting the cones because he can teach me to avoid those, he just can't teach me to drive aggressively, which I was finally doing. I cling to that, and I cling to my pep talk. Even FWD ace (not to be confused with the real FWD ace) came over to me at the end of everything when I was putting Max in reverse to leave, and said that he was happy to see that I was finally driving the car. It's only now, a couple days later, that I can put it all in perspective. On Sunday I was still smarting from the sickening feeling of having to actually hand the first place Lady's trophy to the very person I'd wanted to badly to beat. (Mind you she did put down a damn good drive.)
What's most interesting is that the real FWD ace said that I was being too hard on myself, and RWD sensei (whom I'm walking beside in the pic) was standing right there and didn't disagree. Why this is most interesting to me is that one Monday someone at work said that exact same thing to me, "You push yourself too hard Kim. You don't have to, you know." Ordinarily I would've brushed that statement off as an excuse for a dismal performance or not excelling. To be honest, right now I don't quite know what to do with those statements, but in the next couple of weeks I'll have a lot of time to think about things.None of this makes it easier though. I like trophies. I like to win. I like being number one. But as the real FWD ace put it, you'll have to just stick with it to get to that point and...
- After each run, sit in my car and re-do the course in my mind. Looking at where I made mistakes and seeing how they can be corrected.
- Aim to learn the course on my first run, my don't drive Miss Daisy. The second run is to set the time and the third run is brawta, where you can attack if you want.
- Don't think so much about everything and just drive, really drive. According to RWD sensei, "You can't handbrake the car in a straight line and the car just won't turn if you're doing too slow."
- Mood: contemplative
- Music: the whir of the ceiling fan and my laptop's internal fan
Be positive
Ever heard of a horoscope based on your blood type? Apparently they're all the rage in Japan. How do I know this? Well, I finally found out what my blood group is on Wednesday - just in time to get my competitors license for JMMC dexterity 2. So earlier I was doing a search on Google this morning to see what blood group our baby could have when I came across an article about this on Wikipedia. (Incidentally our baby could be anything from A, B, AB or O positive or negative).So in Japan, your blood type is popularly believed to be predictive of a person's character, personality and compatability with others. Here's how mine (B+) reads:
Type B
Best Traits:
Creative and passionate. Animal loving. Optimistic and flexible.
Worst Traits:
Forgetful, irresponsible, individualist.
Famous Bs:
Jack Nicholson, Luciano Pavorotti, Tom Selleck, Mia Farrow, Paul McCartney, Leonardo DiCaprio
Japanese blood type theory of personality
- Mood: lethargic
- Music: talking to J on Netspeak
Mijn auto dromen
My car dreams. There really is nothing like winning to whet your appetite for more trophies and accolades while at the same time reminding you that your position is unpredictable and could very well be tenuous. Last night at the JMMC Awards presentation for the 2005 season I copped the 2nd place Lady Dexterity Driver trophy. And as sat there with it (at least 2 feet tall, I swear) on the chair in front of me, I watched while FWD ace, who sat beside me, went up for six and other people and teams racked up trophies that easily totaled in the double digits. Now, it's often said that this motorsports thing is really an addiction, but while most people think that it has to do with the adrenaline rush, many forget that motorsports also carries the high price tags of other drugs, you know cocaine, heroine, that sort of thing.Techincally, all I'd needed was a car with a rollcage and I could've competed in sprint events and maybe even a rally or two. Maybe not just a roll cage, let's add the 5-digit entry fees as well. Okay, wait, race suit, helmet... mind you I have no sponsors and the income bracket I'm in puts me out of reach of that new NHT double amount thing much less to say affording all these things. But yet everyone keeps telling me that so-and-so sells pipe for rollcages and you can get a cage from X party, as if I can just go out and charge it to some credit card that I must have because I've run a couple dexterities. And let's face it, I not buying no cheap rollcage when it could very well be the thing that stands between me and a fairy-lights coffin ensemble. So yeah, let's stick with dexterities for now :-p
Oh, and I've figured it out, by the way. How to increase my aggression at least 5-fold without having to lift a finger on my part. I'm just going to get the annoucer to ask all the spectators to turn their backs meanwhile I'm doing my run :-D Yeah, yeah, I know hehehe but it's an idea.
That said, what I really have to do is fix my power steering pump between now and Feb 26. According to the JMMC chairman, no power steering would be a good time to show everyone that I'm a big driver. "More like a good time to show everything that I haven't been to the gym in awhile," I couldn't help but reply with a grin. No one has any idea what my car weighs, even the mechanic at the front end shop was like, "Lady, you sure you can drive this? Yu sure yu nuh wah park it an tek taxi?" because he could barely drive it from Lyndhurt Road by RJR to Beechwood Avenue to come and pick me up! I'll get it together though, this will be my last dexterity until at least October, I have to make it count.
- Mood: tired, but almost done laying out stuff for work
- Music: the A/C and murmur of chatter on the floor
The most amazing thing I've ever seen
My doctor put the ultrasound transducer against my abdomen and there it was, our baby, in my womb... jumping around! I nearly rolled off the obstetrics examination table in my haste to get a closer look at the ultrasound screen. That first ultrasound pic is the one taken at approximately less than 6 weeks. Barely anything there, just the gestation sac and a small dot in the centre that's the yolk (sp?) sac. Another one was done at about 8 weeks but I forgot to ask for a print out. That one showed a really big head and a massive heart beating away. Nothing could've prepared me for the one today :-)
Now don't think I haven't been reading the books, websites, pamphlets... anything I can get my hands on really, so technically I know our baby's size and what's developed already (tiny arms and legs!) but I don't think anything can prepare you for the first sight of your child merrily bouncing around in your womb... with you unable to feel a thing. I knew it must've been an idiotic outburst, but I couldn't help it. At first he/she was just curled up resting (pretty much like you see there in the second ultrasound) and then next thing I knew it had "gotten up" and was leaping around. Arms out wide, legs out wide, looking all cute and goofy (which J swears means that it's going to come out looking/acting just like me, since according to him, in a good way, I'm goofy as hell *grin*). All I could say was, "But I can't feel anything!" My doctor just smiled and said, "No Kim, not just yet." Amazing sight, the only thing that detracted from it all was that J wasn't there beside me watching too.- Mood: extremely pleased but feeling tired/sick (flu alert, bleh)
So what's a drift knob? ;-)
Scratchie - They're also called spin turn knobs and according to the Cusco website:
"This installs in the e-brake to eliminate the need to press the button in order to release the lever."
So pretty much it helps weaklings like me handbrake because you don't have to fight to depress the e-brake button before pulling up the brake. When you're ready you make sure that the knob is depressed and that's the equivalent of having the button permanently pushed in, so you can just yank as you need to and when you let go the e-brake will drop back into place. To engage the e-brake all you need to do is push out on the knob and you're back to normal. I love having one. It scares the hell out of some mechanics :-) At first they assume it's there for show but then when they can't get the car to stay still after parking it they figure out it has a purpose... most of them anyway, the other night when I had to get the valve stem fixed I had to jump in and rescue one mechanic. He was ready to just jump out my car with it still rolling backways down a slope!
Average name-brand drift knob price = US$20.00
"This installs in the e-brake to eliminate the need to press the button in order to release the lever."
So pretty much it helps weaklings like me handbrake because you don't have to fight to depress the e-brake button before pulling up the brake. When you're ready you make sure that the knob is depressed and that's the equivalent of having the button permanently pushed in, so you can just yank as you need to and when you let go the e-brake will drop back into place. To engage the e-brake all you need to do is push out on the knob and you're back to normal. I love having one. It scares the hell out of some mechanics :-) At first they assume it's there for show but then when they can't get the car to stay still after parking it they figure out it has a purpose... most of them anyway, the other night when I had to get the valve stem fixed I had to jump in and rescue one mechanic. He was ready to just jump out my car with it still rolling backways down a slope!Average name-brand drift knob price = US$20.00
- Mood: Happy, it's my Friday! (I work weekends so I take Weds & Thurs off)
- Music: carpenter in the kitchen drilling away :-S
Bumps along the road
This road less travelled business is hard. The bumps are massive and they hurt, not physically, but definitely my pride is feeling rather sore at the moment. Went out to Palisadoes today to practice handbraking in a sidewalk-free environment. It started to rain, but undaunted I headed out there to meet two of my friends. We switched my rear tyres over to a set of dirt tyres (which I still need to swap actually), so that I wouldn't chew up my wheels. Turns out it's not the rear I needed to be worried about, as now my steering is as stiff as hell even though the power steering fluid is at the maximum. Definite trip to the front-end people down the road from work tomorrow morning, I guess I'll ask them to swap the tyres there.
My pride now was wounded by seeing a rookie sail the back of her Toyota Starlet around the tyres without a care in the world. FWD is definitely easier. I didn't doubt it, but it definitely irks the soul when you know you're out there pulling your handbrake almost into your chest and your car is not rotating around the tyre in such a fashion. Lots of explanations given by my friends: a Starlet has a shorter wheelbase so the back will come around easie - true; it's FWD, less to worry and about easier to handbrake - true; my handbrake obviously needs adjusting because it should lock by at 2 clicks not chest high - definitely true; I wasn't attacking the back of the tyres - true... but good Christ Almighty I don't care about any of that, I JUST WANT TO HANDBRAKE MY DAMN CAR! Yes, that's the spoilt brat inside of me but seriously, have you ever set your mind to something, but it only comes in spurts? Don't think that today was a total bust, because it wasn't. Thank God for my drift knob (pictured) because then I could just pull the handbrake without worrying about depressing the button. So I had the car full sideways coming out of a sweet handbrake at one point and I did three 360s around one tyre... I just couldn't do all that consistently though.
But I will. One day I will.
My pride now was wounded by seeing a rookie sail the back of her Toyota Starlet around the tyres without a care in the world. FWD is definitely easier. I didn't doubt it, but it definitely irks the soul when you know you're out there pulling your handbrake almost into your chest and your car is not rotating around the tyre in such a fashion. Lots of explanations given by my friends: a Starlet has a shorter wheelbase so the back will come around easie - true; it's FWD, less to worry and about easier to handbrake - true; my handbrake obviously needs adjusting because it should lock by at 2 clicks not chest high - definitely true; I wasn't attacking the back of the tyres - true... but good Christ Almighty I don't care about any of that, I JUST WANT TO HANDBRAKE MY DAMN CAR! Yes, that's the spoilt brat inside of me but seriously, have you ever set your mind to something, but it only comes in spurts? Don't think that today was a total bust, because it wasn't. Thank God for my drift knob (pictured) because then I could just pull the handbrake without worrying about depressing the button. So I had the car full sideways coming out of a sweet handbrake at one point and I did three 360s around one tyre... I just couldn't do all that consistently though.But I will. One day I will.
- Mood: quite frankly, really don't want to be at work
- Music: Eric Prydz - Call On Me
Casualty: One Tyre Valve
Be careful, don't ever say to yourself, "I'm going to figure this out even if I break this [insert item here]". I said that approaching a corner in the Dulwich area of Kingston earlier tonight. Why that though? Why was I even in that area? Well, we'd have to go back to a blog post I attempted to make last week that got chewed by my fuddy laptop. The title was going to be The fast lane or the road less traveled? See after my performance at the last dexterity I was told by a prominent veteran driver that he believes I'm better suited to drive FWD. Actually, his words were that I'll be faster driving FWD. I don't doubt him. Even my RWD sensei agrees.
But what about the road less traveled? Acknowledging that mastering RWD will take more time means that I probably will take some losses while I learn but I'll be a much more forbiddable driver when I do master the technique. Not if, but when. I have the talent. I know it, I know it as well as I know my own name. I feel it when I drive, I feel it when I'm just sitting in the car. I feel it when I lie awake in bed at night thinking about driving the car. What I lack is technique. Initially I gave in and said to hell with it... I even lined up sponsorship for my fast lane pursuits. When all is said and done most of this agonising is based on my current inability to handbrake properly, and let's face it a FWD car is much easier to handbrake, you don't have to worry about the timing with the clutch to ensure that the driving wheels aren't engaged when you pull the handbrake. Keep all the variables you can constant, were the words of the veteran driver. And he's right. Like I said, even sensei agreed.
Here's the thing, sensei didn't become a star overnight. Neither did the veteran driver for that matter. FWD will definitely take me to stardom quicker... but with RWD, I'll be a superstar. And damnit I don't want to just be a good female driver, I want to run down the times that sensei makes. I said it to him last week that from now on I'm going to tell myself that the Lady Driver title is mine by default and I'm setting myself on being close to him and the leaders on the day. It may be a big leap, I may not make it, but as my current TA quarterly editor wrote, "If you don't aim high, you won't achieve high..." I've got to think big if I'm going to BE big. (NB Realise that in motorsports a little bit of arrogance is a good thing. I'm tired of appologising and downplaying myself anyway, I'm facing up to the reality, I need to drive as aggressively as I do with the cabbies on the road on the track by myself with the crowd. End of story).
So how did I murder my back driver's side tyre valve? I slid my car into a sidewalk, handbraking. That area has a perfect two-lane round-a-bout setup that circles a nice little distance so it's reasonably safe to handbrake because you won't slide into oncoming traffic. I'd just convinced myself to push down into the corner (as both sensei and the veteran pointed out, it makes no sense pulling the handbrake if you're not going fast enough for it to make a difference) and I'd nailed the turn too, unfortunately even though the car was in the perfect line to head back down the road, there happened to be some dirt right there in the corner, and it just carried my car - perfect line and all - smack into the sidewalk, which thankfully was more dirt than concrete. Was I daunted? Nope. I ran another lap before realising that I should actually get out and look on the car, at which point I realised the tyre was flat, so I took myself off (at less than 20 mph, hazards and all) to the 24-hour repair joint in Liguanea. Cheapest damage I've ever done to a car too, just J$190 for a new valve!
The moral of this story? Don't say or think anything to invite Murphy's Law down upon you. And always pick the road less traveled. Unlike the fast lane, you mightn't see the finish from where you start, but you'll have more fun getting there - even with the bruises - and you'll feel a lot more accomplished when it's all said and done.
But what about the road less traveled? Acknowledging that mastering RWD will take more time means that I probably will take some losses while I learn but I'll be a much more forbiddable driver when I do master the technique. Not if, but when. I have the talent. I know it, I know it as well as I know my own name. I feel it when I drive, I feel it when I'm just sitting in the car. I feel it when I lie awake in bed at night thinking about driving the car. What I lack is technique. Initially I gave in and said to hell with it... I even lined up sponsorship for my fast lane pursuits. When all is said and done most of this agonising is based on my current inability to handbrake properly, and let's face it a FWD car is much easier to handbrake, you don't have to worry about the timing with the clutch to ensure that the driving wheels aren't engaged when you pull the handbrake. Keep all the variables you can constant, were the words of the veteran driver. And he's right. Like I said, even sensei agreed.
Here's the thing, sensei didn't become a star overnight. Neither did the veteran driver for that matter. FWD will definitely take me to stardom quicker... but with RWD, I'll be a superstar. And damnit I don't want to just be a good female driver, I want to run down the times that sensei makes. I said it to him last week that from now on I'm going to tell myself that the Lady Driver title is mine by default and I'm setting myself on being close to him and the leaders on the day. It may be a big leap, I may not make it, but as my current TA quarterly editor wrote, "If you don't aim high, you won't achieve high..." I've got to think big if I'm going to BE big. (NB Realise that in motorsports a little bit of arrogance is a good thing. I'm tired of appologising and downplaying myself anyway, I'm facing up to the reality, I need to drive as aggressively as I do with the cabbies on the road on the track by myself with the crowd. End of story).
So how did I murder my back driver's side tyre valve? I slid my car into a sidewalk, handbraking. That area has a perfect two-lane round-a-bout setup that circles a nice little distance so it's reasonably safe to handbrake because you won't slide into oncoming traffic. I'd just convinced myself to push down into the corner (as both sensei and the veteran pointed out, it makes no sense pulling the handbrake if you're not going fast enough for it to make a difference) and I'd nailed the turn too, unfortunately even though the car was in the perfect line to head back down the road, there happened to be some dirt right there in the corner, and it just carried my car - perfect line and all - smack into the sidewalk, which thankfully was more dirt than concrete. Was I daunted? Nope. I ran another lap before realising that I should actually get out and look on the car, at which point I realised the tyre was flat, so I took myself off (at less than 20 mph, hazards and all) to the 24-hour repair joint in Liguanea. Cheapest damage I've ever done to a car too, just J$190 for a new valve!
The moral of this story? Don't say or think anything to invite Murphy's Law down upon you. And always pick the road less traveled. Unlike the fast lane, you mightn't see the finish from where you start, but you'll have more fun getting there - even with the bruises - and you'll feel a lot more accomplished when it's all said and done.
- Mood: tired but decided and happy
- Music: DJ Tiesto - Breda 8 pm (DJ Montano edit)
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