I am 4 weeks pregnant! We have been trying for over a year and are beyond overjoyed. I am praying fervently for a sticky baby and would greatly appreciate any more thoughts/prayers that anyone can spare, but of course everyone has a lot to be praying for right now.
I'm gonna put these in order from littlest triumph to biggest triumph:
-- Yesterday we cleaned our kitchen and living room very well, vacuumed and everything. It's sometimes hard for me to make time to deep clean regularly when I'm not on my normal schedule.
-- It's been almost 2 weeks of this stuff and Husband and I have done a really good job of being excellent to each other. We are one of those disgusting couples that Almost Never Fight anyhow, but two people WFH in a small apartment and never seeing anyone else in person and never having an excuse to go somewhere alone for a while will test the strongest bonds.
-- On a similar note, on April 11, he and I will celebrate five years since our first date, which is its own great accomplishment. Since we would normally go out for a nice meal or do a weekend away, our usual venues for celebrating are not available. What should we do instead? Suggestions?
-- ON SUNDAY I WILL SUBMIT MY DISSERTATION TO MY COMMITTEE. It will not be the work of amazing genius that I had always envisioned because I have made very little progress during the Recent Unpleasantness but it will be a dissertation and it will be complete.
His name is Pax. He's a 1.5-year-old black lab missing his back right leg. was rescued and treated for his broken leg and heartworms and fear and who knows what all by the org that also rescued the dog we adopted ~6 years ago, and we tried to adopt him TWICE and showed up moments after someone else had applied to adopt him, but he got brought back twice because he was destined to be our dog. We are all madly in love. Our grumpy girl dog follows him from room to room and he adores my husband despite many warnings that he's fearful of and doesn't warm up to men. I wish I could show you all 1,000 pictures. (I sent some to Nicole last week!)
I already bragged about it last time but you SAID you wanted to hear: I defended my dissertation!!! My committee said nice things!!!
Another win is that Season 2 of My Brilliant Friend came out and I didn't love the first episode but I DID love the new title sequence, I'm excited for another couple months holed up with these vicious idiots <3
Not so much a triumph as just nice news, but I'm currently expecting (terrible timing state-of-the-world-wise, but what are you gonna do?) and we finally shared the news with our families this weekend. I've been feeling very blase about the whole thing, but their excitement and happiness were really sweet :)
I get to see my mother today! She is in an assisted living place that has been on full lockdown for - 3 weeks now? Time means nothing. Anyway, I usually see her once a week. The extremely sweet and on-it staff has started setting up visits where your person is inside by a window, and you are outside with a phone, and at least you can see each other. My mother is 90 and getting very drifty, but she knows family and I think it will help her to see us. I am reassured that she is somewhere safe, and the staff adores her, because as other things fall away she is becoming pure love.
Here in northern Florida we at the public defender's office have been working double time to get eligible clients out of jail and thanks to unprecedented cooperation from the sheriff and the state attorney's office we have gotten 150 humans out of there in the last week. That's my good nugget for the day.
I have a phone interview for a job today! It's just the initial phone screening but the RELIEF of just having even one person get in touch after the flurry of applications I sent out.
Joni Mitchell warms my cold dead heart, and The Last Waltz is...everything. If anyone wants to talk about the Sad (Probably Very Gay) Heartbreak of The Band please let me know.
It has been very genuinely great to hang out so much with my dog and my gf's cat, who is very particular and tends to show his displeasure by biting. The cat let me pick him up (!) yesterday and it feels good to know we're friends now (having been housemates since September). AND the cat and the dog willingly sat butt-to-butt this week!
A miracle: my tax return came much earlier than I was expecting, so I had money to send to dear friends leaving a bad situation. I am also making good on my goal to dress like a mean anime woman in 2020, and I have a slutty dress coming in the mail today. Very excited.
So this time last week I was in the hospital following the removal of a large tumor on my spinal column. I could hear the nurses whispering about how they were being asked to not switch masks between patients as was the standard, and tracking tiles were being attached to protective helmets as they were disappearing and in short supply. I was released home a day early and am now recovering. I can’t help feeling so much gratitude: for the doctors who found and successfully removed the tumor; for the fact that it was benign; for all the caregivers who have kept me safe and well cared for, especially my husband who is WFH and so unhappy about that, as he has a small business & employees to worry about; and especially for the sensations returning to my legs, letting me know I will one day be back to doing the active things I love. I’m so worried about all the first responders who have limited supplies to protect themselves while they work so hard to help us. I know we’ll get through this. I keep looking for the bright spots all around us and was rewarded yesterday when my son proposed to his girlfriend, who we adore. There are so many good things to look forward to! Keep your eyes on the future, find and do the things that bring you joy, we are all so much braver than we know! 😘
Our dream wedding venue called on Wednesday to tell us this Halloween was still available. We had originally planned on next year. But I’ve always wanted to get married on Halloween and it would have been my grandma’s 100th Birthday this year. Well we broke out quarantine to visit the venue yesterday (it’s an isolated late 1800s Victorian we met 2 people who kept lysoling things so I feel safe) and we are probably definitely now getting married there in 7 months instead of the 18 we planned. I am very excited but also very nervous because who plans a wedding mid pandemic!?
I want to admit something silly that might help people! I am recently single, moved to an attic apartment (a la Jo March, I like to say) and while I'm very happy, I rely on work/social life to keep me going. I'm missing things, and I've started carrying around a pelican beanie baby in my sweater, since my attic isn't ideal for a pet. It's really helping, and I'm thinking of the seal robot episode of Master of None in a whole new way. I am keeping in touch with family, friends, therapist, and teleworking, so I am truly ok, just need some comfort!
Tiny good things: I dyed a streak of blue in my hair for the first time since I got a professional job, because working from home means I don't have to keep up "professional" appearances, and it's making me so much happier.
I made this focaccia recipe from Salt Fat Acid Heat and it's incredible. Tender and fluffy inside, crunchy and salty from olive oil and salt brine on the outside. https://www.saltfatacidheat.com/fat/ligurian-focaccia
Well, we abandoned our home and are now at my parents, and I am in a pisser of a mood about it (currently "working" from the basement in a full reversion to my teen angst) BUT I am also eating the leftover cake from our wedding tasting "to make room in the freezer" and salted caramel and whipped ganache go a long way toward easing my grieving soul. Cake for breakfast? Obviously the only response to this situation.
I am 4 weeks pregnant! We have been trying for over a year and are beyond overjoyed. I am praying fervently for a sticky baby and would greatly appreciate any more thoughts/prayers that anyone can spare, but of course everyone has a lot to be praying for right now.
I’m becoming a beekeeper! We’re picking up the bees on Thursday! Painting the hives today! Thanks for letting me celebrate for a moment. <3
I'm gonna put these in order from littlest triumph to biggest triumph:
-- Yesterday we cleaned our kitchen and living room very well, vacuumed and everything. It's sometimes hard for me to make time to deep clean regularly when I'm not on my normal schedule.
-- It's been almost 2 weeks of this stuff and Husband and I have done a really good job of being excellent to each other. We are one of those disgusting couples that Almost Never Fight anyhow, but two people WFH in a small apartment and never seeing anyone else in person and never having an excuse to go somewhere alone for a while will test the strongest bonds.
-- On a similar note, on April 11, he and I will celebrate five years since our first date, which is its own great accomplishment. Since we would normally go out for a nice meal or do a weekend away, our usual venues for celebrating are not available. What should we do instead? Suggestions?
-- ON SUNDAY I WILL SUBMIT MY DISSERTATION TO MY COMMITTEE. It will not be the work of amazing genius that I had always envisioned because I have made very little progress during the Recent Unpleasantness but it will be a dissertation and it will be complete.
Last week, my husband and I adopted a dog I've wanted to adopt since January!!! (his sad story: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article240157808.html?fbclid=IwAR3YhGWBRBWW1y7oGI1CadMUAqmOpNPDFckiDwDr6qpse0A1jyggdn1JWek)
His name is Pax. He's a 1.5-year-old black lab missing his back right leg. was rescued and treated for his broken leg and heartworms and fear and who knows what all by the org that also rescued the dog we adopted ~6 years ago, and we tried to adopt him TWICE and showed up moments after someone else had applied to adopt him, but he got brought back twice because he was destined to be our dog. We are all madly in love. Our grumpy girl dog follows him from room to room and he adores my husband despite many warnings that he's fearful of and doesn't warm up to men. I wish I could show you all 1,000 pictures. (I sent some to Nicole last week!)
*cheers* BEAUREGARD, BEAUREGARD, BEAUREGARD
I already bragged about it last time but you SAID you wanted to hear: I defended my dissertation!!! My committee said nice things!!!
Another win is that Season 2 of My Brilliant Friend came out and I didn't love the first episode but I DID love the new title sequence, I'm excited for another couple months holed up with these vicious idiots <3
Not so much a triumph as just nice news, but I'm currently expecting (terrible timing state-of-the-world-wise, but what are you gonna do?) and we finally shared the news with our families this weekend. I've been feeling very blase about the whole thing, but their excitement and happiness were really sweet :)
I get to see my mother today! She is in an assisted living place that has been on full lockdown for - 3 weeks now? Time means nothing. Anyway, I usually see her once a week. The extremely sweet and on-it staff has started setting up visits where your person is inside by a window, and you are outside with a phone, and at least you can see each other. My mother is 90 and getting very drifty, but she knows family and I think it will help her to see us. I am reassured that she is somewhere safe, and the staff adores her, because as other things fall away she is becoming pure love.
I got into a fiction MFA program for the fall!!
Here in northern Florida we at the public defender's office have been working double time to get eligible clients out of jail and thanks to unprecedented cooperation from the sheriff and the state attorney's office we have gotten 150 humans out of there in the last week. That's my good nugget for the day.
I have a phone interview for a job today! It's just the initial phone screening but the RELIEF of just having even one person get in touch after the flurry of applications I sent out.
Joni Mitchell warms my cold dead heart, and The Last Waltz is...everything. If anyone wants to talk about the Sad (Probably Very Gay) Heartbreak of The Band please let me know.
It has been very genuinely great to hang out so much with my dog and my gf's cat, who is very particular and tends to show his displeasure by biting. The cat let me pick him up (!) yesterday and it feels good to know we're friends now (having been housemates since September). AND the cat and the dog willingly sat butt-to-butt this week!
A miracle: my tax return came much earlier than I was expecting, so I had money to send to dear friends leaving a bad situation. I am also making good on my goal to dress like a mean anime woman in 2020, and I have a slutty dress coming in the mail today. Very excited.
So this time last week I was in the hospital following the removal of a large tumor on my spinal column. I could hear the nurses whispering about how they were being asked to not switch masks between patients as was the standard, and tracking tiles were being attached to protective helmets as they were disappearing and in short supply. I was released home a day early and am now recovering. I can’t help feeling so much gratitude: for the doctors who found and successfully removed the tumor; for the fact that it was benign; for all the caregivers who have kept me safe and well cared for, especially my husband who is WFH and so unhappy about that, as he has a small business & employees to worry about; and especially for the sensations returning to my legs, letting me know I will one day be back to doing the active things I love. I’m so worried about all the first responders who have limited supplies to protect themselves while they work so hard to help us. I know we’ll get through this. I keep looking for the bright spots all around us and was rewarded yesterday when my son proposed to his girlfriend, who we adore. There are so many good things to look forward to! Keep your eyes on the future, find and do the things that bring you joy, we are all so much braver than we know! 😘
Our dream wedding venue called on Wednesday to tell us this Halloween was still available. We had originally planned on next year. But I’ve always wanted to get married on Halloween and it would have been my grandma’s 100th Birthday this year. Well we broke out quarantine to visit the venue yesterday (it’s an isolated late 1800s Victorian we met 2 people who kept lysoling things so I feel safe) and we are probably definitely now getting married there in 7 months instead of the 18 we planned. I am very excited but also very nervous because who plans a wedding mid pandemic!?
I want to admit something silly that might help people! I am recently single, moved to an attic apartment (a la Jo March, I like to say) and while I'm very happy, I rely on work/social life to keep me going. I'm missing things, and I've started carrying around a pelican beanie baby in my sweater, since my attic isn't ideal for a pet. It's really helping, and I'm thinking of the seal robot episode of Master of None in a whole new way. I am keeping in touch with family, friends, therapist, and teleworking, so I am truly ok, just need some comfort!
Tiny good things: I dyed a streak of blue in my hair for the first time since I got a professional job, because working from home means I don't have to keep up "professional" appearances, and it's making me so much happier.
I made this focaccia recipe from Salt Fat Acid Heat and it's incredible. Tender and fluffy inside, crunchy and salty from olive oil and salt brine on the outside. https://www.saltfatacidheat.com/fat/ligurian-focaccia
Well, we abandoned our home and are now at my parents, and I am in a pisser of a mood about it (currently "working" from the basement in a full reversion to my teen angst) BUT I am also eating the leftover cake from our wedding tasting "to make room in the freezer" and salted caramel and whipped ganache go a long way toward easing my grieving soul. Cake for breakfast? Obviously the only response to this situation.